Indeed I can open doors to properties you will not find in our or anyone else’s Web.

Yes, call this an invitation. That is to say to serious people, people with the right Sotogrande attitude and the right money…because I talk about “exclusive”!

When you consider yourself such a person, please do not hesitate in contacting me at my cell: +34 617 386 662, or to write me an email at: info@vanloon-partners.com

Welcome. Adrian van Loon

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/

For example we are having also many golf tournaments on our beautiful courses. And what to say about our big sailing event organised last weekend by our Real Club Maritimo?

To see another year the streets of Sotogrande “packed” with people and cars, motors and bikes, buggies and blades, is exiting but also stressing, especially for full year residents.

Having my daily breakfast in one of our many “morning bars”, or even when walking our doggie Moon in our normal peaceful lanes, I get to hear all kind of comments and critics about this busy Sotogrande. I keep on explaining that this is part of our summer fever, an excitement we sometimes miss in the winter when we walk “alone” but at the same moment something we are happy about when it is over again and we get back to “normal”.

For who is living all year in Sotogrande the summer is a mix of emotions, but for most of the permanent residents luckily still a pleasant experience; perhaps since we all know that it is only for a few weeks?

Our unbelievable views towards Gibraltar and Morocco

In case you like to “beach” when we are alone again!

http://todoregatas.com

http://todoregatas.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5519%3Aespana-xii-copa-sotogrande-bmw&catid=1%3Aregatas&Itemid=89&lang=es

http://www.rcms.es/club/maritimo/menu/index.html

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!