Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tapestry Artists from all over the world come together in La Orotava to celebrate their Traditional Corpus Christi Festival
This year, the town of La Orotava, in the north of Tenerife, is holding its traditional Corpus Christi celebration on the 22nd June. On this occasion and to conclude the commemoration of the 500 anniversary of Orotava's foundation, the town is organizing an International Congress of Tapestry Artists (Congreso Internacional de Alfombristas) with participants from other Spanish towns and representatives from Europe, Asia and America.
The congress, entitled “El arte efímero de las alfombras de flores y tierras en el mundo” (“The ephemeral art of flowers and soil tapestries in the world”), will take place from the 20th to 22nd June and will bring together artists from Muhlenbach (Germany), Brussels (Belgium), Genzano di Roma (Italy), Kobe (Japan), Huamantla (Mexico), Texas (U.S.A.) and representation from Tibet.
Tapestry Artists from all over the world come together in La Orotava to celebrate their Traditional Corpus Christi Festival
Labels: Corpus Christi
Market Hall at La Laguna, Tenerife
Many people find the Nuestra Señora de Africa market in Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz, but perhaps less well known is the Mercado de La Laguna.
WebTenerife say, "La Laguna Market is situated in the historical center of the city in the "Plaza del Adelantado", next to the Hermitage of San Miguel and the Court House. Of significant commercial and tourist interest, the La Laguna market is visited each day by a large amount of the public. Enjoy or even taste the quality of the products and see their spectacular display especially in the flower section that you can see when you enter; the fruit and vegetables are situated on the central patio, the fish at the end of the building and the meet and dry goods are distributed on the sides of the two patios."
Open: Monday to Sunday until 1400 hours.
Mercado de La Laguna
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
No Passing on Winding Days
This sign, which I am absolutely certain is on the road between Buenavista del Norte and Punta Teno (haven't been down there lately), says, boldly: "Road Closed HIGH DANGER OF EARTH FALLING DURING WINDING OR RAINING DAYS"
The road certainly isn't straight on any days, so is that days when you are wound up (as in stressed) or, do they think they mean, no passing on days when you've eaten too many beans? :)
The Union Jack is a nice touch tho', just in case you have no friggin idea what they are on about in what language! :)
Earth falling? They mean bloody great rocks!
Honestly, I do, I despair of them. Great big corporation sign in bright yellow - you would imagine, wouldn't you, that someone would think to have it properly checked - by someone who actually speaks English - before it is put up there at the side of the road, all big and bold, for our pure entertainment.
Labels: Lost in Translation
Radio Changes the time for Día de Canarias
Backwards Clock, available for purchase at FadToys.com
During the whole of the day today for Día de Canarias, news reports on Spanish radio networks will give the time in Canarian time, report the Canarian Government in this press release.
Confused, you will be! :) The time in the Canary Islands is the same as it is in London - Western European Time - an hour behind the rest of Spain who operate on Central European Time.
An agreement was reached with four national stations; SER, COPE, Punto Radio and Onda Cero to confuse the hell out of listeners. Sorry, no, the aim is to "augment the notoriety of the archipelago" as a tourist destination to the mainland market. The confusion information will reach almost ten million regular, daily listeners of these four private stations throughout the length of the day.
I only ever listen to radio over the internet and mostly English, so I won't hear this. However, it is worth noting that this hour of difference is most convenient, especially for British nationals resident on the islands and who have relatives back in Blighty. On the other hand, when you watch national Spanish TV stations here, you have to remember that when they say a program will start at 7 p.m., what they actually mean is here, it will start at 6 p.m. Don't ask me to count the number of times one switches on, only to remember - too late - that the program you wanted to watch is already over. Meanwhile, local TV stations in the Canary Islands use all Canarian time. National news reports usually give the current time in Spanish (Central European) time, followed by the statement, "una hora menos en Canarias" (an hour less [behind] in the Canaries).
Today, there will be no "hora menos", they will only give the Canarian time.
At New Year, we get double celebrations in the Canaries, because those from the mainland are televised at our 11 p.m. and our own at midnight.
Mañana no será una hora menos en Canarias
New Record Set as over 700 Immigrants Arrive
A new record was set yesterday as more than 700 immigrants arrived in 11 boats to five different islands in the Canary Islands archipelago. Meanwhile, another 400 migrants had arrived in the islands by boat over the weekend, four of which brought 266 into the port of Los Cristianos in Tenerife.
Más de 700 inmigrantes llegan a bordo de 11 cayucos
Cuatro nuevos cayucos dejan en el puerto de Los Cristianos a 266 inmigrantes
Europe Vows to Help Spain With Crisis
And, on a related note, Guardian Unlimited have the full story detailing how, After four months at sea, ghost ship with 11 petrified corpses washes up in Barbados. My advice: don't read it just before or after your lunch.
More Foreign Residents Choose Tenerife
The number of foreigners resident in Tenerife increased more than double the amount that it did in Gran Canaria during 2004, according to data from the Canarian Institute of Statistics (Istac). From January 1, 2004 to Jan 1, 2005, a total of 36,479 foreigners registered in the islands, principally; English, Germans and Italians. Seventy percent of all new inhabitants of the islands during 2004 were foreign. New registrations of foreigners in Tenerife during 2004 amounted to 17,340, against the 8,191 in Gran Canaria, raising the total on the western island from 84,606 to 101,946 - an increase of 20.4%.
In the Canary Islands as a whole, there were a total of 222,260 foreign residents, of whom 102,509 were Europeans. This is a 19.6% increase on the previous year. The largest number of new registrations in the period were English (4,487), followed by Germans, Italians, Moroccans, Venezuelans, Columbians, Argentinians and Uraguans. Though there are still more German residents in total (28,957) than English (25,013), 16,460 of the latter who live in Tenerife, 2,309 in Gran Canaria and 4,091 in Lanzarote.
The Canary Islands' foreign resident league table is led by:
1. 28,957 Germans
2. 25,013 English
3. 21,096 Columbians
4. 15,044 Italians
5. 14,984 Moroccans
6. 13,301 Venezuelans
7. 11,446 Argentinians
8. 10,110 Cubans
Meanwhile, Scandinavians seem to prefer Gran Canaria, with 1,049 Norwegians choosing the eastern island, against just 291 in Tenerife. The same occurs with Swedish nationals, who, of a total of 2,079 who live in the islands, 1,007 do so in Gran Canaria and 808 in Tenerife.
By continent, new residents from Europe occupy first place with an increment of 16,952 in 2004. From America came 12,304 newly registered, Africa (5,102), Asia (2,084) and Oceana, just sweet 16.
Among curiosities in the statistics, is that one singular citizen of Vanuatu - an archipelago situated to the north of Australia - has made their home on the Canary Island of El Hierro.
Los extranjeros residentes en Tenerife subieron el doble que en Gran Canaria
Nineteen arrests and 2,500 kilos of cocaine
Yesterday, nine detained crew members (all with Venezuelan papers), the haul of 2,500 kilos of cocaine and two firearms that were found aboard the Venezuelan ship, Fabio Galípoli that was sunk off Cape Verde on May 24, were brought into port at Santa Cruz in Tenerife. The other ten detainees had been operating in the Balearic islands and the Spanish mainland.
Arriba al muelle la ´Cazadora´ de la Armada con 2.500 kilos de cocaína
Protecting Tenerife’s green mantle
Fire that ravaged 35 hectares of pine trees in north Tenerife last weekend has prompted authorities to consider restrictive measures aimed at safeguarding the island’s mountain forests this summer. Access to a number of key forest tracks and protected areas will be severely limited if not completely banned.
“Our efforts are not only directed at recuperating eroded and otherwise damaged territory, “ said a spokesman for the Cabildo’s environment department, “but also at protecting and defending the existence of local people living in specific areas such as the rural parklands of Anaga and Teno. After all, it’s not just plants and trees that live in these places, but people too.”
Protecting Tenerife’s green mantle
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Samba Festival in Tenerife
If Carnaval wasn't enough Brazilian-style entertainment for you, then Tensamba III Edición del Festival de Música Brasileña de Tenerife - the third edition of Tenerife's Brazilian Music Festival - the most important in Spain - from June 1 to 10, might make up the difference. Seven Brazilian bands of international renown will be taking part and there are also samba classes.
Samba is undoubtedly the most internationally famous of Brazilian music.
The festival, organized partly by the town hall in La Laguna and which has support from the Brazilian Embassy, kicks off with a concert from Erismar do Espiritu Santo at the Instituto La Laboral in La Laguna, Tenerife on June 1.
El festival Tensamba llevará siete bandas brasileñas a Tenerife
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Canary Island Tomato Growers See Red
Canary Island tomato growers this week were seeing red over an increase of 600% in Moroccan tomato exports to the European Union, which has not only flooded the market, but has also provoked a premature end to this year's Canarian exports.
A spokesman for the Federación de Exportadores de productos hortofructícolas (Federation of Exporters of Horticultural Fruity-type Products), says Morocco has exported 3,125 tons of tomatoes, affecting profits negatively and harming agreements the association have made with the EU.
After weather threatened the sector in January, exports had been on the increase this year, despite the fact that the area devoted to the cultivation of tomatoes had decreased in recent years - by 1,898 hectares or 65 percent, from 4,830 in 1994 to 2,932 in 2004 - and difficulty in finding anyone to pick them.
Los tomateros canarios denuncian que Marruecos ha hundido el mercado europeo
Tomato exports Tenerife decreased 54% in 10 years
More Ketchup Than Salsa
This saucy book, More Ketchup Than Salsa: Confessions of a Tenerife Barman, is, obviously, written about the tourist areas of Tenerife.
Never mind the Union Jack T-Shirt that bloke's got on in the cover photo, have you seen the colour of the third woman's sunburn? Typical, silly ....
I only came across this title today, by accident, so I will admit to not having seen a copy yet. However, it is described: "This comical book lifts the lid on life in a busy Tenerife resort." and as "Spiked with humour and sharp observation."
It's the "sharp observation" aspect that attracts me, because, the truth, no matter how embarrassing, though even better when it's about someone else, always makes the best comedy. So I think this may well be a fun read.
But do remember that there is whole lot more to Tenerife than this, at first glance, appears to suggest. We wouldn't want you thinking that Tenerife is just a tacky tourist destination for tacky tourists, now would we? :)
More Ketchup Than Salsa: Confessions of a Tenerife Barman
Friday, May 26, 2006
Hooligans Denied Passports
Jaunted blog, talking about the run up to the World Cup, report that, "The English have gone so far as to revoke the passports of 3,500 of their worst hooligans. Does FIFA rank the hooligans? The Brits are also sending policemen and judges to the event, so that they'll be able to prosecute on the spot."
Excellent news. If these nethanderals don't have passports, they wont be running riot around Las Americas either.
Hooligans Denied Passports
Old Tenerife Doors & Windows
Came across this site of photos, many of Tenerife, by Fernando Gómez Viñarás today and I was especially taken by this gallery of Puertas y Ventanas (Doors and Windows) on Casas Viejas (Old Houses).
Despite most of them being in really advanced states of disrepair with rust, peeling paint and rotting wood, as well as clear evidence of damp in the brickwork, to me, there is still a romantic beauty in their faded colours.
Somehow, in spite of their condition; getting stuck will bills or being defaced with graffiti, these buildings manage to cling proudly to small details that were once their crowning glory. A dash of fancy ironwork here, some decorative carving there: signs that they were once "the height of fashion" and that their owners had "arrived" in society. Pay attention though. While most of them look to be in a state of total ruin and uninhabitable, there are cases where the door is ajar and the shutter open, in a manner suggesting they are still in use.
Puertas y Ventanas
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Photos of the Auditorio de Tenerife
While the building was under construction, mind you, I think many people wondered what the heck (to use a polite term) was going up there.
Now, in it's full glory, it is almost difficult to remember what Santa Cruz ever did without this emblematic, eye catching, awe inspiring, majestic - do you get the impression that I love it - symbol that has come to represent the city.
And, in this set of photos and some further ones tagged with auditorio, you can begin to see for yourself just what causes such emotions.
Auditorio de Tenerife
Tenerife's North South Divide
All countries have them, it seems. Tenerife's is somewhat more obvious in that Mount Teide and the dorsal mountain ranges split the island into two distinct climates. And at times, the one we have in the north is positively trying.
There is also the division that, the more historical, rural and less over developed areas of the north attract a more Germanic clientele, while the excesses of the south draw that certain kind of party Brit. From this, deduce that Germans are better informed and know how to find the good places.
This is, perhaps, in both cases, a question of what you are used to.
On my one visit to Germany some years ago, I was particularly struck by the houses in rural villages, because you simply could not tell which ones had been there since the 12th Century and which ones had been built the week before. The old ones being kept in such good repair and the new being built with such precision and artistry and following the traditions of centuries.
This is something which became most evident to me here too when I visited the newly reconstructed church of Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios, in Buenavista del Norte. There is a section of carpentry on the underside of the gallery over the main entrance, which is stunning. That it was completed by craftsmen working in the 21st Century and not the 16th leaves one speechless.
Nevertheless, it is always a bad thing to generalize. It can backfire on you too, especially when you (alright I) go down to the main road one Saturday morning to assist a group of tourists, clearly properly dressed for walking, who are studying a map and looking lost, greeting them with "Hallo. Kann ich bitte dir helfen?", to which they respond, in English, with broad Mancunian accents.
But it does remain that these English tourists are a rare breed around these parts. You are far more likely to come across Germans who love nature and history - who are not the type you have to be up at 2 a.m. to beat to the sun longer - and who definitely do have a sense of humour.
Lost in translation Via: Flanerie.org
The Vatican to Cannonize Three Canarians
Julio Sánchez Domínguez, parish priest of the church of Nuestra Señora de Las Nieves (Our Lady of the Snows) in El Palmar de Teror, Gran Canaria, has for the last six years been touring Latin American countries in search of personalities born in the Canary Islands or with Canarian ancestry, who had gained some reputation in those far away lands.
Up to the present, his attention has been focussed on three Servants of God, who are in process of beautification: Jacinto de Vera Durán, whose parents were from Lanzarote and who became the first Bishop of Montevideo (Uruguay); Fray Andresito (Friar Andresito), born in Fuerteventura, who is venerated in the Uraguayan capital for his humanitarian work; and Hermano José Marcos Figueroa (Brother Figueroa), born in Lanzarote, who left his mark in Uruguay as a model of humility, simplicity and help.
Julio Sánchez has worked hard to document these three Canarian figures, with the aim of gaining them recognition in the islands where their lives and works had previously been little known. An ignorance, which he says, contributes to the scant interest shown by the diosis in spreading their stories.
El Vaticano quiere canonizar a tres canarios
Endesa-Unelco Sanctioned over deterioration
Electricity provider in the Canary Islands, Endesa-Unelco, has been sanctioned by the Government with a recently proposed, 450,000 Euro (£307,000) fine after it was discovered, by simple sight inspection in the aftermath of last November's Tropical Storm Delta, that pylons carrying the 66 kilowatt supply between Caletillas and Granadilla in the section which passes the Güímar Industrial Estate, were in an advanced state of deterioration. The pylons were found to be in an "elevated" state of oxidation.
The Council for Industry then commissioned a study, undertaken by the University of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, which concluded that the pylons subject to these sanctions showed a loss of charge of 48 percent of their capacity and compared to other pylons in good condition; evidence of inadequate maintenance. The sanction is independent of the costs of the damage caused by the strong winds which whipped the islands last November, bringing down, literally bent in half, 32 of the 63 pylons on this section.
Endesa-Unelco es sancionada con 450.000 euros por el mal estado de la red detectado tras el Delta
Recital from the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra
Not everything to come out of the auditorium and the instruments of the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra was to the taste of Tenerife News' reviewer, who described one peice as "utterly discordant and extremely difficult to listen to", nevertheless, the day was saved by Mozart's Concerto number 23 for piano and orchestra K.488 in A major, "famed for its elegant structure and gracefulness."
It looks to be that the final concert in the current season is tomorrow night, May 26th, however, it is good to know that these alternative cultural offerings are available here on the island. More details from the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra website or from their "home ground", the Auditorio de Tenerife.
A three part recital from the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra
Folklore, Music and Culture for Canaries Day
During the day of the 30th, Canary Islanders (and visitors) will have the opportunity to participate in an ample program of events related to Día de Canarias, in their place of origin. Events will include tastings of the local gastronomy, folklore, music, arts & crafts, literature, cultural items and native sports. In Tenerife, the location for these events is at the Castillo Negro (Black Castle) in Santa Cruz. Events are programmed to begin at 16:00 hours. Various workshops, aimed at youngsters, will run until 20:00 hours.
The Castillo de San Juan is the best preserved on the island. It was constructed in the first half of the 17th Century and reconstructed in 1765. Popularly known as the Castillo Negro (Black Castle), because it is adjacent to La Caleta de Negros (Black Creek), the circular castellated building has volcanic masonry in tones of grey and is very close to the Parque Marítimo "César Manrique".
Also on May 30th, six local newspapers will be distributing a book, entitled, "Conocer Canarias: Mil preguntas y respuestas para disfrutar" (Get to know the Canary Islands: One thousand questions and answers to enjoy), which summarizes the attractions of the islands as well as their cultural heritage and history. The price of the book will be a token one euro (68 pence).
El Día de Canarias se celebra en todas las islas de forma paralela con actividades folclóricas, musicales y culturales
Los seis periódicos de las Islas distribuirán el día 30 el libro "Conocer Canarias"
Castillo de San Juan at PuntoInfo
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Plaza General Eulate in Buenavista del Norte
Something I have yet to see is the Plaza General Eulate in Buenavista del Norte. This square is alongside the church of Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios, which was destroyed by a fire in 1996, restored and re-opened in 2004. (On the other side, the Plaza General Eulate fronts onto this wide street.) During the interim (and I came to this area in 1999), the adjoining plaza has been hidden behind a high wall of barriers and building materials.
A press release from Buenavista town hall announces that the first phase of the remodelling works in the plaza have been completed, with the aim of "dynamizing tourism in the area". Although, making the historic center of the town a prettier place to walk around, I think will be nice for all of us.
The plaza will be able to be seen in all its splendor, once the rest of the phases have been completed, which mainly focus on a children's play area and gardens and, which will be carried out shortly. (Photo at the site below.)
