Recent Entries
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Culture trip
by Chris DoveQuestion: Why move to Spain? Answer: Paella www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1WqisS-xtQ&feature=youtu.be -
Face Up
by Chris DoveAt the end of a wicked weekend in a tiny town called Alfarnate (bear with me, folks, it´s in deepest, darkest Spain), a 17-year-old chichita from Leicester, UK, kissed me on the cheek, and asked: “You on Facebook, Chrissie?” That was 6 years ago when I dismissed the social network as a youthful inve... -
Fiona Catchpowle – font of Facebook knowledge
by Chris DoveMixing up your Facebook Page with your Facebook Profile? I was too, until five minutes after meeting #AskCyberGran at her hands-on (and funny!) Facebook Marketing Part 1 training on Friday. Four hours later, Fiona´s small band of Cyber Heroes were just about fluent in `Facebookese´, ready to enter t...comments -
Women for/against Brexit
by Chris DoveTwo forthright women – Harriet Harman (British MP) and Gisela Stuart (German-born British MP) – discuss the pros and cons of the UK remaining in or leaving the EU. “Women are bloody good at their jobs by the time they´re 60.” – HH “Look at unemployment in Spain…the EU is no paragon.” – GS Woman´... -
“Zaha built…”
by Chris Dove“Zaha built…” were the first words I heard tuning into online radio news Friday morning. WHAT? MY FAVOURITE MODERN ARCHITECT CAN´T HAVE DIED?? I applaud not only the strength and fragility of her brilliant designs, many of which I´ve written about, but also her personal achievements – standing tall ... -
10 best winter beaches – a black bird's guide!
by Chris DoveThe plethora of holiday ads offering tempting summer deals can't compete with birthdays and New Years topping up my tan in winter sunspots, a ticket to tranquillity... Gunjur Beach, Gunjur, Gambia Djembe drumming at the Pacific's edge, deserted during my month-long stay with a friend, one week in ... -
What women? Where?
by Chris DoveWomen feature in only 26% of online news and tweets, according to the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) in its latest analysis of 114 countries. It finds women are LESS visible today as story subjects and reporters than in their 2010 report, with its ongoing aim to extinguish media sexism by 20... -
Positivity and Humanity
by Chris DoveLovely seeing Ali’s smiling face and positive message over the weekend, also letters on humanity just days after my Costa Women blog – two qualities sorely lacking in these troubled times (sorry to sound negative). After working as business development manager at Brixton Online, south London, I foun... -
Watch this woman
by Chris DoveFirst broadcast in September 2014 and re-run on 20 August 2015, ‘Agafia’ follows a wise, wizened “Old Believer” Agafia Lykov as she completes her daily chores in a remote forested area of Khakassia, Siberia. Cut off from the modern world – she refuses products labelled with barcodes – this hard-work... -
‘Brits Abroad’
by Chris DoveMonday 20 July sees the start of a 5-part BBC Radio 4 series, ‘Brits Abroad’, looking at EU immigration in Bulgaria, Warsaw, Ibiza, France and Berlin, http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0643qs5/episodes/guide (14:45 Spanish time). Broadcasts coincide with the launch of ‘SUNTRAPPED’, a juicy, illustrat... -
MARBELLA SKYSCRAPERS – MISSED OPPORTUNITY
by Chris DoveSo New York´s One World Observatory tops Lonely Planet´s “must-do” experiences in 2015, beating the thrilling walk along Málaga’s perilous footpath, Caminito del Rey. A forest of towering glass and steel from which to catch an eyeful of NY´s cityscape, people demand landscape views from an ever high... -
Freedom of the Press
by Chris DoveAn early business card I designed, posted in support of Journalists and Press Freedom -
Mad Men, Mad Women, Personal & Commercial Branding
by Chris DoveAs with all good advertising headlines, ´I Need Mad Men! Publicity & Branding´ stopped me in my tracks – before following the path to Andalucía Lab, Marbella, to hear Personal vs. Commercial Branding techniques and opportunities for merging the two. Many will have watched title series ´Mad Men... -
Why Spain could gain from Portugal´s pain
by Chris DoveSee full feature here: www.paradisemarbellarealty.com/blog/spain-could-gain-from-portugals-pain -
Summit´s up with the world
by Chris DoveHorizon%20silhouette%20moon%20%C2%A9%20Chris%20Dove.jpg No laughing matter, but it´s been entertaining studying the sour faces among global leaders meeting for recent finance and diplomatic talks. Through gritted teeth, China and Japan agreed to bury the hatchet; David Cameron´s Botox-like features ... -
Artisan ceramic tiles, stunning online art gallery
by Chris DoveCeramic tiles have left an indelible stamp on Andalusian culture for centuries – a fundamental feature of Spanish culture conjuring up images of undulating countryside, dancing horses and fiery flamenco. Combined with a series of unusual Modernist themes, these artistic images have been committed to... -
Costa del Sol gets Google makeover
by Chris DoveCosta del Sol is one of the most frequently used Google search terms, as 160 real estate agents and marketing professionals were informed by online marketing consultants OptimaSit during Tuesday’s information-packed technology training session in Marbella. Held in the sleek surroundings of Andalucía... -
Marbella versus Dubai
by Chris DoveHand up! Though in the minority, I was (still am) pro-skyscraper building in Marbella when thoughtfully planned and located, and I´ve written lots about architecture and urban design in Dubai…a theme I´m repeatedly drawn to with new developments in the pipeline in both destinations. http://www.parad... -
Marbella meets Manhattan
by Chris DoveDespite sitting 5,880 kilometres away in Málaga’s 27°C late summer heat, I can still feel the bone-melting -2°C that hit me as I exited New York´s Central Station on the first of five pre and post 9/11 visits to the City. Spending three weeks over Christmas with friends in Greenwich Village, we head... -
ALL EYES ON ESTEPONA
by Chris DoveSeeking to escape the madding crowd, Estepona was my first choice location on the Costa del Sol. I'd booked a month-long stay on an inland horse farm, soaking in my wonderful new surroundings on weekly trips with the crew to buy feed, straw and hay – even mucking in with the occasional mucking out! ...comments -
Fotos rool, KO?
