Saturday, December 31, 2005
Celebrating New Year in The Canary Islands
On New Year's Eve, Nochevieja (which translates better to Old Year's Night), or San Silvestre as it is called in Spain, celebrations revolve around the eating of the grapes at midnight.
The idea is to eat 12 "lucky" grapes (Uvas de la Suerte), one grape on each stroke of the clock - all suitably and necessarily (it is extremely difficult to do) washed down with Cava: Spanish bubbly - a tradition that is believed to come from ancient wine-growers.
The New Year is heralded in Spain via the twelve chimes from the Puerta del Sol in Madrid: an hour later in the Canaries (actually, the same time as the UK) (Twice on TV, depending which channel you watch!) with those of the Cabildo (Island Corporation) in Santa Cruz in Tenerife or their counterpart in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
The two locations take it in turns and, this year, it's Gran Canaria's turn to say adios to 2005 and welcome in 2006, which will be televised from the historic and emblematic Gabinete Literario.
New Year's Eve is a night for going out. After the chimes, there will usually be fireworks and in many places, there will be a Verbena: all-night street-party with dancing to a Salsa band or a disco.
The custom at New Year is to wear your very best, new clothes.
In Santa Cruz, the Plaza de España will be packed with people and atmosphere if you're looking for fun, as will the church square in Los Cristianos, if you happen to be in the south.
But most large and even small towns have New Years' parties. In Garachico, we've danced to an open air disco (yeah, Jan 1 in the open air, at night, te he) in the town square in front of the bandstand and watched the fireworks set off from the Town Hall roof. There were "party bags" (consisting of the obligatory silly hat, noise makers and packet of grapes) laid on for anyone who turned up. And you get to keep company with the big fish in these small ponds, as the Mayor of Garachico was host.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Carnaval Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2006
The creator of the poster for the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnaval 2006 is Karina Beltrán, an artist born in Buenavista in 1968. Karina obtained a degree in Fine Arts at the University of La Laguna in 1991 and a Postgraduate Diploma at the Chelsea College of Art and Design in 2001, where a year later, she also obtained her Master in Fine Arts. Karina currently lives and works in London.
Creadora del Cartel del Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2006
Labels: Carnaval 2006
Canary Islands Agriculture Closes One of its Worst Years in The Last Decade
Banana cultivation - for which these islands are best known, after tourism and, which forms an important part of the insular economy - has fared best in 2005, thanks to good prices on the mainland, although European aid has not been sufficient.
Increases in gas prices, plus various weather phenomenon, culminating with Tropical Storm Delta, which hit the Canary Islands in November and affected 14,000 plantations, turned 2005 into one of the worst years for agriculture in the archipelago in the last decade. Banana production was 65 million kilos less than in 2004, owing to the bad weather, with costs of production rising.
Agriculture was the worst hit by the recent storms and the highest costs, although they run into millions of Euros of monetary value, are human. The year 2005 has been classified as a year of crisis and uncertainty - to the point that 300 family firms have disappeared.
La agricultura de las Islas despide uno de los peores años de la última década
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Fred Olsen FerryBus Included
Inter-island ferry company, Fred Olsen have announced a 2.4% rise in their tariffs consistent with the general rise in the cost of living, however, as from January 1, their FerryBus service will be free on all of their lines and its use exclusive to ferry passengers.
Olsen have also announced that buying return tickets, passengers will enjoy a 10% discount over single-journey rates. The Canarian Government also recently announced an increase in the discount available to residents, which rises from 35% to 45%.
Fred. Olsen sube de nuevo sus tarifas y anuncia la gratuidad del FerryBus en todas sus líneas
Pilot dumps drunk man on island
A drunken air passenger was cast away on an island more than 1,000 miles from home after abusing cabin staff. The unidentified man swore at crew and passengers after being refused a bottle of wine on the four-hour flight from Manchester to Tenerife. In the interests of all the passengers, the pilot diverted the Monarch Airlines Airbus to Porto Santo island off West Africa, where after the plane touched down, the man was marched off by police.
Pilot dumps drunk man on island
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Santa Takes a Winter Break in Tenerife
Our intrepid reporter caught up with the jolly old chap in a red suit on December 28, while he was taking a well-earned, post-Christmas holiday at a secret location in Tenerife.
Good old Santa (a.k.a. Papa Noel) has been gaining popularity in the Canary Islands in recent years and, like many millions of other Northern Europeans, Old Nick apparently likes to take a winter sunshine break after the busy season, to get some temporary relief from his rheumatism. 
(Look, if Santa can get right around the world in a single night, he certainly deserves a vacation!) But just HOW does Santa get to the Canaries if the airports are so busy at this time of year? As you can see, he enjoys the surf, but even he can hardly catch a wave all the way from the North Pole, can he?
Perhaps he rides down on the back of a whale? No, I think not really. He probably just went on a Whale and Dolphin Safari from Los Cristianos!
There are many places around the islands where Santa can learn to scuba-dive and see the paradise that lies beneath Canarian waters, but the idea of Submarine Santa travelling any distance ... Nah!
A boat, especially a speed-boat, would be a much more efficient option and Santa could park his at one of the many sports marinas. But trailing behind for about 3,875 miles - even if Santa is accustomed to very great speeds - still seems a bit much.
Aha! Perhaps Santa comes by camel, just as the Three Kings do? We'll ask at the Camel Centre in El Tanque if they've ever carried a sober tourist wearing a red suit and white beard, shall we?
How Santa Gets to The Canary Islands
Well, we asked Santa himself and discovered that, actually, it's none of the above - maybe you'll have guessed - and here's exclusive photographic evidence to prove how Santa gets to the Canaries.
Of course, he flies here on his sleigh, just as he does to get to any other location on the planet - as can clearly be seen in this photo taken on Santa's approach to the islands from the North West.
Gracious thanks to NASA (who probably don't use reindeer, camels or burros for propulsion) for the use of their photo. This story is best read on Dec 28.
While you are here, Visit Santa's Tropical Grotto
Labels: Christmas
Day of the Innocent Saints
El Día de Los Santos Inocentes, falls on the 28th December. What does it mean? Well, it is the Spanish equivalent of April Fool's Day.
And, just like it's counterpart, jokes abound and tricks will be played.
At Ibi, near Benidorm on the Costa Blanca on the Spanish mainland, the tradition is for the workers from the local toy factory (in fancy dress) to take over the administration of justice in the streets from 9 a.m. to midday on this date. Any 'fines' they collect (extort) will go to charities and, they are not subtle. They have been known to handcuff the bank manager and have removed the wheels from a vehicle. Even the police won't stop them.
December 28 in the Catholic church commemorates the assassination of all the male babies: thus The Innocent Saints, on Herod's orders in a vain attempt to kill the child Jesus. Since the Middle Ages, the sacrilegious have remembered this mournful event with humour and, the jovial tradition has continued.
In olden days, bakers made salted tarts, people nailed coins to the floor, etc. The most usual was to cut out a paper effigy and stick it to the back of a passer-by, which they would wear without knowing and, many people will make jokes in bad taste.
On TV and in the newspapers in Spain, bogus stories will appear (a UFO terrorizes the Royal Palace; the President runs off with the daughter of the opposition leader; a new planet has been discovered; all cars with registration ending in 7 must report to the police, etc., etc.), only some of which are later acknowledged to be "inocentadas" - hoaxes in the name of Los Santos Inocentes.
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Birds of the Atlantic Islands
At this scale, I realize, it is difficult to tell a bird from an aircraft, let alone an canary from a seagull, however, with luck, when I get the soon to be published Field Guide to the Birds of the Atlantic Islands: Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Cape Verde - the first comprehensive field guide dealing exclusively with the birds of this spectacular region - (that my mum has promised me for my birthday), I shall become a right regular "twitcher" and be able to tell you with 100% certainty what this bird is.
There are many birds of prey here including; Egyptian Vulture, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Eleonora's and Barbary Falcons, however, having seen it's white underside, with the characteristic spot at the top of the "elbow" on the wing's underside - that no way is my small digital camera about to capture - I am certain that these birds, which soar over the El Palmar valley every day, are (Pandion haliaetus) osprey.
These birds are under threat as a result of intense changes in the coast caused by the fast-growing tourism and fishing industries although they were recovered throughout the 1990s.
Normally I see them flying around in pairs, but I have been watching closely over the last few weeks and nearly always seen a group of three. Sometimes one leaves the pair temporarily and much screaming ensues. It is my guess that this is typical teenage behavior and my hope that this is mummy, daddy and chick.
Curiously, I have read online some misinformation that the Canary Islands no longer have canaries. This is poppycock, of course. I see and hear hundreds of them, all day, every day that they have almost become "ordinary". Of the more exotic spottings, I once saw a Hoopoe (pictured on this page) in Los Cristianos.
