Midas touch magazine march 2016 r

Midas Touch Magazine March 2016

The Costa Blanca's Luxury Lifestyle Magazine Golden Leaves 'Pet Idol' Homes and Gardens Expo Spanish Properties Le Mans 24-Hours Gizmos & Gadgets Crusing the 7 Seas Kickstarting and so much more in your Guide to Luxury Living in Spain

Midas Touch Magazine 4/2016

Welcome Welcome to the March issue of the Midas Touch Magazine, your link to Luxury Lifestyle in Spain and beyond.

This month we take you on a journey to discover some of the very best in Spanish Real Estate, executive escapes, private islands, luxury cars and so much more.

Midas Touch Magazine is a monthly eZine for Spain, with a British Isles edion every season, coming soon.

Welcome to the Midas Touch Club in Spain...

Enjoy the ride...

Golden Leaves Expat Services sponsors lifestyle show Golden Leaves Expat Services, the ground breaking initiative from Golden Leaves International Limited is the official sponsor of Pet Idol 2016, the latest exciting addition to the annual Homes Gardens & Lifestyle Show in Costa Blanca.

The leading show of its kind for the expat community is also one of the most popular events on the Costa Blanca providing inspiration, information, fun and feature attractions as well as opportunities to meet with celebrities.

Pet Idol 2016 provides animal lovers with the opportunity to put their furry friends in the limelight and be voted favourite Costa Blanca pet, with the winner receiving a year’s pet insurance courtesy of Golden Leaves Expat Services. Pet Idol 2016 will also be raising much needed awareness for the work of the animal charity APASA. Barry Floyd, Managing Director at Golden Leaves International Limited explains why Golden Leaves Expat Services was keen to support the show.

“For pet owners everywhere, their pets are more than just animals. In many ways they are family, loved by old and young alike and as such, deserve the same loving care as any other family member. Pet insurance is the most cost effective way of ensuring that your beloved pet will receive the care it needs, when it needs it, which is why pet insurance is one of the many valued services that we provide for the expatriate community.”

He continues, “For this reason we are delighted to sponsor Pet Idol 2016 as well as showing our support for the important work of the APASA. We would encourage all pet owners to enter the competition and wish everyone the very best of luck. While there can only be one winner of Pet Idol 2016, we would of course be more than happy to discuss anyone’s pet insurance requirements with them either at the show or at our new offices.”

The Homes Garden & Lifestyle Show will be held at the Denia Marriott Hotel, La Sella Gold & Spa Resort, Jesus Pobre on 11th-12th March, 2016.

For more information about GL Expat Services’ portfolio Call 8000 98309, visit glexpatservices.com or pop in and see their team at their new offices in Javea, in the Arenal at Avenida De La Pla 123-125, Edifico Caribe, Locale1 Javea 03730 Alicante.

Golden Leaves International – an established company of 20 years experience helping Spanish expats is best known for offering specialist funeral plans but has been reinvented as Golden Leaves Expat Services and a “hassle free” one-stop shop for people needing assistance on a whole range of issues affecting their lives.

Javea Mayor Jose Chulvi officially opened the new headquarters of the company at Avenida De La Pla 123-125, in the Arenal – and more offices are planned in Spain.

As well as funeral plans, the company now offers services including: all forms of insurance, legal services – including wills and family law – money and wealth management, NIE assistance, and tax advice.

Chairman Steve Rowland thanked colleagues for their months of hard work in preparing the new look Golden Leaves.

“Although we have been selling funeral plans in Spain since 1995, we have been born again to offer a helping hand with all services in all areas of public life,” he said.

And Mr Rowland said expat services would help expats who had lived in Spain for many years as well as people considering a move to the sun.

“This office represents the rebirth of Golden Leaves in Spain and is the first of many we have planned,” he added.

Pictured is Mayor Chulvi cutting the ribbon watched by (from left) Steve Rowland, Managing director Barry Floyd, and Operations Manager Emma Quantrill.

Fantastic Luxury Villa El Campello, Costa Blanca 1,475,000â‚Ź This incredible luxury villa is situated frontline, on El Campello, Costa Blanca.

This fabulous six bedroom, four bath, frontline property offers spectacular sunrises from nearly every window, plus terrace and balconies.

Build on 1,000 m2 parcel directly over the sea, this 400m villa is split over three floors.

The top floor penthouse offers outstanding views from the master bedroom and has a large en-suite bathroom.

Even though there are windows around the entire top floor the villas is extremely private as it faces solely out to sea.

The ceilings are vaulted and have wooden beams for decoration.

The bathroom is also new and the villa also has a walk in wardrobe.

Six Bed, four baths with fantic vistas.

M2 de vivienda 400 M2 Parcela 1.000

Contact: Luxury@MidasTouchMagazine.com

Fantastic Luxury Villa El Campello, Costa Blanca 1,475,000â‚Ź

For details on this or any of our luxury properties or services, please contact: Luxury@MidasTouchMagazine.com

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JAVÉA Avda. del Pla, Edif Javea Park Bl 9 Loc 9 03730 Javea (Alicante)

MORAIRA Ctra.Moraira – Calpe Kristal Mar 22b 03724 Moraira (Alicante)

CALPE Av. Ejércitos Españoles 20 Edificio Apolo 03710 Calpe (Alicante)

LA MANGA Calle Atamaría 157 La Manga Club 30389 Cartagena (Murcia)

VILLAMARTIN CC Los Dolses, Local 161 03189 Villamartin (Orihuela Costa)

MARBELLA CC Guadalmina, Blq 4 Local 62A San Pedro Alcantrara 29670 Marbella (Malaga)

Infinity International · 120 Moorgate · London · EC2M 6UR · UK Tel: +44 (0) 203 384 7280 · www.iifx.co.uk

Isla de sa Ferradura Your Private Island for the Ultimate Escape Following its change of ownership, Isla de sa Ferradura has just concluded a total refurbishment and will be available for exclusive rental as of May 2016. The entire concept changed to that of an easy, modern and contemporary look and feel. The interior is dominated by cool Mediterranean chic and warm natural textures of a neutral and tempered color palette, giving this escape back its Balearic personality.

Rates per week: Jan, Feb, Mch, Apr, Nov, Dec: 170.000€ May: 200.000€ Jun, Oct: 230.000€ Jul, Aug, Spt: 300.000€ Rental prices are on all inclusive basis on the highest gastronomic and service level for up to 16 guests. All prices are subject to 21% VAT. Rental requests will be considered following the receipt of full guest details and are subject to approval by the owner.

Location Sa Ferradura is an islet of the size of 3.5 hectares which is connected to the mainland by a small, hidden two-sided beach. Located in the Bay of Sant Miquel just off the north coast of Ibiza, this retreat is the latest and unarguably the most luxurious addition to Ibiza’s lodging options.

Accommodation The property offers accommodation for up to 16 guests in 1 sumptuous Master Suite and 7 additional, luxuriously appointed bedrooms with en-suite facilities, some of them with semi-open bathrooms to underline the beautiful Mediterranean setting of the island.

Entertaining and outdoor spaces: Lounges, sitting rooms and the dining room are arranged around a large central patio. Floor-to-ceiling sliding windows disappear fully in the double walls, opening up the indoor spaces to the terraces, outdoor chill out spots and al fresco dining areas.

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The 750 square meters rooftop terrace with spectacular sea views is the heart of Isla sa Ferradura. Equipped with 2 bars, shady pergolas, a DJ mixing deck and a stage for private concerts, there is not the slightest doubt that Isla sa Ferradura has discovered the pole position among the world’s most luxurious private islands.

20 internationally experienced, multi-lingual staff members ensure the smooth operation of this paradise, paying utmost attention to every culinary detail and to an omnipresent but discreet service.

Leisure activities: A large 23 meter swimming pool at terrace level as well as a free shaped laguna pool set amidst the beautiful tropical gardens, a gym, wellness and spa facilities as well as a selection of water sports activities complete the range of amenities of this truly stunning escape.

Environmental responsibility: The property is fully equipped with intelligent cutting edge technology and convinces with important intrinsic values. Fully sustainable, Isla sa Ferradura minimizes any environmental impact. Total water recuperation reuses all waste water for the garden’s underground irrigation system.

For more information, please eMail: Luxury@MidasTouchMagazine.com.

Isla de sa Ferradura

For details on this or any of our luxury properties or services, please contact: Luxury@MidasTouchMagazine.com

The Classic Car Show The all-new global TV series, The Classic Car Show, first aired on Thursday February 5th at 7:00pm on Channel 5. The first episode of the new 13 x one-hour series racked up staggering viewing figures and a huge amount of social media buzz.

