MARBELLA March & April 2015 La ZAGALETA ...as it was The Difference between Active and Passive Investors The MICHELIN CURSE MACHU PICCHU and Hiram Bingham If Exercise is so GOOD for US.... SOFIA VERGARA on Modern Family and Women being Proud of their Bodies 2 MARBELLA MARBELLA 3 Pure private banking Contents Machu Picchu and Hiram Bingham The publisher, authors and contributors reserve their rights in regards to copyright of their work. No part of this work covered by copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means without the written consent of the publisher. Totally Marbella S.L. takes no responsibility for claims made in advertisements in this magazine ©Totally Marbella S.L. Depósito Legal: MA 2277-2013 4 MARBELLA 6 How to Arrive on Time 10 The Difference between an Active and a Passive Investor 12 Adnan Khashoggi 14 La Zagaleta - As it Was 16 Life Codes with Heidi Sawyer 24 A Haunted House 26 Letting your Property 30 Restaurants that won’t Disappoint 34 If Exercise is so Good for Us... 36 The Michelin Curse 38 Protecting our most Valuable Asset 40 A Stroke of Luck 42 How to Choose an Investment Bank 44 The Book Review 48 How Verde is my Vinho? 50 Being a Guest 52 Should we be Looking Up our Symptoms on the Internet? 54 Tipping Around the World 56 Lord Deliver Us... from Ego 58 An Interview withy Sofia Vergara 60 The Truth about Lying 64 Publisher Totally Marbella SL Editor Sara Soto Obando Email: [email protected] Marbella Sales Office 951 190 489 Totally Marbella Magazine SL Paseo de la Castellana 179 Planta 1 C1, 28046 Madrid Telephone: 91 2865 689 Fax: 91 1881 475 Presently in Marbella at Ramón Gómez de la Serna, 18 Phone:95 104 75 05 BEST WEALTH MANAGER SPAIN 2014 BEST ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY SPAIN 2014 Fuente: Global Banking & Finance Review Pure balance. Pure intelligence. Pure intuition. Pure exclusiveness. Pure character. bancomadrid.com MACHU PICCHU & HIRAM BINGHAM by Peter Jackson Machu Picchu in Peru was brought to the attention of the world in 1911 by the explorer Hiram Bingham. However, his discovery didn’t happen quite as he would have had people believe. Machu Picchu is an extraordinary well-preserved estate built by the Incas around 1450, but within a century of being built it lay abandoned and nobody quite knows why; some historians believe the inhabitants may all have died from smallpox, brought to the region by travellers. I n 1533, the Spanish arrived in South America to acquire more territory and to convert the natives to Christianity. The Spanish armies were far superior to those of the Incas, and the Inca empire was soon overwhelmed and ceased to exist (although today there are still descendants of the Incas who practice the Incan culture and speak Quechua, the official Incan language). However, there is no evidence that the Spanish ever discovered Machu Picchu; the sacred rocks, which were typically defaced or destroyed by the Spanish in other cases , remained intact. Hiram Bingham was born in Hawaii in 1875. His parents were missionaries, and always assumed that he would follow them into missionary work, but he had quite different ideas; he was much happier playing American football. He went to Yale University in 1894 planning on an academic career given his strong interest in Latin American history. However, this never materialised because in 1900 he met and married Alfreda Mitchell, an heiress to the Tiffany jewellery fortune. He had been appointed a lecturer at Yale, but armed with his newfound wealth he was able to pursue his two main pastimes: exploring and womanising. 6 MARBELLA O ne such expedition was in 1906, when Bingham traced Simon Bolivar’s routes through Venezuela and Columbia. Other expeditions followed, and in 1911 he led a small group to Peru in search of the “lost city” of Vilcabamba, where the Inca Manco Capac fought against the Spanish during the 1530s. After taking a long and roundabout route, Bingham stumbled across Machu Picchu, although he actually thought he had discovered Vilcabamba. It was nevertheless an extraordinary find; few people from the outside world had seen it before Bingham. The site is now visited by so many tourists that there are concerns about preserving it. It is a fascinating place, and is thought to have been the mountain retreat of the Inca emperor Pachacutec. Vilcabamba, for which Bingham had been searching, was discovered much later, in 1964 by an American explorer, Gene Savoy. Bingham, if nothing else, was a showman, as later revealed by his son Alfred on discovering a collection of letters that his father had sent his mother and which revealed Bingham had glorified his discovery. He had described his journey as long and dangerous, and explained that he had eventually found the site after trekking through a hazardous tropical jungle. Bingham was seen as a swashbuckling figure and was not highly regarded by scholars. He went onto have seven children with Alfreda, but by 1937 she had tired of his persistent infidelity and divorced him. In the 1950s, a time when the Americans saw “reds under the bed” everywhere, Bingham was very controversially appointed to head President Truman’s new Loyalty Review Board, essentially set up to dismiss civil servants who were thought to have Communist sympathies. Apart from the fact that Machu Picchu was not his chief objective, he had also been led to the site within 48 hours of starting his search. Whilst Bingham had described the road to Machu Picchu as a “treacherous wilderness”, the letter showed that the journey took just one-and-a-half hours. Bingham had also claimed that all of the ruins were covered in dense vegetation, but photographs he took show the ruins as being in a clear open space. There are no images of Hiram Bingham available of sufficient quality for us to reproduce, but he cut quite a dashing figure. He died in Washington D.C. at the age of 80 in 1956. Seemingly he was not a very good husband or even a very good explorer, but apparently he thoroughly enjoyed his life. Marbella Golden Mile - Sierra Blanca How to Arrive on Time A fter years of arriving late for meetings and engagements I came to the conclusion that I must be doing something wrong. I would allow twenty minutes to get ready, say half an hour to drive to wherever I was going and ten minutes to spare. It seemed like a sensible plan, but I never arrived on time. The problem with what I was doing was that nothing ever does go to plan. First, twenty minutes to get ready would never be twenty minutes because things I thought were ironed had been overlooked, or one shoe or my keys would mysteriously disappear. Generally, as I hurriedly tried to iron something, some sort of steaming foam would come out of the iron and stain the garment; just the one thing I really wanted to wear. Then twenty minutes was probably the required amount of driving time, but what about getting to the car and then parking at the other end? None of this was taken into account. The fact is that if you are in a rush, everything and everyone conspires against you. If it’s a longer journey you will during the course of it encounter at least one learner driver; and the driver who urgently pulls out of a side turning just in front of you and then drives at 15 mph until they pull off at the next turning; and the lady who will sit at the roundabout for an 10 MARBELLA Ref. 161-01989 €1,190,000 by Lisa Parsons eternity whilst its clear, and then pull out with just enough time to get out herself while making sure you can’t. If you are in a hurry in the countryside, it will be a combine harvestertype vehicle or a tractor that will suddenly exit from a field in front of you. In the towns, here in Spain you will be behind the driver who suddenly sees his long-lost friend and family walking down the street and therefore stops in the middle of the road to catch up on the lost years. When it comes to parking, it is quite extraordinary how you can drive round in circles unable to find a space, whilst everyone else is parking in spaces that weren’t free a moment earlier when you drove past. Eventually I realised that I had to set a time to leave and be ready an hour earlier, even to the point of having my keys to hand, and then finish off any work I had to do until it was time to leave. For the journey time, I started doubling it, and mysteriously most of the obstacles that I experienced when I was in a rush were no longer there, or they were there but I just didn’t notice them. Beds: 3 Baths: 2 Built: 329 Terrace: 157 This luxurious 3 bedroom apartment-villa is situated in one of the most exclusive residential complex of Marbella Sierra Blanca, which borders the natural parkland and protected pine forests of Nagüeles and only a few minutes drive from the centre of Marbella, Puerto Banus and superb golf courses. The complex designed in a contemporary style with hints of the Orient enjoys a privileged elevated location at Sierra Blanca with breathtaking sea and mountain views. The 58 luxurious properties ranging in size from 350 to 850 square metres comprise two, three or four bedrooms, each with its own ensuite bathroom, complete with whirlpool tub, private garage space for two or three cars and the majority with two or three basement storage areas which can easily be converted into a gym, media suite or wine cellar. Depending on type, many boast a solarium of up to 182 square metres as well as private swimming pool and private lift. The magnificent on site facilities meanwhile include two outdoor swimming pools illuminated at night, three fitness areas featuring gym, indoor pool, saunas, Turkish baths, showers and changing rooms, verdant landscaped gardens with ambient lighting and 24 hour security. WWW.CROWNMARBELLA.COM • [email protected] • +34 952 765 620 Main and Sales Office: Hotel Puente Romano - Sales and Rental Office: Guadalpin Banus Hotel The Difference Between an ACTIVE and a PASSIVE Investor by James Dunbar It is not necessarily the case that passive investors are boring and active investors more interesting, although that is in my experience often the case, but of course a passive investor may be retired and therefore not in a position to take risks, or simply someone who would worry about being in an active fund. Passive investors and the funds they choose are not trying to beat the market; their aim is to match the market, whereas an active investor aims to beat the market. So if a passive investor has kept pace with the FTSE All Share, they are happy, while an active investor is not. So what is the reality of the situation; do active investors beat the market? Well they do, but only 24% of active funds beat the benchmark stock market, so looking at it another way, if you are in an active fund you have a 76% chance of not beating the markets. It has long been said that you have as much chance of success if you stick a pin in the appropriate page of the Financial Times than by using the services of an “expert”. So why is this, and why do we pay people large sums of money to look after a fund that often can’t even keep pace with the markets? Well you have two things that can potentially work against you in a managed fund; first, some of the fund managers are useless, as of course are a proportion of doctors, dentists, accountants, architects and, rather more scarily, surgeons. The other factor is costs; with an actively managed fund you can expect to pay between 0.85% and 1%, whereas a passive fund will typically charge 0.1%. So the manager of an active fund needs to return somewhere approaching 1% just to get the charges back. This of course tends to grate when your loss of 2% becomes 3% because you have to pay the fees. So what’s the answer? The answer is to use one of the funds that refund their fee if they underperform. If you have looked for such a fund and been unable to find one, that is because to the best of my knowledge there are none. Win or lose, they want your fee. The fact is though looking after your own investments is hassle and usually results in the portfolio being neglected and under performing. So how do you find a bank that will successfully make your money work for you? Look for those banks that have won awards for their performance. And of course make sure you are dealing with a qualified investment advisor rather than a salesman. Your lawyer, your accountant. Working together for you. Your business is in good hands at marbella’s leading spanish property lawyers, accountants and tax consultants. Also, to make your legal and financial matters easier for you to understand, at arcos & lamers asociados we speak several languages including spanish, english, dutch, German and french. ¨civil legal and extrajudicial proceedings ¨purchase and sale of real estate ¨tax law: tax and accounting advice ¨corporate