by Chris DoveThe positive rapid responses people posted after seeing my 'This is what we're here for' photo is final proof – if needed – images have taken over the web. Text is dead! Not a good time to be camera-shy, there's slim chance you're not snapping and adding to the growing cyberspace art gallery. Ba... -
Marbella's head for heights continues
by Chris DoveHow heartening to hear I'm not a lone voice after all… Following the furore over plans to erect a limited number of elegant skyscrapers in Marbella – which would have caused minimum disruption to the landscape while giving the town a much-needed new selling point as destinations strive to stand-out ... -
Record-breaking visitors to Málaga, London, Amsterdam
by Chris DoveRepresenting a year-on-year increase of 1.2% for the first quarter 2014, Andalucía's Institute of Statistics & Cartography recorded 3,874,628 tourists to the region, with this summer expected to continue the upward trajectory set by the third quarter 2013 peak of 8,415,000 visitors, up 5.3% on t... -
European Green Party: “Citizens, your time is now!”
by Chris DoveEuropean%20Green%20Party%20in%20Fuengirola%2C%2024Apr2014.JPG Invited by Costa Press Club member Pia Bruun to discuss 'What is the Green vision for the future of Europe?' in Fuengirola's Tetería La Rosa de los Vientos, former Irish Minister for Environment John Gormley and Fuengirola Green Party mem... -
European tourism quality strengthens consumer confidence
by Chris DoveAsk a random group of people how they'd each spend a €1,000 windfall and nine out of ten will reply, “On a holiday!” With record hordes of happy holidaymakers hotfooting to the Costa del Sol, the European Commission's new European Tourism Quality Principles aim to ensure value for money for visitors... -
Women in the driving seat
by Chris DoveThanks to Ali for organising Saturday’s enjoyable, packed International Women’s Day Fayre at Hotel Tamisa Golf in Mijas – good to see new and familiar faces. Thanks also to a lady named Angela from Ibex Insurance who, though we didn’t know her, kindly let me and my friend hijack a lift home then ref... -
EU launches digital business, social grant programmes
by Chris DoveHuge new pots of public funds are available for Costa companies and communities to dip into – legally – so now’s the time to start thinking of collaborative projects or innovative ways of developing existing ones. Under its Europe 2020 strategic priorities, the European Commission’s 2014-2020 Work P... -
People power scraps skyscrapers…
by Chris DoveCoinciding with Marbella council’s U-turn on the skyscraper debate, weekly newspaper SUR in English published my ‘head for heights’ comment alongside articles highlighting the pulling power of skyscrapers in Singapore and Panama. Though Marbella’s missed this opportunity to stand tall, there’s hope... -
Tourism with a feminine touch
by Chris DoveElviria, Marbella – an oasis of flora and fauna “A marvellous position on the Mediterranean, every building has unspoilt contact with the sea.” Jørn Utzon – Elviria architect, 1960 Poised at the foot of UNESCO’s protected Sierra de las Nieves mountain range, midway between Málaga and Puerto Banú... -
Marbella’s model for Intelligent Destinations
by Chris DoveBuilding on cultural and economic links with Spain, EUROAL 2013 International Travel Market for Latin America and Europe saw José Luis Córdoba, Director of Andalucía Lab Tourist Innovation Centre in Marbella, host a conference on "How to become smart destinations and not die in the attempt." Held at... -
Marbella: luxury lifestyle leader
by Chris DoveNumber 13 may be unlucky for some, but it’s fortuitous for the Costa del Sol. Starting a year which can only get better, reports of rich Russians shopping for luxury products and property were a great advert for Marbella on Spain’s national Informativos Telecinco news, 13/1/13 – ‘La Costa del Sol ... -
Tourist Board Elite Collection gathers momentum
by Chris DoveReinforcing Marbella’s position as the world’s original luxury travel destination, the Costa del Sol Tourist Board convened a meeting of its Elite Collection Working Group at the town’s 5 Star Gran Meliá Don Pepe Hotel on 4th September. As ‘The Jewel of the Mediterranean’ and member of the presti... -
Invisible women
by Chris DoveFor those who read SUR in English newspaper, it’s good news that the King of Spain congratulated it on its 75th anniversary (SUR cover story, July 27th to August 2nd). The bad news is the all-male line-up indicating that none of the top 18 positions are occupied by women. Not only is this shocking a...comments -
It’s official! “Málaga is the most complete tourist destination”
by Chris DoveConfirming what the world already knows, Málaga – Capital of the Costa del Sol – has been crowned ‘all-round holiday destination’ by members of the public asked why they’re visiting the city by Spain’s television news channel, Noticias Cuatro. Overwhelming responses from people gathered at the airp... -
Engelbert Humperdinck’s UK Eurovision entry and Marbella
by Chris DoveProving that the message behind good song lyrics never dies, I'm pleased to announce that I was among the first on the Costa del Sol to hear the good news that the remixed NOSTRADAMUS rock and dance track – sung by UK Eurovision entrant Engelbert Humperdinck, written by Marbella promoter Dario Poli ...