The Classic Car Show premiered with 662,000 viewers and a 3.2% share, peaking at 886k viewers. This performance put it ahead of both the weekday 7.00pm slot average for 2014 and Thursday night slot average (475k/2.4% and 487k 2.5% share respectively).

The show was also an instant hit on social media with over 511,000 organic impressions on Twitter and a 94% positive response to the show.

Ben Frow, Director of Programming for Channel 5, said “We are exceptionally pleased with the viewing figures in what is known to be a very difficult slot. The reaction to the show on social media proves we have a winner in this series and we’re very excited about how it can build from here.”

Life Is A Highway Quentin Willson, Jodie Kidd and some expert guests get fired up over some of the prettiest and most powerful cars ever produced.

Quentin gets the show on the road with a trip to California to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Ford Mustang.

Male supermodel David Gandy and rapper and designer Tinie Tempah navigate London Men始s Fashion week in a classic car and its modern counterpart - the 1950s Gullwing Mercedes 300 SL and the brand new Mercedes SLS AMG. They ask their celebrity friends at the exclusive GQ party which car radiates the brightest style halo.

Comedian Alex Riley runs the rule over a more affordable classic most memorable for its controversial wedge shape. The Triumph TR7 evokes a love/hate reaction from all who see it and whether you share Alex始s passion for its elegance or not, you can pick up one of these plucky British sports cars for just five grand.

Intrepid 驶barn find始 expert Chris Routledge, who makes it his business to seek out classic cars which have been left languishing and become derelict, unearths a rare and glamorous 60s American land yacht that has been hidden under a hedge for almost three decades.

Celebrity contributors - including the likes of Steve Coogan, Jennifer Saunders, David Gandy, Tinie Tempah and drivers Bruno Senna and Sir Stirling Moss - will add their thoughts on prestigious historic cars.

Wilson and Kidd will travel around the world to explore events like the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang in California and the Mille Miglia rally in Italy, while one episode will see resident driver Bruno Senna race ten classics around the track at the legendary Brooklands circuit.

Wilson said: "I'm delighted that Channel 5 will be showing The Classic Car Show. The global growth in classic cars, not just in terms of auction prices of high-end Ferraris, but the sheer number of people who share the passion, has driven the creation of The Classic Car Show.

World’s Largest Pure Grown Diamond Unveiled Pure Grown Diamonds announces a scientific breakthrough with the unveiling of the world's largest laboratory-cultivated white diamonds, which are indistinguishable from mined diamonds, even under a microscope, yet cost 30 to 40 percent less.

The first-ever, largest lab-grown diamond is 3.04 carats.

Pure Grown Diamonds have the exact same chemical composition, physical properties and optical features as earthmined diamonds, according to the International Gemological Institute.

Pure Grown Diamonds mature within six to 10 weeks. They are eco-friendly and "conflict free," unlike mined diamonds.

"This 21st Century technological achievement comes during the holiday season when 26 percent of all American couples get engaged; when most men spend 25 percent of their annual salaries on a diamond ring and when rough diamond prices are at an all-time high," explains Pure Grown Diamonds President and Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bissell.

She is one of the few women CEOs in the diamond industry.

She continues, "Most guys shopping for diamonds will suffer sticker shock because rough diamond prices are up 75 percent from five years ago, due to depletion of natural resources and increased global consumer demand." Bissell adds, "Many have tried and failed; no one, no company has achieved what Pure Grown Diamonds has accomplished -- culturing thousands of alluring diamonds, including the largest, which is more than three carats."

Pure Grown Diamonds have the exact same chemical composition, physical properties and optical features as earth-mined diamonds; however, Pure Grown Diamonds mature within six to 10 weeks."

For more information, please contact: Luxury@MidasTouchMagazine.com

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WhatSim is Here!

WhatSim is here! It is the first WhatsApp Sim that lets you chat absolutely free of charge and without any limits using WhatsApp, the world's most popular messaging system.

Anywhere in the world.

WhatSim connects to more than 400 operators in about 150 countries.

Anywhere in the world it connects to the provider with the best coverage and signal right where you are. If you change your position, it automatically searches for a new provider. If a better one is available, it connects by itself without you even noticing it.

Thanks to WhatSim and its worldwide data connection, you can finally chat with WhatsApp whenever and wherever you want without any limits.

The idea came to an Italian entrepreneur, Manuel Zanella (38 years old), engineer, founder and CEO of Zeromobile, Italy's first Global Mobile Operator for low-cost roaming.

Zanella is also famous for being in 2011 the "first mover" in the wearable technology industry with i'm Watch, the world's first smartwatch.

WhatSim is a stroke of genius. Everyone now uses WhatsApp, even when traveling. But you need a data or Wi-Fi connection to chat for free. The most common problem is that the roaming data connection is usually expensive and Wi-Fi is not available everywhere and often it is not even free.

WhatSim allows you to chat with WhatsApp whenever you want.

WhatSim costs just €10 and you can chat for free all over the world for a year. WhatSim has neither fixed costs nor monthly payments and it never expires.

Zanella had also the idea to realise a special version of WhatSim that is inspired by Pope Francis and designed for those countries of the world that the UN calls the Global South.

In some of these countries, buying a WhatSim will cost €5 instead of €10.

For Further Info: www.whatsim.com

New Smartwatches from Alcatel ALCATEL ONETOUCH Unveils a Full Line of Premium-Design Smartwatches — Affordable and for All Uses • Slim, premium smartwatches that offer different styles to suit everyone • Packed with sensors and apps that allow users to monitor daily activity • Connect to Android and iOS smartphones to control music, receive notifications and more • Long battery life with built-in USB connector for easy charging

It looks like a watch and feels like a watch but it’s much smarter than that. ALCATEL ONETOUCH introduces the WATCH, a smartwatch that puts a premium on elegant design at a very accessible price.

In launching the WATCH, ALCATEL ONETOUCH is not content just to make the latest connected technology available to the greatest number of consumers. Offering the WATCH at a fraction of the cost of competitors, the smartphone brand has implemented its design expertise to offer a series of fine finishes that meet the demands of those looking for the same look and feel as a traditional watch.

“It’s called a wearable, so we wanted to make something that would be a pleasure to wear,” said ALCATEL ONETOUCH’s Chief Marketing Officer Dan Dery. “The watch face and the band are slim, like a regular watch, but it has the multi-functionality of a smartwatch.”

Available in several styles — sporty dark red/volcano black, feminine all-white, classic chrome/dark gray and elegant metal-white — the ALCATEL ONETOUCH WATCH employs materials such as brushed chrome, micro-textured resin bands and white stainless steel. This choice of finishes assures that it will appeal to both men and women, demonstrating ALCATEL ONETOUCH's dedication to bringing to the market products that fulfill everyone’s needs.

While offering choice and style, the WATCH also offers multiple fitness functions and connects to Android and iOS smartphones via Bluetooth.

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Monitors User Activity The WATCH is packed with sensors: the heart-rate monitor is embedded discretely on the underside of the watch face; there’s also an accelerometer, gyroscope, altimeter and e-compass.

The WATCH also allows users to track their sleep cycle, distance covered, steps taken and calories burned. To monitor their fitness goals, users can access the activity overview that the WATCH offers.

Multimedia Remote Control and Phone Notifications When the smartwatch is connected to a smartphone, it sends users call notifications; social media updates and vibrates if users stray too far from their phones. Touching the WATCH’s screen activates a multimedia remote control. Users can control music, take pictures from their phone from a distance or make their phone ring in order to locate it.

Simplicity of Use Is Built In The WATCH is compatible with a number of ALCATEL ONETOUCH smartphones in the HERO, IDOL and POP series, as well as with any phone running on Android 4.3 or above and on iOS 7 or above. It is dust and water-resistant, with a long battery life.

Speaking of the battery, the WATCH has a clever USB charger integrated into its band for simplicity of use. With beauty and functionality integrated into one device, ALCATEL ONETOUCH offers a smartwatch at a smart price, fulfilling its mission of making the latest technology available to all.

NISSAN REVEALS LE MANS CHALLENGER

And the six Bloody-minded choices are:

1901 Waverley Electric. “At the beginning of the 20th century, electric car outsold petrolpowered cars in parts of America. They were clean, quiet and didn’t make ladies’ skirts grubby.”

1906 Cadillac Model K. “The real hero of the mass-produced car story isn’t Ford’s Model T but the Cadillac Model K.” 1933 Standard Superior. “It is widely accepted that Josef Ganz, a respected Jewish engineer, came up with the basic layout and philosophy of the Beetle.”

