costablog.com » spain

Nudist Beach opens in Mijas

Emilia Hazell - Smith — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:22:30 +0000

Good news for all naturists, as Mijas opens its first official nudist beach in El Chaparral.

This 500 metre stretch of sand is located at km 204 of the A-7 motorway and situated on Marina Beach near the Calaburras lighthouse. It is one of the least frequented parts of the Mijas coastline and access is only available to pedestrians.

Public or social nudity is nothing new to the world – it was common in ancient Egyptian times. Greek athletes participated in the Olympic Games unclothed. By the 1840’s beaches in the United Kingdom were used for nude sunbathing, and the practice became even more popular in the 1950’s along the French coastline. Nude beaches have since spread around the world. Though they are still few and far between. They are often referred to as free beaches, clothing optional beaches, and naturist beaches.

The beach in Mijas was officially opened last weekend and despite being classified as a “nudist beach” it is open to all bathers.

Rent a Villa with Pool in southern Spain

Mirco Rehmeier — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:59:13 +0000

Many people dream about having a nice villa with pool in southern Spain. Now your dream can come true and you don’t even have to buy the house. Villa Canta Ranas is located near the nice little town of Nerja only 1 km from the highway exit towards Frigiliana and approximately 5 minutes from Nerja.

The villa offers some amazing views to the National Parks Sierra de Tejeda and Sierra de Almijara as well as to the Mediterranean coast. Villa Canta Ranas is a rural family house in the typical “Andalusian style” in which all rooms are on one floor. On around 150 sq meters it offers three bedrooms and three bathrooms with a total of 8 beds.

Only the kitchen and living room take about 40 sq meters and are fully equipped with washing machine, dishwasher, oven, stove, freezer, fridge, microwave oven and a cozy fireplace in the living room. In a long bright hallway are three bedrooms and three bathrooms, two of them en-suite.

The master bedroom is equipped with a cozy fireplace and has an en-suite bathroom with a 2.00 m x 1.20 m whirlpool and a spacious shower. Another bedroom has two single beds and a bathroom en-suite with bath. The third bedroom has two bunk beds and a bathroom with shower.

Villa Canta Ranas has air conditioning throughout the house as well as satellite television, a very large terrace with BBQ and a pool with a size of 14m x 5m and a depth of between 70cm and 160cm.

Prices are around 1000 Euro per week in September and 750 Euro per week in October. If you rent the villa with 8 people the price is quite cheap compared to a hotel.

Marbella Masters Tennis Tournament

Emilia Hazell - Smith — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:53:07 +0000

Puente Romano is the setting for the first ever Marbella Masters Tennis Tournament from 17^th to 19^th September. Tennis greats such as Sergi Bruguera, Richard Krajicek and Pat Cash will be playing and the tournament will last 4 nights and is expected to attract about 15,000 fans. There will also be exhibition matches from Martina Hingis and Mansour Bahrami.

Since the tennis club was founded by the famous Swedish tennis player, Bjorn Borg in 1979 many famous tennis legends have graced its courts. There have been many prestigious international tournaments with such legendary stars such as Boris Becker and John McEnroe to name but a few, and the Central court has the capacity to seat more than 2,500 fans.

The Hotel Puente Romano Tennis Club has 10 tennis courts (8 clay, 2 hard). Pros provide lessons and tips for the beginner to the more advanced player. Special hands-on instruction is also available for the junior player.

If you’re a tennis fan, this is an unmissable event!

