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1984-2015

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October 8 – October 21, 2015

Las Palmas has bottle!

Page 7

Adeje

Pink Room for life

Photo: Adeje council

It’s official: The Pink Room, an initiative dedicated to helping those suffering from breast cancer, is well and truly open.

Addressing the more than 120 people who attended the event, local mayor José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga said “It’s very important that we have a space here in Adeje that can be used as a reference point for those engaged in the fight against breast cancer. It is also for those who are in search of information, as early detection is vital”.

He continued “this is an ideal place to create a focus point for cooperation among medical professional and therapists who are volunteering their services.”

Continued on page 2

Brigitte Gypen, Mayor José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga and councillor Amada Trujillo Bencomo

Hot summer

El Hierro

Warm autumn

Page 8

Heart health

Celebrating the Geopark

Salsa and gofio...

Pages 10 & 11

Pages 34 & 35

Positive tendencies and harsh criticism

School system highs and lows Not since the 90s has the number of people opting for vocational training in the Islands ever been so high.

The figures for the last school year show that 41,473 students took advantage of training opportunities available for professional preparation across a wide range of different sectors: A number that is an impressive 10,000 more than the year before.

This information from the Canarian Statistical Office ISTAC has provided even more incentive for the ongoing expansion in the area of school vocational training coupled with internships within companies.

As an explanation for the jump in numbers of young people taking up the offers, there are several reasons which are being quoted as being responsible. Firstly, there has been a conscious drive to make studying available for employees who were already working within a particular field without qualifications, and schools have also been promoting a framework of information days on vocational training paths to show

Photo: Paul Gooddy www.freedigitalphotos.net

Guinness World Record

The school system is undergoing a number of changes

the possibilities open to pupils.

These have been positive moves at a time when the economic crisis has been hitting the number of students who want to go to university. Unfortunately, a lot of young people who wish to study at the moment are unable to do so due to lowered grants and increased fees. Many of these have shifted their focus to occupations and are thus also able to continue their studies, though now with a longerterm target.

When it comes to vocational training, the Basque Country in the north of Spain is considered a pioneer, particularly in the field of industry. The area has had this type of educational establishments in place since 1955, as well as running various schemes in cooperation with businesses.

The Basque Country’s successful drive towards vocational training is also a project that adapts well to the changing requirements of the labour market, by the inclusion and

promotion of specific professions as needed.

The knowledge that the region seems to have got it absolutely right was the driving force behind a recent visit to the Basque Country from the president of the Canary Island government Fernando Clavijo, Councillor for Education Soledad Monzón, and the general director of the Canarian Vocational Schools with the aim of introducing the best aspects of the system into the archipelago’s future training arrangements.

Primary schools’ slump Numbers for vocational training in schools may also be on the rise due to many opting to stay in secondary education for a longer period due to the poor labour market situation. In the opinion of Sociology lecturer José Saturnino Martínez from La Laguna University, the number of early school leavers has never been as low as it is at the moment.

Continued on page 2

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FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

The school of life Continued from front page In the Canary Islands’ nursery and primary schools, ongoing declining birth rates are now having a noticeable effect on admission numbers: Compared to last year, this September saw over 4,100 children less booked into first year or preschool across both private and public schools.

When looking at all ages in education within the archipelago – with the exemption of University level – there are almost 11,000 less pupils this year.

This may be good news for some, however. Despite declining enrolments, 64 new teacher posts have been created or reopened this year, with the aim of improving the poor student /teacher ratio as the Islands have some of the largest classes in Spain.

Private alternative?

Parents who want to give their children the best possible education often opt for a private school, assuming that their child will find the ultimate conditions for learning there.

Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

“My son first went to a bilingual private school in Puerto de la Cruz. Unfortunately, there were so many arrogant children of typical nouveau riche families that he never felt comfortable there.

After changing to a British school he fitted in much better and had the opportunity to finish a good education” says a mother from the north of Tenerife.

Across the islands, private schools are still courting the attention of parents. Yet there are apparently major shortcomings in the teaching of languages across both types of school. Although children often begin English classes

The new school year has begun with both positive and negative characteristics

early, many of them manage to leave school with only a very basic vocabulary.

Until only a few years ago native speakers were employed in public schools as classroom assistants to language teachers so that correct pronunciation could be taught. Unfortunately, this practice was phased out as part of major cutbacks within the system due to the crisis.

Many suffered the loss of their jobs, but, regrettably, students also lost the key to gaining an acceptable conversational level in a second language.

Surprisingly, however, the picture is not automatically better in private schools. “My son’s German teacher has a poor working knowledge of that language. They do not speak it well and sometimes don’t even recognise writing errors that occur frequently. Especially at a private school, I expect a native speaker to be teaching, so my children can learn the language as best as possible” criticised one father whose children go to a private school in the south.

So a reduced size of pupil numbers per class is not the only requisite for effective learning: Much depends on the qualifications and ability of individual teachers. For languages it is particularly important that the educator dominates the lan-

guage well, and if they are not a native speaker they should have lived for a while in the country of the language they are teaching. In private schools, at least, it is felt that this should be expected. Though really, it perhaps ought to be mandatory for all study of foreign languages.

Saturated at school While some are carefully considering which private school their children should attend, for all parents it can be a real effort to raise the money for books and school supplies each year, and the ongoing crisis is continuing to be felt across the education system.

The number of students who use one of the 1,300 school buses has increased considerably and now stands at about 40,000. Even more frightening is the fact that more and more children have to be subsidised by the state in the school cafeterias. Education Councillor Soledad Monzón estimates that the number of children who qualify for completely free meals is now approximately 14,000, compared to 2012 when there were only around 6,000. Many more also meet the requirements for subsidies: nearly 66,000 girls and boys

are now supplied with a lunch.

Figures for the recently started school year are still to be confirmed, but they are expected to agree with estimates.

Last year, 2,695 children from disadvantaged families were even provided with a free breakfast - and the figure will probably be even higher this year. Prior to this initiative, many children went to school without having eaten and were unable to concentrate – putting them at a severe disadvantage when it came to learning.

Fighting school bullying To coincide with the start of the new school year, the Guardia Civil launched a campaign on Twitter against bullying. An age-old problem, in these days of smartphones incidents are often also broadcast to groups of friends or across the internet – something which in Europe has even led to some children committing suicide. Bullying is no longer just a physical matter – cyber bullying is becoming rife.

“To humiliate someone doesn’t make you proud, nor strong, and much less, powerful. It just makes you miserable. No to bullying” is the slogan which is being used in the police’s call for solidarity with the victims and fairness in the classroom.

There are also a growing number of information sessions available for parents to help them recognise and deal with the problem. Group sessions with trusted adults are often used to help build a team which can help the child victims. If you think one of your children is experiencing this sort of problem, do not hesitate to speak to their teachers. n

Pink is the colour of hope Continued from front page The Pink Room, situated on the second floor of the School of Security and Co-existence in Las Nieves, will provide advice and support for sufferers and their families and loved ones, as well as increase awareness about breast cancer and act as a hub for a number of funding, communication and information campaigns.

Also present at the opening was the Adeje councillor for Health Protection and Quality of Life, Amada Trujillo Bencomo, and Brigitte Gypen, the woman behind the Walk for Life movement which was the inspiration for The Pink Room. On a proud day for Gypen and all those who support the breast cancer charities here, she said “this service is made possible through those who are working with us in a voluntary capacity, and we will be offering help but also hosting conferences, workshops...and a lot more. The message I also want to send today is “we need you because we need people to make this place work”.

Councillor Trujillo Bencomo added “we have to work to reinforce the importance of prevention and look at how we can help those affected. One in every eight women can become affected but with early detection there is an excellent chance of overcoming the cancer. With this Pink Room we will evolve into a meeting point, a place where people can come together to talk, to offer help and advice, psychological assistance if needed – and we will be working with the health centre to promote prevention.”

For more information see: www.carreraporlavida.com or call: 674 352 002. Alternatively, email: info@carreraporlavida .com or carreraporlavida.walkforlife@gmail.com. n

Photo: Adeje council

Not quite a piece of cake - but everyone’s hard work has paid off

The price of Oleg Naydenov

Spain to pay for Russian trawler A €31 million bill for works on the sunken Russian fishing freighter, Oleg Naydenov, is causing a headache for the Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy.

The government agreed to pay costs to the multinational Ardent, who sealed the leaking ship and performed cleanup work after it sank off the coast of Gran Canaria, but possibly at the expense of

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The Oleg Naydenov caught fire while loading supplies at the port of Las Palmas and authorDisclaimer: Island Connections Newspaper is published and printed fortnightly by ISLAND CONNECTIONS S.L. Adverts, texts, photos or other parts of this publication are property of the publishers.

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ities ordered the vessel to be taken out to sea to burn. However, the ship began to list after two days and soon sank, spilling oil from the 1,440 tons of fuel onboard. n features. Advertisements once contracted cannot be cancelled and have to be paid in full.

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European Union European Regional Development Fund

“Creating Europe” This company has qualified for subsidies from the Spanish Government, cofinanced by funding from the European Regional Development Fund, for the transport of merchandise in the Canaries.

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015

CANARY ISLANDS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756

Hotel booking websites shut down by police

Card clone con

Photo: Policía Nacional

Spanish police have shut down two websites that posed as hotel booking sites but were really designed to steal the credit card details of users.

The scam came to light thanks to information supplied by a number of people from the Canaries, who contacted the authorities to report that their credit and debit cards had been used for purchases they had not made.

It later emerged that the common denominator among the complainants was that they had tried to book hotels on one of two websites and had provided their card details, only to receive a message saying the booking had not been processed “due to a technical fault”. The cards were used almost immediately for other purposes by the scammers.

The two sites were set up to pass themselves off as wellknown booking sites, with a minor modification to the Internet address. A police cybercrime team in Las Palmas traced the sites to the United States and further investigation revealed that the people behind the scam lived in Turkey.

Interpol were alerted to the activities of the scammers and a court order was obtained in Spain to block the websites in this country.

A police spokesman in Las Palmas said that the names of the sites were being kept confidential so as not to harm the interests of the hotel booking agencies “cloned” by the criminals and who are innocent victims of the widespread card fraud. n

Age pyramid

Spain has third oldest population According to a study undertaken by Eurostat, 5.7 per cent of the population in Spain is now over 80 years old: the third highest rating in Europe.

Figures for France are currently on a par with Spain so, out of the 28 Member States, both tie for third place, after Italy which has 6.4 per cent of its population aged over four score years, and Greece which sits at six percent. The countries with the youngest populace at the moment are Ireland and Slovakia, with only three percent, closely followed by Cyprus at 3.1 per cent.

Europe-wide, there was 5.1 per cent of the population over 80 years old in 2014. This can be put into perspective by comparing that figure with those for 2001 – where the average across the European nation was just 3.5 per cent. Based on this rate of growth, it is expected that by 2080 the section of society in Europe that is over 80 years old will be a resource-

stretching 12.3 percent, with Spain probably having 10.8 per cent by that time.

There are also some changes being foreseen in the spread of the over-80s as Slovakia can look forward to 16.3 per cent of their population – fast approaching one fifth – to be over the age in question. Meanwhile, if the situation in Ireland continues as it is, the country will still sit at the bottom of the table, at just 7.4 per cent.

With respect to the risk of slipping below the poverty line in old age, Spain is currently in eighth place, where approximately 14.5 percent of people presently aged 65 and over are finding themselves in this position. Conversely, in Holland this danger sits at a little over six percent - the lowest in the EU. OAPs in Bulgaria are faring much worse, where one out of every two seniors is dealing with poverty and social exclusion.

The study also examined the behaviour of seniors in the

In early October Los Realejos celebrated the International Day of Older Persons and honoured the village elders

digital age. More than a quarter (26 percent) of Spaniards between 65 and 74 years old use the internet, putting them 16 points below the European average. However, only 33 percent of internet-seniors use social networks: More often, namely 78 per cent of them, use emails; 77 per cent search for information and services; and 76 per cent read online news. Only 17 out of 100 make purchases via the internet.

The Canary Islands can be a

wonderful place to live the ‘third age’. Many boroughs are already well equipped for dealing with the social lives of an older population, at least.

For the over-65s there are, for example, a variety of courses for handicrafts and sports, as well as numerous organised trips and excursions. Older members of families are still well respected, and active retirees are much welcomed when it comes to the preparation of n traditional festivals.

Linea Directa

EU driving licences are valid for driving throughout the Spanish territory. The renewal of EU driving licences requires the holder to undergo psychometric aptitude tests and be legally resident in Spain.

The latest EU Directive 2006/126/CE states that holders of EU driving licences that have expired or are about to expire need to renew their licence.

Holders of EU driving licences that are valid indefinitely or for more than 15 years for Group 1 (AM, A1, A2, A, B & BE) or valid for five years or more for Group 2 (BTP, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE) need to

CANARY ISLANDS

Licence to renew EU licence holders that are valid indefinitely or for more than 15 years, who are legally resident in Spain since June 6, 2014, should renew their driving licence from June 6, 2016.

Photo: stockimages freeimages.com

How to renew

Check when you need to renew your driving licence

renew their licence providing they have been legally resident in Spain for two years since January 19, 2013.

The holders of EU licences that are valid indefinitely or

for more than 15 years, who are legally resident in Spain before or up to January 19, 2013, should renew their driving licence from January 19, 2015.

This can be done at the local office of the Spanish Traffic Department, by calling 060 and making an appointment, or visiting online at www.dgt.es.

The documentation required is: • Official application form (available from local Spanish Traffic Department or

Bentor the mentor

High above Los Realejos on the road to Icod el Alto is the Mirador El Lance, and from this beautiful lookout point sightseers have a magnificent view of Orotava Valley and the north coast of Tenerife. However, this spot also has a gruesome story attached to it.

In this area, Bentor, the last mencey (king) of the area of Taoro committed suicide following the disastrous Second Battle of Acentejo which took place in December 1494, and which saw the defending Guanche soldiers decimated by the invading Spanish forces.

Bentor was the eldest son of Bencomo, the penultimate mencey of Taoro who defeated the Spanish at the First Battle of Acentejo but died shortly afterwards. Soon after the fateful second con-

Photo: Ayuntamiento Los Realejos

Tourists educated on history

Information in three languages has been mounted next to the Bentor monument

flict, Bentor and his forces took refuge in the slopes of Tigaiga Mountain where he

later committed suicide in February 1495 by jumping into a ravine: An act which

was considered more honourable than surrendering and being enslaved. However, as a consequence, the Guanche resistance completely collapsed and the island’s remaining menceys soon surrendered.

The story of the last great Guanche ruler was immortalised by the sculptor Carmen León in 1996 at the site of the Mirador El Lance with a bronze statue that depicts Bentor moments before he plunged to his death.

Recently, the commissioner for tourism in Los Realejos, Carolina Toste, along with Alexis Hernández from Icod de Los Vinos council, unveiled a new sign directly next to the statue which tells the story of the historical event in Spanish, English and German.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

downloaded from www.dgt. es).

• Proof of identity and residency • EU driving licence. Original and a photocopy.

• Results from psychometric aptitude tests from recognised and authorised centre.

• A recent photograph 32mm x 26mm.

the European Union have a single driving licence for all 28 members in a drive to harmonise the more than 110 different types of driving licences currently in circulation.

We hope the information provided in this article is of interest. If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call 902 123 151. For more information on Linea Directa, visit online at: www.lineadirecta.com. n

In the interests of road safety, these procedures have been implemented to comply with driving licence regulations (Directive 2006/126/CE) in an effort to help increase road safety in general. Countries of

Arsonists arrested

Bin burn trio caught Three youths behind a spate of the latest vandalism craze to sweep urban parts of Tenerife face a date in court and, at the very least, a community service order.

The trio – the youngest of whom is 15 – were identified by locals who spotted them setting rubbish bins alight on roads in separate districts in La Laguna, triggering fire brigade call-outs to deal with the blazes. Cars parked next to one of the bins suffered scorch damage, as did the front of an apartment block.

The youths told police they had started the blazes for fun but the Juvenile Court is likely to take a more serious view of events in an attempt to curb a practice that has spread of late to various parts of Tenerife, not just the two big cities.

Santa Cruz council revealed a few months ago that the arson attacks are costing the city a small fortune in replacement bins and clean-up operations. News of the arrests has prompted calls for exemplary punishment, including n street cleaning, for the culprits.

A similar multi-language notice was mounted in Los Realejos town centre advising tourists on the important role that the local Fiesta de Las Cruces

plays in the community, and Toste plans to install about a dozen similar signs at prominent locations to relay key n information to visitors.

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756

PROMOTION

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Fuerteventura whale exhibition

The remains of a Cuvier’s beaked whale which was washed ashore during military manoeuvres is the latest skeleton to be exhibited along Fuerteventura’s coastline.

The move comes as part of a 15-year initiative which started shortly after the turn of the millennium when the Fuerteventura Council began a project to draw attention to the threats to the oceans and their inhabitants, and our responsibility to protect them.

The scheme includes the permanent display on coastal paths of several rather impressive skeletons of stranded whales. The most recent of these is one of a number of Cuvier’s beaked whales which were found beached at Majanicho 11 years ago. The cetaceans’ death was associated with a military naval exercise, named ‘Majestic Eagle 2004’, which evidently caused three Cuvier’s to be washed ashore in July of that year: two in Fuerteventura and one in Lanzarote.

Photo: Fuerteventura Council

El Cotillo’s skeletons

The impressive whale skeleton at El Cotillo

The latest to be put on display, during September at El Cotillo in La Oliva, was the 5.75 metre long adult female which was found on July 24, 2004.

The Cuvier’s beaked whale does not generally live near the coast. This species is the record holder among all mammals for its long deep sea diving capabilities as it is able

to dive to a depth of about three kilometres, with a possible dive time of over two hours without surfacing for a breath. During an evaluation of 1,000 dives, on average, the Cuvier’s beaked whale went to a depth of around 1,400 metres and remained under water for well over an hour.

Encounters with these giants on the open seas are rare as they are very evasive, so little is understood about them, but it is known that they typically feed on squid and crustaceans which they catch in deep waters. Their gender can only be determined by the two teeth that males have protruding from their lower jaw, which females do possess but which rarely protrude above the gum line. But for all their elusiveness, dead Cuvier’s beaked whales often wash up on shores around the world.

For all whale and dolphin strandings in the Canary Islands the bodies are examined to determine the cause of their demise and, following the deaths of a large amount of the creatures being irrevocably linked to military manoeuvres, the practice was eventually banned in Canarian waters.

The latest Cuvier’s beaked whale to be installed on the coast, the preparation of which was co-financed by the Canarian government and the European Fisheries Fund, comes hot on the heels of another of its kind which has been displayed on the Avenida Marítima in Gran Tarajal since March of this year.

The very first skeleton to be installed in the project was that of a 19.5 metre long fin whale, which was placed at Las Salinas del Carmen in 2003.

The carcass of the animal was found three years earlier, stranded on April 18, 2000, on the coast of Majanicho.

This was followed by the skeleton of a 15 metre long sperm whale in Jandía in 2006 and that of a 10m Bryde’s whale at Playa de Los Pozos in Puerto del Rosario in 2013.

Before that, portions of these and other skeletons were presented as a travelling exhibition at the visitors’ centre in Jandía, the Lobos Natural Park, the Juan Ismael art centre, and in 2011 as part of an exhibition on the Fuerteventura biosphere in Madrid’s Royal Botanical Garden.

In addition to the tourist attraction that the remains of these imposing marine mammals represent, the main focus is on making visitors aware of the wealth that is hidden in the Canarian waters, and on encouraging them to help with the protection of this unique n habitat.

On the up?

Canarian minister in economic recovery hope Spain’s only minister from the Canaries set the ball rolling for the end of year general elections with glowing praise of the national government’s track record, although he admitted that not all the positive effects have filtered through to everyone.

José Manuel Soria, the industry, energy and tourism minister for the last four years and a key figure in the cabinet of Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy, opened a regional conference that effectively launched his Popular Party’s campaign for the elections, which are due to be held in December.

Soria urged the public to remember that “the light is at the end of the tunnel” thanks to the PP’s measures to right the economy, but he acknowledged that not everyone has shared in the upturn in fortunes. “Things are definitely getting better and there are clear signs of a recovery, even if it is not reaching everybody in the Canaries just yet” admitted the minister, who is not the most popular figure in the islands due to his fierce support for plans to drill for oil in n the waters off the Canaries.

Photo: World Travel & Rousim CC 3.0

José Manuel Soria boasts of economic recovery

Hunting tragedy

Man killed by falling rock The perils of hunting have again been in evidence following the tragic death of an elderly Gran Canaria man while taking part in his favourite pastime.

The 75-year-old was hunting in a ravine in the La Caldereta area of Ingenio when he was fatally injured by a falling rock. A dramatic rescue operation featuring helicopters, the fire brigade and the ambulance service was launched to reach the stricken huntsman in the ravine but the emergency services could do nothing to save him due to the serious head and upper body injuries sustained. He was pronounced dead at the scene and an investigation was ordered into the fatality.

Various serious hunting-related accidents have been reported in the Canaries in recent years, including accin dental shootings and fall fatalities.

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Guinness World Record

Simply unstoppable Las Palmas The people of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria have broken a Guinness World Record by collecting 87,365 Actimel ProVital drinking yogurt containers and creating the biggest mosaic in the world made of plastic bottles.

Weeks of preparation preceded the initiative which exceeded the previous record by over 20,000 bottles - set in India by a pharmaceutical company which collected just over 66,000 bottles.

In Las Palmas, the 16 metre long and 7.6 metre wide mosaic was created in the Plaza Stagno, in front of the Pérez Galdós theatre, with the word ‘imparable’, (unstoppable) in the middle. This effort by far exceeded the expectations of the manufacturers of the yogurt, Danone Canarias, which hoped that around 70,000 bottles would be amassed.

The new World Record was documented by the notary Miguel Ángel Ramos and topographer from GRAMAP, Alejandro Hernández. The campaign was also a call for more awareness of the need to recycle plastic waste.

For the city of Las Palmas, this is just one more piece of evidence that the city and its inhabitants can really work together! n

Las Palmas has entered the Guinness Book of World Records

Extinction threat

Protecting the blue chaffinch The beautiful Blue chaffinch can be seen in the pine forests of Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

Unfortunately, both populations are under threat, though due to deforestation those of Gran Canaria live in isolated pockets and numbers have fallen the most dramatically.

The latest attempt to save the birds comes via the Gran Canaria’s environmental department which has launched a transmitter tagging programme.

The first 15 birds fitted with the radio transmitters were released in the area of El Cortijo de Huertas – one of the first questions that researchers are hoping to answer is whether the birds stay in that area or fly back to Inagua, where they were captured. The main problem facing the birds is that their environment has been reduced to two separate areas of pine trees. A future project hopes to create further sub-populations

Photo: Cabildo GC

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015

The first 15 Canarian chaffinches fitted with tracking devices will provide valuable data

and to plant ‘paths’ of trees to facilitate their union.

Meanwhile, researchers hope to discover important information about the behaviour of the attractive finches to enable targeted measures for their protection. For example, by refor-

esting a corredor on the routes that the songbirds take instinctively between different populations.

The programme is still in its infancy, but the environmentalist Juan Manuel Brito is determined to preserve the species

from extinction. A programme in Fuerteventura for the preservation of Egyptian vultures has been working successfully for years, using methods that it is hoped can be transferred to the conservation of other types n bird species.

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Warm autumn expected

The hot summer weather is set to continue into autumn

Canaries the first pinnacle was seen on June 29 with a high of 29 degrees Celsius. A short while later, during the period between July 6 and 10, this

had significantly increased bringing about the high of 42 degrees seen in Tasarte on July 7. The nights also had a very tropical feel.”

Rainfall during the summer was consistent with recorded averages, especially in La Palma and the north of Gran Canaria. Only in August did

Authorised establishment

Rolls-Royce Marine España SA, part of the multinational Rolls-Royce Holdings, along with representatives of ZEC (the Canarian Special Zone) recently confirmed that the opening of a branch of the prestigious British brand here in the Canaries has been authorised.

