Monday, September 22, 2008
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
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Special Transport for Gloria Estefan concert
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
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
No Parking at the Tenerife Island Athletics Center
For the curiosity value, I wanted to show you this photo (one of several) of the Centro Insular de Atletismo de Tenerife (CIAT) (Tenerife Island Athletics Center), where, on July 26/27 the Campeonato de España de Atletismo (Spanish Athletics Championship) was held. This 4,000 capacity sports stadium is also where Gloria Estefan will be performing when she gives a concert in Tenerife next month, but I hope none of her fans have cars, because, according to this report, the number of car parking spaces it has is not more than 190.
It's pretty normal practice in Tenerife to omit little details like this. :)
¿Dónde están los aparcamientos del centro insular de atletismo de Tíncer?
Labels: Gloria Estefan in Tenerife
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Gloria Estefan tickets go on sale
Tuesday, 10,000 tickets went on sale for Gloria Estefan's concert in Tenerife on September 19th, which, Santa Cruz mayor, Miguel Zerolo is calling "the biggest Latin music show in Tenerife, since the death of Celia Cruz."
Certainly will be and, for me, that makes the choice of venue something of a surprise, because I would have thought that Gloria Estefan could fill a huge football stadium twice over.
However, though that was the original intention, the Heliodoro Rodríguez López (home ground of CD Tenerife) was ruled out because of the replanting of the grass on the pitch.
Gloria Estefan's concert is to be held in the Centro Insular de Atletismo de Tenerife (CIAT) 
, in the Tíncer area of Santa Cruz, right alongside the TF-2 motorway - the connection between the north and south motorways.
This 4,000 capacity, 15.8 million euro sports facility, opened on April 21st, 2007 and designed by local architects, AMP Arquitectos (Artengo, Martín y Pastrana) to resemble a volcanic crater, has also also won architectural recognition.
Tickets to see Gloria Estefan are 40 euros in the stands and 30 euros in general area, from El Corte Inglés, Generaltickets, Tick Tack Ticket in Carrefour, Discos Noda, La Camisoteca and LM Producciones.com - but No Llores (Don't Cry) if they all sell out quickly - that's if a mere 10K haven't gone already.
Labels: Gloria Estefan in Tenerife
Monday, July 21, 2008
Gloria Estefan in Tenerife
Mojo Canario, alerted us back in May that Gloria Estefan was to be playing in Tenerife in the latter half of Septemeber this year. Yesterday, Canarias24horas reported (Via: The Tenerife Forum) that the Cuban singer will be performing on the island on Friday, September 19th.
And, as final confirmation, that information too is clearly displayed - 19 Septiembre - Tenerife - on the flyer, on the front page of Gloria's own 90 Millas website. So we'll take it the date is official then.
Still to be confirmed is the venue, although there was speculation that it could be CD Tenerife's football ground, the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium in Santa Cruz. Watch this space!
(90 Millas = 90 miles: the distance from Cuba to the United States. Tenerife, by comparison, lies a bit over 200km (125 miles) off northwest Africa.)
You should be able to get Gloria Estefan Tickets online here
Labels: Gloria Estefan in Tenerife
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Gloria Estefan to perform in Tenerife
Blog Mojo Canario, write that the famous Cuban singer is to arrive on the island in the second half of September to offer a macroconcierto (huge concert), to present songs from her most recent album, 90 Millas as well as many of her biggest hits.
For all the criticisms - particularly when Tenerife opens yet another 5 star hotel with golf course and we yawn while the island tells the world it's changed from the crappy tourist image of old - you know something, Tenerife has changed from that crappy tourist image it had a decade ago.
Back then, when my best mate was doing a Gloria Estefan tribute show (which was none too shabby, actually), we took it as fact that the real Gloria Estefan would never stoop to visit. And back then, I'm sure we were right, but the island has done much to provide the facilities and attract some very big names in the last couple of years, among them; Shakira, Ricky Martin, Elton John, Paulina Rubio, Juanes, Marc Anthony, Orishas.
Gloria, and husband Emilio, visited the island in February to receive a prize from Spanish radio station, Cadena Dial at the Auditorio de Tenerife in Santa Cruz, when she announced her desire to perform in Tenerife. And, it seems both of them were impressed with the island, which they say "reminded them a lot of Cuba."
Gloria's concert will probably be at CD Tenerife's football ground, the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium, they say, but there's still everything to confirm.
