seaside - Park Hotel

The Seaside Hotels Magazine I No 28
SEASIDE
T R I B U N E
The latest member of the Seaside Group
the five-star boutique hotel Gewandhaus Dresden
Los Jameos Playa celebrates twentieth birthday
The Wave Gothic Festival in Leipzig
From the hotels
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Dear Guests, dear Readers,
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Fairy tales and journeys have a great deal in common – in them the world becomes more colourful, new horizons open up and dreams come true. At the end of every journey the traveller
should have a story to tell, and as your hosts we regard it as our role in your story to make
your experiences as enjoyable and unforgettable as possible. This is why we have invested a
great deal of care in selecting not only the destination and location of our Seaside Hotels, but
also their architecture and design – backed of course by premium-quality cuisine and personal
service which comes from the heart.
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Sport & Wellness
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We’re especially proud of the fact that with our five-star boutique hotel Gewandhaus Dresden
we can now offer you a further fascinating destination for a fairy-tale stay in Germany. The
beauty of this baroque city on the Elbe river has enchanted visitors for centuries, including
one of the world’s most famous authors of fairy stories, Hans Christian Andersen, who was
inspired by his experience of “Florence on the Elbe”, as the city is also called, to write: “When
I reached the Augustus bridge, which I already knew well from paintings, I had the feeling that
I had already been here once in a dream” – Hans Christian Andersen (Danish poet and writer,
famous for his many fairy tales, 1805 – 1875).
We wish you a wonderful stay at our Seaside Hotels and hope you will have a wonderful story
to tell about every holiday spent with us.
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Los Jameos Playa celebrates twentieth birthday
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Theo Gerlach
The art of wine production in Lanzarote
Tapas
Pimientos del piquillo (red bell peppers)
Leisure & Culture
10.
Anouchka Gerlach
AALERNHÜS hotel & spa
Hiking in Gran Canaria
Golf courses on Gran Canaria and Lanzarote
Gran Canaria on two wheels
Cuisine
Your hosts, the Gerlach family
Gregor Gerlach
Award-winning quality
Interview with Alex Obertop –
general manager at SIDE Hotel*****
The latest member of the Seaside Group:
the five-star boutique hotel Gewandhaus Dresden
Los Jameos Playa**** celebrates twentieth birthday
Behind the scenes ... Two interviews
Trainees at Seaside Hotels in the Canary Islands
News from Seaside Hotel Sandy Beach****
The Westin Valencia
“Schröder -2-go” – at AALERNHÜS hotel & spa
Interview with Steffen Schenk, chef de cuisine
at five-star design hotel Seaside Palm Beach*****
Seaside Hotels and Randstad Foundation
Manolo Guédez Estévez
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Ten essential things to do in Hamburg
Dresden – 10 tips for an unforgettable stay
Our staff recommend – 10 essential things to see
in Lanzarote
Chemnitz – gateway to the Erzgebirge
Gran Canaria – Insider Info
The historical influence of the British on Gran Canaria
The Wave Gothic Festival in Leipzig
10 things you absolutely need to see and do in Valencia
smac – the State Museum for Archaeology in Chemnitz
Las Palmas is worth a visit!
Leipzig ‘The city of lakes’
Columns
38 The Wave Gothic Festival in Leipzig
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Contact / Picture credits / Imprint
3
Award-winning
quality
Year in, year out the exclusive
Seaside Resort Hotels in Gran Canaria
and Lanzarote receive multiple awards
for premium quality and customer
satisfaction
During 2014 / 2015 alone the four Seaside Resort Hotels in the
Canary Islands – Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia*****GL, Seaside
Palm Beach*****and Seaside Sandy Beach**** in Gran Canaria
as well as Seaside Los Jameos Playa**** in Lanzarote – received
no less than 50 different international awards. Among other
honours all four hotels were proud to receive the Tripadvisor
Certificate of Excellence and to be included in the HolidayCheck
Quality Selection. In addition to awards based on the ratings provided by holidaymakers from all around the world, the extensive
honours list also includes numerous awards recognising the commitment of the Seaside Hotels
to environmental conservation.
The Seaside Resorts in the
Canary Islands enjoy tremendous popularity with guests travelling with TUI, known within
Germany and abroad as one of
the world’s most prestigious tour
operators. TUI guests staying at
Seaside Hotels have repeatedly
and regularly confirmed their
satisfaction by awarding the
hotels no less than 38 TUI Hollies,
four TUI Nordic Blue Gold
Awards and three TUI UK &
Ireland Gold Awards.
it as one of the region’s most popular hotels. In addition last year
the hotel received a further TUI Holly, a Zoover Award as the
fourth-best hotel in Spain, its third Condé Nast Award and – at
the beginning of 2015 – the Booking.com Award of Excellence.
The third multiple award-winning Seaside Hotel in the south
of Gran Canaria is the four-star Seaside Sandy Beach****,
which is located in the popular holiday resort of Playa del Inglés
with its vast expanse of sandy beach. In addition to the title of
“Schauinsland Top Hotel Partner 2014”, the stylish hotel with its
Moorish architecture and location close to the centre and the
beach last year received not only
the ITS Red Star Award but also
the HolidayCheck Award in the
“Popular for Seaside Holidays”
category.
With more than 60 awards
Seaside Los Jameos Playa****
in Lanzarote is also massively
popular with sun-seeking holidaymakers from all around the
world. Among the prizes won
by this four-star hotel situated
close to the beach in Puerto del
Carmen with its wide range of
sports and leisure facilities are
multiple Zoover Awards as one
of the top 25 hotels in Spain,
two RTK Hotel Awards and in
2014 the Best First Choice 4*
Accommodation Award presented by TUI UK.
In 2014 the five-star Seaside
Grand Hotel Residencia*****GL,
situated in Maspalomas at the
southern-most tip of Gran Canaria and member of “The Leading
Hotels of the World” association, was awarded the coveted
title of the “World’s Best TUI
In addition, all the Seaside Resort
Hotel”. Three years previously
Hotels in the Canary Islands
Lisa Tuckman (Sales & Marketing) with the other Condé Nast
the island’s most luxurious hotel
have repeatedly been recogWinners (above). Bruno Bedda (HolidayCheck), Astrid van Wijk (Director of
had already been voted the best
nised for the commitment they
Sales & Marketing) and Ursula Matas (Director of Seaside Hotel Sandy
Beach****) (below)
TUI hotel in the western Medishow in the fields of sustainaterranean/Atlantic region. Every
bility and social responsibility.
year more than half a million TUI holidaymakers decide on
So far Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia*****GL, Seaside Palm
Beach*****, Seaside Sandy Beach**** and Seaside Los Jameos
the world’s 100 most popular hotels by voting in the tourism
Playa**** have received no less than 18 TUI Environmental
industry’s most comprehensive customer survey. With its multiple
Champion Awards. With this award Germany’s premier tour
award-winning cuisine, which is recommended by the 2014
operator annually recognises hotels which have shown special
Michelin Guide, Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia*****GL has
also, among other distinctions, won seven Tripadvisor Travellers’
dedication to protecting the environment, combined with sociChoice Awards and two Trivago Awards.
ally responsible operations. Accordingly all four Seaside Resort
Hotels in the Canary Islands are the proud recipients of the presLocated only a few minutes away from Seaside Grand Hotel
tigious international Travelife Gold Award environmental prize.
GL
Residencia***** , the colourful five-star Design Hotel Seaside
Palm Beach***** can also boast an extensive list of domestic
The awards which have been listed are up to date as of 31 July
and international prizes. For example the luxury resort, which
2015. You will find an overview of all the awards so far acquired
is situated close to the beach and the dunes and was the first
by the Seaside Hotels on the homepage of your own personal
member of the Design Hotels association in the Canary Islands,
“favourite Seaside Hotel”.
was honoured by HolidayCheck as a TopHotel 2014, recognising
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AALERNHÜS hotel & spa
Friesian hospitality and a spa philosophy
which come from the heart
holistic and ethical approach, ecological
production methods and entirely doing
without parabens, silicons, paraffins,
synthetic scents and PEGs.”
© PHARMOS-Natur
The fact that the AALERNHÜS hotel
& spa represents a piece of family history is not just revealed by the name:
in the Friesian dialect “Aalernhüs”
means “parental home”, and owner
Claudia Gerlach took over this hotel
with its rich traditions, once known
as “Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten” (Four
Seasons), from her father.
Today more than ever the Aalernhüs is
regarded as one of the most authentic
hotels in Sankt Peter-Ording. In spite of
its excellent rating, delicious regional cuisine and outstanding service the hotel
does not make an elitist impression but is
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friendly, cosy and generates a family atmosphere. For the entire team surrounding hotel manager Olaf P. Beck and for
Claudia and Gregor Gerlach it is simply
a labour of love.
A place where you feel good
Here you can forget the everyday world
for a while and allow yourself to be
entranced by the clean sea air, the sea,
endless panoramas and the fascinating
landscape. Appreciation of Sankt PeterOrding’s impressive and very special
natural surroundings is reflected everywhere in the AALERNHÜS hotel & spa,
especially in the hotel’s own wellness
facility – a feel-good oasis covering 1000
square metres.
Spa manager Merit Holletschek explains why this is so and what the
basis of the spa philosophy is.
“We attach great importance to ensuring
that our wonderful natural surroundings
are also reflected in the spa. This is why
we only use cosmetics companies which
produce products of the highest purity
and quality standards by applying a
What brands do you use?
“PHARMOS-Natur, Dr. Hauschka and
Oceanwell – all of them brands which
exactly reflect this philosophy and sustainability. With the cultivation of special plants in accordance with ecological
techniques the focus from the very beginning is on combining traditional knowhow with the latest scientific findings.
For example, the algae for our Oceanwell
sea water cosmetics are cultivated in the
pure waters of the Baltic in Germany’s
first ecologically certified algae farm. The
subsequent careful processing of the
algae and the manufacture of the cosmetic products is strictly in accordance
with the guidelines governing natural
cosmetics.”
In other words pure, green luxury
and a blessing for the skin of your
guests ...
“No doubt about it! Our highly effective
and exclusive spa treatments are applied
by our staff with the greatest care – all of
them highly trained beauticians, therapists and masseurs. Each application of
the luxurious oils and creams used in
our treatments creates a feeling of total
well-being and enables guests to regain
their own inner balance in a relaxing and
sensuous process.”
The art
of wine production
in Lanzarote
The basic requirements for successful wine production
include the type of soil and the microflora, temperature,
humidity and light conditions of the region.
Today’s best-known and most successful wine-producing
countries are France, Italy, the USA, China, Australia, Chile,
Argentina, South Africa and Spain. The structure and texture of
the soil in all these individual countries have a strong influence
on the style of the wine produced there.
In view of the ‘moonscape’ which is typical of Lanzarote and
the island’s climatic conditions (less than 2 mm average rainfall
per month, strong trade winds, almost eight hours of sunshine
per day and an average air temperature of approx. 20 degrees)
it is difficult to imagine that wine production would be possible
on an island which enjoys so little rainfall.
However, a visit to the famous 5,255 hectare sized La Geria
wine-producing nature reserve will prove that this is far
from being the case. The reserve stretches from Yaiza to San
Bartolomé on the edge of the Timanfaya national park. The devastating volcanic eruptions of the years 1732 to 1736 created
a breathtakingly unique landscape, which cannot be compared
with any other wine-producing region. During those years the
massive lava flows led to the development of a kind of frozen
sea, and in 1960 La Geria was described by the New York
Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art as an impressive example
of “the art of engineering without an engineer”.
On the 15 km long and 2 to 3 km wide area the shower of
volcanic ash generated by the eruptions left a layer of lapilli
(also called picón) 1 m to 2.5 m thick, and put an end to all
agriculture there. The Lanzaroteños had to make the best of
the situation by developing a new type of dryland farming
(enarenado).
Their response was to create funnel-like holes which were so
deep that the roots of the vine were able to reach the layer of
soil below. This trick enables the rain, which only falls in winter,
to irrigate the individual plants and penetrate to the intensively
rooted soil, where it was stored. At the same time the water is prevented from flowing away, which prevents erosion.
A further means of protecting the vines from the often strong
and hot winds is a semi-circular wall of basalt-like lumps of
lava. The funnels which are created in this way have given the
wine-producing area its name of La Geria.
The secret of this system is the irrigation, which is regulated by
the layer of picon itself. The porous lava granulate stores the
overnight dew in particles, which is then released to the plant
as required. The result is that the soil remains moist throughout
the day, which would otherwise be impossible to achieve on
this almost waterless island.
The wine: fresh, fruity and flowery
The wine which is produced in these unique surroundings is
fresh, fruity and flowery to the taste and comes mainly from
the malvasia grape. The result is a wine which is heavy, golden
yellow with a high alcohol content. In addition to the malvasia
varietal the island of Lanzarote also produces sweet and sherrylike muscatel wine. Red and rosé wines are only produced by
the large bodegas. The grapes are harvested once a year, in
August. If the harvest took place later the wine would be too
sweet and heavy.
The best-known bodegas in Lanzarote are Bodega El Grifo,
Bodega Los Bermejos, Bodega Barreto and Bodega Rubicón.
Most of these wine cellars are on the LZ-30 road. The wines
can be tasted there and bought to take home as a souvenir.
Insider tip
For the best view of the wine-producing area you should climb
the 510 m Montaña Negra by taking the path through the sea
of lava just to the east of the fork in the main road. The path
leading upwards from the road is relatively easy to climb and
the panorama from the summit is spectacular.
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Interview
with Alex Obertop
visits, as is the case with many of our guests, and even then
it made a strong impression on me. Since we have been here
my family and I have come to enjoy the many facets of the
city all the more. Among most of its visitors this Hanseatic city
is known for its musicals, the Alster, the shopping precincts
and the district of St. Pauli. However, that’s only the beginning
because there are lots more fascinating sights such as the
Miniature Wonderland, the International Maritime Museum
and the ‘Michel’ church. In addition, of course, there’s a wide
range of insider tips we can pass on to our guests.
Do you have a specific favourite place at SIDE?
SIDE is a wonderful design hotel and there are lots of great
places here! For example, I particularly like the Skylounge on
the eighth floor with its exceptional design and the spectacular
view from the terrace across the roofs of Hamburg! For internal
and external meetings I also enjoy using the Executive Lounge,
which is separated off from the Skylounge. With its full-length
windows it provides a view of the whole Skylounge area, which
makes a highly communicative impact. Of course I also enjoy
being in the [m]eatery bar + restaurant, as well as in our spa,
which is a unique world in itself with its colour blocking. Our
guests are of the same opinion!
SIDE general manager Alex Obertop together with the singer “Pink”
Hello Mr Obertop and welcome to SIDE – although of
course you’re very much an old acquaintance when it
comes to our hotel. How have you settled in, and what
makes this hotel so special?