Locally, there are a pair of grey wagtails nesting in a bank. The first time I saw them, they were hopping around the water tanks in the lane. Naturally, I introduced myself. Next day, they were on the telephone wires above my patio. The third morning I met them, they were on the patio floor and looked as if they were about to wander in the house. (The odd pigeon already has). This is all very well, but not with five cats around, so I had to shoo them off to safety.
It makes it all the more fascinating to watch and there are certainly plenty of species of both flora and fauna to observe around here. As you can tell, I bearly have to go out of the front door to see it.
Related links:
Kent Ornithological Society - Tenerife, The Canary Islands
Where to Watch Birds in Tenerife
Where to watch birds in Spain
One busy day's spotting in Tenerife
Pandion haliaetus (osprey)
Current status and distribution of birds of prey in the Canary Islands
Field Guide to the Birds of the Atlantic Islands: Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Cape Verde
This is the first comprehensive field guide dealing exclusively with the birds of this spectacular region. It covers all resident, migrant and vagrant species found in Macaronesia which comprises the Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores and Cape Verde. Over 450 species are illustrated with full details all the plumages and major races likely to be encountered. Concise text describes identification, status, range, habits and voice. This authoritative book will not only be an indispensable guide to the visiting birder, but also a vital tool for those engaged in work to conserve and study the avifauna of this region. The Atlantic Islands shelter a remarkable diversity of birds, many seriously endangered with small and vulnerable ranges.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Canary Island Gift Buying
In Tenerife and the Canary Islands, the gift-buying season is only just about to get fully underway. Gifts, you see, come with Los Reyes Magos (The Three Kings) at Epiphany on January 6th.
Whether you wait until then or spend a little of the money that was perhaps given to you by the jolly old chap from the North Pole, there are lots of items - in all price brackets - with Canary Island flavour for you to choose from. This article from ABC, Los Reyes Magos del Archipiélago [translation] will give you lots of ideas.
Everything from Canary Island wines that are currently enjoying a renaissance, craft items such as pottery or baskets (look for the artisan basket shop on the road through the El Palmar valley), gastronomical delights, "politically incorrect" hand-made cigars, right up to shoes from La Palma born designer Manolo Blahnik.
This was news to me too. Unlike Blahnik, you won't find me making shoes for my pet dog and, I would be far more likely to go the the army surplus to buy suitable footwear for stomping around muddy fields with her.
But the favorite designer of Sarah Jessica Parker's Sex And The City character Carrie Bradshaw, was born in 1943 in Santa Cruz de la Palma in Spain's Canary Islands to a Spanish mother and Czech father and raised on a banana plantation.
It is often said here that Madonna's song, La Isla Bonita, refers to the island of La Palma, which is just a few miles north west of Tenerife. In the past, I had scoffed at such a notion and thought, with some amusement, that it was probably unlikely she had even heard of the place. Perhaps I was wrong, however, considering that Madonna apparently once called Blahnik's designs "as good as sex" and added that, "what's more, they last longer". (Source)
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Christmas Day - Día de Navidad
Many locals and tourists alike visit Mount Teide on Christmas Day - which is likely to be snow-capped at this time of year - that it is almost a ritual.
The trip - only an hour or so's drive - is a real "Christmas experience", passing through the Canary pine forests, seeing the vast number of wild poinsettias & other natural Christmas decorations en route.
You can just stay in the resort and have a "traditional Christmas dinner" at one of the many bars and restaurants catering to the mainly British trade, but it seems such a shame to do that, when you have all this natural, real Christmas stuff on the doorstep. 
As you can see from the still (taken from the Canarian Institute of Astrophysics webcam early on Christmas morning), there was a little snow in 2005.
Wrap up in a jacket, but if you get cold, call into one of the mountain's bars for churros con chocolate ... that's hot chocolate with sort of donut things.
Provided you are not the day's designated driver, you might also like to try a Lumumba, which is hot chocolate and brandy. Be warned though, this is pretty lethal stuff at high altitude.
Just an hour or so later, you could be back on the beach, enjoying the average 22-26º C (71-79º F) year-round temperatures.
Where else in the world can you do all of this on Christmas Day?
Christmas Lunch
Whilst you can get a traditional Christmas Dinner in the resorts, don't expect there to be a Christmas menu at the few Canarian restaurants you may find open. Many will close, except those in areas where they expect there to be any number of tourists. In homes, rabbit was the traditional fayre, a Canarian staple, but the quantity of turkey being sold in supermarkets has risen sharply in the last couple of years.
One year, before their commercial arrival, two turkeys were acquired, having been brought up in someone's mother's back yard. I'm not really keen on personally knowing my dinner in life and thought it apt, poetic justice when the chap who had been given the job of ... well, you know, presented his finger, all bandaged, after the unfortunate bird had put up a bit of resistance. But you really haven't tasted turkey until you have experienced this extremely fresh and free-range variety. :)
Labels: Christmas
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Nochebuena: Christmas Eve
Detail of the Nativity at El PalmarThe main celebrations in Spain and the Canary Islands, as in many European countries, are on Christmas Eve, Nochebuena, when the family will get together to share an evening meal.
Food at Christmas revolves around the sweet stuff, with Truchas de Batata (sweet potato pies) and a mountain of fruit, nuts and sweets, especially polverones, turrones and mazapan.
For many years I've spent Christmas Eve, Nochebuena, in 'El Pueblo', Canarian style. The typical fayre, generally, is barbecued meat with boiled potatoes. Yams are usually eaten after the meal, sweetened with sugar or honey (palm honey is good too!).
If resources permit, a whole goat kid or suckling pig is preferable as tradition dictated that this meal should not be of fish. For many poor families here, Christmas Eve is one of the few celebration times when they will have any quantity of meat, so it is very simply prepared, quickly enjoyed and followed by the vast array of sweets.
Celebrations may go on quite late and the gathered family will probably start singing and playing Canarian Folk music. This isn't traditionally a time for the exchanging of gifts. That comes later, at Epiphany, or for the fortunate few, it might be both.
Long ago the meal was served after attending the Misa de Gallo (Midnight Mass): the 24th being a day of fasting and abstinence, but that has tended to change these days. The mass, at which carols may be sung, being left out altogether by a large majority.
In Los Cristianos and other multi-nationally populated areas, there are usually carol services in a wonderful pot-purri of Spanish, English, German and Latin. In smaller villages, local children perform the Nativity (with often interesting and humorous interpretation). Folk groups provide the accompaniment.
One year at El Palmar, the dialogue went, roughly:
Joseph: (speaks to innkeeper) "Can we come in, only my wife isn't feeling too good."
Innkeeper: "Well, if she's ill she can't come in here. Take her to the health center!
I don't remember that being in the original version. It was truly unexpected and had everyone rolling in the isles at the Nativity in the little church.
This year the mass was more traditional, with a visiting priest from El Salvador, which was an opportunity to see another viewpoint. 
Carol singing, Villancicos
Selection of carols in Spanish and Latin http://www.navidaddigital.com/villancicos/
La Navidad Latina Carols, Christmas Music, Traditions, History, Recipes, Stories, Postcards and loads of kids' stuff. In Spanish, but you'll enjoy the music! http://www.navidadlatina.com
Labels: Christmas
Thursday, December 22, 2005
El Gordo 'Forgets' Canary Islands Again
Today's Christmas Lottery Draw, El Gordo (The Fat One) made millionaires in Barcelona and Valencia, but, yet again, none of the top prizes brought any fortune to the "Fortunate Islands".
Almost eight percent of the consigned numbers for the Canary Islands were returned, unsold. Nevertheless, 390,000 ticket holders in the archipelago were today hoping for a first prize. If they'd got one, it would have been only the forth time in the history of the draw.
This is a phenomenon that leaves the Canary Islands population with little faith in the big draw, compared to that which they have in "El Niño", the next extraordinary draw that will be held on January 6th, which seems to be more favorable to the islands.
The El Gordo Christmas draw is the most traditional in Spain and it's a habit that everybody plays the lottery on December 22.
This year Spaniards spent an average of 73.00 euros in the draw that shares most prizes in the world, with 13,334 individual prizes and 2,023 million euros total prize money up for grabs.
Yet, hopefulls in Tenerife seem to have scored a big, fat zero in the Christmas draw and only a total of 50,000 Euros in minor prizes were reported to have been distributed in Gran Canaria.
The Christmas 2005 first prize of 3 million Euros per ticket (300,000 Euros per décimo) went to holders of number 20085.
As they do every year, children from the 500 year old Colegio de San Ildefonso school for orphans in Madrid, draw and sing out the numbers of the winning tickets.
The El Gordo draw is part of the National Lottery managed by the Spanish government, which was created in 1763. The first draw in which boys from the school took part, was in March 1771. Since 1984, girls have participated too.
Mention must be made, however, of the numerous scams that have operated in recent years. Email "spam" and letters have been sent to many people around the world claiming they have won an "El Gordo" prize, but, if you didn't buy a ticket, you did NOT win.
