Just one day in Marbella was enough to capture the heart of Michelle Obama. Read on to find out how the jewel of the Costa del Sol won over the First Lady… by Louise Cook Edwards.

It was love at first sight for Michelle Obama on her recent stay in Marbella. Just one stroll around the quaint Old Town, and she was absolutely smitten. Her beaming smile and relaxed manner said it all. On her walkabout through the charming whitewashed cobbled streets, as she browsed clothes and Spanish trinkets, Mrs. Obama didn’t hesitate in telling the locals that she “loved Marbella and was delighted to be here.”

And just as the locals were mesmerized by Michelle’s natural charisma, the feeling it seems was mutual, and the natural charms of Marbella soon had Mrs Obama, none other than the First Lady of America, swooning.

Just 24 little hours were enough for Mrs. Obama to be seduced by Marbella, an experience that reflects that of the millions of visitors that come to Marbella every year. Myriad sights and sensations conspire in a sweeping blow from Cupid’s arrow – and it is love at first sight. And just as the elixir of love is an inexplicable cocktail, the same can be said of Marbella and her charms.

Starting with the gentle caress of Marbella’s year round sunshine, the golden glow of the sun’s rays create an instant sensation of well-being and relaxation, stimulating the feel-good factor which makes Marbella an enduringly popular holiday destination.

The spectacular natural beauty of Marbella, protected by the gentle slopes of the Sierra de las Nieves mountains, and abundance of exuberant sub-tropical vegetation and the azur Mediterranean at her feet make Marbella particularly easy on the eye. Add to this the organic shapes of the traditional Andalusian architecture which clings tight to the landscape, gives the environment a gentle appearance. With more green space per person than any town in Andalusia, low density and a proliferation of low rise buildings, Marbella is a user-friendly place to be.

Michelle Obama’s evening stroll in Marbella’s Old Town seemed to be the moment when she succumbed to Marbella’s myriad charms. A feast for the senses, with cobblestones under foot, the sense of living history in the ancient streets of a town with 2000 years of cultural heritage to its name, the scent of dama de noche in La Plaza de Los Naranjos and the taste of sweet Malaga wine on her lips, it is no surprise that Mrs. Obama started to fall in love with the place.

In Marbella, Mrs. Obama and her entourage were able to sample an exquisite dinner of creative Mediterranean cuisine in one of the Old Town’s charming restaurants, giving the First Lady an insight into the wide-ranging delights of Andalusian gastronomy.

The warmth of Marbella’s people is particularly disarming. Known for its warm, welcoming and fun people, Marbella’s cosmopolitan mix of nationalities no doubt made Mrs. Obama feel instantly at home.

Known as a paradise of sport and relaxation, Mrs. Obama’s chosen residence, the Hotel Villa Padierna Marbella was the perfect place for the First Lady to take a relaxation vacation from her duties on a private four day visit. With paddle and tennis courts, a beach club, two adjacent golf courses, a magnificent outdoor pool and one of the best thermal spas in Andalucia, where better to enjoy a little family time for mother and daughter.

As to be expected of such an illustrious and accomplished guest, the focus of Mrs. Obama’s visit was soaking up the wonders and drama of Andalusian culture, and aside from her tour of Marbella’s Old Town, Mrs Obama’s party visited the highlights of Granada and the Alhambra, along with a historical tour of Ronda. With the Picasso Museum in Malaga, and the magnificent monuments of Seville and Cordoba just two hour’s away, it is to be hoped that Mrs. Obama will do as she says and return one day with her husband and that the world’s most important couple can share the love.

A thriving centre for shopping, Mrs. Obama was mesmerized by Marbella’s quaint shopping streets in the Old Town, where she browsed the souvenir and fashion shops, stopping to purchase a few items along the way. Just a few kilometres away, Puerto Banus is replete with designer shops, which Mrs. Obama may wish to explore if she keeps her promise to return to the area with her husband.

The cool, jazmin-scented nights of Marbella, are one of the key attractions of the resort, and Michelle Obama was able to amble through the streets of Marbella feeling the caress of the fresh sea breeze. In Granada she experienced first hand the excitement of flamenco, and who knows if the First Lady will be able to resist the urge to attend the ultra glamorous Starlite Gala hosted by the Hollywood A-list and attended by the creme de la creme of Spanish celebrities and Marbella high-society held at the Villa Padierna Hotel Marbella.

Add to all of this Marbella’s own special X-Factor giving the resort an enduring magnetic charm for visitors from all over the world, and it is no surprise that Marbella succeeded in melting the heart of America’s First Lady.

Restaurante Carmen

Organized by the WIBS committee, led by president Caroline Bowley, the party was a relaxed get-together filled with with fun, fashion, fine food and a little business card swapping.  A flamenco guitarist strummed serene background music in the delightful restaurant terrace. Surrounded by ponds, waterfalls, and Asian-inspired icons, the Restaurante Carmen is something of an oasis, and proved to be an ideal setting for some well-deserved down time for some of the coast’s leading women in business. The interior of the restaurant was reserved for business tables, where members could browse an interesting selection of clothing, beauty products, health matters and inspirational reading.

Elle’s Belles

Fashionista Elle Morgan, whose flagship fashion and trendy footwear stores can be found in Laguna Village, provided the highlight of the lunch with an in situ fashion show of flirty florals, knockout neutrals and bright and bold prints in a selection of both evening and day wear for all age-groups. The tasty lunch was topped off with a prize draw of goodies donated by member businesses, putting a smile on the faces of the lucky recipients.

Now breaking for the summer, Women in Business Spain will be back in action in September with more monthly networking lunches.

Established in 2002, WIBS will get you connected to like-minded professionals and a wealth of potential new clients with a host of effective networking tools Including monthly networking meetings, WIBS members’ website and the group’s informative blog.

For details email enquiries@wibspain.com or call WIBS President, Caroline Bowley on Tel: 677 167 310.