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Lobster Photo: bredero5Did you know that Canarian lobsters are different from the ones you see in restaurant tanks or served up as Lobster Thermidor? (And, no, I'm not just referring to this Canarian sculpture of a lobster, which is on the island of Lanzarote.)

"Much rarer is the Canarian Lobster a looking strange creature which more resembles a giant wood louse and has lost it?s claws.", say TenerifeScuba blog, who were lucky enough to spot one and have a camera. Canarian Lobsters

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Floral cross in Güímar, Tenerife.
Photo: MatapardaThe Fiestas de Mayo, especially El Día de la Cruz (The Day of the Cross) are celebrated in Santa Cruz - fairly obviously, as Santa Cruz means "Holy Cross" - Los Realejos (with their famous, annual firework battle) and in various other locations.

These fiestas are also celebrated in Puerto de la Cruz as the Fiestas in honour of the foundation of the town (3rd May) and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, where they are especially pretty as residents decorate the fixed crosses in the public streets with enormous flower and fruit decorations.

For both residents and visitors to be able to enjoy this custom, this year, Puerto de la Cruz town hall has arranged guided tours of the crosses on May 3rd.

Only small groups of 20 people can be accommodated, so prior bookings must be made by April 30. Presumably this can be done at the town hall ( C/ Santo Domingo s/n, Plaza Europa, Puerto de la Cruz. Telephone: +34 922 378 400 ).

UPDATE: Bienmesabe report that bookings can be made at the Biblioteca Pública Municipal "Tomás de Iriarte" (Public Library at Calle Agustín de Bethencourt, nº 11. Tfno: 922 380 015), until 15:00 on May 2nd, for the tours which take place at 20:00, 21:00, 22:00 and 23:00 on that same evening, May 2nd.

Whilst the guided tours will explain various historical information of interest, with the aid of a street map of Puerto de la Cruz and a modicum of initiative, it ought to be possible to get round and see some of these works of art independently.

The route starts from the Plaza Enrique Talg (at the end of Calle Iriarte, next to the Hotel Bambi) and passes by the house of artisan, Don Felipe Barreto, the chapel of Las Lonjas, the Cruz de la Carola, the chapel of Cruz Verde, Calle Mequinez, Calle del Lomo and Cruz del Peñón. (Calle = Street. Cruz = Cross.)

What is unique to Puerto de la Cruz is that the floral decorations are added to existing crosses of historical importance, whilst in other towns on the islands, such as Los Realejos and Güímar, the custom is to make crosses out of flowers.

Fiestas de Mayo 2007 Puerto de la Cruz

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La Opinión report that the Tenerife Island Corporation yesterday unanimously approved the construction of a train line to unite Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz with the south of the island. The 80 kilometer long service is expected to be ready between 2014 and 2015.

Work on the Tenerife train, says the report, will start in the second quarter of 2008 and stops are planned at Santa Cruz, Acorán, Candelaria, San Isidro, Reina Sofía Airport, Los Cristianos and Torviscas (Adeje).

This will cut journey time down to 35 minutes for a non-stop express or 45 minutes for a service that stops at all stations. Faster than going by car and certainly much faster than the bus which takes between 90 minutes and 2 hours, if I remember rightly.

Further studies are to look into the feasibility of extending the line to the future port of Fonsalía (Guía de Isora) and for additional stops at Güimar, Abades, Las Chafiras and Parque La Reina. Those fond of train trivia will like to know that, of the 80 kilometers, 10% will run through tunnels and 8% of the line will run over viaducts or bridges.

Aprobada la construcción del tren que conectará Santa Cruz de Tenerife con el sur de la isla

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"Inflation in Tenerife and the rest of the Canary Islands is set to fall to just 1.7 per cent by the end of the year", write Isle of Tenerife - Blog. "That would see inflation on the archipelago the lowest in Spain, well below the predicted national average of 2.4 per cent.", they add. Good news on economic front

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Karen and Larry McCracken are taking one heck of a mega trip - Regent's 111-day 2007 World Cruise on the Seven Seas Voyager - and have created an online journal of the journey. By day 104, yes, you guessed it, they had arrived in sunny Tenerife.

Here is their account of the flying visit, last Sunday, April 22nd and, here are photos. This one, of Tenerife's Harbor and Anaga Mountains, I really particularly like. Zoom in to see the relief and the houses going vertically up the side of that mountain!