Concluidas las obras de la primera fase de remodelación de la Plaza General Eulate de Buenavista del Norte
Naval and Air Vigilance for Canary Islands Coasts
Over the next few weeks the European Commission will mobilize, via its European Border Agency, Frontex, planes and patrol launches from eight member states to help watch the Canarian coasts to control the current situation in respect to the constant arrival of immigrants from Africa.
The Commission is also sending a mission to the Canary Islands to obtain detailed information on the situation in the archipelago.
La UE movilizará un dispositivo aéreo y naval para vigilar las costas de las Islas
Frontex (from French: Frontières extérieures, legally: European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union), headquartered in Warsaw, Poland, is the external border security agency of the European Union. It is responsible for co-ordinating the activities of the national border guards in ensuring the security of the EU's borders with non-member states. Source: Wikipedia
New Rules for Access to Pico del Teide
This month, new rules have come into force for gaining access to the peak and crater at the top of Teneife's Mount Teide. Amongst other changes, it's now possible to obtain a permit without having to go in person to the National Park offices, as had been the case in the past, making it more convenient for visitors.
It is now possible to obtain a permit by fax to (+34) 922 244788 or email to teide@oapn.mma.es. Permits must be obtained at least seven days before the date you wish to ascend (one month if requested by ordinary post).
These permits are for the 700 meter Sendero Telesforo Bravo (footpath), which connects La Rambleta (3.555 m.) with the highest point of Spain and of all the Atlantic archipelagos, to the top of the 3,718 meter volcano.
Only 50 people are permitted to be on this footpath at one time, owing to the extreme fragility of the area and to guarantee security for visitors.
In 2005, the National Park administration issued 11,001 access permits covering 36,804 persons, a figure that was significantly lower than the previous year (43,198 people), given that conditions made the ascent impractical for several months. At the beginning of 2005, the footpath was closed because of heavy snow and accumulated ice. Extreme high winds at that altitude can add to the difficulty, so don't be too disappointed if the weather doesn't play the game. Nevertheless, it's worth trying and great to be able to say you've been!
Entran en vigor las normas que restringen el acceso al Pico del Teide
Find Hotels & Apartments in Tenerife
Alpharooms.com, website operated by Alpha Accommodation Limited in Sheffield, England, makes choosing your holiday accommodation that bit easier.
Alpharooms currently offer a choice of 378 establishments in Tenerife. Their site is laid out to show a brief summary, highlighting the major facilities at each establishment, so that you can quickly see which ones offer what you need.
The major difference, is that they also allow you to select apartments only, or you can also refine your search to just the establishments in the resort of your choice. These are mostly the usual places on the south of the island, but also included are Puerto de la Cruz in the north and the capital, Santa Cruz.
Descriptions are nicely detailed and include the address of the establishment - so you can locate it to ensure that "sea view" is not from five miles back! They also include customer reviews. Next time you are looking for holiday accommodation in Tenerife, you might like to give Alpharooms a try.
More information from Alpharooms website »
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
ESA Camera Catches Comet Break-up In The Act
European Space Agency scientists are using a new camera to monitor the continuing disintegration of Comet, 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, in an effort to attempt to see into the comet's interior. The Superconducting Camera, or SCAM - now operating from ESA's Optical Ground Station on Tenerife.
ESA Camera Catches Comet Break-up In The Act
Volcano's peak guides African emigrants to Canaries
Illegal immigrants from Africa arrive on the shores of Tenerife ragged and bleeding, lashed by the waves after days at sea pointing their small and battered craft at the distant peak of the Teide volcano, Spain's highest mountain. "We don't know why they choose Tenerife, or why the south coast, but the Teide (3,700 metres, 12,100 feet) can be seen from 50 or 60 nautical miles away, which makes it a good target," said Luis Carillon, the local police chief.
Volcano's peak guides African emigrants to Canaries
African boat people, a tourists' must-see
"They had been eight days at sea and some of the newly arrived immigrants were staggering about on the dock, a dramatic image that set cameras clicking and whirring in unison as dozens of tourists captured the moment for holiday albums. It is not what the authorities had expected, but far from putting people off, an invasion of African boat people has proved an unlikely tourist attraction in the Canary Islands where daily arrivals of dug-outs packed with immigrants attract crowds of spectators.", reports the Sunday Times.
African boat people, a tourists' must-see
Senegal 'seizes 1,500 migrants'
The BBC report that, "Senegal's navy stopped more than 1,500 people trying to sail to Spain's Canary Islands over the weekend, it says. Navy Captain Jean-Baptiste Faye said the migrants had been in 19 wooden boats and 60 people traffickers had been arrested."
Senegal 'seizes 1,500 migrants'
Bringing New Definition to the term Basket Case
Already famous for a variety of artisan basket work objects, could this be the next wicker product to be produced in the El Palmar valley? Since it uses environmentally renewable resources, this would fit nicely with the current trends towards green farming.
Flowers look so good with wicker and I can't help thinking that it would make a funeral just a little bit more of a "picnic". Maybe I should print the photo and take it to the local basket maker? In the meantime, Britain's Somerset Willow Company sells these biodegradable, handsome wicker coffins.
Via: BoingBoing
'Above normal' hurricanes in 2006
Begin battening the hatches, because the BBC reports that, "This year's Atlantic hurricane season will be "above normal", according to the US climate agency."
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) predicts there will be 13-16 named storms, four of which will be "major storms". Last year's season saw an unprecedented 28 storms, 15 of which went on to become hurricanes. Noaa had predicted that there would be up to nine hurricanes.
The US hurricane season starts on 1 June and lasts until 30 November. On November 28th, 2005, the Canary Islands were hit by Tropical Storm Delta (the 25th of the season), which caused widespread damage in the islands.
"Remember, it only takes one hurricane in your neighbourhood to make it a bad season," Noaa administrator, Vice Admiral Lautenbacher, remarked.
'Above normal' hurricanes in 2006
Where does the name Tenerife come from?
A visitor yesterday asked the question, so I thought I'd give you the answer:
"Known to the Romans as Nivaria (from the Latin nix, nivis, "snow"), a reference to the snows atop the volcano known as El Teide, Tenerife bears a name that is also a reference to this volcano and was used for the island by the Guanches of the neighboring island of La Palma; “Tene” signifying “mountain” and “ife” white (the “r” was added by the Spanish). To the natives of Tenerife, however, the island was known as Chenech, Chinech or Achinech."
Source: Wikipedia.
Under the town gate at Garachico
Photo: Peter Sinfield
Click here or on the image to visit Peter's site to see full size.Whilst mooching around the web for information and more photos of the local area, I came across this image (right), which shows the ancient Puerta de la Tierra (literally, Door to the Land) in Garachico, originally used to control passengers and goods that came in and out of the port.
The image was of particular interest to me, because unlike my own snapshot - my image is taken from the front and above and, makes the gate look too low for its former use - placing the man in the shot shows the perspective and size more clearly.
It is also of great interest from the point of view that you never quite know whom you might bump into in the back streets of Garachico ...
For the good reason that the gentleman in the picture, it transpires, is none other than Peter Sinfield, self-described "hippy without portfolio" (a title I could probably borrow with reasonable impunity) and former wordsmith for King Crimson. Peter has also worked with such greats as Roxy Music, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Cher and, amongst others, won an Ivor Novello award for his part in co-penning Celine Dion's “Think Twice” in 1992 (I shall think of Peter next time I belt it out on the karaoke), as well as putting the lyrics to “21st Century Schizoid Man", which is reputed to be Tony Blair’s favourite song.
I've worked out from other references on the site that this photo was taken last winter - seeing the poinsettia, probably around Christmas - which is when I spend a lot of time in Garachico. In future, I should keep my eyes open!
And my message to you is, of course, that this is proof positive that you definitely get a better class of visitor here in the north of Tenerife.
Under the town gate at Garachico
May 30 Celebrates El Día de Canarias
One of the next major anniversaries in the Canary Islands is the annual celebration of "Canarianess" that takes place every May 30th.
As every year, there will be various acts of celebration from the private to the institutional and including a varied menu of sporting, musical and cultural offerings. The most important, however, of this year's acts will be the plenary session anticipated to be celebrated in the Chamber on May 30, for the approval of the project of reform of the Statute of Autonomy.
El Día de Canarias (Canaries Day) celebrates the anniversary of the first session of the Canary Islands Parliament, which took place on May 30th, 1983, ten months after the publication of the Estatuto de Autonomía (Statute of Autonomy) in the Boletín Oficial del Estado (Official State Bulletin).
The Statute, published on August 10, 1982, gave the Canary Islands greater powers of self-governance and recognition on the part of the Spanish Constitution of the concept of "Canarian nationality". This had been the aspiration of the Canary islanders since the days of the Second Republic, however Civil War and Franco's regime intervened and it took 46 years before an Autonomous Government in the Canary Islands became a reality.
There have been profound changes to the politics, economics, society and culture of the islands in these last 23 years. At the end of 1982, the islands had 1,431,045 inhabitants, which, 20 years on had risen to more than 1.8 million. (It is estimated that numbers now to have reached 2 million.)
The community budget multiplied by 36 in those first two decades and production per capita had multiplied almost five times.
In 1982, the Canary Islands received some 3 million tourists per year. Twenty years later, this had risen to around 10 million, providing 70% of the archipelago's income, valued at 24,553 million Euros.
El pleno sobre el Estatuto, el acto más importante por el Día de Canarias
El Día de Canarias
Nacionalidad Canaria
Estatuto de Autonomía de Canarias (PDF 47,8 Kb)
Jet-set wedding in south Tenerife
It must have been one of the most costly weddings Tenerife has ever seen and it took place last month at one of the island’s top hotels, the Abama in Guía de Isora. The happy couple, Tenerife-born Sandra García Sanjuan and Ignacio Maluquer of Cataluña, flew their 500 guests into Tenerife on board six privately chartered planes for a slap-up long weekend, no expense spared.
Guests came from as far away as; Paris, London, Montecarlo, Munich, Viena, Lisbon, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Mexico and Moscow ... and included amongst them the prince and princess of Bulgaria; Alejandra Alemán, daughter of the former Mexican president; María Zurita Borbón, niece of the Spanish King and Isabel Sartorius, a former girlfriend of Prince Felipe.
The glamourous four-day bun fight included lots of sight-seeing trips, an exotic beach party with an African theme and, there can be very few weddings too that could boast its own private golf tournament on the Abama greens.
Jet-set wedding in south Tenerife
La boda de los famosos
Cape Verde, Madeira and Canary Islands partners in cruise business
Cape Verde, Spain’s Canary islands and the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira, have joined forces to promote and operate cruises in the mid-Atlantic.
The agreement between the three countries, signed on the Cape Verde island of Sao Vicente Friday, includes, as well as attracting and improving cruise traffic, an exchange of information about events, statistical information and adopting common security measures, said Cape Verde’s port administration company, Empresa da Administração dos Portos (Enapor).
Cape Verde, Madeira and Canary Islands partners in cruise business
Delinquents, what delinquents?
Las Américas bar scores an own goal after whinge. In the same week that saw a letter printed in Tenerife News from Lineker’s Bar claiming this newspaper had defamed the said establishment over an article printed in edition 297 came the embarrassing news that the proprietor had been sent down for fraud.
Delinquents, what delinquents?
Forest Fire Destroys Thirty-Five Hectares of Pine Forest in North Tenerife
Photo: Diario de TenerifeAt lunch time yesterday, Monday, the flames were finally extinguished in a fire which had started at 17:25 on Sunday, at three points of the forests between Los Realejos and San Juan de la Rambla in the north of Tenerife.
Three helicopters, 60 people and a dozen vehicles had fought to bring the fire, one of the most devastating in recent times, under control for 19 hours.
The fact that the fire had three separate points of origin, at considerable distances apart - which presented the major difficulty in bringing it under control - seems to suggest that it was started deliberately.
Wladimiro Rodríguez Brito, councillor for the Environment with the Tenerife Island Corporation, did not hesitate to classify person(s) who destroy the landscape to let out their own frustrations as "sick".
Los servicios del Cabildo tratan de controlar el tercer frente del incendio de Los realejos
El fuego destruye unas 35 hectáreas de pinar en el norte tinerfeño en 19 horas
Honouring the Traditions of the El Palmar Valley
Last Saturday in the small plaza de El Palmar, nine people, inhabitants of the El Palmar valley, were honoured with the title of "Masters of the Earth", a title given in recognition of their work in keeping the customs and traditions of the area alive and, as ambassadors of ancestral culture of the island.
Buenavista del Norte homenajeo el pasado sábado a nueve Maestros de la Tierra
Almost 17% More Tourists Visited Tenerife in April
According to provisional data provided by the Tenerife Island Corporation, Tenerife received 482,213 tourists in April, 16.57% more than in April 2005. Most of these visitors came from England and the Spanish mainland, with a large majority, 366,311 of them, visiting the south of the island. Nevertheless, the largest percentage rise, by 22.77%, was in the north of the island.
One of the prime reasons for the April 2006 increase is the fact that Easter Week fell in April this year, whereas last year it fell in March. However, this is still seen as positive news in the industry, especially by hoteliers, who increased their clientele by 26,12%, accommodating 289,074 of these tourists.
Although the largest number of visitors continues to be the British, with a total of 152,667, this market showed a slight decrease, of 4.7%. The visitor charts are still topped by the British with 31.7% of the total, followed by Spanish with 30.3%, Germans at 14.2% and Nordic countries, with 7.4%. Their average length of stay is 7.61 days, which is 0.21 of a day more than last year.
A total of 1,795,268 tourists have visited Tenerife since the start of the year, 9.63% more than in the same four month period in 2005.
Tenerife recibió en abril casi un 17% más de turistas que hace un año
Monday, May 22, 2006
Spain in migrant diplomacy drive
Spain has announced a three-year diplomatic offensive in West Africa to try to stem the flow of African migrants to Europe. Madrid on Friday also asked the European Union for more help in dealing with the migrants.
In response, the European Parliament is sending a delegation to the Canary Islands early in June to examine the conditions in which the immigrants are being kept and the problems caused by illegal immigration.
Spain in migrant diplomacy drive
Cayuco chaos as record numbers arrive in Tenerife
The weekend has - thankfully - been quiet after a record number of immigrants arrived last Thursday, 623 of them in nine boats on that one day, to be exact.
The last week saw arrivals on a scale never before experienced, bringing the emergency services to their knees as field hospitals and local police stations struggled to cope with an influx numbering thousands.
Cayuco chaos as record numbers arrive in Tenerife
See Tenerife from a bubble
B.O.B. is short for “breathing observation bubble,” a sort of underwater jet-ski affair, with a big air bubble helmet for your head. You can breathe normally, sit upright on the BOB – letting it do all the hard work. Apparently, BOB diving is a new type of diving for those who don’t really like the normal sort. And, Tenerife is also the only place in Europe where you can go BOB diving.
Bob Diving in Tenerife Via: Cheapflights
Friday, May 19, 2006
Adeje Craft Fair This Weekend
Need something to do this weekend? That is supposing you are in Tenerife, in the first place!
Adeje town hall say that more than a hundred artisans will be at the VI Feria de Artesanía de Adeje 2006 (Sixth Adeje Craft Fair), to exhibit and sell their wares this weekend.
As well as the crafts, there is a program of folklore events and music, films and photo exhibitions in the municipal information stand.
A diverse range of traditional crafts will be on display using materials such as; wicker, earthenware, fabric, cristal or resin. You will be able to find genuine locally, hand made products in basketwork, woodwork, embroidery, Canarian costumes, musical instruments, jewelery, honey and cheeses, amongst others.
That's far better than buying the ones in tourist shops, "Made in China". :)
The fair is on this Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21, from 10:00 a.m. onwards, in and around the center of the town of Adeje.
VI Feria de Artesanía de Adeje 2006
The Week So Far in Tenerife
You'd be forgiven for thinking there is nothing else going on here, except the immigrant problem and Barcelona's win over Arsenal. Of course, people in Barcelona probably won't sleep in the next 24 hours, until the party is over, but that has repercussions in the Canary Islands too; with CD Tenerife not being the team they once were, supporters here are roughly divided between Barca and Real Madrid. The match even threatened to suspend the showing of last night's documentary film, when it was realized attendance was low because it coincided and, even though the showing went ahead, there were definitely very few men - not prepared to miss the national obsession - in the Cultural Center.
Nevertheless, there are one or two other things going on here, such as:
Tenerife launches a marketing campaign in the Spanish mainland, based on Tenerife being an "all in one" destination. Whilst I am in complete agreement that this little "continent in miniature" does offer a lot more than is generally perceived and, far be if for me to argue with the marketing gods, but it is also a fact that when you aim at "everyone", generally, you miss them all. :)
There could soon be an alcoholmeter in your favorite watering hole, after a proposal was approved by all parties to promote the apparatus to all establishments that serve alcoholic beverages, so that customers can test their state of inebriation, decide whether to drive, or not, to avoid accidents.
The 17 km footpath between Garachico and Erjos is being given a spruce up, between now and June. It will be the first hiking route on the island to get signs, recognized internationally by the European Ramblers Association.
More greening up, as a project for a 40,000 square meter Botanical Garden in Adeje is announced. The future attraction is planned for the Barranco de Las Torres, close to the new residential center at the entrance to the town.
The price of diesel was reduced by 0.015 Euros (in other words, one and a half cents) this week and petrol dropped by 0.001 Euros: an undiscernable one tenth of a cent. Oh well, at least it was in the right direction!
The Canary Islands pay homage to Tenerife born surrealist artist, Óscar Domínguez (La Laguna 1906-París, 1957), on the centenary of his birth, at the cemetery of Montparnasse in "a short, but emotional ceremony."
Workers of the threatened with closure TVE-Canarias come up with a creative plan to justify their existence: the idea of creating a Tourist TV channel, produced in the Canary Islands, for broadcast at national level.
Canarians call us Brits "Vacas Locas" (Mad Cows) because of disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE) in British livestock, not to mention the crazy behavior some of us display (who me?), but that may need a bit of a rethink now that a new case of Mad Cow disease has been confirmed in the islands, in a six year old cow in Gran Canaria. This is only the second case: the former was also detected in Gran Canaria, in 2003. Discovering it, say the authorities, is proof that systems for vigilance and control are working.
50 Scientists shut themselves away in the neighbouring island of La Palma, from May 16-19, to analyse a mysterious star, V838 Mon.