El Gordo Lottery 2005
Más de 390.000 billetes aspiran hoy al cuarto «Gordo» de Navidad en Canarias
LOS NIÑOS DE LA SUERTE
HISTORIA DE LA LOTERIA NACIONAL
Advice about scams
Residents urged to shop locally
This year, the Town hall of Adeje in south Tenerife has launched a Christmas campaign, that aims to guide the population to local outlets for their Christmas shopping, to boost local commerce. The Department explained that by shopping in the borough of Adeje, not only will the shoppers save petrol, time and effort, but they will also be contributing to local development. San Miguel has also launched a similar promotional campaign for the festive period.
Residents urged to shop locally
Canary Islands Population Close to 2 Million at the Beginning of 2005
The population of the Canary Islands at January 1, 2005, was 1,968,280 people, some 2.8% more than in 2004, according to information released by the Canarian Statistics Institute.
Tenerife and Gran Canaria have the largest numbers of inhabitants, with 838,877 y 802,247, respectively. Tenerife saw a rise of 3.2% in the population between 2004 and 2005, while, in Fuerteventura the numbers rose most rapidly with an 8.3% increase in the year.
La población residente en Canarias se sitúa cerca de los 2 millones de habitantes, un 2,8 % más que en 2004
Festive getaway set to take off
"Passengers are much more adventurous today than they were just a few years ago, so while the traditional sunspots like Tenerife are popular as ever, more and more people are travelling even further afield this Christmas.", says this BBC report.
Festive getaway set to take off
Plane Spotting in Tenerife
How aviation hobbyists put vital evidence about secret CIA flights on the Web—and provided evidence for lawsuits about detainee abuse. Plane spotters have played a key role keeping the issue of so-called “torture flights” — and images of the aircraft themselves — in front of the public eye. When Newsweek reporter, Christopher Dickey, finally got him on his cell phone, Javier Rodríguez had his Canon trained on Tenerife airport in the Canary Islands.
Plane Spotting
Postcard arrives five years late
When Thelma Fenn sat down to write a postcard from Tenerife to her close friend in Norwich, little did she realise it would take so long to reach its destination - nearly five years in fact.
Postcard arrives five years late
Tenerife is top Christmas destination
"According to Travel Counsellors, Tenerife is the top destination for Britons this Christmas, replacing Barbados which was number one in 2004 and 2003.", say the Manchester Evening News.
Tenerife is top Christmas destination
Musical celebrates life of salsa queen Celia Cruz
The life of Celia Cruz is being made into a musical, which is set to premiere in 2007 in Tenerife, Spain. It is then projected to play off-Broadway. The theme to Tenerife's Carnaval in 2004, also paid homage to the salsa queen, who died at 78 in 2003.
Musical celebrates life of salsa queen Cruz
Online shops in Spain
Even though most supermarkets offer online shopping, airlines and other transport services offer online booking and most Spanish banks offer electronic banking, the vast majority of Spaniards still tend to do the weekly shop at the supermarket, book their holidays at the local travel agent, and visit their bank to do transactions. Judging by the results of the recent WatchMouse survey, retailers in Spain still have a long way to go if they are to pursuade an Internet-reticent population to embrace online services.
Online shops in Spain
Whilst this may be the situation in mainland Spain, online ordering from supermarkets is still not available, to my knowledge (a real inconvenience, living in such a remote area) in the Canary Islands. I was also disappointed to discover yesterday that Al Campo in Los Realejos has even suspended their home delivery service due to lack of demand. It seems Canary Island shoppers too, still like to do their shopping the hard way. Stores still have a long way to go if they hope to impress those of us who have embraced the internet.
The cost of Christmas in Spain
Spanish consumers are expected to spend an average of 833 euros on their Christmas this year, with people living in Madrid spending most on Christmas (an average of 941 euros per person). At the other end of the scale, people in the Canary Islands spend least during the Christmas season (on average 777 euros per person).
The cost of Christmas in Spain
2005 Warmest on Record
"This year has been the warmest on record in the Northern Hemisphere, say scientists in Britain. Ocean temperatures recorded in the Northern Hemisphere Atlantic Ocean have also been the hottest on record.", say the BBC. Could this be the reason for the increase in bad storms to hit the Canary Islands this year?
EU Approves 270.5 Million Euro Aid for Canary Islands Business Development
The European Commission said it has approved 270.5 million euros in aid earmarked to promote business in the Canary Islands. The commission said the aid, which will act as an 'incentive to business creation and expansion', complies with EU rules. EU Approves 270.5 Million Euro Aid for Canary Islands Business Development
Canary Islands storm claims first victim
An unidentified woman became the first fatal victim of a violent storm that affected the Canary Islands on Tuesday. She was washed away in Fañabe Alto in the south of Tenerife. The whole of the archipelago was put on severe weather alert, although the worst affected area was the islands to the southeast. Local authorities advised people to equip themselves with torches and battery-operated radios in case there was a repeat of the power cuts experienced during tropical storm Delta.
Canary Islands storm claims first victim
Monday, December 19, 2005
Sopa de Marisco (Seafood Soup)
Here's another really quick and simple seafood soup (warming for every day, impressive enough for entertaining too) from my own kitchen.
The recipe is based on a soup I was served once at the restaurant El Rubio in the small seaside village of La Caleta de Interian, near Los Silos on the north coast of Tenerife.
Ingredients:
Assorted seafood (I used prawns and muscles)
1 liter fish stock
a handful (1 tablespoon approx.) rice
Herbs & seasoning to taste
Method:
Put the fish stock into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Add the rice and simmer for about 10 minutes. Add the seafood and cook for five minutes more. Adjust seasoning to taste. Serve with crusty bread.
(NB: This doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg either, because you can be mean and count out the number of muscles or whatever to the exact number of portions. One liter serves 4 approx.)
Of course the fish stock can be made from a cube. Tienda.com have the authentic Pescado, Fish Bouillon cubes from Gallina Blanca. (You'll find them under paella ingredients, but they are just as suitable for this purpose.)
Turrón de Chocolate (Chocolate Fudge)
This typical Christmas sweet is simple to make even for kids.
Ingredients for one bar of turrón:
250 grams of butter
250 grams of cake
100 grams (4 Oz) of almonds
100 grams (4 Oz) of walnuts
1 x 150 gram (6 Oz) tablet of chocolate
8 tablespoons of sugar
Method: Put the chocolate in a basin over a saucepan of hot water and leave it to melt. Work the butter with the sugar until you obtain a creamy consistency. Add the tepid chocolate to the cream with the crumbled cakes and mix the whole lot together well. Add the almonds and walnuts, well chopped. Turn the mixture into a rectangular mold, lined with greaseproof paper that has been spread with butter. Leave it to set in the fridge or a cool place for 24 hours before removing from the mold. (Waiting 24 hours is the hard part!) Cut into squares to serve.
On the other hand, if you are in the US and prefer to buy authentic turrón ready made, the fabulous Tienda.com have it in many popular flavours.
You're still in time to order now for Christmas delivery and they have Fresh Christmas Turrón! Their latest shipment of turrón candy was freshly made just weeks ago, guaranteeing the freshest, tastiest turrón possible.
Labels: Christmas
Wandering Around Teno Alto
I found a lovely German website which has a set of photos covering a circular route, walking around this area, particularly Teno Alto.
They end up at the same restaurant, Mesón del Norte, that we ate at yesterday and there are lots of happy, free-range goats to see on the way, like the one pictured above and her cute little kids.
Teno is famous for it's truly fresh and wonderful goat's cheese.
You will not need a translation to see the photos. The main page is here and you can click on any of the photos at the bottom of the page to start the route. Zurück means back and Weiter means forward, but I'll bet you'll have worked that out from the arrows.
Teneriffa-Wandern also have reports and details of many other walks and sets of photos from other areas of Tenerife.
Storm Brewing in Tenerife?
It's a curious thing, but the British have a (deserved) reputation for only ever talking about the weather. It is our preoccupation. What you probably don't realize is that we are far from being alone.
Canarians talk about the weather too, they always have, but the incidence of conversations about the weather has certainly grown over the last few years, as the weather has become more varied and less predictable on these islands. And when one realizes how much more dependent upon the climate we are here, for the fate of crops in particular, then you see why it becomes a justifiable concern.
Depending upon which forecast you consult, there is a chance of thunder storms either tomorrow, Wednesday and/or Thursday. The wind speeds forecast are not particularly high and certainly do not indicate the likelihood of a seriously bad storm. Don't panic!
But, this morning, although fairly clear, the winds did get up - in gusts - with pockets of warm air that are characteristic of a brewing storm and conversation with folk one meets out walking turned to the weather and the hope that the electricity would remain working.
(I'll avoid a long rant, but the reason why a tiny bit of bad weather can cause the electricity to fail here is because the installations are basically third-world. My late father was an electrical engineer, so I am speaking from a position of being "informed" on this.)
