Quest's World of Wonder comes to Málaga

 

During the July of 2021, I had the pleasure of participating in an episode of CNN’s travel documentary Quest’s World of Wonder. British journalist and CNN anchor man Richard Quest had chosen Málaga to record an episode of his popular travel series, seeing as he has a 40-year connection to the province. His parents purchased an apartment in Fuengirola back in the ‘70s, and so Richard uses this as his base when visiting the area on vacation.

I was first approached by his research team in 2020, but the Covid pandemic derailed the project. However, now that we are seeing a return to some sort of normality, the programme was rescheduled, so the ever-curious journalist arrived in Málaga in July to start work on the production.

As well as being interviewed about my connection to the world of orthodox flamenco, I acted as the cable news network’s middle man in Andalucía.

CNN had also lined up a string of local celebrities to interview, including Prince Hubertus von Hohenlohe, son of Prince Alfonso, the tourism pioneer who founded the Marbella Club Hotel. The film crew also visited top sites and monuments in the capital of the Costa del Sol, while also enjoying a private tour of the Picasso Museum.

I first met up with Richard and his crew in Mijas, where we enjoyed breakfast in La Boveda de Flamenco, a traditional style bar that proved to be the perfect back drop for this part of the programme. While the cameras rolled and an ever-increasing group of spectators converged on the opposite side of the street, we discussed the Costa del Sol and tourism, the expat community and, of course, flamenco. The delightful patio of the bar made an impression on the journalist, especially seeing as it is the local meeting place of the village’s stereotypical characters. He also became quite excited at the site of a drove of donkey taxis that trundled past, instructing his cameraman to make sure to get them in the shot.

My involvement also included taking him to see an authentic flamenco performance, and arranging some dance lessons at a local flamenco academy, during which, the characteristic presenter attempted to understand the essence of the buleria. I don’t think that Richard quite got to grips with the intricate footwork and the fluid arm movements of the buleria, but his determination was a pleasurable, and highly amusing, experience. He told me that he is “a frustrated tap dancer”: watching him trying to attempt the zapateado seemed to confirm this.

I was also tasked with taking him shopping in order to kit him out in suitable attire in order for him to look the part: being of a slightly eccentric nature, this proved to be an interesting and somewhat enjoyable task. He took time out to visit local shops, where he admitted that he is “addicted” to purchasing colourful ceramics and artisan goods. This was confirmed during our stroll around the winding back streets of the town, where he disappeared into labyrinth of artisan boutiques in search of nick-knacks to take back to New York.

My few days assisting Richard Quest was a most pleasurable experience: his sense of humour and his genuine interest in the province made this one of the highlights of my summer. The experience was made even more enjoyable because of the friendliness and consideration of his hard-working crew, who went out of their way to ensure everything ran as smoothly as possible.

The filming finished at the Kelipe flamenco tablao, one of the longest-serving clubs in Malaga, and Richard was absolutely mesmerised by the authenticity of the show, claiming, “this is nothing like the tourist style of flamenco witnessed in the hotels on the Costa." How right he is!

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