I was delighted by the friendly welcome I received from the
whole SIDE team and of course our guests. The hotel’s staff
are its heart and soul and they are the very ones who always
ensure that our guests receive the very best treatment. It isn’t
easy to express in a few words what is so great about SIDE, but
first and foremost there is its excellent design, which makes
the hotel so unique. And then of course there are features
such as the [m]eatery bar + restaurant, which give the hotel
its additional flair.
What does the city of Hamburg mean to you personally?
Although my family and I haven’t been in Hamburg for very
long, we have very quickly been made to feel at home here. A
few years ago I got to know the city in the course of weekend
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Skylounge, one of Alex Obertop’s favourite places in SIDE
When and where did you begin your hotel career?
At a very early stage – at the age of 15 I took a part-time job
as a dishwasher and waiter, and it didn’t take me long to discover my passion for the hotel and restaurant business. As a
result I decided on a course of training in hotel management
and studied at the prestigious Hotelschool in Den Haag. I then
started my career at the Ritz Carlton in Atlanta.
You’ve already done a lot of travelling and, as we’ve just
heard, have already lived and worked in the USA and the
Netherlands, among other places. What has been your
most exciting hotel experience in the years you’ve spent
in hotel management?
I’ve had a number of memorable experiences during my 18
years in the hospitality business, but one experience that
springs to mind, for example, involved the pop singer PINK on
the occasion of America’s Thanksgiving Day. I was director of
the Breidenbacher Hof in Düsseldorf and PINK, who was on
tour at the time, gave a Thanksgiving Dinner for her 80-man
tour team. She even helped prepare the dinner in the hotel
kitchen herself. That was a great experience and is definitely
one of the most exciting of my entire career. In general I also
always get a great deal of satisfaction out of making plans
with young teams and then successfully achieving our targets.
What would you have become if you hadn’t gone into
the hotel business?
I would probably have become a confectioner – that was my
grandfather’s occupation. He had a confectionery in Den Haag,
but even back when I was 15 I couldn’t imagine staying in one
place all the time.
How do you spend your time when you’re not at work?
I try to spend as much time as possible with my family, but I
also occasionally enjoy a game of tennis or golf, and skiing.
As a native of Holland is there anything you have missed
during your stay in the USA and in Germany.
It’s difficult to say. Probably simply being geographically close
to my family – my parents, uncles and aunts and cousins.
Where do you think you’ll be in twenty years’ time?
In a city here in Germany, together with my wife.
Thank you for talking to us so frankly and for your daily
efforts on behalf of the Seaside Group! We’re very happy
to have you as general manager at SIDE and look forward
to a long and successful cooperation!
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International art on European soil – Hamburg’s Deichtorhallen represent one of
the largest exhibition centres for contemporary art in Europe. They consist of
three locations: the Hall for Contemporary Art and the House of Photography
in the city centre, and the Falckenberg Collection in Hamburg-Harburg.
Eat the world – culinary cultural city tours which provide a look behind the
scenes in Hamburg and take you through small districts with their own distinctive identity. Each city tour includes tastings at unique restaurants, delicatessens
and snack bars.
Ten essential things
to do in Hamburg
Round Hamburg at speed – a hot rod tour of the city guarantees an entirely
new adventure experience. The specially modified cars, mostly US models from
the 1920s and 1940s, provide unforgettable driving pleasure combined with
lots of opportunities to visit the city’s main attractions.
Hamburg is more than just the port and fish market, the Michel church and the town hall: looking back on its rich
Hanseatic history and forward to its European future the city offers a colourful range of lifestyles and trends. With greetings such
as “ahoy”, “moin moin” (hello) and “meine Perle” (my pearl) Hamburg is a down-to-earth place. Here are ten activities which will
make your visit to this city on the Elbe a memorable one.
A red-light district with a difference – St. Pauli and the Reeperbahn are popular
destinations for visitors to Hamburg, and one very special way to experience the
scene is to take a tour with Olivia Jones, Germany’s best-known drag queen.
Discover the most sinful mile in the world and explore the clubs, shops and
bars along the Reeperbahn.
A rather different boat trip – explore the most beautiful parts of Hamburg as you
glide over the water in a canoe following the many canals which cut through
parks and dark urban canyons in the very heart of the city. There are of course
lots of places where you can moor and enjoy refreshments. Enjoy a fascinating
experience on the water.
“Ahoy” and “moin moin”: get up early or simply stay up all night. Every Sunday
from 5 am Hamburg’s fish market opens its doors and offers (almost) everything
the heart desires: In addition to freshly caught fish, flowers, bananas, live small
animals and jewellery you will also find lots of souvenir sellers here.
“You’ll never walk alone” – especially not in St. Pauli. The district’s football club
with its long tradition is unlike any other, even though its image tends to polarise
opinion. In spite of this the district has a special glamour when the colourful
lights of Hamburger Dom shine on the Heiligengeistfeld and the floodlights of
the Millerntor stadium illuminate the city for 90 minutes, with AC / DC’s “Hells
Bells” giving you goose pimples at the same time.
The sweetest temptation! The cocoa experts at Hamburg’s Chocoversum at
Meßberg station will take you on a pleasure trip which will appeal to all your
senses! Visitors are expressly invited to taste the goods on a tour leading from
the cocoa bean to the finest chocolate.
Breathe in the sea air! To do this there’s no need to travel to the South Seas –
the banks of the River Elbe are just as good. A leisurely stroll along the Elbe will
satisfy your wanderlust and can be combined in the evening with a camp fire
on which you can barbecue marshmallows or bread on a stick.
SIDE Hotel Hamburg / Enjoy all these exciting leisure activities combined with our Basic@SIDE Package, which includes the following:
Uphill and downhill – picturesque alleys, winding stairs and densely packed houses: with its Mediterranean flair the Blankeneser Treppenviertel on the Elbe has
the atmosphere of a tourist resort on the Riviera. Blankeneser’s Bahnhofstrasse
gives the impression of a small city in itself, with its church, weekly market, many
well-stocked shops, restaurants and ice cream parlours. Everywhere there are
cafés and restaurants where you can sit and watch the ships sail by.
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·
·
·
·
Two nights’ accommodation
Free upgrade to the next room category
Fresh fruit and water
International breakfast buffet
(Sat. and Sun. till 2 pm, Mon. – Fri. till 11 am)
· [m]eatery cocktail at the bar
· Late check-out on Sundays till 8 pm
(on request and subject to availability)
· Use of our spa and wellness area
In a Superior category double room € 229 p.p.
In a Business category double room € 259 p.p.
Single room supplement per night € 85
Book directly by calling +49-40-30 99 90 or
by email to: [email protected]
(on request and subject to availability).
www.side-hamburg.de
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A further highly recommended hiking trail takes you
through the gorge of ‘Barranco de los Cernícalos’.
This trail is one of the best-known in Gran Canaria, because
of the gorge, a densely vegetated valley in the north-east of
the island. This beautiful gorge, which is located in the Telde
district, represents an ideal opportunity to discover this fascinating and diverse landscape and is one of the few valleys in
Gran Canaria which has a stream flowing through it all the year
round. The circular and relatively simple hiking trail is easy to
follow because it is clearly signposted. The trail is about 10 km
in length and takes you along the mountain slope to a stream,
which you then follow back to the starting point of the hike.
Los Llanetes
Tecen
GC-41
Lomo-Magullo
Start
Las Vegas
Previously a waterfall
La Colomba
I’m proud of being a ‘Canario’ and really enjoy exploring my
island on foot or by bike. My favourite hiking trail is in the
North, in the Agaete district.
Unforgettable views await you on the trails
Hiking trail San Pedro – Tamadaba (Agaete)
In the past this track was used by the people of the Valle de
Agaete in order to transport wood and charcoal, which they
sold to the banana plantations in the north-east. Along the
trail the varied vegetation ranges from tabaiba shrubs via palm
trees to tajinaste bushes and the pine forest of Tamadaba.
Hiking
in Gran Canaria
Las Cuevecillas
Start
With pleasant temperatures all the year round and highly
diverse scenery, the 1532 km² island of Gran Canaria, which
is around 120 km from the continent of Africa, provides the
ideal conditions for every kind of outdoor sport.
Los Berrazales
El Sao
Gran Canaria is of volcanic origin, like all the other Canary
Islands. It offers a variety of precipitous mountain slopes, deep
gorges and coastal cliffs. Because of its climatic and geographical diversity combined with a wealth of flora and fauna,
the third-largest of the Canary Islands is often described as a
continent in miniature.
There are major differences between the north, the centre
and the south of Gran Canaria. Whereas the north and the
centre of the island are characterised by extensive indigenous
vegetation and extensive areas of green, the south with its
popular beaches tends to be dry and arid. In addition there are
significant temperature differences – in the north the climate
tends to be fresher and cooler, depending on the altitude, while
in the south the temperatures are stable and remain warm and
spring-like throughout the year.
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El Hornillo
Fagajesto
GC-220
GC-130
Destination
GC-130
Hiking trail “Barranco de los Cernícalos”
The water in the valley belongs to a private water company
which is owned by more than 700 members. The main part
of the water comes from two drainage tunnels, each with a
depth of around 2 km. The gorge is home to many remarkable plants which can hardly be found anywhere else in Gran
Canaria in these quantities – including the Canarian willow tree
(Salix Canariensis), the Retama broom and the Canarian olive
tree (Olea Europaea). The gorge is part of the Caldera de los
Marteles nature reserve, which forms its upper edge.
At the start of the trail the Canarian borage, which is part of
the heliotrope family, blossoms in January and February.
José Garcia
GC-217
Hiking trail “San Pedro – Tamadaba (Agaete)”
José Garcia shows us his hiking route
Altogether the hiking trails in Gran Canaria measure more than
300 km. Road building didn’t begin until the end of the nineteenth century. Before that there were a number of narrow tracks
which connected the most important points on the island.
These tracks have now been restored to their former condition, which means that today they can be used as hiking trails.
In San Pedro you take the direction of Camino de Tamadaba
and head uphill until you reach the caves of Berbique (Cuevas
de Berbique). These were used by the original inhabitants of the
island to store the harvest. Along the winding trails which cross
the Barranco de Maria you reach the lookout point of Vuelta
del Palomar, from where you have a spectacularly beautiful
view of the north-east of the island. From there – about three
hours after the start of your hike – you enter the impressive
pine forest of Pinar de Tamadaba por el Laurelillo.
Technical details of the hike:
Lenght:
approx. 8 km
Height gain:
280 – 380 m
Time required: 3 – 4 hours without breaks
Difficulty:
1–2
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The latest member of the
Seaside Group: the five-star boutique
hotel Gewandhaus Dresden
Metamorphosis – five-star boutique hotel Gewandhaus
Dresden appears in new splendour and impressive luxury
After extensive renovation work the five-star boutique hotel Gewandhaus Dresden – located right at the heart of
the baroque city with its memorable history – was officially opened in its new design in April 2015. Dirk Hilbert,
acting mayor of the state capital, was among the 300 guests who celebrated the grand opening together with the
Gerlach family, the owners of Gewandhaus Dresden, and hotel director Florian Leisentritt and his team.
In the historic baroque edifice which was originally built
between 1768 and 1770 as a trading centre for the local
cloth-making industry, the present-day Gewandhaus Dresden
combines hotel, meeting place, restaurant and ‘Kuchen Atelier’
in a single location and with a shared commitment to quality
and professional skill. The result is luxury which can’t fail to
impress. The metamorphosis of Gewandhaus Dresden was
entrusted to the well-known Düsseldorf architectural firm of
STUDIO architects. Under the project management of Hendrik
Fraune and Claudia Blum they created an exclusive concept
for the interior which reflects the manufacturing origins of the
former cloth-making centre. The select materials of the modern
designer furniture are reminiscent of exclusive tapestries, while
Gewandhaus Dresden – entrance and lobby
[m]eatery bar + restaurant
lamps made of burnished brass and antique leather elements
create a harmonious symbiosis between historical and modern
stylistic periods. This provides the five-star boutique hotel with
a luxurious, feel-good atmosphere full of personal charm.
Ninety-seven comfortable rooms and suites of various categories are available to guests, together with a library and five conference rooms with state-of-the-art equipment for up to 100
participants, who can use the adjacent atrium for receptions
and meetings. Guests will also find calm and relaxation in the
newly-created spa. The design by Studio Catoir, a prestigious
firm of architects from Paris, enchants those looking for rest
and recuperation by creating a paradise-like setting around
the themes of water, holidays and the exotic. In addition to
The pastry shop Kuchen Atelier
Through the looking glass to one of the rooms Gewandhaus Dresden
Juniorsuite
a pool framed by three-dimensional surroundings of stone,
metal and mirrors, the tropical spa has a sauna, a steam bath
and modern fitness equipment.
beige zigzag pattern of the parquet floor contrasts with the
fruity, chocolate shades of the interior. Facing the “Weiße
Gasse” to the rear of the hotel, the glass-walled patisserie
allows passers-by an excellent view of the creative confectionery artists. Exclusive glass and mirror elements ensure that
the transparent character of the Kuchen Atelier is radiated
outwards. Stylish touches are added by the decorative pendant
lamps and the ceiling with its abstract sky veiled in clouds
depicted in shades of black and white. Taking a break in the
Kuchen Atelier is the ideal opportunity to enjoy the traditional
craft of the patisserie and its delicious temptations in stylish
architectural surroundings.
Gourmet delights – [m]eatery bar + restaurant and the
‘Kuchen Atelier’ patisserie
In the [m]eatery, which is known for its exceptional steaks,
diners will experience total commitment to quality. As with
the [m]eatery restaurants which are already firmly established in Hamburg and Stuttgart, the core products are savoury
dry-aged steaks from the restaurant’s own ageing chamber,
in which the prime sirloin is allowed to mature for at least
six weeks in conditions of high humidity and at a temperature just above freezing. The ageing chamber in Dresden’s
[m]eatery has glass sides, enabling guests to view the precious
meat as it matures. The menu also features premium-quality
steaks from all around the world, freshly-grilled fish dishes and
home-made burgers, all accompanied by an excellent selection
of wines, beer and other drinks. The [m]eatery offers regular
diners the very special service of having a French steak knife
engraved with their name. The knives are then stored in a glass
cabinet and represent the guest’s own personalised cutlery.
In addition the [m]eatery also offers guests a generous daily
breakfast buffet with an à la carte selection of tea varieties,
Italian coffee specialities, freshly squeezed juices and a range
of egg dishes.
The oval bar in the entrance area of the five-star boutique
hotel is an ideal place for a get-together. The speciality of the
bar is classical cocktails, which are enhanced by top-quality
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Gregor and Anouchka Gerlach together with hotel director Florian Leisentritt
at the opening ceremony
ingredients such as freshly squeezed juices and choice spirits.
Inspired perhaps by the excellence of the restaurant’s dry-aged
beef, the bar’s specialities also include ‘aged’ cocktails matured in wooden casks, and distinctive iced cocktails refined by
flavoured ice cubes.
