Monday, August 25, 2008

Ask Secret Tenerife

Borrowing an idea from Oliver Wang at Soul Sides (actually, I've been meaning to do a few things of this nature for a long time now, but you know how scarce those round tuits are), in an effort to improve the site's interactivity...

You are invited to ask ... anything you've ever wanted to know about Tenerife but were afraid to.

Of course, I don't guarantee to have all the answers, but with luck I'll know someone who does, or someone who knows where to find it.

If you wish, you can ask questions privately via email here, but please be aware that this is not a corporate site and there is just one of me (and two feline "helpers"), so I probably won't be able to reply directly, though I may publish answers to questions that I think will be of general interest. You will, of course, remain anonymous, unless you ask for a mention and credit.

Otherwise, don't be afraid to post your question in the comments below.

Siam Park Opening NOT for Public

Perhaps it was right for me to be cautious (alright, cynical) over the news about Siam Park's opening, as Colin Kirby reports in Siam Park, an open and shut case that, "... the inauguration is behind closed doors for dignitaries, politicians etc and it will not signal the opening to the public."

Whist I understand about the trials needing to be done, perhaps they shouldn't have announced any dates until all of that was complete? It's not just the date of the not public opening ceremony, but various previous and missed opening dates for the park and, reports in the local media (in which the park have clearly participated), suggesting that everything is imminent.

People were excited and interested about the prospect of the theme park once - or at least there were plenty searching for information - but I'm surely not alone in wondering if this perpetually "not quite finished" project can maintain interest until (or maybe if) it ever is ready to receive visitors.

And considering that the building work is more or less complete then it's pretty lame that the official website still says "Coming soon" and what images there are on the site, are still bad Photoshops and artists' impressions.

Update on the Spanair crash in Madrid

A huge four-figure spike of visitors to this site on Wednesday and many more since then, came looking for information about the Tenerife Disaster (the 1977 crash at Tenerife's Los Rodeos airport), in the wake of Wednesday's crash in Madrid of the Spanair flight bound for Gran Canaria.

Wednesday's crash sadly claimed its 154th victim Saturday, when a 31 year old woman died. She had suffered 72% burns. Another 2 of the remaining 18 survivors, currently in Madrid hospitals are in a very serious condition.

Among the dead are complete families, people from almost every region of Spain and from 11 foreign countries; Bulgaria, Sweden, Italy, Colombia, Germany, France, Brazil, Mauritania, Turkey, Gambia and Indonesia.

Around half the passengers were resident in the Canary Islands.

Clearly, there's no connection to link the two accidents and, even if this does make the list of worst crashes in Europe and whatever else the media is dragging up to make a headline, it isn't quite the "Holiday Horror" as portrayed on British TV, but the less said about my hatred of the British media's sensationalist approach, the better.

The current hypothesis over the cause of the crash is that, for whatever reason (that the accident investigation will seek to determine), the aircraft did not have enough power to lift off, but had passed the point of no return.

Photo: 2007/10/10 EC-HFP, by wicho «Sunbreeze» about to land at Barajas airport in Madrid. Sadly, this plane crashed on take off from Barajas on August 20th 2008 as JKK 5022 / LH 2554 to Gran Canaria airport (LPA). By the time of the crash, it had been repainted with the Star Alliance livery.

In memoriam by alexgg.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

They're taking the p*$$ aren't they?

Took this photo back in March, but I came across the image again while editing some stuff today and it still makes me giggle, so I thought I'd share. Seen on a stall in Santa Cruz' Nuestra Señora de África Market (wonderful place really), not Shiitake, but SHIT TAKE - two words.

Labels: Translation Hooters

Saturday, August 23, 2008

The shade of an almond tree

A restoration project is imminent, it seems on the house of the Estévanez brothers in the district of Gracia, in La Laguna. The 18th Century house, now a ruin, had been the property of the Irish family of Murphy, or more precisely to the brothers of Patricio and Nicolás Estévanez Murphy (1838-1914), the former having been a journalist of repute and the later, a military officer, politician and poet; a man who historically put humanity and justice before country.

The lyrics of the Himno de Canarias (Canary Islands Anthem), the first line of which refers to, "... la sombra de un almendro" (... the shade of an almond tree), were inspired by a fragment of a poem by Nicolás Estévanez that relates to the almond tree of his childhood, saying: "Mi patria no es el mundo; mi patria no es Europa; mi patria es de un almendro, la dulce, fresca, inolvidable sombra" (My homeland is not the world, my homeland is not Europe; my homeland is an almond tree, it's sweet, fresh, unforgettable shade.)