Here's the first glimpse of race-ready Nissan GT-R LM NISMO as seen during Super Bowl XLIX The Innovative new LM P1 racing car is like no other Le Mans car TAG Heuer, Motul and Michelin revealed as Nissan LM P1 partners Last Month, Nissan declared itself ready to take on the world’s best sports car manufacturers after revealing a glimpse of its Le Mans challenger – the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO – during the commercial break for Super Bowl XLIX. Last year’s Super Bowl was the most watched television programme in US television history with over 110 million viewers. The 2015 game was therefore the perfect opportunity for Nissan’s “With Dad” commercial (view at www.withdad.com) to air for the first time, revealing the much-anticipated Nissan GT-R LM NISMO, the car that will take on the best in the world in the race to glory at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

In a bold move, the Japanese manufacturer has interpreted the sport’s technical regulations in an innovative way, producing a front-engined, front wheel drive car that is powered by a V6 3- 20 litre twin turbo petrol engine and a kinetic energy recovery system.

“It gave us great pride to reveal the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO during the Superbowl,” said Roel de Vries, Global Head of Marketing and Brand Strategy at Nissan. “The combination of the Super Bowl and the Le Mans 24 Hours – two of the most watched sporting events in the world – presented us with a unique opportunity to showcase our most ambitious motorsport programme in recent times.

“The GT-R is our flagship road car,” he continued. “This, the ultimate GT-R, continues a sporting bloodline that goes back three decades with NISMO, the motorsport and performance arm of Nissan. Le Mans drives innovation so success on the track will lead to greater innovation in our road car range. We are the new kids at Le Mans; our opponents are the best in the world but we are ready.”

The new car will contest the LM P1 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the highest category in world sports car racing. Starting at Silverstone, UK on 12 April the series travels around the world to Spa in Belgium, onto the Le Mans 24 Hours and Germany’s Nurburgring, before going global with races in the US, Japan, China and the Middle East.

The FIA World Endurance Championship is the ultimate proving ground for automotive companies as technological gains on the track can carry through to road cars. Racing car engineers are facing the same challenges as road car engineers as the spotlight falls on energy efficiency. With more technical freedom than Formula 1, the LM P1 engineers have ample opportunity to innovate.

“This is innovation that excites,” said Shoichi Miyatani, President of NISMO. “Sustainability is at the top of our agenda and the technical regulations for Le Mans give us the freedom to pursue new ideas in this area. Our record at Le Mans is third place overall so we have unfinished business there. We want to win and we have the knowledge to do that – for our customers, our employees and our fans. The competition is exceptionally strong and we are excited by the challenge.”

“Our LM P1 programme makes the connection between NISMO on the road and NISMO on the track, showcasing our brand DNA to a global audience,” explained Darren Cox, Global Head of Brand, Marketing & Sales, NISMO. “We are taking motorsport to the masses, telling tales of technical innovation but also human stories via all of the exciting communications channels that are open to us now. We will innovate off the track as well as on it so you can be assured that this is just the beginning of the story.”

The intensive test programme for the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO that began in Arizona last year continues this week at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas, where the team is making the most of the warmer climate of the Southern US. Nissan’s LM P1 drivers will be revealed soon.

NW LM P1 PARTNERSHIPS REVEALED Nissan also announced three multi-year partnerships that will feature prominently in its LM P1 programme.

Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer is the Official Watch Partner and Official Timekeeping Partner. The LM P1 drivers will all wear TAG Heuer watches and the partnership will be activated globally by both parties, with several exciting developments to be announced in the coming months Motul is the Official Lubricants Partner for the programme, working closely with NISMO’s engine department to develop highperformance products to enhance competitiveness and efficiency. Motul has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with NISMO over the past two decades and this natural expansion into the LM P1 programme comes soon after the Super GT Championship victory for the iconic #23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R. The LM P1 programme will use tyres supplied

by Michelin. The French manufacturer has developed tyres especially for the Nissan GTR LM NISMO and been an integral part of the car’s extensive test programme.

Marc Gene Nissan LM P1 Driver

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GIZMOS AND GADGETS Tago Arc is an E Ink fashion accessory that can be customized to look exactly as the user desires, and never needs to be charged. It connects to a smartphone companion app, allowing the wearer to create their own designs, or purchase from a library of images.

Buhel's SG05 SoundGlasses take a different approach. They relay sound to the user via bone conduction, leaving their ears open to hear the world around them.

The Swyp Card is the latest to make a bid for your hard-earned cash, promising to condense your wallet into a single metal card that stores info from debit, credit, loyalty and gift cards.

if you need a visual record of what happened on the road in front of you? Well, you'd need the new Fly12, which is a combination headlight and camera.

f drone-maker DJI has jumped aboard an interchangeable lens alliance, promising aerial photography enthusiasts greater flexibility when shooting from the sky. Pledging its support for the Micro Four Thirds System

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GIZMOS AND GADGETS Those that love the classics of table tennis and foosball but lack the space of a large basement or dedicated game room at home now have a new option. Germany's Kickpack offers cardboard versions of both timeless table games, packing everything

New Jersey-based startup Tactonics thinks the world might just get hooked on Tact messaging. With about the same effort it takes to send an emotionless, poorly spelled text message, you could send your loved ones a more heartfelt, meaningful "sensory message" that is intended to let them get in touch with your feelings.

We were wrong. The new game of Teqball arches the ping pong table's back, pulls out the paddles and challenges players to put their football skills to work.

When professional athletes are having their performance analyzed, it's certainly not unheard of for them to wear motion capture suits while training in a lab environment.

Coaches and others can then analyze their movements, to see where improvements could be made. Indian startup ProjectPOLE is now offering that same feedback to everyday athletes, with its Tracky motion-tracking Acumulus9 aims to improve upon the existing lifelogging camera experience by not taking photos at predetermined intervals, but having its QindredCam select when and where to take a snap. It offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and incorporates cloud storage to make it easy for users to view and share content.

How to Face Each Day...

Even When You Don't Want To...

Robert Landau You know the feeling. You wake up in the morning after a restless night and you don't even feel like getting out of bed. The feeling isn't as much a physical thing as it is a mental thing. Realizing that you can't stay in bed all day, you force yourself to get up and face the day ahead. Do you feel great about it? No! Would you like to crawl back into bed and stay there? Oh yes!

There's nothing wrong with having a negative outlook concerning the day ahead even before it begins. We're human beings and there are millions of times when we feel less than positive. While it's OK to feel down sometimes, just make sure you don't attach yourself to those feelings so that you end up becoming the negativity that you're thinking about. It's possible to feel the bad feelings and then move on. How do you do that? It's actually easier than you think. The next time you find yourself dealing with negatives emotions, realize that you have the choice to rise above them. The process of rising above is getting yourself back into being who and what you really are. You don't need to feel like a helpless victim to your negative thoughts and feelings unless you make the choice to do so. The same energy it takes to stay in negative thought is the very same energy you can use to rise above it. The choice is always yours.

Many people don't like to hear that they have a choice to remain negative. Our ego's mindchatter loves to swim in pools of negative thought. It's as if our mind-chatter wouldn't know what to do with itself if you chose to move into more positive ways of thinking and being.

So how would you actually use the ideas that I'm suggesting here? Let's take the "First Thing in the Morning Scenario" I just presented. You've just woken up and even before your eyes open you happen to find yourself thinking negative thoughts that might go something like this; "Uhh! It's cloudy again today. I just can't handle more rain. Enough already! Oh...I have that meeting today at 10am. I just know that what I'm going to present won't go over well. I have major issues with most of the people that will be attending that meeting. Even after my day should be over today, it won't be over. There's that darn dinner get together that I have to go to. What a lousy day!"

How did you feel when you read those words? Probably not very joyous! All too often we program ourselves and the rest of our day by talking to ourselves in the way you just experienced. Is it any wonder that the rest of your day would end up turning out just the way you thought it would lying in bed?

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The same energy it took to negatively program your day is the very same energy it takes to program your day in a more positive manner...even if you're not crazy about the day's events. Here's how a more positive "First Thing in the Morning Scenario" would look like; "It's raining today. No problem, I'll just take an umbrella. The meeting at 10am will be just fine. They might not like what I have to present but they also understand that it's in the best interest of all involved. I'll explain to them that this is temporary as we're well on our way to truly great things. The dinner event will work out well. It's only the third time I'm meeting with those people and there's a real possibility to forge ahead with some great ideas that could become very successful in the near future. Time to get out of bed and put my best foot forward!"

Either one of these "First Thing in the Moring Scenarios" are choices that you can put to use each and every day. The operative word here is "choice". You have more power than you often think you have. As human beings we truly have the power to make choices that shape our day and our lives in the best ways possible. The key to all of this is remembering that true change starts from within. Only after you feel it within will it manifest without. So tomorrow morning, see what it feels like to lie in bed and positively program the day ahead.

You just might be overjoyed with the results. The choice is always yours.