Operations will soon begin at the Las Palmas port in Gran Canaria, with Rolls-Royce taking advantage of the enticing tax benefits available in the archipelago. The Spanish arm of the company is predominantly based on the manufac-

Photo: ZEC

Rolls-Royce in the Canaries

Beatriz Barrera welcomed the decision by Rolls-Royce to begin operations in the Canaries

ture and maintenance of diesel and gas engines used in cogeneration plants and mar-

itime installations, and has a number of planned projects for the Canaries taking place

throughout the next year. Beatriz Barrera, president of ZEC, stated “Due to the attractive tax benefits, investment by companies as renowned as Rolls-Royce strengthens the Islands’ image. We also have good infrastructure, location and a skilled workforce able to deliver to expectations.”

The president added that the Islands will benefit from the employment opportunities this investment brings, along with the hope that more businesses will follow to boost the local economy and employment further. n

figures top the average, with Agaete recording 22 litres per square metre on August 13. The north of Tenerife recorded 14.42 litres. For the entire reported period, Izaña in Tenerife saw 45 litres fall, Santa Cruz recorded 33.6 litres and the Tenerife North airport had 32.8 litres per square metre.

“The Islands saw slightly more rainfall in August compared to figures going back to 1981”, confirmed the meteorologist.

However, even though August saw a slight increase, in general the rainfall for the period of October 2014 to October 2015 was around 25 per cent less than normal for the 12 month period.

The Canaries experienced a pleasant September, with relatively low trade winds typi-

cal for the month, as well as clear skies, warm temperatures and low rainfall. This trend is expected to continue with the autumn season likely to be warmer than average and rainfall predicted to be the same as normal. This sounds generally positive. However, Agüera was quick to warn that worldwide temperatures have been increasing yearly since 2001, showing signs of global warming. The Canaries saw the second hottest summer since the turn of the millennium and Agüera attributes this to the incremental increase of gases: “Although annual sunlight has stayed the same there are more gases contributing to a greenhouse effect which is seeing the averages rise n slightly year on year.”

Beautiful beach blow

Las Palmas demands for photo use Las Palmas Council wants firm guarantees from the regional government that it will not use the city’s flagship beach to promote other islands in the Canaries.

The corporation’s tourism chief Pedro Quevedo made the demand after it emerged that the Canarian Department of Tourism had uploaded a picture of the Las Canteras beach on its website, without specifying that it is in Gran Canaria. “Potential tourists will be confused by the image, thinking they will find the beach anywhere in the islands when it is unique to us. I am sure Fuerteventura will not be too happy that its beaches are being advertised with a photograph of Las Canteras” explained Quevedo, who has been in touch with Tourism Department bosses to express his anger at the use of the unidentified picture.

The reaction of Las Palmas has been criticised in some quarters as a further example of Gran Canaria’s “go it alone” approach to tourism marketing, including installing its own exhibition space at international holiday fairs instead of working n with the Canary Islands’ stand.

Photo: rubenshito/freeimages.com

Canarian government official, María del Carmen Hernández Bento, and Canarian director of the weather office AEMET, Jesús Agüera, recently released a report on weather trends covering the period of June 21 to September 21.

The conclusion of summer 2015 was quite clear: it was one of the hottest in the Canaries in recent years, surpassed only by the summer of 2003.

Temperatures were particularly high in July and August, exceeding the monthly averages. This peaked on July 7, with Tasarte in Gran Canaria recording a high of 42 degrees Celsius.

Jesús Agüera said “August was a little stickier than normal, and unlike the Spanish mainland, there was no calima affecting the conditions. In the

Photo: www.inselteneriffa.com

Feeling hot, hot, hot

Images of Las Canteras beach are often used for advertising other islands

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Holiday lets debate continues

A pause for thought whole range of parties. However, there were warnings against anyone having excessive expectations for a future free for all. “What we want is to create a scheme that puts firm legal guidelines in place for existing providers, not create more ‘beds’. What we are very afraid of, and want to avoid, is banks and big investors taking over the market” declared José Miguel Ruano, spokesman for the nationalists.

Meanwhile, the Podemos Party deputy, Asunción Delgado, is advocating urgency in finishing the promised revised version, preferably within the next

Whether in a holiday apartment or hotel, in the middle of town or in the country, visitors should be able to choose for themselves

A polemic reply Despite the good news on potential fines, and the possibility of further amendments, the problem regarding private holiday lettings is not one that is likely to be resolved soon. It is one that has been causing heated debate for a good long time, however.

Followers of our Facebook page are often wont to comment on the situation and we occasionally receive letters to the editor on the subject as well. Here is one such from a gentleman who disagreed fervently with an article we recently published on the matter.

Letter to the editor Following on from the Spanish Competition Regulator raising doubts about the existing Canary Islands’ Holiday Lettings laws restricting competition, Island Connections published an article based on statements made

by Jorge Marichal, Chairman of the Tenerife Hotel Owners Association.

I read this article with incredulity as every comment made was totally biased, in my opinion. I Quote: “Too much notice is taken of a sector which does not create jobs.” “Unfair competition.”

“Are they the ones who create 100,000 jobs and pay millions of Euros in taxes?” “Campaign driven by four or five lawyers who have ties to tax havens.“ Firstly we must have a look at what is happening currently in, for example, Tenerife. For many years Tenerife has only permitted the construction of 5-star hotels, which are obviously charging 5-star prices. Unfortunately, many tourists cannot afford 5star prices and are abandoning Tenerife to go instead to other tourist hot spots like the Lycian Coast of Turkey where flats and villas are readily available for rent at affordable prices. When

two months, and says that not only should the ban on holiday rentals in tourist areas be dropped completely, but ‘bed and breakfast’ style room rental should also be allowed.

Though the Canarian Holiday Rental Association (Ascav) expressed agreement with the suspension of the heavy fines, representatives also reiterated the need for tight controls and standards within the sector of n private rentals.

Photo: www.inselteneriffa.com

Owners of apartments in resort areas can breathe once again, at least for a while, as the section of the letting law which threatened fines of between €30,000 and €300,000 for renting out property in tourist areas for holiday lets has been suspended.

The controversial amendments to the rental law were rushed through with unseemly haste just days before the elections in May of this year, and there are now parliamentary calls to have the entire decree revised.

The CC and PSOE parties have been the driving force in the initiative for change, but have found support from across the

the hotel-bound tourist arrives at Tenerife airport he is transported by bus to his hotel, so the taxi driver is the first person to lose business.

Many hotels are restricting tourists to ‘All inclusive’ accommodation only (as one of my friends found when trying to book just bed and breakfast recently) so the next people to lose out are all the restaurant and bar owners in the location of the hotel.

Many hotels have shops within their confines and indeed some have resident hairdressers, so local shops and local hairdressers also lose out.

Also, many people bought apartments and villas with the express intention of renting to tourists in order to help pay for mortgages and community charges, without any warning whatsoever of laws which already existed which banned such rentals, but were not being applied. The application of this law has resulted in

many properties being put up for sale, the property market being devastated, many people losing large amounts of money and Estate Agents businesses being crushed. Bearing in mind the 7 per cent tax on property sales, the government is losing a great deal of money in this sector alone.

A friend of mine bought an apartment in Tenerife some years ago and rented it out to tourists. He says he was bringing 90-100 tourists a year to the island, so that is around 30 taxi rides annually, for starters. His tourists were obviously eating out in local restaurants, drinking in local bars and having hairdos in local hair salons.

He employed a lady to do his cleaning, so was obviously creating employment for local people, so the statement, quote: “a sector which does not create jobs” is just nonsense.

In contrast, hotels mass produce meals and have minimal bar and cleaning staff, so the amount of employment created per tourist is not as great as the equivalent employment created by private

lettings, in my opinion. “Unfair competition”? What we have at the moment is a hotel monopoly and, sure enough, that IS unfair competition! - But unfair competition in the reverse direction to Señor Marichal’s words.

Regarding taxation, the powers that be should go and have a look at how the Turkish Government is managing taxation in its booming tourist sector. (I am just back from a visit to Oludeniz on the Lycian coast and I am told they have had a record number of tourists this year. Restaurants and bars were full, unlike many in Tenerife which are struggling to survive as tourists are eating mass produced food in hotels).

Apartments and villas are readily available to rent without any restrictions and the Government partly gets its taxes by means of an airport tax of $20 a head (up from £10 a head two years ago). Please note that if this tax was applied in Tenerife to my friend’s apartment’s tourists number of yesteryear then the tax input from one apartment alone would be €1,998 to €2,220! I would state that

this tax is being accepted by tourists - who are going there in droves and both private lettings and hotels are very busy indeed.

Señor Marichal’s final statement that the campaign is being driven by four or five tax-avoiding lawyers is utter drivel and a huge insult to the approximately 20,000 people who signed a petition some time ago asking for this law to be revoked only to have the law amended so that it is permissible to rent out your apartment or villa to tourists on a short term basis - so long as it is not in a tourist area! You could not make it up!

In conclusion, the Canary Islands are some of the best tourist destinations within four to five flying hours of Europe, with the best climate. Unfortunately, Tenerife has an unemployment rate of more than 35 per cent and I am quite sure that the Holiday Lettings Law is not helping these unemployed people in their quest for employment.

A concerned resident, n Donastar, Tenerife

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FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

Doing what they do well…

El Hierro’s anniversary

By Barbara Belt The island of El Hierro is small: A mere two hundred and sixtyeight square kilometres of it is above sea level, making pioneering achievements like being declared a Geopark all the more remarkable.

Is what makes El Hierro special its population? Somehow, ten thousand islanders manage to overcome the twin Canarian malaises of postponement and complication. Perhaps ten thousand is a population size suitable for functioning as a viable, community-based society, where decisions are made according to the general good, rather than personal or sectarian gain.

Or is it the island’s topography and geography? Astonishing things like projects starting and actually finishing, and good ideas coming to fruition, may happen in El Hierro just because it’s small and easy to get round quickly, so islanders feel more united: “Ho! So this is all we’ve got then. There’s not much of it, so we’d better decide together how to look after it.” Maybe.

Across the water, the neighbouring Gomeros were hemmed into isolated valleys before roads were built. This produced valley, rather than island, affiliations which continue today, despite modern road connections.

As for geography, long before Greenwich Meantime, El Hierro marked the Zero Meridian at the edge of the known world, with all who sailed on westward in danger of plunging into the abyss. Did that tweak the Herreños’ DNA too, making

Island president, Belén Allende

Happy environmentally-friendly anniversary, El Hierro!

The Gorona del Viento renewable energy project

them pragmatic, cooperative and united? “Here we are then, on the edge of the world. We’d better sort everything out for ourselves, as there’s nobody else around“, they might have decided.

These fanciful theories were born of a question that’s bugged me for the last twentyeight years, when I first noticed that this smallest Canary Island functions best, if you rate preservation of the natural environment, based on common-sense decisions highly.

Why haven’t the other Canary Islands caught up? We’re all super-connected with roads, internet and telephones now.

All are relatively small landmasses, so easy to manage intelligently, but corruption’s rife, common sense a limited resource and politics tainted.

Scant regard is paid to protecting these islands we all live on, despite trumpeting about the environment at election time.

Old habits die hard, though.

T’was ever thus. All of which

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El Hierro’s spectacular El Golfo area

makes the recent anniversary of another Herreño triumph of good sense - its first anniversary as a Geopark - well worth celebrating.

A Geopark title is awarded: “In recognition of natural heritage, together with evidence of clear plans for sustainable develop-

ment to ensure protection of the natural environment” and El Hierro became a Geopark last year on September 23 at UNESCO’s sixth annual International Geopark Conference, held in New Brunswick, Canada. It was, naturally, the first Canary Island to gain the title,

the tenth Geopark in Spain and the sixtieth in Europe.

Last year’s integration into the International Geopark Network was engineered by the Island Cabildo and the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, using strategies drawn up after El Hierro’s volcanic eruptions scare in 2011.

Since then, the Cabildo, via public company Servicios El Meridiano SAU, and with Ministry support, has launched a Geological Interpretation Centre in El Pinar and a Volcanic Interpretation Centre near La Restinga, to: “Highlight the great geological and volcanic wealth of the island”, which had already been declared a UNESCO Worldwide Biosphere Reserve back in 2000.

To celebrate the anniversary, newish island president Belén Allende, who’s also tourism

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11

pally through responsible tourism such as eco-tourism, geotourism and cultural tourism”, state Geopark regulations, further ensuring El Hierro’s protection.

“Geoparks are part of a global co-operation network which endeavours to share human and technical resources and to gather together experience gained…they benefit from Geopark Network international promotional tools, such as Web publications, tourism fairs, tourism trends and products. Collaboration between Geoparks is an instrument for

finding European funding for shared projects and for initiating collective projects.”

So, El Hierro has now been defined for the last year as: “an inhabited area, endowed with important geological heritage in scientific, rarity, aesthetic or educational terms, as well as other natural and cultural heritage elements, in which an admin strategy based on geo-conservation and sustainable development are an integral part of the community”.

It’s also very lovely. Happy n anniversary, El Hierro!

The island has not just a pretty face…

councillor, (for… she can perform two functions!) announced that both centres would welcome everybody interested in El Hierro’s volcanic activity and geology.

“El Hierro has loads to offer to the current tourism market.

There’s still much to explore, in terms of valuing not only the island’s extraordinary natural and geological wealth, but also its special cultural and social aspects”, she says.

“I think that our distinct island culture was strengthened by the declaration of El Hierro as World Biosphere Reserve

in 2000, and this helped the drive to become self-sufficient, which we’d been aiming for since 1997”. Ms Allende’s “distinct island culture” is what I was trying to express above.

In her Geopark anniversary statement, Allende took the opportunity to congratulate Lanzarote and the Chinijo archipelago for its incorporation into the International Geopark Network, which had happened two days earlier at the fifth International Geopark Conference, held this year in Japan.

El Hierro’s eco-credentials are pretty impeccable: it has six Natural Protected Areas, covering a hefty sixty per cent of island territory. One is the Marine Reserve, Mar de Las Calmas, scene of much attention during the 2011 undersea eruptions, causing Brit broadsheets to speculate about the possible birth of an eighth Canary Island. It didn’t emerge steaming from the sea, although seismic activity continues. El Hierro is also, incredibly, the first self-sufficient island in terms of energy production in the world.

Being recognised by UNESCO as a Geopark meant being subject to ‘new legal models of protection of the natural environment’, which is maybe why other island councils aren’t interested. Palm-greasing money for contracts to uselessly cement valleys and change zoning regulations would be lost.

“Although in no case will use of the territory be restricted beyond existing laws applying to the area, a Geopark accepts the working model offered by UNESCO to administer and exploit local heritage, princi-

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CANARY ISLANDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

Restaurant Kikiriki

Established experience With over 17 years serving the public, there’s no doubt that one of the finest roast chicken establishments on the island is the much-loved Kikiriki in the heart of Los Cristianos.

Kikiriki serves superb grilled and roast meat dishes, as well as fish, seafood and vegetarian options, while their most popular range is the chicken – hence the restaurant name, which in English translates to Cock-a-doodle-doo. Their client-base is mostly British and Northern European, demonstrating that Antonio and Carmens’ business strikes a chord with the most demanding and passionate chicken-lovers on the island.

It’s no coincidence that since first opening in Cabo Blanco in 1998 the restaurant has grown from strength to strength. They moved to the Apolo Center in Los Cristianos and within a short space of time moved again to much bigger premises on the front line of the same centre where they can cater for up to 80 guests.

Kikiriki has a friendly family appeal, with a large, airy terrace fitted with comfortable chairs and screened with plants, and is a great place to visit with the kids. The restaurant becomes busy after sunset with the pleasant chink of cutlery and the buzz of happy chatter, adding a nice social ambience to the great food that’s served. Inside, the warm tones provide a more intimate atmosphere, with the tables dressed in red and white and a sense of privacy for romantic dining.

The speciality here is chicken, but there is an amazing choice right across the menu, from six types of savoury breads, through soups and crispy salads, meat, fish, shellfish, specialities which include gratinated spinach cream, puff pastry with spinach and blue cheese, onion cake with smoked salmon, plus 23 different pizza choices. To round off your meal, some fabulous home-made desserts are displayed for you to admire, select and devour!

Suckling pig and succulent roast lamb are also available at Kikiriki, although they are not listed on the menu, so be sure to ask one of your friendly waiters if one of them appeals to you on the night.

Around sunset, the chickenlovers descend!

Kikiriki is on the front line of the Apolo centre

The gratinated spinach cream starter, for example, is served warm with fresh ground black pepper and sprinkled with enough cheese to add piquancy but not overwhelm. The chicken is spit roasted following a lengthy period marinating in Kikiriki’s secret sauce, and then cooked with the marinade and its own juices. The result is crisp skin, succulent meat and a taste sensation that will leave you wanting more.

Like all the main course meat and fish dishes it comes with a choice of Canarian potatoes, chips or thick slices of potato fried with garlic.

The dish automatically comes with a choice of sauces: hot tomato with chillies and garlic, creamy pepper sauce for a full but not overpowering flavour, soft Roquefort creamy cheese which beautifully accompanies meat dishes, and the house sauce, Kikiriki: a delicious blend of fresh tomatoes with cream and tarragon. Being served such a wonderful selection of homemade sauces shows Antonio and Carmens’ attention to detail and customer service.

If you save room for dessert they offer delights such as creme caramel with cream

Dishes come with a choice of Canarian potatoes and selection of homemade sauces

and walnuts, chocolate mousse, lemon or almond cake, and many more scrumptious options.

Beers, soft drinks and spirits are available from the wellstocked bar, with San Miguel on draught and Reina, Heineken and Dorada beers available by the bottle. Wines can be bought by the bottle, carafe or glass. There’s a careful selection in addition to the house wines, with some old favourites and some great choices such as Ribera del Duero. Some wines

are available off the list for a limited period.

Many clients visit the restaurant regularly, some have been enjoying the food since the Cabo Blanco days, and it is the unique brand of value and quality that brings them back time and again.

Kikiriki is a great place to go to with family and friends as the food is excellent, the service is second to none, and it is also great value for money!

Visit this restaurant soon. You’ll no doubt want to make it one of

your regulars too. To make life easy, there’s a car park at the Apolo Center and a bus stop right outside. Kikiriki really is something to crow about! n

Restaurante Kikiriki

CC Apolo Center Los Cristianos Tenerife Tel: 647 955 831 / 922 753 074 Open: Tuesday to Saturday, 5pm to 11pm Sunday, 1pm to 11pm

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Brrr-illiant ice show!

Frosty fun for the family

The popular revue group, Circo Alegría (Circus of Joy) recently announced that their new show Circo on Ice will feature in La Laguna during October.

The first Canarian stop on the Spanish tour is a one month residency at the Campus de Guajara in La Laguna, running from October 2 to November 2.

A circus show featuring acrobats, jugglers, clowns, trapeze artists, dancers and stunning visuals is exciting in itself.

However, audiences will witness a truly unique spectacle when it’s performed on ice!

The story of Circo on Ice revolves around Lucas, a hunter who goes to the Arctic and accidentally injures himself while trying to shoot a seal called Lisa. She calls her friends; the penguins, sea lions, seals and reindeer to come to the aid of the hunter, and from that moment on they all become great friends and enjoy many wonderful adventures. The show also has an important underlying message concerning environmental protection and the need for preservation and cooperation.

The venue will be adapted with a 150 square metre ice rink to accommodate the international cast, featuring many from Britain as well as Argentina, France, Italy, Poland and Russia. The crew of technicians, engineers and production workers consists of around 100 people with 20 different nationalities.

The script, choreography, costumes and musical adaptations are all created by the team, and together they deliver a spectacle that promises frivolous frosty fun for all the family.

Tickets are available from just €8 and are available at the Campus Guajara office in Las Mantecas in La Laguna, or n online at: www.circoalegria.es.

Adeje showcase

Miss Sur hopefuls at Siam Park The 22 candidates vying for the Miss Sur 2015 title were recently at Siam Park for a formal presentation.

During the presentation Adeje mayor José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga said “Miss Sur is different from other contests of this kind as it also serves to promote the modern image of South Tenerife and reflects growing interest in relevant sectors such as fashion and performance. This is more than a show that seeks to judge on looks alone, the young women represent young people today, dynamic young women who are studying and working in their chosen fields.”

The mayor went on to say that the competition was scheduled to take place during the borough’s annual festivities

Tunnel trouble

Motorway link road kink

Building on success

Open Nights here to stay The growing use of Open Nights as ways of injecting life into city centres looks set to stay for a long time judging by the success of the latest one to be held in Tenerife.

Santa Cruz’s version of the widespread practice, Full Moon, drew massive crowds for the packed programme of entertainment and cultural activities staged at numerous venues across the capital, and the organisers are already planning next year’s event.

Over a hundred different activities were laid on for all age groups at some thirty different locations, with the celebration capped by the formal unveiling of the 2016 Carnival poster.

Santa Cruz has joined La Laguna in staging Open Nights and looks to have made up considerable ground on its near neighbour, where the November date is one of the most important in the city calendar and attracts over 100,000 people each year, many of them from the capital, for the all-night visits to local museums, art galleries and historic buildings, not to mention the very late shopping. n

13

The completion of the road linking Tenerife’s two motorways to create a fast ring around the entire island looks set to be put back yet again thanks to funds having to be diverted.

The regional government’s Roads Department has confirmed to its Tenerife counterpart that cracks that appeared in one of the tunnels on the section between Santiago del Teide and Adeje will cost €600,000 to repair and the job will take several months.

Roads chief José Luis Delgado said he hoped the stretch will be fully open to traffic by the end of this year, however.

The El Bicho Tunnel, one of the key features of the massive infrastructure project, opened back in April amid a blaze of publicity but one of the sides had to be shut immediately after giant cracks were spotted on the concrete embankment above the tunnel mouth at the Santiago del Teide end. After six months of virtually no action, the government has now given the tunnel repair job top priority and has earmarked funding. “Once we start the work we will be able to see what went wrong and, if necessary, hold those responsible accountable” said Delgado. n

for this very reason, as “Adeje is a unique place where different perspectives come

together for the benefit of all.” The Miss Sur gala will take place on October 16 at

the Plaza de España in Adeje, starting at 9.30pm. Entrance n is free.

14

TENERIFE GENERAL

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

Promotion

Paella for all

Diverse business opportunities in Tenerife South There are many people harbouring a dream to own their own business.

Many look forward to the day they turn the key on their new bar or restaurant, and for these people Tenerife undoubtedly offers an abundance of prospects. The weather, environment and lifestyle combine to make this a very popular destination for new business startups, and providing that these new owners choose their business wisely, the year-round flow of tourism can ensure fabulous rewards for hard work.

Over recent years the south of Tenerife has changed dramatically with the addition of fabulous new parks, shopping centres and an extension to the motorway. Along with this change have come new opportunities, making Tenerife an even more vibrant place to relocate and grow.

If the catering industry is for you then you’ll be hard pressed to find anywhere more accommodating and rewarding. However, if your dreams lie elsewhere, consider some alternatives:

Charity event in Pinolere There’s delicious paella for everyone on October 11 at the Recinto Ferial de Pinolere in La Orotava, and all in the name of a good cause.

For €3 per serving, and with drinks at only €1, everyone can feast to their heart’s content. There will also be inflatable castles, live music, raffles and much more. Proceeds from the event will go to two different charities: the Pequeño Valiente parents’ association and Crevo, the rehabilitation and stimulation centre in La Orotava. Those who wish to are also welcome to pay a little more for their food. Meal vouchers can be purchased in advance at the Carnicería Avenida butchers’ shop in La Orotava, and at the El Aula bookstore. Otherwise, you can simply pay on arrival at Pinolere. The event starts at about 12pm, and promises to be a great day out for all the family.

For more information see: docemesesunacausa on Facen book and Twitter.

There are exciting business opportunities available in the water-sports and excursions sectors

Water-sports and excursions are thriving!

There are usually exciting business opportunities available within this sector for those who want an active lifestyle. Jet-bikes, buggy tours and speed boat hire are often worth a look. It’s possible to buy an already successful business and simply expand on a proven formula.

Working from home Working from home can sometimes be a suitable option.

