Essential Marbella Magazine October 2011

FREE MAGAZINE - COSTA DEL SOL N º149 - OCTOBER 2011

essential essential marbella® magazine ISSUE 149 • OCTOBER 2011

ESSENTIAL FOR LUXURIOUS LIVING

s

EmTech

COMES TO

TOWN

High Tech

HAUTE Couture

GREEN

MACHINE

Fisker Karma

OUR GUIDE TO GOOGLE+

FUTURISTIC

HOTELS

TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION

techno e z a r c

THEVIBE

WHAT’S BUZZING

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

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DISTRIBUTION COMPANY +34628115996 / 652685667 pedidos@fortunespirits.es www.fortunespirits.es

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for your favoUrites in categories COVERING dining, sports, health & beauty, hotels, Nightlife & more!

Be loud, be proud and get involved!

Media Partners

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2011 essential marbella®

MARBELLA AWARDS magazine ‘s

in association w

ith

Six years on from its inception, th e countdown ha Marbella Awards s begun for the . Organised by Es 2011 edition of sential Marbella Bank, this year the Magazine in asso will be bigger an ciation with Jysk d better than ev online system th e er before. We have at will process th developed a besp e ballots of thou hundreds of nom oke sands of voters. inations for com We have received panies represen planning for the ting the various fabulous Gala ev categories and th ening is well un e derway.

Please note that all results reflect public opinion - as voted by essential readers, and do not represent any statement of opinion by essential magazine or its staff.

Why get involv

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ed?

You will be mak ing your voice heard and makin g a mark in the local community by rewarding th e companies that do a great job an d have impacted yo ur life in a positiv e way. If people ar e recognised for their professiona lism, it garners enthusiasm, whi ch in turn raises the standard all roun d.

All this for just

Another importa nt aspect of the Awards is that of charity support.

All proceeds of the Aw ards Gala evenin g, which is hosted in November and open to members of th e public as well as the business com munity, are dona ted to local charitabl e causes. When yo u support the even t, you also help those in need.

Everyone who vo tes will be entere d into a prize draw to win a fabulous holiday. Plus ther e will be a great variety of prizes up for grabs on th e Gala night itself!

ur time...

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BY VOTING, YOU

WIN luxucoulrydholiday

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oting continues 1. Go online to w throughout ww.marbellaaw ards.com 2. Fill in the sim ple questionnaire and enter your em message to valid ail address so we ate your vote. Fo can send you a co r the first time th category to sugg nfirmation is year, you will est a company of also have an optio your choice for sp 3. Look out for th n in each ecial recognition e results, which . will be published or reserve your in the December table for the Aw edition of the m ards Gala evenin agazine, g, Marbella’s ve ry own Oscar’s!

dasi G and Spa Resoolfrt in

Turkey.

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October

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Issue 149 • October 2011

STAFF PUBLISHER AND DIRECTOR

IAIN BLACKWELL director@essentialmagazine.com

GENERAL MANAGER

ANDREA BÖJTI sales@essentialmagazine.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

MARISA CUTILLAS editorial@essentialmagazine.com

PRODUCTION MANAGER ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

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

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The publishers make every effort to ensure that the magazine’s contents are correct, but cannot accept responsibility for the effects of errors or omissions.

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

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The Trend 16 Films 18 DVDs 20 Books 22 Music 24 Gadgets 26 Cars: The Fisker Karma

The Focus 30 Emerging Technologies Fair in Málaga 38 New Technologies 46 What is Google Plus?

48 Christian Bjorlow, CEO of Jyske Bank Gibraltar 50 Rupert Bluff: Futuristic Technologies in Film

The Style 54 Décor: A Villa by the Beach 62 Décor News: Vergola 64 Fashion: Futuristic Wear by Gattinoni 70 Fashion News

The Spa 74 The Intraceuticals Oxygen Facial 76 Beauty News 78 Breakthrough Procedures in Health 80 Health News 82 Heath Profile: Infertility Solutions

The Vibe The Leisure Travel: High-Tech Hotels 108 Hotel: Ricardo Bofill’s W Hotel in Barcelona 116 Golf: The Andalucía Masters at Valderrama 118

The Gourmet El Gran Gatsby 123 El Patio de los Perfumes 125 Food News 126 Wine Feature: Technology in Wine-Making 130

85 What’s Up and Who’s Who on the Local Social Scene

The Pro 92 Enterprise 104 Business Profile: Books4Spain 106 Business Profile. Escuela de Arte Ecuestra Costa del Sol

g

The Guide Listings 132

The Blog Kids Zone 142 Pet News 143

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We are in the digital age and it’s literally awesome. The pace at which the new technology is coming in is relentless, altering the very fabric of our lives. In one decade, changes are occurring on a scale that would previously transgress an entire century.

October’s EmTech conference in Málaga is set to showcase the emerging technologies of tomorrow and delegates lucky enough to attend can expect to be seriously impressed with keynote speakers on everything from Smart Cities to

Gaming and Robotics.

Taking this as our cue, we invite readers to join us on a thrilling ride that’s focused on technological breakthroughs. En route, we’ll visit some of the hotels of the future, including the iconic W-Barcelona, feel our pulses soar in the amazing Fisker Karma, check out the new sensation in social media, Google+, and marvel at the high-tech haute couture designs being penned by Gattinoni.

We’ll look at how technology

TECNO-LOCURA

WORDS BY IAIN BLACKWELL is revolutionising the wine and medical industries, and the world of food, masterminded by exponents like Ferran Adrià. If fine dining is your penchant, don’t miss this months reviews of top new local restaurants El Gran Gatsby and El Patio de los Perfumes.

These are just some of the highlights in an issue that’s sure to entertain and inform, leaving you unquestionably in agreement that these are exciting times to be alive. Who knows where we’ll be 20 years from now, let alone in 10!

TECHNOCRAZE La edad digital ha llegado y es realmente asombrosa.

Las nuevas tecnologías se desarrollan a un ritmo incesante, alterando la esencia de nuestras vidas. En una década ha habido tantos cambios que parece que ha transcurrido un siglo entero.

La conferencia de EmTech en Málaga este mes nos va a desvelar las tecnologías emergentes del futuro, con ponentes de categoría mundial hablando sobre temas como El Futuro de las Ciudades Inteligentes, los Videojuegos y

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la Robótica.

Es lógico, por lo tanto, que nos centremos este mes en los descubrimientos tecnológicos. Visitamos algunos de los hoteles más futuristas, incluyendo el Hotel W-Barcelona. Flotamos en el nuevo coche electrónico, el Fisker Karma, descubrimos la nueva sensación mediática, Google+ y nos vestimos con los diseños robóticos de Gattinoni.

Vemos cómo la tecnología está revolucionando las industrias del vino y de la medicina y también la cocina,

con las maravillas culinarias inventadas por Ferran Adrià. Si no hay nada que te guste más que comer bien, no te pierdas nuestros reportajes sobre dos restaurantes locales: El Gran Gatsby y El Patio de los Perfumes.

Estos son algunos de los reportajes más interesantes que encontrarás este mes y sin duda estarás de acuerdo en que la vida ahora mismo es una fuente de ilusión y de alegría. ¿Quién sabe dónde estaremos dentro de 10 o 20 años?

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Los Monteros Playa: Spacious high quality villa in a sought-after residential area on the Costa del Sol, in walking distance to one of the most beautiful sandy beaches East of Marbella. Large quality kitchen (Clive Christian). Large living-area. Master bedroom suite with fireplace.

Home cinema. Large covered and sunny terraces. Well-kept tropical garden with fantastic pool area. 5 bedrooms, 6+1 bathrooms, built 698 sqm, plot 1.608 sqm. ID-No.: 2002867. Price €3.950.000.

Bahía del Velerín: Immaculate penthouse in a beautiful frontline beach urbanization with tropical gardens and a fantastic communal pool area, next to Laguna village. Large sun terrace with jacuzzi and panoramic sea views. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, built 143 sqm, terrace 210 sqm.

ID-No.: 1161663. Price €725.000.

New Golden Mile: Stylish South-facing duplex penthouse in a well-kept urbanization alongside the Atalaya Golf course, close to San Pedro de Alcántara. Large sun terrace with barbecue area and beautiful golf and sea views. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, built 169 sqm, terrace 276 sqm.

ID-No.: 1158887. Price €700.000.

Sotogrande Alto: Classic style villa overlooking the La Reserva Golf course. Built to high quality standards. Large South-facing terraces offering beautiful golf and sea views. Well-kept tropical garden, nice swimming pool. 5 bedrooms, 4+1 bathrooms, built 707 sqm, plot 2.650 sqm.

ID-No.: 3000004. Price €1.950.000.

Calahonda: Charming penthouse in an established frontline beach urbanization on the Costa del Sol. South-facing terrace offering breathtaking sea views. Well-kept tropical garden, nice communal swimming pool area. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, built 132 sqm, terrace 32 sqm.

ID-No.: 5001291. Price €240.000.

Telephone 952 900 077 • Marbella@hansa-realty.com • www.hansa-realty.com

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FC Marbella ADVERT_Layout 1 23/09/2011 15:24 Page 1

Multi-award winning luxury estate agents in 300 locations worldwide

Exclusively through Fine & Country

One of Marbella’s most exclusive properties offering a unique lifestyle.

Equally well situated in Beverly Hills, the French Riviera or on a Caribbean island, La Casa Loriana is the kind of property that belongs to the international elite of homes.

The estate flows across three gently terraced levels down to the beach and has been ideally positioned to maximise sea views, privacy and space. From this elevated position, the proper ty totals nearly 4,000 square metres and provides accommodation for up to 20 guests. The main house features five double suites served by a private lift at all levels, while guest quarters can be found in an elegant villa to the right of the main house. To the left, a villa echoing the guest accommodation houses the staff quarters.

There is a real sense of grandeur on entering the house itself. Ahead of the grand entrance hall is the first of the living rooms, comprising an en-suite bedroom, a study, kitchen, pantry, breakfast room, games room and a gentleman’s and a lady’s bathroom.

Fine & Country Marbella Marbella Club Hotel, 29602 Marbella, Malaga, Spain

Exploring the property further, you’ll discover a drawing room, formal dining room which comfortably seats all the guests, a family room and bridge room. A music room, bar and sitting room, private spa with sauna,Turkish bath, Jacuzzi and gymnasium, medical room, two wine cellars and a 10-seater cinema are all at your disposal.

Outside the mansion, the luxury continues. A large covered terrace leading on from the living areas, extends the lounge and dining facilities outside. The main swimming pool with its tumbling waterfall, Jacuzzi and rockery are a focal point on the main lawn along with a thatched hut.

Marbella has no shortage of luxury villas, so to describe a property here as a cut above the rest is an accolade indeed. La Casa Loriana is just that.

Guide Price

50,000,000€

FC Marbella ADVERT_Layout 1 23/09/2011 15:24 Page 2

La Casa Loriana Marbella beach front location

The Perfect Example Of Opulent Elegance

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

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READING / MUSIC / FILMS / GADGETS / MOTORING / TRENDS

Keep up to date with the latest entertainment releases, green machines and gadgets of the future...

16 Films 18 Webs pictured: The Fisker Karma

20 Books

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22 Music 24 Gadgets 26 Cars: The Fisker Karma

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THETREND REVIEWS

Cinema » DIRECTOR:

Will Gluck (Easy A) GENRE: Romantic Comedy » ACTORS: Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

Friends with Benefits

A young talent scout (Mila Kunis) from New York convinces a potential employee (Justin Timberlake) to accept a job in her company. Despite the attraction they feel for one another, they realise that they’re a bit like oil and water so they avoid a serious relationship, and decide to navigate the potentially perilous waters of ‘f**k buddy territory’. Who do they think they’re fooling?

» DIRECTOR:

John Singleton (Four Brothers) » GENRE: Thriller » ACTORS: Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins, Sigourney Weaver

Abduction

Twilight sensation Taylor Lautner proves he can do more than show off his abs in John Singleton’s new thriller. Lautner plays Nathan Harper, a young man who finds his photo one day in the ‘missing persons’ page in the newspaper. He begins to investigate the matter and discovers that his parents aren’t who they say they are and that he is wanted by the police, federal agents and hired assassins. If he is to survive, he must discover his true identity once and for all.

» DIRECTOR

Steven Soderbergh (The Girlfriend Experience)

» GENRE Thriller

» ACTORS

Mario Cotillard, Matt Damon, Jude Law

Contagion

Contagion chronicles the development of a lethal virus which is transmitted by air and kills in a matter of days. As the epidemic gets worse, doctors work 24/7 in an effort to find a cure and control the panicking population. As people start to fight for their lives, the very basis of society begins to deconstruct, and the race for survival proves to be as deadly as the virus itself.

One Day » GENRE: Romantic Comedy

» DIRECTOR: Lone

Scherfig (An Education) » ACTORS: Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess, Romola Garai Lone Scherfig’s An Education was one of the biggest highlights of 2010: a swish, aesthetically appealing tale of the loss of innocence and the nature of independence.

This time, the Danish director tries her hand at much lighter material: the 20-year love affair between Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess), two college students from two very different worlds who nevertheless share an extraordinary friendship rife with underlying passion.

DIRECTOR:

Douglas McGrath (Emma)

» GENRE:

Romantic Comedy

» ACTORS:

Sarah Jessica Parker, Greg Kinnear, Pierce Brosnan

I Don’t Know How She Does It

sultancy firm in Boston.

10-hour day at a financial con a ks wor ker) Par g sica Jes beloved husband, Richard (Gre During the day, Kate (Sarah time with her two kids and her uent nd freq spe to lves e invo hom ch rns whi n retu At night, she en Kate is offered a positio Wh job. his lost the just ken wea has peting interests Kinnear), an architect who job of his dreams and their com the new d ere her off nds is fi e ard Kat Rich se, els, wor out-of-town trav e. To make things is holding their marriage in plac lly is possible rea it r the whe n stio que to precarious foundation which ins n) strangely tempting and beg colleague, Jack (Pierce Brosna gs she most values in life. thin the on out ng losi out to do and have it all, with

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THETREND REVIEWS

Web Series

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

Putting the ‘W’ in Wow!

A

s might be expected from an issue focusing on emerging technologies, where the Internet, ubiquitous connectivity and smart features are opening doors that lead us to a surprising new future, it is only fitting that we should replace our monthly cinema page with a suggestion of top web series composed of short (two- to nine- minute) episodes, which you don’t need to hire, watch on television or even download because you can view them via live streaming or directly on the Internet, on your home computer, or even on your smart phone. Web series are ideal for those who are on the move, as well as those who commute or who like to tune out a few minutes a day during their lunch hour or a dull moment in the daily grind to enjoy a few minutes of entertainment.

The idea for the first web series came from publicity hound Scot Zakarin in 1995, who encouraged his employees to develop a drama people could watch from the Internet, and the result was The Spot: a series focusing on beautiful people living in a beach house in Santa Monica, who each had their own blogs, movie clips and photographs the audience could access. At its peak, the season received 100,000 hits a day and as is to be expected, companies such as Sony and Apple expressed a marketing interest in the idea, financing the series with banners and product placements.

With the dramatic increase of broadband width and the emergence of live streaming, the quality of Internet video was substantially improved, and the world’s top video sites joined the craze, with YouTube, Vimeo and DailyMotion broadcasting their own series.

You may have already caught on to the web television craze unwittingly, downloading a series like The Man At The End of the Booth and wondering why the episode lasted less than ten minutes, or regularly tuned in to the video blog of YouTube user, lonelygirl15 (the blog name of a teenager called Bree Avery), who uploaded her quirky blogs for almost a full year, before fans outed her as an actress and her blog as a fictional series.

The lonelygirl15 series was a great example of what independent producers can contribute to the genre, where a magnificent script can make up for humbler sets, less special effects and performances by less known but wonderfully charismatic actors.

In 2009, web television celebrated its first ever Streamy Awards, an effort to award outstanding work in the same way the Emmys do for television series. The good news is that if you weren’t lucky enough to watch the series live, you can still catch them online or download them, which is a good idea if you don’t want to be left on tenterhooks after watching a two-minute episode! These are five of the best:

Patrick Harris, unfortunately comes at a price (albeit small: you have to download it from iTunes). It tells the story of Dr. Horrible (Neil Patrick Harris), his nemesis (Nathan Fillion) and the woman whose affection they are vying for (Felicia Day). The series was Whedon’s creative solution to the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America Strike, which put so many series and projects on hold. Through this comic ‘blog’, Whedon put together an inexpensive yet high quality production that garnered several Streamy Awards in 2009, including the Audience Choice award for Best Web Series and Best Male Actor in a Comedy Web Series.

The Booth at the End: This

The Annoying Orange: In episodes lasting

science fiction series, which ran from July, 2011 to August, 2011 on Hulu, takes place in just one setting: the furthest booth in a coffee shop, where The Man (played by Xander Berkeley) pushes the ‘clients’ who come to see him to discover how far they would go to get what they want. Each person has a different problem: everything from a spouse with Alzheimers to a sick child, a poor love life or a problem with self-esteem. The Man promises his clients to fulfil their strongest wish, but only if they agree to complete an arbitrary ‘task’: build a bomb, protect a child, or steal from a bank. As is the case with life, everything comes at a price.

two or three minutes, a talking orange who hates all other fruits in the kitchen, conspires to turn them into fruit salad by the end of the day. This quirky show obtained, on average, over 20 million hits a month, reaching an audience of 29 million in February, 2010.

Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog: This hilarious ‘musical

tragicomedy’ written and directed by Joss Whedon (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) and starring the wonderful Neil

Clark and Michael: Michael Cera is the bright new light in Hollywood, since it seems that anything he touches goes gold (think Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Juno and Superbad). Cera, ‘the boy wonder of comedy’ is excellent at playing innocent, unlucky characters who are somehow strangely attractive. In the series he and Clark Duke (Cera’s real-life best friend), attempt to sell a TV idea to a major network, which is exactly what they did, since CBS Internet wasted no time in buying the series and achieving huge commercial success.

Between Two Ferns: Comedy actor Zach Galifianakis plays the host of a talk show called Late Night With Zach, where he interviews a plethora of stars, from Charlize Theron to Bradley Cooper and Natalie Porman, barraging them with a series of stupid questions as they sit awkwardly between two fern plants. e

18 / ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2011

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RY” U X LU O T dit T e R r c O g ASSP spendin P “ S SEA’ onboard R E SILV 0:00 pp $50

Silversea’s one aim - Excellence

The world’s number one - 6 star - Ultra-luxury cruise line

SAILINGS DIRECT FROM MÁLAGA Sail onboard either the “Silver Spirit” - flagship of the Silversea fleet, or the “Silver Cloud” on her inaugural cruise following a complete refurbishment. Both voyages sail directly from Málaga - there’s no better way to start your cruise.

THE COMPLETE MEDITERRANEAN

PORTUGUESE AND FRENCH ESCAPE

29th April 2012 – 18 nights - Silver Spirit

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Málaga, Palma, Minorca, Alghero, Ajaccio, Valletta, Crete, Rhodes, Bodrum, Santorini, Taormina, Sorrento, Puerto Ferraio, Monte Carlo.

Málaga, Portimao, Lisbon, Santander, Bordeaux (2 days), Guernsey, Rouen.

Vista suite €8160:00 Veranda suite €9088:00

Vista suite €3340:00 Veranda suite €4190:00

Silversea’s “all inclusive” - Excellence Your personal dedicated butler available in all suites Complimentary drinks – Wines, spirits, beers, etc - Served throughout the ship and in-suite, compliments of Silversea Open seating dining - Dine when, where and with whom you please In-suite Dining and 24 hour room service Tips and gratuities - All included

In-suite beverages - Whatever your desire, delivered by your butler - All courtesy of Silversea Entertainment and Enrichment - From full production shows to guest lecturers Transportation into town - Roundtrip transportation provided courtesy of Silversea at most ports of call

CALL NOW - LIMITED TIME FARES - For brochures, bookings and information: Cruise Connections Ltd - Silversea officially appointed sales agents since 1994.

Tel: Gibraltar (350) 200 60346 · Mbl: Spain (34) 609 557 423 E-mail: cruisesilversea@fastmail.net silversea malaga AUG_11.indd 1

www.artroom.es - 607 906 600

Fares are per person based on double occupancy in the currency quoted. Connecting air, land, hotel and transfer arrangements are additional to fares shown and should be booked independently. All offers are capacity controlled and fares may increase without notice. Fares correct at time of going to press. $500:00 pp credited to your onboard account, to be used against onboard purchases. Cannot be used in the casino, cannot be redeemed for cash or refunded.

19/08/11 16:32

THETREND REVIEWS WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

Books

2 SMARTCITIES + ECO-WARRIORS

BY CJ LIM AND ED LIU

1 2030: TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD BY RUTGER VAN SANTEN

The rise of the modern city has led to a vast reduction in land available for agriculture, threatening the integrity of our food system. The Smartcity, as defined in CJ Lim and Ed Liu’s Smartcities + Eco-Warriors, is an innovative response to the problem of growing city populations and lack of green space, since it involves reframing the way we view urban green spaces and the evolution of modern day cities. Lim and Liu explore new ways on incorporating agriculture into urban environments, offering a solution to the scarcity of food and promoting social cohesion.

The book is essential reading for anyone working in the fields of design, planning, engineering, architecture or sociology, but is equally enlightening for those with an interest in the conservation of energy and future food supplies.

1

It’s always with a mix of humour and sadness that I view science fiction films made in the 1950s and 1960s… it’s quaint to see American heroes battling aliens who possess the kind of technology that has enabled them to travel across galaxies, while Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs had yet to found Apple here on earth. It’s even sadder to think that one day, people will think of us as rather innocent, unenlightened creatures who had yet to discover things like a computer generating its own power by producing hydrogen, a washing machine that produces its own washing powder or nanocapsules that automatically release doses of required medicine into our bodies. These developments and many more are the stuff Rutger van Santen’s fascinating book, 2030: Technology That Will Change the World, is made of. Those who may not live long enough to enjoy these breakthrough technologies can take heart in the fact that nothing, yes, nothing quite beats being out in Nature and enjoying pure water, clear skies and fresh air. It will take some serious invention if future generations are to enjoy the glorious purity and beauty of Nature as we know it today.

2

6 3 ENGINES OF CREATION: THE COMING ERA OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

4 THE INNOVATOR’S DILEMMA: WHEN NEW TECHNOLOGIES CAUSE GREAT FIRMS TO FAIL

Engines of Creations: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology is one of the most positive books I’ve read in a long time, promising a fantastic future you will undoubtedly yearn to be part of.

Imagine a world where artificial intelligence, the colonisation of space, futuristic management of information and an almost immortal life add a positive ending to the current ‘unbearable lightness of being’. Drexler begins his book by explaining that DNA is a nano-machine that codifies and produces all living things. The author uses DNA as a model for the design of similar machines such as nano-machines, which are made from non-organic blocks instead of proteins. He goes on to describe some of these futuristic machines, taking time in the final chapters to delve into the information technology and how html is already revolutionising the way we store and amend documents.

“The best laid plans of mice and men lead us nought but grief and pain for promised joy”, said the novel and while emerging technologies may revolutionise industries from the ground up, many times they also bring business to the brink, rendering the latter useless in a flash. These technologies are called ‘disruptive’, since they may begin in the lower end of their respective markets but in no time, they completely displace high-end competitors. Examples of disruptive technologies include PC’S, digital cameras, e-books and digital synthesisers. In his book The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail, Clayton M. Christensen enlightens us on these and more watersheds in technological history, explaining that even the best managed companies are vulnerable to failure as soon as technology replacing their services or products arrives. This book will make you wish you could zap into the future, Michael J. Fox-style… one little ride in that Delorean and immense success in any market could be yours!

3

4

E-READ OF THE MONTH: TECHNOLOGY REVIEW

BY CLAYTON M. CHRISTENSEN

BY ERIC DREXLER

Technology is an ever-changing field and if there’s one way to keep up with it, it is by reading and discovering new developments constantly.

When it comes to emerging technologies, few publications in history have managed to publish so many cutting edge reports as Technology Review, an award winning magazine founded in 1899 at MIT. Read interesting articles on new self-tracking devices that make us healthier and more productive, recent finding from stem cell research and the economics of climate change. Best of all, since you can now subscribe to the Kindle edition, you can do your bit for the environment.

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THETREND REVIEWS

Music

WORDS Allan Tee

Kid Creole & the Coconuts I Wake Up Screaming Back in August, Kid (August Darnell) with the coconuts, plus a superb 10-piece band, appeared on the Costa del Sol. I did an interview on the phone at his studio in Sweden and he immediately got his record company to send me an advance download of this collection. At first, I was unsure as to whether he had misjudged the contemporary sound of today, but after I featured the album in its entirety, it actually works. The album is the group’s first full-length in over a decade, following 1997’s The Conquest of You. The group have spent decades blending traditional music from the US, Latin America, South America and Caribbean sources. It is a unique sound and here August has taken the bull by the horns to recover his dominance in this style. Not sure if he has succeeded.

Barbara Streisand What Matters Most

Jeff Bridges Jeff Bridges

has the ability to sing He proved to us all that he a modicum of musical with y Country and any celebrit record relying on their talent could easily make a ability. Jeff has his s JB apart is that he is actually personal rather than musical of this music genre. What put fans be to m the inated of y man rt, much of this album is dom followers and one would expect t of John Hiatt. Like Crazy Hea tha to ilar may sim He . is e ring styl offe al th voc leng formance into a fulla good musician and his it surely puts JBs excellent per and ic mus ntry cou po tem by middle to slow ms to hit the mark. sonal projects go, this one see be an acquired taste, but as per

Whenever Babs releases an album it is an event. The Streak is back with a double album collection in which she sings the lyrics of Alan & Marilyn Bergman. Perfection in vocal, delivery, timing and nuance are as expected but do another collection of standards come across as fresh? In this instance, she has taken a variety of artists and has enjoyed her way with them. Her rendition of Windmills of Your Mind in A cappella is captivating. It is always a challenge for such an established artist to remain in the frame, but Barbara Streisand can pull if off and she does so here.

Red Hot Chili Peppers I’m with you

d. They ated American rock ban dio album by this celebr stu th 10 ening the list rks bal ma glo s Thi fans and held a offering to their army of nes Itu . um alb ire wanted to promote this ent streamed the ust, when they actually ase rele this way the party at the end of Aug was t fes in all, a real open music all so k too it wor ing dio am were stre bin, it is the first stu e. Produced by Rick Ru wer it k as bac , re ets artu stre dep the hit John Frusciante´s Klinghoffer, following in , um adi Arc m diu featuring guitarist Josh t album, Sta e return since the las nt but in 2009. So, a welcom beginning.” It is differe new “a as um alb this es crib des dis Kie y 2006. Ton ence remains. strangely, the same ess

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Allan Tee presents Album Hour at 11am every Saturday on Talk Radio Europe. 99.1FM. www.talkradioeurope.com 23/9/11 14:47:48

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THETREND GADGETS Do you remember when you were a child and the Internet, mobile phones, or the iPad, didn’t exist? It’s hard to believe that anyone born earlier than the 1990s grew up in classrooms where nothing more than chalk, pens and piles of heavy books were the only ways we could learn the essential skills that would take us through life. Now, in 2011, we’ve got it all: domotics, smart phones, WiFi… yet as our selection of gadgets this month shows, in another ten to twenty years, we could be asking ourselves, “How did we ever live without this?”

ZEPPELIN AIR IPOD/IPHONE DOCK BY BOWERS & WILKINS Über-

stylish docks for iPods and iPhones have been around for many years but when it comes to slick contemporary design and futuristic features, few docks are quite as stylish as those designed

by Bowers & Wilkins. i www.bowers-wilkins.com

FLUTTER CONCEPT PHONE BY LG: We love the fusion of technology and nature, nowhere better seen than is this concept phone by LG, whose design is similar to a robotic insect when shut and a delicate butterfly when open. Its most original feature is a fanned display that pops out when you open the phone, featuring apps you would normally find on the screen of a smartphone. The device won the Prop Master’s Choice Award at LG’s Design the Future contest, though this doesn’t necessarily mean it will actually make it onto the market.

EPOC NEUROHEADSET

BY EMOTIV This device will make it possible to play your favourite games with your mind in the very near future. It already works with a game developed by EMOTIV and is available online for under €300. The headset measures three types of expression: conscious thoughts, emotions and facial expressions. You truly feel like you’ve ridden a time machine into the 22nd century as you walk through a virtual environment, watching the sky change according to your mood and moving giant stones to build Stonehenge ‘with your mind’. It has such an ‘Inception’ feel to it you almost feel like you’re DiCaprio moving through the city of your dreams. i www.emotiv.com

1 - AMOEBA PHONE: Winner of the special Judge’s Prize at the Fujitsu Mobile Phone Design Awards, the Amoeba Phone, designed by Kwak Yeon, features a beautiful concave shape that will perfectly fit the user’s face when making a phone call. One of the coolest features of the device is that its entire surface is a touchscreen, making the most of space in addition to being one of the most beautiful phones we’ve seen in a while. i www.fujitsu.com

2 - NAPKIN PC: We may have scrolled down important telephone numbers or great ideas onto a paper napkin but designer Avery Holleman offers a far more resistant solution with his Napkin PC. It is still in its earliest stages of design but its aim

is to facilitate the work of designers collaborating on one project. Here’s the way it’s supposedly going to work: there is a wireless ‘base station’ filled with ‘napkins’ made of e-paper (which requires very little energy). Using a longrange RF pen, which receives processed data, you ‘draw’ on the napkin interface and the e-paper retains its full, bright colour image indefinitely without any power. Moreover, each napkin interface connects you to the entire network of files, providing quick access to shared ideas and material.