About Santa Cruz, they write, however, "As it was a Sunday, most of its stores were closed. Therefore, Regent provided a shuttle bus service over the foothills of the Mount Teide volcano to the seaside resort of Puerto de la Cruz."

Why is this the same story every time? Either the cruise ships need to change the day they make one day visits to the capital, or those shopkeepers need to get with the 21st Century, if they want tourists to leave a bit of money with them.

It also got me thinking (a dangerous thing) ... I wonder if this is deliberate?

Whilst tourists might spend money in the shops if they were open, the fact that there is naff all else for them to do, gives them almost no alternative, but to pay for an excursion. Might that actually be a deliberate "business decision", either on the part of the cruise ship operators, the port or the island's authorities, I wonder?

Day 104 - Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

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The Canary Islands, with 2.6 million visitors in the first quarter of this year, still managed the lead the Spanish league table of regions most visited, even though this was a 0.1% decrease in relation to the same period last year. In Spain, the number of foreign tourists arriving between January and March was up by 5.3%.

The United Kingdom continued to send the greatest number of tourists, 2.6 million, just over a quarter of the total of 10.1 million, to Spain in the first quarter of this year. Germany, France, Nordic countries and Italy make up the rest of the top five.

Canarias lidera el mercado turístico con una ligera bajada de afluencia

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Better visit La Gomera in the next million years, or you might be out of luck.

A scientist from a university in South Africa is studying the "disappearing" islands phenomena off the north-west coast of Africa. "The island over which greatest concern is raised is La Gomera, the [second] smallest of the Canary Islands which has not had a volcanic eruption in the last four million years. If the island does not get an eruption in the next one million years, it will erode, Goodman-Cron confirms. "

Canary Islands disappearing

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The Canary Islands were the Spanish region that registered the smallest increase in indefinite job contracts between July 2006 and March 2007, compared to the same period a year before. In Spain as a whole, over 1.8 million indefinite contracts were registered, almost a 48% increase, in the nine months since labor reforms came into force. Despite not being a seasonal tourist destination, temporary contracts and thus, insecure jobs, have been a major problem for workers on these islands.

The same report informs us that the number of foreigners registered with the Social Security in Spain (as job holders and contributors to the fund), at March 31st, was 1,927,347, an increase of 2,71%. Of the total, some 1,311,859 are from countries outside of the EU and just 615,488 come from countries in the European Union.

Canarias registra la menor subida en contratación indefinida

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Liz in Gran Canaria writes, "In Spain and especially in the Canary Islands animal rights issues are totally ignored. I live in a picturesque valley but the cruelty of animals here is beyond the wildest imaginings. These are country people who keep dogs tied up in chains and they throw them food when they remember. I go out walking with my dog and have to keep my head covered with a peaked cap and I wear dark glasses to try and block out the sights that are to be seen. I arrive home in tears a lot of the time. I've decided that I have to do something. This can?t go on."

And I don't doubt a word of it, because I see exactly the same here. My heart aches constantly, because I have to pass a tied up dog just yards from my door.

Fortunately, Liz has got some positive response from her local council and now needs some help with a a pamphlet to raise awareness of the rights of animals.

And has also set up a blog (in Spanish) for the campaign:
¡Basta Ya el Maltrato de los Animales!

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A 65 year old British citizen couldn't keep his hands off a British woman of 24 and, for allegedly "touching her up" and making obscene gestures, promptly got himself detained by National Police at an hotel in Los Cristianos last Wednesday.

The victim had been sunbathing by the pool at the establishment, when she was touched on various parts of her body. Hotel staff decided to call the police after the girl moved to another location, but the accused began to bother her again.

Detenido un británico en el sur de Tenerife por presuntos abusos sexuales

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Vilaflor, the highest village on Tenerife, Hermano Pedro fountain and a poster of the annual festivities. Photo: PengMore than a thousand pilgrims yesterday, according to members of the organization, walked the route of saint Hermano Pedro from his birthplace, Vilaflor (Tenerife's highest village) to his cave near El Medano, which this year celebrated it's second edition.

The walk started very early in the morning, at 6 a.m. while it was still dark, with the arrival of some of the pilgrims to the area near the cave, who were then taken by bus up to Villafor so that they could partake in the whole route.