law, trade companies ¨inheritance, wills and succession ¨spanish employment advice ¨trademarks and patents ¨criminal law ¨bankruptcy proceedings ¨legal and fiscal advice in general maite arcos & wim lamers avda. ricardo soriano, 12 · edif marqués de salamanca, 10 -3 · 29601 marbella · tel: +(34) 952 775 010 · fax: +(34) 952 900 577 www.arcos-lamersasociados.com | email: [email protected] 12 MARBELLA Adnan Khashoggi The La Zagaleta Golf and Country Club is a mountain estate set in 900 hectares of Andalucian countryside above San Pedro, Marbella, where you will find some of the most beautiful and prestigious homes in the world. The estate, previously called La Baraka, was formerly owned by billionaire Adnan Khashoggi, at one time alleged to be the world’s richest man. K hashoggi was born in 1935 in the Saudi city of Mecca. His father had close links to the royal family as the personal physician of King Abdulaziz al Saud. His father sent him to Alexandria in Egypt, where he was educated at Victoria College. One of his classmates later became King Hussein of Jordan. Following this, Khashoggi attended California State University and Stanford, but the draw of money and the good life was too strong and he didn’t complete his studies. Some have challenged the claim that he was the richest man in the world; nevertheless, the sums he earned during the seventies and eighties were quite extraordinary. Even as far back as 1956, he earned a commission of $150,000 for supplying $3 million dollars’ worth of trucks to Egypt, which they used in their campaign against Israel; the commission was the equivalent of $3,434,000 in today’s money. Shields and Sean Connery. Apart from Marbella, he had numerous other residences such as, Madrid, the Canary Islands, Beirut, Riyadh, Jeddah, Paris, Cannes, Rome, New York, Monte Carlo, and Kenya. He was alleged to own 100 luxury cars and a DC-8 jet, while he also owned a huge luxury yacht, which was later purchased by Donald Trump. Ronald Kessler, the journalist and author of an unauthorised biography of Khashoggi’s life, claims that he gave a $60,000 bracelet to one of Richard Nixon’s daughters, in return for we don’t know what. Khashoggi was addicted to women, and his marriages didn’t last. In 1961, he married British teenager Sandra Daly, who changed her name to Soraya. They separated in 1974 and in 1979 Soraya sued him, seeking a divorce settlement of $2.54 billion. It was settled out of court for an alleged $874 million, and Soraya went on to have an affair with the disgraced Tory MP Jonathan Aitken, with whom she had a child. Khashoggi then married 17-year-old Italian Laura Biancolini, who also changed her name, to Lamia, but this marriage didn’t last either. Whilst Khashoggi gathered friends drawn from some of the most influential people in the world, he was also gathering enemies at the same rate as his dealing became increasingly controversial. Eventually, like all good things, it had to come to an end, and Khashoggi fell from grace. He was implicated in the Iran-Contra affair, involving the sale of arms to Iran in violation of an existing arms embargo, and subsequently moved to Switzerland. There were allegations of racketeering, and the US government subpoenaed him twice and sought his extradition, but he was eventually acquitted of these charges. Khashoggi’s holding company in the US collapsed with liabilities in the order of $197 million. At the same time, he was indicted on a charge of assisting the Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Emelda – who was famous for her extravagant shoe In 1970, he earned $184 million purchases – to divert assets and of commission – an extraordinary Adnan Khashoggi pictured with the late Jesus Gil, then obscure their ownership of real estate $2,643,840,800 in today’s terms – Mayor of Marbella. and fine art through one of his many square metres of pure luxury. The 900 for arranging a deal enabling the US front companies. His Marbella estate aircraft manufacturer Northrop to sell $4.2 hectares surrounding it were where he would was eventually confiscated. billion dollars’ worth of warplanes to Saudi hunt game. Throughout the seventies and eighties, the parties held at his home were Now living quietly in Monaco, Khashoggi, who Arabia. legendary. For his 50th birthday, he invited will be 80 in July, still works as a consultant. Khashoggi’s house in Marbella, which is now 400 guests to Marbella; every celebrity you As for his current wealth? Nobody will ever La Zagaleta’s clubhouse, was over 5,000 could think of attended, including Brooke know. 14 MARBELLA MARBELLA 15 La ZAGALETA In June 1991, Wayne Chasan, an American photographer based in Marbella, was given a rare opportunity, to photograph La Baraka - as La Zagaleta was formerly known - after the property had been seized, and to see it exactly as Khashoggi had left it clearly expecting to return. View of Khashoggi’s mansion from his heliport; now transformed into the Zagaleta clubhouse and golf course. 16 MARBELLA Terraces now corresponding to the clubhouse restaurant, and the pool area 18 MARBELLA Dining and living room areas, eerily silent and empty in the interim between Kashoggi’s residence and its future transformation. MARBELLA 19 Monte Mayor Golf - Benahavís Ref. 161-02463 La Zagaleta - Benahavís Ref. 161-02422 €2,435,000 Beds: 4 Baths: 4 Built: 481 €4,500,000 Plot: 2,700 Beds: 4 A great located rustic villa nicely settled within the Monte Mayor Golf & Country Club. Spectacular views to the coast and the Mediterranean. Fully private and south facing, a hidden treasure ! Main floor (186 m2) Large living area with fireplace, separate dining area, fully fitted kitchen, office, guest toilet, master bedroom suite.First floor (64 m2) 2 guest bedrooms suite. Lower floor (154 m2) Separate guest apartment with living room, fitted kitchen and bedroom/bathroom, garage for 2 cars, storage, wine cellar and room suited for gym, another bedroom, cinema etc. Mature garden with a heated and salted swimming pool (50 m2). Gazebo, BBQ area for lounging and relaxation with outdoor kitchen. Airco with heating, underfloor heating (oil), marble floors, alarm system, B&O system, automatic irrigation system, sat.tv. Gated community with 24hrs security. About 8 km (12 minutes drive) from the Coast and all amenities (shopping, bars & restaurants). Baths: 4 Built: 456 Plot: 4,958 Beautiful, rustic style, quality, south facing villa with nice sea, mountain and golf views located in La Zagaleta. La Zagaleta Country Club is one of the most prestigious and exclusive residential area in Europe. It offers First Class private facilities. This spectacular hill top mansion in La Zagaleta enjoys breath-taking 360 degree panoramic views of the Mountain ranges, and full clear Spanish coastline views of the Mediterranean Sea across to coast of Africa. Specifications : 4 Bedrooms all en-suite ,Large fully equipped kitchen including a walk-in fridge and a breakfast dining area, Large Dining Room, Addition Reception rooms, Office, Snooker Room ,Gym, Sauna, Steam room etc ... Temperature controlled Wine Cellar, Large integral Cortijo style courtyard, Grand Entrance Hall . Monte Mayor is located next to Marbella Club Golf Resort and the famous Los Flamingos Golf with the 5* hotel Villa Padierna. WWW.CROWNMARBELLA.COM • [email protected] • +34 952 765 620 Main and Sales Office: Hotel Puente Romano - Sales and Rental Office: Guadalpin Banus Hotel WWW.CROWNMARBELLA.COM • [email protected] • +34 952 765 620 Main and Sales Office: Hotel Puente Romano - Sales and Rental Office: Guadalpin Banus Hotel A dining terrace now offering choice views for club members. Deer and other wildlife abound and still roam freely around this magnificent estate. Evening view of the surrounding Sierras. The empty ballroom with its glittering tinsel cupola, a sharp contrast to the extravagant parties that once filled this space. 22 MARBELLA A hallway to private chambers. MARBELLA 23 Life Codes March 2015 Life Codes are a combination of numerology and the tree of life. The tree of life is an ancient wisdom, when combined with numerology it unlocks the secrets of your psyche to reveal new ways of discovering your deepest potential. To work our your Life Code add all the numbers in your birthdate until you return to a single figure. A person born on the 25th July 1982 becomes 2+5+7+1+9+8+2=34. The end figure you add together until it reaches a single figure. The example figure of 34 becomes 3+4=7 Life Code 7. For the Life Codes calculator visit www.HeidiSawyer.com/LC by Heidi Sawyer Relationships are the main focus for your month ahead. If you’ve stubborn and unmoveable now is the time to ease off and see where things can change. If you’re in the wrong it’s time to admit it. The energy of the year ahead makes it difficult to accept when you’re overly obstructive but sometimes it’s appropriate to swallow your pride and apologise. Money wise it’s a great time for a new start. If you’ve been overspending you’ll continue to do so unless you consciously now stop yourself. Temptation is huge but it’s time to decide your priorities. If you’re waiting this month for events to move along to their final conclusion, you might have to wait a little longer. The energy of this month is slower than usual so take your time if it feels right to you to sleep on something decision wise. Relationships have a chance to develop over time this month. You’ll be able to take things at a better pace that’s in keeping with getting to know someone. Relationships with females have a strong focus this month. Friendships built now are on solid foundations. Enjoy yourself this month as you’ll have more time than usual. Spend time enjoying the outdoors as it will work wonders with stress relief. You’ll find this month you’re the centre of attention in a good way. Your conversation is lively, your sense of humour on fire. You’re in the mood to play this month. Let your hair down and enjoy yourself. Your new attitude will attract different opportunities and people you wouldn’t normally meet. This month you may find yourself inspired to start something new. A course you took a fancy to a few years ago could become a strong opportunity this month. Perhaps it’s time to dip your toes in and try something completely outside out your comfort zone. This is a month of balance and polar opposites. If you are in conflict with someone at the moment, stop being so stubborn and come to a middle ground. If relationships are good, this month they’ll become stronger and more partnership orientated. This is a great time for you to plan your free time. You’ll start to feel a balance in life is extremely important to you. You’ll evaluate what your life really means and where you’re placing your energy. If you’ve neglected your nearest and dearest in recent times, it’s time to adjust your focus. Finances have the opportunity to be especially good this month. Jealousy could easily infect your surroundings this month. There may be someone on the scene who you don’t want, but at the same time you don’t want someone else to want them. This is a sticky dilemma only you can solve. Perhaps what you feel is the truth. You have more feelings for the person / situation than you care to admit. If this is the case, try not to be so stubborn and admit you’re more attached than you’re comfortable with. Jobs get done in your house this month. You’re using them as a powerful distraction method. Whilst that’s useful now, don’t sacrifice your happiness in the long-term. This is a great month for Life Code 3. You’ll feel more in control and calm about life moving forward. You’re expressive, your sense of humour is on fire and your popularity is soaring. You’ll have invitations to interesting social engagements and the opportunity to make new connections. It’s a great time for you to take a look in your wardrobe. Throw out what’s now old and washed out and replace with items you feel great in. This will improve your sense of self and confidence tenfold. Careful of over indulgence this month as you’ll have plenty of temptations. Your fingers will creep towards anything overly sweet and calorific. You’ll not be able to help yourself. Partnership works well for you as a Life Code 4. If a relationship has been cooking for a while, this month it could start to get serious. If you’re sitting down for the conversation to shape your future, hold a clear interaction so nothing is missed. As a Life Code 4 you’re often shy in coming forward, but once someone gives you ‘permission’ to be yourself, you’ll chatter away to them for hours. This month you’ll chat to someone in a casual way that shows in the longer term to offer you an opportunity you weren’t expecting. Enjoy it. Relationships feature strongly for Life Code 4 this month. If you’re single and