With the finest ingredients – handmade and always fresh – the
team supporting head patissier Dirk Günther creates special
treats in the relaxed but luxurious retro atmosphere of the
Kuchen Atelier, offering international specialities such as macaroons, regional cake varieties, traditional tray-baked cakes and
new creations. The patisserie features designer furniture and
fittings which are elegant and comfortable but at the same
time make an impression of lightness. The dark-brown and
Centrally located – exploring the city known as ‘Florence
on the Elbe’ on foot
With its impressive architecture and situation on the banks
of the Elbe, the baroque city of Dresden, one of Europe’s
jewels, is also known as the North’s ‘Florence on the Elbe’. Its
best-known sights include the splendid Frauenkirche, which
ranks among Europe’s most beautiful sacred buildings, the
Fürstenzug (Procession of the Princes) depicted on around
23,000 tiles and, with a length of 102 m, regarded as the
world’s largest porcelain mural, and the Semperoper, which is
home to major opera singers such as Anna Netrebko. Another
world-famous feature is the ‘Elbblick’ view of the city, which
shows the impressive diversity and beauty of the state capital
of Saxony in a spectacular panorama. The five-star boutique
hotel Gewandhaus Dresden is located at the heart of the historic old town, which means that the city’s famous sites are
all easily accessible on foot.
Living history – Gewandhaus Dresden has always been
a meeting place
Originally constructed between 1768 and 1770 as a clothmaking centre, by the end of the 19th century the Gewandhaus had developed into the most important trading location
in Dresden. In addition to the commercial premises on the
ground floor there were offices on the first floor, while the
second floor contained one of Dresden’s largest halls, in
which the court orchestra held most of its “Musical academies”. In 1925 the Gewandhaus was turned into Dresden’s
municipal bank by Paul Wolf, director of town planning. Its
exterior was preserved and the building continued to serve
as a centre for commercial operations. At the present day,
too, the doors of the Gewandhaus are always open to the
city of Dresden and its people, acting as their host in the
show patisserie and the restaurant both for everyday hospitality and for special events. It’s therefore no accident that
the Gewandhaus is a vibrant focal point for the city, the
surrounding region and well beyond.
For photos and detailed information please see www.gewandhaus-hotel.de. Our Reservations department will be happy to
deal with questions and bookings on +49-351-49 49 47, or
by email at [email protected].
Address:
Gewandhaus Dresden
•
Ringstraße 1
•
D-01067 Dresden
17
1
2
Dresden
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the ‘Unterkirche’) to the 68 m high viewing platform with a
spectacular view over the city and its attractive surroundings,
visitors can explore the Frauenkirche on their own or as part
of a guided tour.
10 tips for an unforgettable stay
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1. The treasure chamber of the House of Wettin – the
‘Grüne Gewölbe’ (Green Vault)
Even if you aren’t a dedicated museum visitor, the ‘Neue Grüne
Gewölbe’ and the ‘Historische Grüne Gewölbe’ have an international reputation as two of the world’s most extensive and
splendid treasure chambers. Visitors can marvel at the treasury
of August the Strong and the immeasurable riches and works
of art which have been collected here during the last few
centuries, from the Renaissance to the Classicist era. Located
in Dresden’s castle, the Residenzschloss, the entrance to the
treasure chambers from the old town is opposite the Zwinger
and the Semperoper. Because of the large number of visitors,
tickets for the Historische Grüne Gewölbe are only sold for a
specific period of time, which means that you have a specific
time window for your visit.
“Dresden is well-known for the many wonderful things
you can see here, and it is no accident that the city is also
known as ‘Florence on the Elbe’. What many people don’t
know is that Dresden is one of Europe’s greenest cities
and has many facets in addition to its spectacular buildings, wealth of museums and the fascinating old town.
For example, right next door to the five-star boutique hotel
Gewandhaus Dresden you will find the ‘Weiße Gasse’ with
its many attractive bars and cosy restaurants. Outdoors green
locations such as the ‘Große Garten’, the ‘Elbufer’ river bank
and the ‘Alaunpark’ are the ideal place for a picnic. For me
personally Dresden has become home, because it offers me
and my small family everything we need for our lives”, says
Florian Leisentritt, your hotel director at Gewandhaus Dresden.
www.skd.museum/en/museums-institutions/residenzschloss/gruenes-gewoelbe/
There is almost no limit to the positive things we can say about
Dresden, because it’s in fact even more attractive. In addition
to the personal experiences which are briefly described here,
there is much more to see and do in the city, making it well
worth a visit.
3. Frauenkirche
Dresden’s Frauenkirche is one of the world’s most popular
sights, and a visit to the church, which is built completely
out of sandstone, is a must for every tourist who visits the
state capital of Saxony. From the catacombs (today known as
index.html
www.frauenkirche-dresden.de/en/home/
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to the present day the core of his enterprise still represents
the world’s most beautiful dairy shop, wonderfully decorated
all over with hand-painted tiles by Villeroy & Boch and always
full of visitors. It’s well worth taking a souvenir with you, and
of course tasting a glass of fresh milk.
Bautzener Straße 79, Tel.: +49-351-80 80 80
4. The ‘Strausswirtschaft’ (wine producer’s house)
‘Wines with a view’ can be enjoyed from March to November
with a view of the vineyard and a spectacular panorama of
the city of Dresden.
Kavaliershaus Schloss Albrechtsberg, Bautzner Straße 130
www.winzer-lutz-mueller.de/strausswirtschaft.html
5. Dresdner Eierschecke (custard tart)
A delicious type of cake which you mustn’t miss on your visit
to Dresden. It’s hard to believe that egg yolk mixed with butter and sugar and a filling of quark could taste so good. And
of course you can also enjoy Dresdner Eierschecke in the new
‘Kuchen Atelier’ cake shop at Gewandhaus Dresden.
www.kuchenatelier.com
6. asisi Panometer Dresden
Yadegar Asisi’s 360° Panorama DRESDEN takes you on a journey to the baroque royal capital of August the Strong, Countess
Cosel and Canaletto.
Gasanstaltstraße 8b
2. Cycling tour: Dresden – Schloss Pillnitz – Dresden
Why not rent yourself a bike and take a relaxed bike ride
upstream along the Elbe in the direction of Schloss Pillnitz? It’ll
take you about 45 minutes, and the track generally follows
the river. You start in the old town, head for the Elbe and cycle
along paved cycling paths. Past the ‘Elbschlösser’ castles and
Loschwitzer Brücke, famous as the ‘Blaues Wunder’, you will
pass countless restaurants and cafes offering tasty confectionery. A small public ferry takes you across to Schloss Pillnitz, and
you can cycle back along the other bank of the river.
www.asisi.de/en/homepage.html
Our colleagues at the reception will be happy to help you rent a bicycle.
Lingnerplatz 1, about 5 minutes on foot from Gewandhaus Dresden
7. Hygiene museum
Otto Lingner didn’t just invent Odol, he also donated a
hygiene museum to the city of Dresden. The museum provides fascinating information about the development of
the subject over the past 100 years. Odol made Lingner’s
fortune, as is shown by the fact that Villa Stockhausen,
one of the famous three ‘Elbschlösser’, is also known as
‘Schloss Lingner’.
www.pfunds.de
9. The ‘Fürstenzug’ mural
This mural on the wall of Dresden Castle showing the rulers of
Saxony in mounted procession is one of the principal sights of
the state capital. Created between 1872 and 1876 by Wilhelm
Walther and transferred between 1904 and 1907 to 25,000
porcelain tiles, over a length of 102 m it displays the history
of the rulers from the House of Wettin going back more than
800 years.
Schlossplatz/Augustusstraße
10. Gläserne Manufaktur (Transparent Factory)
Final assembly of top-of-the-range VW models, in particular
the Phaeton, takes place here. In this globally unique, fully
transparent production facility, work on the production line
can be viewed at close range, something which is fascinating
not just for men and boys.
Advance booking: Tel.: +49-1805-89 62 68
www.glaesernemanufaktur.de/en/
We look forward to putting together a hotel package designed
specifically in line with your requirements. Simply contact our
colleagues in the reservations department of the Gewandhaus
Dresden.
You can get in touch with us at any time on Tel.: +49-351-49 49 47.
The entire Gewandhaus family wishes you a wonderful time
during your next visit to Dresden!
www.dhmd.de
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8. Pfunds – the world’s most attractive dairy shop
One hundred years ago Paul Pfund arrived in the city with 6
cows, rolled-up sleeves and a vision of supplying the people
of Dresden with delicious cow’s milk. He was successful, and
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General Manager: Beate Reber-Sekula serving the birthday cake
Glamourous guest welcome
Los Jameos Playa****
celebrates twentieth birthday
22 October 2014: gifts have been placed in the rooms for
guests, a red carpet leads to our gala dinner, and as the crowning glory there is a breathtaking fireworks display accompanied by celebratory music.
This is how the 900 guests and the staff of the hotel experienced the twentieth birthday of Seaside Los Jameos Playa****
in Lanzarote. For everyone present this was a very special day,
on which guests were treated to an extensive animation programme. From early in the morning they had the possibility
of meditating on the beach and of participating in zumba,
aerobics and kickboxing workshops. After that guests were
able to take a look behind the scenes with hotel director Beate
Reber-Sekula and to see a range of interesting details to which
they would not have access ordinarily.
There was also lots of entertainment for the hotel’s youngest
birthday guests in the leisure park with trampolines and slides
which had been set up especially on one of the tennis courts,
and for all ‘water rats’ there were giant balls in the pool.
However, the main focus was on the history of Los Jameos
Playa****, which is located directly alongside Playa de los
Pocillos beach. In Salon Fuerteventura there was a display on
the history of the hotel, together with a photographic exhibition in the Canaries Museum, while the individual departments
made a presentation of their services on the Belingo Terrace.
and experience it for themselves. The members of the technical service and the chambermaids also enjoyed this personal
interaction with our guests.
Without question one highlight was when all the staff gathered
on our large staircase in order to drink a toast to this milestone birthday together. Many guests took advantage of the
opportunity to find out which employees had been with the
hotel the longest, and then thanked these members of the
team and all the others with resounding applause. The birthday address by Mrs Reber-Sekula was very emotional, not just
for our hotel director herself but all those present, and many
people were moved to tears. At this moment it was once more
very noticeable how much team spirit and pride are radiated
by the team of the largest hotel in the Seaside Group and the
only Seaside hotel in Lanzarote.
Not forgetting of course, that on this wonderful occasion it
was a further great honour to enjoy the presence of Theo
and Gregor Gerlach, as well as Anouchka Gerlach with her
husband Felipe Figueroa. The climax of the day was formed by
their addresses on both the opening of the gala dinner and the
commencement of a special evening show featuring a fantastic
musical programme and host of star performers. The historic
evening was then rounded off by a surprise fireworks show
with synchronised music.
For the many regular guests who were present this was a great
opportunity to find out all about the work done by our staff
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Decoration of the lobby, Seaside Los Jameos Playa ****
Tapas
island and provides a spectacular view of the stretch of sea
between Lanzarote and the small island of La Graciosa.
7. Jardín de Cactus
César Manrique’s final masterpiece in Lanzarote is an amphitheatre with more than 1400 types of cactus, which blossom
from the middle of April, an unmissable experience.
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8. Playa Famara
Playa Famara with its length of more than 6 km and width of
up to 100 m is not only the longest section of beach on the
island but is also a surfing paradise.
9. Playas de Papagayo
These seven sandy beaches are separated from one another by
lava cliffs. Because the beaches were declared a nature reserve
some years ago special attention is paid to cleanliness here.
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10. La Geria
This famous wine-producing region in the lava hills of Lanzarote
lies on the edge of Timanfaya national park. With a length of
15 km it measures 5,255 hectares in the geographical centre
of Lanzarote and is the largest wine-producing area of the
Canary Islands. In 1960 it was declared a work of art by the
Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Tuna stuffed Eggs
Ingredients for 8 egg halves:
4 Eggs · 100 gr. Tuna · 1 Garlic clove · Olive Oil · Parsley (to taste)
Mayonnaise (to taste) · Salt and pepper (to taste)
Our staff recommend
10 essential things to see in Lanzarote
1. Fundación and Museo César Manrique in Haría
A visit to the Museo César Manrique in Haría offers you an
intimate insight into the life of César Manriques, because the
artist’s last place of residence is a museum of a special kind. It
lies at the centre of a black field of lava, picturesquely embedded in the ‘valley of the thousand palm trees’. The artist used
gas bubbles in the volcanic rock as the basis for his house,
which he began building in 1968.
experience. César Manrique created a unique world here using
plants, light and music.
Driving through the park is an experience in itself, partly
because of the winding road which is bordered to the left and
the right by vineyards planted on black lava sand, and partly
because of the unique landscape with its fabulous panoramic
views of the volcanic hills.
Boil the eggs for 15 minutes and let them cool. Then peel and
slice them in half lengthwise, remove the yolks with a teaspoon,
and save them for later.
Fry the tuna with olive oil and some garlic, and let it cool. Mix
it with the saved yolk and parsley, add a little mayonnaise and
mash it until it is a compact mass, and season to taste.
Wines can be tasted, enjoyed and of course purchased in the
bodegas and the vineyards themselves. Along the road you will
find a number of bodegas, vineyards and restaurants and El
Grifo, the oldest winery of the Canary Islands, is also located
near La Geria. The Museo del Vino (wine museum), where old
machinery and tools show how wine has been produced and
bottled through the ages, is located next to the bodega and
is well worth a visit.
Fill the eggs and decorate them with a little mayonnaise.
Spoon filled with Ratatouille,
Sardines and Aioli
4. Timanfaya national park
The world’s largest field of lava was created during the volcanic
eruptions of the years 1730 – 1736. The scenery is reminiscent
of a moonscape, with bare slopes, huge craters and sharpedged lava everywhere in a spectacular variety of forms and
colours.
2. Lagomar
One of Lanzarote’s most impressive buildings is the Casa Omar
Sharif, designed in the style of César Manrique. This complex
of buildings was integrated into the cliffs of the Nazaret quarry
and is today a mixture of restaurant, bar and museum made
up of countless rock gardens and caves.
5. La Graciosa
The smallest of the populated Canary Islands lies to the north of
Lanzarote and, in the absence of roads and traffic, is ideal for
relaxed walks or mountain bike trips. Although it is not suitable
for bathing, the Playa de Las Conchas is a fantastic beach.
3. Jameos del Agua
With its underground lake and unique white crabs this
lava grotto on the north-east coast is a fascinating place to
6. Mirador el Rio
This viewing point, which César Manrique created 500 m above
the sea on a steep cliff, is located on the north coast of the
Ingredients for 8 spoons:
Vegetables: 1 onion, 2 garlic cloves, 1 courgette, 1 aubergine, 1 tomato,
1 red and 1 yellow pepper · 8 Sardines · Olive Oil · Salt and pepper
(to taste) · Mayonnaise (to taste) · Parsley (to taste)
Clean the vegetables, cut into small cubes and fry in olive oil.