What was of interest this morning was in learning that the valley of El Palmar has only had electricity anyway for approximately 35 to 40 years. (I understand they have only had roads that long too.) Prior to that, they had only candles and camping gas lanterns for lighting.
To think that this is within my lifetime is, well, a revelation.
The lady I was chatting with this morning said that one man eventually figured out a way to generate electricity using an old car engine and her dad went out and bought a TV right away.
That too is characteristic of developments on these islands. One day you are ambling along in the 19th Century, the next you run slap-bang into the 21st. There is no gradual development.
Likewise, when I came to the island only 13 years ago, there was no mobile phone network at all. Once it was installed, every goat herder and his dog had a tiny mobile phone on his belt.
They did not live through the gradual development of car-phones to lugabble huge mobile phones, through those chunky Motorolla's that were a good security device - not for phoning for help but for thumping attackers with - to eventually arrive at the minute mobiles of today that take pictures, surf the net, sweep the floors and make the coffee. (Well, maybe the last two are wishful thinking :)
(Please, will someone make one that makes phone calls and has buttons that middle-aged folk like me can actually see!)
When you think about it, the Canarian people have an unique ability to assimilate new ideas and adapt quickly to new inventions.
However, this lady, like me, said that the only thing there is to do here, once the electricity goes off, is to go to bed. What you've never had, you don't miss, but once you've become used to the "luxury" (and it still is here), there is no going back.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Bethlehem in Tenerife
The most important Christmas symbol in Spain and the Canary Islands is the Nativity or Belén (Bethlehem), which in most homes, is arranged under the tree. Oh and this is a truly family affair: don't expect "historical accuracy" in homes. I've seen both Jedi and Barbie dolls attending the baby Jesus, along with shepherds and Magi!
Organized Nativity displays are something else. Town Halls and Associations produce massive works of art each year.
Not just stable scenes, but whole Holy model towns - often, inexplicably, depicting the Canarian location they're at - with working windmills, lights & everything! If you can get to see one in person, it's well worth the trip. If not, here is a sampling.
Belenes Paso a Paso (Beautiful photo galleries)
http://www.iespana.es/belenes/fotosmenu.htm
La Página Navideña - Belenes (Links)
http://www.navidaddigital.com/belenes/
Belenes hogareños (Nativity displays in homes)
http://www.navidaddigital.com/galeria/v/pesebres/
In Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz, there are two famous Belén displays that are opened to the public each year. The first is in the Cultural Center of CajaCanarias at Plaza del Patriotismo, 1, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Open from December 2, 2005 until January 5, 2006 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. only on Saturdays. Source.
The other is organized by the Cultural department of Santa Cruz Town Hall and can be found in the exhibition hall (Aula Magna) of the Cultural Park, Parque Cultural Viera y Clavijo. This Belén can be visited from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. daily, from December 16, 2005 until January 6, 2006. Source.
The latter, made by José Fariña Bethencourt, covers 55 square meters and has more than 600 hand-made pieces, plus numerous lighting effects and movements, such as the breaking of dawn, nightfall, a storm with winds, thunder and lightening, the apparition of an angel, rivers and canals, the baby crying, etc.
Labels: Christmas
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Polvorones (Powder Cakes)
More indispensible sweet things for Christmas are Polvorones. (Spoil yourself, it's only once a year!) So, here's a simple recipe for making them. If you don't feel so inclined, La Tienda have polvorones ready made. They also have an alternative recipe in their current newsletter.
Ingredients:
500 grams (1 l.b.) of sugar
500 grams (1 l.b.) of lard
1 KG (2 lbs.) of flour
A good pinch of ground cinnamon
The grated rind of a green lemon
A good pinch of ground aniseed
Preparation:
Put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix with the hands until it forms a paste. To make the polverones, take small handfuls of the mixture and make into small ovals, something like cookies. Place the polverones onto a baking tray, greased with butter or lard, and bake them in the oven until golden brown.
Labels: Christmas
Truchas de Batata (Sweet Potato Pies)
One of my, admittedly many, favorite sweet things of the Christmas season are these delicious little sweet potato pies. Since you may not have them available in the shops near you, here's the recipe:
Ingredients:
For the pastry:
3 tablespoons of lard
1 small glass of olive oil
500 grams (1 l.b.) flour.
For the filling:
500 grams (1 l.b.) sweet potatoes
250 grams (8 Oz) almonds
1 small cup of caster sugar
3 egg yolks
A teaspoon of aniseed
A dash of rum
A dash of aniseed liqueur
A teaspoon of ground cinnamon
Grated lemon rind
Oil for frying.
Preparation:
Filling: Boil the sweet potatoes in water with a little salt. When they are done, peel them, pound to a pulp and mix them with the almonds, flavourings and liqueurs.
Pastry: Mix together lard, oil and flour until a mass is formed and leave to rest for a short time. Cover a surface with flour and roll out the pastry until very thin. Cut out small rounds with a cup and put a small amount of filling into the centre of each. Close them by folding in half to make little semi-circular patties. Press down and seal with the aid of a fork. Fry in hot oil then sprinkle with sugar.
Labels: Christmas
Christmas Decorations in Tenerife
Personally, I like the, mostly, understated Christmas decorations that you will find on these islands at this time of year and, the typical juxtaposition of the avant garde with the strictly traditional Christmas images.
The month-long holiday season begins with two Fiestas in early December: Constitution Day on December 6 and the Immaculate Conception on December 8. It's tradition to put up Christmas decorations on the latter date.
This year, a lot of people locally seem to have waited until last weekend to put decorations up and, as a consequence, I have, as yet, only seen a few lights on houses down in the valley. Buenavista del Norte has it's Christmas lights in the street and their allocation of 1,000 poinsettia plants in place. Hopefully, we will get out and about and get some shots over the next few days.
The photo above shows a modern representation of a Christmas tree alongside a traditionally painted Nativity scene outside the Town Hall and the ex-Convent, respectively, in Garachico.
If you are looking for something really typical and traditional this Christmas, as a contrast - or relief - from all the techno gadets, we have a range of items based on a photo of that painting available.
Labels: Christmas
Tenerife Weather for Christmas
The sky over Tenerife on December 24, 2005
This is a question on surfers and visitors minds, because search terms you guys are currently using include; recent weather conditions in Tenerife or Tenerife weather at Christmas.
Sadly, lacking a crystal ball - yes, I am here on the island, but I am none the wiser - I have put together a number of links to online weather information for various points of Tenerife.
Please note that as of writing, when I checked, the 5-Day forecast from the BBC says that tomorrow, Sunday December 18 will be sunny. Both Weather.com and Intelicast's 10-Day provisions forecast rain for that day.
Well, I know which I like best. We trust the BBC. :-)
The BBC does not, yet, show the weather forecast for Christmas itself, however, both 10-Day forecasts do coincide that Christmas Eve will be sunny. Nothing is guaranteed with the weather, of course, but I think that the Tenerife storm in November (Delta) was something unlikely to be repeated in the near future.
(Fingers crossed!) However, you can check the latest weather here:
Links to Weather Forecasts For Tenerife
- Weather at San Juan de la Rambla
- Multimap.com - 5 day forecast from La Orotava
- Tenerife North Five Day Forecast from the BBC
- Tenerife South Five Day Forecast from the BBC
- Weather Satellite Images and Movies from IAC
- Playa de Las Américas updated every 10 minutes
- La Laguna Weather
- Weather Conditions at the Teide Observatory
- Tenerife Weather Annual Averages
- Historical weather for Tenerife
- Weather.com With 10 Day Forecast
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife Weather at Yahoo
- CNN Weather for Tenerife, Spain
- Intellicast 10 Day forecast for Tenerife
- Los Rodeos (North Airport in Spanish)
Labels: Christmas
Christmas Music in Tenerife
Those who would like to experience some of the traditional Christmas music on offer in Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz, can download a PDF program of this year's concerts & events from the website of CajaCanarias here.
Included are popular Christmas carols, Canarian folklore, music from Tenerife's Federation of bands, a lyrical concert of piano and voice and, Christmas stories for the kids. Dates, times, address in the digital pamphlet. Entrance free.
Labels: Christmas
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Delta: impact and aftermath
Tropical Storm Delta left a trail of destruction, devastation and recrimination in its wake – and also highlighted the desperate need for an energy rethink in Tenerife. Or, as one influential business leader put it: “Delta has shown up the obsolescence of Tenerife’s electricity supply infrastructure. The entire grid requires drastic improvements. If not, the development this island has enjoyed over the past decade – the greatest in the whole of the archipelago – will be stopped dead in its tracks.”
Delta: impact and aftermath
Labels: Tropical Storm Delta
Tenerife buildings get NY accolade
Two shining examples of contemporary design in Tenerife have been chosen by New York’s Museum of Modern Art for an upcoming exhibition entitled On Site, New Architecture in Spain. The Tenerife two are both public buildings: the Cabildo’s theatre school, the Escuela de Artes Escénicas, designed by Juan Antonio González and Urbano Yanes, and Los Rodeos airport’s new terminal, by Arsenio Pérez Amaral, Antonio Corona and Eustaquio Martínez.