Image of Hermano Pedro inside the cave that bears his name. Photo: WesisnayAt around 7 a.m. the participants were blessed, after which they began their walk along El Calvario, via the Los Cortados way, the La Vera and El Bucio gorges and the area known as Pino de Tío Honorio (Uncle Honorio's Pine).

A little after 9 a.m. the walkers reached the municipality of Granadilla de Abona and more pilgrims joined the excursion, who had been waiting at the Charco del Pino and in the center of Granadilla.

An hour and a half later, at 10:30 a.m. those who had congregated in San Isidro, left from the hermitage there, while others who had gathered in the coastal village of Los Abrigos started after 11 a.m.


Hermano Pedro's Cave. Photo Polylerus

El camino SANTO
Most of the pilgrims reached the cave a little before 1 p.m., when Eucharist was celebrated there, presided over by the Bishop of Tenerife, Bernardo Álvarez, assisted by local clergy and accompanied by folk group, Los Chasneros.

It was also announced that a museum is to be opened on the site and that local administrations have begun the process to have the route declared as a Site of Historic Interest, with the object of protection and preservation.


Inside the Church of San Pedro (Saint Peter) in Vilaflor. Photo Jens SteckertImmediately behind the Iglesia de San Pedro Apósto (Saint Peter's Church) in Vilaflor is the house where Hermano Pedro was born on March 21st, 1626.

Hermano Pedro died young, at the age of 41, on the 25th of April of 1667. His tomb is in the San Francisco Church, in La Antigua, Guatemala.

The Cueva del Hermano Pedro (Brother Peter's Cave) is on land that belongs to the Airports Authority, AENA, at Tenerife South Airport, close to one end of the runway. Popular tradition has it that Pedro de Bethencourt, who was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002, had used the cave during his labours as a shepherd.

Pedro de Bethencourt was born in Vilafor in 1626 and lived in Tenerife until the age of 23, dedicating his life to shepherding goats between the peaks and the coast, close to where the cave is to be found. In the last half of his life, he lived in La Antigua, Guatemala, where he became a missionary. Through his charitable works, Brother Peter became one of the pioneers of providing medial assistance to convalescents as well as bringing education to the indigenous population and to the poor.

His extreme dedication and, his works in providing for the most needy, made Hermano Pedro a very popular figure amongst Christians in Guatemala, resulting in his canonization by Pope John Paul II, on July 29th, 2002. Hermano Pedro is therefore the first Guatemalan, Central American and Canarian Saint.

Hermano Pedro de Bethencourt is also a well loved figure amongst Canarians and the number of pilgrimages and visits to the cave, as well as religious events celebrated there, continues to rise. Because of this, AENA and the Bishopric have signed an agreement over the management of the site in which the image of the first Canarian saint is venerated. Look out for a figure of Hermano Pedro on the link road between the airport and the motorway, which is there to remind visitors that the landscape that now receives tourists is that which welcomed the saint while he lived in Tenerife.

Juan Pablo II llega a Guatemala: Que canonización de Hermano Pedro
El sábado se realizará una ruta que recorrerá el camino del Hermano Pedro
LA RUTA DEL HERMANO PEDRO TENDRÁ IGLESIA
Hermano Pedro de San José de Betancur
Vilaflor de Chasna | Vilaflor de Chasna

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A montage of photos of various parts of Tenerife, set to emotive music, by Cely, a lady who is obviously (and rightfully) proud of her native island.



Link to video for feed readers

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ABC report that the Tenerife Island Corporation and Santa Cruz town hall are going out for tapas together for the sixth time. From the 1st to the 13th of May, various establishments (yet to be confirmed) in the city will be competing for best in three classes of tapas; traditional, creative and Canarian. They will then be organizing and promoting a "Ruta de la Tapa" (Tapas Route) so visitors can go bar hopping in the city. (As if anyone needed an excuse! :) If this works as I understand it has in previous years, you can try some new and interesting dishes at bargain prices.

Cabildo y Ayuntamiento de Santa Cruz se van de tapas por sexta vez

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David Suchet as Hercule Poirot in The Dream.Poirot actor David Suchet has signed to play controversial media tycoon Robert Maxwell in an upcoming TV drama, to be called, simply "Maxwell" and which will be shown shortly on BBC2. According to the BBC site, the date and time are still to be confirmed.

