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RAVISHING
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ROAD TRIPS
DROP SPA & SMART HOME
GADGETS
THE ART OF SUSHI @
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CARS
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ESSENTIALS
18 Publisher’s Letter
GO TO SPOTLIGHT 26 Ravishing Road Trips 38 The Art of Hotel Photography 50 Marbella Hotel Investment Projects 54 The Most Expensive Cars Ever Sold at Auction 66 Lewis Hamilton 72 Notorious Art Thieves
GO TO TRENDS 82 Cool New Film Release 85 Vital Viewing 90 Books – New Releases 94 Music News 96 What’s Cool
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GO TO LIFESTYLE 104 SANDON Exclusive Furniture Online 112 Relax in a Drop Spa 118 Smart Home Devices 122 Custo Spring Collection 130 Drying Coats for Dogs
GO TO SPA 134 Microblading 136 Anti-ageing Neck Creams 140 Helpful Tips for Times of Desperation
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GO TO ENTERPRISE
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144 Oakhill Heights 150 How Covid has Changed House Hunting 152 Enterprise 160 Brexit Implications on Residency in Spain
GO TO GOURMET 166 Japanese Style at Ta-Kumi
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170 Gourmet Bytes 174 Award Winning Spanish Wines
DESIGNED FOR BETTER LIVING Each design-led home at Vista Lago will be quite unlike anything that has gone before. All 18 villas, as well as the furniture and fittings in them, are different from each other. The commonality they share are the breathtaking views across the Mediterranean Sea to Gibraltar and Africa beyond.
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NUEVA ANDALUCIA
NUEVA ANDALUCIA
VILLA BODEGA
ALOHA 171
Bed: 5 I Bath: 5 I Plot: 1.158 m2 I Built: 351 m2 I aloha171.es I € 3.495.000
Bed: 4 I Bath: 4+2 I Plot: 1.011 m2 I Built: 390 m2 I € 3.260.000
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Bed: 5 I Bath: 5+1 I Plot: 1.408 m2 I Built: 495 m2 I villa-alexandra.es I € 4.595.000
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PUENTE ROMANO DALIA 1
BRISAS 1
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Bed: 5 I Bath: 6+3 I Plot: 3.000 m2 I Built: 942 m2 I elbosquevillas.es I € 4.750.000
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Issue 257 - April 2021
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D WORDS BY IAIN BLACKWELL PUBLISHER
APRIL ALLURE
T
here’s a growing feeling of optimism here on the Coast, as we move into the Spring with sunnier days and lighter evenings ahead. Let us brighten your mood with this carefully conjectured edition of essential, as we return to monthly printing. We get motoring with our take on Ravishing Road Trips, an exposé of the most expensive cars ever sold at auction, and an exclusive interview with Lewis Hamilton as the new F1 season takes the chequered flag. Art also features prominently in these pages, with a feature on the Art of Hotel Photography and a scandalous report on modern art theft.
If you have any doubts about Marbella’s future, you can dispel them at once when you read about the multi-million hotel investment projects that are taking shape on our doorstep. Property is also on the rise, as can be seen from our article on House Hunting in Times of Covid. Where home buying goes, décor follows, and we bring you twin features on SANDON’s new online luxury furniture launch and the inviting Drop Spa – now who wouldn’t want one of these? Finally, we head to Ta-Kumi for a gourmet experience to treasure, and we enjoy a very entertaining tasting session trying several recently-honoured Spanish wines.
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“APRIL IS A PROMISE OF WHAT’S TO COME”
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MODERN BEACHFRONT PROPERTIES NOW AVAILABLE La Morera Playa offers the rare combination of beautifully finished spacious modern apartments and penthouses in a very private beachside parkland setting • Spectacular views • Large panoramic terraces • Spacious open-plan interiors
• Noble materials and quality finishing • Brand new amenities • Gated community in a private location
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spotlight
ENJOY OUR INTERVIEW WITH LEWIS HAMILTON, AS THE NEW F1 SEASON HITS THE GRID, MARVEL AT THE MOST EXPENSIVE CARS EVER SOLD AT AUCTION, AND JOIN US ON A NUMBER OF ROAD TRIPS, IDEAL FOR MOTOR HOMES AND CAMPER VANS. WE ALSO GO ON ASSIGNMENT WITH WAYNE CHASAN AS HE SNAPS SNAZZY NEW HOTELS AND WE CAN'T CONTAIN OUR EXCITEMENT OVER MAJOR LEAGUE HOTEL INVESTMENT COMING OUR WAY SOON.
GO TO PAGE 26 RAVISHING ROAD TRIPS
GO TO PAGE 54 FOR THE THE MOST EXPENSIVE CARS EVER
GO TO PAGE 38 FOR THE ART OF HOTEL PHOTOGRAPHY
GO TO PAGE 66 FOR LEWIS HAMILTON
CULTURE TRAVEL HISTORY PEOPLE MOTORING 26 Ravishing Road Trips 38 The Art of Hotel Photography Ravishing Road Trips 50 Marbella Hotel Investment Projects 54 The Most Expensive Cars Ever 66 Lewis Hamilton 72 Art Thieves
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RAVISHING ROAD TRIPS
Quarantine-proofing your travel plans may be a lockdown lottery this year but where there’s a wheel there’s a way. Essential eyes up our holiday romance with campervans and maps out four stunning routes through Spain to get your motor running.
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hisper it quietly but everyone’s gone campervanning. Even the Spanish, who are not a big nation of road trippers like the French and Germans. Last summer they were to be found zipping between coast and campo to parts of Spain that were foreign shores to them, and appreciating the value of their EUfunded autovías which make up the world’s longest motorway network The pandemic has pushed the humble campervan and fancier motorhome to the
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top of everyone’s wish list for a quarantineproof holiday this year. More adventurous than a stay-put staycation, more sociallydistanced than a hotel, you can discover far-flung corners of your own country in a sanitised mobile bubble without going near an airport. More motorhomes were registered for the Spanish road last June than in the whole of 2013. Faster than air corridors closed, vehicles costing five to six figures were flying off forecourts at the rate of 25 a day. Rentals
Pull up where the view takes you
too. Indie Campers, Europe’s biggest hire company, had an Indian summer with a 350% uptick in bookings. But the 18-44-year-old millennials driving the road trip revival aspire to more than two gas rings and a mattress like the rig their parents took to Glastonbury. They want ‘glampervans’ fitted out Taylor Swift’s tour bus. Maybe not the fireplace but smart TV with Netflix, full kitchen, sofa, high speed Wi-Fi and a pressure shower topped their mostwanted list in an Auto Trader Survey. You get that and heaven too in an RV, as the Americans call their Recreational Vehicles,
but you wouldn’t want to be at the wheel of one on a Spanish mountain road. They start in length where ours stop, at around 7.5 metres. European models still pack impressive style and comfort into their compact design. And, under 3.5 tonnes, they’re classified as cars so you can drive them on your normal licence. CAMPERVAN OR MOTORHOME? A basic campervan will give you a kitchenette, a pop-up bedroom in the extendable roof, a bench seat that converts into a secondary bed and a portable loo. You’ll have to use the campsite shower. They’re cheaper to buy, run, rent, drive and park and they have kerb
appeal. A vintage VW campervan is still the height of cool. A motorhome could cost double or more. It’s tougher to manoeuvre, harder on fuel but there are so many positives – A/C, bathroom with shower, comfy beds, a kitchen you can cook in, rotating front seats, slide-out canopies, decking, bike racks… Larger models come with ‘garage’ space to store mopeds and electric scooters as you’ll have to leave these big boys a distance from some of the places you want to visit. Try before you buy. Andalucíabased autocaravanaspiqueras. com quotes €80-130 a day, lowhigh season, for a family-sized 4-berth motorhome. › WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 27
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WILD CAMPING Going off-grid is what it’s all about but be careful… You can park anywhere a car can, so long as you stay within the vehicle footprint to cook, eat and sleep. Setting up tables and chairs al fresco is ‘camping’ and attracts a fine of up to €800. As a general rule, cities, national parks, beaches and anywhere along the Med Costas are wild camping no-nos. The more remote and rural you get, the more you can get away with it. If you don’t want to pay for swimming pools, restaurants and the full holiday works at a campsite, service areas are a free or low cost alternative. At their most basic, they offer a place to dump your waste water, fill up with fresh and stop for 24 hours. Some have toilet blocks, laundries and panoramic views. They used to be few and far between in Spain but municipalities are scrambling to catch up with the
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trend and open more. Vineyards, olive mills, cheese farms and ventas have also got together to offer overnights in more congenial surroundings where you can explore the local gastronomy and support cottage industries. espanadiscovery.es reviews over 200. Wherever you go, you need never be lost or alone. Campervanning is a community as well as a lifestyle pursuit, with its own sociallynetworked circle and everyone shares their stories and tips for the road online. park4night.com is a good place to start. The reallyhooked customise their vans inside and out, give them names, live in them and post on #vanlife. They post about being able to pull up and fix dinner wherever the view takes them, or belting down the freeway with the windows down and Born To Be Wild turned up high, and about the freedom of knowing that home is wherever they park it. ›
LET US BRING THE ANDALUSIAN LIFE DIRECTLY TO YOU! For those who cannot travel, we can bring Nine Lions Residences directly to your home through a virtual tour in which you can feel the peaceful and private lifestyle that you will enjoy by living here. Enjoy the one-to-one video call to visit every corner of the complex, from the bright and modern luxury apartments and duplex penthouse to the communal areas, all surrounded by the aromas and familiar sounds of Mediterranean nature. Just imagine waking up every morning greeted by stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Sierra Blanca mountain range from the comfort and of your own private and spacious terrace. Prices range from 695.000,00 € to 2.435.000,00 €
Schedule an appointment by contacting our sales team or through the website:
Mark Lamb - Commercial Director mark@9lionsresidences.com +34 691 901 976 Follow us: 9lionsresidences
Niclas Broberg - Sales Manager niclas@9lionsresidences.com +34 607 81 80 21 www.9lionsresidences.com
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the Romans, who engineered the 470km section between Mérida in COAST TO COAST (ALMOST) ON Extremadura and Astorga in León. SPAIN’S ROUTE 66 The Vía de la Plata became a pilgrim pathway on the Camino Route to Santiago de Compostela. It A-66 from Sevilla to Gijón, was never a silver route but it’s Asturias, 810 km. stacked with Roman treasures – amphitheatres, aqueducts, baths, You’ll want more than a Harley bridges... It’s so direct that Spain’s and a helmet to get your kicks second-longest autovía (after on the A-66. Spain’s version of the Med’s A-7) follows the same the great American road trip is trajectory. The last section was all about the stops, not the ride. completed in 2015 and you can It delivers you to the doorstep of do Sevilla to Biscay in 7 hours 37 eight Unesco World Heritage cities minutes non-stop. in one straight-ish line, thanks to
RUTA DE LA PLATA
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Journey’s end at gorgeous Gijón port
The Romans laid the foundations for Spain’s Route 66
Highlights Z Medieval Caceres, Roman Mérida, Salamanca, Zamora… how much time do you have? Just don’t miss Segovia’s crackling-good suckling pig. Z If it’s April it’s cherry blossom time in the Valle del Jerte. Take a short detour at Plasencia for a floral fantasy drive-through. Z Celebrate journey’s end in the gorgeous port city of Gijón with a glass of cider, poured the Asturian way from a great height.
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Covadonga sanctuary
PICOS DE EUROPA
RIVER DEEP, MOUNTAIN HIGH IN A MINI-PYRENEES Route Cangas de Onís to Fuente Dé, 113 kms. Yogi Bear would love Iberia’s original National Park (1918) with its forests, river canyons and snow-dusted mountain peaks, even if the park rangers are strict as the cartoon ones in Jellystone about where you can pitch and picnic. Stretching through Cantabria, Castille y León and Asturias, you get brown bear territory, historical cities and cider country in one road trip. You’ll have to leave your wheels a fair hike from some villages but the hearty grub will fortify you for the task.
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Highlights Z On your bike to the glacial Lakes of Covadonga to retrace the Vuelta de España’s most iconic climb. Z Take a selfie at Picu Urriellu. Mountaineers the world over come to climb its sheer west face. Z Tunnel through the mountains by funicular railway to Bulnes, the only village in Spain cut off by road. Z Shephers still tend their nomadic flocks in the Picos, which should remind you to buy a wheel of Cabrales, the piquant local blue cheese.
Glacial lakes of Covadonga
April cherry blossom
Iconic Picu Urriellu
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COSTA DA MORTE
CLIFFTOP DRAMA ON THE COAST OF DEATH Route Malpica to Finisterre (150k, meandering).
A chain of lighthouses keep ships off the rocks today
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The name pays homage to the countless ships wrecked on its treacherous rocks in centuries past. However the local roads leading to the edge of this wild weather-tossed corner of Spain also need care. You’ll be rewarded with solitary estuary beaches, fishing villages frozen in time and dramatic headlands topped by a string of lighthouses warning shipping today.
Galicía is also a beacon of gastronomy and you can extend this trip north to the Seafood Coast of the Rías Altas, or south along the D.O. wine routes of the Rías Baixas to Portugal’s border. Highlights Z See sunset from Cape Finisterre overlooking ‘the sea at the end of the world'. Z Polish off a plate of percebeiros at Cabo de Roncudo for the best barnacles in Galicia. Z Feel the earth move at the Piedras de Abalar Oscillating Stones which can be moved by human hand or the wind. Z Walk on the Crystal Beach at Laxe where the pebbles are made of washed-up glass.
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Don Quijote’s Land of Giants
RUTA DE DON QUIJOTE
NOVEL JOURNEY THROUGH WINDMILL AND CASTLE COUNTRY Route The official trail from Toledo is 2,500km with 10 overnights.
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Follow the heroic adventures of a lovesick knight and his faithful squire through the five provinces of Castilla-La Mancha where Cervantes set his 17th century best seller. The official Council of Europe Cultural Route from Toledo across castle-strewn
plains to the Land of Giants where Don Quijote tilted at windmills is quite a journey. But you don’t have to play it all by the book. There are 26 protected natural parks and a string of monumental cities also to discover.
La Mancha’s castlestrewn plains
Highlights Z The swashbuckling city of Toledo, where knights of old shopped for swords. Z The mini lake district of Lagunas de Ruidera for kayaking, mountain biking and rock climbing. Z Tilting your camera at the flour mills of Campo de Criptana and Consuegra in Don Quijote’s Land of Giants. Z Don’t leave Spain’s largest wine-growing region without trying Valdepeñas in the eponymous city. e
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WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY WAYNE CHASAN
THE ART OF
HOTEL
PHOTOGRAPHY CLICK TO VIEW
Video Interview with Wayne
This beautiful passageway near the H Dubai reception provided us a quick stunning shot, with just a dash of flash
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Being selected as the photographer to launch a hotel chain is a dream assignment. Flying around the world to create iconic imagery of luxury hotels in exotic locations is about as good as it gets, right? Yet it requires an extreme amount of planning, perseverance and passion to match or surpass your client’s expectations. In this feature we’ll share some images created for this campaign along with the challenges involved in achieving them regardless of the circumstances on location.
F
ernando Arias of the Ad Value advertising agency had seen my work and wanted to collaborate on the launch of UAE based hotel chain H’ Mark Hospitality, now rebranded as Story Hospitality. The shoot would feature their three initial hotels located in Dubai, the Seychelles, and Montenegro. Over a period of months we discussed the concepts, logistics, settled on a viable budget and waited for the right window of opportunity – appropriate hotel occupancy and weather conditions are key factors for a successful shoot. Suddenly it was “let’s squeeze it in now right before Easter”. I was just able to scramble back from shooting a building in Kansas City to catch
the flight to Podgorica (Montenegro) for the first of their three hotels.