Season to taste and let cool.
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Fill the spoon with the ratatouille, place one sardine on it and
add some Aioli.
For the aioli: Mix mayonnaise, parsley and garlic to taste, and
blend until it is uniform.
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Behind the scenes
Two interviews
We work hard every day to ensure that the guests at
our hotel have a wonderful time and of course to make
their stay as enjoyable and comfortable as possible. Of
course no day is the same as any other, and the various
members of our team themselves have a wide range of
different experiences.
Here we provide you with the look behind-the-scenes in the
form of two interviews: one with Beate Reber-Sekula, director
of Seaside Los Jameos Playa**** in Lanzarote and one with
Cristobalina Arbelo Caballero, a member of the service team
at Seaside Sandy Beach****.
holiday, but then we met. There was a friendly smile and
we exchanged a few words, and that’s how it started. With
some people everything happens very quickly and suddenly
two people fall in love. With other people things take a little
longer, and that was the case with me because I’m probably
a cautious kind of person.
Does your husband live on the island?
People often ask me if my husband’s Spanish. In fact he lives
and works in Germany.
When did you become aware that it was more than just
a flirtation?
It was clear to both of us immediately that it was more than
just a flirtation. Finding your real soulmate isn’t easy, but once
you have found such a soulmate – as is the case with us – you
simply have to hold on to him or her.
Did you get married in Lanzarote?
We would love to have got married in Lanzarote and that was
actually our intention, but for organisational reasons we then
decided on a wedding in Germany. For me it was, among other
things, an emotional matter. I very much wanted my grandfather
to be there, but at the age of 85 such a long flight would be
too much for him. So instead we celebrated a fabulous wedding
with our families and friends near Munster in Germany.
Interview with Beate Reber-Sekula – Love is ...
Finding true love really can take place anywhere: it could happen at a meeting with a business client, on an Internet dating
site and at an airport – or even at a hotel!
All sorts of unexpected things happen at our hotel Los Jameos
Playa**** in Lanzarote, and people even fall in love here.
Mrs Reber-Sekula, where did you get to know your
husband?
Here at the hotel, or to be more precise, in the hotel’s restaurant. He was staying here as a guest during the last few days
of his holiday.
Was it love at first sight?
[smiles] … Well, when I’m here I concentrate fully on my work,
and of course at our hotel the well-being of our guests is our
top priority. To be honest, it wasn’t really love at first sight.
He was a guest here and, as you know, guests are sacrosanct.
Neither of us actually had any intention of falling in love. He
simply wanted to get to know the island and have a relaxing
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Did you have a honeymoon?
Yes, it was short but wonderful! We sailed to Venice, which is
one of my favourite cities. We explored its breathtaking lagoons,
went shopping and had an unforgettably romantic time.
Can a marriage work at such a distance?
It’s an arrangement that suits both of us: I can concentrate
fully on my work here and my husband can do the same in
Germany. And then when we do have time for each other we
enjoy every moment to the full, either when I’m in Germany
or when he is here with me in Lanzarote.
It doesn’t really matter how far apart from each other you live.
A relationship like this can work well if both partners are on the
same wavelength, and in our case we’re very close. In contrast,
you can be together with somebody all the time, but if both of
you want different things then in my opinion it’s much more
difficult to make the relationship work.
How would you finish off this sentence: Love is …?
Love is – simply wonderful!
Interview with Christobalina
As I’ve already mentioned, we’re all one
big family and not just the staff – all the
guests become part of this family when
they arrive. When I see individual guests
for the first time, I always try to memorise something individual about them,
such as a face or perhaps a special piece
of jewellery. This helps my memory the
next morning.
Hi, what’s your name and how old
are you?
Hi! My name is Cristobalina Arbelo
Caballero and I’m 54.
Where are you from?
I come from Pozo Izquierdo in the district
of Santa Lucia, Gran Canaria, which is
famous as a windsurfing centre.
How many years have you been
part of the team at Seaside Sandy
Beach****?
In February 2015 I completed 15 years
with the Seaside Sandy Beach team.
Which department do you work in at
Seaside Sandy Beach?
I’m responsible for the breakfast buffet.
What time do you start work?
I start at four in the morning, to make
sure that everything is prepared freshly.
What dishes are served to our guests
for breakfast?
In addition to the rich selection of food
on the breakfast buffet, our guests can
also choose from a selection of freshly
cooked egg dishes. These include fried
eggs, scrambled eggs, boiled eggs and
tortillas, which guests can have prepared
to their own taste with lots of tasty ingredients such as ham, cheese or parsley, for
example. We also serve potato wedges,
baked tomatoes, beans in tomato sauce,
porridge, bacon, sausages, pancakes and
a great deal more. There are of course
also many cold dishes such as various
types of yoghurt, muesli, cheese, butter,
quark, cottage cheese and local varieties
of jam which are special to the Canary
Islands, such as cactus, banana, fig and
papaya. The selection is huge, and of
course fresh bread and rolls are baked
for our guests in the hotel’s own bakery.
How many eggs do you need every
morning when the hotel is full?
When the hotel is fully booked 300
eggs are needed for our breakfast
preparations.
How do you find the team at Seaside
Sandy Beach?
For me this hotel and its staff are like
one big family.
Have you experienced any special
story relating to a guest?
I’ve experienced many special stories,
and I have many fond memories of our
guests.
How can you remember day by day
how individual guests like to have
their eggs prepared?
Has the conversion work helped to
improve the service?
The conversion work done on the buffet
enables us to organise our work better and makes it simpler to present all
the various dishes to the guests. We
shouldn’t forget that even early in the
morning our guests can enjoy the blue
sky of Gran Canaria while they have their
breakfast in the open-air, surrounded by
waving palm trees.
Do you stay at a Seaside Hotel when
you go on holiday?
Yes, for example when we recently
received a visit from some members
of our family who live in Miami we
spent a few days at Seaside Los Jameos Playa**** in Lanzarote. They were
greatly impressed by the service and the
cleanliness, and for my part I felt like a
real tourist.
Do you have any hobbies with which
you relax after a strenuous day?
Yes, I enjoy walking, feeling in touch
with nature and exploring areas of my
island which can only be reached on
foot. During long walks I always manage to clear my head, relax and leave my
work behind me for a while.
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Trainees
at Seaside Hotels in the Canary Islands
Together with the administrative office our four
hotels in the Canary Islands, Los Jameos Playa****,
Sandy Beach****, Palm Beach***** and Grand Hotel
Residencia*****GL are not only a magnet for discriminating guests wishing to enjoy their luxurious service,
but also for students from a wide range of international
tourism colleges looking to gain work experience at the
highest level in a four-star or even five-star ‘gran lujo’
hotel.
result come about? Professional know-how and theory on their
own aren’t enough to enable staff to anticipate the wishes of
guests. At our hotels trainees have the opportunity to gain an
in-depth insight into the role played by empathy in a successful
hotel, and to discover for themselves the value of interaction
between people.
Guests very quickly come to feel at home with us, thanks to the
family atmosphere and personal service offered by our hotels.
Of course creating the right conditions for this involves high
quality standards and a large number of staff who – from the
reception desk to the kitchen – work hard day in, day out to
ensure that everything runs smoothly and guests enjoy every
minute of their stay.
My internship at Grand Hotel Residencia*****GL was part of
my training in tourism and hotel management.
At our hotels trainees are not just taught specific professional
know-how and language skills, but also inter-departmental
organisation, communications, looking after guests and dealing
with problems. We offer our trainees valuable opportunities to
put what they have learned into practice and prepare themselves for a future in the tourism industry.
As experienced four-star and five-star hotels with professional
teams we every year provide opportunities for an average of
60 trainees to extend their know-how, get to know our company and acquire in-depth experience of its various areas of
activity. In addition, after trainees have completed their studies
the time spent with us can also be a direct admission ticket
to a promising career and membership of the Seaside family.
What we expect from our trainees is a lively curiosity, a
knowledge of languages, a readiness to learn and of course
commitment. Flexibility, proactive thinking and above all a
customer-focused attitude are an essential requirement for successful future professionals in the hotel and tourism industry.
For us, as members of the hotel team, hearing guests say:
“Your hotel is like a second home to us!” or “You always seem
to know exactly what matters to me,” is the ideal confirmation
that we’re doing a good job. However, how does this positive
Timo N. (22), management trainee at Grand Hotel
Residencia*****GL (10 months)
My initial worry that I wouldn’t be able to meet the exacting
demands of a top-class hotel quickly disappeared. I was welcomed with great friendliness by the entire team at the hotel, and
I felt from the very beginning that I was a real part of Grand
Hotel Residencia*****GL.
In addition to the many tasks I had to carry out on my own
initiative, the internship required a high level of flexibility, language skills and the ability to work under pressure.
Working in the hotel administration field provided me with a
real insight into all areas of the hotel’s operations, and because
I spent time at the reception desk and in the restaurant, my
working day was always varied and interesting. My contacts
with guests were also really interesting, and because those who
stay at Grand Hotel Residencia*****GL come from a wide range
of countries, I I had a great opportunity to practice and extend
my knowledge of English, Spanish and French.
During my ten-month internship I got to know the team at
Grand Hotel Residencia*****GL as really helpful, open and
friendly. I was entrusted with responsibility in a number of
areas, and in many cases I was also able to contribute my
own ideas.
All in all I acquired a wealth of valuable experience, and even
though I also experienced some negative situations the time I
spent at the hotel really enabled me to develop my skills. I’m
sure it will prove very important to my career.
News
from Seaside Hotel Sandy Beach****
In 2014 the remaining 150 rooms of Seaside Sandy
Beach**** in Playa del Inglés in the south of Gran Canaria
were completely renovated.
Warm natural shades and premium-quality materials were
selected for their new look in order to create a natural, summery and elegant ambience. This time, too, the furniture was
created from hand-crafted bamboo produced especially for
the hotel. Its subtle, stylish appearance creates a successful link
between modern design and local ethnic influences, and the
response on the part of our guests has been very positive. By
popular request we added an additional massage and cosmetics salon to the hotel in June 2015. This is located on the third
floor and it, too, has been warmly welcomed by our guests.
shades of green – all backed up by lots of plants – creates a
direct link with our popular restaurant terrace under the palm
trees. As a result even in the interior of the restaurant guests
can enjoy the feeling that they are dining alfresco in the garden.
The bar has also been adapted to the style of the restaurant,
creating a cosy atmosphere in which our guests can round off
the evening with a relaxed cocktail.
The pool and pool bar
In order to provide our guests with an even better service we
have enlarged the pool bar and created additional seating.
The bar is now also open in the evenings, which means that
guests can enjoy a poolside cocktail after-dinner in surroundings which have been enhanced by new tiles applied both to
the pool itself and the terrace.
The restaurant and bar
In June 2015 the interior of the restaurant and the bar were
renovated from top to bottom. The new design concept of
the restaurant with its bright cream, warm copper and fresh
27
The hardship and hunger which threatened many generations
of mining families gave rise to new forms of occupation such as
wood carving and lacemaking. To the present day the creation
of folk art and objects made of wood is an important element
in the culture of this region. Typical Erzgebirge woodcarvings
represent miners, nutcrackers, Christmas angels, candle arches
and winged pyramids, while a wide range of motifs from
mining are a constant feature. These products are something
really special and are highly popular throughout the world.
It is not just below ground that there’s a lot to discover in the
Erzgebirge. The region is full of spectacular and historic castles
and fortresses. For example, the Zschopau Valley is dominated
by Burg Scharfenstein, which was built during the settlement of
the area around the year 1250 after the discovery of silver ore
there. The Rabenstein district of Chemnitz contains Saxony’s
smallest mediaeval fortress, while the Klaffenbach district,
also in Chemnitz, contains a moated castle which is also well
worth a visit. With the building of Schloss Augustusburg, a
pleasure and hunting castle, the prince elector August wanted to proclaim his leading position within Central Germany.
This succeeded in an impressive way with the ‘Crown of the
Erzgebirge’. Castle and Park Lichtenwalde, which form one
of Germany’s most remarkable baroque complexes, are also a
popular destination for excursions.
Lichtenwalde Castle
Chemnitz –
gateway to the Erzgebirge
Chemnitz, the third-largest city in Saxony, is well-known for
its attractions. However, the region which surrounds it is also
both fascinating and highly diverse, and because it is the starting point for a wide range of excursions to one of Germany’s
finest upland regions Chemnitz is justifiably described as the
“gateway to the Erzgebirge”.
The most prominent features of the region are its historic hill
towns, splendid hall churches and imposing fortresses and
castles, all of which make up a ‘homeland experience’ which
blends the modern and the traditional, merging history with
narrative.
Originally the present-day Erzgebirge was a continuous stretch
of almost impenetrable forest. The region was only opened up
in the twelfth century after the discovery of the deposits of ore
(German ‘Erz’) which give the Erzgebirge its name. By the way,
this period also saw the establishment of the city of Chemnitz.
A little further off in Christiansdorf, the present-day Freiberg,
it is believed that the first ‘great gold rush’ took place with
the discovery of silver deposits around 1168, attracting many
28
miners and settlers to the area. In the fifteenth century new
deposits of ore were discovered in the upper Erzgebirge. This
second wave of mining then saw the growth of towns such as
Schneeberg, Annaberg and Marienberg. The region’s wealth in
this era is still demonstrated by splendid half-timbered houses,
churches and of course Freiberg Cathedral. At the time the
‘less precious’ tin in the eastern Erzgebirge produced, among
others, the Ehrenfriedersdorf mining centre, where today there
is a tourist mine in which the 750-year old tradition of mining
in the area can be personally experienced in an impressive way.
When the deposits of ore ran out mining declined and this was
the start of hard times for the people of the region. Then, after
the German Reich converted its currency from silver to gold in
1873 the region declined fully in importance, and mining in
the area was only revitalised after the Second World War, when
the occupying Russian powers discovered uranium there. The
end finally came in 1991, when the last mines were closed,
although in the vicinity of Oberwiesenthal the first new mine
in Germany for about 40 years is now producing fluor spar
and heavy spar.
The Erzgebirge is a highly varied holiday region which offers
a wealth of experiences, including the romance of the railway
and vintage automobiles. Railway fans will not only enjoy a visit
to Saxony’s Railway Museum in Chemnitz, but can also take
an unforgettable trip on one of four narrow gauge railways in
the Erzgebirge. An automobile and motorbike tradition going
back more than a hundred years bears witness to the technical
skills of the Erzgebirge’s mechanics.
The holiday attractions of the region are rounded off by an
extensive network of trails for hikers and mountain bikers, as
well as well-prepared pistes for winter holidaymakers.
So come and make Chemnitz the starting point for your holiday
excursions!
