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Friday, September 14, 2007
Tenerife: Something for the weekend 14/9 - 16/9
As the eminent Dr Les Brown puts it, "There are more Spanish fiestas than there are verb conjugations. Learn to live with it." Or better yet, harness it, because in choosing to point out a few of the week's highlights for your enjoyment, I can be pretty certain that I will never run out of material. Honestly, the list just seems to keep growing and growing weekly. :) 
Mister Tenerife 2007
If female beauty contests are considered rather non-PC these days, this event should even things up a bit and, you could start your weekend, at the Plaza de San José, in San Juan de la Rambla, checking out the "talent" in the Mister Tenerife 2007 contest.
Some 30 odd hopefuls, aged between 18 and 25, who were, erm, presented into society at Tángara Santa Cruz last night, will battle it out tooth and nail on Friday, September 14th, for the opportunity to represent the island in the Mister España 2007 contest. At the gala will be performances by Tenerife resident, Spanish pop duo, Almas Gemelas, as well as from Juan Carlos Lobo and soloist, José Manuel Ramos.
Gala de Mister Tenerife
Another Feast of Traditional Fiestas
Fiestas del Cristo de La Laguna 2007
Friday, September 14th is the main day (and a local holiday in that district) of the Fiestas del Cristo in La Laguna. These are important fiestas in that La Laguna was the original capital of the island, but also because the 16th Century Flemish-Gothic style figure of Christ being venerated was brought to the island by the Adelantado (Military Governor) and Conqueror Alonso Fernández de Lugo.
The order for the day is a civic and military parade at 10 a.m. and religious ones at mid-day and again in the evening, when the figure is brought out for the faithful (and the curious) to view and returned again.
Coinciding with the return of the figure to its sanctuary, there are humungous pyrotechnic displays in the surrounding mountains and the Plaza del Cristo.
The PDF program for these fiestas, which continue to the end of the month, runs to 34 pages and, amongst the text there are some superb photos, including a close up of the face of the figure, so you may be interested to have a look, even if you don't understand Spanish and, indeed, even if you aren't Christian / religious, simply for its merits as a work of art. 
Grandes Fiestas to honour Nuestra Señora de La Consolación in El Palmar
We're not content to have "just" fiestas in this pueblo. According to the program, of which I have a printed copy, these are Grandes Fiestas, no less. And, for the size of the village (620 inhabitants), 10 days worth of them certainly are!
Events kick off with Carnaval style processions on Friday, September 14th; the unique Baile de Las Libreas on Saturday, September 15th, followed by a fireworks display and, on Sunday, September 16th, a procession after mass and a variety show in the evening.
Fiestas de Nuestra Señora de La Consolación in El Palmar
Fiestas Elsewhere on the Island This Weekend
According to Canarias Fiesta, there are also the following fiestas taking place or continuing; Nª Sra. de la Luz 2007 in Los Silos, Vírgen de Los Remedios 2007 in Tegueste, Fiestas del Barrio de Benijos 2007 in La Orotava, Santísimo Cristo 2007 in Tacoronte, Nª Sra. de Las Angustias 2007 in Icod de Los Vinos, Ntra. Sra. la Virgen del Campo 2007 in Adeje (Fañabé) and the Fiestas Patronales Vírgen de la Luz y del Cristo de la Dulce Muerte 2007 in Guía de Isora. There must still be fiestas in Los Realejos, because those are going on all month and, there are the Fiestas de San Miguel Arcángel, in San Miguel de Abona and the Fiestas Virgen del Carmen in Las Eras (Fasnia-Arico) on the south of the island.
The Fiestas del Santísimo Cristo del Calvario in Icod de los Vinos also begin on Friday, September 14th, with the presentation of the candidates for Fiesta Queens, both adult and junior. At the same event, the full program of sports, cultural, religious and leisure events will also be published.
There's the VII Baile de Magos de la Villa Histórica de Santiago del Teide (Traditional folk dance) at the Mercado del agricultor (Farmers' Market building), Llano de Abajo, Santiago del Teide on Saturday, September 15th, from 21:00. Canarian costume mandatory, but entrance is free.