Opportunities can be found within the cleaning and maintenance sectors as well as internet based businesses such as collectibles or property management and rentals. Many of these businesses generate incredible incomes and have low overheads.

Entrepreneurs There are always amazing, high return new business ventures available! You could write a fabulous business plan based on bottled water vending and

where better to do that than in Tenerife. Patented solar panel vending machines could bring you incredible returns for a moderate investment within an exclusive area.

Whatever you’re looking for, we can provide you not only with information, but insight into the many diverse opportunities available throughout the south of Tenerife.

Contact us now via our website www.canaryipg.com or email us at info@canaryipg.com. n

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015

TENERIFE GENERAL

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756

International talent competition

Tenerife Stars

It is not often one hears of a musical contest here with a more classical twist, but there will be one such event in the south of Tenerife at the end of October.

Tenerife Stars is an international competition which will feature participants from the United States, Sweden, Germany, Turkey, Cyprus, Georgia, Poland, Lietuva, Korea and other countries, not to mention Tenerife of course.

The event was created in 2014 when two associations, Musica Classica from Russia and Morgondagens Kultur (Tomorrow’s Culture) from Sweden, brought the Musica Classica festival and competition to Tenerife, with the support of the Arona and Los Cristianos Municipal Music School.

This first event saw many outstanding young musicians and well-known teachers from various countries participate. Its success convinced the founders that Tenerife’s own classical music festival and competition could be a sustainable project, and Tenerife Stars was born.

This year, the occasion will be hosted by the Aguamarina Golf Hotel on Golf del Sur, which will be offering discounts to those taking part, and is supported by the San Miguel de Abona Council’s cultural department.

It begins with an opening ceremony around 6pm on October 28, then there will be concerts every evening at 8pm from October 29 to November 1 and the closing ceremony with a gala concert will be at 6pm on November 2.

The jury consists of nine international musicians, professors and teachers, and the competition will feature categories such as piano solo, string instruments, wind instruments, piano duets, solo singers, chamber, vocal and instrumental ensembles, accordion, choirs and orchestras. Competitors will be from nine years of age upwards.

For more information see: www.tenerifestars.org. n

15

Promotion

Liberty Seguros’ car and home insurance The expats’ number one choice for all types of insurance has launched more great offers for you to get more for your money on your car and home insurance.

Take out a new fully comp car insurance policy and get €50 cashback directly to your bank if you paid by direct debit or even from your home country bank account (in the SEPA Zone). If you haven’t paid by direct debit, you’ll get a €20 fuel voucher so you can drive a few more kilometres for free!

To fully insure your home against all kinds of mishaps take out our quality Home Insurance and also get the same €50 cashback offer, and if not paid by direct debit you will receive a €20 shopping voucher to buy yourself a little treat at El Corte Inglés.

These super offers run from now until December 31, 2015, so hurry and switch your car and home insurance to Spain’s leading expatriate insurance provider with more than 150,000 clients just like you.

Iván Ortego, Director of Expatriate Business explains: “From our experience, expatriates

much prefer the face to face approach when buying insurance, so popping into their local broker to discuss all their insurance needs is the perfect solution for our clients. Add to this, our current promotion of €50 cashback and you can see why more and more people are choosing Liberty Seguros for all their insurance needs”.

To contract insurance from Liberty Seguros, there are

many ways to get in touch.

You can telephone 902 255 258 for an instant quote and the name of your nearest broker or visit www.libertyexpatriates.es. Alternatively, if you know where your nearest broker is, just pop along and talk to someone in their nice warm office; you never know, you might even get a nice cup of tea or coffee!

There is no minimum premium on car insurance to get the cashback offer, but on new home policies the premium must exceed €175. It does not apply for renewals or replacements. Conditions apply. n

More corruption charges

Possible four year’s jail for Garachico ex-mayor

Tambi Cimuk, a Syrian refugee who competed in 2015 and who will also take part this year

Prosecutor Jaime SerranoJover has requested a fouryear prison sentence and a 15 year ban from public service for Ramón Miranda, a former Coalición Canaria mayor of Garachico.

The politician, who is also ex General Director for Sports in the Canarian Government, is accused of perversion of jus-

tice and embezzling public funds.

The bone of contention is a fine of just over €6,300 which Miranda was ordered to pay in 2011 for insulting the honour of the Earl of Villafuerte, Luis López de Ayala Aznar, while he was mayor.

The money was supposedly taken from the Nuestra Señora

de La Concepción hospital and retirement home, of which Miranda was president, and which was publicly funded.

However, the former mayor, who was also a past president of the Canarian Municipalities Federation (Fecam) strongly denies the accusation, and said that everything he did was for n the good of Garachico.

Ramón Miranda, former Garachico mayor, is in trouble

TENERIFE GENERAL

16

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

Interview with Jonathan García

Freedom is the power to choose

By Sabine Virgin “I am the happiest person in the world. I promised my grandparents and my mother that I would swim between the two island capitals of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and today I have the opportunity to fulfil that promise”, Jonathan García announced to a small gathering in Santa Cruz on the morning of September 25 shortly before jumping in the water.

It was just after 9am when he set off and around 34 hours later the following evening of September 26, shortly before 7pm, he arrived at Playa de Las Canteras in Las Palmas. The enormous task meant he had to swim the 110km distance in open sea, nonstop. However, Jonathan’s amazing story stretches beyond his impressive athleticism and the ambitious goal he set himself.

When he was 18-years-old Jonathan had just passed his driving test and was out one day with his cousin when a pedestrian walked in front of him and he was unable to brake in time. The man died at the scene and Jonathan admits that the following weeks were particularly hard. “I didn’t feel guilty, just so very, very sorry” he wrote in a recent book about his complicated life story. It wasn’t long after the accident that he got into a fight with his brother and Jonathan picked

Jonathan recently swam 110km from Santa Cruz to Las Palmas

Jonathan and his girlfriend, Marina

up a knife and injured his sibling’s thigh. “I’ve never been a violent person but in that moment with all the stress I was under I just went blank”.

It went to court and took seven years for the verdict to arrive, which saw Jonathan pay compensation to his brother as well as receive a three and a half year prison sentence.

How was that for you? What happened during that time?

After the accident and fight with my brother I suffered from severe depression. It took seven long years until I knew what my fate would be, and it

was on that day in 2012 when I was sentenced that my life began to change – almost overnight. I knew that I was about to go to prison but somehow the verdict freed me.

Before I went inside I started to swim. The ocean became a symbol of the sea of tears my mum cried, and I was so very sorry for that.

I promised my family and myself that one day I would join all seven Canary Islands by swimming. Before I went to prison I swam from La Gomera to Tenerife, crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and became the first swimmer to cross Lanzarote and Fuerteventura at night.

I took this experience with me to prison.

What was that like, and how did you manage to continue your swimming training while serving your sentence?

I used my time to write down my story, and I learned the guitar, piano and did some coaching. Of course, I couldn’t swim there so I exercised in the courtyard until I almost collapsed. I often practised swimming strokes and crawled across the floor, which made many of my inmates make fun of me, but I carried on regardless. After one and a half years I was allowed out

on day-release for good behaviour, and at present I still am.

I continue to spend the nights in prison.

I tried several times to get permission to swim from Tenerife to Gran Canaria but without any luck. Actually, I wanted to do it in May 2014, leaving from Candelaria and arriving in Agaete, but this was turned down by the authorities due to a lack of permits. In protest to that decision I instead swam from Santa Cruz to Candelaria with chains around my feet. I also had to master the 70 kilometre route from Santa Cruz to El Médano but I got stuck in a counter flow, which forced me to swim on the spot for nearly five hours. That was terrible.

How did you prepare for the big moment and huge task of swimming from capital city to capital city? Did you get the permits organised in time?

Actually, only at the last minute! In fact, for a long period I only trained a handful of days for two to three hours.

I know that sounds unbelievable, but I was so busy with licenses, sponsors and preparations, I really wasn’t left with much time to train.

I received support from Tacoronte council and mem-

bers of the PP and PSOE political parties, the private ambulance service SAMUR who also accompanied me, the CEAS, the Civil Guard Rescue Service and many small companies. However, right up until the end I still didn’t have approval from the Maritime Administration.

I had prepared for this one day and organised support boats, etc. I even had a camera crew from the TV channel Telecinco with me and members of the film company, Prod.cat. In desperation, I was thinking about going on hunger strike or chaining myself to the front of the offices, but finally the authorisation came and I could go.

However, the Santa Cruz city council refused permission for me to leave from Playa de Las Teresitas, saying they didn’t want to make special allowances towards my personal adventure – and this while filming for the new Bourne movie currently takes up half the city and they can’t do enough for the filmmakers – that is very Canarian! They wouldn’t even concede a patch of the beach!

Instead I had to set off from a small bay behind the Parque Marítimo, which was secluded and a whole lot further.

What was it like to swim for almost 34 hours nonstop? Did you at least take a break in an escort boat?

I know what to expect from myself. When I swam from Santa Cruz to El Médano it took me well over 31 hours, but then it’s always different.

While swimming I do not think and then things tend to flow easily. I simply crawl, breathe and keep rhythm. I never get caught in thought as it can kill your focus in the moment.

From a distance I saw whales and dolphins, but they didn’t

come closer. During other swims I was so close to dolphins I could touch them. Once there was a hammerhead shark that came very near, which was very scary, but luckily he disappeared, seemingly disinterested!

During the swim I drank lots of water, over and again, and ate lots of chocolate and avocados.

I also had isotonic drinks and at certain periods the medical team injected me with sugar and salt solutions. I came to the boat to eat and drink but I didn’t climb aboard.

Were there moments when you wanted to give up? What was the worst aspect of the swim?

The worst thing is the cold.

Despite the wetsuit, I was freezing and even had to bite my fingers at times to get the blood circulating. When I could begin to see the western tip of Punta de Sardina I gained a little extra courage to push on.

I felt like I was really going to do it then.

Around 11am I could see the rocks of Boca Cangrejo and I knew that meant I had about eight kilometres to go. We needed to arrive before night time and I struggled against the currents. When we were about three kilometres from finishing I felt like I was at the end of my tether. The doctors injected me again to help loosen up my muscles and prepare for the last stage, which was a really special moment.

Lots of people came over on jet skis and boats to cheer me on, which made me feel good. When I arrived at Playa de Las Canteras I could no longer coordinate my body, and my hands, feet and face were shrivelled like a 90-yearold! But it was a great moment to know that I had made it and to experience the joy I

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756 It’s a brand new film project unlike anything we’ve seen before and I’m really looking forward to it.

What else do you have planned for the foreseeable future?

I’ve already started to talk in schools and inform classes about my story and the message of personal choice and change. I’ve also developed a cartoon character that I want

TENERIFE GENERAL

17

to use in children’s stories.

It’s about a superhero wearing a swimsuit and goggles who swims around the world encountering adventures.

Within the story I want to show young readers that it’s possible to create whatever they want, and that you can overcome any obstacle if you believe in yourself enough. We can change anything and have free choice, which we should

use in every moment, always.

I also want to be an example for optimism and self-determination, and encourage people to never give up hope.

For me personally, and all those who have been with me recently, everything has been a miracle – one that makes me very happy and that I am extremely grateful for. Now my mother can finally be proud of me!

In Santa Cruz just before entering the water

received from the crowd waiting for me, including my girlfriend Marina.

I had to go to hospital for checks, and I found out during those hours swimming that I’d lost 11 kilograms. However, after an hour I decided I’d had sufficient tests and rest and I yanked out the tubes to join the crowd. I wanted nothing more than to celebrate – this was my day!

What are your plans for the future? You were accompanied the whole time by mem-

bers of the film company Prod. cat; what was that for?

The moment that I stepped out of the water and onto the sand at Playa de Las Canteras, emotional and crying for joy, is the ending for ‘my’ film. My story attracted the interest of several different producers and Prod. cat wanted to turn it into a movie. The film is shot at all the exact locations where the events took place, including where the car accident happened and the scenes involving my brother, who plays himself in the movie. Only my mother

had an actress to play her, although they didn’t want too much of themselves portrayed in the film. It is expected to be released in cinemas around spring or summer next year and will be shown internationally, not just in Spain. It is an absolutely authentic depiction of my story which is illustrated by the real people involved.

Arriving at Las Palmas

Getting close! Jonathan takes a moment to prepare for the final push

Jonathan, you have every reason to be proud of your achievements. We congratulate you on your latest success and wish you all the best for the future.

Let us know when the movie of your life story is ready and we will happily inform our readers when Reto (Target) is at the cinema.

For anyone interested in his book, you will find it in all good bookstores entitled: La Libertad es Poder Elegir (Freedom is the Power to Choose).

The book, which was published in early 2015, is only available in Spanish and is autobiographical. Jonathan will now spend some time completing the numerous projects in the offing, as well as beginning plans to swim the La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro crossings. n

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LIVING & LIFESTYLE

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

New menu

Go veggie at Hard Rock Cafe Hard Rock Cafe in Tenerife is celebrating Vegetarian Awareness Month with the introduction of an exciting range of meat-free options.

There are now over 25 veggie alternatives to choose from, with a variety of vegetarian

hamburgers, wraps, salads and juices, all in pure Hard Rock style.

With such a delicious diversity of dishes on the menu, Hard Rock Café Tenerife is once again offering clients the very best of an appetizing array of options.

The bill of fare, which is based on classic United States cuisine, even includes choices for vegans, and the new selection consists of some innovative elements such as quinoa hamburgers, spinach and beetroot salad, and a grilled vegetable wrap with halloumi cheese.

Senior Franchise Director of Operations, Antonio Bautista, said that Hard Rock Cafe is inspired by international and

regional cuisine and has developed the items on the menu so that meat lovers can enjoy them just as much as vegetarians and vegans.

The drinks menu has also benefitted from the addition of several innovative items, including many nutritional drinks for the health-conscious. You’ll find juices like beetroot, orange and ginger, cucumber, spinach and green cabbage, and apple and green cabbage.

Vegetarian Awareness Month This international event was designed to help people learn about the health and environmental benefits of a meat-free

diet. From its humble beginnings as World Vegetarian Day it has now become a monthlong celebration which consists of a number of educational and festive events, and which is now being supported by an amazing number of venues which are traditionally seen as serving meat-laden fare.

About Hard Rock Café International With a total of 203 establishments in 64 countries, including 155 cafés, 22 hotels and 11 casinos, Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most highly acclaimed companies on a global level. Starting with Eric Clapton’s gui-

tar, Hard Rock now has the biggest collection of music memorabilia, on display in all its establishments around the world.

The brand is also known for its collectors’ items and fashion and, perhaps most of all, for its dedication to live concerts.

The company has corporate bases and franchises in the most iconic locations, such as London, New York, San Francisco, Sydney and Dubai. Two of their most successful hotels and casinos are in Tampa and Hollywood. Both are managed

by HRI, the mother company owned by the Florida Seminole Northern Indian tribe.

Other great destinations include Bali, Biloxi, Chicago, Ibiza, Las Vegas, Macao and San Diego – and Tenerife, of course. For more information about Hard Rock International, see: www.hardrock.com.

Find Hard Rock Cafe Tenerife at Avenida de Las Américas s/n, Piramide de Arona, Playa de Las Américas. Call: 0034 618 736 403 or visit: www. hardrock.com/cafes/tenerife/ n for more information.

Police coup

Jeweller raid victim finds immediate fix A Los Cristianos jeweller who lost €300,000 worth of merchandise when robbers burgled his shop last April could not have imagined that his decision to openly voice concern at the lack of progress made in the investigation would produce such a spectacular result.

The owner of Diamond Jewellers in Calle Juan XXIII went

public with his discontent at the failure to resolve the crime, in which raiders used welding torches to gain access in the early hours and helped themselves to the contents of the shop at their leisure.

Speaking to Tenerife daily La Opinión, he said he believed that no advances had been made in the hunt for the raiders and he would be seek-

ing answers from the police as soon as possible. Within hours, Spanish police held a press conference to announce that eight members of a dangerous gang specialising in jewellery shop robberies, including the Los Cristianos job, had just been arrested in Murcia and Tenerife.

The gang, which comprised of Spaniards, Uruguayans and a

Canadian, is thought to have been behind another big robbery in south Tenerife a few weeks before the Diamond break-in.

At the beginning of April, the Ideal Jewellers in the Plaza del Duque Centre was raided by a gang dubbed the “Pink Panthers” by police and over €1.5 million worth of luxury watches n were stolen.

Mules beware

Woman heroin carrier arrested at airport Successful interceptions of drugs arriving in Tenerife from the mainland have continued with the arrest of a 45-year-old woman who tried to smuggle in heroin concealed on her body.

The woman, from Málaga, was spotted acting suspiciously

by Civil Guard officers on arrival at Tenerife North on a flight from Barcelona and was taken aside for questioning.

She became increasingly agitated when quizzed on the motives for her visit to Tenerife and her incoherent answers led female officers to carry out a body search.

Two separate packages of heroin were discovered carefully hidden in her underwear and she was taken to be X-rayed to check if she was carrying more drugs inside her body.

The woman later appeared in court in La Laguna to be n charged with drug trafficking.

Illegal airport transfers

Unlawful transport crack down The clampdown by Tenerife’s tourism authorities on unlicensed airport transfers has led to action against over 200 businesses and individuals during the last two years for operating services illegally, with new business ‘practices’ emerging during the investigations.

The island council says it has caught many of the culprits at Tenerife South Airport but spot checks by Civil Guard traffic patrols in areas such as Adeje and Santiago del Teide have also netted dozens of other illegal operators.

A spokesman said that in many cases passengers are instructed to say they are “friends of the driver”, not paying customers, if stopped but the explanations tend to be unconvincing.

A new and more organised mode of transfer to have emerged in recent times is operated by a group of Romanian drivers who rent vehicles for periods of one or more months and advertise airport pick-up services on a dedicated website.

“When the client arrives they are met by a driver carrying a notice with their name on it so they think all is well and above board. However, the service is totally illegal” explained the council’s transport director Manuel Ortega, who added that some of the drivers negotiate deals with n hotel staff to gain access to clients.

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015

LIVING & LIFESTYLE

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756

19

Coast of Gold

Ghana’s sparkling past A review by Chris Jorgensen for Red Hound Bookshop For over half a millennium Europe has been fascinated with the region of western Africa, in particular the Gold Coast - or Ghana as the country is called today.

Many a book has been written on the subject, but it is W.E.F. Ward’s A History of Ghana from 1958 that is still considered a quintessential work.

Ward’s balanced, well-written and detailed history of key points of the country’s absorbing past was published a year after ‘Ghana’ gained its independence. Ward was praised for his pioneering work that painted a sympathetic and well-rounded picture of the Africans. He was the first to use their long-neglected oral histories as a source, and his work placed the various and complex coastal kingdoms in the centre of the historical stage.

Yet, nationalist-minded modern Ghanaians can’t be well pleased with Ward’s conclusion in the introductory chapters that their adoption of the very name of their country is based on a historical myth.

Ward states that the people known as Mandingos who populated the Empire of Ghana (the area between Senegal and Mali) and were destroyed by the Almoravid movement in 1076 - have no direct link with the modern coastal-based state bearing the same name.

Less controversial are the obvious facts that the gold and cocoa is concentrated in the

Beautiful Ghana is well known for its golden sands Still in print, the 1958 book is even now appreciated as one of the leading in its field

south-western forest region of the country and that Ward was warning about deforestation at an annual rate of 300 km2 even back then.

It was a thirst for gold that brought the Portuguese to the coast, where in 1486 they established their Sao Jorge de El Mina fort. They paid for the privilege in gold dust, panned from the rivers, and the presence of the stronghold kept English and French interlopers away from the 240 km stretch of coast for quite some time.

In 1595 the grim, dour Dutch

turned up and by 1640 they held the coast in their iron grip.

They did not remain leaders for long, however. The Danes, then the English, Swedes (165257) and Prussia (1682-1709) joined in the scramble for the Coast of Gold.

Nonetheless, by the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries it was slaves, rather than gold, that were the most desirable and profitable ‘commodity’ there.

Holed up in small, unhealthy and rented coastal forts, the Europeans were at the mercy

of the most powerful African kingdom from upcountry. From 1660 that predominant power was the Kingdom of Ashanti, ruled from Kumasi by their King or ‘Asanthene’. By the reign of Opoku Ware (173142) the realm covered an area similar to the size of England – around 135,000 km2. This had been achieved via a strong slave trade and a competently run, centralised and formidable army.

In 1824 the British invaded Ashanti to uphold their claim to mastery over the smaller coastal states. The British commander Charles McCarthy was killed and beheaded in the battle, his gilded head

serving as a royal toasting cup. Nevertheless, two years later an Anglo-African army defeated the Ashanti, eventually forcing an unfavourable peace on them in 1831 that lasted, surprisingly, for another thirty years.

In 1850 the Danes sold their forts to the British and on April 6, 1872, the Dutch also left. In early 1874 the British invaded

again, burning the region’s capital, but it was not until 1896 that the last Asanthene was unseated in an unopposed invasion. In 1902 the kingdom was finally annexed.

In the last three, somewhat dry, chapters Ward covers the drab decades after the conquest, but his book nevertheless does justice to the country’s exciting n and varied past.

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20

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

Agua y Sal

Straight into the top ten!

By John Nothing much going on down ing the pinch. Not so here; piles of fresh mussels, and It’s not often that I go overboard for a particular restaurant. Having eaten in so many, it takes something really special to get me going.

Here is just such a place. Down in the south of the island is a small seaside village by the name of Tajao, no doubt unknown to the thousands of tourists battling their way along the TF1. However, turn off said motorway, cruise down towards the sea, and you will end up in a small fishing village, snoozing quietly in the midday sun.

by the harbour, but a number of small seafood restaurants and bars in the main street proclaim the sale of fresh fish.

Passing them by, we search out our target.

We have to make a right turn, twist between some houses in the narrow road, and suddenly, we spy parked cars, people milling about, and a picture-perfect vision of a seafood restaurant, all done out in blue and white.

Where have all these people come from? It is Monday lunchtime, and other places are feel-

there seems to be a queue! And it is very hot! But no sooner have we goggled at the amazing fresh fish display than we are whisked away to a nice inside table. Bread and three sauces (€2.00) are swiftly put before us, and a large bottle of water is ordered.

We draw breath and look around us. This place is packed! Every table inside is taken, all of those on the roadside terrace are taken, and the waiters are flying about, clearly well trained and motivated. The water arrives, and we are invited to visit the two large displays and make our choices. I can only think that every fish and shellfish that you can get on the island is available, so the choice is difficult.

A display of plump scallops in their shell look inviting, as do a mound of camarones, those tiny pink shrimps that you can almost eat whole. There are

I saw that they were popular at the table next to us, being served in a huge skillet with a garlic and tomato sauce, extra bread being called for to mop up the juices.

A big platter of seafood salad beckoned to me. It contained tuna squid, sardine, prawn, celery, green and red peppers, tomato and much more besides.

The lady in charge was heaping a plate for me and I had to plead for a small portion (€4.50). We could not avoid choosing those camarones, so a full plate of these was taken (€8).

A bowl between us of chipirones, small squid (and would we prefer it fried or grilled?) came in a delightfully light batter, so light that it was almost not there. And so tender, just quickly flash fried. They really do know how to cook fish here.

It was sold by weight, and ours came to €9, more than enough for two persons.

I went and had a chat with the lady in charge of the fish counter, and she told me that their speciality, a mixed fish stew, served in a huge black cauldron, was a firm favourite of the locals. Next time…

The rush was easing a bit as we called for our bill, which tallied all of €27.44, including IGIC: so cheap that I thought that they must have missed something off, but no, even my spouse’s glass of wine had been included. Prices, quality and quantity like this in the South? Unheard of! I thought we must have been transported

back in time to the North! We can’t wait for an excuse to cross the island again. This place goes straight into my n top ten.

Restaurante Taberna Marinera Agua y Sal Calle Callao Hondo 22, Tajao, Arico, Tenerife (Exit the TF1 at J46) Open: Daily except Tuesday Tel: 922 171 176 Loo Score: 6/10

023

Canary Islands’ attractions for tourists and residents Where to visit

Useful contacts

Upcoming events

What’s on

Canary Islands summary

General information

Spin news

Our cultural agenda

Pages 22 & 23

Pages 24 & 25

Page 26 & 27

Page 28

Gillian Banks Theatre School

On the road from Rotherham...

