A couple of years ago I had the privilege of editing a special publication produced by Inmobiliaria Rimontgó in honour of the company’s 50^th anniversary. In this day and age it is a real achievement when a business reaches that milestone, and as this is a highly respected family firm originally founded by the current owners’ grandfather, it certainly meant a lot.

Hailing from Jávea, a beautiful coastal town a little south of Valencia on Spain’s east coast, the Ribes family has been a driving force in local business for around a century now, originally leading the way in making this one of the most important orange-exporting regions in Europe and later establishing the real estate firm that has grown into a highly prominent one today. Read the rest of this entry »

After having lived abroad for many years and travelled widely we came upon this little village in the hills not far from Avellino, in the Campania region of Italy. It was a bit like discovering a Tuscan or Gascon village in the 1950s or 60s, for this was authentic Italy untouched by tourists or mass development.

We fell in love with Calitri, with the Italians, their countryside, culture and food. Oh, the food, even the simplest salad or pasta, when made from local ingredients bought in the Calitri market, is a true delight – and when you can enjoy it with the French doors open and letting in the sights and sounds of the countryside, then you’ve got your touch of Mediterranean idyll right there. Read the rest of this entry »

Popular international tenor Stephen Lloyd-Morgan releases albums to aid Spanish and Welsh cancer charities

From the Welsh valleys comes a sound that has nothing at all to do with the corporate mechanisations of the music industry. Here music is not just a business but a way of life – originally a way of expressing faith and later a vital part in the everyday existence of close-knit mining communities. From their ranks sprang forth a choral tradition that not only remains as strong as ever, but continues to be built on the most emotive of all instruments: the voice. Read the rest of this entry »

This article was written for Essential magazine May 2012 edition

We’ve all noticed it, there’s a recession going on. What’s more, it’s been biting hard and has done so for some time now, but quite apart from worries about the national economy there is a local trend that is far more encouraging. In the midst of recession Málaga is transforming itself into a modern city capable of attracting not only tourists and students but also foreign investment and international corporations. Whilst the beautification of the city’s historic centre continues, its pace is increasingly matched by an infrastructural modernisation aimed at turning Málaga into a centre of business and technology.

The first steps towards this goal have already been taken, in the form of the major new public works that began just as the boom ended and either have or are reaching completion now. Thanks to these, Málaga now boasts an impressive new airport terminal with transit capacity to match, a new ring road that alleviates congestion at former choke points near the city’s periphery and allows for easy routes to surrounding cities, and a high-speed rail link to Madrid that culminates in a brand new purpose-built railway station and commercial centre. In addition, work has begun on the initial part of a future metro network. Read the rest of this entry »

For a truly romantic dining experience Apsleys should be at the top of your wish list – offering the kind of ambience and pampering service you could easily get accustomed to…

Set within the hallowed grounds of the Lanesborough Hotel, Apsleys is the kind of restaurant that breathes elegance, glamour and occasion. No trendy upstart is this, with clever décor and New Speak terminology, but a grand restaurant in which an old-world sophistication adds to the enjoyment. You wouldn’t be surprised if James Bond, immaculately turned out in a tux, came strolling through the door, wouldn’t bat an eyelid if some famous socialite were at his side. But that is not to say that this is a stuffy, antiquated establishment – far from it. Read the rest of this entry »