Robert Landau is also the published author of six books. His website is www.robertlandaumotivation.com Robert Landau Bio Motivational Speaker Robert Landau has delivered over 2,700 presentations and workshops in over 20 countries in his 15 year speaking career. Robert is also a Certified Life Coach that works with individuals and businesses via Skype to help facilitate positive and productive results. An accomplished Actor in New York City, then a celebrated international Cruise Director for 10 years with 300 ports of call on 400 cruises with major cruise lines, Robert also makes many appearances on radio and television broadcasts. One of his most recent appearances was on the world-wide HLN/CNN Cable News Networks. Landau is also the published author of six books. His website is http://www.robertlandaumotivation.com Robert's popular Daily Robertisms program consists of 365 personally created motivational quotes that are sent free of charge to your email address for a year. To sign up please visit: www.dailyrobertisms.com Robert Landau International Motivational Speaker, Consultant and Published Author www.RobertLandauMotivation.com www.DailyRobertisms.com : www.FUNSeniorActivities.com Please "Like" me on Facebook - www.facebook.com/RobertLandauSpeaker Follow me on Twitter - @LandauChat Connect with me on LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/pub/robert-landau/

Oceanco Delivers INFINITY

Oceanco’s new 89 meter INFINITY is the superyacht industry’s first delivery in 2015. Built under the project name Y710, this magnificent yacht boasts a commanding exterior design by Espen Øino and an exceptional interior design by Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design and David Kleinberg Design Associates.

True to her name, the possibilities for INFINITY are endless. She is a goanywhere yacht that offers safety, comfort, elegance, and the best possible lifestyle afloat. INFINITY accommodates her owners in a spectacular master suite including a private exterior deck and whirlpool,

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as well as 10 guests in 6 guest suites, including 2 VIP cabins. She has an outdoor beach/swimming area on the Lower Aft Deck and on the Main Deck is another spacious relaxation area featuring a circular swimming pool measuring 5m in diameter with seating all around and an adjacent indoor wellness area. Ascending to the Upper Deck, there is an indoor/ outdoor al fresco dining and entertainment area. The sundeck is dedicated to a private indoor/outdoor area with whirlpool, bar and an observation lounge.

INFINITY will be delivered and depart the shipyard on 3 February, when her Captain and crew together with the Oceanco team will gather to mark their successful collaboration and join in Oceanco’s traditional good luck bite of a Dutch herring.

Headed for her first season, INFINITY is powered with twin 4,828hp / 3,600kW MTU engines capable of reaching speeds of 20 knots.

Technical Specifications Builder : Oceanco Type : Steel Hull and Aluminium Superstructure Length : 89m / 291ft Beam : 14.2m / 47ft Exterior Designer : Espen Ă˜ino Interior Designer : Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design and David Kleinberg Design Associates Delivered : 2015

For more information, please email: Luxury@MidasTouchMagazine.com

Investing in Henri Matisse Many people believe that owning “an original Picasso” is going to be expensive beyond their wildest dreams but, in fact, this is not the case. You can buy hand signed Picasso Original prints for less then most people think they will cost. The fact was that Picasso was a “workaholic” and he was an extremely prolific artist. In his lifetime he made more then 2,000 different Original prints. He was a supreme experimentalist and used many different techniques. Once mastering a specific technique he would often push it to the bounds of what others said could not be done.

Long term an investment in Picasso Original prints is likely to be a very good one. The two artists who annually fight for primacy in the art market are Warhol and Picasso. More then 4 decades after the death of the artist there is no diminishing in the appetite for his work - and this is likely to continue. When asked I always say you should buy what you like and the best you can afford. These Mantra’s are likely to be good for your wealth - and your appreciation of a nascent collection. Authenticity is always a problem and my advice to collectors is to find a good respectable dealer who can advise you of what is available and who will give a guarantee that the piece is good. You can always, of course, buy from auction but this source is not always what it is cracked out to be: auctions take a huge “bite” out of the price paid with sellers and buyers commissions. Often 35/40% of the price achieved is gobbled up by the auction house! Most of what we buy comes, in fact, from other Art Dealers.

Picasso’s graphic art spanned 7 Title: Femme couchee et homme a la guitar Medium: Original Linocut, in colours, 1959, signed by the artist in pencil Reference:George Bloch “Catalogue de l’oeuvre grave et lithographie” Vol 1 - Number 916 decades and varies enormously in style and subject matter. His signature too varies hugely over the passage of time and it is important to study the different signatures of different periods to be sure of authenticity. Towards the end of his life the signature became pretty much standard and invariable. He signed with a very firm hand and most fluently. The study

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of the signature is an important part of collecting this series.

Often Picasso’s graphic works were arranged in “suites” and groupings which makes them easier to collect. The first “suite’ was made during the “Blue Period” and is named after the Acrobats he so much admired from the circus “Les Saltimbanques”. Perhaps the most famous suite is that published by the infamous dealer, Ambroise Vollard, in the 1930’s. The Vollard Suite consisted of 100 different etchings, all made on special Montval paper, some of which were signed at time of publication and many of which were signed years or decades later. The so called “347 Series” consisted (surprise, surprise) of a group of 347 etchings made in a 9 month period. Like a lot of works by Picasso it has various plates of an erotic or pornographic nature - certainly not for the faint hearted.

One slight problem with Picasso prints is that the artist was enthusiastic about working in black and white whereas today most people want some colour. If you do want his coloured prints, however, they do tend to be expensive: most sought after are the Linocuts often made in several colours some of which are very lovely examples of his works and can command prices of many thousands. There is a big market for so called “after Picasso” prints. These were often made by others “after” original paintings and many are signed by the artist. Care must be taken in buying these because there are many fakes and the benefit of a catalogue raisonee is not to be had.

There has been a lot written about Picasso prints both in the lifetime of the artist and also after his death.

Pretty much all his Original prints are to be found in the three volumes written by George Bloch and you should be sure to ask for a “Bloch number” when buying a piece.

Other works describe the same pieces as Bloch but in greater detail and the decerning collector needs to invest in the literature to have a proper understanding of the series.

There are numerous examples of “unsigned” or “plate signed” works

by Picasso. Often these are cut out of books and are perfectly genuine despite not having the benefit of a pencil signature. Many

are of dubious or completely false origin (Take a look on Ebay and you will find shedloads of these). The attraction, of course, for the novice collector is to own an original print at an affordable price. The downside is that many of these are just plain fakes. Most unsigned works can be classified as ‘decorative” rather then investment pieces.

Generally we have a stock of 20 or 30 signed Picasso prints covering most periods of his oeuvre from 1905 to the 1970’s.

Personally I find the whole series fascinating - and there is always something new to learn about them!

Title: Sculpteur songeant, Modele aux chevaux noirs et bol avec trois Anemones (s.8211) Medium: Original Etching, in black & white, signed by the artist in pencil Reference: Georges Bloch: “Catalogue de l’oeuvre grave et lithographie, Vol 1 : Number 177 Niall Fairhead Fairhead Fine Art Limited ta ImagesFairhead Fine Art Limited t/a Images 19 Helenslea Avenue, Golders Green London NW11 8NE UK Tel: +44 (0)208 455 2700 Mobile: + 44 (0)7976 967216 nfairhead@images-art.co.uk www.images-art.co.uk 34

Galician Roots Two Young Entrepreneurs Create Galician Roots, a Travel Agency Specialising in the Galician Territory and the Camino De Santiago The best way to discover Galicia is to do it with Galician people. Within this philosophy is born Galician Roots. A travel agency exclusively focused on the main sights of this land that proposes a different way of approaching its charms.

Behind this initiative are two young entrepreneurs in their early thirties that have seen the huge potential of this remote green corner still unknown for many travellers. Their aim is to share with the visitor the habits, landscapes, gastronomy and culture of the place where they live in, a land they know like the back of their hand and which they’re proud to belong. Showing Galicia from a Galician point of view, this sounds obvious but leaves a distinguishing and unique mark to Galician Roots, since the vast majority of agencies operating nowadays in this land are located abroad.

The Camino de Santiago is the cornerstone of this small company but it also offers a whole range of possibilities on ecological, wine and gastronomic tourism to the visitors. With a fully updated view in accordance to the current times Galician Roots brings a tailor-made tourism with customized tours and trips that can be created by the customer itself.

A thousand ways for your feet.

It is said that there’s not only a Camino but thousands, as much as pilgrims. The options are plenty and Galician Roots aware of that has developed various tours allowing the traveller to complete the last 100 kilometres of the French Way; from the most basic tour including hostel accommodation to the most exclusive one including accommodation in manors, country houses and charming hotels.

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The key principle is to offer a full spectrum of options allowing the traveller to simply enjoy its vacation. That’s why to a greater or lesser extent all the tours can include the transfer to the starting point, luggage transfer, physiotherapist sessions and even dinners with traditional music. And if any of the options

mentioned above convinces there’ll always be a trip made to measure for the traveller as Galician Roots also offers the possibility of personalising each stage of the French, Primitive and Portuguese path.