The windsurf Training Camp Only Girls Tenerife 2006 in El Médano, Tenerife found many activities to pass the time while they could not go sailing, due to a lack of wind on Monday and Tuesday. Obviously, not eating enough beans ...
And this has naff all (nada que ver) to do with the Canary Islands, but it made me laugh. Reporting on the story of the BBC interviewing the wrong Guy - on air - Malaprensa call the media entity the "Bean Boiling Corporation". :)
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Spain seeks EU help on migrants
"Spain has asked the European Union for more help to deal with a renewed wave of illegal immigrants travelling by sea from West Africa. More than 1,500 illegal immigrants have arrived on the Canary Islands in the past week.", report the BBC, which says "Illegal immigration is a European not just a Spanish problem, Madrid says, so needs a co-ordinated response."
Not that anyone asked for my opinion, but I do think that Spain and the Canary islands are now bearing the brunt, through accident of geographical location, of the whole of the developed world's indifference to the situation in Africa. To expect these small islands to deal with it alone would be beyond unreasonable.
And the situation has certainly escalated this week. After the wave at the weekend, during Monday's meeting of high level politicians, the government reinforced both maritime and aerial surveillance and hire a satellite to discover exactly where they are coming from and where they are being given help.
One thing that is evident, is that the boats that have been arriving of late must have been getting help somewhere. I can remember one report of police finding goods or bags from Canary Islands' supermarkets on one of the boats coming in. President of the political party, Coalición Canaria, Paulino Rivero, has said that it is "more than evident" that there are "nodriza" (wet nurse) boats, or supply lines and that there are aerial photos of them with cayucos in their interior, which may well be one of the reasons why more are making it to the islands and that there have been less reports of losses of life recently.
Not all of them make it, however, as Tenerife News reports that, "Last week the terrible fate of those on board, nobody knows how many, lost boats was revealed when one washed up in Barbados. Inside were ten sun-bleached bodies. It is thought it too had left Senegal weeks previously."
Other reports suggest that nobody dares do an exact head count, but that there are thousands more looking for a place in one of the rickety boats leaving Senegal and says that "the fever to escape hunger knows no reason".
It seems incredible to any of us that these people would even attempt such a journey, if they knew the risks. Of course they know the risks. If they stay in their countries, they know they are going to die, slowly, of starvation, as will their families, while they (and we) watch. If they die in the attempt to cross the seas, they have been spared the agony of one slow death and died with a certain amount more dignity of at least having tried to help themselves.
Tell me who of us would not do the same, if we were in their position?
Meanwhile, two more boats were spotted by a plane from the Tenerife Maritime service 15 to 30 miles from the shore on Monday evening, three more arrived on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the number of incoming immigrants was over 300 and, when I caught a few moments of the lunch time news on TV today, there were yet more arriving in Los Cristianos then.
In the midst of this human suffering, the political finger pointing has begun. (Which may, or may not, be without just cause.) The Canarian Government also accuse the Spanish National Government of not doing enough.
It is really hard to see what more they could have done, any sooner. Illegal immigration had been in decline. "In 2005, more than 4,700 migrants were detained while trying to reach the Canary Islands, down from 8,500 the year before.", say The International Herald Tribune. Whilst numbers have been growing steadily again this year, the previous wave in March was the only other real cause for alarm and one wave, does not indicate that you have trend and a phenomenon on your hands. (Until you get 20/20 hindsight.)
In short, you can't usually solve a problem until you know you have one.
And, it is reported that Spanish President, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, has postponed a meeting with Canarian President, Adán Martín, over the "unjust criticism". The report says they won't meet until the "tone is lowered".
Senegal has reacted and intercepted some cayucos leaving the country and have detained 20 people suspected of organizing them, but admit that there is little they can do with insufficient resources. There is also the difficulty that many leave Senegal, legally, under fishing permits, then pick up their human cargo in Cape Verde. This report says that another new route has opened up from those islands, where would-be immigrants go first and get construction jobs to earn the money to pay for their passage to the Canary Islands.
Of course, there is nowhere to put them and no jobs, for which they are qualified, for them to come to in Europe, but the irony of the fact that these immigrants are only "illegal" because we say they are - because of laws we've passed and lines we've drawn around countries - has not escaped me.
Just my humble opinion, of course, but the west has to help these people, or we face dealing with the same situation over and over. The money that is being spent on feeding, housing and transporting them here, would be better spent on helping them to stay in their own countries and start a better life there.
There does also seem to be an underlying preoccupation with image.
On the one hand, there have been various statements made to calm any fears in the local population; assurances that the immigrants are not let out onto the archipelago's streets and that "life will not change". Was there alarm? Have Canarians already forgotten when the boot was on the other foot and it was Venezuela and Cuba receiving illicit boatloads of Canary Islanders who were escaping a regime they couldn't live under and poverty they could not bear?
On the other, there is the concern over the impression it gives to visitors, which, I believe, is a good reason to know exactly what is going on here.
Responsible, grown up visitors will see the tragic situation for what it is and realize how fortunate they are; get off the beach and help the Red Cross, donate or lobby their own Governments to help with the problem when they get home. The ones that don't and merely find themselves put off by the sight of suffering, probably weren't the type of tourists we wanted to visit us anyway.
Teno Documentary A Real Jewel of Nature
Regular readers will know that last night was the night of my trip to the "cinema". Well, to the local cultural center to see the new documentary film about the Teno area, Teno: Hombre y Naturaleza (Teno: Man and Nature).
The right thing, of course, is to go with an open mind, but this is Tenerife. Whatever else I think about the island, this is a tourist destination, so I was still expecting the usual lightweight tourist promotional film. I was wrong. This is a real wildlife and nature documentary of National Geographic quality.
There is some utterly amazing closeup filming of the local wildlife, particularly of birds of prey, in flight and feeding young in the nest. The two years it took to film is, largely, due to the time it took to capture these images.
Alascine have taken the trouble too, both with the local flora and fauna, to highlight those species that do not exist anywhere else in the world. There is even footage of Teno's newly discovered, flightless grasshopper.
And I have discovered that there is a lot more scenery, right under my nose, that I didn't know was there. Like lakes and waterfalls, for instance.
There will be further showings in El Palmar tonight, Thursday and in Las Lagunetas on Friday. And I may go again, although I have already been offered the chance to borrow the film if I want to show it to someone.
Once it's been seen locally, the documentary is going to be shown on Spanish National TV, but may go international and is expected that it will be entered into documentary film contests at international level too, because it really is that calibre. Currently the DVD is being made with English, as well as Spanish commentary, but they don't know yet if it will be sold commercially.
If it is made available for sale, you will hear it here first!
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Edinburgh winter schedule boosted by Flyglobespan
Scotland-based low cost airline Flyglobespan has announced an expanded programme of flights for the winter season. And it is good news for residents of Edinburgh - flights from the Scottish capital are set to double compared to last season. New daily services to Malaga and Alicante are to be introduced, along with a weekly link to Tenerife. The city will also benefit from the resumption of a daily service to Geneva from December. And Glaswegians also have cause to celebrate – a daily service to Malaga and Alicante will also start operating from Glasgow International, alongside flights to Barcelona and Tenerife. Prices, one-way and including taxes, begin at £29.99 to Geneva, £39.99 to Alicante, £45.99 to Malaga and £59.99 to Tenerife.
Edinburgh winter schedule boosted by Flyglobespan
Monday, May 15, 2006
First Communions Cost Parents 3,000 Euros
In the age of consumerism and wastefulness in which we live, say Prensa Alternativa, events of the month of May have turned into a regular phenomenon: that of First Communions.
These appear more and more like mini-weddings, with an average budget of around 3,000 Euros and, which strains many a family budget.
The Federation of Independent Users and Consumers (FUCI) calculate that the minimum spent on First Communions is 1,700 Euros, although the maximum can be as much as 6,000 Euros.
Within this budget is the girl's dress, one of the more costly items, which varies between 100 Euros for a simple dress and 300 Euros for one with embroidery and beading. To this you need to add the costs for accessories, such as shoes, headdress (between 20 and 50 Euros), prayer books, jewelry and gloves.
The banquet adds the greatest part of the cost, at an average of 1,080 Euros, to which the cost of entertainment needs to be added, such as clowns, magicians or bouncy castles, which cost between 150 Euros and 450 Euros. In many cases, it is necessary to book the restaurant up to two years in advance.
Other items which inflate the budget are photography or DVD recordings or commemorative items to give to the guests, items which can cost between 300 and 600 Euros. The general custom is to give guests at least a small item that is personalized with the name of the child and the date of the celebration.
Parents, of course, want to do everything possible to make sure that their child enjoys a happy day, however, many take out loans and go into debt in order to do so. It seems that simple celebrations at home to which just a handful of close family were invited, have passed into history.
The religious community is concerned that First Communions are turning into "shows", where even the adults give more thought to the banquet, the dress, gifts and photography, than they do of the religious significance of the event.
These days a new phenomenon has started to appear, one nicknamed, "Civil Communions", which is to say nonreligious parents who give in to the child's desires for the party, gifts or a visit to Eurodisney - a custom which is becoming connected with First Communions in Spain - but without the religious content. In other words, to have a First Communion, without the communion!
Comunión y horca. Tres mil euros con forma de comunión
Charity Lottery Launches Scratch Cards
Charity lottery sold in aid of the Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles (Spanish National Organization for the Blind), ONCE, today launched their new instant win scratch card product, "El Rasca de la ONCE", which was announced recently, on May 11. Tickets went on sale today, with instant win prizes of up to 3,000 Euros for just 50 cents (around 35 pence).
Every series of 10 million tickets includes 20 prizes of 3,000 Euros (c. £2,000); 300 prizes of 100 Euros; 10,000 prizes of 10 Euros; 50,000 prizes of 5 Euros; 200,000 prizes of 2 Euros; 800,000 prizes of 1 Euros and 1,800,000 prizes of 50 cents, which, depending on the amount, can be claimed directly from the seller, ONCE establishments or collaborating banks.
ONCE have launched this new product in order to help the organization maintain its services and to compete against the multitude of new national and international lottery games that have been launched on the market recently.
Last year, for the first time in its history, ONCE returned a loss, after sales of tickets fell by 10% in 2005. As with the familiar ONCE lottery tickets, the new instant win scratch cards can be purchased from any of their 22,000 agents. 
Efforts have been made to guarantee that the probabilities are equal for all tickets and all points of sale, but even if you don't win, think of it as a donation to a very worthy cause.
El Rasca de la ONCE" sale hoy a la venta
ONCE Lottery Official Site
Government Steps in on Immigrant Problem
The vice-president of the Spanish government, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, is meeting urgently today with ministers of Work and Interior, as well as other high-level officials whose specialities and responsibilities are related to immigration policies, to analyse the situation over the avalanche of of immigrants that arrived in the Canary Islands this weekend.
Almost 1,000 immigrants arrived during the last three days, which has prompted authorities in the archipelago to ask central government to intervene and, to complain over the lack of resources to cope with the phenomenon.
Minister of External Affairs, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, echoed De la Vega's words, announcing a diplomatic offensive in the Sub-Saharan African countries where almost all of the illegal immigrants originate.
The vice-president said Sunday that all of those who arrive irregularly will go.
Agreement has been reached with Mauritania over joint coastal patrols, to reinforce their own measures. Over the last few months, immigrant boats have been changing their routes, with points of departure being driven ever further to the south, after vigilance on the coast of Morocco was stepped up.
El Gobierno convoca una reunión de urgencia por la avalancha de inmigrantes de este fin de semana
Sunday, May 14, 2006
The Boats Keep Coming
Another wave of boats brought a further 247 immigrants today to La Gomera, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, after Saturday's arrivals of 455. A cayuco with 105 people on board arrived in the port of San Sebastián in La Gomera, while a further 59 arrived at the port of Los Cristianos. A boat carrying just 12 people was intercepted 4 kms off Pasito Blanco in Gran Canaria and was taken to the port of Arguineguín. In view of the huge numbers that have arrived, especially to Tenerife this weekend, the authorities have ordered the re-opening of an encampment at Las Raíces, which was set up back in March to accept the previous avalanche. The camp, with a capacity for about 500 people, uses dozens of 16 person campaign tents with bunk beds. Reinforcements are being brought down from Galicia in northern Spain, to cover camp security.
Una nueva oleada de pateras deja 247 inmigrantes en La Gomera, Tenerife y Gran Canaria
Mount Teide (Volcano)
Mount Teide (Volcano)
Carnaval 2006 in Santa Cruz, Tenerife
One photo that I particularly recommend is this rear view of one of the "Maids of Honour" to the queen. Bear in mind that an equal sized front to this replica galleon was the other side and, that the circular, feathered and gilded vertical part was in the region of 12 feet high and you begin to get a real sense of just how spectacularly outrageous and fantastic and beautiful, these things are. Actually, that costume was my personal favorite this year.
There are 160 pictures in all, which should keep you amused for a while. :)
Carnaval 2006, Carnaval, Cabalgata Anunciadora
Labels: Carnaval 2006
Good Friday Parade in Tenerife
Procesión Magna
Architecture In Santa Cruz
Stroll off the sides of the Rambla General Franco and you will see many fine examples, including some gorgeous Art Deco style buildings that would not look out of place in South Beach, Miami.
Here is another delicious eye candy set from Jose Mesa (see his photos from the Fiestas de la Cruz), which shows a selection of seven architectural periods or styles from the 18th and 19th Centuries, through; eclecticism, rationalism, Neo-Canarian, and the periods of the 60-70's and 80-90's.
Arquitectura de Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Spiny under water threat terrorizes Tenerife!
Ah, the plague of scuba diving hedgehogs, er no, but equally spiny little devils, sea urchins, is back with a vengeance, with reports that they are posing a serious problem for the underwater life of the archipelago. "The Tenerife diving club have agreed to act in the Teno area.", they announce, which makes it sound like the SBS are going to tackle them in military-style raids!
(Maybe that's what's needed?) The report goes on to say that, "The fact that the population of sea urchins has grown so much in Canarian waters in recent times is a sure indicator that "something is not quite right." No, really?
Spiny under water threat!
Corporation Brings Invasive Exotic Flora Under Control in the Teno Rural Park
Thirty workers have spent six months (now I know what these people dressed in green were doing) on a project to stop the propagation of and to eradicate various, invasive, non-native species and to restore other plants that are endemic to the island of Tenerife. (Ah, but they didn't find my daffodils! :)
Corporation Controls Invasive Exotic Flora in the Teno Rural Park
Las Lagunetas gets a Sociocultural Center
The tiny hamlet of Las Lagunetas, just up the street here in the El Palmar valley, now has a Sociocultural Center with a meeting hall and a children's playground, after ten months of work and a budget of 40,757 euros and was inaugurated recently by mayor of Buenavista del Norte, Aurelio Abreu.
Las Lagunetas gets a Sociocultural Center
Canary Islands Create The Most New Companies
The Canary Islands are where the number of new companies created in Spain in the last ten years has been the greatest. This, suggests the report, underlines the trend that youngsters no longer aspire to be "functionaries", but to have their own businesses. (Could it be that they have no alternative, I wonder?)
Canary Islands Create The Most New Companies
Meanwhile, with Govt. and academic backing, twelve Canarian companies travel to Silicon Valley in order to participate in an International Forum on Financing for Technology Companies on May 14, 15 and 16.
Twelve Canarian Companies travel to Silicon Valley (California)
Canary Islands Reported 148 Forest Fires in 2005
As we approach summer and the fire season once again, comes this report that there were 148 forest fires, 63 of which were in protected areas, in the Canary Islands during 2005, which burnt an area of 2,143 hectares, much more than in the previous year (334.51 hectares). September, July and August, in that order, were the months during which the greatest number of fires occurred.
Other than in 1998, when 110 fires razed 6,266 hectares, only 2004 and 2005 registered more than 100 fires (142 and 148 respectively). Although measures are intensified during the summer months, services are on guard year round. Various measures have been put in place for the Summer 2006 campaign. Most of the fires are caused by negligence and accidents at the hands of man.
Canary Islands Reported 148 Forest Fires in 2005
Tenerife Emphasizes British Fidelity
Referring to the continued loyalty of the British tourist market which brings almost two million visitors (1.8 million in 2005 with 80% repeats) to the island each year, President of the Island Corporation, Ricardo Melchior, underlined their importance to the local tourist industry to the 800 UK travel agents at the recent Convention of British Travel Agencies in Tenerife.
In one aspect of the above report, I am in complete accordance: that the latest "communication strategy" for the island, while emphasizing quality, is to show a destination "capable of giving emotional benefits to the visitor". There is no doubt that it does, or I wouldn't still be here, but this relies on the quality of visitor we attract, as much as the quality of the offers we make to them. Also, that it be based on a deliverable reality and not just marketing speak.
Tenerife Emphasizes British Fidelity
Exceltur report a light recuperation of the tourist sector
After a commencement to the year that was "a bit lacking", the alliance for tourist excellence report a a tendency towards recuperation from the month of March. This is seen as particularly good news in that it was a year where Easter Week did not fall in the first quarter. Even better news is that tourists are reportedly spending 23.9% more dosh in the islands than in 2005.
Exceltur report a light recouperation of the tourist sector in March
Binter Canarias Add Routes And Up Capacity
Airline, Binter Canarias announced Friday that they had increased places between Gran Canaria and Tenerife to cover the growing demand. The airline has added a Boeing 737 to another similar model operating this connection.
Binter Increase Capacity Between islands
Meanwhile, on May 6th, Binter started up their new connection to unite the Canary Islands with the City of Lights, which will operate every Saturday from Tenerife North (Los Rodeos). This adds to the route from Gran Canaria to Paris, on Mondays and Wednesdays, that has been in operation since October.
Binter Add Flights Between Tenerife and Paris
More than a Million Canary Islanders Can View the New TV Channel, La Sexta. (No, it's not what you think!)
That is about half of us, though, as far as I am aware, I am not one of them, but then I haven't fiddled with the knobs recently. I did spot a La Sexta (it means The Sixth or Channel Six, but I am sure English speakers will offer alternative translations) van here in the valley yesterday morning for the rally, so this report was opportune to drop the penny after it had raised my curiosity.
