Friday, August 29, 2008
What's On the Last weekend in August in Tenerife
Another relatively quiet week, can it be so? Either that is the case, or lots of things will be happening that nobody announces until the last minute ...
Saturday, August 30th, is the big day of the fiestas in Santa Bárbara, Icod de los Vinos, with the offering of Cestos y Bollos (that's one of them, pictured on the right), a very pretty tradition, starting at around 3 p.m. in the Calle El Plano and making a procession to the square.
The Romería of San Agustín is always held in Arafo (map) on the last Saturday in August. First held in 1975, this fiesta was declared an event of National Interest for Tourism in 1983 and is when the image of the saint is brought down from it's grotto in the Añavingo gorge. It will stay in the town until mid-September, while the fiestas of San Juan Degollado take place. Romería de San Agustín - ARAFO (Tenerife)
Also on Saturday, August 30th: Fiesta Tropical at Vai Moana Chill Out Cafe, Las Galletas, Arona and the Salpica Festival en Buenavista del Norte.
Meanwhile, Puerto de la Cruz celebrates its annual Semana Bávara (Bavarian Week) and Fiesta de la Cerveza (Beer Festival) from August 30th to September 8th. This is held each year at the end of August / beginning of September, where you can taste traditional German produce accompanied by the sound of a Bavarian Orchestra, Die Lustigen Egerländer. Tickets sold in aid of the Red Cross.
For many, the big event of this weekend will be the first home game of the football season for CD Tenerife v Gimnástic de Tarragona. Kick off is 20:00 at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium.
Labels: What's On?
Monday, August 25, 2008
Ask Secret Tenerife
Borrowing an idea from Oliver Wang at Soul Sides (actually, I've been meaning to do a few things of this nature for a long time now, but you know how scarce those round tuits are), in an effort to improve the site's interactivity...
You are invited to ask ... anything you've ever wanted to know about Tenerife but were afraid to.
Of course, I don't guarantee to have all the answers, but with luck I'll know someone who does, or someone who knows where to find it.
If you wish, you can ask questions privately via email here, but please be aware that this is not a corporate site and there is just one of me (and two feline "helpers"), so I probably won't be able to reply directly, though I may publish answers to questions that I think will be of general interest. You will, of course, remain anonymous, unless you ask for a mention and credit.
Otherwise, don't be afraid to post your question in the comments below.
Siam Park Opening NOT for Public
Perhaps it was right for me to be cautious (alright, cynical) over the news about Siam Park's opening, as Colin Kirby reports in Siam Park, an open and shut case that, "... the inauguration is behind closed doors for dignitaries, politicians etc and it will not signal the opening to the public."
Whist I understand about the trials needing to be done, perhaps they shouldn't have announced any dates until all of that was complete? It's not just the date of the not public opening ceremony, but various previous and missed opening dates for the park and, reports in the local media (in which the park have clearly participated), suggesting that everything is imminent.
People were excited and interested about the prospect of the theme park once - or at least there were plenty searching for information - but I'm surely not alone in wondering if this perpetually "not quite finished" project can maintain interest until (or maybe if) it ever is ready to receive visitors.
And considering that the building work is more or less complete then it's pretty lame that the official website still says "Coming soon" and what images there are on the site, are still bad Photoshops and artists' impressions.
Update on the Spanair crash in Madrid
A huge four-figure spike of visitors to this site on Wednesday and many more since then, came looking for information about the Tenerife Disaster (the 1977 crash at Tenerife's Los Rodeos airport), in the wake of Wednesday's crash in Madrid of the Spanair flight bound for Gran Canaria.
Wednesday's crash 
sadly claimed its 154th victim Saturday, when a 31 year old woman died. She had suffered 72% burns. Another 2 of the remaining 18 survivors, currently in Madrid hospitals are in a very serious condition.
Among the dead are complete families, people from almost every region of Spain and from 11 foreign countries; Bulgaria, Sweden, Italy, Colombia, Germany, France, Brazil, Mauritania, Turkey, Gambia and Indonesia.