Discover the essence of Galicia.

A great way to know Galicia is being immersed in its culture, something that is not always accessible with conventional tours. As good connoisseurs of their land Galician Roots people know that Galicia has to be enjoyed through the palate too as one of its essences is the food. That’s why gastronomy has such a relevant importance in their offer, with workshops teaching the elaboration of some of the most representative dishes such as the pulpo a feira, Galician bread, Galician seafood, the empanada and much more.

Galician food has such an important role but also the wine. Another strong bet of this travel agency is the wine tourism, a field you’re invited to explore through the most traditional aspect of the production of the wine from a Ribeira Sacra. Visits to hundred-year-old cellars, trips and explanations about the production process making one of the best wines of Spain.

The eco-friendly trips and weekends of Galician Roots are another good way to discover the spirit of this land, so well preserved in some small towns, which will allow the travellers to know the way of life in rural areas and take part in organic farms in the heart of Galicia.

A different way to enjoy a different place: Galician Roots.

BCNewt: the new look at office space A Coworking in Barcelona Transforms Recycled Wood in Shared Creativity The communion between architecture, design and creativity, is the inspiration for BCNewt space, located in Barcelona’s Poblenou neighborhood.

At the beginning it was all ideas. The objective, to create an authentic work space.

To achieve it, the community of BCNewt coworkers decided to be as far away as possible from the mass-focused aesthetics of the large chains of home equipment. "Thanks to some industries which still are in the neighborhood, we had every day a lot of wooden pallets disposal all around us,” explains Gustavo Franco, project manager.

BCNewt was born in the summer of 2014 with the intention of create a coworking environment that feeds creativity.

Now, after an extensive renovation, the place has a story to tell.

The pallet design The first task was to transform an estimate of 17 pallet —timber structures used to transport goods— in suitable building material for different functional elements. Everything was filthy, covered with rusty nails and splinters. So they set about the task of selecting the pieces that were clean and in better condition. This part of the process took about two weeks.

"I had the challenge to create ceiling lamps that were functional and aesthetically interesting," explains Mercurio Sobocki, interior decorator and project adviser. That is how the pieces were constructed, with an assembly that spans over the different work areas, achieving an attractive geometric minimalism. In total, three lighting sets, with warm tones lights, on a format of elongated lamps, on linestra style or round bulbs.

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With the solid pallet pieces was built what is now a strong conference table. At the edges, you can still read the burned imprint of the European railway systems, a sign of postindustrial identity.

With other pieces, the thinner ones, the kitchen table was built.

Here the community of coworkers remembers every day how important it is to share resources. Finally, when the wood remains seemed destined again to be abandoned, the thinner strips were used for the baseboards.

"The decor of coworking spaces is the wave of the future in terms of office decoration, as it appears to be more professionals each year seeking to establish their business in this type of activity spaces," said Gustavo Franco.

About BCNewt Located in the heart of interconnected 22@ District, epicenter of urban and technological innovation in Barcelona, BCNewt offices stand in an industrial building at Carrer Llull 47. In one of the European cities with the highest number of rooms and offices for cowork (according to coworkingspain.es), the new coworking proposals must be refreshing.

Recognizing this value, BCNewt’s style pointed to shapes and has distanced itself from the chromatic monotonies and the traditional designs. Thus, they have inaugurated a multipurpose center with ecological and transgressive spirit, where space reflects and represents the philosophy of coworking.

A series of renovations were made around the office. On one hand, ceiling lamps, kitchen and meeting room tables, floor baseboards and divisions between the kitchen and the workroom, were built from pallets worked for reuse. On the other, windows, concrete columns and beams were restored to give new decorative details; the same for the electrical system, which happened to be green consumer, and for which they have created unique pieces from coupling nozzles and bulbs.

BCNewt understands space and architecture as does the architect Santiago Calatrava: "An art that determines the identity of our time and improves the lives of people." In short, a space that will motivate, commune and communicate the experiences and wishes of the coworkers of the future.

Create Your Own Valentine's Day Perfume Perfume has always been a precious good and a great gift idea for Valentine’s Day. But what if you could create your very own perfume in a personalized perfume bottle?

The startup-company MyParfum is specialized in exactly this: The creation of individual perfumes.

Customers are becoming perfumers themselves online (www.uniquefragrance.com). With an innovative onlinetool and recommendations of MyParfum fragrance experts, customers can create their own scent from over 50 notes and 10 character fragrances. With more than 150 billion possible combinations of the ingredients, the custom perfume is most likely absolutely unique. Also the perfume bottle can be personalized with a message, name or by uploading a personal picture. Every step of the production process is hand-made in the Berlin-based perfume lab. The fragrances are shipped to the US and worldwide in just two to three weeks. Also, a US perfume lab will soon be opened.

Using the intuitive MyParfum online fragrance design tool is a very special experience.

Developed with French perfumers, the fragrance system gives the customer the opportunity to easily create their own masterpiece in just a few steps. Customers can also get free support by a fragrance expert, using an online-questionnaire. MyParfum experts create these bespoke perfumes, matching the customer’s style and preferences and character.

More than 130,000 unique perfumes have been sold in Europe already. Now the company is growing to the US, combining the traditional art of perfumery with modern technology and design.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, MyParfum developed the special limited edition designer perfume bottle “PASSION”. The bottle has a coated backside in glossy red. Inside the glass bottle a real Swarovski crystal is shining through. Every perfume bottle can be fully customized with a personal message, name or picture. There is also a selection of gift sets, fragrance sets, and last-minute gift certificates. A custom perfume (1 fl oz) is available starting from 49.90 USD, produced by hand and shipped world-wide in just 12-20 days (free global shipping starting 70 USD). Moreover MyParfum offers a full satisfaction and moneyback guarantee.

About MyParfum MyParfum (www.uniquefragrance.com) is an innovative and lifestyle-oriented startup based in Berlin, Germany. The young company has over 90,000 customers and over 130,000 hand- crafted fragrances sold so far and is number one in the world for custom perfumes.

The innovative company has been awarded the Global Innovation Award in the US, the Service Innovation Award and the Think Different Innovation Award. MyParfum offers perfumes, which are not like any others, bought from the shelf, but truly unique. The company has found a way to let anyone design their own perfume online. MyParfum serves those who like to underline their very own look and style with the most elegant and mysterious accessory: a custom perfume.

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Marbella Luxury Car Hire™ offers luxury car rental services anywhere in Spain.

With 60+ luxury cars in Madrid, Malaga, Barcelona and Marbella, we provide the largest fleet of luxury cars for hire in Spain.

With our unique Spain Luxury Car Rental service you can rent and return a luxury car anywhere in Spain. Pick up your luxury rental car in Madrid, Barcelona, Marbella, or hire a luxury car Malaga airport pickup.

Marbella luxury cars include Range Rover 4x4s, SUVs, Audi Cabriolet, Porsche Cabrio, BMW Convertible, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Bentley, Mercedes, Hummer, & Chauffeur Rolls Royce Wedding cars.

At Marbella Luxury Car Hire™ we take special pride in our Spain luxury rental cars. Unlike other car rental agencies, Marbella Luxury Car Hire™ allows you to book and rent the specific car of your dreams.

Marbella Luxury Car Hire™ - Let Your Passion Drive You!

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TUPAC Unseen: eBook & Website Publishes Previously-Unseen Tupac Shakur Collection of Photographs, Showing Icon in Rare New Light Now Available on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo...

Joel D. Levinson photographed Tupac Shakur in 1993, creating portraits that showed the human side of an icon. Two-decades later, Levinson is making these 'hidden' portraits public along with Original Artwork, launching a new book and website in a project entitled "TUPAC Unseen."

Upon meeting Tupac Shakur, Joel D. Levinson was greeted with unguarded enthusiasm and an open invitation to photograph him on an unrestricted basis. It was 1993, and the trust forged between Shakur and Levinson resulted in the creation of thirty-six bold and spellbinding portraits that show a human and compassionate side of the star that was rarely made public. Only a half dozen of these images were previously released for publication.

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TUPAC Unseen, is comprised of thirty-six portraits photographs Levinson made in 1993 and thirty-six original Artworks (one of each portrait, completed in 2014) each one an individual homage, for a total of seventy-two original works. It is a remarkable collection of work and quite simply the collection of Tupac photographs that illuminates his serious, meditative and friendly personality, with depth. "I was so struck by Tupac's natural warmth that I became obsessed with researching not only his work, but its cultural impact," explains Levinson, who has had thirteen One Man Museum exhibitions of his work, is represented in forty-two Museum Collections in North America and Europe and in the past five years has seen over three hundred of his photographs placed in twelve MuseumCollections.

