Tacoronte and Garachico town halls are celebrating, today and tomorrow this suddenly popular Día Mundial del Turismo (World Tourism Day), with an ample program of activities, write Diario de Avisos in this report, published today.

Tacoronte: scenic beauty and richness of the wine sector

The first you'll have missed as it happened this morning and I'm only mentioning it at all, because there are regular jaunts along the Ruta del Vino Tacoronte Acentejo. This spot of enoturismo (routes of wine and wineries), in the Tacoronte Acentejo wine region, began at 9.30 at the Drago, on the Tacoronte-Tejina main road and the guided tour was to take in the "scenic beauty and richness of the wine sector", visiting El Sauzal and, La Matanza.

In those latter localities, visitors were calling into the Farmers' Market and the installations of the Bodega La Palmera, where a tasting was being offered.

Today's tourist trip terminated with the customary Almuerzo de la Vendimia (Harvest Luncheon) in an [unnamed] establishment in the district. Places were limited anyway, but the cost (including transport and visits, but presumably excluding food) was an amusing 5 euros per person (under £4).

More details on The Wine Route Tacoronte Acentejo, wine route tour, includes visits to vineyards, bodegas, museums and monuments, tastings and food.

Garachico: Canarian crafts, traditional food and pastries

Meanwhile, the odd tourist finding themselves in  Garachico can enjoy events taking place on Sunday morning, from 10 a.m., in the Plaza Juan González de la Torre (a.k.a. Plaza de la Fuente (Fountain Place)). In this pretty little square, visitors can try a wine tasting, traditional food and pastries, plus sample typical Canarian crafts, with folk groups providing the day's musical entertainment.

Aptly for tourist day, alongside this plaza, was the Doña Gregoria Boarding House (now a grocery store) that, in times past, provided accommodation to the "odd tourist from England". Is there any other type? :)

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The Playa de Fañabé (it means Dolphin Beach, by the way) on the Costa Adeje, now has the first defibrillator on the Canary Islands coast.

It's mildly amusing to read that the apparatus, a Semi-Automatic External Defibrillator according to the report in Diario de Avisos, was "inaugurated" yesterday, with the usual contingent of Canarian politicians in attendance, but having one available to the emergency services right there at the busy beach aims to shorten the response time in the event of cardiac arrest and will surely improve the chances of saving a life if it's ever needed.

The news report also tells is that Tenerife already has 4 defibrillators (apart from ones in hospitals, ambulances, etc., presumably), situated in 3 sports centres; Santiago Martín, Ríos Tejera and Francisco Peraza (La Laguna) and, at the Intercambiador (bus / tram terminus) in Santa Cruz.

There are 25 more defibrillators that are shortly to be distributed throughout the archipelago, destined for the most crowded public spaces where lots of people are to be found. One is to be placed in the Loro Parque, another in the Basilica in Candelaria and others in various ferry ports of Tenerife.

If you know you have a heart problem, at least you can enjoy a day out and relax a bit more, knowing where these life-saving devices are.

Photo: LeoSynapse

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This weekend paragliders in Tenerife are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the arrival of the sport to the islands. (20 years, my how time flies! :) A group of paragliders was to have set off by bus to go to Izaña for a flight early on Saturday morning, but because of adverse weather conditions, has been postponed at the last minute, with the hope that it will place on Sunday instead.

You know you're a paraglider pilot when ... It says here "On cloudy/windy days you go to your favourite site anyway and bitch about the weather."

Nevertheless, a group intend to go up under their own steam, so there may still be flying to watch. Where they will land, depends on the weather too, but the intention is they'll come down on the Playa de El Socorro, in Güímar.

On Saturday afternoon, there's a program of diverse activities including; archery, sack races (remember these from school sports day?), a kite making workshop and more. These activities continue on Sunday.

More details (in Spanish) from the Club Parapente Izaña, whose video is set to Orishas "¿Que Pasa?" Those of you paying attention, will of course, realise the connection, as we saw Orishas perform at the Festival Internacional de Parapente (International Paragliding Festival) FLYPA in May.

XX años de parapente en Canarias se celebran en Güímar

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Tourist information offices in Puerto de la Cruz, Garachico, Icod de los Vinos, Santa Cruz, Los Realejos, Güímar and Candelaria, as well as in the arrivals halls of both of the island's airports, will apparently be giving out leaflets from the Tenerife Tourism Corporation, highlighting some of the various areas and activities that tourists can visit, along with 5,000 luggage lables in honour of the Día Mundial del Turismo (World Tourism Day.)

LosGigantes.com report that Santiago del Teide council are organising several fun events today and tomorrow in Playa de la Arena and Los Gigantes to celebrate International Day of the Tourist there. Full details here.

And, Diario de Avisos tell us that Icod de los Vinos is opening it's doors to celebrate tourism day too, with guided tours throughout the weekend (from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) of the Parque del Drago, the Iglesia de San Marcos (church) and it's Museo de Arte Sacro (Museum of Sacred Art) and the Casa de los Cáceres (the house of the Cáceres family) and the exhibition of paintings inside the house. There's also a walk around the town's old centre and the shopping area. Set to strolling folk music players and the Band of Cornets and Drums, it all culminates with tasting of the produce of the local Ycoden-Daute-Isora wine region.

All of these events are worth a look, but the Museum of Sacred Art particularly, to see first hand the breathtaking filigree silver cross (whether you're religious or not, you will not fail to be moved by it's workmanship). Made in La Habana, Cuba, between 1663 and 1668, it's the largest filigree cross in the world, measuring 2.45 meters in height and weighing a hefty 48.3 kilos. 

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Thanks (I think) to our old mates over at Canarias Bruta for pointing this piece of pure entertainment out and, if it does nothing else, it may explain one reason why I often advocate going to hear Canarians playing Canarian folk music: it may not be something you'd want to buy or listen to at home, but it's authentic and, at least the performances are of what people know and do best.

This, by complete contrast, is the epitome of creative overstretching.

It's dangerous ground to criticize any artist, because I know first hand how hard it is to get on stage and "have a go", but then, some folk appear way too over-confident in their abilities and, putting this as diplomatically as possible, maybe they should be encouraged to find an alternative hobby.

Even this song's title, "May Seven Sunday" - has been written (or translated by Systran) into unintelligible English (though, not as you know it), then it's strangulated and pronounced through an old woolly sock. Mr Albelo, who clearly doesn't actually speak English, should stick to rica música latina.

But he didn't and this travesty was his entry into the equally over-ambitiously entitled Canary Islands International Song Contest, a.k.a. Universong.

Eurovision it was not! You didn't think there was anything more embarrassing and crap than Eurovision or X Factor, did you? See how wrong you can be! :)

As well as Universong, which took place in Los Realejos and, as Canarias Bruta point out, had "no media repercussion" - even we'd never heard of it - they have another contest for failed karaoke singers, called EuroSingers.

There's worse to come, Universong is going to be repeated in 2009 and you may be delighted to learn (or not) that you can register to participate (I can hear your excitement already) in either Spanish or English. Requirements (apart from being tone deaf) seem to be relatively few and old-tech and, the entry fee is a mere 80 euros (that can even be paid via Paypal.) :)

To end on a positive note, you'll hear much better and more authentic than this at any late night "knees up" at even the smallest village fiesta.

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Lapping up this idea (via Chocolate & Zucchini), "If you had only twelve hours left to spend in ... (in this case, Tenerife), what would you do with them?"

Goodness, 12 hours can go so fast, but the island isn't that big, so I think we can do this - that is, eat well (probably too much), as well as take in some sights. For the purposes of this exercise, I'm taking a 12 hour day to include desayuno (breakfast), almuerzo (lunch), merienda (tea) and cena (dinner).