3 - ORIGAMI DVD PLAYER: This is one mean looking gadget which is set for manufacture in the future on a new e-paper currently being manufactured in Israel. Light and

5 GADGETS OF THE 1

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

2

portable, its market is the frequent traveler who doesn’t shy away from spending big money on a player that brings the comforts of home to wherever you lay your hat.

curtains and a drop-down screen for effortless viewing. i www.somnus-neu-com

4 - HIGH TECH BED BY SOMNUS-NEU: This gorgeous bed

has made checking out difficult words or their pronunciation a whole lot easier but if you’re not hooked up, it can be pretty frustrating. The National University in Singapore is working on a futuristic concept called Touch Hear, which involves the implantation of a tiny device beneath the skin of your pointer finger and another in your ear. The finger device will recognise characters, relaying the information to your ear. If the device ever makes it to the market, it will surely be a huge step from braille and recorded books. e

is already being touted as the future of luxury beds. Named after the Roman God of Sleep, it’s so entertaining you’re not likely to get a lot of shut-eye in it, owing to features such as a high-tech audio-visual system with an HD video projector and 5-point audio system including drivers mounted beneath the mattress. Hook your iPod up, watch cable TV or stream music or videos online. The bed also boasts LED lighting under, above and around it, mechanized

5 - IMPLANTED CYBERNETIC READING DEVICE: Internet

FUTURE 3 4

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New Villa for Sale Outstanding Villa for sale situated first line on the golf course in Gualdamina Baja. Just 200 meters from the beach and 150 meters to the Hotel Guadalmina. This Villa has six bedrooms and nine bathrooms. The master bedroom enjoys two dressing rooms and two separate bathrooms. The plot is 3.022m2 and the total built area is 1.018m2 plus a 168m2 terrace and a 90m2 overflow saltwater swimming pool. Wooden floors and top of the line marble bathrooms. Domotic controlled with the best construction and material standards. Underground heating from gas and solar panels, AC with gas, Gazebo with separate bathroom and many other features.

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THETREND MOTOR

CARS

Going green is big business right now and all the manufacturers are clamouring for a slice of the environmentally friendly action, especially battery powered. Audi, Porsche and BMW are all working on their own answers, but it looks like they’ve been beaten to the punch by a small start-up firm from California.

Because the Fisker Karma is more or less the perfect eco car.

GREEN MACHINE WORDS NICK HALL

Price: €58.000 Engine: Twin electric motors, 2-litre turbo Power: 455bhp 0-100kph: 5.9s Top speed: 200kph

F

isker has just launched in Europe, but the firm headed up by former Aston Martin designer Henrik Fisker is going to make big waves in the coming years. Because this is the first viable eco car you could drive every day, pretty much anywhere, for any length of time. There are no caveats, there are no problems, there are no sacrifices.

First of all, it’s beautiful, ridiculously beautiful. More than that, the Karma looks like the future it represents, it’s a step forward in car design, as well as technology. There are hints of Aston Martin here and also the BMW Z8 that Fisker also penned, but the low slung and swooping lines are normally found on concept cars that never see the light of day.

The car is almost shrink wrapped around those massive 22” wheels and it looks every bit a rival to Mercedes’ elegant

CL. Inside it is beautifully adorned, stitched and leather bound like a perfect clad book. Bright red lights line the centre console and there’s a futuristic looking screen and LCD dials to demonstrate the power.

It’s a beautifully appointed car, and of course it should be as the Karma costs the same as a high end Mercedes, Audi or BMW. Is it quite as good as those market leaders inside?

Possibly not, but then it doesn’t really need to be, because the Karma is a concept, a mission statement and the early adopters have queued up to put down 3,000 deposits. Because this means the elite, the glitterati and more can now abandon their Toyota Prius and drive a real, big, beautiful car with a social conscience.

Fisker mated its substantial 199bhp worth of batteries to

a 256bhp, two-litre turbo petrol powered engine to create a high end sports saloon that is more innovative than it sounds.

The result is a range extender system rather than a traditional hybrid, and it should almost put an end to the first world problem that is ‘Range Anxiety’. This was a curse of the pure electric car, as the batteries could discharge at a ridiculous pace under hard load and leave folks stranded by the side of the road. The batteries take just five and a half hours to fully charge and offer more than 70km of running in ‘Stealth’ mode, which is purely on battery power. And it’s worth noting here that it feels as silky smooth as a Rolls-Royce, wafting silently to 100kph in 7.9s and swallowing roads with near regal elegance.

Electric motors have a long way to go, but there are some very cool aspects to them. The main one is that they provide

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which are heavy enough to sink a battleship. Fisker did its best to position the batteries sympathetically, in a spline down the middle, but no amount of clever design can hide that much weight on a car’s hips.

So it pulls in the corners, despite beautifully weighted electrically-assisted power steering, and under braking all that weight pushes against the front and it takes an age to stop. So the Karma isn’t the most rewarding driving experience from a purist’s point of view.

But then owning a car like this will give its owner the excuse to go and buy a thoroughbred sports car for the weekend. The Fisker is the environmental statement that will show friends, colleagues and business associates that you’re green, and still cool, that you’re stylish and yet don’t want to kill Mother Earth.

OK so Tesla was the first to really mass produce batterypowered cars, but the Roadster, brilliant as it was, suffered from issues. It was small, impractical, with no luggage space, and it could run out of juice rather fast. That it was just a battery-powered car was the problem. The Fisker Karma is a brilliant combination of electric power and petrol engine that seems to have won the battle for hearts and minds and is a ballistic success story in the making.

Right now this is as close as we have to the perfect eco car, and the best part is you can barely tell it’s an environmental showpiece when you’re behind the wheel. It’s that good, and more. e

massive amounts of torque, more than two Ferrari 458s at 981 lb/ft, from absolutely 0rpm. The split second you push the throttle then all that torque is right there, and that’s a truly special feeling.

In ‘Sport’ mode, accessed with a paddle behind the wheel, the petrol engine fires up and the 100kph time falls to a remarkable 5.9s. But there’s a downside, a big one, the engine thrashes like a shark on land, it’s raw and brutal and not a particularly attractive sound.

The Fisker could do with a better mate for the batteries, if we’re honest, or a world of acoustic tuning, but for now the best thing to do is run the car in Stealth and soak up the road ahead while using no fuel whatsoever. Combined economy is calculated at 118mpg, while CO2 emissions are 83g/km.

It doesn’t especially matter that the Karma is limited electronically to 200kph, it’s not an out-and-out sportscar despite its remarkable acceleration. It’s an exclusive commuter, a stylish cruiser that would slink past the velvet rope at Puerto Banús’s ringfenced harbour while the more ubiquitous Porsches and Audis of this world sit patiently in the queue.

It will lose out at the race track because it weighs 2070kg, which is huge. It’s largely down to the batteries,

OCTOBER 2011 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE / 27

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CULTURE / HISTORY / FAMOUS PEOPLE / INTERVIEWS / FEATURES / HUMOuR

Tomorrow’s technology, your guide to Google+, Jyske Bank CEO Gibraltar and EmTech comes to Málaga...

30 Emerging Technologies Fair in Málaga 38 New Technologies 46 What is Google Plus?

48 Christian Bjorlow, CEO of Jyske Bank Gibraltar 50 Rupert Bluff: Futuristic Technologies in Film

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THETHEME TECHNOLOGY

mack bang in the 21st century, where iPads, smart phones, electronic cars and live streaming make us feel lucky to be living exactly when and where we are, it is strangely nostalgic to read 19th century authors like Whitman and Thoreau, and their manifestos on the beauty of the simple life. In this day and age, when hundreds of thousands of immigrants are flocking to cities already swelling with inhabitants, and our major concerns are the environment, unemployment, pollution, and a lack of space, resources and time, what is clear is that if one thing is going to save us, it is technology. And it’s more than a matter of survival; technology also promises to make life a hell of a lot easier, practical and more fun… at least if we are to believe Pedro Moneo, Founder and CEO of Opinno, Editor-in-Chief of Technology Review Spain and one of the creative brains behind the two-day EmTech Conference, which will set Málaga on fire, metaphorically speaking, on October 26 and 27.

On the day of my interview with Moneo, as I make my way on foot through the busy, roadblocked, sweltering city of Málaga, I breath a sigh of relief as I enter the hotel café where we are due to meet. He is easy to spot, since he is young (as one would expect of a techy genius), sporting a shirt bearing the word ‘Geek’ on its surface and working on a laptop. As we meet and greet, and he begins to infuse me with his excitement and sheer passion for technology, the significance of EmTech for Málaga begins to hit home. The conference will see the likes of Javier García Martínez speaking to other eminences in our city and while his name may mean little to you or me, this expert in nanotechnology and advanced catalyst technology is one of only two Spaniards to have won the Technology Review’s TR35 Award in the USA, granted to the world’s top innovators under the age of 35 for developing new technology or creative applications of technology to solve problems affecting the world at large. Past winners include Sergey Brin, Co-Founder of Google and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook. This was way back when Facebook and Google were in their fledgling stages, of course, which further emphasises the importance of the TR35 award, in its ability to spot, support, publicise and attract funding for, emerging talents.

The EmTech Conference will feature the very best experts in significant fields like Smart Cities, The Future of the Web,

Even robots will be using smart phones in the future

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Every year, MIT’s (the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) magazine, Technology Review, brings the most important conference on Emerging Technologies to one lucky city. For the first time ever, the conference will be taking place in Europe and Málaga is the chosen city. The event will bring together the world’s most eminent scientists, intellectuals, innovators and investors, who together are shaping the future of life as we know it. Marisa Cutillas reports.

Technology

Review’s Emerging

Technologies Conference (EMTECH)

Revolutionises Málaga The Internet will soon be able to ‘think’ for us

Gaming, Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Robotics and The Future of the Media. And it’s all thanks to a fortuitous dinner where everybody was exactly where they needed to be. Pedro Moneo is constantly on the move since he is the founder and CEO of Opinno, a company connecting entrepreneurs, investors and technology specialists across innovation hubs around the world to build new hi-tech startups. He happened to be in Málaga and casually accepted an invite from a friend to go along to a dinner held by the Club Málaga

Valley. What he found there surprised him: a network consisting of over 120 Presidents of multi-national and technological companies from all over the world, who collectively decided to promote Málaga as one of the major technological areas in Europe. The Mayor of Málaga, Francisco de la Torre, whom Pedro refers to as “a savvy man with a strong interest in technology” was also present and ended up playing an important role in bringing EmTech to Málaga, penning a letter to the President of MIT where he extolled his city’s

virtues as the ideal venue for EmTech’s first European conference.

Many don’t know it, but Málaga’s Parque Tecnológico houses companies the calibre of Oracle, RIM and Huawei. And if you’ve ever wondered if Spain is technologically savvy enough to form the backdrop for some of the advances to be presented at the EmTech Conference, the answer is a resounding ‘yes’. Says Pedro: “In few other countries in the world will you find such advanced infrastructure. Spain has the highest OCTOBER 2011 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE / 31

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MIT genius, Phillip Tan will show us the future of modern gaming

percentage of high speed trains, hospitals, hotels, houses, airlines, airports and ports per person in the world. Everything is new… think of the T4 terminal in Madrid, the MálagaMadrid AVE line, the revamped Atocha train station…” And Europe isn’t going to be the only benefactor of technologies that will turn cities into ‘Smart Cities’; says Pedro: “Companies like IBM, Cisco Systems, Google, Telefónica and just about every other important player in emerging technologies are extremely enthusiastic about new markets such as Brazil, where a new middle class of 50 or 60 million has emerged.”

The EmTech Conference is expected to attract an audience of between 400 and 600, bringing together four different groups: CEO-level businessmen and women from national and international companies; investors; leading academics and scientists; and innovative entrepreneurs, in order to discuss the technological

Developments in biotechnology will see us living longer, more interesting lives

innovations that are changing the face of business and driving the local economy.

Some of the most exciting topics and events at the EmTech Conference include: SMART CITIES: The concept of Smart Cities contains many dimensions but in the technological sense, it involves turning every single item in a city into an intelligent piece of hardware. Today we already enjoy ubiquitous connectivity (the option to be online all the time from almost all locations through the use of highly personalised mobile devices such as tablets and smart phones) but in the future, most things within a city will enjoy this connectivity and smart technology will control everything from crime right through to pollution, the way we vote, the way we pay for things, etc. Imagine filling your trolley at the supermarket and a machine telling you the total cost of all your items instantly, without having to scan each item individually. Imagine doing away with a messy bunch of credit and personal cards and having all your vital information (ID, licence, credit cards) securely contained in your mobile; imagine owning a restaurant where a chair tells you where it should be (as there is a table that needs it), or an office where machines automatically order supplies when they are low. As Dan Hill explains in his seminal work The Street as Platform, “The invisible becomes visible, as the impact of people on their urban environment can be understood in real-time. Citizens turn off taps earlier, watching their water use patterns improve immediately. Buildings can share resources across differing peaks in their energy and resource loading. Road systems can funnel traffic via speed limits and traffic signals in order to route around congestion.

Citizens take public transport rather than private where possible, as the real-time road pricing makes the true cost of private car usage quite evident. The presence of mates in a bar nearby alerts others to their proximity, irrespective of traditional spatial boundaries. Citizens can not only explore proposed designs for their environment, but now have a shared platform for proposing their own. They can plug in their own data sources, effectively hacking the model by augmenting or processing the feeds they’re concerned with.”

At the Emtech Conference, speaking on the subject of Smart Cities will be Ryan Chin of the MIT Media Lab Smart Cities Group. “The MIT Media Lab is home to wonderfully creative, crazy thinkers,” says Pedro. Indeed, from within the four walls of this bubble of geniuses comes the technology behind everything from

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“The MIT Media Lab is home to wonderfully creative, crazy thinkers” Guitar Hero right through to the one laptop per child project, which aims to empower impoverished children though education. The visionary abilities of its members were made patent to the world in 2009, when the MIT Media Lab team won the US Defence Department’s Red Balloon Challenge. In the latter, 10 red weather balloons were hidden in secret locations across the USA. Thousands of entrants joined the competition, which offered a $40,000 prize to the first team which pinpointed the location of all the balloons. “The MIT Media Lab team took less than nine hours to locate every balloon, using social networking strategies,” says Pedro. The team distributed the prize among chains of participants whose input led to the discovery of the balloons and also donated a significant amount to charity.

THE FUTURE OF THE WEB: This topic will feature talks by everyone from Othman Laraki, Director of Twitter, right through to Geoff Ralston, Co-Founder of education technology incubator, Imagine K12.

Internet began with websites bearing content provided by their programmers. Phase 2.0 of its development saw the emergence of sites like Facebook, where content was provided by users and structured socially. Internet 3.0 is all about the ‘Semantic Web’: a web of data permitting machines to comprehend the meaning of information on the World Wide Web. Pedro explains, “If, for instance, you were searching for a tent online, your computer would be able to make more intelligent associations and understand that you were going camping, helping you compile a list of essential equipment to take.” The future of the Internet is closely related to Smart Cities, since ‘the Internet of things’ involves imbuing all items with radio tags that are capable of being identified and inventoried by computers, transforming life as we know it. For instance, stealing would be pointless since the exact location of any item could be known at all times.

GAMING DEMO: The enigmatic Philip Tan, US Executive Director of the SIN-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab, will speak on the changing face of gaming as we know it, focusing on group gaming and augmented reality, which overlays reality with virtual creations and does something few gaming companies have managed to do until now: get people into the street to engage in play together in a real world which is embellished by everything from fantastical creatures to obstacles. For an example of augmented reality see the game called ‘Human Pacman’ on www. gamesalfresco.com. Here, a group of gamers head for a carpark, wearing a special device over their eyes that transforms the carpark into a world of fantasy.

One gamer is ‘Pacman’ and his objective is to ‘gobble up’ imaginary yellow balloons he finds in his way, while another gamer takes on the role of a ‘monster’ and tries to catch Pacman, physically running after him through mazes and obstacles. Many of these

One of the most important ways technology will change our life is in the health sector

Every item in a truly smart city will be an intelligent piece of hardware

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games are still at the conceptual stage, but they are a great example of how much more sociable and active future computer games will be. Also speaking on gaming will be Ignacio Pérez Dolset, Co-President of the world’s number one global independent mobile content distributor, Grupo Zed, and Pol Jeremías and Iñigo Quilez from Sexyvisuals, who created the stunning imagery for films like Planet 51 and other Pixar and Lucas Arts films. The dynamic duo has devised a groundbreaking new way to produce visuals which is extremely time- and cost-effective and which they will tell you all about at Emtech.

TR35 AWARD CEREMONY: Ten prizes will be awarded to outstanding Spanish innovators under 35 years of age. The prize includes a feature in Technology Review Magazine and a week at the MIT Media Lab. THE FUTURE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY: Nanotechnology is technology to the negative nine metres… basically, the art of generating materials at an atomic scale. Graphene is one material produced by nanotechnology, a structure made up of carbon atoms in a hexagonal network, which is extremely light, yet highly resistant and a good conductor of electricity. Javier García Martínez and Tim Harper (Founder of Cientifica.com) will be speaking on the subject.

THE FUTURE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY: Robert Nicol (Director of Genome Sequencing), Richard Kivel (Founder of Rhapsody Biologics) and Mara Aspinall (Founder of On-Q-ity) will enlighten us on how living things can be used to create interesting new products (foods, medicines, etc.) or perform tasks (such as testing for diseases or eliminating waste), making life a whole lot easier. Biotechnology is poised to increase average life expectancies, since its aim is to decipher genetic codes, which up ‘til now “we have been able to read, but in code,” says Pedro.

THE FUTURE OF MEDIA: Jason Pontin, Editor-in-Chief of MIT’s Technology Review and Kamal Bherwani, Chief Digital Officer of Grupo Prisa, will enlighten us on how, in a world where the Internet is steering users more and more towards content which they already like, the media will play an important role in keeping us informed about what is going on in Pedro Moneo, Editor-inChief of Technology Review Spain

The way we travel will also change

the rest of the world. In order to keep readers interested, the media will have to provide better, more credible information from journalists, writers and presenters capable of holding on to an audience with their talent and the quality of their information.

ROBOTICS: If you want to know more about the important role played by robotics in the cities of the future, don’t miss out on Bruno Bonell’s conference. He is the founder of Robopolis and former CEO of Atari, the company that made life so magical for kids growing up in the 1980s. Bonell will be joined

by Dr. Khalid Al-Ali, Executive Director of the University of California Office for NASA Partnerships. Dr. Al-Ali has been part of numerous global teams resolving a multitude of issues ranging from scientific to technical, project implantation and strategic. His work has led to many innovations in fields like mammography and paediatrics as well as top X-ray dosage equipment. He has also worked extensively in robotics, controls, acoustics for various multi-media systems, space shuttle payload systems and medical systems.

In addition to providing a platform for the dissemination of knowledge, EmTech Málaga is also a fantastic networking point for innovators and investors, which is something Pedro Moneo knows a lot about.

His own company, Opinno, has helped many entrepreneurial dreams become reality, focusing on the commercialisation of disruptive new technologies, working closely with venture

capital funds, angel organisations, and the different regional innovation ecosystems that foster the growth of technology start-ups.

Opinno has a series of labs, where new startups are built from scratch and new spinouts developed, in collaboration with the word’s top research centres and companies, under the guiding hand of a team of Entrepreneurs in Residence. The company also owns a number of incubators (workspace and back-office services for entrepreneurs in San Francisco, Boston, Madrid and Latin America), which provide services focused on helping clients connect to the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Additionally, Pedro and his team host business meetings (helping clients discover and land successfully in global markets), organise events featuring top speakers in their field and hold competitions to attract young inventors. Opinno also uses technology to help devastated areas, forming part of the team that brought portable water purifiers to Pakistan and Haiti following recent natural disasters.

If you are an innovator, academic, gaming junkie, investor, entrepreneur, member of the media, or you just can’t wait to discover the future, there is only one place to be on October 26-27: the Palacio de Ferias de Málaga, where those who have already made our quality of life so much better, are showing us why, modern man no longer needs faith to solve the world’s most plaguing problems; he needs technology! i Tickets can be purchased on: http://www.emtechspain.com/en/registration/

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Potentiale Wealth offers potential – lots of potential. Through Jyske Bank Private Banking you can realise the full potential of your finances. Our complimentary service, Wealth Management, takes a 360 degree look at your global wealth.

Our advisers will give you a wealth management plan – with a detailed overview of your finances. On the basis of such an overview, we offer a comprehensive assessment of your financial potential. And we will follow up on this regularly to ensure that your wishes and needs are met - now

and in the long term. Throughout the process, you can draw on our many competent advisers – specialising in areas such as real estate property, capital insurance and investment.

Visit jyskebank.gi/wm to learn more – or contact us and set up an appointment.

JYSKE BANK (GIBRALTAR) LTD. • Private Banking 76, Main Street • P.O. Box 143 • Gibraltar Tlf. +350 200 59205 • Fax +350 200 76782 info@jyskebank.gi • www.jyskebank.gi

Jyske Bank (Gibraltar) Ltd. is licensed by the Financial Services Commission, Licence No. FSC 001 00B. Services and products are not available to everybody, for instance not to residents of the US.

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THETHEME TECHNOLOGY It is often said that the Internet has transformed the world, and so it has, but in their own way a great many things have proved to be catalysts of tremendous import. Think of the telephone, the car, flight, the invention of machinery and electronics. For this month’s special theme, let’s take a look at some of the emerging technologies that are shaping the future.

WORDS MICHEL CRUZ

WORDS MICHEL CRUZ

3D printed novelty item © www.shapeways.com

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A new dawn of invention?

James Dyson is a rare spark of light, bringing us the first new vacuum cleaner evolution in over half a century, and buoyed by its success he has recently added a fan that works without a blade – or any other moving parts for that matter. Even so, we still use pretty much the same old fridges, irons and above all, polluting fossil fuels, anxiously and guiltily worrying about the eventual impact but dependent upon them nonetheless.

Thinking of it this way you could begin to believe that most of the world’s technological resources are now dedicated to creating either more advanced weaponry or even more realistic computer games or electronic gadgets, yet thankfully we seem to have arrived at a time when a great many real and diverse inventions appear to be just on the horizon.

With its momentum and commercial drive, the avalanche of electronic development and gadget obsolescence will no doubt continue to gather pace, yet now it seems we are on the cusp of some major new innovations of a rather more tangible nature. Most urgent and therefore important of these are the ones relating to the development of sustainable energies, a process that has already gone some way with the expansion of wind and solar energy production in parts of the world. Spain is a leader in aeolic energy and has tremendous potential – much of it still untapped – in the production of solar energy, but so much of our industrial complex is plugged into oil and gas that it will take a generation or two to complete the transition to new and more sustainable systems.

Up to now we have depended entirely on rapidly depleting reserves mined in

largely unstable regions of the world. With the soaring demand for the commodity in countries such as China and India, the competition for this scarce resource is likely to intensify before it starts to fall away.

The ability to produce oil synthetically – basically conjure it out of nowhere – would greatly stabilise the world and reduce the not entirely theoretical threat of oil-based conflict and even wars, not to mention bring down oil prices and inflation. To make oil out of nothing seems the stuff of a mad professor’s dreams, but it is exactly what a group of Franco-Spanish scientists are working on at a huge research centre near Alicante in eastern Spain.

3D printing in glazed ceramics © www.shapeways.com

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An artistic impression of what ITER will look like. © ITER Organisation

Cut-away of the ITER Vacuum Vessel

For the ultimate solution to our energy needs and the accompanying green house gas problem, we will most likely not be able to avoid nuclear energy.

The very name conjures up visions of potential catastrophe in many of us, and indeed, we have yet to come to grips with this particular pit bull, but that’s because the long-awaited breakthrough in fusion technology has just not materialised. This is partly due to the fact that, led by America’s abandonment of all else for the oildriven automotive option, funding has not always been there to ensure success. Once achieved, nuclear fusion is a process that will enable the efficient and readily available supply of energy without any emissions or radioactive material to dispose of.

For decades, France and Japan were the two countries that continued to commit resources to ongoing research in the field, and they now have the greatest expertise in it, yet this is an undertaking that really requires global input, a point that was finally taken in 1985, when the European Union, the US, Japan and the then Soviet Union came together to establish the foundations for ITER, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.

The next two decades would see the development of what is called a Tokamak Reactor design, an advanced system created to take the next step in nuclear energy and realise nuclear fusion.

Pictures © ITER Organisation

ITER This theoretical model was then translated into a practical engineering plan that has led to the commitment to build the reactor in southern France, where the site has been prepared and excavated, and construction is expected to be completed by 2018.

At this point the whole process, and its practical feasibility, is still conceptual, and so it will take on an experimental role which it is hoped will lead to success by the 2030s, but it is unlikely that energy production will commence before the middle of the century. “So why bother?”, I hear you say. And why spend the better part of 10 billion euros on construction and most likely another 10 billion on maintenance and development?

Because we need a solution like this and the potential benefits could be tremendous. If it proves successful, the mega-reactor in Cadarache will be able to supply energy to most of Western Europe, and be able to amortise its original investment with ease. More importantly, a breakthrough will solve many of our energy needs at a stroke.

Since the eighties, the Soviet Union has been replaced by the Russian Federation, but it’s commitment to the programme remains as strong as ever, joined now by the likes of South Korea, China and India, and the return of the US in 2003. All these countries are willing to pump billions into a project in the hope that it will deliver us from today’s cumbersome fission

technology and herald in a new era in energy supply. Fusion for Energy, the EU’s contributing agency to the project, is based in Spain to emphasise the pan-European status that the project now enjoys, and Spain is making its contribution in the drive to ‘build a sun in a box’.

A cut-away view of the future ITER Tokamak

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If harnessing the energy of a mini-sun in a reinforced box boggles the imagination, how about the idea of growing crops for medicine or meat from stem cells? At first thought they seem like a mad confusion, but gradually the idea of medicine derived from specially modified vegetable crops and meat for consumption grown in laboratories rather than slaughtered in abattoirs begins to make sense. It will take a long time for us to get used to such concepts, but in the meantime advances in these fields are progressing so fast that we may be faced with the choices sooner than we think.

We have already heard a lot about so-called GM crops, but in general GM refers to those genetically modified organisms that are the product of altered manmade variants, produced through the introduction of foreign DNA or manmade genes.

Such manipulation allows scientists to develop strains of cereals and other crops and plants that are ‘naturally’ resistant to pests and epidemics, thus reducing the need for the pesticides that damage the environment in agricultural areas.

Other advances include the creation of crops with fewer toxins, enhanced nutritional value and longer shelf life. In spite of such improvements, the introduction of GM crops has been a contentious issue that skirts the borders of science and morality like a downhill racer on an alpine slalom track.

For scientists, the chance of creating foods that can exhibit all the above qualities and be grown with less water and in previously too harsh conditions, is just another stage in the Green Revolution, the 60s agricultural revolution that allowed the world’s rapidlyexpanding population to be fed with the introduction of increasingly high-yielding staple crops.

However, for those fearful of a repetition of earlier mistakes, it is another stage in the manipulation of nature that gave us pesticides, battery-farming and manmade fruit that is visually perfect but lacking in taste.

The debate will rage on, but gradually the balance is shifting in favour of the scientific and commercial community as GM technology makes valuable new discoveries.

The most promising ones include the creation of varieties of oilseed

With GM manipulation just about anything is possible

The process of harnessing energy from biofuels all begins in the laboratory

rape, cereals and even cow’s milk that contain vaccines to be grown and harnessed by the medical pharmaceutical sector. It would certainly be an improvement on chemical medicine, and there are already biotech companies in the US that have crops such as rice under acreage specifically for the production of medicine. They say that a 100-acre ‘pharmed’ site could produce enough infection-fighting vaccines to medicate up to a million people suffering from diarrhoea in tropical regions of the world.

Another very compelling GM argument is the development of renewable and agriculturally grown sources of packaging and sealing materials that would enable much of the paper, cardboard and above all plastics used today to be replaced by derivatives from potato, maize and rapeseed.

Such materials are biodegradable, recyclable and have no damaging effect in their production or disposal/recycling, and if you consider that Henry Ford once (decades ago) made a prototype car from hemp that was much stronger than his steel models, you realise that we are only just scratching the surface.

Oil out of nothing

Pictures © BFS Biofuels

Harvesting pills

The creation of specially designed plant varieties

What the team under French petrochemical engineer Bernard Stroiazzo-Mougin is looking to do is recreating, or synthesising, the natural process by which oil was first made millions of years ago – oh yes, and speeding it up so it can be done in a question of weeks rather than the thous ands of years required to compress dead vegetable matte r into oil, coal and eventually even diamonds. It’s not as fancif ul as it sounds. We have uncovered and synthesised so many of nature’s chemical and biological processes that it is now possi ble to make a whole host of products ranging from strawberrie s to diamonds without ever touching the original raw mater ial. It looks like the research teams of BFS (Bio Fuel Systems) are going to do just that with oil. In fact, they have already succe ssfully synthesised oil by speeding up the natural transformation process of phytoplankton material.

The system uses a veritable forest of tubes that houses millions of microscopic algae, which are subje cted to an accelerated simulation process that feeds on carbon dioxide to produce real-life oil. The challenge will now be to produce oil on an industrial scale, but already the plant near Alicante is using up large amounts of carbon dioxide from a neighbouring cement factory in the process, and it is thought that within a few years a facility covering an area of 50 square kilom etres will be able to produce about 1.25 million barrels a day, roughly equivalent to the daily export of Iraq, one of the world’s leading oil producing countries.

The system promises to produce a bio fuel with endless and controllable supply whilst absorbing huge amounts of carbon dioxide in the process, making us less dependent on fossil fuels from politically volatile regions and offering a cleaner alternative – and it’s all happening in eastern Spain.

Biofuels are the solu tion to ever decrea sing petrol supplies

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Alternative car fuels

We all know it, after over a century the petrol or diesel combustion engine is nearing the end of its lifeline. It has enjoyed a remarkably long life, much longer than the steam engine, for instance, and still hangs in there as alternative systems compete with each other for future prominence. Since only five per cent of the world’s one billion cars are propelled by alternative fuel sources, it seems the transition away from petrol and diesel cars will take at least another decade or two to complete.

The majority of non-purely fossil fuel-driven cars on the market today are ones that offer a flexible fuel system that alternates between petrol and another energy source. The most prominent of these is the so-called hybrid car, which uses a petrol engine to start up the vehicle and charge an electric engine as it drives.

The latter then automatically takes over until it has run out of juice or you need the power of a conventional engine to get you up a steep slope or to pull a weight.

