| It's about 3.30pm on a Saturday
afternoon. I'm in Marbella, sitting at a beach bar, sunglasses on, watching a
small but fearless terrier chase a big dog across the sand, slowly sipping my
chilled wine and waiting for the grilled fish and salad to arrive. With
the Christmas festivities now over and most of Europe trapped in a cold snap,
we're basking under blue skies and sunny days - in January! As the winter
season fills the local farmers' markets with pink pomegranates and tangy tangerines,
this a good time to appreciate the real luxuries of life. Simple things, like
sunny days in January, having the beach to yourself (almost!), time to spend with
friends and family over the holidays and all the possibilities that this new year
has in store for us. It's usually around this time of year that those of
us lucky enough to live here remind ourselves why we made the move and escaped
the cold back home. It's not just the fabulous climate and the open spaces, it's
the unique mix of a more relaxed southern Mediterranean way of life, combined
with all the benefits of being minutes from lively beachside towns like Marbella
and Puerto Banus. We have an amazing choice of restaurants, cafes, bars,
boutiques, art galleries here. Combine that with a thriving local community and
it makes the Costa del Sol an unbeatable place to live when you check all the
"lifestyle factor" boxes. As Europeans we're fortunate to live
just a hop away from places like the south of France and Tuscany. They're beautiful
places to live, but the reality is that they can be cold and a pretty bleak in
winter. In many ways, winter in Marbella is the best of both worlds. The
sunny weather is perfect if you're a golfer and there are now over 42 thirsty
green golf courses along the Costa del Sol - tee off early you'll be back at the
Clubhouse in time for lunch. The hot nights of last summer have given way
to cooler evenings here. Winter is the time for seasonal celebrations like chestnut
festivals in the inland villages or cosy wine tasting evenings at a new restaurant.
Speaking of new, I recently heard about one of the Costa del Sol's most
exciting rising stars, i.e. Spain's version of "Jamie Oliver", Dani
Garcia. At just 29, he spent the past year showcasing his creative cuisine in
London, Milan and Tokyo, and now he's wowing even the fiercest critics with the
opening of his new restaurant "Calima", at the prestigious Hotel Melia
Don Pepe in Marbella. If you're in the area, a visit to Calima is a must! We loved
the chic, sleek décor and Dani's restaurant epitomises the new wave of
"new Andalusian" cuisine that is sweeping the coast. If you're
like me you'll already have had one too many holiday season champagne brunches
so there's no time like the present to commit yourself to a couple of new year's
resolutions. This year one of mine is to pamper myself more, more frequently!
Marbella's spa scene makes it an oasis for the rich and famous who come
here to revamp, rejuvenate and re-energise by indulging in the healing therapies
and treatments - from hot stones or Reiki healing to a decadent all-over rich
chocolate body massage (wonderful for your skin and tantalising for your taste
buds!) Zen-style spas are really in vogue here, with places like Bodhi and
Shanti Som spa attracting the sort of client who wants to chill out in a soothing
sanctuary of bamboo and water pools and sip a cup of green mint tea after a heavenly
treatment. Bliss! For me, one of life's greatest luxuries is living a stone's
throw from the beach. I love just sitting at a beach "chiringuito" on
a mellow Sunday afternoon, with a good book and a strong espresso, in the warm
January sunshine. It's enough to make you feel guilty, but it feels great…
If you could do with a winter break, why not head for the Spanish sun and
book yourself into one of our luxury villas or apartments. With twice-weekly flights
(Wednesday and Saturday) from Shannon airport to Malaga, our golden coastline
is just a hop away. We also have a great selection of homes for sale if you plan
to visit more often, stay longer, or are interested in retiring in Spain. Call
me direct, Tracey McLeod, on 0034 952838620 | 
