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December 3 – December 17, 2015 President appointed

Walk for Life

Dr Blonde and Miss Modus

New zest for CEST

Gambia holiday special

Award for cancer hero

Spotlight on Sarah Kennedy

Page 7

Page 8 & 9

Page 15

Page 30

NCE! A H C A ST

Win a holiday

Gambia gamble It’s true! One of our readers will be the lucky winner of a great holiday to Gambia in the coming year, where they will spend seven nights in a luxury hotel thanks to the support of Canarias Viaja (Binter Canarias) and Island Connections.

Discover the allure and unique charm of the region in our great travel feature on pages eight and nine. Then, register at the www.canariasviaja.com/sorteo/ islandconnections webpage and take your chance to win this unforgettable journey. Anyone can participate who is over 18, regardless of whether they live in the Canaries or not.

The draw will be conducted on December 11 at 12pm and the winner will be announced in our special Christmas edition.

Homelessness in the Canaries

The forgotten people Around 2,000 men, women and youngsters are currently living on the streets in the Canary Islands – a number that continues to rise, at alarming rates.

FEANTSA is the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless – the representative body for a network of non-profit organisations that champion homeless causes. According to the Federation, around 400,000 people are living on the streets in Europe today, and this figure is steadily increasing. In Spain alone there are nearly 40,000 homeless people, and according to the Caritas Diocese in the Canaries, here there are 15 per cent more than last year. Further still, one in six people now live in poverty within the EU. Figures that are both appalling and disturbing.

For five years FEANTSA has engaged in European-wide campaigns to end the plight of homelessness in the EU. Their outlines are clear: nobody should have to

© Caritas Las Palmas

L

Africa’s smiling coast

Identifying with those without identity

sleep on the streets; nobody should stay in a shelter for longer than necessary; and nobody should have to leave a homeless shelter until they have a place to live. FEANTSA believes this is a feasible reality but one that can only be realised through joint cooperation.

On November 26 this year – ironically Thanksgiving Day in the US – Spain marked the day as Dia de

las Personas Sin Hogar (Homeless People Day) and thousands took to the streets in over 50 cities across Spain, campaigning in aid of those individuals who have the same rights as everyone else, though not the same standard of living.

In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, more than 100 people gathered at the Parque San Telmo in an event

organised by Cáritas Diocesana de Las Palmas where students, campaign groups, and members of the public were asked to wear a white mask and march together through the streets of Vegueta, the historical quarter of Las Palmas. The white, expressionless masks represented the lack of identity of a homeless person.

Continued on page two

CANARY ISLANDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

© Caritas Las Palmas

Living on the streets Faceless and homeless

Caritas members, students and homeless people march together at Parque San Telmo

Continued from front page Mariza Legon, a social worker and one of the event’s organisers, said: “Everyone is aware of the image of a person bedding down at night in poor, exposed conditions, scared of being attacked or moved on.

This campaign prompts people to look back and not away”.

Posters and information boards were displayed at stands set around Parque San Telmo, which drew the general interest that organisers hoped for: “Many passersby were surprised by the extent of the issue, and evidently grateful for not having to experience the problem. The truth is we have to forcibly reflect upon what it must mean to be homeless. People pass them every day. To be homeless is to be invisible”.

For the forgotten people on the streets, life is understandably harsh and often cruel; they are limited to where they can go, they have scarce resources and belongings, and fear and insecurity accompany every day. Add to that the difficult routines of cleansing oneself, preparing meals and resting

A homeless man conversing with students

peacefully, as well as other everyday chores we take for granted, and the situation can only be described – at best – as inhumane.

Many homeless people are also stigmatised by society as dirty, drunk, addicted, and, of course, inferior – which only makes their living situation all that much worse. Once in that position, it is extremely difficult for them to claw their way out and reintegrate into ‘normal’ society. They don’t just lose their dignity, they lose their humanity. Most of us will turn a blind eye to their individual background, personal events and politico-social situations that led them to homelessness.

According to a study by the Cáritas Diocesana de Granada, approximately 39 per cent of homeless people fled a traumatising family home, while around half of those adolescents and adults went on to suffer from alcohol or drug addiction. Around 31 per cent said they were physically or sexually abused by family members, while 16 per cent were thrown out of the family home before turning 18 years of age.

In total, 45 per cent admitted to excessive drug taking, while 47 per cent of homeless people said that they had lost

ily, friends and loved ones and subsequently fell into depression – a common companion of alcohol and drug abuse.

“It feels like I am invisible. Everywhere I go I am constantly asked for documents even though I cannot register anywhere as I don’t have an address. Things just went from bad to worse and now I cannot get work, education or financial support. I am simply unable to claw my way back into the system.”

Homeless in Los Cristianos their jobs – and consequently their homes – due to a serious accident or chronic illness.

Around 65 per cent said that they’d felt abandoned by fam-

Some, of course, are culpable of crimes committed to pay for such substances.

Other factors include being orphaned, migrating from a

crisis-hit country, and divorce or separation from a partner.

One homeless man described his situation and loss of identity in a single verse, which was posted at the Parque San Telmo awareness event: “It feels like I am invisible.

Everywhere I go I am constantly asked for documents even though I cannot register anywhere as I don’t have an address. Things just went from bad to worse and now I cannot get work, education or financial support. I am simply unable to claw my way back into the system.”

Homeless people are often denied support from registry offices, public health departments, libraries, public transport, parks, supermarkets and commercial areas. The way in which they’re so overwhelmingly ignored is totally demoralising and their entire past and future becomes irrelevant, despite having the same rights as others. For the individuals affected, life becomes a vicious circle of hopelessness, sickness and despair; accustomed to being rejected and

passed off as low-life. The slogan for this year’s homeless awareness campaign is ‘Como es Posible, Nadie Sin Hogar’ (How is this Possible, Nobody Without a Home); a cause that is also being championed by the media, churches, charities, and sympathetic businesses and organisations.

If there’s one thing we could all do in our communities to help the homeless, it would be too look these individuals in the eye and identify that they’re also part of our society – those most in need of a helping hand to reach down to them. Everyone can choose to ignore that impulse to judge and sweep the homeless from their minds, as if it were something these people brought upon themselves and somehow deserve. Try talking to them as you would any other person on the street, and if you feel compelled to help in some way, participate in initiatives and join a charity that carries out good work on their behalf. Let’s try to not let anyone in our communities ever feel they’ve been n forgotten.

We are on holiday soon…

From December 21 to January 4, 2016, our office will be closed. In urgent cases or for the inclusion of advertisements Jamie Lee Armstrong will be available on the phone number: 616 460 728.

We will see you before then, but it’s never too early to wish all our readers a peaceful Christmas and a great start to n the New Year.

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connections

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Publishers: Tina Straub Schacher, Joe Schacher Design team: Javier Gómez, Maribel Rodríguez Editor: Andrea Abrell editorial@ic-news.com Deputy editor: Xena Fox Editorial team: Lee Bullen, Karl McLaughlin, Barbara Belt, Theresa Willson, Sheila Collis Contributors: Katy Kennedy, Manuel De La Flor, Chris Todd, Sabine Virgin Sales manager: Jamie Lee Armstrong sales@icmedia.eu Classifieds: classifieds@ic-news.com

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.

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

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ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

Peace on Earth

Festive spirit for the Canary Islands

Young gardeners with Santa Cruz mayor José Manuel Bermúdez

Christmas lights in the capital

As we truly enter the festive period, the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria are in full preparation for the season.

Santa Cruz in Tenerife is already looking splendid following the official turning on of the Christmas lights: More than 1.3 million energy-efficient LED lamps (accounting for about about 95 per cent of all the light bulbs used) are shining down on the streets and squares of the capital this year.

Over 150 exciting activities have also been organised for the metropolitan area during

the period, which in Spain and the Canaries runs until January 5 - plenty to occupy the whole family and fill the city with life and joy until Epiphany. In addition to the lighting and entertainment, 50,171 typically coloured poinsettias - with green and red or white leaves - will add to the festive spirit.

Although poinsettias often grow as tall as trees at the roadsides on the Canary Islands, they are used as houseplants here and in northern Europe as harbingers of the Christmas season.

Many local councils also decorate their streets, squares and gardens with the pretty seasonal plants, and Santa Cruz is no exception. Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez planted the first one in the city himself, accompanied by a group of schoolchildren. He said “We want to sow the seeds now, so that the children learn that they need to take care of the city’s environment and decorations.

The children were full of enthusiasm at the planting.” He is sure that young children and

Christmas Market under the palm trees by the pool

adolescents who are involved in city life this way will be more inclined to protect it and to not carelessly destroy it with vandalism. After the symbolic planting, nine people have been very busy distributing the plants throughout the city across tubs, parks and gardens to ensure that Santa Cruz looks as merry as possible.

Meanwhile, the festive culture is also in full swing in the south of Gran Canaria. The highlight of the year is the Christmas Market in the Hotel Maritim Playa,

which is already taking place, for the seventh time – and over 3,000 people visited the market on its opening day.

Santa arrived early this year too: large and small guests are welcomed by Father Christmas, who plays a traditional lyre, at the entrance. The market, situated nicely by the pool and surrounded by decorated palm trees, is where everyone wants to be to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. On the stands you’ll find delicious mulled wine, cookies, sugared

The delicious sausage should not be missed!

almonds, a tasty spit roast and of course Christmas wreaths, ceramics, woodcarvings and Canarian crafts. To make sure everyone is in a festive mood there’s also Christmas music provided on a small stage.

Every weekend the craft stalls are changed, so that people can look forward to new surprises when they visit again.

The Christmas Market at the Hotel Maritim Playa in Playa del Inglés, Gran Canaria, is open daily from 4pm to 10pm n until December 20.

CANARY ISLANDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

Sad statistics

The worrying number of drownings in the Canaries has prompted a campaign to heighten awareness of the dangers of the sea, particularly for foreign visitors unaccustomed to the local currents and hidden hazards in certain beauty spots.

Two swimming deaths on the same day in late November, one in Tenerife and the other in La Palma, brought to 51 the total of drowning tragedies for the year so far and led to fresh warnings by the authorities for people to treat the water with the utmost caution. “We need to remember that our beaches, of which there are 150 around the islands, are generally safe.

However, it is also true that in winter the likelihood of fatalities increases considerably, partly due to the type of tourist” explained Sebastián Quintana, from the company behind

Canary Island criminal justice Surprising statistics reveal just how few criminal cases investigated by Canarian courts actually result in the proceedings reaching trial.

The Prosecution Service’s Annual Report for last year shows that less than three per cent of preliminary proceedings reached the end of the

Photo: Laura/freeimages.com

Drownings prompt danger awareness drive

As beautiful as the Atlantic is, it can also be dangerous

the media campaign promoted by the Canarian government to alert the public and visitors to the dangers.

Statistics show that four of every five people who drown in

the Canaries between November and March are foreigners, many of them elderly. The campaign, called The Canaries: 1500 km of coastline, includes audiovisual materials in three

languages (Spanish, English and German) and features contributions from a range of public and private bodies, including the Red Cross and the hotel n sector.

Only three per cent of cases reach trial road and actually saw defendants in the dock, with the vast majority shelved beforehand due to the lack of evidence or lack of a realistic chance of a conviction.

According to the Service, a mammoth 242,000 proceedings were opened in 2014 on the basis of police reports

but, of these, a mere 6,130 led to trials. The problem for the courts in the islands is that all crime reports have to be investigated, meaning that even if no further action is taken, considerable time is spent on inquiries and statement-taking from the parties involved and witnesses.

The revelations regarding the minimal conversion rate are certain to fuel calls for a change to the system to allow no further action decisions to be taken much earlier, including by the police themselves, in order to save court officials’ time and enable trial cases to be dealt with much more quickly. n

Fuerteventura

New ape abode for Chita the chimp A Fuerteventura chimpanzee that featured in the headlines when she survived being shot by police after escaping with two others from a compound in a zoo on the island is back in the news.

The Oasis Park zoo has decided to move Chita the chimp to a new home on the mainland after 28 years. Now aged 30, the female primate was allowed to leave in order to be with other chimps at a facility in Girona in northeast Spain. The Park’s owners decided to act after realising that the loss of her two colleagues, which were shot dead on June 26 after rampaging through the zoo and injuring a keeper, was proving detrimental to Chita’s welfare.

They contacted a number of rescue centres before opting for the Mona Foundation, where the highly sociable Chita will hopefully form a new family to spend the rest of her days with.

The chimp needed extensive surgery after the June shooting and had to undergo rigorous veterinary checks to ensure that she was strong enough to fly to Madrid and then on to Girona. She will spend several weeks acclimatising in her new surroundings before being introduced gradually to the other chimps at the Foundation.

Zoo sources say she could Zoo sources say Chita could live for up to another 30 live for up to another 30 years in years in her new home. n her new home

Moratorium moans

“Let us build”, urge business leaders Business leaders in Gran Canaria have added their voice to calls for the regional government to scrap its controversial ban on the building of all but 5-star hotels.

The freeze, which is part of legislation designed to improve quality in the tourism industry, has come in for widespread criticism and has been challenged in the courts. The Canarian Employers’ Confederation says that the ban is unfair and is seriously hampering job creation. “We need to go back to the previous situation and allow construction of any hotels and other buildings to be provided for in local planning regulations. If the freeze stays, there is a real risk that we will miss the opportunity for investment and new jobs in the current more positive economic climate. Tourism is not the only force driving employment but it is the most important one” said Agustín Manrique de Lara, the chairn man of the Las Palmas-based organisation.

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

PROMOTION

CANARY ISLANDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

Political spree Spain’s General Elections take place on December 20, right in the run up to Christmas, and the mad rush to attract voters begins just as we go to press.

As soon as the election campaign starts in the public arena on December 4, the faces of the Canary Island candidates will be staring down at us as we travel along our motorways, and from each and every possible corner where billboards can be placed.

The short but intense election campaign closes at midnight on December 18 to allow the voting public a period of reflection, but during the campaign there will be rallies in all major towns and cities on the Peninsula and Islands, and of course the usual heated face-to-face debates between the party leaders are likely to be broadcast on television.

Non-Spanish nationals do not have the right to vote in the General Elections, but that doesn’t mean that foreign

residents don’t have an opinion regarding who they would prefer to lead the country they live in. After all, the result will directly affect their lives, for better or worse.

The total number of seats up for grabs in Congress is 350, and they are distributed by province. The number of seats allocated to each province is relative to its number of inhabitants. The province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has seven, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has eight.

A possible coalition In the General Elections the candidate from the party which gains an absolute majority of seats becomes the prime minister, of course. But the opinion polls are indicating that the main opposition parties are going to gain a substantial number of seats and it could be that an absolute majority isn’t obtained. This could lead

to a similar situation to that which followed the UK General Elections in 2010. Pacts were made and a coalition government was formed between the Conservative David Cameron and the Socio Democrat Nick Clegg. That situation was not repeated in this year’s UK elections, when David Cameron obtained an absolute majority.

Promises, promises The Partido Popular (Conservative) leader, and current prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, sees no need to make a list of proposals and is more than hopeful that he will be re-elected as prime minister. He is riding on the success of his government’s cutbacks and resulting recovery from the economic crisis, and says that to vote for the PSOE (Socialists) would be to return to the worst of the past.

He has not included any political reforms in his campaign,

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy

but intends to concentrate on improving Spain’s competitiveness and strengthening the welfare state.

The PSOE (Labour) leader Pedro Sánchez wants to reverse the government’s labour reforms, create a new statute for workers, modernise the economy via training, help companies, and approve a minimum income for families who have no income at all. He also wants to reform the Constitution, reverse the government’s controversial education reforms, and exercise more control over high ranking public officials, adding more transparency, and to promote a social and political agreement to end domestic violence.

The Ciudadanos (Citizens) party leader, Albert Rivera, wants to regenerate Spain and create ‘happiness’. He is in favour of equalising paternity and maternity leave, and increasing the number of places available at public infant schools. He

Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera

Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias

also suggests a time bank for companies, encouraging working from home, with a shorter working week and more productivity.

The Podemos (Yes, we can) leader, Pablo Iglesias (easily recognised by his casual appearance) had grand ideas, and no less than 215 measures, in his campaign for last May’s municipal elections. He has backed down significantly for the General Elections, and

All photos: Wiki Commons

Spain’s General Elections

PSOE head Pedro Sánchez

rather than wanting to create a new Constitution, he would now be happy with one amendment.

He is in favour of a referendum in Catalonia over the independence issue, he wants to reform the Electoral law, protect social rights and include more anticorruption measures. He also wants to remove the justice system from political control.

Iglesias admits that he doesn’t have one professional politician among his candidates.

What will the result be?

All the parties except for the Partido Popular seem to have big ideas. The Ciudadanos and Podemos parties are relative newbies on the national political scene, but are definitely gaining ground and credibility, while the Spanish people in general are hungry for a change. We will have to wait until December 20 when all n will be revealed.

El Hierro

Shaking all over…

They may go largely unnoticed to the local population and the island’s winter tourists but earth tremors continue to visit El Hierro, the smallest and most western of the Canary Islands.

Geologists at the National Geographic Institute say monitoring stations recorded 14 small earthquakes of more than 2.0 on the Rich-

ter scale in a two-week period in late November. The Institute reports that prolonged sequences of land- and seabased tremors, known as earthquake swarms, continue to affect El Hierro, showing that volcanic activity is far from over on the island.