For more information, go to www.marbellamasters.es or call 0034 618 483 766

Ticketmaster: 0034 902 15 0025

Where:

Club de Tenis Puente Romano
Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n,
Hotel Puente Romano
Marbella, 29602, Spain

Sisu Boutique Hotel Puerto Banus, Marbella

Mirco Rehmeier — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:51:18 +0000

Formerly known as The Lorcrimar Hotel & Novelli’s Restaurant it is now rebranded and reborn. After a Multi-Million Euro refurbishment and a change of management in 2010 the Sisu Boutique Hotel Puerto Banus, Marbella has been re-opened. The hotel consists of 54 rooms which have gone through a total re-fit. As well there are 9 totally new Suites (6 Junior & 3 Penthouse Suites) in the new Sisu Boutique Hotel offering you a choice of accommodation full of Funky designs & retro fittings. To compliment its beautiful beaches & vibrant nightlife Hip ‘n’ Chic accommodation has finally arrived in Puerto Banus. From the moment you step into the breathtaking Reception you will realise this is a new Marbella and a new style. Sisu Boutique Hotel Puerto Banus aims at your pleasure, whether on vacation or business. With your Room Key Card you gain VIP access and some unbelievable deals into some of Puerto Banus’ top day & night clubs like Sintillate & Cocoloco in TIBV, Ocean Club, Nikki Beach, Sky Lounge Pangea, Linekers & Port Side and Premier Lap Dancing. The Sisu Boutique Hotel looks like the new hotel for funky party people in Puerto Banus.

Weather in Andalucia

Emilia Hazell - Smith — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:56:18 +0000

The temperature in Andalusia this week soared to alarming heights, causing many towns to issue orange and yellow alerts. The mercury is expected to rise up to 42ºC this weekend, with night-time highs of as much as 25ºC over Friday and Saturday.

Andalusia is home to the hottest and driest summers in Spain, but in the west, weather systems sweeping in from the Atlantic ensure that the region is kept relatively wet in the winter, with some areas receiving abundant rainfall. Contrary to popular belief, Andalucia enjoys above average yearly rainfall in Spain.

The majority of holidaymakers to Spain will want to visit during the height of the summer. While the weather is reasonably nice all year, although coldest in January – things don’t really start hotting up until June. After that you’ll be lucky to even get a brief shower until around October.

So what about the coming month of September? Well, Andalusia is well known as Spain’s sunniest region and you’d be unlucky to not get good weather all over for the entire month. Seville (like Madrid) may still be unbearably hot, but the coastal cities will be more comfortable temperatures.

The average maximum temperature in Malaga in September is 82°F/28°C and the average minimum temperature is 64°F/18°C.

Spanish meteorologists say the recent heat wave has been caused by an anticyclone, affecting Andalusia, Extremadura and Castilla la Mancha.

However, all that aside – these blazing hot days have still not managed to break the all-time record, for the hottest temperature ever recorded in Spain was a whopping 47.7ºC on the 6th August 1946 in Sevilla-Tablada.

Well that’s hot enough to learn that you could use your seatbelt as a branding iron!

Private Education in Marbella

Emilia Hazell - Smith — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:43:48 +0000

With September, and the start of a new school term just around the corner, what better time could there be for parents to research into private schooling in Marbella?

Two new schools from The British Schools Network are being opened in Spain during the next month, they are “The British School of Marbella” and “The British School of Navarra” The British Schools Network is one of the largest and most famous networks of British International schools in the world.

“What about the economic crisis?” I hear you say. Michael Elms, the Groups Development Manager, implies this is not an issue and was quoted as saying “Despite the current economic crisis, we believe that a quality proposition will eventually succeed in Spain; a market that has all too often been satisfied with schools that merely teach in English”.

“Is it worth sending my child to a private school?” is the question on every parent’s mind. However, unless you’re fabulously wealthy, this is a decision not to be taken lightly.

Many factors contribute to the overall lure of Private Schools. Some of the reasons include, but are certainly not limited to:

Private schools usually have smaller class sizes and achieve higher exam results than state schools.
Class sizes are between five and thirteen pupils on average in a private school, whereas there can easily be 30 pupils per class in a state school. Many feel that the extra attention smaller classes afford private pupils improves their educational experience.
Private schools also tend to offer more extracurricular activities such as drama, sports, music and art than state schools.
Many parents who send their children to private schools feel that they benefit from having more control over their child’s education.

