Essential Magazine May 2017

N º 213 - MAY 2017

EUROVISION

DEL REY

LANA

CRUISING LEXUS RC F ESSENTIAL TIMELINE

POWER

70TH BENETTON

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

SONG CONTEST AUSTRALIA SPORTS COUPÉ

HAPPY 18TH essential!

I S S U E 2 1 3 • M AY 2 0 1 7

ESSENTIAL FOR LUXURIOUS LIVING

essential essential magazine® marbella

w THE TREND p THE FOCUS d THE STYLE n THE SPA z THE PRO h THE LEISURE b THE GOURMET . THE GUIDE

e

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COMPLIMENTARY EDITION

MARBELLA

it is time to win

We design your project totally free

We build in record time and for prices at least 10% better than our competitors

We develop and sell the best iconic homes at 20% below the market price

we are

We achieve 25% yearly profits for our customers on their investments

KRISTINA O. BRÃ…TENG

Built: 342 m² Terrace: 154 m² Price: € 4,950,000

BEACHFRTONT GOLDEN MILE

Spectacular 4-bedroom duplex apartment in Oasis de Banús, a prestigious complex on the beach front. South-facing and with breathtaking views to the glittering Mediterranean Sea. Featuring: gym, 24-hour security, communal gardens, pool and direct access to the beach. Ref. ES9718

An International Associate of Savills

Built: 970 m² Plot: 4,550 m² Price: € 3,150,000

BENAHAVÍS – EL MADROÑAL Luxurious 7-bedroom villa in a secure, gated community, less than 10 minutes’ drive to the beach of San Pedro de Alcántara and Puerto Banús. Built in an elegant Moorish style with wide terraces, Mediterranean-style patio, extensive gardens and heated swimming pool with pool house, offering open sea and mountain views. Featuring sauna, Turkish bath, central heating and many more extras. Ref. ES9758

Regulated by RICS

Offices at the Puente Romano Hotel & opposite the Marbella Club Hotel Tel. (+34) 952 863 750 info@panorama.es www.panorama.es

18

Issue 213 • May 2017

S T A F F PUBLISHER AND DIRECTOR

YEARS

GENERAL MANAGER

ANDREA BÖJTI andrea@essentialmagazine.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

MARISA CUTILLAS editorial@essentialmagazine.com

PRODUCTION MANAGER

U ANNIVERSARY U

IAIN BLACKWELL director@essentialmagazine.com

SALES SUPPORT ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR DESIGN & LAYOUT STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

PRINTING DEPÓSITO LEGAL

SUSANNE WHITAKER design@essentialmagazine.com JAN DENDAUW jan@essentialmagazine.com MARIANO JEVA cuentas@essentialmagazine.com MONIKA BÖJTI info@essentialmagazine.com

ANDREA BÖJTI INMA AURIOLES KEVIN HORN (www.photographermarbella.com)

IAIN BLACKWELL, BELINDA BECKETT, MICHEL CRUZ, RIK FOXX, RUSSELL GRANT, CARLOS READ, DAVID WISHART, TONY WHITNEY JIMÉNEZ GODOY A. GRÁFICAS, MURCIA D.L. MA-512-99

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

ESSENTIAL MARBELLA MAGAZINE

@ESSENTIALEDITOR

www.essentialmagazine.com Member of the Association of Spanish Periodical Publications

affiliated to:

CONDITIONS

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

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

No part of this magazine, including texts, photographs, illustrations, maps or any other graphics may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of Publicaciones Independientes Costa del Sol S.L. Printed on recyclable paper, produced without wood and bleached without chlorine.

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moment, what can I do to protect my wealth?”

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BUILDING QUALITY HOMES IN PRIME LOCATIONS

OFFICE +34 952 765 060 MOBILE +34 627 813 545 EMAIL info@solvilla.no Hotel Marbella Club, Oficina 10, Blvd. Principe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, 29602 Marbella, Spain WWW.SOLVILLA.NO

the most desirable address on the golden mile 34 luxurious apartments & penthouses

• State-of-the-art design & the highest qualities • Walking distance to Puente Romano & the beach • Private pools on the terraces • 2 communal swimming pools • Luxury Spa with indoor pool, sauna, hammam • Gym, paddle courts and jogging path • Gated community with the ultimate security • Park and leisure area of 9.000 m2 • Full property management • Exclusive 24 hours concierge service • Prices start from 695.000€

up to 70% mortgage available

Exclusive sales agent: Engel & Völkers Marbella www.marbella-ev.com/lameridianasuites MarbellaGoldenMile@engelvoelkers.com Tel.: +34 952 868 406

En Ex ge clu l & siv Vö e to lk er s

Elviria

Grand Estate. Unifying elegance and contemporary style, enjoying the most sensational panoramic sea and moutain views from every corner, this stunning property offers superb indoor and outdoor living on a spectacular large plot, yet in the middle of the nature, situated in the hills, above Elviria, within 10 minutes’ reach to the beach and all amenities. Well distributed, the villa encompasses very ample interiors: Open plan reception areas

with fireplace and study, dining room and state-of-the-art kitchen, three large master en-suite bedrooms with dressing room, spacious terraces, all with glass walls. Outdoor area boasts patios, manicured gardens, infinity pool with pool house and bar. Separate guest apartment. Indoor entertainment area with sauna, cinema, bar. 6 beds, 7 baths. Built 1.133 m2, plot 12.308 m2.

E&V ID: W-026WBJ. Price: 6.950.000 €.

Office Elviria: 952 83 55 80 · www.engelvoelkers.com/MarbellaAndEast

To be completed and ready in June 2017! A spectacular stylish villa with breathtaking panoramic sea views and a contemporary design are hallmarks of this outstanding home situated in the exclusive gated community with 24-hours security, El Herrojo Alto, in La Quinta, just a few minutes’ drive from Marbella beaches and all the amenities. This newly built, very stylish designer villa has been exquisitely constructed to the highest specifications

to rs ve e si ölk clu V Ex el & g En

La Quinta

with the latest technology and high quality fittings throughout. Its contemporary style offers luxury yet comfortable and prestigious living with open plan reception areas and beautiful spacious bedrooms. Large roof terrace with spectacular 360 degrees panoramic sea views, sauna and under-floor heating throughout. 5 beds, 5 baths. Built 420 m2, plot 1.300 m2 .

E&V ID: W-028G7H. Price: 2.400.000.

Office Puerto Banús: 952 85 98 60 · www.engelvoelkers.com/MarbellaAndEast

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UNIQUE MANSION IN THE FOOTHILLS OF SIERRA BLANCA Masterfully designed to make the most of its privileged location, this magnificent property exudes beauty and distinction showcasing intricate craftsmanship and exceptional finishes, offering a tranquil retreat with panoramic coastal and mountain views just 5 minutes from Marbella centre, within a small gated community at the foothills of Sierra Blanca.

A portico entrance with 18th century mahogany doors introduces the property, which offers more than 1.600m2 of light-filled living space across three elegantly appointed levels, connected by a lift.

Ref: DM3485-01 Price on Application

LA QUINTA DE SIERRA BLANCA 5

5

1.621 m2

3.806 m2

Distributed around an Andalusian patio, the house offers a functional layout with a spacious living room with amazing sea views, formal dining room, music room, 5 ensuite bedrooms, office, cinema, bodega, games room and separate guest/staff accommodation.

Antique and exquisite elements such as handcrafted domes, Roman pavement stones, handmade tiles and Italian marble, together with its location, make this property truly unique.

GOLDEN MILE PROPERTIES

The Golden Mile: It was on this stretch of real estate between Marbella town and Puerto Banús that the reputation of the town as a five-star resort was first established, and it remains the location of some of the very best addresses in Marbella.

Diana Morales Properties has an extensive selection of luxury villas and apartments for sale in the most sought after locations in Marbella and surrounding areas. For advice on any of your real estate needs please contact us Ref: DM3125-02 Price: 4.150.000€

sierra blanca Brand new 5

5

820 m2

1.470 m2

info@dmproperties.com DMproperties.com MARBELLA Av. Cánovas del Castillo, 4 Tel. 952 765 138 NUEVA ANDALUCÍA Av. del Prado, Urb. Fuerte Aloha, Local 2A Tel. 952 908 415

Over 411 Offices in 59 Countries Ref: DM3435 Price: 2.495.000€

Ref: DM3332 Price: 1.950.000€

sierra blanca Semi detached villa 3

3

823 m2

319 m2

sierra blanca area Sea views 4

3

492 m2

812 m2

Ref: DM4026 Price: 695.000€

MANSION CLUB Gated complex 2

2

162 m2

47 m2

You only live once,

Beachfront Marbella East: Unique, very stylish and beautifully decorated villa with unbeatable sea views from every room, offering complete privacy. 103 meters of long balustrade with direct beach access. Paddle court, pavilion. 4 beds, 3 baths. Built 370 m2, plot 2.475 m2.

E&V ID: W-023X1H. Price 2.850.000 €. Tel.: 952 83 55 80.

Cascada de Camoján: Great investment! Villa with spectacular panoramic sea views on a large flat plot, very private. Possibility to build an impressive contemporary house. 2 beds, 2 baths. Built 238 m², plot 1.425 m².

E&V ID: W-027ZJH. Price: 1.650.000 €. Tel.: 952 86 84 06.

El Madroñal: Fantastically priced! Situated in an exclusive gated urbanization this beautiful villa with breathtaking sea and garden views offers absolute privacy. 4 beds, 4 baths. Built 230 m², plot 9.936 m².

E&V ID: W-028H8Z. Price: 1.550.000 €. Tel.: 952 85 98 60.

Cascada de Camoján - Imara: Unique! Spacious bungalow, very modern and elegant, within one of the most contemporary complexes in Marbella. Private garden. 3 beds, 3 baths. Living area 212 m², terrace 75 m².

E&V ID: W-01ZS1C. Price: 949.000 €. Tel.: 952 86 84 06.

Lomas de Sierra Blanca: Luxurious 325 m² penthouse with large wrap around terraces with bar/barbeque area and fantastic views in a gated community! 3 beds, 3 baths. Living area 217 m², terrace 108 m².

E&V ID: W-01KTZS. Price: 895.000 €. Tel.: 952 86 84 06.

Office Elviria: 952 83 55 80 · Office El Rosario: 952 83 20 40 www.engelvoelkers.com/MarbellaAndEast

we will show you where!

Beachfront Golden Mile: Rare opportunity to buy a contemporary style apartment in Oasis de Banús, the most prestigious and desirable beachfront community in Marbella. Direct beach access, 24h security, gym, private garage. 4 beds, 4 baths. Living area 342 m2, terrace 154 m2.

E&V ID: W-021T4F. Price 4.950.000 €. Tel.: 952 86 84 06.

Golden Mile: Opportunity! Situated within walking distance to the beaches and the Marbella Club, this classical villa offers magnificent sea views. 4 beds, 3 baths. Built 314 m², plot 1.344 m².

E&V ID: W-028J6Y. Price: 1.450.000 €. Tel.: 952 86 84 06.

A Golden Mile: Under construction, completed in early 2018.

Contemporary villa with spectacular sea views and highest specifications in a prime location. 6 beds, 5 baths. Built 841 m², plot 1.011 m².

E&V ID: W-028OEJ. Price: 2.850.000 €. Tel.: 952 86 84 06.

Frontline Beach Puerto Banús: Fantastic penthouse with breathtaking sea views. Terrace with barbecue, direct beach access, 2 pools, gym, sauna, hammam. 3 beds, 3 baths. Living area 182 m², terrace 115 m².

E&V ID: W-0280H1. Price: 1.700.000 €. Tel.: 952 85 98 60.

Beachside Puerto Banús: Best priced apartment in the exclusive Bahía de Banús. 2 pools, gym, sauna, Jacuzzi, 24-hours security, concierge service. 2 beds, 3 baths. Living area 191 m², terrace 40 m².

E&V ID: W-027YEF. Price: 675.000 €. Tel.: 952 85 98 60.

Office Puerto Banús: 952 85 98 60 · Office Marbella: 952 86 84 06 www.engelvoelkers.com/MarbellaAndEast

GUESS H9bv-1 Essential Marbella Spa Mag.indd 1

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GUESS H9bv-1 Essential Marbella Spa Mag.indd 2

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WE CREATE

Grand collection prices from â‚Ź868,000 For more sales information +34 952 856 171 +34 618 654 363 www.benahavishills.com 211 Benahavis Hills.indd 1

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LIFESTYLE

NOW DIRECT FROM DEVELOPER

Clubhouse

Spa

Hills Cafe

THE GRAND COLLECTION AT BENAHAVIS HILLS COUNTRY CLUB There are currently ONLY A FEW HOMES left.

These properties have been specifically designed to represent expansive style and great investment value.

There are no comparable properties at this price per square meter across the whole of the region.

Benahavis Hills Country Club offers the “trinity” of luxury amenities: nearby exquisite signature Golf Courses, vast expanses of soft sandy beaches, the full

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service marinas of Puerto Banús and its very own relaxing private spas and wellness facilities. Located in a privileged position above the village of Benahavis, renowned for its gastronomic restaurants, this 24/7 guarded development offers security and safety as well as onsite concierge services. In addition, the clubhouse including restaurant, spa, and gym is only a few steps away.

22/02/2017 11:06

Built: 738 m² Plot: 5,520 m² Price: € 3,950,000

LA ZAGALETA Andalusian cortijo-style frontline golf villa with 5 en-suite bedrooms. Magnificent golf and mountain views.

Beautiful landscaped garden with heated salt water pool. Sauna and gym. La Zagaleta offers the highest levels of security, privacy and facilities for residents, club members and guests. Ref. ES8703

Built: 149 m² Plot: 1,811 m² Price: € 799,000

NAGÜELES 3-bedroom Andalusian-style villa on a large plot with sea & mountain views. Short drive to Puerto Banús & Marbella. Ref. ES8870

Built: 800 m² Plot: 2,750 m² Price: € 1,675,000

NUEVA ANDALUCÍA 4-bedroom villa in the Golf Valley with sea, golf and mountain views.

Exclusive complex with 24-hour security. Ref. ES8019

Built: 464 m² Plot: 1,589 m² Price: € 2,300,000

NUEVA ANDALUCÍA Contemporary 4-bedroom frontline golf villa with fabulous views near Los Naranjos Golf Club. Ref. ES8799

Built: 558 m² Plot: 1,200 m² Price: € 2,300,000

GOLDEN MILE Impressive 5-bedroom villa in a gated community, next to Sierra Blanca offering sea views and many luxury features. Ref. ES9483

An International Associate of Savills

Built: 139 m² Terrace: 43 m² Price: € 2,800,000

PUENTE ROMANO BEACHFRONT 2-bedroom apartment in the most sought-after complex. Superb sea views.

Unique opportunity in the best location right next to the Puente Romano Hotel with all it’s 5-star facilities. Ref. ES6173

Built: 222m² Terrace: 150 m² Price: €1,250,000

GOLDEN MILE 3-bedroom apartment in a prestigious community, with 24-hour security.

Immense terrace with beautiful views. Ref. ES9809

Built: 513 m² Plot: 858 m² Price: € 2,995,000

GOLDEN MILE Superb, modern 5-bedroom villa adjacent to Sierra Blanca. Panoramic sea views. High specs. Ideal for entertaining. Ref. ES9363

Built: 299 m² Plot: 1,052 m² Price: € 1,350,000

GOLDEN MILE Andalusian-style 4-bedroom villa with lots of character in La Carolina, walking distance to amenities and the beach. Ref. ES9735

Built: 233 m² Terrace: 47 m² Price: € 1,250,000

MARBELLA’S OLD TOWN 3-bedroom

Regulated by RICS

duplex apartment. Interior patio with skylight. Quiet area, walking distance to all amenities. Ref. ES9741

Offices at the Puente Romano Hotel & opposite the Marbella Club Hotel Tel. (+34) 952 863 750 info@panorama.es www.panorama.es

French Art de Vivre

Photo Michel Gibert, non contractuelle. Merci Ă : Architecte : Elisabete Saldanha. Sculptures : www.laurenceaguerre.paris

Diapo. Dining table, designed by René Bouchara.

Miki. Chairs, designed by Difo Design Studio.

Palis. Sideboard, designed by Marco Fumagalli.

European manufacture.

MARBELLA - C.C. Torre Real, Ctra. Cádiz - Málaga km 185. - Tel. 952 777 858 - marbella@roche-bobois.com Open from Monday to Friday: 10H – 18H. Saturday: 10H30 – 14H.

Complimentary 3D Interior Design Service

www.roche-bobois.com

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COLLECTION WORLD G

A

R

D

E

N

&

H

O

U

S

E

A

R T

i Collection World is the leading European su pplier of art for your hom e and garden. Our la rge warehouse of 6000 2 m is ďŹ lled with beautiful pieces sourced and create d by specialists in all as pects of art.

MARBELLA O T Y R E IV L FREE DESHIP WORLDWIDE! WE

Our designers and carvers work with only the best marble as they crea te exclusively for Colle ction World.

Visit www.collectionworld.net to see the wide range of products and services we have available. Be sure to stop in or contact us for further information as the website only represents a part of our stock.

Ctra. Nac. 340, KM159, 29680 Estepona. (Parking available) Open Mon to Fri 09:00 – 20:00, Sat & Sun 10:00 to 14:00 Tel: 952 802 162 Mo: 690 365 347

www.collectionworld.net

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ANTIQUES AND DECORATION

Founded in 1996, with more than 1200m2 of showroom on Marbella’s Golden Mile Worldwide delivery - Easy parking Centro Comercial Expo, local 48, Opposite the Marbella Club Hotel, 29600 Marbella, Málaga Tel/Fax: (+34) 952 826 729 • Mo: 690 365 347 • info@collectionworld.net • www.collectionworld.net

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D

contents the trend Cinema 44

Top Films by Black American Directors 46

Music News 48 Top Reads 50

Technology for the Disabled 52

The New Lexus RC F Sports Coupé 54

the focus

Essential Timeline 60 The 70th Cannes Film Festival 70 Eurovision Song Contest 76 Lana Del Rey 82 James Corden 84 World Geek Day 86 Local Property Developments II 88 La Meridiana Suites 104

the style A Beautiful Home in Cascada de Camojan 108 Décor News 116 Fashion by Benetton 118

the pro 142 Enterprise 148 Jensen Beds 150 The Vibe

the leisure 158 Cruising Australia 166 Los Monteros Spa & Golf Resort

the gourmet 171 L’Olive 173 Hills Café 174 Food News 176 Thomas Stork of Sea Grill 178 Bodegas Vinos Sanz in Rueda

the guide 180 Listings 189 Pet News 190 What’s On 192 Stars for May 194 Internet Addiction

Fashion News 126

the spa Longwear Foundation 130 Beauty Gadgets 132 Power Naps 136 Health News 138 Dr. Hamers of Cirumed 140

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25/04/2017 13:36

BETTER SUPPORT. BETTER SLEEP. EVERY NIGHT. BUY A JENSEN CONTINENTAL BED AND GET JENSEN EXACT COMFORT ADJUSTMENT AT NO ADDITIONAL COST. VALUE €1400.

-

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FIRMER COMFORT

THE BED IS NEUTRAL

Jensen Store S​C ANDINAVIAN BE DS​

Polígono Nueva Campana 23 Nueva Andalucía, Marbella Phone: +34 952 90 88 55 Monday - Friday 10-14, 15-18

www.jensenstore.com fb.com/jensenbeds

pinterest.com/jensenbeds

@jensenbeds_official

D WORDS BY IAIN BLACKWELL PUBLISHER

WELCOME TO

‘S

18THANNIVERSARY EDITION!

T

o celebrate coming of age, we have lined up a bumper issue full of classic content. We preview this month’s 70th Cannes Film Festival and look forward to Eurovision, with the final taking place in Kiev on 13th May. We also pay homage to Geek Pride Day, being celebrated around the world on 25th May. Nothing much beats the pampering of luxury cruising and we savour life on the ocean waves with a circumnavigation of Australia in style, courtesy of two of the best: Silversea and Seabourn. We also brave acceleration in the fast lane aboard the new streamlined Lexus RC, check out the Benetton sizzling Spring/Summer Collection, and raise a glass or two of Vinos Sanz in Rueda.

People-wise, we bring you the retro-vibe of fashion icon, Lana del Rey, and the multi-faceted James Corden. Meanwhile here on the Coast, we talk with Thomas Stork, Executive Chef at Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa, and Dr. Hamers, plastic surgeon at Cirumed Clinic.

Also, locally, we conclude our feature on New Developments, check in to the comfy confines of the Los Monteros Spa & Golf Resort, and experience epic gastronomy at L’Olive at La Reserva Golf and Hills Café at Benahavis Hills.

Cheers to one and all!

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years” Abraham Lincoln

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21/04/2017 17:05

Is the new gastronomic must

Gastronomy • Cocktails • Private Events PARKING DISPONIBLE PARA CLIENTES · PARKING AVAILABLE FOR CLIENTS

Av. del Naviero, s/n · Marbella · 951 053 39 www.doncarlosresort.com

WORDS BY IAIN BLACKWELL PUBLISHER

THANKS

Happy 18Th Birt hday wit h

B

ack in May of 1999, we were celebrating the launch of with a memorable party at Bora Bora Beach.

18 years down the line and the magazine has grown to become a stalwart in countless people’s lives, here on the Coast and further afield, with its lifestyle focus on the local and international scenes. More than 200 editions into its trajectory, is easily recognised and highly respected, entertaining and informing its multi-national readership every month.

As Publisher of this unique publication, it behoves me to say a few words at this juncture.

Having been through several ups and downs, it has at times been enduring and frustrating but, ultimately, it is a labour of love and I thank my

213PuL FINAL.indd 34

providence in having surrounded myself with good people and am immensely proud of what the team has achieved.

My special thanks go to Andrea, who takes care of the image of ; to Marisa, who personally writes large tracts of the magazine; to Susanne, who oversees our production; to Inma, who is our principal designer; and to Monika, who manages our office – they are ’s Angels and they engender a happy work zone.

Thanks also to Mariano, our Accounts Director; to Jan for Sales support; to Kevin for his slick Photography; to Addo and his team for precise Distribution; to Juan Miguel for his asesoramiento laboral; and to Jairo and all at Jiménez Godoy for top quality printing.

There are several regular contributors

who also deserve a mention of gratitude here: Michel Cruz, Belinda Beckett, Tony Whitney, David Wishart, Carlos Read, Rik Foxx, Cristina Falkenberg, Russel Grant, Kevin Woodford, among many others.

Our advertisers too, large numbers of whom have become long-term clients in the magazine during many years, deserve our special thanks.

As a freely distributed publication their support is vital, for without it, we would not have made it to this point.

Finally, and on behalf of the entire team, I would like to also extend a heartfelt thanks to our readers whose encouragement and positive feedback are the motivating factors that make us strive to continually out-do ourselves.

24/04/2017 13:58

Create your own legacy Atlas Signature Homes - The Benahavis Collection Outstanding in every sense of the word, Atlas Signature Homes set the benchmark for architectural excellence and sophisticated living.

Set within the stunning backdrop of Benahavis, we are offering a selection of just 10 exclusive plots for you to create your own dynamic living space.

Working with award winning architects and world class designers you can bring your own idea of perfection to life.

Create your own home. Create your own legacy.

www.atlasbenahavis.com

info@atlassignaturehomes.com

(+34) 951 350 068

Centro Comercial Atenea, Local 1 y 17 Ctra. N-340, Km. 168, 29680, Estepona, Mรกlaga

Society Magazine FP Ad_rebrand.indd 1

16/03/2017 10:35

w the trend READING MUSIC FILMS GADGETS MOTORING TRENDS

44 Cinema 46

Black American Film Directors

48

Music News

50

Top Reads

52

Technology for Disabled Persons

54

The New Lexus RC F Sports Coupé.

IT’S OFFICIALLY SPRING JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE ELSE IN EUROPE BUT ON THE COAST WE ARE PRACTICALLY IN SUMMER MODE, JUDGING BY THE TANS AND SMILES THAT ABOUND. READ UP ON THE LATEST CINEMATIC RELEASES, MUSICAL EVENTS AND BEST-SELLERS, AND ARRIVE IN STYLE AT THE NEXT SOIRÉE ABOARD THE HOT NEW LEXUS RC F SPORTS COUPÉ.

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w THE TREND cinema

COMPILED BY MA RIS

e BLOCKBUSTER OF

A CUTILLAS

THE MONTH

m Rønning, Espen » DIRECTORS Joachi Sandberg (Kon-Tiki) » GENRE Action Depp, Geoffrey Rush, » ACTORS Johnny Javier Bardem

ent of searches for the trid Captain Jack Sparrow holder its nts gra ich weapon wh Poseidon, a powerful rival, Capitán old his eat def to er control of the sea, in ord powerful lds command over a Salazar. The latter wie Devil’s the m o have escaped fro army of ghost pirates wh who te pira ry eve of s live end the Triangle. Their aim is to takes to the sea.

les a T o N ll e T n e M d a e D

n a e b b i r a C e h t f o Pirates

» DIRECTOR Stacy Title (Let the Devil Wear Black) » GENRE Horror » ACTORS Douglas Smith, Lucien Laviscount, Robert Damon Schneck

The Bye Bye Man

“He’s real. If you say his name, or even think it, he’ll come for you.” The Bye Bye Man is a deliciously tense horror film that will have you on the edge of your seat, as you discover the mystery behind a figure who is present every time disaster strikes. The more you think about him, the closer he gets and his power to make people do things, grows alongside your panic.

» DIRECTOR John Madden (Shakespeare in Love) » GENRE Political Thriller » ACTORS Jessica Chastain, Mark Strong, Gugu Mbatha-Raw

» DIRECTOR Ridley Scott (Alien) » GENRE Science Fiction » ACTORS Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, James Franco, Noomi Rapace

Alien: Covenant

The crew of the colony ship, Covenant, are travelling to a remote part of the galaxy when they discover a planet that seems like Paradise but which hides a mysterious life form that takes the lives of many crew members and threatens their chances of ever getting out of there alive.

Miss Sloane

Jessica Chastain plays Elizabeth Sloane: a tough lawyer who quits her law firm after her boss orders her to support a powerful gun lobby which opposes a new bill aimed at regulating the purchase of guns. Sloane is a tough mastermind who is determined that the bill become law, regardless of how many fat cats she has to outsmart in the process. Renowned critic, Roger Ebert, explained why Sloane is such an interesting female character: “To say Miss Sloane is a ruthless lobbyist does not even begin to cover it. She is the Keyser Söze of lobbyists. She is the Bobby Fischer of lobbyists, going up against grade-schoolers playing checkers.”

» DIRECTOR Chad Stahelski (John Wick) » GENRE Action » ACTORS Keanu Reeves, Riccardo Scamarcio, Ian McShane

John Wick: Chapter 2

Keanu Reeves has still got what it takes to draw an audience – or at least that is what he has set out to prove in the sequel to John Wick. Reeves plays an ex-hitman who is forced to come out of retirement by a former colleague who aims to stop a group of dangerous assassins. Bound by a blood oath to help him, the hitman travels to Rome where he takes the assassins head-on.

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15/04/2017 11:07

w THE TREND cinema

The recent Best Motion Picture win by the exquisite Moonlight and the strong presence of black American films in this year’s Academy Awards (films such as Hidden Figures and Fences commanded many nominations this year) inspire us to take a look at essential films on the black American experience. Our list looks something like this:

Z DO THE RIGHT THING (SPIKE LEE, 1989): This gem begins with a short dance sequence in which one of the protagonists, a young woman played by Rosie Perez, performs a boxing/dance routine to arguably THE most powerful rap song ever written (Fight the Power by Public Enemy).

Rosie wears various outfits in her dance, including full boxing gear, gloves included. Her performance is an incredible symbol of the fighting spirit of young black Americans (and other ethnic minorities) in Brooklyn in the late 1980s. The underlying dilemma presented by the film is the Malcolm X – Martin Luther King debate. How can African American people move forward? Through conflict or peace? Brilliant, colourful, dynamic, this film is one of my top ten pictures of all time. It was shocking (and reflective of the attitudes of the Academy at the time) that the film was nominated for only two Academy Awards – Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor. Its lack of recognition (despite receiving incredible reviews worldwide from critics of the highest standing) showed that many of the themes it touched upon were sadly too close for comfort.

Z MALCOLM X (1992, SPIKE LEE): This epic biographical film centres on the life of slain civil rights leader, Malcolm X, highlighting the darker side of Malcolm’s past, including his activity as a hustler. Malcolm’s father was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan, his mother was declared insane and he was raised by foster parents. While in prison,

a vision of Elijah Muhammad came to him and he converted to Islam. At the end of his life, he embarked on a pilgrimage to Mecca, a powerful experience which led him to renounce separatism and to embrace all races. A powerful film about a most extraordinary man.

Z MOONLIGHT (2016, BARRY JENKINS): The parallels between Moonlight and Truffaut’s The 400 Blows (1959), completely won me over from the first moments of the film. It reflects the slick sophistication of writer and director, Barry Jenkins, who took inspiration from many aspects of his own life, to tell us the story of ‘Little’ Chiron, whom we meet at three different points of his life: childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Chiron’s mom is a crack addict and the only good influence in his life is, ironically, a crack dealer who gives him food and shelter. As ‘Little’ becomes a teen, he discovers a strong attraction for his best friend and experiences a moment that will mark him for the rest of his life. As an adult, Chiron has serious social problems but continues to crave shelter and love without knowing how to express this need.

Moonlight is highly reminiscent of The 400 Blows because of the subtle, non-manipulative approach it takes, and the way it highlights universal emotions through a series of defining moments in one boy’s life.

THREE SEMINAL FILMS WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

by Black A merican Direct ors 4 BOYS ‘N THE HOOD (JOHN

g

SINGLETON, 1991): The debut work by talented director John Singleton pulls us into the eye of the hurricane: Crenshaw, South Central Los Angeles, where gangs the Crips and the Bloods regularly take each other out in mass gang shootings. Most interesting, perhaps, is the character of Tre, caught between his loyalty to his friends and his desire to break free from the gang lifestyle. Even characters like Ricky, smart enough to win a scholarship to an Ivy League university, have little

escape in a town where if the rival gang doesn’t get you, the cops will.

As the enigmatic character Doughboy (played by NWA’s Ice Cube) says, most of America “don’t know, don’t show, or don’t care about what’s going on in the hood.” Thanks to John Singleton, we discover the underbelly of the most powerful nation in the world.

5 12 YEARS A SLAVE (STEVE MCQUEEN, 2013): This is the most realistic version of black slavery to make it to the big screen; it is the

true to life account of Solomon Northrup, a free black man who was kidnapped and sold as a slave in 1841.

The amazing Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Northup, a man of great integrity whose eyes serve as our telescope into one of the most brutal eras in human history. This was the first film by an African American Director to win an Academy Award for Best Picture, but those who are acquainted with black films know, it is but one of many greats. Let’s end this with the hashtag, #Oscarsowhite e

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LIC VI EN SE SI T

SA O G LE UR RA S O N O N TE FF -S IC IT D E E

8 exclusive gated residences in Lomas Del Marbella Club The C8NCEPT, is a highly select, fully gated community of 8 luxurious private residences situated in one of the most desirable addresses in Marbella. 24-hour state-of-the-art security ensures this gated community can offer its residents total peace of mind within a personal oasis in the heart of Marbella. Stunning Mediterranean sea views, unique architectural styling, free-flowing modern interior layouts and a level of luxury found only in the finest homes.

‘ Experience the C8NCEPT project for yourself by visiting our new mini villa’ sales office, complete with materials and fittings.

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Email: info@conceptmarbella.com

Tel: (+34) 952 810 785

26/04/2017 10:40

w THE TREND music

¿QUÉ PASA?

Not much going on this month but the line-up for Marbella’s Starlite festival (during July & August) continues to grow. For the up-to-date list go to starlitefestival.com Meanwhile, lots of tribute acts are playing so check your local weekly publications to see what’s going on.

All information on this page was correct at the time of writing.