The biggest, measuring 3.7 on the scale, was felt in many southern parts and was pin-

pointed to a spot 14 km below the sea off El Pinar. Despite the natural concern at the almost daily ground shakes, the locals appear to be taking the tremors in their stride, which is not surprising given that rarely a week has gone by without movement of some shape and size since the months leading up to the undersea eruption in 2011. n

Lanzarote

Careless car crooks caught Police in Lanzarote have arrested a gang behind a spate of break-ins in tourist spots on the island. The arrests came after an extensive surveillance operation at locations including the car parks at the Caletón Blanco and Famara beaches, where tourists had reported the theft of personal effects

from vehicles on many days during October.

A week of discreet vigil led police to the gang of eleven, two of whom are foreigners, who were spotted smashing windows to gain entry to the parked cars.

The arrests follow a similar success in another part of

the island, when four men responsible for thefts from cars belonging to tourist hikers in the Tinajo volcano area were detained, again after surveillance was put in place in the light of a significant rise in reports of break-ins at the car park during the previous weeks. n

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

CANARY ISLANDS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

Promotion

Prizes with PC International!

You could win a NanoSmart Android Watch in PC International’s exciting competition that is running until February of next year.

The NanoSmart is an innovative and trendy mini GSM phone, with Bluetooth and Smart Watch technology. It can be used with any standard SIM card, without having to subscribe to a contract.

You can wear it as a super cool watch, hung around the neck, hooked to a keychain, or clipped onto your clothes.

The NanoWatch is a versatile accessory and is particularly useful for those who travel regularly or who have more than one SIM card.

And, this state of the art piece of gear can be yours!

All you have to do is log onto the company’s website at: pcinternational.es and click on the ‘prize draw’ link.

The winner will be chosen on February 10, 2016.

You have to be in it to win, so visit that website now! n

President stands down

New zest for CEST Members of the board of directors of CEST, the business owners’ circle based in the south of Tenerife, recently said farewell to president Ana Concepción Cáceres after her three years of dedicated work at the head of the organisation.

During her parting speech Concepción explained that due to her current personal situation she is unable to provide the commitment that is needed for her post. She thanked the board of directors for all their hard work over the last three years, saying it was “work they have done despite the fact they are all business owners, and busy. They have attended every meeting, laboured with minimum resources, and have achieved a great deal.”

In recent years, the CEST organisation has grown in size and stature, and both local councils and Santa Cruz authorities are now taking into account the organisation’s ideas and proposals. It is hoped this positive situation persists in order

CEST board members surrounding the resigning president Ana Concepcíon Cáceres (front, second left)

to continue with the improvements that are being made to the lives of residents and business owners in the south of the island.

CEST’s deputy president Jordi Esplugas Ramos thanked Concepción for her huge contribution over the years, and on behalf of all the members

present said they were sorry to see her leave.

The election of a new president will take place at the CDTCA in Adeje on December 18 at 6pm. The second deputy president, Roberto Ucelay Jorge, will be drawing up his proposals for a new board of directors, and an action

plan for continuing current projects, and for growth and development.

Finally, Ana Concepción declared: “Whatever happens, whoever leads this group tirelessly is going to move ahead. CEST works in the south, with the south, and n for Tenerife.”

Promo – Binter and CanariasViaja

CANARY ISLANDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

Gambia: The smiling coast of Africa How to get there

The small African country of Gambia has an economy based on farming, fishing, and most importantly, tourism – possessing a thriving holiday sector that combines sun and sand with adventure and nature.

Gambia also has some outstanding national parks and a slave history that includes famous characters such as Kunta Kinte.

‘Gambia, no problem’ is a well used phrase and one that regularly welcomes tourists arriving into the country’s capital, Banjul. Creating a peaceful and secure environment within this beautiful African corner is important to a nation that wants to strengthen its economy and encourage growth in tourism.

Gambia is a uniquely small and narrow country that nestles into Senegal, which surrounds it on three sides. Its borders mirror the meandering Gambia River, and the country is 320 km in length and 50 km from north to south, making it the smallest nation on the African mainland.

As well as possessing the climate and environment to ensure a pleasant, sunny holiday, Gambia also has excellent nature tourism and adventure activities, with wildlife such as hippos, crocodiles and a range of exotically colourful birds to see.

Gambian culture is another reason to visit this former British colony where English is the official language, and which has many markets and trading points thriving with activity, such as the

Binter Canarias flies directly to Banjul, the capital of Gambia, every Saturday from Gran Canaria (with connecting inter-islands flights). From January 2016 they will also fly directly to Senegal every Monday.

The flight duration is approximately 2 hours 35 minutes.

Where to stay

Getaway trips are available from the Canary Islands to Gambia (including flights and 8 days in a hotel) from only €530!

The tourist area of Gambia is situated on a 10 km beach stretch between Bakau and Kololi on the Atlantic coast, home to many quality hotels with lush tropical gardens and fascinating birds and wildlife. The Sunset Beach Hotel is a very affordable choice along Kotu’s best stretch of beach, Kairaba Beach has stunning gardens and an ideal location, and the Sheraton Gambia Hotel Resort & Spa is perfect for those who prefer total relaxation away from the main resort, and has its own private beach.

See all available offers by visiting: www.canariasviaja.com, or calling:922 248 161.

Packages and prices are also available from Tenerife Sunshine. Their contact details are: Tenerife Sunshine. Avenida Amsterdam, 4. Cristian Sur, Local 7. Los Cristianos, Arona 38650. Tel: 922 751 867, extension 1 to 4. UK (local call-rate): 0844 598 7310.

Cuisine Gambia: The smiling coast of Africa Binter and CanariasViaja offer a wide range of bed and breakfast stays

Albert market in Banjul or those in the town of Farafenni, which is reachable by the ferry crossings that connect the north and south shores.

Gambia also has a rich and interesting history, although it is commonly associated with

its slave trading past during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Three million slaves are believed to have been sold and sent to the Americas during that period.

Nowadays, the endless sandy beaches, warmly lapped by the

On the island of Janjangbureh you can still see the remains of the slave culture that dominated the country in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries Atlantic Ocean, offer visitors the perfect setting for relaxation and disconnecting from life’s often overwhelming humdrum.

The basis of most local dishes is rice with fish (Benachin) or meat (Thiébouyape) served with vegetables and the special touch of peanut sauce and local spices. Fresh seafood is another attractive option.

Gambia also has nature parks and stunning savannah

A must visit

A daytrip to the Makasutu Culture Forest is ideal for completely immersing in nature and Gambian culture. You can canoe through the mangroves and see many exotic birds, Monitor Lizards and baboons.

For more information visit: www.canariasviaja.com.

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

Markets, fresh fish and crocodiles

t r y ’s nickname: The smiling coast of Africa.

Upon leaving Tendaba, you can return to the water to see the hippos cruising upriver as the evening sets in. Also, along this route you will spot monkeys and exotic birds. This part of the inland tour includes the must-see UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Stone Circles of Senegambia (sometimes referred to as the Wassu Stone Circles). This incredible megalithic site also has a museum and offers guided tours.

Slavery Just 22 km from the Stone Circles of Senegambia is the island of Janjangbureh, a former marketplace where slaves from Gambia and nearby regions were bought and sold.

miniseries in the late 70s. The town of Jufureh became well known and highly visited following the success of Roots and is home to a small museum about slavery.

Flights and accommodation Since January 2014, travel from Spain to Gambia became much easier. Binter Canarias started a weekly route from the Canary Islands to Gambia’s

The markets in Banjul and Farafenni are very popular with tourists

In Banjul, one of the main attractions is the Albert Market, a vast area where art and craft blend with fresh produce, clothing and footwear. See firsthand how Gambians shop and haggle with local traders for the best deals, and give it a try yourself!

From Serekunda, Gambia’s second largest town, you reach the village of Tanji – the best place to buy freshly caught fish. Every evening is full of people in search of the best catch of the day.

On the way to Tanji is the Kachikally Museum and Crocodile Pool, located in the heart of Bakau. Kachikally is one of Gambia’s most popular tourist attractions and a sacred site for locals. Crocodiles represent fertility in Gambia, therefore women with difficulties in conceiving often go there to pray and wash. The pool and nature trail are home to nearly 100 Nile crocodiles that you can observe basking on the bank. If you dare, many are tame enough to be touched!

Fishing is important to Gambia’s economy and local culture

Gambia’s hotel sector includes many 5-star and high-quality facilities, most of which have direct access to the beach. They also offer fantastic tour deals which allow you to see the best of the country. These tours can be same-day or, if you prefer, they can arrange accommodation at the places you visit as it’s necessary to cross the river several times, and in the absence

of bridges the ferry is the only way to get across.

Tendaba, a small township that acts as a gateway to the Kiang West National Park - the country’s largest - offers tourists river trips where you can see birds such as herons, pelicans and kingfishers. In Tendaba, as with most places you can visit, the African hospitality is very warm and inviting, matching the coun-

Gambia’s rich wildlife includes monkeys, hippos, crocodiles and exotic birds

You can still see remnants of this era, including the shackles and collars that bound them, the trenches they dug, and the tools used to punish those who resisted. A tour into the history of slavery is not complete until you visit Kunta Kinteh Island, where the sold slaves were sent to await shipment to America.

Kunta Kinte is a character in the novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family by the American author Alex Haley, who claimed that it was based on one of his ancestors: a Gambian man who was born in 1750, enslaved and taken to America, where he died in 1822. The story also became a famous TV

capit a l , Banjul, departing every Saturday.

This allows for a seven night stay that will show you a great deal of what Gambia has to offer.

Through CanariasViaja (Binter Canarias) you can easily organise flights and a stay in quality accommodation by visiting their website: www.canariasviaja.com.

CanariasViaja offers many deals that include flights with a bed and breakfast stay at hotels like Sunset Beach (three stars), The Kairaba Beach (five stars) and the Sheraton Gambia Resort & Spa.

enjoy lunch at Paradise Beach. One of the most popular trips is a visit to Makasutu Culture Forest, a near 500 hectares (1,000 acres) nature reserve that encompasses the Mandina Bolong, a tributary of the Gam-

Gambia’s tourist area is situated between Bakau and Kololi on the Atlantic coast

The website also offers excursions to Kunta Kinteh Island and the islands in the south (Sukuta, Yuna, Tanji and Sanyang), with time to swim in the ocean and

The country’s borders mirror the meandering Gambia River

bia River. The protected wilderness is a beautiful expanse of palm and hardwood forest, mangrove creek, savannah and varin ous tropical ecosystems.

Binter Canarias will be at Siam Mall from December 4 to 13. Visit their information desk, enjoy the 360º experience and discover the many international destinations you can visit directly from the Canary Islands.

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FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

La Palma harmed by reviews

The perils of online opinion tion online. This writing will then pop up on your screen via Google or wherever, because it’s loaded with key words and hooked the search engine.

You then read it imagining that it’s objective, unbiased information, whereas in fact it’s been put there to hoodwink you by an individual or entity who’ll

too big for us to enjoy our stay”, etc. We stayed in a picturesque Galician fishing village that was actually described online as: “An ugly, characterless place devoid of any charm” by an irritable Brit. It was lovely. It was also very quiet. A few negative words can do a world of damage.

Hotel complex manager, Álvaro de la Bárcena

It seems unfair that anyone can trash anything they like online; what happened to libel? Why spend precious holiday time looking for problems and then writing about them? If you’re having a good time, you’re too busy. The negative detail can be mind-bogglingly trivial, which leads us neatly to Trivago, a name most people are familiar with.

It’s used by millions to compare hotel prices, find information about not only accommodation but holiday destinations in general, transport, eating out, activities, you name it; you can find it on Trivago.

It also rates wherever it’s talking about, according to feedback from users, and has just done considerable harm to the tourist trade on the island of

La Palma is a beautiful paradise deserving of its nickname ‘La Isla Bonita’

By Barbara Belt local cuisine, history, culture writers. I registered with one cific KWD, not KWF, require- benefit from your belief in it.

Over the last decade, travel agencies have fought a losing battle to hold their ground against the practice of do-ityourself online booking, as we’ve become our own travel agents.

We look for information about possible destinations to see what the weather’s like and what’s on offer in terms of accommodation, entertainment, excursions, activities, and transport options. We probably get flights online too. We may go further and investigate

and customs, or hiking trail networks. It’s all there online.

As time passes, the amount of information available increases exponentially.

Worryingly, much of this info is seriously compromised. It’s been written to order, paid for by individuals or businesses wanting to enhance their online profile, and is neither the genuine news, nor opinion, it purports to be.

There’s a whole industry of agencies, online of course, whose function is to connect such clients with freelance

and was impressed by its professionalism. I had to present bona-fide, published, writing credentials and was then rated and listed on their webpage as ‘available for assignments’.

In they came. The first company wanted a piece on the wonderful benefits of chocolate and needed a specific percentage of something mysteriously called KWF. While I was wondering what KWF was, another offer arrived, requesting a piece about the marvellous attractions of a Spanish holiday resort, this time with spe-

ments. KWF and KWD? Feeling stupid, I investigated, to find that Key Word Frequency, or Density, are vital for SEO, which I didn’t understand either, but it turned out to be Search Engine Optimisation. I live on a small island in the Atlantic. I like a quiet life.

What did I know?

This means there’s an army of writers out there, all over the globe, trotting out articles round the clock, with the sole intention of attracting the numerous search engines you might use to help you find informa-

It’s undercover advertising.

I gave it a miss. Apart from moral issues, it sounded deadly boring, but I was thankful for the insight and don’t trust what I read now. Online reviews are another online horror. They’re hard to resist, but only malcontents bother to say nasty things.

There are few glowing accolades. What people seem to love most is posting a nightmare of niggles, conflicting information, nitpicking criticism and strange remarks.

“Our breakfast cups were far

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

La Palma with a recently published ‘study’ based on seven million evaluations of accommodation on the Spanish coast, the Balearics and the Canaries by its online users. This report will unfortunately be used by potential future clients and the

seventy-six. While these differences may seem marginal, they’ve caused angst on La Palma, which as anyone who’s been there will tell you, is a beautiful, diverse, well-looked after paradise deserving of its nickname ‘La Isla Bonita’.

sad thing is that it probably reflects the general happiness of its visitors, rather than what they’re niggling about.

The four Balearic Islands (Cabrera wasn’t included) received better ratings than any of the seven Canary Islands, earning an average of eighty points. Of the Canary Islands, Tenerife came close with seventy nine plus points, El Hierro close behind with seventy-nine, La Gomera with seventy-eight plus and poor old La Palma only

The island’s capital city, Santa Cruz de La Palma

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at reception one day, or during a meal, or even because of an incident outside the hotel which obviously doesn’t reflect the overall quality of the accommodation, so much as the client’s dissatisfaction with something that happened. A lot of money has been invested in hotel com-

plexes in Los Cancajos (Breña Baja) and Puerto Naos (Los Llanos de Aridane). What’s on offer to visitors is of good quality, and bear in mind, at accessible prices!” he stated, tongue firmly in cheek, referring to Trivago’s summary of prices, with La Palma the cheapest Spanish island. n

Photo: Saúl Santos

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

La Palma has stunning natural beauty

Álvaro de la Bárcena, the La Palma vice president of the Canarian hoteliers association Ashotel, insists that although search engine opinions must be taken into account, the level of accommodation offered on the island is of good quality.

“There are some very unfair evaluations, based on small

details that don’t necessarily reflect the quality of what island accommodation offers visitors,” he said with masterly understatement.

Mr. Bárcena manages a large hotel complex and recognises that, “Criticism from clients can be constructive.

Comments about treatment

received, the location and condition of the building etc. must be respected, listened to and given importance, but always in context”.

He maintains that on occasions, “They (Trivago, etc.) give you half the number of possible points just because of something that happened

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CANARY ISLANDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

Projects to receive go ahead?

Minister criticised during visit to Tenerife all requested and supporting documentation related to the transfer, including additional paperwork asked for recently, believing that the consortium for the regeneration of Puerto de La Cruz has honoured all the

Designs for the planned marina in Puerto de La Cruz, one of the area’s vital projects

so that this important resort in the north can play the role it deserves, namely, to be the driving force for the whole Orotava valley area” added the former mayor and current deputy, Sandra Rodríguez.

Soria, a prominent minister in Madrid, was “open and willing to talk” but challenged island officials to provide evidence for a €1.5 million payment made to the consortium of the city,

island and Canarian authorities; issued for improving tourist areas in Puerto de La Cruz up until December 31, 2013.

Soria attached great importance in cooperating fully with the consortium but insisted that they have to justify where the sum went with invoices and clear outlines otherwise they would be “prevaricating”.

However, the consortium have stated they have submitted

“Twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping…”

There’s something particularly stirring about the sound of a marching or military band… and this Christmas you have the chance to hear just that at a very special concert hosted

by Adeje council in the Magma Arte & Congresos Centre on December 19.

For this great event, the musical unit of the Canarian Command and the Infantry Brigade Marching Band Nº2, ‘Canarias’ XVI will perform in the south of Tenerife for the first time, with the Adeje patron band and the Guía de Isora Virgen de la Luz band also playing. Joining them will be a choir made

up of 200 children from the borough, in collaboration with EMMA, the Adeje school of Music and Dance.

Entry is just €1 with monies going to the Asociación de San Juan Centre for curative education and social therapy for people with special needs.

The musical unit of the Canarian Command, currently under the baton of the director of music, Capitan Miguel Ángel Mateo Gijón, with 34 military musicians, plays at all official military functions, and is also frequently seen at events and religious festivals in Santa Cruz and La Laguna.

The Infantry Brigade Marching Band Nº2, ‘Canarias’ XVI was founded in 1988 and brings together soldiers from different units. It features 15 buglers, five pipers, and 15 drummers, under the direction of second lieutenant and band master Miguel Pitalua Ballesteros.

Looking forward to the event, Adeje mayor José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga says “we are delighted to be able to offer this concert to the public at Christmas as part of our extensive programme.”