The premises of the new school are a far cry from most state schools in the district, with Interactive White Boards standard in all classrooms, library and IT facilities, Music suite and age appropriate playgrounds all in charming colours and a neat and tidy environment. The first day of term at The British School of Marbella will be the 6th September and the school has launched a special fee structure to founding families. This is a limited time offer which is due to expire in October, after which fees are expected to be higher and in strict accordance to the standard of education provided.

The current offer is a monthly fee structure starting from €350, or an all-inclusive fee structure from €1,300 per term. The all-inclusive structure includes: lunches, all school materials, full set of uniform and Free Medical Insurance.

With a look at the financial side, it appears that this new phenomenon in quality British schools comes at a price. And a pretty hefty one too. The fee’s for this school are typically 10% or 20% above conventional international schools and show no signs of abating. Indeed, a board member for the group, John Ordovas was quoted as saying “We perfectly understand the difficult economic situation, for which we have implemented a scholarship programme. However, the reality is that top education is expensive and we are not willing to compromise on quality”

At the end of the day all private schools, like all state schools, are different and need to be judged on an individual basis. The best approach is to research the schools in your area and visit them if you can. If you are still undecided it is worth visiting state and private schools to get a balanced view.

Judge for yourself, with a look at the British School of Marbella’s website here: www.bsm.org.es With the site’s simple interface, you can find out all about the school’s principles, facilities and admission’s procedure quickly and easily.

Heatwave to continue over the weekend

Mirco Rehmeier — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:06:31 +0000

The current heatwave in the south and the centre of the country is expected to last longer. Maximum temperatures will hit at least 42ºC in the shade and will cool down to night temperatures reaching around 24ºC. The state meteorological agency, AEMET, says that the weekend could even be hotter than ever. The hottest parts of the country will be Andalucía, Murcia, Extremadura and the south of Castilla-La Mancha with temperatures reaching 40-42ºC. By next Monday the summer temperatures are expected to cool down a bit, at least in the north of Spain. Summer is still not over.

Promoting Winter Tourism in the Costa

Emilia Hazell - Smith — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:05:07 +0000

When it comes to talking about the Costa del Sol, you’d be forgiven for thinking that tourists only choose to visit in the Summer, as it’s name suggests, the “Coast of the Sun” is famous for its scorching hot weather and chilled out beach bars, or “chiringuitos”. However, this is far from the case – and we will see shortly, in times like these the best plan of action is to promote year round tourism for the country.

The objective for the Head of Tourism in Andalucia, Luciano Alonso is to maintain the province’s position as the most popular destination for visitors from the rest of Spain, and indeed the rest of the world. He has chosen the Wine Museum in Malaga to present the plan to promote tourism in Andalucia for the coming autumn/winter season. In yesterday’s visit to Conil de la Frontera, Cádiz where he came to see the building site of a 4 star hotel by hotel chain “Hipotel” Luciano Alonso declared to the waiting press: “Andalucia needs quality tourism”.

The first of nearly two hundred marketing initiatives for tourism will be launched between September and December and 12 million euros have been especially set aside for this cause. The campaigns are aimed at the international market, including 30 european countries, the U.S and even China. Most of the funds will be spent on marketing for Britain, which continues to provide the majority of tourists to Andalucia although statistics show that the figures have dropped by almost 11 percent. Mainly of course, due to the weak pound and economic recession in the UK.

The campaign “Tierra Adentro” (Land Within) is directed at tourism in the interior of Spain, and gastronomy. Following that there will be the “Andalucia es tu casa” (Andalucia is your home) intiative in October. The idea of these campaigns has been to include weekend breaks to destinations nearby, and considering there are three “puente” days (the day that falls between a bank holiday and the weekend) from October to December there could really be no better time to take advantage of these!

For those who enjoy winter breaks better than anything else, there will be specific campaigns centralized around Christmas and the skiing season in the Sierra Nevada.

The official website for Andalucia Tourism can be read in English, French, German, Japanese, Chinese and Spanish. Please click the following link: http://www.andalucia.org

Andalusia to follow bullfighting suit?