Actually, this would be do-able. You can start anywhere and take the road over the mountains to the village of your choice for lunch, then drop down into Buenavista del Norte for high tea. That also takes in lots of the unmissable scenery; mountains, villages and takes you along the north coast, still leaving you plenty of time to travel towards the larger towns for the evening.

Yet, still, as Clotilde in Paris says, "It goes without saying that difficult choices were made, and that for every item I included, there were about ten more looking at me with a crestfallen expression." We need more 12 hour slots! 

All times are Canarian time anyway, by which I mean, leisurely. Don't have breakfast too early, because lunch is generally served around 2 p.m. and dinner is eaten late too. Or set your own schedule. Timetables shouldn't be for people on holiday and they're not for anyone who lives on Tenerife. :)

Breakfast: If there was time (or the technology) to hop over to the island of La Gomera (it's still in the province of Tenerife) to the state-run Parador hotel, then that's where I'd head for their "all you can eat" buffet breakfast. That hotel is so idyllic, I'd spend all of my last 12 hours (on earth) there, if I could and there's so much lined up on that buffet that you wouldn't want to eat again, but that wouldn't do at all, not even for a hypothetical exercise.

Instead, any good cafe (show me a bad one) is capable of serving you a more than adequate, filling and tasty tortilla de papas (potato omelette), which is, more often than not, the breakfast of choice in Tenerife.

Your healthiest and cheapest authentic Canary Island breakfast selection - as well as locally grown fruit - would be the Stone Age "Ready Brek" known as gofio. Better yet if you can get it direct from the village gofio mill.

Other items to take with you are honey, cheeses and beautiful crafts.

Lunch: Truly, one is spoilt for choice for lunch, but it's worth noting - for your benefit - that much of the best food is in smaller village restaurants and, many of those only open for the lunch trade and close in the evenings (even in Garachico), so make the most of them while you have the opportunity.

Among my personal favourites is the warm welcome and simple home cooking at the Casa Ramon, run by Doña Lola (the mayor's mum), on the Calle Esteban de Ponte, in Garachico. This is open for lunch only and the menu is just what's on the blackboard (fresh that day.)

As an added bonus, experience their authentic hole in the ground toilet! :)

Otherwise, any coastal village in Tenerife will provide stunningly simple, but superbly fresh and succulent fish dishes, like this cherne at La Cabaña restaurant, Calle del Puerto, Buenavista del Norte. There's the backyard-raised chicken or huge ribs at the Bodegón Patamero in Las Lagunetas. Or for a really special and sociable stew, you can't beat the Puchero at the restaurant Monteverde, just outside El Tanque and overlooking Garachico.

NB: Restaurants in Buenavista del Norte - ALL of them - close on Wednesdays. The Bodegón Patamero is closed Monday and Tuesday, serves goat (I mean, it serves goat meat to people, not that a goat eats there) on Thursdays and Fridays only and usually has a queue right out to the next valley for that better than finger-licking-good chicken on Sundays. :)

Afternoon tea: or Kaffe und Kuchen, if you prefer and I tend to take the Germanic point of view on this meal: that partaking is essential for one's (mental) health. You'll find a plethora of wonderful cake shops all around the island, but my favourite, acknowledged to be the best and draws customers from all over the island world, is the pasteleria El Aderno, on the Calle La Alhóndiga in Buenavista del Norte.

For the coffee, I recommend the Cafeteria Alhóndiga, which is just up the street, where you might also be able to try Dulce de Leche ice cream.

Dinner: After a sizeable lunch & tea, tapas would probably suffice and here's a run down of many of the tempting morcels available in Puerto de la Cruz.

But, as we are talking about a last 12 hours: a last meal, well, you may as well go out in style and there isn't any more up-market than the international food with a Canarian twist at Los Limoneros, Los Narajeros, in Tacoronte - that is reputedly patronized by the King of Spain when he's in Tenerife. He wasn't there on the night I ate there (once), but I can vouch for the grub.

But if that was "a little miracle in the middle nowhere", then even less well known, but equally a gem is the restaurant El Archete, Calle Lomo de Aroba, in Candelaria, with its fusion of traditional Canarian dishes in modern styles. It started as rustic "tasca" and has become a point of reference on the island's culinary map over the years. Gorgeous architecture and ambience too.

I'd be happy with either of those, before heading into the capital, Santa Cruz where, no matter the time, I'd  find pavement cafes, theatre, opera, bars & clubs, or I could just take a stroll through city streets and plazas.

If you're really lucky and there's any sort of fiesta or carnaval going on, there'll be street food, otherwise if you should happen to get peckish, or for a late supper, I'd recommend finding an arepera or bar selling the Venezuelan fast food, Arepas that have become so integrated into Tenerife culture.

1. Best way to start the day, 2. Sea of clouds, 3. Bodegón Patamero, 4. Fish & Chips, 5. Casa Ramon, 6. Something Sweeter, 7. Fiesta Feeling, 8. Coso Puerto de la Cruz 2008, 9. Sunday Lunch, 10. Plaza del Adelantado, 11. Cafe Con Leche, 12. Teatro Guimerá and a sculpture by Igor Mitoraj in Santa Cruz.

Of course the reality, when one really is faced with one's last 12 hours in Tenerife, is that one would (did) spend it with very special friends.

Over to you ...

Now I happen to know, because we have this little poll going on that most of you are Tenerife residents or at least regular visitors. So, the question is this, where would you spend your last 12 hours in Tenerife? Or, to put it another way, if time was limited, where do you consider to be essential stops?

I'm sure we'll all have our own preferences, for a huge variety of reasons. Yours may be favourite restaurants, or sights that you feel, really must not be missed and, hopefully we can all learn of some new ones from each other.

Leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments, please.

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Well, you know an economy is in crisis when a government has to bale out whores as well as banks ... :)

No actually, what this report says is that the Spanish government has proposed that it will give economic help and legal cover to prostitutes, 90% of whom are foreign, who are victims of human trafficking, along with the promise not to expel them from the country within a month (as would be the usual procedure) while they decide whether to denounce their exploiters.

The announcement of the measure, part of a 3-year integral plan against "the new slavery of the 21st Century", was made to coincide with the International Day Against the Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking of Women and Children, on September 23rd.

Fairly, or unfairly, Tenerife has been called "Europe's Brothel" in the past and, there's no shortage of potential customers looking for sex tourism on the island (yes, we know what you search for :) I certainly don't judge either party to a voluntary arrangement, but do remember there's another reality:

According to reports from the Civil Guard, more than 90 percent of women prostitutes in Spain are illegal immigrants, many of whom do not have the freedom to choose a better and more dignified life.

In Europe alone, more than 500,000 women and girls are victims of sexual exploitation each year and this second most profitable crime in the world is estimated at 32 billion dollars of annual volume of business.

Strawberry tart by ane. Prostitute Robots from the Future by revjim5000

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How many tourists / visitors knew that you had your very own International Tourist Day or World Tourism Day, held every year on September 27th? That's this coming Saturday and, in honour of the upcoming event, Los Cristianos in the south of Tenerife has organized a few activities:

Starting on Thursday, September 25th, from around 8 p.m., there are to be strolling players - of Canarian folk music, which is sure to be made colourful and fun with costumes and dance - around the streets, from the Plaza del Carmen to the Casa del Mar on the esplanade.

At the same time, there's to be an exhibition of Lucha Canaria Infantil (Junior Canarian Wrestling) by the Club de Lucha Chijafe, on Los Cristianos beach.