The Gillian Banks Theatre School based in Rotherham in the UK offers specialist instruction in the world of music and dance and has included Tenerife in their autumn tour of the show, Showstoppers 2015.

They have gained some attention over the past few years and some of you may have come across their pool of talented youngsters before, so it is with great delight that they have once again secured EU funding to bring their new show to Tenerife.

The event will take place in Los Cristianos on October 27 and is definitely one for your diaries. It has been organised with the support of Viana Shows and three charities: Guaidyl Day Centre Granadilla, Helping Hands and Live Arico PAWS. The charities will once again also ben-

efit from funds raised during the event.

Organisers wanted to give Showstoppers 2015 a venue it deserved, and this year they certainly came up trumps with the wonderful Infanta Leonor Auditorium.

Don’t miss the world class show of music and dance, performed by one of the UK’s very finest groups. Pre book your tickets now by calling one of the following numbers: Sandra (Guaidyl) 661 837184; Liz (Helping Hands) 661 274281; Sue (Live Arico) 629 388102. Support your scene and get involved.

The Gillian Banks Theatre School began 25 years ago in an old hired church hall, originally for classes of six children from the local area of Maltby, Rotherham. At that time Maltby was a thriving mining village with most family mem-

Showstoppers 2015 is coming to Tenerife in October

bers principally employed at the local pit, with very little interest towards the performing arts. Over the years Gillian Banks developed her classes

while studying further qualifications and gaining experience. The school quickly grew and moved from hired halls in churches and schools to

finally basing themselves at their own purpose-built studios in Maltby, catering for over 200 theatre school qualifying students.

The school is qualified by five national examining boards and offers IDTA for Modern Jazz, Theatre craft, Tap Dance, Irish Hard and Soft Shoe, Line dancing, Ballet, Ballroom, Latin American, Gymnastic Dance, Street Dance and Freestyle. It also holds accreditations from the London Academy of Dramatic Arts for Drama and Musical Theatre, and the London College of Music for Piano, Singing and Keyboard, among others.

They provide training for children and adults in Musical Theatre and have received international recognition by being invited to perform at Disneyland, Her Majesty’s Theatre in the West End of

London; The Royal Albert Hall, and many more. Over the past twenty years Gillian has also trained numerous dance and fitness teachers giving them qualifications to begin new businesses and start earning money after their training.

The school’s track record of 100 per cent pass rates in all examinations in all areas demonstrates its dedication to students; who recently had six chosen from a national pool of 4,000 for the Theatre Dance of Britain.

The school has enjoyed steady growth, with numbers rising from six to 200 pupils, and it provides an important function in the village community in helping to keep young kids off the streets and encouraging them to study something constructive, expressive and n rewarding.

HOLIDAY GUIDE

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FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

The Canaries have what is considered one of the best climates anywhere on the planet, making the Islands the perfect destination for all year round tourism.

ous luxury hotels and some very nice, small white sand beaches.

In the foothills above these towns you will find three great places to visit. Siam Park (The Water Kingdom), recently declared the best in the world, has something for everyone, from beach lovers to adrenaline freaks. See: www. siampark.net Aqualand, on Avenida de Austria, a water park with a dolphin show.

See: www.aqualand.es.

The Jungle Park, at Las Águilas del Teide, is great fun for kids of all ages. See: www.aguilasjunglepark.com

Tenerife Teide National Park The highest peak in Spain, at 3,718m, is one of Tenerife’s greatest attractions. It is possible to hike to the top, and also to catch the cable car. See: www.telefericoteide.com.

To access the summit of the volcano, Pico del Teide, you need to obtain a free permit in advance, issued by the Administration Office of the National Park, which you can download at www.reservasparquesnacionales.es.

Los Gigantes

Benijo beach

summer solstices. See: www. piramidesdeguimar.es

Santa Cruz

Playa de Las Américas

Santa Cruz, the vibrant, bustling capital city of Tenerife, is located on the northeast coast.

It has a variety of interesting museums and art galleries, a well maintained historical centre, and an important commercial port. See: www.santacruzmas.com.

Currently Tenerife’s main tourist destination, this area has spectacular views of La Gomera. There’s a big night-life scene which attracts younger tourists, but it’s also somewhere you can relax, eat, and go sailing, whale and dolphin watching or golfing.

La Laguna La Laguna, a university city, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. It has a lively night life and a thriving cultural scene.

Puerto de la Cruz The town of Puerto de la Cruz was a popular tourist destination long before the south was.

Its attractive and busy town centre has maintained its picturesque fishing-village charm, and nearby is the prestigious, award-winning Loro Parque Zoo. See: www.loroparque.com.

which is popular with European, Russian and national tourists. There are vari-

Bananas

La Orotava One of the prettiest towns on the island, La Orotava also gives its name to the whole valley, which has a very prosperous history. The town centre has beautiful old mansions reflecting the wealth of the past.

Anaga Rural Park The Anaga Rural Park occupies much of the mountainous mas-

The town of Los Gigantes, which lives mainly from tourism but on a much more modest scale than Playa de Las Americas or Los Cristianos, is overlooked by the towering cliffs. There is good diving and a small harbour.

El Duque beach

Los Cristianos sif in the northeastern corner of Tenerife. This is a steeplysloping area with exceptional natural and cultural treasures, and amazing landscapes.

Güímar This northeastern town is best known for the ethnographic park which was developed

by Thor Heyerdahl. The pyramids are a complex construction, astronomically orientated according to the winter and

Once a little fishing village, Los Cristianos began as a tourist destination for ailing Swedes who came to enjoy some rest and recuperation. From the port you can take a ferry to La Gomera, La Palma or El Hierro.

The two main beaches offer safe swimming with disabled access.

Costa Adeje Costa Adeje is an upmarket area of South West Tenerife

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ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756

Other islands La Gomera Only a 45 minute ferry ride from the port of Los Cristianos, La Gomera is a small, peaceful island with amazing hiking and a pre-historic rainforest which is a UNESCO world heritage site and the only one of its kind left in the world.

The ferry will take you to the capital, San Sebastián, famous for being Christopher Columbus’ last stop before crossing the Atlantic on his voyage of discovery.

Valle Gran Rey, in the southwest of the island, and Playa

HOLIDAY GUIDE

23

is Fuencaliente: the place to go in La Palma to see a real volcanic landscape. The western side of this borough has nice beaches and withstood the many volcanic eruptions the island has suffered, the most recent being the Teneguía volcano in1971.

La Palma has a lovely variant of Carnival called Los Indianos, where everyone dresses in white and people take to the streets during the day to cover everything, including each other, in talcum powder.

like parts of North Africa than it does the other islands. The interior is mainly empty, with a few sun bleached villages and a surprising amount of goats, but the coast has some lovely towns and villages and kilometres of white sand beaches ideal for sunbathing and surfing. The capital is Puerto del Rosario, a relatively modern port town, rather sleepy and quiet despite the fact that nearly half of the island’s population live there.

The two main tourist towns are at opposite ends of the island; Corralejo in the north and Morro Jable in the south.

Gran Canaria Las Canteras beach, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

green and rugged, with breathtaking sights and one of the best places in the world for star gazing, hence the location of the world’s most important astrophysical observatories on its Roque de los Muchachos.

El Golfo, El Hierro

The capital, Las Palmas, is a much bigger city than Santa Cruz de Tenerife and has a nice historical quarter, a good night-life and Las Canteras - a long, yellow sand beach with areas for supervised swimming - and another beach for surfers of all levels. The main tourist areas are Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas, with its beauti-

Lanzarote Lanzarote is known as the ‘Isla de los Volcanes’, with over 300 volcanic cones. Like Fuerteventura, it’s flatter than the other islands and there’s very little rain, even by Canarian standards. The whole island was

Los Indianos Carnival, La Palma

The smallest and westernmost of all the islands, El Hierro only has three municipalities; Valverde, Frontera and El Pinar.

For exploring, it’s best to hire a car, and you can easily drive all over the island in a day. Valverde is a small town in the north, the only capital in the

Canaries not located on the coast. Frontera (El Golfo) is a milder, bigger town to the west, with more going on and better weather, and right down in the south is La Restinga, famous for its diving.

La Palma Also known as ‘La Isla Bonita’ (the pretty island), La Palma is

The capital, Santa Cruz, lies to the east of the island. It’s a pretty city of seafaring tradition, although Los Llanos de Aridane in the west is in fact the biggest city on La Palma.

The towns in the north of La Palma are also very beautiful and in the south of the island

ful sand-dunes and all-night bars and clubs. The island also has some spectacular archaeological sites.

Fuerteventura Flat, arid and sparsely populated, this island looks more

declared a Biosphere Reserve

by UNESCO, and those who take the time to explore the island will find it’s strangely beautiful. The capital is Arrecife, to the east, and the three main tourist resorts are Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise.

Qfm, Spain’s only Cool Jazz Radio station www.Qmusica.com

94.3

(South Tenerife)

www

(Worldwide)

Daily Cultural Guide updated every day in English at 07:45, 09:45, 11:45, 13:45, 15:45, 17:45 & 19:45.

And don’t miss Qfm’s famous Sunset Sessions, an exclusive chill-out mix every evening.

The Asociación Cultural para la Difusión de las Artes y las Músicas de Canarias, registered with the Gobierno de Canarias (G1/S1/16504-10/TF), operates and administers Qfm94.3 within Ley 7/2010 - Artículo 32.

©2014 FLN

El Hierro

©2014 FLN

Santiago, in the south, are the main tourist towns. Valle Gran Rey is a beautiful valley with good beaches and great restaurants. The harbour still has a small fishing fleet.

Garajonay National Park houses an ancient laurisilva (laurel) forest at its heart, with over 400 species of flora and fauna. The forest was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1987.

24

HOLIDAY GUIDE

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

General information for visitors

Useful contacts Tenerife Santa Cruz Tourist Office, Plaza de España Tel: (0034) 922 281 287/922 289 287 Open Mon - Fri: 9am - 6pm; Sat, Sun: 9.30am-1.30pm

Time zone: The time zone in the Canary Islands is the same as in the UK and Ireland.

Foreign exchange The Spanish currency is the Euro. You can change currency in any bank by showing your passport (Mon – Fri, 8am – 2pm), or in the many exchange agencies in resorts.

Can I drink the water?

You can drink the tap water in the Canaries, but the change may affect your stomach. If your visit is short, it’s perhaps best to stick to bottled.

Discounts Students and senior citizens may receive discounts on ferries, tickets to concerts, museums, etc., so always ask, as long as you can provide ID to prove it.

Shopping Normal opening hours in the Canaries are from 10am to 1.30pm and 5pm to 8.30pm.

However, in big tourist resorts and shopping centres the opening hours are longer, often from 10am until 10pm, sometimes even later. On Sundays and Bank Holidays only the shops in tourist resorts open.

There is a flea market in Santa Cruz, Tenerife, every Sunday morning Duty Free Despite popular belief, it is generally cheaper to buy alcohol and tobacco on the Islands than on the plane or at the airport.

Limits are: 200 cigarettes/50 cigars/ 250grs rolling tobacco 1L spirits over 22% or 2L spirits under 22% 2L wine 60ml perfume, 250 ml eau de toilette Medical care All residents of the EU have the right to free medical and hospital care from Tenerife’s Public Health Service whilst on holiday (ie less than three months). To receive this you need to have the European Medical Card or equivalent document, which can be applied for in your home country. It doesn’t cover all treatments; excluding dental treatment, except for emergency extractions, and repatriation due to illness.

Plaza del Duque, Adeje

If you are ill, find a Centro de Salud or Centro Médico. The ones in the tourist resorts generally speak some English.

Make sure they provide care under your insurance policy or EHIC before you sign for anything. Unscrupulous taxi drivers have been known to take back-handers for taking sick people to private clinics so make sure you are in the right place before paying.

Safety Only take out credit and bank cards you actually need: leave the rest in the hotel safe, along with your passport and other valuables. A UK driving licence with a photograph is usually accepted as ID for most credit card purchases, a photo credit card will still have to be accompanied by photo ID, daft, but there you are. Do not leave belongings unattended. Particular vigilance on the beach and when you are travelling with luggage is recommended.

Take the minimum with you on excursions and lock everything in the boot that you aren’t carrying with you and only access it where you are not overlooked.

Do not leave anything in sight.

Cars have been broken into for a beach towel before now.

If you are at a bar or nightclub, don’t leave your drink unattended and avoid dark streets on the way home.

The Islands are safer than many places in Europe, but there are always those who prey on the unaware: relaxing your vigilance could cost you dearly, not just in money but in precious holiday time - reporting the loss of a passport to the police for example and then the visits necessary to the consulates to replace it.

Emergency number: (all Canaries) 112 Guardia Civil (all Canaries): 062

Post Offices Open Monday to Saturday, generally 8.30am - 2.30pm. Some city offices open later.

Blue Badge users Parking for Blue Badge holders in the Canaries is limited to the ‘disabled only’ (Minusválidos) parking spaces in each town. There are no concessions to park on yellow lines or anywhere else normal parking is not allowed. And even if you have a Blue Badge, don’t park in a disabled area which has a registration number marked on it – you will be fined and probably towed away. For further information: www.bluebadgetenerife.com

Consulates British Consulate Tenerife: (0034) 922 286 653 British Consulate Gran Canaria: (0034) 902 109 356 Honorary British consulate Lanzarote: (0034) 928 262 508 Indian consulate: (0034) 922 241 416 Irish Consulate: (0034) 922 245 671 Consulates can issue passports, give information about medical care, education and

legal matters, give assistance to people under arrest, under exceptional circumstances give you enough funds to be repatriated (on loan), and help you in the case of emergency/catastrophe.

Inter island transport: Fred Olsen (Ferries): 902 100 107 www.fredolsen.es Naviera Armas (Ferries): 902 456 500 www.navieraarmas. com Binter (Flights) 902 391 392 www.bintercanarias.com Canary Fly: 902 808 065 Airport and flight Information: All Canarian airports are controlled by AENA. www.aenaaeropuertos.es Buses The transport company TITSA has buses that reach all corners of the island. The main bus station is in Santa Cruz, near the Adán Martín Auditorium. Clients can choose to purchase a ticket on the bus for each individual journey or to buy a Bono-bus ticket, a card which can be shared by various people and will mean saving up to 50 per cent of the fare, depending on the route. They are on sale in any of the TITSA bus stations and also in a number of kiosks and small establishments (often newsagents), identified with a green sticker on the window.

If your Bono-bus has insufficient credit to purchase your last journey, the difference can be made up in cash on the bus, but not with another Bono-bus card.

For information you can call TITSA on: (0034) 922 531 130 or see: www.titsa.com

Taxis Tenerife taxis are white and, unless they are minivans, the maximum number of passengers is four, including children. Eurotaxis have ramps for wheelchairs.

Eurotaxis, Santa Cruz: (0034) 609 867 581/607 612 816/629 132 269 Taxi Santa Cruz: (0034) 937 780 030 www. teletaxi.es Radiotaxi San Pedro: (0034) 922 310 000 Parque Marítimo César Manrique (next to the Auditorium) Open every day: Sun-Thurs: 10am-8pm, Fri, Sat: 10amMidnight Adults: €2.50, Children (under 12): €1.50, Over 65s: €1.50 Tel: (0034) 922 229 368 https://es-es.facebook.com/ parque.manrique Palmetum Open Tues – Sun, 11am - 2pm, 4pm-6pm.

Adults: €4, Children (under 12): €2.80, Canarian residents €1/1.50 Tel: (0034) 697 651 127. info@palmetumsantacruz. com Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre (Nature and Man) Open Tues – Sat, 9am - 8pm; Sun, Mon, 10am - 5pm. Tel: (00 34) 922 535 816 www.museosdetenerife.org Museo Militar (Military Museum), C/ San Isidro.

Tel: (0034) 922 274 224.

Open: Mon-Fri 10am-2pm, ecocmar@et.mde.es Castillo de San Cristobal, Plaza de España Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm http://www.museosdetenerife. org Auditorio Adán Martín Tel: (0034) 922 568 600 www.auditoriodetenerife.com Teatro Guimerá, Plaza Isla de la Madera.

Tel: (0034) 922 609 408/922 609 400 www.teatroguimera.es

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756

La Laguna Tourist Office, Casa Alvaro Bracamonde, C/ La Carrera.

Tel: (0034) 922 631 194/922 601 106.

The tourist office offers a free guided route around the city.

Call to make a reservation.

Tenerife South Playa de Las Américas Tourist Office Plaza del Centro Comercial City Centre, Avda. Rafael Puig, 19.

Tel: (0034) 922 797 668

Museo de Historia y Antropología de Tenerife, Casa Lercaro, C/ San Agustín. Open Tues - Sat: 9am-8pm; Sun, Mon, Bank holidays: 10am 5pm. www.museosdetenerife.org.

Oficinas de Turismo: Avda. Juan Carlos I (Bus station) Tel: (0034) 922 730 133 Paseo Marítimo Playa de Las Vistas Tel: (0034) 922 787 011

Taxis: (0034) 922 715 407

HOLIDAY GUIDE Twin Tickets can be purchased for Siam Park and Loro Parque. www.siampark.net Lost Property Offices Tenerife North Airport: (0034) 922 635 855 Tenerife South Airport: (0034) 922 759 391 Arona: (0034) 922 725 562 Costa Adeje: (0034) 922 710 606 La Laguna: (0034) 922 608 805/922 251 080 Puerto de la Cruz: (0034) 922 378 448

Evangelical Service Centro Apolo, 1ª planta, Los Cristianos, Arona.

Tel: (0034) 922 792 007 Services: Sundays at 11am and 6pm Swedish Church Abroad Coronel, s/n, Los Cristianos, Arona.

Tel: (0034) 922 75 00 68

Radiotaxi La Laguna (0034) 922 255 555.

Puerto de la Cruz Tourist Office, Casa de la Aduana, C/ Las Lonjas.

Tel: (0034) 922 386 000.

Centro de Información Turística, C/ Puerto Viejo.

Tel: (0034) 922 370 243/922 388 777.

Taxis: (0034) 922 747 511 Tourist Office Costa Adeje Avda. Litoral Playa Fañabé Tel: (0034) 922 716 539 Jungle Park: Urb. Las Águilas del Teide, s/n Tel: (0034) 922 729 806. www.aguilasjunglepark.com.

Aqualand Avda. Austria, 15 Tel: (0034) 922 715 266. www.aqualand.es Twin tickets can be purchased for Aqualand and Jungle Park, see websites.

Siam Park (The Water Kingdom) Avda. Siam Park s/n. Tel: (0034) 822 070 000.

Santa Cruz: (0034) 922 606 354 Religious Services In Spain, Catholicism is the main religion and almost all towns and cities, including tourist resorts, have churches where mass is frequently held.

Below is information about Catholic services held in languages other than Spanish and services for other faiths.

Holy Communion Anglican Church, Iglesia de San Eugenio, Las Américas.

Tel: (0034) 922 793 143 Services: Sundays at 10.15am Anglican church, Puerto de la Cruz www.allsaintstenerife.com/

San Sebastián Tourist Office C/ Real, 4. www.sansebastiandelagomera. org/turismo/ Taxis: (0034) 922 870 524

Tourism Board C/ Triana, Las Palmas. Tel: (0034) 928 219 600. www.grancanaria.com/patronato_turismo.

Valle Gran Rey Tourist Office C/ La Noria, 2, La Playa.

Tel: (0034) 922 805 458 www.lagomera.travel/islascanarias/la-gomera/es/acerca/ visitar-valle-gran-rey/

Las Dunas Tourist Office Avda. De Tirajana (Hotel Riu Maspalomas), Playa del Inglés.

Tel: (0034) 928 765 242.

Museo de la Ciencia y el Cosmos, Avda. Los Menceyes.

Tel: (0034) 922 315 265.

Open: Tues-Sat: 9am-8.pm.

Sun, Mon, Bank holidays: 10am - 5pm. www.museosdetenerife.org.

La Gomera

Gran Canaria

Las Canteras Tourist Office Paseo de la Playa de Las Canteras (opposite the Hotel Meliá) Tel: (0034) 928 446 824. www.lpavisit.com.

La Laguna

Teguise Tourist Office Plaza de La Constitución, s/n Tel (0034) 928 845 398 www.turismoteguise.com

Island Tourist Board Avda. España (Yumbo shopping centre), Playa del Inglés.

Tel: (0034) 928 771 550. www.grancanaria.com/patronato_turismo.

El Portón Tourist Office El Portón Shopping Centre, Playa del Inglés. www.turismo.maspalomas. com.

Lanzarote

Taxis Valley Gran Rey: (0034) 922 805 058

Costa Teguise Tourist Office Avda. Islas Canarias s/n Tel: (0034) 928 592 542 www.turismoteguise.com

La Orotava Tourist Office C/ Calvario, 4 Tel: (0034) 922 323 041

Taxis: Radiotaxis La Palma: (0034) 922 181 396 www.taxilapalma.com: 686 553868 Radiotaxi San Miguel: (0034) 922 416 070 Los Llanos de Aridane Tourist Offices: Avda. Dr. Flemming, s/n Tel: (0034) 922 402 583 / (0034) 922 402 528 www.lapalmacit.com Llano de Argual, 31 (also handicraft shop) Tel: (0034) 922 401 899

Taxis: (0034) 922 895 698

Puerto Naos Tourist Office Puerto Naos car park Tel: 618 856 516

Fuerteventura Puerto del Rosario Tourist Office Avda. De la Constitución, 5 Tel: (0034) 928 530 844 Taxis: (0034) 928 850 059 / 928 850 216 Corralejo Tourist Office Plaza Grande de Corralejo Tel. (0034) 928 866 235

Morro Jable Tourist Office Avda. Saladar, Jandía shopping centre Tel: (0034) 928 540 776 turismo@playasdejandia.com Taxis: (0034) 928 541 257

Residents choose

Rani Tandoori

Fuencaliente Tourist Office Plaza Minerva, s/n (Minerva Square) Tel: (0034) 922 444 003 Taxis: (0034) 922 434 071 www.taxilapalma.es Caldera de Taburiente National Park www.visitlapalma.es/recursos/recurso-parque-nacionalde-la-caldera-de-taburiente / www.reddeparquesnacionales. mma.es Theme Parks Maro Parque, Breña Alta.

Tel:(0034) 922 417 782. www.maroparque.com Palmex Cactus, El Paso Tel: (0034) 922 464 862 Paraíso de las Aves, El Paso Tel: (0034) 922 485 701 All information was correct at the time of going to press.

Please confirm before travelling.

Exquisite Indian Cuisine

Lago Martiánez Avda. De Cristóbal Colón, 1 Tel: (0034) 922 385 955

C.C. Pueblo Canario · Loc. 308 Opening times: 38670 Playa de Las Américas Every day 6.30 pm – 11.30 pm Adeje · Tel.: 922 798 943 Director & Chef: Yoguendra „Michael“ © 2015 FLN

Taxis: Servitaxi (0034) 922 378 999

La Palma Tourist Office Avda. Blas Pérez González s/n Tel: (0034) 922 412 106 www.visitlapalma.es

Taxi rank: (0034) 922 462 001 www.taxilapalma.com / (0034) 686 553 868

Taxis: (0034) 922 378 999.

Loro Parque, Avda. Loro Parque s/n Tel: (0034) 922 373 841 Open every day from 8.30am to 6.45pm www.loroparque.com

La Palma

Playa Santiago Tourist Office Avda. Marítima, s/n.

Tel: (0034) 922 895 650 playasantiago@lagomera. travel

Taxis: (0034) 928 866 108 Arrecife Tourist Office Parque José Ramírez Cerdá s/n Tel: (0034) 928 813 174 www.turismolanzarote.com

25

Check out our reviews on Tripadvisor

n American Diner style cafe n Homemade burgers 100% beef n Homemade cakes n Best coffees in the area n Exquisite cocktails n Vegetarian menu Calle Luis Alvarez Cruz 5 (opposite Correos) Las Galletas · Tel: 922 731 847

26

HOLIDAY GUIDE SPIN NEWS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

VWeekend Canarias

Art Box

Hippies and Volkswagens

Arona Council’s tourism department invites everyone to enjoy the VWeekend Canarias event on October 10 and 11.

