Jo Ward - page 2

Jo Ward has 150 articles published.

Summer Family Fun

in Features/Travel

Animals

Bioparc Zoo Fuengirola

You may not feel comfortable visiting zoos, but Bioparc Zoochampions a new animal park model based on respect for nature and the preservation of its species, a model that has already become a benchmark at European level. Bioparc is characterised by its architectural design called zoo-immersion, which immerses the visitor in the environment of the animal. Although not large, there are a diverse selection of animals ranging from crocodiles to tigers and gorillas to orangutans, as well as many more, including pygmy hippopotamus and Malayan tapirs. Wander through some of the most amazing tropical forests in the world, from the island of Madagascar, Equatorial Africa, Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific islands. Get up close as you walk through the lemur house where you will see the primates playing around an ancient Baobab tree or if you are feeling brave enter the abandoned mine full of bats. The most important thing is that the animals look happy, healthy and relaxed in their naturalistic enclosures. 

Selwo Parks

There are now three parks under the Selwo brand. The original, Selwo Aventura Estepona, consists of three large habitat areas with lush tropical and subtropical vegetation, lakes and a huge variety of animals. Experience an authentic off-road African Safari with an expert tour guide and then if the kids want to let off some steam there are trampolines, archery, and a 65-metre long and 15-metre-high suspension bridge. Ziwa, which means “flying over the lake” in Swahili, is a 116-meter zip line suitable only for those brave enough to slide down it and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the great lake, but be aware that the minimum weight to use the zip line is 40 kg and the maximum weight is 90 kg.

Selwo Marina Benalmadena 

Set over four different areas: The Antilles which emulates a Caribbean landscape and where the dolphinarium is located; The Hollow where you will see exotic birds brought in from the Amazon and South America in their natural environment; Icy Island, the first icy penguinarium in Andalusia with the most complete collection of penguins of European zoos that replicates their natural environment where you can observe how these penguins live, both outside the water and under; and The Amazon, an area dedicated to the Amazon rainforest with both flora and fauna brought in from this abundant river. Apart from all that Selwo Marina offers unique live experiences with dolphins, an encounter with penguins or a swim with sea lions.

Teleférico Benalmadena
(Benalmadena Cable Car)

The third attraction that comes under the Selwo brand is the cable car at Benalmadena. Enjoy exclusive panoramic views of the coastline of Malaga as you head up to the top of Monte Calamorro where there is a presentation of birds of prey. 

Sealife Aquarium Benalmadena Marina

Although small, this walk-through underwater park is educational and has different interactive zones where you can get your hands wet and touch some of the sea creatures. Jurassic Tunnel is where you’ll be able to see black-tipped reef sharks, sea turtles and other colourful species. Don’t forget to go to Otter’s Oasis for feeding time where you will meet two Asian Otters. 

Butterfly Park Benalmadena

Located next to the Buddhist Stupa, Mariposario de Benalmádena is the largest butterfly park in Europe. Here more than 1,500 exotic butterflies from around the world fly freely in a tropical paradise between waterfalls and flowers.

Water Parks

Kids love a water park and there are threealong the coast that feature wave pools, water play areas, paddling pools and slides: the largest is Aqualand Torremolinos, then slightly smaller isAquamijas(was Mijas Water Park) and in Cadiz province you will find Bahia Park Algeciras. 

Adventure Parks and Other Activities

Aventura Amazonia located in Elviria has 103 tree challenges and 24 zip lines distributed over 6 adventure circuits. It also includes the longest treetop zip line in Andalusia, with a length of 240m.

Costa Jump San Pedro de Alcántara

The Coast’s first trampoline park offers an enormous indoor arena filled with 50 interconnected wall-to-wall trampolines and lots of different zones. Opening hours 4 – 9 pm weekdays and from 11 am at the weekend. 

The Automobile Museum Malaga

This was a great place to take our grandsons aged 10 and 6 recently. View a private collection of vintage cars said to be worth around €25 million in the Antigua Fábrica de Tabaco (Old Tobacco Factory).  During you’ll visit you’ll get the chance to see more than 90 amazing cars including the Antique 1898 Winner automobile (USA), one of the first vehicles with an engine, to the hydrogen prototype of 2010, as well as impressive Jaguars, Cadillacs, Rolls Royce, Bentleys, Ferraris, Aston Martins, Porsches and Bugatti’s. Alongside the cars there is a selection of designer fashion through the ages from the top fashion houses as well as some 300 vintage hats.

 The MIMMA Interactive Music Museum Malaga

This museum located in the 18th-century Palacio del Conde Nava houses over 1000 instruments from all over the world and, unlike most others museums, instead of saying ‘please do not touch’ it actually encourages people to play and experiment with the instruments in their ‘Please to play’ rooms.  

The Pompidou Centre Malaga 

Maybe taking the kids around an art gallery isn’t top of your list, but for a little bit of down time, The Pompidou Centre situated in amulti-coloured glass cube welcomes children with open arms and there is an exhibition area open to all artistic disciplines where children and their families can take part in workshops.Each year, the Galerie des Enfants presents two new exhibitions devised by contemporary artists. These are interactive and fun, enabling children to explore the world of the visual artist, architect, dancer, designer, musician or writer and share their approach and creative practices.

