Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Independence of the Seas to visit Tenerife in 2008
Freedom of the Seas (sistership)Royal Caribbean International announced plans on Monday to deploy Independence of the Seas - the third in its new Freedom class of ships - in the United Kingdom, when she debuts in May 2008.
Sharing the title of the largest, most innovative cruise ship in the world with sister ships, Freedom of the Seas and the soon-to-be-launched Liberty of the Seas, Independence of the Seas will be the largest ship ever to be home-ported in Europe.
Currently under construction in Aker Yards in Turku, Finland, Independence of the Seas will be delivered to Royal Caribbean in May 2008. Following a series of preview sailings, Independence will embark on her maiden voyage in mid- May 2008. Three 11-night Canary Islands itineraries, also roundtrip from Southampton, will round out the fall season, calling in Madeira, Portugal; Tenerife, Canary Islands; Las Palmas, Gran Canaria; Lanzarote, Canary Islands; and Vigo, Spain.
Full Release | Royal Caribbean
Slooh.com to Broadcast Live Coverage of NASA's Jupiter Flyby from Tenerife Observatory
Slooh.com, the live online observatory, will cover NASA's New Horizons spacecraft flyby of Jupiter from mission control this week. Slooh will broadcast live celestial views of Jupiter and Pluto from their astronomical observatories at the Astrophysics Institute of the Canary Islands. Coverage will include interviews with NASA mission scientists and real-time reporting of the Jupiter encounter on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Full release | BBC: Nasa probe set for Jupiter flyby | Slooh.com
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Eurovision - Nash will sing for Spain
Gaymengc say, "As we suspected, boy band Nash (one of whom is from Tenerife) will represent Spain in Helsinki in the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest."
I suppose that means it's obligatory to watch Eurovision this year! :)
Link to video for feed readers Via: Gaymengc
Friday, February 23, 2007
Watch the Lunar Eclipse on Saturday, March 3
Above: A visibility map of the March 3, 2007, total lunar eclipse.
Credit: Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC.
NASA Say, "Rising moons are often reddened by clouds or pollution, but this moon will be the deep, extraordinary red only seen during a lunar eclipse."
You are sure to be able to see this from the Canary Islands, not just because we are well inside the "All Eclipse Visible" area - so are lots of other places, but the sky is also very clear here. It's why we have observatories on two of our mountaintops.
Lunar Eclipse Via: BoingBoing
Thursday, February 22, 2007
2007 starts with a record number of tourists
The year starts well for tourism: During January this year 2.8 million foreign tourists arrived in Spain, a record number for that month and 4% higher than in January 2006. The Canaries was still at the top of the list of destinations, although the archipelago was the only region to have received less foreign tourists than the previous year.
Some 811,000 visitors, 28.6% of all tourists who visited Spain in January, chose to visit the Canary Islands - probably unsurprising, given the climate we can offer in that month that other regions can't. This number still put the Canaries at the head of the list at the beginning of the year, even though the number of tourists visiting the islands was 2.6% down on 2006. The fall is principally owing to a 6.2% decrease in the principal market, British visitors, who made up 31.1% of the arrivals.
At national level, one in four visitors to Spain in January were British (713,000), 4.7% down on the previous year. Germany was in second position with 469,000 tourists, 16.6% of the total and 1.2% higher than in January of 2006 and, of whom almost half opted to visit the Canary Islands. In third place were the French, with an increase of 13.9%, bringing their numbers in January alone up to 349,000. There was also an increase in visitors from Portugal by 30.9% and of Irish tourists by 12.7%.
The majority, 78.2% of tourists, arrive by plane, although those arriving by road rose by 15.4%. Some 64.2% choose to stay in hotels and seven out of ten tourists opt to travel independently, that is rather than buying an "all-in" package holiday.
El año 2007 empieza con récord de turistas a nivel nacional y con Canarias a la cabeza
For the love of El Hierro's giant lizards
After the storms and heavy rains that caused untold damage on the island of El Hierro at the end of January, one of the worst losses was at the center for the recuperation of the island's giant lizard, a species unique to the island and in threat of extinction.
Damage at the center left more than 150 lizards dead and represents the loss of five years of work for the center's efforts in rescuing this emblematic species.
However, there is some heartening news: At midday on February 14th, a camera set up in the area where a group of lizards live in their natural habitat, rather than in captivity, captured images of a live example of a Gallotia simonyi.
This is important news for the island, alleviating fears over the lizards' survival in the wild and providing an incentive to continue the work of reproduction in captivity.
Algunos lagartos gigantes herreños lograron sobrevivir tras la tormenta
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Best Photos of Mount Teide
Teidemania
Orange alert in Tenerife for high seas
The Canary Islands are on alert today, according to information from the National Meteorological Institute.
In the province of Santa Cruz the level of alert is orange, considered important, due to high seas to the north west, with waves reaching up to five meters. In the province of Las Palmas, the level of alert is yellow. Both alerts are coastal alerts (which means they are more relevant to fishermen, but visitors should take care too, especially on the north coasts, where there is a risk of getting washed off rocks by the waves).
In the north of Tenerife and in La Palma, cloudy intervals are expected with cloud below 1,000 meters. In high areas and the south and west of the islands, clear skies and temperatures without change. Winds light to variable on the south west coast. Strong northeast wind in the central peaks of Tenerife, reducing in the afternoon.
Las islas en alerta por mal tiempo en el mar
Labels: Tenerife Weather
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Watch BBC1 & 2, ITV & C4 in the Canaries
Gaymengc point to a service that makes it possible to get your fix of EastEnders, Emmerdale or Coronation Street through an online service called liveuktv.com.
They say, "We know of people here who are using the service, and who are satisfied with it." I actually tried to watch the sample streams yesterday, but while I got sound, I didn't see a picture. Sniff. This doesn't surprise me, since my DSL has great trouble getting uphill at the best of times. Your mileage may be better. :)
Heed their warnings about reading the small print, but know it exists.
BBC1 & 2, ITV & C4 in Gran Canaria
More than 50,000 Indians take La Palma
Carnaval celebrations in Santa Cruz de La Palma are a bit different, with a talcum powder battle that is enacted in the city's streets. Around 50,000, dressed in white clothing, arrived to celebrate and represent the arrival of the "Indians": families and old friends who had sought their fortune in Cuba and returned to the island ostentatiously displaying their new wealth. This unique parody, which was started in the 1960's and has become part of the identity of Carnaval celebrations in La Palma.
More (in Spanish) with photos
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Do we need industrial agriculture?
Something which is even more apparent on a small island is the damage that can be done to soil through over farming and over-use of chemicals, therefore, I am in full agreement with the quote in this article, "'The true measure of agriculture is not the sophistication of its equipment, the size of its income, or the statistics of its productivity but the good health of the land." -- Wendell Berry
The article asks if there is a better way than industrial food production and gives the example of a friend who "has a small farm high up in the mountains in Tenerife, in the foothills of El Teide. He grows sweetcorn, beans, potatoes, and a wide variety of other crops, around the perimeter of the fields are over 200 fruit trees. Hens and ducks roam the fields during the winter and early spring, at night they are returned to their pens. The hens and ducks root around, digging up weeds, eating pests, manuring the fields. Eggs are laid in little nooks and crannies around the farm. As crops are grown, the hens and ducks are slowly restricted in where they can roam."
The final reckoning for me, is that I do not want to eat chemical laden, industrially produced food and, one of the greatest advantages to living in the Canary Islands, is being able to buy something that has been produced naturally and still has flavour.
The above is still a common site here in rural areas. I only hope it continues.
Do we need industrial agriculture?
Flights to the sun appeal to travellers in East Midlands
East Midlands Airport is not one of the UK major departure points, yet even from East Midlands, some 15,000 visitors left for Tenerife in January 2007, as travellers have been keen to leave the cold behind and catch up on winter sun overseas.
Flights to the sun appeal to travellers in East Midlands
Monday, February 19, 2007
Gran Coso de Carnaval in Icod de los Vinos
Carnaval is not just Santa Cruz in Tenerife - we listed some of the other Carnaval locations and dates here - and even in the relatively small town of Icod de los Vinos, who held their main Carnaval parade last night, some 25,000 people participated in the two-hour procession, according to local police estimates. Each year, Icod Carnaval grows in quality and draws a crowd for all over the island, competing with the best on the island and, yet again this year, beat it's own record for participation.
InfoIcodNoticias have more (in Spanish) and a photo
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Residents to complain about the noise again
Despite the Canary Islands Government's measures to "arm" the fiestas, by unanimously declaring that noise regulations are suspended during these events and, despite the judge lifting the earlier suspension of late night revelries, saying that the the issue had already been settled by a 2006 court ruling, ABC report that the lawyer acting for the 15 residents, Felipe Campos, says that noise levels measured on the first night of the festivities in Santa Cruz measured greater than the "permitted" 55 decibles and, that they intend to denounce the situation again.
El abogado vecinal constata el exceso de decibelios
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Yellow Alert for strong winds in Tenerife
Just a day before the main parade of Carnaval and, again, the weather is threatening to ruffle the feathers of Carnaval goers as a state of yellow alert was declared today in Tenerife.
The predictions for today were for very cloudy skies with a probability of light rain in the western islands and the east of La Palma, temperatures without change, but with the likelihood of winds, variable in strength from breezes on the south coasts to strong gusts reaching 75 kmph in the peaks of La Palma, La Orotava and Vilaflor.
At this end of the island, at least, the winds have dropped considerably since lunch time and the sun has finally poked his head out in a mostly blue sky, but we'll be keeping a very keen eye on this and firmly crossing our fingers that, despite the predictions that this weather front is likely to persist, at least, until Friday, that it will not be enough to upset the Carnaval program as it did last year.
Heaven knows, this year's Carnaval has suffered enough setbacks already.
