Sunday, September 07, 2008

Currency exchange rates in Tenerife

A little while ago, I invited readers to submit their questions about Tenerife (and do keep 'em coming, if there's something you want to know about the island), meanwhile, I'll try to answer a few of those submitted already:

Can you please tell me what the current exchange rate is in Tenerife for pounds to euros, if we were to exchange pounds when we arrive in Tenerife in October?

Currency exchange is a difficult subject to advise on, because the rate could vary greatly between now and October and, the current rate offered would depend on which bank or currency exchange office in which town. Some are bound to offer better deals than others, but there are just too many to know which ones to recommend.

However, I can say that it's generally considered that the rates you'll get in banks on the island are better than those you get in the UK. As a guide for budgeting, you may find these Euros and Pounds Exchange Tables helpful.

If you have a question about Tenerife, don't be afraid to ask ...

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Special Transport for Gloria Estefan concert

Gloria Estefan, the most successful Latin American singer in the world, considered the Queen of Latin pop, brings her 90 Millas Tour, accompanied by the Miami Sound Machine, to Santa Cruz - her only concert in the Canary Islands - on Friday, September 19th to the Centro Insular de Atletismo de Tenerife (CIAT). The tour has been announced as being her farewell before retiring from touring.

A previous article had suggested that the CIAT is seriously short on parking places, however, a news report in Diario de Avisos outlines the special transport arrangements being laid on for concert goers.

As had been done on previous occasions, Tenerife bus company, TITSA, confirm that they are putting on extra buses from the Intercambiador (Tenerife Transport Interchange), where the six-level Park-and-Ride facility offers free parking spaces for 1,416 private vehicles.

In addition, LM Producciones, have announced an agreement signed with Fred. Olsen Express for a special "Tarifa Concierto" (Concert Tariff), to offer very reduced prices, giving people from Gran Canaria and other islands the chance to attend such a special date. You just have to ask for the special rate when booking, but being in possession of a ticket for the concert is a requisite.

The arrival of the international star to the island will be the realization of years of work by public institutions and promoters hoping to convert Tenerife into an essential destination for any of the major Latin artists' tours.

I reckon they're saying that it don't get better than this ...

Labels: Gloria Estefan in Tenerife

Freedom Flights adds autumn capacity

Travel Trade Gazette report that Freedom Flights is adding extra flights to Tenerife from Gatwick and Manchester in October. Apparently this is in response to the unprecedented demand from people looking for some sun after the disastrous British summer (hardly surprising).

This might mean Tenerife is in for a busy autumn and winter season.

British teenager found dead in Tenerife ditch

The Press Association report merely says that a 17-year-old was reported missing after failing to return to his hotel in the resort of Playa de las Americas, in the south of the island, although they add that a newspaper has said the teenager was murdered and his body found on waste ground close to the hotel where he had been staying with friends. The newspaper who appear to have jumped to that sensationalist conclusion is the, The Sun (need we say more?) and, there are various other discrepancies between reports.

According to local newspaper, EL DÍA, the body of the youngster was found yesterday morning, in the Barranco de Troya (the dried up riverbed which divides the tourist zones of Arona and Adeje) that communicates the area known as Las Terrazas and the infamous Las Verónicas strip. That report says that it is possible that his death was caused by a fall.

The teenager, apparently named by the Daily Express as 17-year-old Max Sumner, was reported missing on Thursday after failing to return to his hotel. It's reported that he went out with friends on Wednesday night, then went off on his own. Think Spain also report that autopsy results will confirm cause of death, but that police believe he died accidentally.

While the EL DÍA report says that the boy's father travelled to the island to join in the hunt for his son, La Opinión say that the 17-year-old British youth, born 2nd November, 1990 was named Nicolás S.B. and had come to the island with his parents and, were staying in the Hotel Oro Blanco in Arona.