Around half the passengers were resident in the Canary Islands.
Clearly, there's no connection to link the two accidents and, even if this does make the list of worst crashes in Europe and whatever else the media is dragging up to make a headline, it isn't quite the "Holiday Horror" as portrayed on British TV, but the less said about my hatred of the British media's sensationalist approach, the better.
The current hypothesis over the cause of the crash is that, for whatever reason (that the accident investigation will seek to determine), the aircraft did not have enough power to lift off, but had passed the point of no return.
Photo: 2007/10/10 EC-HFP, by wicho «Sunbreeze» about to land at Barajas airport in Madrid. Sadly, this plane crashed on take off from Barajas on August 20th 2008 as JKK 5022 / LH 2554 to Gran Canaria airport (LPA). By the time of the crash, it had been repainted with the Star Alliance livery.
In memoriam by alexgg.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
They're taking the p*$$ aren't they?
Took this photo back in March, but I came across the image again while editing some stuff today and it still makes me giggle, so I thought I'd share. Seen on a stall in Santa Cruz' Nuestra Señora de África Market (wonderful place really), not Shiitake, but SHIT TAKE - two words.
Labels: Translation Hooters
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The shade of an almond tree
A restoration project is imminent, it seems on the house of the Estévanez brothers in the district of Gracia, in La Laguna. The 18th Century house, now a ruin, had been the property of the Irish family of Murphy, or more precisely to the brothers of Patricio and Nicolás Estévanez Murphy (1838-1914), the former having been a journalist of repute and the later, a military officer, politician and poet; a man who historically put humanity and justice before country.
The lyrics of the Himno de Canarias (Canary Islands Anthem), the first line of which refers to, "... la sombra de un almendro" (... the shade of an almond tree), were inspired by a fragment of a poem by Nicolás Estévanez that relates to the almond tree of his childhood, saying: "Mi patria no es el mundo; mi patria no es Europa; mi patria es de un almendro, la dulce, fresca, inolvidable sombra" (My homeland is not the world, my homeland is not Europe; my homeland is an almond tree, it's sweet, fresh, unforgettable shade.)
The almond tree in question, under which many an intellectual debate has taken place, stood in the grounds of this house and, although the tree became dried out through the years, the trunk still stands alongside the wall.
It was in this house also, that Borges Salas sculpted the voluptuous figure of Fecundidad (Fertility) that presides over the fountain that is the centrepiece of the Parque García Sanabria in Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz.
After many years of abandonment, the Tenerife Island Council acquired the 12,000 sq m Estévanez estate and intend to restore the house, an important location in Tenerife's history, as a museum, or for cultural activities.
Friday, August 22, 2008
What's on in Tenerife: August 18 - 24
As around two million Britons will be flying out of the UK this bank holiday weekend, what will those coming to Tenerife find to do?
The answer is not simple to provide this week, because many events that had been planned for some time might be cancelled or postponed because of the air crash at Madrid on Wednesday and the subsequently declared three days of mourning.
Julio Iglesias concert postponed
At least 79 of the people on board the Spanair flight (71 of whom, it's estimated, lost their lives), were resident in the Canaries, which has meant the suspension of fiesta events in Arafo, and in La Victoria, Tenerife; various entertainments on the island of La Palma and, in Gran Canaria.
Rolo Producciones postponed the concert that Julio Iglesias was due to give at the Centro Internacional de Ferias y Congresos tonight, Friday, as a symbol of solidarity and respect.
The Julio Iglesias concert will now take place on Saturday, August 23rd, at the same place and time (10 p.m.) and, the production company says, they will provide refunds to anyone who can't make the change of date.
The decision, to postpone and let down those who had planned to attend an event, or not and risk being called insensitive, is a difficult one, so the best policy this weekend is one of tolerance if you find that events are either on or off unexpectedly. Whoever made the decision, probably made what they thought was the best one and we can only tell you what was planned ...