CULTURE OVERTURE We planned for a full day of pre-production at each location, knowing it was the only way to achieve the seven scenes required per day. My decades of experience and friendly can-do attitude go a long way on any production, but all the details need to be coordinated for it to run efficiently. We toured the entire hotel, reconfirming or improving the shoot list, selecting specific rooms and camera angles. Subject to the light and availability, we scheduled each for its best time frame and printed out detailed schedules.
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After going over that plan with the hotel staff and models, we were ready to ‘rock ‘n’ roll’. Because we were only at each location for three days, we ended each pre-production day by shooting a first scene during the brief but magical twilight time frame. Over the following day and a half we completed the shoot list, coordinating the shared use of spaces and models with the video crew. This first shoot together was a total success and celebrated appropriately with a teambonding dinner. ‘Fortunately’ our return flights got re-scheduled, giving us an unexpected day off to sightsee this small but stunning country. Back in Marbella we repacked for hot sticky climes; next was Dubai and straight on to the Seychelles, where we would finish one day before the ‘Easter Break’ clients swamped the hotels.
The breakfast salon of the Cue Podgorica 40 / APRIL 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
‘Client as DJ’ scene for The Living Room at the Cue Podgorica. Note the slight ‘blurred motion’ concept applied to the models at this specific hotel
The hall between rooms in the Cue Podgorica, converted into an improvised personal discotheque scene
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THE ROYAL TREATMENT The H Dubai is a 34-storey hotel and office tower, a stone’s throw from the World Trade and Financial Centers. As all 236 rooms were booked we were accommodated in The Royal Suite occupying the entire top two floors of the hotel; quite the privilege but slightly disorienting when rushing equipment around. We repeated a day of pre-production followed by a twilight scene. When the weather is good I always shoot the main facades first, as a sad exterior is hard to improve but there are ways to make cloudy interiors look good. Good thing we did that, as the second day turned cloudy and rainy… in Dubai! After the first day of production we had to photograph the hotel’s main lobby from 4 to 5 am, the only time frame it could be captured without disturbing the clients. That timing also allowed us to capture the skylight with a ‘twilight’ effect in the pre-dawn light. 42 / APRIL 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
The entry shot at the H Dubai, taking advantage of the existing light plus a dash of strobe lighting.
The cigar room of the H Dubai was originally conceived as a moody backlit daytime shot, but the realities of logistics forced us to do it the last night. Posing for this Behind The Scene shot around dawn, because the sun burst through the clouds we had to run off to catch it in the royal suite bedroom view.
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The café in the lobby of the H Dubai; with great difficulty we were able to photograph here with models and employees, ensuring that the actual clients were unrecognisable
Afterwards I decided to set up the camera position for The Royal Suite Bedroom, a critical scene with panoramic views of the city to be shot later that morning with models. The day was totally overcast, but an hour later the sun briefly burst through and I was able to catch that moment to photomontage a ‘sunny’ view over the models shot during the rain. Luckily the sun came out later for the rooftop pool as that night we packed for the Seychelles. To achieve that pool image we had to photograph the scene and models in stages as it was dried and set up. When we finished late that evening, long-lost friends kindly whisked us off to the Burj Khalifa Plaza until midnight, the only moments we had to ‘see Dubai’. 44 / APRIL 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
The H Dubai at twilight on the pre-production day; the lawn under the palm trees by the hotel was actually a horrid construction site, requiring hours of retouching!
The central lounge of the H Dubai, photographed in stages from 4 AM until dawn to achieve this final image
TROPICAL PARADISE There is a wonderful direct flight from Dubai to the Seychelles; unfortunately it was ruled out as they would’ve charged more for our checked cases than for our seats. Instead, we had to take a layover route via Nairobi. Finally in the Seychelles, we repeated the shoot strategy, as always with anecdotes. The Reception Lobby had to be shot before dawn, once again the only time without clients. However, despite the planning, nobody could be located to switch on all the lights at 4 am, so after catching the critical twilight moment we were forced to wait there for hours until they could turn on the missing lights.
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D SPOTLIGHT photography The iconic reception of the Seychelles Beau Vallon; the empty interior was shot around 5 AM, the outside areas at the crack of dawn, and the problematic lights were captured hours later.
Meanwhile I was at least able to catch a planned sunrise scene with my secondary camera setup. The all-important pool shot also had to be around dawn, as it was always open to clients from 8 am until dark. We arrived at 7 am to place the camera in position only to discover that the sunshades, sunbeds and towels had not been set up the night before as specified. By the time we set and lined up everything, the sun had risen and we were able to capture some frames of the ‘ideal’ pool scene… while the first clients waited to invade. We left the camera in position until the model arrived to recline on the foreground sunbed, so we could blend her into the ‘empty’ pool shot. Now, having specialised in architectural & interior photography for most of my life, I am normally very finely attuned to the quality and angle of the light. While rushing to set up the scene of a model on a swing during sunset at the beach, I planned it so the sun would appear behind her by the time we’d be ready. However, I am so accustomed to 46 / APRIL 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
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Setting up the ‘swing at sunset’ scene in the Seychelles, where the sun set in the opposite direction I was expecting! The final ‘swing at sunset’ image, following readjustment for the sun’s easterly trajectory
g Wayne Chasan is an awardwinning American photographer specialised in architecture, interiors and resorts. watching the sun set to the right over our Southern Mediterranean coast that I didn’t factor in that I was now looking out ‘North’ over the Indian Sea… so the sun was moving behind the trees in the opposite direction, left instead of right! I quickly recomposed to get it in frame while laughing and cursing over my ‘southern habits’. When we wrapped, exhausted and satisfied, I thanked our lucky stars. Not just for the whole assignment being a success, but also for coinciding with the only sunny days in the Seychelles during months of rain. Against all odds the clients squeezed in an extra day for us, so we toured the stunning west coast of Mahé… a sweet reward before the long flights home to Marbella.
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Good synergy and communication are essential between photographer and clients
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NEW INVESTMENT IN
MARBELLA WORDS MICHEL CRUZ
You would be forgiven for thinking all is grim and bleak during this Covid-affected period, but as we near summer, with the growing impact of vaccinations and the easing of lockdown and travel restrictions, there is a growing swell of positive news – including major new investment projects on the Costa del Sol.
T
ourism and the hospitality industry in general have suffered terribly as a result of the restrictions imposed during this Covid-19 crisis, and one might have thought that confidence in the sector would be at an all-time low, but this is not so, for rather than licking its wounds it is bouncing back with enough belief in the future to initiate not one but a raft of exciting new resort projects in the greater Marbella area. 50 / APRIL 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
This points to investor confidence, for the companies and funds behind such plans do not embark upon multimillion projects without having studied the situation thoroughly and convinced themselves that this region will yield the required returns. With most geared for the summer of 2022, it indicates a clear expectation on the part of people better informed than most of us that not only will things have returned to normal
by then, but that extra capacity is required. NEW LUXURY RESORT PROJECTS IN MARBELLA Within the Marbella municipal area alone, a series of exciting new hotel resort projects, some accompanied by residential development, will bring new impetus and create jobs in the region, also adding important new high-end stock to an already impressive list of five-star options.
FOUR SEASONS PROJECT IN RÍO REAL The prestigious Canadian Four Seasons hotel group has launched plans for a five-star deluxe hotel and residential resort complex on a 325,000m2 site near the beach in Río Real. The project, involving an overall investment of €700 million, involves a 180-room deluxe hotel, 200 apartments and 40 villas, as well as a beach club that will be connected to the main hotel by a scenic pathway. Called The Surf Club, it will have a small boutique hotel of its own with 30 rooms right by the sea. The majority shareholders of Four Seasons, Bill Gates and Saudi Prince Al Waleed bin Talal, would not embark on such a project
without being confident of its success, and this tells us something about the perceived potential of our region. LAS DUNAS CLUB AND RENAISSANCE HOTEL – LOS MONTEROS Starwood-Marriott, the world’s largest hotel group, has announced the creation of a beachside resort on 151,000m2 at the Playa Real de Zaragoza, just east of Los Monteros. Here, a €200-million project will arise that includes a modern five-star deluxe hotel by the group’s W brand, with 186
rooms and suites, as well as a beach club, a signature restaurant, top range spa, gym and conferencing facilities, and 86 tourist apartments. In its later stages, the €350 million project will also include private residences within a gated beachside resort. SIETE REVUELTAS RESORT, SANTA CLARA Set between these two projects is the Siete Revueltas Resort, which will see the investment of €77 million by Bahraini investors in the Santa Clara area, where a 129-room five-star Grand
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Luxury hotel will arise. The investors have agreed to also include a fluvial park for public use and extend the coastal pathway to connect the Los Monteros and Alicate Playa beachside areas.
HILTON, PUERTO BANÚS The Hilton group, meanwhile, is looking to add a new €134 million Conrad-branded hotel – the first one in the country – and a new exhibition centre to the Puerto Banús landscape in a project known DON MIGUEL CLUB MED, MARBELLA as the Conrad Costa del Though renovation work Hotel. The 194-room CLICK TOSol VISIT on the iconic Don Miguel luxury hotel will enhance the Hotel was slowed down in presence of the Americanresponse to the Covid-19 based Hilton hotel in the crisis, it is now picking up region. pace again on the 125,000m2 site, where operator owners The projects described have Club Med from France are the full support of the local investing €72 million to authorities and the Junta de create a stylish modern Andalucía, which in a special resort hotel close to measure is processing the Marbella’s downtown area planning application with and beaches. unusual speed as part of a
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desire to remove all the usual obstacles to investment in this part of the world. The regional government’s position is not surprising, as between them, the above projects will create over 2,000 direct jobs and greatly help to stimulate the local economy. With the main focus being on operational launches for the summer seasons of 2022 and 2023, it provides the rest of us with an important shot in the arm as well, as the confidence shown by these international investor groups in the Costa del Sol is a heartening confirmation of belief in its future. e
Villa Victoria
Villa Victoria is located in Nueva Andalucía, with stunning views and amenities you won’t find anywhere else. — To be completed in May Follow the development at @antimahomes Exclusively listed by Solvilla Contact solvilla.es or call +34 627 813 545
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MOST EXPENSIVE
CARS EVER SOLD
AT AUCTION
As three pedals and manual transmissions are quickly becoming coveted commodities of the past, it’s no surprise that the residual values of the most rare and iconic classic cars continue to soar to stratospheric levels. Join us as we look back on some of the most stunning, stirring and sensationally expensive cars ever to be sold under the hammer at auction. Expect a share of Maranello’s finest, dashing and distinguished Aston Martins and some exquisite post-war racers. As most of these record-breaking auctions have happened in North America, prices are displayed in USD. WORDS SAM HEXTER PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE MANUFACTURERS SPONSORED BY C. DE SALAMANCA
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$21.7 million
JAGUAR D-TYPE With a highly streamlined body, panels secured with hand-spaced rivets, and the now iconic rear fin, the Jaguar D-Type is as purposeful as it is beautiful. The D-Type was a winning recipe for Jag back in the 1950s, securing wins at Le Mans in three consecutive
years. Their dominating formula included a six-cylinder XK motor with an output of 250bhp that would push on to over 300 km/h thanks to the sleek and highly aerodynamic outer shell. With such pedigree and limited numbers, it’s no wonder that the 1956 race winner fetched an enormous $21.7
million under the hammer in 2016. And speaking of notable achievements, this racing sensation went on to pave the way for the legendary E-Type – once described as ‘the most beautiful car in the world’, by a man with real authority on such matters, Enzo Ferrari.
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1956 ASTON MARTIN DBR1 This gorgeous 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 is a marvel of British post-war engineering. Its elongated nose plays home to a 2.5-litre straight-six race motor, which is flanked by long, sweeping lines to its pinched rear tail. It truly is a remarkable thing to behold. Only five of these race-derived DBR1s were ever produced, and this particular car
went on to sell for over $22.5 million. And it’s no wonder when you take a look at its unique pedigree, with an amazing history of previous pilots, including Roy Salvadori, Jack Brabham and Carroll Shelby. And in case that wasn’t enough, this incredible car went on to win the 1959 Nürburgring 1,000km under the fearless handling of none other than Sir Stirling Moss.
$22.5 million
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$26.4 million 1964 FERRARI 275 GTB/C SPECIALE Aside from being an exquisitely striking motorcar, this 275 GTB/C Speciale is also extremely rare in its own right – even more so than its coveted stablemate and predecessor, the 250 GTO. Based on the roadgoing 275 GTB, there were only three ‘competizione’ or competition chassis ever build by Ferrari, with those three cars made specifically for FIA homologation and racing. The three cars in full competizione spec, including this one sold at
auction in 2014, boasted a significant 70bhp increase in power over their road-based siblings, as well as substantial weight saving measures. That, in combination with a 320bhp V12 with six mounted Weber carburettors and a long, documented history meant that in Monterey back in 2014, this immensely desirable Italian classic sold for a huge $26.4 million – almost a comparative bargain when considering some other ‘60s Italian icons that feature further down this epic list.
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1967 FERRARI 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T. SPIDER 1967 is a particularly fine vintage if you’re in the market for a red Italian barchetta. One of only 10 N.A.R.T. Spiders to ever come into existence over a single year of production, this long-nosed Italian roadster is always in high demand. Sporting a 300bhp 3.2-litre V12 motor, this Spider has certainly got a sting, even by modern standards. On the exterior, there are many classic 1950s and ’60s design cues to drink in; from delicate spoked chrome wheels to bullet-shaped wing mirrors and
$27.5 million
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smooth lines flowing front to rear. The elongated acronym in the title, not so fitting for this curvaceous car, stands for North American Racing Team – a group of Le Mans winners amassed by state-side Ferrari distributor and racing driver, Luigi Chinetti. This rare, single-ownership car went under the hammer in 2013 and fetched a handsome $27.5 million. Film star and racing driver, Steve McQueen, is said to have crashed and totalled his own 275 GTB Spider, and rumour has it he had once set eyes on this particular example.
1956 FERRARI 290 MM Built to take on the formidable World Sportscar Championship in the mid 1950s, the Ferrari 290 MM was developed specially for the 1956 season. Beneath the sleek outer shell, featuring the signature single nacelle hump, sits a potent front-mounted 320bhp V12, mated to a keen fourspeed transmission. As its initials may suggest, the 290 MM was set to take on the challenge of the mighty Mille Miglia – an infamous open-road endurance race. With chassis number 0626, the car in question was piloted up those meandering mountain passes by Juan
Manuel Fangio in 1956. Of the 426 cars that entered the race, 365 would start, but only 182 would finish. Fangio fought his way up the rankings and placed an impressive fourth overall. The unique racing history behind this car, not to mention its staggering beauty, meant that its final sale price tipped in at an impressive $28.05 million. And if you were after proof of Ferrari’s timeless designs, there are many small details introduced in the original 290s that have made it through to Ferrari’s latest attempts at a single-seat speedster, with the acclaimed Monza SP1.