Spanish artist DANI MARTÍN plays Malaga’s Teatro de Cervantes on May 28. Ticket info: teatrocervantes.com Indie rock legends PLACEBO are at the Palacio Municipal de Deportes in Granada on May 4. Ticket info: ticketmaster.es There are still tickets for THE BEACH BOYS (June 24), STING (July 17) and the UK jazz and pop singer JAMIE CULLUM (July 26) Fuengirola Music Festival concerts taking place at the local castle area. Ticket info: marenostrumcastlepark.com GAGA has added an extra date in Barcelona on September 21. Ticket info: livenation.es BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend takes place on May 27 and 28 – TV coverage is not confirmed but you can listen to KINGS OF LEON, STORMZY, KATY PERRY and LITTLE MIX on the radio station.

The annual eardrum torture that is Eurovision, (the competition which many European countries take seriously and attracts one of the continent’s largest annual TV audiences)

will be held in the Ukraine on May 13 and all is not well with the hosts and Russia. The Security Service of Ukraine has banned the Russian entry on political grounds. Singer JULIA SAMOILOVA cannot enter the host country for three years after performing in the Crimea since it was annexed by Russia in 2014. Russia has responded by refusing to show Eurovision on its TV screens. The organisers, the European Broadcasting Union, has offered an olive branch saying Julia can perform via satellite in the second semi-final (and the final if she reaches it) on May 11 (first semi final is May 9) but the hosts have contested that solution. Despite having yet to reach the grand final, the competition’s hot favourite is Italy’s entry, Occidentali’s Karma by FRANCESCO GABBANI; other fancied songs come from Belgium, Portugal, Romania and Macedonia. The UK tune, Never Give Up On You by LUCIE JONES is not expected to fare well as rumours suggest the jury/public vote will react to the triggering of Brexit. And once again, Spain’s entry, Do It For Your Lover by 21- year-old MANEL NAVARRO, has English lyrics – but both the aforementioned songs have already been seeded to the grand final, which is live on all European national TV channels including TVE1 (Spain), BBC 1 (UK) and RTE1 (Ireland) at 21.00 CET. Closer to home, the Gibraltar International Song Festival takes place at the Tercentenary Sports Hall on May 6 featuring acts from Europe and South America. For more details and ticket info: gibraltarsongfestival.com

Here’s one for diehard QUEEN fans.

BRIAN MAY has unveiled a special edition of the Monopoly board game based around the group which will be available later this month. The game pieces will include a radio (Radio Ga Ga), a cyclist (Bicycle Race), a robot (News Of The World), a hammer (Hammer To Fall), a vacuum cleaner (I Want To Break Free) and his signature guitar. In the meantime, the band have been rehearsing for their forthcoming tour with the 2009 American Idol runner-up ADAM LAMBERT on vocals and they have been invited to appear at Glastonbury.

ED SHEERAN

PLACEBO

© David Roemer

ADAM LAMBERT

WORDS RIK FOXX

Sticking with Glastonbury, the BBC has recently signed a new six-year deal to show performances from the world famous festival until 2022. At the 2016 festival, the BBC had over 25 hours of TV coverage watched by 18.9 million viewers plus radio broadcasts and online live streams.

This year it runs from June 21 to 25 and headliners include the FOO FIGHTERS, RADIOHEAD and ED SHEERAN. RITA ORA has been off the radar of late due to recording her second album which will land very soon and also filming her part in Italy for the movie Wonderwell which is said to feature the last known appearance of Star Wars legend CARRIE FISHER before her death last December. And staying with that franchise: GARY BARLOW has a cameo role in the

forthcoming film Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi.

And while his global domination continues, ED SHEERAN is set to appear in the cult TV series Game of Thrones – with the way this year has been going, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he ended up as the one to sit on the said throne of the fictitious seven kingdoms! Elsewhere, while he has been climbing charts worldwide for the past three months, he recently had to do some climbing of a different sort after inviting friends over to his new property in Italy. The red head is known for enjoying the pleasures of alcohol and on returning home after a night on the sauce, he couldn’t find his keys – so he had to borrow a ladder from the next door neighbours to get in through an open window. e

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T H E

F A C E S

B E H I N D

NEW VILLA IN LA CAROLINA, THE GOLDEN MILE REF: 176-01364P Bedrooms: 6 • Bathrooms: 6 • Built: 488 m2 • Terrace: 200 m2 Plot: 1573 m2 • PRICE: 3.995.000 €

FAMILY VILLA IN NUEVA ANDALUCIA REF: 176-01367P Bedrooms: 4 • Bathrooms: 4 • Built: 552 m2 • Terrace: 120 m2 Plot: 1263 m2 • PRICE: 2.395.000 €

VILLA AVALON IN NUEVA ANDALUCIA REF: 176-01363P Bedrooms: 5 • Bathrooms: 4 • Built: 934 m2 • Terrace: 250 m2 Plot: 1501 m2 • PRICE: 3.300.000 €

NEW VILLA IN OASIS, THE GOLDEN MILE REF: 176-01249P Bedrooms: 5 • Bathrooms: 5 • Built: 467 m2 Terrace: 186 m2 • Plot: 1027 m2 • PRICE: 2.095.000 €

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5

w THE TREND books

READS TO BRING TO THE BEACH

One of the best things about living on the Coast is taking it easy on weekends. Even when ‘nothing’s on’, plenty is always happening on the beach. Marisa Cutillas suggests these top page turners for those magical moments when the sun has just risen or is about to set…

NORSE MYTHOLOGY BY NEIL GAIMAN

Neil Gaiman presents a retelling of the great Norse tales, with characters such as Odin (the highest of the high), Thor (Odin’s son) and Loki (Odin’s brother) playing a starring role in a series of primeval stories rolled into one big myth that culminates in Ragnarok – the end of the cosmos leading to the birth of a new area. The novel is populated by a number of fascinating characters, including Gods, giants and dwarfs. Gaiman delves into the contrary personalities of the Gods, who are brave and competitive, but also a little narcissistic at times.

DEVIL IN SPRING

BY LISA KLEYPAS

Pandora is a young debutante who would rather make a name for herself in the board game business, than find a husband.

Gabriel is a Lord who has always evaded the marriage trap, only to fall madly in love with Pandora, whom he decides he must have.

The two enter a marriage of convenience, but Pandora’s ambition lands her in the kind of deep trouble that only her husband can help her evade. The two battle unknown adversaries and Pandora begins to realise that the unthinkable is happening – she is starting to fall in love!

BIG LITTLE LIES

BY LIANE MORIARTY

This book follows the lives of three mothers, each at a crossroads in their lives. Madeline is a fun, ‘normal’ mum of two who is flabbergasted when her ex (and his sexy new Mrs.) move into the same beach community she lives in.

Celeste is perfection in motion: she is beautiful, rich and perfect in every way… except she is sick to death of living up to others’ expectations. Then there is Jane, a young woman who worries about her little boy for mysterious reasons.

Helicopter mum bitching, rivalry and scandal are just a few of the ingredients that make this book such an entertaining and oftens funny read. Ideal for mums who felt bullied at school.

HUMANS, BOW DOWN BY JAMES PATTERSON AND EMILY RAYMOND WITH JILL DEMBOWSKI

This beautifully illustrated book, aimed at young adults and adult readers alike, delves into humanity’s obsession with technology. It is set in a futuristic time after the robots win The Great War. The surviving humans have two choices: to succumb to the Gods of metal they have created, or be extradited to the Reserve, a deserted landscape where the rule of Law is forgotten. Not content with taking over most of the planet, the robots are also planning to conquer the Reserve, to ensure that not one person remains who does not bow down to them. They haven’t counted on the existence of Six, however. She is a rebellious, feisty young woman who has lost her parents to the robots and who plots to overthrow the enemy alongside her partner, Dubs – the one person who despises authority even more than she does.

AFTERMATH: EMPIRE’S END BY CHUCK WENDIG

This Star Wars novel, published in February this year, didn’t take long to achieve best-seller status. The book centres on the characters Wedge Antilles (an X-wing fighter pilot from the original film trilogy), Rae Sloane (an Imperial admiral), Norra Wexley (an exRebel Alliance pilot) and her teenage son, Snap. The plot is set in the years between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens.

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w THE TREND technology

From sign language apps to braille smartwatches, these are just a few technological advances that are making life more practical and entertaining for the disabled.

HAND TALK: This app instantly translates written or audio files into sign language thanks to Hugo, a clever ‘virtual interpreter’ who does the job quickly and efficiently. Hand Talk is new but it has already been downloaded over a million times. Just speak into your device or manually type in a message and it will instantly display an avatar which repeats the message in sign.

UNI: This amazing gadget does the opposite to what Hand Talk does; it detects sign language and, thanks to its built-in camera, coverts it into text.

It also contains a special software that helps you customise sign language to your needs.

BESPOKE WHEELCHAIRS: “Everyone is an individual. Everyone has their own identity. Everyone deserves choice” – this is the motto of Disrupt Disability, a company which creates affordable, fully customisable wheelchairs. All designs are modular and can be adapted, developed and shared. Clients can

head straight for Disrupt Disability’s library, where they will find a host of components and designs. Many parts can be digitally produced via 3D printing. The technology promises to bring top-grade wheelchair designs to thousands of people who cannot afford technologically savvy models sold for a fortune.

BRAILLE WATCH: Dot Watch is the first ever braille smartwatch to hit the market. The super-light, affordable device enables the visually impaired to use social media, know who is calling them and find local stores and restaurants via Google Maps. “I can read in the dark, can you?” asks the visually impaired model in the company’s first video ad.

TALKITT: This cool app is designed to enhance communication with those who have speech difficulties. The app translates unintelligible speech into understandable phrases, so we can all get past the impediments and start being more productive together!

SESAME PHONE: ‘Open sesame!’

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, like Aladdin, we could control the world around us with our desires? This is the idea behind the new Sesame Phone, made for those with limited mobility. The device is a touch-free smartphone that follows commands given via head movements, tracked by a front-facing camera. Use gestures to carry out a number of commands, including play, call, swipe and more.

SELF-LACING SHOES: NIKE’s new Air Mag shoes are also ideal for those who struggle with hand control. The first pair made went to Michael J. Fox, the Back to the Future actor who is struggling with Parkinson’s.

THE S’UP SPOON: Those with involuntary hand movements know that eating can be a major challenge.

In steps this beautifully designed new spoon, which has

a deeper cavity than usual (which extends into the handle). The result?

Less spills and less hassle.

TOBII DYNAVOX PCEYE EXPLORE: Also for those with limited movement control, this device allows users to control their mouse and click on desired areas of a page, using their eyes.

BRAILLE EDGE 40: This gadget connects with your tablet, computer or smartphone via Bluetooth or USB, converting text on the device to braille.

It also contains specific keys such as Tab, Ctrl, Shift etc., so you can reach the page you want quicker.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

HOW TECHNOLOGY

IS CHANGING

ed l b a s i D e h t f o s e v i t he L

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Onyx

Glacier White

Dark Sapphire

Decisions, decisions, decisions…

Your Bentley awaits. Which colour will you choose?

Presenting our limited range of Bentley Continental GT V8 Convertibles. An exclusive series of 66 cars in a choice of colour – each with optional extras, including a selection of desirable Mulliner accessories. Plus, his and hers Bentley Collection leather jackets, free with every car purchase.* Bentley Marbella, Avda. Norberto Goizueta, s/n (antigua Ctra de Cádiz, Km 171), San Pedro de Alcantara, 29670 Marbella, España Tel: +34 952 785 250 Email: victoria.morgan@cdesalamanca.com Web: marbella.bentleymotors.com Continental GT V8 Convertible fuel consumption – EU Drive Cycle in l/100 km: Urban 15,9; Extra Urban 8,0; Combined 10,9. CO2 Emissions 254 g/km. *Sizes subject to stock availability.

The name ‘Bentley’ and the ‘B’ in wings device are registered trademarks. © 2017 Bentley Motors Limited.

Model shown: Continental GT V8 Convertible.

BENTLEY MARBELLA

w THE TREND motoring

LEXUS RC F SPORTS COUPÉ

While Lexus produces a flagship coupé in the form of the LC model, buyers looking for a high-performance GT car that’s just about as fast might find that the RC F offers better value. The car uses a similar engine and bodywork that’s almost as dramatic. Given the reputation that Lexus has for durability and quality, it offers much of the dash and ambiance of the LC at a more affordable price. WORDS TONY WHITNEY PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LEXUS

T

he RC F most recently tested is an exceptionally fast coupé with great style and eye appeal that is not only seriously quick and agile on a winding mountain road, it’s also very driver-friendly and perfectly happy under urban driving conditions. The car has the long nose/stubby rear look traditional to GT cars for decades and Lexus has added some wonderful touches to make it stand out from others in its class. As Lexus points out: ‘it’s designed for the most demanding driving enthusiast and offers pulse-quickening excitement.’ There’s no doubt that it delivers just about all that a GT car could and probably more comfort and luxury. Incidentally, there’s also a hybrid version of this car.

Much of the excitement is provided by the potent 5.0-litre, V-8 with a stirring 477-horsepower. It’s the first performance engine from Lexus that uses Atkinson Cycle technology at cruising speeds and Otto Cycle at higher RPM to deliver impressive fuel economy and a top limit on the rev counter of 7,300. Aiding all this powerplant technology is a very fast 8-speed automatic transmission that includes manual selection with the now-common steering wheel shift paddles. Leave it in automatic mode and it holds the lower gear in curves to provide maximum acceleration when exiting the corner. It’s the best of both worlds and you’ll never shift a manual transmission as fast as this 8-speed auto. The ‘F’ designation denotes this RC variant as a performance adaptation with lots of cosmetic goodies added too. Think of the F as the Lexus version of Mercedes’ AMG and BMW’s M cars.

54 / MAY 2017 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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The bodywork is designed for maximum airflow with minimum turbulence – something that’s easy to see with one glance at the car. An active rear wing deploys from the boot lid at speeds over 80 km/h to smooth airflow from the roof and ensure down force for handling stability. With a very well tuned suspension, the RC F sits squarely on the road during fast cornering with none of the body lean some GT cars suffer from. As with so many modern cars, a wide range of electronic stability control systems help keep everything together too. It’s fast, but is not an easy car to get into serious trouble with.

The cockpit is beautifully done, not only in

Z ENGINE: 5.0-litre V-8, 477-horsepower.

Z TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic.

Z ACCELERATION: Zero to 100 km/h in 4.5-seconds.

Z TOP SPEED: 270 km/h.

Z I LIKED: Great looking GT car with dramatically flowing lines, nice big alloy wheels, active spoiler and many of the accoutrements expected when you buy into this class.

Outstanding performance from the peppy V-8; wonderful transmission that’s way better than a manual equivalent, excellent brakes and nicely controllable handling.

Z I DIDN’T LIKE: Not much room in the rear ‘seats’ but it’s a useful place to stow coats and soft bags on a road trip.

Z MARKET ALTERNATIVES: Mercedes-Benz C63 coupé, BMW M4 and 6-series, Audi TT, Jaguar F-Type coupé, Porsche 911.

Z WHO DRIVES ONE? The Lexus enthusiast who knows all about the brand and probably owns an LS saloon or a Lexus SUV and wants something else in the garage that’s sportier.

Buyers fleeing from German brands because of high maintenance costs and lack of reliability.

Z PRICE AND AVAILABILITY: €88.000 base price.

the way it’s laid out, but also from a standpoint of ergonomics. It’s snug for sure, but once you’re threaded inside, you instantly feel part of the car.

Particularly well executed is the relationship of the steering wheel, pedals and multi-adjustable front seats. This is a 2+2 and there are rear seats but these are a little on the cramped side for adults. A couple of kids will be happy enough back there, but don’t plan on taking a couple of basketball players to a game! As with all cars in this configuration, the normal occupant load is two and it’s almost certainly true that owners of cars like this usually have an SUV around to use when four or five people are involved. e

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p the focus CULTURE HISTORY FEATURES CELEBS INTERVIEWS HUMOUR

60

Essential Timeline

70

The 70th Cannes Film Festival

76

Eurovision Song Contest

82

Lana Del Rey

84

James Corden

86

World Geek Day

88

Local Property Developments II

104 La Meridiana Suites

WE FIND OUR INSPIRATION IN THE MYRIAD OF THINGS GOING ON IN MAY, INCLUDING THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL, EUROVISION, WORLD GEEK DAY AND THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON THE LOCAL PROPERTY SCENE. WE ALSO DELVE INTO THE LIVES OF FANTASTIC ENTERTAINERS, JAMES CORDEN AND LANA DEL REY.

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IN

S ESS AR SIN YE R BU 80 CA

E TH

An exclusive selection of premium vehicles available to view at our new San Pedro showroom

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w w w .RCS sp a in.c o m

p THE FOCUS anniversary

REPORT IAIN BLACKWELL

start here

MAY 1999 Hysterical scenes ensue after an irate transport driver arrives at the office to report that his articulated lorry with our new magazine is outside blocking the Golden Mile, being too big to drive into the car park. This completely blows out the plan to transfer the magazines directly to our office and results in a full day’s momentous manual effort filling up transit vans with packets of magazines and driving them to the office to unload them again. Copious hours later, a seriously jacked-off transportista exits Marbella leaving a team who were fresh and un-blooded in the morning, bruised, scarred and completely dead on their feet. Needless to say, we immediately arrange for a storage depot with proper unloading facilities for the arrival of the 2nd issue!

MAY 1999

FRIDAY 7TH

Venue: Bora Bora Beach Club. Event: launch party. The new magazine receives a serious baptism from over 500 attendees with plenty of cause to celebrate, partying their sox off, much aided by never-ending free drinks, sushi and Indian snacks in circulation and a really hot, toe-kicking live salsa band that makes everyone with a pulse ‘Move It’. Even Scottish friends of legendary drinking capacity start complaining at 5am that they can barely manage to drain the bar, impressively letting it be known later that it took them a full day longer than normal to recover.

JULY 1999 Must be a new record as is already in profit by issue 3, much helped by a strong support from household-name local advertisers right from the very start, such as Panorama, DM Properties, Villa Marketing, Reflections, Roche Bobois, Los Bandidos, Da Bruno, Tai Pan, Thai Gallerys and Sukhothai. The market is also on an upwardly mobile trend, so things are looking pretty rosy.

1999-2001 continues to grow on a trajectory that will eventually take it to the very top. It is already instantly recognisable, highly popular and known as a magazine with a substantial content that retains reader interest, specialising in the property market.

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TIMELINE NOVEMBER 2001

First website launched in conjunction with mcomdesign and Marbella.com. A lively mix of feature articles, business news, weather and full directory information reaches 45,000 visitors by the end of its first month. Our online presence continues to expand goes Global with and in September 2008 a virtual version of the magazine that can be accessed by anyone from anywhere around the world.

MARCH 2002 First Hotel edition – following a deal that sees the magazine personalised for in-room distribution in both Marbella Club and Puente Romano Hotels, top real estate companies suddenly clamour to take multiple-page campaigns under the realisation that their potential . Both hotels have the same clients are sitting in their suites reading as everyone else, only with the front cover personalised plus the first four inside pages. These are the first of many personalised editions that have included the hotels: Torrequebrada, Gvadalpin, NH Alanda, Westin La Quinta, Don Carlos and, more recently, Kempinski and Villa Padierna Palace.

MAY 2002 27 JUNE 2003 Issue 50. With a knock-out cover of Kelly Brook, thanks to Danieli of celebrates its 50th edition in the special La Comedia atmospheric Spiegel tent at Mundo Studios replete with live music, and gives away a Linn Classik home cinema system worth €3.000 to lucky Steve Mizan, winner of the prize draw. A great evening out is partially marred by the boys in green setting a breathalyser trap on the Cancelada fly-over, virtually unavoidable on leaving the venue.

Visitors Guide launches. For those of us in need of a little guidance, particularly of the What’s Visitors Guide Going On category, the quickly comes to the rescue with all the answers. Its pocket-size format proves to be popular and so begins a nearly four years reign, brilliantly complementing the main magazine, before a contracting market and insufficient support from advertisers seals its fate. It has been lamentably missed by countless people ever since, to such an extent that it will surely make a comeback one of these days.

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4 AUGUST 2006 OCTOBER 2004 With the coast in total boom mode, an all-time record is reached in invoicing from a single month’s advertising. 2004 ends as best year ever being listed among financially with Andalucía’s 50 most rentable companies.

Puro Beach invites to host a party for its top clients in advance of their own launch event. More than 400 arrive on a balmy night to find a wonderfully luxurious venue oozing style and glamour. Laidback partying is the order of the evening with exotic cocktails and sophisticated canapés, livened up by a glitzy performance from Delrico and his band, Crusher Jones. A top night out is the foregone conclusion, without anyone even going into the pool!

Awards launched. One of the cleverest marketing ploys ever, brilliantly conjectured by Creative Director, Andrea, the Marbella Awards come into being. first Taking a while for the penny to drop, they develop by 2008 to become a highly coveted prize that everybody wants to be awarded, precisely because the winners are elected purely by their public. An Oscars-style Gala dinner spectacular being the natural outcome, this is exactly what transpires, with annual editions being hosted at Puente Romano’s Salón Andalucía during 2009, 2010 and 2011, complete with celebrity MCs, live entertainment and hundreds in attendance.

OCTOBER 2005

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‘s Angels

10 AUGUST 2007 The long-awaited moment arrives, with celebrating 100 editions in print – in August of all months! After huge amounts of deliberation, a compromise is reached consisting of a live rock concert followed by a total chill-out party at Puro Beach – so good was the VIP guests totally one from the summer before, we wanted to go back for more. 500 and uncompromisingly enjoy a triple bill musical extravaganza in Estepona’s Bull Ring with cushioned seating and free bar. Sammy’s Escape warms up the crowd, Natura blows them away and Steve Harley + Cockney Rebel completely charms the audience with its blend of wonderfully performed melodic rock. With hearing just about still operating, nearly everyone retires to Puro Beach for a magical after-show party, joined by an extended guest list of restaurateurs and others, in an amazing ambience that makes it impossible to avoid a major hair-letting-down session of memorable proportions.

12 SEPTEMBER 2008 Inspired by last year’s great gig, participates as a principal media partner for Awesome Global Events Deep Purple sell-out concert at the Estepona Bull Ring. Natura, in a dream come true, are back to support and Purple, true to form and complete with three of the original 60s line-up, play a mind (and eardrum) blowing set that must’ve been heard all the way down to Algeciras. Those still able to function assemble afterwards at Café del Mar on the roof of the AGH Hotel and, despite the chill nature of the surroundings, are noticeably observed to be shouting loudly at each other even when standing side-by-side.

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21 MAY 2009 On a roll, hundreds of clients, friends and supporters join us for a memorable 10 years celebration at Bubbles and Tibu in Puerto Banús.

Sexy waiters, live music, dancing girls, an open bar and endless rounds of sophisticated canapés ensure that the crowd isn’t wanting for anything and can concentrate on the main business of being pampered in style.

At a gala ceremony in Madrid, from over 100 entrants, is presented with the prestigious award for Best Free Publication in Spain by the Asociación Española de Editoriales de Publicaciones Periódicas (AEEPP) and receives a limited edition medal minted by the Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre.

OCTOBER 2011

MARCH 2013 Following many requests from Gibraltarbased clients and readers, Gibraltar is launched as a bi-monthly title featuring a mix of international content and articles relative to Gibraltar. With extensive distribution in Gibraltar and Sotogrande, it enjoys a 16-edition run until December team with 2015, providing the invaluable experience in producing multiple publications.

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17 JUNE 2016

MAY 2014

Returning to where it all began, to toast hosts 200 editions in print, a lively party at Bora Bora Beach Club in San Pedro, complete with Desperados – a sublime Eagles tribute band, an authentic American hotdog stand and Korean sushi. Many revellers agree that, just like its predecessor back in 1999, it was one of the best nights out in aeons.

TODAY

launches a new website coinciding with its 15th anniversary. With ever-increasing traffic, our dynamic new portal is classy and easy to navigate, with comprehensive sections on Business, Health, Dining and Leisure, including back issues of the magazine that viewers can access in their entirety.

8 MAY 2015 With features on the World Expo in Milan, Leonardo Da Vinci, Italian Design, Lake Como and Capri, our 16th anniversary edition is simply beautiful! To celebrate another landmark, we invite top clients and friends to a swish soirée at Puro Beach in Laguna Village.

All this has not been achieved by accident.

Careful planning and a top team to execute it have been instrumental in reaching the pinnacle of success. It’s been a long hard slog, but it has also been a lot of fun. Ask any team member – some of the most loyal people on the planet – if they’d rather have had it any other way and the indefatigable answer will be: “Are you serious?” A huge thank you goes out – you to everyone involved with know who you are and you are essential to !

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Crazy for

CANNES! The 70th Cannes Film Festival kicks off on May 19, with no less than Pedro Almodóvar playing the role of President of the Jury. This edition promises to be as exciting, passionate and glamorous as ever and as we wait with baited breath for what is arguably Europe’s most respected celebration of film, Marisa Cutillas recalls some of Cannes’ most unforgettable moments…

1939: A CANCELLED FIRST EDITION Film historiographers often cite the first edition of the Cannes Film Festival as having taken place in 1946, yet the first official attempt took place in 1939. The Festival, to be presided by Louis Lumière (one of the first filmmakers in history), was postponed when Hitler invaded Poland and set off one of the bloodiest wars in World history.

1954: KEEPING ABREAST OF THINGS Fame-hungry actress, Simone Silva, gave the Festival one of its most

alluring photographs by taking off her top during a photocall, and cuddling up to a delighted Robert Mitchum. Silva claimed that the photographers begged her to go topless though when she gladly obliged, a violent scuffle ensued, resulting in injury for many.

1955: THE BIRTH OF THE PALME D’OR Prior to 1955, the Grand Prix of the International Film Festival was awarded to the Best Director, the award comprising a work by a renowned contemporary artist. In 1954, Robert Favre Le Bret, Delegate General of

the Festival’s board, asked top French jewellers to design a palm, which paid homage to the city’s Coat of Arms. The winning design was that of Lucienne Lazon.

In 1955, the first ever Palme d’Or went to Delbert Mann for his emotional film Marty, starring Ernest Borgnine as an ageing bachelor who defies family pressure to pursue the woman he loves.

Interestingly, the jury went back to giving the Grand Prix from 1964 to 1974, embracing the Palme once again in 1975 owing to its profound symbolism.

1954

ANECDOTES, MYTH AND LEGEND

1955

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2017

The official 2017 Cannes Film Festival poster, featuring Claudia Cardinale, designed by Bronx agency Paris (www.bronx.fr) © Archivio Cameraphoto Epoche/Getty Images

1958: THE FRENCH NEW WAVE CRASHES ON THE SHORES OF CANNES

1958

ed the course Young French director, François Truffaut, chang Blows, which 400 The cent ifi of modern cinema with the magn ning events defi the t: subjec ched untou to focussed on a hither ra angles came lle nouve and script ic realist A life. of one boy’s film The nal. were employed to make the story more perso to years many for a cinem would leave its mark on modern owes ight, Moonl s, Oscar the at Film Best come; indeed, 2017’s t matter subjec its both in Blows 400 The to debt nd a profou and style.

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1968

Truffaut and friends revolutionised the 1968 edition of the Festival

1961 A NUN’S AWAKENING

1975 1968: THE FRENCH NEW WAVE DROWNS THE FESTIVAL This year was a revolutionary one for France, with students taking to the street to protest against capitalism and unfair conditions for workers. Their spirit seems to have inspired elite French filmmakers Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut, who managed to convince eminent members of the jury (including Spanish film director, Carlos Saura) to support the students and end the festival early.

Saura, joined by Geraldine Chaplin, Godard and Truffaut, actually tried to stop the screening of Saura’s film Peppermint Frappé, by physically preventing the screen curtain from opening. A fist fight ensued, with Godard losing his glasses and Truffaut resulting a little worse for wear. Eventually, the jury president agreed to close the festival five days early. The following year, a new section was introduced (Directors’ Fortnight), which enabled bold, revolutionary voices to be heard.

1975: PAUL NEWMAN CAUSES FIRST PHOTOGRAPHERS’ STRIKE Paul Newman was a great actor and showman, yet even he was less than professional in the Festival’s 1975 edition when, owing to jetlag, he refused to pose for the official press. That evening, during the famous ‘Climbing of the Steps’, the photographers laid their cameras by their feet as a sign of protest against the Hollywood actor. Newman often cited this moment as having taught him never to mess with the press. In 1983, photographer Mario Gurrieri, then aged 71, instigated another strike against Isabelle Adjani, who had refused to appear earlier at the press conference and photo call for the presentation of Jean Becker’s One Deadly Summer.

1979: A MISTAKEN JURY PRESIDENT AND ALL THAT JAZZ Not until Birdman did a film manage to capture the essence of theatrical passion with so much honesty, as All That Jazz did. The

Surrealist genius, Luis Buñuel, was criticised and vilified by the Catholic church for Viridiana, a film about the sexual awakening of a young nun, with a parody of The Last Supper included. Art triumphed and the film took home the top prize that year.

film, about a womanising director/ choreographer who knocks back a daily dose of amphetamines to withstand the competing pressures of the theatre and his disastrous personal life, was a shock winner, wresting the Palme d’Or from seasoned directors such as JeanLuc Godard, Akira Kurosawa and Samuel Fuller. The film was full of razzle dazzle and its director, Bob Fosse, was a multi-prize winner (having previously won four Oscars and two BAFTAS). However, the win may not have been so shocking considering that the jury president was none other than Kirk Douglas, who was mistakenly appointed to the presidency after a telegram sent to Hollywood requesting “Douglas Sirk for jury” was misunderstood as “Douglas, Kirk.” The result? A festival full of glamour and a winner which, these days, would be considered too flashy to need the push of a Palme d’Or win.

1980: AN UNINSPIRED POSTER It is tremendously odd that one of the most famous festivals in the world should have repeated the same (rather boring) promotional poster for two years in a row: 1980 and 1981.

1980

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Tilda Swinton in Bong Joon-Ho’s Okja

2006 Dolph Lundgren and JeanClaude Van Damme were caught getting into a punch-up by photographers, admitting soon afterwards that it was a publicity stunt to promote their blockbuster film, Universal Soldier.

2001: A JOKE IN BAD TASTE The cast of dark comedy, 24 Hours Party People, pulled a much criticised publicity stunt, heading for a nearby beach and pelting each other with dead pigeons. Blood and feathers flew in the air, reaching the tables of shocked diners.

Security guards put an end to the sorry spectacle with cans of mace aimed at the hapless bunch of actors.

2004: A LONG-LASTING OVATION FOR MICHAEL MOORE’S FAHRENHEIT 9/11 This gem of a film brought truths to the big screen that many would have liked to keep hushed. Cannes is known for honouring favoured films with ovations but Fahrenheit 9/11 took the cake by keeping the audience on its feet for 20 full minutes. Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life, on the other hand (2011), which won

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the Palme d’Or that year, was booed as well as applauded.

Some members of the audience did not take to the universal, planetary symbolism used to describe the inner emotions of the film’s main characters.

Interestingly, back in the U.S., the Disney studio refused to release it but it was picked up by another distributor and went on to make millions. The film was a worthy winner of the Palme d’Or that year.

2006: BORAT’S MANKINI Sacha Baron Cohen once again inspired some of the Festival’s funniest ever moments when he appeared on the beach wearing the mankini he sported in Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. In 2012, he pulled another publicity stunt, enlisting the help of George Clooney’s ex, Elisabetta Canalis. Cohen, dressed

as the star of his film The Dictator, was photographed on a yacht guzzling Champagne, pulling out a machine gun and eventually sticking Canalis in a body bag and throwing her into the water.

2011: LARS VON TRIER AND A NOT-SO-FUNNY JOKE Lars von Trier is one of the world’s most visionary directors, yet evidently, social sensitivity is not his thing. “I am a Nazi,” he joked, during the press conference for his beautiful film Melancholia, while shocked actress Kirsten Dunst visibly winced. The director immediately retracted but it was too late. Despite having been a Palme d’Or winner, he was declared ‘persona non grata’ by Festival head, Thierry Frémaux. e

2011

© Denis Makarenko / Shutterstock.com

1992: SOLID FRENEMIES

© Featureflash Photo Agency Shutterstock.com

1992

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR THIS YEAR

Cannes is always unpredictable and one never knows who will provide the magical anecdotes which add to the Festival’s rich history. What we do know are some of the event’s highlights: Z TIPPED PALME D’OR WINNER: Critics are placing their bets on Austrian director, Michael Haneke’s Happy End, starring Isabelle Huppert and Jean-Louis Trintignant. The director has won two previous Palmes d’Or. The film centres on a typical European family whose members are impervious to world events, particularly the European migrant crisis, until the truth hits too close to home. Other top films include Kornél Mundruczó’s drama about the refugee crisis: Jupiter’s Moon and Bong Joon-Ho’s Okja, a fantasy film starring Tilda Swinton, described by Cannes director, Thierry Frémaux, as a highly political film about “the way we exploit animals”.