El INM declara la alerta amarilla en Santa Cruz de Tenerife por fuertes vientos
Alerta amarilla por fuertes vientos en la provincia tinerfeña
Labels: Carnaval 2007, Tenerife Weather
Belén Esteban crowned Queen of Booing
There are many articles online saying that the Carnaval in Tenerife in 2007 will always be remembered for controversy and, which "crown" Belén Esteban as the "Queen of Booing" at the hapless Gala for the Selection of the Carnaval Queen.
Poor girl, she says, "I feel bad, because they've never booed me before".
Well, there's always a first time for everything! Being "crucified", seems to me, to invite it really, but ... It seems she's been pouting on TV about her ill fortune too. I'm so glad I've missed that, but Colin Davies in Galicia sums it up nicely:
"Needless to say, the goings-on down in Tenerife provided un-missable material for the endless TV gossip shows. The one I was unlucky enough to zap into offered us the inane musings of one of the performers who?d been received badly. Having seen the act in question, it was clear her ego was in inverse proportion to her talents so I was rather nonplussed by her celebrity status. Plus, she was rather ugly and clearly very reconstructed from her [blond] hair down. I later learned she was the ex-girlfriend of a bullfighter. And possessed of a big mouth. In Spain, this explains everything."
Oh and in the edited version of the Gala televised very late on Saturday night by TVE1, probably against the wishes of the Santa Cruz town hall who wanted the damaging parts cut, Esteban's crucifying performance was shown again.
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Tenerife Carnaval 2007 - Are you going?
The big Carnaval parade is tomorrow and, this thread at the Tenerife Forum asks a few questions to see what people are doing for carnaval this year ...
1. What is/has been going on in your village/town/municpality?
2. Are you going to the main event in Santa Cruz?
3. What will you dress up as?
4. Once you've been, what did you get up to?
5. Have you ever been before and what was it like?
Thought you might like to read the responses so far, or even add your own experience to the thread, because there is nothing like a first hand report to really get the feel of Carnaval. I too, haven't been able to go to the big Carnaval in Santa Cruz for a number of years, but I have been many times before and dressed up and it really is exciting.
Tenerife Carnaval 2007 - Are you going?
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Playmates who didn't live to age 50
The news of the death of Playmate Anna Nicole Smith, seems to have sparked discussion about about the many Playmates who have made the headlines for their untimely deaths.
In this, I suppose, the kind of lifestyle a Playmate leads, generally tends towards to more adventure and more risk.
However, until a commenter pointed it out, I had not been aware that someone with "celebrity status" had died in the runway collision at Tenerife in 1977.
My personal view is that "having a name" does not make her death any greater, nor lesser, loss than that of any of the other 580+ people who perished.
But, for the curious, here is the article, which talks about the grisly club of Playmates who didn't live to age 50, Anna Nicole joins a macabre list and which lists, "Eve Meyer, a 1955 Playmate, was one of more than 550 people killed when two airliners collided on takeoff at Tenerife in the Canary Islands in 1977. She was 46."
Eve Meyer (born December 13, 1928 in Griffin, Georgia, died March 27, 1977) was an American pin-up model, motion picture actor and, later, film producer. Much of her work was done in conjunction with exploitation filmmaker Russ Meyer to whom she was married from April 2, 1952 until 1969.
The image of Eve Meyer above, which I found on Flickr, was most probably taken by husband Russ Meyer. This site, which has (not safe for work: nekkid boobies) many examples of his work, including this one of Eve, posing on the same bed.
Labels: Tenerife Disaster
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Official Santa Cruz Carnaval 2007 Tune
The official Canción del Carnaval 2007 (Carnaval Song) by D'Noé.
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Diablos Locos Carnaval 2007 Tenerife
Performance by the murga group, Los Diablos Locos (The Crazy Devils), winners of the first prize for interpretation (and bravery) at the 2007 Carnaval in Santa Cruz.
Los Diablos Locos is the second oldest murga group in Tenerife, founded in 1965. They were fronted for many years by the charismatic, Tomás Carvajal Rodríguez, ?Tom Carby?, who left the group shortly before his death in 1994. The current director of Los Diablos Locos is Tomás Francisco Carvajal Morales, whom, I think we can assume with reasonable safety, is his son.
There is also a video of their 2006 performance here and those who understand the words will note that certain political themes remain pretty constant. :)
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Almond Flower Route 2007
Delightful pictorial souvenir from the excursion organized by El Cardón and the town hall of Santiago del Teide, on Sunday, February 11th, 2007.
Swedes flock to Canary Islands
Swedes voted for traditional holidays in 2006, with Spain's Canary Islands regaining their place at the top of the list of favourite charter destinations. London and New York were among the favourite scheduled destinations.
In 2005, Antalya in Turkey displaced Las Palmas in the Canary Islands from the top charter spot, but figures released by the Swedish Civil Aviation Authority show that the Spanish archipelago regained its favoured status last year.
Swedes flock to Canary Islands
Saturday, February 17, 2007
The Real Carnaval Starts in Santa Cruz
It may be because it didn't rain, it could be because everyone had seen all the films on at the cinema, perhaps because it was a Friday and people simply had to get out a bit, or that there was nothing on tele ... or maybe because the Gala left everyone wanting to see the Carnaval groups, or that this year we'll make more noise than ever before. It may be that this year folk simply have more desire to party ...
Whatever the reason was, say La Opinión, last night in the central streets of Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz, there were thousands and thousands of people out to see the Cabalgata Anunciadora (the first of the Cavalcades that brings the Carnaval to the streets), "More than I've seen for years", said one resident.
The dancing hadn't even started, but in the streets, an animated public applauded every one of the groups that formed a part of the procession. Asked for their opinions, Carnaval goers responded that, "It could be that there are so many people because we want to make it clear that we have a right to the Carnaval and that nobody is going to forbid us from enjoying these days and each and every one of the events."
Diario de Avisos also say that Santa Cruz' streets were filled with people and that the Carnaval Queen and her Maids of Honor received the longest ovations from the public, in recognition of the fact that during the Gala, they had not had the chance to do so. And, they say, there was something different in the looks on people's faces that said this year's Cabalgata was something special; liberating, the real Carnaval.
Reports with photos: Más público que Cabalgata | Un Carnaval de verdad
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Las Palmas 2007 Drag Queen Gala
If Tenerife wasn't happy with it's Carnaval Queen Gala, things look to be an entirely different story in Gran Canaria for their Drag Queen Gala 2007, which took place in Las Palmas last night. The video above, of the winner, Drag Salitre y Monstruos, is courtesy of gaymengc.com, who say:
"The organisers of this year?s Las Palmas Carnaval, said they wanted to make the 10th anniversary Gala something special, and there?s no doubt they achieved their goal."
Las Palmas Drag Queen Gala - Fantastic!
The best from the Spanish press (because these stories have pictures):
Drag Salitre inicia su reinado and Premio a la fealdad rebelde.
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Canary Islands "Arm" Fiestas to allow noise
After all of the fuss over noise objections earlier and, which reached the international media far and wide as it looked as if Carnaval events might be banned from the streets of Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz, at night, the Canary Island Parliament took the wise precaution this week, of "armouring" popular and local fiestas and, those declared as being of national and international interest, against future attacks.
The proposal to exempt them was carried unanimously.
During such fiestas, not just in the Tenerife capital, but throughout the Canary Islands, in future, the rules over noise become provisionally suspended.
Canarias «blinda» sus fiestas con una norma que permite los ruidos
(One logical and interesting comment that has been made this week, is that those complaining residents had to have known that the there was a Carnaval in Santa Cruz (it's been going for 200 years or so), before they bought their apartments there.)
Labels: Carnaval 2007
DJ Real at Carnaval Santa Cruz Tenerife 2007
A short promotional video for the famous DJ Real, who will be performing
on various nights of Carnaval in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2007.
DJ Real El Canario is performing in February 19th and 24th, according to this article.
We've already heard that Mexican singer Paulina Rubio is to perform at the Santa Cruz Carnaval on Saturday, February 24th. Cuban "Timba" orchestra, NG La Banda may have had their date changed, as they were previously slated for February 20th, the big day of Carnaval 2007. This later news item has NG La Banda listed for the 19th and Orquesta Vibraciones Venezuela down for the 20th and the 21st.
Tonight is the turn of Venezuelan singer Carlos Baute to perform in the Plaza de España in the Tenerife capital. We missed Puerto Rican singer, Edwin Rivera, who performed last night, but says councillor for Fiestas, Hilario Rodríguez, there are also no less than 37 Canarian Orchestras performing at various stages around the city.
That lot should keep the noise level up! :)
Paulina Rubio y Carlos Baute, en el Carnaval de Tenerife
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Club Deportivo Tenerife News on your Desktop
If you like football (soccer), you can now get Club Deportivo Tenerife (Official Site) news, scores, etc., right on your desktop with a nifty 100% free widget. 
Club Deportivo Tenerife Widget (Requires Yahoo! Widget Engine Info)
(Otherwise, for CD Tenerife news, in English, go to Andy Woolley's Peña Internet or the Armada Sur, which is a Peña (fanclub) of CD Tenerife Football Team that is made up entirely of expatriate supporters. Get your supporters' merchandise here.)
Tenerife forums and message boards
Today, someone has asked me if I have links to any internet forums for Tenerife, where they may write or search for certain information, so I thought I would make a short list of the most active ones I know about and peruse myself, which you may find useful, not just for general chat, but to find advice or services on Tenerife.
Tenerife Forum
Everything Tenerife for both residents and tourists, from general chat, accommodation, jobs, reviews of places to visit and things to do if you are just visiting, as well as classifieds for sale and wanted sections.
Tenerife Discussion Forum
This forum at holidaytruths.co.uk is more inclined towards holidays, obviously, but they do also have an Ex Pats & Owners Abroad section of the forums too.