The almond tree in question, under which many an intellectual debate has taken place, stood in the grounds of this house and, although the tree became dried out through the years, the trunk still stands alongside the wall.

It was in this house also, that Borges Salas sculpted the voluptuous figure of Fecundidad (Fertility) that presides over the fountain that is the centrepiece of the Parque García Sanabria in Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz.

After many years of abandonment, the Tenerife Island Council acquired the 12,000 sq m Estévanez estate and intend to restore the house, an important location in Tenerife's history, as a museum, or for cultural activities.

Friday, August 22, 2008

What's on in Tenerife: August 18 - 24

As around two million Britons will be flying out of the UK this bank holiday weekend, what will those coming to Tenerife find to do?

The answer is not simple to provide this week, because many events that had been planned for some time might be cancelled or postponed because of the air crash at Madrid on Wednesday and the subsequently declared three days of mourning.

Julio Iglesias concert postponed

At least 79 of the people on board the Spanair flight (71 of whom, it's estimated, lost their lives), were resident in the Canaries, which has meant the suspension of fiesta events in Arafo, and in La Victoria, Tenerife; various entertainments on the island of La Palma and, in Gran Canaria.

Rolo Producciones postponed the concert that Julio Iglesias was due to give at the Centro Internacional de Ferias y Congresos tonight, Friday, as a symbol of solidarity and respect.

The Julio Iglesias concert will now take place on Saturday, August 23rd, at the same place and time (10 p.m.) and, the production company says, they will provide refunds to anyone who can't make the change of date.

The decision, to postpone and let down those who had planned to attend an event, or not and risk being called insensitive, is a difficult one, so the best policy this weekend is one of tolerance if you find that events are either on or off unexpectedly. Whoever made the decision, probably made what they thought was the best one and we can only tell you what was planned ...

Electronic Music Festival, Isla Baja

Saturday, August 23rd, at the Discoteca La Cúpula, Los Silos. For 10 euros on the door (includes a free drink), you can enjoy the best of BreakBeat-Old Skool and House (electro-tribal-tech)!

1 Festival de Música Electronica Isla Baja

On Friday, August 22nd, see Alternative / Pop Punk / Rock band, COMSAT (winners of the Ropavieja Music Festival 2008) in concert in San Benito, La Laguna. Never heard of them, not sure if they're to your taste? See their MySpace page for a list of influences, and where, they also say, it's free to download their songs.

Alternatively, on Saturday, August 23rd, British house music producer and DJ born in Birmingham, England (we all have our crosses to bear), Steve Lawler (better known in Ibiza as the "King of Space") will be at D-Dock, Playa la Pinta, Puerto Colon, Adeje on the south of the island.

Romería de La Victoria

If traditional is what you're looking for, there are a couple of fiestas that stand out this weekend. Firstly, the Romería in honour of San Isidro Labrador in La Victoria de Acentejo.

Saturday, August 23rd, from 5 p.m. onwards with ox carts (needed to carry, not just festival goers, but also the barbecue and the vast vats of wine to keep everything "well oiled"), folk groups, music, dancing and falling down drunk. This is an entirely different experience to falling down drunk in the UK, or in the resort, because it's all done in brightly coloured local costumes, in the name of a saint and in a most friendly atmosphere (and in much better weather, but that was obvious.)

The whole thing finishes up with a knees up to the Orquesta Echeyde.

Corazones de Tejina

Probably the biggest of the traditional events on the island this weekend is the festive tradition in Tejina, in the area of Santa Cruz-La Laguna, called the Corazones de Tejina (The Hearts of Tejina). It's held every August 24th, which this year is on Sunday.

Jack and Andrea Montgomery of Real Tenerife Island Drives tell us the story of this fiesta here; one of the most deep-rooted festivals of the Canary Islands and its origins are bound to the seasonal celebration of the harvest.

Download a full program of events for 2008 (PDF)

Buenavista Crafts Fair

The Calle La Alhóndiga and the Plaza de Los Remedios in Buenavista del Norte will be the venue this weekend of the annual San Bartolomé Crafts Fair. San Bartolomé is also the town's patron, so there may be other fiesta events going on in the town too.

However, my guess is that, it's likely that anywhere which normally honours San Bartolomé (Saint Bartholomew), whose day is celebrated on August 24th, may have events disrupted, as several of the dead in Wednesday's air crash, among them local councillor for culture, his wife and two daughters, hailed from the town of San Bartolomé de Tirajana in Gran Canaria.

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

Finally, a word from our sponsors ...

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- Save up to £300 per couple
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Labels: What's On?

