Rainy views from my Sotogrande office

I live and work here now for more than twenty years; wow I am almost reaching twenty five I suddenly realize. So you will understand that I am used to warm and sunny days. Therefore you can probably imagine my mixed feelings about so much rain as we are having this “winter”.

I know, I have here experienced the opposite too, almost begging for a bit of water and with all the difficulties of who is taking a shower and when. But this amount of water is getting too much, for me, and I think for everyone who has chosen the Costa del Sol to live or to come here for a nice warm and sunny holiday.

But what do we do, we do not control the weather. Or do we? According to the people who know more and better about our climate change, apparently we are as guilty and involved as all the weather gods.

No, do not worry, I do not want to start a discussion about who is really “weather guilty” here and who not, I just want to talk about the inconvenience of rain in southern Spain. Because what do you do when it rains, where do you go to?

Although during my Spanish life I have seen building  various new and nicely rain-sheltered facilities, our Costa is still not really prepared for this type of weather. Of course, I know after all these years that we will get the sun back again and than quickly forget all this rain. But meanwhile we have to find our sheltered ways and escapes. If you have difficulties to find those, I might be able to give you some ideas, so do not hesitate in asking me: 617 386 662.

One sheltered “escape” I would like to recommend to all of you: the Friday nights in the San Roque Club.

I mentioned in one or more of my previous articles at this site that I am already acting several years also as President of the Cultural Association of Sotogrande. (Real Estate is not about property, it is about people, was once a slogan I launched here. To proof the essence of this statement one of my efforts has always been helping to create cultural life in our resort.)

But back to the rain: in the San Roque Club we started offering blues and jazzy life music at Friday night. The sponsor is Almazara catering and I feel most grateful for their sponsorship.

We start at nine and one can dine, although this is not obliged.

We did have already three fantastic music nights that brought back the best memories of our famous Sotogrande Blues Night, one of the most popular events of the Cultural Association.

We had the pleasure to enjoy the blues, jazz, soul, swing and pop of two well-known regional groups: the Lito Blues Band with the great voice of Suzette Moncrief and last Friday we had an unforgettable performance of the Malaga sextet “Dry Martina”.

If you see these bands somewhere announced do not miss the opportunity. You will not regret it, they really bring good music.

Next Friday, the 19^th of February we will present David Lenker.

David , soloist and composer, is certainly one of the best actual musicians staging Spanish contemporary jazz. http://www.myspace.com/denimdavemusic

If is rains again it might be a good reason to assure yourselves of a good night out. And in case it finally does not rain: the music, food and drinks will be as good and pleasant. Please do not forget to reserve if you want to be sure of your place: 956 613 221.

http://www.myspace.com/litobluesbandofficial

http://www.myspace.com/drymartina

http://www.grupoalmazara.com/bienvenida.html

http://www.sanroqueclub.com/public/es/index.php

Friday Nights with life music in the San Roque Club

The Three Kings Concert...let us try to get it back next year!

Once the Three Kings have done their “job” and the Spanish children happily enjoy their royal gifts, we slowly get back to normal, at least here in Spain, where “Navidad” only finishes after the colorful parades of the three most adored royal highnesses in young children’s world.

For many of us these Christmas days are filled with emotions and memories. For me especially the Three Kings bring back lots of nostalgia and musical memories.

I talk about “el gran concierto de Reyes”, the big Three Kings Concert that we used to organize for the Sotogrande residents and many other music lovers of our surroundings.

In one of my earlier comments at this site I mentioned that I have, nine years already, the honor to be the President of the Cultural Association of Sotogrande.

It is only due to lack of funds that you hardly heard from us during the last year and a half. We had the bad luck to be hit quite early by the crisis and that our main sponsors had to draw back their financial support. It happened so quickly that we suddenly saw our budget dropping to almost zero.

You can imagine that it is far from easy to recover from this and to build up a new cultural budget, especially as the crisis only got worse.

Nevertheless we keep on battling with the same spirit and illusions to find again the money to offer our residents and other visitors what a place like Sotogrande needs and deserves: a continuous offer of high quality cultural events.

If you feel attempted to support me in this battle and for example would like to know more about possible sponsorship, please do not hesitate in contacting me. My cell phone is always open, not only for real estate affairs, but also for the culture of Sotogrande: 617 386 662!

The Cultural Association of Sotogrande in need of funds...Are you willing to help?

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.

SOTOGRANDE: ALSO FOR YOUR COMMERCIAL INVESTMENTS

Everyone who knows me better will confirm that I always expressed my confidence in the future of this area. When I came to live and work from here, you even could not find Sotogrande on a map; reason why in those days lots of my Dutch business friends asked me where I had hided myself.

However, after now more than twenty years, I think no one will doubt about the qualities of Sotogrande and the potential of this area towards the future. Yes, I also think of the commercial potential, even in these days of crisis. Of course, as always and everywhere, one needs to have the right investment capacity: in others words, the financial power to get to the necessarily breakevens and wished returns.

There are many commercial properties for sale in and around Sotogrande, all with their own type of potential. Getting to the right decision asks not only for the financial capacity, but also for a throughout knowledge of the area and experience in commercial real estate. This knowledge of the area I have, the experience I already build up in and from Holland. Why not turn those in your advantage and asking me what commercial property there is for sale and what I think about it to get to the right investments?!