Tom Jones live in Marbella Puente Romano

In case that you indeed did read the above heading, I admire you. And I thank you for that. You will probably need a drink now. Well, feel invited. It would make it easier for me to explain you this mix of names, events and emotions.

But let me try to help you at least a bit by going back to the summer and my last article. Wow, sorry again, that article I wrote in Spanish; although, I am sure you will understand “my” Spanish.

So, this last one was dedicated to the fantastic victory of the Monjitas polo team (playing in the Dutch orange!) winning the gold cup of the 40^th International Tournament of our Santa Maria Polo Club.

http://www.vanloon-partners.com/388-sotogrande-polo-copa-de-oro-2011-%c2%a1una-fiesta-naranja-las-monjitas-un-gran-campeon.html

Over the last weeks bit by bit the horses have gone, as the players, the patrons, the trucks, the grooms and almost even the flies.

So now, walking my old doggie Moon, mainly at the canchas of the Rio, I see empty fields and look forward to our local tournaments, mostly played at the weekend. So if you are in the area and like polo or just wish to watch it for a while, click at Santa Maria Polo Club for the local calendar. Or give me a call at my cell: 617 386 662.

It would be unfair and far from Soto-realistic to talk about polo without talking also about golf. Please do not forget that we have here in Sotogrande the top of the top in golf courses. What to say for example of Europe’s number one course Valderrama where the preparations already have started for our biggest tournament of the year: the AndalucíaValderrama Masters.

When you read through my other articles you will see that for me also Valderrama is something special. First of all as a golf course, but also as I have been connected to it for so many years, thanks to the close relation with the founder family Ortiz-Patiño, their directors and staff.  Thanks to this warm relation many Dutch company managers could play the course and I still keep a file of pictures of these “global events” initiated by my friend Frans Kriesels from Eindhoven, Holland. (“Frans, I am sure you remember the many crazy parties we survived here. Some people still talk about these crazy Dutch!”)

So if you like golf, or just want to watch the best players on the best course, please organize your agenda and assure that you will be in Sotogrande during the 28^th till the 31^st of October as Valderrama will be the course to walk!

… You want believe that, just when I was writing these words, I got a phone call in from my best friend Kris Huizenga, phoning me from Scotland out of his PGA physio-clinic “truck-saloon”. By now Kris and his wife Carine are on the road towards Madrid for the next PGA tournament and from there they will head to the Algarve and than take the road to Sotogrande where we of course will catch up at Valderrama together with the others friends of the physio team.

Kris Huizenga and Adrian van Loon

But what about all the other names in my headline? What has Tom Jones to do with it?

Well, if you still have some time and patience to read I will tell you. Yes, please feel invited for another drink as I have to go back quite some years. It started when I got the idea to create a blues festival here in Sotogrande. Oh, yes, indeed, I was already active as the president of the Cultural Association of Sotogrande. And I wanted to offer, apart from our series of classical events, also some popular music. It brought me in contact with the “big man” of the best blues festival in Spain, Blues Cazorla and its producer Carlos Espinosa; a contact that resulted in a warm friendship and a series of unforgettable blues nights here in Sotogrande.

With international bands and artists like Dr. Feelgood, The Commitments, Carvin Jones, Classic Clapton and not to forget dynamic lady Lisa Haley.  Together we created an event that for lots of people is still the best Sotogrande had during many summers.

However, money, money, money, (with the permission of Pink Floyd), or in our cultural wording: funds, funds, funds. They grew and grew and than, yes indeed, diminished more and more and, no surprise, the crisis brought them down to cero cents.

So we are back where we once started: at cero. Nevertheless this did not result in taking away also our spirit to continue battling for the cultural climate and integration in this fantastic urbanisation, this American resort, created, designed and developed like parts of LA. Walk Bel Air, or Beverley Hills and walk, skate or bike our main avenue Paseo del Parque and our other avenues, and you will know what I mean.

(Are you interested in property in Sotogrande? Here just some examples. We have a lot more to offer.)