Z FEMALE POWER: Female directors will be taking the centre stage this year, including Sofia Coppola (The Beguiled), Naomi Kawase (Hikari) and Lynne Ramsey (You Were Never Really Here).

Z TV RULES: Two television shows have made it to the ‘special screenings’ list this year: David Lynch’s Twin Peaks (returning to the small screen on May 21) and Jane Campion’s Top of the Lake. Campion is the only female director to have ever won the Palme d’Or. Z THE STARS: Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman and Dustin Hoffman are just a few stars who will be making their way to this year’s Festival.

Z THE POLITICS: Special screenings will include Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Sequel (part two of An Inconvenient Truth) and Vanessa Redgrave’s Sea Sorrow (a documentary which broaches the migrant crisis from an historical perspective).

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p THE FOCUS eurovision

EUROVISION n o i t c i d d A Belinda Beckett discovers why, on the night of Saturday May 13, nations which don’t even compete in it will be tuned in to Eurovision, the 1950s Swiss song contest that has grown into a global obsession.

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Fiery performance © Anna Velikova (EBU)

I

t was hugely ambitious for its time, a light entertainment programme to reunite Europe after WW2 in a celebration of musical talent, broadcast live to radio and TV audiences across the continent.

From a civilised contest between seven countries it has evolved into something more akin to international warfare in a concert hall setting, with nations ganging up in tactical voting blocs as unknown acts in outrageous costumes slug it out vocally with an arsenal of theatrical props, pyrotechnics lasers… although generally not much in the way of a song… Unless you count Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s Tè Deum Prelude, the theme tune that has announced the Eurovision Song Contest since its inception.

Nudity and same-sex snogging, fireworks and singing puppets, a band of baking babushka grandmas from Russia, a bearded transsexual songstress from Austria who outraged Vladimir Putin… over six decades, the Eurovision stage has seen it all.

Through ABBA highs and Jedward Twins lows, the show that launched the careers of a fortunate few (Celine Dion, Julio Iglesias and Riverdance in its first major performance as an interval act) inspires nearly as much patriotic fervour as the Olympics, and is watched by over 200 million viewers and three times that many online fans.

Launched by the Swiss-based European Broadcasting Union in Lugano in 1956, and inspired by the Sanremo Music Festival which is even older, the idea was for every network member to put up a singer and song, vote for the best and take turns to host and transmit it to everyone else – a hugely ambitious project in those pre-satellite TV days.

As Cliff Richard sang in 1968, Congratulations are due to a show that has aired for 61 years without a break. And it scores douze points for

ingenuity, having replicated itself for a new generation of fans with Junior Eurovision, and several other music and dance contests including Eurovision Choir of the Year, premiering in Latvia this July.

At this month’s 62nd edition, a record-equalling 43 countries will field acts in Kiev, host country for the second time, and 1,500 members of the world’s media will be there to record it. The contest has expanded its repertoire from a one-night stand to a glittering visual extravaganza spanning nearly a fortnight, with six days of ticketed rehearsal shows and two live televised semi-finals ahead of the Saturday night Grand Final.

And Eurovision is no longer a European-only club. Israel has been competing since 1973, Australia has been a fixture since it was allowed to enter the 60th anniversary contest and a number of non-competing countries including America, Canada, New Zealand and China have signed up for live feeds.

Since 2000 when it was first live-streamed over the Internet, everyone’s heard of Eurovision, including Barrack Oabama, who referenced it in a Presidential anti-Brexit speech. Acts start promoting their videos on the Eurovision website and across social media weeks before the event. Francesco Gabbani’s Occidentali’s Karma featuring a gorilla called Gerald (a dancer in an ape suit), is already an iTunes hit and a favourite to win this year.

Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst wins by a beard in 2014 © Thomas Hanses (EBU)

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Lasers © Egle Sabaliauskaitės

Justin Timberlake was a big draw for American viewers last year © Anna Velikova (EBU)

WINNERS & LOSERS

» Ireland holds the record for seven Eurovision wins, scooping three in a row between 1992 and 1994.

Spain has won twice. » The UK holds the runner-up record with 15 second placings. » Portugal is the longest-competing non-winner (since 1964) » No-win Iceland is the keenest loser, delivering the largest viewing share of all 42 countries last year (95.3%) despite missing the cut. » Cyprus, Slovenia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and twice runner-up Malta have never produced a winner.

Special effects © Julia Naglestad NRK

It’s all very different from my own induction to Eurovision in 1967, when many families still didn’t own a TV set.

Of 17 countries taking part that year, the hottest controversy was whether barefoot singer Sandie Shaw would have the decency to wear shoes. She compromised with tights, winning for Britain in stocking feet with the cheesy Puppet on a String.

In those pre-backing tracks days, singers brought their own conductor and performed with a full orchestra; bands were banned (only solo artists and duos could enter); songs were sung in a Babel of foreign languages (today most acts favour English); and each country had only three casting votes, resulting in ignominy for those racking up nul points. The long drawn-out voting declarations in fumbled French and English over dodgy terrestrial TV connections were as thrilling as watching paint dry.

Today a new split voting system made up of professional national jury panels and a public televote has made it all much more interactive and exciting. Although even today, the show often overruns its three-hour slot.

Hosting Eurovision is the automatic right of the previous year’s winning country. But despite the obvious tourism benefits, it’s not an option all victors take up, simply because of the cost. Not many countries could have afforded the record £48m lavished on

the 2012 event by Baku in Azerbaijan.

Every nation chips in but Spain, Britain, Italy, France and Germany are the major financial contributors, known as the Big Five, whose acts automatically qualify for the final.

‘Celebrate Diversity’ is 2017’s theme but the contest has been doing that for years. Iceland’s Páll Óskar was the first openly gay competitor in 1997, four years before same-sex marriage was legalised anywhere. The following year, transgender female artist Dana International won for Israel, cementing Eurovision’s status as an LGBT-friendly arena and prompting BBC announcer Scott Mills to comment: “Eurovision is the gay World Cup.” For Eurovision executive Jon Ola Sand, diversity is “at the heart of Eurovision values: it is all-inclusive and all about countries around Europe, and beyond, joining together to celebrate both our common ground and our unique differences, as well as some great music.”

Not all critics agree that the hotchpotch of power ballads, ethnic rhythms and bubblegum pop equates to ‘great music’, while the ‘unique differences’ among nations are often a source of acrimony. Turkey’s 1974 invasion of Cyprus has never been forgotten by Greece which famously awards top marks to Cyprus, while Turkey traditionally gives it the cold shoulder.

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Terry Wogan, the face of Eurovision in Britain for over 30 years with his tongue-in-cheek, blarney-filled TV and radio commentaries, stood down in 2008, declaring: “The voting used to be about the songs. Now it’s about national prejudices.”

But taking sides and ganging up against political adversaries is traditional. At the height of the Falklands War, Spain’s provocative entry was a performance of the tango — practically the national dance of Argentina and a welltimed slap in the face to Britain, as host country that year. Russia was heavily booed at the 2014 and 2015 finals over its military intervention in Ukraine and anti-LGBT rights stance.

The build-up to this year’s contest began weeks ago with pre-parties in Riga, London, Madrid, Moscow and Amsterdam. There will be fireworks, a Mayoral reception and a Red Carpet ceremony at the Ukraine President’s official palace residence to attend before a single note has been sung.

Off camera, the Eurovision Village will transform Kiev’s main shopping strip of Khreshchatyk into a social hub with a nightclub and a fan café where aficionados can eat,

drink, mingle, meet the contestants and watch live shows on giant screens if they haven’t booked seats or standing space at the city’s 8,000-capacity International Exhibition Centre.

Like the Olympics, there are no cash prizes for competitors, just the honour of representing their country. But no one is in any doubt that they’re in it to win so it’s all up for grabs… Voterigging, political manoeuvring, louche displays of LGBT love… although there are rules, almost anything is possible at Eurovision!

As 2013 Finnish entrant Krista Siegfrids said after her lingering girl-on-girl kiss with a backing dancer to protest against her country’s samesex marriage ban: “It’s live on TV, so nobody can stop me.” i Check out the full line-up of acts and videos at www.eurovision.tv

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LANDMARK YEARS

Z 1956 Eurovision premiered in Lugano but organisers are kicking themselves that no one had the wit to record it on film. Only a copy of the radio transmission remains.

Z 1957 Eurovision shocked with its first same-sex kiss. The 11-second smackeroonie between Danes Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler (dressed as sailors) was reportedly the result of a stage hand failing to give them the cue to stop.

Z 1968 When Massiel of Spain’s La La La beat Cliff Richards’ Congratulations into second place, General Franco was accused of rigging the vote to boost Spanish tourism by offering TV sponsorship and contracts to other participating countries. It continues to play on Sir Cliff’s mind. He says: “I’ve lived with this number two thing for so many years, it would be wonderful if someone official from the contest turned around and said: ‘Cliff, you won that darn thing after all’.”

Z 1969 Spain, France, the Netherlands and the UK all tied on points and were declared joint winners, prompting several countries to boycott the following year’s contest. A tie-break system was duly introduced.

Z 1974 The Portuguese entry kick-started a revolution.

Less than a month after he performed it on stage, Paulo de Carvalho’s And After the Goodbye was played over the radio as a secret signal indicating the start of the uprising that toppled the country’s dictatorship.

Z 1974 The elegant Katie Boyle of Camay soap commercial fame hosted the show ‘commando-style’ because her underwear was showing VPL under her tight-fitting pink satin dress.

Z 1977 Angela Rippon hosted without an autocue at the newly-opened Wembley Conference Centre, describing the experience as “a complete nightmare, one of the worst rehearsed and least organised Eurovisions there has ever been.”

Z 1993 The smallest town to host Eurovision was Millstreet in County Cork, Ireland, whose population of 1,500 quintupled.

Z 2000 Israeli group PingPong staged the most controversial political gesture ever when they unfurled Syrian and Israeli flags calling for peace between the two countries. It later emerged that the band had entered the contest as a joke and two of its members were journalists.

Z 2005 ABBA’s Waterloo (1974) was declared the most popular Eurovision song of all-time in a televoting contest to mark the show’s 50th anniversary.

Z 2009 Georgia was thrown out of the Moscow contest without getting to perform its not-so-subtle anti-President Putin entry, We Don’t Wanna Put In, by Stephane & 3G. Z 2014 When Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst won in 2014, sporting an elegant diamante evening gown and a full beard, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin condemned the departure from “traditional values” stating, “People have the right to live their lives the way they want but they should not be aggressive or put it up for show.” e

Jamala wins Eurovision 2016 for Ukraine © Andres Putting (EBU)

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“ Wh e n yo u are s er i o u s ab ou t R eal Es tate”

Built: 133 m2 Terrace: 40 m2 Price: 790.000€

Bermeja Beach, Estepona Unique location, beachfront apartment right on the beach! A 3 bedroom apartment completely renovated with open-plan living area, only 10 minutes walk to the port of Estepona with its abundance of restaurant and bars. A must see property!

R2663540

Built: 322 m2 Plot: 1,226 m2 Price: 925.000€

Stunning project in Monte Biarritz, Estepona. 3

Built: 189 m2 Terrace: 30 m2 Price: 299.000€

Atalaya. Spacious 3 bedroom corner apartment in the luxurious El Campanario complex. 24h security, tropical gardens with several swimming pools and outside the complex El Campanario Country Club with indoor heated pool, sports facilities, a restaurant and more. R2646959

El Paraiso Alto. Luxury 6 bedroom villa set on a very private plot with exceptional panoramic views over the golf course, the sea and the mountains. Fabulous gardens with fruit trees, good sized heated pool and a guest apartment. Prestigious area, close to golf and only a few minutes drive to Marbella. R2766731

Built: 327 m2 Plot: 1000 m2 Price: 1.945.000€

Nueva Andalucia Front Line Golf. Luxury 4 bedroom

modern villas built to high standards within walking distance to the beach, all amenities and only a few minutes drive to Puerto Banús. Built on 2 levels with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and guest toilet, pool and carport. R2741450

!

CE ED I PRDUC RE

Built: 470 m2 Plot: 1843 m2 Price: 1.995.000€

villa near Los Naranjos Golf course. Refurbished to a very high standard with views straight to the golf course. Two bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs, one of these being the oversized master suite with dressing room.

Basement with garage and extra bedroom with bathroom. R2836781

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p THE FOCUS people

© Jaguar Cars MENA

‘Dreamy’, ‘Vintage’, ‘Old Hollywood’. She was been called that and so much more. Fashion icon. Singer.

Composer. Lana del Rey is without a doubt one of the most influential artists of her generation. A diva who is every inch ‘the spectacular now’ yet whose music and way of thinking is firmly entrenched in the past. Lana del Rey is James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor and Natalie Wood all rolled into one. She is Warren Beatty’s leather jacket, Elvis’ coif and Marilyn’s red lipstick. A feminist nightmare. A visionary lyricist. The God Pluto rowing his boat in the Styx. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

LANA DEL REY

She Moves in Mysterious Ways

S

o shrouded is she in mystery and nostalgia, it is hard to imagine Lana Del Rey as anyone other than the myth she created, yet this 31-year-old chanteuse was once simply known as ‘Lizzie’ – Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, daughter to a successful entrepreneur and a loving mother who encouraged her to join the school choir. Lana is her stage name; a marketing ploy which harked back to the glamorous Cuban scene. She says, “My sister and I were spending a lot of time in Miami and we have a lot of friends

there from Cuba… I knew I wanted a name that sounded exotic and reminded me of the seaside on the Floridian coast and Lana del Rey sounded beautiful to me and I just wanted a name I could start shaping my music towards.”

As a child, Lana had always enjoyed writing. She was inspired by her father, who wrote country songs as a hobby, and by her mother, who loved to sing. Always intense, she took the ‘tortured writer’ ideal to an extreme by drinking, soon developing an addiction problem.

At the age of 15, she was sent to an

upper-class boarding school to set her on the straight and narrow and by the age of 18, she managed to quit drinking. She was accepted into university in New York but decided to take a sabbatical, living a year on the elegant Long Island with her aunt and uncle while working as a waitress (People loved me, I was the best waitress,” she said).

During this magical time of reflection in Long Island, Lana’s uncle taught her six simple chords.

It changed her life; it turns out that she has always had the gift of composition within her: “I realised

that with these six chords, I could probably write a million songs!”

Write she did, and young Lana was confident, taking her new songs to bars and nightclubs in Brooklyn under quirky stage names like Sparkle Jump Roap Queen or Lizzy Grant and the Phenomena . While honing her creative talent, she also enrolled at university, majoring in philosophy and metaphysics.

Always a passionate and caring soul, she spent endless hours volunteering for the homeless and helping people with alcohol and drug abuse problems.

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From 2005 to 2006, Lana recorded two lost albums: one, entitled both Rock Me Stable and Young Like Me, was never released, but Sirens, released under the moniker May Jailer, leaked in 2012. While Lana was at University, she struggled financially, living on the sofas of friends and lovers across the City and continuing to write and perform. In 2007, her big break came: a producer from independent label 5 Points Records saw the chanteuse perform at a local Brooklyn talent competition and introduced her to label owner, David Nichtern. She teamed up with talented producer, David Kahne, using the money she received to move to a trailer park in New Jersey. She began working on her debut album, Kill Kill, while finishing the last few months of her degree. It was about this time that she changed her name; it fit in with the ideal music she wanted to make: glamorous, sensual, iconic.

Keen on reinventing herself to meet world standards, ‘Lizzie’ moved to London and found new management, completing her final transformation into Lana del Rey and releasing what would be her first big hit: Video Games.

The single, a languid, romantic ballad that pulls you into its soul in the first few seconds, seems to celebrate old-style ideals of womanhood, the romantic 1950s ideal of living for one’s man yet, far from sounding retrograde, it actually comes off as intensely sweet and romantic. Her lyrics are sensual and the music, melancholy and nostalgic. She croons.

“It’s you, it’s you, it’s all for you Everything I do I tell you all the time Heaven is a place on earth with you

Tell me all the things you want to do I heard that you like the bad girls honey, is that true?”

The DIY video of the tune went viral and landed her a deal with Interscope. Her talent and unique retro-style beauty soon sparked the interest of the press and Lana began appearing on the cover of a string of magazines which would include no less than Vogue. Her major label debut, Born to Die, was released in 2012 and debuted in the number 2 spot of the Billboard 200 chart, garnering her the International Breakthrough Award at the 2012 Brit Awards.

Lana released the EP Paradise in 2013, featuring the singles Ride and Blue Velvet. Paradise garnered her a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album as well as a Brit Award for International Female Solo Artist. She was also nominated for a Grammy for the incredible song Young and Beautiful, which she wrote for Baz Luhrmann’s remake of The Great Gatsby. The song, which Lana sang at Kanye West’s wedding, asks, “Will you still love me When I’m no longer young and beautiful?

Will you still love me When I’ve got nothing but my aching soul?

I know you will, I know you will I know that you will Will you still love me when I’m no longer beautiful?”

In 2015, Lana teamed up with the incredible Rufus Wainright (singer and composer) and Dan Auerbach (Black Keys keyboard) for the stylistically pure album Ultraviolence, which debuted at the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart. She followed up this majorly successful

album with Honeymoon, dubbed her best yet and indicative of the greater sophistication and melodic beauty that grows with each new release. Her lyrics combine intense personal emotion with references to major political and historical events of the 20th century. In case you thought she was just another pretty face, think again; as Lana recently told NME: “There is a high fantasy element in the music, but I’m incredibly plugged into what’s going on politically, socially and pretty much in every way except pop-culturally. I’ve had a very real life, and there have been a lot of things that took a lot of strength and wherewithal to figure out… things I’m still figuring out. That’s probably why the music has such an element of escapism to it.”

Despite having such a nostalgic vibe to her aesthetic, she is very much interested in the future as well – in the “intergalactic possibilities, physics and life sciences.” In many ways, we understand why she shies from talking about feminism. She hasn’t read much on the topic, she says, and looks more towards breaking new ground in artistry, a genre that often knows no sex, age or race. e

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p THE FOCUS people

The All-Singing, All-Dancing

JAMES CORDEN W

Whether working out with Man United in pink day-glo legwarmers, stripping to his underwear with David Beckham in a spoof Calvin Klein commercial or taking Michelle Obama for a Carpool Karaoke session around the White House lawn, there’s almost nothing talented British actor, script writer and all-round funny man James Corden won’t do for a giggle. But his journey from Gavin and Stacey to America’s Late Late Show hasn’t always been a sing-along ride, as Belinda Beckett reports.

hen James Corden was chosen to take over the hot seat on The Late Late Show, collective America wondered, ‘Who?’ Despite his extraordinary success in British theatre, film and TV, the chubbycheeked chappy with the ear-to-ear grin who endeared himself to the nation as Smithy in Gavin and Stacey was virtually unknown across The Pond, But his credentials as co-writer of the most successful sitcom of the Noughties convinced those in the know at CBS to give him his shot. And the five-times host of the Brit Awards, who has won nearly as many gongs as he has presented over the years, has not disappointed, winning two Emmys for the show last year.

Corden’s hilarious comedy segments, most of which go viral the moment they hit YouTube, have brought the 12.35am show to the attention of a global audience... like the one where Corden and Tom Hanks act out every movie the Forest Gump and Castaway star has ever appeared in, complete with makeup, costumes and props. The show has since been picked up by TV stations around the world, including Sky. However it’s Corden’s Carpool Karaoke, which sees him driving celebrities around LA while they sing to their favourite hits, that has really tickled the viewing public. Three years into his five year contract, he has had

half the celebrity firmament crooning in his passenger seat – from Elton John and Rod Stewart to George Clooney and America’s former First Lady. The clips with Adele, Justin Bieber and One Direction have garnered more internet views than any other US chat show and Apple has bought the rights to the format for its own music streaming service.

Corden first aired the idea for BBC TV’s Comic Relief in 2011, persuading George Michael to play along. It’s lucky he hung onto the video, as no one in LA was beating down the doors to take part. “We got ‘no’ from everyone. People just thought it was a mad idea. Then I played the tape to someone from Mariah Carey’s label. Mariah is a huge fan of George’s music so she agreed.”

And when Stevie Wonder’s dusty 2002 album, Definitive Collection, shot to No 1 worldwide two days after appearing in the segment, the pop world was queuing up to get in the car with James.

“It is ridiculous to find yourself in a car singing along with Stevie Wonder, it’s insane that this could be my life,” gushes James. “But there’s something very joyful about someone very, very famous singing their songs in an ordinary situation. It’s just me and them and fixed cameras, with safety cars in front and behind, travelling on quiet roads at 20 miles an hour. I think they find it very liberating.”

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When Corden upped sticks to America with his wife, young son and five-week-old baby daughter, he had 10 weeks to launch the show, “a stupidly small amount of time when you’ve got to design and build a set, find your band, decide the format and write the material with just three on staff. There are 90 of us now. But with four shows every week, you don’t have time to dwell on your wins and losses – and we’ve bombed a lot of times. It’s on with the next one.”

The exhibitionist 38-year-old is in his element, admitting he

would have “swum the Atlantic and walked across the U.S. barefoot for this opportunity.” He has courted the spotlight for as long as he can remember, whether that was clowning around in detention, ringing up TV’s Richard & Judy Show to pretend he was the victim of school bullying, or misbehaving at a family christening, aged four, the moment he first realised an essential truth about himself: “If people are looking at me, and only me, it feels amazing.”

To satisfy his lust for the limelight, he got his dad to drive him

James Corden, with Julia Carey at the 2017 Vanity Fair Oscar Party

up and down from Buckinghamshire to London for auditions three or four times a week. With no formal acting training, there were knockbacks aplenty as he progressed from Tango advertisements and bit-parts to a supporting role as a fat boy in Mike Leigh’s 2002 film, All or Nothing, a meaty part in the TV series Fat Friends and on to the West End and Broadway as fat boy Timms in Alan Bennett’s acclaimed play, The History Boys, reprising his role in the 2006 movie.

From being cast in chunky parts, he decided to create his own, getting together with Fat Friends co-star Ruth Jones to write Gavin and Stacey. With its deadpan humour and a script stuffed with quotable catchphrases – ‘What’s occurring?’, ‘lush’, ‘Gav-lar!’ – audiences lapped up the trials and tribulations of Essex boy Gavin (Mathew Horne) and his Welsh girlfriend Stacey (Joanna Page), with Jones as bolshy Goth, Nessa, and Corden as Gavin’s possessively jealous best mate, Smithy (supports West Ham, lives in a tracksuit, never stops eating and yes, he’s fat). Starting off without fanfare on BBC3, the show progressed to BBC1 prime time as the awards rolled in, running to three series and two Christmas Specials and leaving everyone wanting more.

But just as it was going so right, it all went wrong for Corden at the 2008 BAFTAs, when he infamously complained his two awards for the show should have been three. His reputation for arrogance and widely-panned follow-up comedy sketch series, Horne and Corden, added to the backlash and he plummeted from hero to zero with dizzying speed.

‘The moment the show went from cult to actual hit, I was famous and single – a potent, unhealthy

mix,’ Corden wrote in his 2012 autobiography, May I Have Your Attention, Please?, a public apology to everyone he has ever pissed off.

‘I had everything I ever dreamed of and yet I was behaving like an oaf.’

He put his head down and carried on, writing for TV, hosting awards ceremonies and telethons, making records with Dizzee Rascal and Kylie Minogue, appearing in Dr Who (twice), adding comic support to movies and redeeming himself in 2011 with the hit comedy, One Man, Two Guvnors, which won The Evening Standard Best Play of the Year and a Tony Award for Corden when it transferred to Broadway. He also began hosting Sky 1’s panel game, A League of Their Own, alongside team captains Andrew Flintoff and Jamie Redknapp, which continues to keep him connected to Blighty.

In 2015, his atonement complete, he collected his OBE from Princess Anne.

Now comfortably settled in LA, Corden admits he has finally grown up. “Before I met my wife Julia, I was quite lost. I was going out quite a lot, but really only going out to find someone to stay in with. She anchored me emotionally and in every sense.

“I don’t know if we will live here forever. We are a long way from grandparents, aunties, uncles and friends, which is tough. My big worry is that my daughter is not going to know life in Britain. My wife is speaking posher and posher around the house to try to keep them British.

And though I’ve been to a couple of basketball games, while the Premier League is on my telly there’s no contest.”

He’s still doing stuff on the side (the upcoming Ocean’s Eight, the voice of Beatrix Potter’s star bunny in Peter Rabbit) and loving the variety of ‘Late Late’. sNo one Stateside asks who James Corden is now. “I am beyond thrilled by the response.

I never thought I would be a f***ing chat show host in America but I get to sing a bit, dance a bit, act a bit, write a bit. It’s perfect.” e

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p THE FOCUS geek

GEEK AND GOD MADE

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

G

eek Pride Day takes place on May 25, when nerds around the world unite, to celebrate new games, technology, and films.

The date of Geek Day was actually chosen to coincide with the release of the Star Wars Film Episode IV: A New Hope, in 1977. May 25 is also Towel Day, when fans of Douglas Adams (author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) walk around with a towel all day to recall the book’s memorable lines, “A towel… is about the most massively useful thing an insterstellar hitchhiker can have. Partly it has great practical value. You can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across

the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marblesanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the heady sea vapours; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon…” and so on. Many nerds also wear lilac to commemorate the struggles with Alzheimer’s faced by Discworld author, Terry Pratchett. In this book, survivors of the Glorious Revolution in Ankh-Morpork wear lilac on remembrance day (May 25). Greek Pride Day inspires us to ask the question: what maketh a geek? You could fit the bill if you fulfil one or more of the following requirements:

Z YOU ARE ‘GIFTED’: Well, how else would you call this level of obsession with bugs, gaming, the new Lego Design programme or virtual reality? Like gifted kids, geeks tend to be extremely passionate about their areas of interest – the only problem is, the only ones who ‘get’ them are fellow geeks.

Z YOU TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR EXPERTISE: A true geek will happily harp on for hours about the latest game they are playing or the new piece of technology they want to buy, providing you with details such as RAM, pixels and refresh rates – yep, all the terminology that means nothing to most individuals.

Z YOU TELL JOKES THAT ONLY YOU FIND FUNNY: For instance: “I put my root beer in a square cup… now it’s just beer.” or “What is a physicist’s favourite food?” “Fission chips” or “They say a Freudian slip is when you say one thing, but you really mean your mother.”

Z YOU WATCH GAME OF THRONES, READ TOLKIEN AND DON’T MISS A SINGLE STAR WARS FILM: You also watch any and every science fiction film released, including the awful Transendence (2014, starring Johnny Depp) and Lucy (2014, starring Scarlett Johansson). Rom coms, on the contrary, tend to make you feel a little queasy.

Z YOU ARE A GAMER: We don’t mean Monopoly or Cluedo. We’re talking GTA, League of Legends or Counterstrike: Global Offensive. You play for hours on end and can think of nothing worse than being forced to actually have dinner or go to bed, when you are in the midst of a fun

online game with fellow geeks.

Z YOU ARE OBSESSIVE ABOUT GRAMMAR: Just about the worst turn-off in someone you fancy is when they deign to confuse ‘their’, ‘they’re’ and ‘there’. Or ‘of’ and ‘have’ (as part of the grammar police, could I please beg my friends to stop writing “I could of” instead of “I could have” on their Facebook posts?).

Z YOU HAVE A ‘PERSONAL’ FASHION SENSE: You either deck out in Heavy Metal every day (even to weddings, communions and the like), you like combining Dockers and Adidas and you also think that plaid and stripes work well together. Female geeks can easily be identified by their chipped blue or black nail polish, striped tights and odd hair accessories (large plastic flowers are a firm fave, even when feria season is over).

Z YOU READ COMICS, and your bookshelves are packed tight with Manga comic series.

Z YOU WEREN’T THE FIRST PERSON TO LAND A DATE TO THE DANCE/PROM IN HIGH SCHOOL. Z YOU WEAR GLASSES. We admit it; we’ve fallen for every single cliché in the book. Who cares, though? There are many cool things about being a geek – above all, the time and energy geeks spend on their passion. It is always important to do the things you love.

The greatest artists and scientists in history were geeks, so the next time someone calls you ‘four eyes’, think of Leonardo da Vinci and breathe a sigh of relief – it truly is hip to be square. e

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L SO

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CONTEMPORARY VILLA IN LA ALQUERIA, BENAHAVIS Bed 5 | Bath 5 | Built 545 m2 | Terrace 188 m2 | Plot 1,235 m2 I Ref. 2145MLV | €2,550,000

• South West Facing • Panoramic Sea & Golf Views • Ultra-Contemporary Villa • Nearing Completion

• Glass Cavity Sliding Doors • Infinity Pool • Gym, Sauna and Steam Room • Gated with 24hr Security

• Close To All Amenities • Underfloor Heating Throughout • Choice Of Kitchen • Home Cinema & Games Room Options

Urb. Marbella Real, Local 21, Boulevard Alfonso de Hohelohe, 29602 Marbella (three doors west of Pan & Mermelada) info@marbellaliving.com | www.marbellaliving.com | Tel: +34 952 765 428

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p THE FOCUS property

MARBELLA

Development

In the April edition of Essential Marbella Magazine we embarked upon a study of the new developments taking shape on the Costa del Sol. The second part of this feature looks at more of the sleek, modern apartment and villa communities being created right now. Property development is sometimes thought of as being an easy way to make money. Easy it isn’t, as you have to deal with intricate planning regulations – not to mention planning departments – manage budgets, cash flow and large teams of builders, technicians and suppliers. Quite apart from that, your project will only be successful if it’s styling, offering, timing, details and of course location hit the spot. WORDS MICHEL CRUZ

The apartments at Med One enjoy appealing contemporary styling

RESERVA DEL HIGUERÓN RESORT, FUENGIROLA Nestled in a panoramic hillside location between Fuengirola and Benalmádena, Reserva del Higuerón Resort has long since established itself as the prime luxury residential option east of Marbella. In providing not just a collection of urbanisations but a planned residential environment with resort amenities, it is actually closer to the Sotogrande concept than even the country clubs of Marbella are. This sense of community combined with year-round services at your fingertips is one of the USPs of Reserva del Higuerón Resort, though naturally the views and the properties themselves are a draw too.

THE MED ONE COLLECTION Reserva del Higuerón Resort is upgrading its offer all the time, with a newly improved championship paddle centre and restaurant adding to a popular spa and Michelin star restaurant, and the resort’s beach club expected to open by 2018. Med One is the latest addition of homes, featuring contemporary apartments with panoramic sea views and close proximity to all surrounding towns and amenities. For all that, Reserva del Higuerón Resort remains private and tranquil, and as Guillermo del Grosso says: “We keep evolving and improving all the time, applying technology and design sophistication to ensure each new development keeps getting better.

Z PROPERTY TYPE 81 apartments (2-3 bed) and penthouses (2-4 bed) Z SPEC 82m²-150m² Z DEVELOPER Reserva del Higuerón Resort Z ARCHITECT Reserva del Higuerón Resort Z LAUNCHED November 2016 (phase I) Z DELIVERY DATE August 2018 Z % SOLD 51.5% of phase I Z PRICE €389.000 – €1.129.000 i www.reservadelhigueron.com

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The Hill Villas feature retro-inspired modern styling and terrace pools

Med One: Today’s open-plan living

THE HILL VILLAS COLLECTION These villas feature contemporary styling and a layout that is both practical and attractive to optimise space, views and lifestyle potential, with levels of comfort and sophistication that are unheard of on this part of the coast. Reserva del Higuerón Resort is the only true country club this side of Marbella, and it shows in the real estate offering.

Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z

PROPERTY TYPE 7 villas (4-6 bed) SPEC 300m²-350m² DEVELOPER Reserva del Higuerón Resort ARCHITECT Reserva del Higuerón Resort LAUNCHED November 2016 DELIVERY DATE December 2018 % SOLD 42.9% PRICE from €990.000

THE BAY COLLECTION 3 The living spaces of Bay 3 reveal Modernist inspiration

Bay 3 is a luxury villa design that also makes the most of a panoramic setting with spectacular views of the coast. These factors are also recognisable in an architectural design that allows itself to be influenced by nautical themes, and inspired by a luxury outdoor lifestyle. The concept at Reserva del Higuerón Resort is popular among a wide range of nationalities.

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PROPERTY TYPE 1 villa (5 bed) SPEC 614m² + terraces DEVELOPER Reserva del Higuerón Resort ARCHITECT Reserva del Higuerón Resort DELIVERY DATE 18 months PRICE €2.300.000 i www.reservadelhigueron.com

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ARBOLEDA, MONTE BIARRITZ

Arboleda is a gated community of luxury villas where Marbella, Estepona and Benahavís meet

With its peaceful suburban setting close to the crossroads to Benahavís, San Pedro Alcántara and Estepona, the contemporary villas of Arboleda are uniquely designed and positioned to appeal to local residents, i.e. people who live and work here the whole year round, as well as international second home buyers. This also fits with the offer of a compact luxury villa in a private community that is ideal for families. The developer’s expertise has been brought to bear in the design and detail of this project.

TREANA, LAS COLINAS

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PROPERTY TYPE 18 villas (3-4 bed) SPEC 200m²–320m² DEVELOPER Real Capital Solutions ARCHITECT Francisco Robles LAUNCHED Autumn 2016 DELIVERY DATE Summer 2018 % SOLD 22.2% PRICE €745.000 – €1.295.000

Treana offers modern style and luxury in a spectacular setting

The latest offering by Real Capital Solutions is Treana, a development of luxury apartments in the foothills of the Ronda mountains that enjoys some of the very best views of the Marbella coastline from its hillside location close to the point where Monte Halcones, El Madroñal and La Quinta meet. This is luxury hill club territory, and it shows in the standard of design and finishing that is lavished on properties where personal options replace the concept of upgrades. “We start from a very high standard, and from this add personal touches to the client’s taste,” says Taylor Cox of Real Capital Solutions.

Z Z Z Z Z Z Z

PROPERTY TYPE 53 apartments (2-4 bed) SPEC 110m²-184m² DEVELOPER Real Capital Solutions ARCHITECT Maíz & Díaz LAUNCHED Spring 2017 DELIVERY DATE Spring 2019 PRICE €550.000 – €1.500.000 i www.rcsspain.com

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Aria is a prime new development in Mijas Costa

ARIA, MIJAS COSTA This exclusive community of modern apartments in a location walking distance from the beach is above all notable for its spectacular 180-degree views. First and foremost among these are the open expanses of Mediterranean Sea, but especially in the evenings the vistas of Fuengirola’s Castillo de Sohail add to a sense of romance. It is a convenient location between Fuengirola and La Cala de Mijas, an area dominated by sandy coves and amenities that range from beach bars and fish restaurants to golf and nightlife. Classic Costa del Sol with a modern twist.

Z PROPERTY TYPE 39 apartments (3-bed) and penthouses (2-bed) Z SPEC 110m²–142m² Z DEVELOPER Real Capital Solutions Z ARCHITECT González & Jacobsen Z LAUNCHED Summer 2017 Z DELIVERY DATE Summer 2019 Z PRICE €449.000 – €900.000 i www.rcsspain.com

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A luxury country club community in open country on the edge of Marbella

The panoramic sea views at Benahavis Hills are second to none

ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ

PROPERTY TYPE 40 villas (3-6 bed) SPEC 461m²–757m² DEVELOPER Tidjicka SL LAUNCHED Summer 2015 DELIVERY DATE End 2017 % SOLD 95% PRICE €898.000 – €1.398.000

BENAHAVIS HILLS COUNTRY CLUB The secret of the success of Benahavis Hills Country Club lies not only in the quality of its hill club villas and the peaceful, panoramic setting surrounded by expansive nature, but also in the smooth-running country club that places a spa, fine dining restaurant and concierge services at residents’ disposal. The fact that the clubhouse is open and manned yearround has allowed it to become a social hub for the community, with the village of Benahavís a few hundred metres away and the coastal area that Benahavis Hills looks over reachable within 10 minutes.

“Benahavis Hills offers a country club environment in a peaceful, private setting where you really do feel the embrace of nature, with the advantage of having restaurants, schools, golf and other services close by,” says Wil Siersma. He points to a well-functioning community that offers extensive property management services and provides the setting in which the 14 or so nationalities of homeowners regularly interact. “Ours is a small but gradually growing community, and the best of all worlds for people who love comfort and style in a gorgeous natural setting.” i www.benahavishills.com

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Spectacular Villa for Sale LOS FLAMINGOS GOLF RESORT, BENAHAVIS.

Plot 2.122m2, Built 533m2, Terraces 342m2, 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms Price: 3.950.000€ Built to the highest standards located on one of the best plots in Los Flamingos Golf, near 5* hotel Villa Padierna, south facing with spectacular views to the Mediterranean, built in 2005, marble floors, underfloor heating, A/C with heating, fireplace, fully fitted open plan kitchen (Küpperbusch), 3-car garage, heated pool.

CONTACT AND INFORMATION Tel: (+34) 650 848 603 Full property details including drone video, go to www.ownerslink.net - Ref. 365

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A private location close to the beach

The villas are set in a secluded residential area

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PROPERTY TYPE 6 villas SPEC 500m2–580m2 (4-5 bed) DEVELOPER Loma de Casasola ARCHITECT Juan Antonio Fernández LAUNCHED 2015 DELIVERY DATE 50% now / 100% 2nd half 2017 % SOLD 50% PRICE €1.750.000 – €2.390.000

Spacious open-plan areas with tall ceilings

LOMA DE CASASOLA, GUADALMINA BAJA Each developer tries to create something that is distinctive and special. Some are more successful at this than others, and creative enough to design a residential community that really does offer something unique. Loma de Casasola is a case in point, as the luxury villas being constructed here are not only modern and stylish, but also conceived in such a way that the owners have free reign to shape the interior according to their own desires and needs.

“The villas are built to the highest standards with quality materials,” says Ana Salinero Soriano, “after which we work with the new owners to finish the home to their exact specifications.” It is this flexibility to personalise your home as if you had built it yourself that makes Loma de Casasola stand out, though construction quality and a peaceful Guadalmina location within walking distance from the beach and close to all amenities are also plus factors. “I think the fact that our two buyers so far are builders themselves says it all.”

Spacious bedrooms with built-in cabinetry

i www.lomadecasasola.com

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A gated community of exquisite villas in La Quinta

Leading edge design and construction materials

THE HILLS, LA QUINTA You may not immediately recognise the name, but The Hills is a collection of 17 villas set upon 64,000 square metres of graded land in El Herrojo Alto, a gated community within La Quinta. As The Hills is gated too, this makes it a ‘gated community within a gated community’, set in beautiful wooded countryside with commanding views back down to the sea, yet close to the Westin La Quinta Golf Resort & Spa. “It’s a unique offering,” says Solvilla Sales Manager, Stacy Welch.

“In everything, from the choice of architect and luxury brands to the materials used, layout and detailing, we have focused on quality, avoiding more economical solutions to ensure that The Hills really is a signature villa development that stands out in Marbella.” Architect Diego Tobal, renowned for his luxury villa designs, has drawn inspiration from Modernist sources to blend crisp white surfaces with exposed concrete, weather resistant wood and hand-cut stone, as well as to include features such as brises soleil that are both aesthetic and practical.

“The properties are set on nine-metre terraces, ensuring that each and every villa enjoys uninterrupted panoramic sea views.” Moreover, in addition to a choice of different orientations, sizes and layouts, not to mention a very high degree of bespoke finishing, residents at The Hills also have the privilege of a private natural park complete with wooded areas and walking trails. Solvilla, who have put all their experience and passion into this project, believe they are creating a high-end product to break the mould.

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PROPERTY TYPE 17 villas (4-7 bed) SPEC 380m²–1,100m² DEVELOPER Solvilla ARCHITECT Diego Tobal LAUNCHED Summer 2017 DELIVERY DATE 18M Q1 2019 PRICE €2.700.000 – €6.900.000

i www.solvilla.no

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Stylish modern living near Puerto Banús

Refined elements go into the design of the Vasari Villas

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PROPERTY TYPE 7 villas (5-6 bed) SPEC 434m²-476m² DEVELOPER Vasari ARCHITECT Vasari LAUNCHED Approx. June 2017 DELIVERY DATE Approx. April 2018 % SOLD 10% PRICE €2.400.000

Sliding doors extend the private areas outwards

VASARI VILLAS, ALTOS DE PUENTE ROMANO Over the years, Vasari has become known as a developer responsible for some of the most important real estate projects in Marbella, Manilva and Casares. With the iconic La Alzambra development in Puerto Banús, the company established a reputation for creating luxury homes in fluent Andalusian and Mediterranean styles, but a few years ago, at the height of the recession, the brand was one of the first in the region to embrace modern architecture.

“A lot of people thought we were crazy,” says sales manager, Cristina Santos, “but we felt the market was changing and tastes were shifting, and the results have proved us right.”

The Vasari projects that arose in Altos de Puente Romano were quickly snapped up and together form a villa community with the Vasari brand of development on it. “We use client feedback to continuously tweak and improve our offer, and the seven Vasari Villas represent the ultimate expression of our design philosophy. They offer modern villa living with attractive styling and open-plan spaces, but also such features as a sleek terrace and garden pool matched by an impressive rooftop terrace with chill-out lounge and swimming pool. “It’s one of the features that catches peoples’ attention and makes our villas stand out as a true lifestyle choice,” says Cristina. i www.vasariproperties.com

A rooftop chill-out area with pool is one of the unique features of the development

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Why everyone’s talking about the Arques ‘Aesthetic Medicine’ Clinic Arques seems to be the name on nearly everyone’s eye-catching lips in Marbella and surrounding areas when it comes to recommending a leading-edge beauty and anti-ageing clinic. And its reputation resonates way beyond The Golden Triangle. Arques’ advanced treatments for such conditions as obesity, skin ageing, wrinkles, cellulite, varicose veins and other age-related and lifestyle conditions is now attracting patients from over 30 countries.

So the clinic’s ‘Responsible Aesthetic Medicines’ are based on new techniques that fight these influences and wherever possible prevent them from happening. In many cases, the clinic asserts that it can not only prevent the signs of ageing but can even reverse them. The techniques to do so are surprising.

“We offer the world’s most innovative cosmetic techniques plus exquisite modern facilities”

“I feel really proud of our commitment to social responsibility, an approach shared by every member of our team,” he said “We are very gratified to be able to earmark a percentage of our profits to various foundations to help the needy.

So what’s the secret? “We believe that the real revolution is quite simple,” explained the clinic’s principle, Dr Arques “We offer the world’s most innovative cosmetic techniques plus exquisite modern facilities, including a spa environment, a relaxed and harmonious setting and a very professional service. Added to that we source with great care the world’s number one laboratory products and we obtain the most competitive prices to pass on to our patients. We constantly seek the latest tried and tested scientific advances to ensure the quality we offer is always the best you can obtain anywhere in the world.”

"Our joint objective then, as it continues to be is to use the latest and most effective aesthetic medicine in a responsible way so that results are totally natural.”

“Unfortunately the signs of aging are increasing all around us,” said Dr Arques. “They reflect our current lifestyle: our inadequate diet, lack of exercise and sports practice, lack of oxygen, work and home pressures, pollution, and not least, the sun’s damaging ultra-violet rays.”

Pride in Awards

“Among our other awards, the two most desirable were when we were in competition with an international field and came out top for aesthetic medicine and for responsible innovation in our sector.”

For further information about the Arques Medical Clinic or to make an appointment, email: info@arquesclinic.com

+34 662 408 408 C/ Ramón Areces S/N Complejo Marina Banús Bloque 3, local 29 Puerto Banús www.arquesclinic.com · info@arquesclinic.com arquesclinic

Full details of those treatment are on the clinic’s website www.arquesclinic.com/en Doctor is qualified as aesthetic doctor in the U.K., is registered with the GMC and is also an associate member of the Royal College of General Practitioners

The Edge is set right by the sea on the west side of Estepona

Cascading pool decks by the sea are a unique feature

ZZ PROPERTY TYPE 68 apartments and penthouses (2-4 bed) 2 villas ZZ SPEC 91m²-180.5m² ZZ DEVELOPER Gilmar Real Estate ZZ ARCHITECT Rafael de La-Hoz Castanys ZZ LAUNCHED November 2016 ZZ DELIVERY DATE December 2018 ZZ % SOLD 30% ZZ PRICE from €485.000 (1-2 parking spaces included)

Spectacular sea views are part of life here

THE EDGE, ESTEPONA Unique in many ways, the design of The Edge is focused on making the most of its beachfront location to create a sensation of living right upon the sea. Not surprisingly, its architecture contains distinct maritime inspiration, but above all a refined interpretation of 21st century luxury and aesthetics inside and out. “The location is so special that both the development and the elegant surroundings needed to be highlighted,” says Gilmar Real Estate agent, Sarune Bulaityte, who also emphasises that quality of life was at the heart of the complex’s design concept.

“The result is pretty special, making The Edge a combination of the best factors.” Its sleek, flowing design certainly catches the eye, evoking the impression of quality and refinement. Not afraid to be different, and indeed a little daring in terms of architectural styling, the developer has been rewarded with an offering of sophisticated luxury apartments, penthouses and two beach villas that do stand out.

The complex also features beach villas

i www.kronosedge.es

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Apartment buildings that feel intimate and private

Panoramic sea views from a country club setting

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PROPERTY TYPE 110 apartments and 16 villas SPEC 104m²-224m² DEVELOPER Marbella Club Hills ARCHITECT Villarroel Torrico LAUNCHED Spring 2017 (phase I) Early 2018 (phase II) DELIVERY DATE End 2018 (phase I) End 2019 (phase II) % SOLD Over 20% PRICE €365.000 – €952.000

Modern apartments with a Mediterranean feel

MARBELLA CLUB HILLS, BENAHAVIS From its hill setting, Marbella Club Hills looks out over the Andalusian coast to the Mediterranean Sea and Gibraltar, taking in large swathes of greenery along the way. The immediate views are of the Marbella Club golf course that surrounds it, providing a rather spectacular setting for a gated development. The community will offer numerous amenities and sports outlets, including state-of-the-art gymnasiums, several indoor and outdoor swimming pools for kids and adults, two tennis and paddle tennis courts, as well as children’s playgrounds.

In addition, the association with the Marbella Club grants buyers the privilege of accessing Marbella Club and Puente Romano Hotel amenities including the golf course. i www.marbellaclubhills.com

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Dedicated to teaching and learning for over 45 years.

Dedication to sports promotes a positive attitude.

At Swans, we recognise and value the need for children to develop a healthy and active lifestyle as they grow up. Our dedication to sports of all categories and types promotes a positive attitude to participation and enjoyment of sport, from Early Years right through to the IB Diploma.

Our facilities and dedicated teaching staff enable students to experience sport as part of their daily routine, whether competing as part of a team or developing individual excellence. A state of the art swimming pool and astro turf are recent additions to our sports infrastructure, and big plans are in place for the future.

We are proud to boast that, aside from the traditional team sports we play, some of our students excel in the field of golf, tennis, swimming, gymnastics, track, chess and horse riding.

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Swans International Primary School Urb. El Capricho, s/n Marbella, 29602 Malaga, Spain Tel: (+34) 952 773 248 info@swansschool.net Swans International Secondary School C/Lago de los Cisnes, s/n 29602 Marbella Malaga, Spain Tel: (+34) 952 902 755 admin@swansschool.net www.swansschoolinternational.es 06/04/2017 15:11:25

p THE FOCUS property Luxurious boutique apartments and penthouses styled by Villarroel Torrico

LA MERIDIANA SUITES

The luxurious modern apartments of La Meridiana Suites are the first in a series of exciting new projects being launched exclusive to Engel & Völkers, who describe the concept as a ground-breaking Marbella development with highly attractive prices. WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ENGEL & VÖLKERS

“

La Meridiana Suites is designed to take Marbella apartment complexes to a new level,” says Smadar Kahana of Engel & Völkers.

She believes there is still a lot of room for improvement if we are really to count ourselves among the world’s top luxury destinations, and believes projects such as La Meridiana Suites are leading Marbella in the right direction. “The difference is in the concept of hassle free truly luxury living, the attention to detail and the subsequent services, though of course it all starts with a top location on the Golden Mile.”

More specifically, an almost level but slightly raised location

in Las Lomas de Marbella Club; not just a prestigious address but one that offers space and sea views at walking distance from the beaches of the Golden Mile. “There is precious little land available for the construction of new luxury apartments here, but demand is very strong,” says Smadar, who receives frequent requests for modern Golden Mile apartments and has therefore seen a proportion of the properties at La Meridiana Suites reserved before the official launch last month.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that luxury modern apartments of this kind with all the amenities and services provided here are very rare on the Golden Mile, so La Meridiana

Suites is unique in more than one way.”

BUILT TO IMPRESS One of the other distinguishing points is the fact that the developing company Estato is keen to establish a name for itself in Marbella’s luxury segment and is therefore using La Meridiana Suites as a prestige project. “This means you get the very best of everything, as the developer wants to impress with superlative quality and value for money.” It’s the first Marbella project for Estato, but its founder and CEO Marc Van Acker is one of the leading real estate developers in Belgium, with a comprehensive portfolio of projects

to his name.

La Meridiana Suites is the first of several new boutique villa and apartment projects by Estato that will all be released through exclusive sales partner Engel & Völkers. “Marc is serious about Estato’s Marbella ventures, having established a significant part of his company here, and he is working with the very best professionals, from architects and interior furnishers to commercialising agents. He chose Engel & Völkers because of years of experience with the company worldwide that confirms our position as a global leader in the sale of luxury properties, providing the most efficient sales through the global network,” says Smadar.

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THE RESIDENCES La Meridiana Suites is indeed a boutique apartment complex, made up of 34 apartments and duplex penthouses distributed over four individual buildings and just three levels. The collection starts with two-bedroom, 120 square metre (plus 35 square metre terrace) ground floor apartments and ranges up via three-bedroom apartments and semi-penthouses with plunge pools to large fourbedroom apartments of 240 square metres with flying swimming pools, penthouses of 160 square metres with 110 square metre terraces and pools, and two penthouses with 300 square metres plus 380 square-metre terraces.

Architectural design is by Villarroel Torrico and Alexis González, with interiors by Pedro Peña. The low-density complex is marked by appealing architectural features and top-of-the-range interior qualities, as well as elegant landscaping with water features and open sea views. A highly unique feature is the 9,000 square metre park, reserved for the exclusive use of residents. “It includes beautifully forested sections, a pond, fountains, jogging path, two paddle tennis courts and an area for dogs as part of a concept that is built around quality and lifestyle.”

LIFESTYLE ORIENTATED SERVICE La Meridiana Suites offers a complete lifestyle complex that starts with the location and properties but continues on through a bespoke onsite concierge and property management service provided by seasoned professionals. “The aim is to offer a hassle-free living experience at La Meridiana Suites, so the service is not only comprehensive and flexibly designed around your needs and wants – as if you have a permanent PA at your beck and call round the clock – but it is also very competitively priced, in keeping with the overall philosophy of the developer.” To make access to this service easier, each home is provided with a direct line to the reception staff and the 24-hour security that also characterises this gated community on the Golden Mile.

In addition to the private park, gardens and two outdoor swimming pools, the complex also features a spectacular spa with gym, heated indoor pool with pool deck, sauna, hammam, Jacuzzi and changing facilities. What’s more, it is designed and fitted to the standard of a luxury spa resort, thus reflecting the concept behind

La Meridiana Suites: a luxurious residential resort.

KEEN VALUE The team at Engel & Völkers has collaborated closely with the developer to create the look, specs and services that make La Meridiana Suites what it is. “We have worked from client feedback to create exactly the kind of living environment that our clients have been asking for but can’t find. Some of Engel & Vólkers’ clients already reserved units before the properties were officially launched for sale in April, and given the quality of design, finishing, amenities and a level of service that makes this a true boutique resort development, the pricing is extremely keen.”

Prices start at €695.000 up to €2.95 million for the double

penthouse and mortgages of up to 70% under very favourable conditions are available for those who want it. “In reality, demand is such and the location and product so appealing that these properties could have sold for €200.000 more, but the developer wishes to start on a solid footing and lay down a marker, so buyers will also enjoy fantastic investment potential as we expect these properties to significantly increase in resale value as they match the levels of existing luxury apartment complexes in the area. Add to this the fact that Las Lomas is one of the most up-andcoming areas in Marbella and the appeal and value of La Meridiana Suites become hard to match.”

i www.marbella-ev.com

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d the style

INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE ART DESIGN GARDENS FASHION

108 Décor: A Stunning Villa in Cascada de Camojan 116

Décor News

118

Fashion by Benetton

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d THE STYLE decor

The angles and tones of modern design are by now well established in Marbella, with most of the villas and apartments built in recent years shaped by its white geometry. In some examples, this has given rise to modernist and avant-garde jewels, but as is often the case with new trends, there are also many buildings that are a little ‘samey’. When people jump on the bandwagon of the latest style movement it is easy to lose the character and individuality that helps to define a property and is surely one of the most important features of a luxury home. This fine villa in Cascada de Camojan proves that modern can also be unique.

I

n a world of conformists it is a pleasure to come across expressions of individuality and pure creativity, such as this villa in Cascada de Camojan.

It espouses the philosophy that modern architecture need not be bland and predictable, as has in the past been argued by some of the leading figures in the field, but that it can be diverse, organic and yes, personal. This Marbella villa is certainly that, and its uniqueness is further enhanced by a singular location surrounded by La Concha’s natural mountain scenery and open, unassailable views of the Marbella coastline all away to Gibraltar and North Africa.

“I was originally in the market for a luxury apartment,” says the owner and creator of the villa,

who fell in love with the plot it stands on the minute he and his wife saw the location and views. “Any plans of an apartment were soon forgotten. We simply had to build our dream villa here.” And that is exactly what this exacting couple did, enlisting the creative ear of an experienced architect in whom they had found a kindred spirit. “It turned out to be a fun creative process in which I think we designed a home worthy of a unique setting embraced by beautiful nature and views.”

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A modern Marbella jewel in all its glory

ONE-OFF

WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY STEVE SPARROW

DESIGN

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Singular contemporary luxury in Cascada de Camojan

MODERN ARCHITECTURE WITH PERSONALITY Working closely with their architect, the owners created a luxury contemporary villa that features advanced aesthetic styling and hightech amenities yet also exudes individuality and character. “We wanted a home that is impressive, certainly, and also a statement of style, with a long list of luxuries that are practical to use and maintain, but above all this had to be a comfortable home that offers something unique and special, not just standardised solutions and options.”

With its fine proportions, clever use of panoramic windows and modernist-inspired architecture that eschews the conventional white box, this is a home whose attractive lines are given solidity and substance by dark-toned steel columns. It creates a balance and look that ensures the property’s identity and unique sense of luxury and style.

A graceful driveway with modern side lighting provides a true sense of arrival as it leads to the multi-car garage and imposing entrance, from where the sparkling sea catches your eye the minute you open the front door. Although this perspective line through the house to the shimmering water in the distance is a classic architectural feature dating back originally to Roman seaside villas, here it is uncluttered by a living room or terrace – and so much more effective for it. In other words, from the slightly raised position of the suitably elegant entrance hall the Mediterranean seems close enough to touch.

The villa offers many relaxing outdoor areas

Spectacular views across the Marbella coastline

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Terraces, living areas, garden, pool and views merge into one

…MATCHED BY THE INTERIORS A villa that makes such a bold design statement demands interiors to match, and again owner and architect alike rose to the occasion. The doublestorey entrance hall is a study in glass, glimpses of beautiful mountain and sea vistas, and the fine, handpicked materials that have gone into the making of this villa. The dark matt floor tiles and walls with stucco overlay set the tone for a home full of sophisticated features and interior details. “We wanted the home to offer a sense of excitement and discovery, not just when you visit as a guest but also for ourselves,” says

the owner. Amid all of this, symmetry has not been overlooked, making the entrance hall the distribution point for two well-proportioned wings that does away with the need for a transverse corridor.

Besides sleek lines, the state-of-the-art kitchen features a modern bar, breakfast area and laundry.

From here, you look out past the large terrace and swimming pool to the sea beyond thanks to a design that ensures virtually all rooms are orientated towards the panoramic views. This is even true of the adjacent cloakroom, whose

Have a refreshing juice after working out

glass window will cloud over for privacy at the touch of a button. The opposite wing offers a symmetrical sense of balance to the home and contains a stylish but welcoming living room with professional audio-sound installation and a Marrakech-inspired relaxing and entertaining corner that connects with the outdoor terrace. It’s a coming together of the husband’s love for rock music and his wife’s classic inspiration, the latter beautifully reflected by a large wing piano that the classically trained musician uses to practise on and entertain her guests with.

Modern marble opulence

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Eclectic furniture adds to the unique styling of the home

The home features many more ‘his and hers’ areas of this kind, including the rock art specially commissioned by him and her stylish office suite with its sleek chrome and brown crocodile leather furniture, as well as the panoramic gym with stunning views which they both enjoy. Not surprising, as instead of in a basement this functional but sophisticated space is positioned like a glass outcrop that offers truly spectacular coastal views as you work out. The other advantage is that you’re just a few paces away from your own, comfortable shower.

This rather unique distribution is both highly functional and a great use of space, as it occupies a section of the first floor that might very well just have been a plain wall or glass panel. “It’s amazing how many options and possibilities open up once you begin to let your creativity escape the confines of everyday design and layout solutions,” says the home’s owner, for whom this has clearly been an enjoyable process.

“We were lucky to find an architect who was not just willing to explore new home design ideas but was thrilled to do so.”

The living room is enlivened with cosy seating areas

A uniquely panoramic gym

A modern kitchen with artistic touches

LED lighting adds a sense of drama to this unique home’s décor ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2017 / 113

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Panoramic bedrooms in a villa orientated towards the Mediterranean A magnificent way to arrive

YIN AND YANG DÉCOR Many a home has a feminine touch because it was decorated by a wife or female interior designer, or indeed a masculine feel if a man was mainly responsible for its styling, but it makes sense that a property lived in by a couple or family should reflect the diversity of its inhabitants, children and all. The owners of this Cascada de Camojan villa were unusually well tuned into this and have created a balance between male and female energies and aesthetics, partly by designating some areas as being predominantly feminine or masculine, and also by achieving an elegant equilibrium between the two in the main, shared living spaces such as the kitchen, living room and terraces.

The lower level features attractively laid out bedroom suites and outdoor alcoves that offer a Zen area rich in natural light in which to relax.

While the overall impression created by the villa’s dark-toned columns and slate floors can be seen as having a masculine leaning, the more delicate furniture pieces and decorative detailing found throughout the house balances this with a feminine touch. The same is true of the outdoors, where bright tones add a lively visual element that invites you to go on and fully enjoy the privileged quality of life that the villa offers. One of the most attractive and distinguishing features of this singular modern home is the outdoor seating area that overlooks the sleek swimming pool, and the chill-out lounge deck that runs on from it and links with a waterfall feature and a terraced pool designed for peaceful relaxation and contemplation of the natural splendour all around.

Look ahead and you see Marbella and the sea, turn back and the protected greenery of La Concha Mountain opens up before you. The seating area at the heart of it all is more an outdoor lounge than a mere terrace, featuring comfortable sunken seats in the finest sixties tradition around a solid, handmade lacquered table. Covered and protected from the elements, it is nonetheless an outdoor area in nature. It is the ability to capture all of this that makes a home outstanding and creates an enduring modern classic of style and sophistication.

A personal style for a private spa

g DIANA MORALES PROPERTIES/ KNIGHT FRANK Tel: (+34) 952 765 138 www.dmproperties.com

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before...

... after

EXCEPTIONAL RESIDENTIAL INTERIORS

CONTRACT I COMMERCIAL I HOSPITALITY I RESIDENTIAL I RENOVATIONS ARTCHITECTURE I PROJECT MANAGEMENT INTERIOR DESIGN I CONSTRUCTION FIXTURES I FITTINGS I FURNISHING I KITCHENS I BATHROOMS I LIGHTING BLACKSHAW INTERIOR DESIGN Avda. Canovas del Castillo 25 Marbella 29601, Mรกlaga, Spain Tel: +34 951 403 787 Mob: +34 681 662 000 info@blackshawinteriordesign.com www.blackshawinteriordesign.com

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CONSTRUCTION + INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES From new builds to renovations and interiors. We have in-house building contractors. Excellent service and a high standard of finishes with our team of top professionals working in all areas of renovation and bespoke, design and build. Visit the studio to see a range of furniture, fixtures and fittings.

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d THE STYLE decor Wall clock by Michele De Lucchi

Wall clock by Adam Cornish

TABLETOP ARCHITECTURE

i s s e l A

This month, Marisa Cutillas invites you to smarten up your home with these new gadgets for the kitchen from the Spring/Summer 2017 collection by Italian powerhouse, Alessi. A number of young architects and designers have lent their names to the products, including Sakura Adachi, Ben van Berkel/UNStudio, BGR (Manuela Busetti, Andrea Garuti and Matteo Redaelli), Michel Boucquillon and Donia Maaoui, Adam Cornish, Michele De Lucchi, Naoto Fukasawa, Doriana and Massimiliano Fuksas. Wouldn’t you like to take at least one item home with you?

Pasta taster by Miriam Mirri

Espresso coffee maker

by Michele De Lucchi

Grater by Zaha Hadid

i www.alessi.com Bottle opener by Frédéric Gooris Water Tower by Daniel Libeskind 116 / MAY 2017 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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Establ i shed Si nce 1986

LATEST DESIGNS IN BEDROOM FURNITURE & BEAUTIFUL BEDDING

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T: 952 792 034

POSTUREPEDIC BEDS for perfect back care

Designed for the back by Orthopaedic Surgeons and made with nature’s most luxurious materials in gentle, medium, firm or memory foam.

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d THE STYLE fashion

eam r D m i Den

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Sizzling

HOT! THE BENETTON SPRING/SUMMER 2017 COLLECTION Marisa Cutillas brings you her selection of favourite items from the cool, casual Benetton Spring/Summer 2017 collection.

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Great as Gatsby

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Jumpsuit Jamboree

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Jungle Beats Ready for the Beach i www.airfield.at

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d THE STYLE fashion

Red Revenge i www.benetton.com

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BOUTIQUE INFANTIL

C/ Huerta Chica, 12. Marbella. Tel: 952 507 063.

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d THE STYLE fashion

If you’ve already bought your Spring/Summer wardrobe, jazz your new items up with these cute jewellery pieces and accessories.

SPRING Must Have Items for

2017

Watch by Audemars Piguet

etits Points l by Trois P

ei er and verm ings in silv

rkly

Spa

Bag by Accessorize

rize sso

cce

yA eb

errera

Carolina H

fram

e shades by

Camouflag

Ring by Samara Joyas

CONTACTS: ACCESSORIZE www.accessorize.com AUDEMARS PIGUET www.audemarspiguet.com CAROLINA HERRERA www.carolinaherrera.com LOUIS VUITTON www.louisvuitton.com SAMARA JOYAS www.samarajoyas.com TROIS PETITS POINTS www.troispetitspointsparis.com

Travel agenda by Louis Vuitton

R

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n the spa

PRODUCTS BEAUTY SPA SCIENCE TREATMENTS HEALTH

130

Longwear Foundation

132

Beauty News

136

Power Up with a Daily Nap

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Health News

140 Dr. Hamers, Plastic Surgeon at Cirumed

LONGWEAR FOUNDATION IS ALL THE RAGE, AS ARE GADGETS THAT MAKE BEING BEAUTIFUL SO MUCH EASIER. ALSO, DISCOVER THE BENEFITS OF A POWER NAP, READ UP ON THE LATEST HEALTH NEWS AND DISCOVER HOW PLASTIC SURGEON, DR. HAMERS, CAN GIVE YOUR LIFE THE TURNAROUND IT NEEDS WITH HIS MAGNIFICENT SKILLS.