The publishing baron drowned off Tenerife in the Canary Islands in 1991. Robert Maxwell disappeared overboard from his luxury yacht, the Lady Ghislaine, in the early hours of November 5. His body was found in the sea after a huge search, but nearly 16 years later we are no nearer knowing what happened at sea that fateful night ? did he jump, did he fall or was he murdered?

Poirot tries to solve Maxwell mystery

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The people of Tenerife came to the rescue of Spanish Prime Minister, José Luis Zapatero (who was in Tenerife on Saturday), when he was asked during a recent live question and answer session on television if he knew the price of a cup of coffee. Clearly, the price has gone up since the last time the Prime Minister had to buy his own on the mainland.

Though one (probably) cannot live on coffee alone, as Isle of Tenerife - Weblog add, "... demonstrating that the cost of living in the ?island of eternal spring? is indeed lower than the rest of Spain ? certainly where a cup of coffee is concerned."

Storm in a coffee cup

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A 38 year old British woman was detained on Monday, in Arona on the south of Tenerife, accused of the attempted murder of a 64 year old British man. There was apparently an argument between the pair, who says the report "maintained a friendship", when the woman allegedly stabbed the man with a knife. Witnesses suggest that both parties were under the effects of alcohol.

Detenida una mujer en el Sur al intentar matar a un hombre con un cuchillo

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Pink Tentacle report that, "Robots can get away with things that humans cannot. In the Minami area of Osaka, for example, a humanoid robot dressed in a ?sailor suit? high school uniform now works the street as a tout for an adult information center ..." Since 2005, Osaka law has banned sex club touts from soliciting business on the street.

If you've ever come on holiday to the resorts in Tenerife, you cannot have failed to have noticed the touts. Those folk who offer you all manner of goods and services; scratch cards (yes, we're certain that everybody wins), bars, lap dancing clubs, fake Rolex watches, iffy gold, or whatever.

It has been reported that touts have been banned in Arona, or at least that some of them are now controlled and require official registration. Some touts have been reportedly seen wearing badges, although the same sources suggest that some of the badges might not be exactly Kosher either, which wouldn't be the least bit surprising, but I don't know, because I don't frequent the resorts.

Whilst we imagine that the authorities could quickly amend the wording of the law to include "tout, whether human or not" (sometimes this may already be doubtful), do you think this could offer an answer to Tenerife's street tout problem?

Robot employed as sex club tout Via: BoingBoing

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Marchaymas.com say that "the British singer, without doubt, gave one of the best concerts that the island remembers, at the Plaza de Toros in Santa Cruz."

And Joe Cocker is coming back - to Tenerife & Gran Canaria - this summer, as part of his tour to promote his upcoming album, "Hymn for My Soul".

As yet unconfirmed on the Auditorio De Tenerife website, according to Joe Cocker's own itinerary for that month, he will play the Auditorio on July 10th.

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A woman claimed the dubious honour of becoming the first person to be knocked down by a tram in Tenerife - which is still under trials - this morning in the Rambla del Pulido, in the capital of Santa Cruz. Her condition and identity are not given, however, in another news item, it is reported that despite being hit with some force, she was soon on her feet. It also says that she had been distracted and was talking on her mobile phone at the time when she crossed in front of the tram, without looking. The tram even beeped its horn several times, but the woman remained unaware.

Una mujer, atropellada por el tranvía en la capital tinerfeña

This is not the first time that trams have passed along the Rambla del Pulido, as can be seen in this photo, which dates back to the 1900's. Local TV today is showing public service announcements, reminding people to look both ways in the streets where the tram passes.

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The skies over Socorro beach in the north of Tenerife will be ablaze with colour between April 27 and May 1 when the third Los Realejos International Paragliding Festival takes place. The five-day festival will feature some of the world?s leading exponents of the arts of paragliding, hang gliding and parachuting.

Read more ... | FLYPA official website (in Spanish)




Related posts:
II International Paragliding Festival in Tenerife - Want to Learn Paragliding In Tenerife? - Photos from the II International Paragliding Festival - The Fastest Way to Get to La Gomera - Tenerife Photos: Reflections of Mount Teide - Flying on the Canaries - Tenerife - Best paragliders fly in Tenerife

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"Many Canarian families will be sitting down to a plate of sancocho today - a traditional dish made with salt fish and sweet potatoes.", we're told.