Emilia Hazell - Smith — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:25:08 +0000

As per my previous article on bullfighting, the region of Cataluña has recently passed a bill to forbid bullfighting as of 2012, although there were whispers heard afterwards that the decision was based as much on politics and separatism as it was on any concern for the rights of animals and cruelty towards them. On average, the annual revenue accrued from bullfighting is £2.2bn and 13,300 bulls are killed in official bullfights every year (which is the equivalent to 36 bulls every single day) However, the total number killed is estimated to be 3 times as high.

The reaction from the rest of Spain to the historical ban has been completely the opposite to Cataluña, with many regions defending the “fiesta nacional“. However, the true home of bullfighting has always been Andalucia. It is here that much of the industry that surrounds the Spanish tradition is created.

In the beginning of August this year, the mayor of Ronda, Antonio Marín, requested to the Andalucía government for them to deem his town the centre of studies and investigation of “Tauromaquia“. Ronda’s famous bullring was founded in 1785 – the oldest in the entire country – and the mayor would like his town to have the role to defend “the traditions of Andalucía”.

Now, it has come to light that the political group “Los Verdes” are going to propose a similar ban for Andalucía. “Los Verdes” reasons and arguments were detailed by Mario Ortega, Los Verdes spokesperson. He was quoted as saying the ‘fiesta nacional’ would not survive in Andalucía if it did not receive subventions from the public authorities. He also claimed that bullfighting receives 13 million euros from town halls, 12 million from the regional government, nine million from the various provinces and four million euros from RTVA – the Andalucía broadcaster.

“Los Verdes” task now is – within 3 months – to constitute a platform with the help of associations and social networks. They are also requesting that the Electoral Board authorise electronic signatures, which would greatly enhance the chances of achieving the 25,000 signatures which are essential to take the Legal Initiative before the Andalusian Parliament.

It is indeed an interesting turn of events, as back in July, the President of the Junta de Andalucía, José Antonio Griñan, was quoted as saying he was “totally against” the ban and that a referendum would be called before a similar decision was made in Andalucía.

Delectable dining experience in Marbella

Emilia Hazell - Smith — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:41:26 +0000

A trip to Marbella Port would not be complete without a visit to the amazing “Patagonia” Argentinian tapas bar. (so named after an actual region of South America in Southern Argentina and Chile extending from the Río Colorado to the Straits of Magellan and from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean.) The study of its original inhabitants, the Tehuelche (“the Patagonian giants”), and its unusual wildlife have attracted many scientific expeditions, including that of Charles Darwin between 1831-1836.

The tradition of Tapa‘s (meaning lid or cover in Spanish) is somewhat confusing, as some say it dates back to the reign of King Alfonso 10th, between 1886 and 1931 when due to an illness, the King had to take small bites of food with some wine between meals. Once recovered from the disease, the king decreed that no wine was to be served in any of the inns of Castile, unless accompanied by something to eat. This was indeed a wise precaution to counteract the adverse effects of alcohol on those people who, through lack of money to buy a nourishing meal, drank alcohol on an empty stomach.

Alternatively, you could choose to believe what may be a more logical theory, since “tapar” literally means “to cover”. The name could simply have come from the olden day tradition of covering a cup of wine with a small piece of food to keep the flies away.

Whichever its beginnings, whether entirely humble or enviably royal, it’s fair to say that the tapa of today has evolved into something wholly international, with its influence spreading all over the world encompassing various different cuisines. The modern day tapa has become exotic, versatile and a popular way to enjoy a good meal.

From the moment you step into “Patagonia” your senses are overwhelmed by the delicious scents of cooking meats and you are met and greeted by the friendly Argentinian staff.

With a menu that consists of such yummy fares as: grilled provolone cheese – you have to try it to believe the taste, Morcilla – with its sweet, nutty flavour far removed from the greasy burnt offerings served at English breakfast cafés along the coast, Empanadas – which are delicious small fried pastries filled with a choice of either chicken or mince and vegetables, and not to mention the world-renowned meats. During a conversation with an Argentinian friend, I asked what was the reason that Argentinian meat was so popular, as nobody can deny it has international fame. He replied that the Argentinians keep their cows “very fit” and only allow them to walk and graze on their flat fields, thereby ensuring that they have hardly any fat, making a much leaner, succulent cut of meat.