This very different festival, which will take place on the

seafront in Playa de las Américas, is dedicated to the 60s hippy movement and especially Volkswagen cars, with events and activities for all the family.

It involves the Tenerife KAT air-cooled group and appropriate car dealers, and is a great opportunity to dig out your 60s clothes, put some flowers in your hair and arrive in your old

Talent to the power of 10

Volkswagen if you have one.

The fun starts on October 10 at midday with a kind of obstacle race which promises much exercise, music, foam and water, so make sure you have your bathing gear with you.

Those who want to take part will need to complete an application form. There’ll be music all day, exhibitions, stands, videos and photos. At around 6pm, those who wish to will move on to the Nauta campsite where there’ll be snacks and a fancy dress party with live music. Later that night there’ll be prizes for the best outfits, couples, groups and cars.

On the following day visitors can enjoy all the facilities at the Nauta campsite with activities and lunch, and of course, music from the 60s.

The rest of the VWeekend Festival will take place in the car park on the Paseo Marítimo Francisco Andrade Fumero (behind Parque Santiago I). For more information, see n www.arona.org.

Bridal and celebrations fair

Feboda for festivities

If you or any of your family or friends are planning major festivities in the near future then don’t miss the annual Feboda fair which will be held in Santa Cruz between October 23 and 25.

As ever, this year’s weddings and celebrations festival will be offering a whole world of relevant services and merchandise, together with a range of parallel activities.

For brides, grooms, best men and bridesmaids, not to mention guests, there will be fashion shows, footwear, hairdressing, make-up, flowers, catering, displays of artistic photography, and much more.

You’ll be able to arrange everything for your wedding under one roof, even the snazzy transport.

There will be stages, catwalks, demonstrations, in fact everything you could possibly need for all kinds of celebrations.

There will even be contests and live music.

The fair aims to bring together the very best from the greatest companies around, and is known as the finest shop window for everyone related to the sector.

During the three day event visitors can see some of the most excellent offers in Tenerife, from about 100 companies covering 140 stands.

Feboda takes place at the Recinto Ferial and is open from 10.30am to 8.30pm each day. Entrance costs €4.

For more information see: www. recintoferialdetenerife.com. n

Don’t miss this year’s collective exhibition from the Ten-Diez Movement which is currently taking place in Costa Adeje.

More than 40 artists from around the world have joined together for the Art Box event, which is this year being hosted by the Baobab Suites. A varied and exciting mixture of paintings, photography, sculpture and illustrations will be on show until November 14, offering several weeks of pure inspiration.

Check out Max Mala’s colourful pop art, Yasmin Ferreras’ fashion photography, Toto Morín’s incredible portraits or the Fluid Horizons collection by Phil Crean - a selection of photos taken at 80km/h showing views as seen speeding along the shoreline.

This is a mere selection of the talents on show: this is one exhibition not to be missed. The event will also feature a number of workshops, talks and concerts. See: www.tendiez.com for more information or pop along to the Baobab Suites at Calle Roques del Salmor, Costa Adeje. n

Fluid horizons by Phil Crean

Puerto literature festival

Travel and adventure Puerto de la Cruz’s International Festival of Travel and Adventure Literature is running until October 11.

The festival, called Periplo, is a pioneer in Spain: an innovative and ambitious project which aims to include all possible formats for capturing and communicating the transforming experience of travelling. Activities include talks, music, cinema, presentations, games, exhibitions, street theatre, art and workshops.

This is now the third year that Periplo has taken place and it has already turned into an inspiring event: the Puerto de la Cruz project is working to create a network of travel and adventure festivals throughout Europe.

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet authors and literature fans alike. For more information go to: www. festivalperiplo.com.

n

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015

HOLIDAY GUIDE SPIN NEWS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756

Madrid to Tenerife

A Vanesa Martín moment Málaga-born singer songwriter Vanesa Martín will be offering a concert in La Orotava on October 17.

During her career the charismatic performer has shared stages and recording studios with well known artists such as Malú, Alejandro Sanz, India Martínez, Pablo Alborán, Sergio Dalma, David de María, Chenoa and Diana Navarro.

Vanesa’s love for music began at the age of six with the gift of a guitar from her father. She soon began to write her own songs, and by the age of 17 she was already performing at venues in Málaga and appearing on local TV and radio programmes.

After finishing her teaching studies at Málaga University in 2003, Vanesa moved to Madrid and performed her first concerts in the city. In 2006 her first album Agua, produced by DJ and singer Carlos Jean, was released by EMI Music Spain and opened the road to the stardom.

In 2009 she was signed up by Warner Music, and her second studio album, Trampas, containing 12 self-composed songs, was released. This disc took Vanesa into the Spanish charts for the first time, and in the same year she received the Premio Dial as one of the best artists of the year.

In 2012, her third album Cuestión de piel hit the streets, and included guest artists such as Malú and Pablo Alborán.

On the day of its release it reached number one on iTunes and only one week after it was sitting at number three in the Spanish album charts. Later that year, Vanesa went on to issue an acoustic album recorded during a concert in Madrid.

In 2014 her latest album Crónica de un baile was released, reaching number one in the charts less than two weeks later.

In January of this year she formed part of the jury on a TV talent contest, Hit-La Canción, and minutes after the first programme began she was awarded a gold disc for Crónica de un baile.

Her latest tour began in Alicante in October of 2014. Now, almost one year later, you can see her show at the Teobaldo Power Auditorium in La Orotava on October 17 at 9pm: it’s worth the wait.

Tickets, priced at €25, are available from: www.entrees.es. n

27

Top Madrid dance group returns

Beautiful ballet

The Víctor Ullate Ballet from Madrid will be presenting an exciting programme on October 9 and 10 so early birds will just be in time to enjoy the extravaganza.

Three shows in one – Jaleos, Après Toi, and Bolero will make for a couple of evenings of pure entertainment.

Jaleos is one of Víctor Ullate’s most applauded pieces. It premiered in New York’s city cen-

tre in October 1996 and has now been returned to the stage in an updated form.

Après Toi (After You) was created by Ullate as a tribute to his maestro Maurice Béjart. The choreographer explained its significance, saying “music has always taken me to imaginary places: it reminds me of past situations and times. There are some works which are associ-

ated with the image of certain people and this happened to me with Beethoven’s seventh symphony, which simply invoked memories of Maurice: his delicateness, genius and magnificence.” He says this is his most emotional way of expressing his gratitude for what Maurice transmitted and taught.

The final piece, Bolero, reflects the identity of the Bolero dance

which is an intriguing contrast between femininity and masculinity. It is inspired by the piece of music of the same name by Ravel, and is set in the decade of the 1920s.

You can see this fabulous show at the Teatro Guimerá in Santa Cruz on October 9 and 10 at 8.30pm each night. Tickets cost from €15 to €20 and are available from the box office or n www.tomaticket.es.

Adeje in celebration

Last chance romería Hot on the heels of Adeje’s Fiestas Lustrales, celebrated only once every five years, comes the town’s annual fiesta in honour of Santa Úrsula.

There’s a whole host of activities, music and dancing, but by far the highlight of the celebration is the Romería which takes place on October 18.

People of all ages, from all over Tenerife and beyond, take part in the long-established celebrations, all wearing the traditional Canarian costume. You’ll see dancers from El Hierro, shepherds with their dogs, goats, cows, horses, ponies and chickens, and all will accompany beautifully decorated vehicles whose passengers offer food, drinks, and much merriment. The flamboyantly decked-out floats,

Romerías are a colourful and joyful celebration (Archive image from Adeje)

the wonderful array of animals and a number of different folklore groups will gather in the Plaza del Cerco by around 1pm. From there they will lazily make their way towards Calle

Grande and uphill to the Santa Úrsula church. The crowd will be met by representatives of the authorities, and offerings of flowers, fruit, vegetables and non-perishable foods will be

collected for distribution to the families in need.

The romerías can only be described as an explosion of colour, food, noise and folklore.

Despite the fact that Adeje’s takes place in one of the communities with the most cultural diversity in the region, this Romería maintains its spirit of tradition.

Everyone who attends will discover just how hospitable the Canarian people are. There’ll be plenty of foods and drinks to sample, including magnificent local wines, ‘wrinkly’ potatoes, gofio, award winning cheeses, chicken, soups and much more.

Adeje is the town which holds the last Romería of the year in Tenerife, so that’s another reason not to miss it. See: www. n adeje.es.

28

HOLIDAY GUIDE WHATS ON 2015

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

October

October

TENERIFE

GRAN CANARIA

DIARY DATES

DIARY DATES October 7 to 10 International Film Festival (FIC) Galdar. International films shown every day at various locations in Galdar, plus parallel activities. See full programme at www.festivaldecinegaldar.com.

October 9

8.30pm: Evita, a Spanish version of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, with the music in English. ExpoMeloneras. From €25.

9pm: Vanesa Martín, Spanish pop-rock singer, Teatro Víctor Jara, Vecindario, Santa Lucía de Tirajana. From €25.

October 17 All day: Romeria La Naval, oldest fiesta in Las Palmas, dating back to 1883. In honour of the Virgen de la Luz, the patron of the port, and commemorates the victory over Francis Drake’s English fleet on October 6, 1595. Santa Catalina, LPGC. 8.30pm: Evita, a Spanish version of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, with the music in English. ExpoMeloneras. From €25.

Until October 11

October 11

Periplo, International Festival of Travel and Adventure Literature. Various venues in Puerto de la Cruz. See www.festivalperiplo.com.

10am – 9.30pm: VWeekend Canarias, See October 10

October 8 to 11 Canaries Surf Film Festival. Surfing and environmental documentaries, photographic exhibitions. Hotel El Médano.

See: www.canariassurffilmfestival.com.

October 9 7.30pm: Lecture and information in English and Spanish about homeopathy by Dr. Viola Lifka. Calle Dinamarca 18C, Puerto de la Cruz.

More information 665 306 712.

8pm: Keroxen Festival, modern and experimental sounds from local, national and international artists. See www.keroxen.com.

9pm: Home Movie Day. Films recorded in Los Cristianos from the 60s to the 80s. Infanta Leonor Auditorium, Los Cristianos. Free entry.

October 10 10am – 9.30pm: VWeekend Canarias, for fans of hippy music and Volkswagen vehicles, on the Paseo Marítimo Francisco Andrade Fumero (behind Parque Santiago I), Playa de las Américas.

8.30pm: Timples y otras pequeñas guitarras del mundo played by Germán López, Althay Paez, Beselch Rodríguez and Yone Rodríguez. Teatro Guiniguada, Calle Mesa de León, LPGC. €12.

8.30pm: Quintas Magistrales, a concert by the Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Schubert and Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphonies.

Auditorio Alfredo Kraus LPGC. From €13.

8.30pm: Concert by Tigaray, music featuring the romantic side of the history of the Canaries. Infanta Leonor Auditorium, Los Cristianos. €7.

9pm: Festival Mar Abierto. El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico with guest artist Moise González and the Son Iyá Orchesta. Gran Canaria Arena Sala Club, Las Palmas.

October 10 8.30pm: Sin Sombra de Grey, a stage parody of 50 Shades of Grey, by Clapso Teatro.

Teatro Guiniguada, Calle Mesa de León, LPGC. €10.

October 11 7pm: Sin Sombra de Grey, a stage parody of 50 Shades of Grey, by Clapso Teatro. Teatro Guiniguada, Calle Mesa de León, LPGC. €10.

October 15

October 16 8.30pm: Turkey in Vienna, a concert by the Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra featuring music by Stravinski, Mozart and Schumann.

Auditorio Alfredo Kraus LPGC. From €13.

8.30pm: Humour and magic: 10 years of humour classes, at the Paraninfo, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. €10.

October 15 8pm: Brazilian music opening the Otoño Cultural season, by Estrella Morente and Niño Josele. CajaCanarias Foundation, Plaza de la Patriotismo, Santa Cruz. €15. www.cajacanarias.com

October 16 8pm: Keroxen Festival, modern and experimental sounds from local, national and international artists. See www.keroxen.com.

9.30pm: Miss Sur, contest. Final gala in the Plaza de España, Adeje, free entry. www.misssur.com

October 17 9pm: Spanish pop singer songwriter Vanesa Martín at the Teobaldo Power Auditorium, La Orotava. €25.

October 18 All day: Patea con Guimar. Hike - La Esperanza to Candelaria. Register before October 14. www.guimar.es 1pm: Romería in Adeje, a procession with folklore, traditional costumes, food, drink, animals, singing and dancing.

October 23 8pm: Keroxen Festival, modern and experimental sounds from local, national and international artists. See www.keroxen.com.

9pm: José Vélez, Canarian singer, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, LPGC. From €20.

October 18

October 30

9pm: José Vélez, Canarian singer, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, LPGC. From €20.

8pm: Keroxen Festival, modern and experimental sounds from local, national and international artists. See www.keroxen.com.

October 20

EXHIBITIONS

9pm: Fourplay, 25th anniversary tour. Contemporary jazz with elements of R&B and pop.

Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, LPGC. From €25.

Until October 30 Celebrating 250 years of journalism in the Canaries. The first newspaper to be produced in the Islands was La Gaceta de Daute, hence the first location for this roving exhibition in the Sala Pérez Enriquez, Los Silos. Mondays to Fridays, 5pm -8pm and Sundays 9am -1pm.

EXHIBITIONS

8.30pm: Music festival, Italian music from the 17th century. D’Amore e Tormenti. La Galanía with Raquel Andueza. Teatro Pérez Galdós, LPGC. From €10.

8pm: Sole Giménez, Spanish singer and composer. Teatro Guimera, Santa Cruz. From €14.

Until November 14 Paintings / sculpture by Santi Palenzuela at the Centro de Arte La Regenta. www.laregenta. org

Until January 10 Black Hole, a collection of pastels and charcoals by local artist Raúl Artiles, CAAM (San Antonio Abad), Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10am - 9pm, Sundays, 10am - 2pm, LPGC. www.caam.net.

9pm: Festival Mar Abierto. El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico with guest artist Moise González and the Son Iyá Orchesta. Parque Marítimo Car Park, Santa Cruz. www.festivalmarabierto. com.

10pm: Fito y Fitipaldis, Spanish pop rock, football ground, Adeje. From €32.

Until November 14 The Ten Diez Movement Art Box. 40 talented local photographers display their work at the Baobab Suites, Calle Roques de Salmor, Costa Adeje. Free entry. See: www.ten-diez.com.

For regular church, charity and recreational events, please see: www.islandconnections.eu/1000003/1000027/0/41004/living-lifestyle-article.html

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015

MUSIC

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756

29

THE QFM MUSIC REVIEW – YOUR GUIDE TO MUSIC CREATED IN THE CANARY ISLANDS

Meetings with Yexza Lara and the Miguel Crespo Quartet Tracklist:

Venezuela, Barcelona, the Andes and Tenerife: These are four corners of the globe which are so close to the heart of Yexza Lara that they have constantly and intimately influenced her music and lyrics.

If you haven’t yet heard of this incredible artist, here’s a little about her musical career: Born in Venezuela, at the age of three she joined the Niños Cantores de Lara Academy, where she was a pupil of the legen-

dary Carmen Alvarado. At the age of 15 she began to learn the flute, joined several jazz workshops, and soon moved on to the Simón Bolívar Conservatory at Caracas. In 2007 Yexza relocated to Barcelona,

where she studied jazz flute at the Conservatorio Superior del Liceo.

Presently, this multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer and producer with three albums to her credit lives on the island of Tenerife when she isn’t touring the Peninsula or Latin America.

Her latest album, Encuentros, demonstrates her evolution and maturity from her debut disc Inéditos and her second release Colores. An enchanting combination of the delicate femininity of her vocals, organic folkloric instruments and jazzy chords and solos. We hear echoes of Caracas, Anda-

lusia, Catalunia and the Canary Islands throughout her compositions, subtle enough not to be overwhelming, yet clearly defined enough to transport our thoughts to faraway times and places.

The album features Yexza on vocals and flute, Miguel Crespo on drums and percussion, Alejandro Tamayo on upright bass, Jon Robles on sax, Félix Rossy on trumpet, Jordi Bonell on guitar, with Rubén Fernández and Fulvia Fossati on vocals.

Encuentros was recorded via crowdfunding, and you can hear tracks on Qfm 94.3 and n www.Qmusica.com.

1. Contemplación 2. Este Canto Fugaz 3. Sombra 4. Baja Total o Parcial 5. Otoño en BCN 6. Son Chispitas 7. Para Descubrir 8. Samba Pra Vocé 9. Nuestra Luz 10. Canción para las Ballenas Andinas

30

SPOTLIGHT

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

Spotlight on John Parkes

Musical man about town ences, it just means that you’re not going to hear us play Sweet Home Alabama or Sweet Child O’ Mine, because, why bother?

I must hear those songs coming out of every bar I pass.”

The band recently played packed out gigs at Chirinstones in El Médano, Qué Barbaridad in Costa del Silencio, and they feature regularly at Sayeah Bar in CC Pasarela in Los Cristianos, where the owner Andrea also allows them to rehearse every week.

John during his time in The Riffs

The Savage Huns playing at Sayeah Bar in CC Pasarela

John with long time drummer, Miguel

As an organiser of music and sport events, manager of an established apartment rental business, and regular face on the social scene, John Parkes is a popular figure in the south of Tenerife.

He’s also a talented guitarist, bassist and songwriter, having featured in numerous rock lineups over the past decade and self-producing several works of his own compositions. He’s an excellent collaborator who looks to form projects with close friends and incorporate the best rock musicians to compliment them.

For many years John learned the guitar and formed bands with his school friend Gary Boyd, and his more recent change in musical direction has seen him collaborate with close pal, Wes Brislen (featured in last edition), who fronts the alternative rock band The Savage Huns – a powerful three piece with John on bass guitar.

Born in Huddersfield, UK, John moved to Tenerife with his parents and older brother when he was seven, settling into their new home at Paloma Beach Apartments in Los Cristianos.

He attended Wingate School and when he was 14 he met Gary there; the pair struck up a friendship which, initially at least, was centred around their love for guitar-based music – particularly the Britpop scene of the time.

The duo bought guitars, began playing in John’s apartment and within time John’s brother

John and Wes during their time with The Riffs

David was keen to get in on the act. He bought a bass and the trio started to practise while looking to recruit other members.

They decided on the band name Loaded, and with Miguel González Hernández recruited on the drums, the young band started to play their first, nervy gigs. It didn’t go well, nor last very long, as John and Davids’ volatile relationship often erupted and the battling brothers endured too many nights of “flying fists, guitars and pizza!”

David made way for Vladimir, an experienced bassist who helped the fledgling musicians step up a level, resulting in successful gigs around Veronicas and Playa de Las Américas.

At the same time they regularly went to see The Lizard Kings, their heroes of the day, for inspiration on what a band could be like.

When Vladimir left Loaded they added Lee on guitar and vocals and decided to cover the absence of a bassist by rotating the instrument between the three guitarists. The odd instru-

ment arrangement prevented the band from progressing quickly and they rehearsed for over two years before playing gigs at O’Callaghan’s, Rooney’s and Grandee O’Donnell’s. However, their performances were indifferent and Miguel and Lee soon left the band.

John and Gary returned to playing together, briefly forming Beatless – an acoustic Beatles tribute act. At the same time John met Wes Brislen, a talented rock guitarist and singer from Liverpool. They began to rehearse together and for the first time John found himself playing alongside someone more proficient and passionate than he was. John decided to bring him in and changed to bass; Wes and Gary provided guitars and vocals, and Jon Gibson came in on drums.

The band became known as The Blag Four, initially playing Beatles’ covers, but soon evolved into a classic rock band called The Riffs. After build-

ing a strong following during several successful years on the circuit an injury forced John to stop playing in 2007 and the band called it a day.

Having just returned to the guitar following eight years of repetitive strain injury, John found he was keen to do something. He contacted Wes and they formed a three piece that saw Miguel reclaim his old drum stool. The Savage Huns are currently taking the south by storm with their authentic brand of edgy rock, covering songs by artists like Kings of Leon, Vampire Weekend, The Strokes and White Stripes.

“We’re not looking to cater to the light entertainment scene on the island or rub shoulders with the established names here, it strikes us as slightly odd that most acts insist on playing the same songs” John said of The Huns’ position in Tenerife’s music scene. “We play the material we want; this doesn’t mean we don’t consider audi-

In between concerts the trio are working on new material to include in their edgy set and are currently shaping up songs by older artists that fit into their punk rock ethos, such as Blondie, David Bowie and Nirvana.

As a natural organiser, much of the taxiing of musicians to gigs, rehearsal planning and general managerial/roadie work falls on John’s shoulders, but what does he find hardest about taking care of a band? “Babysitting the musicians! Wes literally turns into a wild animal when he straps on a guitar and you never quite know where that can go. And Miguel, like all drummers I’ve known, has to be handled like a royal baby!”

Be sure to catch them the next time they play. For further information and gig dates visit their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/TheSavn ageHuns.

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015

BLEVINS FRANKS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756

31

Eight things to consider when moving to Spain 2) Your home If you are selling property in the UK, what is the best plan to limit or avoid UK or Spanish capital gains tax? Appropriate, Are you planning to move to timely advice, will avoid comthe Canary Islands? What a mon pitfalls. good choice. It is such a lovely place to live, with so many 3) Structuring your assets to different factors contributing minimise tax to a very enjoyable and ben- Spanish taxpayers have had a eficial lifestyle. particularly high tax burden Here is an overview of the key over recent years, though they financial considerations for UK have improved a little in 2015. nationals relocating to Spain. It The top income tax rate is 46.5 is also useful for those already per cent in Islas Canarias. With living here. specialist advice you can structure savings and investments to 1) Tax residency and obliga- be tax efficient in Spain. tions You need to establish what makes 4) Currency you resident in Spain for tax pur- Many British expatriates keep poses, in which case you are liable their savings and investments for Spanish tax on your world- in Sterling. This puts income wide income, gains and wealth, at the mercy of exchange rate and subject to the succession tax fluctuations. A sensible rule of rules. You also need to follow the thumb is to match your assets UK tax residence rules because to your long-term liabilities to they could catch you out. reduce currency risk, though

able for you and your needs? Is it tax efficient? Ask a professional advisory firm like Blevins Franks to review your investments to see how they need to be adjusted for your new life in Spain.

By Paul Montague, Partner, Blevins Franks

“Are you planning to move to the Canary Islands?

What a good choice.” you also need to consider per- 6) Inflation and your longsonal factors. term security Inflation will reduce the spend5) Pensions ing power of your savings over There are usually ways to your retirement years. Take improve your private pen- action now to protect your sion arrangements to make wealth in real terms. them work better for you. It is vital that you receive spe- 7) Investments cialist advice. There are various Your investment strategy should options for your UK pension be specifically designed around funds, and each has different your personal circumstances, implications for your long-term objectives and risk profile. Are income and the tax payable. you sure your portfolio is suit-

8) Estate planning Your estate planning arrangements need to take both Spanish and UK succession law and tax into account. Ensuring that assets pass to the right beneficiaries at the right time, with the minimum of administration or taxation, can be a complicated process. It is important to undertake a succession planning health check, with the help of a specialist wealth manager.

Taking advice from a professional tax planning and wealth management specialist is invaluable. It is the only way you can be sure that you have not overlooked anything, and that you have established what all your

options are and how suitable they are for you.

Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual is advised to seek personalised advice.

To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com Blevins Franks has 20 established offices across Spain, France, Portugal, Cyprus, Malta and UK, and decades of experience advising British expatriates.

Contact our Partner Paul Montague on 922 716 079 or paul.montague@ blevinsfranks.com

MOTORING

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

Nissan

What do Mariah Carey and brown bears have in common?

The Diavel – devilishly cool

exciting but safe riding experience. Not only that, but its 162

Call us!

The Renault factory in Seville recently celebrated the production of its 25 millionth gear box since the factory opened in 1958.