"I found my interest in Tupac's work develop deeper and deeper with each month of research, and greater familiarity with his music and developed an affinity for this man and his work. What began as a six month, purely photographic project to publish portraits (the vast majority previously unseen and unpublished) to illuminate sides of this man I had not seen offered in any other photographs or images, initially developed into something that encompassed much more. Eventually, it extended into an eighteen month project, which further extended to four years and finally after seven years, it is being released ahead of the Art Book/Exhibition Catlog in an eBook.

"My goal was to display a side of Tupac that was rarely seen in other photographs and artwork created during his lifetime. Seven years later, we're releasing something that I believe is going to expand the perception of Tupac."

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Aside from the book, Levinson is also continuing the TUPAC Unseen project via a new website.

TupacUnseen.com site was launched to coincide with the eBooks official release. They initially plan to use it as a virtual companion to the eBook and expand by offering two exclusive downloadable mini posters that will be added on a regular basis along with other content. The site exists as an expanding memorial to an immortal entertainment and cultural legend.

Property Styling Tips & Tricks With the property market improving, sellers should be getting more for their property and finding it much easier to sell, yet many are still struggling.

Real Estate Agents Nordica have been investigating this to help their buyers sell at the right price and have found that the interior styling of a property can make all the difference. To test the theory, they styled a property which had been on the market for over a year and sold it in just one week with its new look – at full asking price. They now have a Home Styling service, located in Nueva Andalucia on the Costa del Sol and wanted to share their insights on this new trick for selling your property.

What is Property Styling? – Preparing and dressing your home with furniture and accessories, moving things around and enriching the space, rather than doing building works Why does it work? - Buyers lack vision and need to be shown the property at its very best and see what to do with particular spaces and rooms. The key is that buyers need to fall in love and see themselves living in your property so they can make an emotional connection with the property and make an offer! Your home as you are living in it may not make this statement, or evoke this emotion, but with basic decoration and layout changes we can make a real difference.

When does it work? – There are hundreds of examples of property styling selling houses, with identical properties which sell on the interiors alone. Often with some basic decoration, thorough cleaning and styling you don’t need to do refurbishment, so it can save you money and unnecessary stress.

What should you do before styling? - Get your house sparkling clean and de-clutter.

Simply removing excess items of furniture, books, clothes, toys etc, makes the place look much bigger, brighter and more neutral so people can imagine living there. Clear away all clutter and once clutter has gone and the place is beautifully clean, the styling can begin!

What should you try to achieve with styling? - You should try to create a home which is neutral, but doesn’t lose the homely feel and become clinical. Your property should make people feel that they want to live there and imagine the amazing life they will have there.

Styling To Sell Top Tips • Shine a light – Lighting is essential. Try to incorporate 8 points of light in each room, light darker areas with lamps, consider brighter bulbs, light candles in the evening, pull back blinds and curtains and let as much light in as possible during the day • Think of the target market for your home and show them their ideal life: If you have the classic family home, but don’t have kids, consider creating kids’ rooms rather than an office so people are shown exactly how they could live there.

• Beware of big furniture – It makes the space look tiny.

• Don’t leave difficult spaces unfurnished - If you have a penthouse or loft space don’t leave it without furniture as the eye doesn’t accurately judge space without the reference of a furniture • Rearrange to create focal points and order: Arrange things in groups, e.g. replace lots of small pictures with large paintings to make a focus, or group smaller pictures together for order. Rearrange your furniture and try symmetrical arrangements and inviting areas.

• Dress each room with accessories - Clear worktops in the kitchen, then add well-placed items such as coffee maker, herbs, plants, fruit etc for a sense of place and purpose • Make sure the temperature is right and make it feel like a great place all year round • Give the illusion of space - Put up mirrors to make rooms look bigger and brighter • Increase the curb appeal – Make sure the exterior paths and drive are clean, ensure house numbers can be seen, plant blooming flowers and fresh greenery, mow and tend lawn, wash front windows, add a light, replace doormat • Style your dining room table to give a focus to the room: Try flowers, a fruit bowl, tea lights and place mats to make it look inviting.

• Create a gender-neutral, comfortable and appealing master bedroom: Make use of space, remove personal items and clutter, dress with clean, crisp linens, a stylish bed spread/blanket and cushions which tie into colour scheme. Show off storage and make sure you’re happy for people to look inside. Aim to have 20 to 30 percent open space in each closet to give the impression of spaciousness.

• Beware of kids’ toys and paraphernalia: everything should have its place and not alienate buyers without kids for example • Use 'extra' rooms wisely and ensure each room has a clearly defined purpose rather than just a dumping ground. By putting in a desk and good storage you can create a home office out of your junk room • Create a lifestyle people are looking for inside and out: Display accessories which give people the idea of a certain way of life, or arranging an area with an aspirational purpose; be creative For more information email: sales@nordicamarbella.com; call: 952 811 552 or visit: www.storeyinterior.com

E-twow electic Scooter E-twow is a new electric kick scooter equipped with some of the most innovative technologies used in the transportation industry.

Considered by industry experts as a revolutionary vehicle, E-twow is already available for purchase in the US and will also be launched on European market this spring. This new innovation of the electric transportation industry is regarded as a successful alternative to cars and public services thanks to its capacity to take urban mobility to a higher level.

E-twow is great for going to work, the post office, the bank, the park and any other place of interest because it is quite easy to handle, truly stable and enjoys full portability.

E-twow is an urban mobility scooter specially designed to provide the urban population with an eco-friendly and distinctive mode of transportation. Its design, structure and weight distribution ensure a proper balance which makes it quite easy to use even if you happen to be a beginner. Moreover, the vehicle is equipped with a new shock absorbing system that annihilates vibrations from the rough terrain and reduces the noise caused by friction. As a consequence you get to benefit from a smooth and comfortable ride no matter the terrain and your level of experience. But E-twow is not only about safety and stability. This vehicle also enjoys high overall performances. The life of the battery revolves around 41 km/25 miles, making it ideal for working employees who have to commute. And in terms of speed, you can go as high as 35 km/h with the Booster model.

In addition to that, due to the fact that it is the lightest vehicle ever designed at only 10.7 kg, it is quite easy to carry up and down the stairs. It is a great way of moving around and at the same time a truly efficient one.

The E-twow fully portable electric scooter is equipped with high-end technologies like kers, regenerative braking system, magnetic brake or zero start. All these remarkable features ensure a safe and smooth ride and are a guarantee of an effective transportation from one place to another. No more getting stuck in traffic jams, no more searching for a parking space. E-twow streamlines your movement and thereby enables you to reach your destination without wasting precious time in traffic. If you want to take control of your time, if you want to ride an environmentally-friendly and distinctive vehicle, E-twow represents an alternative worth taking into consideration.

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LEAOS Solar Electric Bike The first self-sufficient Series E-bike with fully integrated solar panels for charging The LEAOS Solar fuses high tech with high aesthetic standards. It is the first solar electric bike with the solar panels fully integrated into the vehicle. As a result, the high-tech solar film is an attractive design element.

With medium usage of up to 20 km/ day, LEAOS is completely selfsufficient, that is to say, independent from conventional power sources. Activating the solar charging requires no action on the part of the user.

The energy gained and current battery level is shown on a display. If the solar power is insufficient, it can be easily connected to a conventional power source.

STYLISH APPEARENCE LEAOS White cleverly plays with the elements. The star held in carbon gloss and the line of the design, all the way to the rear light, give the bike a look that is light and attractive.

A COMPLETELY NEW DRIVING EXPERIENCE Secure, with perfect road performance. This is the result of the low entrance, the center of gravity and the sophisticated geometry.

THE PERFECT SYMBIOSIS Mid-engine and continuously variable automatic gear shifting from NuVinci.

No pops, no cable pulls. Enjoy floating silently along and comfortable shifting.

Perfect for Spain's sunny weather, LEAOS say the e-bikes will be available globally from July/August 2015. They can be pre-ordered now with prices starting from from 7,900â‚Ź ($8,960) depending on configuration More information from: www.leaos.com.

New QUANT F debuts at Geneva

"This car is enormously powerful, environment-friendly and unique in one," says Nunzio La Vecchia, Chief Technical Officer at nanoFlowcell AG, of the new QUANT F, which will have its world premiere at the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show on 3 March 2015.