Electronic Music Festival, Isla Baja
Saturday, August 23rd, at the Discoteca La Cúpula, Los Silos. For 10 euros on the door (includes a free drink), you can enjoy the best of BreakBeat-Old Skool and House (electro-tribal-tech)!
1 Festival de Música Electronica Isla Baja
On Friday, August 22nd, see Alternative / Pop Punk / Rock band, COMSAT (winners of the Ropavieja Music Festival 2008) in concert in San Benito, La Laguna. Never heard of them, not sure if they're to your taste? See their MySpace page for a list of influences, and where, they also say, it's free to download their songs.
Alternatively, on Saturday, August 23rd, British house music producer and DJ born in Birmingham, England (we all have our crosses to bear), Steve Lawler (better known in Ibiza as the "King of Space") will be at D-Dock, Playa la Pinta, Puerto Colon, Adeje on the south of the island.
Romería de La Victoria
If traditional is what you're looking for, there are a couple of fiestas that stand out this weekend. Firstly, the Romería in honour of San Isidro Labrador in La Victoria de Acentejo.
Saturday, August 23rd, from 5 p.m. onwards with ox carts (needed to carry, not just festival goers, but also the barbecue and the vast vats of wine to keep everything "well oiled"), folk groups, music, dancing and falling down drunk. This is an entirely different experience to falling down drunk in the UK, or in the resort, because it's all done in brightly coloured local costumes, in the name of a saint and in a most friendly atmosphere (and in much better weather, but that was obvious.)
The whole thing finishes up with a knees up to the Orquesta Echeyde.
Corazones de Tejina
Probably the biggest of the traditional events on the island this weekend is the festive tradition in Tejina, in the area of Santa Cruz-La Laguna, called the Corazones de Tejina (The Hearts of Tejina). It's held every August 24th, which this year is on Sunday.
Jack and Andrea Montgomery of Real Tenerife Island Drives tell us the story of this fiesta here; one of the most deep-rooted festivals of the Canary Islands and its origins are bound to the seasonal celebration of the harvest.
Download a full program of events for 2008 (PDF)
Buenavista Crafts Fair
The Calle La Alhóndiga and the Plaza de Los Remedios in Buenavista del Norte will be the venue this weekend of the annual San Bartolomé Crafts Fair. San Bartolomé is also the town's patron, so there may be other fiesta events going on in the town too.
However, my guess is that, it's likely that anywhere which normally honours San Bartolomé (Saint Bartholomew), whose day is celebrated on August 24th, may have events disrupted, as several of the dead in Wednesday's air crash, among them local councillor for culture, his wife and two daughters, hailed from the town of San Bartolomé de Tirajana in Gran Canaria.
More events, exhibitions and what's on, in our calendar.
Finally, a word from our sponsors ...
Monarch Holidays have announced a Big August Sale!
- Save up to £300 per couple
- 1000's free child places
- Book in August, and these offers apply to ALL seasons!
Book your holiday to Tenerife now (sale ends August 31st) ...
Labels: What's On?
Monday, August 18, 2008
Siam Park to open September 15th
Rumour, actually, a news item in Diario de Avisos on August 14th (via the Proyecto Siam Park blog) claims that, finally, a date for the inauguration of Siam Park in Tenerife, has been fixed for September 15th.
According to the report, presiding over the ribbon cutting ceremony will be HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (pictured), second daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej from Thailand, as well as Loro Parque boss, Wolfgang Kiessling and his son, Christoph Kiessling, director of Siam Park.
(Understand that I'm taking care not to infer that I actually believe it yet.)
Frankly, it is easy to believe that the perpetually "not quite finished" park, subject, it has been joked, of "the longest running mystery since The Mousetrap", or as Joe Cawley says, "vying with Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia for the award of "most overdue completion date" would never open!
The Tower of Power, tallest water slide and you'll get fit climbing up the 256 steps to get up there.Goodness knows what a real Thai person and royalty at that, is going to make of a "cardboard stone" pastiche version of her country in Tenerife, but we can't help thinking that it's more than apt, after the longest ever run up to an opening event in the history of, well, theme parks, is that they've managed to get the princess with the longest ever name to do it.