Unfortunately, you won't be able to prepare it for today, if you haven't already, because the salt fish needs to be de-salted the day before, but they also point to the recipe (in Spanish), so you will be able to save this for another day.

However, since that recipe is in Spanish, and the only English versions I could find online were rather awkward translations, I'll provide a translation here.

Sancocho Canario (Canarian Fish Stew)

The word sancocho means different things in different Latin American countries, however, in Canary Island cooking, it refers to a stew or stewing (sancocha).

Ingredients:

* Two kilos of potatoes
* One kilo of cherne (this is some kind of grouper or sea bass and you probably won't want a whole fish [see photo] :) or other salted white fish.
* One large sweet potato (some recipes substitute yam)
* A pinch of salt

Preparation:

De-salt the fish the day before. To do this, you soak the fish in clean water for 24 hours, changing the water from time to time.

Peel the potatoes, wash them and put them into a large saucepan. Cover with water and add the fish and the sweet potato (also previously peeled and cut).

Add a pinch of salt, if necessary, and stew everything. (No, they don't say how long for, but logic tells me that potatoes will be done in 15 - 20 minutes.)

Accompaniments:

Serve with mojo rojo (spicy red sauce - recipe), pella de gofio (ball, lump or loaf of gofio), dates, dried figs or even bananas.


Pella de gofio


Now, if you make the accompaniment, you may have to improvise with your pella de gofio, because the correct way to make this is in a zurrón, which is a special bag made from the skin of a baifo (goat kid).

You may not have one to hand, I think! :)

The simplified recipe on this page, tells you to simply to knead the gofio. That is made with water, oil, sugar and salt added. In other recipes, honey and almonds are added. I've had it before with pieces of white goat's cheese added to the mixture.

It's Good Friday, so it?s Sancocho for lunch

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The Daily Express predict an Easter heatwave ahead - that is, in Britain where "Tourists and sunseekers have already begun to flock to destinations like Bournemouth on the south coast as the fine weather continues."

They suggest that Britain's temperature will be a "balmy" 19 centigrade and that one would need to go to southern Morocco to beat the weather in Brighton.

Meanwhile, Go Travel News say, Rain predicted for Easter holidaymakers and suggest, "Britons looking to go away this Easter may wish to pack an umbrella as the Met Office has predicted a downpour across many European destinations."

So, I thought I would have a quick look into the crystal ball to see what weather is predicted for the Easter weekend in Tenerife.

According to Weather Underground, there will be scattered showers mostly between now and Saturday, with temperatures in the region of 22 - 23 centigrade Wednesday and Thursday. However, they forecast a chance of rain on Sunday.

The BBC 5-Day Forecast, on the other hand, predicts sunshine today and right through the weekend, with only some clouds on Thursday and Friday and, temperatures of 21 - 22 centigrade for the south of Tenerife.

We like the BBC. We trust the BBC, don't we? :-)

Either way, the current "avalanche" of British tourists in the Canary Islands - hotel occupation is predicted to reach 95 to 98% at the weekend according to TV reports - should enjoy better temperatures in Tenerife, than they would have in Bournemouth!

Get the Latest Weather in Tenerife here

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"Michael Schumacher made a career out of moving at blinding speed. On Tuesday, he slowed down and fulfilled a dream by swimming with hulking, lumbering whales. The seven-time Formula One champ, who retired last year, went for a dip in waters between Tenerife and La Gomera, two of Spain's Canary Islands, in an area known to be home to some 300 pilot whales.", report International Herald Tribune.

Michael Schumacher has whale of time in Spain's Canary Islands

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Brilliant photography and well put together video - set to perfect music - of the Festival Mando Aéreo de Canarias 2006 (Canary Islands Air Show 2006) on June 25th, last year. Perhaps the most exciting part of which being the display by Spanish airobatics team, the Patrulla Águila - Spain's answer to the Red Arrows. This was filmed over the Playa de las Canteras beach in Gran Canaria, but a very similar lineup had performed earlier the same day over Santa Cruz in Tenerife. The big question, which I would also like to know, is if such a show is likely to be repeated in 2007?



Link to video for feed readers

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Tenerife photo gallery