If we haven't managed to get it before June (reception of the new TV channel, that is), we are advised to rush along to our friendly neighborhood aerial installer, or the TV station themselves, to make sure we don't miss their coverage of the upcoming World Cup. Like a nasty rash in Las Veronicas, I don't suppose it will be possible to avoid it really, will it? :)
More than a Million Canary Islanders Can View the New Channel Six
Canary Islands Where Inflation Increased Least
Oh, some good news, maybe? The Canary Islands were the Spanish community where prices increased the least during the month of April 2006, by just 1% over the previous month. That brought the rate of inflation in the previous 12 months to 3,3% and that accumulated in the year to the end of April to 1.7%.
(Now, I'm not much on sums, but if April's rise (one of four months in the year to that date) was a whole one percent and yet, the total for those four months was only 1.7%, that means each of the other three months contributed, on average, something in the region of 0.23 of a percent each, so that one percent really looks high, doesn't it? Or am I missing something obvious here?)
Canary Islands Where Inflation Increased Least
Unelco to invest 384 Million Euros in the Canaries
In the "closing the barn door after the horse has bolted" department (that is after the severe damages caused to electrical installations that were reported to be in poor states of maintenance, leaving thousands without power for a week after Tropical Storm Delta), electricity company UNELCO ENDESA announce that they are to invest a total of 384 million Euros (c. £250M) in the Canaries this year, "an ambitious budget that has the objective to increase the necessary electrical infrastructure to cover the demand over the next few years and to continue improving the quality of the supply and service to their clients".
(We ought to be grateful and that is exactly what they will expect us to be, even when they give us Hobson's Choice of yet more unsightly, potentially dangerous, storm vulnerable, overhead hanging power lines.)
Unelco to invest 384 Million Euros in the Canaries this year
Home to 19,500 Immigrants Posing as Tourists
Whilst none of the, now almost 6,000, immigrants to have arrived by sea, have actually set foot on a Canary Islands street, Coalition Canaria say there are another 19,500 on the islands, who have arrived by air with tourist visas (now presumably out of date) of more than 155,000 who arrive each year. (This is only counting foreigners from outside of the European Union.)
Canary Islands Home to 19,500 Immigrants Posing as Tourists
Tropical Storm Delta in Pictures
Maybe it seems a little perverse to browse pictures of a disaster or to keep going on about the Tropical Storm Delta that hit these islands at the end of November last year, but it happened. One cannot deny that.
The picture (left) shows one of eight of the large trees on the Avenida de Anaga in the capital, Santa Cruz, that were downed by the winds, which in some places reached 200 kmh (124 mph).
It is just one of hundreds of pictures in this special, compiled by ElDia, which shows, in both words and images, the damage caused by the storm.
Will it serve to remind and ensure that the relevant authorities are prepared in case such a storm should happen here again? Ah, that is the $64K question!
Special Tropical Storm Delta
Labels: Tropical Storm Delta
Press Report 5,984 Immigrants and Counting
The Canary Islands growing illegal immigrant problem, reported earlier, did not take long to get around the international press and media, who report on the 5,984 immigrants (and counting) to have arrived so far this year.
456 Migrants Intercepted Spanish Islands
WashingtonPost are among many other to report that Spanish police and rescue vessels Saturday intercepted six boats carrying 456 illegal migrants off the coast of the Canary Island of Tenerife.
Police Intercept 6 Boats, 456 Migrants off Spain's Canary Islands
Fox News can count, Spanish police and rescue vessels intercepted six boats carrying 456 illegal migrants off the coast of the Canary Island of Tenerife on Saturday, bringing the total number for the year to nearly 6,000.
Over 550 immigrants arrive on Tenerife in two days
Typically Spanish say, Five open topped Cayuco boats with 380 immigrants on board have arrived to the South of Tenerife today, and a sixth boat with a further 76 has been sighted. There were 16 children among the latest wave of travellers which follow an additional 195 who arrived on Friday.
Meanwhile, Canary Islands daily, ElDia report that the problem reached a critical situation for the first time since the agreements were reached between representatives of the Spanish state and Mauritanian authorities. They again underline that the members of the Red Cross had only a short time to sleep and attempt to rest between arrivals, while the police station in Playa de las Americas has now accumulated at least 651 immigrants at its installations.
The 22nd Palma Canaria Norte Rally
You may not believe this, until you live here, but you just never know what you are going to wake up and find on any given day - like that the end of your road is blocked off because a rally is going to be whizzing past all day, not more than 50 yards away - as I did yesterday, Saturday, morning.
Nope, nobody told us residents in advance. What if we'd had plans to go out? Had no food in the house? Or a medical emergency? Tough bloody shit!
Actually, I wasn't really complaining, because I didn't have plans, quite enjoy motor sports and see it as a distinct advantage when the news obliges and comes to me, but truly, the first I knew about it was when I saw these barriers being put across and a small van from TV Channel 6 at this junction.
We haven't had the rally come through the El Palmar valley for five years, so I was told (really was it that long?), but I clearly remember the last time. Then it had started before I woke up. In other words, it woke me, with the noise of cars and the dog, who spent the entire time barking and hiding, until I dragged her down to see that there was nothing to worry about. So, yesterday, I decided to take preventative measures. Fastened the dog's lead firmly round my waist, grabbed the camera and joined the growing crowd (about 20 people, but that's 19 more than one usually sees at once round here) of rally afficionados. 
Oops, haven't quite got the hang of this motor sports photography lark yet. (This is after several shots of empty road, people's legs and bums.) You'd think they could drive past a little slower, so we could have the chance to get decent photos, wouldn't you? :)
These lucky guys can see a madwoman and a dog in their rear view mirrors!
And I will take a moment here to tell you all about the marshalling and safety on this rally. Maybe the bloke who put the barriers across had this job, but not so's you'd notice. I made sure I kept slightly more than a dog's lead length back from the line of the curb, but we were all the wrong side of the barriers, there were people sitting on the metal crash barriers, others walking across the road, along the side of the course - the road you see that has no pavements. In other words, totally uncontrolled mayhem, as is typical on these islands. :)
Getting closer! Hey, this is getting more like it! 
YES! Finally, practice pays off and we get a whole car in the frame with no people or other obstacles in shot.
By this time, the dog had stopped trying to dash back up the hill every time a car came. In fact, she was just bored and eventually sat down. 
The other spectators were definitely kitted out properly for the event. Did Fernando Alonso get his hair cut?
Maybe not, because he wouldn't have time to be here in Tenerife, while he was busy claiming pole position for today's Spanish Gran Prix.
We only stayed about an hour, but as I turned to come back up the hill, there sitting waiting for us, perfectly relaxed and laid back, not more than 10 yards from the crowd, the road, all the screaming rally cars ... were these two lads.
Their sister was there with them too. I think I can confidently claim to have the only silly CATS on the planet who chose to come down to watch a rally. :)
And, even after we came back up to the house, there was not one bark from the dog, until the marshall's car came past with sirens blazing to re-open the road at just before 2 p.m. Nevertheless, there were still rally cars coming down the road at getting on towards 6 p.m. I was told there would be a 100 or so.
The rally was mentioned in the local press on April 18, in Llegan el Palma Canaria-Norte y el Granadilla and, had I actually seen the news item before the event, I probably could have guessed that the second stage, Masca-Buenavista (15.3 km) starting at 10:53 hours would come right past the door.
The Rally Palma Canaria Norte has a website too and, for fans of the sport, there are lots of much better photos of the previous, 21st Edition here.
Fifty Volunteers Against An Immigrant Avalanche
There is another side to this ongoing human tragedy, which should have been common sense, but had not been reported, up to now:
InfoIcod report that a total of 380 illegal immigrants, among them 16 minors, have arrived in south Tenerife aboard five cayucos in the last few hours and they are expecting the arrival of a sixth boat with another 76 people on board. This is after 195 immigrants arrived in three boats on Friday. All had embarked from Senegal and none of those on board needed medical attention.
The first boat to arrive in the early hours of Saturday morning, with 71 occupants, was spotted by the Marine Rescue ship, "Punta Salinas" and was escorted into the port of Los Cristianos. The second was again located in the early hours by the patrol boat, "Rio Palma" and had 60 people on board. In the morning, the fishing launch, "Nuevo Juan Santana" sighted the third boat near to the Las Tejitas beach in south east Tenerife. The Marine Rescue ship, "Salvamar Tenerife" and a Civil Guard patrol boat went out and escorted its 81 occupants to Los Cristianos. A marine rescue plane, located the fourth, in which there were 89 people, while it was patrolling the area. The Marine Rescue ship, "Punta Salinas" went out to get them and took them into port in Los Cristianos. A Civil Guard helicopter spotted the fifth boat with 79 people on board and an armed forces ship escorted them to Los Cristianos. A sixth boat was on its way into the same port with 76 people on board, who will arrive in Los Cristianos shortly. The immigrants have been taken aboard the Marine Rescue ship, "Punta Salinas", which had spotted this boatload.
50 Red Cross Workers
Against this incessant avalanche of boats, just over 50 Red Cross volunteers are working practically 24 hours a day to attend the immigrants in the port in Los Cristianos. The Tenerife port has been converted into an operations center to receive these people, mostly from Mauritania and Senegal, according to Austin Taylor, the Red Cross coordinator in the south of Tenerife. The Red Cross have installed a campaign hospital on the quay with necessary medical teams to deal with any emergency.
There are also two other tents belonging to the port authority where the immigrants are given shelter as well as blankets and a bag containing shoes, underwear, trousers, T-Shirts and food or drink.
One piece of hopeful news is that Government delegate in the Canary Islands, José Segura, has announced that joint patrols between Spain and Mauritania will begin functioning this week.
Obviously I have no idea what help the Red Cross might need, but I can't help thinking they could probably do with some. The Red Cross can be contacted in Playa de las Américas: 922 78 07 59 and Los Cristianos: 922 79 05 05.
Their website says that to become a volunteer is as simple as going to the post nearest your residence and asking for the person in charge of volunteers.
No paran de llegar inmigrantes a las costas de Tenerife. Tras la llegada ayer de otros 195. Llegan a las costas de Tenerife cinco cayucos con 380 inmigrantes indocumentados a bordo
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Trephanation in the Canary Islands
BoingBoing point out that there is this, circa 1750, Trephanation kit on eBay. No, I'm not suggesting that you might want to go and bid on it, but it did remind me that this "boring" (sic) medical procedure was carried out in Tenerife by the Guanche natives.
What is Trephination? It's an ancient surgical procedure where a hole is drilled in the skull. Got a bit of headache? Forget the aspirins mate, get out the Black & Decker and release the "demon"! No, please don't try this at home children!
This article on Healing Arts Through the Ages, explains, "Perhaps the oldest form of medical treatment is trephination. Trephined human skull fossils date as far back as 10,000 years to the people of the European Neolithic era. It has also been practiced in the Canary Islands, North Africa, Russia, and in the New World before the discovery of the Americas." And continues:
"Some show no signs of healing, indicating the death of the patient during or shortly after the operation, but many show extensive healing of the bone which means that the patient lived for many years after the surgery."
You can, that is if you wish, see Guanche skulls on which the procedure has been carried out in the museum in Santa Cruz. When I saw them they were in small, dark rooms in the back of the Cabildo building. Rows and rows of skulls were around the sides of the back room and the "prize exhibits" - the trephined skulls - were in other cabinets, all labelled with explanations. What struck me most was the fact that some of them had shown signs of healing and bone growth after the operation, meaning that the patients/victims lived.
It was not an exhibit for the squeamish. And another reason I will NEVER forget the visit is because, while I was in the room, on my own, the museum guard decided to play a practical joke on me and switch off the light!
They will, along with the Guanche mummies, have been moved to the Museum of Man and Nature now. The Tenerife Cabildo, or island government, created the Tenerife Museum of Natural Sciences and the Tenerife Archaeology Museum in the 1950s. These two museums were merged together with the Canary Island Institute of Bio-anthropology, to create the modern Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre (Museum of Man and Nature), which is now housed in the Antiguo Hospital Civil in Santa Cruz. Details and times here.
This may be too much detail for most, but there are numerous interesting references for those fascinated by anthropology in this article, Trepanation of The Skull by The Medicine-Men Of Primitive Cultures, With Particular Reference To Present-day Native East African Practice.
Did they say present-day? Maybe the kit above will find an eager buyer!
Life on Mars - In Tenerife
The landscape is harsh, the air dry and the altitude challenging. That's not how most people think of the holiday island of Tenerife, but for space scientists the barren terrain here makes the ideal training ground for Europe's latest mission to the Red Planet. Amid the rocks and dust of the slopes of the volcano El Teide, a team from the aerospace company EADS-Astrium has spent the past week testing a new rover - a robot vehicle due to be launched to Mars in 2011.
Wheels turn on Mars rover project
Friday, May 12, 2006
Documentary Teno: Man and Nature
Earlier we reported that the documentary film, Teno: Hombre y Naturaleza (Teno: Man and Nature), the the result of two years of intensive work by production company, Alascine, was soon be shown at various points around the Teno Rural Park.
One of those showings (and I plan to be there) will be at the Cultural Center, in the plaza in Las Portelas in the El Palmar valley, next Wednesday, May 17th, at 19:00 hours.
The scenery around here is utterly amazing and it will be well worth seeing the documentary for its purely aesthetic aspects alone. You wouldn't even need to speak Spanish to enjoy it, so if you are in Tenerife and fancy a night at the "cinema" (bring your own popcorn :) and a virtually unique experience, why not come along?
Ring me on 922 127840 or 615 922465 for directions and a meetup point.
On a deeper note, the documentary film, of this national cultural treasure, aims to pay homage to all the efforts and sacrifices of successive generations of men and women who have lived and worked, morning to night, in such difficult and remote conditions. The film is also a reminder that it is well worth fighting to defend this inheritance and of the need to leave it to the next generation in the same state we received it.
Buenavista Organizes Field Work Initiative
The council of Buenavista del Norte is organizing a new edition of its annual field work initiative, between July 16th and 31st, with the objective of the interchange of experiences between young people of different origins and to promote awareness and respect for social values, nature and heritage of the locality. The theme of this field work initiative in 2006 is cultures of the world in rural surroundings.
Twenty-five young people, from different points in Spain, will coexist developing different tasks oriented to the respect for cultural differences and awareness towards those in more underprivileged social sectors. The participants, advised by qualified monitors, will organize workshops for children between the ages of 4 and 12 years in all of the districts of the locality and will participate in interchanges of experiences with cultural and social groups of the area. The field work also will include complementary activities, with visits to the most interesting places on the island of Tenerife, walks in the natural surroundings of the Teno Rural Park and use of the various leisure facilities in the locality.
The Buenavista del Norte field work initiative is a pioneer in this type of multicultural event and, every year produces excellent results and a great demand for inscription.
El Ayuntamiento de Buenavista del Norte organizará un año más un Campo de Trabajo destinado a 25 jóvenes de toda España
Animals - the Canary Islands' beastly record
Animals have always been badly treated in the Canary Islands. On the one hand, there are pet-owners who keep their animals in appalling conditions, on the other there are the vast number of dogs and cats that are simply abandoned. A small band of volunteers tries in vain to deal with stray animals but there are just not enough municipal dog and cat pounds to cope. There are also people who take pleasure in beating their pets within an inch of their lives. Newspaper articles on cruelty to animals in the Canary Islands appear regularly in the foreign press but not in the local papers. This is because the government considers such items "harmful" to the island's tourism.
Animals - the Canary Islands' beastly record
Conferences and Documentaries in Garachico
Several events will take place at the former Convent of San Francisco in Garachico, between May 15th and 26th.
Under the title "Volcanes: riesgos y oportunidades" (Volcanoes, risks and opportunities), these are further events which commemorate the eruption of the Trevejo volcano in 1706.
The cultural and educational program has been organized by Garachico Town Hall, the Atlántida Forum, the Tenerife Association of the Friends of Nature (ATAN), the Technical Institute of Renewable Energy (ITER) and the internet portal, Tenerife en Verde.
Entrance to the series of conferences and documentaries is free and open to the public. Kickoff time each evening is 21:00 (9 p.m.) More details from the site below.
Jornadas en Garachico
Airport and Resort Transfers in the Canaries
A2btransfers service both Tenerife south airport (TFS) and Tenerife north airport (TFN) with taxis and minibus resort transfers and airport transfers, as well as servicing the islands of Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands.
If you are travelling independently, perhaps you already have accommodation to go to and book a flight separately, now you just need to get from the airport to where you are staying. A2btransfers act as booking agents on behalf of transfer providers, allowing you to book your transport online, in advance, to save having to find or negotiate it on the spot.
Most taxi drivers will understand some English, or at least the place names you ask them for, but this avoids any language problems or misunderstandings that might arise.
A2btransfers currently quoted price, of £21.94, for a journey from the South airport to the resort of Playa de las Americas compares favorably with about what I would expect.
Their price for a longer journey, from Reina Sofia to Puerto de la Cruz, of £69.45, seems to be within the normal range too. (I paid well over £50 for a similar, though longer, journey over 5 years ago, but I was using my local taxi driver, whom I know.)
A2btransfers provide transfers to and from all the major resorts, harbours and towns in Tenerife and, also offer transfers between the South Airport and the North Airport.
Visit A2btransfers website for more details
Another 107 Immigrants Arrive in Tenerife
Another 107 immigrants arrived on the south coast of Tenerife yesterday, aboard two small boats. They were among 160 to have turned up in the Canary Islands within 24 hours.
A cayuco, with 45 immigrants on board, was located in the afternoon, 2 miles off Los Abrigos (Granadilla), in the south of Tenerife. This was the second patera to arrive on the island on Thursday, after another boat, with 62 immigrants on board, was detected about 100 meters off the coast, at the San Blas beach in the south of Tenerife.
In both cases, the occupants have been rescued and transferred by the boat `Salvamar Tenerife' of Marine Rescue to the facilities of the port of Los Cristianos, where they were taken care of by sanitary services. The immigrants are in a perfect state of health and have been transferred the Police station in Playa de Las Américas, from where they will most likely be transferred to the retention center in Fuerteventura.
Llegan a Tenerife 107 inmigrantes a bordo de dos pateras
Buenavista Studies the Creation of a Multipurpose Center in the Ruins of the Franciscan Convent
Buenavista Town Hall is studying a project of rehabilitation which may turn the ruins of the former Franciscan convent into a multipurpose cultural center. The local corporation consider that the old religious building is an ideal place to construct a meeting place for courses, workshops and congresses of cultural and patrimonial character, with capacity for 50 people.