I can offer you some fantastic villas at our main avenue if that would be an extra stimulation to come and have a look at Sotogrande. Of course I would like to show you other property opportunities too. And in case that you, or perhaps some of your friends, would be interested in bigger investments, please do know that I can offer you the best out of the remaining land areas in our surroundings. (Let us make the sky our limit…)

Okay, I know, I can’t stop “selling” this great resort and realize that I am still not where I had to be and talk about: Tom Jones. He might be older now, and he is as he was saying himself, but he still knows how to get people on their feet, dancing, moving and singing his worldwide known SEXbom. He proofed it once again at the concert on the 18^th of August in Puente Romano in Marbella. The setting: the famous tennis court of Manolo Santana and other Wimbledon heroes like Björn Borg.

http://www.puenteromano.com/en/

Carlos Espinosa was the producer of this concert. That is to say, his new company called Riff Productions. We, my wife Neide and I, were invited by Carlos and his productions partners. The ambience was historic; the performance of Tom and his band was filled with memories of the best of the old days, and the after concert hours were filled with mutual wishes, hope and spirit to continue with our series of “Blues Nights” here in Sotogrande.

I will keep you posted on our progress, but if you meanwhile meet people and/or companies willing to support us, you can give me a call the 24 hours of the seven days a week is supposed to have. (How much I would love to have for these cultural affairs more hours a day, or at least more days per week.)

So I hope that you now know what I mean to say with my Sotogrande “after summer” cocktail. And in case I was still not clear enough or you completely lost track, please do not hesitate to call me and ask for a personal explanation. It would give me also the chance to proof why I use for so many years already this lemma: Real Estate is not about property, it’s about people!

Welcome. Adrian van Loon

WELCOME FOR AN AFTER SUMMER COCKTAIL IN SUNNY AND SWEET SOTOGRANDE

You like polo? Or do want to know more about it?:

http://www.santamariapoloclub.com/

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Mar%C3%ADa_Polo_Club

Would you like to read more about the Andalucía Valderrama Masters, the PGA tournaments or the PGA Physio clinic:

http://www.valderrama.com/

http://www.andaluciavalderramamaster.com/

http://www.andaluciamasters.es

http://www.andalucia.org/andalucia-masters-golf/

http://www.europeantour.com/

http://www.europeantour.com/tourgroup/physiomedical/index.html

Watch Tom Jones life in Marbella:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVl0pS4FBao&feature=related

More about Carlos Espinosa, his Riff Productions and their concerts:

http://www.riffmusic.org/

We were celebrating his third silver cup in la Cancha Dos, the fantastic and always fully booked restaurant located at Ayala’s polo fields, and in past years also the venue of the popular Sotogrande Blues Nights organized by the Cultural Association of Sotogrande of which I am the president as you may know. (I will come back on our cultural activities.)

We are having another unbelievable polo summer here. Santa Maria’s 40^th birthday has brought us over a thousand horses and a selection of the best horses and players. Therefore: if you love polo like I do, or just want to have a nice afternoon, come to Sotogrande, I guarantee you that you will enjoy it!

A special PS to congratulate Jejo:

After the long night we had with the whole team in Cancha Dos, during the final of the high goal he replaced Ayala’s injured Martin Espain halfway the third chukker. Jejo played again a great game although lost in the last seconds from Bahar Jeffri and his Richard Mille team, a 40 yards scored by Pablo MacDonough.

Would you like to read more about polo and the fantastic tournament Santa Maria has organized, here you have a couple of links that give lots to read and watch:

Jejo Taranco and little Santino: all happiness after winning the Silver Cup

www.omsportstv.com <http://www.omsportstv.com/>

http://www.santamariapoloclub.com/

http://www.labocha.com/

Fotos gracias a La Bocha by Snoopy Polo:

http://www.labocha.com/galeria-multimedia/fotogaleria/2011-sotogrande-espana-anaconda-esperanza-se-adjudico-la-copa-de-plata-valecuatro-en-el-torneo-de-mediano-handicap?nggpage=2

SOTOGRANDE SIGUE DE MODA Y SIN DUDA

Para todos que piensan que fuera del verano no sabemos divertirnos en Sotogrande, que miran estas fotos.

LA CASA CLUB DE NH LA RESERVA: UN LUGAR PARA VISITAR

Las fotos son del domingo (12 de diciembre 2010). Una pequeña caravana de coches antiguos daba vueltas por todo Sotogrande.

El espectáculo terminó por la tarde en las preciosas instalaciones de la casa club de La Reserva, el lugar donde hemos celebrado también con la Asociación Cultural de Sotogrande varios inolvidables eventos.