Can I just mention that Canarian Wrestling is lots of fun. On the one hand, it's a quite "gentlemanly" sport, like a martial art and, on the other it's OK to grab each others knickers, while the crowd goes as wild as the animated followers of Mexican Lucha Libre. This sounds paradoxical and even contradictory, but it's what makes it unique. There'll be lots of audience participation and, since this is youngsters, go ahead and join in the encouragement.

More folk music at 8.45 p.m. on the esplanade, with a performance by the Agrupación Verodal, along with a parade of traditional Canarian costumes, another performance by the Arona Municipal School of Folklore and, it'll all be rounded off nicely with a fireworks display at around 10 p.m.

On Friday, September 26th, at around 6 p.m., again at the Casa el Mar on the esplanade near the Los Cristianos port, there's to be the 7th Regional Coctails Contest, with a demonstration of cocktail making (think Tom Cruise here) and some musical performances (of unspecified genre.)

Saturday, September 27th, 8.30 p.m. outside the Los Cristianos Cultural Center is the opening night of a play entitled, "Los Putos, Los Habladores". A puta is a female whore, so a puto is the male version. It's also the name for those male cherubic things in classical art, while habladores are gossipers. Could be a soap opera, or could be social comment. Could be fun too!

Then on Sunday, September 28th, from 8 p.m., in the Plaza de Los Cristianos (by the church) is the 7th annual meeting of soloists, Cantasur.

This cultural initiative brings together Canarian folk artists - 7 voices of various ages from the youngest at 7 years, to the eldest at 78. The event is also going to be recorded by various local TV stations and Radio Arona for later broadcast.

Alternatively, on Sunday, September 28th, at 8.30 p.m. in the Plaza de la Iglesia (church square) up in the village of Arona, kids of all ages can watch an open air showing of the 2007 film Ratatouille (it will be in Spanish.)

Source: Gabriel at Blog-Tenerife

NB: World Tourism Day has been celebrated on September 27th each year since 1980. It's organised by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), whose headquarters are located in Madrid, Spain.

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Just a reminder, to both residents and visitors alike, that picking up even tiny "natural souvenirs" in the Teide National Park, is strictly verboten. So is selling them, but it's not the first time that a piece of volcanic rock from Teide - obviously collected without permission - has been offered for sale on Ebay. Worse, this 280 gram specimen was being offered for less than 2 euros. 

This report highlights the numerous cases where such items are being offered for sale online, or simply where people casually admit to having picked pieces of rock up, for example, just to decorate the bottoms of their fish tanks.

Imagine what would happen if all 3.5 million annual visitors to the park decided to take away a 280 gram "souvenir". By my calculations, a noticeable 980 metric tons of geological material would go missing every year.

If you love it, please leave it where it is!

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Apart from the Gloria Estefan concert, last week, amongst many other things, we missed the El Corte Inglés Chess Week; the gathering of Jean Michel Jarre fans at Rendez Vous 2008; the Romería de San José in San Juan de la Rambla and the XXIX Fiesta de la Bicicleta / Bike Festival in Santa Cruz. We apologise for missing a week, but it was unavoidable and due to health reasons.

Fiestas of San Miguel Arcángel

The Fiestas in Honor of San Miguel Arcángel include a conference at the Museo Casa de El Capitán in San Miguel de Abona, in the south of Tenerife and the high spot of the week there may be the concert, on Friday, September 26th, with Spanish singer, David DeMaría (listen) - if that's to your taste.

Tenerife Opera Festival 2008

The Tenerife Opera Season begins, on Tuesday, September 23rd, with performances on the 23rd, 25th and 27th of Giacomo Puccini's Manon Lescaut (based on the 1731 Prévost novel) at the Tenerife Auditorium.

It depends if you fancy opera, I guess, but if you do and, since opera is "in foreign" anyway, it wouldn't be any easier or harder to follow than it would be elsewhere.

With prices starting from just 20 euros (£15 ish) - out of interest, prices at the Royal Opera House (ROH) in Covent Garden, London this week start at £140 -  that's a lot cheaper than it might be in any other European capital, so even if opera isn't your usual thing, it's a pretty cheap price to pay to give it a try and see if you like it, or just for the experience of being inside Calatrava's emblematic building.

Opera tourism, now there's a thought ... Not sure if flights are cheap enough now to make it an absolute bargain, but if you fancied a city break anyway and you like your entertainments classy, it's certainly an idea to mull over. To that end, you can find a selection of hotels in the city of Santa Cruz here. And you can download a complete program of events (all styles) at the Auditorio de Tenerife for September - December 2008 (PDF) here. More downloads.

Heineken Campus Rock 2008

A very totally different style of music will be heard at the annual Heineken Campus Rock festival, which takes place in the Plaza del Cristo, in La Laguna on Friday, September 26th.

It's rock, of course, which is the only clue I can give you since I've never heard of any of the artists performing; Estopa (website / listen), Guaraná (hark) or Mojinos Escozíos (hear).

The latter's name, apparently, could be literally translated as "Sore Butts" and their lyrics have been described as "unsuitable" - although, that won't make a blind bit of difference if you can't understand Spanish in the first place! In fact, having listened to a few bars, for research, I'd be tempted to say that not understanding would be a distinct advantage, but please, don't let my musical prejudices put you off. :)

Deadlines for discounts having past, the price is 23 euros at the box office.

Estopa, Guaraná y Mojinos Escozíos, en el Campus Rock 2008

Miguel Bosé in Concert

Panamanian born, Latin Grammy-winning musician and actor, Miguel Bosé (listen), brings his Papitour 2008 to the Plaza del Cristo in La Laguna on Saturday, September 27th.

Miss and Mister Tenerife

Also this coming weekend, Tenerife gets to choose a new Mister and Miss Tenerife on Friday, September 26th and Saturday, September 27th, respectively.

Regular reader(s) will remember that last year's Miss Tenerife, the 5' 10", 17 year old Patricia Rodríguez, went on to become Miss España 2008.

Music (using the term loosely) at this year's gala, being held at the Castillo Negro in Santa Cruz, will be provided by Spain's 2007 Eurovision representatives, boyband D'Nash (who, as Colin Kirby points out, "finished 20th, just behind a tap dancing ferret and a group of monks that had taken a vow of silence.")

That shouldn't deter the crowd though, who will obviously be attending for the aesthetic talents of the contestants, rather than their musical ones.

Fiesta de Blanco / White Party

The last of this season's White Weekenders is being held at the Beach Club, at the Hotel Villa Cortes, Playa de las Americas on Saturday, September 27th. Wear white, obviously.

Ticket information from the official website.

Crafts Fair - Day of Traditions

For those who are looking for something traditional to the island (another chance for some authentic Christmas shopping here too), there's the Feria de Artesanía (Crafts Fair) and Día de las Tradiciones (Day of Traditions - the rural variety), in Tacoronte on Sunday, September 28th.

The Crafts Fair opens at 10 a.m.; there are religious services and processions during the middle of the day, followed by a display of Canarian sports and games from 4 p.m.

The town band is putting on a concert from 7 p.m. and the Festival of Traditions - Canarian folk music - begins at 8 p.m., according to the program provided by Punto Info. Not mentioned, but these things are usually free.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife Triathlon 2008

And, there's even something for the energetic amongst us (or those who like to watch others being energetic) with the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Triathlon 2008, held at the Parque Marítimo, Santa Cruz, on Sunday, September 28th.

Participants in Sunday's Triathlon will swim 1.5 km, bike 40 km and run 10 km to make the rest of the population seem grossly unfit! Or, if you want to prove that you've got what it takes, you have until 3 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24th, to register to take part.