The particular piece of equipment that marked the completion of that rather impressive number was a TL4 sixspeed manual box, which was then sent on to the factory in Palencia to be fitted into a Renault Kadjar, the latest Crossover from the brand. Said Kadjar will also be graced with an Energy dCi 110 engine fabricated in Valladolid – So a decidedly Spanish edge will be given to the car. n

1 Driver or 2 Drivers, Baby Seats or Booster, Free Airport Service & Hotel Delivery Full insurance · All Inclusive No Hidden Extras · Short or long term Ask for details Call Stuart on 922 79 08 25 or 662 566 630 Or send us email: autosamericas@web.de

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and sporty lifestyle motorcycle.

New features on the 2016 version of the Diavel Carbon – with its sleek Asphalt Grey colour - include the exhaust manifolds with Zircotec ceramic coating and brushed-effect stainless steel silencer covers. In addition, the bike boasts a totally redesigned seat with an exclusive trim.

In addition to the Carbon, the Diavel will also be available in the totally black Dark Stealth version, with matt black tank and black frame and wheels. n

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hp and weight of just 205 kg make the bike a comfortable

Top technology company Apple Inc. is said to be well on its way to introducing the next level of inter-connected electric vehicles onto the motoring market.

The not so hush-hush project, codenamed ‘Titan’, is apparently being overviewed by the company’s vice-president Steve Zadesky who is, handily, an ex Ford engineer. Though the mega multinational was initially extremely coy about substantiating rumours, earlier this year tycoon investor Carl Icahn stated that Apple will enter the automobile market in 2020 with a unique car as “the ultimate mobile device.”

Towards the end of September, executives apparently met with self-driving car experts from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and then the news finally broke: a ship date has been set for 2019.

This doesn’t mean that the car will be available to customers by then, however. It is more likely by that point that the main features of the car will have been tested and approved. It also appears that the first-generation vehicle will not be fully self-driving, despite the company’s interest in that field.

The only question remaining is whether this project augurs a more financially secure future for the company or will it n upset the apple cart?

Millions of changes

Ducati

Strengthened by a style that has literally won over the world’s motorcycle community, the Diavel has opened new horizons for the Ducati brand.

The Diavel is a “unique, innovative and brave bike” which dominates the road while remaining as lightweight and agile as other Ducati models.

Together, the latest generation Testastretta 11° Dual Spark engine with ABS, Ducati Traction Control, Riding Modes and the agility that is typical of the make, all guarantee an

Apple car ‘secret’ out

©2014 FLN

conditions; and deploying the indicators right and left 2.25 million times on every model.

And the bear, bottles, cups and singer? Checks also include playing the stereo at high volume for a total of 1,200 days using specifically selected music to encompass the widest range of pitch and beat. Tracks include Mariah Carey for the high notes and the thumping bass of German House music.

A host of different cups, bottles and containers are used to

Driving the gossip

5 YE AR

first Crossover was conceived in 2007, Nissan has conducted more than 150,000 tests across the range, including: Using special robots to open and close the windows at least 30,000 times per model, while using specific volcanic dust imported from Japan to test against scratching and ensure durable functioning of the electric window mechanism. Plus, activating the windscreen wipers for 480 hours at different speeds and settings, as well as in simulated varied weather

Early-bird motorbike fans just have time to join in a fun ride and do some good for a local charity at the same time.

Heaps of custom - and not so - bikes will be gathering in the centre of Buenavista on October 10 at 1pm for a cool run out followed by live music and a group paella. All monies raised will go to the town’s occupational centre.

And if you don’t want to ride, you can always go along to admire the metal or simply join in the fun after the run. Call 660 069 352 for more information. n

R2

Singer Mariah Carey may not know it, but she plays a crucial role in the development of every Nissan Crossover - as do a brown bear and a selection of cups and bottles from around the world.

For the first time ever, Crossover market leader Nissan has revealed the extreme measures it uses to test its new cars. The rigorous engineering approach aims to replicate the real life and sometimes arduous usage that the vehicles experience in everyday situations. Since the

Charity bike run

RIFE FO

The Nissan Crossover range – thoroughly tested

check the usefulness of the cup holders and door pockets, and weights are also dropped on the glass roof to ensure it can withstand the weight of a brown bear climbing on the car!

Engineers and their ingenious robot helpers have also opened the bonnets of its Crossovers collectively more than 48,000 times and the doors an astounding 1.2 million times. This may seem extreme, but it has to exceed the anticipated usage of these parts by customers during the cars’ lifetime.

For the interior design, over twenty driver seat variations have been evaluated and tested for comfort over 300 times, with the interior finishes tested against tricky every-day stains such as chocolate and oil, lipstick, hair gel and coffee.

David Moss, Senior Vice-President at Nissan Europe Technical Centre said “Some of the devices we have created and instruments we use might make us look like mad inventors.” But the dedication is evidently paying off: Last year, Nissan Crossover sales exceeded 400,000 in Europe, delivering a combined market share of 12.7 per cent. n

Custom made fun

NE

32

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015

BUSINESS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756

33

Home from home

British TV over the internet

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With interest rates in banks at an all-time low, we can offer a fantastic alternative backed by

Programmes such as CyberGhost are also available for smartphones

Many foreign residents like to enjoy their national television shows from back home and now courtesy of software programmes such as CyberGhost it’s possible to view many of your favourite shows online or streamed without territorial limits based on where your computer is located.

Viewing online has become more popular than older forms of picking up broadcasts, such as satellite dishes and antennas which often become problematic during periods of poor weather, and over the internet you are open to an array of your favourite shows and – depending on your bandwidth – failsafe viewing.

However, trying to watch non-Spanish online players and broadcasts that are only available in the country of origin means that it is usually unavailable if you’re trying to see it from here in the Canaries. This is because each Internet connection has a specific address that is assigned by your internet provider, the so-called IP address, and these digits are registered internationally and identify where the user is located in the world. Due to contractual copyright agreements within each country, when trying to watch a programme from outside of that region, more often than not, the viewer

is going to receive a message that it is not available to them.

There are free software downloads available that allow you to surf the web anonymously using a fake IP address, which means you can watch TV shows from outside of Spain without location issues.

For this reason, free programmes such as CyberGhost are growing in popularity with expats, now able to watch their favourite channels trouble-free. Downloads are available for your computer and smartphone and there are other paid premium versions available. For more information visit: www. cyberghostvpn.com. n

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34

HEALTH

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023 Photo: Michael & Christa Richert

Heart health

Salsa and Gofio Photo: Sebastian Danon / freeimages.com

The heart is not only the engine that keeps our bodies running; it has now been officially recognised as being the emotional centre of our lives.

Minute by minute, the heart continuously pumps about five litres of blood through our bodies. This organ is not only the force which circulates our blood, however. Traditionally, the heart has always been considered the seat of our emotions, though this was thought

Dancing is not just mood lifting it also keeps us healthy Wild Fennel is good for the heart The best fitness training on the Canary Islands: swimming in the Atlantic Ocean

Feeling pain Heart pain can have many different causes which might not always be a disease or dangerous medical condition. Nevertheless, any problem with the heart should always be taken seriously. A high-cholesterol diet, smoking, stress and lack of exercise are the much discussed high-risk factors for heart disease, but irregularities of heart rhythm or within the cardiovascular system can also be caused by the emotions – particularly stress. So when the negative feelings are dealt with, minor heart problems often go away quickly and without treatment.

So should we all be taking it a little easier?

Spaniards are known for being incredibly laid back. Maybe that is one of the reasons why

the current Eurostat figures for Europe show that the life expectancy of Spaniards - with an average of 83.2 years - is the highest within the Union.

Only the Japanese rate more highly in the world rankings – at 84 years.

However, in contrast to the peninsula, life expectancy of the Canarian population is only 81.5 years on average, and heart and cardiovascular conditions are two of the leading causes of death across the world. Therefore, the Canary Society of Cardiology (SOCANCAR) has upped its targets for promoting awareness of heart health within the Canarian population.

More than 80 percent of cardiologists in the Canary Islands are members of the European network of scientific doctors and professionals which devotes itself to the study of cardiovascular diseases. The organisation also organises reg-

The enchanting scenery around the archipelago just invites you to take a walk Photo: Foddos4you / freeimages.com

Photo: Jacek Racznski / freeimages.com

to be based more on folklore than fact. Now, though, scientists are starting to speak about how the heart may well be a second brain.

Latest estimates suggest that our actual brain holds an independent network of around 86 billion neurons, and it is these and the brain’s chemicals which were thought to be the only house of emotions.

However, prominent medical experts have recently realised that many recipients of heart transplants also inherit some of their donors’ memories, as well as reporting huge changes in their tastes, personality, and, incredibly, their emotional memories. Recent studies even suggest that the heart can work like a sensory organ, and that it is possibly where our intuition emanates from.

Hence, a healthy heart should more than ever be one of our top priorities.

ular training courses and conferences with leading scientists that are open to both medical professionals and the general population. The latest findings and advances in modern medicine are presented, as well as principal educational work.

More information can be found at: http://socancar.com.

The group’s main focus is on prevention. So what’s good for heart health on the islands?

Keep moving Where else will you find the optimal climate and stunning mountain scenery for walking,

other than here in the Canaries? Hiking is a gentle option for boosting heart function. Try to add 30 minutes a day into your routine and you will soon feel the benefits.

Europe can you feel the Latin American flair so closely as in the Canaries. Not only is dancing good for your heart – it’s a great way to meet people and have fun as well.

Dance to live longer

Swim yourself fit

How about joining a Salsa or Bachata class? Nowhere else in

We are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean – not to men-

tion a plethora of swimming pools. Swimming is great allover exercise and salt water is also good for the skin. Alternatively, a walk on the beach makes a good daily heart treat.

Do take care when exercising in high temperatures though – you may end up doing more harm than good.

Gofio protection During a study at the HUC University Hospital in La Laguna, cardiologist Alberto Domínguez found that daily consumption of the local ‘Gofio’ flour significantly reduced the risk of developing coronary heart disease – and may even slow down the effects of the condition once it has started.

Domínguez therefore appealed to everyone, especially parents, to introduce more gofio into the diet.

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756

HEALTH

35

plexis canariensis), Cabezon (Cheirolophus canariensis) or wild anise. These plants have a holistic effect through heart active ingredients and phytochemicals.

With all these advantages it is hard to find excuses for not being good to your heart, so why not make some positive n life changes now?

Photo: Daniel Nedelcu / freeimages.com

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015

Regular walking gets the heart and circulation going A day on the beach to pamper body and soul Gofio was examined for its health aspects by the Universitario de Canarias Hospital

Photo: Mataparda CC 3.0

Due to the unique climatic conditions and location of the archipelago, it is home to an impressive number of endemic plants – well over six hundred in total. Many of these have long been hailed as having curative or health-giving benefits: herbal folk medicine has a long tradition in the Canary Islands.

Author Jorge Cruz Suárez catalogued over a hundred traditionally used plants and herbs with phytotherapeutic properties in his work Mas de 100 Plantas Medicinales. Medic-

ina Popular Canaria. The book contains valuable information on the use and preparation of the plants and an extract (in Spanish) can be seen at: fitoterapia.net.

Many of the larger islands here have their own state nurseries where common medicinal herbs and endemic medicinal plants are researched and cultivated, as well as being further processed into convenient medications. One such is the Centro de Plantas Medicinales de Tejeda on Gran Canaria.

A variety of useful plants can also be found growing in green valleys and on slopes of the mountains in the north of the verdant islands. These include safflower varieties, wild fennel and many other flowering herbs, which add their wonderful aromas to many a day out. Without a specialist, however, it can be difficult to know exactly which herbs should be picked.

Therefore, a visit to a farmers market is often worth undertaking. Many stalls will offer

Photo: Izabel Cristina Mioranza / freeimages.com

Floral benefits

medicinal herbs, tinctures, ointments and herbal products for household use.

You can also find therapeutic items made from borage (Borraja in Spanish) or extracts

of endemic species such as Abrepuño (Centaurea melitensis), Albarrana (Drimia maritime, Alpiste (Phalaris canariensis), Cornical (Periploca laevigata), Cresta de Gallo (Iso-

HEALTH

36

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

m_delaflor@hotmail.com

Dear David, The term for medication safety could be ‘poliedric’ since it does indeed have many sides, from proper amount to adequate timing to relevant treatment duration. The tablets you’re inquiring about are called Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs – omeprazol, pantoprazol…). They are a family of medicines that help alleviate pain and discomfort after meals by reducing stomach acid production, avoiding a myriad of other side effects (burning pain or discomfort in your chest, bitter taste in your mouth, reflux...).

In most scenarios, they can be effectively and safely used for two - three weeks. As with any other tablet, using the lowest dose possible is essential when used for longer periods of time.

Make sure that you’re careful and proactive in following nutritional, postural and other lifestyle recommendations in order to prevent flare-ups. Re-evaluating lifestyle habits with your GP is highly educational and reassuring. Best regards. “… men in fear and hunger destroy their stomachs in the fight to secure certain food, where men hungering for love destroy everything lovable about them… In the world ruled by tigers with ulcers, rutted by strictured bulls, scavenged by blind jackals… What can it profit a man to gain the whole world and to come to his property with a gastric ulcer, a blown prostate, and bifocals?”

John Steinbeck

Dear Dr. De La Flor,

My dad died of Prostate cancer a few years ago. I was wondering what’s the best test to find out early. Should I do the PSA test yearly? Thank you, Carl Dear Carl, PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen, a protein produced by prostate cells that can warn of cancer. It is a valuable clinical tool when used to monitor for cancer recurrence after treatments such as surgery and radiation. However, when used to screen healthy men for prostate cancer, false positives are common, and even when the test does detect cancer, it can’t distinguish between lifethreatening disease and the far

Photo: Mokra / FreeImages.com

I use pantoprazol everyday. Is it a safe medication? Any advice?

Thanks, David

“Do anything, but let it produce joy.”

more common slow-growing, non-threatening ones. A high PSA level may also indicate a simple infection or a benign enlarged prostate.

Medical experts have recommended against routine, widespread PSA screening of men for prostate cancer.

What’s the logic behind that?

Annual screening may lead to over-diagnosis and plenty of unnecessary testing, treatment and the preocupation and anxiety associated with it. My advice for you is to have your GP explain the pros and cons, and the proper check-up timing for your case. Best wishes.

“It is much more important to know what sort of a patient has a disease than what sort of a disease a patient has.”

William Osler, father of Modern Medicine

Dr. De La Flor Facts

Thumbs Up

By Dr. De La Flor

cers of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, liver, breast, ovary, and head and neck.

 Symptoms women should

never ignore It’s OK to wait a week or two to see if your bloating goes away but if it doesn’t improve or if it’s accompanied with weight loss or bleeding, please don’t procrastinate about a visit to your GP to rule out any ovarian issue.

 50+: Live better, longer,

fuller Regular bowel movements are an excellent sign of a healthy gastrointestinal system.

Normal stool is usually light to dark brown. Although changes in stool colour or texture may be normal, most changes should be evaluated. If you notice changes in your weight, general malaise, lack of energy or temperature, always consult your GP.

 A prescription for a life Much, much more than time starch…

Often maligned as a fattening, empty-calorie side dish, baked potatoes are versatile, easy-to-prepare and should be part of a successful weight loss and maintenance regimen.

Among their countless assets are a high satiety index, and a generous potassium, iron and vitamin C content.

“Seize the moments of happiness, love and be loved! That is the only reality in the world, all else is folly.” Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

Coaching Corner

By Dr. De La Flor

 Jubilant, non-prescription Oftentimes, I do sense anticadvice “Do anything, but let it produce joy.” Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

 Sinister alcohol targets

New research shows that alcohol-related cancers are on the rise… Excess drinking is linked to an increased risk for can-

ipatory anxiety meandering

through my patients expressions. The diagnosis is effortless because I’m too familiar with such rampant malady.

An untamed imagination, an undomesticated heart, and an unmanageable drive to let our existence be guided by feelings and emotions are the unhealthy ingredients. They inevitably wreck havoc in our mind first, swiftly causing physical symptoms as well. The incapacity to enjoy the moment, the inability to encounter eternity in our daily undertakings becomes frustrating, and too often we try to mask it with a fleeting balm.

ReSOLUTION

By Dr. De La Flor For the next two weeks, let’s ponder how you and I can get more meaning from what we do.

Perceiving that brush of eternity in every little task we do, in every action we perform or in every hug we give, will help overshadow the inescapable sufferings we all participate in. God bless you, your family and your loved ones, especially the ones in pain. Talk to you in a couple of weeks.

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.

He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

Finish every day and be done with it.

You have done what you could.

Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.

Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dr. De La Flor, licensed G.P. (6089). In dealing with his patients he is highly influenced by Humanistic Psychology - an encompassing way of approaching patients through the study of their strengths and virtues to enable them to thrive and lead fulfilling lives, accept the past, find happiness in the present, and hope for the future. Call him today on: 0034 697 888 666 or email him to register.

Pedro Alegre Alonso Pilates trainer ä Physiotherapist ä

Tel. 699 521 649

pedroalegrealonso@hotmail.com

©2014 FLN

Dear Dr. De La Flor,

©2014 FLN

Dear Dr. De La Flor

Therapies, Spiritual hypnosis, Past life regression Come, unleash your internal power and heal your mind, body and soul completely through energy healing, hypnosis and past life regression.

Get Space Clearing carried out for more positivity at home and in your work place

Call 619 519 858

ISLAND CONNECTIONS PICKUP POINT Frutería Ágaves Ed. Ágaves, Av. Venezuela 6

Playa de Las Américas

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015

FASHION

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756

37

The new autumn sweaters

Keep warm in style!

The new autumn collections are slowly making their way into the stores, even in the Canaries.

It may seem crazy while we are still enjoying summery daytime temperatures, especially in the south, but a nice warm sweater isn’t such a bad idea for the evenings and nights which are now noticeably cooler.

This season there are a host of new ideas for jumpers, and there’s one to suit every woman’s taste and style. Outstanding examples are the boxy cut models, which are fairly widely cut and end just above the hip.

These, incidentally, can be perfectly teamed up with a white men’s shirt.

Another of this autumn’s trends is the return of floral prints, some of which resemble large format paintings adorning the front of the sweater. The nice thing about this style is that it

goes well with a pair of jeans or a slim-fitting skirt. However, with such a striking design it’s best not to wear too much jewellery.

On the other hand, there are mohair and other woollen sweaters, that in the Canaries are only suitable for really cold nights or if you’re planning a trip to the mountains. Those which are much more suitable for day-to-day life or university wear are the long tops in cotton blends, which are available with patterns such as stripes.

Also present in the autumn and winter collections are the latest cashmere sweaters. They are available in a variety of different versions in this most noble of all yarns, from very light and thin to wonderfully thick and fluffy. So whatever your taste, you can wrap up, and keep warm in style! n

Ideal for cosy times at home: a polo and cardigan. From Jigsaw

Soft and cuddly with stripes.

From House of Fraser Red berry tones are still in vogue. From La Redoute

The latest: A hooded box look sweater. From La Redoute

Floral prints adorn today’s sweaters. From BHS The graphic design and striking mix of materials attract attention. From Next

A long jumper with a trendy striped look. From Long Tall Sally

38

KATY / PETS

Sometimes we ladies can do or say things that may seem downright insane to anyone who saw or heard them.

For example, a week or two ago my hair looked really dry and lifeless and the intense heat and the resulting perspiration make it look really uncared for. So I had the brilliant idea that I could make it look shiny and fluffy again by going to bed with conditioner all over my head. I lathered it on, then scrunched it up into a tight top-knot and got into bed.

I read for a while then suddenly thought about my new satin pillowcases. So I hurried out of bed and went down to the kitchen and brought a carrier bag upstairs. I put it over the wet conditioner and settled down. My last words as I

drifted off were “please God, I know I have to die sometime but don’t let it be tonight. I’d die if someone found me dead looking like this!”

Another time, I decided my nose looked crooked as I always sleep on my right side with one pillow and my right cheek and that side of my nose all scrunched up. I’d been watching the new version of Little Women, laughing when Amy used a clothes peg to keep her nose pert and thought what a great idea it was. I tried it that night. Agony! So I decided to tape it up. As I was cleaning my teeth that night I happened to look into the mirror and what a rare sight I looked! So once again the same prayer was being spoken in a beseeching whisper. I even remembered to

Hi everyone, katykennedy@telefonica.net

Photo: goodcatmum CC 2.0

By

y Kat

A nurse’s job is not an easy one

thank God for not letting me be found with the plastic bag on my head last time I asked!

When I left school I began my working life as a nurse. Then I became a professional singer at 35, and thought I’d study for a degree and a teaching

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

certificate while also entertaining each night. As my two daughters left school, I warned them about the hardship of both professions. So of course, one became a nurse and the other a teacher! My eldest daughter, Vivianne was on

the phone recently and I was telling her some of the funny stories when I was a young student nurse; things that would horrify nurses today! We had to stop on the stairs to let anyone pass, even if there should be a fire. We also had lots of miners who came from the pit and had to be admitted.

They might have little accidents during the night, so we juniors were told to put talc on their ‘bits and bobs’ and turn their undies inside out, using the talc to blot out any leftover stains.

But we knew the uniforms were angelic. We wore pale blue dresses with white aprons, black stockings and a beautifully starched cap.

However, there was no such thing as superbugs. My feel-

Pets charities round up

ing is that because each ward had its own set of cleaners, they were so proud of their ward that it was immaculate and looked on their work with pride. The rules were strict and everyone without exception scrubbed their hands every few minutes.

We all formed friendships that last today. My very best friend from then and now is Maureen, and sadly she is very poorly at the moment and has dementia.

It breaks my heart, but then so many of my wonderful friends here are ill at the moment.

Until next time, take care of yourselves and especially of n each other.

Email: katykennedy@telefonica.net.

Tel: 616 110 930.

Looking for love

Nina is at Live Arico waiting for her final foster home

Mary Irvine has been busy with her knitting needles again in support of Acción del Sol

Acción del Sol We recently rescued 28 dogs from an English couple in Guía de Isora. They are now all well on the road to recovery, have received the necessary treatment and are up for adoption.

If you are interested, please call or visit the refuge.

The Granadilla fire service rescued two gorgeous puppies from a disused water tank; we are unsure how the pup-

pies ended up there but they are now safe at the refuge and in a few weeks will be ready for adoption.

Mary Irvine has very kindly been out with her knitting needles again and has started to make some lovely woolly jackets for the dogs. A very big thank you for all your help and support.

Please call 922 778 630 between 8am and 5pm for further information. Acción del Sol is situated at the Poligono Industrial Estate, Exit 51 on

Bella is a gorgeous tabby at Cats Welfare Tenerife who’s looking for adoption

the TF1, directly next to the Parque Eolica where the wind turbines are. We are open to the public Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 2pm to 5pm. On Saturdays we’re open from 1pm till 4pm. The refuge is closed public holidays.

Live Arico Thank you Golf del Sur top square! A staggering €1,634 was raised at our recent fundraiser there and big thanks go to the bar owners and staff for accommodating everyone, as well as the entertainers.

Back on the MustCat. The next Live Arico charter will set sail on Saturday October 24 at 10am. Reserve your place early as we always sell out. Enjoy the day for only €25 per ticket.

Call Sue for yours.

All is going well at our new charity shop at Golf Park. We are open 10am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday. We also have shops in Los Cristianos and San Eugenio. They are open from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday; and until 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. Come and have a browse, bag a bargain and help the animals.

Find us at: www.livearico.com, on Facebook, or join us on Twitter: twitter.com/live_arico.

Cats Welfare Tenerife For just €1 a month you can join our new group of Teamers.

We are hoping this amount will attract more people who may not be able to give more but still want to help. It’s simple to do and only takes a couple of minutes. Please join, it will give us a regular income and mean we can plan the work we can commit to each month more effectively. Visit the web-

Nina was found on the streets. She’s12-years-old and it’s clear that she’s not had the best life; the person who recently rescued her believed a vet would put her to sleep.

We think she deserves a nice ending to her life and are looking for a permanent foster home.