Made famous by the now increasingly attractive Toyota Prius range, the hybrid car offers a perfect transitional tool but can’t be seen as the ultimate solution, nor is it the first

attempt at a petrol alternative.

There are several earlier car propulsion systems that came into being in the 1970s.

These include LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) engines that offered a cheaper fuel source during the oil crisis in gas-rich countries such as Holland and the UK, but lost their sparkle in the eighties. Reborn as CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), a system using natural gas has once again surfaced thanks to high oil prices, but now it’s especially popular in parts of Asia and South America, where Honda and Fiat respectively lead the market in its development.

Another response to the oil crisis was Brazil’s bio-ethanol fuel derived from sugar cane. Using an abundantly grown natural resource, the country developed a petrol alternative that gained a domestic market share of 70 per cent by the mid-eighties.

Fifteen years later it had almost petered out again, but a renewed oil peak has since seen ethanol-driven cars take close to 80 per cent of the market. A similar nationally developed technology was South Africa’s SASOL, which converted abundant low-grade coal to car and machine fuel, and continues to do so today, while lowemission biodiesel conversions that use recycled vegetable oils have become quite popular in agricultural vehicles and even trucks but not yet made their mark on the mass car market.

Since the nineties the large car manufacturers have joined the fray, with Toyota (Lexus) and Honda dominating the hybrid-electric market and Peugeot looking to develop an all-electric engine range for its small urban cars. Already, some ‘Plug-in Electric Vehicles’ are produced by smaller manufacturers such as Think City and Tesla. The principle behind these cars is simply that you charge them (overnight) instead of filling up at the petrol station, though the drawback is as yet limited power and driving range. While solar panels can extend this range they are not yet capable of harnessing enough power to propel a car, but all this will no doubt change, as new technologies arrives.

Other designs that have appeared are ammonia, biogas and compressed air systems. Developed in Canada, Ammonia Green NH3 requires only simple modification of existing engines and although toxic is no more dangerous than a gas or petrol engine. What’s more, it emits only nitrogen and water vapour.

Meanwhile, biogas is essentially a natural vegetable version of CNG just as biofuel is in relation to diesel, but one of the most potentially promising prospects is the compressed air engine, which uses compressed air instead of fuel and pumps out only cold air that can actually be used for air-conditioning. A variety of manufacturers are researching this option, though problems with low energy output would have to be overcome for it to hit the mass market.

Finally, it seems the hydrogen car currently has the best credentials to take over from petrol. It can be applied either through a conventional combustion engine or in electric battery form, and emits only hydrogen. Though BMW did much of the early research, Honda seems to be the first to populate the market with hydrogen fuel cell cars, with other carmakers working hard to create a combustion system that would allow easy conversion from normal to hydrogen fuel – so if all goes well we could be putting hydrogen in our cars within the next decade or so.

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Printing the world around you Perhaps one of the most conceptually demanding of the new techniques appearing on the scene now is 3D Printing. Though it’s been around for a little while in a purely experimental fashion, this technology seems to be coming on in leaps and bounds. The 3D printer is pretty much like a conventional one in the sense that it will output what you create and make ‘print ready’ on your computer. The difference is that what it prints isn’t a flat sheet of paper but three-dimensional items of ever-increasing complexity. From very basic early balls, pens and screwdrivers, we are now gazing at toys, boxes and even bicycles emerging from an apparatus that’s something between a printer and an injection-moulding machine.

The items now include those with moving parts, intricate designs and, increasingly, robots.

Already, researchers are using them to print out the emerging prototypes they are working on, inspecting their creations in real-life 3D to snag potential problems and lead development so much quicker. Soon you won’t have to draw your ideas or present them on-screen, but can hand out models instead. The US military, meanwhile, may in the not so distant future be sending unmanned drones out of a 3D printer into battle, while others predict that within a generation we will all be paying off our own PP (Personal Printer), capable of producing anything from a camera to a folding chair. The only problem is – at the moment everything still comes out in plastic. Now if you could print yourself a wardrobe full of designer gear with matching accessories or a TV, a well-stocked fridge and a comfortable sofa, I think it could catch on in a big way. e

Interior design 3D printing competition winner

Personally designed 3D printed napkin ring

3D printed colour dyed vase

Computer designed 3D man

An EOS 3D printer by Shapeways

Pictures © www.shapeways.com

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THEFOCUS INTERNET

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ven the hardest working executives jetting from one capital city to another amid a flurry of emails, videoconferences and calls probably start their working day exactly like you and I: typing the letter ‘f’ on their Internet address bar and watching the gloriously curious, informative, often gossipy, world of Facebook unfold before their eyes. Mark Zuckerberg and his team hit the spot with irresistible features such as status updates and addictive apps, ousting less savvy rivals like MySpace, but the word is that Google

is bound to give Facebook a run for its money with the brand new Google Plus, which we are tempted to call a social networking site but which is actually a lot more than that. Only two weeks after its launch in a ‘limited trial, invite-only’ phase, Google Plus already had 10 million users and although it is still being tweaked and tested, we already know some of the features that are likely to make it a solid rival to the so-far undisputed holder of the ‘heavyweight’ title in the world of social networking: Facebook.

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• GOOGLE COMPATIBILITY: Google Plus is socially compatible with other Google products, including Gmail and Google Maps.

Most importantly, it is compatible with Google Buzz, a kind of mash-up of Facebook and Twitter which allows you to share information from Twitter, Picasa, Flickr and Google Reader, either publicly or with a selected list of friends.

One of the things users like best about Google Buzz is that it is built into Gmail so you don’t need to add friends or set up a separate account; it adds the people you email and chat with the most frequently to your ‘friends’ list. Google Buzz is particularly great with photo sharing, automatically pulling images from links, playing videos online and allowing you to flick through photos quickly. Every time your cursor glides over a thumbnail, the photo is automatically enlarged with no tedious waiting. This is a far cry from Facebook, where you need to click onto a ‘cover’ photo before accessing the rest of the photos in the same album, particularly tiresome if you are viewing them from your phone.

• CIRCLES: Google Plus features Circles instead of Friends Lists. It’s all about visual simplicity: the new system makes sharing online more lifelike, allowing you to group friends into different, visible circles so you can share what you want with who you want.

It’s all a lot quicker than Facebook, which does allow you to restrict who views your photos and videos, but through a slightly more cumbersome process. Circles are very easy to manage, in that you can just pull friends into them or chuck them out prior to every individual action, like sharing a particular album or video, without having to enter and amend your privacy settings. When you sign up to Google Plus, you’ll find a small number of circles (Friends, Family, Acquaintances, etc.), which you can change and add to as you wish (for instance School Friends, Work Friends Immediate Family, Extended Family, etc.).

• HANGOUTS: This function allows you to have video conferences with individual friends or entire circles, which is particularly interesting for work related calls.

• HUDDLE: Have you ever tried to get a group of friends to decide on a movie, restaurant and time, only to feel like cancelling the whole darn thing after one too many conflicting phone calls, emails and text messages? Now you can forget about being the conduit between everyone, as you indulge in a simultaneous chat with everyone concerned. Just make sure everybody in the circle you’re using is invited, or at least be ‘nice’ and chuck them out of the circle before initiating the huddle!

• SPARKS: This function allows Google to do what it has always done best: search for stuff you’re interested in! If fashion is your passion, or cooking, or technology, just type in the relevant words and Sparks will suggest information you will probably be interested in.

This feature works nicely alongside the new

Google +1 button, which is appearing on many Google search results and whose purpose many people are curious about.

• GOOGLE +1 BUTTON: This colourful icon, resembling a file with the sign ‘+1’ written on it, is something you’ve probably encountered if you conduct searches on Google with any regularity. It also appears on friends’ posts in Google Plus and within this context, it functions very much like Facebook’s ‘Like’ Button.

The button is part of a much larger operation, however, since it allows you to share interesting content both with friends and with Google users all over the world. This is how it works: say you are searching for ‘top gadgets’ on Google. A list of sites appear in your search results and you particularly like one of them. You then click on the +1 button next to the result and the button turns blue.

This +1 is automatically added to the +1s tab on your Google profile, where you can manage your +1s, deciding whether or not you wish to publicly share them. Even if you choose not to publicly share your +1s tab, your +1s will be visible by anyone viewing the result you +1’d.

This allows users all over the world to find truly useful, popular sites that have been +1’d by many people.

The button also allows you to find information that have been +1’d by your friends, which will probably be more relevant than anonymous +1s in many cases. The +1 button is currently only available on the Google search results but soon, they will appear within most websites themselves, making it easy to indicate that a site is informative or interesting after you have browsed through it. Remember, in order to use this function, you need to be signed into your Google account first.

• PRIVACY: Those who have concerns over privacy needn’t worry; Google Plus allows you to assign different levels of accessibility to different aspects of your profile. As with Facebook, you can control who can find you and block undesirables. The people listed in your circles will never be disclosed (even to other people within the same circle) though evidently, they could ‘discover’ each other if they post feedback or they agree to engage in a group huddle or collectively hangout.

• PACKING UP: If you decide you don’t like Google Plus and prefer to stick to Facebook, just get out of town! Google allows you to simply ‘downgrade’ your account, so your profile is deleted as are any posts, circles and Google + content. And you’ll still be able to access all your other Google services like Gmail.

• DATA BACK-UP: Do you stay up at night, wondering what on earth would happen to all your cherished memories, photos and stored info, if Google ever crashed? Just log onto www.google.com/takeout and download data from all your Google Plus products (like Picasa Web albums, your Google profile, contacts, stream and Google Buzz) onto your home computer.

• MOBILE USE: Google Plus is supported

by Chrome, IE, Firefox and Safari and can also be enjoyed on your mobile, which is really the ideal place for functions such as Huddle.

Moreover, any photo or video recorded on your phone is automatically uploaded to Google Plus. That doesn’t mean that everyone can see them; you have to specify who you wish to share them with.

You may feel thoroughly satiated by the barrage of information above but the ultimate question is: do we really need Google Plus? On a social networking scale it may add little to the Facebook experience (apart from sharing information through the +1 button), but on a whole, we love the sense of belonging to something much larger than simply a social experience. In a few months, everyone who’s anyone will most likely have a Google Profile and with features such as sparks, huddle and shared +1s, Google Plus is at the very least a solid competitor to Facebook; let’s see what else it can come up with to move entire social circles from one site to another… e OCTOBER 2011 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE / 47

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THEFOCUS PEOPLE

Christian Bjorlow

Managing Director of Jyske Bank Gibraltar

The Jyske Bank Group is flying higher than ever, having recently scored a major coup in the banking sector, coming within the top 10 of 90 tested banks in the European Union Stress Test.

The international group has also reaped rewards for its highly informative online TV station: Jyske Bank TV, recognised with a Sabre award, one of the most prestigious in the European PR and communications sector. This month, we learn all about Jyske Bank’s services, core values and emphasis on personalised banking, through an exclusive interview with Jyske Bank Gibraltar’s Managing Director, Christian Bjorlow. photography Mirko Baum

Did you always know you wanted to work in banking?

Yes, following work experience in banking at middle school, I knew I wanted to be in banking. I spent 9 months in the Danish military service, but at 21 yrs I chose to join Jyske Bank because its values appealed to me.

How did you become CEO of an important banking institution at such an early age?

I have held management level positions since 1997, when I managed an Investment Centre in Copenhagen. Then in 2002 I saw the opportunity to became Private Banking Manager of Jyske Bank Gibraltar. Success and recognition in this position lead me to become the CEO in 2007.

What changes did you implement when you first became CEO, or in subsequent years?

There was no need to ‘rock the boat’. I basically continued the good progress of my predecessors. Any changes in the organisation were instigated in response to changes in the economic markets, which caused some changes in clients’ needs.

The Jyske Bank Group recently passed the EU Stress test, coming within the top 10 of 90 tested banks. Could you define for our readers what the stress test measures?

The stress test, which is carried out across 90 banks, seeks to assess the resilience of European banks to an adverse economic development in 2011 and 2012. Overall the result of the stress test confirms the solid capital position and structure of the Jyske Bank Group. For both 2011

and 2012, the calculated levels are fully satisfactory in respect of business strategy and the authorities requirements.

What are the core values that define Jyske Bank?

The core values of my bank are centralised around three main pillars: stakeholders, customers and employees, and these must be treated with equal respect at all times. The core values by which we live are common sense, open and honest, different and unpretentious, efficient and persevering, genuine interest and equal respect. These values are continually reinforced within our organisation and all newcomers are introduced to these.

Staff is normally limited in any private institution so how do you manage to provide one-on-one attention and regular follow-ups for your investors?

Each Private Banking client is allocated their own Relationship Manager with whom they create their investment strategy according to their risk appetite, time horizon, etc. As clients have varying needs, the relationship managers have sufficient time to ensure that clients needs are met in a timely manner.

How do you manage to attract top professionals when the latter do not receive commissions for selling services?

We attract employees who find it rewarding to work in an empowering, value-based environment. We would probably not be the ideal bank for an individual looking for employment in a bank that pays a bonus. We strive to provide the best working environment while focusing on our clients’ needs.

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Why do you think your Wealth Management and Global Discretionary are so attractive to those with a healthy amount of money to spend?

Wealth Management and our Managed Funds are available to clients at entry levels starting at €150.000. Most other Private Banks have much higher entry levels for these products and services. Wealth Management is also a complimentary service.

Jyske Bank TV, recently awarded with a Sabre award, is a huge project involving journalists from all over the world informing clients and those interested in finance and economics on breaking global news. How did Jyske Bank manage to set up such a complex network? Why do you think The Woodward Report in particular, enjoys such good ratings.

Jyske Bank in Denmark has always been a pioneer in technology and being different and in searching for innovative ways of branding. Jyske Bank also strives to make information and communication with its clients and employees more efficient. So following the success of the Danish TV station, we launched en.jyskebank.tv in 2009. The Woodward Report has been a new and interesting broadcast because it tells a different story than you normally would expect from a bank.

We hear that your staff travels along the Costa del Sol and the Algarve to attend to people who have difficulty moving around. Some clients are even visited in their own homes; is this service actually taken up by many clients?

Many clients and potential clients enjoy the service we offer of visiting them in their own homes. As discussing private wealth is a very personal matter, we find that clients much prefer to meet in the privacy of their own homes. With the massively improved transport networks, the Costa del Sol and the Algarve are close by.

A BELIEF IN OPEN, EFFICIENT AND PERSONALISED BANKING We hear you’re having a new computer system installed. What does this mean for clients in terms of increased efficiency in your services and in online banking?

Our new IT system will give clients a much improved overview of their accounts and investments plus vast improvements in our internet banking, Netbank.

When do you feel that clients in Europe can look forward to more positive returns on their investments? The recession seems to be lasting endlessly.

To be completely honest, I would be pleased if I could answer this question. The market is extremely volatile for the time being and I don’t think anyone can give you the answer. I could come up with a lot of scenarios and then tomorrow these could change and we would have a new situation. However, the growth indicators show a weak recovery and don’t expect the world economy to slide back into recession, but the risk has increased without doubt. It is unlikely that you could expect any major interest rate hikes by the most important central banks in the near future.

It would be ideal to have a crystal ball, but since we don’t, it is more important that each customer contacts their bank, and discusses whether any adjustments need to be made to their portfolio due to the market situation.

Do you find that clients are taking less risks at the moment in terms of investment?

In general, clients seem to be placing their funds in low-risk investments. However there are of course many investment opportunities in the markets at present for clients with the appropriate risk profile.

What is the profile of the ideal Jyske Bank client?

We do not put our clients in boxes. We welcome clients with varying service and product requirements. Our minimum entry level is €150.000 which is lower than most Private Banks meaning that our Private Banking clients can enjoy the personal and individual service of their own Relationship Manager at a more modest investment amount.

How do you ensure utmost personalisation for clients wishing to create an investment portfolio?

All clients are guided by their Relationship Manager through our investment tool so as to assess their attitude to risk, time horizon, etc. Once this is established, the client and Relationship Manager discuss the best investment portfolio. As the client maintains the same Relationship Manager during their years banking with us, personalisation is ensured. Importantly, as none of the employees of Jyske Bank receive a bonus, the client can be sure that their investment portfolio is created with the client’s needs at the core. i www.jyskebank.gi

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THEFOCUS HOLLYWOOD

WORDS RUPERT BLUFF

Minority Report is one of the best futuristic films of all time. Interestingly, its Director, Steven Spielberg, refused to call it ‘science fiction’, preferring instead the tag of ‘future reality’ This is because most of the technology featured is now becoming fact rather than fiction.

This month we take a look at technologies featured in this and other films which will soon make life a lot more exciting.

Destination:

FUTURE

DYNAMIC IRIS RECOGNITION:

Iris recognition is already being used to identify potential criminals in many airports across the world but in Minority Report, machines are able to scan irises as people walk through a mall or any public place, making the technology far more useful in crime control.

Dynamic Iris Recognition is still a dream as we speak but have no doubt, it will one day control our every move.

Rupert Bluff reports on the latest in film, gossip and Hollywood life from Los Angeles.

COMPUTERS THAT CAN THINK:

Internet 3.0 (in which Internet, can, to some extent, ‘think’) is already all the rage, but Internet 4.0 might be a little bit like the characters experience in Minority Report.

In the film, Tom Cruise is walking through the mall and as he enters the GAP store, a hologram rises up, welcoming him back to the shop and offering him similar items to those he has purchased in the past. Computers can also tell when he’s thirsty, anxious or uncomfortable, and begin to barrage him with personalised ads nobody else in the mall can see or hear, since they are being approached by their own set of personalised ads.

COMPUTER CONTROLLED TRANSPORT: Admit it: every time you’re stuck in a traffic jam you wish you car could float above everyone else’s. The idea of travelling like the Jetsons, or never having to wait it out in a traffic jam, because all transport is controlled centrally, is still at the experimental stage, but Toyota did a great job at predicting the kind of technology it will involve in Minority Report. In the film, the (Lexus) ‘capsule cars’ are controlled through a combination of highly conductive magnets on the road and linear motor technology on the cars. The result is that cars can travel up an apartment building to ‘dock’ at your residence or whiz through the city at bullet speed, without causing a single accident!

SPIDER ROBOTS:

Every time I see metallic arachnids running across the silver screen a shiver runs up my spine and it’s all the fault of the recent remake of the TV series V, about a population of aliens which aims to take over the world. In V, the aliens use tiny robots that enter the human body through the eyes, causing unbearable pain and eventually, death. Spider Robots, as seen in Minority Report, have a much more important mission to complete: accessing areas which are too dangerous for soldiers to approach. The robots have already been developed by the company BAE Systems for use by the US military.

CLONING HUMAN BEINGS TO HARVEST ORGANS/CLONING HUMAN EMBRYOS: Two fantastic films feature this callous use of science: Never Let Me Go (2010) and The Island (2005), though they approach the issue from very different angles; the first with an emphasis on the existential dilemma and the second on futuristic technology.

Human cloning has always been a highly controversial topic but luckily, huge advances in advanced stem cell research mean that many more ethical ways to battle devastating diseases are being discovered. Adult stem cells are already being used to generate heart muscle, brain tissue and even spinal cords and retinal cells in the eye.

E-PAPER:

In Minority Report, the characters can be seen reading the daily news on newspapers featuring moving images and colourful, dynamic designs. Korean firm LG has already created flexible e-paper and companies like E Ink and Plastic Logic have followed suit. This is exciting news both for consumers and the environment, as culling trees for paper may soon be a thing of the past. e 50 / ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2011

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MARBELLA - ESTEPONA ESTATES

P R O P E RT Y

I N V E S T M E N T S

“when you are serious about real estate”

Unique Opportunity in Elviria Playa!

• • • • •

Fantastic beach side duplex penthouse, Marbella East Just a few minutes walk from all amenities Beside the best beaches on the coast Extremely large terrace of 50m2 with breathtaking sea and coastal views.

Three Bedrooms, Three Bathrooms Built: 176m2, Living: 119m2, Terrace. 60m2

Good Value for a Townhouse, San Pedro Area

• • • • •

Price reduced for a quick sale!

Ideal for families, close to school and amenities Sea views from upper terrace Beautiful kept gardens with pool Four Bedrooms, Three Bathrooms Built: 246m2, Living: 175m2, Terrace: 77m2

REF AP0594 – Price: 525.000 euros

Fabulous Rustic Style Villa in Atalaya • • • • •

Situated in a cul-de-sac, lots of privacy Very reasonably priced Close to all amenities, golf, beaches Beautiful mature garden with heated pool Five bedrooms, Four bathrooms Plot: 838m2, Built: 253m2, Living: 220m2

REF. TH0217 - Price: 299.500 euros

Stunning Spacious and Luminous Villa in El Paraiso Alto • • • •

Large plot, incredible views over golf course and sea Beautiful garden with a large size pool Lots of natural light all over the property Five bedrooms, Five bathrooms

REF: VI0299 – Price: 695.000 euros

Plot: 2.400m2, Built: 628m2

REF. VI0280– Price: 1.600.000 euros

Let us sell your property between Elviria and Estepona! Contact our listing department today!

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Urb. Monte Biarritz, Pueblo Jardin, Local 4 29688 Estepona (Málaga) Tel: +34 952 90 42 44 Email: info@marbella-estates.com 149 Marbella Estates.indd 1

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INTERIORS / ARCHITECTURE / ART / DESIGN / GARDENS / FASHION

Luxury villa décor, fashion forward, Vergola outdoor living and the latest Autumn accessories...

54 Décor: A Villa by the Beach 62 Décor News: Vergola 64 Fashion: Futuristic Wear by Gattinoni 70 Fashion News

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THESTYLE DECOR The glorious pool and garden area

Picture this: a villa right on the beach, with the sound of waves lapping the sand as the backdrop to your lifestyle. It’s the sound you hear when you wake up, stroll out into your garden and gaze at the sea from within the confines of your own private paradise. As you visualise the scene you probably imagine the Caribbean, for in large parts of Europe beaches are public and the concept of a private one is very rare. The same applies to Spain, and while it is true that all beaches in and around Marbella are in the public domain, there are some properties close enough for their owners to consider themselves in possession of a private stretch of Mediterranean shoreline.

A villa by the beach, please WORDS Michel cruz Photography www.sparrowphotography.net

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The inviting lounge area by the pool

T

he villas at Laguna de Banús are a case in point. Offering direct access to a secluded beach, this is about as close as you get to having your own seaside domain. What’s more, they are set within the ThaiPolynesian inspired Laguna de Banús urbanisation, a highly exclusive collection of luxurious apartments and villas surrounded by lush tropical gardens, fountains and the kind of sensual architectural detailing and landscaping that you would find in a sumptuous spa resort in Thailand or Tahiti. The latter ensures not just a good address in one of the most highly sought-after developments in Marbella, but also a prime location and high-standing concierge service that extends itself to the villas.

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Technology under the skin

Height and space are two of the villa’s best features

With all of this you might think that there could be nothing more to wish for. After all, a luxurious villa set right on the beach and within the tropical gardens of an exclusive urbanisation that offers valet service is quite a list of attributes already, yet some people want to have their cake and eat it, which is where bespoke contractor John May from Quay Property Group comes in.

A specialist builder from London who has brought the latest techniques and technologies to Marbella construction, he works with a handpicked group of people that meet his exacting standards in the fields of construction, craftsmanship, landscaping and home automation, or domotics as it is called locally.

“Marbella is a place where people from around the world gather, so it is a town that attracts creativity and expertise from a great many sources,” says John when explaining his contribution to the local construction sector. “I work here to the same standards I would maintain in the UK, or anywhere else

for that matter, and if that sometimes causes me headaches in terms of sourcing or project management so be it. The important thing is that we deliver what we promise and that our clients are satisfied.”

As we all know, the once feverish pace of construction on the coast has slowed to a trickle, but thanks to his technical – and technological – specialisation John and his team are thriving. “There is a great deal of renovating, extending and upgrading going on, and since this involves a lot of construction and technology upgrades as well, we are in an ideal niche position.” It is something the owner of the Laguna de Banús villa recognised when he asked John to completely overhaul his property and bring it fully into the 21st century.

“Several years ago homeowners were happy with an Internet connection, a surround sound system, a power backup and a modern kitchen, but now they want the kind of high-tech features that require a technical and building reconfiguration.”

Living in style

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VISIT OUR SHOWROOM

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LED lighting adds a futuristic feel to any area

Building in the features As a result, much of his work involves converting existing homes into high-tech ones rather than merely adding new technology.

“Incorporating modern features into such a house is usually much more complex than building a fully fitted property from scratch,” says John, “but it’s a challenge we specialise in.” The villa in Laguna de Banús provided just such a challenge, where a lovely home in a prime spot needed to be updated both in terms of its styling and its facilities. “The owner wanted a whole new list of features carried out to the highest standards, so a complete overhaul of the property was required. We started by analysing what was there already and what was needed to meet the upgraded amenities, then created a plan for a technical structure that would require the least amount of rebuilding and upheaval yet offer a top-notch infrastructure capable of operating the latest technology in a reliable, efficient and economical way.”

What’s more, such systems must be simple and convenient to operate and maintain, or else you could burden the owner with a white elephant.

The list of requirements was long, starting with a new and advanced climate control system that incorporates under floor heating, air conditioning, fans and brings it into a single, centrally coordinated network that can be adjusted, preset and programmed in every individual room. “It’s a classic domotic application, but what complicated matters was a typical problem encountered in

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An ideal corner for an al fresco lunch

A perfect setting for some tête-à-tête

existing properties when doing this sort of work, namely where there had been an extension, the new under floor heating and air conditioning network did not fit the original installation.” The conventional solution would have been to tack the new system on to the existing one, and effectively have two different heating systems working alongside one another. “But that’s a cumbersome, inefficient and unsatisfactory set-up, so short of ripping out the old structure and relaying it again, we had to match the two systems up and create an overriding control system that calibrates their operation so that they work in sync. This might sound reasonably straightforward but it is a very involved job, writing an entirely new software program to allow the new systems to communicate with each other if you want to get it exactly right.”

The heating and cooling systems were just the start in a home that features complete touch screen control of everything from the locks and security system to the lighting, sprinklers, monitors and even the automatic swimming pool cover. All these separate systems are adjustable, programmable and can be reset in each and every room, creating preset lighting tones that set the mood in different areas and even include changeable coloured lighting offset against the ceiling detail for optimal effect. “You will probably want to preset things like sprinklers and security commands to a fixed standard while changing the settings for lighting and heating more often,” says John, “so another aim is to make the system as logical and easy to operate as possible. Even so,

you do need to get used to working it, but we have simplified it to the point where a whole string of integrated commands can be activated by a single touch control.”

Earlier systems worked through a large touch screen control, rather like an oversized TV zapper, but now it’s no longer necessary to look for or fight over the domotic menu board as the entire control system can be operated from your personal iPhone. “That is, after we have customised the entire system, which involves planning it on paper, writing the software for it, building the physical infrastructure, wiring the house, customising the command systems and then fine-tuning and calibrating them by hand. After all, you don’t want to run the risk that it works in theory but not in practice.”

Classical meets modern with fire-proof thatched roofs

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Contemporary yet cosy

The practical kitchen area

A perfect setting for work or play

Blending style and convenience The most important application of home systems of this kind is surely the audiovisual. Having reliable high-speed wireless broadband is almost taken for granted in a home like this, but the combination of sleek flat screens and drop down movie screens with high-tech projectors and surround sound in a generous selection of rooms still conjures up a sense of wonderment. “It’s a very interactive and visual thing, allowing people to follow the TV, watch a film together or use it as a giant computer monitor, but the flat screens are also an extension of modern décor these

days, so they add to the aesthetic aspect of a room.”

On top of all of this came a clean modern décor, light, open and breezy to make the most of the Marbella climate and lifestyle. “We built water features into the flanks of the home, where large windows bring natural light into the kitchen and bathrooms and create a private, Bali-style space that is restful and soothing by day and, with clever lighting, becomes a real visual feature at night.” Modern pool decking and one-way glass ensure the garden can be enjoyed in privacy while also having views of the

sea. “And when people want to go out to the beach the home security system is activated the minute they close the garden gate behind them.

You can similarly programme the home to go into lockdown mode or standby mode when you leave for a longer period, just as it can be remotely prepared for your return, and lighting turned down but the perfect temperature maintained while you’re out for dinner or a night on the town. Really, with a home like this, the control panel is the palate around which to design your ideal lifestyle conditions.” e

g Quay Property Group

John May – ‘Expect The Exceptional’ Tel: 951 319 728. info@quaypropertygroup.com www.quaypropertygroup.com

Colour cast courtesy of LED lighting

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THESTYLE DECOR WORDS Marisa Cutillas Photography Courtesy of Vergola

Intelligent

Roofing

Vergola

with

Y

ou gotta’ hand it to the Aussies; they really know how to take a challenging climate and turn it on its head, transforming hot into shady, rainy into dry and dark into light with cutting edge technology.

Take Adelaide-born firm Vergola, the company whose patented electronic roofing system braves the rain and sun, is easy to clean, and puts old awning systems to shame when it comes to design and practicality.

The Vergola system is high tech, making it an essential component of any self-respecting ‘intelligent’ home and extremely easy to use, allowing you to freely decide how much light or shade you wish to let into a room, as well as ventilation, all as quick as the touch of a button.

Vergola was born in the aeronautical industry, where engineers familiar with air flows over aircraft wings caught onto the idea of using this technology to add ventilation into home roofing systems. Unlike awnings, which are either fully opened or closed, Vergola’s interlocking roofing slats can be opened at many different angles, creating variable environments. In the summer, keep them partly open to block the sun but bring in the breeze for a cool afternoon on the terrace. During winter, adjust the louvres to let in the maximum amount of sunlight and warmth. The system also protects you against rain, since it can be electronically programmed to shut as the first droplets hit its sensor and to open an hour after the rain ceases. “The best thing about Vergola is that it allows you to create a bespoke environment,”

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says Bob Williams, who, alongside his wife Helen, has brought the intelligent roofing system to Spain.