Monday, August 18, 2008

Siam Park to open September 15th

Rumour, actually, a news item in Diario de Avisos on August 14th (via the Proyecto Siam Park blog) claims that, finally, a date for the inauguration of Siam Park in Tenerife, has been fixed for September 15th.

According to the report, presiding over the ribbon cutting ceremony will be HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (pictured), second daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej from Thailand, as well as Loro Parque boss, Wolfgang Kiessling and his son, Christoph Kiessling, director of Siam Park.

(Understand that I'm taking care not to infer that I actually believe it yet.)

Frankly, it is easy to believe that the perpetually "not quite finished" park, subject, it has been joked, of "the longest running mystery since The Mousetrap", or as Joe Cawley says, "vying with Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia for the award of "most overdue completion date" would never open!

The Tower of Power, tallest water slide and you'll get fit climbing up the 256 steps to get up there.Goodness knows what a real Thai person and royalty at that, is going to make of a "cardboard stone" pastiche version of her country in Tenerife, but we can't help thinking that it's more than apt, after the longest ever run up to an opening event in the history of, well, theme parks, is that they've managed to get the princess with the longest ever name to do it.

So bear in mind if you were thinking of inviting Her Royal Highness to your after party that you'll need long invitations to print her full name and title, which is "Somdet Phra Theppharat Ratchasuda Chao Fa Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Ratthasima Khunakon Piyachat Sayam Borommaratchakumari".

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Up Santa Cruz creek without a paddle

You may have seen images of the lovely new lake in the Plaza de España in Santa Cruz and you may have noticed that in many of them that there are people paddling.

Well, don't go getting any bright ideas about pausing there to cool your tired feet during an amble around the city, because, according to this report in Canarias7, the police are already fining people for bathing in the Plaza de España.

Municipal police patrols in Santa Cruz have been given express instructions to fine anyone who bathes in the lake, so "the fun of dipping your toes could cost between 60 and 300 euros."

At least, that's how the Canarias7 news report puts it, though I'd rather hope that common sense is applied (mind you, we are talking about Tenerife: it's not a natural association) and that they only really mean to stop people who are heading for the water with their swimming trunks and towel.

For me, it's still a genuine WTF? ... I mean, what did the Tenerife authorities expect? They get a huge water feature built in a busy public space, right in the middle of a city, in a sub-tropical climate and then they expect people NOT to show any traits of human nature? How likely is this going to happen?

Come on, never mind that this delightful water feature is virtually guaranteed (unless it's drained) to become a mucky cesspit of drunken bodies, empty beer bottles and used condoms floating in the drink at carnaval time. :)

1. Plaza de España en Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 2. Plaza de España,Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 3. Plaza de España de Santa Cruz, 4. Plaza de España de Santa Cruz, 5. Untitled, 6. Plaza de España de Santa Cruz, 7. Plaza de España de Santa Cruz, 8. Plaza de España de Santa Cruz, 9. Lago Plaza España

"Up shit creek without a paddle" (Idiom) To be in an undesirable situation. In dire circumstances with no hope of help.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Santa Cruz You're Not That Far

At the beginning of summer The Telegraph newspaper reported on a survey undertaken by Ebookers which showed that the global credit crunch was prompting a lot of Brits to re-think their traditional holiday plans.

Foremost amongst the findings was the statistic that only 27 percent of them planned to take a full fortnight’s holiday with a surprising 20 percent opting instead for short city breaks.

Coupled with earlier reports from leading travel companies that British winter breaks abroad are up by 20 percent, the coming Brit season in Tenerife could prove to be a bumper one for the constantly evolving Santa Cruz.

Over the past five years, developments in Tenerife’s capital city have seen its profile change from that of "utter hideousness" as described by Florence Du Kane in 1911, to a vibrant 21^st century metropolis which offers beauty, sophistication and culture in its architecture, plazas and attractions.

The city enjoys an ambient all year temperature of 22 degrees along with near constant sunshine in which to wander its historic streets where once, Nelson’s defeated soldiers were marched back to their fleet and their now armless (ouch… on 2 fronts) leader.

The tram system offers easy and economic access to its architectural, botanical and cultural treasures while in the continually developing Noria district, excellent restaurants and cool, stylish bars are springing up at breakneck speed.

The recently refurbished Plaza España adds another eye catching feature to the iconic Auditorium on the city’s portside where some of the world’s largest liners are planning to dock this winter.

All this only a four hour flight away from a cold wet and windy UK will have you humming the 2003 Thrills single “Santa Cruz You’re Not That Far” all the way to the sunshine.