Tenerife Message Boards
The message board, or forum, provided by Sun4free.com also has sections for chat, Tenerife Information, Liesure and Pleasure, as well as support forums for those who need help, plus business listings.
About Tenerife also have a Forum about Tenerife
If you are looking to find or offer a specific services, jobs, housing, etc., in Tenerife, you can also try the Tenerife specific classifieds, in English, at Loquo. They also have discussion forums, but those appear to be only frequented in Spanish.
You can also buy, sell or locate every manner of goods and services - from Art and Antiques to the XXX category - in the Canary Islands via the Canarian Exchange.
There are also the Tenerife Business Pages, which they say, "is all you need to find Business Services and Companies, Shops for Home and Garden, Health and Beauty, Tourism, Leisure and Hobbies, Legal Companies, Computing and Internet Services, Restaurants and Bars for all of Tenerife and the Canary Islands". (Please note that bptenerife.com carry our headlines via our feed and I'm perfectly happy that they do, however, I do need to say that we are not associated in any way.)
Airtours Weekend Sale up to 70% off
Starting from today and running until midnight Monday, www.Airtours.co.uk will be going a little discount crazy - Offering 50% off on thousands of winter holidays (April departures). In fact, in some cases - the saving is almost 70% off!!
April is a great time to come to Tenerife, as usually, the weather is starting to warm up nicely then here, whilst it might be a bit early for it to do so at other destinations.
For example, I found that they have a 7 night holiday at the Oro Blanco Apartments, flying from Newcastle to Tenerife - Reina Sofia, on April 10th with 69% off, bringing it down from a brochure price of over £700 to only a little over £200.
There are similar offers on holidays originating from other UK airports, such as Birmingham, Nottingham, Gatwick and Manchester. Check them out here:
Airtours Weekend Sale up to 70% off
Bitterness continues over Carnaval Gala
Whenever Tenerife gets into a bit of a controversy, it certainly never does it by halves! And the plot continues to thicken over the disastrous Gala for the Selection of the Carnaval Queen that took place in Santa Cruz on Wednesday night. Now, it seems that the town hall are asking (maybe begging might be more accurate) Spanish Television to edit out the negative aspects before showing it at national level.
This, actually, seems to me to be a pointless exercise in futility, since those very aspects are the ones that have already been picked out and commented on by national programs and, there are a plethora of clips at Google Video, YouTube and elsewhere online, already doing the rounds of the planet, as people discuss them using words like embarrassing, pathetic or stupid, or the more direct, "pure shit."
That's not forgetting that there are some 100 members of the national and international press and media in the Tenerife capital currently for the Carnaval, who will have seen it first hand and are bound to have reported on it already.
It's also a good job there were 18 candidates, otherwise, if they do edit the program down to just the positive and relevant parts, there wouldn't be much left.
Meanwhile, Rafael Amargo, who directed the fiasco, seems to be the only person who is "satisfied with the work done" and is already defending himself - in a note signed by his representation - saying that he "scrupulously fulfilled the conditions of his contract with the fiesta organizers". He would: the town hall are talking about finding the legal means to not only deduct an "important" amount from his outstanding fees, but also considering suing the dancer for damages.
Elsewhere, the Popular Party candidate for mayor in Santa Cruz says that the whole Carnaval fiasco over the last few days was just a maneuver to draw attention away from the potential problems the current mayor, Miguel Zerolo, has with the law.
For others, the real problem, it has been said - adding yet more gross insult to serious injury - is that we simpletons in Tenerife didn't appreciate the gala's content as we just wouldn't know art when we see it. So, I'll leave you with a little piece of that "art", as performed by "artist" Belén Esteban - who, for overseas viewers who are unaware, has only one previous claim to fame: that she slept with a bullfighter.
What do you think, did we miss something in this "outstanding performance?"
(By the way, this version appears to have been manipulated: in this one you can hear applause and laughter in the background. In the original, all you heard was booing.)
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Work on the International Monument for those who died in the Tenerife aviation disaster
Work at the Mesa Mota mountain site
Click to enlarge
Photo: © 2007 Foundation Relatives Victims Tenerife, AmsterdamThe Foundation Relatives Victims Tenerife yesterday announced they have donated the International Tenerife Memorial to the island's authorities. The Cabildo accepted the monument with gratitude: an artwork 18 metres tall designed by the Dutch artist Rudi van de Wint. Construction of the base for the International Tenerife Memorial is now underway and running according to plan. The Corten steel monument arrived on the Canary island of Tenerife unharmed at the end of January, aboard ship from Flushing (Vlissingen).
'De Wenteltrap' International Tenerife Memorial
Click to enlarge
Photo: PR Newswire Photo ServiceThe artwork, entitled 'De Wenteltrap' (literally translated, spiral staircase) - The spiral theme is a symbol of infinity more - will serve as a monument to commemorate all the victims of the largest disaster in the history of civil aviation, which occurred on March 27, 1977 at Los Rodeos airport, Tenerife-Norte (TFN). KLM Boeing 747 flight number KL4805 crashed on the runway into a Boeing 747 of Pan American Airlines (Pan Am 1736). All 248 people aboard the KLM aircraft died; 335 of the 396 aboard the Pan Am aircraft perished, with 61 survivors.
The International Tenerife Memorial is being sited on the Mesa Mota mountain, in the municipality of San Cristobal de la Laguna. On March 27, 2007 the unique artwork monument will be unveiled in the presence of Spanish, American and Dutch surviving relatives and government representatives.
Prior to the formal dedication, for the first time since the disaster occurred 30 years ago there will be an international memorial service in the Auditorio de Tenerife, in the port of the capital, Santa Cruz. Dutch and Spanish heads of state have been invited to both ceremonies.
Full Release | More images can be found on the Association's website
Labels: Tenerife Disaster
Friday, February 16, 2007
Video from Carnaval Parade 2006
With the Carnaval 2007 about to take to the streets tonight in Santa Cruz, I thought you might like to have a look this 30 minute program from the Coso Apoteosico (Main Parade) of Carnaval in 2006, recorded by www.elcanalpirata.com.
Because of bad weather last year, the main parade took place on Saturday, March 4th, instead of the traditional Martes de Carnaval (Carnival and Shrove Tuesday). The Pirate Channel interviewed many of the parading Carnaval characters, including Queens, dance troupes, murgas, Mexican Mariachis, Minnie Mouse, Harpo Marx, Montserrat Caballé, Kermit & Miss Piggy, Michael Jackson, Donald Duck, the entire Star Wars Empire and many more ... all of whom speak perfect Spanish. :)
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Photos of Santa Cruz' Carnaval Queen 2007
The Santa Cruz Carnaval's official website have released half a dozen high-res photos (681 x 1024) images of the Reina del Carnaval 2007 (Carnaval Queen 2007), Elisabet García García. Click "ampliar imagen" to see the bigger version of any of the pictures.
You'll find them all on the following page:
Gallery of Images of Carnaval 2007
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Going to Santa Cruz Carnaval this week?
If you are, you might like to know that the public bus company, TITSA, have, as in previous years, laid on extra busses for carnaval goers to get back and forth to Santa Cruz. This is always preferable, not just so you can enjoy a drink, but also because it's near impossible to park (if you can get through the traffic!)
As usual, additional busses include those on the 111 route from Playa de las Americas to Santa Cruz, with services through to 4.30 a.m.
Download the 2007 Carnaval bus schedule here (PDF) Via: PuntoInfo
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Plane highjacking 'ends safely'
Spanish security forces raided a hijacked Air Mauritania passenger plane after it landed in the Canary Islands and arrested a suspect, Spanish officials said today. Efe, Spain's national news agency, reported that the suspected hijacker was Moroccan. The Boeing 737, which took off from the Mauritian capital landed at a military airport in Gran Canaria and was immediately surrounded by paramilitary police. It remains unclear what the motive behind the hijacking was.
Plane highjacking 'ends safely'
Carnaval Queen Gala Leaves Bitter Taste
Whilst it was probably a fact that, after all the controversy that led up to it, many went to the gala already predisposed to dislike it, I doubt that even Rafael Amargo's worst critics could have expected such an insulting, pathetic and ridiculous bungle.
Or, to put it in the words of one viewer, "Rafael Amargo should be led out at dawn and shot! It was so bad it was funny." Believe it too: I sat through last night's 3 hour, 40 minute spectacle, transfixed, thinking it could never get any worse - but it did.
That it kept getting worse and worse was it's only consistent feature.
Public opinion seems to be unanimous in this evaluation of the event and, even the mayor of Santa Cruz, Miguel Zerolo, who participated in a phone-in program on TV this morning said it was a "fracaso" (failure) and was more like an Operación Triunfo gala than a Carnaval Gala. Obviously, he recognized the wisdom of saying that first, before he was publicly lynched over it. Just as Rafael Amargo himself must have concluded, having, reportedly, left the venue 45 minutes before the gala's end.
Video: How today's news reports also called it a ridiculous spectacle. On the positive side, you do get to see the winning Carnaval Queen briefly, with her costume of electric lights, entitled "Miss Dior". Negative: Belén Esteban in a pink leotard.
The public booed and whistled and the winning murga group, Los Diablos Locos (The Crazy Devils), even refused to participate and walked off the stage during the live event. This was one of the public's favorite parts of the show. (And mine too!)
Video: Los Diablos Locos walk off and the crowd goes wild.
Then the public booed the dance troupe, Los Cariocas, who followed them, because they did participate. Unfairly, I think, as I did notice that they (or someone) had decided to bring the most "buxom" girls on first - obviously in pointed defiance of Amargo's "castings" to weed out the fat ones and the ones who can't dance.
Whilst I won't criticize anyone's individual performance (I've been on stage enough times myself), what was clear was that there were too many acts, they were not of the "international calibre" we expected - neither Rosa, nor Gloria Gaynor, nor an "international artist" materialized - most of them had nothing whatsoever to do with Carnaval either and, the whole show was disjointed with pregnant pauses or murdered in cold blood by the wrong style of music, wrong tempo, at all the wrong times.
