10 Questions to Percy Roland Plage - Property Consultant Specialised in La Zagaleta and El Madroñal

1.  A book

The Moon's A Balloon by David Niven. He was not just the epitome of the English gentleman and a delightful actor, but also the most brilliant raconteur. His memoirs and anecdotes from the golden age of Hollywood have accompanied me for years and his enthusiasm for life was contagious. 

2. A phrase

"K.B.O." Winston Churchill reportedly signed all war telegrams with these initials. Polite historians have interpreted them as "keep battling on", but the real version (keep buggering on) is definitely more Churchillian, and a great motto for real estate, especially whenever things start going wrong during a deal!

3. A place

My terrace. It has the most extraordinary views across Atalaya golf course towards the sea and La Concha, the emblematic mountain of Marbella. From where I live, it is shaped like a huge sloping pyramid. In the mornings I see the sun rise behind the mountain, and when I come back from work I sit on the terrace with a glass of wine and watch the sunset reflected on the granite mountaintop, and if I am lucky, the moon rising over the sea. The joys of living in Marbella!

4. A song

Never easy to choose from my ever-expanding playlist. I love jazz and just had the great privilege to see Melody Gardot live in concert. Anything by her or Cesaria Evora. Perfect late night terrace music for those dreamy Marbella summer nights...

5. A sport

Opening villas for viewings!!! I must confess I am not much of a sportsman and probably the worst golfer in Marbella. 20 years living next to a golf course and I still can't play. 

6. A movie

Another tough choice. Let's say Goldfinger. My father showed it to me when I was 8 or 9. Not entirely age appropriate but it started my love affair with the classic Bond films and that entire era - incidentally, the golden age of Marbella too.

7. A destination

South-east Asia. In spite of the increasing tourism it still is a different world. The food, the sights, the smells, the pace of life. Every trip feels like an adventure.

8. Your favorite restaurant/food

So many to choose from! The Puente Romano square has the most wonderful athmosphere and a superb variety of restaurants like Nobu for fine
Japanese cuisine and Dani Garcia, Marbella's home-grown Michelin star chef. However, I just had a quick lunch at Venta Los Pacos before this interview. I am half Andaluz, so I feel right at home. It is the most basic, rustic Andalucian roadside "venta", full of shouting builders on their third brandy or having the menu del día. Food is basic but excellent and as cheap as anywhere in the campo. Located right opposite the Marbella Club Hotel!!! I do love the contrast. For my weekly Asian fix I go to Isan, a small Thai kiosk in Centro Plaza next to my office. They know how I like my food. I get 6 types of chilli to choose from for my Pad Thai! For romantic dinners there is nothing like La Tienda in La Virginia. A beautiful French bistrot in the dreamy village-style urbanisation of La Virginia. Excellent French food and wine, surrounded by jasmine and dama de noche. Perfect for special evenings.

9. Your perfect plan

Beach days! So many beaches to choose from and if Marbella gets to warm or crowded, go down to Tarifa for big Atlantic waves. Gibraltar for a day is fun. Time travel into colonial England. Even the weather is usually British! Malaga for a day of museums and culture and city life. It's all on our doorstep.

10. A person you admire

Alfonso de Hohenlohe. Without Alfonso there would have been no Marbella Club, and the history of Marbella would have taken a different course. I especially admire his excellent taste, classy, simple and unpretentious. Everything he designed and built had style and charm. Alternatively, a figure from an earlier part of Marbella history: the Marques del Duero, founder of San Pedro de Alcantara in 1860. It was one of the most advanced agricultural settlements of its time and stretched from today's Puerto Banus all the way to Cancelada in Estepona. Most water reservoirs of the coast were built then, and San Pedro was one of the biggest producers of cotton and sugar cane in Spain. Sadly, the Marques went bankrupt a few years later, but his legacy lives on - San Pedro is now a bustling town within the Marbella municipality and its main street is named in his honour.