Augustusburg Castle (above), Scharfenstein Castle
Residenz Hotel Chemnitz / Special offer: The Erzgebirge Experience
· Welcoming drink
· Three overnight stays including
Seaside breakfast buffet
· ErzgebirgsCard for 48 hours
· A small gift typical of the region
Price: 139,00 € per person in a double room
The ErzgebirgsCard enables you to experience
the fascinating diversity offered by the Erzgebirge. It provides you with free admission to
100 different leisure facilities, together with
attractive price concessions. The card is valid
as a ticket for all bus and tram lines, as well as
local rail connections in the area of the Central
Saxony transport authority (Verkehrsverbund
Mittelsachsen).
Reservations subject to availability
on Tel.: +49-371-3 55 10
or by email to: [email protected]
www.residenzhotelchemnitz.de
29
Golf courses
on Gran Canaria and Lanzarote
CAMPO DE GOLF MASPALOMAS – 18 holes par 73
The prestigious par-73, 18-hole course in the south of the
island is surrounded by the dunes of Maspalomas. Its proximity
to the ocean and the constant gentle breeze provide the ideal
conditions for a great round of golf. The course is only a fiveminute drive from Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia*****GL and
Seaside Palm Beach*****, and can be reached from Seaside
Sandy Beach**** within 10 minutes.
MELONERAS GOLF – 18 holes par 71
The par-71, 18-hole course is one of the most recently opened, and offers players spectacular views of the sea and the
wonderful mountain panorama. Meloneras Golf is only a fiveminute drive from Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia*****GL and
Seaside Palm Beach*****, and can be reached from Seaside
Sandy Beach**** within 10 minutes.
SALOBRE GOLF: Salobre Golf Sur – 18 holes par 71 and
Salobre Golf Norte – 18 holes par 72
The Salobre Golf facility is located in scenery which is typical
of the south of the island, featuring ravines, volcanic rock and
a view of both mountains and sea. There are two 18-hole
courses (the North course ‘par 72’ and South course ‘par 71’),
making Salobre the only 36-hole golf club in Gran Canaria.
The club is just 15 minutes’ drive from Seaside Grand Hotel
Residencia*****GL and Seaside Palm Beach*****, and about
20 minutes from Seaside Sandy Beach****.
ANFI TAURO GOLF – 18 holes par 72
This golf course is also in the south of Gran Canaria, in the district of Mogán, and is the island’s latest 18-hole course (par 72).
The rock formations on the course are reminiscent of Arizona,
with the eighth green, for example, completely surrounded by
red stone. The club also features the Anfi Tauro par-3 course
together with an excellent driving range, chipping area, putting
greens and several practice bunkers. Both courses are around
25 minutes’ drive from Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia*****GL
and Seaside Palm Beach*****.
Gran Canaria and Lanzarote are two of the Islands which
form part of the Canarian archipelago, famous for having
“the best climate in the world” and representing “eternal spring”. Both of these factors make these islands
the ideal destination for avid golfers, enabling them to
practice this sport year-round. As a result of the average
temperature of 18 ºC in winter and 23 ºC in summer, and
almost 5.000 hours of sun yearly, they are the destinations that enjoy the most hours of sunshine in Europe.
The climate not only invites to spend summer and winter
holidays, but it is fundamental to the enjoyment of a
more active holiday playing this popular sport.
GL
GRAN CANARIA
A unique natural landscape with extensive beaches and
sweeping sand dunes, high mountains and deep valleys, subtropical forests and deserts provide wonderful surroundings
for 7 golf courses which not only vary greatly in character but
also include Spain’s oldest course among their number. The
south of the island has the highest density of golf courses,
with five within a radius of only 50 km. Three of these are in
the immediate vicinity of our luxury Seaside Hotels.
Seaside Hotels’ guests can of course take advantage of reduced
green fees on all the island’s golf courses. We will be happy to
book tee-off times for you or organise transport to the course.
As a member of the Gran Canaria Golf Association we can
also make special offers and rates available to you.
30
31
REAL CLUB DE GOLF DE LAS PALMAS – 18 holes par 71
Real Club de Golf Las Palmas was established by English immigrants as long ago as 1891, before being remodelled in 1957
by the well-known architect Mackenzie Ross. The course has
an impressive location on the edge of the extinct volcano
‘Bandama’. Not far from the island’s capital city, the course (18
holes, par 71) offers a spectacular panorama of the volcanic
mountains and the Atlantic, and is about sixty minutes’ drive
from the Seaside Hotels.
LANZAROTE
With an area of 845.93 km² and only 135,000 inhabitants
Lanzarote boasts two 18-hole golf courses surrounded
by impressive and unique scenery. The various levels of
difficulty of the courses ensure that a round of golf is
always exciting both for beginners and advanced players,
with the Costa Teguise Golf course representing the greater challenge. Both courses are not far from Seaside Los
Jameos Playa****.
For the use of both courses guests at our Seaside Los
Jameos Playa**** receive reduced green fees. In addition
we have put together a range of golf packages for you.
Our staff will be glad to help you with planning, transport
and making reservations.
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EL CORTIJO CLUB DE CAMPO – 18 holes par 72
This golf course is located in the district of Telde, not far from
Las Palmas. The course is framed by ancient palm trees, stretches
across three valleys and contains a number of small lakes. It is
one of the longest courses in Spain (18 holes, par 72) and is
about 50 minutes’ drive from the Seaside Hotels.
Costa
Teguise Golf
Lanzarote
Golf Resort
Los Pocillos
Seaside Los Jameos Playa
Lanzarote
COSTA TEGUISE GOLF – 18 holes par 72
The Costa Teguise Golf course is situated in the district of
Teguise, less than 17 km from Seaside Los Jameos Playa****.
The drive takes around 20 minutes. At the foot of the Tahiche
crater you will have spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean.
With an overall area of 6,744 m² this 18-hole, par-72 course
presents a number of interesting challenges in the form of
doglegs, more than 3,500 palm trees, a light breeze from the
ocean and the volcanic stone which replaces the usual sand in
the bunkers. Designed by John Harris in 1978, the impressive
features of this course are its highly varied fairways and excellent playing conditions all the year round. The facilities at Costa
Teguise Golf offer everything we expect from a first-class golf
course, with a driving range, putting green, pitch & putt etc ...
LANZAROTE GOLF RESORT – 18 holes par 72
Just like Seaside Los Jameos Playa**** this golf course is located in the district of Tias, less than 6.1 km from the hotel. The
18-hole, par-72 course has an overall area of 6,133 m² and
after 12 minutes driving time provides every golfer, whether
advanced or beginner, with a spectacular landscape and views
both of the interior of the island and the surrounding ocean.
3. Vegueta, the old town of Las Palmas is the place to be by
day or by night to experience some true Canarian culture and
to delve into the history of the island of Gran Canaria.
On his first voyage of discovery, Las Palmas was a Port of call
for Cristopher Columbus on his way to the Americas. “La Casa
de Colon” integrates part of the house in which the admiral
stayed and is an emblematic portrayal of the Gothic architecture of this period. Dedicated to diffusing the history of the
Canaries “La Casa de Colon” incorporates a library, museum
and study centre.
Pimientos
del piquillo
(red bell peppers)
Amble along the quaint cobbled streets below handcrafted
wooden balconies, scattered between the picturesque plazas,
the Cathedral and Museums. Typical tapas can be enjoyed
along the way and there is always time to shop. Las Palmas
tours that adapt to all tastes can be arranged via:
www.tripgrancanaria.com
3
Gran Canaria
Ingredients:
Insider Info
12 red bell peppers
Stuffing: 150 g butter · 250 g flour · 500 ml milk · 400 g prawns
100 g vegetables (diced carrots, celery and leek) · 4 egg yolks · Oil
Garlic · Parsley · Salt and pepper · Nutmeg
Some insider info never goes amiss …
here are some ideas of different places to visit whilst staying
at one of the Seaside Hotels on Gran Canaria.
Although Agaete is located at sea level, the undulated valley
protects the crops from the salty sea breeze and impregnates
its harvest with the distinctive flavours of the valley. A guided
tour can be arranged with the opportunity to sample the
produce.
Preparation:
Melt the butter in a pan, stir in the flour and add the milk. Cook
gently stirring all the time until you have a fairly firm Béchamel
sauce. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste.
Finca La Laja, 35480 Valle de Agaete, Gran Canaria
2. Free Motion Bikes and Tours are quick off the mark with
their road and mountain biking tours. The outstanding conditions and incredible scenery have quickly converted the island
of Gran Canaria into the first choice for professional cyclers
and beginners alike to challenge their skills.
1
1. Finca La Laja is the 12 hectare family run estate of the family Lugo-Jorge nestled in the valley of Agaete, incorporating
orange groves, papayas, avocados, mangos and a gourmet
coffee plantation, in addition to the award winning winery
“Bodega los Berrazales”.
34
Alternatively, keep your feet firmly on the ground and ascend
mountainous areas that are only accessible by foot, discover
hidden waterfalls, lush valleys, and breathtaking views, the
astounding greenery of the north is a stark contrast to the
arid south of the island. Whether you decide to get on your
bike or to go for a hike, first class equipment and experienced
guides will lead the way
www.free-motion.com
4
4. Aphrodite sets to the seas! This immaculate boat was built
in Turkey according to the traditional Gulet design utilizing rich
mahogany wood. The friendly crew welcomes you aboard as
you recline on the deck, enjoy the gentle sea breeze or take
a dip in the Atlantic.
Chop the prawns, fry them in a little oil and garlic and add the
parsley. Stir the egg yolks into the slightly cooled Béchamel
sauce, fold in the prawns and the vegetables, and season to
taste.
Spoon the stuffing into an icing bag and use it to fill the
‘pimientos’. Preheat the oven to 180°. Place the peppers opening downwards on a baking tray covered with a sheet of baking
paper. Bake the peppers for 10 minutes and drizzle some olive
oil on them before serving.
Feel the gentle swell of the sea as you glide along the magnificent coastline and the rugged rock formations unfold before
you. By day or by night this is an unforgettable experience.
www.canaryboattrips.com
35
Headquarters of the “British Club” 1889 on Gran Canaria
The historical influence
of the British on Gran Canaria
The language
When people with different language
backgrounds live side by side, there will
always be some who will try to learn the
language of the others correctly. However, in the case of most people they simply familiarise themselves with the most
frequently heard sounds and expressions
of the other language. In the language
exchange between the British and the
people of Gran Canaria words from the
individual foreign language were either
integrated completely, or adapted to the
morphology and phonetics of the other
language. The purpose of this was often
to come to terms with the unfamiliar
realities or everyday situations of the
other culture. For example, many English
words relating to the sports of golf and
football have simply been adopted by
the language of the Canary Islands, for
example ‘tee, swing, green’ and so on.
Others have been modified, for example
with ‘corner’ becoming ‘corne’ or ‘outside’ turning into ‘orsay’. In return local
British residents have adopted Canarian
36
expressions such as ‘gofio, puchero,
siesta, azotea, patio’ (flour, stew, afternoon nap, roof terrace, courtyard).
When the children of the islands met an
Englishman on the street he was known
as ‘choni’ (Johnny) and was asked for
‘peni, peni’ (penny) and then thanked
with the words ‘san llu, burro macho’
(thank you very much).
English words relating to food and drink
were readily adopted by the Canarians,
and these include terms like ‘cocktail,
picnic, tea, whisky’ etc. When bread for
toasting reached the islands, the word
‘sandwich’ suddenly appeared. The same
applied when the British began to import
frozen meat, and everyone began talking
about ‘beefsteak’ and ‘roast beef’. The
following words, too, have been adapted to the Canarian language: bisne for
‘business’, cachanchán for ‘catch as you
can’, guanijay for ‘one John Haig’, moni
for ‘money’, tique for ‘ticket’ and trinque
for ‘drink’. Even British varieties of potato
became part of colloquial expressions
and the Canarians started talking about
quinegua instead of ‘King Edward’,
artodate instead of ‘up to date’ or quini
instead of ‘kidney’. It is also assumed
that the blade of the well-known Canarian knife derives its name ‘nife’ (knife)
from the fact that it was originally made
from imported steel originating in the
British automobile industry.
“British Club” Garden Party
word derives its origin from ‘sand boats’
(rowing boats), because this is where the
cambuyoneros moored their sand boats
and carried out their trading.
Commerce
There’s no doubt that it was the wine of
the islands which prompted the British
to initiate trading relationships with the
local people. When the opening of new
sea routes in the mid-sixteenth century
made it possible to travel the world
British galleons took on their cargo in
today’s port of Puerto de la Luz before
setting off for Bristol loaded with wineskins. With its golden tint and aroma of
ancient wood this wine, known at the
Further linguistic adaptations derive from
the so-called ‘pichingli’, a kind of port
lingua franca which served as a mode of
communication between domestic traders (the combuyoneros) and the crews
of visiting ships. The expression ‘cambuyón’ comes from the invitation ‘come
buy one’, with which the exchange of
goods began.
There are some words, however, of
which the etymology remains a mystery: for example the word ‘sanapú’,
the name of a location in the port of
Puerto de la Luz. It is assumed that the
time as malvasia or ‘canary wine’, had
a mild but intense flavour with notes of
hazel nut, almonds and honey.
Engineering
If there is one project which has had a
major influence on the people of Gran
Canaria and in particular the population
of its capital city, it is today’s harbour
at Puerto de la Luz. The construction
of the harbour was initiated by local
engineer Juan de León y Castillo, with
the first phase of the construction work
beginning in the year 1883. However, it
was the English firm of Swanston & Co.
which completed the project in 1909.
In the middle of the second industrial
revolution the construction work was,
with Spanish capital, carried out professionally and successfully by Canarian
workers under the supervision of British
engineers. The completed harbour then
enabled lucrative operations such as tourism and the export of bananas, tomatoes and potatoes to London.
The landscape
David J. Leacock was the Briton who had
the greatest influence on the landscape
of Gran Canaria, changing the entire
scenery of the north east of the island
between the twenties and the eighties
of the past century. Using innovative
techniques he irrigated 1000 hectares
of dry landscape, creating plantations
for the cultivation of bananas, tomatoes,
strawberries, flowers, alfalfa and vegetables, together with storage facilities for
packing the goods. Leacock built cow
sheds and pigsties and created grazing
areas for flocks of sheep. He also set
up factory buildings for the production of pipelines and bricks. With the
aid of wells and reservoirs he created a
network of waterways stretching more
than 100 km. The remarkable thing is
that although the entire civil engineering achievement of this social democrat
survived the Franco dictatorship, there
is no trace of it left at the present day.
Day excursion from the “British Club”
37
Impressions Wave Gothic Festival Leipzig (left, centre, top right)
The Wave Gothic Festival:
at Whitsun every year Leipzig becomes the scene
of romantic, colourfully black festival celebrations
Every Whitsun the people of Leipzig and the city’s visitors are
fascinated by the many unique and flamboyant costumes of
the participants in the Wave Gothic Festival, which give an
entirely new look to the city and the Park Hotel.