ready to meet someone, now is the time to dust off your party dress. You have the ability right now to step out of any shyness and begin to engage with people you’re attracted to. If you think smartening up your appearance will help your confidence, do it. You’ll find yourself better able to chat to people. Money is slower than you’d like. You’re better able this month for restraint and budgeting. Keeping this up with make sure you’re financially buoyant in no time. Life at times for a Life Code 5 can feel like an endless struggle for self-acceptance. This month you have the opportunity to acknowledge some of your challenges from the past digest them and let them go. If you can let things go, you’ll feel much lighter and more carefree. Feeling care free is important right now for your health. Careful of foot problems, if you have one, it might be time to visit a doctor to get it solved. Finances improve as work situations begin to come in for later into the year. If you’ve been feeling low about something personal, it’s time to dust yourself off and make the very best of the situation. You’ll then find your world magically brightens. This month you’re overtired and aching. It’s time to address your lifestyle habits, make sure they are a reflection of how things should be for a healthier outcome. You’ve perhaps been winging it and ignoring health niggles. Your persona is softer than usual as you relax into feeling you can take your time over things. As a Life Code 5 you don’t like to be rushed, but you don’t like to show being rushed impacts you. You see it as weakness. This month you’re more accepting of your naturally chilled approach. Relationships for you as a Life Code 6 are important to you yet at times you choose to distance yourself. You do this to avoid overwhelm. This month you’re more able to see perspective and get the balance right between connection and distance. Now is a great time for you to plan your summer getaway as your choice will be where you want to go rather than where you end up. Financially you can be mean with yourself, you’re inclined to be generous one moment then feel guilty for enjoying the fruits of your labour. This month you’ll spot how you do that and will seek to correct it once and for all. 24 April 2015 Always at the centre of things, Life Code 6 take opportunities as they present themselves. This month though things are a little slower than you’re used to. Rather than see a slow down as a reflection of you, see it as an opportunity to determine what you’d really like to include in your life. Reading books, seeing films this month will help you with creative ideas if you’re in business for yourself. Slowing down often releases our greatest creativity and opens a renewed inspiration. Holidays right now will be extremely appealing. Perhaps it’s time for a break. As a Life Code 7 you like your freedom whilst feeling people are there for you. This month someone may feel too close for comfort. You’ll feel controlled rather than supported. It’s time to speak your mind kindly before you feel cornered and end up barking your fury. You’re more perceptive than normal this month. You’ll have insight into what you can expect from others without having to lift a finger to find out. You’ll find this both relaxing and engaging. Expect dreams to be more vivid and insightful. Use this capability wisely. In your working life this month people will like to chat. They’ll do a lot of chatting before they’re able to commit to anything. This might be extremely frustrating. Often you like to get to the point and on with things. If you’re expecting confirmation around a business decision, you’ll need to ask for the business and help them make the decision, rather than assume they’ll come to you when they’re ready. Others are currently muddled while you have more clarity. Relationships started now will develop in a healthy way over time. Don’t expect love at first sight, others will want to take their time, don’t rush them on the romantic front. You’re used to having your feet on the ground and overanalysing situations as a Life Code 8. This month though you’re more relaxed with how you approach things. You’re not worrying nearly as much as usual. Your actions and decisions are much faster than normal. This will get you noticed in the workplace. Finances, you have an eye this month for picking better investments. You’ll see both from the numbers perspective and your intuition combined. This means anything you’re choosing this month to do for your future moving forward, is likely to be a good decision. You’re beginning to feel more comfortable with yourself after a period of feeling very out of sorts. Now is the time to take on new hobbies and interests rather than just focussing on work. You’ll start to feel brighter this month as everything starts to fall into place. Confusion happens a lot for Life Code 8. This month you’re feeling much less confused and more able to see clearly. You know what you want and what you like. If it’s time for a relationship to come to an end, this month you’ll make your decision. This time your severance will be short and sharp. You know when you’ve had enough. You’ll be waiting to see if a long awaited wrong is about to be made right. People haven’t always been respectful of you in the past. Part of that reason has been due to reaching for other people’s opinion rather than creating your own. Now is your time to develop relationships based in partnership. Let downs in the past have made you suspicious, now you have a better idea of what you want you’re more able to trust your decisions and connections with other people. They’re less likely to let you down. Money is in a better position as you start to map your future rather than leave it to the Gods. In recent months you’ve had a lot of emotional upheaval and changes. You’re used to trotting along quite happily but of recent times you’ve had more responsibility than you’re used to. This month you’ll start to see the kindness of others really come into play. They’ll help you out where you need it, you’ve only to ask. Socially you’re more interactive than you’ve been previously. You now realise your engagement with others is important, you’re no longer the lone wolf. Finances improve as your inner world improves. A stronger selfworth means you get to keep more than what goes out. After a tough time, like feels lighter. MARBELLA MARBELLA 25 A Haunted House by Peter Jackson Many years ago, my girlfriend and I, together with another couple, went to spend a week in Mojacar, Almeria. The boss of one of the other couple had kindly offered to let us spend our holiday in his villa, which he had recently purchased. However, we were to discover that the gesture wasn’t as kindly as we first thought. W e arrived at Almeria airport late one May evening, and hired a car to take us to Mojacar. Almeria can be quite dusty and desolate in places, sometimes prone to severe droughts. The Tabernas area in the region is actually classed as a semi desert, and became famous as a location for shooting Spaghetti Westerns. When we arrived in Mojacar the streets that took us up to the villa were the narrowest I had ever seen, and it wasn’t long before I scraped one side of the car. It was decided by majority that this was a result of my poor driving; someone else took over and proceeded to scrape all the paint off the other side of the car. Mojacar’s history 26 MARBELLA stretches back 4000 years, and the streets were clearly made for donkeys rather than cars. Eventually we arrived at a beautiful villa, built into the side of the mountain with spectacular views over the town of Mojacar and the Mediterranean. The sitting room, kitchen and terrace were upstairs and the bedrooms were on the floor below; it was wonderful. We had a good night’s sleep and lazed around on the enormous terrace in the sun the next day, eating, drinking and sleeping. The next night, our sleep was disrupted somewhat by an awful lot of banging. The next morning we concluded that this was caused by the wooden shutters on the windows banging in the wind. We had hoped that one of the other couple would get up and close them, but learned that they had hoped the same. Having spent the next day on the beach and dining out we arrived back to the villa late. As I walked from the front door and up the stairs – for which the mountain rock, which was varnished, formed the wall – I noticed all the hairs on my arms standing on end. I have since been told this was of significance, but I thought nothing of it, other than perhaps it was something to do with the mountain, maybe humidity. We went around all the shutters – it was MARBELLA 27 a very large property – with the intention of firmly closing them, but strangely many were wired shut, with a strange symbol incorporated in the wire; we learned later that it was the sign of the Andalo Man, which is thought to date back some 4500 years. Its origin has been lost over time, but many believe that the Andalo depicts a prehistoric god holding the rainbow in his open arms in order to offer protection. Locally, the Andalo became a good luck charm believed to give protection against bad luck and the “evil eye”. In fact, if you look at the lorries from the Almeria region that deliver in this area, you will see that they usually have, along with their details, the sign of the Andalo. We went off to bed, but were woken around 2 am by very loud banging noises, which sounded remarkably like the window shutters; of course, they were all closed, but perhaps high winds were responsible. We then heard a noise like a heavy piece of metal being dropped on the upstairs floor. As we made our way upstairs to investigate, the other couple called out and asked whether I was making the noise upstairs. This stopped us in our tracks, and we requested that they accompany us upstairs; safety in numbers. We went up and checked everything; nothing had moved, and all the shutters were closed. We looked out and not only were there no high winds, everything was eerily still; we looked at the washing on the roofs of the houses below us, and there was no movement whatsoever. We rather uneasily went back down to bed. Nobody slept, the banging continued intermittently all night and what made it even more disturbing was that we knew when the bangs were coming because all – and I mean all – the dogs locally would start to bark and howl about 15 seconds beforehand. Just before it got light, two things happened that became the final straw for us. The first was a noise like a suitcase sliding up the passageway and 28 MARBELLA hitting our bedroom door, and the second was the last bang, in our en-suite bathroom. We got up in the morning and all our nerves were in shreds; we looked like we had been dragged through a hedge backwards. We agreed that this wasn’t fun, and that we would book into a hotel. We went off and found one, and then went back to the villa to spend the day, which we did for the rest of our stay. It was great during the day, but as dusk came the atmosphere seemed to change; perhaps that was our imagination, I don’t know, but as soon as the sun started to go down we were off like a shot. As I spoke Spanish, I asked the Spanish lady in the next property if the villa had a history and indeed it did; there was a possibility that it had been built on an old burial ground. What was interesting was that she told us an American gentleman had lived there for seven years and had never mentioned anything at all, but others who had rented the property for a holiday had been frightened out of their lives; but curiously not all of them. She told us that a Spanish couple had stayed there for a week and on their last day they had barbequed together and at the end of the evening had bid them farewell. However, at 1 am she said they were knocking on her door absolutely terrified, asking if they could sleep on her floor. We also learned that our experience seemed to be unusual in that most reported lying in bed and the experience was as if someone was leaning over them, close to their face and talking to them in a language they didn’t understand. Well I would opt for the banging any day of the week. More out of interest than anything else, we thought whilst we were there we would look at property prices in Mojacar. We spoke to a British estate agent and mentioned our experience to her, and she said it was very common in the village. She said she had something in her house for about eight years and then it suddenly went away. In fact, she was quite matter of fact about it, explaining she would lie in bed and feel like someone was pressing on her chest. She added, “I couldn’t care less, it didn’t bother me, but none of my friends wanted to come and stay with me”. Well there’s a surprise. When we got back to the UK and mentioned our experience to the person who had so “generously” loaned us the property, his response was “Oh God no”. We then discovered what his ulterior motive had been in making the villa available to us; he had bought it, spent a week there and had an equally disturbing time, but couldn’t quite decide if it had actually happened or if he was going mad. Safe in the knowledge that he wasn’t going mad, he quickly put the property on the market. Interestingly, if you sell a house in the UK knowing that it has whatever that was, and don’t mention it, you can be sued. Something else fascinating was that many of my clients – I worked in financial services at the time – knew I was going on holiday and when I came back asked me how it had been. So I told them, and I was astounded that perhaps getting on for 50% of those that I told – mainly very down to earth people – said, “Well we never tell anybody, but as you have told us that we will tell you our experience………..”