I lied. I will criticize the performance of Belén Esteban, the show's all time low point. She didn't so much emulate Madona, as emulate a pole dancer in a sleazy club. She was embarrassing cavorting in a pink leotard and about as sexy as a wet fish.
They managed to have five presenters, sorry six if you add Bibiana Fernández (Bibí Andersen), along with the unannounced Xavi Deltell (who could have done it much better alone), yet, the candidates for the title of Carnaval Queen had to announce themselves, via videos. They say that the sound on those was so bad in the congress center that it left people none the wiser, well, it wasn't much better on TV either.
If they'd started the show with the "Fashionistas" number, which brought together regular Carnaval characters, such as Fidel Castro and Miss Piggy, with the catwalk models to go with the Fashion theme, to the song performed by Claritzel and Sandra Love, put short performances by the various Carnaval groups into the judges' deliberation interlude and dumped the rest, it would have all worked.
At the end of the show, the envelope with the winners was delayed for some time, Bibí practically had to calm an imminent riot from the crowd and the eventual announcement of the winner - Elizabet Garcia representing El Dia - was so overshadowed by all that went before as to look like an afterthought.
Video: The end of the fiasco as Bibi calls for calm.
If anyone did catch this awful spectacle on international TV channels, all I can hope is that they switched over quickly enough so that the images will not have left a lasting impression. If you did see it, this was not representative of Tenerife's Carnaval.
Boos and whistles greet Tenerife's Carnaval Queen Gala
Abucheos en la gala de la Reina de Tenerife
Una gala con sabor amargo
Labels: Carnaval 2007
January's Snow on Mount Teide
The snow on Mount Teide back in January, taken from the foot of Izaña.
Via: ASOTAVENTO
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Students celebrate Valentine's Day with giant tart
The confection, decorated with two conjoined hearts pierced with an arrow, which was to be made in the patio of the school, covered an area of sixteen square meters and was made from, amongst other ingredients; 1,800 eggs, 180 trays of cakes and 120 liters of confectioners' custard, as well as 50 kilos of flour, 70 kilos of sugar, 63 kilos of liquid chocolate and 20 liters of meringue. Last year, students at the San Marcos secondary school in Icod de los Vinos celebrated in a similar manner.
Los alumnos de pastelería del IES de Tenerife elaborarán por el día de los enamorados una tarta gigante
What's coming in tonight's Gala de Amargo?
After week's of controversy over how Rafael Amargo is organizing the Gala for the Selection of the Carnaval Queen, tonight's the night. The event is being televised from the Fairs and Congress Center in Santa Cruz, Tenerife from 9.30 p.m. And this is not the local Tenerife carnival it used to be. Only one artist resident in the Canary Islands (though of Andalusian origin) is to take part in the all-star gala.
As well as the performances listed in this previous post, we now know that the gala is to be presented by actors, Rosario Pardo and Pepón Nieto, as well as singer, Lucrecia and soap star, Juan Alfonso Baptista (El Gato).
Personally, I think I'll give Belén Esteban, simulating a crucified Madonna, being lowered towards the stage, a miss thank you, but each to their own! The previously unnamed "international artist" who has been contracted to fill in for Jennifer López (as her diary was full), while the jury deliberates is Rosario Mohedano.
And somewhere among the spectacle, will be these 18 candidates for the title.
¿Qué pasará esta noche en la Gala de Amargo?
Monday, February 12, 2007
Tenerife Carnaval: The party is back on
The judge lifted the precautionary suspension and declared that the residents' case was "inadmissible". Rejecting the injunction based on an appeal lodged by a group of residents who said the carnival was too noisy, judge Jaime Guilarte Martin-Calero said that the issue had already been settled by a 2006 court ruling.
The lawyer acting for the residents, Felipe Campos, had to be escorted by several police when leaving the court today. Earlier, Campos had complained of "a possible manipulation of public opinion to generate a hostile climate against his clients."
Personally, I think not: Carnaval's popularity, with the majority, speaks for itself.
There will not, however, be any street parties for Carnaval tonight or tomorrow, Tuesday, because the town hall in Santa Cruz have declared two days of mourning out of respect for the six people who died in Los Silos at the weekend.
Carnaval events will resume on Wednesday night with the big, televised, Gala for the Selection of the Carnaval Queen and, will continue on Friday, when the Cabalgata Anunciadora officially brings the Carnaval entourage out into the streets. Parade starts at 8 p.m. and will be followed by - no doubt, noisy - fireworks.
Just as it did last year and, as I suspected, Carnaval got it's "last minute reprieve". I should have had money on the outcome. Oh well, there's always next year! :)
Tenerife allowed to celebrate carnival after all
Carnival is back on in Santa Cruz de Tenerife!
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Tenerife Cavern Disaster: Where it happened
This weekend's tragic events have put the name of Tenerife on the front pages of the media on all of the continents of the world once more. However, without wishing this to sound like a derogatory remark, many people who are reading about this event, indeed, those writing about it, previously had no notion of where Tenerife and the Canary Islands are, let alone the location of Los Silos - which I have even seen referred to as a "complex". Los Silos is a small town of +/- 5,000 inhabitants.
Indeed, the event has been classified on the international disaster database and gotten a GLIDE number already AC-20070211-9820-SPI. They even have it plotted on a Google Map at the above page. Unfortunately, at the wrong end of the island!
So, for those visitors arriving here with questions - and this is likely to be a few, as traffic to this site peaked yesterday to between one and a half and two times the usual numbers and from many searches on Yahoo and Google for terms such as "Piedra de Los Cochinos" and "canary island underground tunnels" - here, is some information we've gathered and a map of the area for your information.
See larger map | Google Earth
The blue markers, which show roughly where the expedition was intended to start and end, I've plotted at mere central points in Erjos, the start and Los Silos where they should have walked to (along a roughly straight line between the two).
The yellow markers, I can plot much more accurately: the top (northern) one being the Finca Los Pedregales here in El Palmar, where the emergency services had set up operations and, whose market mural will be familiar if you look at the top of the page. The other yellow marker is at the entrance to the single track road that leads into the Monte del Agua. (The small black marker between the two is where I am.)
Finally, I've marked the approximate location of the Barranco de los Cochinos, the place where the walkers were trapped, with a red marker, taking reference from this map on the town hall's website, on which Piedra de Los Cochinos is mentioned.
I've no idea how far into those mountains that a road, passable by vehicles goes, but as is patently obvious from the ariel images and the contours, this is no "walk in the park" and, especially not for rescue services needing to transport oxygen tanks, breathing apparatus and other equipment into the area, then 2 km into a cavern.
This page from the town hall, tells us that the footpath of the Cuevas Negras (Black Caves) - the route the party were following - was used in ancient times as the main link between Los Silos and Santiago del Teide. At the start of the 19th Century, it became a Camino Real (literally Royal Way, which we would probably call a public right of way), uniting Los Silos with Erjos, later going on to Guía de Isora. With the introduction of private property and parcelling the land, the footpaths began to be delimited by dry stone walls and, in some of the steeper areas, steps and cobbles were laid to facilitate the passage of horseshoes and beasts of burden.
At the end of the 19th Century, the most dangerous parts of the route were walled and stone bridges built across the biggest changes in level, so the route could be traversed more rapidly, bring merchandise; agricultural products, livestock, charcoal for fuel, etc., down from the middle and high ground to the towns.
Whilst some of the track is asphalted, some parts of the route, however, still maintain the same surfaces as they had originally: that is, dirt tracks without stone, nor metalled surface and varying considerably in width at various points.
This article about a walk in the area, although is in Spanish, has photos that clearly illustrate the nature of the area. In it, they describe both the barrancos (gorges) of Cuevas Negras and Los Cochinos as being "profound", i.e. exceedingly steep.
There are a number of photos, although mostly small, of the areas around Erjos, Monte del Agua, the Barranco de los Cochinos and the water gallery at Piedra de los Cochinos, here. There are further photos and a map at this page.
Finally, for those who read Spanish, or perhaps wade through with an automated translation, here is an article in Spanish travel magazine, Viajar, La belleza de un lugar privilegiado (The beauty of a privileged location), which talks about the Isla Baja area formed by Buenavista del Norte, Garachico, Los Silos and El Tanque.
More background information from:
Web site of Los Silos Town Hall
Information on the geography of Los Silos
Information on the Laurel Forest Habitat
Brief history of Los Silos
Los Silos at Wikipedia
LosSilos.com
Labels: Piedra de los Cochinos
Five New Tenerife Wallpapers and Postcards
For your viewing pleasure, we've added five new images to our selections of both free Windows Wallpaper and Tenerife Postcards that you can send to your friends. There are now 30 of each to choose from. 
We've also spent some time on categorizing our 500+ Tenerife Daily Photos by location and by category, so that you can now browse our images of the places or subjects that are of most interest to you.
Buenavista del Norte, Garachico, La Gomera, Icod de los Vinos, Las Lagunetas, La Orotava, El Palmar, Puerto de la Cruz, Teno Alto.
Canarian Houses, Carnaval & Fiestas, Christmas, Churches, Fauna, Flora, Food & Drink, Fruit & Veg, Restaurants, Wallpaper.
Get your free Tenerife Windows Wallpaper here | Send Tenerife Postcards
Balance at the end of a sad day in Tenerife
After the last of the six bodies had been recovered from the Piedra de los Cochinos gallery Sunday afternoon, the rescue helicopter passed over the house for the last time to land at the Finca Los Pedregales complex (more photos) here in El Palmar, where emergency services had set up a temporary base.
The six dead have now been identified as being five Spanish nationals; four men and one woman and, one Italian male, all between the ages of just 22 and 36.
The town halls in Buenavista del Norte and Los Silos called emergency meetings Sunday and have declared three days of mourning in the district for the dead.