Climb Every Mountain ...

Or the really fit among you, can forgo all the aforementioned superficial frivolities and spend the weekend of, Saturday, September 27th to Sunday, September 28th, tramping up Mount Teide (3,718 meters), for the incredibly cheap price of just 47 euros (about 37 quid), which includes the night's accommodation in the mountain refuge.

At time of writing there were only two places left, unfortunately and, I won't bother to translate chapter and verse, because you would need to be able to speak Spanish to understand all the rules and regs, the guides and talk to the other folk on the trip, but it does give you an idea of what there is to do.

Details: Patea tus montes | Via: Disfruta Tenerife

You want more? Other events, exhibitions, etc., listed on our calendar.

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The first words that Gloria Estefan said to her audience last Friday, apparently, were "Tenerife tiene sabor" (Tenerife has flavor) - we take this to mean she thinks the people are pretty cool, but we think the LOLcat translation works! :)

The Cuban-born singer shined throughout the two and a half hours of her concert, to a crowd of almost 15,000 at the Centro Insular de Atletismo de Tenerife (CIAT) (Tenerife Island Athletics Center) in Tíncer just outside Tenerife's capital. It was Estefan's first ever concert in the Canaries and the last on her "90 Millas" tour.

ABC record that Gloria changed outfit at least 4 times during her conquest of Tenerife and this report describes her as darting about the stage "like a flame" in her red dress, which, with every pass "awoke more emotion in the public."

Waving the Canarian flag probably helped too!

Gloria Estefan made special mention of her friend, Celia Cruz, the late, great Queen of Salsa, who adored the island and is virtually worshiped in Tenerife, after her appearance at Santa Cruz Carnaval's Greatest Ever Moment in History: the Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at a dance; 250,000 people.

Estefan family Affair

While Emilio Estefan, to whom the artist has been married for 30 years this year, at one point came out to accompany his wife on the timbales, the big surprise of the night though was the live performance by Gloria and Emilio's daughter, Emily Marie Estefan, first playing guitar, then drums.

And, afterwards, apparently, Gloria mingled with fans, signing autographs, posing with them and kissing everyone who came near, this report says.

Photos from the Gloria Estefan Concert in Tenerife by Locomidoporloservido

Labels: Gloria Estefan in Tenerife

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It might have been a few months late, it wouldn’t be Tenerife if it wasn’t, but this week the newest tourist Mecca in Europe, the aquatic theme park, Siam Park finally had it’s inauguration.

On Monday night, the hoi polloi of Tenerife’s society ‘glamm’d’ themselves up and headed to a hill overlooking Playa de Las Américas to see what the fuss was all about.

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand did the honours by cutting the garlanded ribbon and declaring Siam Park open in front of a handful of Thai supporters and a heaving throng of press who were pushing and shoving to get a photograph as though Keira Knightley had just turned up wearing a bikini. Incidentally the press ‘box’ was situated facing such dignitaries as Ricardo Melchior (President of the Cabildo of Tenerife) and Paulino Rivero (President of the Canary Islands) which meant that when the Princess arrived and was greeted by both, photographers were treated to a great view of the back of the Princess’ head.

By that point most of the 2000 or so invited guests were already inside the park having a nosey around, which is what everybody was really interested in.

Walking through palatial doors and finding that suddenly you’ve been transported from Tenerife to Thailand is bordering on the surreal, but there’s no denying the impact of being faced by a ‘village’ of traditional wooden Thai huts with panelled walls and elegantly curved roofs. Thai architecture is stunningly beautiful and some might view the collection of stilted buildings out of place on a Canarian hillside, but they’re no more out of place than the mock Roman/Grecian palace in the resort below and they’re a hell of a lot more pleasing on the eye than most of the concrete rectangles found between Siam Park and the sea.

On the porch of the ‘floating market’, a couple of heartbreakingly beautiful Thai girls with flawless complexions painted delicate patterns on silk umbrellas and carved elaborate shapes from watermelons (hmmm…beautiful girls with impressive melons; the next line is just too easy and cheesy).

But what of the rides themselves? It all might look very nice, but ultimately this is a theme park meant to thrill. A few lucky local youths had been picked to demonstrate the rides and the screams which preceded their appearance at tubes which emerged from beneath giant Khon mask sculptures, dragons and replicas of towering ancient temples suggested they were having a masochistically good time, even if some looked a bit shell-shocked (the near vertical ‘Tower of Power’ looks as though only fools and those with suicidal tendencies would attempt it).

As the chic designer dresses and suits headed to the ‘Palace of Waves’ for the inauguration speeches, discovering that stilettos and sand aren’t compatible, and the kids in their swimwear rocketed through transparent tubes one last time, watched by tropical fish with glinting eyes, darkness fell over the ‘Water Kingdom’.

Siam Park won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s aesthetically pleasing on the eye and the rides look imaginative and thrilling; in short it looks like good fun, which is pretty much its aim. There have been debates on blogsites about why a Thai and not a Canarian theme was chosen for the park; however, as a friend commented during a visit to the upmarket end of Playa de Las Américas:

“It’s all very nice, but it could be Dubai, or Las Vegas.”

If the resort that Siam Park is located above isn’t in the slightest bit Canarian, why should it be?

On a final note, the rocks around the pools aren’t made from cardboard as some websites suspected, but they aren’t stone either…

Siam Park is open to the public from Wednesday 17^th September; price €28 adults (€25 residents); €18 children 3 -11 years (€16 residents)

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

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What's becoming obvious is that other types of visitor, including Tenerife residents, both expat and Canarian, are also finding something useful here to keep them reading and coming back.

Heaven knows what they find of interest, but I'm flattered! :)

Anyway, it should also be obvious that the needs and the type of information required by these people in different situations, will have a different focus, so to that end, I want to get to know a bit more about you the reader.

No, I don't mean personal stuff: the poll is entirely anonymous. There are probably more categories or circumstances than those I've listed - if you want to, feel free to mention anything else you want to add or request in the comments - but knowing roughly who the majority of visitors are would make it easier for me to focus on providing you with the right information. Simple.

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Ycoden Daute Isora in the north west of Tenerife is the most ancient of Spain's wine regions. Shakespeare endorsed its wines and very goodly quantities of "Canary" left the port of Garachico to grace British tables, during its heyday in the 16th and 17th Centuries.

Now you can follow in the footsteps of the rich and infamous, because the region's regulator has come up with an initiative to promote its wines, by encouraging restaurants to offer a free glass of wine to every client.

The idea was first tried in June, apparently and "getting a great reception," they say (we say we're not surprised :), they've decided to start it up again during the month of September so that people can continue to enjoy this unique offer.

Different restaurants are apparently taking it in turns to offer the free wines at the weekends, when there are greater numbers of customers.

The only thing is ... (in typical Tenerife style) they don't actually tell us which restaurants on which weekends of which bits of the region (that includes; San Juan de La Rambla, La Guancha, Icod de Los Vinos, Garachico, El Tanque, Los Silos, Buenavista del Norte, Santiago del Teide and Guia de Isora.) Still, there's no harm in looking for signs and, it wouldn't be too cheeky to ask. :)

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Beetle mania: and they said they were just "friends." 

Diario de Avisos report that the first ever Concentración de VW Clásicos de Garachico 2008 (Classic VW Meetup) took place recently in the unlikely location of the Glorieta de San Francisco (the main square in front of the town hall, churches, Hotel La Quina Roja, etc.) in Garachico, north Tenerife.

Organised by the Amigos del Escarabajo (Friends of the Beetle / Beetlefriends), was a fantastic exhibition of 75 classic VW beetles, vans, buggies, etc.