If you’re stuck for what to choose and are looking for a more economical fare, try Skirt Steak “a punto”, it simply melts in your mouth and comes with a side of baked potato to satisfy even the most voracious of appetites. If you like your food a little more picante, make sure you cover it with lashings of Chimmichurri (a sauce comprised of garlic, vinegar, chilli and salt. However, oregano, pepper, thyme, onion and parsley are often added as well) for a truly authentic Argentinian experience.

A group of four can comfortably afford a wide selection of tapas – accompanied perhaps by a sparkling Lambrusco dell’ Emilia, for no other reason that this rosé wine is perfectly sweet and refreshing to the palate after such a wonderful combination of flavours.

After your (no doubt) satisfying meal you’re only a hop, skip and jump away from Marbella’s favourite night-spots such as Buddha and Mombasa should you desire to dance the night away…

Address:
Calle Acera de la Marina 2
29600 Marbella

Opening Times / Horario de Servicio

Lun / Mon: 13 – 16:00 — 20 – 23:30 h
Mar / Tues: Cerrado / Closed
Mié / Wed: 13 – 16:00 — 20 – 23:30 h
Jue / Thurs: 13 – 16:00 — 20 – 23:30 h
Vie / Fri: 13 – 16:00 — 20 – 23:30 h
Sáb / Sat: 13 – 16:00 — 20 – 23:30 h
Dom / Sun: 13 – 16:00 — 20 – 23:30 h

Website: www.grupo-patagonia.com

Hotel Fuerte Estepona Suites

Mirco Rehmeier — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 09:46:16 +0000

The Andalusian hotel group Fuerte Hoteles just opened their seventh hotel, Fuerte Estepona Suites, on July 30th. The four star resort is located front line beach just 200m away from the sea front, just two kilometer from Estepona and about 20 minutes drive from Puerto Banus. In addition to the great situation, the strength of the hotel are the dimensions of spaces. The resort is surrounded by 25,000 square meters gardens, it has four swimming pools of which two pools are well defined as a pool for couples and another one for families, a spa, a supermarket, a lobby bar lounge, pool bar and several courts to play tennis, paddle, beach-volleyball and shuffleboard. Inside, the hotel has 210 suites of one, two and three bedrooms between 45 and 190 square meters.

If you want holidays of quality and flexibility then you can even get a 30 year membership in their vacation club, Fuerte Destinos. With this club you can change your destination every year and go to all Fuerte Hotels you want, like Marbella, Conil, Grazalema, Torrox, Estepona and Huelva. Through the RCI exchange company you have even more possibilities, you can choose between more than 4.000 resorts all over the world.

Outlet Parade in Marbella

Emilia Hazell - Smith — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:10:36 +0000

Head on down to the Palacio de Ferias and Congresos in Marbella during the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th of August for the Outlet Parade (Fiesta de Los Stocks) Here you will find up to 70% discount on top designer and high street brands for men and women, such as Armani, John Galiano, Calvin Klein, Roberto Cavalli, Tommy Hilfiger, Blanco, Stradivarius and Pull and Bear to name but a few! This is the time when the shops liquidate all their accumulated stocks and you can find some real bargains to complete your summer wardrobe. For those who are not so clothes orientated, there will also be a fantastic selection of homewear, décor items, art and gifts!

Check out their website for more information: www.outletparade.com

Palacio De Ferias y Congresos de Marbella
Dirección: Calle de José Melia 2
29600 Marbella
Tel. +34 952 828 244

The Outlet Parade will start on Friday the 13^th August from 17pm to 18pm ONLY for VIP visitors by invitation and will stay open through Saturday and Sunday from 12am to 24pm without interruption.

I’ll be there! The question is… will you?