—Para refrescar su memoria cultural, sí, celebramos en la casa club de NH La Reserva las dos últimas ediciones de nuestro Sotogrande Blues Night, uno de los eventos más populares del verano. Y que decir de las actuaciones de baile de nuestra gran artista Noelia Sabarea, y de nuestro ciclo  “Veladas Musicales”—

Noelia Sabarea artista Andaluza internacionalmente reconocida

Cuantos recuerdos, y cuantas ganas me da para que nos llegan de nuevos unos patrocinadores. Instituciones y/o particulares que entienden que Sotogrande sigue siendo unos de los mejores resorts del sur de España, para no decir, de Europa… Patrocinadores que entienden que “invertir” en cultura en Sotogrande es un apuesto seguro para conseguir o mantener un buen nombre, no solamente en Sotogrande, pero también en las otras partes de España, y en muchos otros países. ¿Porque no somos el resort más mundial de España?    (Que sepa que tengo mi móvil 24 horas abierto para hablar de fondos culturales: 617 386 662.)

LOS VIEJOS TIEMPOS: HORAS DE CHARLA SOBRE HOY Y MAÑANA

Pero volviendo a la nostalgia de los coches antiguos. A mi realmente me ha encantado de verlos “paseando” por las calles de Sotogrande. Y mucha gente más han disfrutada de estos preciosos antiguos automóviles dentro nuestra urbanización que nos han dejado con interesantes conversaciones sobre el pasado, y sobre el día de hoy y nuestro futuro aquí en España.

SOTOGRANDE Y SUS CANALES VALEN UNA VUELTA

Hablando de hoy, y del futuro, pero en este caso sobre temas inmobiliarios, hay un tema que se repite últimamente en casi cada encuentro y en casi cada conversación: es de esta idea que el mundo va a caer, que nuestro mundo se va a hundir, y –seguro- con España como primer país, y “por su puesto” también Sotogrande.

Y que por este razón los precios de las viviendas van a bajar todavía más, mucho-mucho más… Hasta nos van a dar aquí las casas gratis…

Es un tema que me pone triste, y también frustrado, porque, y aunque, sí, hay muchas cosas que necesitan arreglo en este mundo y también, o quizás hasta más en España, tampoco todo que pasa en este mundo y en España es de una gravedad tan negativa, tan destructiva, que acabara pronto todo para todos.

Llevó ya gran parte de mi vida aquí. Y como cualquier ciudadano tengo mis críticas sobre bastantes cosas. Pero lo tenía también en Holanda. Y allí yo tampoco era el único.

Estoy seguro que no hay ningún ciudadano, en ningún país, que no tiene algo para criticar. No seriamos humanos si nos quedaba nada para criticar, cambiar y/o mejorar.

HABLANDO DE SOTOGRANDE Y DE VALORES...

Creo que el peligro de esta crisis es que estamos perdiendo la realidad de los auténticos valores. Y que más y más no sabemos distinguir la realidad de la ficción… y de los sueños.

Porque noto que hoy en día mucha gente entran en Sotogrande, atraído por nuestra gran nombre y reputación, pensando que, gracias a la crisis, pueden comprarse aquí una vivienda por un precio “tirado”.

Y aunque les explico en todos los detalles posibles, el que y cual de Sotogrande, y aunque les doy argumentos validos y basados en una amplia experiencia incluyendo la crisis de ochenta-noventa, parece que su sueño les convence (y conviene) más, y que por tanto siguen “confiando” que van a conseguir la casa de sus “sueños” por su precio de “sueño”.

SÍ, ALGUNAS VECES SUEÑOS SE CONVIERTAN EN REALIDAD...

Por su puesto, nunca se puede descartar que a algunos toque la suerte, y que encuentren la ganga de su vida.

Pero estoy convencido que serán muy pocos, y que los precios no van “a caer” tanto aquí en Sotogrande como muchos están soñando y deseando.

NUESTRAS CALLES, AMPLIAS Y BIEN CUIDADAS DESDE YA CUARENTA AÑOS

Siempre he defendido la excepcional calidad de Sotogrande. La gran calidad de nuestras calles. La enorme calidad de nuestra zona. El ideal de nuestro clima. Lo bueno de nuestras buenas carreteras con su buen acceso al resto de España. Y de nuestros aeropuertos cercanos, con vuelos a toda Europa y al resto del mundo.

Nadie me quita que Sotogrande es, y sigue siendo unos de los mejores sitios en el sur de Europa. Y nadie me quita que este rincón de Andalucía sigue siendo unos de los mejores y más bonitos del mundo.

SOTOGRANDE: SÍ UN LUGAR DE SUEÑO PERO CON PRECIOS REALISTAS

Entiende me bien. No digo que no hay nada para mejorar y que no necesitamos más cosas aquí. (¿Qué decir por ejemplo de un centro cultural?)