“For instance,” he says, “some people may have a garden in their covered terrace and want to let the rain in. They would then programme the louvres to open when it starts raining and shut when the rain stops.” Another way Vergola differs from plastic roofs or awnings is that its sound insulation means you don’t have to put up with the drumming sound of rain.

It has specially designed gutters fitted along the inside perimeter of the framework to collect rainwater, which connect by downpipes into the storm water system. The louvres insulate your home against heat as well as sound owing to their hollow design, while their aerofoil shape allows you to control the airflow in your home, inviting cool breezes in the summer and deflecting unpleasant chilly wind in the winter.

How does Vergola score in the design department? It suffices to say that the system’s minimalist, elegant style belies the important role it plays in turning an oven into a delightful, cool inviting terrace.

And the system is available in a variety of colours. Bob and Helen, who are self-confessed design buffs, purchased their own Vergola roofing system many years ago, when they decided to reform their home on the Costa del Sol including its substantial terrace. Realising there was nothing like Vergola in Spain, the couple imported the roofing system from Australia, enclosing the terrace

with glass curtains for extra weather control. Bob and Helen don’t exactly have the standard rough weather furniture typical of most outdoor terraces; delicate white sofas, imported marble and beautiful fabrics abound so keeping the furniture clean and dry was of the essence. Says Bob, “We thought we might use the terrace occasionally but with the new roofing system it is so pleasant to be there, we hardly use the indoor living and dining rooms at all, day or night.” Easy cleaning is an added bonus. Bob explains: “If you have outdoor furniture, you can clean the louvres with a hose. If, like us, your furniture is more delicate, it’s a five-minute job using a mop.” ’Dr. Bob’, a renowned geologist and explorer, was so impressed by Vergola that instead of sitting back and enjoying life on his gorgeous terrace, he decided to purchase the exclusive rights to Vergola in Spain and Gibraltar. Having worked in Australia, he knew that the sunny climes of the Mediterranean were the perfect setting for revolutionary roofing and indeed, his business has gone from strength to strength, with a new showroom in Polígono El Ermita and a team of sales, marketing and installation specialists now expanding across the country. “Ensuring correct installation is key, since the system is guaranteed for 10 years,” he says. ‘Compromise makes a good umbrella, but a poor roof,’ goes the saying, and when it comes to feeling comfortable and content in one’s own home, it makes sense to reach for the stars and to sit beneath them as well, enjoying your nightcap under an open Vergola. e

g C/ Uranio 41, Polígono La Ermita, Marbella. Tel: 902 102 658. www.vergola.es 26/9/11 12:38:36

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THESTYLE FASHION

AltaRomAltaModa, one of Rome’s most important cultural events, sets the city of the Emperors on fire with a host of concepts by the most promising talents in design. The event, touted as a crossroads of avante-garde culture and fashion, comprises art exhibitions, 3D film showings and the popular A.I. Gallery project, which places five artists whose works express contemporary creative trends in different galleries located in the old Roman Ghetto. Of the many designers who stunned the crowds with cutting edge fashion, few encapsulated the wonder of futuristic fashion trends like Gattinoni, the famed fashion house that may have dressed Audrey Hepburn and Ingrid Bergman but whose latest collection sparkles with robotic, metallic designs.

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I

BRINGS THE FACE OF THE

to AltaRomAltaModa 2011 OCTOBER 2011 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE / 65

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i www.gattinoni.com

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Untitled-1 1

13/6/11 11:22:48

THESTYLE FASHION Key chain by Accessorize

Ring by Dior

Sequinned bag

by Accessorize

CONTACTS: ACCESSORIZE: www.accessorize.com, BENETTON: www.benetton.com, CARTIER: www.cartier.com, DIOR: www.dior.com, KAPRICE: kaprice@biznetvigator.com, MIMO SILVER: www.mimosilver.com, MONSOON: www.monsoon.co.uk, NEXT: www.next.co.uk

Leather clutch with crystals

by Kaprice Belt by Benetton

WINTER must-haves COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS

Keeping warm and cosy is easier than ever with these Autumn/Winter 2011 accessories, which somehow make the cold season so much more bearable.

Marbella bracelet by Mimo Silver

Who’s Wearing What?

One of the brightest stars on the red carpet at this year’s Cannes Festival was undoubtedly Chinese star Fan Bing Bing, who showed the world how classic jewellery from Cartier can contribute to an über trendy look by piling it on. Unabashedly bling!

Boot by Dior

Boot by Monsoon

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TREATMENTS / PRODUCTS / Beauty / SPA / SCIENCE / health

High tech health, oxygen rejuvenation, beauty fix and advice on infertility...

74 The Intraceuticals Oxygen Facial 76 Beauty News 78 Breakthrough Procedures in Health 80 Health News 82 Heath Profile: Infertility Solutions

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Let us bring out the best in You!

Facelift Blepharoplasty Rhinoplasty Otoplasty Abdominoplasty Breast lift/ augmentation/ reduction/ Labiaplasty Liposuction Thigh lift Brachioplasty Scar correction Deep Peeling Botox - Filler Dental aesthetics Facial feminization Dr. Kai O. Kaye

Plastic, Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgeon Fellow of the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery EBOPRAS Full Member of the German Board of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery DGPRĂ„C Member of the Colegio de Medicos de Malaga (No.29/2909452)

Winner Marbella Awards 2010 Specialist Clinic

Av. Ramon y Cajal, 7 29600 Marbella 951 775 518 / 670 770 455 info@oceanclinic.net www. oceanclinic.net

BEAUTY

Plump,

WORDS Marisa CUTILLAS

TREATMENTS

Glowing Skin with the Intraceuticals Oxygen Facial

M

any cosmetic firms claim that their products are endorsed by celebrities, leaving beauty buffs to ponder over the possibility of stars like Gwyneth Paltrow or Eva Longoria really adhering to so many beauty routines simultaneously.

In this respect, the Intraceuticals company, creator of the groundbreaking new oxygen facial, is a step above the rest.

Celebs like Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas, Eva Longoria and Madonna are just a small representation of a bevy of stars who have publicly endorsed the treatment, which involves the use of hyperbaric pressure and hyaluronic acid, to turn back the hands of time. The Material Girl is notoriously up-to-date when it comes to all things to do with fitness and beauty so when she purchased Intraceuticals systems for each of her houses, and decided to take the system on tour with her around the world, the interest of women everywhere was piqued. Interestingly, there is nothing really ‘new’ about hyperbaric technology; it has been used for many years, having been originally designed to treat decompression sickness.

What is new is its topical use to promote the production of collagen and elastin fibres, by helping transmit low-weight hyaluronic acid, Vitamins and anti-oxidants deep into the skin, past the superficial layers.

I recently experienced the cool bliss of this treatment, which was so pleasant and calming I could barely stay awake. Ask the therapist to perform the treatment on one side of your face before the other so you can really appreciate the plumpness, reduced appearance of lines and wrinkles and more pronounced features (such as the cheek and jaw line) on the treated side.

The facial improves skin tone, texture, pore size and sagging, giving skin an instant ‘lift’ and your complexion a youthful glow. What makes it so revolutionary from a technological perspective is that it it works instantly, has ongoing effects and is compatible with make-up and injectables; indeed, it is recommended before going for your

The treatment doesn’t come cheap but is definitely worth what you pay session of Botox, Restylane, collagen or vitamin injections, since it enhances the positive effects of these fillers.

So how does it all work? The Intraceuticals Oxygen Infusion System consists of a machine which draws in the surrounding air, using a specialised molecular sieve filtration process to deliver a continuous stream of therapeutic grade oxygen to your skin. The system is specifically calibrated to deliver the correct balance of oxygen flow and pressure to produce topical hyperbaric oxygen. A special rejuvenating serum is sprayed onto your skin and the intraceuticals infuser (similar to a metallic pen) is held at 1mm from the skin surface, creating a ‘pressure bubble’ which mimics a hyperbaric chamber, increasing the saturation of oxygen in the external skin tissue and assisting the rapid absorption of the serum (which contains everything from hyaluronic acid to Green Tea, and Vitamins A, C and E).

The sensation is uplifting and relaxing, and particularly pleasurable in warm climes where cool mini-bursts of oxygen are exactly what your skin craves most.

During the treatment, which lasted a little under an hour, the therapist applied additional infusions onto my skin, including a hydration gel (which tightens and moisturises the skin),

a moisture binding cream (brimming over with anti-oxidants and containing a blend of essential oils such as jojoba, macadamia, sweet almond and wheat germ) and a Contour Eye Gel, containing the active ingredient HWM Hyaluronic, a humectant with the ability to draw water continuously from the atmosphere. These additional moisturisers are applied because, although the facial ‘pushes’ hyaluronic acid deep into the skin, surface areas also need to be hydrated, so they can form an effective barrier between your skin and free radicals.

I had one side of my face done first and was gobsmacked to find the ugly crease on that side of my mouth ‘plumped up’ and my eyelid, which can hang down and make me look grumpy, pleasantly ‘lifted’. The all-round glow further aroused my interest and I asked the therapist how many sessions I would need before requesting her to work on the other side of my face (symmetry is everything, after all).

The ideal course of treatments is six (one a week), followed by maintenance every four to six weeks. The treatment doesn’t come cheap but is definitely worth what you pay if you are after real results, which can be appreciated after just one go. It’s not surprising that the oxygen facial is the choice of many brides prior to their big day; a youthful, bright look, reduced pore size and a refreshed, dewy complexion is surely the mark of a truly beautiful face. e

i Available at Beso: C/ Emancipación, Local 15, Fuengirola and at El Oceano Beauty Centre: Miraflores Playa, Costa del Sol: Tel: 952 587 550. www.eloceanohotel.com

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ADVERTISEMENT

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Liquid Eyeliner from the Autumn 2011 collection by Estée Lauder

BEAUTY

The Bare

WORDS Marisa CUTILLAS

essentials As the winter season approaches, we need to take a look at our make-up collection and determine which items require to be replaced. I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad thing, but every season we are tempted to trade in our shadows, blushes and polishes for items in trendier, seasonal shades. We may not be able to indulge our passion for make-up to the extent we wish, but a few purchases at the start of every season won’t do any major harm. Take your pick from our top selection:

PRODUCTS

Rouge G de Guerlain lipstick. i www.debenhams.co.uk

Shimmer Cubes eyeshadow by The Body Shop. i www.thebodyshop.es

Long-wear gel eyeliner from Debenhams. i www.debenhams.co.uk

Delicious Candy Apples: new scent by DKNY Delicious. i www.theperfumeshop.com

Dazzling eyeshadow from the Blue Tie Dior make-up collection. i www.dior.com

Irresistible metallic shades from the Chanel Autumn/Winter 2011 collection. i www.chanel.com

Melting Body Fondant by Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden Spa Therapies. i www.debenhams.co.uk

Formaldehyde and toluene-free nail polish by OPI. This collection is called ‘Touring America’. i www.opi.com

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TOP FIVE

Toxinator Robot:

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

Emerging Technologies in the Health Sector TECHNOLOGY

Electric super cars, e-paper and ‘the Internet of things’ are only some of the products of emerging technologies which, far from being the stuff of fancy, are already part of daily life for the lucky mavericks whose opinions and experiences will re-design and re-define these technologies until they are ready for public consumption. They say health is the foundation of happiness, so it’s good to know that technology will also be helping us live better and longer lives, thanks to a handful of magical new discoveries. We hope you enjoy our list of Top Five Emerging Technologies.

Retinal Implants for the Blind:

German company, Retinal Implant AG, has developed a technology which may be in its fledgling stages, but is promising to help those blinded by retinitis pigmentosa to see in the near future. Hailed as “an unprecedented advance in electronic visual prostheses” by the Royal British Society, is involves fitting electronic implants in the retina, which are linked to a small external camera mounted onto a pair of spectacles. The camera collects light and sends it in the form of an electrical signal to the implant. The implant sends data to the optic nerve which runs from the eyeball to the brain and the brain thereby receives a tiny image measuring 38 x 40 pixels. Using the implant, previously blind people were able to identify objects such as a spoon or fork, geometric patterns and different fruits. Currently, there are 200,000 people from around the world blinded by retinitis pigmentosa who we can imagine are waiting for their very own implant with baited breath.

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Circuits ‘Tatooed’ Onto Skin:

It looks like an ordinary tattoo but this revolutionary sticker actually contains a circuit capable of adapting completely to the flexibility of skin while it monitors cardiovascular and muscular activity, records the wearer’s blood preassure and other vital signs including brain activity. The manufacturing process is pretty simple: the circuit is made on silicon wafers then transformed to an ultra fine sheet of water-soluble plastic. It then goes on skin like a temporary tattoo, by dabbing a bit of water on it and letting it dry. Once you’re done with it, just peel it off.

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5

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Everyday, modern man absorbs over 80,000 chemicals found in solvents, cosmetics and food products but how do we come up with a way to analyse whether or not these chemicals are toxic? With the Toxinator, of course; a new, six-ton screening robot which costs some €3 million to manufacture and which picks out potentially harmful substances in everything from foodstuffs to household cleaners. Tests have already been carried out on household items in the US and it has been found that plastics, for instance, contain an ingredient called Bisphenol A, which has been linked to breast and prostate cancer in mice. The question is how far governments will go to remove these toxic substances from the market; will it all boil down to how much money will be lost/made?

Infection Fighting Nano Robots:

Bacteria which are resistant to antibiotics can cause major organ damage, even death. One of these bacteria is MRSA, an increasingly common strain found in hospitals, schools and gyms. Scientists at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore have joined researchers at IBM to create polymers (commonly used in computer chips) capable of detecting and destroying antibiotic-resistant bacteria and diseases such as staph infections and MRSA, which are highly resistant to traditional medicine owing to the material in their cell walls and membranes.

The same technology is present in IBM’s DNAresistant technology, which enables computerlike chips to read genetic codes. This discovery will soon be used to manufacture personalised medicines.

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TOGa Stomach Stapling Procedure:

Obesity is one of the biggest health threats facing the modern world but many morbidly obese persons fear going through surgery in order to get rid of excess fat. U.S. company Satiety, Inc. has developed a “completely transoral process designed to achieve similar weight loss to restrictive surgeries”. Called TOGa, it involves the introduction of a stapling device through the mouth which creates a restrictive pouch at the entry to the stomach. This nouvelle gastroplasty procedure differs from its predecessors in that no surgery is required.

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Second Hand Smoke Linked to Hearing Loss

UPDATE

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

Cuddle Your Way to a Successful Relationship Why is that some couples seem to be madly in love years after they met, while for others, sexual attraction and feelings of love fade after a brief ‘honeymoon period’? A new study indicates that the answer may lie in how much kissing and cuddling we do. The findings are based on a questionnaire posed to adult couples in the United States, Brazil, Germany, Japan and Spain, aged 40 to 70, who had been together for over 25 years. The study was carried out by the Head of Indiana University’s Kinsey Institute, Julia Heiman, who found that cuddling and caressing were the ‘glue’ that kept couples connected. Interestingly, men needed more cuddling than women – indicating that the old stereotype that women are more affectionate and men more sexual – is not necessarily the case.

The study also found that unlike men, women grow happier as a relationship progresses, increasing in sexual fulfillment when they are with their partner for more than 15 years. “Possibly, women become more satisfied over time because their expectations change, or life changes with the children grown,” Heiman said. “On the other hand, those who weren’t so sexually happy might not be married so long.” There were also significant differences between nationalities: Japanese men and women were significantly happier with their partners than Brazilians and Spaniards. Indeed, Japanese men were twice as sexually fulfilled as their Brazilian and Spanish counterparts.

Free Zumba Toning Class at Princess Studios

Zumba is the dance/fitness craze that is taking gyms and dance studios around the world by storm. It involves raising your heart rate while you learn cool dance moves and shake your hips to the rhythm of smooth Latino beats. It may seem easy for the first five minutes, but we guarantee that after a full workout you’ll know exactly why it’s such a great calorie burner!

Like all fitness programmes, Zumba is constantly changing and evolving, incorporating new elements to enable specific aims to be met. The latest class is called Zumba Toning, involving the use of light weights to tone the muscles and aid in weight loss as well as provide a knockout cardiovascular workout. Princess Studios in Puerto Banús is now offering a free first class to anybody who’d like to give Zumba toning a try so there’s no time like right now to start this new, fun workout routine. At Marina Banús shopping centre. Plaza Marina Banús, Local 203-C, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 905 119. www.princessstudios.com

Why doesn’t the tabacco industry close shop once and for all and save the public health system millions of euros yearly, and many families, the pain of losing someone they love to diseases related to smoking? Every time I research on a health condition it seems like smoking worsens it but a new study seems to indicate that smoking can also induce hearing loss! The study, undertaken by leading author and Professor at New York University’s Langone Medical Centre, Dr. Anil K Lalwani, found that teenagers who were regularly exposed to passive smoke were almost twice as likely to develop hearing loss as teens who lived in smoke-free environments.

Dr. Lalwani came to this conclusion by studying blood concentrations of cotinine (a by-product of the neurotoxin nicotine) in over 1,500 non-smoking adolescents aged 12 to 19. Dr. Lalwani said: “Prior work has shown an association between secondhand smoke and ear infection in children which can be associated with conductive hearing loss that is reversible.

In adults, smoking has been associated with early hearing loss. I was concerned that secondhand smoke could similarly be injurious to children and cause injury to the inner ear leading to permanent hearing loss.”

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WORDS Mindy Berkson, Lotus Blossom Consulting

PROFILE

the Infertility Navigating Maze Abroad A ccording to the World Health Organization, there are close to 80 million infertile couples in the world and 800,000 in Spain alone. Delayed childbearing is the number one cause of infertility as more and more people put families on hold for their careers, until they find the right person, or until they are more financially stable. In fact, by the time a woman reaches the age of 30, over 90 per cent of the eggs in her body have been depleted. Other causes of infertility may be inherent genetic conditions and environmental factors. Recent research also suggests that obesity and smoking are among some of the key factors influencing infertility in Spain.

Over the years, many of these couples and individuals have started to explore alternative family building options such as IVF, surrogacy and egg freezing. With surrogacy being illegal in Spain, and with stringent laws applying to the egg donation process, couples have increasingly started to pursue these treatment options abroad. In the U.S., the term ‘medical tourism’ has gained popularity over the years, and it truly involves embarking on an unknown journey when exploring healthcare options in different countries. Knowing how to identify appropriate resources and engaging unbiased professionals can be risky and sometimes a bit overwhelming and scary.

The most important thing when pursuing alternative child bearing treatments abroad is to become educated. An infertility consultant can be especially useful in this respect by helping clients: 1) understand the differing healthcare systems; 2) know about the financial barriers and possible incentives; 3) find non-biased professionals; and 4) develop emotional tolerances for their given situation.

Differing Healthcare Systems

It is especially important to understand the differences that exist in healthcare systems.

There are ways to work within the system to minimise financial risks when embarking on treatments abroad. For example, working with licensed insurance agents is the best way to analyse gaps in health care coverage for surrogates. Also, purchasing the appropriate policies for a particular situation is the ideal

Infertility and Private Medical Insurance in Spain Medical coverage in Spain via the public health service is of good quality, but many people choose to take out private medical insurance in Spain for the best possible care. If you are one of the many people who spend part of the year in your home country and part of the year in Spain, then you would also probably want to consider taking out private health insurance for the time you spend in Spain. While many private health insurance companies in Spain cover some part of the family planning process, most of them do not

solution to mitigate excessive costs. Historically, the combination of this approach can help reduce significant investment.

Financial Infertility treatment is expensive. It is imperative to plan and prepare for the end family goal and not just one cycle. For example, how many cycles of IVF are reasonable given a 10 per cent or 20 per cent chance of success before considering the next option which may include engaging an egg donor and increasing the chance of success to 60 per cent or greater?

Non-Biased Professionals Pulling together an unbiased multidisciplinary team of professionals regardless of location is another important aspect of accomplishing a treatment cycle abroad.

Members of the team could include: a reproductive endocrinologist, embryologist, financial and estate planner, licensed insurance agent, recruiting agency, ideal surrogate, egg

cover full fertility treatments. For some people experiencing fertility problems, the costs of investigation and infertility treatment in the UK may be beyond their budget.

Before embarking on any fertility treatment (in Spain, or other locations), ask your provider to break down exactly what procedures are included in your policy and how much of the treatment costs will be covered. This will enable you to effectively budget and/or compare options for exploring treatment abroad.

donor, sperm donor, attorneys and a mental health professional.

A qualified Infertility Consultant should be able to organise this team with unbiased referrals specific to each individual situation.

In addition, infertility consultants should be able to help identify qualified egg donor and surrogate candidates and anticipate concerns, state laws and new technologies.

Emotional Pursuing alternative treatment options can be an emotional process. It’s important to set parameters. For example, how many cycles of IVF can and will you endure before turning to a different treatment option that may yield a higher chance of success? Balancing hope with caution is essential in maintaining sanity and making non-emotional choices.

It is also important to understand in advance what questions to ask specific to your given circumstances before entering the doctor’s office. The answers you get are only as good as the questions you ask. e

Mindy Berkson, founder of Lotus Blossom Consulting, has more than a decade of experience in the infertility field. As one of the first infertility consultancies in the United States, Lotus Blossom Consulting, LLC was founded to arm consumers/ patients with information and education to make the best medical choices.

Mindy has guided hundreds of intended parents all around the world through the stressful demands of the infertility process by providing professional and compassionate assistance in dealing with the emotional, physical, and financial barriers involved with third-party reproduction abroad. For more information, www. lotusblossomconsulting.com/ www.theInfertilityconsultant.com.

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business & product launches / seasonal parties / charity events / social scene

We have been out and about following the most important and glamorous events taking place in the Marbella area. Did you miss out this month, or can you spot yourself?

86 21 Years in Real Estate for FM Consulting 87 The Global Party at Suite del Mar 88 Casa Marbella Celebrates 30 Years in the Real Estate Business 90 Ocean Club Says ‘Goodbye, Summer 2011’

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THEVIBE

21 Years in Real Estate for FM Consulting The FM Consulting Team donned crisp suits and elegant cocktail dresses to celebrate an important occasion indeed: the 21st anniversary of the business, founded by Fausto Martínez in 1990. Celebrations took place at the exclusive Cortijo del Mar Resort, with colleagues, clients and members of the press enjoying a glamorous party with live saxophone and trumpet music, chilled Champagne and tempting treats.

“FM Consulting – professionalism, experience and a warm, personal touch”

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PHOTOGRAPHY Johnny Gates & STEVE SPARROW PHOTOGRAPHY Johnny Gates ñl download your photo from www.i-marbella.com 27/9/11 14:39:54

THEVIBE

The Global Party at Suite del Mar Some 80,000 of the world’s elite came together at simultaneous parties around the globe on 15th/16th September, redefining the word ‘party’.

Suite del Mar joined eighty of the world’s most glamorous venues to raise funds for international charities while offering members of the Marbella jet set a roaring good time. The crisis was forgotten as flame throwers, ice sculptures and live musicians proved that when it comes to partying, there’s no time like right now.

“The best excuse to party is doing a good deed while you’re at it!”

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Casa Marbella Celebrates 30 Years in the Real Estate Business Wolfgang Schlesier has been in the property business in Marbella since 1981, and to celebrate this admirable feat, he held a lavish cocktail party at Thai Gallery, with irresistible canapés and a colourful fashion show by Fashionvilla. Many guests enjoyed a delicious dinner afterwards, tucking into spicy, authentic Thai dishes while joining Wolfgang and his team in the festivities.

“There is no greater measure of excellence than standing the test of time”

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PHOTOGRAPHY johnny gates PHOTOGRAPHY Johnny Gates ñl download your photo from www.i-marbella.com 27/9/11 14:40:56

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THEVIBE

Ocean Club Says ‘Goodbye, Summer 2011’ Few places are quite as hip, trendy and glamorous as Ocean Club every summer. With top cuisine from Belgian Head Chef, Stephane Bruylant, a unique, luxurious poolside and top DJ-spun music, Ocean Club is definitely the beach club of choice for the Coast’s ‘it’ crowd. It was with a mixed sense of sadness and jubilation that the Ocean Club team held a closing party with clients and friends, which lasted into the early hours of the morning. We all know that Ocean Club only improves every year, so we can’t wait until Summer 2012!

“Ocean Club – the coolest place to be in the summer!”

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PHOTOGRAPHY johnny gates 27/9/11 14:41:27

Class of 2011

Outstanding results Once again we are proud to announce our excellent examination results in both the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) and IGCSEs. Aloha College enters every pupil for final examinations and the results published are a reflection of all the pupils’ achievements. 93% of our Sixth Form pupils gained the full IB Diploma. Four pupils gained 40 points or above out of a maximum of 45. Two pupils achieved the incredible scores of 42 and 43 points which place these pupils in the top 0.5% of the world.

Aloha College looks forward to remaining in contact with all of these pupils and celebrating their successes when they obtain their degrees.

An impressive 91% of our pupils gained passes in 5

IGCSEs or more, making these the best results in the 29-year history of Aloha College. The majority of these pupils, alongside others who have joined us, have now begun the challenging IB course.

In September 2012 Aloha College will be offering A-levels in addition to the IB. We are confident that this will continue to enhance the opportunities for our current pupils and others who may enrol in Aloha College.

We congratulate all the pupils, teachers and parents who have all worked together to achieve these outstanding results.

Junior School Mrs Salmon, Headmistress of the Junior School, was happy to welcome an additional 75 pupils to the already thriving school at the start

of September. The Junior School is non selective but excellence is defined by each pupil achieving their highest personal attainment level. This proven approach to education is an important factor in the future success of the children as they move from the Junior School fully prepared for the challenges of the Senior School.

Equally important are the formative years of a child’s education and we are very proud of the successful Early Years programme with its bi-lingual learning environment and a team of caring and professional teaching staff.

To enhance this we are pleased to continue with our extensive building project and are looking forward to moving into the new spacious Year 1 classrooms in October.

Sports – Football Club

The most exciting initiative in sports this year has been the creation of Aloha College FC, allowing the school to compete in the different categories of the Marbella football league.

Over 60 children rushed to join this first edition of the club. Aloha College FC is only a part of a sports development programme which foresees our participation in other sports locally, and the provision of a multi-sports hall – yet another improvement to the educational facilities Aloha College offers its pupils.

FUTURE EVENTS Aloha College celebrates two main events this autumn for its International Community: Blues Concert – 20 Oct. Christmas Bazaar – 26 Nov.

Aloha College is owned by Fundación Aloha College, a not-for-profit institution, whose Board of Trustees is made up entirely of parents of the school.

ENTERPRISE

NEWS /ENTERPRISE / LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILES /

FINANCE / LAW

The Medical Wellness Institute Opens at the Hotel Villa Padierna The Medical Wellness Institute has opened at the Hotel Villa Padierna, with a wide range of programmes designed to offer physical and emotional wellness. A highly skilled and experienced team will be using the latest technology and proven trends, including Dr. Ana Parra Rojas, who boasts extensive experience in the treatment of overweight patients and in the control of related risk factors such as diabetes or hypercholesterolemia, Dr. Mercedes Talavera Bustamante, who is the Director of the Villa Padierna Thermas de Carratraca and Dr. José Luis Gulijarro Rojas, whose interests lie in controlling body weight and the metabolic process. A host of medical and beauty treatments and nutritional advice is also available.

g Urb. Los Flamingos, CN 340, km 166, Marbella. Tel: 951 318 918. www.themedicalwellness.com

New Adventure Park in Marbella: Aventura Amazonia There’s an exciting new place in the great outdoors for adventurous families and groups of friends: Aventura Amazonia, the biggest park of its kind in Andalucía, featuring 73 ‘challenges’ and 20 amazing ziplines distributed over eight circuits. The park is environmentally sustainable and aims at inviting visitors to interact with Nature, performing challenges ‘from tree to tree’. Enjoy activities such as walking along a suspended drawbridge, wall climbing and leaping like Tarzan from the trees. The routes vary in difficulty, with many activities aimed at children.

g CN 340, Exit 192 (Elviria), Marbella. Tel: 952 835 505. www.aventura-amazonia.com

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The Clinica BuchingeR Re-opens Its Doors The Clinica Buchinger, famed for its unique fasting method, recently opened its doors following a period of extensive renovation.

The clinic now boasts a bright, spacious new fitness pavilion next to the swimming pool, with an air-conditioned, fully-equipped gym and a purpose-built Pilates area designed especially for individual classes. Clients will also enjoy modern shower and changing facilities, as well as a sauna, steam room, sensation showers, and a luxurious rest room complete with heated recliner loungers. At the same time, in the main building, both bedrooms and public areas have been modernised using top quality materials which guarantee comfort. Other renovations include the front desk and reception area, therapy area and gardens. All work has been carried out in an environmentally sustainable manner, relying on local companies in an effort to bolster the local economy.

g Avda. Buchinger s/n, Marbella.

Tel: 952 764 300. www.buchinger.es

Rolls-Royce Presentation at the Hotel Villa Padierna Few settings could be quite as glamorous for an exhibition of luxury cars so it was logical that the Hotel Villa Padierna Beach Club should be the chosen venue for Guarnieri’s recent presentation of the entire range of Rolls-Royce cars, where the many guests were able to appreciate the beauty of over 10 cars up-close. Influential members of the business, political and media sectors marvelled at models such as the Phantom, and were delighted to hear that the Guarnieri concessionary in San Pedro will now feature the Rolls-Royce marque. g Edif. Guarnieri,

San Pedro de AlcĂĄntara. Tel: 951 775 575. www.guarnieri.es

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New Mobile Service and Great Back to School Deal at La Gafa Opticians

Marbella 4Days Walking Event to Save the Environment Marbella 4Days is an event to save the environment which will take place from October 9 to 12 and involve hundreds of people across various countries. Every day, participants will walk a different, 20-kilometre route, through the beach, city or natural area.