Electric automobile with range of 800 km and exceptional performance The four-seater e-sports sedan with nanoFlowcell® drive technology is a further development of the QUANT E from 2014, the first automobile with flow cell drive to be approved by the German TÜV technical inspection authority. The new QUANT F has been completely re-engineered and re-designed. With its new 2-speed automatic transmission nanoFlowcell AG has developed a new drive system, the likes of which has not existed to date. This 2-speed transmission was developed in-house specifically for impressive QUANT performance with nanoFlowcell®. A top speed of over 300 km/h in all-electric mode with nanoFlowcell® drive technology and zero harmful emissions round off the exceptional performance attributes of the new QUANT F. The enhanced nanoFlowcell® continuously feeds over 50 amperes of current into the newly developed buffer system of the QUANT F. In turn, this buffer system is briefly able to supply over 2000 amperes when needed for full performance. "To our knowledge, no-one has ever before put a system delivering over 2000 amperes on the road in a passenger car. This is unique. We achieve this by combining our flow battery with the new buffer system. This system opens up vast potential for the future of electric mobility," says Nunzio La Vecchia.

A newly developed monocoque made of carbon fibre with a narrower A-pillar provides the QUANT F with a more spacious interior and elegant lines while offering exceptional safety for four passengers.

Range of 800 km with nanoFlowcell速 and ionic liquid In addition to the QUANT F's outstanding performance data and design, the vehicle also boasts impressive range: "Please consider that we are driving a 5.25-metre long sports sedan in all-electric mode over a range of 800 km. This is not a small car, but a large sedan for four people. A sports sedan. As such, nanoFlowcell AG is pointing the way to the future shape of sustainable electric mobility," observes La Vecchia.

As an alternative drive system, the nanoFlowcell速 is operated with an ionic liquid. "Instead of using hydrogen and oxygen as in a conventional fuel cell, we work with two ionic fluids - one with a positive charge and one with a negative charge," explains Nunzio La Vecchia. With a total tank capacity of 500 litres, comprising two times 250 litres in two tanks accommodated separately in the QUANT's substructure, in the space of only nine months we have achieved an increase in range of over 30 percent in comparison to the QUANT E from 2014. "We are only in the initial phase of our development work. The fact that we store the energy for our drive in a fluid provides us with enormous advantages over systems employed to date in the field of electric mobility. We can use all the cavities in the vehicle to transport the ionic liquid.

As the liquid is neither flammable nor toxic, we believe we are absolutely on the right track with this medium," Nunzio La Vecchia adds.

Disengageable front axle for optimum performance As another innovation on the QUANT F, the permanent 4x4 all-wheel drive, which is implemented via four electric motors, can be converted automatically into a rear-wheel drive at appropriately high speeds or high acceleration rates. To this end the front axle is declutched and subsequently runs in idling mode. "We endeavour to provide the driver with optimum acceleration and stability in every driving situation, especially at higher speeds.

This is easier to achieve with rear-wheel drive than with permanent 4x4 drive," explains La Vecchia.

2-stage rear aerofoil for sporty driving The 2-stage aerofoil is another new feature on the QUANT F. This is activated automatically on attaining a speed of 80 km/h, applying additional negative lift force to the rear wheels for sporty driving, particularly at high speeds.

"Thanks to its aerodynamic design, the QUANT F achieves outstanding drag coefficients.

The 2-stage rear aerofoil enables the driver to apply the necessary grip to the road for even sportier driving, even at extremely high speeds and acceleration rates. It's the ultimate thrill behind a steering wheel," enthuses Nunzio La Vecchia.

More information from: www.nanoflowcell.com

INVESTING IN SPAIN There are many new investment opportunities to be explored in Spain. From seed investor to institutional investments, 2015 could be the best time to revaluate business opportunities in Spain. After many years of recession; confidence is returning as small investors to large corporations are now seeking out opportunities where others dare not in the past.

A group of experienced international business people are seeking new investors to invest in Spain. On offer are a number of exciting projects from new builds and land purchases through quality hotel developments to existing hotels takeovers. There are exciting plans for cruise ship hotels, marina expansion and upgrades, retirement communities, golf courses, theme parks, leisure interests and sports centres.

SEED INVESTMENT between 50,000 euro – 250,000 euro Seed money can be used to pay for preliminary operations such as market research and product development. Investors can be the founders themselves, using savings and loans.

They can be family members and friends of the founders.

Investors can also be outside angel investors, venture capitalists, accredited investors or government programmes. Seed capital can be distinguished from 48

venture capital in that venture capital investments tend to come from institutional investors and have a tendency to involve significantly more money. They are usually an; ‘arm's length’ transaction and much greater complexity in the contracts and corporate structure that accompany the investment.

Seed funding involves a higher risk than normal venture capital funding since the investor does not have an existing project to evaluate for funding. Hence, the investments made are usually lower (in the tens of thousands to the hundreds of thousands of euro range) as against normal venture capital investment (in the hundreds of thousands to the millions of euro range), for similar levels of stake in the company.

This type of investment may be of more interest to someone who will invest in a worthwhile project connected to a leisure or sporting business project that could spring a business opportunity into action.

INVESTORS PROGRAM between 250,000 euro – 1,000,000 euro An individual investor or ‘people collective’, who allocate capital with the expectation of a financial return. These types of investments include equity, debt securities and real estate.

This definition makes no distinction between those in the primary and secondary markets.

That is, someone who provides a business with capital and someone who buys a ‘stock’ are both investors. An investor who owns a stock is known as a shareholder, with high growth potential in the leisure sector, with local municipalities offering land or reduced rental terms for cash investors, typically fall into this sector.

INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS between 5m euro – 200m euro We also seek organisations that pool together large sums of money and invest those sums in securities, real estate property and other investment assets. They can also include operating companies, which decide to invest their profits, to some degree, in these types of assets. Typical investors include banks, insurance companies, retirement or pension funds, hedge funds, investment advisors and mutual funds. Their role in the economy is to act as highly specialized investors on behalf of others.

An institutional investor can have some influence in the management of corporations because they will be entitled to exercise the voting rights within a company. Thus, they can actively engage in corporate governance. Furthermore, because institutional investors have the freedom to buy and sell shares, they can play a large part in deciding which companies stay solvent and which go under. Influencing the conduct of listed companies and providing them with capital are all part of the job of investment management.

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Many investment opportunities are available for Hotels and Marinas plus luxury, high-rise residential resorts. These include developments with plots and planning permission that are ideal for retirement communities, plus ready built, but unopened, retirement village resorts are also available.

We have many other investment opportunities around Spain and internationally of the Bahamas and the Caribbean. We also have contacts with professionals who can source everything from luxury yachts to cruise ships, exotic and classic cars, diamonds, precious stones and custom jewellery to rare and limited edition art and collectables.

Investor enquires: Peter Fenton Email: investment@MidasTouchMagazine.com

Midas Touch Communications Reaching a Global Marketplace At Midas Touch, one of our specialities is Communication.

We have always been at the forefront of Telecom and Technology and we bring this with us to Midas Touch Magazine...

Our emails are eye catching and contain the latest in technology: the Video Newsletter... allowing us to highlight our partners offers If you need a professional video through the printed page; video and produced, don't worry as we have music. contacts in the film, music and video business who can provide everything you need to your requirements.

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Midas Touch Magazine is designed to reach anyone who has: a Computer, a Mac, an Android, iPad, iPhone, Smartphone, Tablet and more.

Join us at Midas Touch Magazine and reach out to a global marketplace of affluent individuals and business professionals.

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Our partners at Midas Touch offer a vast array of products and services. We can source luxury properties, exotic and classic automobiles, yachts and cruise ships, aeroplanes, microlights, wedding destinations, fashion, jewellery, antiques, furnishings and everything inbetween from mobile phones to electric bikes.

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Guilty or otherwise... luxury@MidasTouchMagazine.com

The winners have been selected and we are proud to announce the winner’s for this years Cigar Industry Awards presented by the Cigar Media Association. The 14 members of the CMA created three categories narrowed down the nominations and then submitted their selections. The votes have been tabulated and the winners are: Cigar of the Year: Illusione Fume D’Amour Brand of the Year: Crowned Heads CMA Member of the Year: Cigar Dojo Cigar of the Year: When the votes came in, there were cigars here and there that were receiving the Cigar of the Year vote by members of the association, but the one cigar that was consistently ranking well, if not first, by the members of the Cigar Media Association was Fume D’Amour. It gives me great pleasure to announce that the 2014 Cigar Media Association Award for Cigar of the Year goes to Illusione Cigars for Fume D’Amour. Released at the 2014 IPCPR, Fume D’Amour is the newest regular production release from Illusione Cigars, and is a cigar that is ground breaking on many levels. It is translated as “to love smoke,” and is offered in a variety of more traditional vitolas. Crafted of entirely Nicaraguan tobacco, none of which from the ligero primings, the cigar delivers a wonderful amount of body while having a tremendous complexity level. No matter the vitola being smoked, Fume D ‘Amour delivers everything that a great cigar should while remaining balanced and refined. We can all agree that Dion has tremendous blending skills, and his work with Casa Fernandez and AGANORSA tobacco have created magnificent blends in the past, but this is possibly one of the best he has created, and is a regular production cigar at that. Congratulations to Dion Giolito and Illusione Cigars for a terrific cigar and a successful 2014 year. As always, we look forward to future projects!