$28.05 million
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1954 MERCEDES-BENZ W196 R A true triumph of engineering, the W196 R ‘Monoposto’ may be the least instantly recognisable yet ultimately historically significant car to make this outstanding list. Developed for the 1954 season of the Grand Prix under the new rules and increasingly rigorous regulations, the W196 R was lighter, stiffer and faster than anything Mercedes-Benz had ever entered into the competitive arena. Its new in-line eight-cylinder engine was able to push 256bhp to the rear wheels
at a spine-tingling 8,260rpm. This silver bullet would then see legendary F1 wheelman, Juan Manuel Fangio, secure his second world championship in the car’s debut year. At the time of sale, back in 2013, this streamlined Formula 1 championship calibre car broke records. The final price as the hammer fell, an eye-watering $29.6 million, was the then most expensive car to ever sell at auction. And it remains to this day the sole representation of a W196 R in private ownership.
$29.6 million
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g This article is sponsored by C. De Salamanca, official dealers for Bentley, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Jaguar & Land Rover. Tel: (+34) 952 785 250.
1957 FERRARI 335 SPORT SCAGLIETTI With a wonderfully curvaceous shape, fluid lines and exposed side-mounted exhausts, this stunning Ferrari 335S has an incredible racing profile, seeing action at the Sebring 12 Hours in the late ‘50s, to the Mille Miglia and 24 Hours of Le Mans. At the time of sale back in 2016, the $35.7 million final bid made this motorcar a record breaker in its own right – marking it as the most expensive race car ever sold at auction. Weighing only 880kg and packing a serious punch from its 4-litre V12, the
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335 Sport Scaglietti would regularly reach over 300 km/h on a long straight. The 335S was Ferrari’s answer to the powerful Maserati 450S – a close rival that was regularly outmanoeuvring and outgunning the 290 MM on track at the time. Only four of these amazing Italian front-engine ‘50s racers were ever made, making them a very rare and highly sought-after commodity. And frankly it’s not hard to see why. The 335S is an icon and represents true motoring nirvana.
$35.7 million
$48.4 million
1962 FERRARI 250 GTO In pole position comes the coveted Ferrari 250 GTO. In fact, two stellar examples, both with chassis numbers dating back to 1962, occupy the first and second most expensive cars ever sold at auction. The more affordable of the two tipped the scales at just over $38.1 million, with the true record holder breaking boundaries at an astonishing $48.4 million. With only 36 250 GTOs to ever leave the factory over just a two-year production span, it’s no surprise the legendary Italian marque continues to generate such interest and fetch incredible premiums. Designed under
the steadfast efforts of Giotto Bizzarrini and Sergio Scaglietti, the 250 GTO is powered by an intoxicating 3-litre V12. Its main historic rivals were also notable power punchers, like the Shelby Cobra and Jaguar E-Type, but with many examples boasting superior race pedigree, there’s certainly no argument that the GTO utterly deserves the pinnacle on which it stands. It has even been suggested that in a private sale that took place in 2018, a Tour de France-winning GTO sold for a staggering $70 million, making it the most expensive car in the world and part of a very exclusive club indeed. e
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WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY FROM 24KILOS
LEWIS HAMILTON THE NEED FOR SPEED
It’s fair to speculate that Lewis Hamilton polarises opinion, even in the midst of being unveiled as the greatest ever Formula One racer.
H
is victory at the Turkish Grand Prix in the middle of November ensured the Stevenage-born speedster equalled Michael Schumacher’s record of seven Drivers’ Championships, having already surpassed the German’s race victory total in October, in another season of unparalleled dominance. By the close of the campaign in Abu Dhabi on December 13th, Hamilton’s points tally was 347, a colossal 123 ahead of closest rival, Valtteri Bottas.
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The champ said: “To all the kids out there, dream the impossible! Seven is just unimaginable but when you work with such a great group of people and you really trust each other, there is just no end to what you can do together. “I feel like I’m only just getting started, it’s really weird.” He may just be correct in that statement. At 36, the Mercedes driver has time on his side – the great Luigi Fagioli was 53 when he scored his final race win at the 1951 French Grand Prix. Certainly, it’s becoming difficult to remember a time when Hamilton’s grit, speed and desire wasn’t present in the sport. Many believe he truly announced himself at the British Grand Prix in 2008, driving for McLaren. Although he’d already clocked up six victories, dating back to Canada a year previously, his mastery of brutally wet driving conditions to win by over a minute after starting fourth on the grid, set a precedent where he was regarded as the driver to beat. The world title duly arrived later that year in spectacular
fashion, as on the final corner of the final lap in the final race, in Brazil, he overtook Timo Glock to snatch victory from the gearbox of defeat. After switching to Mercedes in 2014, following a fallow period, Hamilton’s synchronicity with the technicians and mechanics accelerated success beyond all expectations, failing just once, in 2016, as Nico Rosberg pipped him to title glory by just five points. The German realised he would most likely never repeat that feat, and promptly retired from the sport, never to be seen again. Wind forward and even finding himself struck down with Covid at the start of December was not to dampen the determination and drive for Hamilton, a man who now
looks towards new heights, the first of which will be making up the handful of race wins required to get to that magic total of 100. As far as being the sport’s ‘Marmite man’, his recognition as the 2020 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award and upcoming Laureus nomination prove that public swell remains with him. And anyway, Hamilton gives short shrift to the detractors. He will discuss his Knighthood, announced as part of the New Year Honours, he’ll reference all those times he’s arrowed across the finish line in first position, he’ll note the 84 occasions he’s started on the front of the grid and, of course those seven titles. And he’ll point to the fact he is, truly, the greatest ever. ›
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Q: Throughout all your success you’ve always remained calm and controlled. How do you do this? LEWIS: It’s been a part of my DNA from the start. I’m just not one of those drivers who’s going to go around losing my rag. I do remember back in the day watching Michael Schumacher square up to other drivers and go after them in the pit lane at the end of races, and don’t get me wrong it was great entertainment to watch that kind of thing. And actually, it was exciting for the sport to think that you had these really passionate guys driving cars who could possibly flip at any moment, but that’s just not me, and for the most part it’s not the way others would behave. We are in a different era and a lot of us have been trained as racing drivers to keep our cool, because when you start to lose your mind in a car you start to lose control.
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Q: Off the track, your profile is impossibly high. Do you see yourself as a celebrity? LEWIS: I know people like to brand me as this celebrity who cares more about image and money and photoshoots then he does his profession, but I can assure you that’s not true nor has it ever been true. There are no racing drivers who finish a day’s racing on the track, head home, get to bed then wake up the next morning and do the same thing over and over again. We all have lives outside the circuit and of course it’s one of those sports where there is a lot of other stuff going on, and with all the money in the sport, that means big showbiz events. Half of the places I’m photographed at I’m only there because maybe I’m doing something promotional or working with a charity or something like that – it’s not as
if I’m desperate to go out every night and make sure I get my face in the newspapers. That’s just not me. I am just as connected with nature too, with spending time in the countryside – with others or chilling by myself – as I am in the world of the paparazzi. Q: Last year you took home the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award [jointly awarded with Lionel Messi] and you have been nominated again for 2021. How does it feel to be regarded right at the pinnacle of the sporting world alongside so many other greats? LEWIS: I feel very privileged to have been nominated again. You know it’s such a prestigious award. It’s great to see what Laureus do in their work and you know it’s something that all the great athletes aspire to win one day.
Q: You’ve been nominated in a group that includes LeBron James, Rafael Nadal, Robert Lewandowski, Armand Duplantis and Joshua Cheptegei. That’s a pretty classy group? LEWIS: Yes, when you mention all the different names, when you look at all the list of great athletes, I feel very honoured to be among them. Just that in itself is an award, to be recognised among those who are doing so great in their sports. Q: Was there a particular F1 season highlight for you in 2020? LEWIS: The whole year was a highlight. I enjoyed every single race; the way it started out until the end. I think naturally the race in Turkey was a big highlight, just the way it unfolded, the way it happened.
Q: The Mercedes Formula One team have been nominated again for Laureus, too. What can you say about last year’s car and the team and the support they gave you? LEWIS: I’ve been with Mercedes since I was 13. It’s a long, long time. I’ve been with Mercedes definitely longer than most drivers and it’s been a privilege to see Mercedes evolve, see the success over those years, and now to be a part of that success and to see them constantly evolving, innovating, moving forward. When you travel the globe and you see Mercedes-Benz in every corner of the world, in every street, then to know that you are one of their representatives, it’s very cool.
Q: What about further advancements to the car, and looking at the challenges of 2021? Does racing still excite you as much? What’s your mood… your feeling going into the new season? LEWIS: I feel super. I feel younger than I’ve ever been to be honest. I got back in the car and it was super-easy. The car feels great. The way it’s evolved, it’s another step. I think there are a lot of challenges we have this year. I think the other teams will be getting closer – we don’t know yet, but it wouldn’t surprise me. And anyway, the challenge is of trying to raise the bar and be better, no matter what anyone else is doing. When you look at a season like last year, it’s one of the best years we’ve ever had, so how do you beat that? ›
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Up Close & Personal
D SPOTLIGHT people
Q: What’s the best advice you can give for travellers? LEWIS: Take lots of pictures. Don’t waste the opportunity. Q: What’s your favourite meal? LEWIS: I love pasta. A good burger. Right now, I have not had any of that for a long time... Q: When you’re away from the UK what do you miss most? LEWIS: I miss the stunning countryside, greenery, and family. Q: What’s your favourite movie? LEWIS: I guess my number one movie is Cool Runnings. [The film about
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a Jamaican bobsled team that against all odds succeeded in qualifying for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary]. For me, that film epitomises everything you need to know about sporting desire, battling the odds, fighting adversity and the opinions of others – it’s a real story of hope. I love the way as well it has such a real-life ending… I won’t spoil it if you don’t know what happens. Not all sport is perfect and sometimes the fairy-tales turn bad – and that actually just makes the whole thing more realistic, for me. I know I can’t go out there and win every race; but there’s every chance I’ll win the next one, and that’s all I need to focus me. e
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D SPOTLIGHT culture
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T S O M E H T F O 5OTORIOUS ART N S E V E I H T ke a nice It seemed li bad od to have neighborho nd rote Raymo w ,” in s it b e a h sic detectiv s la c e th in r Chandler ep. Chandle le S ig B e h d T novel the art worl t u o b a g in t wasn’t talk e sentimen th t u b , y ll a specific -heeled, e of its well m o s s re tu cap lous y unscrupu ll a n io s a c c o dealings. there’s the Right now, arch orld-wide se mounting w ck, Inigo Philbri r, le a e d rt a for lleged dry list of a whose laun ork he e selling a w d lu c in , s e crim le collectors ip lt u m to n of art didn’t ow lion dollars il m 4 1 $ g holdin g to then seemin d n a , e g ta s g ho ere’s nothin th t u B r. a e disapp n of crooked su e th r e d n u new llows ing. Here fo m m a c s rt ing a e other lead th f o é s o , p an ex lers, forgers a e d y d a h s o stories of ICH the past tw SEO FRIEDR m o fr s e v ie WORDS MU and th decades.
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rs e m m a c s e Thes rld o w t r a e h t of ate r o b a l e d e t concoc ike l d a e r t a h ruses t are l l a t u b , n fictio true.
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Stéphane Breitwieser in 2006. Photo by JefInfojef via Wikimedia Commons
[Stéphane Breitwieser] The Scam This notorious Frenchman stole at least 239 works from 172 museums throughout Europe between 1995 to 2001. Consistency was his skill: Supposedly he robbed an artwork every 15 days or so, often with the help of his former girlfriend Anne-Catherine Kleinklauss, who would stand as lookout as he removed paintings from their frames. What makes Breitwieser so intriguing is that his thieving lacked any financial necessity. Instead, he saw himself as something of a connoisseur, with a taste especially for 16th- and 17th-century works. His most expensive pinched painting was Lucas Cranach the Elder’s Sybille, Princess of Cleves, which was estimated to be valued at £5-£5.6 million.
How He Got Caught He couldn’t quit while he was ahead. In November of 2001, Breitwieser filched a 16thcentury bugle, of which only three are known to exist, from the Richard Wagner Museum in Lucerne, but a guard spotted him before he escaped. Seemingly insatiable, Breitwieser returned to the museum just two days later. A journalist named Erich Eisner happened to be walking his dog by the museum and, when he noticed a man who seemed out of place, surveying the museum, he alerted the very same guard who had spied Breitwieser a few
days before. He was arrested in Switzerland, but it took authorities several weeks to get a search warrant for his home in France and in that time the thief’s spooked mother apparently destroyed a number of works, for which she ultimately served just over two years in prison.
Where He Is Now Breitweiser would wind up spending two years in prison in Switzerland before being extradited to France, where in 2005 he was sentenced to an additional three years by a court in Strasbourg. After he was released, he wrote an autobiography of his exploits called Confessions of an Art Thief. But even that publishing success couldn’t satisfy his thirst for theft and in 2011, police discovered 30 stolen works in his home, landing him in prison for three more years. And in February 2019, he was arrested once again, this time in relation to a 19th-century paperweight he tried to sell on eBay.
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D SPOTLIGHT culture
back to CONTENTS Anna Sorokin, aka Anna Delvey, in a courtroom during her trial in New York. Photo by Timothy A. Clary/AFP/ Getty Images
[Anna Delvey] The Scam
How She Got Caught
Here’s the takeaway: the ethos of ‘fake it till you make it’ can go desperately wrong. The Russian-born Anna Sorokin decided she wanted a taste of the good life and arrived in New York a few years back a new woman – literally. She adopted the persona of Anna Delvey, an imaginary German heiress with a fortune of €60 million, and set about splurging on luxury hotels, lavish meals, and whirlwind vacations to the tune of $200,000. But like any good make-believe trustfunder, she also had her pulse on the cultural scene and her agenda included setting up the so-called Anna Delvey Foundation, a ‘members-only’ art club on Park Avenue, for which she was in the ill-fated process of securing loans when she was arrested.
Delvey made a number of errors that eventually caught up with her, including changing her place of birth on official documents, spending too flagrantly, and crossing a former friend who ultimately participated in a NYPD sting. After a dramatic 22-day court trial – in which Delvey’s lawyer likened his ‘moxie’filled client to Frank Sinatra – an unrepentant Delvey was convicted on a total of eight counts, including grand larceny in the first, second, and third degrees, and theft of
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services. She was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison by the New York State Supreme Court – a comparatively harsh punishment compared to some other swindlers. She was also ordered to pay $198,956 in restitution and $24,000 in fines.
Where She Is Now Delvey is serving time on Rikers Island and will eventually be moved to a prison in upstate New York. Her story will soon be coming to a television near you in the form of Inventing Anna, a forthcoming Netflix series about the infamous Soho grifter, played by Julia Garner. And maybe life in prison isn’t all bad – apparently she’s found love behind bars.
Glafira Rosales leaves Manhattan Federal Court in 2013. Photo by: Jefferson Siegel/NY Daily News via Getty Images
[Glafira Rosales] The Scam It was the pièce de résistance of art scams. In the mid-1990s, Long Island art dealer Glafira Rosales approached New York City’s Knoedler Gallery with a trove of ‘masterpieces’ by the likes of Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, which she claimed were consigned by a secret collector called, ahem, ‘Mr. X.’ Somehow, these dubious works wound up being sold for tens of millions of dollars into a number of prestigious collections between 1994 and 2009. A phony Rothko painting was even purchased by Domenico De Sole, a Sotheby’s board member who said he’d had no reason to doubt “the most trusted, oldest, most important gallery” at the time. Ann Freedman, the former director of Knoedler Gallery, has long maintained her innocence in the scam, despite overlooking even the most egregious of cautionary measures – which many of Knoedler’s victims say they find unlikely.
