Saturday, September 27, 2008
Wine, food and crafts this weekend
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? :)
Playa de Fañabé gets a defibrillator
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
Friday, September 26, 2008
Tenerife celebrates 20 years of paragliding
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.
More events for World Tourism Day
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.
Canary Islands International Song Contest
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.
Twelve hours in Tenerife
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.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Government to pay prostitutes in Spain
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
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tenerife Celebrates International Tourist Day
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.
What price Tenerife's heritage?
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!
Monday, September 22, 2008
What's On in Tenerife: W/E 28/09/08
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.
Labels: What's On?
Tenerife haz a flavor
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
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tenerife's Wet South - Siam Park
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 17th 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
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Are you a Tenerife resident or visitor?
There are no right or wrong answers here and (I hope), no first and second class citizens in this list, however, when I first set up this site, way back in 2004 my intention was that it was aimed at the type of visitor to Tenerife who wanted to know a bit more about the island, get out of the resorts and actually see some of the real stuff, scenery, culture, etc.
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.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Look for Free wine in Ycoden Daute Isora
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. :)
75 Classic VW Beetles in Garachico
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.
XL Leisure collapse affected 1,500 in Tenerife
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.
Two Great Dogs Need a New Home in Tenerife
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.
More holiday firms go into liquidation
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.
NB: Travel Rants have a post up about the XL Leisure Group collapse and the post, along with the large number of comments look to be an excellent place to go for advice, links, etc., if, heaven forbid, you are among the 85,000 holidaymakers stranded.
A Tale of Two Tenerife Women
(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 f