According to agency and TV reports, one of the six survivors who had needed to be taken to hospital by helicopter, has been discharged, however, another's situation had worsened. Two remain in a serious condition with symptoms of muscular destruction from having been in a fixed position for such a length of time, but are not in danger.
There is no need for me to translate any further, because our tiny little valley, where normally nothing happens slowly, is today all over the international news. The most comprehensive story, was filed by Artutro Rodriguez for The Associated Press .
The BBC, Examiner, News.com.au, smh.com.au, New Zealand Herald, German Press Agency, International Herald Tribune, Boston Herald, Scotsman and SFGate ( photos), are amongst the many others, who are also running one or other of the syndicated stories from Reuters and the Associated Press.
They all appear to have got the story right too, but I cannot help but comment on the only one who didn't and, for whatever reason, decided to "dress the headline up" with the falsehood that the tunnel collapsed ... Wait for it US viewers: Fox News.
The rescue helicopters, as well as fire engines, Civil Guard vehicles and ambulances had been buzzing thorough the valley for most of the almost 24 hours it took to complete the difficult rescue operation. The coordination point on the entrance to the single track road which leads to the Monte del Agua, was actually my friends' house, so you can see how rather "close to home" this tragic event has been.
As Los Silos mayor, Santiago Martín, observed, this beautiful area deserves to be on the front pages of the world's media also for other [better] motives.
Video: Guardia Civil helicopter lands in the Barranco de los Cochinos
Labels: Piedra de los Cochinos
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Tenerife: Island under construction
Isla en construcción - Island under construction
Six dead in cavern on Tenerife
It has also been confirmed that a "good number" of those inside were of foreign origin, but no details have yet been given with regard to their identities or nationalities.
Rescue teams had not been able to reach the point where these persons were trapped, some 2,000 meters from the entrance to the gallery, although they had tried to get oxygen to them. During the night and early morning, Civil Guard rescued 23 of the 30, who had been trapped for close to 16 hours. Underwater teams with oxygen supplies reached those, 1,200 and 1,400 meters inside the gallery.
Six others, with breathing difficulties, were taken to hospital by helicopter. Three of those rescued, two women and a man, are in a serious condition.
Civil Guard, fire services, Red Cross and a helicopter from the Government Emergency Services have all been deployed in the rescue, which is in an area with already difficult access. At the gallery site, there is no mobile phone coverage, making it difficult for different rescue teams to remain in contact.
The two groups on the excursion, amongst whom are both Spanish and foreign scientists, from the Canarian Astrophysics Institute (IAC) and the Tenerife Association of Friends of Nature (ATAN), who were walking the route from Erjos - Cuevas Negras - Los Silos, in the Teno Rural Park on Saturday.
The brother of one of the party indicted that the walkers were accompanied by three guides, however the person who knew the area best had been unable to go on the trip. It had been explained to them by phone how to find the tunnel that connects the two gorges in which they were lost, nevertheless, the walkers made a mistake and entered the water gallery known as Piedra de los Cochinos instead.
The alarm was raised at around 16:45 on Saturday, when one of the party managed to escape, after they had entered the gallery at around 14:00 and an hour later began to faint. When they regained consciousness, they began their attempts to get out.
The 1.9 m high and 1.8 meter wide Piedra de los Cochinos water gallery, which was opened around 200 years ago and closed in 1964, is within the Monte del Agua - one of the largest laurisilva (subtropical cloud forests) in the Canary Islands - between Erjos and Los Silos. Access to the area is via Las Portelas - where a rescue coordination center has been set up - here in the El Palmar valley.
This is not the first accident to have occurred in the area, where there are various footpaths and walkers mistake the galleries for tunnels.
Confirmado el fallecimiento de seis personas a falta de la recuperación del último cadáver
Reducidas esperanzas de rescatar con vida a los seis excursionistas atrapados en la galería de agua
Al menos siete excursionistas permanecían atrapados en una vieja galería de Los Silos
29 personas se pierden en una galería en Tenerife
Rescatan a 20 jóvenes y quedan atrapados otros nueve en una galería en Los Silos
Doce excursionistas quedan atrapados en una galería en Los Silos
Dramatic cave rescue operation carried out in Tenerife
Six feared dead in cavern on Tenerife
Three confirmed dead in Tenerife cave rescue drama
Gas Apparently Kills 6 in Spain Tunnels
Labels: Piedra de los Cochinos
Parlez vous français dans Ténérife?
Whilst British and German visitors to the island have their respective languages well represented by various sites dedicated to Tenerife online, we do get a good number of French visitors too. Until today, however, I had not been aware of a blog dedicated to Tenerife, in French: Vida de Sol en Tenerife. OK, so the site name is in Spanish, but I assure you that the text of the news and blog posts are in French.
Actually, I was just musing over the fact that to have Cuisine des Canaries (Canary Island Cuisine), including and especially Les vins et Les fromages (the wines and cheeses), featured in French is some honour indeed. Have we arrived?
Well organized and beautifully illustrated, with sections for Paysages (Landscapes), Pratique (Practical Tips), activities, fauna and flora, culture and traditions, history and places to visit, even those of you who can only remember "Bonjour" from school French lessons would have no difficulty finding your way around.
Vida de Sol en Tenerife
Teide Parador to get water purification system
El Parador del Teide tendrá un sistema de saneamiento y de depuración de aguas
Gomera ecologists denounce hanging cables
The group, representatives on the island of Ecologists in Action, say that the cable is illegal and that conservation rules for that area expressly prohibit hanging cables.
The association, who have spent more than a decade fighting to protect this area, say the installation lacks administrative authorization and, that it not only negatively affects the landscape of this spectacular gorge, but also of the surroundings of the Cueva de Guahedum and directly affects the associated archaeological site.
Los Ecologistas denuncian la construcción de un tendido eléctrico ilegal en un espacio natural
15 trapped in shaft in Spanish Canary islands
Agence France-Presse report that fifteen people were trapped underground in a shaft on the Spanish island of Tenerife and rescuers were having difficulty evacuating them. The shaft, known as the "Piedra de los Cochinos" or Pig's Stone (photos) is in the locality of Los Silos, on the north of Tenerife. Local news reports indicate that the number, probably tourists, may be almost 20 and that they remain trapped. Civil Guard mountain rescue teams have been mobilized to the scene.
15 persons trapped in shaft in Spanish Canary islands
Labels: Piedra de los Cochinos
Tenerife in uproar because of just 15 killjoys
The New York Times in the US "ledes" with Please Keep Your Carnival Quiet.
The Guardian in the UK: Court shuts down Tenerife's all-night fiestas
In the Gulf Daily News in Bahrain: 'Noisy' Canaries carnival banned.
Expatica in Spain & Europe: Landmark ruling bans carnival to cut down racket.
Weblogs Inc. Gadling traveller's weblog in the US: Tenerife Just Got Lame.
In The Age, in Australia Fiesta ruled too much of a racket.
These are not all, of course, but a pretty representative sample. My prize though, has to go to the German Press Agency for their thorough and efficient coverage in TheRawStory, Tenerife in uproar over cancellation of carnival, where we learn that "About 15 local residents lodged a complaint". Yes, count them, fifteen!
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Carnaval awaits a resulotion
Spectators for the murga contests this week have been wearing supporting slogans on their T-Shirts, as have some of the murgas themselves, even down to pointed references in the lyrics of their songs, like "Wake your neighbor up".
Apparently, there's a simple solution: if mayor of Santa Cruz, Miguel Zerolo, were to say sorry and promise to move the Carnaval elsewhere in a few years.
El Carnaval espera una resolución, con manifestaciones y recogida de firmas
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Lenticulars stacking over El Teide Tenerife
Wikipedia tells us that, Lenticular clouds, technically known as altocumulus standing lenticularis, are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form at high altitudes, normally aligned at right-angles to the wind direction. They have been mistaken for UFOs (or "visual cover" for UFOs) because these clouds have a characteristic lens appearance and smooth saucer-like shape. You learn something every day.
Twin 'Boomerang' Lenticulars stacking over El Teide Tenerife
Carnaval injunction even baffles authorities
One ironic twist in the legal tale could be something brought up by the Mayor of Valencia, Rita Barberá. In Valencia they celebrate Las Fallas each year, which is a daytime firework display that deliberately makes the most noise possible, but, of course, revelries also go on into the evening and wee small hours.
Ms Barberá was also surprised by the judge's decision to award the injunction, but says it would be based on what is contained in the town hall's own noise-abatement rules. She adds, the town hall in Santa Cruz "cannot fail to use its own weapon."
She also underlines that by-laws they are currently drawing up in Valencia will make specific exception for the Fallas and some other fiestas to avoid a repeat of what's happening now in Santa Cruz. I'm finding it hard to believe that nobody thought to put an exception into the rules before, if this is the case, but it looks to me as if the town hall in Santa Cruz needs to redraft them and kill the killjoys, once and for all.
No, I know, of course it won't be that simple! :-)
Valencia introducirá una ordenanza del ruido durante Fallas para que no ocurra lo mismo que Tenerife
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Is Tenerife's Carnaval really off?
While the local, national and international press is still going wild with Carnaval fever over the injunction that threatens to suspend the carnaval's events in the streets, this article at ABC points out exactly what I said earlier: that it is difficult to see how it can be stopped, no matter what the court says. If Franco's dictatorship couldn't suppress it and, as yesterday's spontaneous and noisy demonstration against the decision proved, then the injunction has about a snowball in hell's chance.
One thing's for certain, with all the coverage it's getting, you can be sure that every person in the world knows about Tenerife's Carnaval now, even if they think it's off!
What does concern me is that the story being carried around the international media reports the calling off as though it were a definitive decision, affecting Carnaval in total - something, which could, if taken literally, cause panic. Hundreds of thousands of people come to Carnaval in Santa Cruz each year and many thousands of those are tourists, who book specially for the event and may now fear disappointment.