Magnificent Malta

in Features/Travel

Gibraltar has long had close links with Malta and a Maltese community has existed in Gibraltar since shortly after the British conquest in 1704. Nowadays, over a third of Gibraltarians have Maltese roots going back to the days of Maltese migration in the last half of the 19th century and early 20th century. A proportion of Maltese surnames can be found in Gibraltar today, with many notable Gibraltarians being of Maltese descent. Another similarity is that Malta is known by locals as ‘The Rock’, due to the fact that everything is carved in stone and the golden hue of limestone is evident everywhere on buildings, churches and city walls throughout the islands.

Malta is comprised of seven tiny islets with only the two largest islands, Malta and Gozo, being inhabited, while the third biggest, Comino, is a bird sanctuary and a nature reserve. It has been suggested by geographers through the ages that the Maltese Islands were not only part of one whole land mass, but that they also used to be connected to what is known as modern day Sicily through a land bridge, now 330-feet below sea level. 

Malta, 27 kilometres (17 mi) long and 14.5 kilometres (9 mi) wide and home to half a million people, has been shaped by many different cultures over the years. There are suggestions that teeth discovered in Għar Dalam (‘Cave of Darkness’) complex in 1917 may prove Neanderthals once roamed the island, as they did in Gibraltar, but the island was definitely invaded by Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, the British and others over a long and difficult history. 

During a four day trip to Malta our first stop was the capital Valletta, a fortified city located on a hilly peninsula between two of the finest natural harbours in the Mediterranean which has an intriguing history that spans for centuries. The Knights of Malta built Valletta in the 16th century following the Great Siege of Malta of 1565. Its name derives from Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette, whose vision went beyond fortification and who wanted it to become a grand European centre of culture and commerce. We started our visit at the beautiful and impressive St John’s Co-Cathedral dedicated to Saint John the Baptist built between 1573 and 1578, taking over from the Church of St Lawrence in Vittoriosa as the place where the Knights would gather for communal worship. The interior was revamped in the 17th century in ornate high Baroque style by Mattia Preti and other artists. Make sure to step into the Oratory to see the huge painting ‘The Beheading of St. John the Baptist’ by Caravaggio, which is the painter’s only signed work. If you want to visit the Cathedral a good tip is to book online to go straight into the building and avoid long entrance queues. After coffees and patizzis (traditional phyllo-like pastries filled with ricotta or peas) at Caffe Cordina, located in an old palazzo on Republic Street and worth a visit just for the beautiful interior, we took a sightseeing train ride around the streets which was a really good way to explore the area.  Our last stop in Valletta was to the Lascaris War Rooms, buried deep underneath the Upper Barracca Gardens. They consist of an underground complex of tunnels and chambers that housed the War Headquarters from where the defence of Malta was conducted during the Second World War.

Day two took us to Vittoriosa (Birgu), Senglea and Cospicua, known as the Three Cities of Malta. Again a fun train trip enabled us to get an overview and was a really good way to see the cities without too much walking whilst giving us some unbeatable views across the Grand Harbour towards Valletta. As the first home to the Knights of St. John, the Three Cities’ palaces, churches, forts and bastions are far older than Valletta’s. We strolled through the narrow alleyways and admired the classic architecture then stopped for a mid-morning snack at one of the many cafes along the marina waterfront.  

On our third day we took a ferry from Ċirkewwa, the northernmost point of the island, to Gozo. The trip takes around 25 minutes and ferries run up to 74 times every day of the week. There is also a fast ferry service that takes roughly 45 minutes from Valletta. On arrival at Ċirkewwa harbour we followed the signs to where the cars queue, and if you are a foot passenger you can board the ferry immediately via the terminal. You do not need to buy a ticket on your trip to Gozo from Malta, as tickets are bought on your way back to Malta from the Mgarr terminal in Gozo. A ticket booth is allocated just before the car queue to the boat. Gozo is the quieter sister to Malta, with around 40,000 inhabitants. After heading to capital city Victoria, or Rabat as it is called by the locals, we went up to the Cittadella Visitors Centre. It’s worth getting the combination ticket that includes the visitors centre and four other museums.  The Citadel was originally planned and built to provide shelter for all the inhabitants of the island during the age of coastal piracy. The views from the walls of the fortifications are spectacular and you can walk around the full perimeter. 

On our way back to the ferry we stopped off at Ġgantija Temples, a megalithic temple complex from the Neolithic era preceding Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, one of three UNESCO World Heritage sites on Gozo. The temples are officially recognised by UNESCO as the oldest freestanding buildings in the world and more information can be found in the small museum before you enter the site. 

Our final day took us to the medieval city of Mdina, once the capital of Malta, built on a flat plateau with wonderful views from the fortifications, especially when we stopped for lunch at the popular Fontanella Tea Garden and sat on the top terrace. This restaurant is so popular people queue to be seated, but don’t let that put you off, you will always get a table if you don’t mind a short wait! 