So bear in mind if you were thinking of inviting Her Royal Highness to your after party that you'll need long invitations to print her full name and title, which is "Somdet Phra Theppharat Ratchasuda Chao Fa Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Ratthasima Khunakon Piyachat Sayam Borommaratchakumari".
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Up Santa Cruz creek without a paddle
You may have seen images of the lovely new lake in the Plaza de España in Santa Cruz and you may have noticed that in many of them that there are people paddling.
Well, don't go getting any bright ideas about pausing there to cool your tired feet during an amble around the city, because, according to this report in Canarias7, the police are already fining people for bathing in the Plaza de España.
Municipal police patrols in Santa Cruz have been given express instructions to fine anyone who bathes in the lake, so "the fun of dipping your toes could cost between 60 and 300 euros."
At least, that's how the Canarias7 news report puts it, though I'd rather hope that common sense is applied (mind you, we are talking about Tenerife: it's not a natural association) and that they only really mean to stop people who are heading for the water with their swimming trunks and towel.
For me, it's still a genuine WTF? ... I mean, what did the Tenerife authorities expect? They get a huge water feature built in a busy public space, right in the middle of a city, in a sub-tropical climate and then they expect people NOT to show any traits of human nature? How likely is this going to happen?
Come on, never mind that this delightful water feature is virtually guaranteed (unless it's drained) to become a mucky cesspit of drunken bodies, empty beer bottles and used condoms floating in the drink at carnaval time. :)
1. Plaza de España en Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 2. Plaza de España,Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 3. Plaza de España de Santa Cruz, 4. Plaza de España de Santa Cruz, 5. Untitled, 6. Plaza de España de Santa Cruz, 7. Plaza de España de Santa Cruz, 8. Plaza de España de Santa Cruz, 9. Lago Plaza España
"Up shit creek without a paddle" (Idiom) To be in an undesirable situation. In dire circumstances with no hope of help.Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Santa Cruz You're Not That Far
At the beginning of summer The Telegraph newspaper reported on a survey undertaken by Ebookers which showed that the global credit crunch was prompting a lot of Brits to re-think their traditional holiday plans.
Foremost amongst the findings was the statistic that only 27 percent of them planned to take a full fortnight’s holiday with a surprising 20 percent opting instead for short city breaks.
Coupled with earlier reports from leading travel companies that British winter breaks abroad are up by 20 percent, the coming Brit season in Tenerife could prove to be a bumper one for the constantly evolving Santa Cruz.
Over the past five years, developments in Tenerife’s capital city have seen its profile change from that of "utter hideousness" as described by Florence Du Kane in 1911, to a vibrant 21st century metropolis which offers beauty, sophistication and culture in its architecture, plazas and attractions.
The city enjoys an ambient all year temperature of 22 degrees along with near constant sunshine in which to wander its historic streets where once, Nelson’s defeated soldiers were marched back to their fleet and their now armless (ouch… on 2 fronts) leader.
The tram system offers easy and economic access to its architectural, botanical and cultural treasures while in the continually developing Noria district, excellent restaurants and cool, stylish bars are springing up at breakneck speed.
The recently refurbished Plaza España adds another eye catching feature to the iconic Auditorium on the city’s portside where some of the world’s largest liners are planning to dock this winter.
All this only a four hour flight away from a cold wet and windy UK will have you humming the 2003 Thrills single “Santa Cruz You’re Not That Far” all the way to the sunshine.
Copyright © 2008 Real Tenerife Island Drives. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of Real Tenerife Island Drives.
Lying on a beach all day every day might make for a relaxing holiday, but memories of it fade as quickly as your sun tan. Island Drives is aimed at travellers who want to experience the real essence of Tenerife, not just its pools and beaches. If you want an unforgettable holiday as opposed to a good one, Real Tenerife Island Drives will make the difference.