How She Got Caught The mystery collection seemed to keep growing in scope. In 2011, amid financial troubles, the gallery, which had opened in 1846, shuttered its doors and the house of cards began to tumble. In late 2011, the New York Times published a story about a lawsuit filed against the gallery by collector Pierre Lagrange who believed he’d been duped into purchasing a fake Pollock. As the story unfolded it was eventually discovered that Rosales’s boyfriend José Carlos Bergantiños Díaz and his brother had hired Queensbased Chinese painter PeiShen Qian to create the myriad ‘mid-century’ works, and in a very public trial in 2013, Rosales ultimately plead guilty to wire fraud, tax evasion, and money laundering.
Where She Is Now Only Rosales received any punishment, serving three months in prison, and house
arrest in 2017. She was also ordered to pay $81 million dollars to the victims. The Díaz brothers fled to Spain, where their extradition has not been granted. Qian, who was paid comparatively meagerly for his forgeries, fled to China where he claims not to know his works were being sold as originals. Freedman remains a free woman.
Mark Landis/ Image public domain
[Mark Landis] The Scam
A priest, a philanthropist, and an art forger walk into a museum and… well, they’re all the same person. This oddball case tells the story of a man who just wanted to see his art in museums and didn’t care whose name was on it. For decades, Mark Landis went about donating his fakes to museums under various names, and sometimes disguised himself as a faux Jesuit priest named Father Arthur Scott. Landis had trained at the Art Institute of Chicago, then attempted to open a gallery, but meeting with financial woes, and on the WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 75
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verge of moving back to Mississippi, he wanted to try to do one remarkable thing. His thinking? He painted a version of a Maynard Dixon work and donated it to a California museum as an original. Meeting with success, he continued to donate his own paintings to many smaller museums for 30 years, posing as artists as famed as René Magritte to many smaller, more obscure artists. His most remarkable skill as a forger was not his meticulousness, so much as his ability to work very quickly and in a number of styles.
Larry Salander/ Image public domain
How He Got Caught
[Larry Salander]
A museum registrar by the name Matthew Leininger ultimately began to unravel the ruse in 2007, when he double checked documentation on a Paul Signac painting that had been donated to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, only to find that identical works had been donated to several other museums by Landis (under his various aliases). In 2010, exposes followed in the Art Newspaper and the Financial Times and the jig was up (except not really!).
Where He Is Now
Donating works, even phony ones, to museums without any financial incentive, it turns out, is not against the law – so Landis never actually saw any consequences for his deceptions – though the losses of his donations to museums amounted to the tune of $5 million. In 2014, Art and Craft, a documentary about his life came out, and museums have made an effort to expose his works. That said, Landis seems undeterred and has attempted to donate dozens more forgeries even after his story was brought to light. 76 / APRIL 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
The Scam Call this a case of how the mighty have fallen. In 2003, Salander-O’Reilly Galleries was named the best gallery in the world by the Robb Report. By 2007, Earl Davis, son of the artist Stuart Davis and a friend of Salander, made the heartbreaking discovery that his friend had stolen and covertly sold 90 works by his father, leaving the younger Davis financially ruined. Davis wasn’t the only one swindled by Salander, who had a taste for bigwig victims and bilked the likes of tennis champion John McEnroe and Robert De Niro, Jr.
How He Got Caught Salander’s Ponzi schemes began to collapse on
each other. In the spring of 2009, he was charged with 13 counts of firstdegree grand larceny, 10 counts of second-degree grand larceny, among a slew of other charges. A year later, in March 2010, he pleaded guilty to 29 felony counts of grand larceny and admitted to selling numerous artworks without permission after falling behind on the $154,000 monthly rent of the gallery’s 71 Street Space.
Where He Is Now Salander was sentenced to six to 18 years in prison and is currently serving that sentence on Rikers Island. e
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trends
CHECK OUT COOL NEW FILM RELEASES AND HOT NEW SERIES, GUARANTEED TO PROVOKE A BIT OF BINGE-WATCHING. REVIEW THE LATEST BOOK RELEASES AND KEEP UP-TO-DATE WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE MUSIC SCENE.
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NEW MOVIES GO TO PAGE 86 FOR HOT NEW SERIES
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CINEMA SERIES MUSIC NEWS 82 Cool New Film Releases 86 Hot New Series 90 Books – New Releases 94 Music News 96 What’s Cool
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COOL NEW
MOVIES
In spite of the Covid situation, there are a few interesting new movies coming out in April. WORDS JAMES SINCLAIR
THINGS HEARD AND SEEN
» Genre: Mystery, Thriller » Directors: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini (The Nanny Diaries) » Actors: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton, Natalia Dyer Set in the 1970s, Manhattan artist Catherine Clare moves to a historic hamlet in the Hudson Valley with her husband George and begins to suspect that her marriage has a sinister secret, one that rivals her new home’s dark history. Based on the novel, All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage, the film combines supernatural elements in a story about two families entwined in their own unhappiness, where past guilt affects the present, with, at its heart a gruesome and unsolved murder.
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GODZILLA VS. KONG
» Genre: Action, Science Fiction » Director: Adam Wingard (Blair Witch) » Actors: Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Kyle Chandler In a time when monsters walk the Earth, humanity’s struggle for its future sets Godzilla and Kong on a collision course that will see the most powerful forces on the planet collide in a spectacular battle for survival. Kong and his protectors undertake a perilous journey seeking his true home but are thwarted by an enraged Godzilla. Featuring huge action scenes in every sense of the word, with awesome sound effects, make sure to see this on as large a screen as possible.
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TOM CLANCY’S WITHOUT REMORSE
» Genre: Action, Thriller » Director: Stefano Sollima (Sicario: Day of the Soldado) » Actors: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell, Jodie Turner-Smith In a spin-off from the Jack Ryan film series, John Kelly, an elite Navy SEAL and Vietnam veteran, uncovers an international conspiracy while seeking justice for the murder of his pregnant wife by Russian soldiers. Kelly adopts the CIA code name Mr. Clark and, crossing the boundaries of justice and morality, joins forces with fellow SEAL Karen Greer and shady fellow agent Robert Ritter in exposing a covert plot which threatens to engulf the US and Russia in an all-out war.
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MONDAY
FATHERHOOD
» Genre: Drama » Director: Paul Weitz (About A Boy) » Actors: Kevin Hart, Alfre Woodard, Melody Hurd Based on the real life story, Two Kisses for Maddy, a Memoir of Love & Loss by Matt Logelin. Matt and Liz were High School sweethearts who, following years of long-distance dating, finally settle together in Los Angeles. Life seemed perfect with a lovely new home, a happy marriage and a baby daughter on the way. Then tragedy struck, with the unexpected death of Liz who suffered a pulmonary embolism the day following her daughter’s birth, leaving Matt to raise his baby daughter alone.
» Genre: Drama, Romance » Director: Argyris Papadimitropoulos (Suntan) » Actors: Sebastian Stan, Denise Gough, Dominique Tipper A romance which ignites on a Friday leads to an inferno of a weekend fling, but what happens when Monday arrives? Mickey, an American guy who is DJing in clubs and living a hedonistic lifestyle in a Greek resort, meets smart, sexy American lawyer Chloe, at a party and boom, it’s seemingly love at first sight and they plunge into a tsunami of an affair. However, both of them have serious unresolved issues involving ex partners which resurface on Monday after a weekend of carefree partying. e
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HOT NEW
SERIES JAMES SINCLAIR ASSEMBLES SOME HIGHLY ENTERTAINING VIEWING TO CHECK OUT!
NEW AMSTERDAM NETFLIX
» Created by: David Schulner » Actors: Ryan Eggold, Freema Agyeman, Jocko Sims Inspired on the best-selling memoir, Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital, the 3rd Season was launched in early March and NBC has confirmed two further Seasons to follow. Full of emotion, pathos, humour and slick dialogue, the episodes revolve around new Medical Director Max Goodwin’s ongoing shake up of procedures at New York’s only public hospital, New Amsterdam. We follow his maverick exploits together with a core of other specialists as they battle with emergencies and the daily business of treating a never-ending stream of patients.
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TRIBES OF EUROPA NETFLIX
» Created by: Philip Koch » Actors: Henriette Confurius, Emilio Sakraya, David Ali Rashed It’s 2074 and the world has been ravaged by a global catastrophe leaving wreckage, devastation and the surviving factions at war with one another. When they find a mysterious cube, three siblings from the peaceful Origine tribe set out on an epic journey that could change the fate of Europe. Perfect pandemic viewing, this prototypical Netflix German Sci-fi series combines original content, teen histrionics, gratuitous violence and a multi-lingual narrative that already has fans anticipating the announcement of a second season.
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THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SNOWMAN (DISNEY+)
» Created by: Malcolm Spellman » Actors: Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Daniel Brühl Following a delayed release from 2020, the much anticipated The Falcon and the Winter Snowman live-action Marvel series hit our screens on March 19. The six-part mini series, penned by Malcolm Spellman (Empire), will reunite Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Falcon, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier, and Daniel Brühl returning as Baron Helmut Zemo. With a reported budget of $150 Million, expect big screen action with extravagant CGI effects as the pair go on a globe-trotting mission to take down an anarchist group called the Flag-Smashers.
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THE WILDS
AMAZON PRIME
THE ONE NETFLIX
» Created by: Howard Overman » Actors: Hannah Ware, Zoë Tapper, Dimitri Leonidas What if it was possible to find your perfect partner who you are guaranteed to fall in love with from a match of your DNA? Desperate to find true love, millions have signed up after scientists discover that everyone has a gene they share with only one other person. Based on the novel, The One, by John Marrs, this new British SciFi drama just launched in March, follows the fates of some very dissimilar participants in meeting their match. It’s not all plain sailing however, with the traditional ideas of dating and romance being radically changed, sometimes with deadly consequences.
» Created by: Susan Streicher » Actors: Rachel Griffiths, Sophia Ali, Shannon Berry Launched in December, Season 1 follows the exploits of a group of teenage girls who are marooned on a seemingly deserted island after their plane crashes. Shot on location in New Zealand, in a kind of Lost meets Lord of the Flies, we see the girls struggle to survive through harrowing circumstances that enforce divisions within their ranks, all the while unaware that their fate is no accident and they are actually unwilling participants in a social experiment. A second season has been confirmed with the Amazon series relocating its filming to Queensland, Australia. e
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APRIL IS PROVING TO BE A BUMPER MONTH FOR NEW TITLES. THESE ARE A FEW OF THE HIGHLIGHTS 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
A GAMBLING MAN BY DAVID BALDACCI It’s 1949 and WWII veteran Aloysius Archer is in need of a fresh start following a stint in prison. After hearing rumours that California is a place where hard working folk can make good money, Aloysius boards a bus towards a new life. On the way he makes a quick stop in Reno where he wins some money and meets secretive aspiring actress Liberty Callaghan. Arriving in Bay Town, California, they can clearly see it isn’t the land of opportunity they had hoped for. Aloysius takes a job with local P.I. Willie Dash and immediately find himself embroiled in a political scandal involving blackmail, brothels, drugs, secrets and lies. A Gambling Man is a modern gumshoe detective story from the master of thrillers and suspense.
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FIRST PERSON SINGULAR STORIES BY HARUKI MURAKAMI
OF WOMEN AND SALT BY GABRIELA GARCIA
A wonderfully surreal collection of short stories from the internationally acclaimed Haruki Murakami. All the stories are told in the first person as the title would suggest. From a monkey trained to act like a human to a writer who fabricates a review of a Charlie Parker record, the stories are filled with music and beauty evoking a sense of pleasure and nostalgia. Murakami has an ability to make the mundane fantastical and the fantastical mundane. Although several of the stories have featured in literary magazines over the past decade, this is the first time they have all been gathered together in English. First Person Singular is an engaging and enigmatic collection to savour and enjoy.
One of the most eagerly anticipated novels of 2021, Of Women and Salt follows five generations of women as they tackle immigration, racism, abuse, and the patriarchy while trying to do their best for themselves and their families. From 19th Century Cuba to modern day Mexico and Miami, the stories are told almost like vignettes, which are loosely connected like random jigsaw pieces until the final chapter where the narrative reveals itself in a complete picture. The prose is rich and poetic, exploring how choices made in desperate moments can have lasting consequences for generations to come. Absorbing, touching and emotional, Of Women and Salt is a fantastic debut from an exciting new voice in literary fiction. WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 91
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THE BEST THINGS BY MEL GIEDROYC A debut novel from comedian, actress and presenter Mel Giedroyc. Sally and Frank have the best of everything. Frank’s job as a hedge fund manager has afforded them a wonderfully comfortable and luxurious lifestyle complete with staff and over indulged kids. However, Sally struggles with the constant entertaining, the need to keep up with the Jones’ and the fake friends the lifestyle attracts. When a stock market crash sees the family lose everything overnight, Sally sees it as a wake up call and an opportunity to take control of her life and get her family back on track. Told with wit and visual humour, The Best Things is an uplifting, feelgood read.
SAINT DEATH BY MARK DAWSON Last year Mark Dawson burst on to the crime fiction scene with his novel, The Cleaner, about government assassin John Milton. Saint Death sees Milton return in this fast passed, tense page turner for fans of Lee Child and David Baldacci. Having quit the British Secret Service, John Milton has been laying low in South America for six months. When a journalist’s life is threatened by a cartel she is trying to expose, Milton can’t help but come to her aid. However, now he’s back on the radar, he has his former employers and a Russian agent to contend with as well as the cartel. As Milton attempts to smuggle the journalist into Texas, things come together with explosive consequences. Twists and turns abound in this action-packed thriller. e
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WORDS RIK FOXX
¿QUÉ PASA? ...on the music front M
any festival organisers would have been keeping a watchful eye on a concert which took place on March 27 at Barcelona's Palau Sant Jordi for the LOVE OF LESBIAN group with a crowd of 5,000. Everyone attending was required to wear an FFP2 mask throughout and undergo certain requirements before entry but there was no social distancing. It follows last December's Primavera Sound experiment where 463 were present at Barcelona's Sala Apolo and afterwards no one tested positive. Primavera Sound then announced a festival for June but on March 2 it was cancelled. A statement read, “with great sadness we must announce that this year's Primavera Sound Barcelona is postponed until 2022 due to force majeure”. However, Madrid's Mad Cool Festival is still set for July 7-10 with TWENTY ONE PILOTS, THE KILLERS, MUMFORDS & SONS plus RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS headlining. 2021 has got off to a bad start for KAYNE WEST; in January rumours that had been circulating since this time last year about his marriage being on the rocks were confirmed and his wife filed for divorce in February. Then last month a former bodyguard announced he is
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"being courted by multiple streaming services" as he prepares to reveal about working for the rapper in a tellall documentary – at least the lawyers will be happy. TV news: a three-part docu-series, Before We Was We: Madness By Madness, will air on AMC UK (Sky channel 186) from May 1 looking at the careers of London's Nutty Boys starting with their 1976 formation, featuring original footage and new interviews with band members. Also in the same music genre, the creators of Peaky Blinders are developing a TV series set against the backdrop of the Two Tone ska music scene – the movement that spawned THE SPECIALS, THE BEAT and THE SELECTER. The series will “use the music of Two Tone as its heartbeat to tell the story of how the scene exploded out of Coventry and Birmingham helping to unify black, white and Asian youth groups amid racism and political injustice.” FX Channel looks set to win the TV bidding war to air the currently in-production SEX PISTOLS six-part biopic, Pistol and it could be broadcast in the UK on the BBC as they are in cahoots with the American channel. The BEACH BOYS have joined the take the money and run trend by selling their entire brand, including all master
Madness on stage © Mick Atkins / Shutterstock.com
And meanwhile we wait for normality to return, the virus still has us hanging on tenterhooks – the latest rules are in force until April 9, then maybe we can slowly but surely get back on track. So check your local weekly publications for any gigs that may materialise. All info on this page was correct at the time of writing.