At the Fiesta de la Vendimia (Harvest Festival) in Tegueste this morning, a group of 16 school children have been participating in la pisada de la uva (treading the grapes), learning the techniques the traditional way.
Concerts and Music
Tego Calderon and K-Narias in Concert
On Saturday, September 15th, Puerto Rican Reggaeton star, Tego Calderón (MySpace), walks across the water (presumably, since it's reported he doesn't like flying) from Gran Canaria where he plays on Friday night to play the Pabellón Santiago Martín sports center (the oval building beside the TF-5 motorway, affectionately known as "La Hamburguesa"), in La Laguna, Tenerife.
Also performing are K-Narias (listen) a duo from Tenerife who are one of the few homegrown acts to break into the US market.
Tego Calderón actuará en Tenerife el 15 de septiembre
Video: K-narias - Salsa con reggaeton
La Noria Urban DJ Festival '07
The penultimate week of the La Noria Urban DJ Festival '07, sees Mr. Brown. The Lord of the Beats / DJ Jose at Bulán, Calle de La Noria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Theatre and Dance
On Friday and Saturday at the Teatro Guimerá in Santa Cruz, a troupe of itinerant actors called Abubukaka perform Píaton, which is described as "The story of a zebra crossing in a small village that gets tired of the monotony and decides to escape by stealing a van and undertaking a journey to a better future."
Each of the actors plays a stripe, black and white and, audience participation appears to provide the remaining cast: the crossing users.
The reason I picked this out is, because it's also described as being an aesthetic and chaotic visual show and musical (less need to understand the lingo), covering immigration and the importance of following our dreams. Something, certainly the expats in the audience will identify with too.
The van acts as the scenery and, before the performances, this "fringe" theatre group, resident at the Teatro Guimerá, will be doing a parade around the streets of Santa Cruz. Oh, also because ENTRANCE IS FREE.
Abubukaka estrena hoy "Píaton" al lado del Guimerá
On Saturday, September 15th at the Auditorio de Tenerife, contemporary dance troupe, Colectivo Salvaje (Wild Collective) will perform what the Auditorio describe as a daring dance show. Via: CanaryNet.
On Friday, September 14th at the Auditorio Municipal in Los Silos there is Salsa Isla Baja, which is workshops and dance performance.
The Sports Section
18th Rallye Villa de Adeje
One of the biggest events on Tenerife's Rally calendar, the Adeje Rally, is being held on, Saturday, September 15th in Adeje, over a total of 271.63 kms, in four sections, all over asphalted roads, with 155 teams / cars taking part.
Meanwhile, this video will give you a run through of one sections of the route. Hopefully, there won't be any traffic coming in the opposite direction when the rally drivers do it, but even in a normal car it looks like hard work!
More details from the official Rallye Villa de Adeje site.
Walking and Hiking
III Ruta Nocturna del Hermano Pedro
Tonight, Friday, September 14th, sees the third annual III Ruta Nocturna del Hermano Pedro (Bother Peter's Nocturnal Route), starting at 21:00 in the central plazas of El Médano and Los Abrigos, walking to Hermano Pedro's Cave by 22:15 and arriving back in those towns at around 23:45. Organizers recommend that participants bring a torch and water, wear comfortable sports shoes and to follow the guides' instructions.
III Ruta Nocturna del Hermano Pedro
Ruta de Los Guanches
On Saturday, September 15th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., you can get to know the mountains in the higher reaches of La Orotava, by following the route of the Guanches. Details from the Espacio Cultural CajaCanarias, Plaza el Patriotismo 1, La Orotava.
Ruta de Los Guanches
Fútbol / Football
And, finally for all the footy fans who would like to see some live action instead of the same matches on satellite that you could have watched at home, CD Tenerife are at home at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez, on Sunday, September 16th at 19:00, against Hércules.
Home matches are something they seem to be able to cope with, having won their previous home league match against Cádiz (2-0) a fortnight ago and the Copa del Rey (King's Cup) match against Poli Ejido (1-0). They seem to have trouble when they play away though. How embarrassing is losing to Granada 74 by 4 goals to 1 (Penalty) last week? :)
CD Tenerife scores and fixtures 2007-2008 (in English)
More events, exhibitions and what's on, in our calendar.
Labels: Something for the weekend