The Marbella event has been organised alongside Arboretum Marbella, whose Founder, Alejandro Orioli, enlightened us on its importance: “Ecological tourism is a practice that foments an appreciation of Nature, inspiring participants to live in a more environmentally sustainable manner and to do their share to save the environment.” Participants are invited to donate €5 to Arboretum Marbella, an association which is working hard to restore lost natural areas in Marbella.

g www.marbella4dayswalking.com

La Gafa, the international opticians in La Línea, now provide a mobile service aimed at busy people who don’t have time to visit their shop. Just give them a call and they will bring their gorgeous sunglasses to your office or home at a time that suits you. Choose from the latest designs by Dolce & Gabbana, Calvin Klein, Ray Ban, Carrerra, Boss, Armani and more. They also have a beautiful range of prescription frames to suit all budgets and exclusively use prescription lenses from Carl Zeiss Vision Group, Germany. Already known for their incredible offer of two for one glasses (from only €79) and free prescription lenses for all designer sunglasses, La Gafa have also announced a further credit crunch busting offer.This autumn it’s back to school time and children’s glasses start at only €55.

g Urb Bellavista, Sacra, La Linea.

Tel: 956 764 983.

Gratitude and Inspiration Workshop Gratitude Art, a local company dedicated to promoting the concept of thankfulness and positivity, has organised a Gratitude and Inspiration Meditation Workshop at Hotel Selenza on Friday, November 11. The workshop will be led by two acknowledged experts: healer, author and psychologist, Dr. Susan Phoenix and Sound Relaxation Coach and Reiki Master and teacher, Christine Heckel.

Those attending should be at the Hotel Selenza by 10am.

The workshop will run from 11am to 5pm and the cost is €60 including refreshments. g Tel: 951 712 258/ 600 659 063.

www.gratitudeart.com

Turbo Charge Your Sales and Business at a Dynamic Networking Event OMA Seniors Clothing Launch at the Sanyres Residence If you ever wondered if seniors had special needs when it comes to clothing, you should have attended the recent launch of the new seniors clothes and accessories line by OMA. The brand offers age-adapted wear with design, comfort, elegance and quality as key characteristics.

The designers, Chantal Dupont and María Soler, found that the elderly often face the same problems when dressing and undressing, which inspired them to find new solutions. The result is OMA: a series of beautiful yet comfortable items which are guaranteed to make being older a lot less of a hassle. g The clothing can be purchased

directly from the designers on Tel: 952 810 201/ 609 433 126. omasopas@gmail.com

On Saturday October 15, the Hotel Las Piramades in Fuengirola will play host to a networking event that will Turbo Charge your Sales and Business. Whether you want to beat the competition, thrive throughout the volatile economic climate, or need some tips to improve your impact, this seminar will help with it all. Steve Clarke, Europe’s leading authority on grassroots sales and marketing strategies, will be giving three presentations. Also participating will be Nikki Pilkington (speaking on social and Internet marketing) and Gill Tiney (speaking on steps to success in networking). Tickets cost only €10 for a full day of information-packed events, with all proceeds going to the charities Cudeca and Positively Pink.

The event has been organised by Manifesto Design and This is Spain.

g Tickets can be purchased online on www.turbospain.eventbrite.com

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Post Vacation Depression Plagues the Nation Where else but sunny Spain could 35 per cent of the population complain of post-holiday depression? Antonio de Dios González, Director of the Psychology Department of the USP Hospital in Marbella, offers a possible reason for this condition: “The human body follows certain biorythms which change according to day to day demands. When changes are drastic, the body and mind are forced to adapt too quickly and this has side-effects like depression and anxiety.” He advices people to return slowly to regular routines by adjusting sleep and eating patterns progressively and even returning to work a couple of days before your holiday is over, to enable easier adaption into the work routine.

g Avda. Severo Ochoa 22, Marbella. Tel: 952 774 200. www.usphospitales.com

Dress-Up Day at The British School of Marbella Humpty Dumpty, the Queen of Hearts and Little Bo Peep were just some of the colourful characters who brightened up The British School of Marbella during a special day of learning. Around 50 children in the Foundation Stage donned costumes, wigs and face paint in an effort to further their interest in nursery rhymes. The pupils, aged two to five, also baked cakes, played games and took part in nursery rhyme drama.

Donna Fry, Foundation Stage Leader, said: “The kids loved dressing up as their favourite nursery rhyme characters. It was a great start to the new term.” g C/ Jacinto Benavente s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 779 264. www.bsm.org.es

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CAR MARBELLA CLAIMS VICTORY IN BEIJING The Young Driver AMR team and Car Marbella experienced success in the opening race GT1 World Championship in Beijing. Stefan Mücke (GER) and Darren Turner (GBR) claimed their first win of the season in a thrilling race with the Young Driver Aston Martin DBR9 AMR-while Alex Müller (GER) and Tomas Enge (CZE) finished the qualifying race with a superb second place. With a dominant performance in China, Young Driver AMR is in an excellent position in the FIA World Championship GT1 ahead of the next race in Argentina. Sponsored by Buddha Beach and La Sala, the car proudly wore the logo of Marbella before a crowd of 250,000 spectators in China, a great promotion for the city in the growing Chinese market. g Urb. Villa Marina, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 813 882.

www.buddhabeachbanus.com

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DISCOVER GIBRALTAR

BY E-BIKE WITH BICYCLE DEL SOL No holiday to Andalusia can be considered complete without a visit to Gibraltar and now there is no better way to discover the Rock than on an electric bike. New company, Bicycle del Sol, offers two revolutionary programmes for discovering the Rock in a unique way: you can opt for an all-around guided tour with a typical lunch or dinner, or simply rent a bike, following recommended routes if you wish. The company has already been present on the Spanish coastline but E-Biking is a new concept in Gibraltarian tourism. Avoid hours of queuing and park for free, collecting your E-bike at the Hotel Asur just before the border. You can now enjoy the Rock in a greener way from 10am to 8pm Monday to Saturday.

g For further information, Tel: +34 676 940 330. www.bicycledelsol.com

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Learn the Technique of Eyebrow Threading with Affable Therapy

Year six Students from Aloha College celebrated the commencement of the new school year with a lively dance assembly, testing their skills at various dances including the Hula, Samba, Bhangra, Flamenco, Ballet and Disco. Their colourful costumes and graceful moves kept their parents delighted throughout the event. g Urb. El Ángel, Nueva Andalucía. Tel:

One of the best ways to guarantee a clearly defined brow is threading. It’s an ancient technique of hair removal so precise that one hair can be separated at a time and so neat that even tiny hairs can be removed from the root. In the UK, leading stores including Selfridges, Boots and Debenhams are opening brow bars, bringing threading to the masses. Affable Therapy, a leading training provider of beauty and massage courses in the UK, will be launching their Spanish branch with a range of eye enhancement treatment courses, including eyebrow threading and semi-permanent lash extension, on October 28 and 31 at the Hotel Fuerte Miramar in Marbella. The courses will be run by Sumita Singh, the Principal Tutor of the school. g For further information,

952 814 133. www.aloha-college.com

www.affabletherapy.com

Welcome Assembly for Year Six Students at Aloha College

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Marbella Hosts the Fifth Edition of the Gestoría Bravo Costa del Sol Platú Grand Prix

Hyundai i40 Presentation at Hyundmar Marbella

The sports councillor of the Marbella Town Hall, Federico Vallés recently gave a press conference to announce the fifth edition of the Gestoría Bravo Costa del Sol Platú Grand Prix sailing race, which began in September and will continue until June, 2012. Some 15 boats will be participating, calling the Club Marítimo de Marbella home base for the duration of the tournament. The press conference was attended by Alfredo Santos (event coordinator), Marcos Junguito (President of the Club Marítimo) and Francisco Bravo (from Gestoría Bravo, sponsors of the competition). g www.marbella.es

Hyundmar in Marbella recently held a well attended family day, inviting prospective clients to try out the new Hyundai i40 while their children took part in a fun drawing competition. After marvelling at the futuristic looking car, adults were invited to take part in the action, participating in a photographic competition and vying for one night’s stay in a luxury hotel and entries to fun parks. The new Hyundai i40 has been hailed by eminent car writers as “a sure bet, owing to its quality and design” and without a doubt, many who attended the event are considering adding a new i40 to their range of family vehicles.

g C/ José Manuel Valles s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 898 689. www.hyundai.com

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New BODY JET Fat Transfer System at Cirumed Clinic Marbella Cirumed Clinic in Marbella is pleased to announce it has the new Body Jet Transfer System, making breast and buttock augmentation scar-free and doing away with the need for implants. Dr. Alexander Aslani, owner of the Cirumed Clinic and Head of the Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery Department of the Quiron Hospital in Málaga, informs us that BODY JET enjoys predictable, free fat transfer success rates and is superior to conventional fat transfer techniques. BODY JET fat transfer is done under local anaesthetic and undesired fat deposits are removed in the same treatment.

g Avda. Ramón y Cajal 7, Marbella. Tel: 952 775 346. www.cirumed.es

Policemen Vs Firemen: Paddle Fury Hits the Forces A fun-filled, three-day paddle championship took place recently at the Club de Padel & Tenis Nueva Alcántara, with security forces, policemen, firemen and other men in uniform competing for the coveted trophy. Over 320 men participated from cities as far as Badajoz, Cordoba and Mallorca, in what is now the fifth year running of this established event. Congratulations are in order to all who participated, as well as the sponsors, including BP, Skoda and Helicópteros Sanitarios.

g CN 340, km 171.5, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 788 315. www.clubpadelnuevaalcantara.com

Cheers: A New Book on The Hidden Voices of Alcoholism Dutch born author and artist Renate van Nijen has first hand experience of living with an alcohol-addicted partner and all the complexity this involves. The secrecy surrounding alcoholism in society as a whole and the non-acceptance and judgemental attitudes of family, friends and outsiders that she experienced inspired her to write Cheers, a compelling read revealing the human face behind alcoholism. Renate has interviewed partners, children, parents and friends of alcoholics, as well as health workers in the field of addiction, and alcoholics themselves. In this remarkably candid book, she recounts their stories beautifully, openly, yet anonymously, revealing her own and their incredible stories of desperation and pain, but ultimately also of hope and escape. The book can be purchsed online on g www.renartsbookworld.com 100 / ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2011

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Casa El Manantial: A Rural Getaway With Major Wow Factor

The beautiful ‘casa rural’ (country home) called Casa El Manantial, nestled near the mountainside area of Genalguacil by the shores of the Genal river, has been a choice getaway for families and friends seeking a peaceful, nature-bound hideaway, ensconced in a beautiful forest and boasting its own pool and wood burning fireplace. Now, its owners have taken steps to take the Casa’s name far and wide with a brand-new website where you will find lots of pictures and information on services and activities. Guests can also look forward to guided tours of the area and the possibility of hiring a private chef to whip up mouth-watering meals. g For further information, Tel: 952 154 640/ 628 705 892.

www.casaelmanantial.com

40 Days and 40 Hikes for Banús Bar Owner Russell Soden, a co-proprietor of Terra Blues in Puerto Banús and a Lick FM DJ, is taking on a mammoth trek to raise funds in memory of his daughter Coral, whom he lost to cot death 14 years ago. Russell will be climbing the challenging La Concha mountain 40 times in 40 days, with all funds going to the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID), the UK’s leading charity aiming to prevent unexpected deaths in infancy and promote infant health. Russell, who has lived on the Costa del Sol for 11 years, is no stranger to fundraising challenges. In previous years he has trekked up Kilimanjaro, built a school in Africa and earlier this summer leapt out of an plane with 14 other Marbella-area bar owners in a sponsored skydive. But the 40-day hike could be his biggest yet and his targeted amount is €4.000. g Tel: 686 908 016. www.justgiving.com/russell-soden

A Busy Summer for ASPANDEM ASPANDEM, the charity devoted to disabled people on the Costa del Sol, has been highly active in the summer, coming to agreements with both the University of Málaga and the Andalusian Employment department. Firstly, ASPANDEM will be a centre for practical work carried out by students of the Psychology and Speech Therapy departments of the University of Málaga, who will learn vital skills by putting their theoretical knowledge to good use in a real environment.

Secondly, the Andalusian Employment department has signed an agreement with the Federación Andalucía Acoge and ASPANDEM to promote the placement of disabled persons into the job market, through work experience, classes and counselling.

g Avda. Príncipe de Asturias s/n, San Pedro de Alcántara.

Tel: 952 785 077. www.aspandem.or OCTOBER 2011 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE / 101

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A Gorgeous New Frame for your Face with HD Brows If you plucked your eyebrows too finely in the 1990s or you don’t like your brow shape and you’re after the beautifully arched, lovely eyebrows you’re seeing on all your favourite film and T.V. stars, you may be interested to learn that there is a solution: HD (High Definition) Brows, a totally new definition in eyebrow shaping. The company, founded in the UK, uses a seven-step procedure including a variety of depilation and colouring techniques to give you a gorgeous, defined yet natural looking brow. The good news is that HD Brows is now available in Marbella.

g For further information, please contact Jackie on Tel: 603 625 555. www.hd-brows.co.uk

Expogays at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos in Torremolinos

If you’re gay or you have friends and family who are gay, head for Expogays, a fun, three-day exhibition to be held at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Torremolinos from October 14 to 16.

The fair, which will run from 11am to 12am every day, will feature a host of stands offering products and services focused on the gay market, as well as gay-friendly tourism ideas. The fair will also include the International Gay Cinema Film Festival of the Costa del Sol, and the fun Gayvision singing contest. g For information on tickets and

schedules, www.expogays.reservasgays.com

World Alzheimers Day

Last September 21 was an important day for many: it was World Alzheimers Day, celebrated by patients, friends and families and the Alzheimers Association of Marbella (AFA). The motto of the association is “Each diagnosis, one person”, which highlights the importance of patients affected by this deadly disease and their right to care and quality of life. The AFA reminded us that three and a half million Spaniards currently live directly or indirectly with Alzheimers and that figure is set to double within the next 20 years. It is therefore vital that social, health and economic reform takes place. g C/ José Manuel Vallés, Marbella.

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Mind, Body and Spirit Festival at the H10 Andalucía Plaza If tarot readings, clairvoyancy, Feng-Shui, Tai-Chi, Yoga and Pilates are subjects of interest, don’t miss out on the Mind, Body and Spirit Festival, which will be making magic at the Hotel H10 Andalucía Plaza on October 29 and 30 from 11am to 6pm. For an entrance fee of just €10, you will discover the very latest information on everything from psychology to Reiki, homeopathy, herbalism and life coaching. g For further information, please contact Jacinta Hannon on Tel: 670 628 468.

www.mindbodyspiritmarbella.com

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THEPRO BUSINESS

DISCOVER SPAIN THROUGH BOOKS WITH

T

he world of books is currently undergoing a major paradigm shift involving a battle between physical and electronic books, publishers, authors, agents and the world’s dominant online book retailer Amazon (although Google and Apple are joining the action too).

The humble bricks and mortar bookstore and smaller online retailers have long struggled to survive Amazon’s aggressive discounting (Amazon has developed complex algorithms to decide which books to sell at extremely discounted prices), while the relatively new ‘agency pricing model’ enables leading publishers to set the retail price of ebooks (which prevents discounting and hence the ‘cannibalisation’ of sales of traditional books by ebooks). In the midst of anti-monopoly lawsuits, price wars and teething problems regarding territorial rights, ownership of electronic rights, royalty levels and Digital Rights Management (to name but a few issues), online book sales are soaring, since from a purchaser’s point of view, nothing beats ‘letting your fingers do the walking’, and with ubiquitous connectivity, it is more tempting than ever to spend a few euros buying your favourite ebooks, hardbacks or paperbacks from your laptop, iPad or iPhone.

Within the online book sale sector, Amazon is by far the biggest player. With some five million books on its list and top notch service, there is no doubt that it gives millions of readers around the world what they’re looking for… but massified online sites can also be confusing, timeconsuming and impersonal… which is the leitmotif of the new independent online book store, Books4Spain, founded by author, publisher and entrepreneur Rod Younger. Books4Spain aims to help readers discover Spain through books written in the English language, both in electronic and printed formats. “Spain is the second most visited country in Europe; some 15 million English speakers visit here each year,” says Rod, and as the blurb on the site’s homepage states: “Spain is not just about sun, sea and sangria; its about the Moors, the Reconquest, El Cid, the Golden Age, Don Quijote, the Camino de Santiago, Flamenco, Gastronomy, the Alhambra, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Velazquez, Goya, Napoleon, Wellington, the Spanish Armada,

Catalunya, Andalucía, Rafael Nadal, Ferran Adrià…” Rod, whose parents are Spanish and who is perfectly bilingual, loves Spain with a passion and, alongside experts in various fields, he is able to provide shoppers with an online book selection experience that offers information on the events, people and places that make Spain so unique.

Books4Spain, whose website is now up and running, has been specifically designed to offer users an easy, informative, entertaining experience that makes you feel like you’ve just walked into a specialised bookshop on Spain, a shop whose list of ‘favourites’ might have been compiled by Hemingway, Paco de Lucía or even an avid traveller who has run with the bulls in Pamplona, cheered on his favourite team at a Real Madrid-Barcelona game or been one of the lucky few who have sampled the ethereal fare at elBulli.

The Books4Spain website is colourful and dynamic, divided thematically into headings like Flamenco, the Spanish Civil War and the Camino de Santiago (the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago in Galicia). “El Camino de Santiago is so much more than just a long walk to a city; it spans a number of fascinating topics including Romanesque architecture, the history of the Kingdoms of Aragon, Leon and Oviedo, the story of Charlemagne,” says Rod, assuring us that while he is no mystic, he is captivated by the wealth of interesting reading related to the Camino. “The story of how Saint James’ bones arrived in Spain from the Holy Land in a stone boat, were discovered in a starry field called ‘Compostella’ in the 9th Century and how he routed the Moorish armies at the Battle of Clavijo in 844 is fascinating.”

As you slide your cursor over each theme, a handy pop-up provides a bit more information, and when you click on the theme, you are provided with Books4Spain’s ‘Choice’ recommendations as well as a list of the biggest selling books. On the homepage you will also find a host of other ways to browse, including By Category (everything from Art & Architecture to Children’s Books, Travel and Crime Fiction), By Featured

Author, Recommended, Popular, Special Offers and Our Favourites. Soon the site will have a dynamic blog, where users will find interesting articles on anything and everything to do with Spanish life.

When you log onto the homepage, instead of pursuing a particular theme you may peruse New Releases, Offers, Featured Authors, Books Coming Soon, etc.

The recent news that Amazon had bought The Book Depository was a tragedy to many users; those who feel it is important to have a more personal, bespoke experience; those who want buying a book to feel like choosing the right bottle of wine – a choice that may be a small, guilty pleasure in life but which is certainly food for the heart and soul.

The latter abounds in Rod Younger and Books4Spain, a project which may have just started but which already involves plans to license the specialised software to other, non-competitor online bookstores seeking to offer a specialised, expert service. In this age of technology, some things never change, such as our desire to approach art, architecture and books with insight and emotion. e

BOOKS4SPAIN WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY KH PHOTOGRAPHY

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Costa del Sol FOROS 2011-2012. MÁS Y MEJORES Más equipo técnico y humano Estructura organizativa más intensa Más ponencias profundas y útiles Metodología moderna y avanzada Mayor expansión mediante las nuevas tecnologías Participación directa a través de Internet Debates en diferido en la Red Nuevos y originales métodos de motivación para que “Foros Ausbanc” sea imprescindible para los empresarios y se convierta en un auténtico generador de expectativas para todos

TEMAS PREVISTOS PARA EL CURSO 2011-2012 Ahorro energético en empresas turísticas. Fórmulas para reducir el consumo y mejorar la rentabilidad

(29 de septiembre de 2011)

Cómo incentivar el turismo de reuniones y congresos

(octubre 2011)

Turismo gastronómico; un segmento por explotar

(noviembre 2011)

La calidad, clave para fidelizar clientes (diciembre 2011) Formación especializada, un elemento diferenciador

(enero 2012)

El turismo cultural como complemento al de sol y playa

(febrero 2012)

Fórmulas para rentabilizar el turismo rural y el de aventurasl

(marzo 2012)

Reciclaje de residuos urbanos. Oportunidades de negocio (abril 2012)

PARTICIPA EN LOS FOROS Los asistentes a los “Foros Ausbanc” pagarán una cuota de inscripción si no son asociados y, por ese motivo, recibirán una suscripción a la revista CVB de ocio, cultura y viajes.

En cada foro se sorteará un viaje extraordinario entre los inscritos.

Además hay preparadas grandes y agradables sorpresas.

Los asociados a Ausbanc podrán asistir gratuitamente.

María Angeles Díaz Responsable de Foros Ausbanc en la Costa del Sol

INFÓRMATE llamando al 952 06 01 20 Ausbanc Málaga. Alameda Principal, 45 – 3º A. 29001 Málaga

www.forosausbanc.com

THEPRO BUSINESS

A Few Sweet Hours at the

T

he Escuela de Arte Ecuestre is a BHS-approved Training Centre and Livery Yard, officially recognised by the Andalusian Federation of Horse Riding (FAH). With spacious indoor and outdoor riding areas, experienced teachers, horse walking services, a pony club and plenty more, it has been given a breath of fresh air by its new Director, Michael Sturhoofd and his wife, Marlene, who have recognised the school’s strong attraction for tourists and local residents alike.

The Escuela’s charming Andalusian architecture, where wrought iron balconies, gorgeous equine sculptures and arches abound, makes a perfect setting for a shopping gallery. SallyB invites you to discover stunning designs by Danish designer, Tone Barker, famed for her boldly printed reversible silk dresses which are delicate yet comfy. Tone Barker Silk offers affordable luxury with timeless style for all sizes and ages and at SallyB you will find everything from trousers to devoré animal print tops, feminine print dresses and elegant items in fuschia or classic black. Boutique owner, Sally, is utterly charming, offering shoppers great ideas on how to get the most from one outfit. Sally also stocks glorious pashminas, serapes and scarves and the 100 per cent organic, paraben-free Essentially Yours

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Escuela de Arte Ecuestre Costa del Sol If you’ve always wanted to learn the sport of Kings or simply spend a day near ‘the most noble of animals’, you will be pleased to discover the Escuela de Arte Ecuestre Costa del Sol. Nestled in a natural enclave in Estepona, it invites you to spend a few hours shopping ‘til you drop or enjoy a drink or meal or have your pet attended to by one of the best veterinarians in Marbella.

skincare range.

Ladies who like making a statement must visit Jewellery

by Selina, a haven of chunky, fashionable, sparkly items donned

by Marbella’s ‘it’ girls. Owner Selina has wonderful taste and her range of earrings, bracelets, rings and necklaces add a special touch to any outfit. The boutique is a true feast for the eyes as well

WORDS Marisa CUTILLAS Photography KH Photography as a Pandora’s box of gift ideas; the most expensive item is only €80 and for as little as €15, you can find a unique gift for a friend.

Selina selects items from the USA, Germany, England and Spain, stocking everything from bag holders right through to Swarovski encrusted keyrings and an übercool magnetic brooch which keeps your favourite scarf in place without using a pin, which leaves holes in delicate fabrics.

For all things riding-related, head for the Tack Shop, located within the reception area. The smell of brand new leather is reason enough to step inside and marvel at the sheer glamour of chic clothing, footwear, equipment and specialised riding wear and toys for kids. There is also a handy leather shop which repairs all sorts of leather goods.

The Escuela is also home to one of Marbella’s most wellloved veterinarians: Nazli Kreft, whose new Pointer Veterinary Clinic Estepona boasts cutting edge equipment including blood analysis, X-ray and oxygen making machines, as well as touches such as a special tub for dental work which transforms into a treatment table. Nazli smiles with characteristic brightness as she shows me the magnificent view from her office of horses elegantly walking past her window. She has many plans for Pointer Vet, including a day care centre for

pets, as well as a shop featuring signature and useful items for your pet. This will be located just around the corner in Primero Equine International – stockists of Total Horse Feed, formulated by Equine Physiologist, Linda Linnane, BSc (Hons). Linda is also ‘In House’ nutritionist at the Escuela.

Last but not least is Spanish and international cuisine restaurant El Abrevadero, whose cosy interiors bear the mark of a designer with a true passion for detail. The restaurant boasts an al fresco terrace, bar and indoor dining area, overlooking the impressive indoor equestrian riding arena.

Tuck into Spanish specialities such as Iberian ham, Manchego cheese and tortilla, or make it a light meal with a salad or wrap.

The restaurant serves home-made food all day, offering barbecues for lunch and dinner on Saturdays and Sundays. Catering for events and parties is also provided.

In the same way that top beach clubs have become synonymous with Marbella glamour, the Escuela is set to be the ‘it’ place to take a friend you wish to impress, enjoying lunch or a glass of wine while you watch the riders train and relish in the breathtaking beauty of thoroughbred horses.

Take advantage of the free, ample parking and even bring your dogs along, but don’t forget the lead.

Who said equestrian centres were only for riders? e

g C/ Río Padrón Alto, (opposite Laguna Village), Estepona. Tel: 952 808 077. www.escuela-ecuestre.com 26/9/11 17:44:25

ww Sally B Boutique

Ladies wear boutique and stockist of Tone Barker Silk dresses. Tel: 660 484 813

Pointer Veterinary Clinic Estepona

The new branch of this reputable clinic offers pet owners cutting edge equipment and the best standards of animal care. Tel: 952 804 165, info@pointerclinic.com

m co

ela-ecuest u c re es . . w

Jewellery by Selina

Gifts, jewellery and accessories. Tel: 693 475 218 selina@jewellerybyselina.com

The Tack Shop

An extensive range of equestrian supplies and equestrian equipment from leading brands for the horse and rider including Veredus and Prestige. Tel: 952 808 077

RESTAURANT EL ABREVADERO Primero Equine

Stockists of Total Horse Feed. Tel: 667 265 475 www.holistichorsefeed.com

Mouth watering dishes, from small appetizers to innovative salads and delicious main courses created with the freshest ingredients. Open from 9am every day. Tel: 952808061

Taller de Guarnicionería Tel: 635 111 523

ESCUELA DE ARTE ECUESTRE COSTA DEL SOL - CENTRO HÍPICO C/ Río Padrón Alto, 29680 Estepona (Salida/Exit Km 159 c.n.340 (Laguna Village) then follow signs West) Tel: +34 952 808 077 • info@escuela-ecuestre.com • www.escuela-ecuestre.com

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THELEISURE TRAVEL

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whacky name for a whacky hotel; and yes, it is in Poznan, Poland. Most likely you would have expected a hotel in this genre to be in Frankfurt, Stockholm, Zurich or Paris, but the Blow Up Hall proves that Poland is well and truly in sync with the modern world. Visually engaging, this is another boutique hotel, but one that sports an unconventional artistry that could have been inspired by Philippe Starck, so it proudly calls itself an art hotel – and an interactive one at that.

If ever you needed a reason to visit Poznan, this is it. Set in the historic heart of this rather beautiful city in western Poland, the hotel is suitably housed within a converted old brewery, Stary Browar 50 50, hence the name. The red brick facia of the building contrasts remarkably with the modern, arty and atmospheric blackand-white interior, where every one of the 22 rooms is individually detailed and there is neither a reception counter nor room numbering.

Instead, you have to rely on technology, and the fact that the iPhone you receive upon arrival will facilitate everything from opening the door and adjusting the climate control settings to operating the plasma screen that rises from the foot of the bed at the touch of a button, and swivels round to face the lounge suite at the touch of another. Mood settings will set the tone for your stay, just as the power shower massages your shoulders after a hard day’s sightseeing.

The hotel also has a stylish bar, two haute cuisine restaurants and a catering service, and thanks to its quirky design, art collection and technology, has an edgy feel about it. Quite the place you’ll expect to meet trendy sophisticates, and more than enough reason to head to unexplored western Poland.

Hotels of the HOTEL BLOW UP HALL 50 50, POZNAN Pictures © www.blowuphall5050.com

i www.blowuphall5050.com

Sci-fi room

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Hotel Blow Up Hall 50 50, Poznan >>>>>

FUTURE WORDS MICHEL CRUZ

Have you noticed how hotels have changed? First there was the birth of the boutique hotel, that sometimes vaguely defined combination of small to medium size hotel featuring stylish contemporary décor. In such establishments design and decoration are not merely the conduits to creating a pleasant backdrop, in many cases they actually become the main feature and even raison d’être of the hotel.

It is this emphasis on chic design that started in the lobbies, lounges, restaurants and pool decks of the world’s better hotels, and via the new must-have spa facility worked their way up the stairs and into the rooms – or suites, as we now tend to call them.

This inflation of terminology is largely justified when you contemplate the impact of that design revolution on the humble hotel room, for compare today’s tightly designed accommodation with what was still the norm up to the early nineties, and you’ll see that the in-built radio, basic television set and blow drier

that once got us excited, pale in comparison with the flat screen TV, wireless connection and massaging shower jets we now take for granted.

The past twenty years have taken us to this point, but now there is a new revolution about to happen.

Just as leading edge hoteliers eagerly embraced slick design in the nineties, those wishing to be leading the way now are rewiring entire edifices and bringing a whole new generation of technology – and possibilities – into their hotels. Stacked with gadgetry that will fascinate some as much as it intimidates others, the hotel of the immediate future seems set to be not just pretty to look at, but highly interactive as well, offering the visiting guest everything from on-command facilities, communications, entertainment, concierge services and information to a smorgasbord of options that will ultimately allow you to customise the room, sorry, ‘suite’, to your own tastes.

ECCLESTONE SQUARE HOTEL, LONDON

Pictures © ww.ecclestonsquarehotel.com

The retro chic lounge

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urope may be known as the ‘Old Continent’, but there is no reason why it cannot keep up with the latest developments. Indeed, much of the world’s technological innovation continues to come from Europe, and it is the Germans who are credited with coming up with some of the first innovations of space age technology for use in the hostelry sector.

These included rooms in which not just the lighting and colour toning of the room are adjustable, but where entire walls or even windows turn into massive TV screens or adjustable background scenes. Bathrooms filled with sensors, beds that rock you to sleep and rounded, adjustable room shapes were among the other features, though few enjoyed the white cupboard décor of these

early prototypes.

Enter Ecclestone Square, a modern beauty where the latest technology is married skilfully to gorgeous design that is modern with a dash of retro, but above all super cosseting and luxurious. Housed in an elegant Georgian building on Ecclestone Square, in a fashionable part of town where all things stylish are at one’s fingertips, this hotel is a classic example of stylish exterior that hides the latest in mod con gadgetry.