Sí, quedan bastantes cosas por hacer y mejorar. Por su puesto.

Por tanto sigo invitando a todos los inversores que comparten esta confianza en el buen futuro de esta zona, y de nuestro Sotogrande en particular.

¡Bienvenidos! Adrián van Loon

¡NO TODOS LOS HOLANDESES VENDEN TULIPANES!

Adolfo Cambiaso, Pelon Stirling, the Polo Open in Argentina, and where polo started for me: The Polo Río in Sotogrande.

One of the areas I like to walk is the polofields at the river Guadiaro, also called “Polo Río”. Especially when it is a clear and sunny morning the polo fields always fill me with nostalgy. I miss the horses, the players, and the ambiance. I think of Argentina, where they are now playing the Argentine Open, the most important polo event in the world. I wish all players good luck, but I hope you do not blame me for hoping that “La Dolfina Peugeot” will win. Why, you will ask? Well, Adolfo Cambiaso has always been one of my favorate players from the first time I saw him playing in Sotogrande, now some twenty years ago. And what to say of Pelon (David jr.) Stirling who I have seen growing up here on the same Río fields where I walk so often my dog in the morning.

Will they be the winning team? I hope so!

http://www.aapolo.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1335&language=es-AR

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campeonato_Argentino_Abierto_de_Polo

http://www.livinginargentina.com/the_116th_argentine_polo_open-118.html

Valderrama: Mr. Jaime Ortiz-Patiño’s Master Piece put Sotogrande on the world map of golf!

I have more nostalgic moments to share: the “Andalucia Valderrama Masters” and the “see you back next year” of my good PGA golf and fysio friends who, after a week of tournament sharing together, left Sotogrande for their last big match of the season: the Dubai World Championship.

It has been a great tournament and once more it confirmed what a beautiful course Valderrama is and how good and important it is for us here in Sotogrande to have such an event within our urbanisation. I will never stop reminding the people around me and to explaining newcomers how important Valderrama has been, and is, for the name and fame of Sotogrande. Thanks Don Jaime, you created a monument and I can only hope that all who will be involved in the future will respect and will help to maintain your fantastic creation.

Graeme McDowell: the winner of the first Valderrama Masters (picture Belfast Telegraph)

http://www.andaluciavalderramamaster.com/

http://www.valderrama.com/

http://www.europeantour.com/

http://www.europeantour.com/tourgroup/physiomedical/index.html

http://www.dubaiworldchampionship.com/

http://www.jumeirahgolfestates.com/golf/dubai-world-championship/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai_World_Championship

http://www.amateurgolfchallenge.es/

Adrian van Loon and Rob Hillman director of The Race to Dubai Physio Unit at Valderrama

Perhaps all our politicians should take a Monthy Python course…Or how silly you often feel when you talk about political progress.

And now something completely different (with lots of nostalgic memories of the one and only Monthy Python): labour and politics in Spain.

Monday, the 18^th of October 2010, I had the honour to be invited at a seminar organized by Mr. Peter P. Van Wulfften Palthe, our Dutch Embassador in Madrid.

Place of the seminar: the Torre Espacio at the Paseo de la Castellana, on eof the emblamitc new skyscrapers in Madrid where you will not only find the Dutch Embassy but also the embassies of the UK, Canada and Australia.

(Not to forget our Sotogrande “neighbour” Mr. Villar Mir, regular visitor and developer of the port of Sotogrande.)

Theme of the conference: a comparison between the inter-labour relations in Holland and in Spain, or, in other words: why do we actually have in Holland such a “low” percentage of unemployment, where we in Spain are battling with a figure that every day becomes more dramatic?

It was a most interesting day, not that we solved the problem, but to see once more how different cultures can be within this big dream called “European Community”.

During my life in Spain I have been present at many more conferences and meetings between the authorities of our both countries, several organized by the FHN (a foundation between Holland and Spain for business improvement, of which I am a first hour member).

I remember at least one other conference about the same subject, probably now some ten years ago. And I must confess that little has changed since than as I saw and heard on this Monday the 18^th.