Interestingly, Diario de Avisos say they will be publishing a graphic (maybe not in quite the same way as the above :) report of the event next week, but, if you want a sneak peak, there are lots of images here and here.

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Reports indicate that 1,531 British tourists have been affected in Tenerife as a result of the collapse of third-largest British tour operator, XL Leisure, who had eight departures scheduled to leave the island on Friday. The Tenerife Island Corporation, together with the Tenerife south airport and bus company Transportes Interurbanos de Tenerife (TITSA), laid on special bus services to take tourists back to their hotels while the situation is resolved.

The departures, which should have been leaving Tenerife at various times between 10.15 in the morning and 23.20 this evening, were mostly destined for London and Manchester. The airports' authority (AENA) also indicate that a further 8 flight arrivals that XL Leisure had programmed for Friday and the 4 scheduled for Saturday, would not be touching down.

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Julie at Tenerife tattle writes that, "Two fabulous and much loved dogs urgently need to find a new home. Due to unforeseen circumstances owner Josy must return home to the UK as soon as possible and is not able to take Lui and Benjamin with her. Josy is understandably heartbroken and all the more so because the home she thought had been arranged fell through at the last minute. Please, please if you have room in your casa and your corazon for one (or two) new four legged friends consider these great guys."

If you can help, call Josy on 606 736 751

NB: I know this is not our usual bill of fayre, however, I know that more and more Secret Tenerife readers are resident on the island and I would beg you to help for another reason: When I was forced to return to the UK recently, I was able to bring two of my cats (a traumatic experience in itself), but I had to have my dog destroyed, which was very upsetting and is something I find that I simply cannot get over. Please don't let Josy have to go through that.

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You have no idea how much I hate doing the work of the Daily Mail (reporting bad news and spreading fear), but there's a rash of financial failures in the travel industry; Zoom Airways, Silverjet, MAXJet, Eos & XL (which is not surprising in the current economy), some of which affect Tenerife.

After reading news that Spanish-based airline Futura International Airways - which maintained one of it's 5 permanent bases in Tenerife - had suspended its business, ceased trading and filed for administration (Irish subsidiary, Futura Gael, has also filed for bankruptcy protection in a Spanish court.)

This morning, I learn (via Affiliate Future) that Freedom Flights (also part of XL) are no longer trading and entered liquidation this morning (the liquidation also affects Excel Holidays, Travel City Direct Hotels and Medlife Holidays).

Only days ago Freedom Flights as reported in Travel Trade Gazette, were adding extra flights to Tenerife from Gatwick and Manchester in October.

The traditional and obvious advice is to "only book through reputable companies" (as if we could tell who those might be these days) and to ensure that they're members of relevant travel organizations like ABTA, ATOL.

And, there probably isn't anything else one can do for security anyway.

What worries me is that unless something is done to ease the cause of the problems that these companies faced (most cite things like volatile fuel prices, the economic downturn, etc.), all that will happen is that the rich get richer, i.e. the biggest companies will be the only ones to survive and will become the only choice that customers have. Without healthy competition, they will become less and less customer orientated. It's not good news.

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(Above) On the right, above the archway, is the small opening from where, it is said, Sister Ursula, enclosed in the convent, watched church services for the rest of her life.

Citizen journalism site, Lo que pasa en Tenerife, recounts a chilling tale of two women in Tenerife's history. These stories tell us much about Spanish and Canarian society, its day-to-day life and customs in past centuries.

Sister Ursula's Forbidden Lover

The first story relates to something in the church attached to the Convento de las Catalinas, opposite the Plaza del Adelantado, on the Calle Nava y Grimon in La Laguna.

To the right of the main altar, above an archway, is a small opening or window that allows a person enclosed in the room behind to attend mass.

Tradition links this opening to an event that occurred in the year 1651, when Jerónimo de Grimón y Rojas, the son of the owners of the house now known as the Palacio de Nava (Nava Palace), the grey stone building next door to the Santa Catalina Convent, ran away with his lover, Sor Úrsula de San Pedro (Sister Ursula of Saint Peter), a nun from the said convent.

The couple had tried to leave the island in an English ship that was anchored in the bay of Santa Cruz, for which she was disguised as a page, but just before sailing, they were discovered by the forces of the law.

Sister Ursula was sent back to the convent and the unfortunate Jerónimo was accused of abduction of a nun and condemned to death. The sentence was carried out in the spring of that year and Sister Ursula was obliged to witness the execution, which took place in the Plaza del Adelantado, from the Ajimez (tower) of the convent.

Afterwards, the head of her lover was stuck on a spike and put on display in the Plaza del Adelantado as a chastisement to the public, for several days.

And from then onwards, enclosed in the religious order for life, Sister Ursula's only contact with the world outside the cloisters of the convent was to witness church services via that small window above the arch, beside the altar.

The story of Catalina Lercaro

The other tale has become a well-known La Laguna legend. Catalina Lercaro was the daughter of one of the most powerful families in Tenerife: the family of Lercaro-Justiniani of Genoese origin, whose palace in La Laguna, the Casa Lercaro, is now the Museo de Historia y Antropología de Tenerife (The Tenerife Museum of History and Anthropology)

In the rear patio of the palace, one can still see the curbstone of an old well - the well is now non-existent or has been filled in - down which the young girl is said to have thrown herself, rather than have to consummate the marriage that her father arranged for her with a much older man, who it appears was a slave trader.

Legend also says that she was interred in this same patio, because, having committed suicide, she was not entitled to a sacred burial. Further, there are many who claim that the ghost of the disgraced Catalina still walks abroad in the old mansion in which she lived and died.

These two stories give us a very clear image of the situation of women in Spanish and Canarian society from the 16th to 18th Centuries, when the only thing girls were prepared for was a marriage (that was usually little more than a "business contract"), passed from the guardianship of father to husband.

Women in that era were expected to be obedient, chaste, retiring, shameful and modest, as well as quiet and to be locked away inside homes, always dependant upon a man. Yet marriage was still preferable to spinsterhood, which was seen as the failure of the woman, the only solution to which was that they should profess their "calling" and join a convent, forever. And very few ever escaped, as this was pursued strongly by the laws of the time.

Sightseeing in La Laguna

Will hopefully be the more interesting for knowing these stories.

The patio of the Santa Catalina de Siena Dominican convent can be visited, Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11.45 a.m. and Sundays from 6.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. If your Spanish is up to it, there's an interesting article (pretty pictures too), about the development of church architecture that mentions the convent, which also houses a rather attractive organ (see second photo here.)

The Plaza del Adelantado, is of course open to the public permanently and, if you're at all peckish while you're in the area, we thoroughly recommend the Arepas at the "Pearl of the Caribbean" café alongside. Don't let the thought of poor Jerónimo's fate put you off your food (although, I guess we should be grateful that food on skewers, like kebabs is not the house speciality!)

According to Punto Info, visiting times at the Casa Lercaro in the Calle San Agustín, La Laguna, are Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday closed. They don't say what time Catalina's ghost appears, if at all.

Visitors' Guide to La Laguna, Tenerife

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A reader, who is planning a trip to Tenerife in February, asks:

1. What is weather like then?

Sadly, I can't offer guarantees on the weather: it can still be changeable at that time of year (the "rainy season" is supposedly between November and March) and February is usually Carnaval month, when it's almost bound to rain at least once during the main week of Carnaval in Santa Cruz (just like it always rains during Wimbledon fortnight in Britain, in June.)

On the other hand, it's usually warm enough in February to parade through the streets in skimpy Carnaval costumes like the one above (the image was taken at Puerto de la Cruz Carnaval, on the cooler north of the island too), which should give you an idea.