Ecclestone Square is very much a boutique hotel in the true sense of the word; one that will appeal to both cultured travellers and your wordly businessman.

The ceilings are high and windows French, courtesy of a classical building, the décor refined but with a dash of naughty exuberance that reminds you of a set from the original Avengers series, yet the rooms are where you can really sit back and allow modern technology to play butler. They are not the biggest you’ll find, but designed entirely with your comfort in mind.

>>>>>>> OCTOBER 2011 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE / 109

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The Lincoln Boardroom

Screen room at The Wit

THEWIT, CHICAGO

>>>>>>> Just sink into the outrageously comfortable bed and grab the iPad 2 docked on the bedside table, there where the old built-in radio used to be, and switch on the large 3D plasma TV. If you’re in the bathroom, you can watch the television screen integrated into the mirror.

Being away from home is no longer a reason to miss out on much of home’s comforts, so pick a movie, check your messages on your laptop or let the music flow from your iPod. Whatever advanced gear you may have on you, you’ll be able to plug it in, charge it up and work it in here; these rooms feel like a home cinema and office come into your bedroom. At this point, just as you’re perusing the online menu of services you can request without having to leave the room or pick up a phone, you may notice that the pretty marble bathroom is separated from the bedroom by a glass wall. Pretty though this is, you may start wondering about issues of privacy until you discover that the ‘smart glass’ wall is so called because it really is smart, turning perfectly opaque at the touch of a button. Modesty thus saved, you are left to enjoy a hotel that manages to balance the modern and convenient with the elegant and classical in a very stylish and accomplished way. i www.ecclestonsquarehotel.com

Pictures © www.thewithotel.com

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porting quirky modern design with a touch of Bauhaus appeal, TheWit is both a designled boutique hotel and a high-tech one combined.

Its location in the Windy City’s downtown high-rise area is a give-away that this is an establishment aimed primarily at business travellers. Now this kind of guest will demand comfort and service, can take or leave advanced design but really appreciates the technical gadgets that make business so much easier and the hotel’s luxuries at the end of a long day so much more rewarding.

Though it’s right at the heart of one of the USA’s most advanced cities, TheWit has already earned a name for itself as a centre of leading edge technology. Not surprisingly, it has become a favourite of those business travellers who can afford to pay a little extra for technology whose

main aim is to pamper them in ways that count. For instance, arriving at this hotel means no queuing at the reception to check in. The entire building is wired up in such a way that everything, from the rooms and the concierge to the lifts, is programmable and capable of sending back information.

Communication is the name of the game, allowing you to electronically check in as you arrive, set your room preferences in terms of climate, light and bathwater temperature, but also use the LCD displays and the VoIP phone to arrange pretty much anything you can think of. There is a gym and spa, as well as several restaurants and meeting points, but if you can’t spare time for a massage there is always the choice of soothing background noises such as ‘running water’ or ‘crickets’. I seem to remember the Starship Enterprise had a recreation and relaxation

room with similar attributes.

Catering to businesspeople as it does, TheWit Hotel sports some of the best conferencing and meeting facilities you will find anywhere, and once again the meeting rooms, virtual offices and ‘media theatres’ are brimming with technology.

Video conference calls that are crystal clear and presentation equipment that wouldn’t go amiss in a Hollywood studio are among the features, and when you get back to the room, exhausted but hopefully satisfied, you don’t even have to turn on a light, for the sensory system will turn lights on as you approach a room or adjust the room temperature according to your body heat, or lack of it. It’s like having a silent butler running around doing it all for you. i www.thewithotel.com Electronically raised beds

Bedroom controls The lobby

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Four Seasons Hotel, Silicon Valley

Pictures © www.fourseasons.com

Executive entrance Meeting point at the bar

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hink of modern technology and electronics and one of the first places that will pop into your mind will be Silicon Valley, that sprawling colony of boffins forever developing new software, games and communications tools. It seems only fitting, then, that Silicon Valley should be one of the first places in the world to feature a new generation hotel with all the modern gadgetry you could dream of – and the fact that a large group such as the Four Seasons has got in, shows just how serious this new technology trend is being taken.

An area, not a town in itself, Silicon Valley lies just south of San Francisco Bay, in the greater metropolitan area of that famous city. Although it spreads over most of the Santa Clara Valley, the unofficial capital of Silicon Valley is San José, an attractive palm-lined town that has grown prosperous on what is perhaps the most iconic concentration of high-tech industry in the world. Not surprisingly, all the big names have a presence here, from Apple and eBay to Google and HP, not to mention the source of much local pride and engineering talent, Stanford University.

It is within this technologically advanced environment, which draws a steady traffic of business visitors from across the world, that the Four Seasons wanted to create its first high-tech luxury hotel. At first glance this five-star in Palo Alto

The Presidential Suite

Quattro restaurant

is much like any other luxurious hotel, with a stylish, earthy ambience that is sophisticated and tasteful rather than ultra-modern. The look and feel of the hotel mirrors its lofty surroundings, ten minutes from the Stanford campus in the midst of a prosperous residential area, and the typical list of offerings, from spa and fitness to conference facilities and fine dining, would seem to indicate that this is a conventional luxury hotel.

Which is exactly what it is – save for all the technology contained under its skin. While it looks pretty ‘normal’, the Four Seasons takes high-tech amenities to another level, with an LCD TV/computer screen/monitor in every room, an integrated computerised system that turns everything from booking and printing out tickets to perusing the menu from your bathtub into one big electronic options menu.

Your room is, in fact, an extended computer waiting for your commands and ready to act on them with what Captain Kirk would have called ‘warp speed’. Compared to the usual battle for a decent Internet connection you might indeed find the 100 megabytes-per-second download speed a rather dizzying experience. Thank goodness the service is still old-fashioned. i www.fourseasons.com/siliconvalley

A modern hotel in the heart of a technology centre

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Japanese styling in the suites

Upper House, Hong Kong Pictures © www.upperhouse.com Night view of the bathroom

T

he other big association with modern technology and gadgetry is Asia, where most of it is made. Shanghai, Tokyo, Taipei, Seoul, Singapore and Hong Kong are the powerhouses of the Asian economy, as well as the busy, technology-friendly metropolises of the 21st century. It would therefore be unthinkable, in this day and age, if Asia were not right at the forefront of the new technology-based hotels.

One of the first among these is Upper House, a towering hotel that looks out upon HK’s famous bay.

Modern and refined in a Japanese zen kind of way, this luxury destination with its minimalist chic décor does require you to line up at the reception – to receive your personal iPod touch. This little item will be your pocket control

The lobby

centre during your stay, enabling you to choose from a menu of services or activate the in-room facilities according to your preferences and timing. Once upstairs, overlooking the impressive scenery of Hong Kong from your stylishly appointed suite, you will also discover that it is preloaded with games, music and the contact details of all those staff members dedicated to making your stay a pleasant one.

Your wireless wonder will also continue to make things happen in town, especially if you use one of the hotel’s Lexus Hybrids, which is naturally wired up to provide hyperfast broadband access en route. It is modern technology with that added Asian touch of dedication to service. i www.upperhouse.com

Art and sculptures at Upper House

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The sail-like W Barcelona Hotel

The W Barcelo na Hotel

HOTEL

THELEISURE HOTEL

The Great Room foyer A contemporary looking Jacuzzi at the Bliss Spa

Where Miró Meets the Mediterranean report Marisa CUTILLAS Photography Courtesy of Courtesy of W Barcelona

W

hen visionary architect Ricardo Bofill was called upon to give shape to the W Hotel group’s new hotel in Barcelona, he headed straight to the hotel’s future site: the famous Barceloneta boardwalk, surrounded by pristine beaches, the Port Olimpic, and the swish Port Vell dining area. He describes this moment as “one of the most spiritual and exciting” of his life, explaining, “I was standing on the Rompeolas – the city pier – looking into the blue horizon, into the deep water, and thinking, it’s right there! In the middle of the water!

About 300 metres from where I was standing. After breathing very deeply for a long time, I went straight back to the studio. La Vela (‘The Sail’) was created. At first it looked like a pirate ship with two masts”.

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Bofill is indeed a modern day pirate of modern design and architecture, forging as he does into unchartered territories to bring his revolutionary designs to life. The creative mind behind everything from Les Temples du Lac in Paris to the Miguel Delibes Cultural Centre in Valladolid, Bofill was the ideal choice when it came to reflecting the core values espoused by the W Hotel group: to bring the ‘New York was of living’ to cosmopolitan cities around the world.

The 26-storey W Barcelona billows like a sail, its mirrored surface reflecting the eternal movement of the sea. Viewed from the city side, it is majestic, elegant, divine; viewed from the sea or the beach, when the waves are high and surfing season kicks in, ‘the Sail’ seems to rise from the water’s

depths, bending and bobbing like a ship in the middle of a sea storm, at least in your imagination.

W Hotels had a far loftier aim than giving rise to an architectural masterpiece, however; as mentioned above, the key idea is to offer a lifestyle experience and the kind of service best encapsulated in the ‘Whatever, Whenever’ corner of the hotel. Here, guests are promised whatever they want – whether it be a private chartered yacht excursion or an insider shopping spree from vintage Catalan fashions to modern Spanish design.

The hotel houses 473 guest rooms, 67 of which are suites, two WOW suites and one the Extreme WOW Suite. The latter measures 295m2 with a 59m2 terrace and is

Plaza de la g Rosa delde Vents 1, Final Joan de Borbó, Barcelona.

Tel: 93 295 28 00. www.warcelona.com Plaza la Rosa del Passeig Vents 1, de Barcelona.

Tel: 93 295 2800. www.w–barcelona.com 26/9/11 12:54:08

WET: A great place to chill out

The impressive living room of the Extreme Wow suite

The seaweed wall at Wave restaurant

every bit as spectacular as you would expect from a hotel that is beyond five-star. Located on the penthouse floor, it boasts a spacious living room, BeoSound surround system, a dining table for six, a fully equipped kitchenette, an oversized bathroom with a free-standing bathtub, rainfall shower and steam room and three separate bedrooms with their own en suite bathrooms.

The Extreme WOW suite encapsulates Bofill’s idea of the hotel being a large theatre whose stage is the sea. Features such as 360º wall-to-floor glass windows make the Mediterranean visible from every corner of the room, though the best place to enjoy the view is probably lying on the enormous bed, while you imagine you’re a modern Tom Sawyer, floating on your raft towards freedom and adventure.

The interior design of the entire hotel merits special mention. Wooden walls, avante-garde artistic pieces and cream toned furniture impart

a Manhattan-style ambience to the rooms, while other areas, like the great room foyer, with gigantic jellyfish, corals and sea creatures painted onto the walls, belong to the natural world. Like the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, this hotel merits a full day’s tour, since it has so many magical, artistic corners not to be missed.

Take the futuristic fireplace in the W bar, delicate and ethereal, the ‘seaweed wall’ in restaurant Wave, created through the clever use of lighting and design, or the multicoloured ‘Whatever Whenever’ area.

The W Barcelona has grabbed Barcelona by the hand and leapt into the 21st century, offering guests a plethora of reasons to make this hotel the ultimate choice for wellto-do urbanites. Like its signature restaurant Bravo24, headed by famed Michelin-starred Catalan chef, Carles Abellán, who trained for over a decade under none other than Ferran Adrià. The restaurant, decorated in hardwood, stainless steel and every conceivable shape and form of glass, gazes over the sea and serves up

a range of dishes, many of which are cooked over different types of wood. For those seeking a chic place to chill, few beat the rooftop bar Eclipse, created by London-based nightclub gurus, Ignite. Then there is the Bliss Spa, a registered trademark operating in top hotels in the USA, Qatar and Hong Kong, or WET, a glamorous infinity-edged pool and bar, surrounded by multiple sun terraces, exterior lounge decks, fully equipped cabinas and the ultraexclusive Extreme WOW cabina, with a Jacuzzi and interior lounge deck.

Meanwhile, for events or conferences, the hotel offers 2,600m2 of space to work or play in, including the Great Room, a modern-day ballroom with unobstructed sea views.

W Hotels hit the spot when it turned to the two Bs (Barcelona and Bofill) to give rise to its flagship hotel in Spain. When it comes to contemporary style, top restaurant concepts, glamorous entertainment experiences and signature spas, there could be few better exponents than this groundbreaking hotel. e The W Bar fireplace

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THELEISURE GOLF

ANDALUCÍA MASTERS RETURNS TO VALDERRAMA WORDS DAVID WISHART

A

fter playing 108 holes against many of golf’s best players over Finca Cortesín’s hilly layout, Ian Poulter scooped the €800.000 first prize, more than enough to buy a new pair of jazzy trousers.

Poulter beat Luke Donald 2 & 1 in the final match to become the first golfer to have won both the Volvo and Accenture match play titles and enhanced his already strong reputation as a formidable opponent in the sport’s head-to-head format.

Both players are almost certain to be back at Valderrama from October 27 to 30 for the European Tour’s Andalucía Masters, although Donald was the man to watch at press time, being the leading money-earner while Poulter was not in the Top 10.

Defending title holder is Graeme McDowell, who triumphed at Valderrama last year to cap an outstanding season in which he won the US Open.

Prize money at Valderrama will be a hefty €3 million, one of the biggest purses on the European Tour. If the winners do well, so do the spectators.

Admission prices are a bargain compared to some other golf events.

Then there is the vital matter of viewing.

Valderrama is a spectator’s course. Unlike Finca Cortesín, Valderrama is a course you can walk comfortably and follow the action from the many variations in terrain. Make no mistake, Finca Cortesín is a fine course and makes for great TV

golf, but it is not a walker’s course, and spectators don’t have buggies.

All of which underlines one thing – this is an event where you can leave the TV quiet in the corner. Take the kids to where the world went to see the Ryder Cup. Valderrama also makes for a great social occasion, when many golf clubs in Spain, especially on the coast, bring groups of fans who mingle with locals and celebrities. There are places to eat and drink, giant scoreboards where you can follow the action without tramping round the entire course, and then there’s all the fun of the fair – the compounds with huge trailers belonging to the club makers such as Callaway and Nike, the TV towers and commentators including Sky’s David Livingstone.

So you’re there, and there’s a feeling that this is where it’s happening. It’s like being at the theatre, with a stage and actors. In this case the actors are the golfers, and the stage is – incredible.

Valderrama is a superb design by the great Robert Trent Jones Senior. He famously said: “Faced with such beautiful land, all my instincts were to leave well alone, so far as possible. When nature has spent many millennia shaping an ideal piece of land the task of the human designer is merely to identify the golf course that is waiting to be discovered.”

McDowell’s view: “Valderrama is an iconic course, one of the best on the planet. It’s great to have my name in the list of winners on this course.”

Big time golf returns to the Costa del Sol this month with the Andalucía Masters at Valderrama, just five months after the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin.

Playing Valderrama calls for judgment and patience. Getting your drive in the right position is more important than length, otherwise the second shot will have a cork tree to navigate before it finds the green. It is not a long course if you choose the correct tee, and there is a selection of six. Trent Jones’s goal was ‘hard par, easy bogey.’ He wanted everyone to have a good day.

Well, Tiger Woods would rather forget his experience on the 17th, where he found the water in front of the green. Here Darren Clarke took an 11, then had the misfortune to meet Miguel Ángel Jiménez on the practice range. No doubt Jiménez, who got an albatross at that hole 10 years earlier, could only say, “Sorry Darren – no cigar.”

The course record is 62, held by Bernhard Langer, the first time in 1994 and again in 2002. Under the revised par 71 layout, a new course record of 66 was set by Angel Cabrera and equalled by David Howell.

Valderrama is one of a select group of golf courses, and the first outside of the US, to receive the environmental certificate from Audubon International and its Co-operative Programme for Golf Courses. Valderrama is also a member of the R&A’s, Committed to Green Foundation scheme.

The club is a haven for dozens of species of wild animals and birds and is populated by over 2,000 cork trees, 500 olive trees and 3,000 Halipi pines. i Ticket prices range from €13 to €28. Children

under 14 are admitted free when with an adult. www.andaluciavalderramamaster.es

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RESTAURANTS / REVIEWS / NEWS / WINE / CHEFS / GUIDE

pictured: Patio de los Perfumes

Marbella dining, food news, high tech wine and our comprehensive listings guide...

149Intros.indd 4

123 El Gran Gatsby 125 El Patio de los Perfumes 126 Food News 130 Wine Feature: Technology in Wine-Making

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RESTAURANT THEGOURMET

El Gran Gatsby Rising Star on the Port WORDS Marisa Cutillas Photography KH Photography

H

aving lived for over a decade each in Asia, Australia and Spain, and avidly enjoyed the respective gastronomic cultures of these countries, I appreciate the Marbella culinary scene more than ever. Somehow, it has tapped successfully, intuitively, into what the savvy diner is after: cuisine based on top quality, freshly caught wild fish, well sourced meat and a sophisticated range of wines crafted to please even the fussiest of noses. Moving within this wonderful world it is not often I am surprised but my recent visit to Gran Gatsby, situated on the frontline of Puerto Banús, made patent that the restaurant has dramatically changed the face of the local dining scene.

The restaurant, managed by the same owners of the popular Magna Café, is easy to find: it physically ‘wraps around’ the Puerto Banús tower and is slightly elevated over the marina, lending it a view worthy of a scene from a James Bond film. The ‘interior’ dining area is not quite so interior, since you are separated from the impressive yachts below by large glass windows which are left open in the warmer months to let in a deliciously cool breeze. My dining companion and I spent many minutes gazing at what seemed like a cross between a yacht and a cruise ship, envying the hand Destiny had dealt its owner.

Visual perfection is guaranteed by a combination of location and design. If the front view is stunning, wait until you step onto the outdoor terrace, seemingly floating above the sea, with peaceful views across

the pier. An ideal time for a visit is around 8pm, as the sun starts to set, embracing the sea with its reddish-golden rays.

The interior is equally enticing, with contemporary features including a high-tech wine cellar as well as futuristic, white, wavelike structures on the roof and seainspired wall patterns. If the inside says ‘Barcelona’, the terrace says ‘Bali’, peppered as it is with teak furniture and heavenly white sail shades.

My experience at El Gran Gatsby went from good to perfect as the minutes went by and one of the most important reasons is the staff, comprising a highly polished, multi-lingual, international team, trained to pamper clients and ensure there are no long waits for the food and drink. Take Susana Almonacid, the restaurant’s Public Relations, who possesses a finely tuned work ethic and oodles of charm.

As my dining companion and I were led to our table, all that was left to give this restaurant a resounding ‘10’ was the cuisine and yes, my friends, it was as good as we expected. Whipped up by Michelin starred Head Chef, Nandu Jubany, the menu offers a wealth of dishes inspired on international creative cuisine with strong Mediterranean and light Andalusian influences.

Take the ‘snack’ suggestions, with Mediterranean delights like 5J ham, hand sliced by a professional before your very eyes, or the ‘00’ Cantabrian anchovies, the best you’ll find in Spain. The starters, meanwhile, offered everything from salads to a King Prawn carpaccio,

g Muelle de Honor s/n, Edificio del Mar, Marbella. Tel: 951 778 797. www.elgrangatsby.com 149ReR Gastby.indd 123

g Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Average price for a three-course meal with wine: €55. lobster salad and a true Malagueño favourite: the chipirones. Mains comprise pasta, rice, fish, seafood and meat dishes, some of which are grilled over oak charcoal flames.

For starters we recommend the tuna tartare, wonderfully fresh and served with a creamy guacamole, topped with yellow and orange salmon roe. Joaquín suggested we also try a star dish: the foie gras, served over a light, crisp pastry with pine nuts, raisins and caramelised apple. With this dish, Nandu Jubany shows how creativity and talent can improve a traditional favourite, since his foie is refreshingly light, beautifully presented and somehow, less sinful than usual. Our mains were equally outstanding: an oak grilled pargo, notoriously difficult to find and worth every last juicy morsel,

and the roast suckling pig, deboned and served in a minimalistic looking square shape with light gravy and a delicate mango, pear and pineapple chutney, its flavour and texture doing all the talking and reminding us of the calibre of the northern Spanish cooking. The dessert was made on the spot: a sinful molten lava muffin, served with a cool scoop of chocolate icecream.

The prices at El Gran Gatsby are surprisingly reasonable when you take into account the view, accessibility, service and cuisine.

At midday there are three special menus: the daily, gastronomic and La Lonja Gatsby, the latter featuring fish and sea food from the famed La Longja area. El Gran Gatsby has nowhere to reach but straight for the stars, which shine brighter than ever from its beautiful terrace. e OCTOBER 2011 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE / 123

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RESTAURANT THEGOURMET WORDS By Michel Cruz images KH photography

Modern ambience in a classic setting

WORDS Michel cruz Photography KH Photography

Patio de los perfumes

F

or all its luxurious resort hotels, stylish golf clubs and lively stretches of seaside promenade, the old town remains for many the most charming part of Marbella. Its winding streets, pretty squares and traditional houses whose balconies are adorned with flowerpots create a sense of intimacy that draws you in. Here, locals and tourists mingle in a setting that is quaint yet sufficiently authentic and real to give it true interest, making it the perfect setting for a collection of fine restaurants, cafés and lounge bars.

Featuring an eclectically stylish décor that could have been inspired by Philippe Starck, El Patio de los Perfumes is one of the bright stars in the old town; a restaurant that combines classic fine dining with modern lounge bar appeal.

Lighting and furnishing collude to create an ambience that is elegant with a touch of typically French tongue-in-cheek chic. Classical elements are presented in a modern way to create a rich background in which to enjoy a meal or drink. Winter will see most people dining inside, but for most of the year you will want to snatch a place in the fragrant courtyard from which the restaurant derives its name.

Lounge bar appeal

The feel of this ancient patio in the heart of Marbella’s historic centre is modern and vibrant. White shades dominate and a stylised water feature and chill-out music set the tone. An outdoor bar makes the space perfectly suited to the many events held here, while a further terrace offers greater seclusion and privacy for those of a particularly romantic disposition.

As for ourselves, we settled in among the other diners and watched the venue really come into its own as dusk set in and the soft lighting came on. The establishment may be suave and trendy, but as a restaurant El Patio de los Perfumes draws on classic French culinary expertise to provide a kitchen that is French-based but internationally inspired.

Owners Patrick and Alexandra Marchive have applied their experience as restaurateurs and nightclub owners in France to create a venue with presence and atmosphere that suits Marbella very well. Another coup was securing the services of Stéphane Martin, formerly chef at the two Michelin-star restaurant of the renowned Hotel Bristol in Paris. It is he who has mapped out a menu that starts in France en route through the Mediterranean and all the way to Russia. It’s a selection of international delicacies that once again suits cosmopolitan Marbella like a glove, and explains how El Patio de los Perfumes has become so well-established among a wide variety of nationalities in such a short time.

Fine dining

In a restaurant, décor is one thing, fine dining another.

They are a little like the bodywork and the engine of a car. To kick-start our sampling, we chose from a selection of starters that hold true to chef Martin’s philosophy of international specialities, ordering fresh Russian caviar, Spanish jamon, Mediterranean fried baby squid and an absolutely delightful Oeuf en Cocotte with foie and truffle cream. It’s fair to say that this surprisingly rare dish is a new favourite.

The original aperitifs we enjoyed lounge-bar style were succeeded by a Viña Berceo Crianza. This dark red, deeply-flavoured Rioja was deemed the ideal partner to the mostly meat dishes to follow, and indeed it provided a light but earthy accompaniment.

Tartare is a dish best eaten exclusively in a good restaurant, but when done so it can be a real joy. The Beef Tartare with a spicy Mediterranean dressing was just that, though not so spicy as to overshadow the tartare itself. The cochinillo, or suckling pig, was juicy and crispy at the same time, as this Castilian delicacy is meant to be, while the grilled Almadraba tuna was beautifully doused in a mix of soya and honey.

As for myself, the entrecôte and handmade French

g C/Aduar, 1, Esquina Calle del Peral, Casco Antiguo, Marbella. Tel: 687 508 242. www.patiodelosperfumes.es 149GOURMET.indd 125

fries accompanied by a ‘salad of greens’ was the best I’ve had for a long time. This is not a restaurant where you will be presented with the deconstructed creations or small but wonderfully artistic morsels of the nouveau cuisine. El Patio de los Perfumes is a venue of fine dining based on classic precepts of the French kitchen: fine ingredients and the chef’s skill. The food is real and hearty, though certainly not lacking in finesse, and this is perhaps best reflected in the desserts, which all display creativity of concept and artistry of touch.

The sampled tiramisu with strawberries and a raspberry sorbet, mango crumble with a coulis of wild fruits and mango ice cream were as delicately sculpted and delicious as the chocolate coulant with pistachio sprinkle and orange sorbet. The menu offers both well-established classics and original dishes in a setting that is ambient and stylish. We dined on a Wednesday, but on Tuesdays and Thursdays there is live flamenco, and on Fridays and Saturdays a DJ to add further to what is a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

g Three course meal with house wine: €50 per person

Opening times: everyday from 19:00 to 3:00

OCTOBER 2011 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE / 125

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THEGOURMET NEWS WORDS Marisa CUTILLAS

Casa de la Era Receives Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor Trip Advisor is one of the most reliable sources of information on everything to do with travel, hotels and restaurants so it was a true accolade for Marbella restaurant Casa de la Era when it received a Certificate of Excellence award from the popular travel site. The restaurant, located in a beautiful villa on the outskirts of Marbella serves seasonal, market-fresh Andalusian dishes like the Málaga-style gazpachuelo, fried aubergines with a touch of honey and noodles with angler fish and small clams. i Casa de la Era opens from Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Finca El Chorraero, Ctra. de Ojén, km. 0,5, Marbella.

Tel: 952 770 625. www.casadelaera.com

Chocolat Factory opens in Marbella

Ice Restaurant Opens in Marbella

Bellaria Opens at the Vasari Resort

Urb. El Rosario (mountain side, by the El Rosario roundabout), Marbella. Tel: 952 835 151.

Tel; 695 153 139. www.bellaria.es

Touted as one of the best finds on the Coast these days, the new Ice restaurant in El Rosario is ready to tantalise your taste buds with a host of internationally flavoured dishes served with love and care at breakfast, lunch and dinner time.

On the menu you will find everything from a tender chilli squid right through to juicy prawns Pil Pil, hearty steaks and the delightfully crisp fish and chips. Ice offers a fresh fish special every night, making it an excellent choice for a light yet flavourpacked meal. i Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Having stormed the market a little over a year ago with what can only be described as one of the yummiest carrot cakes known to man, Bellaria has gone from strength to strength, supplying cakes and pastries to restaurants, cafes, bookshops, boutique hotels, luxury beach clubs and international hotel chains. The company recently set up shop at the Vasari Resort near Puerto Banús. With an elegant cafeteria serving fresh, innovative food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a spacious terrace with an in built swimming pool and a gym, beauty salon and paddle courts round the corner, Bellaria is poised to make your sweetest dreams come true. i Vasari Cafe, Urb. Alzambra, Puerto Banus.

If nothing quite sets your heart aflutter like quality homemade chocolate, you’ll be pleased to know that the Chocolat Factory, the company which has been making waves for many years in various cities across Spain and China, has just opened its first shop in Andalucía in Marbella’s Old Town, right by the Town Hall. The shop features everything from bonbons right through to chocolate bars made with cocoa beans obtained from a single origin (Java, Arriba, Fortina, etc.) and wonderful jams made of a blend of chocolate and fruit (sweet pear, bitter orange, etc.). i C/ Valdes 3, Marbella. Tel: 952 778 818. www.

chocolatfactory.com

Eat All You Can at Restaurante Asiático Bangkok Now here’s a welcome novelty for lovers of Oriental cuisine: Restaurante Asiático Bangkok, the Puerto Banús restaurant famed for serving authentic Thai and Chinese cuisine, is offering you a real treat: the chance to eat all you wish to order from their a la carte menu for only €19,95 without drinks or €24,95 including soft drinks, beer, house wine, tea and coffee. This saves you up to €30 for a meal for two. Choices include usual favourites like the crispy duck and prawns. i Terms and conditions apply. Plaza de las Orquídeas, next to the Casino, Nueva

Andalucía. Tel: 952 813 603.

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THEGOURMET PROFILE

F

New Techno-Ecological Beginnings for

erran Adrià has often been touted as the world’s greatest chef, blessed with a unique ability to marry gastronomy, art and science. His restaurant, El Bulli, is famed for having turned down two million eager diners every year, offering only 8,000 persons the chance to enjoy a thirtycourse meal in a culinary paradise perched above the lofty mountains of Roses in the North of Spain, where the view of the still sea and an enchanted forest add a surreal ambience to the restaurant where most magic has been created. El Bulli was the technological nucleus of world cuisine, where creations seemingly made of air, deconstructed and reconstructed according to the Adrià’s fancy, evidenced the extent to which emerging technology can change the face of the culinary industry in the same way it has affected transport, engineering and communication.

Adrià’s cuisine is often referred to as ‘molecular’, a term which he shuns. When pushed to define it, he prefers the word “deconstructivist”. For him it’s all about taking the essence of an ingredient and changing its texture, shape and structure, in an aim to inspire happiness and a host of equally wonderful emotions including surprise, wonder and curiosity, though he has never been coy when it comes to stating his ultimate aim: “Creativity comes first; then comes the customer,” he often says. Harvard Associate Professor, Michael Norton recently said: “Adrià’s idea is that if you listen to customers, what they tell you they want will be based on something they already know… if I like a good steak you can serve that to me and I’ll enjoy it. But it will never be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Adrià has, indeed, taken a plethora of decisions which defy common marketing sense: at el Bulli he offered only a tasting menu; he refused to move the restaurant to a more accessible location like Barcelona or Madrid (Roses is a two-hour drive

Ferran Adrià and the El Bulli Foundation WORDS Marisa CUTILLAS

up a windy mountain road from Barcelona); and he decided to close El Bulli at lunch time, thereby losing significant revenue every year. When he felt he needed a creative break, he would absent himself from El Bulli for up to nine months or close the restaurant for half the year. It all seems rather strange from a business perspective but then again, you would hardly expect a genius the calibre of Picasso, Dali or Goya to stick to a strict routine. Adrià’s marketing choices may have been questionable, but he made up for it through the successful sale of books, appearances at conferences and events and by setting up of a number of businesses associated with the El Bulli name. The chef always said he never aimed for El Bulli to make money, if not to be a fountain of creativity.