Illusione Fume De A'Mour Brand of the Year: There were a lot of brands, both big and small, and new and old, that had a great 2014 year.

In fact, there were so many that the votes were very close at times in terms of who would receive this award. But the end of the day though, the 14 members of the Cigar Media Association voted and the votes kept pointing to one brand. It is my honor to announce that the 2014 Cigar Media Association Award for Brand of the Year Award goes to Crowned Heads . Crowned Heads CigarsHailing from Nashville, Tennessee, and led under the direction of Jon Huber and Mike Conder, Crowned Heads had a tremendous year and one fitting of the name. The year began with the company’s first project with My Father Cigars, Las Calavares, and a limited vitola addition to the successful Headley Grangeline, Laguito No. 6, which was worked on with E.P Carrillo. Out of the gate, Las Calavares was a hit and it was a cigar that had smokers loving the dynamics between Pepin and Huber. Those releases were followed up by the company’s first TAA release, The Angel’s Anvil, a cigar that was once again made with E.P. Carrillo. After that, the company announced its first regular production release from 2014, and that was the successful Jericho Hill. The cigar was showcased at the 2014 IPCPR trade show and is a cigar that pays tribute to Johnny Cash and Nashville, Tennessee. While that would be enough work for most individuals, Crowned Heads wanted to take it further and released five more limited releases and one regional release in 2014. One of the limited editions, The Buckingham, was crafted for a member of the Cigar Media Association, Logan Lawler’s Cigar Federation, and the regional release done was The Tennessee Waltz, released for Huber’s state, Tennessee. While we all have our favorites from Crowned Heads, and the years in which they were released, there is no question that 2014 was a huge year for the company and that they dominated the media waves for nearly the entire year.

Congratulations Crowed Heads, you had a terrific year and you should be proud of it. We look forward to your work in 2015.

Cigar Dojo app CMA Member of the Year: When the Cigar Media Association members discussed the concept of presenting awards, it was easy to say that we wanted a Cigar of the Year Award and a Brand of the Year Award. Those two are givens, but we wanted to offer a third award for the first year. We discussed the options available, and there are plenty, but what we kept throwing out there was an award for the Media Member of the Year. We thought it was a great way of recognizing online media, and also recognizing the work that we all put into the cigar industry. We all have our own styles and methods, each great in their own way, but we wanted to recognize a media member for the excellent work they did in that year. Every company has internal awards- most sales, most improved, etc., and we wanted to have an internal award as well where we could recognize the great work that he or she did for the industry that year. This is the first time this has been done, no online media outlet has ever done this, and we believe it says a lot about who is in the Cigar Media Association and what we stand for in doing it. There were a lot of great nominees for this award, we think that everyone involved in the association is contributing a great quality, but at the end we picked a winner with Cigar Dojo .

Master Sensei and the Cigar Dojo crew are doing terrific work right now and have a very unique approach to the industry. They are groundbreaking in many ways, and they are media member who is reaching out to the industry like no other.

While most media members are website focused, Sensei is reaching out to the industry through the Cigar Dojo app on mobile devices and tablets, reaching consumers on the go. They have taken on a mission statement of Never Smoke Alone, and to this day have been accomplishing just that with their ever growing community. Along with the app, Master Sensei host his own show, Smoke Night Live, a show dedicated to and for the members of Cigar Dojo, DOJONATION. Continuing down this road of success, Cigar Dojo has lead and been involved with cigar releases to the market such as the Undercrown Dogma with Drew Estate and Smoke Inn, the Sarsparilla with Espinosa Premium Cigars and Famous Smoke Shop, and has had a cigar made in its honor with the La Jugada Nunchuck by Moya Ruiz Cigars. Cigar Dojo is a member of the online media that is truly going places, and the Cigar Media Association is pleased to have them on board. I am thrilled to announce the 2014 Cigar Media Association Award for Online Media Member of the Year to Cigar Dojo.

The Cigar Media Association would like to congratulate all of this year's winners and we look forward to 2015.

LOCAL TOUCH A little local knowledge can go a long way, no matter where you are.

It's even more important in Spain, especially if you don't speak Spanish.

Midas Touch Magazine also has local partners and associates who offer that personal touch, no matter what you need. If you can offer a special service to our readers, please contact us at: sales@MidasTouchMagazine.com.

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LOCAL TOUCH: TKO 91.9fm Radio

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FM

TKO brings you a great line-up of professional, experienced and local presenters. Our style and genre of music has often be described as being "Modern Radio 2", playing non-stop classic hits and the very best from the UK Top 40.

After 10 years they are still doing it, and doing it right...

Schedule Monday to Friday: 07:00 - Peter Hurst 10::00 - Trev Massey 13:00 - Alex Trelinski 16:00 - Gordon Lack 19:00 - Andy James

Follow Keith on: www.facebook.com/radiokeith Saturday:

Join Keith Nicol every weekend for the Saturday Session: 3.00pm until 6.00pm Spanish time. The best music from today and yesteryear, sports updates, chat, requests and dedications plus a little nonsense picked up from the World Wide Web. Keith is just one of TKO's team of expereinced presenters bringing the best in radio entertainment for the English Community on the Southern Costa Blanca and beyond.

Tune in, around the corner or around the world on www.tko.fm / listen locally on 91.9fm or 90.8fm and don't forget to send them your requests, dedications, quiz answers via email: studio@tko.fm, Facebook at: TKO Spain or www.TKO.fm

09:00 - Alex Trelinski 12:00 - Suzi G 15:00 - Keith Nicol Sunday 09:00 - Gordpm Lack 12:00 - Suxi G 15:00 - Tony de Love

Coys Rent A Car Mike and Heidi, the owners of Coys Rent a Car are not only celebrating being together for 25 years next year but also the running of their successful car hire business, Coys Rent a Car, for the past 20 years, since 1995. Heidi said `working together for this long is sometimes testing but we must make a great team as it has worked really well for us." The couple, originally from the Midlands, add that they always finish the day with a smile and forget about work when arriving at home.

Mike and Heidi decided to leave their jobs in the UK back in 1995 and seek pastures new in one of the healthiest places in the world where they could eventually raise a family. Back home Mike was a Sales Executive for Peugeot and Heidi was a travel agent so life changed more than just a little when they arrived in Spain although Mike’s history and knowledge of the car industry has always complimented their car rental business.

Coys Rent a Car is an independent car hire company serving the Costa Blanca and including Alicante-Elche and Murcia (San Javier) airports. Based in Torrevieja, Coys Rent a Car do not claim to be the cheapest when you compare prices on the internet, however you can be sure that the price you get quoted will be the price you pay on arrival with no hidden surprises. The company has a very clear pricing structure so as not to confuse the customer as they understand from experience that a happy customer means that their business will continue to prosper even further.

Mike said `we appreciate that hiring a car can sometimes be a confusing experience, we try hard to make car hire simple and as transparent as possible, we are not just offering competitive prices with no hidden charges, we offer the highest of customer service, easy booking procedure, fast replies and most of all quality cars`.

They have an excellent easy to use website www.coysrent-a-car.com Or if you prefer, you can also email them on info@coysrent-a-car.com Or telephone them on (0034) 966 702 816 or (0034) 629 362 764 You can also Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

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THIS IS SPAIN Welcome to This Is Spain The intention of ThisIsSpain.info is to give information to those considering moving to Spain or those already here, particularly those still finding their way around.

Our specialist area of knowledge is the Costa Del Sol (in particular the Marbella/Fuengirola/Mรกlaga area), the Costa Blanca (in particular the Torrevieja/Orihuela Costa area) and the Canaries (Lanzarote). However, much of the information will be applicable to all of Spain. We also run ThisIsFuengirola.info and ThisIsBenidorm.info.

To help those looking to purchase a property, we have partners all over Spain ready to offer you bespoke services, to find that perfect property.

Contact us through: Sales@MidasTouchMagazine.com.

The driving force behind ThisIsSpain is my desire to give accurate and upto-date information about expat life. With a country that is changing as fast as Spain, this is not always easy and hence I always value updates and new information. Please do not hesitate to advise me through the contact pages of any additions or errata. ยกMuchas gracias.

We have contacts in every section of Spanish Life and can put you in touch with lawyers, builders, financal advisors, web designers, translators, film makers, photographers, entertainers, clubs, groups, associations, town hall officials, departments of tourism and all other areas to make you stay or life in Spain as perfect as possible.

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