And the historical climate data for Tenerife, for February shows averages including 6.6 hours of sun per day and an average air temperature of 17.9C. Frankly, that's a rather conservative forecast. Mid-day, on the south of the island, it can still reach 30C.

NB: Carnaval 2009 in Tenerife; in Santa Cruz runs from Sunday, 8 February to Sunday, 1 March, with the main parade in the city streets, as ever, on Shrove Tuesday (February 24th, 2009) while Carnaval 2009 in Puerto de la Cruz is from Sunday, 15 February to Saturday, 28 February.

Click here for Tenerife Carnaval Dates from 2008 to 2025

2. Where is the nicest place/hotel/apartment to stay in.

This is such a subjective thing, because what I like probably isn't going to be the same thing that suits other people. But if we pick a few that appear to be at the standards for celebrities and royalty, maybe we won't go far wrong.

3. We are looking for a classy place near the beach.

Most resort hotels are fairly near the beaches, but ones to consider and that are a bit more up-market and in better class areas might be the following:

Gran Melia Hotel Bahia Del Duque

The Gran Hotel Bahía del Duque Resort was constructed in 1993. Designed by the Tenerife-born architect Andrés Piñeiro, the hotel was first planned as a large 4* investment, but the idea of a 5* luxury establishment soon won over, marking the beginning of 5* developments in the now exclusive Costa Adeje region. Most of the 357 rooms have been decorated by Pascua Ortega, the Madrid-born interior designer, who has also decorated the private houses of the Spanish Royal Family (so we reckon it's also good enough for us!)

Click here to check availability or book the Hotel Bahia del Duque 

Hotel Europe Villa Cortes

If you prefer to trust the judgement of the stars, then the Hotel Europe Villa Cortés  - a luxurious seafront hacienda built in an authentic Mexican style -might be more to your liking, because this is where Jennifer Lopez and her husband, singer Marc Anthony stayed. One visitor offers the following review of the hotel, "The best hotel we have stayed in bar none. A hotel with rare attributes - character, tasteful rooms, delicious and adventurous cuisine and truly exceptional service. It is known as a bit of a hidden secret and I have rarely been so reluctant to spill the beans. It truly earns every one of its 5 stars!"

Click here to check availability or book the Hotel Europe Villa Cortés 

Mare Nostrum Resort

The superior deluxe Mare Nostrum Resort is comprised of five hotels; Mediterranean Palace, Sir Anthony, Julio César Palace, Cleopatra Palace and Marco Antonio Palace, all situated directly on the beach.

Click here to check availability or book the Mare Nostrum Resort

4. Flying to the south of island.

Most international flights do. On the one hand, this means you are only 15 minutes away from the resorts and on the side of the island with the better, drier weather. But the north is so much greener and prettier and, is only 40 miles away, so don't neglect moving outside of the hotel comfort zone, because, if you don't, you'll miss all the best things on the island.

If you have a question about Tenerife, don't be afraid to ask ...

Labels: Carnaval 2009

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Chris asks, "Is it feasible to hire a bike and take in Mount Teide under your own steam of is it more sensible to use one of the organised trips that take you up and give you a bike to descend on? If it's the latter, can you suggest a website/s of such trip organisers?"

Seeing that I'd personally have trouble riding a stationary bike in the living room, I think it best to hand you over to someone who has first hand experience of cycling up Teide, as you'll see in this video.

Dr. Leslie Brown, who is someone I've chatted to at length, runs Guided Cycling Tours, Cycle Training and Bicycle Hire in Tenerife. Here are details of his Pro Bike Hire and his info page about Cycling Mount Teide to start you off.

To learn more, his website has full contact details, phone, email, etc.

If you have a question about Tenerife, don't be afraid to ask ...

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scotrock has another question ... "Where do you recommend most highly as a place to stay when visiting Tenerife? Where is that undiscovered gem?" He continues, "Last Xmas, I stayed in La Matanza. That was nice enough but I'd like to try somewhere else if I go there this Xmas. Do places in the Anaga get enough sun during the day in winter?"

There are many undiscovered gems in lots of parts of the island. It's funny, but some of them are right under your nose, in towns or next to something ugly! To find many them, I recommend you to grab a copy of my friends Jack and Andrea Montgomery's book, Real Tenerife Island Drives. Not just because they are friends, but because they surprised me by having found all manner of "hidden" things that most people don't know - and they're in the book.

Since you mention Christmas, however, I do have just one recommendation: Garachico, but make sure you stay until the night of January 5th to see the Three Kings Parade. Nowhere else on earth does this event (for kids of all ages) better, with the combination of real camels, the town's architecture, as well as the friendly atmosphere.

Garachico is close enough to explore the less well known Isla Baja area, with attractions including the village of Teno Alto, Punta de Teno, the El Palmar valley, the Teno Mountains and the Monte del Agua laurisilva forest.

Garachico hotels include the Hotel La Quinta Roja, where a room at the front of the hotel will give you a ringside seat over the seasonal festivities; the nearby Hotel San Roque  or the Hotel El Patio at the Finca Malpaís-El Guincho, just outside the village. All three are historic houses, dating from the 16th to 18th Centuries and, all three were built by the family of Garachico's founder, Cristóbal de Ponte.

Weather in winter can be changeable, but at sea level it's still generally warm enough for sunbathing and skies are often bluer and clearer in winter, making it better for taking sunny photos. Evenings should still be warm enough at Christmas to sit outside in just a cardigan or light jacket, thought it can get chilly - only down to 10C - in the Teno or Anaga mountains, at night.

If you have a question about Tenerife, don't be afraid to ask ...

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Continuing with your questions, scotrock has been wondering: is there much of a bed & breakfast industry on Tenerife? He says, "I like B&B's because someone looks after breakfast and you can meet people but, as far as I can tell, it's all apartments or hotels on Tenerife."

Yes there is, although it won't always be called B&B, but a number of the smaller rural hotels are available on a bed and breakfast basis and, by virtue of their size and locations have that homely atmosphere you seek.

Just as an example, Paulino Alonso Panero stayed at the Casa Rural Malpaís Trece in El Guincho, just outside Garachico and talks about the breakfast that awaited them (at the main house), whilst they went out for other meals.

Now, the problem is that these rural houses are dotted around the island,  often marketed, along with self-catering properties, under the generic banner of "Turismo Rural" and not that many have websites or speak English.

Sadly, it would be a lifetime's work to find and collate them, so much so that even the official sites tend to be a little light on listings. In the meanwhile, try this Google search for turismo rural tenerife or these lists (provided by the Tenerife Tourism Corporation) of Rural Houses, Rural Hotels or Hostels.

If you have a question about Tenerife, don't be afraid to ask ...

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Well, this week I reckon we have a bit of something for everyone with both traditional and modern, religious and secular events for young and old ...

Monday, September 8th, is the big day of the Fiestas de la Luz in Los Silos, the fiestas in honour of the patroness of the town, that have been celebrated since 1722 (with the odd day off in between.) The day starts at 10 a.m. with a mass, Eucharist is at 12 mid-day, followed by a Romeria (procession through the streets), in turn followed by Eucharist again at 7 p.m. and a variety show at 9 p.m.

On Friday, September 12th, another procession takes place and floral offerings are made to Nuestra Señora de la Luz. The fiesta includes the curious annual, floral offering made by divers to an underwater image off the coast.

On Saturday, September 13th, at from 10.30 p.m. on the esplanade by the municipal swimming pool, the fiestas change style to include the FESTIVAL POP – ROCK. AGUA DULCE 2008.