Call Sue at Live Arico on 629 388 102 for more information. n site: http://teaming.net/catswelfaretenerife.

All adopted cats leave on a week trial so you can be sure you have made the right decision. We always have cats and kittens needing homes.

The Cats Welfare Boutique on San Blas in Golf del Sur is open seven days a week, 10am until 6pm, except Saturday, which is 11am until 4pm. Clothes are all excellent quality so pop in and bag a bargain.

Call or WhatsApp 686 719 604 (between 6pm and 8pm every day) for more information. Or see: www.cats-welfaren tenerife.com.

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015

FARMERS MARKET

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756

Farmer’s Markets Adeje Calle Archajara, s/n, in front of Makro Saturday/Sunday 8am – 2pm / Wednesday 4pm – 8pm Telephone: 922 775 200 Alcalá Plaza de Llano Monday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 850 100 Arafo Plaza San Juan Degollado Thursday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 511 711 Arico Porís de Abona Sunday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 676 159 034 Arona Valle San Lorenzo, Carretera General 122 Monday/Friday 8am – 2pm Telephone: 922 767 138 Buenavista del Norte Plaza de San Sebastián Opening times: Saturday 8.30am – 2pm Telephone: 922 129 030 Candelaria Wednesday 8am - 2pm Next to council offices Saturday 8am – 2pm.

Plaza del Centro Comercial de Punta Larga Telephone: 922 505 014 El Médano Plaza Principal Wednesday 8am – 2pm Telephone: 922 759 966/62 El Rosario Carretera General del Norte, la Esperanza Saturday/Sunday/festivals 8am – 4pm Telephone: 922 010 160 El Sauzal Hoya de la Vida, next to the church, Ravelo Friday/Saturday/Sunday 7.30am- 2pm Telephone: 922 584 657

Güímar Plaza del Ayuntamiento Sunday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 526 105

side behind Titsa Depot) 8am – 3pm closed Mondays Tel 922 076544

Guía de Isora Plaza del Pueblo de Garachico Friday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 850 100

Playa de San Juan Plaza de la Iglesia Wednesday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 850 100

Icod de Los Vinos Calle Key Muñoz 5 Monday/Friday 8am – 2pm Telephone: 922 815 700 / 922 447 938 La Guancha Carretera General TFS km 49 Saturday/Sunday 8am – 3pm Telephone: 922 360 788 La Laguna Plaza del Cristo Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday 6am – 2pm Telephone: 922 601 100 / 922 253 903 La Matanza de Acentejo Ctra. General del Norte Saturday 8am – 3pm, Sunday 8am – 2pm Telephone: 922 577 120 La Orotava Calle Educadora Lucía Mesa Saturday 8am – 1.30pm Telephone: 922 336 804 / 681 277 633 Los Realejos Camino Viejo de San Benito, Finca el Llano, Realejo Alto Saturday/Sunday 9am – 2pm Telephone: 922 346 234 Los Silos Plaza de la Luz, Los Silos Sunday 9am – 2pm Telephone: 922 840 004 Parque de la Reina – El Cho Calle Infanta Elena, 32 (before Karting on right hand

39

Farmer’s Markets

Island support!

Puerto de la Cruz Avenida Blas Pérez González, 4 Wednesday to Saturday 8am – 2pm Telephone: 922 386 158 San Isidro Mercado del Agricultor de Granadilla Off the roundabout leading to El Médano Saturday/Sunday 8am – 2pm Telephone: 922 759 966 San Miguel de Abona P.I. Las Chafiras, San Miguel de Abona, next to the fire station Saturday/Sunday 8am – 2pm Wednesday 2pm – 7.30pm Telephone: 922 735 386 Santa Cruz de Tenerife Avenida José Manuel Guimerá Sunday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 606 000 Santa Úrsula Carretera General, near the town hall Saturday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 301 640 Tegueste Calle de Asuncionistas, 6 Saturday/Sunday 8.00am – 2pm Telephone: 922 316 100 Vilaflor Plaza de Vilaflor Monday to Thursday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 709 002

We at Island Connections are sure in the knowledge that one of the best ways to help yourself, and the economy, is to buy locally – even if you are just visiting for a short time.

Canarian farmers harvest an extensive range of crops, which can be seen growing in the typical stepped-terrain farms around the Islands. Products range from tropical fruits, such as mangoes, to worldwide staples like lentils, potatoes and onions.

According to the agricultural group COAG-Canarias, prices of fresh fruits and vegetables differ greatly between the amount the farmers receive and the sale price in the supermarkets. For instance, towards the end of last year, small marrows, which the farmers were paid just €0.07/ kilo for, retailed at €0.84, and leeks sold at €0.36 were passed onto the consumer for around €2.23 a kilo. Many of the prices don’t even seem to cover the cost of production - and this is when subsidies became necessary to keep farms from disappearing, which, like the hiked prices, also come out of our pockets.

Enter the farmers markets, where the grower can sell directly to the customer without an intermediary. They are

dotted all over the Islands, with at least one in almost every town. They allow customers to purchase fresher, higher quality produce at cheaper prices, and the farmers receive a fair payment for their efforts. This enables them to maintain or raise the standard of their crops and uphold productivity levels – it’s a win-win situation.

In these markets you will be sure to see a variety of seasonal products, as well as some local home-made delicacies such as

preserves, honeys and Canarian goat’s cheese. A selection of meats and fish can also be found among the stalls, along with an assortment of cakes, pastries and biscuits.

Buy locally, eat healthily, pay fairly – this is one way we can all help each other.

So, to show our support of local farmers we are taking this timely opportunity to publish the details of the many farmers’ markets around the island n of Tenerife. Enjoy.

40

HOROSCOPES | CLASSIFIEDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

Horoscope for period: August 27 to September 9 Aries 21.3 - 20.4 Not everyone around you understands your sense of humour so take care not to hurt people with flippant remarks. That wouldn’t be in your best interests at the moment – not to mention being something that should be avoided for other people’s sake anyway.

Contacts

Taurus 21.4 - 20.5 Sometimes you really do have to bite your tongue. But even if you feel personally attacked by a harsh criticism, try to understand what is happening with the other person and do not be resentful.

Relaxing, energising, sensual and tantric massages for her, him and couples in Playa de Las Américas. Tel. 642 311 909

Gemini 21.5 - 21.6 Although at first glance it seems that you are having to put too much extra work in, one thing is certain: The fact that you’ve been entrusted with the new task shows the confidence others have in you - so show them what you’ve got.

Cancer 22.6 - 22.7 You’ve done it. You have given your life a brand new direction. No wonder you feel liberated and are currently enjoying every day to the full.

Do not be swayed by any doubts: this is the perfect time to be you!

Leo 23.7 - 23.8 Loyalty is known to be one of the best characteristics of your star sign and you have just demonstrated this once again. The fact that you have created a lasting impression in those around you is just a positive side effect.

Virgo 24.8 - 23.9 Although harmony is important to you - a discussion that you cannot avoid really cannot wait any longer. Otherwise you run the risk that the battle lines will harden – which can be avoided by simply having that conversation to clarify matters.

Libra 24.9 - 23.10 You were very happy to receive a compliment of the highest order, mainly because it was given right in front of the whole team. Though this is no reason to be over confident, it is still a reliable sign that you are on the right track.

Scorpio 24.10 - 22.11 Ideally, others would take their lives more on the light side. Unfortunately, it rarely works like that: but the sooner you get disagreeable things over with, the quicker you can return to the things you enjoy.

Sagittarius 23:11 - 21.12 Sometimes it’s good to not think something through too thoroughly before you go public with your ideas. Discovering errors in other people’s logic is sure to get you noticed.

Capricorn 22:12 - 20.01 Whatever may the outcome be on an upcoming date, it is particularly important that you feel good for the event. Try not to worry about what could possibly happen: just enjoy the present and try to have fun.

Aquarius 21.1 - 20.2 Sometimes you just need to get out for a bit of fresh air. At the moment you are feeling tired and unmotivated. There is only one solution: Break out of the everyday routine and do something totally different for a change.

Pisces 21.2 - 20.3 Though you are trying to do everything as well as you can so that everyone around you feels comfortable, unfortunately you still end up making someone’s life unnecessarily difficult. In this case, all you can do is apologise with a charming smile.

Erotic massages, also tantric and other services with attractive German lady. No rush, nice location and Jacuzzi. Tel. 619 614 380. Liberal German couple invites men to erotic parties, also threesomes: Tel. 0034 648 245 425 Only for ladies: Escorts, excursions, wellness and also erotic massages with Marc from Germany. I speak English well, have own apartment and car, visit to your location possible. Tel. 630 759 974 Las Chafiras, Pamela Black, very loving, all services, relaxing pain relieving and prostate massage, medium breasts. www.canarias69. com ‘Pamela’. Tel. 635 801 105 Los Cristianos, Margaret, 23 years old, beautiful, slim, white, dominant, erotic massages, natural French, horny, adventurous, spectacular hips, explode in my mouth, private apartment, discreet, 24 hours. Tel. 692 50 69 73 / 664 077 390

table experience. New beautiful ladies! Opening hours: 10am – 10pm. Playa Paraiso, Costa Adeje area.

Tel. 0034 662 960 065. www.edentenerife.com

dominatrix, fetish, luxury conditions, visits 24 hours, escort service available. Tel. 697 227 139

Relaxing, energising, sensual and tantric massages Las Galletas, NEW, 2 sen- for her, him and couples in sual friends, very nice girls, Playa de Las Américas. Tel. services. Come... come and 642 311 909 enjoy with us, kisses. Tel. 669 738 298 Erotic massages, also tantric and other services Blonde Colombian woman, with attractive German slim, beautiful, amazing lady. No rush, nice location sexy body, all services, natu- and Jacuzzi. Tel. 619 614 ral French, massages, erotic 380. Liberal German couple toys, kisses, threesomes, invites men to erotic parclub swinger company, pri- ties, also threesomes: Tel. vate apartment. Hotel vis- 0034 648 245 425 its, I will make your fantasies come true. I speak Only for ladies: Escorts, English. You will repeat. Tel. excursions, wellness and 649 879 663 also erotic massages with Marc from Germany. I speak Transsexual from Venezuela, English well, have own 30 years old, beautiful, tall, apartment and car, visit to black hair, fat long penis, your location possible. Tel. apartment Royal, in front of 630 759 974 bus station, Los Cristianos area, send text message. Las Chafiras, Pamela Black, Tel. 602 626 848 very loving, all services, relaxing pain relieving and Beautiful Brazilian woman, prostate massage, medium amazing body, sweet, very breasts. www.canarias69. sensual, I’m alone, I can com ‘Pamela’. Tel. 635 offer you a bit of everything, 801 105 very discreet, visits, parties and excursions. You will not regret it. Private apartment in Los Cristianos. Tel. 611 325 518 Ana, just what you need to get pampered. 30 years old, let your leisure be my pleasure, Owo, French kissing. Los Cristianos, opposite bus station. Tel. (0034) 611 203 925. Busty, curvy and I love teasing.

English model, showgirl, Come and enjoy our erotic professional striptease, body-to-body massages with quality service, general happy endings! Unforget- entertainment, stag nights,

To advertise your services with us, please call 922 75 06 09

Island Connections Online: www.islandconnections.eu

Classifieds Deadline Next Edition The deadline for edition 757, which is published on 22nd October, is 20th October.

No classifieds will be taken after this date.

Head Office Tenerife: Calle Francisco Feo Rodríguez 6º- first floor.

Pol. Industrial Las Chafiras 38620 - San Miguel de Abona.

Tel. 922 750 609 Fax: 922 795 810 Office Hours: Mon-Frid 9am-5pm

Classifieds Info: For personal and professional help in placing your classified in Island Connections all you need to do is pop along to our new offices in Las Chafiras and speak to our Staff.

Not only is Island Connections here to ensure that your advertisement reaches its target market, we will also advise on sizing requirements for maximum exposure, with prices to suit your pocket.

Rates: * Lineage classifieds: From 16 € * Boxed Ads: Colour Module 47,25€ * Long Term: Ask for long term advertising (3, 6, 12 months) and our special discounts.

You are welcome to come to our offices in Las Chafiras to place small ads. Card payment facilities are available.

General Services Learn how to speak Spanish with lessons, audio, video and games, including the alphabet, phrases, vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and activities. Only with a native teacher.

Puerto de la Cruz area, call Saida. Tel: 630 574 073 Rocket Café - An American style diner selling 100 per cent beef homemade burgers; homemade cakes; the best coffees; and exquisite cocktails.

C/ Luis Álvarez Cruz, 5 (Opposite the post office), Las Galletas: 922 731 847 For sale. Home-produced ecological vegetables, Tenerife south. Interested businesses, call 650 323 751 (Spanish only), send WhatsApp or email to: michelteide@hotmail.com www.mascuidados.com Website for our massages, dedicated to bringing the benefits of therapeutic massage to your home or hotel, no charge for travel. Do you want a massage? www.mascuidados.com Tel. 663 190 727 Massage saloon Ilona. Offer: 60 minutes full body massage for €36. Couples, four hands, lava stones, massages, etc.

Playa de las Americas, Ernesto Sarti no.18, across from Iberostar Hotel in Torviscas Playa.

Tel. 602 608 626 or email: ilonarebisch@hotmail.com

41

Masonic Lodge - Ave Fenix No.73. New meetings starting in October 2015 on the fourth Thursday of the month.

If interested, all visitors are welcome to come down.

For further information, lodge secretary John Donaldson is available to contact on Tel: (+34) 922 178 091 or Email: ave.fenix73@gmail.com

MASONIC MEETINGS Logia Ave Fenix Nº 73

BLOCK BUSTERS WE UNBLOCK ALL TYPES OF DRAINS

Edificio Simón, Los Cristianos.

Meetings every fourth Tuesday starting in October (Installation), November and January to April.

internal and external using our high pressure jets and cameras.

All Visitors welcome Contact John Donaldson (Secretary):

Call

(+34) 922 178 091 or ave.fenix73@gmail.com

647 928 223

DO MORE THAN Integrated Tax Planning and Wealth Management since 1975

922 716 079 www.blevinsfranks.com

HOPE FOR THE BEST

902 886 226

www.todocancer.org

After school classes, help or activities in English, German or Spanish, please contact Mrs. Garus. Tel. 602 506 793. We are 5 minutes away from Wingate School in Cabo Blanco.

Qualified specialist from Germany helps you with back pain, neck pain, sciatica, headaches and insomnia. Tel. 0034 699 15 61 47 (ask for Eugene).

Lamp Factory Buy during your holidays We deliver to your home country Ctra. General C-820, Travesía la Panadería, 1 38440 Santo Domingo (La Guancha) Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Tel / Fax: 922 130 301 OPENING HOURS: Monday to Saturday 9 am to 2 pm & 4 pm to 9 pm

Santiago del Teide Lions Club

Bargains galore From clothes and children’s toys to kitchenware and books – there are plenty of great deals on secondhand goods. They even have sets of golf clubs!

Don’t miss out – visit their shop below the plaza in Puerto Santiago (Behind Vigilia Park): Open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10am – 1pm and Wednesdays 2pm to 8pm.

Pickup Point

Frutería Miraverde Spanish and English Lawyers

Conveyancing • Inheritance & Wills Family Law • Criminal Law Civil Litigation & Personal Injury Timeshare • Tax & Commercial law

T: E:

922 719 520

tenerife@decottalaw.net

Av. de Los Pueblos, Residencial Villaflor B-20, San Eugenio

www.decottalaw.net

Join us and combat cancer

Island connections media group s.l. www.islandconnections.eu

CLASSIFIEDS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756

aecc

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015

CLASSIFIEDS

42

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

Los Gigantes flat

Los Cristianos Studio

Abades House

Santiago del Teide Tenerife South Rooms: 2 Plot: 40 m² € 66.690

Apartment Arona Tenerife South Studio Plot: 39 m² € 104.000,00

Arico Tenerife South Rooms: 2 Plot: 120 m² € 98.950

www.paluum.com

www.paluum.com

www.paluum.com

Rental Classifieds For Rent Playa de las Americas 1 Bedroom apartment. Well-furnished and equipped, central location, quite area close to beach. No Finder’s fee. €570 all in. Call 620 230 871 / 922 75 11 13 Winter letting Puerto de La Cruz Studio apartment, 24 hour concierge, pool, sea views. Minimum three month contract. €500 per month. 669 652 149

La Esperanza house

Pto. de la Cruz Apartment

Guía de Isora abama

El Rosario Tenerife North Rooms: 2 Plot: 803 m² € 250.000

Almácigo Tenerife North Rooms: 2 Plot: 68 m² € 95.000

Playa. San Juan Tenerife South Rooms: 2 Plot: 56 m² € 107.000

El Médano Las Dunas

Ten-Bel Costa sol

Las Chafiras el roque

Chalet for sale Las Dunas El Medano Granadilla de Abona Tenerife South Rooms: 2 Plot: 150 m² . air connditioning . terrace . swimming pool € 210.000

Apartment Ten-Bel | Arona Tenerife South Rooms: 1 Plot: 110 m² . terrace . private garage . store room . swimming pool € 79.275

Villa for sale Las Chafiras S. Miguel de Abona Tenerife South Rooms: 4 Plot: 266 m² . terrace . private garage . store room € 129.500

www.paluum.com

www.paluum.com

www.paluum.com

www.paluum.com

www.paluum.com

www.paluum.com

Los Cristianos Cactus 2, for rent attractive two bedroom apartment, sea views, pool, satellite TV, large terrace, unsuitable for children, €650 per month + bills, minimum 3 months. Tel. 629 606 494 Rustic finca for long term let near Icod de los Vinos. Fully equipped and furnished, open fire, satellite TV and Wi-Fi available. Fantastic sea and mountain views, sun terrace and barbeque, €450 PCM. Tel. Spain: 0034 922 865 776.

UK mobile: 0044 (0) 7786 390541. Spanish mobile: 0034 674 287 632. Email: Philhirstconsultant@btinternet.com or P.D.Hirst@gmail.com

SALEs Classifieds Comercial property for sale in Los Cristianos Calle Suecia, best place for a store or cafe! Directly from the owner.

42 square meters. Phone: 922 726 029 / 696 978 211 €39.990 Sunny apartment for sale (Studio) in Playa Paraiso (Tenerife-South), 40 m2, with balcony, spectacular sea views, pools, SAT-TV. Very near to the beach, supermarket, restaurants and bus-stop. Private sale. Tel. 922 30 15 75, email: mesa3@telefonica.nice Looking to swap my house in Tenerife for a house in Dublin or surroundings. If agreed, the time could be arranged. From a month to a year time gap. Call Carmen 693 727 683

Villa for sale in San Isidro, 11,500 m2, living area 400 m2, 4 bedrooms, living room, 4 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, office, double garage, utility room, hobby room, pool, sauna. Telephone 922 390 951, email: horstbrett@gmx.de.

Price: €990.000 (negotiable) possibility of payment terms.

Website: horstbrett.de Apartment Tabaiba Alta for sale, only five mins away from the German school, roughly 102ms, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, living room, utility room, garden, big terrace. Spectacular views of the sea and mountain, big garage with 2 spaces, 2 closed store rooms, price €180,000, mob. 686 798 367, email eoptenerife@gmail.com www.teneriffa-fincas.net For Sale! Favourable living in the sun. Staying at the most beautiful camping place of Tenerife. Nice view of the sea and La Gomera . A Caravan (Weippert) with compact wooden front structure. (Aluminium windows and doors). Total 40 sqm. Fully equipped with TV, washingmachine and so on. p.jaegertf@gmail.com or Tel. 922 85 06 85 Los Cristianos centre near beach, I’m selling 2 business units together (90 + 40 m2) – They can be separate. Updated installations. Each one has an alarm and air conditioning. Tel. 922 792 168 – 649 142 612 Property Wanted - Kundalini is expanding. In Los Cristianos, Las Américas and Fañabé areas. Four or Five bedrooms and bathrooms, lounge, terrace and if possible a pool. Exclusive area with discreet entrance.

Ask for Irene: 693 979 153 Amarilla Bay, Costa del Silencio, large, two bedrooms, two bathrooms apartment to rent. Fully furnished, English TV, three balconies, community swimming pool, close to all local amenities. €550 per month plus bills. Telephone 659 489 690.

One of the most beautiful fincas! Villa and Guesthouse.

Pool, Sauna Whirpool, Tennis court, Bodega, Garage, Water tank. Nice view to the sea and Teide, 8,500 sqm. P.o.r. p.jaegertf@gmail.com or Tel. 922 850 685 Two very good business premises for sale. Leasehold, restaurant near beach in Los Cristianos, €120,000, and bar/snacks Los Cristianos, €65,000. Tel. 690 676 527 For sale, Bungalow 160m2 Costa Sauzal, situated front row with guaranteed spectacular sea-views, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms , living room with panoramic windows, modern kitchen, dining room connected to the terrace, including a heated 4 x 8 m pool, all on same level, garage and a marvellous tropical garden with 800m2 landscaped with various plants and lots of fruit-trees. Private sale contact: info@ simonsananes.com. Tel.: 00 34 699 444 879 Best Deal Properties from banks & firstline. Bungalow Club Atlantis, 2 bedrooms €249,000; Fañabe beach 1 bedroom, €170,000; Torviscas beach 2 bedrooms 159 m2, €250,000; Torviscas 2 bedrooms, €110,000; Cristianos beach €118,000. Tel. 628 486 190 – 922 718 257 Looking to swap my house in Tenerife for a house in Dublin or surroundings. If agreed, the time could be arranged. From a month to a year time gap. Call Carmen 693 727 683 Offer of the month in Puerto de la Cruz. Beautiful studio, at Playa Jardin, with nice furniture, 40m2 with terrace and oceansight, pool, tennis area, restaurant, elevator 48.000€.

Mov. 604 100 174.

Apartments for rent & sale.

Apartments at playa Jardin, centricity, furnished, with washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, TV plasma, fully equiped, 1 or 2 bedrooms, new prices for rent 530€ and 650€ per month, water and electricity apart, garage. Also available studios, townhouses and villas all over Tenerife. Mov. 604 100 174.

Appartment in Botánico with BBQ, common pool, 3 bed-

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015 rooms, 2 bathrooms, salon, kitchen, terrace, aprox,300 m2, 1 extra bedroom with toilet, garage, for sale 380.000€ or for rent 1.350€ + Extras per month, Mov. 604 100 174.

CLASSIFIEDS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756

43

www.villatenerifenorte.com

€690.000

8% Commission to intermediaries

Los Cristianos, central apartments, 1 and 2 bedrooms, furnished, Tel: 649 142 612

Property for Rent

Golf villa for sale

Parque Santiago 11

Situated in the

Sought after complex. 2 bed Duplex Ground Floor apartment. Las Americas sea views, fully furnished.

Big private sunny terrace and upstairs terrace. Rental opportunity!

5 bedroom house for sale, separate studio, 3 bathrooms, sauna, sea and mountain views, garden with fruit trees.

Great location, only 8 minute drive from Puerto de la Cruz

Call Alan: 667 513 689

Tel. (0034) 695 977 163 (available evenings)

Private Sale 10.800 m2 Tel. (0034) 682 392 956

For Long

Real Golf Club Tenerife

Term Rent

in Tacoronte

243 m2. Garage for two cars. Hall with a little toilet, dining room, living room, 2 bedrooms with 2 complete bathrooms, dress room, kitchen, service bedroom with bathroom, and terrace around the villa. Garden 750 m2.

Mature people preferred.

2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, big kitchen, 1 terrace, living room, garden with fruit trees, in quiet area.

Tel. 609 531 178 melquiadesm@hotmail.com

902 15 01 02

Information Tel. +34 659 928 805

Quiet neighbourhood, near to commercial centres, Playa Fañabé , safe, communal zones.

Price €75,000.

www.islandconnections.eu

LOS CRISTIANOS

Apartment, 60m2, one bed, furnished with terrace 8m2, views over the pool and La Gomera.

Community pool.

Community monthly fee, €49. Excellent investment.

Advert Placement

Price €260,000

Servihabitat.com

Opportunity in Torviscas Alto (Playa Fañabé)

Property for Sale

Great location!