A full list Adeje’s Christmas events is available in English n at: www.adeje.es.

Photo: Gobierno Canarias

José Manuel Soria, from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is a politician and current Spanish government minister who has been head of the Industry, energy and tourism department since 2011.

Soria recently visited Puerto de La Cruz and met with the mayor, Lope Afonso, who asked for support in bringing forward vital projects for the town that are currently held up due to bureaucratic obstacles: “We have three initiatives that aren’t moving forwards and it’s important that we resolve this. The first is for a new bus station, the second a new marina and the third is for beach improvements at Playa Martiánez” said Afonso. For all the projects to go ahead it needs the cooperation of the borough council, the island council, the Canarian government and the central government in Madrid, and a strong word from the right political figure can put a lot into motion.

“We ask that the central government realise the vital needs of Puerto de La Cruz

Minister José Manuel Soria came to the Canary Islands in search of votes

criteria asked of it. Soria’s visit is intended to achieve a consensus to the miscommunication between the two bodies.

Soria acknowledged the key role of the North Tenerife resort, saying that “Puerto de La Cruz is an established, popular destination for which I see great opportunities. It has been consistently successful as a tourist spot and has many local companies and businesses on a sound footing. However, now is the time to adapt to new market needs”. Soria spoke of ‘intelligent tourism’ and the new demands placed on the tourism sector by social media and the expectations placed on resorts and businesses by tourists who publicly inform many people before, during and after their trip.

The socialist opposition saw Soria’s visit to the island and meeting with PP party members as nothing more than a gimmick: “That was a theatre show; a simple walk through the city at the centre of the debate, while taking no concrete measures for resolving the improvements needed.

It’s typical political fudging!” said Marco González, general secretary of the PSOE.

Student protest During a speech at the Faculty of Law at the University of La Laguna (ULL) at the end of November, Soria was confronted by another angry front; the new generation of voters. “What good are politicians who can only think right before a general election and suddenly look to the youth voter at the last moment?” asked one student of Soria. The question was a poignant one, government policies over the past four years have seen student aid cut to the bone, accompanied by rising tuition fees. The ULL has already seen 3,000 fewer students enrol for courses this year, compared to 2014, due to economic reasons.

The largely student audience was also critical of Soria’s attempts to praise the alleged economic recovery and improving employment situation. They raised pertinent questions related to the 22 per cent of Spanish residents living below the poverty line, and that many of these so-called new jobs are temporary, part-time and n often insecure.

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

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Conservation concerns

Free flight parrots

In 2016 the Loro Parque Foundation will support a total of 33 different conservation and research projects around the world - to the tune of a cool €1 million.

The foundation’s grants are aimed at initiatives for the conservation of biodiversity, the protection of endangered habitats and the sustainable use of natural resources. The coming year’s chosen projects were selected during the recent annual meeting of the International Advisory Board of the Foundation, which attracted guests from all over the world.

An impressive 30 per cent of the total will go to oceanbased projects that focus in particular on the research into and protection of whales and dolphins, and seven of the projects that make up that percentage will be based around the Canary Islands.

Some conservation ventures have been funded by the Loro Parque Foundation for many years. One example of this is the research of the Institute of Animal Health at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. One of the organisation’s main jobs is testing stranded marine mammals for manmade pollutants - part of a central Atlantic Research Network whose goal is the creation of a protected area for whales and dolphins in the Atlantic region.

In cooperation with the Elasmocan organisation an exciting new project will also be inaugurated in 2016 - for the monitoring of the population of angel sharks in Canary Island waters. The species is threatened with extinction, and the new aquarium in Las Palmas could play an important role in maintaining numbers of the shark in the future.

In the area of land ecosystems, 19 initiatives are supported worldwide for the protection of endangered species of parrots, including several long-term projects - some of which date back to 1995 and have contributed to saving several different species. Examples include the Philippine Cockatoo, the Blue-throated Macaw in Bolivia and the Lear Ara in Brazil. Numbers within each species have stopped falling, but work must continue until healthy population levels are reached.

Many of these initiatives not only protect the biodiversity of a particular region, but also habitats that cross borders. Numbers of that majestic king of the savannah, the African lion, are decreasing continuously. One of the moves that attempt to save its habitat joins areas that cross Angola, Zimbabwe and the Zambezi.

The Kakadu from the In the last 21 years the foun- Philippines is a species whose dation has supported 115 population has recovered thanks projects via donations reach- to the Foundation’s animal n welfare initiative ing €16 million.

Dairy boost

Arico says “cheese” again

The Tenerife town of Arico is about to have its cheese industry back after a five-year absence.

Once the most renowned part of the island for cheese and several other dairy products, the town lost the biggest part of its industry when the local cooperative closed its doors in 2010 and production was transferred to Benijos near La Orotava. However, a businessman from the island is to revive the industry by opening new premises that will produce up to a thousand cheeses daily. José Antonio Padrón says he has invested several million euros in the new factory, which is expected to be in business later this month, and has already signed supply agreements with local dairy farmers for goat’s milk in order to restore Arico’s goat’s cheese reputation.

Padrón is already in talks with major supermarkets to supply them but has set his sights on much bigger markets which extend beyond the Canaries to several EU countries. Local mayor Elena Fumero says she is delighted at the prospect of Arico – which has a long history of awards at cheese competitions – being reinstated on the cheese map and believes n the new factory will be a major boost for the town.

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Seasonal gift ideas

Hard Rockin’ around the Christmas tree

This Christmas visit Hard Rock Cafe Tenerife’s exclusive Rock Shop and discover their new offers and seasonal gift ideas.

Surprise friends and family with some of Hard Rock’s many products and merchandise, including their classic Tshirts and latest limited edition clothing lines. Make a difference this Christmas and put some rock around the Christmas tree!

Hard Rock Cafe Tenerife is located in front of the Safari commercial centre in Playa de Las Américas in an enormous venue that is surrounded by good shopping, excellent restaurants and varied leisure activities.

Fitted with a modern, decorative flare in keeping with the world-renowned Hard Rock style, the cafe features two floors for dining and socialising, two function rooms to cater for all group needs, and two terraces overlooking that beautiful area of town. With more than 100 items of memorabilia, Hard Rock Cafe Tenerife is a must visit.

The venue is part of a chain of themed restaurants founded in 1971 by the Americans, Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton. The first cafe opened in 1971 in Piccadilly, London. Currently there are nearly 200 Hard Rock locations in over 60 countries, including almost 150 cafes.

For more information visit: www.

hardrock.com, call 922 055 022 or visit Hard Rock Café Tenerife

at Avenida de Las Américas, n Pirámide de Arona.

Visit Hard Rock Cafe’s exclusive Rock Shop for seasonal gift ideas

TENERIFE GENERAL

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

Upcoming La Caleta beach clean

The saga continues…

Taking care of the world Tenerife to enjoy this underwater paradise, it must be devastating to see all types of trash under the water, from drink cans to car tyres and metal pipes - an image which could eventually backfire on the island’s tourism industry.

The event already has numerous sponsors such as hotels, restaurants and other businesses, including Island Connections.

The Adeje Council is also supporting the clean-up, as are two local associations in La Caleta.

Volunteers are needed to help on the day, and you don’t have to be a diver – there will be plenty to be done onshore. So, why not go along on Decem-

Photo: Denise Gardener Bell / Facebook.com/12.dive

Rubbish being retrieved by divers during a recent clean up at Alcalá

A coastal clean-up and awareness campaign is being planned at La Caleta, Costa Adeje, by the One.Two Dive team, led by Alejandro Huitron de Velasco.

Divers will clear rubbish from the seabed around the most popular part of La Caleta, where many fashionable restaurants and cafés are located.

The event comes hot on the heels of the group’s successful clean-up at Alcalá in September and will provide a similar boon for the area.

Additionally, the event hopes to include a live video feed which will be shown on large screens to show that which the divers find under the sea. Information will also be available on the day about the region’s marine life

Santa Cruz de Hollywood?

and how rubbish affects it - turtles, dolphins and other creatures are being killed by the carelessness of humans - with the aim of encouraging rub-

bish disposal in the places provided for that purpose, rather than it being simply thrown into the sea.

And, for divers who come to

ber 12, from 9am to 5pm, and join the battle against trash in the ocean. For more information see: www.12dive.com, or n facebook.com/12dive.

The departure of the cast and crew of the new Bourne blockbuster in no way means that Santa Cruz’s film business has come to an end.

The city authorities have revealed that they are in the process of issuing permission for another eight films, documentaries and advertisements to be shot in the capital.

According to Santa Cruz’s Economic Development Office, the positive impact of the Bourne filming is set to continue for some time and has already seen two British TV series contact the city to arrange location shoots. In addition, a major new Spanish movie will film a number of key sequences in Santa Cruz and a well-known car manufacturer has applied for permission to produce a new ad. Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez disclosed a few weeks ago that another major American production, which cannot be named for the moment for contractual reasons, is due to film in the capital in 2016. n

Photo: Koppchen CC 3.0

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Santa Cruz has many charming views - especially for filmmakers

40 years on

Los Cristianos diver remembered The life and achievements of a Los Cristianos diver and diving instructor who died when he became trapped in a dangerous underwater cave 40 years ago have been formally commemorated by the town of Arona.

Juan José Benítez, a well-known scuba diver and an expert in the seabed life of the Canaries, died aged 29 along with French colleague Francois Rouboix on November 20, 1975 – the same day as Spain’s dictator, General Franco – while diving at night in the Los Camarones cave, which is reputed to be among the most dangerous in the world due to the hazard posed by its narrow tunnel (barely a metre wide) and the thick clouds triggered by even the slightest disturbance of sediment.

The tribute was a long-standing wish of Arona culture councillor Leopoldo Díaz, who used the evening to look back on Benítez’s record as a diver, including regional and national championships, and presented his family with a commemorative plaque.

In addition to footage of the well-known diver taken a short time before his death, two 1970s’ documentaries were shown on marine life in the Canaries to which Benítez and his colleagues, several of whom attended the evening, contributed. n

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

Best foot forward it’s even counted in front of a notary every year – who also works unpaid!

This isn’t the first award Brigitte has received. Her efforts have also been officially recognised by the Spanish Cancer Association AECC and Adeje council.

Walking in the south At the first walk in 2005

The founder of the Walk for Life breast cancer charity event Brigitte Gypen is receiving an award on December 16 from the Tenerife Cabildo for her outstanding contribution supporting Tinerfeñan voluntary and solidarity groups.

Typically modest, Brigitte told us “This came as a total surprise, however I am delighted as I see it as recognition for all the people who take part and come

along and help. You can dream up a project, but you need people to make it happen. I am fortunate to have had people around me and some I met along the way, who help to make Walk For Life happen each year. I may be receiving the prize, but this is really for everybody. However great or small their help may seem to be, it’s always important and will always make a difference.”

The event started in Santa Cruz in 2005. As a survivor of breast cancer, Brigitte was haunted by the memory of the other women in treatment with her and wanted to do something to help. Once she’d recovered, she says: “I felt really very fortunate and I thought ‘well, now’s the time for me to do something.’”

WFL started as something “symbolic” to show people that “they’re not on their own” but it now attracts thousands of people each year. To date they have raised over €120,000 for breast cancer charities, research and their new Pink Room project, a feelgood place for cancer sufferers and their families. All of the workers are volunteers, there are few costs and almost 99 per cent of the money raised goes to the charities etc. To underline the transparency,

Beauty queen crowned

Photo: ©Gerard Zenou 634 173 766

Ayleen Hernández is Miss Sur 2015

The three young ladies crowned

On November 28, this year’s Miss Sur title was awarded to the winner of the popular beauty competition at a gala event in the Magma Art and Congress Centre in Costa Adeje.

Miss Sur 2015 is Ayleen Hernández, who comes from Arafo and represented Siam Park. At her side in the photo are Yaiza Valentín from Arona and Alejandra Armas, who is

sponsored by the Grand Chef Grupo Gourmetland – the pair having been chosen as Hernández’s ‘Leading Ladies’.

The Mayor of Adeje, José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga, stressed in his speech that Miss Sur is unique within this category of events, since its aim is to promote the modern image of the south of Tenerife and associated growing interest in fashion and entertainment, as well as promoting the natural and cultural values of the community.

For those aspirants who already have their eye on next year’s competition you can visit: www.misssur.com and www.missnorte.com for n more information.

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This year’s Walk is on December 13 and starts at the Magma Centro de Arte & Congresos in Costa Adeje at 10.30am. Get there early to register (€4), browse the stalls and enjoy the free entertainment. The finishing line for 2015 is the Plaza

del Pescador in front of the Centro Cultural in Los Cristianos, a stroll of around 4.8 kilometres, where there will be more entertainment and the rightly famous raffle will take place. As Brigitte says: “If you can walk, n you can support!”

TENERIFE GENERAL

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

Promotion

New HiperDino for South Tenerife The ever-growing DinoSol Group inaugurated three new stores in Tenerife during November, and its good news for all those living in the San Miguel de Abona area as one of them, HiperDino Chafiras II, is located on the Las Chafiras commercial estate, on the main Avenida Claudio Delgado Diaz.

The new facility has a sales area of over 2,660 m2, within which you will find an impressive assortment of leading brands along with various sections for fresh food, professional staff and, evidently, the best value

for money around: According to a recent study by the OCU, the company’s prices are seven per cent cheaper than the nearest competitor on the island.

The hypermarket, the development of which involved an investment of over €3.5 million, also has an internal television station where customers can compare offers with those made by the competition - whilst continuing to browse and shop.

Another novelty is the perfumery and cosmetics department, where specialists are on hand

to advise clients on facial care routines and makeup. With this latest innovation HiperDino continues to adapt to changing markets and customers’ requests. In the same vein, the new store also features a gourmet area.

A delivery service, free Wi-Fi, a bakery and more than 100 parking spaces complete the store’s range of services – where opening hours will be Monday to Saturday, 9am to 10pm each day.

With these most recent inaugurations the company now

boasts 217 establishments in the Canary Islands, and the group continues to expand. As well as the new shops and a number of refurbished premises, the DinoSol Group has promised to continue investing in improvements to customer service and care, with a special emphasis on providing products for those with dietary restrictions, such as celiacs and diabetics etc., as well as those interested in organic products – an area in which the company is already a leader n in the Canaries.

Controversy continues

The monolith in Las Raíces commemorated the start of the military coup in 1936

its landmark, which many deemed offensive. As every Spanish schoolchild knows, the army general met secretly with senior officers at a spot in La Esperanza, north Tenerife, in

Photo: sercanarias.com

The anniversary of the death of Spanish dictator General Franco has, as usual, sparked fresh calls for all traces of his regime to be removed from towns and cities in Tenerife.

The campaign has gathered even more force than usual given that this year marked the 40th anniversary of that day (November 20, 1975) that heralded a new dawn for the country after four decades under his iron rule.

Tenerife’s two main cities, Santa Cruz and La Laguna, have made a significant effort in recent years to change names of streets and schools that recall the period but the one part of the island most associated with Franco still retained

Photo: flickr.com/JoseMesa

Not so monumental Franco

Demolition of the monument is part of a movement for declassification of all things Franco

June 1936 to begin planning the military coup to oust the Republican government - the takeover that set in motion the Civil War that devastated Spain for three years before Franco’s nationalist forces emerged victorious, forcing many to flee the country in fear of their lives.

Investigations into mass executions and searches for the graves of the many who disappeared under the regime are still ongoing in Spain.

An obelisk, erected in 1958, at the Las Raíces picnic site to commemorate the spot in La Esperanza where the momentous occasion took place, has been the source of the endless bitter controversy, especially given the time it has taken to have it demolished after the official decision for its removal was made. As a listed building it had to be declassified before the bulldozers were called in but the following formalities have seemed to go on forever.

The Tenerife Council passed a motion ordering the demolition of the monument in November 2008 and many fail to understand how it has taken a full seven years to remove what is considered a highly unpleasant landmark. However, others say that the site should not have been eliminated as, irrespective of the negative consequences it had for Spain, it remains a key part of the country’s history.

Nevertheless, Tenerife’s current Minister for the Environment, José Antonio Valbuena, assured visitors that the rubble from the demolition will be used to reinforce water runoff ditches, and called it a “mood of present life” that a memorial stone from the time of Franco n ends in that way.

University vandalism

Equality murals defaced

On the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Domestic Violence, attention was centred on the University of La Laguna (ULL) when an act of mindless vandalism brought the message home to roost.

In support of the international event, a project called Sexism in the ULL - a range of murals with an ‘equality’ theme - was inaugurated in the faculty of journalism building.

Unfortunately, on November 24, one of those murals was found defaced, with paint having been sprayed across it.

Both the AMEC Equal Opportunities Commission and the Equality Unit at the University issued a statement saying they condemned this double attack on a work of art and public and common area which had been decorated with a collage of newspaper articles about domestic violence.

The act of sabotage came just at the time when people all over the country were planning minutes of silence and other events to commemorate victims of domestic violence.

The AMEC Equality Commission said that the message in the mural was that violence is a gender-neutral phenomenon, with slogans such as ‘Neither feminism nor chauvinism - Violence has no gender’ being symbolic of total equality. They referred to the ignorance of the vandal, whose identity is unknown, who didn’t seem to understand the message that feminism and chauvinism are not comparable opposites: male chauvinism being said to be a historic structure based on the dominance of the male sex, while feminism is the effort to overcome existing inequality and to achieve a peaceful equilibrium, in which no gender is seen as superior to the Academic disrespect is treated as a serious n issue by the University other.

Photo: ACE

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New home owners’ suffering

Squatter misery

Owners of houses in a new residential development outside Santa Cruz want police to evict dozens of squatters who have occupied empty homes and are causing problems with their behaviour.

