When in 1973, I made up my mind that living under the weather conditions of Denmark was not for me, I dreamt of living in Southern Spain by the Mediterranean, visualizing serene hilly landscapes dotted with white houses, long dry summers, short mild winters and a lifestyle of easy rhythms.

When I eventually moved to Southern Spain that same year, I discovered that the reality was much better but somewhat different from my dreams. I quickly understood that there were many, many things that I had to learn from this wonderful country. Southern Spain became my permanent home, three of my four children were born here and my family have over the many years, enjoyed and appreciated the warmth and hospitality of the Spanish people, allowing us to feel like Spaniards.

Obviously gone is my vision of "serene landscapes dotted with white houses" and over the past 20 years I have been guilty of contributing to that with the development of Miraflores. However, most of the resorts built over that period made an effort of moderate use of the land being built on, allowing wide spaces for landscaped gardens and leisure areas. Central and local governments imposed these rules for new construction, followed by sufficient installation of infrastructure, such as roads, water, sewerage and electricity.

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