Price €220,000

Santa Úrsula

Iñaky - Tel. 629.24.49.58 aska_tenis@hotmail.com

Pickup Point

your office at “la Caixa”

2nd Home Tenerife C.C. Plaza del Duque

Urb. Oasis Dakota, Playa Fañabé

Mobile home in prime position Camping Nauta

3 Bed Semi Detached.

Lovely condition 1 bed with 1 bathroom apartment plus balcony. All New kitchen, All New Bathroom, new furnishing, very good condition. Nice size balcony, town views, great location well run complex with pools. Fully furnished.

EEC Registered.

Well Priced £99,000

Call Alan. (0034) 667 513 689

Toilet, complete bathroom, separate kitchen, totally equipped, furnished, 35m2 terrace, secure access to pool, infant park, good views, beside commercial centres, 800m from Playa Fañabé, community fees 30€/month.

Tel 629 244 958

€ 155,000

Purpose built 2008.

Double glazed. Large Approx 65m2. 2 big bedrooms. Fully tiled bathroom. Fitted kitchen.

Spacious Loung dinner. All electric. Laminate floors. Air con. Garden. Car parking.

Use of all site facilities.

€36.000

Tel. 693 760 769

44

CLASSIFIEDS | PASTIMES

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

B Funky Fashion Shows are looking for internatio-

Vacant / wanted

Sales staff needed to represent a printing and design company in the south of Tenerife, applicants must be presentable and have their own transport. For more details please call Jon on 604 103 048

in the south of Tenerife for an immediate start. Must be presentable and speak good English, other languages are an advantage.

PR experience essential.

Daily work, salary, commissions paid and contracts given. Call José, between 11am and 5pm on 606 181 946 or 922 751 021

Vehicles Opel Corsa 2008

Advert Placement www.islandconnections.eu

1.4 16v sport. Itv till 2017 recent service all filters changed, oil changed, new break pads. Electric mirrors, 17” alloys, electric windows, cruize control, a/c, mp3/cd, tinted windows, custom mats and smoked tail lights from Opc model. Great milage at only 75,000km.

Tel. 664 458 839

€5.995........ o.n.o

Ford Fiesta,

100.000 km, Top Zustand. Air Condition, Transferkosten inklusive.

3.900€

Tel. 609 248 245 Pickup Point

Frutería Miraverde (For Crossword and Sudoku solution see pag 40)

Situations

nal girls to model swimwear

Across

7 - admit (6) 8 - solicitor (6) 10 - boastful behaviour (7) 11 - duties (5) 12 - cut (4) 13 - pariah (5) 17 - seabirds (5)

18 - nothing (4) 22 - map (5) 23 - repeats (7) 24 - domain (6) 25 - decorates (6)

Down

1 - apes (7) 2 - go forward (7) 3 - body of water (5) 4 - associate (7) 5 - rover (5) 6 - wind instrument (5) 9 - countenanced (9) 14 - movers on ice (7)

15 - listeners (7) 16 - be (7) 19 - group of eight (5) 20 - curbs (5) 21 - sour substances (5)

Boxing roundup

BOXING | SPORTS NEWS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756

By George Reed

Willie Pep – the defensive genius It’s always a pleasure to chat to boxing fans and it surprises me how many there seem to be on the island.

I once received a phone call through Island Connections from a gentleman on holiday who wanted to meet up to present me with something he thought may be of interest.

I got a real kick looking at the photograph which he gave me, for it showed many of my boyhood boxing heroes: Joe Louis, who held the world heavyweight title longer than any other in history; Rocky Marciano, the only heavyweight champion to retire undefeated; and world light-heavyweight champion Gus Lesnevich, who beat England’s Freddie Mills in 1947 in one of boxing’s greatest fights, and then lost his title to Mills two years later. Many other great former champions are shown in the photo which was taken in 1951, including Rocky Graziano, Sandy Sadler and Billy Graham. Also included is Willie Pep, and there will never be another featherweight to match his remarkable record of 242 contests of which he lost only 11, and seven of those losses came when he was a long way over the hill.

Pep certainly hit the headlines during the winter of 1947, after an airliner ran into trouble in a blinding snowstorm as Pep was on route to London to defend his world title against Liverpool’s Nel Tarleton. Attempting to land at an airport in Southern New Jersey, the plane crashed into the tree tops in a densely wooded area, scattering its human cargo among the branches and snowdrifts. The survivors were rushed to the nearest hospital. An alert reporter checked the list of the injured casually and the names meant nothing to him, until he ran across an entry that seemed familiar: it read “William Papaleo Hartford, Connecticut.” He read it again. Then he rushed for the press wires and the flash was relayed to all the newspapers, for he had realised that William Papaleo was none other than Willie Pep, a fighter with one of the most glamorous records of that era.

Fight fans were relieved to learn that Pep was alive but when they heard that he had sustained a broken leg and several cracked vertebrae they were all certain that his ring career was over. However they didn’t figure on Willie Pep himself. Had they stopped to think about this great little fighter’s past history, they would have stopped to think again.

When Willie was 15 the burden of feeding his family fell squarely on his shoulders, for his father was incurably ill, and all that the young Willie could earn at the time was a measly nine dollars a week. It didn’t take the kid long to realise that he couldn’t continue to feed the family for long on that amount, for he had several bellies to fill.

Willie had been a good amateur boxer, losing only three of his 65 bouts, one of these to a boxer who was also to become a legend: ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson. So he decided to turn professional and his first ‘purse’ of $50 nearly floored him. He had never realised there was so much money in the world. Unknown, the youngster fought on, winning bout after bout in sensational style, until suddenly the boxing world sat up and took notice - and he became a sensation overnight when word got round that he had won 53 consecutive fights.

He was soon given a world title shot against champion Chalky Wright, and little Willie Pep made it 54 straight victories and the world’s featherweight championship as well! That was Willie Pep, the lad who became the youngest world champion in boxing history at the age of 20.

Amazingly, some of his greatest fights followed his clawback after that accident.

The American ‘Ring’ magazine hailed Willie Pep as the greatest featherweight in history and in 1945 he was named ‘Fighter of the year’, and no one more richly deserved the honour. But in my mind, he’s the fighter of this year, next year, or any year you care to name! n

45

Two Canarians line up in EPL

Pedro takes on Ayoze The meeting of Newcastle and Chelsea in their recent English Premiership clash was significant for a reason other than the confirmation of the poor start to the season by both teams.

The fixture, which ended all square (2-2) after Chelsea fought back to earn a point after going 2-0 down, saw two Tenerife players come face to face for the first time ever in the top flight in England.

Lining up for Newcastle was Ayoze Pérez, who is in his second season at the Geordie club after signing from Tenerife

in the summer of 2014. The Chelsea side included a more recent arrival, Pedro Rodríguez, known as Pedro in the world of football.

Pedro hails from Abades, a small coastal town in Tenerife, and spent several years in junior football in Granadilla before moving to Barcelona.

He is one of the most decorated players in world football, with Spanish league and cup and Champions League medals to his name with Barcelona, as well as being a European Championship and World Cup

Photo: Fanny Schertzer CC 3.0

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015

World Cup winner Pedro, playing for Spain

winner with Spain.

Pedro was courted by several clubs in England before joining José Mourinho at Chelsea.

Although the match ended in a draw, Pérez claimed the Tenerife bragging rights by scoring n one of his side’s goals.

International basketball

Tall order for tournament sides Teenagers competing in the recent La Orotava junior international basketball tournament had to contend with a very tall order in the shape of a Romanian giant who stood head and shoulders above the rest of the youngsters.

Robert Bobroczky, aged 15, was the centre of attention at the prestigious event but he could hardly be missed as he stands an incredible 2.29 metres tall, a height which means he does not have to jump to put the ball in the basket. Bobroczky, believed to be Europe’s tallest teenager and taller than any NBA player,

An ocean of redemption

A Tenerife distance swimmer who achieved his dream of swimming from Santa Cruz to Las Palmas at the end of September is being held up as a shining example of offender rehabilitation.

Jonathan García mapped out his plan whilst serving a prison sentence for seriously injuring his brother in a fight in 2012. García vowed to make a change by training hard to tackle some of the most challenging swims in the Canaries, includ-

plays for Italian academy side Estellazurra but is being monitored by a host of top European clubs, among them Barcelona, who are keen to sign him up when he is a little older.

He helped his team, which consists of rising stars from all over the continent, to a 11313 thumping of host side San Isidro. However, even he could not stop his side from going down to Real Madrid in a later n game in La Orotava.

Bobroczky is so tall he doesn’t have to jump to put the ball in the basket

Canarian swimmer does it for parents

The 110km Tenerife to Gran Canaria marathon was the latest for Jonathan

ing the Los Cristianos to La Gomera crossing; Fuerteventura to Lanzarote; and now, the 110km Tenerife to Gran Canaria marathon. His dedi-

cation and good behaviour led to him being given day release to train in the pool and sea.

He was subsequently released on parole after 18 months to

devote himself full-time to his goal and to writing a 180page book about his road to redemption. “I wanted to do something to make my parents proud of me after the lapse which saw me go to prison. I am not looking for medals, just their forgiveness” said the swimmer, who has become something of a public hero in Tenerife over the last two years.

Read our in-depth interview with Jonathan García on pages n 16 and 17.

SPORTS NEWS | POOL LEAGUE

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

Tenerife boxing

Yigit ranked seventh in Europe Tenerife based professional boxer Anthony Yigit chalked up another win to take his unbeaten professional boxing record to 15-0-1. His opponent was Chaquib Fadli, who proved to be Anthony’s toughest opponent to date.

Anthony knew the fight wasn’t going to be easy; his opponent was not only the three times French Champion; he was also 9cm taller than Anthony and known for being an aggressive fighter.

In the first round they were clearly weighing each other up before Anthony started to dominate in the second round, pushing the Frenchman around the ring a little and landing a few upper cuts.

Anthony, sensing his opponent’s weakness, had a massive change in tactics at the start of the third round and focused more on body shots

Pool roundup

Division one In the fourth week of the Tenerife Pool Super League, champions Phoenix beat Marius and Lo 6-4, with a special mention for Victor R who is the first player to record eight off the break. Sam Maughan lost his 100 per cent singles record with defeats against Valeri and Pedro. Phoenix were trailing 42 but won the final four singles to take victory and remain unbeaten.

Legends A returned to winning ways after their recent defeat, trouncing Clouseaus 8-2, with Graham back on fine form. Legends B beat Dos Hermanos 7-3 for their first win of the campaign, leaving the latter pointless and bottom of the table.

Summerland Elite kept their unbeaten run going with a closely fought match with Legendry Jokers, winning 6-4.

Sloops are also going great guns, winning away to promoted Mad Hatters 6-4.

Scruffys also defeated Poly-

Anthony and Vassi after the win

to encourage Fadli to drop his hands. Anthony carried on coming in with the body shots and, eventually, his opponent’s hands lowered. In the seventh round

Anthony came up with some brilliant headshots, landing blow after blow to Fadli’s face, eventually putting him down twice in the eighth, but after a standing count from

the referee Fadli was back on his feet again. Anthony won the fight on points; however, his coach Vassili Boguslavski (Vassi) believes that if the fight had continued Anthony would have won by TKO. This victory means that Anthony is now ranked seventh in Europe and will hopefully have a European title fight soon. Vassi is very passionate about developing Anthony as a boxer and arranges for fighters from all over Europe and Scandinavia to fly to Tenerife to spar with him at El Gym in Las Chafiras. Anthony and Vassi also regularly visit Dude Box in Santa Cruz so that Anthony can spar with the fighters there.

One thing is for sure – when he gets the opportunity to fight for the European title, Tenerife’s boxing community will be n cheering him on.

Sea Kayaking Championships

Fuerteventura’s finest

Fuerteventura president Marcial Morales was extremely pleased with the results from the island’s representatives at the tenth Spanish Sea Kayaking Championships after recently welcoming them back to the island.

This year’s event took place in Cartagena in Spain, against very rough seas and strong gusty winds. Club Deportivo Herbania of Fuerteventura finished sixth out of the 42 participating clubs.

Veronica Auyanet Baez was the highest ranked from the Island’s delegation, taking bronze in the women’s sprint while Sara Moséguez Paez earned a credible sixth in the junior sprint category.

The K1 event saw 150 paddlers from 39 different clubs battle over a distance of 17.5 kilometres in harsh conditions, and Nuria Esther Carballo of CD Herbania came fifth in the women’s rankings while Jonay Rodríguez finished tenth in the men’s. In the Senior Women’s K2 category, the duo of Nuria Esther Carballo and Sara Moséguez Paez took fifth n place over a distance of 15 kilometres.

Photo: Fuerteventura Council

46

Kayaking is a very popular water sport in Fuerteventura

Phoenix lose top spot gon Legends 6-4. It was a great result for Bad Bobs with Daniel and Dean winning both their singles frames with Ralf sealing the final frame against Gary D to claim a 6-4 victory. The only draw of the evening was at Britannia Inn (Paraiso), which finished 5-5 against Bar Tasca.

In Week Five of the new season, Summerland Elite leapt to the top of the first division with a fine win at Polygon Legends, 8-2. Shaun Wall remains top of the stats and is still unbeaten. Phoenix were top but were soundly thrashed by Clouseaus; Valeri was their only singles winner so their unbeaten run comes to an end. Sloops kept their run going at home to Bad Bobs, winning 8-2. Legends A beat Legendary Jokers 8-2.

Toby Jug Saints lost at home to Scruffys, 7-3. Marius & Lo drew at home to Britannia Inn (Paraiso) 5-5. Dos Hermanos gained their first points of the season away to Bar Tasca, beating them 6-4.

Division two

Legends A returned to winning ways

Lupain Properties were firmly put in their place by unbeaten Bar 180B! It started well for Lupain, with Victor winning the first frame, but rapidly went downhill as they lost nine in a row. It was a stunning night for the Golf boys.

Boothen Bar kept up their impressive start to the season with an easy win at James Place 8-2. Stable mates Boothen Squad were held at home by Hunters (Callao Salvaje) 5-5. Roger and John won the last two singles frames for a share of the points. The George Bar are finding life difficult at the moment, losing to Grandee O’Donnell’s by 7-3. Bar Nauta leapt into fourth position in the league beating Scruffy Macs 73. Summerland Shooters are in third place after beating Bar 180 C, 6-4. Bar Leones earned a draw at home to The Tavern, 5-5. Britannia Bar (Silencio) lost at home to Palms Pool Bar, 6-4.

Week Five of the new season saw a top of the table battle between Boothen Bar

and Bar 180B. It was a very close affair with the Boothen boys edging it 6-4. There was better luck for Bar 180C at home to Nauta, winning 6-4.

Grandee O’Donnell’s thumped Bar Leones 8-2. Palms Pool Bar had a 6-4 home victory against The Hunters. George Bar recorded their first point of the season at home to the Boothen Squad after earning a 5-5 draw. James Place were away to the Tavern and went home with all three points after a 7-3 victory. Lupain Properties recorded a 7-3 win over n Summerland Shooters.

Tenerife Pool Super League Powered by EXPRESS BAR DELIVERIES S.L. Information supplied by Tenerife Pool Super League www.tenerifepoolleague.com

8.10.2015 – 21.10.2015

FOOTBALL AND SPORTS NEWS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 756

47

CD Tenerife news

Tenerife on the up

Choco Lozano, here playing for Honduras, is on scintillating form

27/09/2015 CD Tenerife 3 Mirandes 0 The blanquiazules ran out comfortable winners against a hard working Mirandes team. The first twenty minutes proved to be cagey with neither side showing too much offensive ambition. As the match went on Tenerife started to combine well and a Suso run down the right led to the opening goal.

3/10/2015 Almeria 2 CD Tenerife 2 The blanquiazules picked up a well earned point on their trip to southern Spain to face Almeria, one of the favourites for promotion. What makes this draw even more impressive is when you look at the difference in the two teams’ budgets; Almeria are by far the biggest spenders in the division

Photo: Warrenfish CC 4.0

How quickly things can change in football: CD Tenerife have turned their season around with impressive performances in the last few weeks and at last we look like a balanced side with a spark for a goal.

Manager Raul Agne was under fire due to the blanquiazules’ slow start to the season but after winning seven points from a possible nine, things are looking a great deal more positive.

These are interesting times for Tenerife fans with the announcement of presidential elections set for February 2016 (instead of June, as expected) with two candidates currently in the running. Favourite to become the new president of CD Tenerife is 63-year-old politician and ex-president of the Canary Islands, Paulino Rivero.

He also has the backing of the majority of the top shareholders (who own roughly 40 per cent of all shares). The other candidate, 43-year-old Pier Cherubino, is the fans’ favourite it appears and he has enjoyed a successful career playing for Real Betis, Sporting and CD Tenerife.

Projects by both aspiring presidents will be released soon.

Suso has had a slow start to the season but it was his pass that found Choco Lozano in the box, who netted with a crisp strike on 38 minutes.

Another player back on form appears to be keeper Dani who pulled off a first class double save soon after to take Tenerife into break with a slim lead. The second half saw the home side dominate play and the pressure paid off on 75 minutes as Aitor Sanz scored a rare goal to make the score 2-0. Five minutes later the blanquiazules were 3-0 to the good and it was that man Choco Lozano again, scoring his second goal of the day and fourth of the campaign.

So, this was Tenerife´s first home win of the season after two defeats and thankfully the key players seem to have found their form.

Photo: www.clubdeportivotenerife.es

By Chris Todd

The Blanquiazules returned to the island with another point in their luggage

There is a rumour of a moneyman from the south of the island who will also join the race but we will have to wait and see. This third option ‘may’

be linked to ex-player Cesar Gomez, who in 2014 launched a €30 million bid to buy the club with the backing of German and Swiss investors.

with a wage bill of €9.7 million whereas Tenerife’s is just over €4 million.

Also the blanquiazules were missing their top scorer Choco Lozano, away on International duty with Honduras (where he has scored in both games against Costa Rica and Haiti).

Choco’s replacement against Almeria was Nano, a young local lad fighting for his place in the team and he did not disappoint, scoring a tidy opener after 22 minutes to put the visitors ahead.

If Tenerife controlled the first half, the second belonged to the home side. Almeria came back into the game with two goals in the space of eight minutes to go 2-1 ahead. But this Tenerife side has plenty of spirit and they fought back and equalised in the closing minutes through Jon Aurtenetxe via a lucky deflection. Manager Raul Agne stated after the match that it was Tenerife’s best display of the season and certifies their improvement.

The blanquiazules face Leganes on October 10 in Santa Cruz with a 5pm kick off. Tenerife will be up for revenge for a cup defeat by Leganes in Madrid recently. May the good run n continue!

Nomads Football Club

Veteran soccer stars confirmed Sponsored by: Foreign Language News & www.windowsplus.co.uk The International Veterans Football 7s is to be held in Adeje from November 6 to 8, kindly sponsored by Club Olympus.

Past stars from La Liga and the Premier League are looking forward to playing against local and international teams. The ex Spurs, Zaragoza and Barcelona star, Nayim, is thrilled that we are hosting our first ever over 45s tournament and says he hopes he will “feel like a fast player again” competing in this category.

We’re very lucky to have ex pros like Nayim and Michael Mols come out to Tenerife to play but we were truly honoured when someone of Donato’s

Donato, here with the Spanish national team, will feature in the veteran’s tournament

stature agrees to participate.

It is an amazing achievement for a small local event as he is basically the equivalent of the modern day Diego Costa of Chelsea. Famously, he was the first non-Spaniard to play for the Spanish National team

(like Costa he is originally from Brazil). The tournament will also feature ex Nottingham Forest players like Paul McKenna, Craig Armstrong, David Johnstone and more.

So if any old men living in Tenerife have ever dreamed

of playing against former footballing stars now is your chance! The event is free for all the family to come and watch during the weekend of November 7 and 8 at Las Torres Soccer 7s stadium in Adeje, which is at Exit 79B off the TF1.

We still need one more team to play in the over 35s tournament and one for the over 45s tournament. If you would like to play, or if you and your friends would like to put a team together for the tournament, please get in touch. This year we have teams flying in from London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Chesterfield, Nottingham and even from the Shetland islands!

Our Nomads Football Club in South Tenerife has weekly groups of kids from coun-

tries like Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, Spain, Uruguay, England and Russia playing football. Now that the season is underway we are looking for some new players to join the teams and we will be providing weekly football sessions in Los Cristianos for the following groups. If your kids would like to come along please contact us: Pre-Benjamin (under-8s) and Benjamin (under 10s) take place on Mondays at 5.30pm and Wednesdays at 6pm. Alevin (under 12s) and Infantil (under 14s) sessions take place on Wednesdays at 6.55pm and Fridays at 6.15pm.

The kids are having great fun and are gaining healthy exercise. We have introduced a player of the week award just to help them focus and play in

a sporting manner. The way the kids have responded to this has been truly impressive.

We also host a weekly men’s 6-a-side league for the social footballer living on the island.

Some teams need a few extra players so please contact us if you would like to join.

We have started a new local website to advise on the men’s weekly social 6s league and friendly games, and also the growing youth football classes and teams. Please have a look at the new website for more information: www.nomadsfc. com.

Email us at: info@premfs. com or telephone/message us on 00 34 654 200 470. Further information can also be found at: www.nomadsfc.com and the tournament website: n www.premfs.com.

sports

48

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 023

Fit for fun

Famous football fan

Photo: Dolar RGB Stock.com

If you live in the Granadilla area of south Tenerife, now is the time to sign up for the wonderful array of adults’ sports activities that are up for grabs.

Each year at this time the local council announces its programme of classes which run from the beginning of October right up to July of the coming summer. Courses are available in various different areas of the

Photo: Sonja Mildner FreeImages.com

Granadilla – great for sports

Matt Damon ‘signed up’ for Tenerife Tenerife may be having a somewhat uneven start to the season but they can count on a very famous new fan and have not lost any time in telling everyone about it.

The enthusiast is none other than Hollywood film star Matt Damon, who posed with a Tenerife jersey during his recent three week stay on the island to shoot parts of the new Bourne thriller, for which Santa Cruz was used for a number of all-action scenes.

The 2nd Division club would not take no for an answer when Damon and his acting colleagues opted not to attend the side’s home games against Mirandés and Oviedo in September due to their tight schedule and they ensured they reached him to hand over the official shirt for the 2015-16 season.

The picture spread like wildfire on social media and has been featured in a host of local and Spanish papers under the n heading “Damon signs for Tenerife”.

Try your hand at martial arts or a number of other fun sports activities

borough and there is a wide range of activities on offer.

For those looking to improve strength, coordination and balance - both physical and emotional - the Tai Chi sessions held in the M3 venue in El Médano are perfect. The slow, rhythmic, and meditative body movements will not only engender relaxation, inner calm, and peace, but will also help you build strength, agility and confidence.

The so called ‘Maintenance’ classes are a method of fitness that is perfect for all adults of whatever level, offering safe and gentle exercises for all abilities. These will be held at the CEIP Los Abrigos, the Salón Cultural in El Desierto, M3 in El Médano, Parque Los Cardones, and the Salón Cultural in Chimiche.

For something a little more energetic you can join the ‘Gimnasia’ groups at the Municipal Sports Hall in Granadilla, Casa de la Cultura in San Isidro, CEIP Los Abrigos and the M3 in El Médano.

And if you fancy taking up a martial art you can choose from various disciplines, all with classes at El Médano’s M3. You can try your hand at the elegant Kendo ‘way of the sword’; traditional Karate; the fascinating Aikido; or the

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rough and tumble of Brazilian Jui Jitsu - All of them wonderful ways to get fit and hone your senses.

And last, but not least, there are functional training classes at Los Cardones and the Granadilla Sports Hall which are aimed at building fitness for daily life and performing everyday tasks.

Activities cost just €10 a month. You can register on line or by visiting the SAC (Servicio de Atención al Ciudadano)

offices in the Granadilla Town Hall. To register or see the full programme for adults’ sports activities see: www.granadilladeabona.es.

For more information you can also visit the municipal sports hall in Granadilla town between 8am and 2pm or you can call 922 759 993.

There is also a whole range of sports activities available for the younger members of the family – simply follow the contacts above for more info. n