Every year more than 20,000 Goths from all around the globe
celebrate this major international get-together of the Gothic
scene, and in fact the Wave Gothic Festival in Leipzig is unique
worldwide in its identity and size.
38
What is most special about the annual Wave Gothic Festival
in Leipzig is its unique, magical atmosphere which can be felt
in every corner of the city. Goths from every country in the
world get-together in a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere,
celebrate every facet of their subculture, enjoy being together
and immerse the streets and squares of Leipzig in a highly
diverse black and colourful picture. Once a year thousands
of Goths feel themselves at home in the city – at the Wave
Gothic Festival.
WGT Repeat guests from Austria at the Seaside Park Hotel Leipzig 2015
Across the entire city every year there are performances from
around 200 bands and artists, featuring every type of dark
music ranging from Gothic, EBM, Industrial, Dark Ambient,
Apocalyptic Folk, Synthpop and Future Pop to Goth Metal –
from mediaeval sounds to elegiac Post-Punk. In addition to
well-known names on the scene it is also possible to discover
virtually unknown, real ‘underground’ bands and artists from
the outer fringes of this particular musical scene.
The Wave Gothic Festival is accompanied by a romantic
mediaeval market, the “Heidnische Dorf” (Pagan Village), while
readings, exhibitions, theatre performances and film shows are
also part of the programme. The Victorian Picnic in the Park is
an occasion for historical costumes, while a huge Gothic market
offers everything the Goth heart may desire. At countless clubs
people can dance the night away to music played by the DJs
from the Goth scene all around the world.
The concerts and events of the Wave Gothic Festival take
place at 40 different locations all over Leipzig, including the
venerable walls of the Moritzbastei, the Gewandhaus, the Mendelssohn House, the Kulturhafen Riverboat, the Opera House,
the Krystallpalast Varieté, the Felsenkeller, the Grassimuseum,
the Lutherkirche … and of course outdoors. The programme
of the Wave Gothic Festival also includes wonderful classical
music, including opera, musicals, chamber music and choral
works.
The fact that black culture and Christian belief are not mutually
exclusive is demonstrated by the traditional excellent attendance at the Wave Gothic Festival religious service at St Peter’s
Church.
The large campsite for the festival is on the site of ‘agra’, the
former agricultural trade fair on the outskirts of the city.
39
By the way: the Wave Gothic Festival is the winner of the 2014
Leipzig Tourism Prize, which has been awarded annually since
2002 by Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing (LTM) GmbH for
companies and institutions which make a special contribution
to the development of tourism in the city.
With reference to the award of the prize Wave Gothic Festival
press spokesman Cornelius Brach states: “This is confirmation
that the Wave Gothic Festival is perceived as an enhancement
to the cultural life and international reputation of Leipzig.”
Tip for 2016:
On the occasion of the 25th Wave Gothic Festival the City
History Museum will once more be mounting a special exhibition: “Leipzig in Black” – Portraits and Photos from the Wave
Gothic Festival.
Quick descent during one of Gran Canaria’s fascinating routes
Gran Canaria
José Garcia Assistant Reception Manager
Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia*****GL
on two wheels
BEAUTY FASHION FRAGRANCES
ACCESORIES FOOTWEAR
Because of the pleasant climate all the year round, the attractive scenery and interesting routes cycling is an especially
popular leisure activity in Gran Canaria. Every year a steadily
increasing number of both professional and amateur cyclists
are enjoying a combination of holiday-making and cycling on
this diverse and fascinating island.
National teams such as that of Germany’s Cycling Federation
(BDR) and the teams of other European countries take advantage of the ideal local conditions in order to train for upcoming
competitions.
GRAN CANARIA:
CITA (PLAYA DEL INGLÉS)
YUMBO (PLAYA DEL INGLÉS)
TROPICAL (PLAYA DEL INGLÉS)
BOULEVARD FARO (FARO DE MASPALOMAS)
VARADERO (PASEO MELONERAS)
LAS ARENAS (LAS PALMAS)
EL MIRADOR (LAS PALMAS)
7PALMAS (LAS PALMAS)
SHOP ONLINE
FUNDGRUBE.ES
The third-largest of the Canary Islands has a number of attractive routes with varying levels of difficulty, enabling cyclists to
design a training programme which is exactly suited to their
personal requirements. For example, the ‘Pico de las Nieves’
is regarded by professional cyclists as the toughest route in
terms of hill climbing. It has a length of 23 km and in places
an incline of up to 23 %.
However, there are of course less demanding routes, such as
in the ‘Barranco de Agaete’ or in Arguineguin, which are also
suitable for beginners. The theme here is cycling and enjoying
the countryside, because the fascinating landscape with its
spectacular views and popular cycling tracks offers both.
The personal favourite route of José Garcia (Assistant Reception
Manager at Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia*****GL) starts
at San Agustín, continues via Soria and ends at ‘Cercado de
Espino & Las Filipinas’. The route consists of sections with
different characteristics. To begin with you gain 600 m in
altitude over a distance of 6 km, with the climb providing an
impressive view of Soria and its surroundings.
After a slightly less strenuous circular route in the hills around
Soria, there is a fast descent taking you back via ‘Cercado de
Espino’ with a view over the Barranco and the fascinating
scenery of Gran Canaria. In spite of its demanding distance of
95 km, this route is well worth a try during your next holiday.
José Garcia, a member of the Seaside Grand Hotel
Residencia*****GL team, encourages everyone to get to know
Gran Canaria on two wheels!
41
10 things you absolutely need
to see and do in Valencia
2
5. Try some local specialties
Valencia has many culinary treats. Being the home of the world
famous paella, this delicious rice dish features prominently on
many menus, but Valencia has lots more to offer. From tapas
bars to Michelin star establishments, there’s a broad range of
restaurants to choose from. Two other Valencian treats you
shouldn’t miss are horchata (a refreshing drink made of tiger
local Valencians to see and be seen. There is also a variety of cafés
and restaurants along the boulevard. The main attraction, however, is the broad arc of white sand and the bright blue Mediterranean Sea. There are other gorgeous beaches situated just
south of Valencia (an easy bus ride away) such as Playa Pinedo
and Playa El Saler. These beaches are relatively less crowded
than the city beaches and are more popular amongst the locals.
5
3
10
9
2. Old Town Valencia, 3. Town Hall Square, 5. Paella, 9. Turia garden, 10. Albufera park
Known for being the home of paella and for growing some of the best oranges the world has to offer, Valencia
is Spain’s third-largest city. It has some of the country’s most striking architecture, a historic Old Quarter, dynamic
museums, great shops, a flourishing restaurant scene, miles of beach and an exuberant nightlife.
Founded by the Romans and later conquered by the Moors,
Valencia has a mix of old and new: from medieval castles and
towers, to the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences complex.
Here are 10 things that you shouldn’t miss in this wonderful
Mediterranean city:
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supposed to be the chalice used in the Last Supper, the Holy
Grail) with its masterly Baroque façade, and the Basilica of
Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados. Don’t miss the Gothic
Generalitat Palace, the Serrano Towers (vestiges of the city
walls), the Lonja (Silk Exchange), the splendid Palace of the
Marqués de Dos Aguas (which houses an impressive ceramics
collection) and the Royal Seminary of Corpus Christi (16th
century). Wander aimlessly through the maze of streets, admire
the architecture and drop into any of the lovely cafés, art
galleries and intriguing shops.
1. Explore the City of Arts & Sciences
Probably one of the most famous highlights in Valencia is the
Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias or the “City of Arts and
Sciences”, a true architectural gem. Consisting of a series of
spectacular buildings with a futuristic design, the City of Arts
and Sciences was designed by Santiago Calatrava (a native of
Valencia). You can spend the whole day exploring the city, with
its blue reflective pools, clean white surfaces and leafy parks.
Make sure you visit the Oceanogràfic, Europe’s largest maritime
centre, the Hemisfèric (audiovisual shows), the Museu de les
Ciències Princípe Felipe, the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, and
the Umbracle garden.
3. Explore Valencia’s architecture
Valencia boasts a multitude of architectural styles, from the
Gothic medieval period to Renaissance and 20th century Art
Nouveau. Some of the most beautiful medieval examples
include the Cathedral and Silk Exchange, whilst Art Nouveau
enthusiasts should visit the Estació del Nord (the train station),
the Central Market and the buildings around the Plaza del
Ayuntamiento.
2. Get lost in the Old Town
Valencia’s historic centre is one of Spain’s largest and most
important, bearing witness to the city’s blossoming in the 15th
century. On Plaza de la Reina are the Cathedral (which might
conserve and protect one of Christianity’s most important
treasures: a chalice offered to the cathedral by King Alfonso V
of Aragon in 1436, dating from the 1st century, which is
4. Go square-hopping
The Old Town of Valencia is a labyrinth of streets and while
you’re out on a stroll, you’ll soon discover a great variety of
squares, each with its own distinct character. We suggest going
from one square to another – “square-hopping” – stopping
for a coffee or a drink each time and watching Valencians go
about their daily activities.
nuts) and fartons – try the Horchatería Santa Catalina, near
the Plaza de la Reina, or Horchatería Daniel, at the Mercado
de Colón. If you’re looking for something a bit stronger, ask
for the Agua de Valencia (orange juice with cava).
6. Tantalize your senses in Valencia’s markets
There are many markets in Valencia, however there are two
that are absolutely worth a visit: The Central Market (one
of Europe’s largest), built between 1914 and 1928, is a fine
example of Modernist architecture. This huge glass and metal
structure houses an extremely busy morning market. Divided
into sections, from meat and fish to vegetables and fruit, the
extraordinary variety and quality of foodstuffs on sale reflect
the importance the people of the city attach to their widely
varied gastronomy. The Mercado de Colón used to be a market,
but nowadays you can find here various bars, restaurants and
shops, and often expositions, concerts and other activities.
7. Enjoy the nightlife
As for nightlife, the Barrio del Carmen stretches between Calle
de Caballeros, the Plaza de la Virgen and the Plaza del Tosal,
almost encompassing the historic centre. Our favourite bar?
The Café de Las Horas. This dark alcove, with its overloaded
baroque decoration, serves the best Agua de Valencia while
you listen to classical or disco music.
9. Stroll the length of the old riverbed park: The Gardens
of Turia
The Gardens of Turia are situated in the old, sunken riverbed
of the River Turia, which used to find its way to the sea right
through the center of the city of Valencia, until the 1960’s.
After a severe flood in 1957, when many people were killed,
the officials decided it was best to divert the river to the south
of the city, in order to prevent future disasters. Now, in the Gardens of Turia you can find sport fields, jogging paths, children’s
playground, and a great way to cross the city by foot or bike,
without being troubled by any type of traffic, traffic signs or
crossroads. A stroll through the park (between the Alameda
station and the City of Arts & Sciences) is a must-do, if only to
enjoy the beautiful trees and flowering shrubs, and to admire
the city’s historic bridges.
10. Visit The Natural Park of the Albufera
Situated just 11 km south of Valencia is the Albufera Natural
Park. A freshwater lagoon covering some 21,000 hectares. A
natural paradise and a Mecca for bird watchers. Its proximity
and the diversity of the flora and fauna make it well worth
a visit. Boat rides and nature spotting tours are popular and
easily organized.
8. Hit the beaches
When you’re done exploring the city, head for the beaches! The
city’s main beaches are Las Arenas and La Malvarossa, both a
short metro ride away from the city centre. The long boulevard
that runs along the length of the beaches is a favorite spot for
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The Westin Valencia –
luxury, charm and
characteristic Seaside quality
on the Costa del Azahar
Anouchka Gerlach’s policy of optimising the already high standard of the hotel to Seaside quality covers not only staffing
but also gastronomy. The main restaurant, for example, is
undergoing a comprehensive redesign process which – together
with an exclusive concept for fine dining – will be completed
in the spring of 2016.
With its rich history “The Westin Valencia” in the centre of this impressive city on Spain’s Mediterranean coast is one
of the finest in the entire region. Although it still carries the Westin brand name this historic hotel at the heart of
the city is already a Seaside hotel, which is why owner Anouchka Gerlach – committed to applying the tried-andtested Seaside quality standards – has appointed Rocío Cibrán as general manager. Born in Switzerland, Rocío Cibrán
attended the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce and studied at Hammersmith Business Management College. From
2009 – 2014 director of the five-star design hotel Seaside Palm Beach***** in Gran Canaria, she knows exactly what
makes a Seaside hotel distinctive: premium quality in all areas, friendly and accommodating service and personal
commitment to the welfare of guests. “Direct contact with guests is very important to me, and this approach is
both practised and expected by management,” states Rocío Cibrán, who can look back on a career of more than 18
years in international hotel management and has a wealth of experience which she is now successfully dedicating
to “The Westin Valencia”.
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“Seaside guests know that excellent cuisine is a matter of top
priority for us. All guests have their individual tastes, but there’s
one thing they all have in common: they wish to enjoy fresh,
top-quality products in an enjoyable atmosphere so that going
for a meal becomes a memorable experience in itself. And this
sums up our approach – we aim to ensure that guests enjoy
every single moment they spend at “The Westin Valencia”,
confirms Anouchka Gerlach. Accordingly, in addition to the
main restaurant the redesign programme also covers the bar of
the five-star hotel, where international and local personalities
meet, including the footballing stars of FC Valencia, the La
Liga club whose stadium is only 400 m from the hotel. Cool
drinks and cocktails freshly mixed from premium ingredients
or simply a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice – almost a
must in Valencia with its successful cultivation of citrus fruits
– remain a memorable experience here.
With its elegant luxury “The Westin Valencia” represents the
ideal base for tourists who wish to explore the wealth of
attractions of this sun-blessed city on the Costa del Alzahar.
Located in the historic Mestalla district, the hotel is only a few
minutes on foot from Valencia’s famous cathedral and historic
old town with its typical pavement cafés, stylish bars and exclusive designer boutiques.
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“Schröder 2-go” –
canine accompaniment at
AALERNHÜS hotel & spa!
Whether they are stressed-out city dwellers or nature
lovers, all those who come to Sankt Peter-Ording for a
holiday do so for lots of good reasons: extensive sandy
beaches, houses on wooden posts, impressive dune
landscapes, fresh sea air, endless horizons. Balsam for
the soul and an ideal place to get away from it all!
This was the case for Marc
Lampe and his life partner
Martina Ranft, but in their
case they had a specific reason not just for choosing
St. Peter-Ording but also
for their choice of hotel.
Heart of each deluxe room is the Westin Heavenly Bed®
Therapeutic salt water swimming pool
Not to be missed by any visitor to Valencia is the City of Arts
and Sciences designed by star architect Santiago Calatrava,
which has become world-famous with impressive structures
such as the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (an opera house and
cultural centre). In addition Valencia has a further distinctive
feature which makes a major contribution to the city’s character
and flair – the beach and the Mediterranean are very close at
hand. After a shopping trip, a visit to one of Valencia’s many
cultural highlights or even a successful business day, it’s only
4 km from “The Westin Valencia” to Playa de las Arenas, the
long white sandy beach.