The development in the Llano del Moro district is in the news due to the conflict that has been triggered by the squatters, who have moved into 15 of the brand-new properties and, according to the other residents, are turning the location into a no-go area.

“They are out on the square at night selling drugs and we have had serious run-ins with them over their unwanted presence. They have also put the rest of us at risk by rigging up illegal power connections” said a spokesman for the residents’ association, which says it feels helpless due to the lack of action by the authorities. “Police do not even bother coming when we call them to report incidents. It seems that no one is taking our interests to heart” he added.

A number of people who rented their homes have decided to move elsewhere rather than continue to put up with the abuse received from the squatters. Locals fear that other houses in the area, which were taken over by a bank after the developer went bankrupt and defaulted on its loan, will also be occupied as word grows that Llano del Moro has a reputation for ‘free’ housing. n

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

TENERIFE GENERAL

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

Letters to the editor

Dear Editor

I refer to the article headlined ‘Wheelchair passenger angers staff’ published in Island Connections issue number 759.

I have had personal experience of both assisting a heavyweight friend in a wheelchair in the past and very recent experience of arriving in Tenerife with a disabled person and the shambles that awaited us on arrival. Some years ago I had a friend who was disabled and permanently unable to walk. We used to go into town for nights out and we always had two major problems. Firstly complete lack of access for wheelchairs to many bars and restaurants and secondly the stupidity of the incline of many wheelchair ramps. Most wheel chairs only have brakes which can be applied when they are stationary and if a wheelchair goes out of control on a 45 degree ramp (and they do exist) what then? Painful and potentially serious injury can be inflicted on the wheelchair passenger! I can quite imagine that the woman who did the shouting had had adverse experiences in the past and she was obviously terrified. Additionally, bearing in mind the number of English passengers visiting this island, the person handling wheelchairs should be fluent in English and Spanish.

My wife, who is awaiting a replacement knee and cannot walk far or stand for long periods, and I recently arrived in Tenerife on a British Airways flight from Gatwick. Many airlines have the disabled passengers in the front rows of seats and are thus first off the flight. BA let everybody off the flight first and then the disabled were allowed off onto a special lorry which has a cabin which elevates up and down. Please note the aircraft had steps alongside and was not attached to an airbridge. The BA flight we were on had six disabled passengers, of which two were seriously disabled. Additionally there were five partners for the disabled passengers who also had to be accommodated on this specialist vehicle. How many seats and wheelchairs were there on this specialist vehicle? One wheelchair and one seat! It should be pointed out that the people in Tenerife had advance warning of exactly how many disabled people there were on this flight, but they send one wheelchair and one seat only!

The vehicle had to remain stationary for something like 15 minutes whilst they rustled up sufficient wheelchairs and for this period the disabled passengers were forced to remain standing and forced to endure the resultant pain.

I can quite see why this woman got angry! We eventually arrived last in the terminal and then had to go searching for our luggage which had been thrown off the carrousel.

It is worth mentioning that this experience was unique to Tenerife, in Gatwick and Dalaman, Turkey, everything was properly organised with wheelchairs and staff immediately available. The person who is in charge of disabled assistance at Tenerife South needs to get his or her act together.

Donastar Tenerife South Look out in next edition’s letters for an interesting take on the car parking situation around Tenerife

By

Those involved in the eleventh annual Walk For Life charity event are full of excitement at the moment, and we know that those taking part are doing their best to raise as much money as possible for the cancer charities.

Brigitte Gypen, the organiser and originator of the now famous walk said: “Donations will go to the two principal cancer associations but this year mainly to the Pink Room, the long awaited place where people from all nationalities can find aid, support and someone to talk to. It is also a ‘feel good room’ for cancer patients in the south, which is very much needed. We aim to open the room on Mondays and Thursdays after the Walk for Life and have a programme ready for the New Year.”

The Pink Room will be ideal for people who are finding them-

y Kat

Hi everyone,

selves unable to cope properly for many different reasons. I imagine a happy room with lots of people popping in for a coffee and exchanging phone numbers for support. I can only pray that I might be excused such a terrible illness as cancer, but I know that one of these rooms would be the first place I’d go to so that I could talk to a survivor, and hope that they’d be able to allay my fears a little.

We’ll be arriving at the Magma Art & Congress Centre in Costa Adeje on December 13 from 9.30am, and we will have entertainment for walkers and the general public while we get ready to start the walk at 10.30am. Please make a donation and you will receive a 2015 Walk for Life T-shirt or baseball cap, sponsored by Eze Group and Silverpoint this year.

Like every year, anyone making

17

katykennedy@telefonica.net

a donation will also receive a raffle ticket.

There will be information stands from different cancer associations as well as stands with plenty of pink goodies.

The mayors of Adeje and Arona will lead the ‘pink wave’ from the Magma centre via Avenida Rafael Puig towards the seaside, along the coast towards Los Cristianos, where after a 4.8 km walk we will arrive at the Plaza del Pescador in front of the Los Cristianos Cultural Centre. It’s a lovely stroll, with nothing too strenuous. There will be shuttle buses available for those who can’t walk too far on the day.

I’ll be able to compere again this year thanks to Elaine Willock, a fully qualified sport and general injury specialist, and one of the kindest people I’ve met in a long time. She gave me a thorough spinal and body

Get yourself down to Walk For Life 2015 on December 13 (archive image)

massage and I can’t thank her enough. Not only did she get me walking again, she eased the pain in my horrible hips too. If anyone needs help from Elaine, her phone number is 689 039 629.

I’ll be at Walk For Life 2015, and looking forward to seeing you all again this year. If you’re participating in fancy dress, don’t forget to come and visit me on the day so I can take your names and numbers for Island Connections and get photos for this column.

I’ll see you all on December 13, so until then take care of yourselves and especially each n other.

Email: katykennedy@telefonica.net.

Tel: 616 110 930.

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TENERIFE GENERAL

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

Red Hound Bookshop

Christmas book signing A book review by to intrigue at the start of the islands, but also to newcomers who enjoy a touch of eccentricRed Hound Bookshop Spanish Civil War.

Eccentric characters and folklore from Tenerife’s past

A chance to purchase a charming Christmas gift for all those who love Tenerife.

The Skipping Verger and Other Tales by John Reid Young is a collection of delightful short stories set in the Canary Islands between the late 19th and early 21st centuries. John’s is an engaging and unique style which has already won acclaim and touched the hearts of readers.

The 22 stories in this book range from the humorous and romantic adventures of early British travellers in Tenerife,

An English scientist meets a man with a strange walk, a Scottish artist falls in love with a barefooted aristocrat, foreigners discover marvellous old wives tales and health remedies, boys get up to mischief in the bananas; secret agents, stowaways and even a grumpy chaplain can be found wrapped up in the charms of this Atlantic island.

Based upon the personal experience and recollections of a fourth generation British immigrant, these stories will appeal not only to those of us who already know and love the

ity and old fashioned ways.

John will be signing copies of his book at the Red Hound Bookshop, Calle Juan XXIII in Los Cristianos, on December 19 between 10am and 2pm and then again at 5pm until 7pm.

Why not go along and meet him and grab a copy or two of this unique collection of short stories about Tenerife, signed by the author: Ideal for a Christmas gift or wonderful keepsake. n Book review by Red Hound Bookshop, Los Cristianos. See: www.libreriaredhound.com.

Santa Cruz controversy

Taxi drivers paid to not work The decision by Santa Cruz to spend hundreds of thousands of euros buying back taxi licences to reduce the number of taxis on the city roads has raised eyebrows, particularly among those who feel the money should be spent on more urgent needs.

The council revealed in early November that it had spent nearly €700,000 to persuade a further 49 drivers to take their cars off the roads and ease the over-supply of taxis, whose business has declined considerably since the introduction of the city tram eight years ago.

“In all, we have reduced the number by more than 60 since the scheme started and money has also been earmarked for next year” confirmed a corporation spokesperson, who said that a draw would be held to decide which drivers will benefit from the incentive in the event that applications exceed the number of licences to be withdrawn.

However, the size of the payout has irked some, who believe that taxis should not be any different to other sectors which have had to adjust to increased competition. “Small shops do not get paid to shut if a big shopping centre opens nearby” argued one critic of the scheme. n

Mi-gusto guide awards

Vote and win!

Mi-gusto, the guide to gastronomy, lifestyle and much more, along with the Island Connections and Kanaren Express newspapers, invites you to choose your favourite restaurant in Tenerife, as a candidate for the mi-gusto Restaurant Award. This is the greatest excuse on earth to go out and dine before you vote!

Awards will be presented in the following categories: 1. Gourmet/Creative 2. Spanish/Canarian 3. Mediterranean 4. Steak and Grill 5. Seafood 6. Asian and Eastern 7. Tapas/Aperitifs 8. Cafes, Bars, Cocktail Bars, Clubs The restaurant which achieves the overall majority of votes will

be presented with the first migusto Award as the best restaurant in Tenerife.

Vote for your personal favourite in each category and you can win spectacular prizes including iPhones, new generation tablets and hotel and restaurant vouchers with a total value of more than €5,000.

This is how it works From now until January 31, 2016, you can vote to place your favourite restaurant in the final round by sending an email to info@mi-gusto.guide.

You can also vote for any restaurants, regardless of whether or not they appear, or have appeared, in the mi-gusto guide or on the mi-gusto App. Voting for the final starts in February 2016.

Rough justice

Have-a-go hero foils hold-up man 1. Vote for your favourite restaurant.

2. Register with your email address, so that if you win you can be contacted directly. This is very important.

3. You will receive a participation code which will be entered into a prize draw.

4. You can vote for restaurants in every category and you will receive a participation code for each vote you cast.

5. The draw for hotel and restaurant vouchers will be held weekly. The main draw will be

held on May 31, 2016. The winner will be notified by email and the participation codes will be published in Island Connections and Kanaren Express, and on the mi-gusto.guide App. You have to be over the age of 18 to participate, as well as have a valid email address for contact purposes. And be ready for a little publicity if you win! For full terms and conditions and more information see: www.mi-gusto. n guide.

A Tenerife man who held up two shops in the space of 48 hours did not reckon on a chance encounter a few days later with one of his victims, who came off much the better when the pair confronted each other.

According to police, the 41-year-old needed facial surgery in a hospital in Playa de Las Américas after the beating received from an employee of a supermarket which he had robbed at knifepoint earlier in the week. The employee recognised the raider when the two men coincided in an Adeje petrol station and reacted quickly when threatened with a knife after he challenged him. After overpowering him and wrestling him to the ground during a struggle which saw both men throw punches, the brave supermarket worker called the police for assistance. He immediately owned up to causing the facial injuries to the raider, who was carrying the balaclava used in the two robberies in his pocket. The have-a-go hero is unlikely to face assault charges as witnesses vouched that he had defended himself after being threatened with the knife. n

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

TENERIFE GENERAL

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

19

Promotion

Restaurant Sommergarten

By Jürgen Stollin The Sommergarten, or Summer Garden, is a delightful restaurant and café that offers German cuisine and is located close to the seafront near Puerto Colón, just behind Club Atlantis.

It is a perfect location for dining during the daytime and, as it is located a few steps back from the sea, now that the evenings are becoming a little cooler it is also nicely protected from the breezes. You can relax on the beautiful sun terrace or, if you prefer a little more shelter, inside the pleasantly shaded restaurant.

The owners and all the staff are German but can attend all nationalities. When we arrived at the Sommergarten, we were greeted by a friendly waiter who escorted us to a table of our choice and invited us to order drinks. Looking around, we could see that this restaurant is very clean, and we found this applied to the toilets too – always good to see. We learned that the waiter serving us had worked in top restaurants in Germany and the Canaries, and that the chef is fully qualified.

We initially worried that the big TV screens showing sports would be too much of a distraction, but our fears were unjustified as the volume level was most acceptable. The other tables in the restaurant then filled very quickly as a football match began.

After our second glass of Veltins, which is said to be one of the best German beers avail-

Sommergarten, they also have an extremely tempting cake counter if you only fancy a sweet snack and maybe a cup of coffee or a drink. Chil-

able, we ordered our food. The menu is well designed, and offers German delights, ranging from soups to sausages to Schnitzels, to satisfy even the hungriest diners. It also has steaks, high quality fish and pasta dishes, and there are notes for any guests who need to avoid certain ingredients due to health concerns.

Only 22 minutes after we placed our order, our starters - prawns in garlic oil, baked

squid rings with alioli, soup of the day, plus bread and butter - were brought to our table, all mouthwateringly delicious. For our main course we ordered a plate of mixed salad with chicken breast, ham, cheese and egg, Sommergarten pork medallions in cream sauce (we especially recommend this) and rump steak with fried onions. All were accompanied by fried potatoes and herb butter. The meat was suc-

culent and wonderfully tender, and the salad crispy and fresh: so tasty! However, the portions were enormous, so for dessert we only ordered one waffle with hot cherries, vanilla ice cream and cream to share between us, and we rounded off our excellent meal with a cappuccino.

Our compliments go to the kitchen staff for the wonderfully prepared food, and to our waiter for his attentive but non intrusive service. The background music, when played, is clearly aimed at German clients, but for us it served to enhance the atmosphere. You don’t have to order full meals at the

dren are made welcome too.

For sports fans, the Sommergarten shows live football matches from the Bundesliga, the Champions League and the European League. You can also watch Formula 1 races on the large screens.

Enjoy the refined atmosphere with a cool, freshly pulled Pils, quench your appetite with one of the tasty dishes from the menu, or between midday and 3pm you can take advantage of the daily specials served with a Spanish liqueur.

Once you’ve visited Sommergarten, tasted the excellent food and experienced its friendly and efficient service, you’re sure to want to return again and again, as so many clients already do. If you’re driving, there is a car park opposite the restaurant. No

wonder the Sommergarten has achieved a high rating on TripAdvisor, where English visitors describe it as brilliant. n Try it soon!

Sommergarten Restaurant Avenida de Colón Near Puerto Colón Costa Adeje Tenerife Tel: 922 080 374 www.facebook.com/ SommergartenTeneriffa

FOOD

20

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

Terraza del Botánico

My Botanical Destination

By John How nice it is to go back to a favourite restaurant; somewhere where one knows in advance that the food will be good, the staff will give a nod and a smile of welcome, and the chef/patron will pop out from the kitchen to shake one’s hand.

Such a place is Terraza del Botánico, where Julio, the chef/patron plies his trade.

In a line of competing eateries directly opposite to the entrance to the famous Botanical Gardens in La Paz, Puerto de la Cruz, you have to do things a bit differently to stand out from the crowd.

For me, this is the reliability of the offer and the friendliness of the welcome.

We often pop in for one of the famous monster burgers at lunchtime. You can choose between black Canarian pork or beef, and I am sure that you will not get a better one anywhere in Puerto. Costing €9.50 they come with a heap of salad garnish and the ubiquitous French fries. Salads, too, are splendiferous. A chunk of salmon that has been

smoked, a mixture of leaves, some fruit (a little odd that, but no matter) and the usual salad accompaniments make

Terraza del Botánico Calle Retama 3, Edificio Retama, Local 4/5 La Paz, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife Tel: 922 376 027 Open: 12 noon to 11 pm Loo Score: 8/10 nished. There is a whole section devoted to different salads, and pasta and fish feature strongly. I have previously enjoyed a large dish of the tagliatelle with salmon and prawns (€8.50). Or, of course, you might opt for fillet steak or chicken in various guises, usually with a twist. Portion sizes are generous.

Wines? Yes, there is an excellent list, with the peninsula featuring as well as a goodly selection of local ones. Perhaps the house wine needs a little work on it, though.

Morning coffee, just an ice cream, lunch (a kids menu is for a plate for a trencherman, all for €11.50.

Today Julio rushes out to suggest that we try his new soup, just ready on the stove. Soup?

On a hot day like this? We are seduced by his cheery smile, and very soon a large bowl of his home-made chicken broth

arrives. In addition to the large chunks of tender chicken, there are carrot, celery, mushrooms aplenty, beans and lots more.

The heaped bowl is enough for two; it is bursting with flavour and we demolish it with gusto.

Julio is branching out with some special offers, and they seem to attract a good regular clientele. Tonight he will be hosting an Andalusian themed evening. His young waitresses will be decked out in traditional flamenco dresses, all red and black with a multitude of flounces. Balloons and buntings are being interwoven across the parasols. All the tables, inside and out, are booked in advance for these special events. He tells us that

there will be three starters (you get all three, not a choice of just one) consisting of cold cuts of Ibérico meats, homemade gazpacho, and prawns from Huelva (the best and most succulent).

Main courses are to be hot Ibérico pork with a red-wine gravy or a thick slice of fresh tuna, seared just so. Both will be served with appropriate vegetables. And to finish, if you have room, a selection of desserts.

But back to the day-to-day offerings. Do you want to start with home made croquetas (€5) or ensaladilla of prawns (€5.50) or a choice of very tasty Montaditos (€5)? If that sounds expensive for a

Montadito, believe me that it is not; they come with pate, or brie or fillet steak, all gar-

on display), or a full blown dinner? The choice is yours and you will not be disappointed. n

027

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

I Got You Babe

Legends Live proudly presents a series of concerts by classic groups from the 70s, 80s and 90s that will take place every month in the south of Tenerife.

As part of this project, organisers are pleased to announce the arrival of legendary British reggae/pop act UB40 on March 18 to the auditorium of the Pirámide de Arona in Playa de Las Américas. Tickets to see UB40 are on sale now and available from www. ticketbell.com.

During 2016, Legends Live will organise a series of seven exclusive concerts by bands and solo artists popular in the decades before the turn of the millennium. The venue seats 1,500 people and spectators will enjoy a unique opportunity to see acts that were enormously popular in the recent past and now perform nostalgia tours to audi-

ences that continue to love their music.