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PUENTE ROMANO BEACH RESORT & SPA

SIX SENSES INTEGRATED WELLNESS

At Six Senses Spa, we guide you on your path to well-being and provide inspiration to make you feel your best every day, at every age.

Start your journey with a wellness screening and enjoy a personalised program designed to your specific needs.

En Six Senses Spa, te guiamos por el camino hacia el bienestar e inspiramos este sentimiento todos los días, a todas las edades.

Empieza con un análisis de wellness y disfruta de un programa personalizado diseñado para tus necesidades específicas.

SIX SENSES BIENESTAR INTEGRAL información y precios · information & price lists: reservations-marbella-spa@sixsenses.com Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa · Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n · 29602 Marbella · Málaga · Spain · T (+34) 952 820 900 · puenteromano.com

n THE SPA beauty

Laying t he

FOUNDATION

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

Ladies and gents who use makeup daily know how frustrating it can be when, after having invested a good half hour (or more) prepping, priming and applying our make-up, our look can fade within six to eight hours because our foundation has let us down. These days, advanced technology and new discoveries have given rise to amazing foundations that last up to 24 hours! If you are a busy person on the go who simply doesn’t have the time to redo their entire look halfway through the day, consider these top long-wearing foundations: ZZ L’ORÉAL INFALLIBLE PRO-MATTE 24HR FOUNDATION: Oily skin can

be particularly prone to foundation fading. This wonderful product costs a fraction of similar foundations by high-end brands yet has excellent tone adaptability, great matte coverage and long-lasting wear. This is a great one for everyday use.

ZZ KAT VON D LOCK-IT TATTOO FOUNDATION: This is another ultra-

matte product, made by legendary tattoo artist and makeup designer, Kat Von D. The product is thick and feels creamy, yet dries quickly on the face so use either your hands or a beauty blender for quick application. It will leave your skin looking baby smooth 130 / MAY 2017 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

and creamy, yet keep oiliness and oxidation at bay. The product offers great value for money – you need just half a squirt from the gorgeously designed bottle for full coverage.

ZZ ESTÉE LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR STAY-IN PLACE MAKEUP: Estée

Lauder’s top-selling foundation is often touted as the ULTIMATE longlasting base. It feels incredibly light yet provides excellent coverage and does what it promises, lasting all day.

It comes in a wide range of shades as well, so it will be easy to find the right one for your complexion.

ZZ MAC PRO LONGWEAR FOUNDATION:

This creamy product promises 15-hour wear in all environmental conditions.

It provides medium coverage and a matte finish, blending easily owing to its lightweight yet creamy nature. The solution contains micronised pigments, which lend skin a smooth, flawless look.

ZZ NARS ALL DAY LUMINOUS FOUNDATION: Created to add a youthful

shine to skin, this foundation lasts all day and is ideal for oily or combination skin types. Despite its light consistency, it gives good coverage and can barely be felt on skin.

ZZ URBAN DECAY ALL NIGHTER FOUNDATION: Made for the ultimate

party girl, this product is completely waterproof – meaning that it won’t fade if even if you spend all night on the

dancefloor. It contains lots of pigment, so just a little will go a long way.

ZZ REVLON 2-IN-1 COLORSTAY COMPACT: This is another super

affordable product that comes with a shade-matched concealer. Since it comes in compact form, it is a great foundation to carry in your handbag in case you need a touch-up.

ZZ RIMMEL LONDON FRESHER SKIN FOUNDATION: Yet another low-cost

foundation that does the job, providing a light coverage that can be built up to medium with a second application. It feels so light that even those who aren’t comfortable with too much makeup on will love it… additionally, it contains SPF15 protection against the sun! e

let your

beauty shine this summer

Dr Kai O. Kaye

Your Health & Beauty Clinic in Marbella

Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery Aesthetic Medicine Orthopaedic Surgery Vascular Surgery Bariatric Surgery Dental Cosmetics

Av. Ramรณn y Cajal, 7 - 29601 Marbella 0034 951 775 518 - Mรณvil : 670 770 455 info@oceanclinic.net - www.oceanclinic.net

n THE SPA beauty

BEAUTY GADGETS

t hat Merit a Place in your Bat hroom Cabinet Few things are worth spending big bucks on than gadgets you end up using once then never again. Examples: the bread maker you swore you would use daily, the electric nose hair remover or the expensive steam cleaner that takes longer to put together than it would to clean your house the oldfashioned way. This month, Marisa Cutillas brings you beauty gadgets which are actually worth every cent you paid for them – because they do a truly magical thing – what their packaging claims they do!

6

1 – BABY QUASAR PLUS: This futuristic looking gadget promotes the production of collagen and elastin by emitting light-red, dark-red, and amber combined with infrared light. i www.babyquasar.com 2 – TANZA ZAP: Eliminate pimples with this device, which emits a blue light.

Ideal for treating oily skin, whiteheads and skin which easily breaks out. i www.tanza.co.za 3– PMD PERSONAL MICRODERM: This gadget uses an exclusive patented spinning disc that emits aluminium oxide crystals, to exfoliate dry skin cells and promote new cell growth. Use it weekly for more youthful, glowing skin. i www.pmdbeauty.com

1

2

4 – GLO BRILLIANT TEETH WHITENING DEVICE: Whiten your teeth dentist-style with this personal device, which produces dramatic results in just 32 minutes. GLO Brilliant combines elements of heat and light built into a closed system mouthpiece which accelerates the whitening process. i www.gloscience.com

3

5 – TRIA AGE DEFYING LASER: This device uses laser technology to send targeted beams of light into the skin, stimulating the production of collagen, reducing wrinkles and lines and producing greater luminosity. i www.triabeauty.com 6 – RIIVIVA DEVICE: This FDA-registered, handheld rechargeable device is a home microdermabrasion gadget offering gentle diamond tipped abrasion, to resurface the outer layer of your skin. The treatment is used to treat clogged pores, fine wrinkles, light acne scarring and uneven pigmentation. i www.riiviva.com

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Simply beautiful CRYONIS – Your new Spa for CRYOTHERAPY and IONITHERMIE. From Hollywood to Marbella. Discover the power of our brand new incredibly effective treatments.

The very low temperatures around -140 degrees during a whole body, or local Cryotherapy treatment can achieve unbelievable results in the fields of Beauty, Health and Recovery (Sport & Fitness). Ionithermie is a true cellulite killer and detox miracle – just by using purely biological substances!

1. TREAT MENT

The areas of application and the benefits of our treatments are almost limitless. YOUR BODY WILL LOVE IT!

Whole body Cryotherapy

MENT 2. TREAT

Cryo facial Makes skin firmer (Anti-Ageing) Increases calorie consumption (up to 800 kcal additionally per day)

• Stimulates the natural production of collagen •

•

Reduces wrinkles visibly

Reduces inflammations and pain • Makes you feel healthy and balanced

BRAND NEW

at Cryonis MENT 3. TREAT

Cryo localised cellulite fighting Our brand new treatments exclusive for you!

• Number 1 British Anti-Ageing Skincare Incl. Pro Collagen Marine Facial & Elemis Hot Stone Massage

Revitalises the cell structure • Is conducive to fat burning • Achieves immediately visible results

CRYONIS - CRYO & IONI SPA MARBELLA Avenida Playas del Duque, Casa Sevilla, Local 3 29660 Puerto Banús / Marbella Phone: +34 952 634521 / Mail: info@cryonis.es

Want to find out more about Cryotherapy and Ionithermie?

Check our website:

WWW.CRYONIS.ES

We are Marbella’s

Medical Spa

Medical spas have become more popular in recent years for both men and women; they are a kind of hybrid between the traditional day spa and a medical clinic. Unlike day spas, medical spas are run by a medical doctor, just like in our clinic.

At Cirumed Medical Spa we offer treatments ranging from luxury facials to facial thread lifts, Scandinavian sugaring hair removal to botox and filler, facial peels to laser skin resurfacing and plenty of other non-surgical treatments.

Our most popular non-surgical treatment is probably CoolSculpting, with over 4000 cycles of experience and the only clinic to dispose of two Zeltiq machines, which halves the treatment time, it’s no wonder we are Spain’s largest coolsculpting practice.

The procedure is a clinically proven method that selectively reduces unwanted fat using a patented cooling technology. The CoolSculpting procedure has been cleared by the FDA for cold-assisted lipolysis (breakdown of fat). It works by gently cooling targeted fat cells in the body to induce a natural, controlled elimination of fat cells without affecting the surrounding tissue, and the treated fat cells are gone for good. This non-invasive fat removal technique only takes a mere hour per applicator, but the busy lifestyle of not only our local Marbella patients but also our out of town patients who are only around for a limited time, leads many of them to opt for combining this procedure with our other non-surgical treatments, to make the most of their time. We have many package deals available for patients who wish to maximize the use of their time. What sets our Medical Spa apart from others is our position in also offering plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery carried out by the “Best Aesthetic Surgeon in Spain” (as awarded by Medical Livewire), our director Dr. Alexander Aslani. All of our surgeons are elected and contracted staff at Spain’s largest private healthcare provider, proving the true skill behind their surgical techniques and experience.Our specialty surgery, which our surgeons are experts in, is the Brazilian Butt lift. Commonly known as a “BBL”, it is the ideal Plastic surgery procedure: it removes unwanted fat from one part of the body and uses it for the shaping of tight, perky, round and feminine buttocks. Brazilian butt lift surgery is capable of achieving very impressive body reshaping without much scarring or use of silicone. Cirumed Clinic Marbella is one of very first and few clinics in Europe specializing in Brazilian butt lift surgery.

Our surgeons operate hundreds of cases every year, and they are consistently invited to share their experience with this procedure at scientific surgery panels. The combination of all the relaxing, rejuvenating and enhancing treatments offered at our clinic with the outstanding levels of plastic surgery, creates the perfect environment to set up a Medical Spa, in order for us to offer the widest variety of treatments to suit all patients desires and needs.

SPAINS BEST PLASTIC SURGEON

DR. ALEXANDER ASLANI

SILHOUETTE SOFT // FILLERS // BOTOX // COOLSCULPTING // FRAXEL // SUGARING // ENDOLIFT MICRODERMABRASION // MICRONEEDLING // RADIOFREQUENCY // COOLSCULPTING // Cirumed Clinic /// Edif. Panorama, Planta baja, Local 2 /// Ctra. De Cadiz, km 184 /// E - 29603 Marbella /// Tel: +34 952 775 346 /// www.cirumed.es /// www.alexanderaslani.com /// www.alexander-aslani.es

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

n THE SPA health

Sleep is an important component of health, since insufficient hours of ZZZs are linked to a higher risk of accidents, industrial disasters, and medical/occupational errors. Those who fail to get enough sleep are more likely to have serious diseases such as obesity, depression, cancer and diabetes and they report having a lower quality of life. The National Sleep Foundation in the United States notes, “Most of us know that getting a good night’s sleep is important, but too few of us actually make those eight or so hours between the sheets a priority. For many of us with sleep debt, we’ve forgotten what being really, truly rested feels like.” WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

A

dd to our hectic schedules the amount of caffeinated products we consume daily and the excessive use of gadgets and TV/computer screens until late at night, and it is easy to see how our natural circadian rhythm can run amok. The fact is that although adults should be sleeping between seven and nine hours nightly, most of us barely manage to rest for six hours.

In past articles in this section, we have suggested ways to pursue better sleep: these include sticking to a strict sleep schedule, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, and exercising daily. However, there is another way to avoid tiredness and fatigue and this is by napping during the day.

Various studies have been published on napping in the past couple of years and although scientists seem to disagree on the

ideal nap time (some state that anything longer than 10 minutes leads to grogginess, others that an hour’s nap is ideal), they agree on one thing: naps are highly beneficial.

One study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology in 2015, found that a 30-minute nap can reverse the impact of poor sleep. When we don’t get enough sleep, the physiological reactions can be devastating. For instance, levels of interleukin-6 (a protein with antiviral properties) plummet.

The study showed, however, that in those who nap for half an hour daily, interleukin-6 levels remain normal. This suggests that napping can wield important benefits to the immune system.

Napping can benefit children, too.

In February 2017, a study published in Child Development, showed that children who napped within an hour

of learning new verbs, performed better at tests than those who did not. Said the researchers, “There's a lot of evidence that different phases of sleep contribute to memory consolidation, and one of the really important phases is slow-wave sleep, which is one of the deepest forms of sleep.” They pointed out that during sleep, the brain replays memories, leading to better performance in cognitive tests.

A third study, published in January 2017 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, found similar results in older adults – those who took an hour-long nap after lunch performed four-to-six times better on cognitive tests, than those who did not nap. The tests included maths problems, questions regarding the date and seasons, geometrical drawings, etc. The tests were undertaken on 3,000 adults

aged 65 and above.

An earlier (August, 2015) study, carried out by the European Society of Cardiology, found that midday naps are associated with lower blood pressure levels and a lesser need for antihypertensive medications. Additional research indicates that naps can help counteract impulsive behavior and boost the tolerance for frustration.

There is just one proviso when it comes to napping – if you find that you are excessively tired during the day or you take long naps, take note: you could have an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome – a set of conditions which increase the risk of heart disease. To boost your immunity and optimise your general performance, take up regular exercise, try to sleep your required hours during the night, and avoid taking long sleeps during the day. e

Not Getting Enough Sleep?

TAKE A POWER NAP! 136 / MAY 2017 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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n THE SPA health

COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS

Just One High Fat Meal CAN DAMAGE

THE METABOLISM

WANT TO QUIT SMOKING?

Most people think that splurging on a high-fat fast food meal can’t really do much harm, but new research indicates that one single high-fat meal can cause damage to the metabolism. The culprit is palm oil, which is present in many commercial fast food products. Consuming a meal which is rich in this oil raises amounts of fat deposits, increases insulin resistance and changes the energy metabolism of the liver. Lead author of the study, Dr. Michael Roden of the German Center for Diabetes Research, noted: “The surprise was that a single dosage of palm oil has such a rapid and direct impact on the liver of a healthy person and that the amount of fat administered already triggered insulin resistance.”

ASK YOUR PARTNER TO JOIN YOU!

Smokers who decide to quit this nasty habit with their partner have double the chance of success, than those who quit alone. So states a new study, published in prestigious journal, JAMA Internal Medicine. The study observed the habits of almost 4,000 couples, finding that smokers whose partner was physically fit and a nonsmoker, were also more likely to quit. The authors stated that, ultimately, our loved one has a much stronger influence on us than any clever ad or stop smoking programme can have. Quitting smoking can be a challenging task, so try not to face it alone.

KEEP COLDS AND FLU AWAY

with Vitamin D A study carried out by researchers at the University of Queen Mary London, has found that Vitamin D tablets could stave off acute respiratory infections, including colds and flu. The secret of ‘the sunshine vitamin’ lies in its ability to raise levels of antimicrobial peptides (which behave like natural antibiotics) in the lungs. Researchers found that daily supplementation reduced the risk of infection by half in persons with low Vitamin D levels. However, even those with high levels enjoyed significant (if more modest) protection against infection.

TIREDNESS, BEING UNFIT AND STRESS MAIN

CONTRIBUTORS TO BACKACHE

Backache is one the most frequent problems plaguing modern man, with statistics indicating that between 60 and 80 per cent of all people will be affected by the issue at least once in their lifetime. According to doctors at the Vithas Xanit International Hospital, the major culprits are our lifestyle choices, which result in fatigue, a lack of physical fitness, and stress. If you are suffering from back pain which lasts longer than four months, it may be time to see a specialist so that tests can be carried out to determine whether the problem may be serious. Often, pain is caused by a variety of factors, which include bone fractures, arthrosis, and muscle, ligament or nerve conditions. Tests for backache can include everything from an X-ray to an electromyography, gammagraphy or TAC. Don’t put up with unnecessary pain longer than you have to; the earlier you seek help, the sooner you can start enjoying a healthy, pain-free life. i www.vithas.es

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n THE SPA health

There is an inexorable link between our physical appearance and our idea of self, between the body, mind and spirit. What plastic surgeons often say is that what may be a matter of little concern for one person, can cause great anguish to another.

Before the advent of modern surgery, human beings were often forced to ‘grin and bear’ a variety of issues.

Imagine being born with visibly asymmetrical breasts, an aspect that wrests from the grace of your face or body, or a feature that no amount of exercise or a healthy diet will fix.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN

Helping You Achieve Your Personal Idea of Beauty

DR. HAMERS at Cirumed Clinic D

r. Hamers, a renowned plastic and aesthetic surgeon who practices at Cirumed Clinic and at both Quirónsalud Hospitals (Málaga and Marbella) has one aim in mind: that of helping his patients eliminate the aspects that stand in the way of their happiness. The affable doctor, who speaks Spanish like a Spaniard and English like a Brit despite being born and raised in Germany, knows the importance of listening carefully to what his clients wish, advising them with care regarding appropriate procedures.

Dr. Hamers joined Cirumed Clinic in 2012, but his passion for surgery stems way back to his childhood.

He studied in Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Mexico and Latin America, obtaining his qualifications at renowned institutions such as the University of Cologne, the University of Buenos Aires and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. The fluidity of his Spanish surprises me, and he answers,

“Very early on, I decided I wanted to travel the world. When an exchange programme allowed me to spend some time in Argentina, I jumped at the chance.”

Dr. Hamers is currently the Director of the Breast Reconstruction Unit of the Quirónsalud Hospital in Málaga and he admits that the surgeries which are most interesting from a medical point of view, are “the challenging ones.” One area he specialises in, is tuberous breasts (breasts which are often asymmetrical and which lack volume in the lower part of the breast; they are colloquially called ‘Snoopy breasts’ because of their similarity in shape to the world’s most famous beagle when viewed from the side).

“In the case of tuberous breasts, one cannot simply insert an implant; the procedure also involves fat transfer.”

It is easy to see how this process can be so difficult, since symmetry is key and much is left to the surgeon’s judgement, unlike the case with the

insertion of a standard implant.

Dr. Hamers shows me preand post-surgery pictures and the results are, quite simply, beautiful and natural looking. Breasts which a person once hid behind padded bras or thick clothing now look no less than amazing in a bikini; considering some of the patients the doctor showed me were in their 20s, it is rejuvenating to think of the level of happiness which has been restored.

Dr. Hamers carries out various operations – including facelifts (the photographs he presents to me prove that indeed, a facelift these days is so innate looking it almost seems like the hands of time have been turned back in the most natural of ways) and Brazilian butt lifts (with or without implants). Butt lifts are not just about adding volume; they are also about rejuvenating the appearance of buttocks that may be flat, or sagging.

Vaginal reconstruction is another of Dr. Hamer’s areas of special

interest. He shows be before pictures (Iots of excess skin emanating from the vagina) and after (smooth, sleek, great in a bikini). Those who have never seen a documentary or read up on this topic may wonder how necessary surgery is – look it up! You will be amazed by how vital change can be in some cases. “Some women ask for the vagina to be tightened,” he adds, whereas men too, can have their penis extended through surgery. There are so many options for both men and women that putting up with an issue that is causing one shame or embarrassment is a complete anachronism. If you have an issue which plastic surgery might solve, call Cirumed Clinic to make an appointment with this talented doctor whose greatest inspiration lies in bringing the smile back to his patients’ face. g Edif. Panorama, Planta baja, Local 2.

CN340, km 184, Marbella.

Tel: 952 775 346. www.cirumed.es

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z z THE PRO enterprise

the pro

ENTERPRISE LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILES FINANCE/LAW THE VIBE

COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS

© Gary Tapp

KEMPINSKI HOTELS CELEBRATE 120TH ANNIVERSARY

FASHION SHOW AGAINST TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG WOMEN Caroline Azzi Jewellery and Gunnel´s Fashion took the center stage at a fundraising fashion show, held at La Sala recently. The event, organised by Marianne Steneholm and Claudia Kempe, was held to help the fight against human trafficking of children and young women. Marianne and Claudia are fundraising for an organisation in Nepal called Maiti Nepal, whose 67-year old founder Anuradha Koirala has won several awards, including the CNN Hero of the Year award in 2010 and the Mother Teresa award in 2014. Koirala’s non-political refuge above Kathmandu is currently home to 500 young women and children. Another recent event was held for the same cause: an art cocktail at Benezra gallery in La Quinta, featuring an exhibition by various artists and a raffle. iTo donate to the

On April 8, 2017, Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group, Kempinski Hotels, celebrated its 120th Anniversary with special events in all of their five-star hotels in 30 countries. Throughout the anniversary year there will be special offers and promotions for guests to celebrate 120 years of travelling in style and they will open the first modern five-star luxury hotel in Cuba. The Kempinski Hotels’ story began in 1897 when Berthold Kempinski opened his first hotel in Berlin. Berthold Kempinski was born in 1843 to a successful family in the wine trade.

The group has been growing and expanding and now has 75 hotels in destinations around the globe.

The Estepona Hotel is the only Kempinski in Spain. i www.kempinski.com

cause, please visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/marianne-steneholm 142 / MAY 2017 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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enterprise THE PRO z

HOME FAIR COSTA DEL SOL The Home Fair Costa del Sol has launched its first edition in Estepona last November followed by a spring edition in Torremolinos. The upcoming exhibition will be held in Marbella in October 2017 and the Advice Group Spain is expecting a presence of about 80 exhibitors and 2,000 visitors. Marbella is the ideal location for this type of expo as many products and services are associated with the prestige for which Marbella is reknowned. Registration is open now. i www.advicegroupspain.com

HOMAGE TO JUAN MARTÍN DÍAZ AND NEW PADEL COURT LAUNCH AT RESERVA DEL HIGUERÓN The Mayor of Fuengirola, governmental authorities and over 600 guests gathered together to pay homage to “the best player in the history of padel,” Juan Martín Díaz, at the Reserva del Higuerón Resort.

The event also marked the launch of the Resort’s brand new central court, with a capacity for 500 spectators.

Díaz expressed his gratitude to Reserva del Higuerón and the many fans who have supported his stellar career on social media.

The player has won 23 consecutive tournaments, and 170 finals of the 191 he played alongside his partner, Fernando Belasteguín, in the Padel Pro Tour and the World Padel Tour. i www.reservadelhigueronresort.com

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z THE PRO enterprise

FIRST EDITION OF PERROTON MARBELLA: A MUST FOR DOG LOVERS! If you agree that life would be infinitely less meaningful without your beloved four-pawed friends, then one event not to be missed is Perroton Marbella: a fundraising walk to be held on May 28, to promote pet adoption and responsible pet ownership. The event, whose ambassador is no less than the Baroness Carmen Thyssen, will commence at the Terrazas del Puerto Deportivo de Marbella, at 9am and will cover a distance of three kilometres. i For further information and registration

details, www.perroton.org

NEW REGIONAL PR AND WEBMEDIA EDITOR FOR AMERICAN CLUB OF THE COSTA DEL SOL Lucca Movaldi has just been promoted to Regional Public Relations and Webmedia Editor of the A.C.C.S./ The American Club of The Costa del Sol region. Lucca has been with the American Club of The Costa del Sol for five years, during which time he has held positions as Board Member, and President /Founder of the American Club Benalmádena proving himself as a committed American Club member, leader and advocate. Lucca came to Benalmádena from another Club (Marbella) and brought with him energy and enthusiasm that he has continued to display while leading his Club Members to consistently improve the Club and its presence in the Community. His background in business gives him an overall understanding of how to improve public relations, and his ability to motivate his Club has led to his continued success on the Costa del Sol. i www.americanclubcostadelsol.wordpress.com

PATIO AWNING PRESENTS ITSELF IN FUTURISTIC DESIGN If you are looking for an awning and you love good design, the Markilux patio awning MX-1 is bound to catch your eye. lt boasts the very best in design features down to the last detail, and was recently awarded the German Design Award 2016 as well as three other design awards. The deep cassette that narrows towards the front not only protects the retracted awning cover, but also forms a practical narrow canopy against the façade. i www.markilux.com

CUDECA EVENTS

FASHION AND NATURE AT AGROJARDÍN

The Cudeca team of volunteers has been busy as usual, working hard to raise funds to enable the hospice to attend to cancer patients. Recent events included the 25th anniversary concert (featuring the Málaga Symphonic Orchestra), the Fundación Lágrimas y Favores dinner (in which a cheque was awarded to Cudeca), and the signing of a convention with the Fundación General de la Universidad de Málaga (FGUMA), in which both organisations will work together to raise awareness of cancer and to carry out various projects together. i www.cudeca.org

Agrojardín, the center specialising in gardening and decoration recently celebrated the arrival of spring with a fashion show by flamenco designer Juana Martín. Spring is an important time of the year at Agrojardín, when nature shines in all her splendour. Agrojardín dressed up the greenhouse into the perfect stage for the flamenco fashion show, with freshly flowered plants, flowering trees, decorated pots and decorative elements fitting in perfectly with Juana Martín’s dazzling creations. i www.agrojardin.com

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z THE PRO enterprise MAPFRE GIVES BUTTERFLY CHILDREN WINGS This year, more than 4,600 employees of MAPFRE are joining a charity campaign ‘Donate a Euro’ to support those living with Butterfly Skin and their families throughout Spain. For every euro donated MAPFRE will equal it therefore doubling the donation. Already 4,600 employees across Spain have joined the initiative. With the funds, DEBRA will be able to support families of a newborn baby with Butterfly Skin in Spain for the next two years, via nursing, social and psychological support for the babies and families directly and by training the health professionals of the public health system. DEBRA also recently celebrated the official opening of the new floor of the Butterfly Children Charity shop on C/Jacinto Benavente 1, Marbella, thanks to generous donations from the Town Hall and local businesses. i www.pieldemariposa.es

LAUNCH EVENT FOR NEW MIMOVE PROPERTY PORTAL The launch of new online property portal MiMove.com took place recently at Nueva Andalucía restaurant, El Jardín. Representatives of the Costa del Sol real estate community, as well as prospective property buyers and sellers gathered for this celebration. Developed by the same company that implemented the portal Hemnet in Sweden, MiMove promises to relieve the international property buyer in Spain from the anxiety provoked by a complex buying process with plenty of horror stories. “Verified listings, certified realtors and lawyers, as well as the highest level of professional presentations are the three key factors by which MiMove is the safe place to buy property online in Spain,” said Ola Lundell, MiMove’s global CEO. i www.mimove.com

LES ROCHES RANKED SECOND BEST SCHOOL IN HOSPITALITY AND LEISURE MANAGEMENT

NEW MGIMO PROGRAMS IN MARBELLA, SPAIN The official launch of three new MGIMO degree programmes took place in Marbella recently. The world renowned Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) has entered into a partnership with the Marbella International University Centre (MIUC), a newly created sophisticated University in Marbella.

This partnership offer students a novel set of academic degrees and a postgraduate degree starting in October 2017. (MGIMO) has put the finishing touches to an innovative set of degree programmes with Marbella International University Centre (MIUC): • Two degrees (International Relations and International Business) • One postgraduate degree (International Relations). The two-city location of this exciting co-operation will see students study in both Moscow and Marbella and also factor in three languages – English, Russian and Spanish – on their chosen programme of study. i www.miuc.org

The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017 report is out and Les Roche Global Hospitality Education has been ranked the second best in Hospitality and Leisure Management. In this category, two main factors were taken into account: academic qualifications and employability. Les Roches bases its education on Swiss tradition, famed for its excellence. It boasts five campuses in four different continents, respectively.i www.lesroches.es

THE MARBELLA PROPERTY MAGAZINE®, NINTH EDITION The Marbella Property Magazine®, ninth edition, has just been published by Panorama, Marbella’s longest established real estate agency, regulated by RICS, and the exclusive international affiliate of Savills for the greater Marbella area. Considered by many to be the best quality real estate publication on the Costa del Sol, the magazine features Christopher Clover’s 2017 Marbella Property Market Report, a fascinating feature on Marbella of the 1970’s and the beginnings of Panorama in the city, articles on buying and selling Marbella property and over 115 pages with some of the most exceptional properties on the market in the Marbella area.

Copies are available at Panorama’s offices opposite the Marbella Club hotel and at the Puente Romano hotel, at various Marbella distribution points, or contact Panorama with your full name and address to receive a copy by mail. g Tel: 952 863 750.

www.panorama.es

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enterprise THE PRO z

OSTEOSTRONG® CENTRE OPENS IN ELVIRIA OsteoStrong® recently held the launch of its new centre at Elviria, the first of its kind outside the United States, aimed at helping reverse osteoporosis and increasing strength and balance, with measurable results backed by science. OsteoStrong® is a natural way to trigger your own adaptive responses to improve bone density, balance and strength.

This no-sweat no-soreness, once-a-week system takes about seven minutes per session. Over 25,000 people have seen amazing results and numbers are growing.

Non-members can claim a free session to experience the low-cost, simple way to activate your personal adaptive responses. i www.osteostrong.me

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z THE PRO business

The Supreme Aqtiva II bed

Because Good Sleep is More than a Luxury

The Supreme Continental bed

JENSEN BEDS

It is odd to think that, despite being aware that insufficient hours of deep sleep can contribute to a plethora of health conditions including obesity and depression, many of us continue to consider a good bed, a luxury.

Sleep is, of course, so much more than that. It is a necessary pause for refuelling and giving our body and mind, a necessary break from our daily activities.

J

ensen Store has been on the Coast for almost 15 years. It specialises in luxury Norwegian beds. With stores in Marbella and Mallorca, Jensen’s beautiful beds are often sent across the globe, since clients who purchase a bed for their second home in Marbella often fall in love with the bed’s quality and desire one for back home.

Jensen Beds embrace the body and bestow an experience which combines harmony and wellbeing. The company’s team of dedicated experts, led by a skilled physiotherapist, develops beds that ensure deep sleep comfort.

Since 1947 Jensen has produced beds in Norway with a strong focus on sleep comfort. Many groundbreaking innovations in bed manufacturing bear the Jensen signature and today this is more

evident than ever before. Combining the traditional craftsmanship with the best materials and solutions the market has to offer is key for the business.

Jensen Beds have a unique zone system; the beds are divided into five different zones, which provides the ideal support for the different parts of the body. The support for the lower back in combination with a soft shoulder zone, for instance, provides an entirely new sleep experience. The shoulders and hips, meanwhile, sink deeper into the mattress.

By combining nature-inspired materials and textiles with a timeless sense of shape, the company has created products with amazing sleep comfort which look beautiful too. Jensen Beds has won The Award for Design Excellence from the Norwegian Design Council twice.

With pleasant Scandinavian designs, inspired by the fabulous Norwegian nature and sleep comfort of the highest quality, Jensen beds are made to guarantee an optimal quality sleep, with exclusive sleep comfort in single and double beds, as well as adjustable beds. All of these provide great support for the body's sensitive areas in the back, hips, shoulders and neck – whether you prefer a soft or firm surface. Furthermore, you will find

lots of beautiful accessories like headboards, bed side tables, legs and elegant ottomans.