IV Ruta Nocturna Hermano Pedro

Friday, September 12th, is the 4th annual Ruta Nocturna del Hermano Pedro (an evening walk to Saint Hermano Pedro's cave, at the end of the runway at Tenerife South Airport.) Starting at 21:00 in the central plaza in El Médano, organizers recommend that participants bring a torch and water, wear comfortable sports shoes and follow the guides' instructions. For inscriptions, ring the tourist office in El Médano on 922 17 60 02.

Download a PDF leaflet and map of the route here

XIX Rally Villa de Adeje

One of the biggest events on Tenerife's Rally calendar, the 19th Adeje Rally, is being held on Friday and Saturday, September 12th/13th.

The Escuderia Villa de Adeje website have details of all the sections and, the provisional list of participants lists over 100 teams taking part, so there should be plenty to watch.

At the finish, the cars will all regroup down in the area of the Tropicana (See map.)

Nea Beach Party II

Saturday, September 13th there's the second Nea Beach Party on the Playa la Nea (Nea Beach) near Radazul on the eastern side of Tenerife. From 14:00 to 24:00, various DJs, entrance is free.

More info: Nea Beach Party (Via: Marchaymas)

White Weekenders

Make sure your white clothes are laundered for the 3rd of 4 White Weekenders on Saturday, September 13th, at the Hotel Villa Cortes, Playa de las Americas.

Also on Saturday, September 13th, is the Sea Sound Festival at Puerto Colon, Adeje.

If you know of another event taking place, send us the details via our contact form.

Benijos Cattle Fair

The fiestas in honour of San Isidoro Labrador and Nuestra Senora de la Cabeza in the district of Benijos, in the upper reaches of the La Orotava valley, are marked by a Feria de Ganadería (Cattle Fair) that the tourism corporation says gathers some 2,500 head of cattle. This year, the fair takes place over three days from Friday, September 12th to Sunday, September 14th and includes an exhibition of agriculture machinery and a contest for lumberjacks. These fiestas also usually include a Romería on the Sunday, with oxen pulling carts, lots of people in country costumes, plenty of food and even more wine!

San Juan de la Rambla Country Fair

The weekend of Saturday, September 13th and Sunday, September 14th is also the date for the annual Crafts fair and Livestock Fair in San Juan de La Rambla  a beautiful town that stretches along the cliffs of the coast, half way between La Orotava and Icod de los Vinos. (Map).

On Saturday, as well as the crafts, there are demonstrations of traditional, agricultural pursuits, accompanied by typical Canarian folk music.

On Sunday, more folk and country pursuits, along with a demonstration of wheat threshing done the old way.

Full program (in Spanish) listed here

Fiestas del Santísimo Cristo de La Laguna

Held every September 14th, which this year is Sunday, the city of La Laguna turns out to show its devotion to the Santísimo Cristo (Holy Christ), one of the most venerated icons on the island. Parades, processions, street parties and fireworks displays are part of the celebrations.

Fiestas del Santísimo Cristo de La Laguna

NB: Because this date falls on a Sunday, Monday, September 15th has been declared as a holiday in La Laguna, in lieu, so if you visit on that day, you can expect shops, market and public buildings to be closed.

Fiestas de Teno Alto 2008

This weekend, Friday, September 12th and Saturday, September 13th, sees the annual fiestas in the hamlet of Teno Alto at which there are all the usual fiesta attractions, a band and all night dance, where revelers also camp out under the stars on the plateau in the shadow of the mountains. Permits are required to camp, which should be available from Buenavista del Norte town hall on 922 129 030.

Fiesta - Acampada de Teno Alto 2008

More events, exhibitions and what's on, in our calendar.

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more the engrish!

The photo, clearly, isn't from anywhere near Tenerife, but we thought it was still relevant on the basis of dodgy translations, as well as the fact that the island seems to have a bit of a battle on right now with these issues.

This week's beach closure in Los Cristianos, we now learn from Colin Kirby, was due to an E-Coli scare and, he continues, "the bad news is it’s the latest in a running series of possible health problems around Tenerife beaches."

Maybe it's not quite so funny to, "give a wide berth to any brown fish."

Let’s talk about sewage

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A little while ago, I invited readers to submit their questions about Tenerife (and do keep 'em coming, if there's something you want to know about the island), meanwhile, I'll try to answer a few of those submitted already:

Can you please tell me what the current exchange rate is in Tenerife for pounds to euros, if we were to exchange pounds when we arrive in Tenerife in October?

Currency exchange is a difficult subject to advise on, because the rate could vary greatly between now and October and, the current rate offered would depend on which bank or currency exchange office in which town. Some are bound to offer better deals than others, but there are just too many to know which ones to recommend.

However, I can say that it's generally considered that the rates you'll get in banks on the island are better than those you get in the UK. As a guide for budgeting, you may find these Euros and Pounds Exchange Tables helpful.

If you have a question about Tenerife, don't be afraid to ask ...

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Gloria Estefan, the most successful Latin American singer in the world, considered the Queen of Latin pop, brings her 90 Millas Tour, accompanied by the Miami Sound Machine, to Santa Cruz - her only concert in the Canary Islands - on Friday, September 19th to the Centro Insular de Atletismo de Tenerife (CIAT). The tour has been announced as being her farewell  before retiring from touring. 

A previous article had suggested that the CIAT is seriously short on parking places, however, a news report in Diario de Avisos outlines the special transport arrangements being laid on for concert goers.

As had been done on previous occasions, Tenerife bus company, TITSA, confirm that they are putting on extra buses from the Intercambiador (Tenerife Transport Interchange), where the six-level Park-and-Ride facility offers free parking spaces for 1,416 private vehicles.

In addition, LM Producciones, have announced an agreement signed with Fred. Olsen Express for a special "Tarifa Concierto" (Concert Tariff), to offer very reduced prices, giving people from Gran Canaria and other islands the chance to attend such a special date. You just have to ask for the special rate when booking, but being in possession of a ticket for the concert is a requisite.

The arrival of the international star to the island will be the realization of years of work by public institutions and promoters hoping to convert Tenerife into an essential destination for any of the major Latin artists' tours.

I reckon they're saying that it don't get better than this ...

Labels: Gloria Estefan in Tenerife

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Travel Trade Gazette report that Freedom Flights is adding extra flights to Tenerife from Gatwick and Manchester in October. Apparently this is in response to the unprecedented demand from people looking for some sun after the disastrous British summer (hardly surprising).

This might mean Tenerife is in for a busy autumn and winter season. 

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The Press Association report merely says that a 17-year-old was reported missing after failing to return to his hotel in the resort of Playa de las Americas, in the south of the island, although they add that a newspaper has said the teenager was murdered and his body found on waste ground close to the hotel where he had been staying with friends. The newspaper who appear to have jumped to that sensationalist conclusion is the, The Sun (need we say more?) and, there are various other discrepancies between reports.

According to local newspaper, EL DÍA, the body of the youngster was found yesterday morning, in the Barranco de Troya (the dried up riverbed which divides the tourist zones of Arona and Adeje) that communicates the area known as Las Terrazas and the infamous Las Verónicas strip. That report says that it is possible that his death was caused by a fall.

The teenager, apparently named by the Daily Express as 17-year-old Max Sumner, was reported missing on Thursday after failing to return to his hotel. It's reported that he went out with friends on Wednesday night, then went off on his own. Think Spain also report that autopsy results will confirm cause of death, but that police believe he died accidentally.

While the EL DÍA report says that the boy's father travelled to the island to join in the hunt for his son, La Opinión say that the 17-year-old British youth, born 2nd November, 1990 was named Nicolás S.B. and had come to the island with his parents and, were staying in the Hotel Oro Blanco in Arona.