. Whether you believe in these things or not – and it’s always more comfortable not believing in them – the fact is there has never been a single case of anyone coming to any harm during these goings on, although I suppose realistically there must have been the odd heart attack over the years; I really thought I was having one myself at the time. DENTAL CLINIC Our objective is the satisfaction of all our patients by offering our best personalised quality treatments. Our COIMAR team of doctors and hygienists are in constant training and regular seminars in order to offer you the newest treatments available. • We always find a way to treat our patients in the least aggressive manner. Therefore we strongly believe in the importance of prevention check-ups every 6 months. • “Teeth in 1 hour” Having a 3D radiography, our own exclusive laboratory and our specialist team of doctors will enable you have the best smile in Marbella, without delay. • 24 h, emergencies at weekends: we look after you 7 days a week. • Sedation: Clinic COIMAR offers you all the treatments with Sedation. • Specialists in the gentle care of children’s teeth, treating those small mouths and teeth making it a fun time. We have a kid’s waiting room and perfectly suited treatment room to relax them. Dental Esthetics | Dentineers | Implants | Incrustations | Orthodontic treaments Preventive check ups | Root Canals | Sedation | Sinus elevation | Whitening C/ Estébanez Calderón, 6. Edf. Nereira Poseidón Local 9 29602 Marbella (Málaga) +34 952 771 464 [email protected] LETTING YOUR PROPERTY DES0708 Increased Protection For Landlords T here are many advantages in renting rather than buying a property. It allows those who do so a lot more flexibility in meeting their changing needs, particularly those who frequently need to relocate because of their work. There are then those who cannot afford to buy or just do not want the responsibility of owning a property and all the associated ongoing costs. However, renting has never been particularly popular in Spain. In fact in this country lettings represent just 17% of the overall property market compared with the average for Europe as a whole which is 30%. The main reason for this is the past property booms here in Spain, not seen in other European countries and very attractive financial conditions; low interest rates and the favourable tax treatment of property purchase. The problem for landlords here in Spain has always been the time it takes to evict The main aim of the new regulations passed in November 2009 and July 2013 is to stimulate the letting market, improve the rights of both the landlord and the tenant, and to speed up the eviction process. Compulsory Term A letting contract for a property that is to be used as permanent dwelling must by law be for a minimum term of 3 years (prior to the change in the law it was 5 years) even if the contract states a shorter term. There are however exceptions where the term can be shortened; if the landlord needs the property as a permanent home for themselves or a member of their family. This has now been extended to include any of the landlord’s next of kin (parents and children) or adopted children of the landlord. It also applies to the landlord’s husband or wife in case of divorce or separation. If the property is sold and the letting contract has not been registered at the Land Registry, the purchaser can demand the termination of the tenancy but will have to allow the tenant a further three months occupation from receipt of notice of termination. If the contract is registered in the land registry the purchaser of a property will be bound by the compulsory term of three year. Permanent home for the tenant a tenant through the courts, in the event of non-payment of the rent. In current market condition selling a property can be difficult, and letting is a very useful alternative in order to generate income. 30 MARBELLA Some landlords are incorrectly advised to put a term of 11 months in a letting contract under the belief that it will be considered a seasonal contract as opposed to a to being the tenant’s permanent home; or stirred… when repatriating your funds back to the UK Get more money when making international money transfers with Moneycorp. To find out how easy it is, pop in for a chat or call us on +34 952 587 657, email [email protected] or visit moneycorp.com/spain hoping to avoid the minimum 3 year term. The courts however will always rely on the intention of the parties concerned regardless of the wording in the contract. If the courts conclude that it was intended to be the permanent home of the tenant, the minimum term of three years will apply. If the court case is designed to collect the outstanding rent and evict the tenant, or terminate a rental contract where the term has expired, the landlord can if they wish offer to waive part of the debt and legal costs, providing the tenant voluntarily leaves the property within a given term ( which cannot be less than fifteen days) will also set the date of eviction, which will be within 30 of the hearing. The Court will also warn the tenant that if the judgement goes against them, and an appeal is not lodged, the eviction will proceed on the due date without further notification. reviewing the case and prior to the hearing will offer the tenant the option that they can - within the following 10 days – either leave the property, pay the outstanding sum, or in order to stop the eviction pay into the court the sum claimed or appear in Court to oppose to the claim. Also at this stage the secretary will set the date of the hearing if the case is to be defended, or if there is to be no defence, the eviction date. This will automatically terminate the rental contract and no hearing is required. Personally I am sceptical -with the court system here in a virtual state of collapse – that this will do much to speed up the process. The new laws are intended to speed up the whole court process, whether this will Notice of non-renewal of a Nowadays, the court secretary when be achieved in practice is another matter. letting contract At the end of the three year term if neither party has served notice of non- renewal one month prior to the end of the contract, the tenancy will automatically be extended for another year, under previous legislation it could run for a further 3 years. Eviction Proceedings Previously a tenant could stop eviction proceedings, by depositing the unpaid rent with the court. However now under the new legislation, the tenant now can only do this once, but only providing the tenant had not received, by recorded delivery, a demand for payment thirty days prior to the proceedings. If the landlord has done so, the tenant can still be evicted even if he has lodged with court a sum equal to the outstanding rent. The court will advise the tenant that if they fail to attend the hearing, they will be evicted. After judgement has been made, it will not be served on the tenant, it is the tenant’s responsibility to collect it from the court within six days from the hearing. If they do not do so it will in any event be deemed to have been collected. The Court An agreement needs to be reached in parliament by the main political parties to change the present status of the judicial system. Otherwise a plaintiff will find themselves waiting for court hearing date. This will most probably mean the case will be heard, long after the time frame and deadlines, set by the new legislation. Written by Rafael Berdaguer, lawyer from the firm Rafael Berdaguer Abogados based in Marbella, Spain Collection & delivery at departure ★★★★★ • Car hire service now available • Full range of valeting services • Short term & long term rates • All parking CCTV secure Only one car? Can't afford to be off the road? We can organise your ITV and carry out body repairs from small scratches and dents to full resprays and polishing while you are away. All work undertaken is fully guaranteed. Contact us today on: Tel: (0034) 952 105 266 | Mob: (0034) 616 660 310 E: [email protected] | www.bestparkingmalaga.com 32 MARBELLA MARBELLA 33 Restaurants that Won’t Disappoint There are some wonderful restaurants in Marbella; below are those that we have managed to review so far – and can highly recommend. Café de Ronda La Trattoria The best coffee in Marbella and some very un-café like high-quality food. Their solomillo con salsa bearnesa, which is really tender beef served with a béarnaise sauce, is definitely worth trying. A real Italian restaurant with great authentic Italian food and wine. The menu is very varied and they serve a wonderful selection of Italian cheeses you won’t find anywhere else. The service is impeccable. Ramón Gomez de la Serna 23. (two minutes walk from Marbella’s Palacio de Congresos) Calle Las Malvas Edificio Online. (Next to the Marbella casino and hotel Andalucia Plaza, with easy parking) Tel: 952 90 08 99 by Daniella Tel: 952 81 75 91 C’est la Vie Bar d’o Wonderful food and excellent service. Don’t think about going into Marbella to dine if you live in San Pedro, but do consider travelling in the other direction. Bar d’o boasts one of the best chefs in Marbella, Tim de Helt. Lobster is a speciality and their Belgian stew is mouth-watering. Avd. las Palmeras, 15, San Pedro (near San Pedro’s 24-hour pharmacy). Avd. Principe de Hohenlohe, Edf. Milla de Oro (on the Golden Mile opposite Hotel Guadalpin). Tel: 952 78 33 94 Tel: 952 82 12 29 Restaurante d’Maria Villa Tiberio This is a very basic Spanish venta that is always packed – and with good reason. If it’s luxury you are looking for then Restaurante d’Maria is not for you; however, if you want some of the best-value food in Marbella then you will love this establishment. The set menu including wine is 8.50 Euros. Luxury at it it’s best, a beautiful restaurant set 6,000 square metres of gardens, with high quality food and service, run by its hands on and charismatic owner Sandro Morelli. Bulevar Principe Alfonso Hohenlohe Km 179, Marbella (just off the Golden Mile opposite Marbella Club Hotel). Carretera N-340, Km 178.5 (The Golden Mile) It’s on the same side of the road and very close to the Marbella Club hotel Tel: 952 77 17 99 Tel: 952 77 18 22 34 MARBELLA MARBELLA 35 If exercise is so good for us, why aren’t more of us doing it? by Lisa Parsons T he World Health Organisation has said that physical inactivity causes 1.9 million deaths a year throughout the world, representing 10% to 16% of breast and colon cancer cases, a similar amount of diabetes cases and about 22% of coronary heart disease cases. Good enough reason to exercise you may think, but apparently not; a University of Bristol study found that 80% of participants failed to meet the government target of taking moderate exercise at least three times a week. The researchers also said that 90% of those surveyed didn’t use a gym, 88% didn’t swim and 80% of people over the age of 16 only took part in minimal physical activity. I exercise, but I also fully understand why people don’t; there are so many more pleasant and enjoyable things one could be doing, such as having a glass of wine or eating a chocolate éclair. When you are sitting enjoying a glass of wine, twenty minutes pass as though it was one minute; when you are running, one minute seems like twenty. I get up at 5.30 am to run; at 6 am, one of the bars I run past is open, and the men (mainly in the 50-plus age group) are sitting outside. As I run past, one of them calls out “Guapa” in a very croaky voice; he clearly has impaired vision as well as vocal chords. They all have their coffee, their cigarette and a large glass of something, mostly Cognac it seems, and I always think, “Great, that’s what I would like to be doing”. It is much easier to get out of bed and head for the bar than