JONES covers selection, Surrounded By Time and Ireland songstress IMELDA MAY with 11 Past The Hour on the 23rd. And on the 30th, Aussie AMY SHARK with Cry Forever, UK’s BIRDY with Young Heart and UK rock duo ROYAL BLOOD with Typhoons. One album the world is waiting for comes from ADELE. The recently named best selling UK female album artist of this century has almost finished recording her latest offering and there are rumours that she is collaborating with BEYONCÉ. A source said, “Adele is pouring her heart and soul into this record, including how she feels after her 2019 divorce”. The wit of JAMES BLUNT strikes again – after getting back ‘prized family heirlooms’ when thieves ransacked his Ibiza villa in January he tweeted, “The thieves took about 100 items, including a black and white cowhide rug that my wife didn’t like, so I suspect she could be involved. They also took all my T-shirts and shirts – so they must not have a very good sense of style” Liverpool University is now accepting applications for the BEATLES Masters Degree course – will the students have to study eight days a week? e
Adele© Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com
Taylor Swift© Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com
Album: Paul McCartney – McCartney III
recordings, the rights to their name and a share of their publishing rights and memorabilia for an unknown sum. Also cashing in is DAVID CROSBY, whose publishing and recorded music rights include songs by the BYRDS plus CROSBY, STILLS & NASH. In 2010 TAYLOR SWIFT won a Grammy for her album Fearless – as revealed she is now re-recording all her past albums after losing ownership of her back catalogue and this revamped album is released on April 9 and was eligible for some Grammy categories when the awards took place on March 14. A legal tit-for-tat between Tay Tay and Utah’s Evermore Park has spiralled. The theme park is suing her for trademark infringement over last December’s Evermore album title and now she is countersuing them for playing her music without a license. Last December, PAUL McCARTNEY topped the UK charts with McCartney III. He has re-recorded the album with guests DAMON ALBARN, IDRIS ELBA, ST VINCENT, BECK and JOSHE HOMME (QUEENS OF THE STONEAGE). McCartney III Imagined lands on April 16. Other expected sellers for April: a debut from the highly rated Scotch indie rockers THE SNUTS with W.L. (2nd); after nine-years, the OFFSPRING are back with Let the Bad Times Roll and UK indie popsters LONDON GRAMMER with Californian Soil on the 16th. RAG ‘N’ BONE MAN returns with Life By Misadventure, a TOM
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? l o o c s ’ what ACKWELL COMPILED BY IAIN BL
ered the ECTRIFIED in which Lexus has pione era an ing ay rtr po PRESENTING LEXUSgEL d he ering, nc campaign has been lau rol of the transmission, ste cont An exciting new advertisin ctrified enables integrated Ele s xu recently Le . gy olo hn tec ation brid vehicles. Lexus also hy its in or ot m ic ctr development of electrific ele the chargers for their optimise the potential of plete network of electric m co a ide ov pr suspension and brakes to to ain Sp ration with Iberdrola in announced a new collabo .com customers. i www.lexus
WOMEN’S WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR 2021
received The Land Rover Defender en’s World the supreme award Wom e Best Car of the Year 2021 at th 21, which Medium SUV trophy of 20 ational was announced on Intern first time Women’s Day. This is the n the that a Land Rover has wo ards, main accolade in these aw ernational augmenting a series of int the recognitions garnered by prestigious marque. i www.landrover.com
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DUKES THE PALM HOTEL, ONE OF THE WORLD’S FINEST
Dukes The Palm hotel in Dubai, part of the esteemed Royal Hideaway Group, has been recognised as one of the best luxury hotels in the world in the I Prefer Members Choice Awards. With spectacular views of the Dubai Marina skyline, the hotel enjoys a private beach in one of the most exclusive areas of Dubai, The Palm Jumeirah. i www.barcelo.com
DR. YOU ROCK!
Bayer premiered a web series, Dr. You Rock!, starring a group of Spanish doctors involved with cancer treatments who are also fans of Rock. Aimed at both healthcare professionals and the general public, it seeks to offer an enlightening content while also imparting relevant knowledge. The group, comprising different specialists, meets weekly where they indulge their twin passions: offering the best treatments available to their patients and playing music. i www.dryourock.es
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WORLD’S LARGEST ARTISTIC CANVAS
British artist and philanthropist, Sacha Jafri, officially established the Guinness World Records title for the world’s largest canvas, titled The Journey of Humanity, created in Atlantis, The Palm ballroom in Dubai. The artist graciously donated his gigantic work of art for auction, raising the outstanding amount of $62 million, with the proceeds set to benefit the Global Gift Foundation, Dubai Cares and Unicef. i www.globalgiftfoundation.org
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Ambience is a multiple award-winning and market leading Interior architecture firm that brings creative, inspirational residential and retail projects to life around the globe. Our team consists of 25 professionals: architects, interior designers, 3D render artists, furniture designers, communication manager, project managers, the admin & logistic team and of course an installation team. Since 2002, Ambience has been commissioned to work on luxury projects in the UK, Belgium, Hong Kong, The Netherlands, Germany, Egypt, Switzerland and St Lucia, and has ongoing projects with renowned architects and developers in both Spain and abroad.
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THE DOUBLE C CARTIER BAG
Look out for the impeccable new Double C collection which will be on sale at Cartier boutiques this April. This stylish accoutrement features a jewel clasp with the Cartier initials setting the tone: a metallic logo enhanced with a touch of lacquer. i www.cartier.com
JAGUAR LEAPS AHEAD
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MÁLAGA PLANETARIUM IN THE MAKING
The Málaga Planetarium aspires to become a benchmark for international scientific tourism and will be the first completely private planetarium in Spain and the fourth largest in the world. Due to begin operation in 2022, it comprises an investment exceeding €6 Million and will be built on a plot of 8,000m2 in front of Camp Benítez, next to Ikea and Plaza Mayor. i www.skyscan.com
Among many newsworthy announcements, Jaguar stunned the automotive world by divulging that all of its models will be electric-only by 2025. Jaguar Racing also revealed its new collaboration with Micro Focus, one of the world’s leading business software providers. The famed automaker recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of the iconic E-Type jaguar with the launch of the E-Type 60 Collection. i www.jaguar.com
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lifestyle
DON’T MISS OUR TWIN DÉCOR FEATURES ON SANDON, OFFERING QUALITY, STYLISH FURNITURE ONLINE AND THE DROP SPA, GUARANTEED TO SOOTHE AWAY STRESS. WE ALSO CHECK OUT THE COLOURFUL CUSTO SPRING COLLECTION, REVIEW SMART HOME DEVICES FOR AN ENHANCED LIFESTYLE, AND TRY ON SOME DRYING COATS FOR DOGS.
GO TO PAGE 112 TO RELAX IN A DROP SPA
GO TO PAGE 130 FOR DRYING COATS FOR DOGS
GO TO PAGE 122 FOR THE CUSTO SPRING COLLECTION
GO TO PAGE 104 FOR SANDON EXCLUSIVE FURNITURE ONLINE
INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE ART FASHION 104 SANDON Exclusive Furniture Online 112 Relax in a Drop Spa 118 Smart Home Devices 122 Custo Spring Collection 130 Drying Coats for Dogs
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SANDON
NEW EXCLUSIVE ONLINE PERSONALISED FURNITURE DESIGNS
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In an exciting new expansion, SANDON has recently launched with a phenomenal pedigree, for it is a natural extension to ANTIMA Homes, the Marbella-based operation which has gained great recognition for its transformation of luxurious villas as highly desirable turnkey projects. WORDS JAMES SINCLAIR PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF SANDON
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he new online platform of SANDON presents a full range of stunning interior furniture, including sofas, chaise longues, armchairs, dining chairs, bar stools, ottomans, and headboards, all of which are exclusively manufactured by highly qualified Spanish master craftsmen. With refined and elegant lines, concentrated in neutral colours of which white is predominant, these outstanding components can coexist with other objects in perfect harmony, elevating any space and setting by lending it a comfortable and creative ambience. › WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 105
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FULLY FLEXIBLE OPTIONS What’s more, SANDON offers the possibility to personalise chosen pieces in many different ways, from the required size to colour to fabric to the wood tone desired. By doing so, it creates truly individual items which are highly prized by a clientele aware of the value of the fine details: the subtle touch of a fabric, the perfection of the wood, the sense of quality exuded.
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There are 27 exquisite fabrics to select from and all loose covered upholstery, including seat and back cushion covers, is removable for cleaning. Produced by true artisans who can adapt to every requirement, the resulting customised décor articles combine craft, comfort and style. They are also built to last, a status that appeals to sustainability: purchase less often by buying better.
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DESIGN STUDIO SERVICES Supplementing your selection of treasured pieces for your home, the firm has a design studio that responds to the needs of its clients, whether private or professional, with advice on a large variety of fabrics, colour palettes, decorative styles, customisation options and also on complementing set ups with art and antiques. Digital images can be rendered, showing floor plans, layouts and room recreations with an assortment
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of different designs and colour schemes. Accordingly, prospective customers can more readily envisage their dreams becoming reality. Belonging to the ANTIMA Group of Norwegian origen, which is a reference in top end interiorismo, cultivated over four generations dating back to 1929, they have made craftsmanship, quality and attention to detail the fundamental axis of their business.
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It is, as it were, in the company’s DNA, in sync with the lifestyle synergy it represents, and this is all naturally reflected in the new SANDON brand. With such an enviable depth of experience and track record of satisfied customers, SANDON can also attend to design palettes for entire homes, restaurants, galleries, showrooms, boutiques and even hotels.
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You can shop online, in Spanish or English, where you will find comprehensive information on all the different products available, which you can customise to your requirements according to dimensions, woods, fabrics, etc. before adding them to your cart. All items purchased can be delivered door to door throughout the EU with delivery to mainland Spain free of any transit charges. g To view products and extensive gallery images, visit SANDON's website.
CLICK TO VISIT
www.sandon.es
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The benefits of having a spa at home are numerous. Not only is bathing in bubbling warm water wonderful for alleviating stress, it is a great tonic for relaxation, contemplation, and simply having fun. Many medical conditions can be relieved by the regular use of water therapy, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, lower back pain, inflamed shoulders and necks, and tired and sore muscles. They also contribute to an improved range of motion and better sleep.
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he Drop Design Spa is an outdoor Jacuzzi perfect for a luxury spa experience in the comfort of your garden or terrace. It combines state-of-the-art technology, superior quality, style, and simplicity of use in an ergonomic design which blends seamlessly with all exterior settings. Clean water and atmospheric bubbles well forth from the bottom of the pool just like with a spring. ›
SOOTHE YOUR ANXIETIES AWAY WITH A
DROP SPA WORDS JAMES SINCLAIR PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF DESIGN STRAND
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AWARD-WINNING DESIGN
KEY COMPONENTS
The Association of Finnish Work regaled Drop with the Design of the Year award and it is the only outdoor Jacuzzi ever to have received this prestigious recognition. With this seal of approval, you can be assured of superior quality and longevity.
The Drop range of Spas feature ergonomic seating for a maximum of eight people and Massage seats for four. The jet nozzles soothe your muscles and you can control the water temperature to your liking. Adjustable LED lighting at the bottom of the pool aids safety and induces an enticing ambience,
Ergonomic seats providing space for eight people. Massage seats sit four
Adjustable LED lighting at the bottom of the jacuzzi to personalise ambience
Designed to fit seamlessly on any terrace with its borders which convert to tables
Integrated step make it safe and easy to use
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meanwhile a filter and UV system ensure the water remains purified at all times. The installation includes a lockable, insulated cover, which conserves energy and keeps the water free from dust and leaves. There is also a smartphone app – ControlMySpa™ – with which you can adjust your Drop temperature remotely. ControlMySpa™ application in your smartphone makes Drop even easier to use
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The edge can be used as a bar-feature
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ENHANCE YOUR WELLBEING When experiencing the joys of hydrotherapy you can sense your body benefitting from the increased uptake of oxygen and nutrients, giving a boost to your immune system and metabolism. Science has proven that immersion in warm water causes our blood vessels to dilate, increasing circulation and lowering blood pressure. This promotes the reduction of stress and contributes to a feel-good factor with the release of happy hormones.
If you are spending more time at home, investment in a quality spa will clearly enhance your lifestyle. The electrically heated Drop Spa is designed for year-round pleasure and is ready for use 24/7 no matter the weather – just remove the cover and enjoy! e g Marbella Showroom: Design Strand, Edif. Málaga 1C, Av. Playas del Duque, Puerto Banús. Tel: (+34) 676 902 519.
CLICK TO VISIT
www.designstrand.com
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SMART HOME WORDS BY MADDIE QUINN
DEVICES THAT WILL TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE With Wifi in every household and the fast development of smart devices in recent years, home automation is no longer just for the privileged. Now, you can make your life easier and more organised with a range of gadgets that are fast to install, come with associated apps and are even manageable by voice control such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit. We present 5 great ideas which will set you on your journey to the connected home, and once experienced you may never want to look back.
WIRELESS VIDEO DOORBELL BY EUFY SECURITY If you always wanted a video doorbell but without the hassle of a wired installation, give this gadget a go! Powered by a battery that will last 120 days with a single charge, the outdoor unit will let you take a crisp 1080-pixel view of anyone at your front door. The advanced WDR and 4:3 aspect ratio ensures that you get a head-to-toe image every time, and you can communicate with them through the 2-way audio even when you are not at home. All recordings are stored directly onto your Wi-Fi Chime’s SD card that is located securely inside your house, and as a result you don’t need any subscription for this service. Connect to Alexa or Google Assistant and have even more fun with your smart doorbell. CLICK TO BUY 118 / APRIL 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
PHILIPS HUE WHITE AND COLOR LED SMART BUTTON STARTER KIT Philips Hue is one of the most easily accessible smart lighting systems on the market. All you need is a Philips Hue Hub box connected to your router and you are set! You can then replace selected light bulbs with Philips Hue ones, choosing from traditional E27, or spot GU10 warm white, white ambience or multi-colour bulbs, which you will be able to control through wireless smart switches and dimmers, your phone, or through voice control such as Amazon’s Alexa. Their new Filament collection is a particularly funky, vintage design. Through the app you can set scenes and devices for different rooms and switch them in a group, or programme them to automatically perform a task when you need them to. Place the wireless smart buttons beside your bed for convenient control. With virtually no setup cost, Philips Hue light bulbs can transform your life in a very costeffective way. CLICK TO BUY
ANY STYLE
AS LONG AS IT´S YOURS
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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www.plusstore.es malaga@plusstore.es marbella@plusstore.es ecibanus@boconcept.es
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CLICK TO BUY
EUFY SECURITY FLOODLIGHT CAMERA This new, enhanced floodlight will make you feel more secure by adding surveillance, real-time 2-way audio communication and even a harsh warning to deter possible intruders. Keep an eye on what’s happening around your home with a wide angle live-stream camera that records in full HD. You can customise detection settings, then capture every detail even at night, as the 2500 lumen LED lights flood the area when motion is detected. Your data is safely stored locally but accessible remotely through a secure 256-bit encrypted connection, so you can interact with your system real-time to respond on app notifications. Best of all, Eufy security products don’t require a monthly subscription, so you can have all this convenience from just a one-off purchase.