Legends Live begins in March and will continue in April, May, July, September, October and November. The UB40 concert kicks off the proceedings and organisers are expecting huge interest from tourists and foreign residents who fondly remember the group’s success, particularly during the 1980s and 90s. However, Legends Live also expects that many Canarians will be excited by the announcement of the group’s arrival.

Information about the concerts, news and where to buy tickets can be found on Legend Live’s social media pages: www.legendslive.es; Facebook (Legends Live TF); and Twitter (legendslivetf).

UB40 come to Spain with three of their key original band members; their distinctive lead vocalist and frontman

Photo: Stuart Sevastos CC 2.0

UB40 concert in March

UB40’s distinctive frontman Ali Campbell arrives in Tenerife with other band members in March

Ali Campbell , Astro on percussions and vocals, and Mickey Virtue on keyboards.

The band formed in December 1978 in Birmingham, England.

The ethnic makeup of the origi-

nal line-up was diverse, with musicians of English, Scottish, Irish, Yemeni and Jamaican parentage. The eight original band members (Ali Campbell, Robin Campbell, James Brown, Earl Falconer, Norman Hassan, Brian Travers, Michael Virtue and Astro) knew each other from various schools across Birmingham and their name was selected in reference to the signing-on document issued to people claiming unemployment benefit at the time of their formation (Unemployment Benefit, Form 40).

Chrissie Hynde, lead singer of The Pretenders, saw them play after recording their first demo and offered them to support her on The Pretenders’ 1979 tour. The following year they released their first album, Signing Off, and created their own record company: DEP International. The band rose to fame in 1983 with their cover of

Neil Diamond’s Red Red Wine, which hit the number one spot in the UK and US. The album of cover versions it featured on, Labour of Love, also went to number one in the UK album charts, and number eight in the US. Over the subsequent decades the band has continued to enjoy success through classic albums such as Baggariddim in 1985, Rat in the Kitchen in 1986, and their first live album, CCCP: Live in Moscow in1987.

Notable hit singles include: Many Rivers to Cross, I Got You Babe (featuring Chrissie Hynde), Rat in Mi Kitchen, Homely Girl, Kingston Town, and I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You. UB40 have had more than 50 UK chart singles and achieved considerable international success, selling over 70 million n records.

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22

HOLIDAY GUIDE

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

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

Los Gigantes

Los Gigantes

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.

Fañabé

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-

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

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

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.

Adán Martín Auditorium

Photo: Jordi Verdés Padrón

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.

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

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

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

Photo: Stellab

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.

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-

Garajonay National Park, La Gomera

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.

El Hierro 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

Los Indianos Carnival, La Palma

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.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

24

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.

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

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

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

25 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.

Santa Cruz de La Palma

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

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

Taxis: Radiotaxis La Palma: (0034) 922 181 396 www.taxilapalma.com: 686 553868 Radiotaxi San Miguel: (0034) 922 416 070

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

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

La Palma

Check out our reviews on Tripadvisor

Pickup Point 2nd Home Tenerife C.C. Plaza del Duque

HOLIDAY GUIDE SPIN NEWS

26

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

Holiday activities

Eclipse Reggae

Jurassic PIT

Classic art

The CajaCanarias Cultural Centre in Santa Cruz is once again home to an impressive collection which is worth incorporating into a trip to the city.

Entitled ‘Objects speak’ the gallery is currently hosting 60 works which are on loan from the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The exhibition is an enlightening mix of paintings and objets d’art from European art schools from between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. The pieces have been specially chosen for their artistic, but sometimes overshadowed, merit. Among those on show, the creations include masterpieces by greats such as Rubens, Sorolla, Zurbarán, Murillo, Goya and Ribera.

for all the family to enjoy – all with a big emphasis on dinosaurs.

This wonderland of fun is an event which aims to promote interaction between the different age groups, uniting them under one roof where they can enjoy a unique experience together.

With this year’s theme, the event promises to be one

of the best yet. PIT will be open on December 18 from 3pm to 8pm, and December 20 to 23, and December 26 to 30 from 10am to 8pm.

On December 24 and 31 it opens from 10am to 3pm, on December 25 from 3pm to 8pm, on January 1 from 3pm to 8pm, from January 2 to 4 from 10am to 8pm, and finally on January 5 from

10am to 3pm. Entry costs €8, and is free of charge for the over 65s and children under two years old, on presentation of identification documents.

The Recinto Ferial is on the Avenida de la Constitución in Santa Cruz. Car parking is available opposite the venue, in front of the Parque Marítimo. See www.pit-tenerife. n com.

Madrid museum on the move Just one of the great masterpieces on loan from the Museo del Prado in Madrid

Photo: Cajacanarias.com

The family event known as PIT, the Parque Infantil y Juvenil de Tenerife, returns to the Recinto Ferial in Santa Cruz every year during the festive season.

This year it becomes a Jurassic PIT which will house attractions, games, fun activities, educational workshops and entertainment aimed at children and youngsters, as well as plenty of attractions

20th anniversary in La Laguna

The itinerant collection has already had successful showings around many Spanish cities and is now at the Espacio Cultural CajaCanarias, in the Plaza del Patriotismo, until

January 16. The gallery is open Monday to Friday, 11am to 1pm and 5pm to 8pm, and Saturdays 10am to 2pm. It is closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

See: www.cajacanarias.com for more information on the Tenerife exhibition or: www. museodelprado.es for an exciting look at the musen um’s collection.

Eclipse Reggae will be celebrating their career with a live concert in La Laguna, during which they will present their latest compilation album Eclipse Reggae 20 años.

Formed in Arafo, Tenerife, in 1996, they are considered to be one of the main reggae groups on the Canarian music scene. They already have four albums on the market: Rasta, released in 2001, Buenos Momentos in 2003, a compilation called 15 años con Eclipse released in 2011, and Mucho Amor in 2013. They have also produced five successful video clips - promoted on the main Spanish television channels - and have taken their fresh and happy fusions around festivals in the Canaries and across Spain.

Eclipse Reggae have also shared stages with numerous well known artists including The Original Wailers, Stanley Beckford, Turbulence, Queen Ifrica, Chukkie Starr, Cañaman, the Fully Fullwood Band and former member of Aswad, Brinsley Forde.

Eclipse Reggae will be on stage with their feel-good show at the Teatro Leal on December 10 at 9pm.

See www.teatroleal.com for more information. n

Reduce, recycle, reuse

Learning the three ‘Rs’ If your child is at primary or infant school in Granadilla de Abona this is a good time to help them support their school’s recycling campaign.

In a competition that runs until May 2016, for the second year running schools in the area will be collecting recyclable containers (tins, plastic bottles etc.) in the hope of winning prizes of school materials that add up to €9,000. All 14 of the borough’s education establishments for younger pupils are taking part in one of the following categories: Schools with less than 100 students: those with between 100 and 350 pupils; and those with over 350. Last year an incredible 1,700 full containers were gathered from just participating schools.

Running alongside the collection campaign will be a number of events and educational activities, so why not make this a weekend game too and support the schools in their efforts. Sending plenty of recycling in will also be a big help for the ‘Danos la lata’ campaign. Why not ask your child’s teacher how best to get involved.

See: www.granadilladeabona.org for more information. n

HOLIDAY GUIDE SPIN NEWS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

Swallows’ painting group

Birds of a feather…

The aptly named winter-resident ‘swallows’ are gathering around the Islands once again and a Los Cristianos group are inviting you to join them in their artistic endeavours.

If you are already a painter or have an ambition to take up the brushes then you can get together with like-minded fellows in the southern Tenerife town on Thursday mornings.

Enthusiasts of all standards gather their canvases and materials for outdoor painting sessions to capture the beautiful landscape of the island. For those who would rather paint indoors, the group runs easy-going workshops.

There is even help on hand in watercolours, acrylics or pastels for those just starting out. As members of the group attest: “We all have to start somewhere, do not be shy.” So why not make 9.30am Thursday mornings a date for your diary and make a trip to meet a friendly group of artists who make every art day a special and enjoyable one.

For more information call Jacqueline on 922 738 143 or n Barbara on 922 715 181.

The Swallows art group produces some fantastic work – and so can you

Tegueste trails

On your hike!

On December 12, catch the last of Tegueste’s guided tours that are aimed at highlighting the attractions of the region.

In a full programme which has seen hikes in, amongst other places, Santiago del Teide, Garachico, Anaga, El Médano and El Sauzal as well as on other islands and the Peninsula, the emphasis has been on enjoying and learning about the natural environment. However, this month’s walk will take in a number of the area’s bodegas so a taste of fine n wines may be on the menu.

27

Great gospel

Singing Christmas for Ray Charles There’s a hand-clapping treat in store for fans of the genre with the visit of the Jubilation Gospel Choir to Santa Cruz on December 13.

The Jubilation Choir formed in Montreal, Canada, in 1982. Its long and impressive record encompasses both traditional and contemporary gospel that has delighted audiences for decades. They have performed with such greats as Celine Dion, Oliver Jones, Martine St-Clair, and The New Kids on the Block and regularly sing out at some of the world’s best music festivals.

The choir has recorded eleven CDs, some of which have won Juno Awards, and was joint winner of the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Gospel Album for the compilation Oh happy day with Queen Latifah: An all-star musical celebration that also featured Jon Bon Jovi and Joss Stone amongst others.

Another exciting moment that marked the history of the group and gospel music in general

Two in one

If you are out and about in La Orotava on December 19 you’ll have chance to catch a couple of conveniently timed concerts which are both taking place in the town centre.

Starting at 8.30pm at the Room Club in the Plaza del Quinto, Superalejandrito - the new alter ego of Alejandro Ramos – will give a free acoustic show to present his latest EP, entitled Spiritual Exercises.

Born in Gran Canaria, Ramos is a veteran legend of modern music in the islands. Acting as producer and video-clip

was the union of the legendary singer, saxophonist and pianist Ray Charles and the voices of the Jubilation Choir. Together, they created an unprecedented musical show, not only to entertain the crowds, but also to spread a positive message to the whole of society. Ray Charles had never before sung gospel but was soon engulfed by the happy and celebratory world of the genre in a spectacular performance which touched the soul of millions of viewers and is still popular to this day.

The Choir’s show at the Adán Martín Auditorium will pay tribute to the great artiste with a range of specially adapted Christmas classics such as Hark the Herald Angels Sing and The Little Drummer Boy. So if you would like to enjoy a little festive spirit and some incredible singing see: http:// auditoriodetenerife.com for more information and tickets.

The show starts at 8pm and n entrance costs €23.

La Orotava rocks Alejandrito’s new EP entitled Spiritual Exercises

Photo: LaAgenda.org

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

maker for a variety of bands in the 1980s, he went on to form the successful Hermanitas duo as well as playing in various

other groups. From one creative activity to another, Ramos then took to writing, publishing various books on music in the

Canary Islands. Never far from his passion, however, Ramos now returns as a solo artist with his five-song EP. Later the same evening, and just round the corner from the Room Club, you can see Pumuky at the Café Quilombo from 11pm onwards. The funky band, made up of Jaír Ramírez, Noé Ramírez, Adán Zeus and Daniel Benavides, all from the Canary Islands, has a long and successful history.

Entrance costs €4.

See the individual artists’ facebook pages for more n information.

28

HOLIDAY GUIDE WHATS ON 2015

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

December

December

TENERIFE

GRAN CANARIA DIARY DATES December 3 8.30pm: Autumn Jazz Festival, Luis Merino 4tet, €10, Teatro Guiniguada, C/Mesa de León, LPGC. 8.30pm: The Nutcracker, ballet, Moscow Ballet Company, From €29, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, LPGC. www.entradas.com.

December 4 8pm: Guided wine tasting, €6, Plaza Tifariti (booking required), followed at 9pm by wine and tapas stalls with live music, Avenida Juan Carlos I, Valsequillo. 928 705 011 Exts 0622/0629/0630/0632.

DIARY DATES

stalls, in favour of Ansina disabled association, Local Sociocultural, Vega de San Mateo.

December 11 9pm: Guitar music, Free concert, Terraza Cayrasco, Plaza de Cairasco, LPGC.

10.00am - 8pm: Christmas Market, workshops, bouncy castles, magic act at noon in the Plaza del Pino, Vega de San Mateo.

8.00pm: Organ concert by Mar Tejadas, Free entry, Iglesia de San Sebastián, Agüimes.

December 13

December 15 8.30pm: Beatles Tribute, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, LPGC. December 6 - 12 Mogán coast cycle race, be aware that it could affect access to places like Roque Nublo, Aldea de San Nicolas and Mogán. www.lacicloturista. com/ Every Sunday until December 25 11.30am, Traditional Canarian dancing and singing, Free entry, Pueblo Canario, Calle Francisco González Díaz, LPGC.

EXHIBITIONS

December 5

From December 4 until January 7

12pm, 4pm and 6pm: Peppa Pig – Treasure Hunt, puppets, (in Spanish) from €15, (under 1’s free), Centro Civico Carrizal, Ingenio. entrees.es/.

12.30pm: Dale al Play, Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria play themes from videogames, €5, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, LPGC. www.entradas.com.

8.30pm: Abba Live, Golden Tribute, €10, Teatro Guiniguada, LPGC. 9pm: Gospel Canarias Festival, Chicago Mass Choir, as above.

Stunning sand nativity scene, Free entry, Playa de Las Canteras, LPGC.

December 6 10.00am - 2.00pm: Avocado fair, live music, parades, craft stalls, children’s workshops, Free entry, Plaza Pérez Galdós, Arguineguín, Mogán.

11.30am: Concert by the Banda de la Sociedad Musical Villa de Ingenio, Teatro Pérez Galdós, LPGC. 928 433 334 7.30pm: Swan Lake, ballet, Moscow Ballet company, From €35, Teatro Victor Jara, Vecindario – Santa Lucía de Tirajana. www. entradas.com.

December 10 Afternoon: children’s workshops, magic, craft

December 3

December 16

8pm: German Romanticism, classical music concert by Augusto Canto, accompanied by Javier Lazo, Schubert’s Winterreise, €15, Liceo de Taoro, in front of the Plaza de Constitución, La Orotava. info@liceodetaoro.es.

8pm: German Romanticism, classical music, violin concert by the Orquesta del Conservatorio Superior de Canarias, conductor José María Vicente, soloist Javier Lazo, Beethoven and Schumann, €15, Liceo de Taoro, in front of the Plaza de Constitución, La Orotava. info@liceodetaoro.es.

December 4

December 12

10.00am - 8pm: Christmas Market, as above, Vega de San Mateo.

11.30am: Concert by the Bands of the A.C. Guayedra de Agaete and A.C. Aires de La Aldea, Teatro Pérez Galdós, LPGC. 928 433 334.

9pm: Gospel Canarias Festival, Chicago Mass Choir, A Spiritual Tribute to B.B. King, Tickets from €15, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, LPGC. www.entradas.com.

9pm: Boleros and Tangos, Free concert, Terraza Cayrasco, Plaza de Cairasco, LPGC.

Two National Holiday days fall at the start of December: the 6th (which is a Sunday so the holiday is carried forward to the 7th) and the 8th. Banks and some shops may be closed.

5pm: Cake making workshop (Christmas Treats), Casa del Vino de Tenerife, Calle San Simón, 49, El Sauzal, organised by Pastelería Díaz. 922 626 202/atencionalcliente@pasteleriadiaz.com.

December 6 4pm and 6pm: Peppa Pig – Treasure Hunt, puppets, (in Spanish) from €19, (under 1’s free), Auditorio Infanta Leonor, Los Cristianos. entrees.es/.

8pm: Gospel Canarias Festival, The Latonius Gospel Choir, Free entry, Iglesia de San Antonio de Padua, Granadilla de Abona.

8.30pm: Gospel Canarias Festival, Chicago Mass Choir, A Spiritual Tribute to B.B. King, Tickets €8 advance purchase, €10 on the night, Auditorio de Guía Isora. www.gospelcanarias.com.

December 7 8.00pm: Gospel Canarias Festival, Chicago Mass Choir, show as above, From €12, Teatro Leal, La Laguna. entrees.es.

8.30pm: Swan Lake, ballet, Moscow Ballet Company, Tickets €29-€38, Teatro Guimerá, Santa Cruz. www.teatroguimera.es.

December 8 8.00pm: Gospel Canarias Festival, Chicago Mass Choir, La Laguna, as above. entrees.es.

8.30pm: The Nutcracker, ballet, Moscow Ballet Company, Tickets €29-€38, Teatro Guimerá, Santa Cruz. www.teatroguimera.es.

December 10 9pm: Eclipse, reggae concert, €10, Teatro Leal, La Laguna. www.teatroleal.com.

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.

Guía de Isora, Thursday to Sunday, 28 bars and restaurants offer a tapa and a drink (water, soft drink, beer, wine) for €2.50, some only available during specific times of the day.

Until December 13 Daily, 34 bars and restaurants are taking part in the Granadilla de Abona tapas route. www. sensacionesgranadilla.com.

Every Monday and Wednesday Yoga for Children, 5.30pm - 6.15pm, Caracola Espacio En Movimiento, Calle San Agustín 5, La Laguna. 610 630 765/caracolaespacioenmovimiento@gmail.com.

Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday Canarias Folk Fest, parade, regional costumes, traditional dancing, singing, crafts and tastings in Las Galletas and Los Cristianos. Thursday – Rambla Dionisio González, Las Galletas, Friday – Avenida Las Américas (Golden Mile), Playa Las Américas and Saturday – Plaza de la Pescadera and Paseo Marítimo (Avenida Juan Alfonso Bautista), Los Cristianos. Thursday and Saturday, 5pm - 8.30pm, Friday 8.30pm.