Although no link between the two events is suggested, the same La Opinión report goes on to mention that Arona police were called to a restaurant in the basement of the Margarita building, where, it appears, the 45-year-old proprietor, of British nationality, had committed suicide by hanging.

Photo: Playa Bobo, Playa de las Americas. Tenerife-Photo

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"... only much, much less competent," was one of the early reviews of the new ITV2 reality show, CelebAir, that flew into your viewing airwaves in the UK this week. Jaunted say, from comments like that, it doesn't look too promising.

Having seen the first episode (available on ITV Catch Up), I can't say that the program was especially riveting, but I do think this show will benefit "real" airline staff, in that once these celebrities show how difficult a seemingly simple job is, then maybe holiday makers will give them a little more respect.

As Mica Paris, the first celebrity to be sacked (also the only one I'd ever heard of), it's the most difficult job in the world and that she was permanently tired.

CelebAir flights visit Tenerife four times

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My good friend José Mesa has once again been out taking photos along the route of of the forest fire that burned across 18,800 hectares (46454.8 acres) of Tenerife last year. In addition to photos one year on (the set is still under construction), but he's also stitched together numerous "before" and "after" versions of shots taken at identical places, showing the situation in August 2007, shortly after the fire and again in August 2008. View them as a slideshow. It's quite heartening to see how nature is fighting back.

Labels: Tenerife Fire

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The public heath department in the Canary Islands, on Thursday, decreed a prohibition on bathing at Los Cristianos beach, as bacteria in the water had exceeded safe levels. The cause of this microbiological contamination is not yet known and the prohibition will remain in effect until successive analyses show that the contamination is no longer present. Meanwhile, the beach should be adequately marked to prevent users from bathing there.

However and, far be it for me to take over from the Daily Mail in the job of alarming people, but the news report indicates that the samples of seawater were taken on Monday. Should anyone who bathed from Los Cristianos beach between Monday (or even before, if we aren't certain when the contamination began) and the closure on Thursday have any health concerns?

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The Official Website of Tenerife Tourism Corporation has announced that Siam Park is to open it's doors "to surprise visitors with a new concept in theme parks" at the end of September (following the official opening mid-month).

Just that vague timescale still and no exact day or date is mentioned yet.

Forgive me if I really can't be bothered to translate word for word the rest of the exuberant press release that talks about the usual "biggest" and "most advanced" of everything. Oh, I'm sure it will be fun if you like that type of thing, but I guess I don't see the point of turning Tenerife into a facsimile of somewhere else, when the island already has a wealth of beautiful, natural attractions of it's own that need to be appreciated.

My personal taste aside, exactly what do they think could be "surprising" about this news now? There have been so many announcements over the last few years to make another one almost groan-worthy. Searchers online have lost the interest they had a year or so ago, that's for certain and I'm only bothering to mention this because it comes from an "official" source.

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As Puerto de la Cruz' Bavarian Week continues and Hed Kandi's flying disco made it's third and final landing at Tramps on Monday, a new week and a new month sees numerous new and different things on Tenerife's social calendar. Midweek picks: CD Tenerife have a Copa del Rey (King's Cup) match on Wednesday. International DJ, Judge Jules plays Tramps on Thursday.

Pinolere Crafts Fair

Join the estimated 35,000 people who will visit the 10,000 square meters of arts, crafts and other exhibits at the 23rd Edition of the annual XXIII Feria de Pinolere (Pinolere Crafts Fair) at the Pinolere Ethnographic Park, La Orotava. 170 artisans will gather for the three days on September 5th, 6th and 7th, with the theme this year being "Hecho con barro" (literally, Made with mud): rustic earthenware pottery.

The full program is at the following page, but in general, the fair is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on each of the three days with various exhibitions, demonstrations and workshops, as well as many stalls selling unique, hand-made wares. Living Tenerife reckon it's ideal for Christmas shopping and we agree.

Read this article to discover what to expect at the Pinolere Craft Fair

Tenerife Symphony Orchestra in Concert

On Friday, September 5th, classical music fans can treat themselves to a free concert in the open air at the Plaza del Cristo in La Laguna, where the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Colombian conductor, Alejandro Posada, will play a program of Latin American inspired tunes. Starts 9 p.m.

plundering of pirates in Tegueste

However, you may decide that Friday night's unmissable event is the La Librea (Livery) in Tegueste. This re-enactment represents the inhabitants’ defence of the island against the continuous attacks and plundering of pirates that took place during the 17th century and involves a mock battle between "goodies" and "baddies" in ox-drawn carts made to look like galleons.

It starts at 9.30 p.m. (give or take) and the firework display is slated for 11 p.m. It's worth noting that this reenactment only takes place once every three years, the last time was in 2005 and the next won't be until 2011.

La Librea is part of Tegueste's Fiesta de los Remedios and Fiesta de la Vendima (grape harvest festival.) There's a full list of events here.

Keep Your Motor Running

... for a Concentración de motos (meet up of motorcycles) in the Plaza del Cristo, Tacoronte on Saturday, September 6th. From around 5 p.m., followed by a circuit around various streets of the town. The motorcycle meet is an annual event in Tacoronte's Fiesta del Cristo de los Dolores (well-known wines and sweets play an important role in the festivities too). You can download a full program of events for these fiestas here (PDF) and it's worth doing so, because the 6.63 MB, 23 page document (optimisation extra!) is stuffed with beautiful photos.

Full Salsa Septiembre

For your Saturday night entertainment, may we suggest Full Salsa Septiembre at the Sala Inca, at the La Perla Negra leisure centre below Al Campo, La Laguna. Saturday, 6th September, starts at 11 p.m. As well as Salsa music, there's Bachata, Merengue, Cha-Cha-Cha and Mambo, all in the capable hands of DJs Alberto and Jacob.

The 10 euro door charge includes a couple of drinks. If you order online in advance, you can even save a couple of euros on that.

Romería del Socorro

On Sunday, September 7th, is the annual Romería del Socorro (part of the Fiesta de San Pedro) that starts from the Plaza de San Pedro in Güimar and ends at the Playa del Socorro. It's described as being a very ancient and fun festival that turns into an all night party. The next day, the icon is paraded back up the hill again.

Photo: Mataparda / Jose Mesa.

Fiestas de la Luz, Los Silos

The main day of these fiestas dating back to 1722, is on September 8th, but there are many events this weekend with the arrival of the cycling "Tour de Tenerife" on Friday lunchtime and the gala to select the Queen of the Fiestas in the evening.

On Saturday night there's a choral music concert, followed by a jolly old knees up and, on Sunday at 11 a.m. (for those who can get up), the Happy Dog Association, in collaboration with the town hall, will be demonstrating Canine Agility. At midnight on Sunday night is a fireworks display, followed by another all night, open air dance. A full program of events is here (PDF)

Seafood Tapas Route in Los Cristianos

Something tasty for those of you in an around Los Cristianos, is as part of the Fiestas del Carmen taking place there this week is a Ruta Gastronómica Marinera - a seafood gastronomic event, the now familiar Tapas Route in which various restaurants in the town are taking part from September 1st to 8th.

The price for a portion of tapas and a drink (either beer or wine) at the 13 participating establishments is 3 euros (around a couple of quid). It doesn't list which restaurants are involved, but I'm sure they'll have posters up.

More events, exhibitions and what's on, in our calendar.

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Video of Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) near Tenerife. Sadly, the same type of rare dolphin that was washed ashore in the Isles of Scilly.

Via: Dear Kitty. Some blog

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