copa-del-mundo-fifa

Aunque han pasado ya unas semanas, dentro mi entorno español siguen -y con todo derecho- cantar “campeones, campeones” y hablar de la final y de –su- copa.

ESPAÑA ganador merecido

Siendo holandés, me han visto vestido de naranja, pero también bailar con la bandera española. Si, hablo desde un corazón partido, es decir, antes de la final.

Porque después, y todavía, el juego de Holanda me ha obligado a ofrecer disculpas en nombre del pueblo holandés. Confeso que no es agradable de seguir buscando explicaciones por el tipo de juego y las patadas que están grabados para siempre. Y más porque soy de la generación de Johan Cruyff y gran aficionado de él y su estilo de juego, mundialmente reconocido como el estilo de la naranja mecánica.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldJSAcJ2HuI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyYT6_XXl3g

¿Porque hablo del fútbol en una Web en que tendría que hablar de inmobiliaria?

Uno porque soy humano, dos porque, y la gente que me conocen puedan confirmarlo, soy un verdadero fanático de fútbol. Tres, porque en mi vida dentro el mundo inmobiliario siempre he intentado de quedar fiel a mi lema: en inmobiliaria no se trata de propiedades, pero de personas.

En los días después de la final he leído muchos artículos sobre la final, en la prensa española, la de Holanda y hasta la Americana (mi hija Anna, crecido en Sotogrande, vive ya varios años en California y está casada con un americano; ¿su puede imaginar el lío de aficiones en casa?).

Casi en todos los artículos que he leído he encontrado la misma pregunta: ¿porque jugó Holanda como jugó?

Así se quedó La Naranja

¿Porque Holanda jugó como jugó? Pues la respuesta tendrá que dar su entrenador, el señor Bert van Marwijk. Y quizás el puede dar también una respuesta a otra pregunta: ¿porque ha destruido en solo un partido la marca naranja, la marca establecida en los años setenta y desde entonces admirada y cualificada como la del fútbol total, limpio y más bonito del mundo? Creo que no sería mal cuando tomaría unas clases de marketing.

Bart van Marwijk y sus clases de marketing

Panamá land of nature to be discovered

Breathtaking contrasts within only few miles of distance

Few people know that Panama offers probably our world’s biggest concentration in vegetation varieties. Travelling through Panama is indeed one big discovery tour. And the nice thing is that it is a relatively small country and therefore you can do and see lots of different things and sides in only a couple of days.

What to say for example about flying in the morning from the Miami-style City to the Unesco World Heritage sides at “Bocas del Toro” and than coming back in the evening to continue with a vibrating City-night. It is one of the most extreme contrasts one can wish to experiment.

But of course I should talk here also about all the other aspects of Panama, like the stable political climate, the many years of being one of the worlds most important finance centers. And who can talk about Panama without mentioning the Canal, and the importance of Colon, competing with Hong Kong for the number one container position in the world?

The Canal: the spine of Panama

Panama’s economy keeps on growing and all over the country you notice this in new real estate developments and new infrastructures, bringing national and international people together on a prosperous way to the future.

A future where I, as Dutchman, look at with special feelings. I tell you why. In fact I discovered something of our Dutch history in Panama that I was not aware of till I visited the (old) minister of Tourism Mr. Ruben Blades in his office.

Mr Ruben Blades, Mr. Zósimo Guardia Varela and Adrian van Loon in the office of Mr. Blades

When I told Mr. Blades that I also wanted to go to the archipelago of “San Blas”, he started laughing and said to me: so let us see if you will come from there. When I asked him why, he told me that the Dutch have a long history in that part of Panama, going back to our golden seventieth century, and that still one part of San Blas is called “the Dutch quays” (de Hollandse kaden). Can you imagine my worry? Especially with my surname “van Loon”, a name with centuries of marine history in worldwide trading and with as landmark of this global-past the Van Loon museum in Amsterdam

As you can see, I came back and was allowed to discover one of the most paradisiacal parts of our planet and to make good friends. San Blas is unbelievably beautiful with very nice and friendly people and with traditions to absolutely admire and respect (see my photos).

On my way to traditions and education I admire.

Lots to learn about other cultures!

There are moments that the most beautiful words cannot express.

If you feel challenged just let me know!

And now you will ask why all this nostalgia and all these words? All this came all up last week when more than fifty businessmen from the Dutch building industry brought a work visit to Panama. What a pity that I could not join them at that moment. It would have been not only a good opportunity to offer them my know-how and contacts, but also to say hello to my many friends in Panama. But I am sure that we will meet soon at another visit, because the Panamanians and the Dutch have everything to continue what already brought us centuries ago together: the future!

Welcome!

SANTO DOMINGO MUCHO MÁS QUE OTRO DESTINO TURISTÍCO

La República Dominicana tiene muchos rincones de “postal”. Pero así hay muchos lugares en nuestro mundo. También en el Caribe. Pero no hay tantos “destinos turísticos” que demuestran de estar claramente en camino de transformarse en algo más: un destino para mucho más que unas vacaciones inolvidables, un destino para transformarse en su segundo residencia, o su nueva residencia permanente. Y no solo gracias a sus playas blancas, su agua de cristal, su número de campos de golf creciendo. ¿Que decir por ejemplo del calor de su pueblo, esta gran calidad humana de la sonrisa y alegría que transformen una estancia en algo inolvidable, y que siempre invita a repetir la visita a esta isla caribeña tan humana?