Every Saturday morning Events for specific groups, families, seniors, women etc., Activate Sports Club, opposite the entrance to the Baobab Suites, Calle Roques del Salmor, Costa Adeje. www.tenerifeactivate.com.

EXHIBITIONS

December 12

Until December 3

Hiking, Historical wine route of Tegueste. 922 316 102.

All day: Cinema festival with showings of short films (mainly in Spanish), Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre, Free, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. santacruzcineyred.com.

5.00pm-1am: Christmas market, sports events, bouncy castles, story-telling (in Spanish), workshops, music, theatre etc. Calle Grande, Adeje.

9.30pm: Gospel Canarias Festival, The Latonius Gospel Choir, Free Entry, Plaza de España, Adeje.

10pm: Oldskool Hardcore, various DJs, tickets €4 in advance, €7 on the door. Taboos Disco, back street San Blas (Golf del Sur - Tenerife).

See: www.viejostiempos.net

Pasión Isleña, photographs by Alexis Martín Padilla, Free entry, Casa de la Juventud, Adeje, Monday to Friday, 10am-1pm and 5pm – 8pm. www.adeje.es.

December 13 Until January 10

Until December 6

8pm: Jubilation Gospel Choir, concert, Tribute to Ray Charles, €23, Auditorio Adán Martiín, Santa Cruz. auditoriodetenerife.com.

December 15 Sushi, El Jinete sin Cabeza Restaurante, Bencomo 23, La Laguna. 622 886 288/eljinetesincabeza23@gmail.com.

Until December 13 Aedificator, urban reflections in modern sculptures, Javier de la Rosa, Free Entry, TEA, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tuesday to Sunday, 10am 8pm. www.teatenerife.es.

Until January 17 Los Objetos Hablan (Objects speak), paintings and objets d’art on loan from the Museo del Prado, Madrid. Includes works by Rubens, Sorolla, Zurbarán, Murillo, Goya and Ribera, Free entry, Monday to Friday, 11am - 2pm and 5pm - 8pm, and Saturday 10am - 2pm. obrasocial.lacaixa.es.

Until January 31 Vivencias de la cumbre (Living in the hills), photography, a collection of old Tenerife pastoral hill scenes, beekeepers, snow collectors, goatherds, charcoal makers etc., TEA, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Daily, 9am – 8-30pm.

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

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

MUSIC

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

29

Qfm Music Review

The Jazz Roja Festival: music for all ages Regular listeners to Qfm, Qmusic.com and Qfm2 together with readers of this column will know how much we love to promote and celebrate local artists and live music on our stations.

Never more so than when we have the opportunity to showcase artists in our own festival called Jazz Roja in El Médano.

Recently there were a series of eight free open air concerts and, even if we do say so ourselves, it was great! Thirteen groups performed over seven nights at eight venues, with extra performances from the AMAE scenic arts academy.

The streets and plazas of El Médano came alive with a vibe only live performances and an enthusiastic audience can

Contraband at the Barracuda Bar

The Fermín Rivero Trio at the Flashpoint Bar

Blues News at the Veinte 04 Surf Café

Abraxas in the Plaza Roja

create. We had tourists, residents and swallows alike pass comments like “I never knew there was such talent here,”

KnaJazz at the Santa María Restaurant

and “the standard of musicianship is incredibly high,” and even “I didn’t think I’d like it because it’s jazz, but

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you can really move to it”. The first comments were made by an elderly gentleman, the second by a middle aged lady and

the latter by a young girl on holiday jiving away with her friends outside the iconic Hotel Médano, just highlighting how music knows no age.

We’d like to take the opportunity to thank everyone involved, particularly our sponsors, all the artists, venues and venue staff, technicians, volunteers and the Granadilla Council, all without whom it would not have been possible.

Finally a special thank you to all the people that came along to enjoy the events and we hope you’ll all do the same n next year.

30

SPOTLIGHT

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

Spotlight on Sarah Kennedy

Dr Blonde and Miss Modus The intriguing alter ego of a professional psychiatrist moonlighting as a headlining singer with an impressive recording history is certainly an interesting one, and Sarah Kennedy plays both roles with sublime style.

The Scotsman newspaper dubbed her ‘Dr Blonde’ in a series of articles that covered her 12-year spell in the funk band Modus; The Times recently called her one of the Top 25 People to Watch, and The Herald announced her as one of the Top Three Most Eligible Scotswomen – not bad for a liaison psychiatrist at the Royal Infirmary Hospital in Edinburgh and renowned transgender therapist!

Born and raised in the Scottish capital, Sarah always loved performing as a child. “I was a bit of a loner at school and I wasn’t the doll-playing type so I used to spend hours at home preparing little shows and dressing up – I was always singing around the house”. Sarah initially wanted to become a vet after school but chose medicine instead as she felt it would give her better opportunities to travel and branch into other areas.

Sarah obtained her degree in medicine at Dundee University, the same time she formed her first band with her brother Scott and four other members called Instant Replay, performing 70s funk and disco standards. “I loved that period with Instant Replay, from that moment I knew I’d always be in a band. Even now that I have a lot of solo projects going on and could concentrate more on that, I just love being part of a group dynamic too much to ever consider leaving it”.

On the ITV show Mel and Sue with Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc

Sarah Kennedy: performer Sarah Kennedy: NHS psychiatrist Performing with Dirty Harry, Sarah’s Blondie tribute act With Debbie Harry during the filming of a BBC documentary

Her brother, the band’s drummer, was heavily influenced by the Mod scene of the 1960s and the music of associated bands like The Who and The Small Faces, and the group gradually morphed into a 60s psychedelic rock band based on the soul and mod music of the decade. They took on the classically stylish 60s look – with Sarah unashamedly borrowing from her idol Julie Driscoll – and the group changed their name to Modus, enjoying many years on the Scottish circuit and European festival scene. The band also went on to record three albums for Hammondbeat Records in the US. Professionally, Sarah was moving away from medicine and branching into the field of psychiatry: “I think a lot of cre-

ative people like to get into the mindset of others and have good empathy skills, and as an artist I’ve always had a strong interest in other people and how they think. The subject fascinates me and the field of psychiatry best suits my personality”. Sarah currently helps people with chronic illnesses and limited health, as well as specialising as a transgender therapist. She has previously worked in community psychiatry, general adult psychiatry and rehabilitation, always within the NHS “for social and moral reasons”. “I like having freedom and never wanted to get trapped in one field, it’s important for me to move forward and try other things. Medicine is my stable relationship whereas music allows me to

express outside of myself, so it’s important for me to take my profession very seriously and continually progress”.

After more than a decade with Modus, Sarah now performs in a Debbie Harry/Blondie tribute act called Dirty Harry, which has been receiving rave reviews and gaining a broad support base throughout Scotland.

She also performs and records under the pseudonym Miss Modus, and collaborated with the Italian funk outfit The Link Quartet on their 2013 concept album Hotel Constellation, as well as Groovy Uncle (Glenn Pragnell) on his release, Persuaded. The World of Miss Modus, her first solo album, is expected to hit the streets

in March 2016, with Groovy Uncle writing and producing all 12 tracks. It will be available on CD, vinyl and download. Sarah also worked with BRIT Awards winners Belle and Sebastian in 2010 and, being an avid cook, she won the Scottish final of ITV’s Britain’s Best Dish. This subsequently led to her performing on the first ever episode of Mel and Sue earlier this year alongside the singer and TV presenter Gareth Malone. As the show’s guest chef, she got to make crispy duck stuffed with jalapenos in a whiskey barbecue sauce for Absolutely Fabulous star, Jennifer Saunders!

Sarah and her Dirty Harry band members also featured

on a BBC documentary broadcast earlier this year called Viva Variety where several camera crews followed three UK-based tribute bands over a four month period. During the filming, Sarah had the privilege of meeting Debbie Harry in person – the very person she spends so much time emulating.

On the live circuit, Miss Modus and Dirty Harry perform regularly at European festivals, Mod revival events and Rewind festivals, as well as being a prominent name on the Scottish scene.

At the time of going to press, Sarah and Dirty Harry have just been confirmed as the supporting band for the highly-anticipated reunion tour of the Bay City Rollers, including dates all over the UK and possibly worldwide! The tour ends with a date at the Hammersmith Apollo in London and the band have just been signed to the Bay City Roller’s management company, catapulting them even further into the stratosphere. Island Connections will follow this exciting new development closely in the coming editions.

For more information on Dirty Harry visit the website: www. dirtyharryblondietribute.co.uk.

For further details on Miss Modus/Dr. Sarah Kennedy go to: www.facebook.com/missn modus1.

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

BLEVINS FRANKS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

31

To ‘QROPS or not to QROPS’?

By Paul Montague, Partner, Blevins Franks

You need to carefully consider all your options for your pension funds, and how they affect your income, tax bills and the transfer of the balance to your heirs. British retirees have a wide range of possibilities to choose from today, and expatriates have the further option of Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes.

QROPS were introduced in 2006 to enable Britons who have permanently moved abroad to simplify their affairs by taking their pension savings with them. HM Revenue & Customs has since made various revisions to the rules – and where it deems rules have been broken it can apply a 55 per cent tax charge of the transfer amount - and delisted large numbers of QROPS from various jurisdictions. There is now far more complexity in the QROPS market than people realise.

“British retirees have a wide range of possibilities to choose from today, and expatriates have the further option of Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes.”

QROPS have been widely advertised as the answer for British expatriates. In some cases they are, but QROPS are not a ‘one size fits all’ solution. You need to look at how they work, what the alternatives are, and your personal circumstances and objectives, before establishing what would be the

most effective individual solution for you.

All QROPS are not the same.

Look at the jurisdiction they are based in (legislation, restrictions, investment environment etc), how the product is structured, and the provider. It is important to consider the tax implications in the jurisdiction,

the UK and in Spain.

Today there is the further important question of whether and when QROPS can apply the new UK pension freedom.

To prevent QROPS from paying out all the benefits, HMRC previously made non EU QROPS providers declare

that at least 70 per cent of the transferred fund would be used to pay an income for life. It has since confirmed that from April 6, 2015, a QROPS can allow the same degree of flexible access as a UK defined contribution scheme. However, for jurisdictions bound by QROPS rules to offer an income for life, it has yet to agree how they can overrule that provision. So, for now those schemes, which include Guernsey, Gibraltar, New Zealand and Isle of Man, must continue with the pre April 6, 2015, regime.

EU QROPS have not needed to comply with this 70 per cent rule and are free to offer full flexible access.

Under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules, transfers from defined benefit (final salary) schemes over £30,000 to defined contribution schemes or QROPS require a review by an adviser with a suitable pension transfer qualification and regulated by the FCA. Expatriates need local advice, particularly tax advice for Spain, so ideally use an advisory firm with advisers living locally and

a UK regulated pension transfer specialist.

Pensions are a specialist area and care must be taken to make the right decision for your circumstances and objectives. It is advisable to have an adviser who is FCA regulated and capable of carrying out the in-depth analysis you need to establish whether to ‘QROPS or to not to QROPS’.

Summarised tax information is based upon our understanding of current laws and practices which may change. Individuals should 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 027

Road safety

Jaguar D-type

BMW

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A hallmark of Bowers & Wilkins’ leading 800 Series Diamond range of loudspeakers, Diamond is the ideal tweeter material, offering the perfect combination of lightness and rigidity to deliver crystal clear, lifelike treble for a truly revelatory audio experience.

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into the luxurious interior. The Diamond Surround Sound System also features other Bowers & Wilkins core transducer technologies in the form of Kevlar® midrange drive units and Rohacell® bass drivers.

In addition, the tweeters benefit from Nautilus spiral diffusers, a technology derived from Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus loudspeaker.

The result is that the finely tuned, carefully located 16speaker system delivers breathtakingly realistic, enveloping sound no matter where in the car you are seated.

The System is exclusively available as a premium option with the new BMW 7 Series. Well, Christmas is just around the n corner…

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to slow down or stop: from their elevated position they may be able to see something ahead that you are not aware of.

Stay back around one to two car lengths until it is safe to pass and drive slowly as you do, leaving as much room as possible between your vehicle and

5 YE AR

gers and act to reduce them as much as possible.

The basics are to slow right down as you approach and be prepared to stop altogether if required.

Keep your eye on the rider for any signals they may make, and always take notice of a request

R2

It is not unusual to see horses and livestock on the public highways

the horse, taking road width and conditions into account.

Maintain a slow speed for a while after you have overtaken and at no time rev your engine or make any sudden noises or movements which may startle the horse and make it bolt – you could put yourself, your passengers and the rider in danger.

A little forewarning can be useful. When driving in country areas look for clues such as the presence of stables, horse manure on the road, and open fields and gates, and adjust your speed accordingly.

In towns, horse and carriage rides for tourists are becoming more popular. Often the steeds used are well accustomed to being surrounded by traffic but still need treating with respect.

Always treat horses as a possible hazard and be patient and n courteous.

This superb book by Philip Porter and Chas Parker tells the story of one of the most historically interesting of all Jaguar D-types – a car that has raced more than any other D-type.

The long and varied life of XKD 504 is recounted in full, from its role as a works car used extensively for testing fuel injection, to two seasons of racing throughout Europe with Ecurie Ecosse, to four busy years of national competition in the hands of first Mike Salmon and then Peter Sutcliffe.

The text provides a fascinating insight into every aspect of this D-type’s history, supported by a fine collection of period photographs. Any Jaguar enthusiast will enjoy this addition to the ‘Great Cars’ series.

Content includes the car’s important work-testing role and two races in 1956, and two seasons with Ecurie Ecosse, including sixth place in the 1957 Monzanapolis, fifth place in the 1958 Goodwood Tourist Trophy and a trip to Sebring.

It also relates the happenings of the period 1959–61 when Mike Salmon raced the XKD 504 45 times, culminating in victory in the Autosport Three Hours at Snetterton, as well as Peter Sutcliffe’s crash on the XKD 504’s first outing of 1963.

The D-type’s active life in historic racing is also covered, including its long period in the ownership of Neil Corner, connoisseur collector and enthusiastic historic racer. Nearly 300 period photographs, many previously unpublished, supported by a portfolio of specially commissioned location photography, grace the pages of the tome.

Author Philip Porter is a Jaguar authority best known for his award-winning E-type books, notably The Definitive History and Ultimate E-type, as well as for running two successful Jaguar clubs, the XK Club and the E-type Club. His co-author, Chas Parker, swapped a career in astronomy for writing about motor sport, and his five books include comprehensive histories of Brands Hatch and Silverstone.

For more information about the book and others by the Porter Press International publishers visit: www.porterpress.co.uk. n

RIFE FO

As you wend your way along country roads you may, or may not, be startled to see a horse and rider in front of you.

There are many reasons why riders are on the public highways. Maybe they’re travelling to one of the popular ‘romeria’ livestock and animal fairs; that stretch of road may be the only way they can move the horse from one field to another; or they may simply be out for an enjoyable jaunt.

Horses and riders have the same right to be on the tarmac as cars do and usually there aren’t any problems, but incidents do occur: often because drivers are unaware of how to proceed safely.

Whilst most riders and their mounts are more than capable of dealing with traffic, horses can be unpredictable at times, especially when inexperienced, so the best thing to do is be aware of the potential dan-

Photo: Thomas Wang / FreeImages.com

Horsing around

Autobiography of XKD 504

NE

32

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

BUSINESS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

33

Línea Directa

Winter weather in Spain varies from year to year and region to region. Though snowfall in the Canary Islands is only likely in the highest mountains, if your car is parked outside during the worst of the winter months, or you’re planning to visit the interior, venture north, or drive in high altitude areas, there are still some simple steps you can take to prepare your car for winter.

Protecting against ice and frost Lights, heaters and wipers put high demands on the car battery and they have to work harder in colder weather. If your battery is over five years old it may be time to shop around for a replacement.

Also: Top up your windscreen wash with a more concentrated mix of antifreeze.

Give locks and mechanisms a spray with WD40. Cleaning and waxing your car will give the bodywork a coat of protection against temperature extremes.

Being prepared Make sure you have a phone charger in the car should you need to call for assistance. In the event you get stranded, there are some items that will make a difference; carry some blankets, a folding shovel, jump leads, tow-bar and tow rope – don’t underestimate possible extreme weather conditions in high mountain

Photo: Kantor.JH CC 3.0

Preparing your car for winter

Winter tyres are recommended for driving in the north of Spain or high altitude areas

areas here.

If colder weather is forecast, make sure you have a full tank of fuel, as you may need to keep the engine running to stay warm until help arrives. Check your insurance policy covers you for emergency breakdown and recovery.

Línea Directa provides for Road Assistance in their car insurance policies. This ensures that you receive immediate assistance by phone 24 hours a day. Our breakdown service will endeavour to get your car back on the road as soon as possible or tow your vehicle to your local repairer of choice in Spain.

Road safety During winter, driving conditions can become challenging. Winter tyres or cold weather tyres mean shorter stopping distances, reduce aquaplaning and improve han-

dling. If you haven’t changed to winter treads, road safety experts recommend 3mm of tyre depth as a minimum for winter driving.

Winter driving Breakdowns are more common at this time of year. The number of breakdowns can increase dramatically during extreme conditions. For safe, trouble-free driving at these times we recommend gentle manoeuvres, as stopping distances are ten times longer in snow and ice.

To avoid wheel spin, pull away in second gear, easing your foot gently off the clutch. Maintain a constant speed where possible, and if you do need to break, apply them gently and progressively. Leave plenty of room between you and the car in front.