We often lament the loss of things we did not have a chance to experience; what I would give now to have bought that Nirvana ticket in Brisbane in the 90s or to have seen Michael Jackson sing in Marbella, before these musicians passed away.

We take artists for granted and before we know it, they’re gone and it is always with a sense of

shock that we receive the news of their demise.

It was with this sensation that many received the news that El Bulli restaurant would be closing, an announcement made by Adrià at the Madrid Fusión Conference in July this year. But the great chef reassures us that “El Bulli is not closing. It’s just transforming into a foundation… people think I should be sad, but I feel like the happiest man in the world,” he said, and when he informed us of his plans, it was easy to believe him.

The new El Bulli Foundation is still in its fledgling stages but promises to be a “technological and ecological” haven. It will function as an archive of El Bulli’s history and research, and serve as an experimental laboratory, where all ideas and discoveries are shared with the public online.

Catalan architect Enric Ruiz Gell will dream up “a Bulli-styled structure for the Foundation, made up of tiny particles,” just like Adrià’s cuisine. The Foundation will be completely sustainable, relying on the wind, sun and even algae for its energy needs. Ruiz Gell’s initial sketches see the foundation made up of five crystal ‘chocolate kisses’ with roofs covered in live plant life and sensors measuring everything from the wind to humidity levels.

At the El Bulli Foundation, budding chefs will exchange ideas with philosophers, designers, architects, artists, scientists, engineers… and all this information will be accessible by all of us.

As Adrià says, “I’ve been very lucky in life and I want to give back to society what it has given to me.” If you never had the chance to experience El Bulli in person, fret not: visitors will be allowed to the Foundation and even to try some of the most outstanding new recipes, though Adrià stated firmly that El Bulli will not function as a restaurant.

It all makes me feel like Charlie from Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In the year 2014, when the El Bulli Foundation opens its doors, could I be one of the lucky few who wins the golden ticket to enter Adrià’s world of pure imagination? e

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t h e a rt of Fi n e T h a i C u i s i n e

952 818 392 or 670 748 415

RESERVATIONS:

Open Every Evening for Dinner Ctra. de Cรกdiz Km. 175 PUERTO BANร S (Behind The Shell Petrol Station) Marbella

TAI PAN

Chinese Cuisine - Polynesian Bar

Serving Marbella in a Select Atmosphere for 29 years.

Puente Romano, Fase 2, Marbella.

Open Daily for Dinner from 8:00

Tel: 952 777 893 / 952 775 500

Exquisite Royal Thai Cuisine Tel: 952 770 550 Open Mon-Sat.

C.C. Marbellamar, L-3A. Marbella.

NOW OPEN FOR

LUNCH & DINNER!

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THEGOURMET WINE

WORDS BY AJ LINN

TECHNOLOGY AND

WINE T

he funny thing about wine is that traditional production methods sell more wine than the latest technology, and the average drinker wants to believe nothing has changed in the bodegas for the last century. I am convinced that if the same wine was marketed under two different names, one being promoted as ‘using stateof-the-art technology…’, and the other as ‘produced by the same time-honoured methods for the last 70 years…’ the second item would easily outsell the first.

There are possibly some innocents abroad who still imagine that white wine is stored in oak casks prior to bottling.

Well, even if it is sold as ‘aged in oak’, the nearest it may have got to the noble tree is a handful of wood shavings stuffed into the metal tank to give it an oaky taste. There are of course many respectable white wines that are correctly aged in oak, but 85 per cent of white wine spends its pre-bottle life in stainless steel, temperature-controlled, tanks.

I am pretty sure that if winemakers could find a way of artificially maturing red wine without the expensive and time-consuming barrel-ageing years, they would do so. In fact I have it on good authority that someone is working on just that. It must be pointed out however that winemakers take a great pride in their product and it is only at the lower end of the price range, usually in wineries producing millions of litres a year, that quality can become seriously compromised by cost-cutting methods.

But there are of course many areas of wine production where technology helps both producer and customer. I was involved in an experiment at Torres not long ago in which a monitoring mechanism was installed between the wine presses and the fermenting tanks for the purpose of detecting tainted wine passing from one to the other in real time. If tainted must gets to the tanks it can spoil the must already stored there.

The standard method was using students positioned along the line, taking samples – and tasting the must – as it went past. This ‘control’ was clearly better than nothing, but

markedly unreliable, and the samples took hours to be analysed.

Emerging technology is also making the enjoyment of wine accessible to more people. Like arranging wine tastings using social networking sites, for example. Jose Ferrer, wine writer of El Mundo newspaper, was commissioned to organise a series of sherry tastings throughout Spain, primarily aimed at getting young people on board the Jerez wagon. He told me that by using his Facebook page he ensures at least a hundred guests at each tasting.

How about restaurants using iPads as wine lists? Cocinados, in León, does this, and customers can see full details of all the wines on offer, including pictures of vineyards, bodegas, winemakers, the lot.

Updating is a doddle and diners love it.

Online wine buying is hardly new, but has grown exponentially of late, with the latest survey estimating that 30 per cent of all sales are now transacted on the Internet.

There are some excellent sites in Spain that will even sell you single bottles with no shipping charges – a real benefit for the lazy or house-bound aficionado. A month seldom goes by without a special offer being put up, so a clever buyer can also save money as well as having the convenience of door-todoor delivery. iPhones are not slow to find out what turns on their users, and a lot of them must be wine lovers. There are many apps available, and you will never be at a loss for what wine to order in a restaurant again.

The Institute of Microelectronica of Barcelona has developed an electronic tongue that is claimed to be able to detect the age and the variety of a wine. Its sensors measure acidity, sugar, alcohol and other ingredients.

If there is an electronic tongue it follows there should be an electronic nose, and Valladolid University, in the Ribera del Duero wine-producing region, has developed one that detects much of the same qualities, but in addition it can detect whether wine has been stored in wooden barrels or steel tanks.

Much of the emerging technology relating to wine and wine production will make the counterfeiting of wine more difficult. As The Independent recently reported, China is awash with counterfeit ‘vintage’ wine.

“There is more Château Lafite ’82 in China than was ever made in France”, according to wine importer Romain Vandevoorde, and with prices in five US dollar figures, the trade is highly profitable. China lacks any tradition of wine drinking, so it is easy to pass off fakes as the real thing and 99% of the time no-

one gets found out. Even counterfeit bottles with misspelt labels do not appear to arouse suspicion providing the price is high enough, and authentic empty bottles are for sale on the web at around $275.

Many of the latest technological developments will assist in eliminating sales of counterfeit wine, and one of the newest is an additive that can be used in the manufacture of bottles that will allow its year of manufacture to be detected. This will put an end to the universal practice of relabeling inferior wine as a more costly product. e

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RESTAURANTS

RESTAURANTS / CINEMAS / GOLF / GYMS /TENNIS

RESTAURANTS ::: AMERICAN ::: HARD ROCK CAFÉ

Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

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

Jacks

/ SCHOOLS

TGI Friday’s

LA PARISIENNE

Asador Criollo Grill

Open from 12pm to 12am. Avda. Muelle de Ribera, locales 4-5, Marina Banús, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 815 993

Open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday.

Centro Plaza, Avda. de Manolete 1, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 951 279 056

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

Montecarlo

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Urb. Guadalmina Alta, C.C. Guadalmina, Local 3, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 883 003

::: ARGENTINEAN ::: Buenos Aires South

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

C/ Virgen del Pilar, 6, Marbella. Tel: 952 779 297

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Closed Monday. Avda. Litoral s/n, Estepona, in front of the Palacio de Congresos. Tel: 951 273 994

Valderrama Restaurant

Open seven days a week from noon till late.

Puerto Banús, Tel: 952 813 625, Puerto Marina, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 563 673

Clericó

New york

Tango

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

Open from 1pm-4pm and from 7pm to 12am.

Ctra. de Cádiz, km.176, 29600, Marbella. Tel: 952 765 533

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

::: GREEK :::

Yanx Open from 9am Monday to Saturday and Sunday from 11am for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Centro Plaza, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 818 861

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Avda.

Antonio Belón, 22, Marbella. Tel: 952 765 683.

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

Red Pepper

El Coto

Chateau Mona lisa

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

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

::: GRILLS :::

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

Tel: 952 786 688

::: FRENCH :::

El Gaucho

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

Open daily for dinner from 7.30pm. Galerías Paniagua. Sotogrande. Tel: 956 795 528

Costasol, local 3, Estepona. Tel: 952 888 353

el rancho del puerto

Open daily for dinner from 7pm. Conj.

Buenavista, L 21-22, Avda. de España, Calahonda. Tel: 952 931 829

Open for lunch and dinner every day. Muelle Benabola 4, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 816 252

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

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

Old Town Grill

Little India

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

mughal village Open daily for lunch and dinner. Aloha Towers, Avda. del Prado s/n, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 819 240

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

Amanhavis

Brunings

Open every day for lunch and dinner. C.C. Diana Park, Marbella. Tel: 952 886 338

Open for dinner Monday to Saturday from 7 pm.

Las Palmeras 19, San Pedro Alcántara. Tel: 952 786 156

baboo lounge and restaurant

Taj Mahal

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

::: INDIAN :::

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

Jaipur purple

AMAPOLA

Open daily for dinner except Tuesday. C.C.

Open Monday to Friday for lunch and dinner and

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Gitanilla s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 789 100

CAFÉ DE RONDA

Open daily for lunch. At the Hotel Don Carlos.

Avda. Zurita s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 768 800

alumbre

boulevard Open for dinner from 8pm. Avda. La Fontanilla, esquina Paseo Marítimo, Marbella. Tel: 952 860 583

auld dubliner

Open from 7 pm ‘til late night every day.

Parque de Elviria, local 7-9, Las Chapas (take second exit, after Hotel Don Carlos), Marbella.

Tel: 952 830 146

::: INTERNATIONAL :::

€60 plus

bora bora

Beach club don carlos

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Private parking available. Ctra. Cádiz, km 179 (behind Venta los Pacos). Tel: 952 857 670/ 629 244 659

€40 – €60

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

safFron

Piratas flame grill

Open every day for lunch. CN 340, km 177, Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

on Saturday for dinner only. Closed Sundays.

C/ Ortega y Gasset, Local 87, Marbella. Tel: 952 774 650

Open daily for both lunch and dinner.

Casa No.7, P. Banús. Tel: 952 812 090

Mumtaz

puente romano beach club

€25 – €40

Open every day for lunch and dinner, closing Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at 8pm. Ctra.

Arroyo de la Miel, s/n, Benalmádena. Tel: 902 102 675

Open Monday to Saturday for dinner and Sunday for lunch. C/ San Lázaro, 3, Pza. Victoria, Marbella.

Tel: 952 867 306 Open every day for lunch and dinner except Sunday. Puerto Deportivo de Marbella, Locales 37-40, Marbella. Tel: 952 865 940

under €25

beach club restaurante grill

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Avda. Ramón Gómez de la Serna 23, Marbella. Tel: 952 862 149

Café tortuga Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. C/ Ramón Areces, esq. C.C. Marina Banús, Puerto Banús. Tel: 610 261 654

Calima Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.

Hotel Meliá Don Pepe, C/ José Meliá, s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 764 252

capitán Open for lunch and dinner every day except Wednesday. C/ Avila, Blq. 5, Local 1, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 799 635

CAPPUCINO GRAN CAFÉ MARBELLA Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

C/José Melià s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 868 790

casa gecko Open Wednesday to Saturday for dinner. Plaza

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THEGUIDE

RESTAURANTS

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

de los Naranjos 11, Marbella. Tel: 687 201 953

El Bolero

Casa mono

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

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

C/ Calderón Estébanez 19, Marbella.

Tel: 952 774 578

Casanis

El Campanario

Open every evening for dinner (7pm-12am). Urb. El Rosario, km. 188, Marbella. Tel: 952 834 748

el bistro lounge de pan y mermelada Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Urb. Marbella Real, Local 16, Marbella. Tel: 952 829 308

El Restaurante del Casino

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Blvd.

Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n, Marbella.

Tel: 952 764 648

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

Golden goose

hermosa

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Muelle de Honor, Puerto Banús. Tel: 951 778 797

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

Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner from 7pm.

Closed Monday. Local 1A. Puerto de Cabopino.

Tel: 952 837 483

EL JINETE

Finca Besaya

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

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

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Casas de Campos, 1, Málaga. Tel: 952 122 075

El lago

Finca El Forjador

hotel marbella club buffet

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

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

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

Finca las brasas

ICE

EL MIRADOR

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

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Urb. El Rosario (mountainside by the El Rosario roundabout), Marbella. Tel: 952 835 151

cerrado del águila

Don Quijote

859

Fabiola

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

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

and Sunday for lunch. At Marbella Golf & Country Club. CN 340, km. 188, Marbella. Tel: 952 830 500

Güey

El Corzo

Don Leone

€60 plus

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Plza. de las Orquídeas 4, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella. Tel: 952 929 250

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

Open every day for lunch and dinner.

Ctra. de Algar, km. 3, Arcos de la Frontera, Cádiz.

Tel: 956 704 131

€40 – €60

Open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday and for Sunday lunch. Gvadalpín Hotel, Beach side, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella. Tel: 952 929 001

celima

cortijo fain

€25 – €40

EL RINCÓN DE GvADALPÍN

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

Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Urb. Cerrado del Águila, Camino del Acevedo, s/n, Mijas Costa. Tel: 951 773 521

under €25

El gran gatsby

Open for breakfast every day. At the Kempinski Hotel Bahía Resort. CN 340, km. 159, Estepona.

Tel: 952 809 500

El oceano beach hotel restaurant & spa Open every day for lunch and dinner. CN340, km.

199, Marbella. Tel: 952 587 550

EL OLIVO Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner

Herrero del Puerto

Galeria San Pedro

karma

Open from 11am until midnight. Closed Sundays.

Avda Las Palmeras 15, San Pedro Alcántara. Tel: 952 780 927

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

girasol

khala

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

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

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THEGUIDE

LA biznaga

LA SALA

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 every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

C/ Belmonte, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella. Tel: 952 814 145

la brisa

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

Open for dinner Thursday to Monday from 7pm.

Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona. CN 340, km.

159, Estepona. Tel: 952 809 500

La cabaña del mar

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

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

LA CANTINA DEL GOLF

La veranda lobby bar

Open for breakfast and lunch until 8pm.

Closed Sunday. Flamingo Golf Club, Cancelada, Benahavís. Tel: 951 318 815

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

La Esencia

La Verandah

Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner. Hotel Incosol, Urb. Golf Rio Real, s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 831 303

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

La Loggia

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

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks. Hotel Villa Padierna & Flamingos Golf Club, Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 166 (Cancelada exit), Benahavís. Tel: 952 889 150

los arcos

La Menorah

los bandidos

Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.

Arena Beach, CN 340, km. 151.2, Estepona. Tel: 952 792 734

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

Open every night for dinner. Hotel Meliá La Quinta, Urb. La Quinta Golf s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 762 000

magna café

Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

C/ Calderón de la Barca, s/n. Tel: 952 929 578

Marbella. Tel: 952 772 461

max beach

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

Open every day for lunch and dinner. CN340, km 198, Mijas. Tel: 952 932 780

Mc café Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Marbella Club Hotel. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n. Tel: 952 822 211

Messina Open for dinner Monday to Saturday. Avda.

Severo Ochoa, 12, Marbella. Tel: 952 864 895

mil milagros Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner and Sunday for lunch. CN340, km 179, Marbella.

Tel: 952 858 958

mozaic Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from Monday to Saturday. Urb. Las Chapas, Marbella.

Tel: 952 839 901

passion café Patio de los perfumes Open every night for dinner. C/ Aduar 1, Old Town, Marbella. Tel: 687 508 242

POCO loco BEACH Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Playa Hermosa, CN 340, Km 189, Marbella. Tel: 952 836 170

polo house Open daily for dinner from 7pm and Sunday Lunch, with club/dancing. CN 340, Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe 11, Marbella. Tel: 952 900 380

polynesian’s restaurant & cocktail bar Open every night for dinner. Urb. La Alcazaba, CN340, km 175, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 816 100

Miraflores Golf Restaurant

puente romano beach club

Open daily for Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 199. Urb. Riviera Golf. Tel: 952 931 941

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

OCHO

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Laguna Village, Playa El Padrón. CN340, km. 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 800 015

Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.

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

oyarbide Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner and on Sunday for lunch. C/ Acera de la Marina 4,

puro beach

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

schilo

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RESTAURANTS

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

under €25

Open Thursday to Saturday for dinner. Hotel Finca Cortesín. Crta. Casares s/n, Casares, Málaga. Tel: 952 937 800

Open from 12-4pm and 7.30pm until midnight.

Closed Wednesdays. Arena Beach, Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 151, Estepona. Tel: 952 796 320

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

sentidos

tanino

Open every day for lunch and dinner. At Sentidos en Río Real Hotel. Urb. Río Real s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 765 732

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

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

shiraz

Terra Sana

Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.

Puerto Deportivo, Local 15, Marbella. Tel: 952 778 334 Open for dinner Monday to Saturday. C/ Aduar 12, Old Town, Marbella. Tel: 952 765 277

Open Monday to Saturday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nueva Andalucía next to the Casino.

Tel: 952 906 205. Golden Mile, Marbella. Tel: 952 777 480. Marina Banús, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 817 977. C.C. Laguna Village, Estepona. Tel: 951 901 050

Small world café

The Clubhouse Bar & Brasserie

Open Monday to Friday for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 9am-2am, Saturday and Sunday for lunch and dinner, 12.30pm-2am. C.C. Le Village, local 15, Ctra. Istán km. 1, Marbella. Tel: 952 771 046

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

Suave

the playwright

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/Manzana, Locales 8-11, Pueblo Los Arcos, Elviria. Tel: 952 830 868

SUite

The orange tree

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

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

sunset

tikitano

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Puerto Deportivo de Marbella, Marbella. Tel: 952 776 667

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

Carpaccio

Swing

Trocadero arena

Caruso

Skina

trocadero beach umami Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Colonia, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 637 558 927

What’s cooking deli and takeaway Open daily from 10am to 6pm. C.C. Guadalmina, Local 34, Marbella. Tel: 649 829 391

zozoï Open every day for dinner from 7.30pm-12am.

Plaza Altamirano 1, Marbella. Tel: 952 858 868

€25 – €40

€40 – €60

€60 plus

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

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

Tel: 952 831 918. Da Bruno a Casa: Marbella Mar, Local 1, Marbella. Tel: 952 857 521 – closed on Sunday. Da Bruno A San Pedro: Avda. del Mar, local 1E,San Pedro. Tel: 952 786 860 – closed on Monday. Da Bruno Sul Mare: Edif. Skol, Paseo Marítimo, Marbella. Tel: 952 903 318/19

Da Paolo

::: ITALIAN ::: Al Dente

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

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

Aretusa Open daily for dinner. Front line P. Banús. Tel: 952 812 898 Open every day for lunch and dinner. Frontline Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 813 357

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

dalli’s pasta factory Open Monday to Friday for dinner and on Saturday and Sunday for lunch and dinner.

Second Line Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 815 871 / 952 818 623

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

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

la pappardella di estepona Open every day for lunch and dinner from

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1pm to midnight. Puerto Deportivo de Estepona. Tel: 952 802 144

952 808 035

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

Open daily for dinner. Beach Club, Hotel Puente Romano, CN-340, km 177.5, Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

Leonardo da vinci

Rosmarino della Piazza

Open every night for dinner. Urb. Doña Lola, Local 21-22, Calahonda, Mijas Costa.

Tel: 952 934 667

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

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

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

Ristorante Roberto

Open Monday to Friday for lunch and daily for dinner. C.C. Pinares de Elviria, s/n, Elviria, Marbella. Tel: 952 850 148

salotto Open Monday to Saturday for dinner. Avda. del Prado, Via 1, local 2, Aloha Golf, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 818 112

sol i luna Open Monday to Saturday for dinner and Sunday for brunch. C/Sierra Bermeja s/n, Urb. Ancón Sierra, Las Lomas de Marbella Club, Marbella. Tel: 952 866 627

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

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

Djawa Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. Urb. Linda Vista Playa 8, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 783 055

Dragón de Oro Open every day from 12.30-4pm and 7pm until midnight. Closed Monday lunchtime.

Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 141, Urb. Hacienda Guadalupe, Manilva. Tel: 952 890 956

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

terraza dual

Kaede

Metro

Open every day for lunch and dinner. C.C. Marbellamar s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 925 250

Open every day for lunch and dinner.

Puerto Marina, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 446 460

Open every day for lunch and dinner. At the Hotel Meliá La Quinta. Urb. La Quinta Golf, Marbella. Tel: 952 762 059

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

Pizzeria Picasso

zafferano

Open daily from 12 noon. Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 813 669

Open every night for dinner except Sunday. C/Gloria II, 11, Casco Antiguo, Marbella. Tel: 952 863 125

portofino laguna village Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. C.C. Laguna Village, Estepona. Tel:

Villa Tiberio

::: Oriental ::: Asia Food

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

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CINEMAS

RESTAURANTS

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

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

Thai Gallery

Skandies Open Tuesday to Sunday from 7pm to 11pm.

Closed Mondays. Avda. Antonio Belón, 26 (behind the lighthouse), Marbella. Tel: 952 776 323

Marítimo Rey de España, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 660 084

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

::: SEAFOOD :::

::: SPANISH :::

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

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

Open seven days a week for dinner from 8pm.

CN-340, km.175, Edif. Rimesa, Bajos, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 818 392

cervecería ostrería santiago

tHapa thai

Cipriano

Open every day for lunch and dinner.

Urb. Puerto Deportivo 13, Edif. Poniente, Estepona. Tel: 951 318 445

Open daily for both lunch and dinner. Playas del Duque, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 811 077

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

Wasabi

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

Casa de la era

Open daily from 1.30 pm for lunch and dinner.

C.C. Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 908 577

Sakura

Wok Away

Restaurante La Marina

Casa Fernando

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Avda.

Jardines del Puerto, L.5, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 817 536

Open every day for lunch and dinner.

Avda. Julio Iglesias, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 907 304

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

Sapporo

Wok Buffet

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

Open 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. El Pilar, 22, Estepona. Tel: 952 887 092

La Torre

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

Sukho Thai

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

Marisquería La Pesquera

finca tabanko

Open for dinner from Monday to Saturday.

Centro Comercial Marbellamar. Tel: 952 770 550

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Ctra. FuengirolaMijas, km. 4.2, mijas. Tel: 952 590 727

Sushi des artistes

Yuan Open every night for dinner. Hotel Torrequebrada, Benalmádena Costa. Tel: 952 441 414.

RestaurantE Eddy & Marisa’s

Hacienda

Open every day for lunch and dinner.

CN 340, km 178.5, Marbella. Easy parking.

Tel: 952 857 403

Osaka Open every day 13:30-16:00 & 19:30-24:00. CN340, km. 166 (Benavista). C.C. Costa del Sol. Tel: 952 885 751

RestaurantE asiático Bangkok

GOLF

dinner from Monday to Saturday. C/Ramón Gómez de la Serna, 5, Marbella. Tel: 952 863 193

Sushi Katsura Open for lunch from Monday to Friday and for

Wok Wang

::: SCANDINAVIAN :::

El Barlovento

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

Bahía

Buenaventura Open every day for lunch and dinner. Plaza de la Iglesia, 5, Old Town, Marbella. Tel: 952 858 069 Open every evening for dinner. Ctra. de Ojén, km 0.5, Marbella. Tel: 952 770 625

El Portalón

Restaurante El bote

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

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Paseo

La Meridiana del

Urb. Coral Beach, The Golden Mile, Marbella.

Tel: 952 824 534

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alabardero Open for lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Mondays. Camino de la Cruz, Marbella. Tel: 952 776 190

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

Plaza Mayor. Tel: 902 220 922

AUDITORIO PARQUE DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN

GOLF GUIDE

la moraga

Marbella. Tel: 952 825 035

Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. C/ Ramón Areces s/n, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 817 448. Also open in C.C. Parque Miramar, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 593 405

CENTRO CULTURAL EL INGENIO

La Cañada. Marbella. Tel: 902 333 231

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 595 970. www.alhauringolf.com

La Taberna del Alabardero

cines gran marbella

Almenara Golf

Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 810 077

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

CINESA LA CAÑADA

Alcaidesa Links

18 holes, Par 71. Tel: 956 791 0400. www.alcaidesa.com

Alhaurín Golf

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

cinesur

27 holes, Par 72. Tel: 956 582 027. www.sotogrande.com

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

Aloha Golf Club

MULTICINES ALFIL

18 holes. Tel: 952 907 085. www.clubdegolfaloha.com

Mesón el adobe

MULTICINES MEDITERRÁNEO

Open daily for lunch and dinner except Tuesdays. Avda. La Fontanilla, Edif.

Balmoral, Bajo 3, Marbella. Tel. 600 003 144

Mijas. Tel: 952 663 738

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 882 812. www.master-hotels.com

PALACIO DE LA PAZ

Cabopino Golf

Recinto Ferial. Fuengirola. Tel: 952 589 349

18 holes, Par 70. Tel: 952 850 282

Tragabuches

TEATRO ALAMEDA

Cerrado del águila

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

Calle Córdoba 9, Málaga. Tel: 952 213 412

18 holes, Par 71. Tel: 951 703 355

TEATRO CERVANTES

Club de Golf La Cañada

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

18 holes, Par 71. Tel: 956 794 100

TEATRO CIUDAD DE MARBELLA

El Paraiso Club de Golf

CINEMAS & THEATRES

Plaza Ramón Martínez, Marbella. Tel: 952 903 159

18 holes, Par 71. Tel: 952 883 835

TEATRO SALON VARIETES

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 937 605. www.esteponagolf.com

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

AUDITORIO MUNICIPAL TORREMOLINOS

Avda. Camilo José Cela, s/n. Fuengirola.

Tel: 952 800 056

Emancipación 30. Fuengirola. Tel: 952 474 542

VERACRUZ CINES

Atalaya Golf

Estepona Golf Finca cortesín golf club

Veracruz. Estepona. Tel: 952 800 056

18 holes, Par 72, Tel: 952 937 883. www.golfcortesin.es

YELMO CINEPLEX

Flamingos Golf Club

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TENNIS

SCHOOLS

GYMS

THEGUIDE 18 holes, Par. Tel: 952 889 157. www.flamingos-golf.com

Monte Mayor Golf & Country Club

Mijas Costa, Málaga. Tel: 951 773 523

SATURNIA REGNA

18 holes. Tel: 952 113 088

CLUB DEl SOL

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

Golf Río Real

Parador Málaga del Golf

SEVEN STARS SCHOOL

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 756 733

18 holes. Tel: 952 381 255

Tennis /paddle classes. Calahonda.

Tel: 952 939 595

Golf Torrequebrada

Real Club de Golf Las Brisas

Dynamic training centre

Tai Chi & yoga. Pasaje Estrecho, Estepona.

Tel: 952 923 055

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 442 742

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 810 875

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

SPORTCLUB ROUTE 66

Guadalmina Golf

Real Club de Golf Sotogrande

FITNESS CENTRE NEW STYLE

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

36 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 883 375

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 956 785 014

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

SPORTING CLUB ATALAYA PARK HOTEL

La Cala Golf Resort

San Roque Club

Fuerte Gym

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

54 holes, Pars 71, 72 and 73.

Tel: 952 669 033. www.lacala.com

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 956 613 030

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

TICKET-TO-RIDE

Santa Clara Golf

GIMNASIO ESTADIO

Cristamar, Pto. Banús. Tel: 952 905 082

La Dama de Noche

18 holes. Tel: 952 850 111

Vitality studio

9 holes, Par 70. Tel: 952 818 150

Santa Maria Golf & Country Club

Trav. Huerta de los Cristales, Marbella.

Tel: 952 828 217

La Duquesa Golf & Country Club

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 831 036

HAPPY DIVER’S CLUB

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 890 425

Sotogrande Club de Golf

Atalaya Park Hotel, Marbella. Tel: 609 571 920

La Quinta Golf

18 holes. Tel: 956 785 012

HOTEL PUENTE ROMANO

27 holes, Par 72.Tel: 952 762 390 www.laquintagolf.com

Valderrama

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

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 956 791 200 www.valderrama.com

MANOLO SANTANA RACQUETS CLUB

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

Ctra. de Istán, Km2. Marbella. Tel: 952 778 580

Angela’s School

GYMS & SPORTS CLUBS

MARBELLA GUN & COUNTRY CLUB

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

Monda. Tel: 952 112 161

british school of marbella

ALHAMAR GYM

MARBELLA SPORT

Ages 18 months-6. Marbella. Tel: 952 779 264

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

Calahonda International College

Alhaurín de la Torre. Tel: 952 412 767

C.C. Alhamar, CN-340 km 197.

Tel: 952 934 684

MULTI SPORT

Ages 3-18. Tel: 952 930 080

Los Arqueros Golf & Country Club

ATENAS

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

Calpe School

18 holes, Par 71. Tel: 952 784 600

Barquilla 1. Marbella. Tel: 952 776 240

New Concept Training

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

Los Naranjos Golf Club

AZTEC COUNTRY CLUB

Childrens placE Bilingual nursery

18 holes, Par 72. Tel: 952 815 206

Marbella Club Golf Resort

Urb. Riviera del Sol, Mijas-Costa.

Tel: 952 934 477

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

02 CENTRO WELLNESS

Colegio Alborán

18 holes, Par 73. Tel: 952 113 239

CENTRO DEPORTIVO EL FUERTE

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

Marbella Golf & Country Club

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

Plaza del Mar. Marbella.