Cataluña takes the “Bull by the horns” to safety with Historical Ban

Emilia Hazell - Smith — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 09:55:44 +0000

Wednesday, the 28^th July 2010 was an historical day in Cataluña as bullfighting was officially banned during a vote in the Catalan parliament. The controversial decision was announced in the morning after 66 voted in favour of the prohibition, 55 voted against and 9 abstained from voting at all. The prohibition ban will take place from 2012.

Barcelona first decided to debate the issue in December 2009, after a petition to include the bull in existing animal protection legislation gathered over 180,000 signatures. Eric Gallego, a speaker for the group known as Prou was quoted as saying “Bullfighting is about animal rights, it’s about cruelty and about a bloody entertainment. We think that we must stop this cruelty because we don’t want to be a barbaric society inside Europe.”

The verdict of the vote on Wednesday was met with thunderous applause from the group of animal rights activists who were present to watch the voting session, while no doubt the trainee “toreros”, for whom bullfighting is glamorous and alluring profession were less enthused as they watched the event unfold.

Cataluña is the second region to ban bullfighting after Spanish-owned Canaries prohibited the activity in 1991.

Bullfighting is still hugely popular in other parts of Spain, such as Andalusia – however that may not be the case for long as anti-bullfight activists have vowed to spread their campaign across the country.

Marbella takes Obama visit seriously

Mirco Rehmeier — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 08:42:44 +0000

Marbella takes the visit of the US First Lady Michelle Obama and her youngest daughter Sasha to Marbella seriously. The visit which will start 4th August has already caused huge excitement amongst the Marbella population and their surroundings. The town hall of Marbella has installed together with the two advertising agencies Imagen Consulting and Copremusa Sur a huge billboard at one of the busiest points of the N-340 road through San Pedro de Alcantara which reads “Welcome Obama Family” and in smaller print “Thank You For Choosing Marbella”. The Obama family will pass by this billboard on their way to the Hotel Villa Padierna they are staying in. The five-star luxury resort ranked among the top 30 best hotels in the world by Expedia on rank 28 with a score of 99,9 of 100 points and ranked the best hotel in Spain.

Rock in Marbella presents X Factor

Mirco Rehmeier — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 10:32:58 +0000

The bullring in Puerto Banus promises a hot summer with never ending concerts. The next event is already in preparation. Rock in Marbella brings the X Factor to the bullring of Puerto Banus, Marbella. All disappointed Faithless fans have now the chance to enjoy another big concert in the bullring on 20th August. The X Factor Concert will bring Alexandra Burke, Jamie “Afro” Archer, Diversity and The Scarletz. This concert aims as well to the Super VIPs. The X Factor concert offers Champagne Reception at the Laurent Perrier Champagne Bars, Canapés by gastronomic genius and Michelin Star Chef Dani Garcia from Lamoraga, lounged seating staged by Secreto del Sur and Private After Show Party at Pangea Night Club for a price of 400 Euro. For VIP tickets call the VIP Team under 669 208 417 or email vip@rockinmarbella.com. Normal tickets are priced at 50 Euro up to 100 Euro if you want do be on the dance floor. Tickets are available from ticketmaster.es and El Corte Ingles.

costablog.com » spain

Nudist Beach opens in Mijas

Related Posts:

Rent a Villa with Pool in southern Spain

Related Posts:

Marbella Masters Tennis Tournament

Related Posts:

Sisu Boutique Hotel Puerto Banus, Marbella

Related Posts:

Weather in Andalucia

Related Posts:

Private Education in Marbella

Related Posts:

Heatwave to continue over the weekend

Related Posts:

Promoting Winter Tourism in the Costa

Related Posts:

Andalusia to follow bullfighting suit?

Related Posts:

Delectable dining experience in Marbella

Related Posts:

Hotel Fuerte Estepona Suites

Related Posts:

Outlet Parade in Marbella

Related Posts:

Cataluña takes the “Bull by the horns” to safety with Historical Ban

Related Posts:

Marbella takes Obama visit seriously

Related Posts:

Rock in Marbella presents X Factor

Related Posts: