update on the ARCH… There is no news yet from OHL the constructors, but just this morning there was action on the arch – see photo. There was a man with a very small paint brush applying something to the structure – not paint, but possibly some kind of cleaning product – not sure why he wasn’t using a roller or bigger brush though. This would lead us to think that the arch is staying and the missing ‘ell’ letters are being repaired….
More news as it comes in…

Listen to Jose Padillo – Que Bonito & Imagine a beach in Marbella

We recently met with Abigail Williams, the Director for Marbella for Massage Beach. This is what she told us:
Unlock the benefits to a more healthy, energetic and stress free lifestyle, by using one of natures oldest remedies to help you.
The body is the greatest gift any one person can receive and the greatest tool any person will use. Massage Beach will help you look and feel great, by offering you beauty and massage treatments, to make your daily routine or holiday experience truly complete.
When our clients experience our services we want them to experience more than just a treatment. We are not just another massage company, what we offer is a unique five senses experience, tailor made to our clients individual needs.
Individual therapies such as Deep Tissue Massage, Swedish Massage, Facial Treatments, Indian Head Massage, Manicures and Pedicures are all available at various locations along the coast. Or why not induldge in one of our pamper packages, which can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home, yacht or villa.
For further information or to make a booking please call 0034 695 801 179, or visit our website www.massagebeach.com.
Please mention Inspirations! Marbella for preferential rates.

Buddha Beach – Ready for summer 2010

Buddha Beach, Marbella’s first boutique beach club, is looking forward to the first summer of the decade when it opens on Friday March 26! Located only a short walk from the jet set marina of Puerto Banus, Buddha Beach has become the favourite beach club for celebrities, residents and visitors who enjoy the relaxed, bespoke location. VIP regular guests last year included Calum Best, Chanelle Hayes, Jennifer Metcalfe, and well-known figures from the football world including international players David Bentley, Shay Given, Paul Robinson, Aaron Lennon, Tom Huddleston, Stephen Warnock Jesus Navas, Jermaine Pennant, Matt Taylor and Ian Harte, as well as international singing stars Alexander O Neal and Tito Jackson,
Buddha Beach was the venue for several video and fashion shoots, and will also feature in the upcoming BritPop movie Powder, starring Alfie Allen, scheduled for release in 2011.

Among the new features this year are covered dinning area as well as a remodelled boutique, complete with his and hers beachwear, including the Buddha Beach Fashion range, as well as other must haves for the beach. Buddha Beach will also be the venue for fashion shows throughout the summer.

Buddha Beach will also be the perfect place to watch the sporting summer’s action and excitement, with a separate World Cup Bar with widescreen TV, perfect for following your team in the World Cup, or your favourite driver in the Grand Prix. You might even spot a sporting hero or two at Buddha as well!

Taking its inspiration from Thailand and the exotic Far East, the main beach club area at Buddha Beach is set back from the shore with raised wooden decked sunbathing and seating areas with views out to the Mediterranean, as well as around the pool. Buddha Beach also features a discreet VIP area with its own large rock pool Jacuzzi, while the beach area itself has 100 beds, all with waiter service.

Drinking and dining are one of the main pleasures at Buddha beach. As well as the beachside bar, Buddha Beach’s main bar area is the perfect place to take a break from the strenuous task of sunbathing for a cool drink, or to enjoy a relaxing sundowner as the sun sets. A live DJ adds to the ambience, playing smooth tunes throughout the day.

Buddha Beach’s restaurant will be open for evening dinning throughout the summer offering an appetizing selection of dishes, from fresh seafood platters, Thai fusion cuisine and sushi to a light bite and all tastes in between. The restaurant will be running a pre season lunchtime menu offering excellent value at €15 per head, allowing guests to enjoy the first of the spring sunshine by the sea

There’s a lot going on at Buddha Beach this season. This year Buddha Beach will be staging regular events including Live Music every Sunday and Limelight events on Thursday’s . After last year’s unforgettable performance by international soul legend Alexander O’Neill there are also plans to bring other stars to Buddha Beach throughout July, August and September.