Yes, without any doubt, we Dutch and Spanish are different, absolutely different, in being and thinking, and also in acting. On itself there is nothing wrong with this, however looking at the actual struggle of how to save our European currency and our one-europe/an identity; I fear that there is still a long, long way to go, if we will ever succeed in bridging these cultural differences within the EU.

http://espana.nlembajada.org/

http://www.holanda.es/content/template/customarea,ES_Circulos_empresariales_holandeses.vm

http://www.torreespacio.es/english/contenido/ent_madrid_empresarial.html#

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqhlQfXUk7w

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python

As you see, I like to talk about culture and cultures. (What would you expect from someone representing for almost ten years also the Cultural Asociation of Sotogrande?)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/CULTURAL-SOTOGRANDE/123118571050766#!/pages/CULTURAL-SOTOGRANDE/123118571050766?v=info

I could listen and learn again more about our different cultures at another conference where I was invited by the mayor of San Roque and local president of the Partido Popular, Mr. Fernando Palma.

(In case you would not know, Sotogrande forms part of the municipality of San Roque.)

On Thursday the 21^st of October the PP had organized the

“I Foro de Turismo del municipio de San Roque”, a conference about tourism.

The “voice” of the PP was this time Mrs. Teresa Ruiz Sillero, member of the Andalusian parlement and actually investigating how to improve the tourist visits to our part of Andalucia.

http://www.parlamentodeandalucia.es/webdinamica/portal-web-parlamento/composicionyfuncionamiento/organosparlamentarios/pleno.do?codmie=16&nlegis=8

The conference was hold in the beautiful clubhouse of the San Roque Golf Club, another place where I cannot avoid nostalgy and memories: during many years I located here Dutch business groups, helping them also with conferences and golf tournaments…And with their dinners and parties after. I am sure many of these company managers will still remember the great times we had and how we enjoyed the concerts of the ladies choir of San Roque singing and dancing “sevillanas”. You will be surprised how many of them learned “dancing” sevillanas, of course, each within their own Dutch style!

http://www.sanroqueclub.com/public/

But let me go back to this conference and the need of more tourists.

Also this has not been my first “tourist” conference in the area, years ago we tried already to create a so called “mesa magna” between the owners and directors of our golfclubs, yachtclubs and main development companies.

I remember that we went all together to Fitur in Madrid, the most important tourist fair. We had one big stand, representing the best place in the sun in southern Spain: Sotogrande, oh sorry, San Roque.

Sotogrande and real estate: it is not about property, it is about people!

So you see, finally I got back to Sotogrande, where it all started and matters.

On Friday the 29^th we had the opportunity in “our” Sotogrande to listen to the Ely Cathedral Choir, this famous choir from the UK, formed by a big group of young boys and their teachers.

The "Ely Cathedral boat" in the port of Sotogrande

The “Ely” boys arrived around noon and were invited by “Puerto Sotogrande” on a boat tour at our sea and in our port and marina, ending with a big icecream at the terrace of the yachtclub. In the evening they sung, together with our Sotogrande choir the Camarata Singers, in the church of Sotogrande, a church packed with people, most of them residents and for sure also some “tourists”.

The Ely Cathedral Choir brought a great concert in a packed church in Sotogrande (photo: Moren Butteweg: www.morenmedia.com

http://www.elycathedral.org/music/the_cathedral_choir.html

Sotogrande needs a cultural centre. We have a fantastic concept available for culturally interested investors.  Who? You?

And this brings me to some crucial points and comments on Sotogrande and our real estate reality and future. Regurlarly (I say this without any pretention) I receive phonecalls or requests from the press to inform them about Sotogrande and what exactly is going on in real estate and how I predict our future here.

Unfortunately, and too often, I get confirmed that, in general the Press, but also many visitors, have a misunderstanding about what Sotogrande really is and in particular about our property reality. This summer for example I was approached by the national Spanish newspaper El Mundo when they were working on an article about Sotogrande. They asked me if I could tell more about the multimillion houses here, believing that we have properties of 40 million euros and even more. I had to make them clear that we do not have such properties in Sotogrande and that we only have villas, and even only a few, with prices between the ten and twenty million. Our main market consists of villas between one and three million, getting much smaller in the section between three and six, and much smaller again between six and ten.

More recently I was also asked for comments by our own newspaper “El Periodico” and I commented that actually the market is one of people waiting, people who are confused and me/us here being hopeful towards our Sotogrande future.

I explained this “waiting” as follows: people who do not really know Sotogrande believe that real estate prices in Sotogrande, as in other areas at the Costa del Sol, will continue to drop. I keep on repeting that they are wrong, exeptions excluded, as there of course will be someone with the absolute need to sell. But the general picture of Sotogrande, as we have seen during the crisis in the beginning of the nineties, is this of property owners with enough “breath” to keep their prices at their own “bargain” level.