As soon as they enter the impressive and elegant lobby the
glitter and sparkle of a huge Swarovski crystal chandelier provides guests with a striking impression of the luxurious ambience
which the hotel offers, while a harmonious combination of
classical architecture and modern design lies at the heart of
the special charm which it radiates.
However, there’s also a great deal to discover within the
grounds of the hotel itself, originally built in 1917 as the “La
Lanera” wool factory and still retaining the splendid original art
nouveau facade which is an integral part of the city’s architectural profile. The approx. 2,000 square meter inner garden of
“The Westin Valencia” is a kind of paradise in itself – towering
palm trees which cast the paths in shade, blooming oleander
bushes, orange and lemon trees and a wonderful central fountain all make this a wonderful place to linger.
46
City tourists and business guests can choose from 135 stylishly
furnished rooms and suites in various categories, including
the Royal Suite created by Spanish fashion designer Francis
Montesinos which is – at 200 square metres – the largest
in Valencia. In addition a spacious spa with a heated indoor
pool, sauna, modern fitness equipment and a full-service programme of massages and treatments promises total relaxation
and rejuvenation.
For more information please see
www.westinvalencia.com
They are regular guests at
AALERNHÜS hotel & spa –
not least because of the
excellent cuisine, the friendly service, the spacious and
well-equipped spa and the hotel’s wonderful location,
well away from any hustle and bustle but within easy walking distance from St. Peter-Ording’s spectacular natural
surroundings. And what’s the best way to explore these
surroundings? For Marc and Martina in the company of
Schröder, of course!
Love at first sight
It was, as they informed me, love at first sight or rather first
click of the mouse. “While we were looking for a hotel in
St. Peter-Ording we came across the Facebook video in which
you describe the footpath from the hotel to the beach, past
the tennis court. We fell in love immediately.”
Labrador “Schröder” & AALERNHÜS hotel & spa
Guest Marc Lampe taking a stroll along the beach
What they are talking about here is Schröder, my brown labrador, who is at my side throughout the video.
In spite of his considerable size – he weighs a good 55 kg –
for most of the guests at Aalernhüs, which by the way means
‘parental home’ in the Friesian dialect, Schröder is normally
invisible and a member of the team which operates behind
the scenes. For dog lovers like Marc and Martina, on the other
hand, he is one more good reason for their repeated visits to
Aalernhüs.
Just before their recent departure they both explained enthusiastically: “You can borrow a bike anywhere, but Schröder
can only be borrowed at Aalernhüs! And for us the fact that
Schröder accompanies us on our walks is a sign of trust – on
the part of both the dog and its master!”
Schröder-2-go
“Schröder-2-go” is the name we have chosen here at the hotel
for the canine service Schröder provides when he accompanies
our guests and dog lovers like Marc and Martina to the beach.
Both of them grew up with dogs, but now their professional
lives make it impossible for them to keep a dog of their own.
This is why they enjoy their long walks on the beach with
my Schröder all the more, as these wonderful photos will
demonstrate.
Olaf P. Beck, Team Manager AALERNHÜS hotel & spa
smac –
the State Museum for Archaeology in Chemnitz
It was a special moment for the people of Chemnitz when on
15 May 2014 the State Museum for Archaeology in Chemnitz
(smac) opened its doors in the former Schocken department
store. With its eventful history the domed building itself, which
is now a listed monument, is an emblem of the city – a symbol
of both the long traditions of Chemnitz and its modernist
identity.
Museum attraction the “transparent Neandertaler man”
smac in the former Schocken department store
Designed in 1927 by Erich Mendelsohn for the brothers Simon
and Salman Schocken, the department store has finally found a
new significance after standing empty for many years. It is now
home to the archaeological, cultural history museum of the
free state of Saxony. The opening of the museum in Chemnitz
provides the state with its first-ever permanent archaeological
exhibition.
On an area of around 3000 m2 smac contains a total of 6,200
exhibits. Its great challenge is now to communicate the history
of Saxony over the enormous period of 300,000 years. The
aim is to enable visitors to experience history by means of stories, using the latest multimedia technology, installations and
objects. The museum’s most impressive feature – a floating,
interactive model of Saxony – becomes immediately visible
in its foyer. To create space for this, the various floors of the
building have been connected by breaking through the ceilings.
The three-dimensional model reflects media input across all
three floors of the exhibition, covering the millennia as if with
a time lapse camera.
This museum is not simply a collection of remains – here history
is staged as if in a theatre. One of the stars is the ‘transparent
Neanderthal man’, a further attraction of the museum. What
is different about this primordial human being, who became
extinct 30,000 years ago? The answer to this question is provided at the press of a button by illuminated bones and flashing
organs. ‘Morphing’ brings visitors even closer to their remote
ancestors, because at Leipzig’s Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology their freshly taken portrait photo is morphed into that of their Neanderthal ancestor.
Here, too, visitors are encouraged to join in: an amazing mirror installation uses their own reflection to show visitors how
people dressed in the Stone Age and in Rome during the time
of the Caesars. The visitor’s own reflection is, for example,
transformed into a fully-clothed and fully-equipped Iron Age
human being with grave finds from the whole of Saxony.
smac shows the entire history of Saxony from the age of the
first hunter gatherers to the early industrialisation period. The
result is an extensive and exciting exhibition which displays a
wide range of rare and precious finds.
In addition, with guided family tours and family workshops
smac extends a special invitation to children and families to
explore archaeology.
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Floating, interactive, three-dimensional Model of Saxony
In addition there are large numbers of exclusive shops and
boutiques, as well as side streets with a wide range of cafés
and wonderful squares such as the Plaza de las Ranas and the
Parque de San Telmo, which are ideal places to enjoy tapas
and drinks.
The international importance of the city grew with the construction of the harbour at Puerto de la Luz, which led to a
revival in trade and enabled a significantly larger number of
tourists to visit Las Palmas.
In addition to the many and varied attractions of the city and
the old districts of Vegueta and Triana, Las Palmas also has a
wonderful beach of its own, the Playa de las Canteras, also
known as the ‘Copacabana of Europe’. This is a wonderful
place to stroll along the Atlantic coastline and relax in one
of the many inviting beach cafés or on one of the countless
terraces.
Las Palmas
The city arose as a settlement by the name of Real de Las
Palmas from a previous Castilian military camp, from where
the conquest of Gran Canaria continued until the end of 1485.
Between this year and the seventeenth century Las Palmas
establish itself as the capital of the Canary Islands.
The city of Las Palmas has something for every taste, regardless of whether it is musical, dance or theatrical performances
which are offered in the Alfredo Kraus auditorium, the Pérez
Galdós theatre and the Cuyás theatre.
Special festivals can be experienced in Las Palmas during the
carnival period of January, February and March, and on 24
June, when the Fiestas Fundacionales de San Juan memorably
celebrated the founding of the city.
Not far away the historical Santa Catalina park is a centre for
local artists and street musicians, and it is also the starting point
Today Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is a pulsating city which
vibrates with the ambience, history and culture of Spain. So
what are you waiting for? Now’s your chance to experience
Las Palmas during your stay in Gran Canaria!
Promenade Canteras Beach
Main square Plaza Santa Ana
is worth a visit!
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the capital of Gran Canaria and is
located in the north-eastern part of the island in beautiful surroundings consisting of two bays and their spectacular beaches,
Playa de las Canteras and Playa de las Alcaravaneras. Founded
on 24 June 1478, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria boasts a significant historical and cultural heritage, which can be admired
in particular in Vegueta, the oldest district of the city which
has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990. In its
mediaeval streets visitors can experience spectacular buildings
such as the town hall, the cathedral, patrician houses with
picturesque courtyards (the ‘patios’) and lively squares such
as the Plaza Santa Ana and Santo Domingo. Not to be missed
is the wealth of museums in the Casa de Cólon, including the
Museum Canario and the Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno.
for a tour of the city in the horse-drawn coaches which are
typical of the country and are known as ‘tartanas’. Among the
essential sights of Las Palmas are Pueblo Canario (the Canary
Islands village), which is located in Parque Doramas, and the
museum which is named after Néstor de la Torre, the most
famous painter of the Canary Islands.
The city developed very fast and grew rapidly. The reason
for this was its trading activities and the fact that the island
was used as a stop-off point for expeditions heading for the
Americas. Christopher Columbus, too, stopped in Las Palmas
on three of his voyages of discovery. Unfortunately the fastgrowing trade also attracted many pirates, and the city had
to defend itself several times against their attacks. Especially
violent was the battle against the Dutch pirate Van der Does
in the year 1599.
In the years which followed the city grew once more in the
direction of the Triana district, which was the preferred location of fishermen and merchants from all around Europe. The
cultural influences of the Spanish, Portuguese and Maltese had
a significant impact on the city, and these are still very much
in evidence today. As a result Las Palmas features numerous
buildings from different epochs, displaying a wide range of
architectural styles from a number of different countries. These
are typical of the historical trading centre in particular.
50
Las Palmas by night
Interview with Steffen Schenk,
chef de cuisine at five-star design hotel
Seaside Palm Beach*****
Leipzig ‘The city of lakes’
Leipzig’s ‘Water City’ and ‘New Lakeland’
How long have you once more been part of the Seaside
Hotels team?
I’m delighted that I was able to rejoin the team at Seaside Palm
Beach***** in September 2013, with responsibility for the two
à la carte restaurants Esencia and La Bodega.
How would you describe these two restaurants?
The special feature of Esencia is its individual cuisine with
ingredients fresh from the market, inspired by Mediterranean
cooking but at the same time open to influences from all
around the world. Our aim is to create dishes which are light
but with an intensity of taste and innovative combinations
which can’t fail to provide guests with a positive surprise. My
aim is to offer our guests dishes which are appropriate to the
‘island of eternal springtime’ and will become a memorable
part of their holiday experience on the island.
Chef Steffen Schenk (38) searching for first-class products
for his unique dishes
Mr Schenk, you’ve been working for Seaside Hotels for a
number of years now – would you mind telling us when
and where you started your career!
I completed my training as a chef in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany, in 1996, before working for a year with Peter Scharff
in Dinkelsbühl. This was followed by periods in Basle (Kunsthotel Teufelhof, 17 points), Davos, Arosa and Saas Fee, where
I worked with a chef specialising in cuisine involving herbs
and flowers. Wild herbs and flowers were collected on alpine
meadows and then used in innovative recipes. I then acquired
further experience with the Scharff brothers in Kaiserslautern
(16 points, 1 star), and also spent a winter season in St. Moritz.
And after that you then came to Gran Canaria?
That’s right – in March 2004 I booked a well-deserved twoweek holiday in Gran Canaria, but this holiday was then extended indefinitely and in fact even turned into a permanent job.
Initially I worked for four years at Seaside Palm Beach*****, to
begin with as a sous chef and then later as chef de cuisine in
the former Trattoria and Orangerie. This was followed by four
fascinating years at Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia*****GL,
initially as a sous chef once more and subsequently as chef
the cuisine. I then devoted myself for two years to the exciting
challenge of establishing a new restaurant in a design hotel
on the island.
52
At La Bodega guests are served typical Spanish and regional
dishes featuring ingredients of the highest quality. In order to
source these first-class products we don’t just cooperate with
leading suppliers on the island and in Spain - I also personally
go to the market in order to buy fruit, vegetables and other produce. Personal contact with the stallholders at the market and
even in part with those who actually grow the food means that
I can be sure that we’re getting the very best products for our
premium-class dishes. And of course their taste confirms this!
What’s it like to be responsible for two restaurants at
the same time?
Initially I regarded managing two very different restaurants
as a major challenge. However, in the course of the first year
I found it was really exciting to work with such an extensive
range of products, ingredients and recipes, and having to satisfy
the tastes of such a variety of different guests. The privilege
of applying my creativity on such a scale provides me with
ever new (creative) inspiration, and gives me the incentive to
ensure that my team and I achieve new peak performance
every single day.
A long-cherished dream ‘From Leipzig to Hamburg by
water!’
In the summer of 2015 the Karl Heine Canal was linked to
Lindenau Harbour, creating an important step towards making
it possible one day to navigate all the way from Leipzig to
Hamburg.
Lindenau Harbour is about 4.5 km to the west of the city centre.
It was originally planned as part of the Karl Heine Canal and the
Elster Saale Canal, but the completion of the latter is still not
definite. The connection between the Elster Saale Canal and
the Lindenau Harbour is interrupted for approximately 100 m.
It’s a little-known fact that even going back a long way into
the past Leipzig was known as a waterside town, in that the
1000-year old city was established at the confluence of the
Pleiße, Weißer Elster, Luppe, Parthe and Nahle rivers.
Today the Karl Heine Canal is an important stretch of green
and connecting waterway within the city, flanked by attractive
cycling tracks and footpaths leading to the city centre. Linking
Lindenau Harbour and the Karl Heine Canal will add fascinating tourist and infrastructure attractions, including the Leipzig
Lindenau marina with 200 berths.
Four rivers wind their way through Leipzig to a length of just
under 300 km, and there are more than 100 ponds in and
around the city. After 1949 these rivers and streams, joined
together by pipes underground, served as a kind of transport
system for untreated waste water. Today these waterways have
once more been opened up as a wonderful architectural feature. In recent years Leipzig’s ‘New Lakeland’ (Neuseenland),
consisting so far of 16 open-cast mining sites converted to
lakes and its starting point, Leipzig’s traditional ‘Water City’
(Wasserstadt), have become a major tourist magnet, attracting
large numbers of visitors from well beyond the region.
Leipzig Harbour
Restaurant “Vito”: Venecian impressions in the suburbs of “Plagwitz”
Park Hotel Leipzig Package – Summer in ‘Little Venice’ (valid from June until September)
2 or 3 nights, including:
· Seaside breakfast buffet
· 1 Seaside-Summer-Welcome-Package
· 1 Voucher for € 25 for the
STEAKTRAIN restaurant
· 1 bottle of mineral water on arrival
· 1 two hour tour of the city with LOF
Leipzig Oldtimers Tours. In an open top
double-decker bus weather permitting
· Return ticket for the public transport
which takes you to the boat tour
· 1 ticket for a boat trip on the
Weißen Elster & the Karl-Heine-Kanal
Package price for 2 nights per person:
· in a single room € 189*
· in a double room € 159*
General conditions:
Packages can be booked on request
& subject to availability up to 7 days prior
to the arrival date.