Tel: 952 900 420

18 holes. Tel: 952 830 500

CENTRO DE YOGA Y SALUD INTEGRAL

P-E SPORTS CLUB

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

Mijas Golf

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

Colegio Las Chapas

36 holes, Par 70. Tel: 952 476 843

CENTRO PLAZA GYM

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

Miraflores Golf

Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 817 074

qi sport

Colegio San José Guadalmina

18 holes, Par 71. Tel: 952 931 960

Cerrado del águila

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

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

La Reserva Sotogrande

TRAIN

18 holes. Tel: 956 695 209

La Zagaleta Golf & Country Club 18 holes. Members only. Tel: 952 695 209

Lauro Golf 18 holes

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

sChools

Aloha College

Atalaya, Estepona. Tel: 952 928 444

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

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Dolphin Nursery

Saint George’s School

192. Marbella. Tel: 952 768 800

Ages 6 months-5 years. San Pedro.

Tel: 952 799 563

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

Club Internacional de Tennis

Sotogrande International School

Ctra. Cádiz, km 173. Marbella.

Tel: 952 813 341

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

Club Madroñal Benahavís. Tel: 617 647 223

English InteRnational College

St. Javier’s International School

Ages 3–20. Elviria. Tel: 952 831 058/9

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

San Pedro Alcántara. Tel: 952 788 315

Fiona Jones School of Dance

Stagecoach Theatre Arts School

Hofsaess tennis academy

Ecos College Ages 1–18. Elviria.

Tel: 952 831 027

Ages 9–14. Manolo Santana Racquets Club.

Fuengirola. Tel: 610 764 439

Club Nueva Alcántara

Ages 4-16. Tel: 952 900 453

Monte Elviria (next to German School).

Tel: 952 835 812

Hijas de María Auxiliadora

Sunny View School

Lew Hoads Tennis Club

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

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

III language schools

Swans international school el capricho

Ctra. de Mijas, Km 3,5. Mijas.

Tel: 952 474 858

Ages 3–10. Marbella. Tel: 952 773 248

Manolo Santana Racquets Club

Swans international school Sierra blanca

Ctra. de Istán, Km 2. Marbella.

Tel: 952 778 580

Inlingua Language School

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

Miraflores Tennis Club

All ages. Marbella. T: 952 774 942

TLC Tutorial College

the InteRnational SCHOOL of ESTEPONA

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

Urb. Miraflores, Km 199. Calahonda.

Tel: 952 932 006

wendy kindergarten

Puente Romano TEnnis club

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

Ages 4 months - 5 years. Marbella.

Tel: 952 772 910

Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

TENNIS CLUBS

El Rosario. Marbella.

Tel: 952 837 651

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

Laude San pedro international college Ages 2–18. San Pedro. Tel: 952 799 900

Mayfair Academy

Aztec Country Club

Ages 4-18. Atalaya Park, Estepona.

Tel: 952 784 923

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

Monseñor Rodrigo Bocanegra

bel air tennis and paddel club

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

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

Performing Arts Academy

Club deL Sol

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

Peter Pan School

Tennis/paddle classes. Calahonda.

Tel: 952 939 595

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

Hotel Don Carlos, Avda. Zurita, CN340, km

Club de tenis don carlos

Tenis El Casco

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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WHAT DO KIDS WANT FROM TECHNOLOGY?

THEGUIDE FAMILY Children are the future and within their fascinating minds lie dreams and desires that will shape future inventions, changing human life irredeemably. A new study called Children’s Future Requests for Computers and the Internet, carried out by US firm Latitude, asked children aged under 12 what they most want from technology, in an effort to engage them in the invention of future technology and encourage companies to develop unexpected content and technology experiences that resonate with people of all ages. Some 200 children from eight different countries were interviewed and the response was surprising. If one thing is clear from this fascinating research effort it is the limitless imagination of children.

These are just a few things kids want from future technology: Z The chance to interact with computers more intuitively, using touch, verbal commands and even telepathy to give orders.

Z A web that improves users’ confidence by teaching them vital skills such as learning a different language or how to cook. One child, for instance, asked to video another country, interacting with a child there and speaking in another language.

Z The blurring of borders between online and offline experiences. Kids dream of ‘printing real food’ or touching objects they saw on screen.

Z Immersive experiences of physical spaces. Children wish to travel in the real or virtual worlds through their computer and also wish they had devices which would help them carry out physical activities such as sport.

Z Different means of conducting searches. Children wish to search not with words but with drawings or simply with their thoughts.

Z Creation. Kids envision entire platforms for creating games, websites, action figures, etc., expressing a strong desire in a wide range of design fields, including industrial, landscape, fashion, Web and more. i www.latd.com

ANCRAA Giant Donkeys

Cuddle a donkey or become a volunteer to help save this humble but threatened animal. CN 340, km 164, Finca los Pajaritos, Estepona.

Tel: 952 790 511

Bioparc Fuengirola

Award winning zoo covering Madagascar, Africa and the Far East. C/ Camilo José Cela, 6. Tel: 952 666 301. www. bioparcfuengirola.es

Black Box Teatro

Dramatic Arts School for all ages. C/ Notario Luis Oliver 6, Marbella. Tel: 952 779 172. www.blackboxteatro.com Born to be Wild Jeep and dolphin eco-tours for the whole family. Open 9am-8pm.

Blue Dolphin Beach Club, Estepona Beach. Tel: 639 720 246

Cable Ski Marbella

Water ski cable system and pool. Open 11am-9pm (closed Mondays). Urb. Las Medranas, San Pedro. Tel: 952 785 579

Camelot Fun play centre

in La Cañada with a wealth of games and activities and qualified child minders.

Special events include baby and toddler mornings and a baby grow clinic, for mums to be and newborns. Ctra. de Ojén s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 764 766 Galaxia Versatile and fun play centre for children of all ages, with separate areas indoor and outdoor. Mega slide, mini planetarium, birthday parties, summer camp. Life size characters.

C.C. Guadalmina, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 885 530

Crocodile Park

Educational park with more then 300 monsters. Pose with baby crocodiles. Open 10am-6pm. C/ Cuba, 14, Torremolinos. Tel: 952 051 782

El Refugio del Burrito Donkey sanctuary just 40 minutes north of Málaga.

KIDS’ STUFF

Open 11am7pm. Fuente de Piedra, Málaga.

Tel: 952 735 513 Danzzas Ballet, modern dance, jazz, tap, theatre craft and hip-hop for kids. Classes at the Manolo Santana Racquets Club and at Plaza Gym. Contact Fiona on Tel: 663 646 040. www.danzzas.com Flamenco Classes Children aged 5 to 8 can learn to dance flamenco with Isabel Gil, a professional dancer.

Classes on Monday and Wednesday at the Nueva Alcántara Tennis Club. Tel: 952 788 315 Funny Beach Kids paradise with go-karts, trampolines, mini-motorbikes, mechanical bull. Open daily. East side of Marbella. Tel: 952 823 359

Ice Skating Rink and Indoor Swimming Pool New sports centre with public ice skating, indoor pool, children’s pool. Avda. García Lorca, Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmádena.

Tel: 952 577 050

Inter Marbella Football Academy Football Academy for boys

and girls of all ages, just opposite La Cañada in Marbella. Training is on Mondays and Wednesdays. Call Craig on Tel: 609 310 409. www.intermarbellacf. com Karting Club Málaga Go-kart circuit for kids and adults who feel a need for speed. Open 10am-midnight.

Ctra. De Coin, Mijas Costa. Tel: 952 581 704 Kids Multi-Sports Club A plethora of sports for children of all ages and abilities, from tennis through to football, cycling and skateboarding.

Parties with games, activities and bouncy castles. Urb. Parcelas del Golf, Avda. del Prado, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 656 618 712 Kidz Kingdom Fun play centre and birthday party area for kids, with a mini disco. Urb. Bel-Air, CN 340, km 166.2, Estepona. Tel: 952 925 936

Kidz Kingdom 2 – Space City

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

for newborns to 3-year-olds in Marbella, Estepona and Riviera. Tel: 686 498 561/ 607 875 949. www.littlefishesspain.com Little Gem Swimmers Swimming courses for babies and toddlers in Benalmádena. Contact Emma on Tel: 628 567 129. www. littlegemswimmers.com Marbella Stage School Kids can take accredited courses in dance, drama, musical theatre and singing after school on weekdays and all day on Saturdays. Tel: 952 906 865. www. marbellastageschool.com Megabowl & Sports Bar This bowling centre boasts state-of-the-art tenpin bowling lanes as well as great food, drinks and entertainment. C.C. La Cañada, Ctra. Ojén, Marbella. Tel: 902 232 999. www.megabowlmarbella.com Musical Babes Babies and toddlers aged 6 months to 3 years enjoy singing, playing simple instruments and playing games. Tel: 952 853 027. Los Jazmines 11, Bajo B, Nueva Alcántara, San Pedro de Alcántara. www.brainwaves-spain. com

NMA The Nelson Music Academy

Kids aged 4 to 12 are introduced to music in its funnest aspects. Classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5pm to 7pm, Saturdays from 11am to 1pm. Edif.

Jupiter 44, Local 3, C/ Jesús Cautivo, Los Boliches, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 478 416. www.nelsonmusicacademy.com Original Dolphin Safari The original dolphin safari, established in 1969! Daily sailings from Marina Bay, Gibraltar. Tel: +350 200 71914. www. dolphinsafari.gi Parque La Batería Kids will have fun in this park, built in the civil war era and featuring four replica cannons, underground bunkers and passageways.

Urb. Montemar Alto (near the train station), Torremolinos.

Plaza Mayor Family entertainment with multi-screen cinema, bars, restaurants, bowling alley and kids play area. Málaga. Tel: 952 247 580 Scouting Kids will have fun being a boy or girl scout. The programme followed is the same as that in the UK. Tel: 680 870 270 Sealife Centre See 2 metre long

sharks. Touch pools and walk-though glass tunnel. Open daily 10am-6pm.

Benálmadena Port. Tel: 952 560 150 Selwo Adventure Park Over 2,000 animals, 4x4 tours, plus adventure activities. Open 10am-9pm. CN340 Km 162.5, Estepona. Tel: 902 190 482 Selwo Marina Dolphins Exotic birds, penguins and virtual reality shows. Open 10am-6pm. Parque de la Paloma, Benalmádena. Tel: 902 190 482 Stagecoach Renowned performing arts school for singing, dancing and acting skills. The academy is open to four to 16-year-olds. Tel: 952 900 453/666 838 213. www.stagecoach.es Steam Train Ride Enjoy a steam train ride crossing the Andalusian mountains with a scenic trip from San Roque to Ronda. Tel: 952 931 186 Swim Bebé Swim Swimming classes for under 4’s and AquaNatal classes for mums-to-be. Tel: 617 520 588 Teleférico Benalmádena Cable car to top of Calamorro mountain, falconry, trekking and horseriding.

Arroyo de la Miel. Open 10am-6pm. Tel: 902 190 482 Tennis Camp Tennis lessons for kids from 4 years on, with professional coaches. Open 10am-1pm. Club del Sol, Calahonda. Tel: 952 939 595 The Music House Kids learn, grow and have fun making music. Open to children from 2 years on. Edif. San Pedro del Mar, Blq 7, local 12, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 785 515. www.themusichouse.es Tivoli World Biggest amusement park on the Costa del Sol. Open daily from 1pm. Avda. de Tivoli, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 577 016 Trenecito de Marbella Take a relaxing train ride to view the main sights of Marbella. Daily 10am-1pm.

Paseo Maritimo. Tel: 639 765 981 Yaina’s Park Indoor play centre with staff speaking Scandinavian, English and Spanish. Open seven days a week from 10am to 9pm. Children’s parties, parent’s coffee shop with pool tables, television, food. Avda. Gamonal 4, Edif. Hercules, Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmádena. Tel: 622 005 068

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THEGUIDE PETS WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

DOGS HELP DIAGNOSE CANCER A new study published in the European Respiratory Journal indicates that dogs are able to detect lung cancer just by sniffing a person’s breath. Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Europe but the chances of survival are high if the disease is diagnosed at an incipient stage. The special canine ability was discovered by scientists at the Schillerhoehe Hospital in Germany who conducted tests using breath specimens from 220 persons and trained sniffer dogs, who correctly identified 71 lung cancer cases out of 100. Scientists are currently working on identifying the exact compounds in the breath which are detected by the dogs and once that is done, an ‘electronic nose’ can be fabricated which will enable doctors to diagnose patients with just one breath. ‘Electronic noses’ are already being used to detect ovarian cancer so a hope for lung cancer is not far-off.

Pointer Clinic Marbella: New Technological Haven for your Pets

new Pointer We were recently given a tour of the brand André Evers Dr. ing charm the by lucía Anda a Clinic in Nuev cutting and ess and were delighted with its spaciousn light al natur of y plent ts edge design. The clinic boas iated erent diff and ry surge ion, ultat and an ample cons heating oor rfl unde with areas ation italis hosp aftercare/ diagnostics for cats and dogs. Dr. Evers’ passion lies in ies, etc.) and his graph echo t (blood tests, chest X-rays, hear what is going ly exact mine deter to him machinery allows technology. e -rang f-the top-o to ks than pet, on with your

y machine, as Dr. Evers revealed a new Doppler echograph latter enables The ine. mach X-ray lta well as a Konica Mino es to his imag X-ray move or out zoom in, him to zoom ering of the rend nt desire, providing a high resolution, insta clinic is “The ds. perio ng image sought, without long waiti res featu new of lot a de inclu to able brand new so we are training area, y pupp a pets, ing weigh for s scale at fl including rs etc.,” said Dr. separate waiting areas for dog and cat owne office where y lovel a , ooms Evers. The clinic also has restr als and a anim the rving obse while consultants can work food to from thing every nd fi will you e wher shop tempting re “Befo ds. frien d grooming products for your four-foote them er off to able be to ts clien opening, we listened to our with e local a nd fi to sure made we so what they wanted iendly access, excellent parking facilities and disabled-fr ly pets. We even elder since many clients are elderly or have y bags, pet heav carry ts provide a carriage to help clien .

Evers food, etc.,” says Dr. lucía. i Avda. de los Girasoles 344, Nueva Anda Tel: 952 906 626. www.pointermarbella.com

Slobber: A New Toy Developed by 13-Year-Old Boy Cole Amyx is a 13-year-old boy from the USA who, at the age of eight, created a toy to clean his own dog’s teeth… made of fleece and tennis balls, the toys somehow hit a mark with dogs and are currently available on the Internet, with buyers logging in from all over the world to purchase one for their pooches. Interestingly, Cole’s invention also fulfils his aim to give back to needy animals. He explains: “My parents always taught me that God put us here to help take care of the animals. I thought, if people bought the toys, I could give part of the money to help animals that didn’t have a home. I knew I had to be brave and not be afraid when I would walk up to people at the dog parks and ask them to buy my dog toys. It wasn’t easy, walking around with my wagon explaining that I was selling dog toys and that $1 from every sale would go to help homeless animals. But I knew if I was going to help animals, I had to be brave and not care what people thought about me.” The toys are available in small or large and in a variety of colours. You can also customise your design. i www.slobberdogtoys.com OCTOBER 2011 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE / 143

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WHAT’S ON IN OCTOBER

THEGUIDE WHAT’S ON EVENTS CONTINUED FROM SEPTEMBER Until October 9 ART EXHIBITION – MÁLAGA

The CAC Málaga presents a fascinating exhibition by Guillermo Pérez Villalta entitled The Metamorphoses and Other Mythologies: a series of over 40 paintings and drawings inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphosis. The exhibition is divided into four themes: Old and New Testament stories, battles, patriarchy and the myth of the artist. 952 120 055. Tel: www.cacmalaga.org

Until Monday, November 14 ART EXHIBITION – MARBELLA

Self-taught figurative artist Mario Bancalero aims to stir the deepest feelings in his audience with haunting photos of landscapes representing primary emotions. At the Casino Marbella from 9pm to 5am daily. Please bring your passport/DNI. Tel: 952 814 000. www.casinomarbella.com

Until November 25 ART EXHIBITION – ESTEPONA

The Stoa Art Gallery in Estepona presents the exhibition The Alcazaba That I Love by painter C. Álvarez. The gallery opens from 11am to 2:30pm and 5pm to 6:30pm from Monday to Friday, and from 11am to 2:30pm on Saturday and Sunday. Tel: 951 318 426. www.stoagallery.com

Until December 31 CAFÉ Y LIBROS – SAN PEDRO, NUEVA ANDALUCÍA, MARBELLA

AMIGOS DE LA CULTURA – COSTA DEL SOL

Meets at different times and places for lunches, lectures, tickets to concerts, ballet, theatre, opera, etc. Further information, Tel: 669 445 809. smartkidsmarbella@gmail.com

Every Monday SALSA CLASSES – MARBELLA

Learn how to shake your hips like a true Latino at El Campanario, under the guiding hand of professional dancer, Rafa. At 7:30pm. Prior booking is necessary. Tel: 952 904 233. www.elcampanariogolf.com

Every Monday and Wednesday LANGUAGE WORKSHOPS – MIJAS PUEBLO

Spanish/English and English/Spanish conversation with fellow native speakers, 10-11:30am. Further information on meeting points, Tel: 952 589 010. www.mijas.es

Every Second Tuesday of the Month JAZZ – ESTEPONA

The Coast’s Jazz Appreciation Society meets at Benavista Country Club at 8pm. Classic videos followed by a live jazz performance then dinner. To book, Tel: 952 888 106. Further information from Brian Parker, Tel: 669 504 942.

Every Third Tuesday of the Month FLORAL ART CLUB – ESTEPONA

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

The Delegación de Cultura de Marbella has set up five libraries in local bars, to foment the love or reading and networking with fellow intellectuals. In San Pedro at Flanker Bar and Knut’s Gastrobar. In Nueva Andalucía at Cafetería La Toscana. In Marbella at Bar El Bocata Express and Café Bar El Reloj. www.marbella.es

Every first Wednesday of the month CULTURE AND COCKTAIL – MARBELLA

NEW AND REGULAR EVENTS

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

Monthly on different days FILM SHOWING AND DINNER – MARBELLA

The Association of Art and Culture holds monthly meetings at Magna Café, Magna Marbella Golf, at 8pm. Tel: 627 833 262. www.culturamarbella.org

Every Wednesday TOASTMASTERS CLUB – MARBELLA

The Marbella International Film Festival hosts Oscar Nights, which include a showing of a major Oscar winning film and dinner at the H10 Andalucía Plaza Hotel. Tel: 952 812 000. www.marbellafilmfestival.com

Every Wednesday and Thursday CINE CLUB – MARBELLA

AMERICAN CLUB – MARBELLA

Every Thursday CINE CLUB – ESTEPONA

The American Club Costa del Sol Chapter meets monthly for excursions, sports and social events. Tel: 952 772 789. www.americanclubcostadelsol.com

Every last Friday of the Month COFFEE MORNING – ESTEPONA

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

BUSINESS LUNCH – MARBELLA

Marbella Business Institute invitation-only lunch club for local and visiting business people, active and retired. To apply, see www.marbellabusinst.com

Every First Sunday of the month OPEN DAY – MIJAS PAD animal shelter, Cerros del Águila, welcomes visitors from 12-3pm.

Further information, Tel: 952 486 084. www.padcatsanddogs.org

Every Saturday and Sunday KIDS’ CAMP – MARBELLA

Aloha Gardens Multi-Sports Club weekend camps for children aged 4-14, 10:30am-1pm.

Activities include tennis, football, cricket, basketball, hockey, handball, paddle tennis.

Aloha Gardens, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 814 086. www.themultisportsclub.com

Monday October 3 to Friday October 7 HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL – MARBELLA

Amnesty International presents a film festival focusing on human rights around the world.

Films include In the Land of the Free, the story of three members of the Black Panthers who between them have spent almost a century in confinement in the Angola prison in Louisiana.

One of the men, Robert Hillary King, is now free and will be speaking at the event. Entrance is free. Films start between 7:30pm and 8:55pm.

In the Land of the Free starts at 8pm. For a full programme of events, Tel: 952 220 729/ 620 938 977. www.es.amnesty.org/malaga

Wednesday October 5 to Saturday October 8 ONE WOMAN SHOW – MARBELLA Hannah Chalmers stars in Stripped: a wickedly funny one-woman show based on shockingly real characters and exploits

from her pole dancing days. At the Caprice Theatre in Marbella at 9pm. For bookings, Tel: 952 857 575.

Thursday October 6 to Wednesday October 12 FERIA – FUENGIROLA The annual Feria de la Virgen del Rosario features live music, traditional dance, and food. For a full programme of events, www.fuengirola.es

Friday October 7 EXHIBITION LAUNCH – MÁLAGA

Johan Walstrom inaugurates his latest exhibition, It’s Boring to Die, featuring colourful, modernistic paintings, at Henarte in Málaga, at 8pm.Tel: 952 221 794.

Friday October 7 to Saturday October 8 ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOP – MARBELLA

Discover many ways to lead a more environmentally sustainable life at a two-day workshop held by Arboretuem Marbella. At the Palacio de Congresos de Marbella. For information on precise times, Tel: 951 137 210. www.arboretummarbella.es

Saturday October 8 COMEDY HYPNOTIST – MARBELLA

Comedy hypnotist Stuart Ashing offers a fun-filled show in which the audience is the starring act. At El Campanario Golf & Country House. Tel: 952 904 233. www.elcampanariogolf.com

Sunday October 9 to Wednesday October 12 WALKING – MARBELLA

Marbella 4 Days Walking is an event bringing thousands of people together to appreciate the importance of Nature by completing a 20-kilometre walk every day in the city, on the beach and in the countryside. Sign up for one day or for all four. Tel: 639 084 869. www.marbella4dayswalking.com

Monday October 10 NADFAS LECTURE – FUENGIROLA

David Battie gives an enlightening lecture on Madam Pompadour at the Salón Verietés Theatre in Fuengirola at 4:30pm. www.nadfascostadelsol.org

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

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

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Wednesday October 12 SHOWJUMPING COMPETITION – ESTEPONA

Friday October 21 CLASSICAL MUSIC DOCUMENTARY – MARBELLA

Friday October 14 opera – BENALMÁDENA

Saturday October 22 CONCERT – MÁLAGA

The Escuela de Arte Ecuestre Costa del Sol hosts a fun-filled social show jumping competition at 10:30am. Tel: 952 808 077. www.escuela-ecuestre.com

Enjoy a dance, music and theatre show based on Mozart’s famous opera, The Magic Flute.

At the Casa de la Cultura de Benalmádena.

Tel: 952 444 689. www.benalmadena.es

Friday October 14 to Sunday October 16 FILM FESTIVAL – MARBELLA

The Marbella International Film Festival takes place once again, with films from independent directors from all over the world. At the Andalucía Plaza Hotel. For a full programme of events, www.marbellafilmfestival.com

Friday, October 14 to Sunday October 16 EXPOGAYS – TORREMOLINOS

Expogays is a fantastic exhibition featuring products, services and interesting tourism offers for gays and their families and friends.

At the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Torremolinos from 11am to 12am. For tickets, www.expogays.reservasgays.com

Saturday October 15 NETWORKING EVENT – FUENGIROLA Turbo Charge your Sales and Business is the title of a business seminar offering information on how to improve business in this tough climate. Steve Clarke, an expert on grassroot sales and marketing strategies, will give three speeches.

Tickets cost €10 and can be purchased on www.turbospain.eventbrite.com

DINNER DANCE SHOW – MARBELLA

Restaurante Garum presents a new dinner dance show featuring a mix of oldies, crooners, jazz, dance and pop music with a four-course dinner, for only €35. Tel: 952 858 858. www.garummarbella.com

Monday October 17 to Sunday October 23 FERIA – SAN PEDRO

San Pedro de Alcántara holds its annual fair this week, featuring traditional dress, sevillana dancing and fino drinks. For a full programme of events, www.marbella.es

Tuesday October 18 FLOWER ARRANGING DEMONSTRATION – ESTEPONA

The Estepona Floral Art Club will be holding its next flower arranging demonstration at The Oak restaurant in Benamara from 2:45pm to 5pm. Tel: 951 170 573.

TEATRO ECHEGARAY Tuesday October 4 Theatre/Dance

If you’d like to learn more about classical music, head for the La Virginia church at 8pm to watch a documentary on symphonic orchestras.

Rock band Sôber plays Sala Paris 15 at 9pm.

Tickets can be purchased from Ticketmaster.

Tel: 902 150 025. www.ticketmaster.es

Saturday October 22 to Sunday October 23 PLANET EARTH CONFERENCE – MARBELLA

The second Planet Earth Conference is a free event offering information on technology that improves health from a natural, holistic perspective. At the Palacio de Congresos. Tel: 952 828 244. www.saludintegralproyectoshambala.com

Tuesday October 25 to November 18 ART EXHIBITION – FUENGIROLA Painter Ángel Giró, whose figurative paintings highlight the beauty of Andalusian white towns, exhibits his latest work at the Casa de la Cultura de Fuengirola. Tel: 952 582 925.

Wednesday October 26 and Thursday October 27 EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES CONFERENCE – MÁLAGA

Technology Review Spain hosts the famed EmTech conference for the first time in Europe, at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga. The two-day event will feature talks by some of the most important names in robotics, gaming, smart cities, biotechnology, etc. Tickets can be purchased on www. emtechspain.com

Thursday October 27 to Sunday October 30 GOLF – SAN ROQUE

The Club de Golf Valderrama will be hosting the prestigious Andalucía Valderrama Masters, in which top players will compete for a €3 million purse. Tel: 956 796 028. www.valderrama.com

Friday October 28 to Sunday October 30 WEDDING FAIR – MARBELLA

Marbella Bodas is a three-day event sharing information on the latest wedding trends. At the Palacio de Ferias de Marbella. Tel: 952 828 244. www.marbella.es

Saturday, October 29 AMARAL CONCERT – MÁLAGA

Amaral is one of the biggest selling pop/rock bands in Spain and this month, they delight us with their latest and greatest hits at Sala Paris 15. Tickets can be purchased from Ticketmaster. Tel: 902 150 025. www.ticketmaster.es

Gloria is the new show by the Y aquí me planto! Theatre company, featuring a mix of theatre and dance which seeks to highlight the importance of taking the time to reconnect with our inner selves. At 9pm.

Sunday October 9 Dance

Amaral

HALLOWEEN PARTY – ESTEPONA

The Pony Club at the Escuela de Arte Ecuestre Costa del Sol is holding a fantastic Halloween party. Don your scariest costume. At 4pm.

Tel: 952 808 077. www.escuela-ecuestre.com

Saturday October 29 to Sunday October 30 MIND, BODY, SPIRIT FESTIVAL – MARBELLA

The Hotel H10 Andalucía Plaza will provide the backdrop to a fun event featuring everything from tarot readings to Tai-Chi, Yoga and Pilates. Tickets can be purchased from Jacinta Hannon on Tel: 670 628 468. www.mindbodyspiritmarbella.com

Monday October 31 CARMINE APPICE CONCERT – MALAGA Rock band Carmine Appice is joined by Javier Vargas and Paul Shortino to bring you a night of music to be remembered. At Sala Paris 15. For tickets and precise times, contact Ticketmaster on Tel: 902 150 025. www.ticketmaster.es

Teatro Cervantes Friday October 7 to Saturday October 8 PIANO CONCERT

Ingmar Schwindt plays the piano and Jacques Lacombe directs an amazing performance of various musicians including Ravel, Prokofiev and Luna. At 8:30pm on Friday and 8pm on Saturday.

Friday October 21 to Saturday October 22 CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERT

Antoni Ros-Marbá directs Ingmar Vineta Sareika on the violin and Christian-Pierre La Marca on the cello in a concert paying homage to the music of E. Toldrá, Brahms and Dvorak.

At 8:30pm on Friday and 8pm on Saturday.

Friday October 28 to Saturday October 29 CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERT

The Baroque Youth Orchestra of Andalucía and students from the School of Song of Madrid present Acis and Galatea Masque, featuring the music of Handel and words by John Gay and Alexander Pope. At 9pm on Friday and 8pm on Saturday.

i Tel: 952 224 100. www.teatrocervantes.com

Da. Te Danza presents Río De Luna, an unusual performance focusing on the world of understanding of babies and their parents and the way they communicate through sight and touch. At 11am and 1pm.

Friday October 14 to Saturday October 15 PUPPET SHOW

Es-Puto Cabaret is the raunchy title of a deliciously irreverent puppet show for adults, winner of the Best Show for Adults at the National Puppet Show Festival in Valencia. At 9pm on Friday and 8pm on Saturday.

Sunday October 16 CHILDREN’S PUPPET SHOW

El Espejo Negro puppet show group presents The Fantastic Voyage of Jonas the Sperm, a wonderfully educational way for children to learn about the natural process of sex. At 11am and 1pm.

Friday October 21 to Saturday October 22 THEATRE SKETCHES

Ron Lalá presents Time Al Tiempo, a series of funny sketches focusing on the theme of time. At 9pm on Friday and 8pm on Saturday.

Sunday October 23 CHILDREN’S PUPPET SHOW

Perifería Teatro presents Guyi-Guyi, a highly artistic puppet show about a crocodile who is born into a family of ducks. At 11am and 1pm.

Friday October 28 GUITAR PERFORMANCE

Juan Antonio Manuel, a renowned singer and guitar player, has lived and breathed music for almost 40 years. He gives a soulful performance at 9pm featuring blues, Spanish copla music and jazz.

Saturday October 29 DANCE

Claude Brumachon and Benjamin Lamarche direct the Centre Chorégraphique National de Nantes in a contemporary dance performance called Dúos. At 8pm.

Sunday October 30 CHILDREN’S THEATRE

La Gallina Submarina is the story of a hen called Marcelina who dreams of swimming in a big pond with the ducks, swans and frogs. At 11am and 1pm.

i Tel: 952 224 109. www.teatroechegaray.com

OCTOBER 2011 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE / 145

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Mellior Vasari La Alzambra Local 3-1 Puerto Banús - Marbella - 29660 Spain +34 951 319 728 UK +44 0800 112 3027 info@quaypropertygroup.com

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LUXURY HOME BUILDER “Formed in 2007 by experienced property developer John May, Quay Property Group is a luxury building contractor for clients in Marbella.”

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