From Mdina we walked to the town of Rabat and visited St. Paul’s catacombs representing Christian, Muslim, Pagan, and Jewish burials side-by-side with no visible separation. These subterranean burial grounds are worth a visit but be aware that access is steep with lots of stairs, narrow passageways and low ceilings. 

There is, of course, a lot more to experience in Malta, from the nightlife culture in St. Julian’s and Sliema, to the resort areas built around harbours. Malta’s coastline is mostly rocky but the water is an amazing turquoise colour, especially in the Blue Lagoon on Comino Island, and there is plenty of opportunity for swimming, snorkelling, diving, and boat trips. Enjoy Malta… we did!

Fundraising for the New Dog Shelter in Los Barrios

in Features

The SOS Perrera de Los Barrios shelter for abandoned dogs over the border in Spain has often been subjected to torrential rain and flooding that occurs not just once a year, but often twice. This has caused devastation to the kennels leading to huge salvage operations from locals in the Campo de Gibraltar area as well as people from Gibraltar who have come together to find temporary shelters within foster carers and private kennels for the animals. However, this creates incredible stress and danger to the dogs and volunteers as they evacuate the dogs. 

Carol Newman, part of the fundraising team for the charity, explains how the cost of running the original site is about €200,000 a year and money is still needed to keep that going at the moment. Thankfully, due to the generosity of two very generous donors, one a businessman from Gibraltar, funds have been provided to purchase a more suitable piece of land on higher ground where the dogs will be able to stay in a safe and secure environment until they can be found permanent homes. 

Carol says that all the plans have been approved and it is a beautiful large piece of land that is quite high up so it won’t be liable to flooding in the future. “There will be loads of room for play areas for the dogs, with an on-site veterinary clinic which will be available for people from the local community to take their dogs to if they can’t afford to pay full price vet fees.” Added to this there will be a visitor’s centre and an education centre.  “We want it to be based on the idea of a UK shelter, and not have it called a pound anymore,” Carol states. If anyone knows the UK TV programme ‘The Dog House’ that follows the rescue charity Dogs Trust matching homeless dogs with hopeful dog owners, Carol says that they hope to emulate that with fenced off areas so that there are no distractions when dogs meet their potential adopters.  

“The fundraising that is ongoing to keep the current pound running is nowhere near enough to cover the massive costs of building and equipping a new shelter,” she says. “The land has been fully fenced now and water has been installed and we are ready to start planting trees to line the fenced perimeter, but we still need a huge injection of funding to continue with the build.”

Los Barrios is essentially a council pound that holds approximately three hundred dogs. “All dogs, regardless of age or condition, whether they are pregnant or have puppies, are accepted into the pound,” Carol says. “Once at the pound, they are cared for, fed and receive veterinary care, including spaying and neutering.”

Eight hundred dogs a year pass through the pound, with a third being adopted, mostly in Spain, some in Gibraltar, and the rest going to countries in Europe.

Adopting or fostering a dog can be life changing, not just for the dog who benefits from a safe and loving home, but also for the adopter and their family. For all the love we give them, dogs seem to always give us triple the love in return.

The pound is run and funded entirely by volunteers and donations. “We have a lot of Spanish volunteers as well as a high percentage of foreigners, including British, Scandinavians, Germans, and Finnish,” Carol states. “A lot of the dogs go to Finland and Germany as well as to the UK.” There are also people who volunteer their services, such as a lawyer, who are not involved directly. 

Fundraising is a constant task and instead of just thinking about doing small fundraisers which is what has happened in the past, Carol says that they now need to make it bigger. “There is no way that we can make the money that is needed just in the local area,” she states.

In an attempt to raise more funds, Carol is currently applying to international animal funds. “I have got three applications in at the moment, to funds mostly based in the UK, but they supply funds all around the world and in Europe and we are waiting to hear back from them.”

Another great way to support the charity is by popping into the SOS Los Barrios Charity Shop Duquesa, situated in the Gallery area in La Duquesa Port. The shop is full of good quality second hand items and clothing and generates a regular income for the charity. “All the money raised in the shop goes into the fund for the new shelter and anything that is raised outside of the general week-to week, month-to-month running of the pound is also put into the shelter fund.”

Carol would like to thank everyone for their support. “Now we have the hard task of raising enough money to make the shelter the best place we can for all the discarded dogs in the Campo Gibraltar. This task is huge and we ask everyone to raise as much as they can, in any way they can!”

Just as we were about to publish this article, the fundraising team had some fantastic news. “One of the foundations we applied to, The Sunley Foundation, have pledged £100,000 once the build is under way. Also one of the vets that helps on castration days has pledged to buy the equipment for the new veterinary centre.” Carol says, adding that they are ‘over the moon’ to learn about this wonderful support. 

You can help the SOS Perrera de Los Barrios team make their dream a reality and ensure that the dogs will not have the fear of flooding each and every winter by donating to the fund. 