Package price for 3 nights per person:
· in a single room € 249*
· in a double room € 199*
(* prices valid until 2016)
Book direct by telephone: +49-341-98 52 0
or by E-Mail: [email protected]
www.parkhotelleipzig.de
TIP: from 20.07. until the end of August
2016 an exclusive summer show can be
enjoyed at Krystallpalast Varieté Leipzig.
www.krystallpalast.de
53
Winners and representatives of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s 1st meeting between NGO’s (non-governmental organizations) and businesses that have
demonstrated solidarity. Juan José Cardona (4th from left) Mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria until June 2015. Rosa Viera Fernández (5th from left),
Councilor for Social Affairs of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Pablo Haba (7th from left), in representation of Seaside Hotels
Seaside Hotels and
launch a range of
projects to help the
disabled and children
with cancer
In 2013 Seaside Hotels and the Randstad Foundation charitable
organisation signed an agreement with the aim of promoting
employment of people with disabilities in the Canary Islands.
In the course of this agreement, which was extended during
the following year, they initiated the ‘Integrados Canarias’
(integrated Canarians) programme, which has the objective
of improving the occupational opportunities of people with
disabilities and their integration into the world of work. Since
then the programme has been highly successful in integrating
people with disabilities into the company’s operations.
54
Saturia Ortega (Seaside Hotel’s Lawyer), Cristina García (President
of the Asociación Pequeño Valiente) and Patricia Muñoz (Responsible for
the Randstad Foundation in Canarias) (from left to right)
María Viver (Director Randstad Foundation), Pablo González-Haba
(Seaside Hotel’s Finance Director) and Saturia Ortega (Seaside Hotel’s lawyer)
(from left to right)
Randstad Foundation
for people with disabilities, and how barriers can be broken
down. The aim is to increase awareness and remove barriers
by enabling all concerned to get to know one another better.
This approach enables Seaside Hotels to strengthen, within
the framework of its corporate social responsibility and the
employment of more than 600 persons on the Canary Islands,
its commitment to the integration of disadvantaged groups
into the labour market.
In the course of the cooperation a number of activities for generating awareness were implemented together with Seaside
staff, including discussions, group visits and an introduction
to specific operational areas.
Seaside Hotels is a hotel group which is committed to the integration of people who are at risk of social isolation. This integration
is achieved by modifying the specific working conditions of
individual jobs, combined with inclusion into the social working
environment. The commitment to equality of opportunity in
the workplace also includes family members of Seaside personnel with disabilities, who are also supported in the process
of integration into a working environment.
The open day which is held by all the hotels on the island
provides an opportunity for informing staff about questions
relating to disabilities. In addition individual discussions are held
with the various department heads in the hotels, in order to
analyse how these departments can be made more accessible
In February 2014 Seaside Hotels and Randstad Foundation
signed a further agreement, committing them to support the
‘Pequeño Valiente’ (brave little ones) organisation. The aim of
both institutions is to improve the circumstances of children
suffering from cancer and their families.
‘Pequeño Valiente’ is a charitable organisation which was
founded to support parents whose children are undergoing
treatment at the oncology and haematology department of
the Materno Infantil hospital in Las Palmas in Gran Canaria.
A number of activities, including payment of the medical fees,
are implemented to improve the quality of life of the children
and their families.
The agreement is focused on the islands of Gran Canaria and
Lanzarote, on which the Seaside Group has a total of four
resort hotels in the four-star and five-star categories and, with
its efforts to integrate people with disabilities into the everyday
working environment, supports the group’s programme of
activities within the context of corporate responsibility.
At a meeting held in December 2014 with non-governmental
organisations, companies and local government, the Seaside
Hotels were presented with the ‘LPA Solidario’ award for its
initiatives on behalf of employees with physical disabilities and
their integration into the working environment.
55
Imprint
Publisher: Seaside Hotels, Wexstraße 16,
20355 Hamburg, Germany
Design: beach tours werbeagentur GmbH
Print: v. Stern’sche Druckerei GmbH & Co. KG,
Lüneburg, Germany
Circulation: 26.325 (English, Spanish, German)
Manolo
Guédez
Estévez
Imagine working for a company for 40 years, commencing as a young boy straight from school at the age of
15! Manolo Guedez Estévez began his days working for
Mr. Gerlach as a hotel porter when the Seaside Palm
Beach***** opened in 1975.
He remembers how the first tourists trundled by bus down the
rugged road followed by truck loads of suitcases ready to off
load at this paradisiacal palm oasis. Manolo was always there
to greet the flood of familiar faces – his bicycle to the ready
in-case he was required to run an errand.
Manolo’s claim to fame happened in 1976 when the filming
of “Las Desarraigadas” at the Seaside Palm Beach***** cast
him, of course, as a porter – but Manolo never contemplated
leaving Maspalomas for Hollywood stardom – he had found
where he belonged.
The following years were spent moving between the purchasing departments of the various hotels, until he arrived in 1987
where we can all find him today in Seaside’s central offices
as the official Courier for all – the name of Manolo echoes
around the corridors of the Seaside establishments in Gran
Canaria, and a few steps behind Manolo’s smiling face follows. The Seaside day rarely begins without Manolo – he really
is everyone’s bread and butter as he delivers to the Seaside
Palm Beach***** and Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia*****GL
the fresh rolls and pastries from the in-house bakery at the
hotel Seaside Sandy Beach****.
56
Picture credits
Page 5: Award-winning quality
Photo (above) – Condé Nast Winners,
© THE DIGITAL ASSET LAB
Page 6: AALERNHÜS hotel & spa
Photo (bottom left) – © PHARMOS-Natur
Manolo’s to do list is never ending and his mobile phone never
stops ringing – but we all know we can rely on him to get the
job done! We often wonder what sort of mission Manolo is
on as he runs in and out with a large black suitcase with beads
of perspiration rolling down his forehead – but discretion is
his middle name!
Manolo’s proudest days are the ones on which he don’s his
Chauffeur’s hat and escorts Mr. Gerlach, for whom he is filled
with admiration, wherever is needed. In Manolo’s words
“The founder of Seaside Hotels has single handedly created
an empire and given me and all his employees a secure and
happy life”.
When asked: “What are your hopes for the future?” Manolo
replies: “I consider myself to have been very fortunate in life,
I feel fulfilled with my work and my colleagues, my home and
my family – I just hope to continue having good health to enjoy
this for the remaining years of my life – and I wish the same
for Mr. Gerlach!”
Page 10 – 11: Ten essential things
to do in Hamburg
Photos – Hamburg panorama,
© IndustryAndTravel, www.fotolia.com;
Boat trip, © TELCOM-PHOTOGRAPHY,
www.fotolia.com;
Hamburger Dom, © deejaymd, www.fotolia.com;
Banks of the River Elbe, © Lars Niebling,
www.fotolia.com;
Blankeneser Treppenviertel, © NilsZ,
www.fotolia.com;
Hamburg’s Deichtorhallen, © Starpics,
www.fotolia.com;
Eat the World, © Andreas Gerlach,
www.fotolia.com;
Hot rod tour, © Ian Holland, www.fotolia.com;
Reeperbahn, © Jörg Stumpf, www.fotolia.com;
Hamburg’s fish market, © singidavar,
www.fotolia.com;
Finest chocolate, © hiphoto39, www.fotolia.com
Page 12: Hiking in Gran Canaria
Photo (top left) – Unforgettable views,
© Uwe Albert-Thiele, www.fotolia.com
Page 16: The latest member of the Seaside Group
Photo (centre) – The opening ceremony,
© Volker Metzler
Page 18 – 19: Dresden 10 tips for an
unforgettable stay
Photos – 1 The ‘Grüne Gewölbe’ (Green Vault),
© David Brandt;
2 Schloss Pillnitz, © Christoph Münch;
6 asisi Panometer Dresden;
7 Hygiene museum, © David Brandt;
8 Pfunds – the world’s most attractive dairy shop,
www.pfunds.de;
9 The ‘Fürstenzug’ mural, © Sven Döring;
10 Gläserne Manufaktur (Transparent Factory),
© Christoph Münch
Page 22 – 23: Our staff recommend –
10 essential things to see in Lanzarote
Photos – 1 Casa-museo César Manrique en Haría,
Patronato de Turismo de Lanzarote;
2 Lagomar, © Karol Kozlowski, www.fotolia.com;
3 Jameos del Agua, © Jörg Hackemann,
www.fotolia.com;
4 Timanfaya national park, © Frank Reichenbächer,
www.fotolia.com;
5 La Graciosa, © emmi, www.fotolia.com;
6 Mirador del Río, Patronato de Turismo de
Lanzarote;
7 Jardín de Cactus, © Daniel Strauch,
www.fotolia.com;
8 Playa Famara, © bevisphoto, www.fotolia.com;
9 Playas de Papagayo, © AW photography,
www.fotolia.com
Page 24: Behind the scenes ...
Photo – Provided by Mrs. Reber-Sekula
Page 28 – 29: Chemnitz – gateway to the Erzgebirge
Photos – Lichtenwalde Castle, Tourismusverband
Erzgebirge e.V., www.mediaserver-erzgebirgetourismus.de;
Augustusburg Castle, © Wolfgang Thieme,
www.mediaserver-erzgebirge-tourismus.de;
Scharfenstein Castle, Tourismusverband Erzgebirge
e.V., www.mediaserver-erzgebirge-tourismus.de
Page 30 – 31: Golf courses on Gran Canaria and
Lanzarote
Photos – (top left) © EpicStockMedia,
www.fotolia.com;
Golf courses, Patronato de Turismo
Page 33: Golf courses on Gran Canaria
and Lanzarote
Photos – (top left) Golfplatz Costa Teguise;
(top right) Golfplatz Lanzarote Golf;
(below) © Albe84, www.fotolia.com
Page 40: The Wave Gothic Festival
Photo (bottom right) – Impressions Wave Gothic
Festival Leipzig, © Christoph Kaufmann
Page 42 – 43: 10 things you absolutely need
to see and do in Valencia
Photos – 2 Old Town Valencia,
© pure-life-pictures, www.fotolia.com;
3 Town Hall Square, © Brian Kinney,
www.fotolia.com;
5 Paella, © minimorra, www.fotolia.com;
9 Turia garden, © unclepodger,
www.fotolia.com;
10 Albufera park, © Olaf Speier,
www.fotolia.com
Page 44 – 46: The Westin Valencia
Photos – The Westin Valencia
Page 47: “Schröder -2-go” –
AALERNHÜS hotel & spa
Photos – © Marc Lampe
Page 48 – 49: smac – the State Museum for
Archaeology in Chemnitz
Photos – © Michael Jungblut
Page 50 – 51: Las Palmas is worth a visit!
Photos – (top left) www.grancanaria.com;
Promenade Canteras Beach, © Marleny,
www.fotolia.com;
Main square Plaza Santa Ana,
© Sergio Formoso, www.fotolia.com;
Las Palmas by night, © liquid studios,
www.fotolia.com
Page 34 – 35: Gran Canaria Insider Info
Photos – 1 Finca La Laja, © Uwe Albert-Thiele,
www.fotolia.com;
3 Museum “Casa Colón”, © lunamarina,
www.fotolia.com;
4 Aphrodite, © Marcus Lorenz, www.fotolia.com
Page 52: Interview with Steffen Schenk
Photo (top left) – Chef Steffen Schenk (38)
searching for first-class products for his
unique dishes, © Herr Santana
Page 36 – 37: The historical influence of the
British on Gran Canaria
Photos – FEDAC, Fundación para la Etnografía
y el Desarrollo de la Artesanía Canaria
Page 53: Leipzig ‘The city of lakes’
Photos – Restaurant “Vito”: Venecian impressions in
the suburbs of “Plagwitz”, © Peter Kühn,
www.leipzig-am-wasser.de;
Leipzig Harbour, © Häfner / Jiménez,
Office for landscape architecture
Page 38 – 39: The Wave Gothic Festival
Impressions Wave Gothic Festival Leipzig,
(left) © Jeannine Völkel;
(centre) © Martin Höhne;
(top right) © Andreas Schmidt;
(right) WGT Repeat guests from Austria,
© Gitta Jonek, Sales & Marketing Manager
Seaside Park Hotel Leipzig
Page 54 – 55: Seaside Hotels and
Randstad Foundation
Photos – (top left) Winners and representatives
of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s 1st meeting
between NGO’s (non-governmental organizations)
and businesses that have demonstrated solidarity,
© Juan Diaz-Bethencourt;
(centre) & (top right) © Ulla Isasi, Sales & Marketing
Seaside Hotels S.L.
57
Grand Hotel Residencia *****GL
Avenida del Oasis 32
35100 Maspalomas
Gran Canaria
Tel.: +34-928-72 31 00
Fax: +34-928-72 31 08
[email protected]
www.grand-hotel-residencia.co.uk
Sandy Beach ****
Avenida Menceyes s/n
35100 Playa del Inglés
Gran Canaria
Tel.: +34-928-72 40 00
Fax: +34-928-72 40 08
[email protected]
www.hotel-sandy-beach.co.uk
Los Jameos Playa ****
Playa de Los Pocillos s/n
35510 Puerto del Carmen
Lanzarote
Tel.: +34-928-51 17 17
Fax: +34-928-51 42 19
[email protected]
www.los-jameos-playa.co.uk
Gewandhaus Dresden *****
Autograph Collection
Ringstraße 1, 01067 Dresden
Germany
Tel.: +49-351-49 49 0
Fax: +49-351-49 49 49 0
[email protected]
www.gewandhaus-hotel.de
Palm Beach *****
Avenida del Oasis s/n
35100 Maspalomas
Gran Canaria
Tel.: +34-928-72 10 32
Fax: +34-928-14 18 08
[email protected]
www.hotel-palm-beach.co.uk
Park Hotel ****
Richard-Wagner-Straße 7
04109 Leipzig
Germany
Tel.: +49-341-98 52 0
Fax: +49-341-98 52 750
[email protected]
www.parkhotelleipzig.de
abito suites
Grimmaische Straße 16
04109 Leipzig
Germany
Tel.: +49-341-985 27 88
Fax: +49-341-985 27 50
[email protected]
www.abitosuites.de
The Westin Valencia *****
Calle Amadeo de Saboya 16
46010 Valencia
Spain
Tel.: +34-963-62 59 00
Fax: +34-963-62 59 09
www.westinvalencia.com
[email protected]
SIDE *****
Drehbahn 49
20354 Hamburg
Germany
Tel.: +49-40-30 99 90
Fax: +49-40-30 99 93 99
[email protected]
www.side-hamburg.de
AALERNHÜS hotel & spa *****
Seaside Sandy Beach ****
Seaside Los Jameos Playa ****
Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia *****GL
Seaside Palm Beach *****
Seaside Residenz Hotel ****
Seaside Park Hotel ****
abito suites
SIDE *****
Gewandhaus Dresden *****
Residenz Hotel ****
Bernsdorfer Straße 2
09126 Chemnitz
Germany
Tel.: +49-371-3 55 10
Fax: +49-371-3 55 11 22
[email protected]
www.residenzhotelchemnitz.de
AALERNHÜS hotel & spa *****
Friedrich-Hebbel-Straße 2
25826 St. Peter-Ording
Germany
Tel.: +49-4863-70 10
Fax: +49-4863-26 89
[email protected]
www.aalernhues.de
www.seaside-hotels.com
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