If you get stuck, straighten the steering and clear any excess build up of snow from the wheels. You can get additional grip by putting a sack or old rug in front of the driving wheels. Once your car is moving, maintain a constant speed, avoiding rapid acceleration or deceleration and try not to stop until you reach firmer ground.

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

Dumped fruit controversy

It‘s bananas!

The government of the Canaries has reacted swiftly to mounting anger at fresh revelations at the tactics used by banana producers here to keep prices high.

Agriculture minister Narvay Quintero called for a rethink of the growers’ policy of dumping massive amounts of bananas in landfills rather than allow a glut of supply which would push prices down.

It has emerged in recent days that 11 million kilos of the fruit most associated with the Islands have been dumped so far in 2015, bringing to 42 million the kilos wasted in the last few years. The information was given in a Parliamentary session in which the government was asked to clarify the latest reports of wastage.

Regional MP Francisco Deniz said the practice was “inde-

cent” especially bearing in mind that the banana industry receives domestic and EU subsidies. Quintero admitted that although within the law - the EU allows up to five per cent of production to be withdrawn in special market circumstances - mass dumping was “incomprehensible to the public” and he would discuss alternatives with the major producers as soon as n possible.

A safe investment in stormy markets Stock markets have become a real rollercoaster ride for investors in the last four years.

The global financial crisis has plagued the majority of the western world, putting their economies in to a constant state of flux.

Returns on bank interest bearing accounts have now become the lowest they have ever been.

Taking inflation into account, real returns are nearly impossible to achieve.

Investors, who may have capital on deposit and are looking for a safe and secure investment, backed by an AA rated financial institution, should consider the following questions: • Do I want the capital I invest guaranteed not to fall?

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HEALTH

34

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

Stretch and stroll

Deskercise!

Photo: Bob Smith FreeImages.com

Start by simply stopping your work, sitting up straight and relaxing. Make sure your nose is in line with the centre of your chest and chin is parallel to the floor. Move the head backwards or forwards slightly until you can feel that the head, neck and

allel to the screen or a wall and facing straight ahead. With the underside of the chin parallel to the floor at all times, turn the head about 45 degrees to first one side and then the other, while keeping your shoulders facing forward.

Slowly repeat three times then return to the starting position and relax.

Being an office worker can be a pain in the neck...

Hold the stretch for three or four seconds. Relax, return to the starting position and repeat on the other side.

Centre back Extend one arm out in front of you and take hold of it just above the elbow. Gently move

spine are in one straight line.

Open the shoulders by moving them backwards slightly to a comfortable position. Relax.

Take a few breaths. You are now ready to begin the exercises…

Shake it out With the wrists nice and loose, shake the tensions out of them and the hands for a few moments. Then rub the ends of the fingers together for several seconds. Follow by making circles in both directions with the wrists.

Turning heads Stretch your neck out by turning your head to the sides. Start by positioning the shoulders par-

Photo: Carl Dwyer FreeImages.com

Back problems such as lumber pain are rife amongst desk workers

Photo: Julia Freeman-Woolpert FreeImages.com

For the millions of office workers around the world, the years of sitting rigidly at a desk, week after week, can have a terrible toll on their health.

Back problems, sciatica, neck ache, tight chest muscles, headaches, face pain, carpel tunnel syndrome, asymmetrical posture, shallow breathing, and slipped discs are just some of the conditions that can result from regularly sitting in one position for too many hours a day.

That’s not to say that every employee with a desk job will suffer from all of the above – but it stands a chance that all sedentary workers will be suffering from at least one of them.

Of course, it’s not just the eight hours at a desk that count, there’s also the drive or bus ride to work, unwinding on the couch in front of the television, sitting whilst you queue, and a long etc. that add up to a frightening amount of sitting hours per day.

Whilst the best answer is to simply not sit for so long, incorporating stretches and movement into your daily routine can make a big difference to your health and motivation.

Practised regularly, workplace stretching can improve flexibility, relieve aches and pains, contribute to better posture, reduce stress, and even give you an energy boost.

Fit in the following stretches at regular intervals throughout your day as often as you can – the more you do, the better you’ll feel.

Loosen up

Photo: Kubelik2 FreeImages.com

By Xena Fox

Don’t let the stress of a sedentary life ruin your health

the body facing forwards. Hold for up to half a minute before repeating with the other arm.

Upper arm arc In the neck Looking straight ahead and keeping the shoulders relaxed, slowly tilt your head, moving the ear towards your shoulder.

Headaches, neck ache, face pain, asymmetrical posture, and slipped discs are common conditions

the extended arm across the front of the body to the other side, maintaining the trunk of

Bend one arm and lift the elbow up towards the head. Place the other hand on the bent elbow to help stretch the arm backwards a little more. Hold for around 15 seconds. Relax and slowly return to the starting position

before repeating the stretch with the other arm.

Chest opener Place your hands behind your head without pushing forward.

Squeeze your shoulder blades together, bringing your elbows back as far as possible without causing discomfort. Hold for 10 or 20 seconds before bringing

Facing straight ahead, lower the chin towards the chest a little, shoulders relaxed. Hold for 15 to 20 seconds. Relax, lift the chin back to the starting position and repeat.

Lower back ease

Tippy toes Sitting firmly on the centre of your chair, extend your legs forward and, bending from the hips, reach toward your toes (it doesn’t matter if you can’t touch your toes – as far as you can is fine). Hold for a few breaths and feel your lower back ache melt away.

Steeple tower Place your palms together in front of you and extend both arms above the head (don’t overstretch), hands still touching. Consciously relax the shoulders. Hold for a couple of breaths. Lower the arms, relax and repeat. On the next move, lean your arms and shoulders to first one side then the other.

Reach to the sky Sit facing ahead, chin parallel to the floor. Now extend one arm up towards the ceiling and

Don’t be too attached to your screen - get up and move about

With the nose in line with the centre of the chest, lean the head forward slightly and slowly roll it towards one shoulder then the other. Repeat several times.

Photo: melodi2 FreeImages.com

Sit forward in your chair slightly.

Keep your back straight, being careful not to hunch forward.

Lift one of your knees towards your chest and use your hands to take hold of the back of the thigh and gently pull the leg further toward you. You will feel the stretch in your lower back and the upper part of your buttock. Hold for the count of 10. Relax, return to the starting position and repeat with the other leg.

No, no, no…

Clasp the hands together and raise above the head

then overhead to the opposite side without moving the head from its centre point. Return to start and repeat with the other arm.

Shrug it off Raise both shoulders at once up towards the ears. On an exhale, drop them back down. Relax and repeat several times.

Open it out Clasp one hand with the other behind your back. Push your chest forward, and raise the chin a little. Hold for about 15 seconds. Relax the shoulders and neck. Unclasp the hands and return to the starting position. Repeat.

Do the twist First, cross one leg over the other. Stretch the spine

minutes and try to do several times a day.

Dynamic refresher If you are feeling a mid-day slump try this vigorous wakeup routine. Put just five minutes aside for the following and you’ll soon be revitalised and enthusiastic for the day ahead….

Start by rubbing the hands together, rub the wrists too.

Sit up straight and relax a moment. Check your head and

cles with the shoulders: gently, smoothly. Forwards and then backwards. Then just sit straight up for a few moments, consciously relaxing. Inhale and slowly lift the shoulders towards the ears. Exhale and drop them down. Repeat twice more. Relax. Keeping the chin parallel to the floor, turn the head to the right without straining. Then gently turn it to the left, keeping the shoulders relaxed at all times. Repeat twice more. Sit up straight.

Up a notch All the above can be performed without even leaving your chair.

A good tip is to exhale into a stretch as it will allow you to extend more. But never overdo it: Don’t force any move further than is comfortable. And if you really want to do yourself a favour, once you’ve had a good stretch you could even try a couple of standing exercises as well…

Thunder thighs To stretch out the front of your thigh, first stand up straight and place one hand on a sturdy chair, desk or wall for stability.

Take hold of one of your ankles — or your trouser leg — and lift it up backwards towards your buttocks. Keep your back straight and upright. Hold for between 10 and 30 seconds.

Gently return to the starting position and repeat with the other leg.

Upright and sensible To retrain your spine and head into their proper alignment after years of hunching forward over a desk, first stand with your back against a wall, feet hip-width apart and parallel to each other, toes facing forward.

Place a rolled up towel between your lower back and the wall, and a second one behind your neck. Make yourself comfortable with your head, upper back and hips touching the wall. Hold for one to three

Move the head backwards or forwards slightly until you can feel that the head, neck and spine are in one straight line

neck are in line with the rest of your spine. Lengthen your back – imagine a cord pulling the top of your head towards the ceiling. Relax. Especially the shoulders. Start making cir-

35

Time to make a move…

As well as stretching, try to move about as much as possible.

Invent excuses to get out of your chair: take the stairs instead of the lift; go for a walk at lunchtime; stand up when using the phone…

Try to get up and about at least once every 30 minutes. If you have, or suspect you may have, any

Photo: Rebecca Carlson FreeImages.com

Chin tuck:

towards the ceiling then twist round towards the back of the chair without forcing the movement. Return back to centre, swap legs and repeat towards the other side.

Photo: Dragan Sasic FreeImages.com

the arms down, relaxing a moment and then repeating.

HEALTH

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760 Photo: Micah Watson FreeImages.com

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

When performing head and neck exercises keep the chin level

Take a deep breath. Exhale.

Make circles with the shoulders, forwards, backwards, three times. Rub the hands together and have a stretch.

You’re ready to go!

condition which could be adversely affected by exercise or stretching, it is recommended that you speak to your doctor before commencn ing any new routine.

HEALTH

36

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

Promotion

Brisa Gel Nails start at €25 for natural overlay, HD eyebrows at €16, Swedish back, neck and shoulder massage, €20; or MINX toenails with pedicure for just €30.

Mina is also offering a ‘spoil me’ package which allows you to choose two treatments, from a wide range from manicures through to massage and waxing, for only €40; the ideal pamper package to prepare yourself for Christmas.

Mina Coventry is excited about her latest venture and “looks forward to welcoming new clients to her beauty room for a first class beauty experience.”

Find Mina’s Nails & Beauty Room at Hairotorium, CC. San Telmo, Calle Habana, Los Cristianos. Call 922 792 523 or 602 662 628 for more inforn mation.

Making the most of movement

PNF in physiotherapy

By Elena Herz

Photo: Horst Nilgen

When living with any chronic condition, attaining the best quality of life possible is always the most relevant goal of any treatment.

When coping with an illness involves depending on other people for everyday needs it can be especially difficult to deal with, both physically and emotionally, so any treatment which allows sufferers to regain some self control can be particularly appreciated. Effective training programs can improve motor skills, mobility and muscle strength, and great advancements towards independence can be made. I’ll never forget the pride and happiness on the beaming face of Joan, one of my patients with MS, as she told me about her first solo outing to treat herself to a well-deserved refreshment. Joan – like many others - had used the PNF Method and made great progress.

PNF is an important physiotherapy therapeutic approach which can be used with anyone who has a movement disorder, including with conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkin-

ple that the brain stores movement patterns – which can be re-taught via the interaction of neurological and physiotherapy processes.

PNF is an active exercise therapy. Patients are trained via recurrent patterns of movement with appropriate resistance and tactile stimuli such as touch, pressure, and muscle stretching until the brain recognises the new motion and learns to follow new patterns.

Thus, it is the simultaneous combination of purposeful movements and muscle stimulation that makes PNF such a valuable and effective tool.

If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to call me. I will be happy to answer your questions.

son’s disease or strokes. Even after operations on the joints, such as the hip or knee, this method can be useful to help with regaining mobility. Through Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation stretching, otherwise called PNF, motor skills, mobility and muscle strength can be improved, and the con-

scious and unconscious control of proper posture and movement enhanced. The patient can be helped to achieve better balance and taught how to move safely in general and how to practice daily activities in the most effective and least painful way possible. The PNF method is based on the princi-

Elena Herz is a fully qualified physiotherapist and experienced alternative therapist based in Chayofa in the south of Tenerife and La Laguna in the north. She can also make home visits.

Call: 600 424 252; email: e.herz@gmx.net to make an appointment; or see: www. elenaherz.com for more inforn mation.

Pedro Alegre Alonso Pilates trainer ä Physiotherapist ä

Tel. 699 521 649

pedroalegrealonso@hotmail.com

©2014 FLN

Mina Coventry recently opened her Nails & Beauty Room in Los Cristianos

Mina Coventry is a fully qualified Beauty Therapist who has spent over 20 years practicing in the UK. Her friendly approach and wealth of experience have always meant that Mina’s clients feel comfortable and relaxed, and now so can you: Mina recently opened the Beauty Room in Los Cristianos - with a therapy area that has an incredible view of Las Vistas Beach, as well as some fantastic offers for new clients.

Over the next three months the range of treatments on special offer includes: Acrylic nails; makeup for special occasions; threading; Swedish massage; manicures and pedicures; waxing; and facials etc. – these latter being of particular benefit at this time of year, when the weather is changing rapidly.

Prices are thus very reasonable:

©2014 FLN

The Beauty Room

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

Pickup Point GP SURGERY DOCTOR DE LA FLOR SAN EUGENIO (Pass Casino, next to church)

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

FASHION

37

satin dresses) or as a metallic element.

Even champagne is not only for drinking, but can also contribute to your look – the delicate colour is simultaneously eye-catching and classy. As for

the style: With a few exceptions, such as the official New Year’s ball, it is left to personal taste whether one opts for a full length or short outfit - But however you dress it up n – Have fun!

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

A grand entrance Christmas and New Year’s Eve: There’s no question about it, this is the season for celebrations – and of plenty of opportunities for every woman to make a grand entrance in a sexy cocktail dress or opulent evening gown.

Still leader among the coolest colours for the evening is

All photos: www.prshots.com

Fashion for the holiday period

black, of course. And no wonder: Since Coco Chanel, the ‘little black dress’ has had a well earned reputation as being the perfect starting point for simple and feminine elegance.

In addition, black suits every skin colour - and also cheats a few excess pounds away

Narrow, flattering and fashionable silver-gray dress.

From Jigsaw

Champagne fashion.

Outfits from Orsay

Peak party times for a feminine appearance. Full length dress from Wallis

Made for a glittering ball. From People Tree

Classy details on the shoulder of the little black dress.

From House of Fraser

Asian-style: a stunning knee-length cocktail dress. From Monsoon

(which is an absolute boon with the season’s temptations). In addition, however, other tones for the evening are also popular this year.

Silver is one of them, be it as a full colour (for example,

Champagne and Black: two trendy colours in one dress. From Vera Monday

A lace dress is always an eye-catcher.

From La Redoute

38

PETS

Animal charities’ round up

Is Rosie the oldest cat in Tenerife? Nearly 25 years ago she was left by her owners at a complex in San Eugenio when they moved away. How do we know she’s that old? Because several of the owners on the complex have had their apartments that long and knew her when she was tiny! Did you know that a 24-year-old cat is the equivalent to 113 human years? The owners of the apartments on the complex took turns to care for her and feed her throughout her life but a couple of years ago it became apparent she needed a ‘retirement home’. An SOS call was made to Cats Welfare and she was whisked to a cat retirement finca in the hills of South Tenerife. Where do your donations go each month? Not only to helping cats and kittens but also to care of the old timers who are living their final days in peace and tranquillity.

Note for your diary: On December 12 from 2pm until 6pm we will be holding a charity fund raising event. It’s being held at the Heads ‘n Tails Bar on Avenida Santiago Puig in Playa de Las Américas. It will be a guaranteed fun afternoon that will help us raise much needed funds.

All cats and kittens go on a week’s trial so you can be sure they are right for you. There are pictures of them on our website: www.cats-welfare-tenerife.com/pets.

There is no adoption fee although a small donation to help us with our work is always welcome. If you have questions or would like to meet any of the cats we have available you can complete the contact form on the website or call Theresa on 680 475 500 between 10am and 6pm every day.

Looking for something special to wear for Christmas? Our charity shop in Golf del Sur has been expanded to have a much larger dress section and we have plenty of smart things for gentlemen too. The shop is open seven days a week, 10am to 6pm, except Saturdays, which is 11am to 4pm.

Live Arico (PAWS) Our 2016 Calendars are now on sale and we are rather proud of them. They are dedicated to the memory of our rescue horse Katie, who as you may know sadly left us this summer.

The calendar includes discount vouchers usable at the businesses of our sponsors, which is a new and exciting concept.

They are now on sale at our shops priced at €8 for A3 size,

Looking for love

I am Sam

Sam is a two year old Labrador and Pointer cross and is a very playful and friendly boy. We cannot understand why he is being overlooked as he would make a great family pet.

Can you give him a chance? Call Sue at Live Arico on 629 388 102 for more information on Sam or any of our rescue dogs. n

Sam is a playful cross breed hoping for a family home

Is 24-year -old Rosie the oldest cat in Tenerife?

Cats Welfare Tenerife

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

Acción del Sol has a nine month old Rottweiler looking for a special home with space to run

€5 for A4 and just €2 for the desktop version.

The Live Arico Christmas raffle – be in it to win it! Our Christmas raffle last year was so popular we have decided to repeat it, with great prizes on offer once again. Tickets are now on sale in our shops.

Live Arico Shop News: Come and visit our new Golf del Sur shop, and please remember that our vet, Cesar Bertoldi, is with us every Wednesday from 10am to 12pm, offering advice on all aspects of pet healthcare. Feel free to pop by and have a chat with him. We are situated at Golf Park and 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.

Acción del Sol Our Christmas fundraising event at the plaza in Las

Galletas takes place on December 19 from 3pm to 6pm. It will be an afternoon of fun and games, children’s workshops, Christmas carols, singing and dancing and the main event will be a ‘fancy dog’ competition with the theme being Christmas, of course! There will be prizes for the winners and we are also having a photo competition with the same theme, so please get snapping and email your photo entries to: teneriffa@aktiontier.org.