Donations can be made by:

Bank transfer ES19 2100 8508 5402 0018 7104

Via the Go Fund Me account: ‘Help Los Barrios build their new shelter’ (the money goes directly into the SOS fund), or via PayPal through the website: www.perreradelosbarrios.com

More information can be found on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/soslosbarrios

How to Make your Skin Glow from the Inside Out

in Health & Beauty

The best way to truly get your skin to glow from the inside out is by ensuring that you eat the right diet, including a variety of superfoods, but there are other ways to boost the appearance of your skin. 

Studies show that supplements like collagen, vitamin C, and multivitamins may help improve certain aspects of skin appearance.

Collagen

Collagen is a naturally produced protein that is found everywhere in our body, from our intestines to our skin, muscles, and ligaments. You may notice some tell-tale signs as you get older that you are deficient in collagen. This can include: your skin losing its elasticity, developing wrinkles, stiff tendons and ligaments, less flexibility, and reduced muscle mass and increased weakness.

If you’re looking to support your skin ageing healthily, you might want to consider taking oral collagen supplements in your mid-to-late twenties. But it’s never too late, collagen has health benefits at any age. HB Collagen Tablets are ideal for those with an active lifestyle. They provide high grade collagen which is hydrolysed to improve absorption and include other essential vitamins and minerals.

HB Collagen Support Gummies are tasty strawberry flavoured gummies, clinically proven to promote our body’s natural collagen production. They contain biotin and vitamin C to aid in synthesis of collage production which helps with the skin’s elasticity.

Hyaluronic Acid

Don’t be put off by the word ‘acid’! We produce Hyaluronic Acid naturally in our own bodies as it helps to keep our skin hydrated. Hyaluronic Acid acts like a magnet for water, helping to lock in moisture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

Get glowing skin with Holland & Barrett’s Hyaluronic Acid Capsules. Each capsule contains 20mg of hyaluronic acid, a key ingredient in skin hydration and rejuvenation. 

Q+A Hyaluronic Acid Daily Moisturiser is a good way to start the day as it deeply
moisturises the skin, is super hydrating for a long-lasting glow and protects against environmental stressors. If you want to use a serum, try Oleus Hyaluronic
Serum. This is a lightweight serum that works to intensely hydrate the skin leaving it looking plump and smooth. It works to help support the skin’s natural barrier leaving you with soft, firm and youthful skin.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is famed for its contributions to youthful, supple skin. It’s an antioxidant, a substance which disarms the harmful free radicals present in the body. It can also encourage (healthy) oil production, leaving you naturally moisturised. Our vitamin A levels deteriorate if we don’t keep them up, so it’s important to consume a range of vitamin A-rich foods such as: fish, dairy products, eggs, carrots, tomatoes and leafy greens. Did you know that when you eat foods with vitamin A, your liver transforms it into retinol? Vitaskin Vitamin A Intense Cell Renewal Oil is packed with Retinoids and Carrot Seed Oil containing high levels of Vitamin A and Vitamin E to help promote softer, smoother and visibly younger-looking skin.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful superfood and antioxidant that is needed to maintain a strong immune system and is a key ingredient in giving you healthy, radiant skin.

Holland & Barrett Vitamin C + Hyaluronic
Acid Serum has been formulated with high quality, natural ingredients, selected to help you to hit the skin reset button. Use Grounded Vitamin C and Hyaluronic
Acid Facial Serum Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate and plump skin with 20% Vitamin C to help boost the production of collagen and brighten dark circles, and it also contains Aloe Vera to soothe.

Retinol

Retinol’s main appeal is that it stimulates collagen production – keeping skin firm and helping to limit the appearance of wrinkles. Pure retinol is only available via prescription, but there are lots of retinol products readily available online and on the shelves, but which one should you choose – retinol serum or cream?

If you have dry or sensitive skin, then you might want to opt for a retinol cream which will contain some form of moisturising ingredients. If you have oily or combination skin, then it may be worth using a retinol serum because most of them are water-based.

HB Oleus Retinol Facial Serum available from Holland & Barrett will help stimulate the production of new skin, leaving your skin looking super youthful with an amazing healthy glow.

Superhero Combination

If you’re looking for a superhero squad of skincare products, try a combination of hyaluronic acid, retinol and collagen. Using hyaluronic acid, retinol, and collagen together is considered safe and shouldn’t cause any adverse side effects. In fact, hyaluronic acid and retinol can help each other by outweighing the slight downsides of each.

Advisory Information:

Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking any medications or are under medical supervision, please consult a doctor or healthcare professional and always read the label before use.

Madeira – Not Just a Piece of Cake!

in Features/Travel

What does the word ‘Madeira’ conjure up? Maybe it’s a large slab of cake or a glass of its famous fortified wine, but there’s much more to this group of Portuguese islands situated off the African coast in the Atlantic Ocean, and now it’s more easily accessible as you can get a direct flight from Málaga to Madeira during the months from July to September. 

Voted Europe’s Leading Island Destination at the World Travel Awards in 2020, Madeira’s warm climate, combined with its unique location, makes it a great year round destination. If you want a bit of winter sun, you will find average temperatures around 16ºC during this season. 