First, it still remains to be seen if the injunction sticks after negotiations are resumed in the courts on Monday, but in any case does not affect all of the events.
The injunction only affects late-night carnaval revels: music on the streets, after 10.00 p.m. We are told, "The big galas are unaffected as they take place in the city's exhibition centre, and daytime parades and events can go ahead as normal."
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Friday, February 09, 2007
Revellers protest against Carnaval suspension
This was not the only act of revenge: they've also summoned - via SMS - a botellón (big bring a bottle piss up) in the center of Santa Cruz to protest again tonight!
Los vecinos se manifiestan contra el auto judicial que suspende el Carnaval
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Voyage of a lifetime in company of Lord Nelson
The ship is just one of two owned by the charity that have been purpose-designed and built to enable a crew of able and disabled abilities to sail side-by-side as one team. Since her maiden voyage in 1986, the Lord Nelson has taken 22,724 people to sea. Of these, 8,898 people were physically disabled and 3,481 were wheelchair users.
Voyage of a lifetime in the company of Lord Nelson
Living in the Teno Rural Park
Viviendo en el Parque Rural de Teno
Tenerife Photos Win Press Awards
Associated Press photographer, Arturo Rodriguez, a photojournalist from La Palma in the Canary Islands, took second prize for "Spot News Singles" with a shot of migrants waiting for transportation on the Spanish island of Tenerife. Rodriguez also took second prize in the "People in the News Stories" category with images of tourists helping migrants on a Tenerife beach in the "World Press Photo" awards.
Full story | Rodríguez' photo of migrants on Tenerife beach
El «World Press Photo» reconoce el trabajo de un fotoperiodista canario
Is Carnaval Prejudicial to health?
The interesting thing about the noise objection is that the 55 decibel limit ordered earlier by the Superior Court of Justice, is actually 30 decibels below the level of the noise of traffic in a city. Have you seen / heard the traffic in Santa Cruz? It seems laughable to award a decision against a once-yearly event in light of that.
So, what does fit the description of an "atmosphere of little noise" that is below the 55 decibel limit? Well, according to a this article at ABC; silence, footsteps, the sound of leaves rustling on the trees, a conversation in low voices and the quiet of a library are the only things that maintain their sound below that limit.
Of course Carnaval is louder than that, but so is the TV and conversation inside people's homes, never mind what's going on outside with the traffic, industry, construction works ... For better, or worse, life is noisy these days.
The effects on health from prolonged exposure to noise and its affect on the ability to get a good night's sleep are not in doubt, but there must surely be many more things in everyday life that are more threatening than a carnival of short duration.
Carnaval, ¿perjudicial para la salud?
Labels: Carnaval 2007
What to call in an emergency in Tenerife
More than two-thirds of Europeans are said to be unaware - and only one in five British people are aware - of the existence of the European emergency number - 112. Campaigners, whose figures show that every year 5,000 more lives as well as EUR 5,000,000,000 could be saved, have demanded greater efforts to publicise the number.
The UK Foreign Office have said, that "Anything that can make travel safer overseas for British nationals is something it would be good to publicise."
112 is the emergency number to call in Tenerife and the Canary Islands.
Euro emergency number 'unknown' | The 112 Petition
Press buzzing with Carnaval Hysteria
Oh boy and, they're doing it in at least two languages. The earlier story is now being covered by Reuters, both in the international news, UK news and on their blog. ArchipelagoNoticias reiterates the alarm that the injunction is causing.
This article at Canarias7 points out that the suspension is not definitive and says that the town hall is to try to negotiate with the residents through the courts on Monday, in an attempt to reach an agreement. It also reiterates the history of Carnaval arriving with the conquistadores and being prohibited on various occasions; by King Carlos I in 1523 and by King Felipe II, as well as during the time of the Civil War.
That still did not prevent the Carnaval from being declared as a national tourist interest in 1967 and, internationally in 1980. And thereby, I think will hold the key. At the end of the day, Carnaval is popular with more people than it is unpopular. It also puts too much food into too many mouths - the expensive stalls that are erected all around the city center, as well as all the ongoing tourist revenue - to get squashed.
Then there is the matter of how would you stop revellers, if they decided to say "up yours" to the ban? Already today, dozens of Carnaval fans and members of Carnaval groups protested outside the town hall against the injunction and in sarcastic irony, they made their protest by tooting horns, i.e. making noise!
Meanwhile, the president of the Carnaval organizers in Cádiz, says that the judges decision "sounds more like a desire to annoy, than anything else." He also makes the valid point that Carnaval is only once a year and says that for noise to be a nuisance, it would have to be something that happened every day.
Even the so called Ley del botellón - that restricts the consumption of alcohol in the streets - excluded popular fiestas, such as fairs, carnivals or romerias.
One of the most practical suggestions, so far, made by one of carnaval's well-known characters, was that they should have a whip round and pay for those residents who prefer rest to stay in apartments well away on the south of the island.
The case, no doubt, will continue ...
(And you can't help thinking that it's jolly good publicity in the meantime. -)
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Carnaval in Santa Cruz Streets Cancelled
Anyway, Canarias7 report that the judge of the Contentious Administrative Court Number One (an apt name?) in Santa Cruz, has communicated today to the town hall in Tenerife's capital, an injunction that orders the the prevention of the fiestas and dances in the streets where they had been planned during the Carnaval. This is in response to petitions from a group of residents who complain about the noise.
This injunction has been awarded eight days after the Superior Court of Justice had recognized that the celebration of the fiestas in the center of the city "violated citizens' fundamental right to rest" and had declared that the fiestas could go ahead, but that the noise level must not exceed 55 decibels (the level of a conversation).
Presumably now, the revelries can be moved to somewhere where they won't bother anyone, unless, of course, there is again a last minute reprieve ...
El Juzgado suspende los actos en la calle del Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Labels: Carnaval 2007
How did camels get to Australia?
Well, I've got to admit that I had never pondered this question - despite having a friend who has worked as a cameleer in Australia - until I discovered a blog post that said camels had first been imported from the Canary Islands in 1840. This article on Cameleering in Central Australia tells us more about that first rather unsuccessful importation, where half a dozen camels were loaded onto a steamship of the Appoline line in Tenerife. Only one survived the journey.
Of course, the Canary Islands still have camels, previously as beasts of burden and, now mostly used for annual Three Kings parades and by tourists, such as those at the Camello Center at El Tanque here in Tenerife, and the camels (actually, they are all dromedaries) in Lanzarote, who will be off on a European Tour in the summer.
In earlier times, camels were exported, not just to Austrailia, but, "Through the Canary Islands, camels were introduced in the American continent." Naturally, the Canary Islands are merely "stepping stones" in this international trade, since the animals are hardly native, having first arrived here from continental Africa.
But Camels have become an emblem of the islands, so much so that, faced with near extinction in the first half of the 20th Century, in 1985, the Canary Islands Government found it necessary to create a special law to promote camel breeding here.
This article, About the arrival of the camels in the Canary Islands, not only tells us about their arrival, but where many departed to and how they have been used on the islands throughout history. The account, which continues to the present day, even describes their role in the defeat of some of those dastardly English pirates!
Sculpture to commemorate Tenerife Disaster
The Tenerife Island Corporation has accepted the donation of a monument to commemorate the fatal accident that occurred at Tenerife's northern airport of Los Rodeos, 30 years ago this year, on March 27, 1977, report ABC.
The association of the Dutch families who lost loved ones in the crash have supported the creation of the monument, made by a prestigious sculptor from The Netherlands (they didn't give a name) and which is already on the island.
Una escultura conmemorará los 30 años desde el accidente aéreo de Los Rodeos
Labels: Tenerife Disaster
Out of Africa ... To the Canaries
| If you've ever been stuck at an airport on your way to your holiday, you'll have some concept of how Erin felt. This report will also remind you, next time you are delayed for a couple of hours, that things could be worse! Much worse, in fact. Actually, I think I would be "Quietly Freaking Out" after spending Christmas at Nouadhibou airport - where goats wander down the airport runway - and having the plane turn up 3 days later, but, despite the fact that not everything (alright, not much) actually worked out to plan, it's a such a well written report of the trip - to Gran Canaria and Tenerife - that I think you will really enjoy the read. Happy Holidays |
Dressing up for Carnaval
Gaymengc.com make a couple of points that may not be apparent to those of you just visiting and who don't know the "rules of social etiquette" for Carnaval.
The first is that, although the Carnavals in all the various towns do have a theme, it isn't necessary for you to struggle to find a costume that fits that theme - unless you want to. You can wear whatever costume you like. To street events, you can also "come as you are", if you don't wish to dress up, but why waste the excuse?
The other is that "Drag of all kinds is worn by all kinds of men whether straight, gay or undecided." There are all kinds: some I've seen are "convincing women", but I've seen plenty of others with beer bellies and beards, in nurses outfits with stockings and suspenders or a Spanish flamenco dress, coyly hiding behind fans.
In fact, for the Burial of the Sardine event that - symbolically at least - marks the end of Carnaval, it is almost mandatory for men to dress as "wailing widows".
Whatever your culture (or your mother) taught you about not being caught dead "dressed like that" in the streets doesn't count here. It doesn't even matter if you are going to Carnaval on the public bus. Everyone else is dressed up. Just go for it!
Dressing up for Carnaval
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Support for Climate Change protest in the Canary Islands was absolutely undetectable
The decision, by thousands of citizens, to switch off lights and electrical appliances for five minutes between 19:55 and 20:00 last Thursday, to show their preoccupation for climate change, caused a fall in demand by around 2.5% of the usual figure at that time, according to the Spanish Electrical Network. However, sources at Unelco-Endesa in the Canary Islands say that the effects were "absolutely undetectable".