to look forward to running in 36 MARBELLA the cold, and sometimes the cold and rain. So why do I do it when I would rather be doing what the locals in the bar are doing? Well whilst I am aware that there are people who smoke 60 cigarettes and drink a bottle of whisky a day and live to be 95, the real problem is that you don’t know if you can get away with it until you discover you can’t, and then it’s too late. Some people are very busy and find it difficult to exercise. I have heard people say you can always make time, but I do sympathise with those who are under pressure because often they fully intend to exercise but as the day wears on and the stress and time pressures increase, the desire to exercise gradually wains. That is why I train first thing in the morning, because it does, for many of us, become more difficult to do so later in the day. There is one thing however; when you have had one of those days where you have taken one step forward and two back – or in my case ten back – but then train or go for a run, you at least feel you have achieved something in the day, and that you deserve that glass of wine. MARBELLA 37 The MICHELIN CURSE Y our dreams have come true. After years of work and sacrifice, the Michelin Guide has awarded your restaurant a star. Everything has finally been worthwhile; the 16-hour days, the cash flow problems, the foregoing of holidays. From now on, your life will change. You are about to be famous, and even wealthy. But what’s this? The new customers are much more demanding. They take hours to order and then inspect everything minutely as if trying to find fault. Having previously had fun with your regular customers, many of whom became friends, this new breed is difficult to get on with. And although 38 MARBELLA by AJ Linn business is wonderful, life is not the same. One thing is clear – no more stars please! The stress is 24/7, and time out to relax is a distant memory. One slip would mean the end of a short era. can deliberately lose it by being sloppy or insulting the inspector (yes, anonymity is relative), the chances are that no chef is so lacking in pride that he or she would cheerfully take this route. If there are two anachronisms that have outlived their usefulness in the gastronomic world, these have to be Robert Parker’s wine points and Michelin stars. Neither has stood the test of time and neither guarantees happiness, perhaps even the reverse. The difference is that while Parker awards points to already-made wines, which nothing can change, the gaining of a Michelin star is just the beginning of the saga. Although you Skye Gyngell earned a star for her Petersham Nurseries Café in London, but soon realised the nightmare was just starting. More customers, but more stress and less fun. Even deleting any mention of Michelin on the restaurant’s website did not relieve the pressure. She left to start a new restaurant, hoping fervently that no Michelin inspector would drop by. The Nimes (France) restaurant, La Lisita, got a star in 2006, but after a year symbolically handed it back, as Michelin refuses to delete ratings from the Guide. Bernard Loiseau, owner-chef of the Cote d’Or, won his third star in 1991, but eventually the stress reached a level where he could not think about anything else but what would happen if he lost a precious star. He committed suicide at 52 years of age. Marco Pierre White was the youngest chef ever to get three stars, in this case for his Oak Room in London. After five years of often-unjustified disparagement from difficult customers, he decided to get out of the business, although he returned later. The Suen Cheung-yu in Hong Kong was awarded a star last year, but the place is full for every meal anyway. The landlord heard about it and immediately tried to put up the rent, even though there was no additional income being produced that would cover the increase. Nor does the Michelin magic always work in Spain. C’an Fabes, Arola, Koldo Royo, Toñi Vicente, El Bulli, Jockey and Koldo Royo were all starred restaurants that have since closed. Bear in mind that the origins of the little red book were based on providing drivers of motor vehicles with guidance as to where to find the best eating-places on the main routes, back when driving around the country was an adventure. When it was first published in 1900 there were only 3,000 cars in France, but 35,000 copies were printed for the purpose of being used as free publicity for the tyres made by the Michelin brothers. The Guide has come a long way since then, and has made and broken hundreds of restaurant businesses. Now it is time to take the old show off the road. MARBELLA 39 Protecting Our Most Valuable Asset M A R B E L L A Our children are, for most of us, what we value most. Our instinct is to keep them safe and healthy, and there is no better place for them to be than in your own care. However, for many reasons, such as work and other responsibilities, this is not always possible, and one needs to choose a suitable nursery. T here are of course some very positive aspects of a child going to a nursery; children delight in the company of other children, and this interaction is an important part of their development. ability to interact with them and to make sure the children are interacting with each other. Playing is essential to meeting a child’s needs, but they should also be learning in order to help with their future development. There are various things one needs to consider when choosing a nursery, with the most important of course being security; ensuring that the setting is safe and secure and also that the value system is in line with your own. Needless to say, the environment needs to be clean and the nursery must have a healthy food policy. Convenience foods often contain ingredients that can have a negative impact on your child’s health and behaviour. If the food is not prepared on the premises, an important consideration is how fresh it is when it arrives on your child’s plate. Also, it is important to ensure that the staff are warm and friendly and have been chosen because of their love for children and their 40 MARBELLA The staff-to-pupil ratio is another important by consideration if your child is to get the attention they need. All children are different, so a nursery should be prepared to be flexible to meet the needs of your child. If you really want to ensure the nursery you are considering is somewhere your child will be happy, talk to the parents of the children who attend or who have attended the establishment. This will give you a very good idea as to whether it is somewhere you can leave your child and have complete peace of mind. Ramón Gómez de la Serna, 23 Marbella Spain Tel: +34 95290 08 99 www.cafederonda.es Written by Ana Sánchez of Wendy Marbella First School MARBELLA 41 A Stroke of Luck by Peter Jackson E very now and again, something will happen that reminds me how lucky we are to be living in this wonderful environment. I don’t so much mean Marbella, but the atmosphere around us created by the Spaniards. Just imagine if that were the UK, how cruelly he would have been teased; and not just at the time, but for weeks, maybe months, afterwards. When my daughter came home she told me about it and said, “The poor little boy”. One of the things that reminded me recently of their natural kindness was something my youngest daughter told me. She goes to a state school in Marbella – unlike in the UK, you can safely send your children to a state school without having to move into the “right” area. One day, there was a terrible thunderstorm, and a little Columbian boy who had just joined the school was for some reason terrified of thunder. He started to cry and got on his knees to pray, with all the children in the class trying to console him. Something similar happened recently on a flight from Malaga to Barcelona. There were two small children on the flight alone – obviously in the care of airline staff – one a little boy of about four and his sister who was about six. The little boy cried uncontrollably throughout the whole flight. For an hour or so, I think virtually every passenger on the plane went to try to console him, without success. For anyone to complain or even be bothered by a crying child was unthinkable. Some weeks later, at 6.30 am one morning I was taking my eldest daughter to catch her bus to the university in Malaga. As we turned into an empty side street, we encountered a group of very drunk, loud and unruly Spanish youths. If it were the UK, you would prepare yourself for the insults and the inevitable fight that would follow. As we walked past, two of them did say something. And what did they say? “Buenos dias”. Business Consulting since 1980 Tel (+34) 952 771 837 • fideso.com • [email protected] 42 MARBELLA MARBELLA 43 How to Choose an INVESTMENT BANK S ome years ago banks were clamouring to attract new clients with special rates and offers, attempting to lure customers away from their competitors. Many people changed banks upon the maturity of one offer in order to take advantage of another offer. The present historically low interest rates have caused people who hadn’t previously done so to consider investing their money in the financial markets; those who previously had invested were led to invest larger sums. The downside of this activity—switching capital from one bank to another—is that it prevents people from establishing a longterm relationship with a bank. Many people are now in search of a safe and secure investment bank to look after their capital but are unsure what exactly to look for; the past financial crisis has taught them that just because a bank is big it doesn’t necessarily mean it is safe. So what should one look for? A very important consideration should be a bank’s “solvency ratio”. The average solvency rate in Spain is 12.10 percent. The solvency ratio of most Spanish banks is very close to this figure, but there are banks that have solvency rates that are double and triple the average figure. The higher that figure, the greater your peace of mind. One of the things that many investors don’t understand is the difference between onand off-balance sheet investments, and it is very important to know the difference. If you have your money on deposit with a bank, your money forms part of that bank’s balance sheet, so in other words it has gone from your balance sheet to theirs—or from your pocket into their pocket. That is why solvency rates are so important, because in extreme circumstances if that bank should fail, your funds could be at risk. This can be of particular relevance for those who hold large sums on deposit, because although there is 44 MARBELLA a bank guarantee provided by the Bank of Spain, it only covers up to 100,000 euros per account holder. However, when you enter into an investment product—for example, a fund that tracks the stock market, or an investment bond where the risk may be higher, but with higher potential rewards—this is off the balance When we look for a doctor for our children we take great care in choosing those who have the most expertise and who are going to take the greatest care, and yet many don’t take the same care when choosing those who are to look after their investments. bank that has high solvency ratios but that has unqualified investment advisors. In many countries it is a requirement that investment advisors need to be legally qualified, but unfortunately it is not as yet a legal requirement in Spain. If your investment advisor is qualified you will normally see that highlighted on his or her business card. The letters to look out for are EFA (European Financial Advisor), EFP (European Financial Planner), CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) or CEFA (Certified European Financial Analyst). If you want to know how well the investment management team that supports your advisor is performing, there is the national ranking called “La liga de las estrellas” produced by Morningstar, which is a completely independent organisation. In summary, when choosing a bank the vital ingredients are good performance, expert investment advice and a high solvency ratio; this is the ideal combination in order to achieve optimum growth whilst sleeping easy at night. Sánchez & Beck Abogados es un despacho especializado en todo tipo de procedimientos judiciales de materia civil, penal, administrativa, mercantil e inmobiliario, así como asesoramiento extrajudical, emisión de dictámenes e informes jurídicos e intervención en compraventas y otros contratos. Nuestra filosofía es la del trabajo serio y profesional, prestando a nuestros clientes un servicio directo y personalizado. Sánchez & Beck Abogados is a law firm that specialises in all kinds of court proceedings of civil, criminal, administrative, company