Tenerife buildings get NY accolade
Tenerife is Nº 1 for Christmas
Tenerife is top of the pops again with UK Christmas holiday escapees, according to British travel agents. And if that wasn’t enough to get the local tourism authorities happy, they can also revel in the news that tourists are likely to be better heeled because they’re spending more.
Tenerife is Nº 1 for Christmas
Major drugs bust in Tenerife
The Organised Crime and Drugs Squad of the National Police have arrested eight people in Tenerife and seized 38,000 ecstasy tablets as part of a four month anti drugs operation. Seven of the people under arrest are Spaniards. The other is Colombian. Police say they brought the drugs in from Belgium, and planned to distribute them on the island over Christmas.
Major drugs bust in Tenerife
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Canaries on Alert for Strong Winds
Once more, in Las Palmas (Gran Canaria) and Santa Cruz (Tenerife), Civil Protection have issued an alert, based on forecasts from the National Meteorological Institute, that we can expect strong winds in these islands, with gusts of up to 75 kilometers per hour.
Hold on to your hats, again.
Andalucía, Canarias, Baleares y Ceuta, en alerta por fuertes vientos
Saturday, December 10, 2005
A Week in Tenerife
While living in Cambridge, UK as students, an American tourist and his wife chose to visit Tenerife earlier this year, as it is her ancestral home. Not surprisingly, they were told not to by a very well-traveled person who said the island was just too touristy and overbuilt. Thankfully, they disobeyed and discovered the truth.
"We found that to be completely true, in one corner of the island dominated by concrete high-rises catering to hordes of pasty Europeans. Much of the remainder of the island is a reminder of the beautiful creation that God and man can make when they put their minds together."They also spent some time in my favorite place, Garachico, so don't take my word alone. They found much to recommend it.
A Week in Tenerife
The couple stayed at the converted 16th Century manor, now the hotel, La Quinta Roja, while in Garachico.
Free Diary Featuring Tenerife Images
Organize your Christmas, your next trip to Tenerife, or get a handle on your entire life!
This free Personal Information Manager software for your Windows computer contains diary, notes, addresses and a reminder function with alarms. There is also a photo album inside, so you can add your holiday snapshots - or ours.
Absolutely free, no email nor registration required. No spyware. Supported by very SUBTLE advertising.
It is also "skinnable", meaning you can change the design, whenever you want a change of scenery. Download the full program here.
We have several more designs and skins you can download here.
Friday, December 09, 2005
Briton's fatal Tenerife plunge 'unlikely to be suicide or accident'
Yorkshire Post's, Lucy Harvey reports that, "It is "unlikely" that a Yorkshire holidaymaker who died after plunging from a fourth-floor apartment block accidentally fell or deliberately jumped to his death, an inquest heard. Paul Finan, 27, died of severe head injuries after falling from a stairwell window of the Laguna Park 1 flats in Playa De Las Americas, Tenerife. Spanish police originally believed his death was suicide but South Yorkshire Police called in forensic experts to investigate. They found scuff marks matching Mr Finan's shoes on the apartment block wall, grip marks on his arms consistent with a struggle and an injury to his left cheek consistent with having been caused by a punch." The hearing continues.
Briton's fatal Tenerife plunge 'unlikely to be suicide or accident'
Tenerife joint promotion with Uruguay
An agreement for the promotion of tourism between the island of Tenerife and the South American country of Uruguay was the topic of conversation at an official meeting between a delegation from Uruguay and the island Cabildo. The meeting considered possible cultural exchanges based on a carnival theme as these types of events are as important in Uruguay as they are in Tenerife.
Joint promotion with Uruguay
Overcome Your Fear Of Speaking Foreign Languages
Copyright © 2005 Duncan Rooth
Linguata: Fun Language Learning Software
http://www.linguata.com
"Taxi drivers and waiters are great and will almost always respond positively. The moment you attempt to speak in another language you stop being a number to them and become a human being."Many people hesitate to try and speak in a foreign language. This might be because they don't want to feel foolish, are worried about how they will sound, are scared of sounding silly and so on. As a result, they remain resolutely monolingual during any trip abroad, preferring to speak loudly in English. These are the same people who are clever, articulate and never lost for words when speaking in English. The same people who are achievers in other areas of life.
But why? It may be because many people stop learning (or never start) languages when leaving school and when they travel abroad have only haunting memories of having to learn lists of words or conjugate verbs. Yuk. It could also be because many foreign language courses are detailed, promise a lot and require to much time. Anyway, let's cut to the chase. Who has the time or inclination to spend months learning Spanish / French / German or any other language when planning a three day visit?
Well, maybe things have moved on or maybe not as regards language learning when still at school. I don't know, but I do know that it is fun and possible to learn some basic language for when you travel.
By basic, I mean basic. How to start? Learn a few key words. For example, 'hello', 'goodbye', 'please', 'thankyou'. These are words that you will hear all the time and be able to use all the time. Learn them and say them as often as possible. It is a great confidence booster to do this, and once you can do this you have cleared the first hurdle.
I'm suggesting that it is always worth learning these key words because you will almost certainly have a better holiday. Try them out. Taxi drivers and waiters are great and will almost always respond positively. The moment you attempt to speak in another language you stop being a number to them and become a human being.
Almost always you will receive a positive reaction. In some cases, especially with shop-keepers it takes longer, (a few days) but most will crack eventually and reward you with some recognition that you are not just another tourist.
So, here we are, you can now speak ten or so words fluently. A good start but perhaps it might be fun to learn a few more and so how about some numbers. Start with 'one', 'two', 'three'. Remember that the goal is not fluency, or obsessing about finishing what you start (like having to count to ten) but to have a little fun and communicate.
Everyone buys drinks on holiday. This is an ideal occasion to use the numbers you know. It doesn't matter if you ask for the drinks in English. The important thing is to use the opportunity to ask for the number of drinks in the foreign language, or to confirm the number of drinks ordered.
Feeling inspired move onto a few phrases. A good one is 'that was delicious', assuming of course that you have chosen a good restaurant, and it is amazing how appreciative and surprised the owners will be.
Decide in advance what you are going to say. If you are getting a bus or if you are going to take a taxi learn 'one ticket' or whatever you will need, but keep it simple.
Start with the simplest phrase you can imagine. A common mistake is to make sentences in a foreign language more complicated than necessary. For example, instead of saying 'could you tell me where the beach is?', it is easier to say 'where is the beach?'. In other words skip out the non-essential.
So, don't be shy, learn ten, twenty or thirty words and a few phrases and make sure you use them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Duncan is interested in accessible
and fun language learning.
Visit his site http://www.linguata.com
for fun language learning software.
Croatian war crimes suspect arrested in Tenerife
Croatian General Ante Golovina, considered to be one the UN war crimes tribunal's most sought-after suspects, has been arrested in a luxury restaurant in the Canary Islands after more than four years on the run. Spain’s Interior Ministry said that General Gotovina was arrested by special policemen Wednesday at the hotel in Playa de Las Américas, south Tenerife. Times Online
BBC: Croatian fugitive general seized
Reuters: Gotovina to appear in Madrid court Thursday
The New York Times: War Crimes Suspect From Croatia Arrested in Spain's Canary Islands (Registration required)
Spain Herald: Spanish police arrest Croatian war criminal Gotovina in Tenerife
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Potaje de Acelgas: Swiss Chard Pottage
In today's photo of the day, I mentioned that a local speciality is the cabbage soup, or pottage - Potaje de Col - for the simple reason that the fertile area grows cabbages like weeds.
Whilst I have eaten cabbage soup locally, in a restaurant, I don't have an exact recipe for it, though what I was served was otherwise exactly the same as this, Potaje de Acelgas. (Translated from Cocina Canaria - Vicente Sanchez Araña (Everest)).
The restaurant: well, yes, I can tell you, it was El Rubio, on the coast of Los Silos in La Caleta de Interian. However, as with a lot of small, country restaurants here, you cannot guarantee to get the same menu choices on every visit.
In fact, I don't think I have ever had the same soup twice there. They just make one large cauldron and, if you want soup, you get what you are given. It is always nice and, whilst there may not be a choice, you do know that the chef chose whatever were the freshest and best ingredients in the market that day.
To get back to the recipe, fairly obviously, to make cabbage soup, you would simply replace the Swiss Chard in the recipe with cabbage. The one pictured above, is vegetarian (meatless) and was made with bought cabbage, rather than our "field" cabbage, which tends to be a bit slow to cook and fast to act on the stomach! :)
Ingredients:
300 grams of garbanzo beans (chick peas in English)
4 litres of water
300 grams of pork ribs
1/2 a cup of olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
3 tomatoes, peeled and chopped, seeds removed
1 teaspoon of sweet paprika
1 kilo of potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
1 kilo of pumpkin, peeled, whole
3/4 kilo of Swiss Chard, chopped
1 teaspoon powdered cumin
Salt
Method:
The garbanzo beans (chick peas) need to be put into soak the night before, then wash and reserve. Put the four liters of water into a saucepan, place on the heat and when it comes to the boil, put in the garbanzos (chick peas) and the pork ribs.
