Friday, November 30, 2007

Tenerife: Something for the weekend 29/11 -2/12

The weekend started early this week on Thursday with the eve of the Festividad de San Andrés (Fesitvities of Saint Andrew). Whist he may be Scotland's patron saint, the strength of his following here is because the date is so closely linked with that most historically important island trade: wine.

New Wines and Old Traditions

After the uncorking of the new wine, Icod de los Vinos celebrated it's unique Tablas de San Andrés in the streets of El Plano, San Antonio, Hércules, El Salto, El Sol and San Andrés.

Las tablas de San Andrés en Icod de los Vinos (English)

Meanwhile in Puerto de la Cruz, to keep the local tradition of Los cacharros alive, dragging scrap metal around the streets to make a noise, the town hall promoted workshops in its five primary schools. Where else can you imagine children being encouraged to make that much noise and, be given a state sponsored workshop to ensure they do it? :)

Fiesta del cacharro y de la castaña (English)

Ruta del Vino / Wine Tour

Tenerife bus company, TITSA, have laid on a special bus service from Thursday, November 29th to Saturday, December 1st to coincide with the Festividad de San Andrés (Fesitvities of Saint Andrew) and the traditional opening of the new wine. The route runs through areas of the Tacoronte-Acentejo wine region where there are abundant restaurants and bodegas.

Calling at La Laguna, San Benito, El Portezuelo, Guamasa, Los Naranjeros, El Cantillo, Tacoronte, empalme de El Sauzal (Casa del Vino), La Matanza, La Victoria and Santa Úrsula, the special bus makes a circular route from the bus station in Santa Cruz and back.

On Friday, November 30th and Saturday, December 1st, these special bus services leave at 13:00, 15:30, 18:00, 20:30 and 23:00 hours.

TITSA pone en marcha la Ruta del Vino con motivo de la festividad de San Andrés

Though the main centers for these celebrations are Icod de los Vinos and Puerto de la Cruz, the festivities don't stop there:

At the end of La Laguna's Mes del Vino, on Friday, 30th, one of the main attractions of the programme this year will be Vive San Andrés en La Laguna 2007; a fiesta of wine and chestnuts for everyone that is being held in the former convent of Santo Domingo, from 7 p.m.

There are fiestas in honour of San Andrés in Tamaimo, in the district of Santiago del Teide. On Friday, November 30th, mass sung by the municipal choir at 8 p.m. This is followed by a procession, a fireworks display and, to finish, there's food and a dance laid on.

The neighborhood of Las Casas in Arona in the south of Tenerife are also celebrating the festivities of San Andrés, for whom their chapel is named. On Friday, November 30th, there will be a mass at 8.30 p.m., followed by a procession and fireworks. Salsa orchestra Wamampy will provide the dance music from 11 p.m. onwards. On Saturday, December 1st, from 1 p.m., attendees can enjoy a grand paella free, as well as other products of the typical local gastronomy, along with the new wine.

On Friday, November 30th, in the neighborhood of Pueblo Nuevo in Icod de los Vinos, the residents association have organized a Gran Castañada de San Andrés (Chestnut Festival).

There were also notices in Buenavista del Norte advertising a Castañada with wine, organized by the residents association here in the village of El Palmar. In the square, 6 p.m.., Saturday, December 1st. We'll be at that one, weather permitting. Check your local town or village, because there is almost bound to be something similar scheduled. La Orotava was the first to uncork their new wine; kids in various other towns also celebrate the Tablas (I've certainly seen this in Chio, but I'll bet there some wherever there are steep streets, which is almost everywhere); and the same will be able to be said for tasting new wine accompanied by chestnuts.

La Clásica de Tenerife / Tenerife Classic

In the sports department this week, is La Clásica de Tenerife (Tenerife Classic), in which 58 classic cars from the 70's will compete.

Start and finish is from the plaza of the church of La Concepción in Santa Cruz. On Friday, November 30th, the first cars will leave at 8 p.m., in direction of San Andrés. The rest of the route is being kept secret until the moment of departure.

On Saturday, December 1st, departure is from the same point at 9 a.m., leaving in the direction of La Laguna and finishing from around 6 p.m.

La Clásica de Tenerife

Finally, ship spotters will want to be in the port of Santa Cruz on Saturday, December 1st, from 08:00, when the Queen Elizabeth 2 pays one of her last visits to the island before her retirement.

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