Labels: Real Tenerife Island Drives
Monday, August 11, 2008
What's on in Tenerife August 11 - 17
Well, if last week was relatively quiet, that was only because this week is absolutely stuffed with parties and fiestas of one kind or another - so much so that anyone not on drugs might have trouble keeping up (I imagine)! :)
Hed Kandi in Tenerife
The week started with a party at Tramps, Playa de las Américas, on Monday, as the FlyKandi flying disco (the Hed Kandi / Monarch Airlines collaboration), made another stop in Tenerife. If you missed this date, it'll be back on the island on September 1st. Hed Kandi in Tenerife
Hed Kandi - the Mix Summer 2008
'Macrofiesta' in the Auditorio
If "ordinary" fiestas aren't big enough for you, then try a macrofiesta and the one on Wednesday, August 13th at the Auditorio de Tenerife in Santa Cruz promises to be a pretty large and legendary event, organized by a Cuban rum brand, with dozens of djs, go-gos, guest artists and "rivers of booze", we are told. The event is invitation only, sadly, if you fancied going, but this article poses the question as to whether the Auditorio - who are a tad fussy about how their image is used - ought to be hired out for this type of thing.
Innovation In The Sun The Tenerife Reunion
Devotion welcome you to come and join them for the 3rd Anniversary of the INNOVATION, Summer in the Sun, TENERIFE REUNION at the explanada del muelle (port), in Puerto de la Cruz on Thursday, August 14th.
There's 4 stages and more than 40 artists and, amongst those named in the commercial, I heard Altern-8.
They say, "After the success of the last two years, we have decided to bring the party to another level and we have secured a special outdoor location, which has to be seen to be believed in the beautiful city of Puerto de la Cruz . The outdoor stage will host the best in Old Skool rave with Drum n Bass being played in the main marquee. We also have an additional two marquees where the best in Hip Hop, House Music and UK Garage will be spun by some of the best DJ's in the World! The main event starts at 9 pm."
Actually, it all starts at mid-day with all sorts of other activities for all the family; dj workshops, dance school, diving, sport, hairdressing, tattoos and piercing and creative cooking. The best news: entrance is free.
Via: DJ Melo and Scratch Events.
Festivity of the Virgin of Candelaria
August 15th, is the fiesta in honour of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, the patron of the Canary Islands and on August 14th each year, which this year will fall on Thursday, thousands of visitors from all over the archipelago, walk to Candelaria as a form of pilgrimage.
The cult of the Virgin of Candelaria or Our Lady of Candelaria, popularly called La Morenita (Black Madonna), celebrates an apparition of the Virgin Mary on the island of Tenerife. According to legend, a statue of the Virgin Mary was discovered on the beach of Chimisay (Güímar) by two Guanche goatherds in 1392. The current figure of the Virgin (not the original, which was reputedly swept out to sea) is kept in the basilica at Candelaria, Tenerife.
As in previous years, floral offerings are made and then the romería (traditional procession) gets going at around 4 p.m. from Punta Larga, proceeding to the Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias, where a little after 8 p.m. is a reenactment of the Guanches discovering the statue.
Processions and fireworks follow, with a midnight mass (the church will be open all night) and folk music in the square.
Romería of San Roque
There's really nothing quite like a plague to provoke an excuse for a party, is there? Garachico suffered one back in 1606 and the town's remaining inhabitants have been showing their gratitude to the saint, San Roque, who apparently sorted it, ever since.
The Romería de San Roque in Garachico, has been declared an event of National Interest for Tourism and is held on August 16th each year (irrespective of the day of the week), which, conveniently for keen revelers, this year falls on Saturday.
The figure of the saint is taken from it's home in the San Roque hermitage to the main church of Santa Ana, where a religious service is held at mid-day.
At 1 p.m., the romería begins that accompanies the image back to the hermitage, with music, dancing, herds of goats and other animals, ox carts, lots of food and even more rivers of wine.
