Marbella
That Friday Feeling – Spain gets happier!
As the Marbella news seems to be dominated by Brexit and poisoned dogs at the moment, I thought that we'd get that Friday feeling going with a good news story. According to the latest United Nations report, Spain’s position on the World Happiness Index has risen six points compared to last year.…
Playa Padre reduced to ashes in beach blaze
Boho Beach Bar Playa Padre burnt to the ground in a spectacular fire yesterday afternoon. Fire ripped through the popular beach bar, located on El Cable beach, around 7pm. Local residents where quick to call the emergency services, who were on the scene within minutes, but little could be done to save the thatched establishment, which was closed at the time. One of the most fashionable beach…
British Ambassador on Brexit: Get your paperwork in order
Outgoing British Ambassador Simon Manley urged anxious Brits without the proper paperwork to apply for their residencia ahead of the UK's scheduled departure from the EU. Ambassador Manley was speaking at the IV Brexit seminar held in Manilva earlier this week, as part of a visit that also saw him addressing Brexit concerns in Malaga, Gibraltar and Seville. The panel also included Mario Jimenez…
Something for the Weekend? ‘Killing Commendatore’ by Haruki Murakami
Alicia Duggan of The Bookshop reviews Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami Murakami is back with a masterpiece of a novel. I will start by admitting that I am a huge Murakami fan and this novel did not disappoint. Written in his inimitable style it is beautifully mundane and tantalisingly surreal in equal measure. The story begins with a successful portrait artist whose wife has recently left…
The Prince of Puerto Banus
The news flashed across my social media feed and I barely raised an eyebrow. Spanish Press were reporting the murder of a 49-year-old Spaniard who had businesses in Puerto Banus, gunned down outside his house in the early hours. Police were quoted as saying that the killing was a suspected ‘settling of scores’. ‘Here we go again’, I thought to myself, scanning the report and making notes for a…
New York, London, Paris, Milan and, errrm, San Pedro???
Fashionistas!!! Grab your Gucci, pack your Prada and book that private jet to....San Pedro??? One of the most unlikely stories to come out of this year's FITUR (International Tourism Fair ) in Madrid, was the Press Release claiming that San Pedro was set to be the centre of the fashion world. That's right. San Pedro. You know. The building site masquerading as a town that still hasn't…
Keep on running!
If you fancy a run for a good cause this Sunday, Centro Plaza shopping centre is hosting its annual charity race in aid of the Marbella Red Cross. Councillor of Sports, Javier Mérida, the Head of Emergency Services for the Marbella Red Cross, Alejandro Fernandez and the manager of Centro Plaza shopping centre, Carlos García presented the event earlier this week and pointed out the importance of…
Tributes for slain Marco
Puerto Banus residents paid tribute to Marco Yaquot , the 49-year-old Marbella businessman who was killed in the early hours of Monday morning. Marco, who was involved in leading nightclub TIBU, Linekers bar and Portside, among others, was hit by two bursts of automatic weapons fire as he drove his Bentley outside his villa in San Pedro. Among the tributes was "Mummy Marbella" Lina Hodgkins, who…
Fatal shooting in San Pedro
Marbella was in shock today after the latest gangland killing. Described as a "settling of scores", the 49-year-old victim, who was the well-known owner of a number of establishments in Puerto Banus, was gunned down in his Bentley as he drove up to his house in the Las Petunias area of San Pedro Alcantara at around 3.30am. Residents described hearing a number of shots, while Spanish Press carried…
Protesting-With no Bull!