When I talk about the confusion in the market I talk more about our macro economic situation and –of course about our Spanish economy and currency problems. I think no one will disagree when I state that we have lost the value of values in this world and that we really need to find worldwide a solution for the revaluation of all what we know and believe that is needed, wished and desired.

But in the micro reality of real estate in Spain there is another issue, I call it “cause”, of our actual problems: the change from pesetas into euros.

From the very first day I have commented that this change caused an inflation of 60-70%, having suddenly to pay for lots of articles not 100 pesetas but 1 euro.

But this inflation-effect took also place on a bigger scale, as the prices of many properties in Sotogrande (read also: Spain) suddenly changed from one hundred million pesetas into one million euros. And the same happened with the prices of construction and this caused a situation in which we became even more expensive per square meter than countries like Holland or Germany, knowing that we in Spain still do not produce the same quality of construction.

Having over the last years here at the coast more building cranes than in the northern European countries together, and using more concrete than the “rest” of northern Europe, everyone could see what would happen.

I will not discard that we in Sotogrande also have build more than we should have in such a short time, but luckily we are “protected” by a general urbanistic plan that saves us from the disasters around us.

Sotogrande has always been a slow, but steady grower. A place where litlle by little we have changed from one of the most exclusive and private resorts in the world into an urbanisation with the doors open to a younger and less rich, but still financial powerful population. Of course here this will also take at least some years before we see more lights and live around us. But meanwhile we keep on being one of the best places one can choose to live or enjoy a holiday in a pleasant sunny climate, within lots of green and spacious roads and with good conections to the rest of Spain and Europe.

So, you see, I am a person with hope.

I believe in Sotogrande and our surroundings.

And that is why I keep on trying to create investment interest for our area…

interest in purchasing private property,

or commercial sites (I can offer you various, even up to 7000m2).

And I also keep on calling the attention for investment in new projects.

Yes, I absolutely believe that there is still a lot to do and to develop in our Sotogrande area. If one knows what, and how.

I specialised in helping multinational companies with their ventures into European and worldwide markets.

During many years I also was marketing adviser to Dutch multinational building industries.

And I formed part of various concept teams, designing and developing shops, shopping and office centres, factories and private and public housing.

Indeed, I am a real estate agent too.

Let us say a real estate agent with “some added value”…and who is most willing to share his experience, and to guide you settling and/or investing in Sotogrande and surroundings.

Welcome. Adrian van Loon: +34 617 386 662.

And if you would like to make comments or to make suggestions, please feel free to do so at anytime:  info@vanloon-partners.com

I lovka ganador de la copa de oro 2010 en Sotogrande

No podía ser, aunque teníamos mucha ESPERANZA, pero esta vez el equipo se quedó sin la corona, sin su triple.

Ayala Esperanza, tres finales pero sin triple

Ganaron claramente de Scapa, la tercera vez esta temporada, pero no podían con Tommy Llorente y su equipo I Lovka.

Tommy sabe que soy un aficionado suyo toda nuestra vida en común aquí en Sotogrande.

Jake Zobel y Kevin Korst de Ayala-Esperanza con el Sr. Mora

Quiero felicitar una vez más  a Tommy, y a su hijo Horacio, y por su puesto a Ramón Beca y capitán Pablo Mora, quién con su familia está haciendo tanto para el polo y para Sotogrande.

Nos despedimos el domingo con mucha emoción y una profunda nostalgia. Todavía vibran de los caballos, las bochas y los golazos, pero pronto me quedaran las canchas y los estables por un tiempo sin vida.

Neide Ribeiro y otras amigas durante la final en el palco de Ahmibah con Bahar Jeffrey

Acabó la temporada alta del polo. Acabó el verano y llegó el adiós, y el “hasta el año que viene”. Vuelve a sus casas mi “familia de polo”, y de nuevo tengo que acostumbrarme a tardes sin polo y noches sin charlas y tertulias sobre, si, sobre tantas cosas, tantos países y tantas culturas. El polo es un mundo. Y Sotogrande cada año en verano más el centro de este mundo.

Si le gusta el polo, si le gustan los caballos, si quiere sentir y vivir el ambiente del verano y la vida tan “sotograndeña”, ponga ya en su agenda, verano 2011: ¡Sotogrande! Hasta entonces.

For more comments in English:

http://www.santamariapoloclub.com/en/index.php?ver=noticias&menu=&id=152

Ayala y la familia Zobel: http://www.ayalapoloclub.com/home.php

Neide Ribeiro, co-directora Van Loon & Partners / Sotogrande Residences:http://www.sotogranderesidences.com/