The main island of Madeira is volcanic, with luscious green valleys, steep rugged cliffs and pebbly beaches. Most of the beaches are pebbly, although there are a handful that aren’t, including Seixal in the north-west of the island which is known for its photogenic black sand. A few miles away are the natural lava pools of Porto Moniz, where you can swim in the crystal clear waters without worrying about the waves. 

For those who love outdoor pursuits there is lots of opportunity to get out and about in the natural habitat, whether that is hiking or biking. The extensive natural reserve and coastal cliffs offer stunning views.There are also eleven cascading waterfalls to visit that are dotted all over the main island, amongst the more well-known are the 100m high Risco Waterfall group located in Rabaçal, Paul da Serra, part of the Madeira Natural Park. The Rabaçal viewpoint, located at Pico da Urzeon the Paul da Serra plateau, offers unforgettablescenery within a vast wooded area. From this point you can see the Rabaçal valley, one of the most beautiful in Madeira, surrounded by the lush vegetation of Laurisilva forest, a 20-million-year-old subtropical rainforest declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Madeira Island is one of the best locations in the world for whale and dolphin watching. From November to March, humpback whales and other species can be seen off the coast of the island, and there are plenty of boat trips with experienced guides and spotters to choose from. 

The pleasant climate makes it possible to grow a myriad of plants from all over the globe and a visit to the Madeira Botanical Garden and Palheiro Gardens is a must if you want to see some truly stunning tropical plants and beautiful flowers. No wonder that the island’s nickname is the “Floating Garden of the Atlantic”.

Funchal, Madeira’s capital,lies on the island’s south coast. Take time to stroll through the Rua de Santa Maria in the old town and enjoy the colourful Painted Doors project where every door has been turned into a work of art. Stop off at one of the many cafés, bars and restaurants offering both traditional and international cuisine. Take the cable car up to Monte Palace Tropical Garden or,if you’re up for something more unusual, speed down the hill on a Madeira Toboggan Ride in traditional wicker basket sledges drive by two men (carreiros).

City of London

in Features/Travel

It’s always the way… when you are born and bred in a place you don’t explore the area as much as you do when you are a tourist. That’s exactly how I approach London now, returning as a visitor and finding all the hidden places that I haven’t been to before. 

The City of London is very different to when I was growing up in the capital. Skyscrapers dominate the skyline, and despite the pandemic, applications have been put in for ten new tower blocks in a sign of investor confidence.

If you want to check out some amazing views, there are no shortage of buildings to ascend. The Sky Garden is located in the heart of the city’s financial district at 20 Fenchurch Street in the ‘Walkie Talkie’ building, nicknamed because of its distinctive shape that is said to resemble a two-way radio handset. Access to the Sky Garden, London’s highest public garden with lush greenery and landscaped gardens, is free of charge, but you must book in advance. The good news is that there are plenty of benches and places to sit down. It’s worth a visit just for the incredible 360-degree views and there is also the opportunity to grab a drink at the Sky Pod Bar or get a bite to eat at the Darwin Brasserie. 

The Shard, named because of its resemblance to a shard of glass, was once the tallest building in Europe (now the seventh tallest) but still has the accolade of being the tallest building in the UK. The Skydeck offers unparalleled views over the city, but unlike the Sky Garden you have to buy tickets to take the high-speed lifts from Level 1 to Level 68 in sixty seconds to access the viewing platforms on the 68th, 69th, and 72nd floors. The sunset time slots are understandably popular but a night visit is a fantastic experience to see London lit up in all its glory below you. 

Tower Bridge is an iconic London landmark that is a feat of Victorian engineering and one that is known the world over, but did you know that you can go inside? Opened in 1894, the bridge spans the Thames from Southwark to Tower Hamlets but due to lack of use it closed in 1910 and didn’t reopen until 1982.  Another interesting fact is that any vessel more than 9m (30ft) tall, can request the bridge to open at any time, day or night.    

You have to buy tickets but this is definitely a must-do visit for the family where you can visit the Engine Room, view London from a high-level glass walkway between the towers, and also learn more about the construction of the bridge inside the Tower Bridge Exhibition Room. 

Covent Garden

in Features/Travel

What do you conjure up when you think of Covent Garden? You most probably associate the area with the renowned Flower Market that was depicted by Audrey Hepburn as flower girl Eliza Doolittle in the 1964 Warner Bros. production My Fair Lady. 

Located in the West End, for centuries Covent Garden has been a hub for theatre goers, opera lovers and ballet devotees, especially as it is home to The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet and there are now twenty theatres in the local vicinity all hosting an eclectic mix of drama, musicals and comedy shows. If you haven’t ventured into The Royal Opera House before, you don’t just have to go to watch a performance. Take a Behind the Scenes tour and then go up to the Piazza Terrace Bar for a bird’s eye view of the historic Piazza below.

At the heart of Covent Garden, the Piazza is where the cobbled streets and arched market buildings hint at its rich heritage. From Tuesday to Sunday, the covered Apple Market is where you will find stalls selling a range of handmade crafts and goods and on Monday’s you can browse through antiques and collectables.  