Far be it for me to speculate, but one of the reasons for this might be that we didn't know about it. Whilst I'd heard about the protest internationally, via the internet, I hadn't seen anything on local news. And, given the frequency of the times we've already gone without electricity, maybe we thought we'd already done our part?
Canarias no se 'apaga' contra el cambio climático
Photographs of Nature 2007 in Puerto
Diario de Avisos report that there are 100 images currently on show in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, selected from amongst the more than twenty thousand entries to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest, organized by the BBC Wildlife Magazine and the Natural History Museum in London. The collection includes all the winners, as well as others that have been chosen for their particular quality.
The exhibition can be seen at the Sala de Arte de CajaCanarias in Puerto de la Cruz and at the Castillo de San Felipe, from February 8th, until March 4th. Hours are 11:00 to 13:00 and 17:00 to 21:00, Tuesday to Sunday at the Sala and 11:00 to 13:00 and 17:00 to 20:00, Tuesday to Saturday at the Castillo (Castle).
Addresses and phone numbers of the Sala and the Castillo can be found here
Monday, February 05, 2007
Montserrat Caballé in La Orotava, Tenerife
Catalan soprano, Montserrat Caballé - whose name will be familiar even to non-opera lovers for her duet with Queen's Freddie Mercury for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics - is to star at the reopening of the Sala Teobaldo Power in La Orotava, Tenerife.
Caballé's performance, at 21:00 hrs, on March 10th, is part of the Festival Multitemático 2007 that is being held at the theatre between March 2nd and 17th and, that will bring together multiple artists of various different styles.
The 1,000 seater, Neo-Canarian style theatre, which is currently undergoing renovation, was inaugurated in 1957. It is considered one of the best concert venues in the Canary Islands, known for it's excellent acoustics and, has seen performances from great names such as Krystian Zimerman, Alfredo Kraus and Placido Domingo, as well as some of the most important orchestras from Europe and America.
Montserrat Caballé coronará la reapertura del auditorio orotavense
Orotava Carpet In Guinness Record Attempt
The alfombra: the famous sand carpet made for Corpus Christi in the plaza in front of the town hall in La Orotava, Tenerife is hoping to get itself into the Guinness Book of Records.
La Orotava town hall says that it has approached Guinness World Records, the company that collates the statistics and, is hoping to get a response within the next three or four weeks. The basis of their claim is that the La Orotava carpet is the largest of its type: that is an ephemeral carpet made from volcanic sands and, without the addition of dyes.
The size of the plaza's carpet is considerably superior to 900 square meters.
The idea of submitting the petition is not new, having been discussed several years ago, but following the celebration of the International Congress of Ephemeral Art in 2006 and, after meeting with carpet makers from various parts of the world, the council came to the conclusion that the town's carpet was unique.
If the response from Guinness is positive, certification will be made in the presence of a Notary Public on the eve of Corpus Christi in La Orotava.
Naturally, the town hall feels that the inclusion of the carpet in the Guinness Book of World Records will be an excellent tourist promotion for the town of La Orotava.
This grand carpet is the high spot of this ephemeral art tradition in the town, which was started in the mid-nineteenth Century, by the Monteverde family. The first time that a carpet was made in the town hall's plaza - or at least on part of it - was in 1905, to mark the visit of the marines of the Spanish Navy to La Orotava. Its confection as part of the Corpus Christi celebrations, was started in 1919.
La alfombra del Corpus "quiere verse" en el Libro Guinness de los Récords
Labels: Corpus Christi
Tourism generated 12.7 million euros in 2006
The beans have been counted for the last financial year revealing that tourism in the Canary Islands generated 12,669 million euros (£8,375 million / $16,381 million) in revenue in 2006, 3.5% and 440 million euros more than in the previous year.
Foreign tourists contributed 74.8% (9,486 million euros) of that revenue, while the rest, 3,183 million euros, comes from tourists from the Spanish mainland.
Revenue from foreign tourism was up by 2%, but the largest rise was in the national market, which saw an increase by 8%. Some 64% (8,108 million euros) of the earnings stay in the Canary Islands, while the balance goes overseas.
Canarias obtuvo 12.669 millones de ingresos por turismo, un 3,5 por ciento más que en 2005
Tenerife second in low cost flight demand
Only New York beats Tenerife in the number of search queries made by British travellers looking for low cost flights, according to statistics of web site, cheapflights.co.uk. The island holds second place, having generated almost 50,000 search queries from potential travellers in only the first half of January.
Orlando was the third most frequent search. This also puts Tenerife ahead of other Spanish destinations that have always been popular with British holidaymakers, such as Alicante and Malaga, which occupy forth and fifth places respectively.
Tenerife, segunda opción entre quienes buscan vuelos de bajo coste
La Palma: Preservation versus Prosperity
Lonely Planet's Sarah Andrews is still in the Canary Islands, this time on the island of La Palma, which it seems is headed for big changes. The article warns that, "We should enjoy La Palma while we can. It is still relatively untouched by mass tourism, but if local politicians have their way, huge new hotel complexes could replace the banana plantations that currently drive 80 percent of the local economy."
La Palma: Preservation versus Prosperity
What beach looters didn't find
The Sunday Mirror in the UK have an exclusive story, which says that looters, who recently helped themselves to motorcycles and other valuable stuff off the ship that ran aground in Devon UK, missed four crates of Chivas Regal that was destined for the Canary Islands (plus a £1 million of Scotch). If you find that we have a shortage of the hard stuff, now you know why it is having a little difficulty getting here. :)
What beach looters didn't find
Atlantic rowing team at halfway
"Explorer Dom Mee and his rowing crew have passed the halfway mark in their attempt to set the fastest row from the Canary Islands to Barbados."
Atlantic rowing team at halfway
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Swiss boat claims first solar-powered Atlantic crossing
A Swiss-made catamaran has become the first solar-powered boat to cross the Atlantic after reaching the French Caribbean island of Martinique, the boat's owners said. The 14 metre (46 feet) boat largely followed the historic route sailed by explorer Christopher Columbus on the first known maritime crossing of the Atlantic in the 15th century, making its last stopover in the Canary Islands.
Swiss boat claims first solar-powered Atlantic crossing
Fly to Teno and El Palmar in Google Earth
On the other hand, even if what you will see is at least five years old - and one can argue that the natural scenery; the mountains, etc., have been here a heck of a lot longer than that - you can download a Google Earth placemarker (.kml) to fly straight to the lighthouse here at Punta Teno on the north west tip of the island.
It's an amazing area with fascinating and breathtaking views and links to photos too.
There's another of the nearby volcanic structure, called "Montaña de Taco", between Los Silos and Buenavista del Norte and, another that will take you to the Albergue de Bolico, the mountain hostel at an altitude of 820 meters at the head of the El Palmar valley. Search the Google Earth Hacks site for "tenerife", as they have several more.
Google Earth still showing old images of Tenerife
Google released Google Earth 4 on January 8th, so we upgraded our version, full of hope of seeing something newer than the pre-roof painting (done in November 2003) images of this area. We were sadly disappointed. Though what we are seeing is undoubtedly clearer now, the 3D enhanced and the copyright says 2007, these are still the exact same ancient images we've always seen and there is still no sign of even the 2005/2006 images that Grafcan said they had in their possession.
Whilst I am still not sure that I fully embrace the theories leading to accusations of censorship and conspiracy (but I don't totally reject them either), there does seem to be something decidedly not quite right in continuing to show images this old.
The most likely explanation I can find is that these five (or more) year old images are all that the small, public company in the Canary Islands, Grafcan, who supplied them to Google, are prepared to let go for free. That I can understand, up to a point.
However, through this agreement, the Canary Islands government did succeed for a time in persuading Google not to use competing images that also were not censored. Though that particular issue is now resolved to the extent that the base at Gando, on Gran Canaria, is no longer "whited out" on the images being shown now.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Spiritual retreat in the historic town of Garachico
Lodging in Spain's Monasteries (Anacapa Press), which advertises "heavenly accommodations and sinfully low rates", suggests that it is possible - for spiritual retreats only - to stay at the Franciscan Convent of the Inmaculada Concepción in Garachico, Tenerife.
The publishers say that both men and women are welcome and that the accommodation is, "5 beds in 1 single room and 2 double rooms, baths are shared." If that is - literally - true, as it reads, then, I have to say that this is the most progressive convent that I ever came across. :)
Obviously, you would need to check all the details and make arrangements well in advance, but it was a fascinating little "secret" find. Tel.: (+34) 922 830273
The Convent of the Concepcionistas Franciscanas is one of several founded in Garachico. The forerunner to the present building dated from 1643, but disappeared as a result of the eruption of 1706 and a fire three years later. From 1709, until the convent was rebuilt in 1749, the nuns took refuge in the house of their protector, the Marques de La Quinta Roja, which is now the present Hotel Quinta Roja.
Lodging in Spain's Monasteries
Understanding Carnaval: Murga
Yeah, yeah, you turn up in costume, you party ... what's to understand? :-)
However, there are all sorts of different components and participants in Carnaval and the Murga groups are one of them. You may see them - you'll know if you hear them - and wonder what it's about. I liked this description, which is kinda Murga 101:
"Murgas are a key part of Carnaval in Las Palmas and elsewhere in the Canary Islands. They’re choirs who sing along with a sort of kazoo band (the sound is an acquired taste) and their songs are a satirical commentary on the year’s news. They are not known for being politically correct, which is hardly a Carnaval tradition."
Murgas say they don’t use “maricón” in a homophobic way
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Finding paradise in new places
Surfer, James Pribram, has been on Tenerife and says, he's staying out of the main tourist sector - which he likens to "Coney Island meets Las Vegas".
Well, I wouldn't know, since I've been to neither place, but Vegas' reputation and the many images one sees on TV lead me to believe this is a just assessment, in that it is "about as ugly a place as one can imagine." Thankfully, he adds:
"However, once outside of this area, the island itself is simply amazing and last night's sunset was nothing short of the most amazing display of orange blinding sky that I have ever experienced. The scenic drives up into the mountains — which do have snow on the top of them — is like a scene out of a National Geographic magazine."