Although no link between the two events is suggested, the same La Opinión report goes on to mention that Arona police were called to a restaurant in the basement of the Margarita building, where, it appears, the 45-year-old proprietor, of British nationality, had committed suicide by hanging.

Photo: Playa Bobo, Playa de las Americas. Tenerife-Photo

Just like real cabin crew

"... only much, much less competent," was one of the early reviews of the new ITV2 reality show, CelebAir, that flew into your viewing airwaves in the UK this week. Jaunted say, from comments like that, it doesn't look too promising.

Having seen the first episode (available on ITV Catch Up), I can't say that the program was especially riveting, but I do think this show will benefit "real" airline staff, in that once these celebrities show how difficult a seemingly simple job is, then maybe holiday makers will give them a little more respect.

As Mica Paris, the first celebrity to be sacked (also the only one I'd ever heard of), it's the most difficult job in the world and that she was permanently tired.

CelebAir flights visit Tenerife four times

Labels: CelebAir

Friday, September 05, 2008

Tenerife Fire, One Year On

My good friend José Mesa has once again been out taking photos along the route of of the forest fire that burned across 18,800 hectares (46454.8 acres) of Tenerife last year. In addition to photos one year on (the set is still under construction), but he's also stitched together numerous "before" and "after" versions of shots taken at identical places, showing the situation in August 2007, shortly after the fire and again in August 2008. View them as a slideshow. It's quite heartening to see how nature is fighting back.

Photo: 042 agosto07 agosto08, originally uploaded by Mataparda.

Bathing Prohibited in Los Cristianos

The public heath department in the Canary Islands, on Thursday, decreed a prohibition on bathing at Los Cristianos beach, as bacteria in the water had exceeded safe levels. The cause of this microbiological contamination is not yet known and the prohibition will remain in effect until successive analyses show that the contamination is no longer present. Meanwhile, the beach should be adequately marked to prevent users from bathing there.

However and, far be it for me to take over from the Daily Mail in the job of alarming people, but the news report indicates that the samples of seawater were taken on Monday. Should anyone who bathed from Los Cristianos beach between Monday (or even before, if we aren't certain when the contamination began) and the closure on Thursday have any health concerns?

UPDATE 5/9: The bathing prohibition in Los Cristianos was lifted Friday, after analysis on new water samples confirmed that the water quality had returned to levels acceptable under current regulations. The cause of the contamination incident is still unknown.

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Are we still vaguely interested?

The Official Website of Tenerife Tourism Corporation has announced that Siam Park is to open it's doors "to surprise visitors with a new concept in theme parks" at the end of September (following the official opening mid-month).

Just that vague timescale still and no exact day or date is mentioned yet.

Forgive me if I really can't be bothered to translate word for word the rest of the exuberant press release that talks about the usual "biggest" and "most advanced" of everything. Oh, I'm sure it will be fun if you like that type of thing, but I guess I don't see the point of turning Tenerife into a facsimile of somewhere else, when the island already has a wealth of beautiful, natural attractions of it's own that need to be appreciated.

My personal taste aside, exactly what do they think could be "surprising" about this news now? There have been so many announcements over the last few years to make another one almost groan-worthy. Searchers online have lost the interest they had a year or so ago, that's for certain and I'm only bothering to mention this because it comes from an "official" source.

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

What's on in Tenerife (W/E 07/09/08)

As Puerto de la Cruz' Bavarian Week continues and Hed Kandi's flying disco made it's third and final landing at Tramps on Monday, a new week and a new month sees numerous new and different things on Tenerife's social calendar. Midweek picks: CD Tenerife have a Copa del Rey (King's Cup) match on Wednesday. International DJ, Judge Jules plays Tramps on Thursday.

Pinolere Crafts Fair

Join the estimated 35,000 people who will visit the 10,000 square meters of arts, crafts and other exhibits at the 23rd Edition of the annual XXIII Feria de Pinolere (Pinolere Crafts Fair) at the Pinolere Ethnographic Park, La Orotava. 170 artisans will gather for the three days on September 5th, 6th and 7th, with the theme this year being "Hecho con barro" (literally, Made with mud): rustic earthenware pottery.