GOOGLE NEST LEARNING THERMOSTAT This slick and stylish intelligent thermostat blends into your home seamlessly while monitoring and adapting to the rhythm of your life, learning about daily and seasonal changes. Its motion sensor detects activity and channels energy to the spaces where its most needed, and switches to eco mode automatically when you leave home. Thanks to its constant self-adjusting it can save up to 15% on bills without compromising your comfort. The Nest Learning Thermostat is compatible with 95% of heating and cooling systems, installable in less than 30 minutes and is also compatible with Alexa voice control. CLICK TO BUY
ORBIT B-HYVE SMART WIFI INDOOR/OUTDOOR SPRINKLER CONTROLLER Manage your irrigation through your smart phone or tablet in a clever way! This easy to install watering system comes in a lockable, weather resistant cabinet that can also be mounted outdoors and controlled from anywhere. With a range of traditional and innovative programmes, setting tasks for your garden has never been easier. Thanks to its WeatherSense Technology, B-hyve checks the weather forecast, shuts off water during rain, then recalculates the schedule, saving you water and money. Program it with its super-intuitive interface through the weather-proof panel, a computer or any Android or iOS device. e 120 / APRIL 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
CLICK TO BUY
Projects: Penthouse L, Penthouse H & Villa M
Interior Design & Property Development Showroom: Avenida Canovas del Castillo 25, Marbella blackshawinteriordesign.com +34 951 403 787 Essential Single Page Blackshaw_January_2021_4.indd 1
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Custo Barcelona shook up the New York Fashion Week with their jazzy, colourful collection this year, which for the first time they also revealed through a playful audiovisual presentation. The 'I am the Power' concept runs wild through their creations mixing bright and electric colours with metallic tones and different black finishes for a euphoric finalé. We love how the variety of unusual fabrics and daring cuts work together in a harmonious way to maintain a sexy and suggestive silhouette through a modern and sporty look. Check out their fun mini-movie in our digital edition. WORDS BY MADDIE QUINN
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CUSTO BARCELONA 'I AM THE POWER' - SPRING 2021
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CUSTO BARCELONA FW21 | New York Fashion Week Z 3:28
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g CUSTO BARCELONA
CLICK TO VISIT
www.custo.com
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DRYING COATS FROM RUFF AND TUMBLE DISCOVERED BY MADDIE QUINN PHOTOS CURTESY OF RUFF AND TUMBLE
Classic Dog Drying Coat Double layered soft and absorbent cotton towelling Dog Drying Coat in 17 sizes that fit dogs from 1-120 kg. Available in Brick Red, Bottle Green, Sandringham Blue and Heather. Limited edition colours are also occasionally available.
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f you take your furry friend out much to the beach or the country, you already know that dealing with wet dogs can be a hassle. Muddy shake-offs, sandfilled cars and those oh-so fun-filled races around the house after a nice bath could leave you more to tidy up than what you bargained for. So when I came across this stylish and practical product by Ruff and Tumble, I instantly had that ‘I want one of those’ feelings and I want to share it with you!
The Design Collection: ‘Beach’, Dog Drying Coat A special beach edition combining summery, fresh and striking colours with comfort.
These cute drying coats are made from high-quality, double thickness, cotton towelling. Modelled on the design of a horse blanket, they are very simple to put on and take off with a velcro fastened, wide belly flap that ensures that the robe sits snugly, even while on the move. The super absorbant premium material will have your dog dry in no time. They are available in at least nine
different sizes and many funky designs and colours. Perfect for holidays, beach, camping, wet walks, bath times or hydrotherapy. They even offer matching drying mitts for wet, sandy paws, so no more reason to be a stick in the mud, say yes to water!
Country Collection, Dog Drying Coats Offering the same fit and double thickness high quality cotton towelling as the Classic Range but with an added stylish faux leather trim that makes your furry friend stand out from the crowd. Available in Mud, Burgundy, and French Navy.
CLICK TO VISIT
www.ruffandtumbledogcoats.com
The Design Collection: ‘Harbour’, Dog Drying Coat Combining a stunning colour palette of Aubergine, Granite and Sky to make a stylish and striking robe for dogs.
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spa
DISCOVER HOW MICROBLABING CAN ENHANCE AND DEFINE YOUR EYEBROWS, SEE OUR COMPILATION OF ANTI-AGEING NECK CREAMS, AND CONTEMPLATE HELPFUL TIPS FOR SURVIVING TIMES OF SHEER DESPERATION.
GO TO PAGE 140 FOR SOME HELPFUL TIPS FOR TIMES OF DESPERATION
GO TO PAGE 136 FOR ANTIAGEING NECK CREAMS
GO TO PAGE 134 FOR MICROBLADING
PRODUCTS BEAUTY SPA HEALTH 134 Microblading 136 Anti-ageing Neck Creams 140 Helpful Tips for Times of Desperation
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MICROBLADING We are paying a lot of attention to eyebrow beauty lately, but creating a natural look with make-up each and every day can be a hassle. If you are searching for a semi-permanent solution and a minimally invasive cosmetic process for fuller and perfectly shaped brows, then Microblading may be for you. Easy, fast and low maintenece, it is one of the hottest trends in beauty treatments right now. We talk to Brow Ambitions for some info and tips on Microblading. WORDS MADDIE QUINN
M
icroblading is a technique used to implant pigment under the epidermis using a specially designed tool with tiny blades to produce realistic looking thin hair strokes with a 3D effect. Less permanent and intense than tattooing, Microblading can achieve a more natural look with styles ranging from a light feathered effect to a thick bold brow, that with time gradually fades out. It can be touched up and renewed annually and it is also an ideal method for just filling in missing brow hair, comments Tani, Brow Ambitions’ owner and technician, while I admire the photos of her work of beautiful brows.
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What is the Microblading process. Does it hurt? We start with a consultation 24 hours prior to the procedure when we conduct a skin test and evaluate if this treatment is suitable for you. We answer all your questions and provide a preprocedure and aftercare leaflet to take away. On the day, we follow a specific protocol including the discussion and approval of the shape and colour, the application of numbing products and then proceeding onto creating the eyebrow hair one at a time. Tiny incisions are made where pigment is inserted, excess dye is removed and done! Thanks to the numbing cream, for most people the process is pain-free,
but even if you have sensitive skin you may only experience mild discomfort. Initially your brows will look 50% darker than the final tone and they need to be allowed to heal for a few weeks. After four to 12 weeks, when your shade is final and your skin is settled, you will be asked to return to the salon to carry out any touch-ups that appear necessary. How do you decide the shape, are there different styles? Colour matching and shaping is done on the day, when the brows are carefully and precisely measured and mapped out. It is recommended to follow the natural brow frame and other
Before and after shots of Tani’s work at Brow Ambitions
facial features to achieve the most natural looking result. We will use our extensive experience and combine your personal ideas with our professional expertise when drawing the shape that will best frame your eyes. The Microblading process only begins when you are perfectly happy. How long does the effect last? And what post care is necessary? Microblading is a semipermanent treatment, therefore a regular touch up is advised once every 12-18 months. Post care only really applies in the healing period. Two to five days after you may experience tenderness, redness, flaking, dryness or itching so it is very important that you follow the protocol strictly at least during the first week after the procedure. Similar to following a tattoo, you need to keep the area clean, hydrated and covered with ointment. Are there any side effects or possible allergies? Allergic reactions are very rare and the possibility is discarded with the first consultation’s skin test. If you follow proper post care and allow the healing process, things should go according to plan, however there are some activities you should put on hold for at least seven days or until your brows appear to have recovered. You shouldn’t
use make-up, expose your face to extreme heat or cold, steam or UV rays and make sure you don’t scratch, pick or rub the area, as this can result in infection or scarring, that may remove pigment and lead to uneven colouring undermining the results. What do you have to do to prepare for an appointment and how much does it cost? It is recommended that one to two weeks before you avoid waxing, plucking, electrolysis and similar beauty treatments such as botox or other injections. You should not consume alcohol,
ibuprofen, aspirin, coffee, niacin and Vitamin E in the 48 hours leading up to your session and try not to schedule social appointments for the five following days when you may feel sensitive. At Brow Ambitions, Microblading costs €350 including the follow up touch up. If you have any further questions or concerns, make sure to discuss it with your technician. g Brow Ambitions Urb. Los Naranjos de Marbella, Centro Comercial, N°4, Marbella. Tel: 951 562 190.
CLICK TO VISIT
www.browambitions.com
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WORDS BY MADDIE QUINN
8 ANTI-AGEING
NECK CREAMS FOR A YOUNGER LOOK
Is your neck ageing faster than your face? We tend to spend all the time and effort to care for our faces while our most alluring, delicate areas below the jawline are even more susceptible to the effects of time. Thankfully, there are many products on the market to help – here are some that come highly recommended. Take your pick, it may become your secret weapon to a firmer, smoother, younger-looking neck and decolletage.
CLICK TO BUY
2 BARE MINERALS AGELESS GENIUS™ FIRMING & WRINKLE SMOOTHING SERUM A concentrated lotion serum which is reported to reduce visible signs of ageing in as little as 4 weeks. This ‘genius’ formula includes mineral gold, age-defying peptides and encapsulated Vitamin A, which is a natural source of retinol. A blend of potent botanical extracts also hydrates and protects skin from environmental stressors. CLICK TO BUY
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1 STRIVECTIN TL ADVANCED TIGHTENING NECK CREAM A powerful cream with Gravitite-CF Lifting Complex™ to improve skin elasticity and to provide visible lift. It features a botanically-derived Brightening Complex for even skin tone and patented NIA-114™ technology to strengthen the skin barrier. With regular use, the effects of gravity appear reversed for a more refined, toned definition.
3 SKINCEUTICALS A.G.E. INTERRUPTER (A.G.E.) is a major factor of the natural ageing process and this advanced wrinkle treatment fights it with a high concentration of proxylane™, combined with blueberry extract, and phytosphingosine. It reduces the appearance of skin creping and thinning, and restores water and nutrients to improve the look of skin firmness. It’s also alcohol and dye-free. CLICK TO BUY
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WE DELIVER SUNSHINE and entertainment all over the world Featuring luxurious cosmopolitan lifestyle on the Costa del Sol, Spain and further afield. From editorial to advertising, thousands of affluent readers see, source from essential’s pages. If you would like your business to be included, email us today! C L IC K H ER E TO EMA IL
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4 LA MER THE NECK & DECOLLETE CONCENTRATE Featuring Concentrated Miracle Broth™ which is an ultrapotent form of La Mer’s cell-renewing elixir formulated to restore a more youthful-looking neckline. With a lavish, plumping texture, this product is made with marine-based ingredients to help support skin’s natural fibronectin and collagen for a stronger, firmer feel.
5 PRAI BEAUTY STORE AGELESS CLICK TO BUY THROAT & DECOLLETAGE CREME A rich, luxurious creme featuring the unique Sepilift™ technology that restores elasticity and boosts collagen. It’s combined with Hyaluronic Acid to plump and fill-in wrinkles, Shea Butter, Mulberry, Saxifrage and Grapeseed extracts for moisture and skin-tone and A, E and F Vitamins to rejuvenate ageing and damaged skin. Visible results are reported in just 7 days!
CLICK TO BUY
6 DR. DENNIS GROSS FERULIC + RETINOL FORTIFYING NECK EMULSION This elegant, silky formula targets neck ageing issues with lactic acid that is known to stimulate cell turnover. It’s a quick-absorbing, collagen-enriched emulsion that helps firm and fortify and renew your neck’s delicate surface. Ferulic acid, retinol, silk amino acids and Dr. Dennis Gross’ exclusive ECG Complex facilitate cellular repair to restore your skin.
8 ELIZABETH ARDEN PREVAGE ANTIAGING NECK AND DECOLLETE LIFT AND FIRM CREAM Elizabeth Arden fights the signs of ageing with the award-winning Idebenone technology plus a protein restoring complex. This luxurious formula promises to instantly tone 138 / APRIL 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
7 GUERLAIN ORCHIDÉE IMPÉRIALE ANTI-AGEING NECK & DECOLLETE CREAM Blended with a delicious floral scent, CLICK TO BUY Guerlain combines the replenishing power of Cell Respiration technology and latest-generation active ingredients with firming properties. Creating a ‘second skin’ mesh, a breathable film with lifting and smoothing effect, it visibly helps resculpt the delicate neck area day after day, and restores its luminosity, elasticity and ideal firmness.
and nourish with moisture, and to help correct and protect the appearance of dry, delicate, vulnerable skin. With continued use, it also reduces the appearance of existing dark spots and sun damage. CLICK TO BUY
Always on top of my health with...
THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF EXPERTISE FOR CARDIO-VASCULAR DIAGNOSTICS AND THERAPY IN MARBELLA Expert Team of Internationally Trained Doctors
Latest high tech equipment includes the newest Siemens hemodynamic cath lab for cardio-vascular interventions: coronary and peripheral artery stenting procedures, pacemaker insertion, interventional, non-surgical heart valve repair TAVI (newest European cardiology guidelines), 3D Cardiac Ultrasound, various dynamic stress test procedures, advanced arrhythmia diagnostics, cardiac CT and MRI
Co-located at HCinternational Hospital Marbella, CardioCare benefits from the unique high standard hospital infrastructure offered.
At CardioCare we believe in solutions Whether you are a cardiac patient or looking for an extensive cardio-vascular check-up, we don’t just find the problem, we also give you the solution.
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FOUR TIPS FOR WHEN YOU’RE
HANGING AT THE END
OF YOUR ROPE Hitting rock bottom is one of life’s most difficult moments. It can happen for professional, personal, financial, or health reasons. Frequently several intertwine, creating a nightmare from which you can’t awaken. Without psychological tools and tips such as those listed below, things deteriorate. You might resort to alcohol, antidepressants, sleeping pills, recreational drugs, gambling, risky sex, or worse. WORDS GABRIELLA KORTSCH
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ecognise that you, yourself, by continually watching potentially ‘negative’ news channels offering sensationalism to keep you in a state of fear and therefore keep you watching, maintain yourself in that bad place. Stop watching. Ditto much of social media and the online tabloid press.