The Franciscan Convent was founded in Buenavista del Norte in 1647 and was the sixteenth convent of the Franciscan Order to be set up in the Canary Islands. In its day, it was accompanied by a church with three naves, a large patio and attractive wooden balconies, following the customary design of other Franciscan convents of that era.
In the middle of the 19th Century, the convent was partially demolished, which the authorities of the time argued was necessary owing to the ruinous condition of the building and the reduction in the members of the religious order. The area of the convent was used for the municipal cemetery until 1946, when it was destined as a municipal warehouse.
At the moment the building is in disuse. Only part of the perimeter walls of the construction remain, among them the stonework on the west face of the convent, with its fine carving.
If the project goes ahead, the amount budgeted would ascend to almost 300,000 euros to be included within a macroproject for the creation of a network of cultural offerings in the locality, recently presented by the council of Buenavista del Norte to the Tenerife Island Corporation, which participates in its financing. This network implies the rehabilitation of various historical buildings in Buenavista in order to offer more amenities to visitors.
El Ayuntamiento de Buenavista del Norte estudia crear un CENTRO POLIVALENTE en las ruinas del convento de San Francisco
New Rural Internet Point in Buenavista del Norte
Continuing the current race to connect rural areas to the internet, the municipal library, which is located opposite the church in the Plaza de los Remedios in Buenavista del Norte now has a rural internet point.
Under the "Internet Rural" project, promoted by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Tenerife Island Corporation and Buenavista Town Hall, the objective is to bring new technology closer to the people.
"Internet Rural" was created to promote the use of new technology and communications in disfavored areas with difficult access. The network of telecenters provides the tools, for those who live in rural areas, to be able to connect to the internet via broadband.
Priority of use is given to those using the internet for work, study and job searches.
This new center, which is free, is open Mondays to Fridays, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., can be used by anyone over the age of 12, although minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Telecenters have already recently been opened in the area in Las Portelas; in the Los Pedregales complex in El Palmar; in the Youth and Occupational Center in Buenavista and in the hamlet of Teno Alto. Another center is due to be opened in the village of Masca in the next few months, once a dish has been installed to allow connection via satellite.
La Biblioteca municipal de Buenavista del Norte cuenta ya con un nuevo punto de internet rural
New Tenerife link for Liverpool
Liverpool John Lennon Airport is to get a new daily link to Tenerife thanks to low-cost airline Flyglobespan. The service will begin in November, with tickets to the sunny Canary Islands location available from £49.99 including taxes. Flyglobespan, which already operates out of Glasgow, Edinburgh and London Stansted, has announced that the Liverpool hub is to become its next base and the Tenerife service is part of the expansion. Flyglobespan also offers daily flights to Tenerife from Stansted and Glasgow, company chairman said the holiday destination was proving very popular with customers.
New Tenerife link for Liverpool
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Colour Me Surprised Over Canary Bug Reaction
The additives, carmine and cochineal extract, have been used for centuries and come from a female beetle imported from Peru, the Canary Islands, Bolivia, Chile and South Africa. So it seems strange that the US Food and Drug Administration is suddenly considering labelling or a ban, because the substances can trigger allergic reactions in some people.
My understanding was that the cacti and beetles, i.e. the production of cochineal was introduced into the islands in the 1800's, from Mexico, when producers were looking for a new cash crop. I wasn't aware that it was still commercially produced here, but if you should want to see a demonstration - the beetle is picked off the cactus (which is covered in a white powder like substance), crushed and out comes the coloring - pop along the Jardin del Atlantico on the Valle San Lorenzo road in south Tenerife.
Believe me, it's a lot more fascinating that I can make it sound. :)
Color in goods is beetle "juiced"
Produce exports from Canary Islands recover
FreshPlaza report that exports of bananas from the Canary Islands have shown an increase, for the first time since September 2004. Exports of bananas, tomatoes and other produce have increased since December 2005, while the price levels have increased compared to last year also. Tomato exports have been significantly higher.
Produce exports from Canary Islands recover
Convention of British Travel Agencies in Tenerife
The Tenerife Cabildo, Tourism of Tenerife and the Tenerife Convention Bureau, organised the first Triton convention from May 5 - 9. 800 independent British travel agents came to the island. The convention was sponsored by the Cabildo, Turespaña and the Canary Island Government, at an estimated cost of 600.000 Euros. The aim of the convention was to give Tenerife a new push in the British market, which is the most important for the island.
First Triton convention of British Travel Agencies in Tenerife
Strictly for the birds?
As spring marches onwards to summer and beaches inevitably become magnets for islanders and visitors alike, spare a thought for Tenerife’s bird population, particularly in those areas where natural habitats are under very unnatural pressure. Such is the case of the beautiful zone in and around Montaña Roja in El Médano, long designated an official Reserva Natural Especial by the Cabildo in a bid to beef up conservation.
Strictly for the birds?
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Best paragliders fly in Tenerife
Tenerife News has more coverage - and a spectacular photo - of the Paragliding Festival, Flypa’06, which took place between April 27 and May 1. They say, "The best paragliders in the world took part ... This year the already very successful event triplicated its participants to over 500 competitors, with representatives from various European and American countries. Paragliders brought colour to the skies of Tenerife with competitions such as free flight, paramotor, acrobatics, base jumping or parachuting, over the spectacular scenery of the Orotava Valley. There was music, acrobatics and a fireworks show.
Best paragliders fly in Tenerife
No Way to Fence Off the Sea
Between Friday and Monday, the Civil Guard and local police intercepted and detained more than 500 people who arrived in Spain in canoes and "pateras" (precarious, low-floating wooden boats designed for shallow waters). Most were coming from Mauritania and Morocco. The government spokesman for the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands, Miguel Becerra, said Sunday that the archipelago "is under heavy migration pressure" and feels "unprotected" against the great numbers of undocumented immigrants who have arrived in the past few days.
Becerra considers immigration "a State problem" and called on the Spanish government, headed by socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, to step up control "over maritime borders." This is already being done, according to Spain's Interior Minister José Antonio Alonso. In the Senate Friday, Alonso announced that the executive branch had decided to provide Tenerife with an electronic surveillance system known as SIVE, to help deal with the flood of immigrants. The system has already been installed in the neighbouring Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Grand Canary islands.
No Way to Fence Off the Sea
Virtual Aviation Events Canary Islands 2006
Still sticking with the flight theme - I once read that it is best to fly to Tenerife, being and island, otherwise you get wet - this time, you don't even have to leave the comfort of your computer chair.
From the 1st to the 15th of May (that's right now), there is an exhibition of photos and videos on on computer flight simulation at the Casa de la Cultura in San Isidro.
Also at the Casa de la Cultura in San Isidro, from 08.00h UTC on May 27th, the II Evento de Simulación Virtual de Granadilla de Abona 2006 (Virtual Simulation Event) will be celebrated, with virtual ATC's (Air Traffic Control) and pilots connected to the IVAO (International Virtual Aviation Organization) network; both those in the Cultural Center and participants connected from their homes from all over Spain (and the world maybe).
For this special event, scenery has been produced which reproduces the Plaza de San Isidro and its most important buildings, giving the possibility to fly over the area, taking off and landing from an (imaginary) airfield they have constructed near to Las Americas, from an aircraft carrier and from cruise ships positioned between La Gomera and Tenerife.
More details of the Granadilla event, in Spanish and English at the IVAO site here.
The IVAO also have details of The Canary Islands 2006 event here, which follows, starting at 17:00 UTC and finishing at 22:00 UTC. They say to "Expect sun, fog, wind, calima and the Sirocco, changing meteorology by microclimates will permit us to have the possibility to find something unexpected, all type of airports for every kind of aircrafts."
Just like a normal day then! :) To participate as a pilot, booking is not necessary.
More information, images and scenery download here Via: Club de Aeromodelismo
Model Aeroplane Club in Tenerife
If you like flying, but you can't quite run to the real thing - although these models can be pretty expensive items too - you might like to visit the Club de Aeromodelismo (Model Aeroplane Club) in Tenerife.
When the club met (they may still do) in the north of Tenerife (near Los Rodeos), it was generally every Saturday and Sunday, principally in the mornings.
There are no details given of days and times now they have a new aerodrome in the south, El Vallito, just off the motorway near the exit with the big concrete wing on it. See here. (Close to Granadilla.) So it will involve phoning the club or perhaps visiting their regular "Aladin's Cave" of an official shop, GUERRAMAR in Granadilla to see what's on.
Their website also includes a section on "In flight food", which looks a lot better than you might get on any real airline and a page entitled, in English, strangely, Big Crashes. Unlike certain other big crashes that Tenerife has witnessed, they say, there were no personal injuries or losses suffered in these. I reckon they have a great sense of humour.
Model Aeroplane Club in Tenerife
Want to Learn Paragliding In Tenerife?
The infrequent Tenerife Scribbler (actually, he has been scribbling, elsewhere than his blog) commented that he keeps seeing paragliders floating down from Teide and that he'd like to have a go. He wanted to know if I knew of any schools on the island.
Having answered him in the comments, it occurred to me that there may be others of you who might be daft enough also like to learn paragliding in Tenerife and who may not have found the list of schools in those comments, so I am reproducing them again here:
Paragliding Schools In Tenerife
Adeje - Callao Salvaje
"Club del Sur"
Edif. Esmeralda, 39 - Callao Salvaje - Adeje - Teléfonos: 922 78 13 57 - 922 78 50 38
Güímar
"Izaña" Escuela de Parapente
Güímar - Teléfonos: 619 073 210 y 630 951 522 (Fran)
Club Parapente Izaña Tenerife
Güímar
"Parapente Tenerife"
Güímar - Teléfonos: 922 52 42 63 y 619 417 523 (Francisco)
Escuela Parapente Tenerife
La Orotava
"Jama" Escuela de Parapente
Valle de la Orotava - Teléfonos: 908 64 13 89
Los Realejos
"Norte" Club de Parapente
Apartado 134 - Los Realejos - Teléfonos: 922 34 12 28 - 922 33 30 13
Santa Úrsula
"Alisios" Escuela de Parapente
Carretera de España, 79 - Santa Úrsula
Teléfonos: 922 30 03 50 - 922 30 21 21 - 922 54 46 02
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Escuela de Parapente Ibrafly
Teléfono: 609 546 192
Escuela de Parapente Ibrafly
(This last one promises soon to have photos from the Los Realejos show.)
There are more listed at PuntoInfo here.
Parapente.net will be a useful web address for any budding pilots in Spanish teritory and, those who want to keep their feet firmly on the ground, can always download fly zones for Google Earth. See here for details. (In Spanish)
Oh, I love flying, but I prefer the craft to have engines and fusilage!
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Photos from the II International Paragliding Festival
paramotor Originally uploaded by edube.Los Realejos in north Tenerife was also recently the host to the II International Paragliding Festival. To promote the event, three paramotorists crossed the Atlantic ocean from Tenerife to La Gomera and, did so in a mere 25 minutes - beating the ferry times! :)
This photo shows a paramotor landing in Puerto de la Cruz and this set shows several more photos from that recent meeting.
Fireworks in Los Realejos
Last week we reported on the three hour frenzy of fireworks that was going to be the culmination of the festivities for the Dia de la Cruz (Day of the Cross) celebrations in Los Realejos. 3 Monate auf Teneriffa blog has some photos of those fireworks.
Fireworks in Los Realejos
Marrakech, a favorite destination of Canarians
Most of us think of the Canary Islands as a place that people come to for their holidays. However, we forget that people who live on the islands all of the time might actually want to go somewhere else for theirs. But where do they go to get away? Morocco Times report that, "Marrakech has become a predominant tourist destination for the inhabitants of the Canary Islands", citing an article in a Canarian daily newspaper. In an article entitled “Marrakech Seduces Canarians,” the newspaper Canarias7 said that over 5,000 tourists from the Canary Islands visited the Ochre City during the last six months.
Marrakech, a favorite destination of Canarians
Roundabout art in Tenerife
The new roundabout at the Los Gigantes exit has finally been finished, a little later than expected, but it was certainly worth the wait. Passers-by were surprised to see this rather large, elegant lady taking a stroll across the zebra crossing on the day of the opening and she soon attracted a crowd of fascinated onlookers. She was hauled into her resting place on top of the new fountain by crane and looked resplendent in the afternoon sunshine.
Roundabout art
Foreign workforce spirals
Work permits issued to foreign immigrants have gone through the roof in the Canary Islands where they were reported to have gone up 64.4% last year by comparison with the previous year: 30,783 in 2005 and 18,721 in 2004. According to Spanish employment ministry sources Tenerife was by far and away the biggest receiver of legal foreign workers. Last year saw an additional 15,585 work permit holders join the provincial workforce compared to 5,643 in 2004, an increase of a staggering 176%.
Foreign workforce spirals
NB: Foreign in this context refers to immigrants from outside of the European Union. Those from countries inside the European Union do not require work permits.
Spy games in Tenerife
A number of politicians are calling for Spanish and European parliamentary investigations into the alleged existence of American counter-terrorism units in Spain, among them two here in the archipelago. Leaked sources from Spanish defence ministry indicated to local daily La Opinión that two such centres, created and controlled by the CIA, are located in the vicinity of Los Rodeos airport in north Tenerife and Gando airport in Gran Canaria.
Spy games in Tenerife
Ashotel president warns of tourism crisis
I's a critical time for the Tenerife hotel sector says Ashotel president José Fernando Cabrera. He pulled no punches when he warned last week of a “grave crisis” looming, with profit levels plummeting, staff being laid off and maintenance standards slipping. While politicians triumphantly speak of high occupancy levels in island hotels, what they don’t say is that that apparent popularity is being achieved at the cost of slashed tariffs.
Ashotel president warns of tourism crisis
Mobile mishap leaves Tenerife tourists on the runway
Happy holidaymakers who boarded a plane for Tenerife at Doncaster’s Robin Hood airport were not quite so perky two hours into an onboard delay while the captain hunted for his mobile phone in the cockpit. He told the 189 passengers on the Thomsonfly service they could not take off until he had located the phone as it was switched on. The passengers were eventually ushered off the plane to continue their wait in the departure lounge as engineers moved in and spent several hours dismantling sections of the cockpit as they tried to retrieve the phone which had fallen through a gap between pedals.
Mobile mishap leaves Tenerife tourists on the runway
No more roads plea from pp politician
When it comes to the issue of roads – new roads – the conservative Partido Popular, usually known for its pro-development stance, is beginning to talk green. Party spokesman in the Cabildo, Ángel Llanos, echoed the sentiments of many a conservationist when he said: “Given the geographical characteristics of our island, the construction of more roads will only have the consequence of creating yet more traffic to drive along them.”
No more roads plea from pp politician
Monday, May 08, 2006
Blue Cloudy Tenerife
The sea you can see there is a sea of clouds, not water and that is merely the tip of the island poking through.
A real feast for your eyes.
Fresh migrant wave lands on Canary beaches
More than 450 African migrants packed into precarious longboats landed on the Canaries over the weekend as the Spanish islands faced a fresh wave of illegal immigration from West Africa, media reports said on Sunday. In one 15-hour period on Saturday, 259 illegal immigrants landed on the beaches of Tenerife after making the perilous voyage from the African mainland, authorities on the island told Reuters. The latest arrivals on the Canaries bring this year's total to around 4,500 people -- already more than the whole of last year.
Fresh migrant wave lands on Canary beaches
El Corte Inglés to open outlet shop
The prestigious department store “El Corte Inglés” has revealed plans to open an “end of line” sales outlet in the Los Majuelos area of La Laguna. The Regional government is about to grant the appropriate license for the 2,492m2 premises which will be situated in one of the areas with the highest number of retail establishments in the north.
El Corte Inglés to open outlet shop
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Garachico Remembers its History
The suits arrive for the inauguration of the obelisk. Left to right: Mayor of Garachico, Ramón Miranda; President of the Canary Islands Government, Adán Martín and Councillor for Roads and Transport, Lorenzo Dorta.
Restaurant, Casa Ramón, on the Calle Esteban de Ponte in Garachico
The President gets waylaid for a chat before proceedings commence. Former mayor of Arona, now councillor for Cultural Affairs of the Tenerife Cabildo (Corporation), Miguel Delgado (on the right).
"A community which doesn't know its history, has no future", commented Garachico's mayor, Ramón Miranda, during his speech at Friday's inauguration ceremony.
On Friday, Garachico commemorated the 300th Anniversary of the eruption which had destroyed the town's port and, on Monday, Miranda, who has been mayor of the town for 11 years, will celebrate his 43rd birthday. How do I know this? His mum told me!
Figuring that it was unlikely I would be around to see the celebrations at the next centenary, I decided I had to go to Garachico on Friday afternoon. As there were to be scenes taking place in the port, the car park there was closed. The other car park, at the football ground, was marked for coaches only and, after a round of all the back streets, I was nearly ready to give up, when someone left and I grabbed the space between the park and the sea front.
It was a gift really and situated right by the park where the events of the afternoon were to begin, but Garachico badly needs places to park - preferably under ground where modern cars do not spoil the view.
It was already past six p.m. too, but on my way to go to the site of the obelisk for the inauguration, I had seen Doña Lola standing outside of her restaurant, Casa Ramón, on the Calle Esteban de Ponte. As I've eaten there quite regularly for some years, we are on chatting terms, so I stopped by just to say hello.
Not that I needed to worry, because late is normal here and, even after I had climbed the steep hill behind the Parque Puerta de la Tierra to where the obelisk has been placed, there was still only the local TV and press in attendance. Plenty of time to take photos and have a chat to the camera man, while we waited for the suits to arrive.
Also amongst the party of dignitaries and their entourage was former mayor of Arona, now councillor for Cultural Affairs of the Tenerife Cabildo (Corporation), Miguel Delgado. It is possible that from my days working for the local press that, if he has a really good memory, he might know my face, however, I was still surprised that he said hello to me. The President smiled at me (I expect he smiles at everyone) and Ramón Miranda nodded, which is no surprise, since we've coincided at numerous events in the town before.
A classic obelisk, before the unveiling. The detail here shows the symbol of a phoenix rising from it's ashes. The real surprise comes after dark.There was not a particularly huge crowd at this point; a few locals, maybe half a dozen Germans (tourists, rather than residents, from their attire), but considering how much English pirates and merchants had to do with the growth of Garachico back in its early days, a blinking disgrace that I appeared to be Britain's one and only representative.