On the western side of the Piazza stands The Actors’ Church, known for its long links to London’s theatre, designed in 1630 by Inigo Jones. Directly opposite St Paul’s is where you will find the historic Punch and Judy Pub, built in 1787 and named for the Punch and Judy puppet shows that were regularly performed to entertain the children of the flower-sellers. 

Street performers have been a long tradition at Covent Garden, and nowadays that is no exception. One of my favourite places and a must-visit on any trip to London is the courtyard in front of the Crusting Pipe Wine Bar and Restaurant. If the weather isn’t too cold you can sit outside with a glass of wine or two and watch the buskers, musicians and opera singers (often from the Opera House), as they perform. 

One of the most popular visitor attractions for families where you can discover the history of London’s famous transport network is The London Transport Museum, situated on the south-east side of the piazza.

Covent Garden is also a foodie lover’s paradise, from fine dining to grabbing a bite to eat before a show, there is something to suit everyone. If you’re after a cocktail with a difference, head into one of the many themed bars. Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration in Bedford Street is a fun find, with wood-panelled walls, vintage leather seating and artefacts from his supposed travels, as well as a range of exotic cocktails!

There are many other hidden gems to visit that are situated in and around Covent Garden, but they will have to wait for another article!

Rebuilding Tourism

in Features/Travel

One of the main foundations of the Gibraltar economy is tourism and the good news is that tourists are returning to the Rock following the lockdowns and travel restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The Hon Vijay Daryanani MP, Minister for Business, Tourism and The Port, gives Jo Ward an update on the tourism sector and outlines his hopes for the future.

Back in 2019, when Minister Daryanani had only been in office for a couple of months, he was looking forward to getting to grips with the job. “It was an exciting time for me because I had been elected as a Minister and I had been given a portfolio that included tourism and business that I thought I could do a lot with,” he states. “The GSLP Liberals had been governing for eight years, and were doing some wonderful things and I was joining a very proactive and exiting team.”

“If had told you in Christmas 2019 that we won’t have a cruise ship for eighteen months coming into Gibraltar Port you would have said that I had gone bananas, but that is exactly what happened.”

The Minister went on to say that he thinks people realised how serious it was when they announced that they were locking down, that airlines were closing and cruise liners were stopping. A normal term of office for a Minister is four years, and so far the Hon. Vijay Daryanani has been in place for three and a half years, and during that time no tourists were coming through the frontier and cruise liners were not docking in Gibraltar. “It has been a huge challenge and at the end of this term of office it will be as if I have worked for only half a term, because it has been two years of total havoc,” he explains. “There are projects that I have initiated that we haven’t been able to get on with because of the financial constraints, but all the time during lockdown we were working hard behind the scenes, navigating the way forward, not knowing when we would be reopening ‘Gibraltar Plc’.”

This included keeping in touch with airlines and cruise ship companies to see what would happen when eventually they would be able to open up. “I think we have done very well because we have managed to bring back the business that was stopped – that in itself was a huge challenge – but in 2023 we will have very similar figures when it comes to cruise liners and we are pretty much at the same capacity when it comes to our airport,” The Minister says. “People are impressed when I go abroad and they ask questions about how Gibraltar has recovered from the pandemic.”

The Minister goes on to clarify that in 2019 there were 197 calls to Gibraltar Port by cruise ships, and that this year they will probably finish at approximately 187 calls. Regarding the land frontier, the figures are once again similar to those pre-pandemic. “The main tourist is someone who is visiting the Costa del Sol and comes to Gibraltar for the day, and this year we will see a huge benefit because more and more people are starting to travel now.”

With the news that the Eastside Tunnel under the runway is due to open soon, I asked the Minister what difference he thinks that will make to tourism. “When we have flights coming in to Gibraltar we see the closure of the airfield,” the Minister says. “So, for example, on a Sunday when seven flights arrive, that means fourteen runway closures, but with the tunnel we are confident that we will see the movement of traffic and that the flow will be easier, and hopefully people will love the experience of coming through that tunnel.”

During the pandemic, Gibraltar was seen as a safe destination compared to others which were the subject of travel restrictions. In 2021 Eastern Airways announced that it was launching flights to Gibraltar from Southampton and Birmingham in May, and later that year Wizz Air announced the launch of a new route from London Luton to Gibraltar from December. 

Addressing the fact that both companies pulled out of Gibraltar, The Minister comments that an airline will only come into Gibraltar if they think that they can do business. “If they left Gibraltar it was because there wasn’t enough business, and although we talk about that in terms of airlines it is the same in any business, if it doesn’t do well and you start losing money you will close as soon as possible,” he explains. “We started talking to Wizz before the pandemic and they eventually came to Gibraltar during the pandemic, and even though the load factor was 65% it wasn’t enough to keep the route going.”

“In so far as Eastern are concerned, they are a smaller airline and I think that was more of an ambitious project, but having said that I attracted them here and they didn’t do well enough and therefore decided that they couldn’t continue because they made a hefty loss during the period that they were in Gibraltar.”