Separately, fry the onion, garlic, tomato and paprika in the olive oil. When softened and reduced, add this mixture to the saucepan with the garbanzos (chick peas).
Once the garbanzos (chick peas) are cooked, add the potatoes, pumpkin and the Swiss Card. Leave to cook over a slow flame. When the potatoes are cooked, take out the pumpkin and mash it, returning it to the saucepan. Finally add the cumin and cook for just a few minutes more. Leave to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Train at the TKO Gym in Tenerife
Fed up with training on these long winter evenings in Britain? Then why not take a look at the promotional video of TKO's gym in Arona, Tenerife.
Boxers, Managers and Trainers know the importance of decent training facilities, but finding facilities abroad is hard to come by. Managers and trainers who nurture future Champions need to have the very best, with warm weather and a high altitude environment to prepare their fighters and have every opportunity to achieve their Title and financial goals.
Top British boxing trainer, Johnny Eames of the T.K.O. gym now has the solution, with his very own training camp in Arona, Tenerife which provides the very best in all round training facilities. A state of the art boxing gym and high-tec facilities set in the beautiful all year warmth and high altitude of Tenerife.
More info: Train at the TKO Gym in Tenerife
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Canary Islands: Spa sensations
"Why have the Canary Islands been so slow to jump on the spa bandwagon? It is odd. The delicious climate - breezy so not unbearably hot in summer and as warm in winter as Florida, which is almost on the same latitude - makes conditions perfect for indolent, indoor-outdoor spa life."
Yes, but they are catching up now.
Read about water circuits and thalassotherapy, to mud treatments and chocolate wraps, the Canaries are bliss for the senses. By Adriaane Pielou, Travel Telegraph.
Canary Islands: Spa sensations
Monday, December 05, 2005
Tenerife Shopping Secrets
Shopping in Tenerife is not exclusively a tourist activity and when expat families first take the plunge to move to the island, they are faced with a bewildering choice of supermarkets and stores. In the initial stages of taking up residency in Tenerife, some people like to be able to buy brands that they are familiar with from home. Iceland and UK Abroad are two chains that specialise in UK goods - though you will find the prices reflect that the goods are imported.
The Spanish supermarkets are well stocked and there is no doubt that choosing Spanish products over imported ones makes for a cheaper monthly shopping bill. While supermarkets like Mercadona and Hyperdino offer a wide range of consumer goods, cost-conscuious shoppers or those buying for bars or restaurants can slash monthly bills by bulk-buying in the 'warehouse' stores like Symel or Jesuman.
There are more than seven regional commercial areas with major department stores. For the latest in fashions and newest stores, check out Carrefour one of the largest shopping centres which offers an adjoining 5.000 sq m supermarket with a large fresh vegetable and herb section. Situated in Santa Maria del Mar it is only a 40 minute drive from Los Cristianos on the motorway going towards Santa Cruz the capital.
To tackle the number of great shopping areas in Tenerife, it will require a good pair of walking shoes, time and transport. Whether you are hunting the best prices from an outlet store, or looking for that perfect antique, refurbishing your home the area offers a variety of shopping excursions that are sure to please your senses.
In Tenerife, shopping is taken very seriously. With more and more stores opening in all parts of island, savy shoppers find name brand merchandise at factory direct prices. Some of the best area outlets are found at Las Chafiras, situated just outside Golf Del Sur with a host of hardware, furniture and a full size Iceland supermarket for those missing their favourite British brand products.
The up and coming area of Adeje boasts of mega size outlets specialising in bathroom fittings, kitchens, electrical appliances and the new state of the art IKEA store.
Historic and antique shopping districts also offer one-of-a-kind gifts, as well as timeless collectibles from another time and place. The capital Santa Cruz have been well known for years for their unique and high-quality antiques and art shops.
With all these options to choose from, Tenerife is truly a shopper's paradise with enough variety to satisfy any interest.
About the Author: Victor Lupain runs a successful estate agency in Tenerife specialising in finding the right property for families wishing to relocate from the UK. Visit Victor's website http://www.lupain.com for more information about buying property and relocating to Tenerife.
Museums in Tenerife
A Tenerife Holiday has more to offer than you think. Museums abound.
If you are happy to while away your days on the beaches or around the pools of Tenerife then that's fine but there are other things to do.
Like museums in the UK those on the island of Tenerife have had to move with the times to keep themselves interesting and motivating. The four I bring you to here have risen to the challenge and won. You will be happy with your day out and so will the children.
Museo de la Ciencia y el Cosmos (Museum of Science and the Cosmos)
Interactive exhibits abound from understanding how Black Holes work to finding your weight on other planets. The museum is housed in a large hall so no danger of little Sarah disappearing. There is a games and puzzle room and a number of large exhibits such as "flying over a huge 3-D map of Tenerife. Look out for the volcano!
An excellent planetarium is also housed on the site.
English versions of most information are provided.
The museum is located in La Laguna
Calle Via Lactea
Corner of Avenido de los Menceyes and Camino de la Hornero
Cruz de Pieda exit from TF5
Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre (Museum of Nature and Man)
A wide range of exhibits are to be found at this Museum in central Santa Cruz.
The Gaunches, the original inhabitants of the Tenerife are featured fully including a very popular mummies display. You can learn much about their way of life, their art and their customs. Of course the history of the people on Tenerife since the conquest of the island is also covered. You will also find exhibits covering topics from agriculture to marine life. Housed in a converted hospital the building and interior now exudes style and grace.
There are English translations at the entrance of each room but you may also like to hire an audio guide in English from the reception desk.
This museum is in Santa Cruz
Calle Fuente Morales
near to Plaza de España and the bus station
Museo de la Historia de Tenerife (Tenerife Museum of History)
As you would expect, this museum records the history of Tenerife and the Canaries from the 15th to 20th centuries. The emphasis is very much on post conquest society and developments. The museum is housed in one of the few remaining 16th century buildings. It has been beautifully restored to its original glory and is a joy to see in itself. Casa Lercaro was built by a former Governor of Tenerife in 1593.
The displays are all in Spanish but at Reception you can obtain an English booklet which contains all the information you might need.
This is in La Laguna
Casa Lercano, Calle San Agustin, 22, near the Cathedral.
Museo de Antropologia (Museum of Anthropology)
Along the TF16 between Valle de Guerra and Tacoronte.
The final museum is located in the countryside on a 21000 square meter site. Indigenous plants abound and these are well complemented by various tropical plants. Other aspects of country life are to be seen from wine press to agricultural implements. In the house you can view traditional artefacts from across the Canary Islands. The house is another exercise in restoration done really well. The Casa de Carta was built in the early years of the 18th century. A country house set around a central patio.
This museum is difficult to get to without a car but well worth the visit if your do have transport.
Opening Times
All museums operate to the same time table and admissions charges.
Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 7 pm
Monday closed.
Admission 3 €
Under 8´s free
Pensioners and students 1.50€
On Sundays admission is fee.
About The Author...
Tony Garwood and his wife Jacquie Webber live in Tenerife. Here they have run Apartments Tenerife for the last five years providing holiday accommodation at Castle Harbour in Los Cristianos. www.apartments-tenerife-online.co.uk
Euro's Negative Impact on Tenerife
A study carried out by Joe Kanada at Stanford University concludes that since Spain adopted the euro, tourism in the Spanish island of Tenerife has been affected negatively. In the last two years Tenerife has lost more than 125,000 tourists as it has become more expensive than its competitors. The study shows the euro having a positive effective on mainland Spain, where tourism constituted a small part of the national economy, and a negative effect on Tenerife where three-fourths of the economy depends on incoming tourists. The higher prices caused by the adoption of the euro outweighed the other beneficial effects of the euro.
Source: MaltaToday Closed minds, open questions
You can download Joe Kanada's thesis here, Inside and Outside the Boundaries of the European Union: The Impacts of a Monetary Union on Tourism in Spain (pdf)
Boxing in Tenerife
Fightnews reporter, Robert Coster, says "Beautiful Tenerife is the largest of Spain´s Canary Islands, just off the coast of North Africa. And, yes, there is boxing in Tenerife. Over 2,500 fans flocked to the Pabellon Deportivo of Santa Cruz this Saturday to watch a marathon night of combat."
Yes, indeed there is. I looked after a dog once for a boxing trainer. My house survived several rounds with her, before being KO'd. But that is by the by.
What amused me was "the whole card lasted a good six hours(!), ending at 3:30 in the morning". As well as the main boxing attractions, they had thrown in kick-boxing, rappers, hip-hop, even girls in skimpy bikinis for some reason that escapes me (grin). Yup, that sounds typical of almost all sporting and entertainment events on this island. Sometimes it seems OTT, but you sure get your money's worth.