What was said in the inaugural speeches, was, as one would expect, pretty obvious stuff, but I am glad I had been there, because now the obelisk means something more to me than a mere pointy thing on a cliff side. I also made a point of having a few words with its designer as the party made its way down to the next event in the Plaza. 
Dignitaries line up once more for the presentation of a sand carpet, made by alfombristas from La Orotava.
The next event was the presentation of a sand carpet outside the Casa de la Piedra (former mansion of the Counts of La Gomera), with the saint, San Roque, whose worship is celebrating its fourth centenary and a scene depicting the eruption.
The Mayor of La Orotava, who had been hired as the comedy turn, I think, spent some time proudly recounting his recent visit to San Antonio, Texas. It has been much criticized that 140 kilos of Teide soil had been transported across the pond for that particular event, but one thing I did learn from this speech is why. Yes, they do also have coloured sands in the United States. What they did was to mix the two as a symbolic mixing of the people from the Canary Islands and the United States. Considering how immigration is constantly making headlines in both locations, this symbolic act now looks well timed.
Isaac Valencia Domínguez, La Orotava's Mayor, was explaining how the sand carpets, which are an annual feature for Corpus Cristi, are made to be walked on. Ramón Miranda took the microphone at the end of the discourse to say, "Don't even think of walking on the carpet!" It was to remain in place over the weekend so that more people could see it and he didn't want anyone walking on it until Monday. As soon as we all moved on to the next act, I notice that barriers were quickly placed around it, with police hovering nearby.
Inside the former Convent of San Fransisco, Juan Carlos Carracedo, Scientist in charge of the Volcanological Station of the Canary Islands, in La Laguna, Tenerife, takes another opportunity to assure us that there is no need to panic about volcanoes.The next part in the proceedings was what I had been looking forward to - the opening of the exhibition in the former convent.
Questions that have been circling in my head for years have revolved around, where did the lava go, how big was Garachico's port before it was filled in, which bits of land weren't there before the eruption and, indeed, which buildings in the town had existed before or were built after. I didn't quite get all of the last question answered, yet, but there was enough information, maps, photos, etc., to answer the rest. 
Click to enlargeThe image right shows the two major lava flows that affected the town. The bright green one, at 9 p.m. on May 5th, 1706 was the one which filled in the port. You can see from the dotted blue line shown on this image of a modern aerial photo, overlaid with the paths of the 1706 lava flows, where the limits of the former deep water port had been. Just to the left edge of that blue dotted line is a square dark green patch. That is the Parque Puerta de la Tierra.
You can clearly see the pretty large piece of land outside of that dotted blue line, marked "Antiguo Puerto" - meaning Old Port, which now houses about four streets in either direction, another plaza in the middle of those streets and all of the jetty and current port of Garachico - all are built on land that, before the 1706 eruption, had not existed.
The second lava flow, shown in yellow, which occurred at 8 a.m. on May 13th, 1706, came right into the town, but (some would say, miraculously) skirted around the former convent in which were were standing. (Circled and labelled "ESTA AQUI" (You Are Here))
Several of us were doing the same thing: comparing maps to photos to our own knowledge of the town, retracing the blue dotted line on photos with our fingers and exclaiming in similarly coloured words about the extent of the difference.
Apparently, no lives were lost in the catastrophe, but it still sends cold chills down one's spine, though it is impossible to imagine how the inhabitants really must have felt.
The good news, thanks to wonga provided by the La Caixa foundation, is this exhibition will now be permanently housed in this former Franciscan Convent for all to see.
There was also a conference, entitled, "Garachico The Eruption of 1706", starting at 8 p.m., but no matter if I would understand it and would undoubtedly learn a lot from it, I thought it was going to be a bit heavy going after an already long day and decided to skip that and headed for the kiosk in the Plaza de la Libertad for a coffee before setting off home.
However, on the way back to the car, I spotted Doña Lola, still standing at the door outside her restaurant and we ended up chatting, about this and that, for another hour or so.
Various people came and went asking if the kitchen was open (there is definitely a lack of eating places open in the evening here) and a couple more, known to the proprietress, whom she was happy to serve with a glass of wine and tapas of fresh goat cheese.
During this time too, the streets began to fill with life; a melee of spectators as well as actors and extras in all kinds of historical costume; the street theatre, with Punch and Judy style puppets arrived in the Plaza de Juan Gonzalez de la Torre and dusk befell, which afforded us a grand view of the obelisk's secret. It throbs. Er, I mean, it lights up from inside and pulsates with a red glow at night, symbolizing the volcanic eruption.
Knowing that I had been up to the inauguration and presentation, Doña Lola was asking me who (of the dignitaries) had been present. As I began rattling off the names, she asked, "You do know that Ramón Miranda is my son?" I didn't. I do now. LOL!
Energy flagging, I didn't stay for the fireworks or the rest of the theatre. Some of these events required invitations, which I did not have and numbers of spectators were already showing themselves to be much higher than anyone expected. Some 5,000 people (not bad for a town of c. 6,000), were there to watch events, according to the local police.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, the most inopportune shower in the last 300 years, threatened to put out the fires of the man-made, simulated eruption and, at least, move events on a little faster. As El Dia reports, "Three centuries later, the rain appeared without warning, perhaps because it had a debt owing to the town it was unable to help in 1706."
Bomb hoax on Aer Lingus plane
Aer Lingus has confirmed that a flight from Tenerife to Dublin was cancelled Thursday because of a bomb alert on an earlier flight. The Aer Lingus flight left Dublin for Tenerife at 2pm Thursday afternoon. Shortly before landing at Tenerife at 6.25pm local time, a passenger handed a note to a member of the cabin crew saying there was a bomb on the plane. The passenger said that the note was found in a toilet.
Bomb hoax on Aer Lingus plane
Tags: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Canarias
From: Secret Tenerife Blog | Tenerife Daily Photo
Tenerife could suffer a worse catastrophy than the Indian Ocean
Although the locals are often reluctant to admit it, Tenerife has one of the highest population densities in the world. When people talk of what life is like in Japan, Singapore, or Hong Kong, it probably never occurs to them that Tenerife is well on its way to overtaking them when it comes to the number of people packed into a small area.
The island covers some 2000 square kilometres and the resident population is currently around 800,000. If we add tourists and other visitors, there are around a million people on the island at any one time. This works out at 500 people per square kilometre.
If we take Tenerife's Teide National Park out of the reckoning, together with the Anaga and Teno forests (totalling 880 square kilometres, and home to barely 4000 people), we are left with just 1200 square kilometres. Re-doing the sum, we obtain a real population density of 900 per square kilometre - close to the density found in the Maldive Islands.
Tenerife could suffer a worse catastrophy than the Indian Ocean
Refugees land on holiday beach
Refugees, close to death after the perilous journey on a crowded makeshift boat, crawled ashore into the arms of Red Cross workers. In stark contrast to the scenes of desperation, families nearby were basking in the sunshine on the clean sands of the Spanish island of Fuerteventura, the closest island in the Canaries to the African shore. Photo
A total of 153 immigrants arrived in three boats to various points on the coasts of the Canary Islands, one of which was a 25 meter boat that arrived at Los Cristianos in the south of Tenerife, carrying 76 people, report La Opinion.
Vivirlatino talks about the Canary Islands immigration problem in this post, Immigration is not just an American issue and say, "Just as hundreds die crossing the desert to reach the Rio Grande and make their way to a new life, hundreds more die on the seas to reach the shores of Western Europe, sharing the same sad story thousands of miles away. Their plight is the same, and the rejection they face in their new homelands -- if they are lucky enough to reach them alive -- is just as harsh, if not harsher."
Friday, May 05, 2006
Demolition blues in the Canaries
The other side of the building boom coin is the current demolition bonanza in the Canaries. Not only on the coasts – where hundreds of fishing shacks that over the years have grown into second homes are presently pending demo orders – but also further inland where illegally built houses are now in the authorities’ firing line. This despite an amnesty in 1997 which reprieved thousands of homes. The environment protection agency has in its out tray demolition dossiers for almost 8,000 properties in the Canary Islands.
Demolition blues in the Canaries
Monarch sees online traffic increase
Cheapflights report, "Low-cost airline Monarch has witnessed a sharp increase in the number of passengers booking flights online. Monarch, which operates scheduled flights from various UK airports to locations in Europe and the Canary Islands, recorded a 13.7 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of seats sold through their website, www.flymonarch.com, during April 2006. The trend is not limited to Monarch – recent figures from the Civil Aviation Authority show that 24 per cent of those planning holidays do so online rather than through a travel agency."
Monarch sees online traffic increase
Canary Islands BattleZone
BattleZone hit the scene in 1980 as the first 3D arcade game, apparently, for those of you, like me, too old to know about these things and are to come out with a new, updated version in November. IGN.com report, "Set in futuristic international military environments, BattleZone again puts players in control of a tank. But this time it's a highly maneuverable hover tank, and instead of vector graphics you'll have photo-realistic environments to zoom around in. Specific sights include abandoned cities of Russia, jungles of China, desert canyons of the United States, Antarctica's frozen tundra and the Canary Islands."
Personally, I'm not sure I want to think of the Canary Islands as a "futuristic international military environment", nor do I want a battle zone here, even a fictional one, but, at a guess, I would imagine that the type of scenery we have that would appeal for this use is likely to be the cañadas canyon around Mount Teide, that has already been used as a backdrop on the big screen. Ah well, if you have kids who are permanently plugged into these games, at least you will know that they are also seeing some magnificent landscapes.
BattleZone Upgraded for PSP
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Theatre, Music and Fire Commemorate the 1706 Volcanic Eruption in Garachico, Tenerife
Garachico's Puerta de la Tierra (literally, Door to the Land). This "stone structure was designed to control passengers and goods that came in and out of the port. It dates back to the very origins of the Port of Garachico itself." [Ref] It now stands in the Puerta de Tierra park that is behind the Plaza de Juan Gonzalez de la Torre (pictured here), and a very good distance more, back from the water's edge.This year of 2006 is certainly a year of commemorations in Garachico. The town is just closing the program of acts which have celebrated the 400th Anniversary of worship of San Roque. "Worship of this saint is related to the general jubilation of the local population at recovering from an outbreak of bubonic plague, in 1606, that had ravaged the town of Garachico for five years."
Now, is the turn of the third centenary of the volcanic eruption, which on May 5th, 1706, amongst other things, put an end to the commercial growth of the ancient port.
At 18:00 on Friday, an obelisk is to be inaugurated in the Puerta de la Tierra park to commemorate the eruption of the Trevejo volcano 300 hundred years ago and which will be the beginning of a program that will move on to the square, Glorieta de San Francisco (between the Hotel La Quinta Roja and the Town Hall) at 18:45 for the presentation of a sand carpet made by alfombristas from La Orotava.
Afterwards, at 19:15, in the Mencey Romén hall of the former Convent of San Fransisco, an exhibition, 'Volcanes en el Oceáno' (Volcanoes in the Ocean), under the auspices of Juan Carlos Carracedo, Scientist in charge of the Volcanological Station of the Canary Islands, in La Laguna, Tenerife, with aid from the La Caixa foundation.
The main dish of the celebrations is 'Palabras de Fuego y Agua' (Words of Fire and Water), a show of theatre, fireworks and music, directed by Ernesto Rodríguez Abad, with collaboration from the school of music and folklore groups from the area.
The show, with a cast and crew of 80 people, starts at 22:00 and aims to recreate the volcanic eruption from elements that are between legend and reality, offering a passage back to Garachico of another era, away from the tragedy that it is going to survive.
Various parts of the town have been decorated as a prelude and other events will occur at six points, culminating in the port and esplanade with Entre el Fuego y el Mar (Between the Fire and the Sea). Without giving us more details, they say that during the night, the slopes above the town will "once again burn", just as they had done in 1706.
However, the program of acts for the two centenaries go much further than Friday's events. Amongst others, there will be the congress on volcanology, "Garavolcán 2006", between May 22 - 26; the transfer of the image of San Roque, on August 27, from the Church of Santa Ana, back to its hermitage where a monolith is to be inaugurated to commemorate the fourth centenary of its worship and a congress on "Natural Catastrophes and Society" from the 16th to 19th October. Between the 4th and the 8th of December, the town and port will be the seat of a congress, ’¿Qué es la alegría?’ (What is Joy?)
Teatro, música y fuego recuerdan este viernes la erupción volcánica de 1706 de Garachico
Another African Boat Intercepted At Amarilla Golf
The Guardia Civil intercepted another small boat with 16 illegal immigrants on board at 18:00 yesterday, just off the coast of Los Abrigos and brought the boat into the port at Amarilla Golf. Fourteen of them were Sub-Saharan Africans and two Moroccans, thought to be the boat's crew. All were found to be in a good state of health and did not need to be given medical attention. At first the authorities thought it unusual for there to be so few people in the boat, however, searches of the coastline did not uncover any others.
Volunteers from the Red Cross, once again, offered humanitarian aid to the immigrants, providing them with dry clothes, food, a hot drink, plus toilet facilities.
The fiberglass boat intercepted yesterday was of a smaller size than have been habitually arriving from the Sub-Saharan region since last October and is the third of this type that has been discovered in waters to the south of Tenerife, since Sunday.
A total of 2,162 undocumented immigrants have been detained by security forces in Tenerife, since January 1st.
La Guardia Civil remolca un cayuco con 16 inmigrantes hasta Amarilla Golf
Tenerife Mailboxes
Clouds Over Teide
Teide HDR
Originally uploaded by aqueronte. Absolutely stunning photograph of Mount Teide in Tenerife, sprinkled with snow and, with one of the most unusual of all the weird and wonderful cloud formations we see here.
What's On When in Tenerife?
This list covers various, mostly regular, events that happen in Tenerife. Or, at least, the largest and most spectacular that offer you a great day or night (or both) out and that would be well worth planning a visit to coincide with. (Otherwise, with fiestas in every village and hamlet, often several times a year, this could turn into a very long list indeed.) Hopefully, these give you a chance to see something of the real Tenerife that you wouldn't have experienced in a resort, at home and, that you probably won't find in the usual holiday brochures and guides either.
Fiestas in Tenerife and the Canary Islands come in two varieties: winter and summer.
Winter festivals include everything in the Christmas season, plus the Carnaval (which itself was renamed under the disguise of "Winter Festival" when Carnaval was prohibited in the time of Franco). Summer ones include Corpus Cristi and the vast array of traditional folk festivals (Romerias) and fiestas to honour saints in every town and village and, which despite the seasonal name, start taking place almost as soon as Carnavla/Easter/Corpus is over and run right through to the end of October.
Some events, such as the annual celebrations for the Fiestas de la Cruz, San Juan, or the Three Kings parade on January 5th, plus Christmas & New Year, of course, are held on set, numbered, dates every year, irrespective of what day of the week they happen to fall on. Those will be easy enough to list.
There are countless others which revolve around the "moveable feasts" of the Catholic church's calendar, like Easter, for example, which then allows us to work backwards to the dates for lent and for the Carnaval. And others, like Corpus Cristi, where the main things to be seen occur so many days before or after the "religious" dates.
Many, many other events are fiestas that pay homage to a particular saint, who's day is on a fixed date, but the celebrations are held in different places on different weeks and weekends near to the date and, which are worked out by a complicated formula, such as the second Saturday, after the third Sunday, provided the wind is blowing from the east. :) We may not always have advance warning of these.
Tenerife Fiestas in January
The first festival of the year is, of course, for New Year's itself. The bells may be at midnight, but the party doesn't start proper until the wee small hours and carries on until dawn. For this, you need new clothes and 12 "lucky grapes".
Celebrating New Year in The Canary Islands
On the evening of January 5th (the eve of Epiphany) is one of the biggest events on the Canary Islands' calendar, with the arrival of Los Reyes Magos (The Three Kings), who are responsible for gift distribution in Spain. This is much bigger than Christmas and involves wonderful pageants and parades through the towns.
Los Reyes Magos: Epiphany, Jan 6th
Around the middle of January, in various towns of the island, such Arona, Los Silos, La Florida in La Orotava and Buenavista del Norte, are the fiestas of San Antonio Abad. It is celebrated over a whole week, but the high spot is when all the animals are brought into town to be blessed - and "bless" the streets with manure!
Fiesta of San Antonio Abad
Tenerife Fiestas in February
Depending on the calendar, Carnaval is generally celebrated in either February or March. Once you know the date of Shrove Tuesday, you can work out when the main events should occur. In Santa Cruz, the main parade of Tenerife's main Carnaval is celebrated in the late afternoon / early evening on Shrove Tuesday. There is another parade on the Friday night before that, the Election of the Carnaval Queen is usually the Wednesday before and the "finale": the curious Burial of the Sardine on Ash Wednesday. There are other events, both before and after. Then the whole thing moves on to other towns, with Puerto de La Cruz Carnaval Parade usually being on the Saturday after Shrove Tuesday and Los Cristianos a week or so later.
Carnaval 2007 Santa Cruz
Tenerife Fiestas in March
Carnaval, depending on the calendar.
Easter, depending on the calendar.
Tenerife Fiestas in April
Easter, depending on the calendar. Easter is when the weather starts to warm up proper and the number of tourists increases also due to school holidays, etc. Palm Sunday is celebrated and streets dressed with palm fronds. There are Easter parades during Semana Santa (Easter Week) in most towns, though you might mistake the cofradias (brotherhoods) with their pointy hats as members lf the Klu Klux Klan. In Adeje there is an amazing piece of street theatre, where actors play out all of the events of the Easter story, with cross carrying and a very realistic crucifixion.
Klansmen and Krosses
Tenerife Fiestas in May
The Fiestas de Mayo (May Festivals) or Fiestas de la Cruz (Festivals of the Cross) are big in Santa Cruz and Los Realejos. The former to mark the founding of the city in 1494. In Los Realejos on the night of May 3rd is a huge "firework battle" - fought out by the Los Realejos firms of Hermanos Toste and that of Santa Bárbara. It is considered one of the best in Europe. There are also Fiestas de la Cruz in Güímar.
Fiestas de Mayo in Tenerife
Corpus Cristi, depending on the calendar.