At the same time, fishermen have a maritime procession, accompanying the image along the sea front. Some 16,000 people attended the Romería in Garachico last year, according to this report, which would probably explain why there was nowhere to park in the town (the population of the whole district is just over 5,500 normally.) Get there early, or better yet, go by bus.
Read what last year's Fiesta Romería de San Roque, Garachico was like.
More events, exhibitions and what's on, in our calendar.
Labels: What's On?
Friday, August 08, 2008
Fire destroys the Casa Amarilla, Puerto de la Cruz
In the early hours of this morning, fire destroyed a house, declared in 2005 as being of cultural interest in Tenerife, the so named Casa Amarilla (for the colour of its walls, amarilla means yellow) in the district of San Fernando in Puerto de la Cruz.
Whilst the cause of the fire is, as yet, still unknown, a neighbour reported hearing a noise and seeing light, thought to have been from a lantern, at around 6 a.m., in what was the ruined, uninhabited property. The alarm was raised when the building began to burn at 6.30 a.m.
The house, declared a historical site, was built in the early part of the 20th Century and, between 1913 and 1920, housed the first primatology centre in the world. Its director was world-famous German psychologist, Wolfgang Köhler. He remained there for six years, during which time, he wrote a book on problem solving titled The Mentality of Apes (1917).
Only in July, a last ditch attempt was made to save the building, when the Faculty of Psychology at the University of La Laguna (with the backing of others, including the Wolfgang Köhler Association), had presented a project to the Tenerife Island Corporation and the town hall in Puerto de la Cruz, to restore the house and develop it as an unique tourist attraction.
More (in Spanish) Arde la 'Casa Amarilla' del barrio de San Fernando en Puerto de La Cruz (Tenerife)
Photo: n1r4 All rights reserved
Easter Drama in Adeje, Tenerife
The video above is just a taste (if you don't have 90 odd minutes to spare), but if you do, below are links to all 11 videos (of around 9 minutes each) that make up the whole of the Via Crucis 2008 (Stations of the Cross or Way of the Cross), the depiction of the final hours (or Passion) of Jesus that is performed in Adeje in Tenerife every Easter on Good Friday.
Yer average holidaymaker, lazing about on the Costa Adeje or in Playa de las Américas will be completely oblivious to this wonderful piece of street theatre - which it can be appreciated for, whatever your religious convictions (if any) - going on at around mid-day, just a short bus or taxi ride away.
If you're thinking of coming to Tenerife for your Easter holidays (in 2009, Good Friday falls on April 10th), this event is well worth bearing in mind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|  Via Crucis de Adeje 2008 (9 de 11) |
 Via Crucis de Adeje 2008 (10 de 11) |  Via Crucis de Adeje 2008 (11 de 11) |  |
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Book your Tenerife tours and activities online
In the constant quest to provide all you need to get the most out of Tenerife, we're teaming up with Isango! to bring you a range of holiday tours, sightseeing, attractions, activities and some of the best things to do in Tenerife, all of which you can book in advance online.
Apart from knowing what you're getting and being able to set and stick to a budget (so important these days), Isango! offer a low price guarantee that should beat the resort price.
Here's a quick look at what they offer in Tenerife:
Getting out to see some of the islands' true nature
The Tenerife Island Tour is a strange choice of name for an excursion to the neighbouring island of La Gomera, but that is what the itinerary explains, with views "overlooking the pine valleys and bluebells of the Garajonay National Park. There is also time to spend in the capital, San Sebastian, where Columbus set sail on his 1492 voyage of discovery."
But never mind the naming mystery, a trip to La Gomera is well worth it.
The Tenerife Sightseeing Tour actually is of Tenerife and takes you to the emblematic drago tree at Icod de Los Vinos, the amazing Los Gigantes cliffs, to Candelaria for its Basillica, housing the Icon of the Black Virgin, Patron of the Canary Islands and Pueblo Chico. A lovely "taster" of the island and Pueblo Chico's delightful models will give you ideas for where else to visit. My recommendation: book this for early in your holiday.