There was also an announcement that Spanish airline Volotea planned to launch direct flights between Gibraltar and Bilbao in Spain, but this never materialised, and the Minister clarifies that by stating that the Spanish Civil Aviation turned their application down. “It’s as simple as that,” he says. 

Asked if there any other airlines coming to Gibraltar, the Hon. Vijay Daryanani explains that many factors are involved in bringing an airline to Gibraltar. “The main one is the type of aircraft that the airline flies,” he states, going on to say that an airline such as Ryan Air fly jets that are too heavy and can’t land at Gibraltar airport.

“I am constantly speaking to all the airlines that can fly to Gibraltar – and even the ones that don’t fly here – and it is important to keep in touch because you never know what might happen in the coming years and they might change aircraft.”

The Minister recently attended the European Cruise Summit in Paris, a conference attended by CEO’s and presidents of most of the important cruise lines in the world as well as politicians and the industry press. Asked if Gibraltar was losing cruise ships to other ports and whether Gibraltar has the infrastructure and transport to cope with increased demands for cruise ships that may come into Gibraltar, he commented that Gibraltar is a very traditional and well-known port. “Previously there were only three important Mediterranean ports, Barcelona and Malaga in Spain, and Gibraltar,” he replies, “but today there are ports in Malaga, Cadiz, Valencia, Cartagena, Tarragona, Bilbao and Gijon where there were none ten years’ ago.” The Minister goes on to explain that it is this competition that perhaps makes it more difficult for the cruise liners when they are planning an itinerary because there is now so much to choose from. “All the major cruise liners in the world come to Gibraltar and although Royal Caribbean International will not be calling in 2024, they will be coming back in 2025.”

Some of the new cruise ships accommodate 5,000 passengers, so is there enough for them to do when they dock in Gibraltar? The Minister says that there is enough of an offering when you take into account that Gibraltar has a total area of only 2.5 square miles. “We do extremely well in the space that we have and yes, I agree the more the merrier and that if we had more things to do then perhaps we could get more people off the cruise ships,” adding that they are always working on new products and that the Minister thinks they have done well in increasing the kind of offering that they have had in the past. “I think Gibraltar is an exciting destination as it is, but we need to keep working hard to see what we can attract here, and that includes overnight tourism,” he states. “That can only happen in Gibraltar if we have more hotels and that is something that I am working on, but with investments of millions of pounds people have to think properly to be able to say ‘yes’ we are going to invest this kind of money in Gibraltar.”  The Minister goes on to say that: “At the moment there is a lot of movement behind the scenes and although it is difficult to get it over the line, we hope to do so in the future.”

Another project that the Minister is working on is refurbishing, or possibly building a new cruise terminal. “Again there have been financial constraints otherwise I would have this done by now, but there are all sorts of possibilities on the table and we are seeing what is the most value for money way forward and I hope that we can make an announcement about this soon.”

The message that the Minister would like to impart is that Gibraltar is doing well. “We will keep on working hard to make sure that we are bringing as much tourism, new business and new hotels here, and I will carry on speaking to the airlines to see whether we can open up new routes.” He tells me that it is very difficult because if they don’t make money they will stop. “It would be easier for me to not do anything because if I don’t do anything I won’t get criticised, but that is not my style – I like to get stuck in and to make sure that we can do our best and try and attract as much as possible and if it doesn’t work out – at least we tried.”

Cold water therapy

in Health & Beauty

You may have noticed an increase in social media posts showing people plunging into cold water. Yes, believe it or not, there are some people who actually enjoy immersing their bodies (in water that’s less than 15°C) into an ice bath, taking a freezing cold shower or having an outdoor swim. 

Cold water therapy was one of the top new wellness trend of 2022, and although it has often been used by athletes to treat muscle soreness and promote faster recovery, its popularity rose when Dutch fitness influencer, Wim “The Iceman” Hof started promoting extreme ice swimming (in water that’s no more than 5°C), more than a decade ago. The ‘Wim Hof’ method combines cold therapy, breathing techniques and mind exercises with the aim to get your body and mind into the best possible condition.

So what are the benefits of cold water therapy?

According to a study by the British Journal of Sports Medicine, cold showers have many physiological effects on the body. These include: increased heart rate, higher blood pressure and an elevated respiratory rate. 

Numerous studies have shown that cold water immersion can help reduce muscle pain and stiffness after exercise by reducing swelling and inflammation, improve risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as boosting immune systems and easing bouts of depression. It can also help ease the pain associated with arthritis, not only as a natural long-term remedy, but it can also offer instant pain relief. 

Mental Health Swims, a non-profit charity, organizes cold-water swimming throughout the UK with more than 150 swim locations.  Open water swimming is getting more popular and in a case study published by the BMJ, a weekly peer-reviewed medical trade journal, it supports the use of cold water swimming as a depression treatment. Another study by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that people had a lower risk of developing upper respiratory tract infections if they used cold therapy.

At a time when energy costs are rising, cold water baths and showers are a cost cutting and effective way to save money. Rather than resorting to medication to boost your mood, cold water therapy can be undertaken in your own home, with no side effects. Start slowly and gradually build up your exposure.