Campillo stuns Nelongo in Tenerife!
A Close Start to the Atlantic Rowing Race 2005
After a three day delay to Race start caused by adverse weather conditions, at 12:05pm Wednesday 30 November, 26 courageous teams from all around the globe set off from La Gomera at the start of one of the worlds most extreme endurance events, the Atlantic Rowing Race 2005.
A Close Start to the Atlantic Rowing Race 2005
Binter considering direct flights to Europe from Tenerife
Regional airline Binter Canarias is studying the viability of introducing weekly Tenerife flights to Paris and Milan from next year. The company has already launched Canary Islands services to the European cities and will evaluate the demand for extending the schedule to Tenerife in March.
Binter considering direct flights to Europe from Tenerife
Tenerife Works on Batteries (Not Supplied)
Canary Islands electricity company, UNELCO, promised electricity for the entire island by Friday, after several towers and four of the five main lines of the network were taken out by Tropical Storm Delta last Monday.
This morning, however, I hear that some parts of Güimar, didn't get to see the light until last night, Sunday and, most of that is being supplied is by makeshift generators. UNELCO have already said that full repairs will take 4-6 months.
Be warned, they are now telling us not to use too much power and, especially not in peak hours (remember, the holidays are coming: the island's busiest time of year for tourism, not to mention all those Christmas lights and extra dinners to cook), because the system is only patched together and won't be able to take it.
Based on past experience, that means a pattern of regular cuts are very likely.
We envisage a surge in sales of solar panels and, above all, batteries. If you are going to be in Tenerife for the holidays, bring both and torches, lanterns, candles, matches ... You can be sure there will soon be shortages of these items in stores.
Labels: Tropical Storm Delta
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Masca barranco rescue
The fire service was called out to rescue a woman stranded in Masca’s famous, rocky barranco last week. The operation was made more hazardous by the fact the operation was carried out after dark.
Masca barranco rescue
Tenerife Weather Stations Google Map
Weather Underground has a developed a really neat use of Google Maps. The maps show where the local weather stations are and by clicking on them you can get all kinds of weather information about that local area. (Via Lifehacker).
Click here to see weather stations for Tenerife and the Canary Islands.
You can zoom in and out (switch to satellite when you zoom in) and watch the list of weather stations change automatically in the right hand column to match the number of pins available on the map view. You could play for hours!
Labels: Tenerife Weather
Tenerife Island Council to Provide 65,000 Poinsettia Plants to Town Halls
Tenerife Island Council is this year supplying 65,000 Flor de Pascua, or poinsettia, plants to various town halls across the island in order to dress up parks and squares for the Christmas festivities. The plants have been specially cultivated in island nurseries and are distributed each year for the seasonal decorations.
Where can you see them displayed? Well, the plants are shared out according to the number of inhabitants in each district, so Santa Cruz get the largest number with 6,000 plants, with La Laguna (5,000) and Arona (4,000) second and third.
Locally, Icod de los Viños will be getting 2,000 poinsettia plants to adorn the town, while Buenavista del Norte, Los Silos and Garachico will recieve 1,000 each.
Hundreds more are given to various associations and centers providing social services, so the plants are bound to brighten someone's season.
El Cabildo de Tenerife reparte 65.000 flores de Pascua en ayuntamientos
Labels: Christmas
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Spain approves aid for Canary Islands
The Spanish government yesterday approved an aid package for the Canary Islands, where thousands of houses were damaged earlier this week by Tropical Storm Delta. Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega said the Cabinet had approved the aid package, including tax and social security breaks as well as reconstruction grants. She did not give a total value for the package, or give any details on damage estimates. *
Fernandez de la Vega plans to visit the islands later today.
Spain approves aid package for Canary Islands
* We have heard a round figure of 300 million euros (circa. £202 m / $351 m) being used in the media as an estimate of the total damages, but just how accurate that figure might be, we cannot say.
Labels: Tropical Storm Delta
Friday, December 02, 2005
Compensation for those left in dark by storm
The government is to speed up compensation payments to those affected by the tropical storm which hit the Canary Islands. A Royal decree was issued to ensure residents will get faster payments for any damage done to their property. The cash will also go to some 50,000 farmers whose crops and machinery were wrecked when the storm, called Delta, lashed the islands on Monday.
Compensation for those left in dark by storm
Labels: Tropical Storm Delta
Fuel Up with Banana Peels
With up to 95% of banana crops now lying on the floor since Tropical Storm Delta ripped them to shreds and considerable difficulty in getting electrical power to the people, perhaps this is what the Canary Islands should be doing:
SRI researchers have shown that in a single step, they can take pulverized coal -- or anything else that contains carbon, including human waste or banana peels, for example -- and directly transform the fuel's chemical energy into electricity ...Fuel Up with Banana Peels
Stuff The Turkey, Come To Tenerife
According to Mirror.co.uk Britons "spend an average of £800 apiece during Christmas, according to experts. But for that kind of money your family can stuff the turkey and enjoy a great holiday instead."
Goodness, yes. You could buy a decent holiday, have a turkey dinner cooked for you, eat it somewhere warm and still have money left for presents.
They do include Lanzarote in the Canary Islands amongst their recommendations, but I would hasten to add that as nice as that island is (yes, I've been there once), Tenerife has far more to offer you Christmas-wise (from snow to beach and back again), so that you can have your turkey and eat it, so to speak.
Labels: Christmas
Protests as Canary Island black-outs go on
Residents left in the dark since the tropical storm Delta hit the Canary Islands protested in the street. Miguel Zerolo, the mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, said the electricity company Unelco-Endesa had no right to leave people without power for four days since the storm. There were street protests in La Laguna, where residents banged pots and pans in a traditional Spanish 'cacerolada'. The company has promised power will be restored by Friday across the islands.
Protests as Canary Island black-outs go on
Labels: Tropical Storm Delta
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Christmas in the Canary Islands
Spain and the Canary Islands have EVERYTHING when it comes to Christmas: the biggest lottery in the world, a host of natural Christmas decorations and, celebrations that run on into January. Here in Tenerife, that may even include a proper "White Christmas". 
For more about Christmas in Tenerife, visit: Canary Islands Christmas 2006 | Tenerife in December | Santa's Tropical Grotto | Tenerife Christmas Images | Exclusive Tenerife Gifts ...
The Canary Islands are islands of stark contrasts. Politically Spanish, but only 60 miles from the north African coast, they have an unique culture with European, Arabic and South American influences. Plus that famous sub-tropical climate with year-round Spring-like weather.
Christmas week is acknowledged as the busiest week of the year for the tourist sector, with hotels and airports registering new record numbers each year as millions of Northern Europeans escape the cold to spend the holidays in one of the "Top 10 Winter Sun Spots".
British restaurants in the tourist resorts do serve turkey dinners with all the trimmings, which is probably just as well for visitors, because Christmas Day isn't celebrated much here.
Christmas Eve is the family get-together, New Year is more lively, but if you want to see the "real" Canarian Christmas, you need to hang around until January 5th / 6th.
So, between December 8th, when, traditionally, the decorations go up and until January 6th, when the Three Kings have been and brought the gifts to thousands of Canary Islands' children, we'll be bringing you as many photos, reports, recipes and explanations of the local Christmas customs as we can.
This post will be the index to Christmas items, so, bookmark it or take this moment to subscribe to our XML feed so that you will know when we have posted something new. And, as the worst cliches always say, "Watch this space!"
Tenerife is # 1 for Christmas
Christmas Music in Tenerife
Tenerife Weather for Christmas
Christmas Decorations in Tenerife
Truchas de Batata (Sweet Potato Pies)
Polvorones (Powder Cakes)
Bethlehem in Tenerife
Turrón de Chocolate (Chocolate Fudge)
The cost of Christmas in Spain
Tenerife is top Christmas destination
El Gordo 'Forgets' Canary Islands Again
Nochebuena: Christmas Eve
Christmas Day - DÃ?a de Navidad
Canary Island Gift Buying
Day of the Innocent Saints
Santa Takes a Winter Break in Tenerife
Celebrating New Year in The Canary Islands
New Year 2006 Babies in Tenerife
Celebrating New Year With Dip
Los Reyes Magos: Epiphany, Jan 6th
Roscón de Reyes (Crown of Kings)
Cabalgata de Los Reyes Garachico 2006
This month's featured image, Flor de Pascua, is available now as free Windows Wallpaper, in three popular screen sizes. (Online postcards and other freebies will also be added soon available now.) The exclusive image is also available in our Souvenir Shop as a Christmas Card and as a host of stocking fillers. For younger viewers and the full catalogue of our Christmas related designs, drop into Santa's Tropical Grotto - and see what Santa gets up to in Tenerife!
