Friday, September 05, 2008
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?
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.
Labels: What's On?
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Calderón gris - Risso's dolphin
Video of Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) near Tenerife. Sadly, the same type of rare dolphin that was washed ashore in the Isles of Scilly.
Friday, August 29, 2008
What's On the Last weekend in August in Tenerife
Another relatively quiet week, can it be so? Either that is the case, or lots of things will be happening that nobody announces until the last minute ...
Saturday, August 30th, is the big day of the fiestas in Santa Bárbara, Icod de los Vinos, with the offering of Cestos y Bollos (that's one of them, pictured on the right), a very pretty tradition, starting at around 3 p.m. in the Calle El Plano and making a procession to the square.
The Romería of San Agustín is always held in Arafo (map) on the last Saturday in August. First held in 1975, this fiesta was declared an event of National Interest for Tourism in 1983 and is when the image of the saint is brought down from it's grotto in the Añavingo gorge. It will stay in the town until mid-September, while the fiestas of San Juan Degollado take place. Romería de San Agustín - ARAFO (Tenerife)
Also on Saturday, August 30th: Fiesta Tropical at Vai Moana Chill Out Cafe, Las Galletas, Arona and the Salpica Festival en Buenavista del Norte.
Meanwhile, Puerto de la Cruz celebrates its annual Semana Bávara (Bavarian Week) and Fiesta de la Cerveza (Beer Festival) from August 30th to September 8th. This is held each year at the end of August / beginning of September, where you can taste traditional German produce accompanied by the sound of a Bavarian Orchestra, Die Lustigen Egerländer. Tickets sold in aid of the Red Cross.
For many, the big event of this weekend will be the first home game of the football season for CD Tenerife v Gimnástic de Tarragona. Kick off is 20:00 at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium.
Labels: What's On?
Monday, August 25, 2008
Ask Secret Tenerife
Borrowing an idea from Oliver Wang at Soul Sides (actually, I've been meaning to do a few things of this nature for a long time now, but you know how scarce those round tuits are), in an effort to improve the site's interactivity...
You are invited to ask ... anything you've ever wanted to know about Tenerife but were afraid to.
Of course, I don't guarantee to have all the answers, but with luck I'll know someone who does, or someone who knows where to find it.
If you wish, you can ask questions privately via email here, but please be aware that this is not a corporate site and there is just one of me (and two feline "helpers"), so I probably won't be able to reply directly, though I may publish answers to questions that I think will be of general interest. You will, of course, remain anonymous, unless you ask for a mention and credit.
Otherwise, don't be afraid to post your question in the comments below.
Siam Park Opening NOT for Public
Perhaps it was right for me to be cautious (alright, cynical) over the news about Siam Park's opening, as Colin Kirby reports in Siam Park, an open and shut case that, "... the inauguration is behind closed doors for dignitaries, politicians etc and it will not signal the opening to the public."
Whist I understand about the trials needing to be done, perhaps they shouldn't have announced any dates until all of that was complete? It's not just the date of the not public opening ceremony, but various previous and missed opening dates for the park and, reports in the local media (in which the park have clearly participated), suggesting that everything is imminent.
People were excited and interested about the prospect of the theme park once - or at least there were plenty searching for information - but I'm surely not alone in wondering if this perpetually "not quite finished" project can maintain interest until (or maybe if) it ever is ready to receive visitors.
And considering that the building work is more or less complete then it's pretty lame that the official website still says "Coming soon" and what images there are on the site, are still bad Photoshops and artists' impressions.
Update on the Spanair crash in Madrid
A huge four-figure spike of visitors to this site on Wednesday and many more since then, came looking for information about the Tenerife Disaster (the 1977 crash at Tenerife's Los Rodeos airport), in the wake of Wednesday's crash in Madrid of the Spanair flight bound for Gran Canaria.
Wednesday's crash 
sadly claimed its 154th victim Saturday, when a 31 year old woman died. She had suffered 72% burns. Another 2 of the remaining 18 survivors, currently in Madrid hospitals are in a very serious condition.
Among the dead are complete families, people from almost every region of Spain and from 11 foreign countries; Bulgaria, Sweden, Italy, Colombia, Germany, France, Brazil, Mauritania, Turkey, Gambia and Indonesia.
Around half the passengers were resident in the Canary Islands.
Clearly, there's no connection to link the two accidents and, even if this does make the list of worst crashes in Europe and whatever else the media is dragging up to make a headline, it isn't quite the "Holiday Horror" as portrayed on British TV, but the less said about my hatred of the British media's sensationalist approach, the better.
The current hypothesis over the cause of the crash is that, for whatever reason (that the accident investigation will seek to determine), the aircraft did not have enough power to lift off, but had passed the point of no return.
Photo: 2007/10/10 EC-HFP, by wicho «Sunbreeze» about to land at Barajas airport in Madrid. Sadly, this plane crashed on take off from Barajas on August 20th 2008 as JKK 5022 / LH 2554 to Gran Canaria airport (LPA). By the time of the crash, it had been repainted with the Star Alliance livery.
In memoriam by alexgg.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
They're taking the p*$$ aren't they?
Took this photo back in March, but I came across the image again while editing some stuff today and it still makes me giggle, so I thought I'd share. Seen on a stall in Santa Cruz' Nuestra Señora de África Market (wonderful place really), not Shiitake, but SHIT TAKE - two words.
Labels: Translation Hooters
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The shade of an almond tree
A restoration project is imminent, it seems on the house of the Estévanez brothers in the district of Gracia, in La Laguna. The 18th Century house, now a ruin, had been the property of the Irish family of Murphy, or more precisely to the brothers of Patricio and Nicolás Estévanez Murphy (1838-1914), the former having been a journalist of repute and the later, a military officer, politician and poet; a man who historically put humanity and justice before country.
The lyrics of the Himno de Canarias (Canary Islands Anthem), the first line of which refers to, "... la sombra de un almendro" (... the shade of an almond tree), were inspired by a fragment of a poem by Nicolás Estévanez that relates to the almond tree of his childhood, saying: "Mi patria no es el mundo; mi patria no es Europa; mi patria es de un almendro, la dulce, fresca, inolvidable sombra" (My homeland is not the world, my homeland is not Europe; my homeland is an almond tree, it's sweet, fresh, unforgettable shade.)
The almond tree in question, under which many an intellectual debate has taken place, stood in the grounds of this house and, although the tree became dried out through the years, the trunk still stands alongside the wall.
It was in this house also, that Borges Salas sculpted the voluptuous figure of Fecundidad (Fertility) that presides over the fountain that is the centrepiece of the Parque García Sanabria in Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz.
After many years of abandonment, the Tenerife Island Council acquired the 12,000 sq m Estévanez estate and intend to restore the house, an important location in Tenerife's history, as a museum, or for cultural activities.