Something dawned on me here: I doubt many people see Las Vegas and think that the whole of America is like that. Yet so much bad press, perpetuated by tourists who never leave their hotel pool or bar, let alone the resorts, cause people to think that one small area constitutes and is representative of the whole of Tenerife.
Finding paradise in new places
Spanish government requests assistance of Church for underaged immigrants
The Catholic News Agency report that the Spanish government has requested the Church’s assistance in helping 900 underage immigrants who have come to the Canary Islands, 250 of whom are in need of urgent care. The Church says it wants to respond to this petition in a positive way, but also comments that, “we are witnessing difficult situations related to the human rights of minors.”
Spanish government requests assistance of Church for underaged immigrants
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Success at the Teno Cheese Contest
Buenavista del Norte town hall, who organized the XII Cheese Contest in the tiny hamlet of Teno Alto last week declared the event a success with a total of 16 cheeses entered in fresh, semi-cured and cured categories.
Teno Alto cheese is a product that takes a lot of hard work to make, basically by still manual processes, by the few farmers who still live in the village and, whose flocks graze on the unspoiled pastures, producing a pure, high quality milk that is the principal ingredient of a cheese of recognized prestige on the island.
The town hall also recognizes the traditional cheese making as an important element of the area's offerings to tourists in these rural surroundings. Teno Alto cheese can also be bought at the weekly Sunday Market in El Palmar. You can't miss it.
La XII edición del concurso de quesos registró un nuevo éxito de participación
Learn about Canary Islands Flora and Fauna
For the serious student, with knowledge of Spanish, the Albergue de Bolico will start an educational program in March, denominated Flora y Fauna, for those interested in the environment, cultural and natural heritage, leisure activities and for professionals in these industries, on the flora and fauna of the archipelago.
Details in Spanish: El Cardón Educación Ambiental y el proyecto prometeo organizan en Buenavista del Norte un curso para conocer la flora y fauna de Canarias
Discovering Natural Spaces 2007
Santiago del Teide town hall, together with El Cardón, present the 14th Edition of an annual program of guided walks, called “Descubre tus Espacios Naturales” (Discover your Natural Spaces). These walks take place at various locations all around Tenerife and outside of the island. Locally, there is a walk on Saturday, March 24th that covers the coast of Teno Bajo and ends with lunch in a local restaurant.
Further details (in Spanish), where you can also download the program in PDF
Air tax increase comes into force
Just a reminder that, "Rules doubling the amount of passenger duty people pay when taking flights from the UK have come into force", today, report the BBC. The report also says that, "At Luton airport this morning, Easyjet passengers flying to Faro in Portugal expressed some disgruntlement" - as I'm sure will UK passengers flying to Tenerife - but despite some predictions of chaos, most airlines are - at least in public - expressing confidence that there will be few hold-ups. The big fear for the airlines was that some customers would turn up completely unaware they had to pay.
Air tax increase comes into force
Free February Tenerife Calendars
Blossoms & Blue Sky 
Peaceful PatioYour choice of two distinct designs of calendar - that are free to print off on your own printer - are now available for February 2007.
Click on the individual images to open the full-size version (8" x 11") of the calendar of your choice in a new window. Save the image to your computer and print it off.
Pin up in your kitchen, your office for counting down to your next Tenerife holiday!
To make sure you get your new calendar page each month, subscribe to our newsletter, where we will remind you when they become available.
Free Tenerife Calendars to Download and Print
Almond Flower Route 2007
The notice board at the Albergue de Bolico - the rural hostel at the head of the El Palmar valley - brings us the news that, "Once again, the beginning of the year offers us the possibility to enjoy an emotional experience: the flowering of the almonds." And so it is.
The Tenth Edition of the Almond Flower Route is organized jointly by the Council of Culture at Santiago del Teide Town Hall, the Council for the Environment of the Tenerife Island Corporation, the Teno Rural Park, the company El Cardón and the Los Poleos association.
This year, due to the increase in participation in recent years, two guided walks are offered, on Saturday and Sunday, February 10th and 11th 2007, through the higher areas of Santiago del Teide, on an old footpath that runs from the village center to Arguayo. The spectacular sight of hundreds of almond trees, with their white blossoms and blue tinted leaves, can be seen in this singular landscape, marked by the lava flows left by the eruption of the Chinyero volcano in 1909.
Before arriving at Arguayo, the walk passes through the Valle de Arriba to reach El Calvario, which, according to reports by the local people, is where the Cristo del Valle (the valley's figure of Christ) stopped the lava flow that threatened to bury the houses.
The itinerary is of low difficulty and a duration of approximately four hours (09:00 to 13:00), which allows the visitor to enjoy the rich heritage of this part of the island, where once, the cultivation of almonds was an important part of the area's activities.
Bookings for the walk on Saturday, February 10th 2007, can be made via the Council of Culture at Santiago del Teide Town Hall, on 922 863 127.
For the second walk on Sunday, 11th February 2007, bookings can be made via the Central Booking office for Canary Islands Hostels, on 902 455 550.
There is also a X Concurso Fotográfico “Almendro en Flor" (Tenth Almond in Flower Photo Contest) to compliment the walks, with a top prize of €300. Also, all of the entries will be exhibited in the patio of Santiago del Teide's town hall between March 9th and 23rd - making a nice visit also for those who cannot make the walks.
Ruta del Almendro en Flor. X Edición
El Valle vuelve a cubrirse de blanco
PS: We offer a range of souvenirs; apparel, housewares, postcards, prints and more, featuring the image above of almonds in flower in the El Palmar valley.
Tags: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Canarias
Fiesta in the Courts
Once again, say Diario de Avisos, the future of Carnaval in Santa Cruz, Tenerife, seems to be in the hands of the judges. Yesterday, a sentence was handed down by the Superior Court of Justice in the Canary Islands, partly in favour of a small group of residents in the center of the city who had denounced the excessive noise from the partying. The decision recognized that the noise harms the residents' fundamental right to rest, but, rather than banning the Carnaval from the streets, imposes a limit of 55 decibels on the night time revelries. Something, which the report points out, is pretty impossible to achieve, since that is approximately the level of a conversation. The other option is to move the festivities to non-residential areas.
La fiesta de los jueces
Santa Cruz tendrá que controlar más los ruidos, pero habrá Carnaval en la calle
Labels: Carnaval 2007
Tenerife and Google sign an agreement
The event, which was part of the opening ceremony for the island's stand at the FITUR travel fair in Madrid and, which was attended by more than one hundred travel agents, was a promotional agreement between Tenerife and Google España.
The initiative has a budget of 312,000 euros and consists of a promotional campaign on the internet, based upon sponsored links. In other words, Adwords Ads!
But, with all due ceremony, the dotted line on the "pioneering agreement" was signed by Google's director for Spain and Portugal, Isabel Aguilera, the Tenerife Island Corporation and the town halls of Arona, Adeje and Puerto de la Cruz.
La Isla y Google firman un acuerdo de promoción pionero a nivel nacional
El Hierro estimates damages at 22.9 million
El Hierro's damages, caused by last weekend's storm in the Canary islands and which badly affected El Hierro - the worst ever disaster to hit the island - have been estimated at 22.9 million euros (£15.1 million / $29.8 million).
By comparison, the damages left by Tropical Storm Delta in 2005 on that island, which is also still recuperating from the forest fire that affected 1,400 hectares of the mountain last September, were, I believe, in the region of one million euros.
Studies are to be undertaken to get urgent help for the recuperation of the El Hierro Giant Lizard, of which 178 examples died as a consequence of last weekend's weather and, for a plan to improve the situation of the gorges to prevent similar consequences from storms in future.
El Cabildo de El Hierro cifra en 22,9 millones de euros los daños ocasionados por las últimas lluvias
Labels: Tenerife Weather
Canary Island products to be exported to China
For the first time, the Canary Islands' agro-alimentary sector is to be launched upon the Chinese market, as part of a national promotion over the next three years. People in China will be able to enjoy the Canary Islands' gastronomy, including the famous cheeses, thanks to weekly connections with the principal Asiatic ports.
El sector agroalimentario canario se introduce en el mercado chino
Soldier Dies in Tenerife Storm
A 25 year old, Tenerife born, soldier of the Artillery Regiment, stationed at the Plaza del Cristo in La Laguna, died on Saturday after he was hit in the head by the door of the barracks. The strong winds, caused by last weekend's storms, had blown the door, causing the soldier a severe fracture of the skull. He underwent surgery in the intensive care unit at the University Hospital, but died shortly afterwards.
Muere un soldado en Tenerife por el temporal del fin de semana
A fungus to kill a bug
Scientists at the University of Alicante are investigating a type of fungus that could rid palm trees of the pest picudo rojo red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), in a space of seven to ten days, according to a report from Spanish news agency, EFE.
The investigations over this biological means of control are still in the first stages, however, they are optimistic that there is light at the end of the tunnel in the fight against this insect which poses a threat to the islands' palm trees. Investigators hope that a formula can be commercialized within three to four years.
Un hongo contra el picudo rojo
Snow in Tenerife
Me pica el pie (got itchy feet) blog, has several photos of the snow on Teide that fell this last weekend. They say, "After a few days of road closure at the National Park of El Teide, today we could finally access the area. It was.... mindblowing!"
Go look: Nieve en Tenerife - Snow in Tenerife
Two Charged over Tenerife Airport Fire
Two people have been charged for imprudence over the fire at Tenerife south's Reina Sofia airport, which occurred on January 17th and affected around 700 square meters of the ceiling. Specialists in fire investigations pointed to possible professional negligence when they found highly flammable materials during their inspection.
Dos personas imputadas por el incendio del aeropuerto Reina Sofía de Tenerife