It is a fairly well known fact that I'm not one of those ‘New Year, New You’ type of people, as the hulking pile of unopened self help books gathering dust in the far corners of my bookshelves will verify. But despite myself, I have made a few small steps to becoming a better person in 2019. Before you all drop your morning Martinis in mirth, I must confess that I’m unlikely to have some ‘Road to…
Brexit: Spanish government’s new web resource for UK nationals
On January 14 the Spanish government launched a new, dedicated section on the Moncloa website to inform UK and Spanish citizens and businesses on how to prepare for when the UK leaves the EU. The new site http://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/brexit/howtoprepare/Paginas/citizens.aspxis available in Spanish and English, and covers areas including residency, healthcare, voting rights and education.…
Monday Motivation: Ali Silver – Choosing foods that you really want
This post is all about so- called “healthy” food swaps. You know the sort...cauliflower rice, ditching spaghetti in favour of spiralled veg and using ANYTHING other than white sugar (heaven forbid!) when it comes to baked goods. Disclaimer before people get aggy: Of course some people do need to make swaps if they have an allergy or simply don’t like the taste of some foods. So first up - the…
Hundreds march against Marbella bullfighting
Marbella showed its opposition to the planned return of bullfighting in a peaceful and well ordered protest yesterday. Over 700 people took part in the march, that started at Marbella's Plaza del Toros and ended with speeches at the Plaza del Mar. The current PP-OSP administration plans to reintroduce bullfighting as part of the refurbishment of the ageing bullring, despite a marked decrease in…
Advice ahead of bullfight demo
The organisers of Saturday's demonstration against the return of bullfighting to Marbella have issued the following information ahead of tomorrow's protest. "The march will begin on Saturday January 12, at 5pm at the Marbella Bullring. The route is as follows: Leaving the Bull Ring in Calle Serenata, heading to Avenue Severo Ochoa, then Avenue Ricardo Soriano, Also Camino Jose Cela, the…
Cold snap warning
Wrap up warm, it's going to be cold tonight! Weather warnings have been issued for much of the country, as a cold front is expected to arrive later today. The weather front will bring freezing temperatures as well as rough seas and some strong winds. In total some 28 provinces, including Catalonia, Murcia and Andalucia are expected to see temperatures fall well below freezing, and coastal areas…
Monday Motivation: Ali Silver – 10 resolutions that are not based on changing your appearance
In her first column of 2019, Ali Silver sets out some alternative New Year's Resolutions! Whether you are partial to making New Year's resolutions or not, the start of a New Year always brings about a feeling of freshness; wanting to make improvements and put your best foot forward. For many of us, and women in particular, this good intention gets warped into our view of our physical appearance.…
Tyson’s in Town!
'People's Champion' Tyson Fury is soaking up the Marbella sunshine this weekend. The boxer, who lost a controversial points decision to Deontay Wilder last year, was spotted relaxing in La Sala Banus earlier today, as well as getting in a little light training with a morning run. And as the photo shows, the Gypsy King was in a playful mood with some of the La Sala staff! Photo. Facebook/La Sala…
Hoffy New Year!
Baywatch star David "The Hoff" Hasselhoff was in Marbella over the Festive Season. The 66- year-old took time out and saw in the New Year with wife Haley at the Puente Romano Hotel, as well posting on Social Media and being snapped with Puente Romano PR and girl-about-town Kenza. "The Hoff" has a busy 2019 lined up, with a tour of Germany and Austria and a new album coming out. It's not known of…
Brexit Briefing for Marbella
With less than 100 days to go until the UK leaves the EU, the British Consulate in Andalucía is running a series of events for UK nationals on Living in Spain and Brexit. The events are being organised in conjunction with Brexpats and local town halls. British Consul Charmaine Arbouin and her team will update residents with the latest information on Brexit and what this means for UK nationals…
Dangerous Dining
Last month saw me in Gibraltar for a Fawlty Towers dining experience. No, that’s not me using the classic 70s British comedy series as a metaphor-that by the way, which contained one of my favourite characters of all time, ranking just below Uncle Monty, the Major – sample line “I must have liked her, Fawlty, because I took her to see India.” “India, Major”, “Yes! At the Oval!” The lunchtime…
Please, please stop the Muzak!
Let’s face it; Spain is a noisy country. I may live in serene solitude next to my lake, but once I clamber into my 4x4 (latest car karma update is that I now have a huge blue Landcruiser, purchased from a French friend and therefore christened Chabal after the famed and fearsome Neanderthal French rugby player) I am bombarded by noise. Not just the revving of engines, the honking of car horns,…