Sleep well during the night, and feel energised during the day! g Polígono Nueva Campana 23, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 908 855. www.jensenstore.com

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z THE PRO vibe

INAUGURATION OF NISSAN CONCESOL MARBELLA

Nissan recently launched its brand new installations in Marbella, at Polígono La Ermita. Attending the event were Director/ General Manager, Marco Toro, Concesol Marbella Manager, José Antonio Martín, and members of the Town Hall. Attendees marvelled at the new concessionary and viewed the brand new Nissan Micra upclose. i www.concesol.com

“All of those cars were once just a dream in somebody’s head” – Peter Gabriel

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vibe THE PRO z

INAUGURATION OF ARARA BISTRO BAR AT RESERVA DEL HIGUERÓN

Reserva del Higuerón now has a fantastic new reason to pay a visit: Arara Bistro Bar, under the helm of Diego Gallegos (whose Sollo boasts one Michelin star). The restaurant, whose terrace affords wonderful panoramic views, will be serving innovate cuisine bearing American and Spanish influences. i www.reservadelhigueronresort.com

“There is no love sincerer than the love of food” – George Bernard Shaw

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z THE PRO vibe

COME FLY WITH US PARTY AT AMÀRE BEACH HOTEL

Amàre Beach Hotel is fast earning a reputation for being one of the coolest adults-only hotels in the south of Spain, thanks in no small part to an exciting line-up of events. Recently, the Hotel organised the Come Fly With Us Party, with dinner and a fantastic twin tribute show celebrating the magic of Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé, featuring Peter Rothwell and Martin Joseph. i www.amarehotels.com

“Nobody looks back on their life and remembers the nights they had plenty of sleep” – Anonymous

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z THE PRO vibe

LA TERRASSE LAUNCHES AT THE PUENTE ROMANO BEACH RESORT & SPA

The Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa is a major nucleus of the Marbella dining and party scene and it recently raised the bar even further with the launch La Terrasse by La Suite, featuring a laidback ambience and music by guest DJs from London and Paris. La Terrasse will be open every Friday and Saturday from 9pm ‘til late. i www.puenteromano.com

“Work hard and party harder” – Anonymous

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G A S T RO N O M Í A S I N I G U A L E N P R I M E RA L Í N E A D E P LAYA · Fine dining on the Andalusian beachfront N U E VA CA RTA V E G A N A D E S N AC K S O RG Á N I CO S · New organic vegan snack menu

M AYO Y J U N I O, T E M PO RA DA D E L E S PÁ R RAG O Asparagus season from May to June

Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa · Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n · 29602 · Marbella · Spain (+34) 952 820 900 · puenteromano.com · hotel@puenteromano.com

z THE PRO vibe

‘TASTES AND COLOURS’ AT THE NEW OFFICES OF ABN AMRO IN MARBELLA

ABN AMRO Private Banking recently invited clients, friends and members of the press to their Art Cocktail ‘Tastes and Colours’ at their new offices in Marbella.

Selective pieces of the renowned ABN AMRO art collection will be on permanent display. To celebrate the arrival of some masters of the Cobra movement to Spain, the company invited Mrs. Laura Mudde, art historian and curator of the ABN AMRO art collection, to acquaint guests with the story behind the artists. i www.abnamro.es

“A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art” – Paul Cezanne

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h THE LEISURE travel The new Seabourn Encore

Cruising Around

AUSTRALIA WORDS DAVID WISHART PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF TOURISM AUSTRALIA AND SHUTTERSTOCK

One sunny day in 1891, a German ship belonging to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises set off in the Mediterranean with no itinerary in mind. The captain declared, in effect, he was going nowhere, and cruising was born.

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The deck of the Seabourn Encore

I

n today's world of cruise ships, it would appear not a lot has changed in that many passengers don’t particularly care about where they are going, or indeed about being at sea. What lures them aboard modern mega-ships is an intoxicating array of bars, theme restaurants, jingling casinos, waterslides, zip lines, rockclimbing walls, the whole fandango topped with pools crammed with kids.

But there is another way – voyages, where you are going somewhere. Cunard does crossings, Southampton to New York, which is a hugely significant journey – think of the Mayflower and Ellis Island, the Blue Riband and Titanic.

Other lines sail adventurous routes, such as Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands, they take a passage to India, or a voyage to Australia, which has the added advantage of avoiding two long flights, including the ones where you stop for a camel ride.

Australia has long been one of my favorite places, particularly for a winter good-weather escape, while sailing into Sydney harbour is one of the world’s greatest travel experiences.

And why did it take so long to find this huge continent? Greek mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras (560–480 BC) and his followers were the first to document the theory of land masses in the southern hemisphere to counterweight the

northern hemisphere to ensure a balance in the globe. This idea of a large southern continental mass strongly influenced cartographers until the late 1400s with the belief in the unknown Great South Land.

However despite the close attention of Portuguese, Dutch and French navigators, what became known as Australia was not circumnavigated and charted until 1810 by British Lieutenant Matthew Flinders. The pioneering voyage of 1770 by Captain James Cook had established that the mythical Great South Land was Antarctica, and both it and Australia were separate continents.

Along the way, many great voyages had been undertaken, not a few ending in tragedy, such as the disappearance of the French navigator La Perouse, whose ships were last seen off Botany Bay by the First Fleet. His ships were wrecked on the Solomon Islands with no survivors.

Last winter, motivated that two fine ships were offering a near circumnavigation of Australia, I packed my bags.

I did have one long flight to get to the region, but it was to Bangkok and the magical Oriental Hotel. Five nights indulgence there, a quick hop to Bali, then Ubud where the new Ritz-Carlton has beautiful villas and bigger pools than the Aman resorts.

Seminyak is worth a quick visit if only to go to Sardine, a seafood restaurant with Balinese flair in a gorgeous paddyfield setting, owned by a guy from Beaune, France. His father had Hotel de la Poste in Beaune, and I knew him.

The first cruise was on the new Seabourn Encore, bound for Sydney.

This is a handsome vessel, the first thirdgeneration ship for Seabourn following the 10,000 tonners with 212 passengers, and Odyssey class, which are 32,000 tons and carry 450. Encore weighs in at 40,000 tons and takes 600. Getting up there, you might think, but still a small ship compared to the whoppers with 6,000 passengers on board.

These days, ships for 900 are described as small. To which any old salt might say, “Yeah right,” and point to the hugely popular little ships of Sea Dream Yacht Club. The two vessels are 4,000 tons and cruise with just 112 passengers.

Their owner is Atle Brynestad, who founded Seabourn in 1986 and later sold it to Carnival Corp.

All cabins on the Seabourn Encore are forward, with the pool, restaurants and spa aft, but there is a top-deck area forward, the Retreat, where you can pay an extra $250 and more for cabanas and a hot tub. Fine if you want a quiet area but it is a long way from the excellent pool.

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A Silversea cruise ship in Sydney

Perth

Also forward is the Observation lounge, with a sociable bar and attractive seating offering good sea views. Team Trivia was hosted here by outstanding Cruise Director Handre, and might have been the most popular event on board.

Cabins are first rate in the best Seabourn tradition, but an unnecessary piece of furniture at the end of the bed cramps movement. Not a big problem though, and more than made up for by our butler; so good I would like to have taken him home.

Seabourn Square has guest services staff dealing with passenger queries in person and on the phone, shore excursions, et al. It also has a coffee bar, newspapers and is a big success as the social hub of the ship. Other cruise lines please copy.

I also enjoyed the Club, a cozy room with a house band, but arguably the best watering hole was Katy’s Piano Bar at the Grill. Barmen at both were perfect, and blokes you could talk to. On the other hand the star at the latter was Katy, an entertainer with a big future.

The Grill by Thomas Keller, as it is called, Seabourn’s new headline dining venture, was heavily booked and I liked it, although I heard some complaints about the service. The main restaurant is very attractive and presented some good dishes daily, backed up by an à la carte menu where you could always get favourites such as a delicious rack of lamb.

The small Sushi was popular, as was the Patio deck diner, while the Colonnade, the indoor/ outdoor restaurant anchoring the aft end of Deck 9, catered for breakfast, lunch and evening theme menus. It was often busy, and the outdoor section could be noisy. If you know smaller ships you will notice the difference here.

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My only other gripe was the Grand Salon showroom which has too many pillars.

Production shows have talented artists but poor material. There were several good individual performers and popular speakers such as Lord Digby Jones and an Australian maritime pilot, Peter Martin, a key man for this itinerary, not only for his sea yarns but local information, such as where to get the best fish and chips in Cairns (Barramundi at Dundee’s on the waterfront).

In days of old there were more pressing issues for the likes of Captain Cook, who had to beach his ship for repairs just north of here after Endeavour hit the Great Barrier Reef.

The Whitsunday Islands were a popular stop, lush islands that must have put paid to early explorers’ notions that Australia was an arid land with no settler potential, but it was

Sydney that everyone was waiting for.

Some wanted to see the Opera House, others the bridge, and a few couldn’t wait to get hold of a pint at the Lord Nelson, or indeed the Mercantile pubs. All of this was on my mind when I awoke early, minutes before the Encore turned between the heads and entered the most spectacular harbour in the world.

What was it like, I wondered, for the 1,400 souls aboard the 11 vessels of the First Fleet, as it became known, to be here on August 26, 1788, now Australia’s national day? They had just experienced one of the planet’s great sea voyages of eight months, with stops at Rio, Cape Town, and the Roaring Forties along the south coast.

Most of them knew they would never leave this place, and what awaited them? The full story of the First Fleet is brilliantly told in Robert

Hughes’ book The Fatal Shore. Nobody should go to Australia without reading it.

Luckily we berthed at the Ocean Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay, close to where the First Fleet anchored. If a bigger ship had been in port we would have had to go under the bridge to dock at charmless White Bay. It’s almost worth choosing your ship to be at the OPT, a perfect location opposite the Opera House.

Here you can watch the ferries go by, many of them named after the convict ships, and what’s more, walk around the historic Rocks district.

Like many of the disembarking passengers, I stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney. The views from here are amazing, but unfortunately a fast transit system is being installed at the hotel’s front door, a project that will last at least two years. In the meantime I would avoid any hotels on George Street.

Whitehaven Beach, the Whitsundays

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The famous 12 apostles on the great ocean road view from the sky

Opera House, Sydney

And so to Melbourne, where the Silver Whisper, fresh from a refit, waited for the next leg. And who was there but Fernando, a legend among Cruise Directors, with his big smile and infectious enthusiasm. Someone poured me a lively gin and tonic, and we were off to a good start.

I should add that on both ships all drinks and wines are included, and tipping is not necessary.

During dinner we left Port Phillip Bay passing Portsea to port. This is a delightful little resort with a sporty golf course. In fact this whole area is a place to linger. It’s just a short ferry ride to the other side and Barwon Heads links course, and a hop, skip and a jump to Angelsea Golf Club, famous for the kangaroos on its course. Here you’re on the Great Ocean Road, one of the best drives in Australia, leading to Adelaide and its vineyards.

A stroll around Silver Whisper showed the recent refurbishment was a good job well done. The ship, built in 2000, sparkles like new with beautiful carpets, flooring and furniture. My cabin impressed with fresh furnishings, handsome and warm light wood and an elegant marbled bathroom.

Similarly the main restaurant, with the same light wood and clever lighting, was a pleasure, and several nights there were dinner dances, when the ship’s band, or a DJ, had many passengers up and dancing. Where else can you do this?

First port was Adelaide. A vineyard visit is an option here and fleets of buses and taxis took passengers into the Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills. Having done the wine routes, I took a tram to the beach at Glenelg, named after the village in Scotland close to Skye.

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Melbourne

We left Adelaide with a stiff breeze and the captain’s warning it would be rough about 3am.

Then Silver Whisper slipped by north of Kangaroo Island and entered the Great Australian Bight.

This is one of Australia’s most demanding stretches of water. Joshua Slocum, first person to circumnavigate the world single-handed, choose to avoid it, and yachting author Jeff Toghill described it as the world’s most unpleasant stretch of coastal water. On the other hand, it can be quite benign, but that is usually when sailing west to east. We were going the wrong way! It was as rough as the Drake Passage, the fearsome stretch of water between Cape Horn and the Antarctic Peninsula.

As was said in The Goon Show: “Act three, at sea – harrumph…”

A little calmer the next day, but just 16 degrees outside. The shop could have done a roaring trade in fleece jackets, but nothing remotely warm for sale. Duh....

Next day (three sea days from Adelaide to

Perth) it warmed up and and the chart screen showed Esperance on the coast due north. Been there… next landmark was Albany, right on the southern tip of the west coast, which has a fine links golf course.

Then Freemantle, the port for Perth, and a sunny day. Phew. Visited the excellent Maritime Museum, Shipwreck Galleries and the gaol. Always a gaol! Freemantle is a good stop, with many old colonial buildings, an artsy vibe and a street known locally as Cappuccino Row. Here and in Perth smiles galore with genuinely friendly people.

With great beaches and the Margaret River wine area nearby, you can see why this is considered one of the best places in the world to live.

Friends took us to JoJo’s Café, actually a very nice restaurant with an attractive riverside location, which humbly describes itself as a casual joint. That’s Australia.

Then up the coast to Geraldton where we docked beside a huge gantry loading iron ore

on to a Chinese freighter. A free bus, something Silversea is good at, took us to a visitor centre where a swarm of volunteers waited. Nearby we found an excellent museum with stories of HMAS Sydney, an Australian warship sunk by a German raider, and the Dutch merchant ship Batavia, a fascinating saga of mutiny and murder.

The remaining days took in Exmouth, famous for its Ningaloo reef and swimming with whale sharks. It was not the season for this but most were happy to enjoy the ship with sun-washed leisurely activities around the pool, where waiters dispensed tall drinks and meals.

We found time, thankfully, to slip into Le Champagne, where for a modest charge had a dinner which could accurately be described as truly gourmet, when we had caviar to go with the Champagne that was flourished freely around the ship.

If only we had Cook and Flinders to join us. Their stories would have been worth a glass or two. e Adelaide

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h THE LEISURE hotel

THE LOS MONTEROS SPA & GOLF RESORT Five-Star Grand Luxury by the Sea

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LOS MONTEROS SPA & GOLF RESORT

The architectural and design world seems to be almost obsessed with minimalism these days, yet iconic hotels like the Los Monteros Spa & Golf Resort 5*GL know that when a company boasts a history so rich, nothing pleases a discerning client so much, as the honest celebration of tradition and old world style.

T

his hotel is classic and new all at once; welcoming warmth is provided by the proliferation of shiny noble wood and the elegant gold writing emblazoned above the reception desks. A few steps ahead, and visible practically from the entrance door, is the stunning Andalusian Patio, graced with flowers of all colours imaginable and bearing an air of romance and life that seem to celebrate this hotel’s biggest milestones. Few hotels can lay claim to having once played home to the King of Pop himself, the great Michael Jackson, who gave his only concert on the Coast in 1988.

Los Monteros continues to be the choice for celebrities and dignitaries alike and it celebrates this feat with a video screen in the reception area paying homage to a bevy of clients – everyone from Rocío Jurado to Tom Jones and of course, award-winning actor, Antonio Banderas, a regular client of the Hotel and owner of a home just a few metres away.

Los Monteros was one of the first five-star grand luxe hotels in Marbella. The brainchild of entrepreneur, Ignacio Coca, it opened its doors in 1962 with just 35 rooms. The success it enjoyed lead

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to further expansion and today, its initial structure is part of a graceful, circular set of low-rise buildings which look to the sea and overlook beautiful gardens and ponds where, I am told, flamingos once used to roam about freely.

The Hotel has 178 rooms, of which over half are Junior Suites.

The General Manager, Fernando Al-Farkh, a stalwart of the Hotel who is able to recall fascinating anecdotes that reveal the depth and breadth of its history, shows me a few of the most stunning rooms.

The Royal Suite, which measures 350m2, is a true thing of beauty to behold. The latter boasts two double bedrooms (with four-poster beds), bathrooms large enough to merit at least a few hours of primping and pampering and boasting heavenly hydromassage tubs, a stunning dining lounge and six large terraces.

The Princess Suite is another excellent choice for families with its spacious living room, completely separated from the bedroom to ensure privacy, as well as a large corner terrace and a modern bedroom, coloured in powder blue and beige hues.

The two-Bedroom Deluxe Suites

wield a certain kind of magic.

Divided into two floors, it is almost English in inspiration, with narrow passageways and a slight colonial touch to the furniture. It is the perfect choice for families with young children. Parents can sip on Champagne in the room upstairs while the kids are safely tucked in bed below. These rooms boast a comfy terrace from which to catch the sun’s rays, as well as a little garden area which kids will love to romp around; if they need extra diversion, sign them up for a full day’s entertainment at the Kid’s Club, located in the gardens by the pool.

For a room with tradition, meanwhile, it’s got to be number Seven, known as the Consul Suite, located in the original building and boasting décor with a touch of the exotic, including paisley wallpaper and rich purple fabrics on the furniture.

As one would expect from a Grand Luxe Hotel, Los Monteros is ready to help you unwind and make the most of the Andalusian lifestyle.

The SPA is second to none, with a naturally lit circuit pool, as well as hammams, saunas, relaxation beds,

a crushed ice fountain and a list of treatments which includes relaxing as well as invigorating massages and facials.

The gastronomic offer is diverse, and includes the cosy Flamingo Restaurant (perfect for a hearty breakfast or lunch), El Corzo Restaurant (open for dinner, it is the first ever Hotel restaurant in Spain to receive a Michelin star) and La Cabane Beach Club – without a doubt one of the most elegant beach clubs in the South of Spain, with a gorgeous bejewelled pool, just steps away from the beach.

The Hotel also boasts over 1,000m2 of space for corporate or social events. The main events hall, called Salón Real, can be divided into three, or joined for larger gatherings.

Finally, the verdant gardens by the pool, and La Cabane Beach Club itself, are just two of many romantic nooks that make the perfect setting for a wedding or party.

Los Monteros has meant so many things to so many people – famous and unknown, and it awaits you with open arms, to give you a taste of the glamour that has taken decades to perfect.

g CN340, km 187, Marbella (Málaga, Spain). Tel: 952 771 700. www.monteros.com

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b the gourmet RESTAURANTS REVIEWS NEWS GASTRONOMY CHEFS WINE

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L’Olive

173

Hills Café

174

Food News

176

Thomas Stork, Executive Chef at Puente Romano

178

Bodegas Vinos Sanz in Rueda

DINE IN STYLE AT SOTOGRANDE HOT SPOT, L’OLIVE AT LA RESERVA CLUB, ENJOY A MEAL WITH AN UNBEATABLE VIEW AT HILLS CAFÉ IN THE BENAHAVIS HILLS COUNTRY CLUB, AND READ UP ON THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GASTRONOMIC SCENE, WHILE YOU SIP ON A GLASS OF WINE FROM THE SANZ DYNASTY IN RUEDA.

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restaurants THE GOURMET b

L’OLIVE

La Reserva Club Sotogrande

La Reserva Club is famous for its beautiful fairways and natural vistas, but thanks to the stylishly refurbished L’Olive restaurant, it is also becoming known for its dining experience. WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN

I

t wasn’t that long ago that Sotogrande had a good but limited culinary offer but, like nearby Marbella, the stylish resort is fast becoming a dining destination in its own right, thanks to refined eateries such as the recently refurbished L’Olive at the La Reserva Club.

At L’Olive, golf and dining are intricately connected and, indeed, the setting enjoyed by this restaurant is nothing short of spectacular, set as it is amid a manicured course ringed by natural scenery. The interior, which has been tastefully redesigned, offers a stylish country club ambiance complete with high ceilings and leather fauteuils that is, however, also relaxed and inviting. Combined with attractive contemporary eclectic chic décor, a prominent service bar and very pleasant waiters, it sets down a marker as a quality establishment.

Though it is simpler in style, the terrace remains the jewel in the crown of L’Olive, for here the stunning backdrop provides a natural décor that enthrals the eye and creates a sense of privilege and wellbeing. In its

calm, classy yet unassuming way, La Reserva Club retains the timeless air of a classic country club.

A STEP ABOVE Though many clubhouses offer excellent food in pleasant surroundings, and have indeed built up a loyal following, L’Olive stands on its own feet as a restaurant – the kind of place you want to meet for a business lunch or, preferably, a relaxed and sociable one. In this sense, it is a step above the majority of clubhouse restaurants and contends among the finest restaurants in the area.

The menu allows itself to be led by fresh produce, so it follows the flow of the seasons to provide an offering that creatively evolves with the ingredients at hand. As a result, you’ll find constant classics but also a sense of variety that matches the temperature, light and mood of the moment. Though it caters to private and corporate functions, the restaurant specialises in breakfast and lunch, offering late afternoon snacks and opening on Friday and Saturday nights as well as for evening events

during the high season. The different dishes are therefore characteristically light and refreshing, yet not without daring, ambition and expert composition.

By the latter I mean above all the presentation, which is worthy of note.

We chose from both the standard menu and the Menu of the Week, dedicated in this case to one of the most luxurious of culinary building blocks, the lobster.

Every day during the special menu week entails something new and fresh, so it’s worth looking up the menu online and picking your favourite dish/ day.

FRESH FAVOURITES It was very much a working day, so we didn’t indulge in wine, though the wine card at L’Olive is certainly extensive enough to make this a very pleasant option, as it stocks a fine selection of both Spanish and international wines and spirits of every variety. We chose a beautifully prepared lobster carpaccio, a refreshing, traditional Andalusian Salmorejo presented in a very modern way, and couldn’t resist the authentic

g La Reserva Club, Avenida La Reserva, Sotogrande. Tel: (+34) 956 785 252. Lareserva.bookings@sotogrande.com

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fish ‘n chips – just as stylishly presented but authentically delicious.

In true style, dishes such as fish ‘n chips and burgers are a delight at L’Olive thanks to the quality of the ingredients and the skill of the chef.

The main courses we selected were an impressive braised leg of lamb, a vegetarian risotto and a Josper grilled squid described by my companion as a memorable experience. In addition to delicious meat and fish dishes, L’Olive also prides itself on offering a good range of skilfully prepared vegetarian options. The Yuca chips served with hummus and a delightful Jamón y Queso Tapenade served at the beginning of the meal are an indication of the kitchen’s abilities, and it was confirmed again with the Crème Brûlée, whose brittle caramel layer gives way to creamy soft custard pudding.

A suitably stylish venue for a business meeting or a function, L’Olive at the elegant La Reserva Club is also a wonderful spot to relax, socialise and enjoy a great meal – be it in the tasteful interior dining room or on the panoramic terrace.

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AT THE PLAZA VILLAGE IN THE HOTEL PUENTE ROMANO

Puente Romano Hotel, Blv. Principe Alfonso Von Hohenlohe, Marbella. www.thaigallerymarbella.com

Tel: 952 818 392

TAI PAN chinese cuisine polynesian bar

Serving Marbella in a Select Atmosphere for Decades.

Tel: 952 777 893 / 952 775 500 Puente Romano, Fase 2, Marbella.

Open Daily for Dinner from 8:00 www.taipanmarbella.com

SUKHOTHAI Exquisite Royal Thai Cuisine

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

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restaurants THE GOURMET b

HILLS CAFÉ

Fusion Dining with a Spectacular View WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN

B

enahavís has fast become one of the Coast’s gastronomic havens, with its reputable cooking school and select list of restaurants offering excellent cuisine at affordable prices. When it comes to experiencing the very best this scenic area of the Coast has to offer, though, it’s got to be Hills Café, part of the Benahavis Hills Country Club, yet open to all diners. The restaurant boasts two features that few others can compete with: one is the panoramic view of the rolling hills and sparkling Mediterranean, very much symbolic of the unique nature of life in Benahavís – so close to the hustle and bustle of Marbella yet firmly entrenched within the verdant beauty of the natural surrounds.

The second magical ingredient is the Chef – Jean Francois Job, who obtained a Michelin star at his restaurant on the Côte d’Azur and who has worked alongside Alain Ducasse and Roger Verge (both of whose restaurants boast three Michelin stars). Jean Francois was a lucky find for the restaurant; “My daughter lives on the Coast, as does

my grandchild,” he smiles, telling me he is also appreciative of the relatively slower pace in Southern Spain. Hills Café is open for breakfast and lunch, enabling the seaoned Chef to have something few other successful chefs can claim: excellent quality of life, and time for his loved ones.

Jean Francois is passionate about Asian food and his cuisine reveals Oriental as well as Belgian influences.

The menu at Hills Café is select and includes generous salads and sandwiches, as well as daily specials, which Jean Francois changes according to the produce available.

Worthy of mention is the fact that the restaurant offers an affordable set menu (€19,50 for a three-course meal or €15,50 for a main and starter) from Tuesday to Friday (the restaurant closes on Mondays).

On Saturday, diners can tuck into a hearty Indonesian Rijsttafel (‘Rice table’), featuring a host of dishes accompanied by rice prepared in different ways. Sunday lunches, meanwhile, comprise a three-course roast, with all your favourite trimmings and sides.

g Sector la Coja, s/n, Benahavís. Tel: 952 856 171. www.benahavishills.com

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Ordering was an easy ‘task’ for me; a fan of crisp bacon, I opted for the stilton and bacon salad, fresh, salty and cheesy all at once and perfect in size to serve as an entrée.

My companion opted for a healthy bowl of vegetable soup – creamy and hearty, ideal on a cool, pre-Spring day.

My main dish was a beautifully fresh, grilled fillet of sea bass, served with stir fried noodles, bearing all the sweet and tangy goodness of this classic Asian dish. A beautifully sweet tomato and basil sauce was gently ‘painted’ alongside the fish, complementing it to perfection.

We also ordered the Argentinian entrecôte, flavourful and tender, served with fresh herbs and oil, as well as a salad and – of course – crisp, hand-cut chips, fried Belgian-style.

While I normally try to watch my waistline by passing on dessert, the magnificent view and the proximity of our tables to the deep blue of the Country Club’s pool, made it seem almost sinful to deprive ourselves of a sweet end to our meal. We shared a tarte tatin, bearing plump, golden bites of apple, which we dipped into

freshly whipped cream and enjoyed alongside the freshly cut strawberries and raspberries.

Benahavis Country Club is part of the Benahavis Hills urbanisation; a select collection of luxurious villas and townhouses. All homeowners enjoy automatic membership of the Country Club, though external clients can also purchase single or family memberships (for one, three, six, or 12 months). Those simply wishing to experience a day at the Club can obtain a day pass, enjoying a refreshing swim in the outdoor pool or de-stressing at the beautiful spa, which boasts a circuit pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, and relaxation area, as well as a gym (featuring Cybex equipment) with treatments and personal training available on appointment.

Of course, if you are simply after a lovely meal with a view to die for, no day pass is needed; just head straight to Hills Café, sip on a cool glass of wine and remind yourself that once in a while, body, mind and spirit deserve a fantastic meal in the midst of beautiful natural surrounds.

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b THE GOURMET news

COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS

Enjoy the Best of Organic Cuisine

AT THE FUERTE GRAZALEMA’S DE LA TIERRA RESTAURANT

De la Tierra is a fantastic restaurant ensconced in the heart of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, serving cuisine made with products from their ecological garden and farm. For breakfast and dinner, guests enjoy a hearty buffet featuring zero kilometre fruits and vegetables, including sweet potato, tomato, broccoli and more. Enjoy a night’s stay in a double room plus breakfast starting at €135. i www.fuertehoteles.com

D.O.M.

Opens at the Hotel Meliá Marbella Banús

Hotel Meliá Marbella Banús has opened its new à la carte restaurant called D.O.M (Denominación de Origen Málaga), helmed in the kitchen by Málaga chef, José Carlos García Marín, who presents traditional Malagueña recipes using exclusively high quality local products, revealing the essence of traditional cuisine with hand-picked ingredients. This unique concept is presented in an elegant and casual Mediterranean setting with vintage touches. g Open nightly for dinner between 7:30pm and 11pm. Tel: 952 760 200. domrestaurante@melia.com

Fourth Edition of

GASTRONOMÍA BENAHAVÍS

The Benahavís Town Hall, Escuela de Hostelería Sabor a Málaga and Daily Tourist Marbella recently presented the fourth edition of the Gastronomía Benahavís 2017 cooking competition. During the month of May, gastronomic events will be taking place in various restaurants in Andalucía. Participating venues will be offering guests a free dish or tapa from May 22 to 26.

The winning dish or tapa will be announced on May 31.

MONKEY CLUB AT THE PUENTE ROMANO BEACH RESORT & SPA: Less Rules, More U

True gastronomes know that for the ultimate Mediterranean meal set within an artistic, trendy, über cool ambience with the sounds of top DJ-composed music in the background, it’s got to be Casa Mono, in the centre of Marbella. Owner Clement Mokeddel, founder of the Casa Mono Group, is opening two establishments at the swish Puente Romano: Monkey Club, a Mediterranean restaurant serving top quality creative cuisine with a super stylish ambience and music by talented DJ Malik Alary, artist/founder and owner of the WYM label,who is a resident DJ in London (Childtern Firehouse and Sexy Fish) and Paris (Hotel Costes). Additionally, Monkey Bites, a summer pop up by Casa Mono, will be open at La Terrasse by La Suite. Monkey Club is due to be open at the end of May/beginning of June, while Monkey Bite’s tentative launch date is June 20. Opening hours Monkey Club: Open daily for lunch from 12:30pm to 4pm and for dinner from 8pm to 12:30am. In July and August, open only for dinner from 8pm to 1am. Opening hours Monkey Bites: Open from June to September, Tuesday to Saturday from 8pm to 12am and Sunday to Monday from 8pm to 2am.

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b THE GOURMET profile

Thomas Stork is gearing up for the busiest season of the year, and the enigmatic Chef can hardly contain his enthusiasm; “I feel immensely lucky to be doing something I love in such a beautiful setting.” Stunning, indeed, is the view from Sea Grill’s lively woodendecked terrace, overlooking a raging sea, on the day of our meeting, whose waves never seemed so dramatic or frothy white. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN

THOMAS STORK

Sets the Sea Grill Ablaze for the Spring/Summer Season

T

homas loves his job and everything to do with cooking; he has played the role of Executive Chef of the Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa for five years and was deemed the Best Chef at the Al Andalus de Gastronomía awards.

Yet his passion for food began much earlier – at the tender age of 14, in fact, when his natural talent, combined with discipline and intense focus, started him on a path that would see him honing his craft at some of the finest establishments in the world (including 3 Michelin-starred Residenz Heinz Winkler, an experience he describes as “more educational than even the very best university could be.”). In Marbella, the chef has shone in a variety of gastronomic havens, including the Hotel Las Dunas, where he worked for 10 years, achieving the Hotel’s first Michelin star.

If you’ve dined at Sea Grill, then you are probably familiar with his inimitable style.

“Being a Mediterranean destination, it makes sense to give the spotlight to catch-of-the-day fish and seafood,” he says, though the restaurant is equally famous for its

top grade steaks, as well as its bevy of dishes which emerge, sizzling hot, from a tandoor oven.

I ask Thomas what his aim was when he commenced at the Puente Romano. He answers wisely: “To remain true to its beachside essence.

It is important to retain one’s identity, yet make a few changes to ensure one is up-to-date.” Health is a priority for Thomas. “We have a strong organic, low carb focus here,” he says, adding, “At lunch time, we offer a varied salad buffet and we keep it truly healthy.

Salads are dressed simply – with olive oil, lemon, salt… by the same token, we recognise some people are in the mood for something more ‘sinful’, such as a tropical salad. All the ingredients are there for them to select and richer sauces are offered on the side.”

Sea Grill offers an à la carte menu and the salad buffet for lunch, as well as à la carte dining in the evening. On weekends and during high season (including Easer), lunch tempts hotel diners and non-guest foodies alike with a full buffet which includes lobster, black tiger king prawns, scampi, gambas and more. It is an

ideal family or business lunch spot and also a romantic dining haven by night. There truly is something for every style of diner, with dishes ranging from ultra-healthy salt-baked fish, to a two kilogram tomahawk steak, dry-aged for 60 days and hailing from famed producers in Galicia. The latter serves four to six, making it an excellent shared dish.

Thomas is currently working on Sea Grill’s Easter menu and he lets me in on some of the highlights. “We will be serving escargot from France, and will be making our own foie gras, marinated in white Port and Moscatel wine.” This year will also see another first for Sea Grill: “We will be serving rice,” announces Thomas, “not just risottos, but rice dishes from across Spain.” The team is also working on a new dessert menu – if you love Thomas’ famous donut dessert (featuring mini donuts dipped into an array of different sauces), fret not – the revered dish will always be available at Sea Grill.

Sea Grill has more on offer apart from the mouth-watering cuisine – live entertainment, fashion show lunches

and more. Seasonal menus will also be offered. “Asparagus season lasts from March until mid-June,” Thomas notes, explaining, “It is vital that the asparagus be harvested at exactly this time of the year, to ensure the plants continue to produce good yields the following year.” Crisp, healthy white asparagus will play a starring role in this special menu, although green varieties will also be served. The menu will feature asparagus with its classic partner, Hollandaise sauce, as well as fitting mains such as tenderloin steak, Iberian ham and King crab, “served hot and gratinated.” Thomas smiles warmly as we part ways, but not before noting that the waves are particularly spectacular today – consistently curious, observant, in movement… this is one chef who will always be aware of how the world around him contributes in infinite ways to his passion. g At the Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa.Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella.