You can't visit the island without making a Trip to Mount Teide in Tenerife. For those who haven't, the scenery really is as breathtakingly WOW as they say it is and, you really do think you may have landed on another planet. Tour includes cable car (weather permitting), which makes it good value at the price they list.
Having lived between Garachico, my favourite town on the island and Masca, the cutest little village, for almost a decade, naturally, I'm biased. The Anaga mountains at the other end of the island offers a similar, yet entirely different experience, if you'll pardon the Irish logic. And none will disappoint.
Where to buy souvenirs cheaper Than ASDA?
Choose between the Santa Cruz Market and Candelaria Tour, combining shopping in the wonderful market in Tenerife's capital with some sightseeing in Candelaria, or real hardcore shopaholics can have the whole Santa Cruz Shopping Excursion experience and take in shops and have free time to wander too.
The most obvious of the attractions, is the Loro Parque Wildlife Tour, where you can see whales, dolphins (better show than Florida, in my humble opinion) or choose from:
If you prefer the sea to pools, try:
Nights or Knights Out in Tenerife
- Medieval Knight Show at San Miguel Castle
- La Hacienda Night Show
- Tenerife Palace Night Show
- Dance Show at Pyramids of Arona in Tenerife
The obvious benefit of booking evening excursions, which include transport, is that you can safely have a holiday sherbet or two. I have been on the Medieval Knight Show at San Miguel Castle and, well, maybe it does have pretty questionable relevance to Tenerife, but it's still a bit of fun.
Romantic Arona and Rocks of Garcia Night Tour
The tour I'd most like to have someone buy me for my next birthday is this, the Arona and Rocks of Garcia Night Tour.
For once, the description, "travel to the viewpoint of El Retamar and enjoy a glass of champagne whilst watching the sun set into the deep blue waters of the Atlantic", is understating the issue.
El Retamar sits at 2,100 meters above sea level and, to get there, you pass through Arona, La Escalona and Vilaflor (Tenerife's highest village). The Roque Cinchado and Roques de García 
(video) are in the Cañadas Del Teide national park. By day, it's like landing on the moon: at night, a whole shopping list of spectacular superlatives just doesn't cover it.
See for yourself with these images: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
You just couldn't do this trip independently and have transport, dinner and the services of "a knowledgeable astronomer", at any price.
This experience is the stuff that "unforgettable memories" are made of.
Book your Arona and Rocks of Garcia Night Tour here ...
Labels: What's On?
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
No Parking at the Tenerife Island Athletics Center
For the curiosity value, I wanted to show you this photo (one of several) of the Centro Insular de Atletismo de Tenerife (CIAT) (Tenerife Island Athletics Center), where, on July 26/27 the Campeonato de España de Atletismo (Spanish Athletics Championship) was held. This 4,000 capacity sports stadium is also where Gloria Estefan will be performing when she gives a concert in Tenerife next month, but I hope none of her fans have cars, because, according to this report, the number of car parking spaces it has is not more than 190.
It's pretty normal practice in Tenerife to omit little details like this. :)
¿Dónde están los aparcamientos del centro insular de atletismo de Tíncer?
Labels: Gloria Estefan in Tenerife
Canary Pine Growing in a Wall
Most places, this could be seen as a problem, but I love this photo and the implications. In the city of La Laguna in Tenerife, a Canary Pine is growing in the wall of an old building.
So, they name it the Cafetería Pino (Pine Cafe) and let the tree get on with the business of growing.
... and becoming a wonderful, novel, "green" tourist attraction.
In it's natural habitat, the Canary Pine tree grows on some pretty steep terrain, so I guess it makes little difference to the tree, whether it lives on a cafe wall or up in the La Esperanza forest. All I can't, as yet, tell you, is what street it's on, but I have a feeling someone will know and tell us.
Photo: locodesmara via the Secret Tenerife (Pool) All rights reserved.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Tuning Car Show Playa San Juan
Just in case you missed it too, there was a tuning car show at Playa San Juan on the south of Tenerife last Saturday, August 2nd.