But beware! Cold water therapy can be a shock to the system, even for people who use it regularly, so it is best to start by having a few cold showers in the days leading up to your first full immersion. If you have never tried cold water therapy before, begin by having a shower in warm water, then turn it on to cold and stand under the water for one minute, increasing to two minutes the next time you shower and eventually try having a cold shower without starting with the warm water. 

Remember to proceed with caution and maybe check with your GP or doctor first if you suffer with a heart condition or any other serious medical illness, such as diabetes.

Gibsams a vital community service

in Health & Beauty

Since becoming CEO of GibSams in September last year, Brenda Cuby has been busy overseeing and implementing new initiatives for the charity that continues to offer support and help people with mental health issues and those with suicidal thoughts. 

“At the end of last year, twenty-three local businesses were recognised in a ceremony that took place at the Garrison Library as part of the ‘Wellbeing at Work Awards’ scheme that was initiated four years ago by GibSams’ founder Marielou Guerrero as part of the ‘Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Worldwide’ programme,” Brenda explains, adding that they will continue growing the awards each year.  The scheme was started with the purpose to publicly recognise and reward companies, regardless of the size of their businesses, which have successfully implemented positive changes for the benefit of their employees.

“This year we have launched our Wellbeing Leader Training programme, a one-day course that will raise awareness of wellbeing and mental health in the workplace,” she says. “A Wellbeing Leader will be taught ways to spot those experiencing mental health issues and signpost support for someone who may be having a bad day at work and who doesn’t want to go to HR.” From there, Brenda tells me that this will lead to the launch of GibSams’ first Wellbeing at Work Conference that will take place on 11th May. “Going into the workplace is a developing part of our community outreach, which is an integral part of the ethos of the GibSams organisation,” she states. 

As part of their Education Outreach services GibSams, in conjunction with the Department of Education, held the ‘Now and Beyond’ Schools Festival last November – a one day event featuring online and in-person sessions accessible to pupils, parents and carers. Brenda says that they brought in the ‘Now and Beyond’ Team from the UK to hold workshops surrounding digital wellbeing and the use of social media. 

For those in the community who may otherwise have been alone on Christmas Day, GibSams held an ‘alternative’ Christmas lunch at the Thi Vietnamese restaurant where over sixty people were treated to a warm welcome and some great Vietnamese food.  Brenda says that it gave them the opportunity to be in the company of others and engage in conversation.  “We also ran an advertising video campaign on GBC focusing about not being alone at Christmas and how it is good to talk, because human interaction is of vital importance to our mental wellbeing.”

“This year we have also started monthly community coffee mornings at different venues,” Brenda states. “We buy coffee and breakfast and people from the community come along to talk to us to find out more about what we do, how they can get involved and how they can support us.”

Brenda explains that they have also just completed their first intake of new volunteers for this year. “Our ambition is to open the listening service up for extra hours.”

A new initiative for GibSams is their Seafarer service. “Seafarers are particularly vulnerable to mental health issues because they spend so much time at sea,” Brenda says. “Our parent organisation Befrienders set up a service for seafarers last year, and we have been asked to pilot a WhatsApp service for seafarers passing through the Strait of Gibraltar and in local waters.”

Fundraising and donations are, of course, a crucial factor for GibSams, enabling them to provide their continuing services to the local community. “A fun run is being held on 18th March starting in Casemates Square, raising funds for the team of ten local runners that are heading off to the London Landmarks half-marathon in April,” Brenda says, adding that on the 6th May they will be holding the Darkness into Light Walk as the official charity partner for Pieta. “This will be just one of the two hundred official walks for Darkness into Light in 2023 across 10 countries spanning 4 continents.”

Asked if she thinks that GibSams has made a difference in Gibraltar, Brenda replies “definitely”. “When we set up five years ago, we said that if we help one person then it was all worth it – but knowing that on average we get a call a day means that we have helped  a lot of people over that period of time.”  

“Our mission is to reduce the number of suicides in Gibraltar – we always say reduce rather than eradicate because you can never do that – but we also want people to call us if they are anxious, stressed, worried, or lonely and we want to get them at the low level grade of feeling not well rather than wait to get into the stage where they are feeling suicidal or they feel they have no other option.”

Brenda stresses that there is no shame in contacting GibSams. “People are now talking openly about how they are feeling, where previously nobody talked about it and nobody would admit they had a family member that had a mental health illness.”

“We want to let people know that they can call GibSams with no fear or judgement, without thinking that somebody is going to tell you what to do – and that hopefully will give you the comfort and the confidence to pick-up that phone or to chat online with us about your feelings.”

“GibSams is always looking for more volunteers, for people to fundraise and to raise awareness of the work that we do,” Brenda clarifies. “At the moment we have about eighty volunteers in total giving up their time.” If you feel that you can become a listening volunteer and commit to doing one listening shift a week, or would like to help in other ways, please get in touch with GibSams.   

More information can be found on the GibSams website: www.gibsams.gi

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