Taoufiq Hsaine is the kind of person you immediately both like and are extremely envious of; a fascinating, resonant and talented man who gives the impression of fitting more into every minute than most achieve in a whole lifetime. As lead tenor saxophonist, his dulcet timbres graced the ears of Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher and Princess Diana – amongst others – before Taoufiq set off in his trusty VW to explore the musical landscape of Europe.

His journey took him to Venice, Paris, Salzburg and Prague, but it was Krakow, Poland, that had the greatest effect on him. “I met a wonderful 80-year-old man, a friend of Pope John Paul II.  He was so passionate and he encouraged me to start painting. I did; he bought my first painting and now painting is my life,” he says. Read the rest of this entry »

Going to spend some time in Dublin and want to do it in style? Then expect the Clarence to come up whenever you search for references to ‘Dublin’s finest hotels’. Given such overwhelming evidence, we took everyone’s word for it and booked a few nights of delicious R&R at the iconic city centre pad.

It proved a popular decision – not just with ourselves, but with virtually everyone we mentioned it to. Our taxi driver further added to a sense of anticipation that had been raised by Irish friends back home, as he drove us to the very place. “Ah, the Clarence, now that’s one of our best.” The fact that Bono and The Edge of U2 own this fine establishment naturally adds to its glamour, but you sense this is certainly not the only reason for the hotel’s fame. Read the rest of this entry »

Vanilla can easily be described as one of the coolest new eateries in town. Descending steps from street level you have the impression of entering a club, a sensation that is enhanced as you step into the Vanilla Lounge, the bar and lounge area that makes up the ‘vanilla flower’ as it were. Following this theme the tones are soft creams, diffused with coloured lighting that creates a wonderful blend of vodka bar cool and retro futurism. Call me crazy but the latter always gets me a little excited. No dreary standard contemporary décor here then; that interior designer was not hired for the job. Read the rest of this entry »

Argentinean football great, Claudio Caniggia, has lent more than just his name to an initiative to bring the fun, exercise and discipline of football to a broad cross-section of the Costa del Sol’s youth. His Master Class football clinics, organised together with promotions specialist Rami Morante, are a non-profit initiative aimed at broadening the scope and involving youngsters who may otherwise not be able to attend football coaching schools of this kind.

By offering their services for free and working closely with the Estepona Town Hall, who provide the fine facilities of the Estadio Municipal Francisco Muñoz Pérez, Claudio and his team are able to charge just 20 euros per child, and the result is that his heavily subscribed Master Classes are attended by a delightful mix of children from a wide variety of nationalities and socio-economic backgrounds. In giving of their time and passion so generously, Claudio Caniggia, Rami Morante and the others are spearheading a social collaboration with the broader community that they would like to see evolve into an ongoing project with a more profound impact. Read the rest of this entry »

From opulent shops, restaurants, hotels and trendy night time spots to thriving culture and beautifully renovated historical sights, Dublin is at the forefront of a modern revival boosted by high economic growth and the rise in wealth that accompanies it. Gourmet, Michelin-star aspiring restaurants have mushroomed, as have avant-garde design hotels and bars, not to mention a plethora of shops and boutiques where it is surprisingly easy to spend profusely.

Amid all this new energy and forward-looking confidence there are still the old famous sights to enjoy, like Trinity College and the town castle. Chances are they’ve had a recent clean up and look as revitalised as the city feels, but search a bit deeper and you will still find the Ireland of old, with its sticky-carpeted pubs that smell of stale beer and haven’t seen a decorator since the Suez Crisis. Such places offer little to please the eye yet it is here that you will get a glimpse of the character and sense of humour for which these islanders are famous. Whatever your preference, seek and ye shall find… Read the rest of this entry »