Tuning, as we've had defined before is, "the contemporary art consisting in acquiring any type of motor vehicle and converting it into a species of totally afuncional and ridiculous intergalactic spaceship.".
Tuning is quite popular on the island, as a quick search of Google for Tuning Tenerife will reveal and, the long list of similar events listed at Watiotenerife.com will confirm.
But afuncional and ridiculous they may be, some of these intergalactic spaceships are pretty, as you can see by perusing this set of photos.
Stuck In The Middle of Santa Cruz
Is this fine establishment, with possibly, one of the world's most surreal menus. The ineptitude shown by some, no rather a lot of places in Tenerife when it comes to translations, knows no limits, but I'll omit the usual rant about there hardly being any shortage of English speakers whom they could ask to do it properly (probably in return for just a plate of Mountain hard egg or that old favourite, Big holes of Málaga), because, quite frankly, if we were ever offered the job (unlikely), we'd have to decline, or we'd be doing ourselves out of such a nutrient source of pure entertainment.
So, we'll just bring you the menu from the Cafe Roma as it is. They're on the Rambla General Franco in Santa Cruz and, it must be added, come highly recommended for their food, if not for their command of English.
When I began reading ...
Peppers to the natural
Prawns to the plate
... these two lines immediately jumped into my head.
Clowns to the left of me!
Jokers to the right!
And you can be sure Roma hired one, other, or both to do these translations.
Maybe we should SING the menu to the tune of Stuck In The Middle With You?
Also available for your gastronomic and linguistic delight:
Kidneys to the Sherry (they'll need a drink after reading this)
Pulpy to the vinagreta
It's anyone's guess what Mountain hard egg is. We guess that "Pulpy" is the pet name given to an unfortunate 8 armed chappy, but just how the hell they get from Boquerones (Anchovies) to Big holes is beyond my comprehension.
Even Babelfish and Systran couldn't get it that wrong! :)
But we are eternally grateful to Steven Tilly who found these Strange Local Dishes and, as he says, "Still, if you're not veggie and you are prepared to eat whatever it is that the translation means then the meals here look good value"; to Lo que pasa en Tenerife for mysteriously acquiring a copy of the menu to save for posterity and to Canarias Bruta for pointing it out.
... because, we haven't had this hearty a laugh in a long time.
Labels: Translation Hooters
Monday, August 04, 2008
What's On in Tenerife August 4 - 10
Apart from this week's friendly football fixtures on Friday and Saturday, in Los Cristianos and La Orotava, respectively, and the continuing of the 12th annual, circle of classical music concerts at the Casa Del Vino, "La Baranda" wine museum in El Sauzal on Wednesday night, it's a relatively quiet week.
Bob Sinclar in Tenerife
On Friday, August 8th, Grammy Award-nominated record producer, House music DJ, remixer Bob Sinclar will be French kissing the island again, with a fiesta at Dreams Tenerife (Avenida de la Constitución 5, Santa Cruz).
Tickets are 50 euros from General Tickets.
Jayko in Santa Cruz
On Saturday, August 9th, you can enjoy a night of Latin R&B as part of Santa Cruz + Viva, at the Palacio Municipal de los Deportes, in Santa Cruz. Puertorican artist, Jayko (who has worked with Ricky Martin, Nelly Furtado, Wisin y Yandel and Jennifer López, amongst others), performs, along with another 10 artists and DJs.
Cool & Sun Sunday Party
Every Sunday of the summer at the Discoteca Faro Chill Art, C.C. Torviscas, Costa Adeje, with Brinsley Forde & Taknara Foundation, DJ Jacabo Padilla and Guest djs.
Descubre Tus Espacios Naturales 2008
Or, for something completely different, fancy a relatively easy 5 hour "stroll" on Saturday, August 9th to take in El Sanatorio y Noche de Estrellas (Las Pléyades) - The Sanatorium and a Night of the Stars (The Pleiades).