Travel
Sunday Morning Mutterings – A Banús Blast from the Past
You can easily dismiss ‘The Port’ as full of the wannabies, the It girls, and the has-beens as well as the brash, blinged, blasted and frequently botoxed, but it has been an integral part of my life for decades. Although the anniversary was lost in the lockdown, Puerto Banús celebrated its…
Dovak Back
The coronavirus pandemic brought the entire tennis tour to a standstill in early March. Just like millions of other people around the world, the coronavirus shutdown forced the tennis players to stay confined to their homes for the last 2 months. World No.1 Novak Djokovic enjoyed his quarantine with his family at his home in Marbella, Spain. While Djokovic has returned to his hometown of…
Novak aces quarentine in Marbella
Tennis World Number One Novak Djokovic hasspent the past two months locked down due to the coronavirus pandemic with his family in Marbella. Admittedly, it's not a bad pad to be locked down in. The luxurious nine bedroom villa is built with beautiful marble and is designed in a partly Moroccan style. There's a private tennis court where Djokovic trained every day during the lockdown, as well…
Marbella goes to Phase 2 this Monday.
It's back to the beach! Spain's government yesterday announced that Malaga Province would be moving to Phase 2 on Monday June 1 as part of the deescalisation programme. Among the main points are that people under 70 will be able to go out to walk at any time, bars and restaurants are allowed to open their interior spaces, groups of up to 15 people can meet and that theatres, cinemas and…
Marbella mourns COVID 19 victims
Marbella Town Hall marked a midday minute of silence yesterday to remember the victims of COVID-19. The minute's silence came at the beginning of ten days of official mourning throughout Spain. Marbella mayor Ángeles Muñoz and other members of the Town Hall observed the silence outside the Town Hall building. Total infections in Marbella yesterday passed the 400 mark with six new cases…
Coronavirus – Mayor’s anger as Marbella faces another week of Phase 1
Malaga and Granada provinces will not be allowed to move to Phase 2 with the rest of Andalucia this Monday. The decision by central government in Madrid angered Marbella's mayor, Ángeles Muñoz, who took to Social Media to complain. "The government's decision is arbitrary and incomprehensible" she wrote "...does not obey epidemiological criteria and represents enormous damage to the tourist…
Hundreds protest Marbella lockdown
Marbella followed the example of the well heeled Salamanca district of Madrid yesterday when hundreds gathered to protest against the continuing State of Alarm and Prime Minister Sanchez's policies https://www.facebook.com/Ijimenezcabezas/videos/10214048506486774/ Facebook: Immaculada Brujita The protesters, many draped in Spanish flags and banging pots and pans, made their way along the…
Sunday Morning Mutterings – Feliz Cumple Banús!
It has been a haven for the Jet Set, the wannabies, the It girls, and the has beens as well as the brash, blinged, blasted and frequently botoxed, and as it turns 50 today, Puerto Banús shows no signs of slowing down! The Port’s story began in 1962 when Catalan construction magnate José Banús Masdeu - a good friend of Spain’s leader General Franco - brought the land that was to become Nueva…
Coronavirus – Monday Phase 1 move for Marbellla
Marbella will move a little closer to the "New Normal" on Monday. With last night's announcement that Malaga Province will finally be allowed to move to Phase 1 - a week later than most of Spain - certain restrictions will be eased. Some of the major points will be the freedom of movement within Malaga Province for shopping, play certain sports and to meet people; the ability to meet…
Specsavers Ópticas reopens with safety front of mind
Specsavers Ópticas reopened this week to provide eye care to the Marbella community. After eight weeks of closed doors, the store is now able to provide the full breadth of optical services to its customers, including eye tests and frame repairs. Customers will also be able to buy new glasses, contact lenses and other accessories, but are being asked to request an appointment in advance by…
Coronavirus – Marbella records a week with no fatalities
Marbella marked a week without coronavirus fatalities on Wednesday, according to information provided by the Junta de Andalucia. In further encouraging news, the town registered only one new case of COVID-19, which brought the total of new cases to 14 over three days. For the first time, Marbella did not see the usual rebound on Wednesday, which could point to a major slowdown in the pandemic.……
“Arbitrary and unfair” – Mayor Muñoz wants answers from Madrid
Marbella mayor Ángeles Muñoz demanded explanations from the central government for the "arbitrary and unfair" decision to keep the Costa del Sol and the entire province of Malaga in Phase 0 of the de-escalation At a Press briefing on Monday, Muñoz stated that as senator she had registered a request for information and a question to the central Executive “to make the criteria that has been…
“Blatant Discrimination” – Junta reacts angrily to Madrid decree
The Junta de Andalucia reacted angrily last night to the Spanish government's decision not to allow the provinces of Malaga and Granada to deescalate to Phase 1 on Monday. President of the Junta de Andalucia, Juanma Moreno, pulled no punches on Saturday evening, calling the decision of Health Minister Salvador Illa, "blatant discriminatory treatment". "The map of Andalusia should be painted…
State of Alarm extended for further two weeks
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was yesterday able to secure a further extension to the state of emergency to manage the COVID-19 crisis. Sánchez told Congress that while the spread of the virus was growing at a daily rate of 35% seven weeks ago, this rate now stood at 0.31%, and claimed "albeit prudently" that other indicators also show that the disease is under control and that the health…
Green for Go! – Marbella’s Largest Organic Supermarket opens
Well, you've got to admire them for pluck! While the rest of Spain tentatively took the first steps into the "new normal", Green Village opened in Marbella becoming the largest organic supermarket in the region. Stocking more than 5,000 certified products ranging from food, cosmetics, dietary supplements, baby food as well as household cleaning products. Green Village aimes to addresses the…
Marbella Feria falls victim to Coronavirus
Even San Bernabé, Marbella's patron saint, has been affected by the coronavirus. Marbella Town Hall announced on Monday that annual Feria San Bernabé 2020, which was to be held from June 8 -14, has been cancelled because of the pandemic. Marbella mayor, Ángeles Muñox held a video conference with feria coordinator advisor, Yolanda Marín; the Elder Brother of the Brotherhood of the Romeros of San…
Coronavirus Car Carnage
Being what is deemed an “essential worker” – which as a freelance journalist and broadcaster is a first – I am lucky enough to be allowed to travel by car daily to the studio. I’ve been driving in Spain since the mid 80s, so it is safe to say that I have seen practically every weird and wonderful scenario possible. I still get cold sweats remembering the – frankly deadly – bends by the La Cala…
BREAKING NEWS: Coronavirus – “There is no Plan B”. Sánchez aims to prolong State of Alarm
"There is no Plan B". Those were the words used by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez describing his government's response to the Coronavirus crisis. During the Saturday afternoon Press briefing, the Prime Minister also confirmed that he would press for a further 15 days of lockdown, until May 24. Sánchez confirmed that Phase 0 of the deescalation of the lockdown would being on Monday, and…
Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Resort becomes base for World Central Kitchen food aid project
One of the most heartwarning aspects of the lockdown is the way that several of the Coast's leading hotels and restaurants have come together to help those less fortunate. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 health crisis, the Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Resort has been committed to making its resources available to the Spanish authorities and social organisations collaborating to manage…
Coronavirus – Towards a “New Normality”
Spanish Prime minister Pedro Sánchez announced plans and a proposed timetable for the de-escalation of the quarantine measures across the country on Tuesday evening. The timetable will have four phases. The first phase, which starts on May 4 will see the reopening of small business including restaurants that can offer take away food, as well as establishments that can take bookings, such as…