Spanish Life
Surprise fall in British tourist numbers
Is the decades long British love affair with Spain starting to turn sour? Tourism figures for November saw a sharp increase in the number of tourists, according to the latest data from the INE, making it the first month of growth since June. 4.7 million international tourists visited Spain in…
“Rebellious luxury” planned for Sotogrande
"Just say SO". Sotogrande is about to undergo a revolution. Accor's luxury, lifestyle brand SO/ Hotels & Resorts, together with Sotogrande SA, have signed a management agreement to open the first SO/ project in Spain. SO/ Sotogrande Resort & Spa will reflect the brand's "rebellious luxury", blending exclusivity with the brand's commitment to dynamic gastronomy and upbeat vibrant…
Ambassador urges Brits to register as residents
"Happy New Year, and please make sure you are registered!" That was the main message from British Ambassador Hugh Elliot to UK nationals who have yet to apply for residency. The full message, which was released on Wednesday, reads; "As you know, the UK will be leaving the EU on 31 January and we are on course to leave with a Deal, so I wanted to explain some of the jargon around the…
Who Dares Swims!
Mad Dogs and Englishmen may go out in the noonday sun, but even madder Marbella residents will be throwing themselves into the freezing Mediterranean at noon on the last Sunday in January! He or She Who Dares Swims is a sponsored swim organised by local charity Collective Calling due to take place on San Pedro beach on January 26, all in support of helping to rescue, rehabilitate and reintegrate…
Ronaldo becomes a Marbella player!
Yes. You read that correctly. Marbella FC welcomed Ronaldo to the team on Saturday. Although he may own a couple of multi-million euro villas in Marbella, however, Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't made a shock move from Italian giants Juventus to play with the Spanish minows. Brazil World Cup winner and member of Real Madrid's 'Galacticos' Ronaldo Nazario was in town, however, to watch Real Valladolid…
Sunday morning mutterings: New Year, same old story
This is somewhat of a Grinch spoiler alert, but I’m pleased the festive season is finally over. Perhaps it is something to do with my British roots or, more likely, that I’m a cranky so-and-so, but Christmas and New Year celebrations in Spain seem to last forever. As a freelance, it’s the time of year when Goodwill to All Men is stretched to the limit. From the start of December I play the…
Charity evening for Australia
The shocking images of devastation in Australia - especially those of injured wildlife - have appalled people worldwide. Long term Marbella resident and animal lover Natalie Fantuzzi was so moved by the events unfolding that she decided to take action. Natalie contacted WIRES, a non profit organisation in Australia that desperately needs funds to treat the injured wildlife, and offered to help…
Club La Costa Tragedy – Widow claims “something wrong” with pool
Olubunmi Diya, the wife of the pastor who died along with two of their children in a swimming pool at Club La Costa World, has claimed that there was "something wrong" with the pool. Gabriel Diya his 9-year-old daughter Comfort and Praise Emmanuel who was 16, were found unresponsive at Club La Costa on Christmas Eve. In a statement - Olubunmi Diya says she believes there was something wrong with…
BREAKING NEWS. Spanish Air Traffic Shutdown Tonight!