Buddha Beach is the perfect venue for private parties, launches and events. It now has a private area for up to 100 people with its own bar for Private Events, while still enjoying Buddha Beach’s unique atmosphere. Located in a quiet residential area, Buddha Beach benefits from designated parking as well as a valet service and there is also discreet security.

Join us this summer for the Boutique Beach Club experience of the decade at Buddha Beach!

Tel. 952 81 3882
www.buddhabeachbanus.com

The “A Place in the Sun” exhibition confirms that 60% of purchasers prefer Spain and think prices are at rock bottom.

The hoped-for green shoots of the economy in the UK were showing their heads in Birmingham last weekend, when thousands of people turned out for the “A Place in the Sun” exhibition held at the NEC. International property shows in the UK had been in the doldrums over the past months and some of the organsisers had gone into bankruptcy owing to the overall downturn in property sales everywhere, but “A Place in the Sun”, backed by the TV_programme of the same name, made a strong come-back at the NEC. The exhibition was a smaller one than in previous editions but had been well publicised, and visitors came flooding through the doors.
This was especially good news for Spain, confirmed to be the favourite destination of potential property-buyers. No fewer than 60 per cent of visitors indicated an interest in Spain, with France coming in a poor second despite its familiarity and geographical proximity to British buyers. Unlike in previous years, there was no “French village” area at “A Place in the Sun”, and Spain’s main competitors were the USA and Australia and New Zealand, which were offering immigration packages.
Surveys of the public attending the show indicated that many buyers have been waiting for the right moment, and are now ready to make the move, as prices are unlikely to drop any further. Asked why they were looking at Spain, they mentioned, as one would expect, the climate, the friendly people, and enjoyable holidays in this area in the past. Buyers were also aware of the problems now facing investors who had opted in the past for destinations less well served by the airlines. While flights to many of these have been reduced or scrapped altogether during the credit crunch, Malaga airport continues to be served by numerous airlines with dozens of flights every day to the UK.
Seminars
A programme of seminars accompanied the exhibition, dealing with such subjects as how to get a visa to move to the USA, fractional ownership of property, and “Has the market hit rock bottom?” The consensus on the last question was that although it is impossible to tell how low prices will fall, or predict when the market will pick up again, until the worst is over and the market is showing signs of growth, in most areas there is unlikely to be a better time to buy than right now.
The most popular of the seminars however was on the subject of “Emigrating to Europe”, with six talks over the course of the show commanding audiences much larger than anticipated. It was standing room only for many who wanted to hear advice and ask questions about relocating to another European country.
The seminars were conducted by a property journalist, the speakers being an international lawyer and an expert from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Stephen Jones, whose wide experience derives partly from his current position as British Consul in Malaga. His advice was wide ranging, from questions of vehicle licensing to health insurance, tax liability and transfer of British pensions abroad. He strongly recommended that new residents in Spain should register with the local “padrón” and that they try to learn some Spanish before making the move, in order to facilitate life in Spain and enjoy all that it has to offer. He was also insistent that before buying, it is advisable to rent for a few months to make sure of the suitability of the chosen location. Enthusiastic to the point of proclaiming Benalmádena to be his favourite of the many places he has lived, he reiterated the advice to anyone else thinking of living here to “do your homework before you come”,

Subject: its been emotional B. Linense 0 – U D Marbella 1

So the final game of the season came along with Marbella needing a win to reach the play offs, nerves were jangling, results weren’t going our way but the travelling Marbella support were in fine voice, especially when Ávila saved a well taken penalty from Galliano.

Melilla and Puertollano were winning their games and until the final minutes, Marbella were looking like they would end this rollercoaster of a season in 6th spot. Ending in heart break basically.

But those fears were to disapear as the referee awarded Marbella a penalty. Don’t ask what for as I have no idea as I could bring myself to watch. Up stepped club captain and my player of the year Carlos Rivera and drilled his shot into the back of the net. The crowd errupted.

The team from La Linea nearly found the net with the last kick of the game but Ávila was on hand to pull off a fine save making certain that U D Marbella finished in the 4th and final play off place and ensure that we have a chance of getting promoted. UFFF

Marbella will now have to play a knock out competion and if promotion is to be obtained, have 3 more matches to compete in with ties being at home and away.

Melilla could only draw and therefore finish 6th with Puertollano winning 3 – 5 and ending 5th and sending San Fernando down in the process.