Lying on a beach all day every day might make for a relaxing holiday, but memories of it fade as quickly as your sun tan. Island Drives is aimed at travellers who want to experience the real essence of Tenerife, not just its pools and beaches. If you want an unforgettable holiday as opposed to a good one, Real Tenerife Island Drives will make the difference.

Labels: Real Tenerife Island Drives

Monday, August 11, 2008

What's on in Tenerife August 11 - 17

Well, if last week was relatively quiet, that was only because this week is absolutely stuffed with parties and fiestas of one kind or another - so much so that anyone not on drugs might have trouble keeping up (I imagine)! :)

Hed Kandi in Tenerife

The week started with a party at Tramps, Playa de las Américas, on Monday, as the FlyKandi flying disco (the Hed Kandi / Monarch Airlines collaboration), made another stop in Tenerife. If you missed this date, it'll be back on the island on September 1st. Hed Kandi in Tenerife

Hed Kandi - the Mix Summer 2008

'Macrofiesta' in the Auditorio

If "ordinary" fiestas aren't big enough for you, then try a macrofiesta and the one on Wednesday, August 13th at the Auditorio de Tenerife in Santa Cruz promises to be a pretty large and legendary event, organized by a Cuban rum brand, with dozens of djs, go-gos, guest artists and "rivers of booze", we are told. The event is invitation only, sadly, if you fancied going, but this article poses the question as to whether the Auditorio - who are a tad fussy about how their image is used - ought to be hired out for this type of thing.

Innovation In The Sun The Tenerife Reunion

Devotion welcome you to come and join them for the 3rd Anniversary of the INNOVATION, Summer in the Sun, TENERIFE REUNION at the explanada del muelle (port), in Puerto de la Cruz on Thursday, August 14th.

There's 4 stages and more than 40 artists and, amongst those named in the commercial, I heard Altern-8.

They say, "After the success of the last two years, we have decided to bring the party to another level and we have secured a special outdoor location, which has to be seen to be believed in the beautiful city of Puerto de la Cruz . The outdoor stage will host the best in Old Skool rave with Drum n Bass being played in the main marquee. We also have an additional two marquees where the best in Hip Hop, House Music and UK Garage will be spun by some of the best DJ's in the World! The main event starts at 9 pm."

Actually, it all starts at mid-day with all sorts of other activities for all the family; dj workshops, dance school, diving, sport, hairdressing, tattoos and piercing and creative cooking. The best news: entrance is free.

Via: DJ Melo and Scratch Events.

Festivity of the Virgin of Candelaria

August 15th, is the fiesta in honour of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, the patron of the Canary Islands and on August 14th each year, which this year will fall on Thursday, thousands of visitors from all over the archipelago, walk to Candelaria as a form of pilgrimage.

The cult of the Virgin of Candelaria or Our Lady of Candelaria, popularly called La Morenita (Black Madonna), celebrates an apparition of the Virgin Mary on the island of Tenerife. According to legend, a statue of the Virgin Mary was discovered on the beach of Chimisay (Güímar) by two Guanche goatherds in 1392. The current figure of the Virgin (not the original, which was reputedly swept out to sea) is kept in the basilica at Candelaria, Tenerife.

As in previous years, floral offerings are made and then the romería (traditional procession) gets going at around 4 p.m. from Punta Larga, proceeding to the Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias, where a little after 8 p.m. is a reenactment of the Guanches discovering the statue.

Processions and fireworks follow, with a midnight mass (the church will be open all night) and folk music in the square.

Romería of San Roque

There's really nothing quite like a plague to provoke an excuse for a party, is there? Garachico suffered one back in 1606 and the town's remaining inhabitants have been showing their gratitude to the saint, San Roque, who apparently sorted it, ever since.

The Romería de San Roque in Garachico, has been declared an event of National Interest for Tourism and is held on August 16th each year (irrespective of the day of the week), which, conveniently for keen revelers, this year falls on Saturday.

The figure of the saint is taken from it's home in the San Roque hermitage to the main church of Santa Ana, where a religious service is held at mid-day.

At 1 p.m., the romería begins that accompanies the image back to the hermitage, with music, dancing, herds of goats and other animals, ox carts, lots of food and even more rivers of wine.

At the same time, fishermen have a maritime procession, accompanying the image along the sea front. Some 16,000 people attended the Romería in Garachico last year, according to this report, which would probably explain why there was nowhere to park in the town (the population of the whole district is just over 5,500 normally.) Get there early, or better yet, go by bus.

Read what last year's Fiesta Romería de San Roque, Garachico was like.