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1 TAKE A REALITY CHECK Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) looks at reality versus myth. Hanging at the end of your rope, you might place greater emphasis on myth than reality. In a panic attack you may be unable to fly, fearing a crash. Statistical reality demonstrates a much lower possibility of a plane crash than a
traffic accident. Using this kind of ‘reality’ versus the ‘myth’ you have in mind, helps bring about inner change over time. 2 LOOK INTO PAST EXPERIENCES OF SUCCESS A German word – Erfolgserlebnis – signifies ‘experience of success’. Your experience! Search your past
CLICK TO VISIT
www.gabriellakortsch.com
for successful experiences. Did you run that marathon? Learn that foreign language? Write that paper? Give that speech? Learn how to cook? Figure out how to use that software? Whatever it was – even if those experiences are unrelated to your current challenge – use knowledge of that success, urging yourself forward, encouraging yourself in the present endeavour, also realising if you were capable of that, you may also be capable of this. 3 FIND A ROLE MODEL WHO’S BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, AND SURVIVED Having always enjoyed reading biographies, I generally knew of someone experiencing my own situation from those books. It helped immensely to re-read how they overcame that. Perhaps their solution was not mine, but I felt a kinship – someone who understood my story, my predicament, my pain. When I was 31, my sons aged eight, six, and five were kidnapped. To put labels on what we four went through would be simplifying what was perhaps the most painful experience of our
lives. A year before, I had read an autobiography, recounting a similar experience. I had also recently – serendipitously - befriended a woman who told me of such a heartbreak in her life. Basing myself at least in part on their tragedies, and their solutions, I willed up the strength to deal with it as best I could in order to not fall off the end of my rope. Looking at others’ experiences that are analogous to yours may help you discover solutions and hope. 4 CHUNK IT DOWN Overwhelm often happens when you’re at the end of your rope. So devastated by events, you can’t see the trees for the forest. So you freeze. By chunking things down into manageable bits, you may manage to move forward slowly, gaining momentum in time. How do you chunk it down? Think: let me just get through today, just until after dinnertime. To accomplish that, what must I do? Or think: what is one small thing I can do right now that will help me move forward? Even if it seems quite tiny and unimportant. Or think: what can I focus on just for now, that will help me calm down? Because the calmer I am, the more I’ll be able to assess the circumstances and conceptualise how to move
forward... even if currently I have no idea how to solve the big picture. WHAT COMES AFTER? It makes sense to do your utmost to never again find yourself in such a situation. Not by controlling problems in your life, as we never have total control over that, but by ensuring you never again find yourself hanging at the end of your rope, no matter what. How can you avoid that? My recommendation is being present, aware, and very conscious of yourself at all times. This implies mindfulness, an exponentiallygrowing practice, until finally you notice it fills your entire day, somewhat like background music in your life. Soon you realise that no matter what life throws at you, you are able to remain present and calm, finding a place of peace inside in the midst of the storm, and so never even getting close to the end of your rope. e Gabriella Kortsch, Ph.D., a multilingual, integral (body, mind, soul) psychotherapist, and bestselling author, with an international practice in Marbella, has been working with clients from 30 countries since 2003. i www.gabriellakortsch.com
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enterprise
WE FIND OUT HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS ALTERED THE WAY WE APPROACH SEARCHING FOR A NEW HOME ON THE COAST AND FOCUS ON INSPIRED HILL-TOP DEVELOPMENT, OAKHILL HEIGHTS. LEARN HOW BREXIT HAS MAJOR IMPLICATIONS FOR BRITISH CITIZENS SEEKING RESIDENCY IN SPAIN AND GET UPDATED ON LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS.
GO TO PAGE 150 TO SEE HOW COVID HAS CHANGED HOUSE HUNTING
GO TO PAGE 160 FOR BREXIT IMPLICATIONS ON RESIDENCY IN SPAIN
GO TO PAGE 152 FOR BUSINESS NEWS
GO TO PAGE 144 FOR OAKHILL HEIGHTS
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROPERTY FINANCE LOCAL NEWS 144 Oakhill Heights 150 How Covid has Changed House Hunting 152 Business News 160 Brexit Implications on Residency in Spain
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WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF SIESTA HOMES
BOUTIQUE LIVING AT
OAKHILL HEIGHTS
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A wonderful setting in the hills between sea and mountains, close to Marbella but endowed with a country atmosphere, deserves homes that capture this unique ambience. Blending modern refinement and Mediterranean elegance as it does the comfort of a villa with the convenience of an apartment, Oakhill Heights offers something rather special.
T
here are different ways of experiencing the seductive lifestyle of the Costa del Sol. One is to be positioned right by the sea; another to be close to the action in a more urban environment; and others choose to follow the contours of a golf course in a residential or country club setting. For those who desire the fresh air, space and spectacular views of a natural, peaceful location surrounded by open countryside, there are options that make you feel like you’re in authentic Andalucía while being a few minutes removed from Marbella and the coastal area. Among the finest of these is La Mairena, a select community in the hills above Elviria. Build densities are low here, so the apartment complexes and villas that skirt the local valley golf course and hug
gentle hillsides find themselves ensconced between pine and cork oak. This sense of being surrounded by greenery sketched against blue skies is further enhanced by the natural soundtrack of birds and the wind rusting through branches; not to mention streams that cascade down the hillside into lush valleys down to the sea. Monte Elviria, located within the Sierra de las Nieves, was recently declared as one of Spain’s national parks. Throughout Europe, property set in a national park comes at a premium, because they are always in areas of outstanding natural beauty and are protected against unsightly and unsuitable development that would damage the area’s natural flora and fauna, and destroy its value as a beautiful place to visit and live.
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BOUTIQUE LUXURY AND NATURE This is the setting of Oakhill Heights, a new boutique redevelopment project of 14 renovated Mediterranean homes that enjoy a panoramic outlook to the coast just seven minutes away. Blending as they do modern refinement and comfort with classic Mediterranean elements, these properties offer everything you could wish for from a 21st century Marbella home combined with an inspiring setting. This means the latest build qualities, open-plan layouts, design details, superior fittings, and of course home automation systems.
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But then they offer more too, thanks to features that give these homes a unique quality of their own. This includes a large degree of freedom in choosing not just the material finishes, kitchens and decorative details on the part of buyers, but also the ability to reconfigure parts of the layout, such as choosing between three and four bedrooms in the 300m2 properties, and deciding how to fit the 115m2 of panoramic lounge terrace, intimate patio and rooftop lifestyle area complete with plunge pool. The portal to this select, gated community leads to private garages and an entrance on the lower level, along with an extra bedroom suite, office, entertainment or workout space. Stairs lead to the bedroom suites on the next floor, with the upper area dedicated to spacious open-plan living and dining with something of a loft feel, albeit with distinct Andalusian design touches. Sliding doors open up to a spacious terrace from which the most spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, wooded hills, golf
courses and the sea appear. From here, one can trace the shoreline all the way to Fuengirola, Málaga and the Sierra Nevada’s white-topped peaks in the distance. Just as enticing is the spacious yet cosy patio that backs onto a flowered slope and the other side of the living area. Owners configure this ambient space with its distinctly Mediterranean atmosphere in different ways, adding such elements as outdoor kitchens and barbecues, bars, lounging areas, pergolas and even little herb gardens – supplementing the possibilities offered by the panoramic rooftop terrace with its changing facilities and swimming pool. Together, they complete a truly seductive lifestyle offered in one of the finest beauty spots of the Costa del Sol. Park in the leafy environs atop the houses and you enter your home through a wonderful bridge that adds a true sense of arrival reminiscent of the Lyon Street steps in San Francisco.
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BEACH CLUB AND SERVICE A few steps away from Oakhill Heights a facility is taking shape that will add further value and make it a residential resort within the wooded embrace of La Mairena. Here, in a particularly pretty spot, a beach club is planned, complete with swimming pool, gorgeous lawns dotted with ancient oak trees, a panoramic terrace, fresh produce eatery and even a convenience store. This complex will form the basis for the concierge services offered to and tailored around residents of Oakhill Heights and other developments created by Siesta Homes. The company that prides itself on its boutique projects, its design flair and resident service will manage this unique hilltop beach club in La Mairena for the benefit of owners at Oakhill Heights, who become members, though non-residents are welcome too. “The main services will be aimed at our residents/members, as is the case in a golf club,” says Siesta Homes CEO Morten Remo,
“but the beach club will also be a welcome amenity for the area, and another reason why you don’t have to leave La Mairena for want of anything.” The personalised interior design service and post-sale concierge services offered by Siesta Homes are two features that make this boutique developer stand out, but ultimately it is the sensitivity with which it creates wonderful homes in beautiful settings that makes developments such as Oakhill Heights the perfect canvas for the ideal Mediterranean lifestyle – little wonder then that it has won the European Property Award for Best Renovation Project in Spain.
g Starting prices from €695.000. Tel: (+34) 952 828 443. Tel: (+34) 673 505 710. info@siestahomes.com
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HOW HAS COVID CHANGED THE PROCESS OF
HOUSE HUNTING
IN SPAIN
The pandemic has changed how we’re living, our priorities and our outlook on what we want from a home. Property hunters need to be prepared for how these changes will affect their search and also consider their new essential must-haves in the post-COVID era, so this month we’re answering your questions on how things have changed and what to expect. WORDS SEAN WOOLLEY, SPANISH PROPERTY EXPERT AND AUTHOR OF FROM THE GROUND UP
travel to Spain. For clients who are already well-researched and familiar with an area, there has sometimes been no need to physically visit. Armed with a high-quality camera, a gimbal and a wide-angled lens, we have been able to conduct live walk-through video chats and to produce beautifully edited videos which are almost as good as the real thing. We have been able to sell a number of high value properties purely
based on virtual viewings and we expect this trend to continue even when travel restrictions lift. Q. What is the mask etiquette when touring properties? Spanish law requires the wearing of face masks in all public spaces, and this also applies to property tours. When we take clients out on viewings, we are armed with extra masks and hand sanitiser. We tend to restrict the length of our tours to
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Q. If I am unable to travel to Spain, do international real estate agents offer virtual home tours? Virtual viewings have become the “new normal” for overseas real estate agents. We have been using them so that our buying clients can effectively shortlist properties from the comfort of their own home, with the aim of physically viewing their selected options when they are able to comfortably
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four or five properties at a time as we have found that most clients (as well as our property consultants) find mask-wearing too restrictive after 3 or 4 hours of constant use. Q. Are there lots of bargains to be had now? This pandemic has caused some pricing corrections on previously over-priced properties and there will be some good deals to be found, but do not expect general discounting in the market. We expect to see some developers offering price reductions in 2021, but don’t think these will be widespread because demand has held up pretty well, despite the pause in the market caused by lockdown. Based on the buyer response to the lifting of travel restrictions last summer and how serious and committed those buyers were when they did come, I'm expecting something similar in quarter two and quarter three this year. When people can
travel again we expect to see a spike in visits, tours and very importantly a high quality of clients, as they've had so much time to do their research and are prepared to buy. This may actually cause prices to increase as buyers compete for quality properties in highly regarded areas.. Q. How has the trend for homeworking affected international buyers? Due to the fact we were all forced to work from home due to COVID and everyone has seen how well it can work, I have already seen a change in buyers who want to use this new trend and increased job flexibility to their advantage, using their Spanish property as a full time base and commuting back to work as and when they are needed in the office. Of course, it depends on how flexible your boss is, where you’re based and how well you work from home, but it’s definitely an option for buyers working in the UK, Ireland, Italy, France and Northern Europe. I’ve had clients buy a holiday home and then realise that
they prefer the Mediterranean lifestyle and that the lower cost of living means that taking regular flights and perhaps staying in an Airbnb back ´home´ every month makes financial and practical sense, so it is well worth considering as part of your purchasing decision. Q. What are the most popular features buyers are looking for in the new normal? Priorities are changing as we spend more time at home and may need to do so for some time. Buyers want more internal and external space, gardens and terraces are more important, rooms such as home offices and gyms and private facilities like pools and spas are more desirable than ever since the public facilities may be closed. e i Sean Woolley is the Founder and Director of leading real estate agency Cloud Nine Spain. For more information, top tips and tricks to ensure your Spanish property purchase goes smoothly, search for his book From the Ground Up – The Insider’s Guide to Buying Spanish Property on Amazon. WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 151
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business news COMPILED BY IAIN BLACKWELL
CHESTERTONS EXPANDS TO THE COSTA DEL SOL With more than 20 years of property sales and investment experience in Spain, Team España has become a franchisee of Chestertons luxury real estate and will now operate as Chestertons Costa del Sol. The new operation will be based in Marbella with the object of expanding the business over the Costa del Sol during the next three years. This further reinforces Marbella’s reputation as a recognised center of excellence for the real estate industry. i www.chestertons.com, www.teamespana.com
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REAL DE LA QUINTA LAUNCHES QUERCUS La Quinta Grupo Inmobiliario has begun work on Quercus, the 2nd Phase of its prestigious development Real de La Quinta, which will comprise 96 luxury homes in an enclave of more than seven hectares. This milestone follows the extraordinary achievement of Olivos, of which all 87 apartments built have already been sold. Many factors have contributed to this success, including an enviable location, top quality construction certified by BREEAM and unrivalled facilities for the lucky owners who will call this home. i www.realdelaquinta.com
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GOOGLE SELECTS MÁLAGA FOR ITS NEW CYBERSECURITY HQ
ENGEL & VÖLKERS – SUCCESS WITH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY Prestigious German real estate firm Engel & Völkers will open a new office in Guadalmina to handle the increased interest in new construction and villas of up to €3 million euros. The company also recently announced that digital technology has become a prominent component in real estate transactions, with virtual visits playing a big role in the increase in enquiries and in the sales of luxury homes, which can now be closed in an efficient time frame, often without the buyer physically visiting the property. i wwww.engelvoelkers.com/Marbella
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Google is increasing its presence in Spain, releasing a statement that it plans to make the city of Málaga the location for its new Cybersecurity HQ is a major boost for the region. This follows the company’s acquisition of Virus Total, also Málaga-based in 2012, and its announced intention to invest more than €650 million during the next five years in Spanish based projects, one of which will be in collaboration with Telefónica. i www.google.com
MARBELLA ARENA TAKES OFF GNP Producciones and Cines Teatro Goya, responsible for the Marbella Arena, announced a new program of events for this summer, comprising concerts, theatre, sporting contests, fairs and gastronomy, which will take place in a Covid-safe
environment. Already confirmed by Rock Lounge is a disco extravaganza on July 30, starring Sister Sledge and Shalamar. The venue is also set to receive one of the biggest domes in Europe making it even more of a landmark in the area. i www.marbellaarena.com, www.rocklounge.com
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HOSPITAL COSTA DEL SOL UPGRADE The Junta de Andalucía announced a €74 million investment in improvements for the Hospital Costa del Sol, including the completion of the existing unfinished structure. This vital injection of funds will see the
hospital re-emerge at the forefront of Marbella’s health care facilities, with many new resources, additional beds and ICU capacity, and the incorporation of new technologies for the 21st century. i www.hcs.es
MUSEO FRED FRIEDRICH FOR ART LOVERS Museo Fred Friedrich is an art museum in Marbella focused on Avant-garde art and is dedicated to the German artist of the same name, housing and displaying his works. Nely Friedrich, who oversees the foundation, recently announced an exciting digital expansion which will include video conferences, podcasts and a Museo Design Store. You can also subscribe to receive their regular newsletter, which will be of interest to anyone connected with the art world. i www.museo-fredfriedrich.com
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DEBRA GIVES WINGS TO BUTTERFLY CHILDREN Children with the EB condition are frequently referred to as Butterfly Children because their skin is as fragile as a butterfly wing. The essential proteins which bind their layers of skin together are missing, leading to extreme pain and social isolation. The DEBRA charity-funded nurses are dispatched as soon as they are alerted to the birth of a baby with EB in Spain. Nurses provide onsite essential training on specialist wound care to hospital staff who,
GERMAN VISITORS LINING UP FOR SPAIN Marbella has been granted a ‘Safe Tourism Certified’ designation by the Institute of Tourism Quality of Spain and is set to receive WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council) approval, which would further reinforce the city’s
due to a lack of awareness, are often found to be causing more painful wounds to the baby and unbearable distress to parents. DEBRA provides hospital and home visits as well as a 24 hour helpline from birth to end of life care. The annual DEBRA brochure helps the world become aware of the plight of such fragile yet brave children, and includes many loyal supporters. i www.pieldemariposa.es
CLICK HERE
TO DOWNLOAD BROCHURE
reputation as a Covid-safe environment. On the strength of recognitions like these, bookings from visitors intending to holiday on the Costa del Sol have increased, by 20% in the case of German nationals, who should begin arriving by the end of May, when air travel resumes. i www.marbella.es
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NEW BRIDGE OPENING IN ESTEPONA A new bridge is going to make life easier for many people in the Cancelada Norte and Los Flamingos areas. Spanning the Arroyo de Tajare, the Cancelada Norte Bridge will cut down on journey times while also providing panoramic views over Los Flamingos Golf course. Future residents of SYZYGY The Residences stand to benefit from the new infrastructure, which will make access by car and on foot to all the facilities in the area much simpler. i www.syzygybyfm.com
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SAVE OUR SALÓN – €30.000 URGENTLY REQUIRED! Salón Varieties has been providing quality entertainment for the local community for 35 years from its base in Fuengirola. Following a year of cancelled shows they are calling for assistance to raise €30.000 needed to meet financial obligations for their survival. If you would like to help, you can do so by becoming a Theatre Patron, organising a fundraiser, or making a donation. i For more information, www.salonvarietestheatre.com, www.gofundme.com
NORTH AMERICAN INTEREST IN SOUTHERN SPAIN
FIRST RADIOTHERAPY MACHINE IN MARBELLA HC Marbella Oncology Center has begun treating its first patients with a tomotherapy accelerator. This state-of-theart technology, unique in Spain and only the second in Europe, will enable the treatment of around 350 oncology patients annually on the Costa del Sol. Now HC Cancer Center is able to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary, individualised care, including surgical oncology and radiotherapy, as well as targeted therapy and immunotherapy. i www.hccancercenter.com
Bright Marbella, developers of state-of-the-art project Vista Lago, have reported a surge in interest from the North American market for acquiring luxury homes in southern Spain. The health crisis has accentuated an interest in settling in a safer environment and Marbella appears to tick all the boxes North Americans are seeking, including quality of life, sustainable luxury construction, the presence of a large foreign community, international schools, low crime rates, and optimal connectivity for working remotely. i www.vistalago.es
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WORDS RAQUEL PÉREZ
WHAT IS HAPPENING
AFTER BREXIT
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As from 1 January 2021, British citizens and their non-EU family members are now subject to Spanish immigration rules for thirdcountry nationals, meaning any privileges under EU freedom of movement have come to an end. However, UK nationals and their family members who established residence in other EU Member States before the end of the transition period in accordance with EU free movement law, will maintain their free movements rights.