Tenerife Fiestas in June
Corpus Cristi, depending on the calendar. The biggest Corpus Cristi celebrations are in La Orotava, where the main events are held on the 8th day. That is, find out the date of Corpus Cristi from the calendar and, on the 8th day after that, which falls on a Thursday, is the day to be there: the Día de las Alfombras (Day of the Carpets). Around 100,000 people crowded into the streets of the town this year to see all of the sand and flower carpets. They start being made from the early hours. Late morning to early afternoon is the best time to see them virtually complete. In the early evening the procession walks all over them and destroys them. Almost every town and village also partakes in this fiesta and makes carpets, often with salt and flowers.
Día de las Alfombras
Other events in La Orotava around Corpus Cristi include the Romeria (folk festival in traditional Canarian dress) held on the following Sunday. It's been hailed as The Prettiest Fiesta in the Canary Islands and is probably the biggest of this type, in which, this year, 75 carts and around 25,000 people took part.
On the 23rd of June, eve of the festivity or Fiestas of San Juan (Festival of St. John the Baptist), is a magical night of purifying fire of the Hogueras de San Juan (Bonfires of Saint John). Puerto de la Cruz has the island's largest celebrations of this fiesta along with a traditional Baño de las cabras (Bath, baptism, or dipping of goats).
June's high days and magic nights
Tenerife Fiestas in July
In July are held the Fiestas del Carmen, which again are celebrated most largely in Puerto de la Cruz in the north of Tenerife. The effigy of the Virgin del Carmen is carried through the streets to the harbour, where it is then boarded onto a boat, for a "sea parade" and a ceremony to bless local fishermen.
The Virgin del Carmen Puts to Sea
On July 25th, The Tenerife capital, Santa Cruz, celebrates the anniversary of its famous and proud victory over English Admiral, Horacio Nelson, whose failed attempt on Santa Cruz, on July 25th, 1797, cost him his right arm.
Santa Cruz Celebrates Victory Over The English
Tenerife Fiestas in August
August 15th is the fiesta in honour of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, the patron of the Canary Islands and these fiestas are possibly the most important fiestas in the Canary Islands. It's another week (or more) long event, which draws crowds of around a quarter of a million to the main events: a reenactment of the Guanches discovering the icon, usually on the nearest Sunday to the date.
Fiestas in Candelaria
The Fiestas in honour of San Roque in Garachico - one of the most important in the town and in the Isla Baja area - are the next big event on the calendar in August.
Fiestas de San Roque in Garachico
Tenerife Fiestas in September
Meanwhile, as various annual fiestas are held in towns and villages, the next big event are the Fiestas in El Palmar each September, which is probably best described as rural show and country fair, with the day of La Trilla (Threshing) being the high spot that draws thousands for a day of rural pursuits, free food, music and dancing.
Día de la Trilla
Tenerife Fiestas in October
In October, the party moves down to Buenavista del Norte for the Fiestas de Los Remedios, in honour of the town's patron. This is another well over a week long string of curiously juxtaposed events with gala performances, multiple processions, fast food, a fun fair, fireworks, music, sport, dancing and all-night boozing.
Buenavista del Norte de Fiesta
Tenerife Fiestas in November
November 1st is celebrated as the Día de Todos los Santos (All Saints Day) and the following day is Día de los Fieles Difuntos (Day of the Dead), occasions on which it is customary to visit the tombs of one's departed, clean up a bit and replace the flowers.
Otherwise, November is a quiet month on the fiesta front, though, I am certain that people will be beavering away at the preparations for all the next items on the calendar. November 22nd is the anniversary of King Juan Carlos' accession to the throne. In 2005, he chose to celebrate that date in Tenerife, though this is hardly likely to be repeated. Another unusual and maybe not annual event celebrated in November 2005 also was the First Buenavista del Norte Tuning Car Meeting.
On November 29th, the eve of St. Andrew's Day, the Fiestas of San Andres are celebrated in Icod de los Vinos, with an event unique to the Canary Islands, called the Tablas de San Andrés - kinda kamikazi sledding down near vertical streets on boards. While in Puerto de la Cruz, it's 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.
Tablas de San Andrés
Tenerife Fiestas in December
Which brings us to December, when the Christmas season begins here 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. December 22nd is an important date with the El Gordo lottery. Christmas Eve is celebrated with family, Christmas Day has a tradition for visiting Mount Teide, December 28th, the Day of the Innocent Saints is the Spanish equivalent to "April Fools Day" and, that brings us right round to New Years Eve.
Christmas in the Canary Islands | Canary Islands Christmas 2006
Fiestas de La Cruz Photos in Tenerife
Found a beautiful set of photos of the Fiestas de la Cruz in Güímar, Tenerife from yesterday, May 3rd, 2006, on Flickr.
Here is just a taster: couple of examples so you know that this set (two pages worth) is a must-see.
And, you don't have to have the slightest interest in the religious aspects to appreciate the talent and work that goes into the huge number of crosses and other floral adornments that are made annually for this fiesta.
The set, which comes from "Mataparda", Jose Mesa, who lives in Tenerife and writes the blog, Liferfe, contains almost 120 spectacularly beautiful images. Click to see them.
Even the cat gets enramado (dressed up in plant material) for the occasion! :)
Meanwhile, Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz also celebrated it's 512th Anniversary yesterday with a procession of crosses of flowers. Diario de Avisos have the photos here.
Beautiful Panoramas of Tenerife
Discovered a nice website yesterday, which, although is only in Spanish contains nice images, including many panorama films of various beauty spots you may like to see.
In truth, Lucia, an Italian girl writing 3 Monate auf Teneriffa, in German, found the site and says, "In addition, I found a very interesting web site: cerespain (in Spanish), with panorama films, photos, lots of information about Puerto de la Cruz and many other Spanish places." Lucia, her brother and his wife are staying in Punta Brava, Puerto de la Cruz, in "a very nice house, directly on the sea and with two large terraces."
Some people have all the luck! :)
On the Puerto de la Cruz page, the two panoramas of the town are pretty self-explanatory. You might also like to look at the page for Buenavista del Norte. There, you will find three panoramas and, reading top to bottom these cover; a vista of the town itself taken from the road along cliffs on the way to Punta Teno, a vista over the steep gorge of Masca and, the third is taken from Punta de Teno looking back towards the Los Gigantes cliffs. These really are impressive and more so seen from this direction, though it is hard to show the full effect in an image. In person, their size literally takes your breath away.
Garachico is also somewhere you must not miss. The panorama of the town is taken from the Mirador del Emigrante (The Emigrant's Lookout), but also scroll to the bottom right hand side of the page and click on the mosaic of six images there to see larger versions of various houses and balconies of the town all beautifully dressed up for the fiestas.
You can also virtually visit Icod de los Viños, Los Realejos, Los Silos, La Laguna, Santa Cruz, Santiago del Teide (the panorama is of the marina in Los Gigantes and the famous cliffs, which come under this district) and La Orotava, where there are vistas over the town and towards Mount Teide, plus another mosaic of several emblematic buildings in the town, starting with it's famous Casa de los Balcones (House of the Balconies).
Other locations in Spain and the Canary Islands can be accessed here.
Where Does All the Canary Islands Fruit Go?
Well, in Britain at least, it now goes to the The Canary Islands Fruit Terminal at Berth 104 in the Western Docks in Southampton, which handles fresh produce, including tomatoes, peppers, avocadoes and cucumbers. Note, they don't mention the famous bananas.
Southampton has steadily increased its fruit-handling business over the past few years and was in 1995 the UK’s leading fruit-handling port.
The temperature and humidity-controlled Fruit Terminal at the deepwater Berth 104, Western Docks, now handles the entire Canary Islands to UK fruit trade during a season which runs from October to May. In 1995, a 3,500m² cold store was added to the existing 11,000m² warehouse. The cold store has a temperature range of -2°C to +15°C, increasing the range of fresh produce that can be stored at the terminal.
Source: Solent Ports | Solent Forum
Tenerife Still A Most Popular Holiday Destination
The survey’s top destinations are predictably awash with the habitually popular resorts in the Mediterranean and the year-round sunny Canary Islands but the survey did uncover some more surprising results. The survey was assembled from one and a half million online searches completed on the directline holidays website (www.directline-holidays.co.uk) from a quarter of a million UK residents.
The UK’s top 5 most popular holiday destinations are:
1) Majorca - the largest Balearic Island
2) Tenerife – year round sunshine
3) Maldives - unique style and natural beauty
4) Algarve - attractive for family holidays
5) Gran Canaria - A varied choice of resorts
Most wanted holidays of 2006-07 - The UK’s adventurous spirit
Temperatures in Britain to top Tenerife
Much of Britain will swelter in glorious sunshine on Thursday as the country enjoys the hottest day of the year so far. Thermometers are expected to hit highs of 26C (79F) across the south east as summer finally arrives in the UK. Parts of the country could be warmer than popular holiday destinations such as Tenerife and the Greek island of Kos, where temperatures for Thursday are predicted to reach (23C) and (19C) respectively.
Sweltering sunshine for Britain
Holiday Drinking Can Have a Very High Price
A holiday in Tenerife turned to tragedy for a Crewe man who fell down steps after a night out. An inquest heard how Malcolm Sellars, his younger brother Dez Sellars and friend Craig Nemeth had drunk heavily on their week's break last July. His brother said: 'He had been necking alcohol like there was no tomorrow, and sadly there wasn't for him.
Holiday fall led to trader's death
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Three Hour Firework Frenzy in Los Realejos
No wonder they claim that tonight's firework display for the Fiestas de la Cruz in Los Realejos is one of the best in Europe, it will last for an unbelievable three hours and will burn up 6,000 kilos of explosives. They don't do anything by halves here, do they?
The reason for this extravaganza is that two streets, Del Medio and El Sol have made it into a traditional, annual battle to try to outdo each other with the most spectacular display. Nothing like a bit of healthy competition and, which explains the use of the two Los Realejos fireworks manufacturers, of Hermanos Toste (batting for El Sol) and of Santa Bárbara (representing Del Medio).
The fireworks, which start at 21:30, are the culmination of various celebrations for the Day of the Cross, today, May 3rd. The celebrations began yesterday in the Los Realejos district of La Cruz Santa (The Holy Cross), with mass and a procession. Thousands attend this celebration too. Homes are decorated and visitors receive typical food of the region.
The roots of the fiesta are in the cross itself, which is still kept in the parish church of La Cruz Santa, which was apparently found by a legendary rider in 1666.
Tres horas de pique pirotécnico pondrán el colofón a los actos del Día de la Cruz
Tenerife At Your Feet
A new program is being offered in the Isla Baja area of Tenerife, called Tenerife a tus pies (Tenerife at your feet). The program, which starts this month and is being promoted by El Cardón - a company here in the heart of the Teno Rural Park, dedicated to environmental education - and as a compliment to the accommodation offered at the hostel, Albergue de Bolico.
On Wednesdays, is a trip to the Barranco de Masca, which, as well as a look around the village itself, will include the descent of the gorge, an impressive canyon of 5 km, which terminates at a small black sand beach. From there a boat will take you as far as the Punta de Teno to see the Los Gigantes cliffs up close and personal. There will be food on board.
On Saturdays, they are offering a trip to the delightful hamlet of Teno Alto (pictured above), which will show you the traditions emblematic of this area of the Teno Rural Park. There, local artisans will show how they used to make the old roof tiles and you'll get to enjoy a some of the famous goat's cheese in a traditional venta (shop come bar).
Pick up points for the trips are at the port in Garachico at 9:00, the Plaza in Los Silos at 9:15 and the Plaza in Buenavista at 9:30. Dropping off in the afternoon at the same place you started. For information and booking call 922 127938.
Both English and German are spoken.
UPDATE: The price for the Teno trip, which includes all transport, food and the visit to the artisan, is €30 (about £20). The walking part starts from the Mirador del Baracan lookout point on the top of the Teno Mountains, overlooking the valley of El Palmar. I think the hike lasts about five hours, but we'll know that for certain, after I've been and tried it out for you, hopefully this Saturday and, always providing that much exercise doesn't kill me! :)
Tenerife a tus pies
2005 Atlantic hurricanes break 150 year record
The season was memorable here in Tenerife for the visitation of Delta, a tropical storm which struck in November and caused many millions of euros-worth of damage. In fact the cost in terms of compensation is still in the process of being evaluated. The 28 Atlantic extreme weather phenomena were the most on record for any one season since archives began 150 years ago.
2005 Atlantic hurricanes break 150 year record
Dreams of Paradise
Canarian based charity, Nimba, have travelled to Guinea Conakry in Africa to show a documentary to the people there which reveals the bitter conditions of the immigrants that try to make it across the seas to the Canary Islands and, ultimately Europe.
There, they have filmed another, which will be shown in various European countries.
"In the countries where the illegal immigrants who arrive in the Canary Islands in pateras (small, rickety boats) originate, they are not aware of the crude reality and the bitter conditions of those who embark in them.", explained the charity to El Dia newspaper.
The charity have gone to Guinea Conakry to inform the population there of the real dangers and also explain the impossibility - because of European legislation - of them finding work in this situation. Receiving the news that many of the hopeful immigrants die in those boats, settled many debates between parents and children over the convenience, or not, of emigrating and, will hopefully stop some of the problem at source.
Until seeing the documentary too, many of the Africans had thought that all white people speak French and that there are plenty of jobs here in Europe.
The charity is also helping people in Guinea Conakry to make a living in their own country, by providing them jobs in sewing and craft workshops. A salary of 30 Euros a month is provided, which is a good quantity for living there, thanks to donations and subscriptions.
Sueñan con el Paraíso
Teaching Kids Environmental Values in Teno
Pupils from the Aregume primary school in Los Silos are looking after 20 examples of aderno - which is the common name of the tree "ardisia bahamensis" that is endemic to the laurel forests of the Canary Islands and Madeira and, in particular, to the steep northern slopes of the Teno massif - that are to be replanted in the Teno Rural Park.
This is part of various programs aimed at instilling environmental values for future generations.
The children recently visited the management offices of the Teno Rural Park. After seeing documentaries at school on Teno and Las Portelas, highlighting the traditions and rural lifestyles of these areas, they also visited a nursery for trees and took a special interest in the seedlings. The children chose the 20 examples, which will now be planted in a recently constructed nursery at the school, where they will need to be cared for, for several years, before they can be replanted in their natural habitat in the Teno Rural Park.
El Cabildo promueve entre los escolares valores medioambientales relacionados con la flora
Petrol Prices Rise Again in the Canary Islands
Where don't they these days, but, so you can whine if you are local or compare if you're reading this from abroad, petrol prices here have risen by another 1.7 cents.
Various rises during the last seven days have accumulated into a total increase of 4.3 cents, taking the price of lead free 95 above 80 cents for the first time.
This last rise was applied at all the principal petrol stations in Tenerife, at midnight last night. The price of lead free 95 rose from 79 cents to 80.7 cents per liter, while the 98 variety superstar rose to 84.5 cents. Diesel also went up, though only by 0.15 of a cent, making its price now 70.7 cents.
Las gasolinas suben 1,7 céntimos y la sin plomo de 95 supera los 0,80 euros
International Festival of Salsa
Willie Colón and his orchestra from New York, Tito Rojas and his orchestra from Puerto Rico, Ray Sepúlveda, Tony Vega, Caco Senante y Charlie Cruz, accompanied by Son Iyá, are just part of the lineup for the Festival Internacional de Salsa del Atlántico 2006, to be held at La Karpa in Vecindario, Gran Canaria and the Institución Ferial de Tenerife of Santa Cruz in Tenerife on the 19th and 20th of May, respectively.
This is the most important salsa date in Spain, with a history going back almost 20 years.
It was for the 1987 edition when, singer, composer, arranger, trombone player and orchestra director - one of the most innovative and charismatic artists of the world of salsa music and latin jazz - Willie Colón, was last in the Canary Islands. It is significant that he is returning to the islands with his current band in this year, in which he is preparing to retire after four decades active in the business.
Advance tickets are a steal at just €15 (about £10), available from Deportes Salud, Calzados Navarro and Music Line in Tenerife.
Willie Colon y Tito Rojas serán las estrellas de una nueva edición del Festival Internacional de Salsa del Atlántico
You Know You Are In a Low Cost Hotel When ...
Obviously hasn't read Ken Livingstone's water saving tips either. :)
Via: BajoCoste
The Four Essential Travel Phrases
Language has always fascinated me. In fact, one of my school reports says (and it is probably the most positive comment on any of them) that I have a "linguistic bent", though for years I laboured under the misapprehension that this referred to something kinky.
Nevertheless, apart from now being fluent in Spanish (English, I'm still working on), which has allowed me to be able to, more or less, read Italian and Portugese, I am somewhat competent still in French and German, which I - long ago - learned in school.
Just for my own amusement; languages of my friends, or sometimes work or travel, I took it upon myself to learn a few essential niceties in Greek, Russian, Finnish and Arabic.
In Spanish, "please" and "thank you" are hardly used at all and nowhere, to my knowledge, are these words used as frequently and unsincerely as they are in the English language, but it does make a HUGE difference to the way one is treated abroad if you just make the effort to, at least, be polite in the language of your hosts.
But why not be daring? Go a step further and learn four phrases!
The phrases they thought every traveller should know are:
* Where is my room?
* Where is the beach?
* Where is the bar?
* Don't touch me there!
Personally, I can think of a few more useful phrases, but this is a start. The writer of the Canarian blog where I found the link, says, "If we speak of the tourists who come to the Canary Islands, then it is worth knowing the first two phrases, but they don't need the third, because they find the the bars all by themselves." (Don't they just?)
They preferred not to comment on the last phrase, but I will. Sadly, if you are a British woman, of almost any age, appearance, build or status, you will need it.
The Spanish versions can be found here.
The Four Essential Travel Phrases Via: De Cuando ...
It’s okay to be late
Listed, as lowly as number six in the list of the Top 7 Aspects of Living and Working in Spain is that it’s okay to be late and continues, "Most people are late - for everything, in business and in life. Meeting up with friends, getting to work on time, etc., living late is part of living in Spain. If you’re naturally a late person and it’s dogged you your whole life (like it has mine) then you’ll do just fine here." Had this been written with a Canarian bias, instead of from the point of view of someone living in mainland Spain, I have a feeling this would have made top of the list. It certainly would on my personal list of reasons. :)
This may seem a lazy and slovenly attitude to most of you living in ever faster, busy, busy environments of the (seemingly) more civilized western world, but, the fact is that it can be a huge benefit in reducing stress. Less guilt, less hurry, lower blood pressure. In theory.