The full program is at the following page, but in general, the fair is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on each of the three days with various exhibitions, demonstrations and workshops, as well as many stalls selling unique, hand-made wares. Living Tenerife reckon it's ideal for Christmas shopping and we agree.

Read this article to discover what to expect at the Pinolere Craft Fair

Tenerife Symphony Orchestra in Concert

On Friday, September 5th, classical music fans can treat themselves to a free concert in the open air at the Plaza del Cristo in La Laguna, where the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Colombian conductor, Alejandro Posada, will play a program of Latin American inspired tunes. Starts 9 p.m.

plundering of pirates in Tegueste

However, you may decide that Friday night's unmissable event is the La Librea (Livery) in Tegueste. This re-enactment represents the inhabitants’ defence of the island against the continuous attacks and plundering of pirates that took place during the 17th century and involves a mock battle between "goodies" and "baddies" in ox-drawn carts made to look like galleons.

It starts at 9.30 p.m. (give or take) and the firework display is slated for 11 p.m. It's worth noting that this reenactment only takes place once every three years, the last time was in 2005 and the next won't be until 2011.

La Librea is part of Tegueste's Fiesta de los Remedios and Fiesta de la Vendima (grape harvest festival.) There's a full list of events here.

Keep Your Motor Running

... for a Concentración de motos (meet up of motorcycles) in the Plaza del Cristo, Tacoronte on Saturday, September 6th. From around 5 p.m., followed by a circuit around various streets of the town. The motorcycle meet is an annual event in Tacoronte's Fiesta del Cristo de los Dolores (well-known wines and sweets play an important role in the festivities too). You can download a full program of events for these fiestas here (PDF) and it's worth doing so, because the 6.63 MB, 23 page document (optimisation extra!) is stuffed with beautiful photos.

Full Salsa Septiembre

For your Saturday night entertainment, may we suggest Full Salsa Septiembre at the Sala Inca, at the La Perla Negra leisure centre below Al Campo, La Laguna. Saturday, 6th September, starts at 11 p.m. As well as Salsa music, there's Bachata, Merengue, Cha-Cha-Cha and Mambo, all in the capable hands of DJs Alberto and Jacob.

The 10 euro door charge includes a couple of drinks. If you order online in advance, you can even save a couple of euros on that.

Romería del Socorro

On Sunday, September 7th, is the annual Romería del Socorro (part of the Fiesta de San Pedro) that starts from the Plaza de San Pedro in Güimar and ends at the Playa del Socorro. It's described as being a very ancient and fun festival that turns into an all night party. The next day, the icon is paraded back up the hill again.

Photo: Mataparda / Jose Mesa.

Fiestas de la Luz, Los Silos

The main day of these fiestas dating back to 1722, is on September 8th, but there are many events this weekend with the arrival of the cycling "Tour de Tenerife" on Friday lunchtime and the gala to select the Queen of the Fiestas in the evening.

On Saturday night there's a choral music concert, followed by a jolly old knees up and, on Sunday at 11 a.m. (for those who can get up), the Happy Dog Association, in collaboration with the town hall, will be demonstrating Canine Agility. At midnight on Sunday night is a fireworks display, followed by another all night, open air dance. A full program of events is here (PDF)

Seafood Tapas Route in Los Cristianos

Something tasty for those of you in an around Los Cristianos, is as part of the Fiestas del Carmen taking place there this week is a Ruta Gastronómica Marinera - a seafood gastronomic event, the now familiar Tapas Route in which various restaurants in the town are taking part from September 1st to 8th.

The price for a portion of tapas and a drink (either beer or wine) at the 13 participating establishments is 3 euros (around a couple of quid). It doesn't list which restaurants are involved, but I'm sure they'll have posters up.

More events, exhibitions and what's on, in our calendar.