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n compliance with EU Regulation 2018/1806 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018, British passport holders travelling to Schengen countries for holidays, business or to visit family do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days in a 180 day-period, provided the visit is not for gainful activity. Please note that the 90 days will start counting from the date they enter any of the Schengen countries, including Spain. British citizens and their family members require a visa for the purposes of residence, studies for periods longer than 90 days, work, professional, artistic or religious activities. Those who intend to spend more than three months in Spain have the obligation to become a resident and apply for the TIE card and, for more than six months, to become a tax resident which will imply paying taxes in Spain on their worldwide assets. A lot of British people came to Spain staying up to six months who didn’t applied for residency. Now, in order to become resident in Spain, they need to contact the Spanish consulate and apply for a Visa. The most common is the non-lucrative visa, which allows an individual to come
and stay in Spain as long as they wish but not to work. Oher people can apply for a different type of residency permit if they are married to someone who is protected by the withdrawal agreement or to another EU national. There is another option which is the golden visa, but this will entail purchasing a property with a value of €500.000 per family, depositing €1 million in a bank account in Spain or buying government bonds of around €2 million. If this is an option for the applicant, they don’t need to become tax resident in Spain. British citizens, before coming to Spain, should arrange a NIE certificate and open a Spanish bank account. They need also to be aware of the following: Z You are tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in a year in Spain (A tax year runs from 1st of January to 31st of December). Z You can take out 25% of your pension tax free, but if you become a resident, you would be liable to tax in Spain. Z If you have a UK property as your main residence which you sell as a Spanish tax resident, you would potentially be liable to Spanish CGT.
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TO APPLY FOR A NON-LUCRATIVE VISA THE SPANISH CONSULATE WILL REQUIRE THE FOLLOWING 1 Two copies of the National Visa Application form completed and signed by the applicant. 2 Two recent colour photos with white background, 3´5 cm x 4´5 cm. 3 Original passport, valid for at least 1 year from submission of application. 4 Police Clearance from countries of residence for the last 5 years. This document has to be apostilled and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator. 5 Medical certificate issued by your GP doctor. The applicant must be accredited to not suffer from any disease that can have serious health consequences in accordance with the provisions of the International Health Regulations 2005. This document should also be apostilled and translated into Spanish. 6 Medical Insurance with an insurance company authorised to operate in Spain. 7 Documents proving sufficient financial means for your living expenses and accommodation (€2.151,36 per month plus €537,84 for each family member). Approximately €27.000,00 in savings or income. 162 / APRIL 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
8 Form EX-01: Non-Profit Temporary Residence Authorisation Application Form. 9 Form 790-052. The visa will be approved for three months and you need to physically attend the Spanish consulate to receive it in your passport. Once you have it, the application for the permit should be filed at a police station in Spain within the following month. You don’t need to acquire any other visa. The TIE card permit is valid for one year to be renewed for another two years and then for five years (this is the last renewal). SECOND STEP IN SPAIN ONCE YOU HAVE THE VISA The requirements for the application of the TIE CARD once you have the VISA are: 1 Registration at the town hall (by either renting or buying a property in Spain, as you need to prove a domicile). 2 Financial situation as provided to the Spanish consulate. 3 Private health cover for at least one year. 4 Copy of passport and NIE certificate. 5 Form X15. If you are living in Spain and you don’t have a residency permit or your TIE card yet, be aware that your situation should be legalised as soon as possible. e g Pérez Legal Group Tel: (+34) 952 833 169. www.perezlegalgroup.com
ENJOY THE SEA, the grill and the cocktails
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gourmet
SAVOUR SUMPTUOUS JAPANESE CUISINE IN THE UBER-STYLISH SETTING OF TA-KUMI, SEARCH OUT SOME OF SPAIN’S AWARD-WINNING WINES, AND FIND OUT WHAT’S COOKING ON THE GASTRO SCENE.
GO TO PAGE 170 FOR GOURMET BYTES
GO TO PAGE 174 FOR AWARDWINNING SPANISH WINES
GO TO PAGE 170 FOR GOURMET BYTES NEWS GASTRONOMY CHEFS WINE 166 Japanese Style at Ta-Kumi 170 Gourmet Bytes 174 Award-Winning Spanish Wines
GO TO PAGE 166 JAPANESE STYLE AT TA-KUMI
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THE FINE ART OF JAPANESE CUISINE WORDS JAMES SINCLAIR PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF TA-KUMI
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f you like traditional Japanese food and you have not yet savoured a memorable experience at Ta-Kumi, then read on to find out what awaits you. Located on the corner of Gregorio Marañon and Calle Pablo Casals in Marbella, Ta-Kumi is the premier Japanese restaurant in town and is rightly regarded as one of the best in Spain. It is here that chefs Toshio Tsutsui and Álvaro Alberoa ply their trade, skilfully creating a range of Sashimi, Nigiri and Takumi textured dishes that keep regular diners returning for more, with top quality produce sourced from Riofrío, Motril, Huelva, Cádiz, and the Marbella Fish Market.
Toshio, from Fukuoka in Japan had his own restaurant in Los Angeles (Mikado) before directing the kitchen of a luxury hotel in Palma de Mallorca where he crossed paths with Álvaro, who has accumulated years of experience in Japanese kitchens in Shanghai and Uruguay. They are ably assisted by their wives Emi Noda and Anabel Amuendo, as well as Juan Sánchez and a host of waiters who ensure that customers are left wanting for nothing, whether in Marbella or at their sister establishment in Málaga.
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Ta-Kumi recently completed a full transformation, undertaken by Paco Lago Interioriza, bringing the restaurant up-to-date with a contemporary flair that conjectures a refined atmosphere, comprising wood, stone and ambient lighting. There is also a spacious terrace running the full length of the restaurant which is a very popular venue year round. The menu offers a wide range of options, including Starters, Tartar, Tataki, Sashimi, Nigiri, Uramaki, Temaki, Gyozas, Tempura, Fish and Meat dishes. With such a large choice, it will require several visits to find your favourites. You may also be tempted by their Specialities on Request, such as Ramen, Shabushabu, Sukiyaki, and Wagyu, as well as the
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exclusive house selection of Tempura Roll. There is a very extensive wine list and the restaurant additionally serves Sake, for a full-on authentic experience. Open Tuesday – Saturday 13:00-16:00 and 19:3023:00 (when there are no restrictions), Sunday 13:0018:00. Closed Monday. Make sure to reserve your table in advance. Ta-Kumi is available for events and celebrations and you can contact them for take away service. e
g Ta-Kumi Marbella Calle Gregorio Marañon, 4. Marbella. Tel: 952 770 839.
CLICK TO VISIT
www.restaurantetakumi.com
for Breakfast, stay for Lunch
Puente Romano Playa
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MAO
OPENING SOON
Max Beach is adding a new restaurant to its impressive complex this April. Mao will offer authentic Chinese cuisine with stunning views over the Mediterranean. Lovers of Chinese food will be able to indulge with homemade Peking Duck, Char Sui Barbeque Pork and a sublime array of Dim Sum. g Located at Riviera del Sol in Mijas Costa, Tel: 951 891 505. www.maorestaurante.es
CAVIAR
RIOFRÍO
Since 1992, every 22nd of March is World Water Day, focused on its relevance and universal need. In the Sierra de Loja in the province of Granada, a world-famous caviar is produced by Caviar Riofrío resulting from its purity of this precious resource. Founder and visionary, Luis Domezain, chose this unique location for breeding sturgeon, resulting in a caviar which is renowned for its excellence, flavour and texture. i www.caviardelriofrio.com
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Tel: 952 818 392 www.thaigallerymarbella.com
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ALL OUR RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN ACCORDING TO REGULATIONS, WITH FULL SAFETY MEASURES!
Puente Romano Hotel, Plaza Village, Marbella.
IN ES E R ES TA U R A N T PO LY
NEW TAI PAN
N
Marbella
ES IA N BA R
Tel: 952 777 893 / 952 775 500 www.taipanmarbella.com Puente Romano, Fase 2, Marbella. Open Daily for Dinner from 8:00
SUKHOTHAI Exquisite Royal Thai Cuisine Tel: 952 770 550 www.sukhothaimarbella.com Marbellamar, L-3A, Marbella. Open Daily for Dinner from 8:00
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FINALISTS OF THE ASIAN CULINARY AWARDS The fifth edition of the Asian Culinary Awards, hosted by UDON Asian Food, already has three Spanish finalists comprising young chefs who hone their crafts in prominent national kitchens. Juan Carlos Reyes works at Àbac, the Barcelona restaurant run by Jordi Cruz with three Michelin Stars. Alberto Montes cooks in Atrio of Cáceres with Toño Pérez at the helm, and Naumi Uemura is the creator of the Japanese restaurants UEMURA and Eguchi, both in Madrid. i www.asianculinaryawards.com
PATISSERIE AND FLOWERS IN MARBELLA
The brainchild of Raquel Zamora, Szia has recently opened in Marbella, combining its twin passions for elegant French desserts and floral creations. Here, aficionados will find fine French patisserie, including croissants, bread, vegan options, and a very enticing array of cakes. Beautiful floral creations, bouquets, linen tablecloths, candles, ceramic and glass are also on offer. Marvel at the enchanting creations and order online or visit the shop on Arturo Rubinstein. g Tel: 952 866 108. www.szia.es
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AWARD WINNING
SPANISH WINES TO TRY If you enjoy drinking Spanish wine, seek out and try the following, which have all received great acclaim in recent times.
WORDS JAMES SINCLAIR PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF RAVENTÓS CODORNIU
MORADILLO DE ROA 2016 blackberries and pronounced (LEGARIS) black fruit. On the palate it Moradillo de Roa from Legaris was recently declared the best Spanish tinto of 2020 as well as one of the 30 best wines in the world by International Wine Challenge. This exceptional red wine is produced from very fine tempranillo grapes grown at an altitude of 973 metres, with an aptitude of ripening to the limit, marked by an extremely cold climate and a pebble terroir. It is very dark, dense, ripe cherry red. On the nose there are notes of liquorice, minerals,
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is intense with a long finish, endowed with very lively tannin, characteristic of the gravelly soil in which the vineyard is located. Moradillo de Roa is part of the Vinos de Pueblo de Legaris Collection, composed of three monovarietals: Alcubilla de Avellaneda, La Aguilera and Moradillo de Roa. PVP REC €32
LA FONT VOLTADO 2017 (ABADIA DE POBLET) La Font Voltado is the estate wine par excellence where Abadia de Poblet has revived an ancestral method of production, in which the entire grape cluster was used with the stalk included. The wine takes its name from the estate from where the grapes derive, located in the Conca de Barberà between Sarral and Montbrió de la Marca. The Trepat vines from this winery are some of the oldest in Conca. La Font Voltado is aged for 14 months in previously used 600-lt barrels. It is characterised by fresh notes of pronounced fruit, and has received multiple recognitions, among which stands out the 92+ points awarded by Parker, making it the most valued wine of the D.O. Conca de Barberà. PVP REC €40
VIÑA POMAL ALTO DE LA CASETA 2015 This vintage has been chosen as one of the best riojas in the world by the renowned publication, The Drink Business, a distinction encapsulated by the excellence and quality of this tempranillo, which exemplifies the lauded character of Rioja Alta. “From the highest portion of an old tempranillo vineyard on the Ebro river in Rioja Alta, Viña Pomal Alto is born, whose quality makes it our favourite in the category of signature wines,” stated Patrick Smith, Master of Wine and Editor of The Drink Business. With a limited edition, Viña Pomal Alto de Caseta is the result of the passion of the Bodegas Bilbainas team to produce a unique wine which shows the expression of the terroir of Haro. Its grapes are from Tempranillo vines surrounding Alto de la Caseta that were planted more than 40 years ago in a gravelly soil, providing the wine with complexity and texture. PVP REC €85
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g All wines shown are available from Raventós Codorniu.
CLICK TO VISIT
www.raventoscodorniu.com
EL NIU DE LA CIGONYA (RAIMAT) El Niu de la Cigonya is a singular white wine made from Chardonnay, Albariño and Xarel lo grapes that come from three unique vineyards on the Raimat estate in Lleida. Thanks to organic cultivation, the Chardonnay grapes achieve a tropical profile and great intensity. The Albariño component, meanwhile, contributes more body, intensity and persistence, as a result of longer ripening. Finally, Xarel lo combines to produce a wine with more density and an aromatic profile characteristic of the Lleida apple. The Niu de la Cigonya is an evocative white wine with tropical notes such as grapefruit, citrus and ripe fruit mixed with floral touches on a background of hazelnut and toast. On the palate it is fresh, structured and creamy. RRP €12,95 176 / APRIL 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
PLA DELS ÀNGELS (SCALA DEI) This rosé is the proud holder of multiple prizes: Best Young Rosé of Spain in the 2020 Baco Awards with a Great Golden Bacchus as well as the Best Rosé Wine of Catalonia by the Guide of Wines of Catalonia 2021, and is considered to be among the best rosés in the world according to The Drink Business. Made from 100% Garnacha and under the Qualified DO Priorat, it is a fine rosé arising from vines grown between 400 and 800 metres of altitude, where the Grenache achieves the optimum ripening conditions. Although it derives from black grapes, its pale colour suggests it being more closely related to white. In the mouth it is an explosion of freshness with sensations of strawberry, grapefruit and aniseed nuances, developing to a refreshing mid palate and a rounded finish which invites us to continue its enjoyment. PVP REC €23
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