Of course, it is not so convenient when you are the one who wants something done quickly and, no matter how long you've been in Spain, if you were brought up in a culture that expects to get things done, in a timely fashion, you may never totally adapt.
The siesta too still seems to be holding it's own down here at this latitude and, for the moment, I predict that it will continue to do so. Indeed, the heat dictates this, particularly in the summer months. The only real deviation from siesta closing hours are in the large supermarkets that open all day, but still the best time to shop in most of them is during siesta hours, when most sensible people are at home, taking an afternoon nap.
Top 7 Aspects of Living and Working in Spain
Canaries take on British water saving ideas
On the front page of Canary Islands newspaper, Canarias7, website this morning was, to my great surprise, a smiling picture of London's Mayor, Ken Livingstone. The headline associated with the photo translates to "The Mayor of London recommends not pulling the chain after urinating". Surely, I thought, they are taking the piss? (Alright, bad pun.)
My guess is that the Canarian newspaper hopes that locals on the islands will be inspired by Livinstone's example, in which he assures that neither he, nor members of his family have pulled the mayoral chain in the last 15 months. Blimey, his bathroom must stink!
The original article appeared, in English, of course, in The Independant, under the title, Red Ken's green manifesto: do not flush the lavatory and, aside from the article itself, it is interesting to see that the Canarian press seems to take a lot more interest in it's British counterparts than vice-versa or, that we might have considered.
El alcalde de Londres recomienda no tirar de la cadena tras orinar
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Canary Islands Add-On's for Flight Sim
Swiss expat, retired hotelier, Ronald Cachemaille, runs “Cachemaille's Add-On's” and if you like Fight Simulator (Who doesn't? My dad used to play with it for HOURS) and you like the Canary Islands, then you'll absolutely love this collection, which has already achieved 50,000 downloads. Completely freeware, Ron’s site has specialised in airlines textures, AI and AFCAD, mainly of the Canary Islands where he resides, as well as several well designed cockpits were he has mixed reality and fantasy.
His ATR 72-500’s “Islas Airways” and “Binter Canarias New Texture”, for example, are the second and third most downloaded ATR on Flightsim.
Details and downloads can be located here or at his site.
Just as a matter of interest, the angle of approach of the view of Tenerife (with Mount Teide rising in front) shown on the front of Ron's site would bring you in pretty much right over my house, in about 2 seconds flat, which is just out of shot below the horizon. :)
Lowest Payout for Canary Banana Producers
The Canary Islands will receive around € 20,3 mln. in subsidies over 2005. This means €0,059 per kg for the banana grower, according to grower association Asprocan. This is far less than what growers received last year and also the lowest amount in the history of the Common Market Organisation for bananas.
EU pays € 20,3 mln. of support to Canary banana sector
Govt. Reduces Cost of Inter-Island Flights
The Canarian Government and Civil Aviation have reached an agreement to reduce flight tariffs between islands. At the same time they have fixed obligatory public service routes and special concessions for youngsters (under 22), university students (under 27), the retired (over 65) and sports players (when travelling to properly federated matches or games).
One of the aims is to combat the "double insularity" suffered by residents who live on the smaller Canary Islands, by offering point-to-point services.
Obligatory public service routes from Tenerife North (Los Rodeos) go to all six of the other Canary Islands; Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, El Hierro, La Palma and La Gomera. From Tenerife South (Reina Sofia), to Gran Canaria.
El Gobierno Canario y Aviación Civil acuerdan reducir las tarifas aéreas entre las Islas
Building boom continues in the islands
While green groups, tour operators and nowadays even some politicians warn of the ills of over-development in the archipelago, for those involved in the local building business the outlook is decidedly rosy right now – and this despite the ongoing moratorium on tourism-related infrastructure. Experts agree that increased immigration is behind the boom.
Building boom continues in the islands
How to Cook Rice Perfectly
Rice is part of, or an accompaniment to, many Spanish and Canarian dishes - including the Canarian dish Arroz a la Cubana (Cuban Rice), though I am reliably informed that Cubans do not eat anything even close to such a dish. :) But, it pays to be able to rustle up the perfect rice if you are going to try cooking the local cuisine.
This is where I have a confession to make. My paellas usually turn out OK, unlike Prince William, who admitted a bit of a culinary disaster with one once in an interview. But normal white rice and my dog, who is well-known as a four-legged waste disposal unit who eats all manner of inedible things, has actually been known to refuse the results! :)
This is absolutely true and is not something to be proud of, is it? So, to avoid the possibility that you, as I do, frequently, think "oh, beggar that", and just decide to add the milk and sugar at the beginning so that it was actually MEANT to be rice pudding, here is:
How to Cook Rice Perfectly Via: Lifehacker
Death Warrant Signed for Tenerife Hotel
One of the busiest Tenerife resorts is currently locked in a fierce battle about the fate of its landmark hotel.
(PRWEB) May 2, 2006 -- Following a recent decree from the Spanish Ministry of the Environment, the El Medano Hotel has been deemed illegal and faces demolition because of its prominent position location right on the resort’s main beachfront.
The hotel which was built in the 1960’s has fallen afoul of a recent law that bans all shoreline buildings, despite the fact that the hotel was in existence long before this recent decision was made law.
Local politicians plan to strongly oppose the order at the highest levels. Indeed, the island councillor for Tourism and Planning, Jose Manuel Bermudez, has revealed that the local authorities will be sending a written protest to Madrid to demand the cancellation of the demolition plans. One source close to the minister said: Señor Bermudez believes that this decision is wrong. He doubts whether the mainland government has thought these plans through and taken into account the negative impact that this demolition will have on tourism in the area”.
Other local politicians were also vocal in their disapproval. Mayor of Granadilla, Jaime Gonzalez Cejas, expessed surprise at the decree, saying that although it was locally acknowledged that the building did not comply with the new regulations, no one had expected a demolition order to be placed on such a well known and popular landmark.
The hotel in El Medano is not the only Canarian establishment to be singled out by Madrid. The Melenera in Gran Canaria, Tres Islas and “Oliva Beach” in Fuerteventura as well as 59 other buildings throughout Spain have been earmarked for demolition.
However, there is optimism in the air as local architects, environmentalists and historians argue that the building is of significant cultural interest and as such should be protected. As one protester said: “the hotel has been there since anyone can remember. It is part of the area now and is an integral component of the walkway. It also acts as a huge and necessary windbreak for the beach. We would hate to see it go and will be fighting to save one of the oldest hotels in the south of the island”.
For more information about the town of El Medano visit:
www.teneriferesorts.com/El-Medano.htm
Recipe: Rancho Canario
Ingredients: 1/4kg/1/2 lb. of beef, 1/4kg/1/2 lb. of chicken, 1/2kg/1/2 lb. of chickpeas, 100g/3 1/2 oz. of thick noodles, 1/2kg/1/2 lb. of potatoes, 1 bulb of garlic, 1 onion, 2 tomatoes, 1 teaspoon of paprika, a good dash of white wine, oil for frying, pinches of saffron and thyme, a bay leaf (optional),oil for frying and salted (optional) water.
1. Soak the chickpeas overnight, rinse and drain.
2. Put them with the meat in a pan with 2litres of boiling water. Simmer for approximately an hour or until tender.
3. Peel and dice the potatoes,heat the oil and gently fry with the onion, garlic and coarsely chopped tomato for 2 or 2 minutes.
4. Add the meat and chickpea mix, herbs and wine and simmer for another 10/15 minutes, adding noodles about 5 mins before the end of cooking time.
5. And finally, when the potatoes are almost cooked, add the noodles and leave it all another five minutes.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the GCI Guide article "Rancho Canario".
A Grand Night Out in Tenerife For Five Euros
Tonight's party for the Fiestas de Mayo in Santa Cruz promises to be both a spectacular event and a spectacular bargain to boot. It will be a night filled with typical Canarian folk music and dancing, plus a dinner, which starts at 21:00, for 6,000 people seated around 600 tables set up in the streets around the old part of Tenerife's capital city.
For just five euros per head (about £3.50), party goers will get all the entertainment thrown in, plus a four course dinner menu with starters of cured goat's cheese with spicy mojo (recipe) sauce, dried figs with almonds and almogrote (recipe) tarts.
This is followed by Rancho Canario and for main course, Cod (Bacalao encebollado) and Papas Arrugadas (Wrinkled Potatoes). For desert, quesillo with palm honey and nuts.
Thirty raffle prizes include; a holiday to Mallorca, trips to see the whales and dolphins, weekends in rural hotels in Vilaflor and even a 45 day old suckling pig or goat kid!
Personally, I conclude that we go to all the wrong parties! :)
The Flowers, Plants and Crafts Fair is open from 11:00 today and various things such as street theatre, puppets and music will be going on in the streets from 17:30 onwards.
Santa Cruz celebra esta noche un baile de magos con sólo música canaria
Tags: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Canarias
From: Secret Tenerife Blog | Tenerife Daily Photo
Nine Percent of Catholics do not believe in God
According the the publication Muy Interesante, which is currently celebrating its 25th Anniversary, a survey of its readers, related to the belief in extraterrestrial life, has revealed (to some) surprising observations on the Spanish culture.
Ninety percent of readers do believe in extraterrestrial life and, according to the magazine, those with higher cultural and social levels, i.e. higher education and acquisitive power, are those most likely to do so.
The most surprising data, for the writers of this article, was that nine percent of those who had professed to be Catholics, also say they do not believe in God.
To some, this may appear to be the height of ignorance, but say the writers, this is nothing more than a faithful reflection of Spanish society and it's cultural subconscious. It is merely part of the social culture to appear to be Catholic and participate in rituals, such as baptism, weddings and processions.
Personally, having observed this phenomenon for a decade and a half and, having reached similar conclusions, I might have been less surprised if they had said that 9% believe in extraterrestrials and 90% do not believe God.
el 9% de los "Católicos" no creen en Dios
Record beating figures for Easter
The Fred Olsen ferry company has announced its best ever figures for the Easter period. According to a communication released by the company a total of 64,103 passengers and 12,642 vehicles were transported between the islands from 12th to 16th April this year coinciding with the Easter holiday period, constituting a 7.7% increase in passengers and a 6.6% increase in vehicles using the service compared with last year.
Record beating figures for Easter
Too posh to pick?
Almost 92% of all those registered unemployed in the Canary Islands who were offered work picking tomatoes turned down the chance, preferring to draw benefit, it was revealed last week. The report refers to the period covering 2001 to 2004 inclusive.
Too posh to pick?
Adeje neighbourhood project
A large striking poster erected at the entrance of Adeje town centre showing a wide variety of faces from different cultural and ethnic groups, announces the beginning of a campaign organised by the local town hall to encourage those resident in the borough to live in peace with their neighbours.
Adeje neighbourhood project
Golf: Finnish of the Tenerife Ladies Open
Finnish woman, Riikka Hakkarainen, was the winner of the Tenerife Ladies Open at the Abama Golf Resort in Guia de Isora on Sunday, with Spanish player, Tania Elósegui, runner up. Five players tied for third place; English women, Kirsty S. Taylor, who had been the leader at the start of the day's play and Rebecca Hudson, Australian Shani Waugh, Rebecca Coakley from Ireland and Virginie Auffret of France.
Finland's Riikka Hakkarainen came from a shot behind to clinch her maiden Ladies European Tour victory and a first prize of 37,500 Euros in the fifth edition of the Tenerife Ladies Open at Abama Golf in the Canary Islands.
Golf.- Victoria de la finlandesa Riikka Hakkarainen en el Open de Tenerife
Hakkarainen clinches maiden victory at Tenerife
Another 62 Boat People Arrive in Tenerife
Another boat full of immigrants arrived in Tenerife waters and was spotted by Guardia Civil radar, two miles from the coast of Arona, in the early hours of April 30. Half of the 62 occupants needed medical attention for hypothermia and, according to the Red Cross, could have been at sea for a week. The boat's skipper has been detained.
Interceptada una patera en Tenerife con 62 inmigrantes
Monday, May 01, 2006
Fiestas de Mayo in Tenerife
Today is Labour Day, the Easter holidays weren't far back and, neither was the Carnaval, but celebrations are in full swing, yet again, in the Tenerife capital (and other points of the island), this time for the Fiestas de Mayo (May Festival) that mark the founding of the city in 1494. 
Conqueror of Tenerife, Alonso Fernández de Lugo, planted a cross on the beach where Santa Cruz (the name means Holy Cross) now stands, which gave the name to the town. That very cross is kept in the church, Iglesia de La Concepción and is brought out for the processions for the Day of the Cross on May 3rd.
The Fiestas de Mayo also have an important baile de magos (dance in traditional dress), held on the night of May 2. In 1999, this street party entered into the Guinness Book of Records for the largest number of diners in the open air.
This year, there were thirty-two entrants for the coveted title of Reina de las Fiestas de Mayo, or Queen of the May Festival. Treinta y dos mujeres y un destino.
Los Realejos, known as the Spanish municipality with the most fiestas because there is one being celebrated in any one of its various districts all 365 days of the year, also celebrates Día de la Cruz or Fiestas de la Cruz in a pretty big way.
The firework display on the night of the 3rd - performed by the Los Realejos firm of Hermanos Toste and that of Santa Bárbara - is considered one of the best in Europe.
Hermanos Toste was formed in Los Realejos, under the name of Pirotecnia Teide, in 1788 by Marcos Toste del Castillo. They still use artisan methods of manufacturing their prize-winning fireworks and the family tradition is passed from generation to generation.
Las Cruces y Fuegos de Mayo
Tags: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Canarias
From: Secret Tenerife Blog | Tenerife Daily Photo
Tenerife News in Breif
Since there's a bit of news to catch up on, here are the gist of several Spanish news items, which is probably enough detail for most people's reference. As I am unable to translate them in their entirety, if a story is of special interest to you and you don't speak Spanish, you may be able to extract some sense from the original using something like Google Language Tools. These things are never perfect, but can be entertaining!
El paro aumenta en Canarias en 14.400 personas en el primer trimestre
Are workers really celebrating "their day" today? Not all, because the number of unemployed in the Canaries rose by 14,400 persons in the first quarter of 2006, making it the area with the third largest increase in unemployment in Spain. Unemployment in the islands is currently running at 11.95%, with 117,500 out of work. At national level, the percentage of unemployed is 9.07%, up from 8.7% three months ago.
La abuela de la Villa y Puerto de Garachico, Lucía Gorrín, cumple cien años
The granny of Garachico celebrated her 100th Birthday last week, with family, friends and the local mayor. Lucía Gorrín Navarro, a widow since 1985, had three children, has 12 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren.
Un informe geológico califica a Canarias como un foco "potencial" de tsunamis
A new geological report confirms that the Canary Islands are a focus of potential tsunamis from volcanic causes and from coastal areas sliding into the sea. The Spanish authorities are preparing a plan of alert for populations most at risk, such as Garachico, who suffered a volcanic eruption that destroyed much of the town and its port 300 years ago this week.
Una nueva receta oficial protegerá a los canarios frente al intrusismo en la medicina privada
A new prescription form, the use of which will be obligatory for all medical professional and veterinarians from January 1, 2007, aims to protect against fraud.
La comarca albergará la sede regional de las cabañuelas
Buenavista del Norte is attempting to turn itself into the regional headquarters of las cabañuelas, an ancient practice, based on observation, mathematical calculation and popular wisdom, to predict future meteorological conditions.
El municipio de Buenavista del Norte recibe en cuatro años 9,8 millones de euros de inversión pública
Buenavista del Norte is not just one of the most fashionable areas on the island and which has some of the best natural reserves in Tenerife, currently, it is one of the best in terms of social and economic development, say the local council, who have managed 9.8 million euros of public investment in the last 4 years.
El alcalde de Garachico coloca en el muelle una pancarta de protesta
Never before seen! The mayor of Garachico, Ramón Miranda, fed up with delays in works at the fishing port, has erected a huge notice in protest against the company, which is promoted and financed by the Canarian Government. He says Garachico cannot continue to put up with the poor image this presents to the numerous tourists who visit daily.
La reforma de Los Cristianos incluye vistosos palmerales en los paseos
A few details of the 5.3 million euros of works to remodel the town of Los Cristianos, which include fountains and urban furniture (I just love that term, which means park benches and stuff) and creating oases of palms in the pedestrian areas.
Mil inmigrantes han sido expulsados de las Islas y 3.000 enviados a la Península
In the continuous arrival of boat people from Africa, reports that 1,000 have been sent back from whence they came and another 3,000 sent to mainland Spain so far this year. Another 915 undocumented arrivals (without passports) remain in retention centers.
Adán Martín pide redistribuir por la UE a los ´sin papeles´ que llegan a Canarias
The President of the Canarian government, Adán Martín, asks Central Government to insist that the European Union distribute the undocumented immigrants throughout Europe.
Santa Cruz es el municipio con mayor riesgo de sufrir inundaciones de la Isla
Woe is Santa Cruz for discovering that they are the Canary Islands city most likely to suffer flood damage. The Tenerife capital has already suffered 26 catastrophes that have been classified as "very grave" in it's recorded history, such as torrential rains in 1820 and those of March 31, 2002, which took the lives of eight inhabitants.
El Gobierno quiere acordar con PP y PSOE una moratoria turística más dura
The Canarian Government says that it aims to be more restrictive over the concession of licences for new tourist beds (construction of new places) over the coming years.
El Gobierno apuesta por "contener el exceso" de plazas turísticas en las Islas
And, repeating the last theme, they are betting on "containing the excess" of tourist places. Of the 550,000 beds in the Canary Islands, a few more than 400,000 are legal. Profitability is being pushed down and there is human pressure too, with more than 1,400 tourists squeezed into each square kilometer, in excess of EU standards.
Medio millón más de residentes canarios tras la entrada de España en la UE
More people pressure as this report, 20 años de España en la Unión Europea: 1986-2006 (20 Years of Spain in the European Union), informs us that the population of the Canary Islands grew by half a million (34%) from 1,446,391 inhabitants, in 1986, to 1,968,280 inhabitants, in 2005, only beaten by the Balearic Islands whose population grew by 44%.
Tags: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Canarias
From: Secret Tenerife Blog | Tenerife Daily Photo