Tel: 952 820 900. www.puenteromano.com

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TASTE Signature Japanese cuisine awarded one Michelin star

KABUKI RAW

CTRA. DE CASARES S/N, 29690 CASARES, MÁLAGA · T. +34 952 93 78 00 WWW.FINCACORTESIN.COM

b THE GOURMET wine

THE SANZ FAMILY

OF RUEDA Promoting the Cycle of Life and Staging a Gentle but Determined Revolution

Rueda, some 90 minutes north west of Madrid, has arguably been the best source of modern, characterful, and value-for-money Spanish white wines since the mid to late 1990s – celebrated by wine lovers the world over. The region consists of some 74 towns and villages primarily in Valladolid Province and its heartland are the three villages of Rueda, La Seca and Serrada .

U

nfortunately, big branded companies from other regions that are either not permitted to make white wine or whose local offerings are not sufficiently exciting, keep piling in.

To put some numbers on this, whereas the region had some 11,000 hectares under vines as recently as 2015, by last year these had mushroomed to 14,000, this year there will be 16,000, and by 2020 there may be as many as 19,000; with the number of wineries now approaching 70 and inexorably rising.

The year 2016, characterised by the extreme summer heat, saw a record harvest of some 110 million kilos and it has been evident over the last few years with legal maximum yields of 10,000 kilos a hectare that, in general, volume achieved with the aid of the most productive clones, major irrigation and the indiscriminate use of pesticides not to mention important subsidies, has become much more important than quality.

The Sanz family has been making wines here for a very long time; and some 12 years ago, following a bust up, its fifth generation – big-hearted winemaker Richard and his elder brother, vineyard expert Marco, who had both worked for their father Antonio since their teens, consolidating the fame of Palacio de Bornos – declared independence and set up their own winery, Menade, on the western fringe of Rueda village, on the edge of a picturesque 50 hectare vineyard of mixed sandy clay soils with a predominance of surface pebbles and an underlying base of 15 to 25 per cent limestone (which imparts notable freshness) on the high, well ventilated alluvial plains of the nearby Duero River at some 800 metres above sea-level.

It was at Palacio de Bornos in the late 1980s that

Richard cut his teeth, within his papá’s umbrella, while making very sound commercial wines – many of which would be sold to the likes of the Lurton brothers, Telmo Rodríguez or Carlos Falcó who would ultimately export them, establishing the region’s renown abroad. He was also already busy with his own projects – sometimes on the basis of local grapes but often vinifying fruit from small parcels of vineyards as far afield and diverse as Almansa, Cebreros, Valdeorras, and León, not to mention Toro and Ribera del Duero where his father owned or had contracts with multifarious growers.

Weened at the winery, Richard finally got to undertake formal oenological studies in Madrid in the mid 1990s and complemented his spell in Bordeaux immediately afterwards with harvests in Argentina, Chile, Hungary and Italy to broaden his perspective.

Menade, though, would represent a statement for the future and so not long after its foundation in 2005, the two brothers took the decision to set themselves well apart from the increasing industrialisation of the DO by being the first properly organic winery in the region. This would not only ensure wines of quality and purity but give them an ethical dimension; and to this end their charming sister Alejandra, who had just graduated in journalism, was living in London and speaks English perfectly, was conscripted to set up their communicational and sales side with a particular eye on exports.

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In the intervening years, therefore, Marco and Richard have employed age old natural practises in the vineyards: planting an extensive herb garden in order to establish insect hotels whose inhabitants are tempted out into convenient sectors of the vineyards when appropriate (spray an infusion of vanilla when you need the ladybirds to come and eat a plague of spiders and once the task is done spray a vinegar infusion to persuade them home); not working the soil clean but growing seasonal grasses in every second avenue of vines not only to encourage insect life but to then dig them out and rebury them in order to produce natural nitrogen; protecting and reviving the vines in cold spells by using infusions of valerian; utilising infusions of nettles to discourage rather than eliminate other sorts of insects; and using whey in order to fight potential outbreaks of powdery mildew.

Having consequently eliminated the need for sulphur and copper treatments in the vineyards in favour of a multitude of other natural remedies – the application of which need constant attention, not only are the wines fermented with their own natural yeasts (a slower, more unpredictable process) but, rather than looking for more vigorous high production clones of Verdejo, all the siblings’ vineyards have been regrafted with Verdeja, a very old strain of Verdejo found in the pre-phylloxera plots whose much smaller grapes are used to make La Misión. Their average yields are some 6,000 kilos a hectare. Less is invariably more.

It by no means ends here, though, for the siblings’ continuing efforts to complement and improve the estate’s ecosystem includes an ongoing mobile tree project...

These are planted on trailers some three

metres high, so that they can be towed out into the very different parcels of the vineyard and their environmental impact can be monitored with a view to deciding how their eventual permanent presence might be most favourable and which species would prove most beneficial and adaptable in order to harmonise rather than restructure the many components of the living landscape.

Currently, this experimentation revolves primarily around cherry, peach and almond trees in addition to different sorts of herbs such as thyme and rosemary; and, further, in some instances, bee panels are affixed in order to study their effects at different times of year – for example to encourage pollination during the flowering season.

Also to be taken into account is the delving into the exact nature of root systems and the depths that these different trees and plants attain, in order to ensure no conflict or competition with the roots of the all important vines – not to mention which soil types and what temperatures best suit the various varieties as well as the diverse reactions of the complex insect world.

It was also recently decided that larger animals would be a good idea.

Accordingly, in addition to the creation of a sizeable pond populated with geese, the estate´s newest residents are a charming long-haired couple from Zamora, who arrived early this year.

Zamo and Rana are a rare breed of donkey in danger of extinction; friendly and sociable, not only do they unfailingly express gentle interest in the many visitors but make everyone feel happy and are so at ease that Rana is already pregnant! The insects like them too and not only are their organic droppings an excellent natural fertiliser but they are

closely and constantly accompanied and observed by a clutch of busy, clucking hens who also keep a noisy and beady eye on absolutely everyone who comes and goes and reluctantly provide the winery with the most fantastic fresh eggs.

To sum up, there is real and passionate vision here, and with a further 210 hectares of organic vineyards primarily in DO Rueda, given that the larger Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla y León that enfolds Rueda has rather more liberal views in particular regarding grape varieties other than the Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc and Viura permitted here, Richard is yet again two steps ahead of everyone else, realising that, with climate change, other varieties could play an important future role here and provide the basis for yet more splendidly made, individualistic offerings.

Meantime the big battalions will simply hold local sway and march on indifferently as they always do, but Menade will fly and continue to address not just how things should be but the possibilities of the future. e

THE WINES MENADE VERDEJO 2016

The winery’s flagship, accounting for perhaps a third of total production, this is deliciously refreshing with peachy and other white fruit elements typical of the variety, intermingled with herbal notes of fennel and laurel as well as a pleasing minerally tang and an impressive finish.

MENADE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2016

Following one of the hottest summers on record, this is one of the winery’s finest and most discreet Sauvignons in some years: light but zippy with a citrusy pineapple core and a plethora of underlying notes including tangerine skin, mint and a touch of coriander.

NOSSO 2016

One of Spain’s very few examples of a properly made natural wine, this pure Verdejo is made employing zero sulphur, is creamy with very refined notes of white flowers fused with alluring elements of caramel and toffee but lacking neither vivacity nor fresh acidic zip. Very different to conventional modern white, as it undergoes malolactic fermentation, it’s unusually rich and flavoursome and not unlike a Champagne with no fizz.

LA MISIÓN 2014

Richard has always been fond of experimenting with barrelfermented whites, and this one is made from old parcels of centenary Verdejo fermented in large 500 litre Allier butts of up to 6 years old. No malolactic

and so very finely textured, it has a polished peachy greengage flavour wrapped up in smoky oak, an agreeable minerality and lingering herbal notes.

DULCE MENADE 2016

Made entirely from Sauvignon Blanc, fermentation is arrested by drastically lowering the temperature resulting in some 70 grammes a litre of natural sugar.

Consequently also low in alcohol, this resembles nothing so much as a pineapple crush – sweet certainly but fresh and in no way cloying. Perfect for visiting maiden aunts with a sense of fun at tea time in the summer.

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. . THE GUIDE listings

the guide

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

*restaurants

under €25

€25 – €40

LISTINGS PET NEWS WHAT’S ON STARS FAMILY FUN

€40 – €60

€60 plus

HACIENDA PATAGONICA

american

Open 10am until midnight every day.

Plaza Antonio Banderas 17/29, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 951 136 333

HARD ROCK CAFÉ

YANX

ORIGEN

Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

C/ Ramón Areces, esq. Marina Banús, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 908 024

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Gregorio Marañón s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 900 968

JACKS Open seven days a week from noon till late. Puerto Marina, Benalmádena.

Tel: 952 563 673

JACKS SMOKEHOUSE Open seven days a week from noon till late. Puerto Banús, Tel: 952 813 625

MR. GOURMET BURGER Open from 6pm ‘til late every evening.

Avda. Luis Braile 20, San Pedro de Alcántara.

Tel: 952 785 257

ROUTE 66

argentinean

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

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

GAUCHOS Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Laguna Village.

CN 340, km 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 897 744

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ de la Acera de la Marina 2, Marbella. Tel: 952 900 968

RUTA 40 Open from 9am to 12 midnight daily. C.C. El Zoco, Sitio de Calahonda. Tel: 951 133 737

belgian EL COTO

Open daily for both lunch and dinner. Ctra. de Ronda (El Madroñal), San Pedro de Alcántara.

Tel: 952 786 688

MYTILUS

Open daily from 2pm to 11pm. Avda. del Prado, first floor, above Conrad’s Restaurant. Tel: 952 818 133

french

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

LE BISTROMAN Open daily for lunch and dinner. El Corte Inglés, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 909 990

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

Tel: 956 791 200

gluten-free

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

CELICIOSO

TO DALLY

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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At the Puente Romano Hotel on the Golden Mile.

Tel: 952 820 900

greek

RED PEPPER

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

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

Banús. Tel: 952 812 090

international 11&11 RESTOBAR

Open for dinner from Monday to Saturday.

C/ Málaga 3, Benahavis. Tel: 952 855 175

ARENAL BEACH BAR & RESTAURANT

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

Open Monday to Thursday from 7pm ‘til late, on Friday and Saturday from 1pm to 4pm and from 7pm ‘til late and on Sunday from 10am ‘til late.

Dársena de Levante, Local 39, Estepona Port.

Tel: 951 703 060

ASADOR CRIOLLO GRILL

OLD TOWN GRILL

ACINIPO

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

Open Monday to Saturday for dinner and Sunday for lunch. C/ San Lázaro, 3, Pza. Victoria, Marbella.

Tel: 952 867 306

Open daily for lunch and dinner except Tuesday.

C.C. El Zoco, Sitio de Calahonda, Mijas Costa.

Tel: 607 680 999

AVANTO

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Urb. Guadalmina Alta, C.C. Guadalmina, Local 3, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 883 003

RESTAURANTE RANCHO

AIDAN’S BAR & GRILL

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

BABOO LOUNGE AND RESTAURANT

CABAÑA NAGÜELES

VOVEM

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Odeon, Locales 9-10, C/ Las Yedras, Nueva Andalucía.

Tel: 952 003 434

Open Thursday to Tuesday for dinner from 5:30pm. Closed Wednesdays. C/ 4/5 Montemayor, Cancelada (opposite the Farmacia). Tel: 952 887 828

Open daily for both lunch and dinner.

Muelle Ribera, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 812 148

grills

ASADOR GUADALMINA

EL CARNICERO Open daily for both lunch and dinner. Pueblo Viejo Cancelada. Between San Pedro & Estepona.

Tel: 952 886 307

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

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

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

EL RANCHO DEL PUERTO

MARBELLA CLUB GRILL

Open daily from 11am until late. Urb. Playa del Arenal, Avda. Cervantes s/n, El Rosario, Marbella.

Tel: 951 507 426

AROMA Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Moncayo 23, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 665 502 Open for events only. C/ Rota 9, Mijas Costa, La Cala de Mijas. Tel: 952 587 539

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

AL ROLO

BAHIA BEACH

Open from 1pm to 4pm and 7pm to 11pm daily.

At Reserva del Higuerón. Avda. del Higuerón 48, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 661 174

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

JAIPUR PALACE

ALBERT & SIMON

Open every night except Tuesday for dinner.

CN340, km 194, next to Camping Cabopino, Marbella. Tel: 951 310 004

Open for lunch and dinner from Monday to Friday and for dinner only on Saturday. Closed Sundays.

Urb. Nueva Alcántara, Edif. Mirador, Bloque 4-B, Marbella. Tel: 952 783 714

Open every day for lunch and dinner. C/ Jacinto Benavente 5, Marbella. Tel: 952 770 656

indian

JAIPUR PURPLE Open daily for dinner. CN 340, km. 166, Estepona.

Tel: 952 888 353

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

ALBERTS Open daily for lunch and dinner. Puerto Cabopino.

Tel: 952 836 886

AMANHAVIS

MUMTAZ

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

Open daily for both lunch and dinner. Casa No.7, P.

AMIGOS

BARBQ ARTESANAL BURGERS BEACH HOUSE Open daily for lunch and dinner. Urb. Coto de los Doles, Carril del Relojero, Elviria, Marbella.

Tel: 952 839 458

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

BIBO Open every day for lunch and dinner except Sunday afternoon and all of Monday. At the Hotel

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Puente Romano. Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 951 607 011

BLACK AND WHITE MARBELLA Open daily for lunch and dinner. Muelle Benabola, under the Torre de Banús, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 815 607

BONO BEACH Open from 1pm to 7pm in the Spring. Urb. Costabella, Playa del Arenal, Avda. de Cervantes s/n, Elviria. Tel: 952 839 236

BRUNINGS

Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Urb. Cerrado del Águila, Camino del Acevedo, s/n, Mijas Costa. Tel: 951 773 521

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

EL GRAN GASTBY

FINCA EL FORJADOR

C’EST LA VIE

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

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

EL JINETE

FONDA RESTAURANTE EL POSTILLÓN

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Paseo Las Palmeras, 15, San Pedro de Alcántara.

Tel: 952 783 394

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

Tel: 956 704 131

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

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

Kitchen continuously open Monday to Friday from 1pm to 11pm. Saturday – dinner only. Closed Sunday. Las Palmeras 19, San Pedro de Alcántara.

Tel: 952 786 156

D.O.M

CAFÉ DE RONDA

DON LEONE

Open for breakfast every day. At the Kempinski Hotel Bahía Resort. CN 340, km. 159, Estepona.

Tel: 952 809 500

Open daily for breakfast and lunch until 7pm.

Avda. Ramón Gómez de la Serna 23, Marbella.

Tel: 952 862 149

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

EL OCEANO BEACH HOTEL RESTAURANT & SPA

D-WINE

CAFETERÍA KE

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

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

Open Monday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. C.C. Azalea, Edif. A, CN340, km 173, Nueva Andalucía.

Tel: 951 339 309

CAMURÍ

EL BOLERO

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Laguna Village, local 24-25, Estepona. Tel: 951 217 871

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

CASANIS

EL CAMPANARIO

Open every day from 6pm except Sundays.

C/ Ancha, 8, Marbella. Tel: 952 900 450

Open every day for lunch. Open for dinner on Friday and Saturday. CN 340, km. 168, Estepona.

Tel: 952 880 126

CELIMA

Open nightly for dinner. At the Hotel Meliá Marbella Banús. C/ Mario Vargas Llosa s/n, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 912 764 747

EL MIRADOR

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

EL RESTAURANTE DEL CASINO

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

Open Tuesday to Sunday from 7:30pm to 11pm.

Ctra. de Mijas, km. 1, A-387, Alhaurín El Grande.

Tel: 951 254 520

GALERIA SAN PEDRO Open from 11am until midnight. Closed Sundays.

Avda Las Palmeras 15, San Pedro Alcántara.

Tel: 952 780 927

GD GOURMET DELI MARBELLA Open 9:30am to 9pm from Monday to Friday and Saturday from 12am to 6pm. Closed Sundays.

Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe 7, Marbella. Tel: 952 774 049

HERMOSA Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner from 7pm.

Closed Monday. Local 1A. Puerto de Cabopino.

Tel: 952 837 483

HILLS CAFE

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

Open every day for breakfast and lunch, except Monday. Dinner by reservation is possible on Friday and Saturday. Tel: 952 856 171

FABIOLA

HORIZON STEAKHOUSE Open daily for lunch and dinner. Avda. Antonio Machado s/n, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 560 094

Open every day for lunch. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Hotel Hermitage, Ctra. de Casares, Casares.

Tel: 952 895 639.

EL CASTILLO Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner. C/ El Pilar s/n, Benahavís. Tel: 681 294 442

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

CERRADO DEL ÁGUILA

EL CORZO

FINCA BESAYA

HOTEL MARBELLA CLUB BUFFET

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von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 822 211

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

JOFFREY’S Open everyday evening for dinner from 5.30 pm.

CN340 km 200, La Cala de Mijas Costa. Tel: 674 636 321

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

KAVA Open nightly for dinner. Plaza de Los Naranjos, Old Town, Marbella. Tel: 952 824 108

Open for breakfast and lunch until 8pm. Closed Sunday. Flamingo Golf Club, Cancelada, Benahavís.

Tel: 951 318 815

LA FAMIEKE Open Monday to Saturday for dinner from 7pm.

Closed Sunday. Calle Cruz, Plaza Puente Ronda, Marbella. Tel: 952 775 412

LA GRANADA DIVINO Open daily for lunch and dinner except Tuesday.

C/ de las Piedras, Gaucín. Tel: 951 709 075

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

LAGUNA BEACH RESTAURANTE

LA TERRAZA

C.C. Laguna Village, local R1, Estepona.

Tel: 952 800 873

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

LA BIZNAGA

LA TERRAZA

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

Tel: 951 275 750

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

LA TIENDA

Open week days for dinner at 7:30pm and weekends for lunch and dinner, closed Tuesdays.

Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 136. Playa Guadiaro, Torreguadiaro, Cádiz. Tel: 956 615 998

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Jose Echegaray, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 113 618

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

Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

C/ Calderón de la Barca, s/n. Tel: 952 929 578

LIMA

MARE NOSTRUM

Open Tuesday to Sunday from 6pm to 12am and for lunch on Sunday from 12pm to 5pm.

Plaza Practicante Manuel Cantos 2, Marbella.

Tel: 952 866 630

Open daily for breakfast and dinner. At the Hotel Amàre Marbella. Avda. Severo Ochoa 8, Marbella.

Tel: 800 843 493

LES CUBES

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Urb. Oasis Club, CN340, km. 183, Marbella. Tel: 952 868 396

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

LOS ARCOS

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

LOS BANDIDOS

Open Monday to Wednesday 10am – 7.30pm and Thursday to Sunday 10am –10pm. Urb. Coto Chico 4D, Marbella. Tel: 952 837 862

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

Open every day for lunch and for dinner from Monday to Saturday. Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona CN 340, km 159, Playa El Padrón, Estepona. Tel: 952 809 500

LA VERANDA

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Urb. Los Naranjos de Marbella. Nueva Andalucía.

Tel: 952 816 105

LA CANTINA DEL GOLF

LA VERANDAH

Open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner.

Hotel Villa Padierna, Urb: Flamingos s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 889 150

MC CAFÉ

Open daily from 8am-6pm. At La Reserva Club.

Avda. de la Reserva s/n, Sotogrande.

Tel: 956 785 252

LA PLAGE DE CASANIS

LA CABAÑA DEL MAR

MAGNA CAFÉ

L’OLIVE

Open nightly for dinner except Mondays. C/ La Tienda 1, Urb. La Virginia, Marbella. Tel: 626 273 882

Open for dinner Thursday to Monday from 7pm.

Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona. CN 340, km. 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 809 500

MACAOO BEACH

LA VERANDA LOBBY BAR

Open every night for dinner. Hotel Meliá La Quinta, Urb. La Quinta Golf s/n, Marbella.

Tel: 952 762 000

LA BRISA

Sunday from 10am. Frontline of Estepona Puerto Deportivo. Tel: 952 636 430

LOS NARANJOS RESTAURANT

M10 Open Monday to Saturday from 5pm and

MIRAFLORES GOLF RESTAURANT MOJO Open from Monday to Saturday for dinner from 8pm ‘til late. Monte Paraíso Golf, Marbella.

Tel: 951 217 272

MOMO MARBELLA Open Monday to Saturday from 6pm to midnight.

C/ Tetuán 7, Marbella. Tel: 952 771 560

NELI Gs Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. C.C. Benavista, Estepona.

Tel: 952 928 576

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NŌMŌ BRASSERIE

Sunday. C/ Granada, 44, Málaga. Tel: 952 227 486

Open for lunch and dinner every day except for Sunday. Bulevar de San Pedro, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 951 702 168

SAVOR

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

OCHO Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.

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

ORANGE BEACH CLUB

Open 1pm to 3:30pm and 7:30pm to 11:30pm daily except Sunday evenings and Monday. Avda.

Andalucía 6, Local 4, San Pedro de Alcántara.

Tel: 951 531 777

TANINO

SEA GRILL

Open Monday to Sunday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nueva Andalucía next to the Casino. Tel: 952 906 205. Marina Banús, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 817 977. C.C. Laguna Village, Estepona. Tel: 951 901 050. C.C. Parque Miramar, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 663 937. Puerto Marina, Benalmádena. Tel: 951 915 069

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

Tel: 952 820 900

SHANTI-SOM – AMRITA

Open daily from 10am to 8pm. At the Don Carlos Leisure Resort & Spa. Avda. Zurita s/n, Marbella.

Tel: 952 768 800

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

PASSION CAFÉ

SKINA

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

Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday to Friday and Saturday for dinner only. Closed Sunday and Monday. C/ Aduar 12, Old Town, Marbella.

Tel: 952 765 277

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

PURO BEACH Open daily 11am-8pm, in May, 11am-9pm in June, 11am-10pm in July and August, 11am-9pm in September and 11am-7pm in October. At Laguna Village, Playa El Padrón, Estepona. Tel: 952 800 015

RESTAURANTE ROYAL Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. At the Hotel Torrequebrada, Benalmádena Costa.

Tel: 952 441 414

Open nightly for dinner. Urb. Marbellamar 93, Marbella. Tel: 952 770 760 Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. CN 340, km 168, Benamara, Estepona. Tel: 952 883 259

TERRA SANA

THE ENGLISH GARDEN Open Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm to 11pm and Sunday from 1.30 to 9.30pm. Closed Mondays.

Avda. España 16, Urb. Buenavista, Sitio de Calahonda. Tel: 952 930 252

TIKITANO Open every day for lunch and dinner. Urb. Guadalmansa, CN340, km 164, Estepona.

Tel: 952 798 449

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

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

UNI Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner. At the Puente Romano Hotel on the Golden Mile. Tel: 952 820 900

VENTA GARCÍA Open daily for lunch and dinner every day except Monday. Ctra. de Casares km 7, Casares.

Tel: 952 894 191

THE LAUNDERETTE

VILLA PADIERNA CLUB DE MAR

Open daily 10am to midnight. Avda. Julio Iglesias s/n, Puerto Banús. Tel: 951 319 292

Open daily for lunch from 1pm to 6pm.

CN 340, km 166, Marbella. Tel: 647 791 515

SOLLO

THE MEETING ROOM

ZEST

Open nightly for dinner except Sundays. Urb. Reserva del Higuerón, Málaga. Tel: 951 385 622

Open 9am to 11pm every day except Sundays.

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

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

THE ORANGE TREE

ZOZOI

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

Open Wednesday to Monday for dinner. Closed Tuesday. Plaza Altamirano 1, Marbella.

Tel: 952 858 868

SUAVE Open every day for lunch and dinner. Paseo Maritimo Rey de España 93, Fuengirola.

Tel: 952 866 627

SUITE

ROJO

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

Open every day for lunch and dinner except

SUTTON

THE PLAYWRIGHT Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Manzana, Locales 8-11, Pueblo Los Arcos, Elviria.

Tel: 952 830 868

italian AL DENTE

Open every day for dinner. Closed on Mondays.

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DA PAOLO

LOMBARDO’S

Tel: 952 771 798

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

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

VALPARAÍSO

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

Tel: 952 813 464

FRASCATI

MADE IN SARDINIA

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

Open every night for dinner. C.C. Cristamar, Avda.

Julio Iglesias, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 906 608

ARAGONA

GOLD RESTAURANT

METRO

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

Open every day for dinner. Avda. del Mar 3, Marbella. Tel: 951 134 322

Open every day from 10am to 12 am. Complejo Benabola 13, Beach Side, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 929 055

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

mediterranean

IL TARTUFO

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

Urb. Jardines del Puerto, local 12, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 906 181

AMORE E FANTASÍA

ARETUSA Open daily for dinner. Front line P. Banús.

Tel: 952 812 898

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

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

CIBO Open daily for lunch and dinner. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe 11, Marbella. Tel: 952 900 380

DA BRUNO Open all day. Da Bruno Cabopino: CN-340 Km. 194,7. Tel: 952 831 918. Da Bruno a Casa: Marbella Mar, Local 1, Marbella. Tel: 952 857 521 – closed on Sunday. Da Bruno A San Pedro: Avda. del Mar, local 1E, San Pedro. Tel: 952 786 860 – closed on Monday. Da Bruno Sul Mare: Edif. Skol, Paseo Marítimo, Marbella. Tel: 952 903 318/19. Da Bruno Mijas Costa: Ctra. de Mijas, km. 3.6, Mijas. Tel: 952 460 724

Open from Monday to Saturday for dinner from 6:30pm. C/ Tetuán 9, Marbella. Tel: 951 087 323

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

Tel: 952 885 765

LA PAPPARDELLA DI ESTEPONA Open every day for lunch and dinner from 1pm to midnight. Puerto Deportivo de Estepona.

Tel: 952 802 144

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

LA TRATTORIA Open daily from 7pm to 11pm.

At the Don Carlos Leisure Resort & Spa. Avenida Zurita, s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 768 800

LEONARDO DA VINCI Open every night for dinner. Urb. Doña Lola, Local 21-22, Calahonda, Mijas Costa.

Tel: 952 934 667

NUNOS

Open nightly for dinner. Ctra. Mijas – Fuengirola, km. 14, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 485 996

VILLA TIBERIO

RESTAURANTE BAR CARMEN

O MAMMA MIA

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. C.C. Laguna Village, CN 340, km 159, Estepona.

Tel: 952 806 739

Open every day except Sunday for lunch and dinner. At El Corte Inglés Food Hall, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 909 990

ASIA FOOD

PIZZERIA PICASSO Open daily from 12 noon. Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 813 669

PORTOFINO LAGUNA VILLAGE Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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

RISTORANTE SAN MARTINO

oriental

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

ASIAN FUSION BING Open 12.30pm-4.30pm and 6.30pm to 12am daily.

Fuengirola, Paseo Marítimo, L-42C. Tel: 952 470 218

ASIATICO ZEN

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

Open every day for lunch and dinner except Tuesday lunch. C/ Lirios s/n, Nueva Andalucía.

Tel: 952 817 691

ROSMARINO DELLA PIAZZA

BAMBOO

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

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Ctra. Istan km 1, Marbella. Tel: 952 906 674

SERAFINA

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

Open from Monday to Saturday for dinner at the Puente Romano Hotel on the Golden Mile.

DRAGÓN DE ORO

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Tel: 952 890 956

GENJI SUSHI BAR Open from 1:30pm-4pm and 8pm to 11pm. C/ Ramón Gomez de la Serna, 4, Edificio Balmoral.

Marbella. Tel: 951 530 955

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

KABUKI RAW Open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner. At Finca Cortesín Hotel. Ctra. Casares s/n, Casares.

Tel: 952 937 800

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

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

MAKITAKE Open daily for lunch and dinner.

C/ Ribera s/n (above disco Seven), Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 811 592

MECA Open every day for lunch and dinner. C.C. Pino Golf, Don Carlos, Local 1, Elviria, Marbella.

Tel: 952 830 365 / 658 646 829

OMBÚ

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

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

11.30pm. Avda. del Prado s/n, Nueva Andalucía.

Tel: 952 811 285

THAI GALLERY

SKANDIES

SAKURA

At Plaza Village at the Hotel Puente Romano.

Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella.

Tel: 952 818 392

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

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Avda.

Jardines del Puerto, L.5, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 817 536

SANTOKU

THAI STYLE

Open daily for dinner. At the Villa Padierna Palace Hotel. CN 340, km 166, Marbella. Tel: 952 889 180

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

SAPPORO

THAPA THAI

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Costa del Sol, upper level. CN 340, km. 166 (Estepona).

Tel: 952 888 710

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

SUKHO THAI

TOP THAI

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Centro Plaza, 64, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 951 319 778. Also at C.C. Laguna Village, Local 11-13, Estepona.

Tel: 952 806 661

SUSHI DES ARTISTES (HIDEYOSHI WAGYU) Open every day for lunch and dinner. CN 340, km 178.5, Marbella. Easy parking. Tel: 952 857 403

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

TAI PAN Open seven days a week for dinner. H. Puente Romano, Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 177, Marbella.

Tel: 952 777 893

Open from 7pm to 11pm, Wednesday to Sunday.

At the Don Carlos Leisure Resort & Spa. Avenida Zurita, s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 768 800

TA-KUMI

OSAKA

TEPPANYAKI SAMURAI

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

TSE YANG DIMSUM CLUB

seafood

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

RESTAURANTE LA MARINA Open every day from 1-4.30pm and 8pm until midnight. Paseo Marítimo s/n, La Atunara, La Linea de la Concepción, Campo de Gibraltar.

Tel: 956 171 531

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner except Sundays.

At El Corte Inglés Food Hall, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 909 990

MARISQUERÍA LA PESQUERA

WAGAMAMA

RESTAURANTE EL BOTE

Open daily for lunch and dinner. 19 Ocean Village promenade, Gibraltar. Tel: +350 200 44182

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Paseo Marítimo Rey de España, Fuengirola.

Tel: 952 660 084

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

scandinavian ALOHA RESTAURANT

Open every evening for dinner from 6pm to

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

PALAPA Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Laguna Village, CN 340, km 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 808 165

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

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listings THE GUIDE .

spanish BAHÍA

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

CASA DE LA ERA Open only for lunch – call for times. Ctra. de Ojén, km 0.5, Marbella.

Tel: 952 770 625

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

HACIENDA Open from 1-4.30pm and 7.30 -11pm. Closed on Sunday afternoons and Mondays. Urb. La Alcaidesa, La Linea de la Concepción.

Tel: 956 582 700

LA COCINA Open daily for lunch and dinner except Wednesday. CN 340, km. 151, Arena Beach. Tel: 952 796 320

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

LA MORAGA BISTRÓ Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Ramón Areces s/n, in front of El Corte Inglés, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 817 448

LA RED Open daily from 9.30am to 6pm. Playa La Fontanilla, Marbella.

Tel: 952 821 450

LA TABERNA DEL ALABARDERO Open everyday for lunch and dinner except Monday. San Pedro Playa, Urb. Castiglone. Tel: 952 785 138. Also at Ctra. de Ronda, km.

167, San Pedro. Tel: 952 786 265

MESÓN EL ADOBE Open daily for lunch and dinner except Tuesdays. Avda. La Fontanilla,

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Edif. Balmoral, Bajo 3, Marbella. Tel. 600 003 144

18 holes, Par 70. Tel: 952 850 282

MI TABERNA

CERRADO DEL ÁGUILA

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

CN340, km 178, Marbella. Tel: 952 827 880

*gyms & sports clubs

BEL AIR TENNIS AND PADDEL CLUB

ALHAMAR GYM

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

18 holes, Par 71. Tel: 951 703 355

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

CLUB DEL SOL

CLUB DE GOLF LA CAÑADA

ATENAS

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

PAELLAS Y MÁS

18 holes, Par 71. Tel: 956 794 100

Barquilla 1. Marbella. Tel: 952 776 240

CLUB DE TENIS DON CARLOS

Open daily from 10:30am to 11pm. C/ Jacinto Benavente 33, Marbella. Tel: 952 822 511

EL PARAISO CLUB DE GOLF

AZTEC COUNTRY CLUB

18 holes, Par 71. Tel: 952 883 835

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

Hotel Don Carlos, Avda. Zurita, CN340, km 192.