Travellers have been warned that the Spanish Air Traffic Control service ENAIRE has said it is planning to suspend the use of airspace in the early hours of tomorrow morning. This dramatic action anticipates the arrival of Father Christmas into Spanish airspace. AENA has also said it plans to ground all aircraft operations at the same time. Policia Nacional have also enacted their súper asesor…
Storms sweep Spain
Eight people have died in Spain after a series of violent storms battered much of the south of Europe. Storm Elsa brought strong gusts of wind up to 160 kilometres per hour, causing damage to roads, walls and trees. Persistent blackouts and flight diversions were also widespread. The deaths in Spain include a South Korean woman killed by debris falling from a building in Madrid and a Dutch man…
Never Mind the Boris…
So. The prophecy came to pass and the worst nightmare for those who were clinging onto the faint hope that the Tories would lose the election and that Brexit would be cancelled has come true. Never mind the Boris – Brexit means Brexit and the UK will go crashing out of the EU leaving Remainer Brits in Spain (guilty as charged. I grew up as a Single European under Jacques Delors) in the…
Marie-Noëlle Erize honoured at Malaga Awards
Popular Marbella Media professional Marie-Noëlle Erize (pictured above, left) won Most Outstanding Woman in Business at the recent Farola awards. Now in its fourth year, the Farola Awards, organised by the Centro Provincial de la Mujer in Malaga of the Instituto Andaluz de la Mujer (IAM), was held at the Instituto Andaluz del Deporte. The awards brought together the most outstanding women in the…
Specsavers Ópticas seasonal collection for foodbanks
Specsavers Ópticas Marbella and Fuengirola have launched a campaign to collect non-perishable food for those in need on the Costa del Sol. It has joined the Operación Kilo Campaign, thanks to a collaboration with the Costa del Sol’s Food Bank (Bancosol). Bancosol distributes food via charities and associations to help the most vulnerable people in society. They contribute to a network of food…
Last of the Summer Fines
Now that the summer crowds have migrated north, you don’t have to approach each trip into town like a cross between the Dakar Rally (water, GPS system, local currency for parking meters) and 'Mad Max'. It's not all plain sailing, however. The, ahem, ‘eccentric’ driving styles of many of the chromed up 4x4s and AMG Mercs with German number plates that you may have seen roaring along the coast…
Kempinski’s lavish Christmas!
Kempinski Hotel Bahía has certainly put the sparkle into the festive season this year, not least with an €11 million Christmas Tree! The five metre tall tree has been decorated by Debbie Wingham with €11 million worth of jewels and precious metals. Debbie, a world famous haute couture designer turned couture cake designer, has created some of the world’s most exclusive couture cakes, decorated…
Hello! Lionel Richie to play Marbella in 2020
International superstar Lionel Richie will play Marbella next summer. The first big name to be announced for summer 2020, the "All Night Long" and "Dancing on the Ceiling" singer will perform at Starlite on Monday July 27, as part of his greatest hits “Hello” tour. “I am so excited to bring my Live from Las Vegas album to life and to share it with my fans," says Richie. "Also, I’m really looking…
Another killing on the Coast
And so it continues Police were called to a beach in Mijas Costa on Wednesday morning with the discovery of another apparent drug related killing. The grisly find was made by passerby at around 9am. The body of a young man laying face down was found close to a beach bar at Peñón del Cura. He had been shot several times, and the killers were so brazen that they left gun casings on the beach.…
Marbella Architects win Best in Europe
The recent finals of the International Property Awards in London saw a big win for architecture and design on the Costa del Sol, with the BRIGHT development company taking not only Best in Spain but also Best in Europe in the category Architecture Single Residence. Their entry, Villa Alcuzcuz, located in the hills above San Pedro, is the Coast’s first luxury environmentally friendly home built…
Gangsta’s Paradise?
Another week in Marbella, another gangland slaying. Local and national papers back in the UK ran lurid accounts of the death of Peter Andrew Williamson, gunned down in a professional hit as he sat in his Audi outside his house in Riviera del Sol. The killing came less than a week after a man described as 'Arabic' was shot and killed and another serious wounded at their apartment, less than 15…
Triple A launches 2020 calendar
Forget putting up your tree or decking the halls with boughs of holly. In Marbella we know that Christmas is on the way when animal charity Triple A launch their calendar. The 2020 Calendar, is full of the colour, smiles and optimism that the charity wants to continue. Made with love by great professionals and better animal lovers Carolina Cuesta (design, info@canprint.es), Talia Giraudo…
Over 100 litres of rainfall in Marbella
It was a wet one. Three consecutive days of rain meant that 100 litres per square metre fell on Marbella in the past three days. The much needed rains arrived on Wednesday and peaked the following day, when 49.5 litres fell on the town. The rainfall has alleviated the precarious water level of the reservior, although much more is still needed. During these three days, the State Meteorological…