Santo Domingo y su calor humano inviten siempre a volver: junto con Milagros preparando otro vuelo sobre tierra dominicana.

Mi manera preferida para buscar lo mejor para mis clientes.

Mis pasos de busqueda de nuevos destinos.

Santo Domingo tiene una política estable y una economía que sigue creciendo. La República cuenta con muchos proyectos de nuevas infraestructuras y el interés de grupos de inversores de todos los rincones del mundo. Algo bueno y bonito pasa en Santo Domingo. Como por ejemplo en Cap Cana, unos de los proyectos turísticos más prestigiosos y más grandes en el mundo.

Cap Cana: playas blancas y exclusivas.

Dentro Cap Cana encuentra nombres mundialmente reconocidos como Trump y Sotogrande-Cap Cana. Y por su puesto playas blancas, agua de cristal, varios campos de golf de excelencia, una marina muy romántica, y hoteles, villas y apartamentos de alta categoría. Será un placer demostrarle la verdad de todas estas palabras.

Rincones de postal.

Unos de los espectaculares greens en Cap Cana.

Kris Huizenga and Adrian van Loon

Living and operating in and from Sotogrande for so many years it was for me a strange feeling this time no to go for the “Volvo” to Valderrama.  Nevertheless at least we had this big event of the Volvo World Match Play at our corner; as you probably know finca Cortesin is only 15 minutes away from Sotogrande. So I will not complain, at the contrary, as the event brought my good physio friends from the PGA to my home and area. Yes, we had a great time, and look all forward to their next visit, which will bring them not only back to finca Cortesin, but, I take that for granted, also again to Sotogrande. And who expected something else: to Valderrama. And this is fantastic news for all of us in Sotogrande. People who know me better know that I maintain a close relation with the number one golf course of Europe. I brought many Dutch company groups to play the course and enjoy the fantastic installations. And I sold and build properties within, what I consider the most exclusive private estate in our resort. (With pleasure I show you why!).

Well, as said, my dear friend Kris Huizenga is on the road again. You will find the physio team and their clinic in Girona, where from the 28^th of November till the 3^rd of December well-known and “less-known” players will compete to classify for the next season. Welcome in Girona therefore. And of course this week in Dubai!

http://www.europasur.es/article/deportes/554116/valderrama/acogera/gran/torneo/octubre.html

http://www.valderrama.com

the physio clinic: http://www.europeantour.com/default.sps?pagegid={76118AA8-56C5-46DF-BF8A-161625DC1A5B}

http://www.europeantour.com/

http://volvoworldmatchplay.com/

http://watchgolfonline.net/dubai-golf-championship/watch-golf-2009-dubai-world-championship-live-online

AYALA-ESPERANZA-THE WINNER OF THE GOLD CUP 2009 MEDIUM GOAL IN SOTOGRANDE

Yes, “we” did it. Please apologize for this “we”, but I feel so much connected with the winning Ayala-La Esperanza team (read my previous comments in this site) that I felt this Sunday afternoon on the Los Pinos fields of the Santa Maria Polo Club if I had played the final myself.

I do apologize towards Arlette van Oost and her son Mikel Redding of the Scapa-John Smith team, knowing them so well and being their friends for so long and supporting always their team too.

But today it was a final with Kevin Korst playing in Ayala-La Esperanza, playing together with his friend Jake, son of Iñigo Zobel (who lost with his Ayala team in the half final of the high goal from Las Monjitas; las Monjitas lost surprisingly in the final from Dos Lunas, almost a “local” team too and playing with the youngest of the Stirlings as the big revelation of this tournament).

I am sure my friends David and Marcela Stirling will be super proud, and for sure that during the coming weeks Pelón will get to hear some “nice” comments from his little brother.

I told before that I know them well these two since I saw them growing up almost next door.

In the same way as I saw Kevin growing up and becoming almost as a polo son for me.

So I think everyone will understand that I was supporting today “my” team. And of course I feel happy and proud that “we” won.

I am not sure, but I believe that Kevin is the first Dutch polo player who ever won the silver and the gold cup here in Sotogrande. (Does anyone who reads this has perhaps some records on the Dutch polo players, because I wonder if we ever had a Dutch player in polo finals?)

I was glad that I could share this proud and happiness together with Kevins’ father Rinie Korst and his mother Annelies Verhoeven. It was an exciting final up till the last chucker. MarieCris, the mother of Jake Zobel, hardly could cope with her nerves and had to go every now and than for a little walk. And although father Iñigo tried to hide his emotions, also he (which father wouldn’t) was clearly touched by this victory of “his boy”.

Congratulations once again for all the players, the grooms, the friends and their families. I feel grateful that I could pass such an exiting and pleasant tournament with them.

I also would like to thank all my friends of the Santa Maria Polo Club: again they have done it, even in these difficult times of international economics. Thanks guys, thousands have enjoyed a great holiday in our Sotogrande thanks to your tremendous efforts.

I am sure that –again- more and more people cannot imagine anymore a summer in Sotogrande without polo and your bronce, silver and gold cup.

So now we have all to get back to “normal” again. In my case it means with less polo matches next door, but with for example offering the absolute pearl of the polo in Argentina:  a unique polo ranch within the most spectacular landscape, with a total of 83,5 hectares (206 acres) and with a name known all over the world. Do I make you curious? Why not ask me for more details: info@vanloon-partners.com.

Adrian van Loon