Marbella. Tel: 952 768 800

VILA DO GROVE

ESTEPONA GOLF

CENTRO DEPORTIVO EL FUERTE

CLUB INTERNACIONAL DE TENNIS

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

Tel: 952 813 415

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 937 605. www.esteponagolf.com

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

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

CENTRO DE YOGA Y SALUD INTEGRAL

CLUB MADROÑAL

FINCA CORTESÍN GOLF CLUB

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

Benahavís. Tel: 617 647 223

vegetarian

18 holes, Par 72, Tel: 952 937 883. www.golfcortesin.es

CERRADO DEL ÁGUILA

CLUB NUEVA ALCÁNTARA

Mijas Costa, Málaga. Tel: 951 773 523

San Pedro Alcántara. Tel: 952 788 315

LOVING HUT

FLAMINGOS GOLF CLUB

CLUB DEL SOL

HOFSAESS TENNIS ACADEMY

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

18 holes, Par. Tel: 952 889 157. www.flamingos-golf.com

Tennis /paddle classes. Calahonda.

Tel: 952 939 595

Monte Elviria (next to German School).

Tel: 952 835 812

GOLF RÍO REAL

DY GYM MARBELLA

LEW HOADS TENNIS CLUB

*cinemas & theatres

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 756 733

Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 817 074

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

GOLF TORREQUEBRADA

DYNAMIC TRAINING CENTRE

MANOLO SANTANA RACQUETS CLUB

AUDITORIO MUNICIPAL MIJAS

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 442 742

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

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

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

GUADALMINA GOLF

FITNESS CENTRE NEW STYLE

MARBELLA HILL TENNIS CLUB

AUDITORIO MUNICIPAL TORREMOLINOS

36 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 883 375

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

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

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

LA CALA GOLF RESORT

FUERTE GYM

MARBELLA PLAYA TENIS

AUDITORIO PARQUE DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN

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

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

Marbella. Tel: 952 825 035

54 holes, Pars 71, 72 and 73.

Tel: 952 669 033. www.lacala.com

GIMNASIO ESTADIO

MIRAFLORES TENNIS CLUB

CENTRO CULTURAL EL INGENIO

LA DAMA DE NOCHE

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

9 holes, Par 70. Tel: 952 818 150

Trav. Huerta de los Cristales, Marbella.

Tel: 952 828 217

Urb. Miraflores, Km 199. Calahonda.

Tel: 952 932 006

CINESA LA CAÑADA

LA DUQUESA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

HAPPY DIVER’S CLUB

PUENTE ROMANO TENNIS CLUB

La Cañada. Marbella. Tel: 902 333 231

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 890 425

Atalaya Park Hotel, Marbella. Tel: 609 571 920

Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

CINES TEATRO GOYA

LA QUINTA GOLF

HOTEL PUENTE ROMANO

ROYAL TENNIS CLUB MARBELLA

Avda. Julio Iglesias, Puerto Banús. Tel: 951 196 665

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

El Rosario, Marbella. Tel: 952 837 651

CINESUR

27 holes, Par 72.Tel: 952 762 390. www.laquintagolf.com

KRAV MAGA SELF-DEFENCE CENTRE

SPORT CLUB RESERVA DEL HIGUERÓN

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

LA RESERVA SOTOGRANDE

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

MULTICINES ALFIL

18 holes. Tel: 956 695 209

MANOLO SANTANA RACQUETS CLUB

Avda. del Higueron, Benalmádena.

Tel: 952 565 761

Avda. Camilo José Cela, s/n. Fuengirola.

Tel: 952 800 056

LA ZAGALETA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

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

18 holes. Members only. Tel: 952 695 209

MARBELLA GUN & COUNTRY CLUB

MULTICINES MEDITERRÁNEO

LAURO GOLF 18 HOLES

Monda. Tel: 952 112 161

Mijas. Tel: 952 663 738

Alhaurín de la Torre. Tel: 952 412 767

MARBELLA SPORT

PALACIO DE LA PAZ

LOS ARQUEROS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

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

Recinto Ferial. Fuengirola. Tel: 952 589 349

18 holes, Par 71. Tel: 952 784 600

MULTI SPORT

TEATRO ALAMEDA

LOS NARANJOS GOLF CLUB

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

Calle Córdoba 9, Málaga. Tel: 952 213 412

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 815 206

NEW CONCEPT TRAINING

TEATRO CERVANTES

MARBELLA CLUB GOLF RESORT

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

18 holes, Par 73. Tel: 952 113 239

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

TEATRO CIUDAD DE MARBELLA

MARBELLA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

02 CENTRO WELLNESS

Plaza Ramón Martínez, Marbella. Tel: 952 903 159

18 holes. Tel: 952 830 500

Plaza del Mar. Marbella. Tel: 952 900 420

TEATRO SALON VARIETES

MIJAS GOLF

P-E SPORTS CLUB

Emancipación 30. Fuengirola. Tel: 952 474 542

36 holes, Par 70. Tel: 952 476 843

VERACRUZ CINES

MIRAFLORES GOLF

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

Veracruz. Estepona. Tel: 952 800 056

18 holes, Par 71. Tel: 952 931 960

QI SPORT

YELMO CINEPLEX

MONTE MAYOR GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

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

Plaza Mayor. Tel: 902 220 922

18 holes. Tel: 952 113 088

SATURNIA REGNA

*golf guide

PARADOR MÁLAGA DEL GOLF

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

18 holes. Tel: 952 381 255

SEVEN STARS SCHOOL

ALCAIDESA LINKS

REAL CLUB DE GOLF LAS BRISAS

18 holes, Par 71. Tel: 956 791 0400. www.alcaidesa.com

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 810 875

Tai Chi & yoga. Pasaje Estrecho, Estepona.

Tel: 952 923 055

REAL CLUB DE GOLF SOTOGRANDE

SPORT CLUB RESERVA DEL HIGUERÓN

ALHAURÍN GOLF

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 956 785 014

Avda. del Higueron, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 565 761

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 595 970. www.alhauringolf.com

SAN ROQUE CLUB

SPORTCLUB ROUTE 66

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 956 613 030

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

ALMENARA GOLF

SANTA CLARA GOLF

SPORTING CLUB ATALAYA PARK HOTEL

27 holes, Par 72. Tel: 956 582 027. www.sotogrande.com

18 holes. Tel: 952 850 111

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

SANTA MARIA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

TICKET-TO-RIDE

ALOHA GOLF CLUB

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 831 036

Cristamar, Pto. Banús. Tel: 952 905 082

18 holes. Tel: 952 907 085. www.clubdegolfaloha.com

SOTOGRANDE CLUB DE GOLF

VITALITY STUDIO

18 holes. Tel: 956 785 012

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

ATALAYA GOLF

VALDERRAMA

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 882 812. www.atalaya-golf.com

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 956 791 200. www.valderrama.com

*tennis clubs

CABOPINO GOLF

AZTEC COUNTRY CLUB

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

*tourist offices Benahavís Tel: 952 855 500 Benalmádena Tel: 952 442 494 Estepona Tel: 952 802 002 Fuengirola Tel: 952 467 625 Gibraltar Tourist Board Tel: 956 774 950 Marbella Tel: 952 822 818 Málaga Tel: 952 213 445 / 952 216 061 Mijas Tel: 952 485 900 Ronda Tel: 952 871 272 San Pedro Tel: 952 785 252 Tarifa Tel: 956 680 993 Torremolinos Tel: 952 381 578

*train

Customer assistance T: 952 128 267 General Info T: 902 240 202 Reservations T: 902 240 202 Ave T: 952 128 079

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pets THE GUIDE .

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

CHILDREN GRIEVING THE NEW GAME LOSS OF A PET CAN BENEFIT CLEVERPET: CONSOLE FOR YOUR POOCH FROM A NEW PET

Plenty of research has been carried out showing the important role played by pets in children’s lives, yet it is not often that scientists look into how grief from the loss of a pet affects kids. An interesting study by an assistant professor in Canisius College in New York, reveals that a pet’s loss can be devastating for a child. Despite the great sense of loss felt, children often have an innate sense of ‘existential fairness’ – that is, they cope better when losing a pet who has lived a long time, than one who is very young. Children can be helped throughout the difficult process of grieving through parental support, discussion and family rituals. Some children also benefit from transferring their love to a new pet (others felt that they needed time before bringing a new pet home). It is vital that parents be in tune to their kids’ needs, so that kids understand that death is an inevitable part of life.

DOGS CAN HELP STUDENTS

COMBAT HOMESICKNESS What to do when you have just left home to attend university abroad, and you find that you are overwhelmed by feelings of homesickness? The answer, if researchers at the University of British Columbia Okanagan are to be believed, is easy: attend animalassisted therapy! The study found that the latter can help children feel less lonely and can be useful to lower university drop-out rates! Lead author, noted, “Many first-year university students face the challenge of integrating into their new campus community,” says Professor John Binfet, one of the study authors. “Homesick students are three times more likely than those who manage their homesickness to disengage and drop out of university.” Animal Assisted Therapy aims to improve cognitive, social and emotional functioning, through fun activities such as therapeutic horse riding and dog grooming.

If you are worried about leaving your dog at home while you are out all day, an exciting new pet game console called Cleverpet may be just what your pet craves.

The Console is filled with food and fitted with touchpads, which dogs have to touch to obtain their food reward. The dogs have to touch the pads that light up, learning longer and more complex sequences as time goes on. If you’re concerned about your dog getting too much food, don’t be – you can programme the device to stop doling out treats at certain times of the day. i www.clever.pet

KIDS CAN MISTAKENLY

INGEST PET MEDICATION Our pets normally have to take a variety of medications to stay in tip-top condition – everything from deworming tablets to supplements, heart medications and diuretics. However, recent research shows that some of this medicine is ending up where it shouldn’t – in the hands and mouths of our kids and teenagers. Most younger children who accidentally ingest pet meds are aged five or younger; teens, meanwhile, sometimes take the wrong medicine by mistake. To stop accidents of this type from happening, take the following steps: Z Only bring your pet medication out when it is time for the next dose.

Z Store medication out of reach of children.

Z Store pet medication far from where human medication is stored.

Z Keep medicines in their original containers, to lessen the likelihood of confusion.

Z If you are using liquid medication (such as flea repellent), make sure your pet is completely dry before allowing children to play with them. g Save the poison hotline number on the fridge or another easily visibly place in the home. In Spain, the number to call any time of the day, throughout the year, is Tel: 91 562 0420.

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what’s on...

. THE GUIDE what’s on

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Sandra Winkelmann and Dana Nowak. www.elcampanarioresort.com

Ricardo Alario, artist and art teacher, presents Espectro Visible: a contemporary exhibition featuring a variety of techniques. At Taller Ricardo Alario, 10am to 1pm and 5pm to 8pm Tuesday to Thursday. Tel: 952 859 671. www.ricardoalario.com

Until June 30 ART – MÁLAGA

Until May 5 ART – MARBELLA

Until May 11 ART – BENALMÁDENA

DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Reserva del Higuerón will be hosting a solo show by Victoriano, featuring stunning modern art that symbolises man’s simultaneous materialism and spiritualism. The exhibition was organised by Art Moves. www.reservadelhigueronresort.com

Until June 2 ART – MARBELLA

The Clínica Buchinger Wilhelmi presents Somos de Colores, an exhibition of colourful modernist paintings by Toto Zumpano, an Argentinean painter and architect who has exhibited his work in Spain, Brazil and Switzerland. www.buchinger-wilhelmi.es

Until June 15 ART – ESTEPONA

El Campanario Golf & Country House will be hosting a joint exhibition by artists

One of Spain’s most acclaimed photographers, Isabel Coixet, is currently exhibiting her photographs of well-known faces at La Térmica.

Available for viewing Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 9pm. www.latermicamalaga.com

Until September 17 ART – MÁLAGA

The Museo Picasso Málaga presents the exhibition Bacon, Freud and The School of London, featuring works by famous artists from The School of London – a small group of painters in the 1950s who shared the same artistic concerns and were connected by ties of friendship and mutual admiration, who explored the appearance and vulnerability of the human body, with the city of London as their surrounding context. www.museopicassomalaga.org

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

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

AMIGOS DE LA CULTURA – COSTA DEL SOL

The members of this cultural group meet at different times and places for lunches, lectures, concerts, ballet, theatre, opera, etc. Further information, Tel: 669 445 809.

LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE – MARBELLA

Every Wednesday ART – MÁLAGA

The Museo Picasso de Málaga offers free guided tours in English (included in the entry price), from 11:30am to 2pm. Tickets cost €8 for adults. Children enter for free. www. museopicassomalaga.org

Integral Psychotherapist Gabriella Kortsch helps you with everything from relationship breakdowns to depression, poor communication with loved ones or financial stress, at her weekly group meetings, which start at 7:30pm.

For information on locations, info@advancedpersonaltherapy.com

FLAMENCO – MIJAS

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday JIVE – MIRAFLORES, ESTEPONA AND LA DUQUESA

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

Learn to dance with Colin and the team from Jive Spain at Miraflores Restaurant on Tuesday, El Campanario on Wednesday and El Goleto at Duquesa on Friday. For precise times, colin@jivespain.com

Every Tuesday and Friday PAINTING CLASSES – MARBELLA

Talented artist Ricardo Alario will be teaching budding painters the secrets of his craft from 10am to 1pm (first group) and 5pm to 8pm (second group). For further information, Tel: 952 859 671. www.ricardoalario.com

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

Every first Wednesday of the month CULTURE AND COCKTAIL – MARBELLA

Every Thursday NETWORKING – MARBELLA

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

Until May 13

ART – MARBELLA Catalunyan artist, Rita Martorell, presents an exhibition of her portraits of famous personalities, at the Casa Club of La Zagaleta. The latter once belonged to Adnan Khashoggi and is one of many luxurious homes in this exclusive urbanization. www.lazagaleta.com

Every Tuesday and Friday

PILATES AND YOGA – BENAHAVÍS The Benahavís Country Club is ready and set to help you achieve a state of greater health, fitness and wellness, with yoga classes every Tuesday at 10am and Pilates on Fridays at 10am. Non-members are welcome and the classes cost just €10. Bookings are advised to guarantee your place. Tel: 952 856 171. wellness@benahavishills.com

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Every last Friday of the Month COFFEE MORNING – ESTEPONA

ADANA animal rescue charity coffee morning at Plaza Manilva (outside Longman’s Bookshop) 11am – 2pm.

Kennels open 10am – 5pm Monday – Friday and 10am – 2pm Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Further information, Tel: 952 800 975. www.adana.es

BUSINESS LUNCH – MARBELLA

Marbella Business Institute holds an invitation-only lunch club for local and visiting business people, active and retired. To apply, visit www.marbellabusinessinternational.org

Every Saturday MARKET – PUERTO BANÚS

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

OC SATURDAYS – PUERTO BANÚS Enjoy fantastic music and dancers at Ocean Club Marbella. For further information, www.oceanclub.es

Friday May 5 ART – MARBELLA

The Kasser Rassu Gallery on Marbella’s Golden Mile presents a pop-up art show

by Mercedes López Charro. From 7pm to 10pm. www.kasserrassu.com

Saturday May 6 FILM ON MAHLER – MARBELLA

Música Con Encanto will be hosting a film viewing of Mahler Auf Der Couch, a film set in a time when a letter could make the world explode into a million pieces. Mahler opens a letter by mistake.

The content, full of passionate love, is addressed to his wife Alma Schindler.

Only one person in Vienna can help Mahler: Sigmund Freud. At Iglesia de la Virginia at 7pm.

Sunday May 7 CLIMBING – MÁLAGA

Beclimb Málaga presents the first Beclimb ‘Escalada de Dificultad’ Open, which will take place from 9am to 9pm, at the centre’s climbing wall. The event will bring together over 100 athletes, including Andalusian child and youth champions. www.beclimb.com

Every First Sunday of the month OPEN DAY – MIJAS

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

Further information, Tel: 952 486 084.

Tuesday May 9 to Saturday May 13 TENNIS – ESTEPONA

Club de Tenis Bel-Air will be hosting the 7th edition of the Bel-Air ITF Costa del Sol tennis tournament, featuring singles, doubles and mixed doubles competitions, plus dinner and raffle for all players on the last day. For further information, www.belairtennis.com

Friday May 12 to Sunday May 14 CHICAGO – MÁLAGA

The Teatro Cervantes presents Chicago – the famous musical which continues to delight worldwide. The show starts at 8:30pm on Friday and Saturday, and 7pm on Sunday. www.teatrocervantes.com

Saturday May 13 PIANO – MARBELLA

Les Roches Marbella will be hosting an event organised by Música Con Encanto: a piano recital by seasoned pianist, Nazareno Ferruggio, who made his debut in no less than the Carnegie Hall, New York. He will be playing music by Chopin, Schumann, Liszt and more. At 8pm. For information and reservations, Tel: 689 000 944. www.musicaconencanto.org

COMEDY – FUENGIROLA

Salón Varietés presents Stand-Up Comedy Night, featuring international comedians Geoff Boyz, Dave Thompson and Dickie Richards. At 8pm. www.salonvarietestheatre.com

Friday May 19 to Tuesday May 23 THE HOBBIT – FUENGIROLA

Salón Varietés presents The Hobbit, the world premiere of J.R.R. Tolkien’s timeless imaginative journey. At 8pm nightly except Sunday, when the show starts at 7pm. www.salonvarietestheatre.com

Saturday May 20 FREE MUSEUM NIGHT – MÁLAGA

From 7pm to 1am, step into the Museo Picasso de Málaga for free. Featuring the exhibition Pablo Picasso, New Collection. www.museopicassomalaga.org

Friday May 26 to Sunday May 28 and Friday June 2 to Sunday June 4 ART – GAUCÍN

Art Gaucín is an annual art event in which artists living in Gaucín open their studios to art lovers and potential buyers. This year, the event features Belén Montero, Sara Webb, Sue Callister, and many more talented artists. From 11am to 7pm. For addresses and telephone numbers of each artist, www.artgaucin.com

Sunday May 28 CHAMPAGNE PARTY – PUERTO BANÚS

Ocean Club Marbella will be hosting a Champagne party to remember. For further information, www.oceanclub.es

Sunday May 28

DOG FUNDRAISING WALK – MARBELLA Saturday May 6

INDIA MARTÍNEZ – MÁLAGA India Martínez is one of Spain’s best loved voices. She will be singing hits old and new at the Málaga Auditorium Club at 9pm. For tickets, www.viagogo.com

If you agree that life would be infinitely less meaningful without your beloved four-pawed friends, then one event not to be missed is Perrotón Marbella: a fundraising walk held to promote pet adoption and responsible pet ownership. The event, whose ambassador is no less than the Baroness Carmen Thyssen, will commence at the Terrazas del Puerto Deportivo de Marbella, at 9am and will cover a distance of three kilometres. To register, www.perroton.org

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www.russellgrant.com

. THE GUIDE stars

Russell Grant’s Monthly Horoscope May 2017

TAURUS (April 21st - May 21st) Surrounding yourself with creative people is a good idea during the opening days of the month. Use your time to develop an intriguing idea that’s been tugging at your subconscious for the past few weeks. If you play your cards right, you’ll be able to travel overseas. Experiencing a different culture will inspire you. On the 10th, the Full Moon will assist you in wrapping up a partnership matter. Signing papers, submitting work or fulfilling the last part of an obligation will be liberating. Don’t be surprised if you’re offered a very different role once this arrangement is finished. Towards the middle of the month, it will be much easier to get an audience for your ideas.

Take this opportunity to go on a job interview, ask for a date or submit your work for review. The New Moon on the 25th attracts an exciting moneymaking opportunity. Be totally forthcoming with any prospective employer.

Towards the middle of the month, it will be much easier to get an audience for your ideas. Take this opportunity to go on a job interview, ask for a date or submit your work for review 192 / MAY 2017 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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ARIES [21 MAR - 20 APR]

You should consider putting a stalled plan back into motion at the beginning of May. Promoting an idea or pressing an agenda will result in a raise or a better paid position. The Full Moon on the 10th draws you close to someone with a powerful personality. Letting down your guard with this charismatic individual will be empowering. Two heads are definitely better than one at this exciting time. Towards the middle of the month, you’ll get a chance to sign a contract or enter into a business agreement. If you’re not satisfied with the initial terms, lobby for better ones. Your powers of persuasion are strong. On the 25th, you’ll receive good news about a romantic or business prospect. You’ll have to fight to get more time away from work. Although your employer’s need for you is pleasing in its own way, it’s better to pour most of your energy into personal relationships as June draws near.

GEMINI [22 MAY - 21 JUN]

The first days of the month will find you working behind the scenes for an extremely creative person. Put your assumptions aside for the sake of absorbing new information. Look, listen and learn. The Full Moon on the 10th will finally begin to show results from a health regimen. Give yourself a handsome reward for strengthening your system. Resist the temptation to get pushy with an authority figure at the middle of the month. Be a team player instead. The second half of May could find you steering a friendship into romantic waters.

If you’ve already got a steady partner, encourage them to pursue a lifelong dream. On the 25th, the New Moon will inspire you to adopt a new look. Changing your style, splashing out on clothes or even undergoing a cosmetic procedure could underscore your natural good looks.

The final days of the month will find you in the arms of an adoring admirer.

CANCER [22 JUN - 23 JUL]

The early days of May could potentially bring impressive career breakthroughs.

You’ll finally get the attention of someone who can increase your budget or green light a plan. Working with a partner will be the way forward during the first half of the month. Don’t be afraid to challenge your colleagues when you feel strongly about an issue. News of a birth, engagement or marriage will arrive on the 10th, when the Full Moon sets off a string of festivities. The second half of the month will find you very busy at work. Taking an original approach to your duties will win the attention of those who can give you a career boost. The New Moon on the 25th finds you moving into a more spiritual dimension.

Devoting more time to solitary activities will cultivate contentment as May turns into June. When you start feeling stressed, head for a quiet haven where you can hear yourself think. Slowly but surely, your muscles will unclench.

LEO [24 JUL - 23 AUG]

Taking on a more prominent role in early May will be rewarding. There will be many perks associated with this position and you should take full advantage of them. On the 10th, the Full Moon will give you a chance to wrap up a property matter. Buying or selling property will be profitable. This is also a good time to find a new place or sign a lease. At the middle of the month, you should attend as many parties and casual get togethers as possible. Talking with friends and meeting new people will give the intellectual stimulation you crave. On the 25th, the New Moon will inspire you to pursue a lifelong

dream. With the help of a relative or neighbour, you will gain access to the resources you need to succeed. The final days of the month are ideal for assuming new job responsibilities. The more skills you acquire, the greater your value will be to your employer.

VIRGO [24 AUG - 23 SEP]

At the start of the month, you’ll feel a powerful, potent connection with a person who is close to your heart. This is a great time to ask someone for a date or plan a luxurious outing for the one you love. If you’re asked to go on an important business trip, accept. Getting paid to see the world will be highly enjoyable and great for your career prospects. The Full Moon on the 10th will find you passing a test, graduating from a course or relocating to a fun neighbourhood. Towards the middle of the month, you’ll get a chance to move up the ladder of success. Don’t be afraid of the competition. You’ll easily outperform your rivals. The New Moon on the 25th will put you squarely in the spotlight. Take this opportunity to show off your abilities, make a presentation or go on a job interview. As May draws to a close, you’ll be torn between professional and personal responsibilities. Err on the side of family.

LIBRA [24 SEP - 23 OCT]

The opening days of May will make it much easier to work with a partner.

Take this opportunity to sort out misunderstandings or misconceptions and build a plan for moving forward. Big improvements will occur on the domestic front; use the first half of the month to launch repairs and rearrange rooms. On the 10th, the Full Moon will bring a boost to your bank balance. Spend it on furniture, artwork or appliances.

This is your big chance to create a home that uplifts and inspires you. Towards the middle of the month, you’ll find yourself facing off with someone who insists on always taking the lead. It’s important to assert yourself instead of getting pushed aside. The New Moon on the 25th invites you to expand your horizons. Going on an overseas trip, starting a writing project or attending an advanced professional course will be extremely stimulating. Push yourself harder than usual as June approaches.

SCORPIO [24 OCT - 22 NOV]

May begins with an astral emphasis on all health enhancing ideas and strategies. Taking up a fitness regimen, changing your diet and getting more sleep will increase your stamina. Encouragement from an attractive person will prompt you to work even harder and dramatically improve your health. The Full Moon on the 10th will put you squarely in the spotlight. Take this opportunity to promote your agenda or showcase your creative work. The second half of the month is best spent with an intimate partner. Working together will result in some dramatic breakthroughs. On the 25th, the New Moon brings a financial windfall in the form of an inheritance, insurance refund or royalty payment.

Spend this money on a spiritual pilgrimage you’ve been yearning to take. Visiting a place known for its beauty and culture will give you a new lease on life. You’ll start seeing possibilities where you once only saw brick walls.

SAGITTARIUS [23 NOV - 21 DEC]

The start of May makes it easier to finalise arrangements for an upcoming vacation. The delays and snags that held you back will magically disappear.

Your home life will be rewarding during the first half of the

month. Spend as much time in your domestic comfort zone as possible; it will help you cope with stress from public life. The Full Moon on the 10th brings the end to a period of seclusion. You’ll welcome the chance to make more money. Check out opportunities involving sports, entertainment and leisure in general. Getting involved in a serious romance is possible during the second half of May. There may be a big age difference between you and your amour. On the 25th, the New Moon will prompt you to enter into a serious partnership. Although you’ve always prized your independence, you’ll feel very comfortable working as a team with someone who is cultured, polite and artistic.

CAPRICORN [22 DEC - 20 JAN]

It will be easier to smooth out and defrost family relationships at the beginning of May. Getting a loan or signing refinance papers are other possibilities at this stage. On the 10th, the Full Moon will allow you to finish a group project. Those you work with will be so impressed by your output that they’ll give you even more room to take the initiative and make unilateral decisions. Don’t discuss the details of your private life in mixed company towards the middle of the month. It’s best to be discreet, especially with colleagues. Try not to neglect your family during the second half of the month, even if exciting career opportunities beckon. Be sure to attend a game, recital or performance. The New Moon on the 25th marks a job offer that sounds too good to be true. Accept it anyway; this will put you on a positive professional path. Don’t let friends discourage you from going in an unconventional direction. Break out of your shell.

AQUARIUS [21 JAN - 19 FEB]

Working from home will be genuinely pleasant and productive in the early days of the month. It’s much easier to develop ideas when you’re in familiar surroundings. The Full Moon on the 10th will bring about a changing of the guard at work.

When an executive leaves, you’ll feel able to take over their duties with ease. At the middle of the month, you could travel for pleasure. If you’re single, you could meet someone special on this journey. Do you have a partner?

It will feel like you’re having a second honeymoon.

Good news about a lifelong dream will arrive during the second half of May. Take a bold risk of some kind. On the 25th, the New Moon will attract opportunities for love, romance and adventure. Take a break from your work to have some fun. Head for a private retreat as May winds to a close. You’ll really need and enjoy the seclusion.

PISCES [20 FEB - 20 MAR]

In the opening days of May, finances will flow more freely. It will be a relief to have more income at your disposal.

Being with a group that is happy to share ideas and discuss theories and prospective projects will set your mind buzzing with new initiatives. You’ll enjoy picking the brains of people who share your artistic, cultural and political interests.

On the 10th, the Full Moon will be a time when legal and official matters can be wrapped up and put to bed. It will be a relief to have a case decided in your favour. Home improvement jobs will go smoothly towards the middle of the month. Upgrading a kitchen or bathroom will greatly improve the value of your investment. If you don’t own your home, approach a lending institution for money; you’ll get terrific terms. The New Moon on the 25th could find you relocating. Moving into a beautiful place near lots of cultural diversions would be your best option.

ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2017 / 193

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. THE GUIDE family

We welcome our new columnist, Joffrey King, a student at a Marbella secondary school who prefers to hide behind his clever nick, than admit he’s a wannabee writer…

I

INTERNET

f you are a teen or young adult like me, growing up in this day and age of ubiquitous connectivity, the last thing you probably want to hear from your dad is, “In my day and age we used to frolic in the grass, we used to move our skeletons, breathe in the fresh air, actually play together, in person.”

Most of us are up to our ears with hearing how good it was back in the old days. Internet may be taking up many hours of our time, but if we really were to go back to the good old days when 14-year-olds still played hopscotch and collected beetles, we would also lose out on the many good things that technology brings us – new technologies, fascinating scientific discoveries, and the entertainment provided by gaming.

Still, our old man may have a bit of a point when he says that we spend too many hours online. According to a UK-conducted survey, around 15 per cent of youths have an Internet addiction.

Symptoms include becoming extremely grumpy when we are interrupted while using the Net, a feeling of euphoria when we first connect with our online friends, that sinking, awful feeling when we are offline. Then there is the guilt! Oh, the guilt when we see our parent’s sad faces when we say that no, we would rather not accompany them to whatever. Internet addicts can even feel sick and depressed when they are disconnected.

The other day I had an argument when Dad insisted I limit my gaming time to an hour in the evenings. I tried to explain the fact that this would seriously impede my gaming development, but no – he suggested that I read Hamlet instead. Hamlet!

I mean, get real! At times like this, I think I would rather “not be”.

Eager to prove Dad wrong, I researched on the effects of Internet addiction – of course, I won’t share

A ddict ion

my findings with him, but it seems the old guy has a point. Exercise and the outdoor lifestyle when we are young are crucial, for otherwise, we will probably be fat and unfit by the time we are my Dad’s age. Being obese and not exercising regularly, warn the scientists, can result in so many diseases, including various types of cancer, Type II diabetes and heart disease. The matter becomes even worse if you chew on a bag of gummy bears while gaming (as I am fond of doing), for sugar is just about as dangerous as not moving. Gaming for too long is bad news for your eyesight, too, apparently; being out in natural settings is important for your vision, as it enables you to focus on far as well as near things.

One interesting study found that around 70 per cent of those who have Internet addiction, also show symptoms of depression. Many other ‘addicts’ have symptoms of other conditions such as ADHD and social anxiety disorder. Therefore, if you truly feel you are addicted, you probably should get checked out for any other illness, so that you can be treated if necessary.

I think that most of my friends

cannot be considered true addicts, since they do not have huge withdrawal symptoms, mood swings, etc. Still, I know how upset I felt when Dad tried to break my stride and limit my gaming.

Last weekend, I did the unthinkable – I joined Dad and his gang of loser friends for a game of footie, inviting a couple of my own friends as well. We had a ball beating the oldies and the pizza feast afterwards, was major.

I have to admit there was a certain something about being outdoors that gave me a kind of buzz and it felt good to actually feel tired and hungry after the match. I promised Dad to do at least one outdoorsy activity with him every weekend, and although I wish he’d allow me more gaming time, I’ve just started reading a work I am enjoying greatly.

One part says, “To be or not to be, that is the question.” I guess Dad is smarter than I sometimes give him credit for. I choose ‘to be’ a whole person – one that can play up a storm with my friends but also take time to read, enjoy a picnic with the family or bond with Dad (frankly, I think that is what all the fuss was about – he just needed me to be his BFF once again).

JOFFREY’S SUGGESTION OF COOL STUFF TO DO THIS MONTH: Z VIRTUAL REALITY: At the Plaza Mayor in Málaga.

Play shooting and less violent games, including ‘swimming with the whales’ (Now you know why I hide behind my nick). Book ahead: www.holovrzone.com Z MONKEY JUMP: At Aventura Amazonia. Take the plunge, enjoying a 12m freefall at this new attraction.

It will prepare you for Bungee jumping when you are older! www.aventura-amazonia.com Z GEMELIERS: At the Málaga Auditorio Club on May 5. I think this twin singing act is very uncool but my 12-year-old sis loves them. “This too shall pass,” I tell myself. Tickets: www.songkick.com

194 / MAY 2017 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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Reapertura / Reopening

Abierto sábados y domingos / Open Saturdays and Sundays .

Almuerzos de 13 - 16:30h / Lunches served from 1 - 4:30 pm.

A partir del lunes 22 de mayo, abierto todos los días / Open every day from Monday, 22nd of May.

Marbella Club Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n, 29602, Marbella, Málaga, Spain Telephone (+34) 952 822 211 marbellaclub.com

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