Free Diary Featuring Tenerife Images
Free Postcards Featuring Tenerife Images
Free Windows Wallpaper Featuring Tenerife Images
Labels: Christmas
Sopa de Pollo Con Fideos
The temperature here this morning had dropped to a rather nippy 11 degrees centigrade. OK, so it's not minus something that most of you will be experiencing in the northern hemisphere, but when you have had temperatures of 40 something centigrade in summer, relatively, this is four woolly weather. Therefore, it is time for a nice warming soup.
You may think there is nothing that remarkable about Sopa de Pollo Con Fideos, which English speakers will already know as Chicken Noodle Soup, but this is home-made.
You may also be wondering how it ends up claiming to be Canarian.
Well, for three excuses reasons really. This is probably one of the most popular soups here, the one pictured was made in Tenerife (by me) and was based on an idea given to me by my next door neighbour, who is local, born and bred.
To me, it is a sin to buy those awful packets of dried chemicals pretending to be something edible, when this is much nicer, almost as quick, probably cheaper and certainly healthier using all natural ingredients. So, er, let's "soup it up" : )
Ingredients:
One chicken drumstick or thigh
One chicken stock cube (optional)
A few mixed herbs
One litre (2.2 English pints) of water
A handful / tablespoon of thin noodles
Method:
Place all the ingredients, except the pasta, into a saucepan. Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat and simmer slowly for about 30 minutes (give or take) until the chicken is ready to fall off the bone and has infused it's flavour into the stock.
Remove the drumstick from the stock and remove the meat from the bone, shredding finely. Place the meat back into the saucepan with the stock. Add the pasta and simmer for approx. 5 minutes more, until the pasta is done.
Season to taste and serve with crusty bread. Serves four.
Whilst I have no doubts that you should be able to buy pasta locally to suit this purpose (the finer, the better), if you are in the US and wish to try the authentic thing, all the way from Spain, then Tienda.com have the answer: Fideo Fino Pasta.
Tablas de San Andrés
Officially, the celebrations of San Andrés, held each year on November 29th - the eve of St. Andrew's Day - were cancelled due to Tropical Storm Delta. The public opening of the bodegas and the tasting of the new wine (Tenerife's answer to Beaujolais Nouveau), accompanied by roast chestnuts, was sadly called off.
However, not even a storm could stop the youth in Icod de los Viños from enjoying their annual suicidal slide down near vertical streets on boards with nothing but a pile of old tyres to break their fall at the bottom.
This curious tradition, which is unique in the Canary Islands, was born from the need to transport wood from the highest areas of the town down to the workshops where it was used in handicrafts and in naval construction. More »
Ycoden Daute Isora among the most important wine growing districts of the Canary Islands.
Meanwhile, they also celebrate the Fiesta de San Andrés in Puerto de la Cruz. There it is popularly known as the Fiesta of Pots or Chestnuts. Kids drag strings of tin cans and throw scrap metal around the streets of the town to make as much noise as possible. The "Castañada" (chestnut feast) is held in the square itself, with the chance to try many typical products of the island. PuntoInfo.
Electrical Repairs Will Take 4-6 Months
The director general of Unelco, José María Plans, said yesterday that the electricity network in Tenerife will not be completely repaired and restored to the condition it was in before Tropical Storm Delta passed, for four to six months.
Parts of the network have been totally destroyed and four of the five main lines have been affected. At the moment, they are not working on the pylons that have been brought down by the winds, but, as a provisional measure, will install an underground line alongside the main north-south highway to restore power as rapidly as possible to the 77,000 subscribers in Tenerife still without electricity.
A shipment of telephone equipment was flown in on a Hercules military transport plane, plus two further charter planes have brought 136 people and 120 tons of equipment are expected from the mainland to facilitate the repairs.
Speaking on whether the electricity company had a "Plan B" to deal with these eventualities, Plans underlined that "it is not normal to have winds of 240 kilometers per hour, measured in the Avenue of Anaga". He also said that in his 32 years experience, he has never seen pylons double over before. Nor have we!
La reparación definitiva de la red eléctrica en Tenerife tardará entre 4 y 6 meses, porque está "completamente destrozada"
Labels: Tropical Storm Delta
Delta on Canary Islands Blogs
Victor Ruiz in south east Gran Canaria has created a roundup of coverage of Tropical Storm Delta at his blog Linotipo from among various Canarian blogs.
English speakers will require the assistance of something like Google Language Tools to read the rest of the Spanish language lineup, however, it is interesting to read the different perspectives and experiences - and great dry humour comments like "today, the Canaries work off batteries" - from various points around the islands, not just those related to Delta, but as a view on island life in general.
Many posts also have photos and they don't need translating!
Canary Islands newspaper, Canarias7, said on their blog Atarecos that they felt the effects of Delta on their servers, showing them how little we were all prepared for such an event. An unprecedented 24,000 visitors and their Java virtual machine decided it was not disposed to serve that many requests at once.
I have to say that I am honoured to the point of extreme humbleness that Secret Tenerife has been included, let alone listed first, as the only English language blog amongst the Canarian blogosphere. WOW! Does this mean I have "arrived"? :)
Tormenta Delta en la blogosfera canaria
Tags: delta
Labels: Tropical Storm Delta
Effects of Climate Change in Tenerife
The Island Water Council, in collaboration with the Canarian Water Foundation, have organized two open days to analyse the effects of climate change and hydrology in Spanish territory and on the Canary Islands. The sessions will be held on December 1st and 2nd in the Auditorio de Tenerife in Santa Cruz.
Underlining that the sessions are happening in the same week as the passage of Tropical Storm Delta that has caused important damages on the island, advisor of Waters and Agriculture, Jose Joaquin Bethencourt, indicates that the open days "aim to respond to some of the questions raised on the effects of climatic change in our hydrology or the magnitudes of their impact on an insular territory."
Similarly, the unusual rains this past summer and their negative effects on agriculture, not forgetting heatwaves of recent years, or the whirlwind of March 31, 2002 that claimed the lives of eight people, as well as causing severe damages in several points of the capital. All of these abnormal circumstances show that our experience of climate change is not the same as in the rest of the world.
El Consejo Insular de Aguas analiza los efectos del cambio climático y la hidrología de Tenerife
Ryanair turns its back on the Canaries
Europe’s biggest low-cost airline, Ryanair, continues to resist the temptations of the Canary Islands, and this despite the powerful lobbying efforts of both the public and private sector in the archipelago to try to convince the company otherwise.
Whether this is good or bad news, however, is a matter for debate.
The article also mentions that a mere 700 or 800 jobs are created for every million passengers who arrive on low-cost flights, whilst "it has been clearly demonstrated that low-cost airlines produce an increase in the acquisition of holiday homes, thus pushing up the price of property for local people."
Ryanair turns its back on the Canaries
Amarilla Golf earmarked for housing estate
A 3,000 square metre plot of land in the Amarilla Golf urbanization has been earmarked for the construction of subsidised housing aimed at the local first-time buyer market. The 66 house mini-estate will go some way to reducing San Miguel de Abona council’s housing list.
Amarilla Golf earmarked for housing estate
Race ends for French trimaran
Two Frenchmen were the latest victims of an accident-ridden international sailing race when their 60 foot trimaran, Groupama-2, capsized and suffered serious damage in a sudden squall as they headed to the Canaries from Madeira. A helicopter from Tenerife raced to the scene of the mishap.
Race ends for French trimaran
Ocean Changes to Cool Europe
Now, I may not be any kind of expert, however, one of the reasons given for the increase in storm phenomenon hitting the Canary Islands lately has been the warming of the waters around the islands. Without (or with less) cold water from the Gulf Stream coming down from the north, I feel sure that this is related.
This BBC article, also notes that "... in 2004, we have a larger circulating current [in the tropical Atlantic] ...", which seems, to me anyway, just the perfect conveyor belt system to have brought these recent storms our way.
Could it be, that as the Gulf Stream weakens and Europe cools, that the Canary Islands will become more "tropical"? By which I mean, not just warmer, but more prone to extreme weather conditions, such as we have seen this week.
Experience over the last five years, which has seen one after another "never been seen before, surprise" weather phenomenon thrown at the islands (things I had certainly not thought I would possibly see here 10 years ago), would seem to suggest that this is happening - whatever the scientific reason.
In which case, the Canary Islands would lose their reputation as the "Islands of Eternal Spring", gained from the constant warm (no extremes) climate they have enjoyed historically and become what? "Islands of Eternal Surprise"?
That's putting it politely. Eternal chaos may be more apt. Effects on nature are are too complex for my poor little brain, but it is clear to anyone that infrastructure and building methods were never thought with this eventuality in mind.
We have to trust that Oceanography Centres talk to Hurricane Centers and that governments will pay heed, in time, to the changing circumstances. Householders too will have to reassess the readiness of dwellings to deal with whatever is thrown at them in future, including heating, cooling, windproofing and insurance.
It's clear that we need some honest answers and some expert advice. Now.
Ocean changes to cool Europe