So the journey continues.

Subject: UD Marbella 2 – Cadiz CF 1 Match report Scoop Dud

MARBELLA V CADIZ

Table topping Cadiz came to Marbella this Saturday bringing supporters in the thousands. The atmosphere in the ground was electric as Marbella threw everything at Cadiz. In the first two minutes the home team forced 3 corners but couldn’t get that important final touch to any of them. After this quick start both teams settled down, the visitors starting to look very dangerous, with good movement by their midfield and strikers, and with Carlos Arias suspended, the normally strong Marbella defence looked a little shaky.

On 8 minutes Carlos Rivera tripped Lopez Silva, 25 yards out and the subsequent free kick by Cabellero took a horrible deflection and the Cadiz supporters behind the goal went wild as the ball flew into Avila’s net.

Marbella pressed forward, forcing a free kick as the tricky Santi Moreno was tripped outside the box, but Curro’s subsequent challenge on the keeper, from the free kick, was deemed an illegal challenge. Santi Moreno was in the thick of it again 5 minutes later, and this time it had a massive impact on the game. Chasing a long high ball from Gongora he managed to get between the two giant central defenders and somehow turn them. Through on goal just outside the box he was pulled down from behind and the referee had no choice but to show the red card, leaving Cadiz with just 10 men. From the free kick Christian fired in a piledriver which the keeper held at the second attempt. Pedro then went just wide with a clever overhead kick.

The Cadiz team were still fighting, and after a cross from the right hit Gongora blatantly in the face, with his hands by his side, the linesman flagged for handball. The unlucky Gongora received a yellow card for his trouble, but the free kick was well saved by the always reliable Avila.

On 34 minutes the goal Marbella needed came after a great bit of skill from Christian. Well marked on the right hand side he flicked the ball up and hooked it across the goal where Santi Moreno flicked a header inside the far post.

On the stroke of half time Santi Moreno was causing more problems for the Cadiz defenders as he turned two markers again, only to see his lob over the keeper go inches wide.

Marbella came out fast in the second half and within a minute of the off Alcala hit the bar with a header from Curro’s long throw.

The game now became something of a war of attrition as the ref showed yellow cards to Alcala and Dani for high tackles. The visitors free kicks went high and wide but with only 10 men were starting to come back into the game.

Few chances were now being created by either side, but on 85 minutes, with the game heading for a draw, Christian cut in from the right, passed inside to Santi Moreno who chipped the ball over the keepers head. Almost in slow motion the ball floated into the Cadiz goal and the locals went wild. The sea of yellow shirts behind the goal were silenced at last, as Marbella held out until the final whistle. Once again Santi Moreno was man of the match. The ball boys placed strategically outside the ground had nothing to do and may well be back inside the ground next week.

Absolutely excellent entertainment. Great supporters on both sides, fantastic atmosphere and great football. Sod Real Madrid and Barca, come and support your local team ………… WE NEED YOU.

Remember that the last game of the season is in La Linea on the 10th May. If we can keep the results going it should be a real Festival. Coaches will be laid on by the club for supporters.

Scoop Dudley
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Dear Buddha Beach Fans

We are delighted to announce the…

Sunday Sunset Sessions

Buddha Beach, Marbella’s Boutique Beach Club, launches the Sunday Sunset Sessions on July 18. Having quickly established itself as the favourite venue for both residents and visitors who like their beach clubs a little more discreet, the Sunday Sunset Sessions at Buddha Beach are the perfect way to wind down from the weekend.
Staring at 5pm Buddha Beach’s acclaimed chefs will be serving succulent selections from the bbq while Buddha Beach’s inhouse DJ sets the mood with the smoothest of sounds.

The choice is yours – you can sip a sundowner at one of Buddha Beach’s two tropical bars, chill in the pool, watch the sunset from the fabulous rock pool Jacuzzi or just soak up the atmosphere from your sun bed.

And as the sun sets over the Mediterranean on another beautiful day, you’ll agree with us that the Sunday Sunset Sessions at Buddha Beach really are the perfect way to enjoy Marbella’s sensational summer season!

Tel. 952 81 3882 or 608 424 032

see it HERE