and real estate nature as well as in delivery of legal opinions, advice, legal reports and intervention in sale/purchase operations and other contracts. Our philosophy is that of responsible and professional work and rendering a direct and one-to-one service to our clients. Sánchez & Beck Avocats est un cabinet d’avocats spécialisés dans les procédures judiciaires de tous types; en matière civile, pénale, administrative, commerciale et dans l’immobilier, ainsi que dans le conseil sheet and not part of the bank’s balance sheet. No matter what may happen to that bank in the future, your money remains unaffected by any solvency issues. It is effectively still in your pocket. When we look for a doctor for our children we take great care in choosing those who have the most expertise and who are going to take the greatest care, and yet many don’t take the same care when choosing those who are to look after their investments. The quality of the advice and the level of expertise of those who provide investment advice is vitally important; it is no good being with a juridique, dans l’émission de rapports et d’expertises juridiques et dans le contrat de vente et d’achat et autres contrats. Notre philosophie est celle d’un travail sérieux, professionnel, assurant à nos clients un service directe et personnalisé. C/ Notario Luis Oliver 6, 6º - 29600 Marbella, Málaga Tel. +34 952 903 306 • Fax +34 952 902 608 by Mari Carmen Ampiée Vigil Director of Private Banking, Banco Madrid. [email protected] www. abogadosmarbella.net MARBELLA 45 Nueva Andalucia - Price on Application Ref: 102885 Close to Puerto Banus this stunning, newly built, ultra-modern villa is located in the heart of Golf Valley.There are almost too many features to describe... the large entrance hall with double height ceiling, spacious lounge and dining rooms; fully fitted kitchen with centre island and breakfast bar, master suite with his & hers bathrooms and guest bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and dressing rooms, all of which have direct access to large terraces. The lower level has a heated indoor swimming pool, Turkish bath, Sauna, fully equipped gym, 12 seat cinema room, lounge area with piano, further chill out lounge, climate controlled Bodega, laundry room, 6 car garage. A staff apartment with 2 bedrooms, en-suite bathroom and kitchen. The landscaped garden has an infinity, heated swimming pool with changing rooms and a chiringuito with chill out area, dining area, bar, bbq and fully equipped kitchen. The roof top terrace has seating and sunbathing areas and beautiful open views to Marbella, the Mediterranean Sea and La Concha mountain. There is also a separate office building for those who would wish to work from home. Build: 1.500m2 Plot: 3.200m2 Beds: 7 Baths: 7 La Zagaleta - 8.500.000€ Ref: 106176 This newly built, streamlined, contemporary property offers fantastic southerly views to the mountains and is situated on a sizeable plot in the exclusive, members only La Zagaleta Golf & Country Club. Such is the size of this incredible designer villa and the facilities that it offers that it is more like a resort in itself, with a cinema, gymnasium, sauna, three swimming pools and a casita with bar making this the perfect property for those who love entertaining. The expansive reception rooms have double height ceilings and large expanses of glass which allow the beautiful Andalusian light to flood in and enable optimum enjoyment of the views. Built throughout with the high quality of fixtures and fittings, this stunning property must be seen to be fully appreciated. A garage for fifteen cars ensures plenty of parking for your car collection or for guests and having 2 private golf courses, tennis and an equestrian centre as well as magnificent walks or hikes through the 700 hectare La Zagaleta Estate ensures there is always plenty to do for the sports or keep fit enthusiast. Build: 2.400m2 Plot: 7.000m2 Beds: 6 Baths: 7 46 MARBELLA MARBELLA 47 The Book Review Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary Connect Premium Listing Service The most effective way to quickly and efficiently sell your property Our service includes: • A professional valuation • Professional photographs, video and a floor plan by Anita Anand • A lawyer to review the documentation • Assistance in obtaining the important energy certificate T • A unique service called staging – designed to improve a property’s appeal his book details the fascinating life of Sophia Duleep Singh, who was born into royalty in 1876 but chose to sacrifice her life of great privilege to fight for the rights of women and India, and was thus instrumental in changing British Indian history. Her father, Maharajah Duleep Singh, was heir to the Kingdom of the Sikhs, a vast area that stretched from the Kashmir Valley to the foothills of the Khyber Pass and which included Lahore and Peshawar. English, Dutch, German, and Spanish spoken. Phone: 951 204 286 Mobile: 686 931 876 Email: [email protected] web: www.connectpremium.eu However, the British had other ideas and plundered everything; it is easy to forget just how unjust and brutal these years of colonisation were. Of course, Britain wasn’t the only culprit; Spain, France and Portugal also took control of and plundered countries with absolutely no legal right to do so. 48 MARBELLA • Just one set of keys, regardless of the number of agents listing the property • At the time of viewings, a director of Connect is always personally present, we open up the property before the potential client and agent arrive everything is put in order for a perfect presentation. • We take full responsibility for the property leaving it locked up and fully secure after the viewing. “ I know you better than you know yourself This enthralling story introduces a unique individual and her part in the defining moments of recent British and Indian history. Exiled in England, the dispossessed Maharajah transformed his estate at Elveden in Suffolk into a Moghul palace, its grounds stocked with leopards, monkeys and exotic birds. Sophia was the goddaughter of Queen Victoria and raised as a genteel aristocratic Englishwoman: presented at court, afforded grace-and-favour lodgings at Hampton Court Palace and photographed wearing the latest fashions for the society pages. • One point of contact, we place the property with the agent or agents most likely to have success with your type of property. Book your Life Plan Reading with leading Psychic, Heidi Sawyer ” • Do you wish there was an owner’s manual for your life? • Do you ever wonder why you are here and what you are supposed to be doing? However, Sophia secretly loathed the British government and the way they had unjustly treated India; she chose to forgo her privileged lifestyle and embark on a crusade to battle against injustice and inequality. She fought for Indian independence, the welfare of Indian soldiers in the First World War and, above all, female suffrage. She was bold and fearless, attacking politicians who came to fear her and putting herself in the front line, swapping her expensive silk gowns for a nurse’s uniform to tend wounded soldiers evacuated from the battlefields. This enthralling story introduces a unique individual and her role in the defining moments of recent British and Indian history. It is the first biography written about this extraordinary woman, and coincides with the release of the film Suffragette, starring Meryl Streep, Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter. You’re truly interested in growing and changing, but you’d like to handle those changes better. You welcome and follow self-knowledge and understanding, but life throws curve balls at you - sometimes big ones. Book a LIFE PLAN Reading Could there really be an owner’s manual just for you? There is - Life Plan Readings are Heidi’s most popular type of reading. Heidi has been offering deep insight and spiritual knowledge since 1996. Her sessions are known throughout the world and regularly featured in the press from the BBC to the Daily Telegraph. Your Life Plan Reading Part 1: Archetypes - The goal and mission of your life. What you are here to do. Part 2: Your Life Code - How to get out of your own way and stop sabotaging yourself. Part 3: Psychic Reading - Recognising the gifts and talents that are uniquely yours, that others can see but you don’t notice. All sections cover your LIFE including work, relationships, money, and those curve balls. In addition: You receive the recorded session and Heidi’s report of the key areas of your reading for you to refer back to. Life Plan sessions are 60 minutes phone consultation, plus report and preparation. Telephone consultations available. +44(0) 1992 531 284 “Destined to be the UK’s leading female psychic” To book pay your deposit here: www.HeidiSawyer.com/marbella today or phone the office on +44(0)1992 531 284 “Amazing” “Outstanding” MARBELLA 49 How VERDE is my VINHO? by AJ Linn P resident de Gaulle would have said “Non”, but Winston Churchill would have loved it. Churchill consumed a large part of the output of Pol Roger during his long life, so the thought that his favourite champagne could one day be produced in England would have had him chuckling all the way to the humidor. Laugh you may, but it’s true. Representatives of champagne houses have been hopping across the Channel to study the possibility of buying land in Kent for planting vineyards. Why? Two reasons: the price of land (the cost per square metre around Epernay, the centre of the champagne region, is much more than for agricultural land on the South Downs) and the potential effects of global warning. But would the great champagne houses (Möet & Chandon is also thought to be considering the possibility) have considered this step on economic grounds alone? In spite of the fact that some of the larger houses have set up in California, credence must be given to the likelihood that, with some experts predicting a 10ºC temperature rise by the end of the century, it is a distinct possibility that champagne will be produced in England in future. 50 MARBELLA Millions of years ago, England’s South Downs and the rolling French countryside around Epernay were part of one landmass, so both have the chalky-clay soil needed to make quality sparkling wines. The wild card is the frequency of frosty nights in Kent, but over the last fifty years these have reduced notably, and as summers have become warmer, that bane of every English winegrower’s life, mildew, has decreased. Previously, it was not feasible to think about producing quality methode champenoise wines in the UK, but climate change has altered all that. In France’s Loire region, just south of Champagne, the grape harvest begins ten days earlier than it did twenty years ago. In Burgundy, they are even considering supressing the traditional grape varieties to combat the effects. Generally speaking, a warmer climate favours white wine and castigates red. Assuming the trend continues, the effect on Australian wines could be serious, as hotter summer temperatures produce grapes with more alcohol, and too much alcohol makes wine unpleasantly strong. Countries struggling to produce red wine in borderline conditions, such as Morocco and Algeria, will undoubtedly feel the heat, and there is nothing they can do about it except move production to higher altitudes or north-facing slopes. These thoughts were running through my head as I uncorked another bottle of vinho verde from Portugal. The region that produces this slightly fizzy wine is the north-west corner of Portugal, between two great rivers referred to as Entre-Douro-e-Minho. If they have to move production northwards, it will transfer vinho verde production to Spain’s Galicia, home of albariño and ribeiro wines. What the Portuguese refer to as vinho verde (green wine) is known as Perlwein in Germany, pétillant in France, frizzente in Italy and vino de aguja (literally “needle wine”) in Spain. They all undergo a secondary fermentation in the bottle, giving the finished product that agreeable, nose-tickling, sensation which for some reason has prevented it from being taken seriously. However, the locals prefer their tipple bone dry and almost still. These cost more and are most in demand; the young wine of the year can disappear quickly. Sweeter varieties have usually been sugared-up by unscrupulous producers for the export market, so read the back label on each bottle for an accurate description of when the wine was made and when it was bottled. MARBELLA 51 Being a Guest by Lisa Parsons I recently went to stay with friends in the UK, in their house in the country. The problem with staying with friends is that whilst you can break and spill things in your own house, it is just not the done thing when you are a guest; one has to be extra careful, but of course sometimes being extra careful is what causes mishaps. My friends gave me a glass of red wine whilst I sat on their Laura Ashley sofa. The glass was rather nicer than I would have liked; I am quite happy with a tumbler, as they are more stable and if anything does happen you haven’t ruined one of the six irreplaceable glasses left to them by their late great-grandmother. My friends both went off to work the following morning, leaving me in the house on my own. As they said goodbye, I thought I noticed a slight look of fear on their faces, presumably wondering if I was going to burn the house down in their absence. they keep the tea and sugar. I always start by looking near the kettle, which would seem to me to be the logical place, and end up looking in the broom cupboard. Not that I expect to find them there, but having exhausted every other option I thought it was worth a try. I found the breakfast cereals quite easily and took out the container with Rice Krispies in it; but they didn’t taste like Rice Krispies as I know them, so I opted for the cornflakes instead. However, as I put the container back where it was – on its side – I had overlooked closing the lid, and Rice Krispies poured out and in amongst the collection of bottles on the shelf below. As I removed all the bottles from the cupboard, I imagined one of my friends coming back because they had forgotten something and the look of dismay on their faces on finding me I had a bit of a lie in, but the heating was on so high I couldn’t sleep, and as the chances of me finding the Being extra careful, I decided to set the glass down on the nest of tables next to the sofa. However, the nest of tables was on the other side of the sofa, and my glass went crashing down onto the Laura Ashley on my knees amongst a sea of Rice Krispies. carpet, the only little bonus being that the glass didn’t break. There was a bit of a scrabble as they both made a dash for the kitchen to get the Vanish, probably purchased in anticipation of my visit. Trying to look on the bright side, I said, “At least it hasn’t gone on the sofa”. In response they pointed out a large red stain down the side of the sofa. Of course they said it was OK, but what else could they say? Eventually the stains did come out, so all’s well that ends well; well sort of. 52 MARBELLA central heating controls and being able to operate them were virtually nil, I thought I would open a window instead. Both were locked, so where would you keep the key for the windows? Somewhere nearby? Well apparently not, and having searched the room from top to bottom I gave up. I went down to the kitchen to make myself breakfast, but it wasn’t as easy as that, and this highlights the problem with staying in a strange house; it’s impossible to make anything work or to find anything, even something as simple as trying to find where I searched the house for a dustpan and brush without any luck; is it possible that a house could have no dustpan and brush? I had no better luck with kitchen roll, so ended up using one hand as a dustpan and the other as a brush. Part way through doing this the doorbell rang, and I panicked. To my relief it was window fitters, who had come to fit a new window. After some measuring and re-measuring they informed me that the new window was smaller than the opening, which would lead to there being a gap, perhaps designed to allow room for a cill or a soffit. Did I want the gap at the top or the bottom? they asked. But I wasn’t going down that road; I had done more than enough damage. For the rest of the day, as I carefully moved about the house, I was thinking how much easier it is to stay in a hotel; at least you can break things there. MARBELLA 53 Should we be Looking Up our Symptoms on the Internet? by Lucia Stephens de La Rosa A s a general rule I don’t think it’s a particularly good idea to start searching the internet when we think we have a certain condition, because we are never going to find what we are looking for, which is reassurance. Obviously, what we would like is to click into a page and for it to say, “Those symptoms are absolutely nothing to worry about, it will go away in a few days”. But that is never going to happen; even if there are a few possible benign causes, they will be followed by a list of all the lifethreating possibilities. ignore the rest, but of course they were never there. Just as a matter of interest, I have Googled the mildest thing I could think of; pain in the elbow. Tennis elbow was suggested, but one site still managed to come up with bone cancer. I have been to my doctor so many times to explain my current life-threatening – internet-sourced – condition, and whilst he would never do anything as unprofessional as laugh, I often think I can see a hint of amusement in his eyes. It has actually come to the point where he will look at my notes on the screen and say something like, “You actually thought you had this condition five years ago”. So I have been through so many illnesses that I am now on repeats; I’m the medical equivalent of UK Gold. Of course, we also have to take into account the fact that there is an awful lot of misinformation on the internet, and as laymen we are not equipped to separate the good from the bad, or even interpret the good. I must be one of the worst culprits when it comes to looking on the internet, even though each time I do it I frighten the life out of myself and vow never to do it again. There are occasions when I suppose we have to recognise that looking on the internet can have its benefits. In my case, one weekend I woke with a strong pain in my temple and my neck on the same side. I decided to ignore it, but as the pain got worse I once again broke my rule, searched the internet and really didn’t like what I found. I phoned my doctor, who said he would call back in two minutes; he did, and told me to come immediately to the surgery for a blood test and that he would drive the blood sample straight to the laboratory. As it turned out it wasn’t what we feared, but had it been it would have needed treatment urgently. Nevertheless, if you keep looking on the internet you will end up like me; I got to the stage where I would Google the pain in my big toe or whatever it was and then screw up my eyes so I could only see the “don’t worry about these symptoms” heading and 54 MARBELLA Tel. 633 464 077 [email protected] TIPPING Around the World Marbella - Puerto Banus - Ventura del Mar Ref. 161-03474 by Daniela €3,300,000 R estaurants in Spain generally welcome British customers because compared with some other nationalities we tip quite generously. Not as welcome of course as the Americans, who are significant tippers, but there aren’t so many Americans visiting Spain as there were at one time. Spaniards are not great tippers; whilst some do tip, it is not unusual for them to receive a bill of around 100 euros and leave a few cents on the plate. If I am a guest on such occasions, I sometimes feel bad for the waiter or waitress, particularly if they have provided really good service. If I can get away with it, I try to leave an extra 10 euros as I am leaving, but it’s important not to be caught; you could very easily offend your host. Every country’s tipping habits are different; some visitors don’t appear to be very generous tippers, but that is because they come from countries where it is customary to have a service charge already included in 56 MARBELLA the bill, such as Austria, France and Germany. You could just work on the basis that if you tip more rather than less it will always be welcome, but even that is not without its risks as in some countries tipping is not required. Indeed, in Japan it can be viewed as rude, particularly if you try to hand money over to someone directly. It is acceptable to tip tour guides in Japan for example, but even then it should only be handed to them in an envelope. In the United States, tipping appears way over the top to us, but we only have ourselves to blame as we passed on the custom; it was in Tudor England in the 16th century that tipping really developed. Now it is not uncommon to see 18% included in the bill, regardless of the quality of the service. In the Caribbean, they have become accustomed to the system favoured by Americans, as they make up the majority of visitors to that region. In the Mexican Caribbean, having enjoyed the Americans and their big tipping during the winter season, when the summer comes the Spaniards and Italians arrive and the waiters and waitresses get quite offended when they leave only a few pesos as a gratuity. I think on balance I prefer the Spanish system to the American one. I remember once leaving an overpriced restaurant in New York having paid the bill with an 18% service charge included. The waiter, who was standing at the door, asked us if everything was alright; when we said it was, he said, “Oh I thought there was something wrong, because you didn’t leave anything”. Beds: 5 Baths: 5 Built: 560 Terrace: 150 5 bedroom duplex penthouse located in Marbella The Penthouse Boasts 560 m2 over two floors, 410 m2 inside and terraces totaling 150 m2 in idyllic surroundings that stretch to the sea. Consisting of five bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a large living area of 130 m2 and four terraces from which to enjoy stunning coastal views. The Penthouse is very well laid out with a spacious and airy living room and large terrace, a fully fitted kitchen, wine room, gym, storage room and three underground parking spaces. The large master en-suite bedroom is situated on the top floor with a high vaulted wooden ceiling and spectacular views from its own terrace. A further 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms are available, fitted out to a luxury specification. 3 underground parking spaces. Separate storage room of 30m2, 24 hour security, alarm system and CCTV Wine cellar, bar and 25 m2 gym. Just 20 metres from the sea! WWW.CROWNMARBELLA.COM • [email protected] • +34 952 765 620 Main and Sales Office: Hotel Puente Romano - Sales and Rental Office: Guadalpin Banus Hotel LORD, Deliver Us... by Lesley Freeman We all have an ego. Many of us live by it every single day. But what is ego? Most of us would have a stereotypical idea of someone who is egotistical as boastful, self-centred and generally obnoxious, and probably referred to as being on an “ego trip”. “Not me though,” you might say; you wouldn’t want to admit to any of that! But ego has been described as something that is always with us, controlling our daily lives, and although we are all victims it is widely thought that we can do little to change. The many interpretations of the word ego include the unconscious part of our selves primarily involved with hate, malice and destruction; in fact, anything that is negative. Most of us have an ego that needs to be tamed, and many women are guilty of having gossipy coffee mornings with friends and pulling celebrities apart. Our egos have developed over our lifetimes, influenced by peers, parents and teachers’ attitudes towards us and by our experience of others. The ego is an idea you have of yourself, your identity. 58 MARBELLA ...from EGO It is an illusion, but a powerful one that can prevent you from knowing yourself. Your mind attempts to present you as you would like to be, rather than as you actually are, and it makes you judgemental towards others. When we go on our many shopping trips for more and more “stuff”, we are feeding our egos, our idea of how we see ourselves. For a short while, it really can give us the lift we are craving, but then we have to go and do it all again for the “high” of feeling good. If you are living with inner turmoil, continually quarrelling with yourself and feeling anxious, guilty and fearful, then you are allowing ego to dominate your life. Even though the ego is profoundly insane, it need not be conquered, defeated or despised; it is part of you, but taming the ego is a way of inviting the higher aspects of yourself to function in a natural and loving way in order to gain peace of mind. So how do we tame the ego? How do we stop feeling guilty every time we buy a new item of clothing or pair of shoes? Well, to reduce or eliminate the effects of the ego you need to be conscious of your thoughts about yourself or others, either negative or positive. It may take practise to change the way you think, but if you can tame the ego (negative thoughts and behaviour) you will reap the benefits in your relationships, health, wealth, career and happiness, or whatever you wish to improve. In order to do this, as a first step you must be aware of your thoughts. The second step would be to change those thoughts, and then to retire those negative thoughts with a full pension. You will reap the benefits immediately without dwelling in the negative, and you will start to feel happier. By seeing things from a more positive perspective, you will turn your life around. You may not have even thought about the ego and its effects on you, but if this negative entity is a big part of your life it needs to be tamed and controlled if you are to change those aspects to work for you for the better. Give it a try; everyone’s life could probably benefit from some improvement. There is no stopping Sofia Vergara. The highest-paid actress in TV history is not only enjoying her romance with Joe Manganiello (True Blood, How I Met Your Mother) but is now engaged to be married to the hunkish actor. The news broke while the happy couple was vacationing in Hawaii and Vergara, as is her habit, posted Instagram photos of herself and her beloved, describing Joe as her “love and best friend...the one that makes me laugh like crazy!” Their engagement comes after a year-long courtship that began shortly after last January’s White House Correspondents’ dinner and has been gathering momentum ever since. In the meantime, Vergara’s massively popular Modern Family TV series (Sky TV) is in the middle of its sixth season and continues to earn kudos for its cast and supremely popular star. In late August, the series won its fifth consecutive Emmy as Outstanding Comedy Series and recently collected a Screen Actors’ Guild nomination for best comedy cast ensemble. Though Vergara herself is still waiting to collect an individual trophy despite several nominations, there is no doubt that the massive popularity of Modern Family is in large part due to Sofia’s effervescent comic presence as Gloria. Interestingly, Vergara insists that the character is based not on her, but on how she sees her mother and aunt. “I can understand that people like to think that I’m just playing myself when I play Gloria, but that’s not true,” Vergara says. “I see her as a version of my mom and my aunts who are very passionate and voluptuous women. They’re kind of overthe-top and some people think that they’re stereotypes of Latin women - but what can I say? Interview SOFIA VERGARA 60 MARBELLA There are many types of Latin women but that’s how they are and I’m proud to play Gloria. I wish I could have as much energy as she has!” by Fred Allen Vergara will also be seen returning to the big screen in Wild Card, the new Jason Statham action thriller written by Oscar-winning screenwriter William Goldman and directed by Simon West. Statham plays a gambler who runs afoul of the mob and hooks up with Sofia’s glamorous character “DD” (no explanation necessary) in Las Vegas while being pursued by a variety of villains. Wild Card, released in the U.S. on January 30 and in the U.K. in April, offers Vergara yet another minor but flashy film role following Q: Sofia, how did you and Joe first get together? VERGARA: We met very briefly at the White House Correspondents’ dinner. I thought he was very handsome, almost too handsome. But then we met again a month later after being introduced by a friend and we start seeing each other after that. “Women should be proud of their bodies and I’m very grateful for what God has given me” Q: Has it been hard to keep your romance under wraps? supporting parts in last year’s Chef and Fading Gigolo. VERGARA: It’s incredible. I never expected the kind of recognition Gloria would bring to me even though I knew it was a great character and I worked with the writers to bring out different aspects of her Latino culture. I wanted to show people how full of life and passionate she was and I am very proud of being a Latino woman. The women in my family are all very charismatic and funny and temperamental. I think of Gloria has a symbol of the powerful character that Latino women have even though she’s one particular kind of example and obviously there are many different types of (Latino) women. In person, Sofia Vergara is even more beautiful than she appears on screen. She speaks excitedly and in her distinctive Colombian Spanish-accented English that she has “long ago stopped trying to fix...It seems to work, so why change now?” With respect to how she feels about her new fiancé, Manganiello, Vergara says simply: “It’s a special time in my life.” It is estimated that Vergara earns upwards of $30 million annually from her Modern Family salary as well as various endorsement contracts. VERGARA: We’re not trying to hide, really...But the paparazzi have been going crazy ever since I met my hot new boyfriend! (Laughs) Q: Modern Family seems to be as popular as ever and your character Gloria remains one of the most beloved women in TV? Q: What’s ironic is that when you first MARBELLA 61 started trying to find work in Hollywood you weren’t regarded as being Latino enough? VERGARA: I know! (Laughs) It was crazy. My natural hair is dark blonde and casting directors kept complaining that I didn’t look “Latina enough.” That’s because there exists this image of how Latino people are supposed to look even though we’re all very different and we come in all colours and shapes and flavours. So I decided to dye my hair black and it was only then that I started finding work. Later I realised that having a good figure was an advantage on TV and getting attention and publicity. But it also means you can’t do other things and play more normal kinds of roles. I can’t just play an ordinary girl. So I try to find roles which will let me capitalize on my looks and my personality and advance my career that way. Q: Do you worry at all about aging? VERGARA: No. I think if a woman stays VERGARA: No. I work pretty hard on Modern Family and it’s only when you’re at home and not as busy as you normally are that you eat more. I love having my family over and cooking together and that’s when I have to be a little more conscious of not overdoing it. VERGARA: Women should be proud of their bodies and I’m very grateful for what God has given me. I’m aware that being voluptuous and being considered attractive has opened up so many opportunities for me and that it’s not just because of whatever talent I have as an actress. But I understood that I could make people laugh and that people appreciated my personality and I just tried to make that work for me in addition to everything else. Q: You seem to be a very happy woman, yet you’ve had to face up to some difficult times in your life including the death of your brother and dealing with thyroid cancer? VERGARA: I’m not going to complain about it but sometimes I would rather hear people talk about my eyes. I’m prouder of my eyes because they’re pretty big and I can always use makeup to highlight them. I also think I have a great ass! (Laughs) But the boobs get all the attention! MARBELLA DAVID: +34 619 07 82 04 [email protected] • www.facebook.com/defhair Salon: +34 952 92 91 01 Urb. La Alzambra, Edif. Vasari Center • Puerto Banús 29660 VERGARA: (Sighs) There have been many tough things that have happened to me and to my family. Those are the moments that teach you to be grateful for the good things in life and to try to make the most of your life. The tough times give you a lot of time to think and for me I’ve just tried to deal with them the best way I can and move forward. What else can you do? Q: Do you get tired of all the attention and talk about your boobs? 62 HAIRDRESSER - HAUTE COIFFURE Do you worry about weight? Even though Hollywood still seems to prefer skinny women, you’ve made it very fashionable to be voluptuous? VERGARA: Yes. (Laughs) When I was a teenager I was skinny but with big boobs. Everybody stares at you and of course every man is after you. It was a relief for me when I met my (first) husband and then I didn’t have to deal with being chased as much. I think my parents were relieved as well. david & Co Q: Q: Q: Your fabulous figure is part of your image. But was it hard for you to embrace your figure when you were a teenager? VERGARA: More than ever! (Laughs) I l know I need to look after my body even though I hate going to the gym but I do it to maintain my figure and stay toned, which is really the most important thing. I have to keep telling myself that working out two or three times a week is part of my job description otherwise I would never go to the gym. (Laughs) But I have to admit that after I finish (a training session) I have so much more energy and I know that my body looks better afterwards. fit and lives a healthy lifestyle then she can project beauty no matter what her age. I am much more successful now than I ever was in my twenties. I am very comfortable with my appearance and I am not worrying about wrinkles or anything like that. I eat well, no bread, no pasta, mainly white rather than red meat, I sleep well, and I don’t smoke or drink. Q: Q: You have a new film coming out with Jason Statham. Are you excited about that? VERGARA: Jason is a lot of fun to be around. He works very hard and he has a very natural and good-hearted spirit. He’s also a real gentleman. Q: Is you character very glamorous? VERGARA: Oh, of course! (Laughs) Do you still hate working out? MARBELLA 63 LUCEM TRANSLUCENT STATE-OF-THE-ART LIGHT CONCRETE GET THE WOW-FACTOR IN YOUR HOME WITH LUCEM The TRUTH About LYING Lucem is a German company that has recently launched on the Costa del Sol. Lucem combines translucent concrete with shimmering light and can be used in many different areas in the house - to provide the WOW-FACTOR. by James Dunbar A disturbing number of people lie; some surveys reveal that 40% of those questioned had told a lie in the previous 24 hours. Obviously, one should have some doubt about the reliability of the answers provided when asking a liar if they have lied. If you work on the basis that a liar is probably going to claim they don’t lie, the figures could be far worse than surveys have shown. There have nevertheless been some very interesting studies carried out. One comprehensive study was conducted by Bella DePaulo, Ph.D., a psychologist at the University of Virginia, which revealed that most people lie once or twice a day, and that men and women alike are lying during the course of 20% of their social exchanges. What made these finding rather more depressing was that they exclude what has become known as the white lie, such as “no, that dress doesn’t make you look fat”. When it came to parents and teenagers, the figures were far worse; it appears that students lie to their mothers in one out of every two conversations. 64 MARBELLA There are ways of detecting when people are most likely to be lying, other than using a lie detector, which is considered by many to be a flawed system; Geoffrey C. Bunn, Ph.D., a psychologist and polygraph historian at Canada’s York University, says the problem with the lie detector is that it detects fear, not lying. Before trying to detect if someone is lying it is worth recognising whether you are perhaps one of those people who suspects you are being lied to but don’t really want to know; sometimes ignorance is bliss and it can save you getting hurt. In which case, it may be better not to read about some of these tell-tale signs, many of which are used by the police and forensic psychologists during the course of investigations. It is important to remember that the various ways of phrasing things, and the different types of body language often used by people who are being economical with the truth, are simply indications that the person is likely to be lying, not that they definitely are. This knowledge can be particularly (+34) 630 838 264 lucem_half.indd 1 • (+34) 620 318 480 | [email protected] | WWW.LUCEM.COM 16/02/2015 19:34 useful for an employer or for anyone who wants to avoid being the victim of a fraud. Often when someone is lying, their physical expression will be very stiff, with few arm and hand movements and generally limited to their own body; they say liars take up less space around them. An exception to this would be someone who purposely uses quite exaggerated hand and arm movements because they feel it makes them appear genuine. The person that springs to mind is Tony Blair when he was prime minister; many doubted his exaggerated expressions of sincerity. One obvious clue is eye contact, as it is very difficult for someone who is lying to make eye contact, and if they do they tend to overdo it; it’s almost as if they don’t dare take their eyes off you, so it feels uncomfortable. Often at the point of the lie they will touch their face, throat, mouth, nose or ear; it’s quite unconscious, so they generally have no idea they are doing it. MARBELLA 65 66 MARBELLA MARBELLA 67 Custom made wine cellars Винные погреба под заказ • Bodegas a medida IN MarbellA SINCE 1995 605 871 924 619 135 747 www.decotema.com [email protected]
© Copyright 2024