Please call the number below to register your pet for the fancy dog competition.

We have a lovely nine-monthold male Rottweiler who is looking for a very special place with people that are able to give him the right home where he will have plenty of space to run. Bearing in mind he is classed as a dangerous dog you will need the appropriate dog licence which we can assist you with.

We have again seen a large influx of abandoned and ill treated dogs and we desperately need your help and support in any way. We especially need food, toys, blankets, beds and most importantly adoptions, so please come to visit us and donate what you can.

Call 922 778 630 if you would like to help out in any way.

The refuge is situated at the

Polígono Industrial Estate; Exit 51 on 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 Wednesday, Sunday and public holidays.

K9 Our monthly Car Boot Sale takes place at Los Gigantes Bus Station and runs on the last Sunday of every month from 9am until 12.30pm.

Our shop on Alcala Plaza is in continual need of donations.

If you have anything suitable, please take it to the shop.

The kennels are open every day from 11am until 2pm. If you have any enquiries or are looking for a dog or cat, the numn ber is: 667 638 468.

FARMERS MARKET

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

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

Photo: by Frank C. Muller

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

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 neces-

sary 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 027

Horoscope for period: December 3 to December 17 Aries 21.3 - 20.4 It can be difficult to control your temper at times but you really need to put more effort into it as your fiery nature can sometimes burn those around you too greatly, not to mention yourself.

Taurus 21.4 - 20.5 This is not the time for letting the more stubborn side of your nature take control. To get the results that you want you are going to have to give way a little. Give it a go: you may be surprised by how good it feels.

Gemini 21.5 - 21.6 Naturally gregarious, you can chat away all day long and are highly entertaining in a crowd. However, you would benefit from a little quiet time – thinking can be just as important as talking, sometimes.

Cancer 22.6 - 22.7 Your star sign is one of the most contradictory of the whole zodiac.

Many of you have the ability to be incredibly independent whilst some are quite the opposite. Acknowledging areas where you are dependent unnecessarily on others and making changes can renew your life.

Leo 23.7 - 23.8 You have a penchant for the finer things in life and that, of course, is wonderful as long as you can afford it. But maybe you have been stretching your finances too far lately and need to have a rethink before it becomes a problem.

Virgo 24.8 - 23.9 Kind, caring and totally obstinate at times: What a fascinating mix you are. Try not to let your more ‘difficult’ side rule the day. Just relax and let the inner compassionate you shine brightly for everyone to see.

Libra 24.9 - 23.10 Should you go for it? Or not? This question has been running round your head for too long now. It is time to make a decision before life just goes right on ahead and decides matters for you – in a way you may not like.

Scorpio 24.10 - 22.11 You can’t continue not trusting anyone – can’t you see how hurtful it is to your loved ones who have proven time and again that they are loyal and trustworthy? You are doing the people around you a terrible injustice.

Sagittarius 23:11 - 21.12 This is exactly the right time to be precisely where you are. Try not to let doubts creep in about what you are doing – you will soon be reaping the rewards for all the hard work you have put into your latest project.

Capricorn 22:12 - 20.01 As the maxim says: When in doubt, do nothing. You have a tricky situation going on in your life right now but this is not the time to act.

Be patient and more information will be revealed: along with one or two surprises.

Aquarius 21.1 - 20.2 If there is one thing in life that you don’t like, it is to be restricted in anyway and right now you are feeling very constrained but can’t put your finger on why. Look carefully at someone close to you – they have ulterior motives.

Pisces 21.2 - 20.3 You are prone to being emotional and feel joy as much as sadness.

However, there is a decision coming up which you will have to make using logic and pure thought. If in doubt, request the help of a professional in the relevant field – it could save you time and money.

Contacts Relaxing, energising, sensual and tantric massages for her, him and couples in Playa de las Américas. Tel. 642 311 909 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 Hello lovely, I’m your sexiest dream and I’m here to please you. Beautiful sexy escort for your needs and pleasures. Good English spoken. Also visits. Tel. 634 116 164 I’m Diana, Latin woman, 23 years old, amazing body, French, positions, massages.

Available 24 hours. I am waiting for you in my private apartment in Los Cristianos. Tel. 605 072 917 Los Cristianos, Patricia from Venezuela returns, big breasts, French, positions, vibrators, massages, private apartment in Calle Noruega near the Altavista supermarket in Los Cristianos and I can get to you 24 hours. Tel. 650 442 665

Lucia, fully figured blonde, 140cm of natural breasts, without limits, I will do anything you ask me to, I’m waiting for you in my private apartment in the centre of Los Cristianos. You will enjoy it! Tel. 665 303 382 Los Cristianos 2 girls: Fully figured Russian 35 years old and slim Ukrainian 23 years old.

Relaxed, discreet apartment.

In front of bus station, Building Royal – Los Cristianos. Call us before. We speak some English. Tel. 626 712 090 Come and enjoy our erotic body to body massages with happy ending! Unforgettable experience. New beautiful ladies!

Opening hours: 10am to 10pm.

Playa Paraiso, Costa Adeje area.

Tel. 00 34 662 960 065 www. edentenerife.com Do you want to experience an orgasm without ejaculating?

The main idea is to extend the excitement and prolong pleasure. When you decide to go for it, it is really intense.

I’m Amaia, exotic Colombian girl. Tantric massage and all services for men. www.sensestrantricmassagetenerife.com.

Appointment also via Whatsapp (0034) 673 631 177 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 Los Cristianos, Ukrainian, provocative blonde escort, great body, only for demanding men.

In calls – out calls, all services, I will fulfil your dreams. Just call me on 602 631 367. You won’t regret it Wild sexy lady, size 36C breasts, you will enjoy an amazing time, full service, in call and out call.

Tel. 631 225 327

Transsexual from Venezuela, 30 years old, beautiful, tall, fat, blonde hair, big penis, active/passive, natural special services to finish. Apartment Royal, front of bus station Los Cristianos, send a text message. Tel. 602 626 848 Blonde Colombian woman, slim, beautiful, amazing body, all services, natural French, massages, erotic toys, kisses, threesomes, swinger club company, private apartment, hotel visits. I will make your fantasies come true. I speak English. You will repeat this experience. Tel. 649 879 663 Yaiza new, Canarian woman, 19 years old, tanned, tall, attractive, if you want your sexual fantasies to come true, call me, I’m waiting for you in Los Cristianos, very discreet, 24 hours. Hotel visits. Tel. 602 513 328 New beautiful transvestite Keyla, active and passive, with 23 real centimetres, kisses, dominant, available 24 hours.

I do all services without limits. Los Cristianos. Tel. 602 460 588 New Dalma, beautiful, transvestite, 180 breasts, perfect physic, private apartment, all services without taboos, Los Cristianos – Building Royal.

One free drink. Tel. 604 148 304 Beautiful Brazilian woman, great body, sweet, sensual, I’m by myself, I can offer you a bit of everything, very discreet, I do visits, parties and excursions. You won’t regret it.

Private apartment in Los Cristianos. Tel. 611 325 518

To advertise your services with us, please call 922 75 06 09

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

Island connections media group s.l. www.islandconnections.eu

Island Connections Online: www.islandconnections.eu

Classifieds Deadline Next Edition The deadline for edition 761, which is published on 17th Dec., is 15th Dec. No classifieds will be taken after this date.

Head Office: Calle Francisco Feo Rodríguez 6º- first floor.

Pol. Industrial Las Chafiras 38620 - San Miguel de Abona.

Tel.: 922 75 06 09 Fax: 922 795 810 Office Hours: Mon-Frid 9:30 -16:30 hours

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 € * Small & Long Term: Ask for long term advertising (3, 6, 12 months) and our special discounts. * Further Options: color / boxed adverts.

To Place your advert call: 922 75 06 09

General Services Do you need extra income?

Would you like to have your own beauty business? We are looking for you. Great opportunity. Don’t lose time shopping!

Order your Christmas or birthday presents with high quality cosmetics for any age and need. From €20. Free consultation and delivery service.

More details: Maggie Dogarel, 642 601 553.

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

Bachelor of Arts in Philology I give private lessons of Spanish for foreigners and I do translations of Romanian, Spanish, French and English.

In Los Cristianos, Tenerife.

You are welcome to come to our offices in Las Chafiras to place small ads. Card payment facilities are available.

CLASSIFIEDS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

Mirela: 663 216 858

Santiago del Teide Lions Club

Bargains galore From clothes and children’s toys to kitchenware and books – there are plenty of great deals on second-hand 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.

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

Integrated Tax Planning and Wealth Management since 1975

922 716 079 www.blevinsfranks.com

MASONIC MEETINGS

www.autoescuelaenred.com

Logia Ave Fenix Nº 73

Driving School Online

Edificio Simón, Los Cristianos.

Meetings every fourth Tuesday starting in October (Installation), November and January to April.

All Visitors welcome Contact John Donaldson (Secretary):

(+34) 922 178 091 or ave.fenix73@gmail.com

41

Clases individuales Individual lessons info@autoescuelaenred.com SMS or whatsapp

629 135 005

BLOCK BUSTERS WE UNBLOCK ALL TYPES OF DRAINS

internal and external using our high pressure jets and cameras.

Call

647 928 223 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).

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

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

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

CLASSIFIEDS

42

Rental Classifieds

For Long

Term Rent

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

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 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 1 bedroom apartment for rent in Playa Paraiso. Tel 662 507 191 www.villasandmore-tenerife.com

SALEs Classifieds Three bedroom house in Costa

del Silencio for sale with 182 m2. One big living room and one small one, two bathrooms, two terraces and a patio. Price: €160,000. Tel. 922 73 28 40

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 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 €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 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 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.

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

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027 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 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

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

Property for Sale LOS CRISTIANOS

Golf villa for sale

Situated in the

Real Golf Club Tenerife in Tacoronte

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

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.

www.villatenerifenorte.com

€690.000

8% Commission to intermediaries

Price €260,000 Tel. (0034) 695 977 163 (available evenings)

Parque Santiago 11

Sought after complex. 2 bed Duplex Ground Floor apartment. Las Americas sea views, fully furnished.

Big private sunny terrace and upstairs terrace. Rental opportunity!

Great location!

Price €220,000

Call Alan: 667 513 689

Urb. Oasis Dakota, Playa Fañabé

www.teneriffa-fincas.net

Appartment in Botánico with BBQ, common pool, 3 bedrooms, 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.

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

Information Tel. +34 659 928 805

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

Los Cristianos, central apartments, 1 and 2 bedrooms, furnished, Tel: 649 142 612 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.

Santa Úrsula

Private Sale 10.800 m2 Tel. (0034) 682 392 956

3 Bed Semi Detached.

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

The easy way to sell or rent properties

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

CLASSIFIEDS

43

44

Situations

CLASSIFIEDS | PASTIMES

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

Vehicles

Vacant / wanted

Caron Murgatroyd B.A. Hons

Car garage wanted in Parque Tropical Fase II. Please send details to pj@roselawnhouse. com.

Diesel, A/C, power ste in 13,000km, first driven .

April 2014

Fully qualified UK primary school teacher

Private English classes for ages 3-11 Also available private lessons for all other English National Curriculum subjects including: Maths, English, Science, History & Geography For further information or to book contact on: caron.murgatroyd@gmail.com

602 483 017

Renault Meganerieng,

Contact: 610 783 713

Suzuki Intruder

VS 600 - 1996 Custom

Bike in good condition, 61.000 km.

Very low seat. All services done regularly.

ITV until 2017

2.600€

Tel. 677 799 475

B Funky Fashion Shows are looking for international girls to model swimwear 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

Almost New Year... therefore New Career ?!

SegurCaixa Adeslas, one of Spain’s leading insurance organizations....is in expansión and requires several agents to spearhead a new wave of exciting growth for 2016 and beyond......

Are you a people-person ? Does advancement appeal to your career needs and the prospect of coordinating / managing a team / region in the near future ? Not to mention the income potential where you get paid for what you are worth ?

Our requirements : You initially have at least 10-15 hours per week, are organized, have integrity, determination & a teachable mindset to learn from the specialists.

If so we would be delighted to hear from you, for an interview forward your CV to : cruzen@oficinaLocal.segurcaixaAdeslas.es

Across

1 - chop (3) • 3 - vessel (3) • 5 - lowest point (5) • 8 - case (4) • 9 - close timbering (8) • 11 - states succinctly (10) • 13 - appraiser (6) • 14 - walled inlets (6) • 17 - feelings (10) • 21 - changing (8) • 22 - penalty (4) • 23 - after seven (5) • 24 - male offspring (3) • 25 - rubbish (3)

Down

1 - cricket tournament (5) • 2 - musical organisation (8) • 4 - one under par (6) • 5 - male aristocrat (5) • 6 - fall slowly (4) • 7 - programs (7) • 10 - restrain; moderate (4) • 12 - fire starter (8) • 13 - shake; quiver (7) • 15 - projections (4) • 16 - deceives; fakes (6) • 18 - top degree mark (5) • 19 - exhausted (5) • 20 - male red deer (4)

(For Crossword and Sudoku solution see pag 40)

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

SPORTS NEWS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

ARC 2015

Yacht race to Santa Lucía

Photo: ARC

Years and months of intense planning and preparation finally paid off as the yachts taking part in ARC 2015 recently made their way out of the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Sports harbour.

There was an air of excitement throughout the marina as the ocean adventure began, and friends and families of the sailors, as well as local well wishers and staff from the businesses around the marina, lined the dock. The crowd was cheering and dancing to the loud music blaring out in celebration of the start, and the traditional bands La Parranda Café-Tin and Banda Canarias marched around the marina to add to the festival feel.

The Gran Canaria Tourist Board, the Las Palmas Port Authority and the city council were hosts to ARC participants and it is their continued support that made the atmosphere in the lead up to start day so spectacular.

The departure of the ARC fleet sailing directly to Saint Lucía means a combined total of 254 yachts are participating, from 27 different countries – a record number in the 30-year history of the rally.

The majority of boats will take 18 to 21 days to make the 2,700 nautical mile Atlantic crossing, arriving at Rodney Bay Marina in Saint Lucía. The ARC prize-giving event will n take place on December 19.

Photo: ARC

Over 250 yachts are participating in this year’s ARC

The yachts recently set off from Las Palmas for Santa Lucía

Iberostar defeat Herbalife

Tenerife claim bragging rights Local boasting privileges in top flight basketball have been earned by La Laguna side Iberostar Tenerife, at least for the next few months.

Despite a poor start to the season and the sudden departure of coach Alejandro Martínez on health grounds, Iberostar claimed the title of best team in the Canaries at present by throwing the form book out the window.

They recently pipped neighbours Herbalife Gran Canaria in the first league derby of the year. The narrow win, courtesy of a three-point basket

by Devon White in the closing minute, and after the home side had pulled back a 10-point deficit, sent 4,000 local fans into raptures at the Santiago Martín stadium.

The arrival of two new signings, centre Joseph Jones and

guard Salva Arco, should help the La Laguna outfit turn the corner in the coming weeks and pull away from the relegation spots. Jones returns to Spanish basketball after a two-year absence and he brings badly-needed muscle to the forward line after the controversial departure of Spain international Xavi Rey. Rey left in November amid recriminations that he had merely used Iberostar to get back to fitness after a serious injury and jumped ship as soon as he was fully recovered.

Iberostar followed up the Gran Canaria win with a first away victory of the season in Fuenn labrada (85-94).

Iberostar Tenerife won this season’s first derby against Herbalife

Las Palmas in the black

The picture of financial health They may be struggling on their return to the top flight but Las Palmas are doing just fine on the financial front, at least according to the football club’s chairman.

Miguel Angel Ramírez revealed that he expects the books not just to be balanced this season but that Las Palmas will generate an operating profit of between €6-8 million and the figure could be even higher if things go better on the field.

Ramírez, who runs a successful security business group comprising 20 firms and employing 7,000 employees, is – perhaps not surprisingly – claiming much of the credit for the remarkable transformation. The club was €72 million in debt a decade ago when it was in the third tier of Spanish football.

He takes particular pride in how the club managed “potential crisis and chaos” when it lost out on promotion to the First Division in the closing seconds of the play-off final against Córdoba and bounced back to book a direct promon tion spot last summer.

Photo: Snecci CC 3.0

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

Ramírez has helped to turn around the club’s fortunes

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SPORTS NEWS | POOL LEAGUE

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

Pool roundup

Tenerife league and cup results Division one, week twelve The top of the table clash between Legends A and Summerland Elite did not live up to the star billing expected and it was rather a one sided affair, with Legends A trouncing Elite 8-2 to lead the first division by three points.

Sloops Bar were away to bottom of the league Atmosphere and true to form thrashed them 8-2. Marius & Lo won a hard fought match at home to Toby Jug Saints, 6-4. The ever reliable Sam and Zac won all their games on the night to cement fourth place in the table, six points clear of Legends B who defeated stable mates Legendry Jokers 6-4. The in-form Davy chalked up three wins on the night to help Polygon Legends defeat Clouseaus by 7-3.

Britannia Inn (Paraiso) were at home to Bad Bobs and beat them 7-3. Dos Hermanos were two points behind Mad Hatters but that stretched to five as they lost at home 6-4, leaving them second from bottom.

Division two, week twelve The Boothen Bar kept their unbeaten run going away to Bar 180C but it was very close; the scores were level at 4-4 but the

Sloops Bar were eliminated from the Express Bar Deliveries Cup

on-form Jamie and Jimmy won the last two frames to clinch victory. Grandee O’Donnell were good value for their away win at Palms Pool Bar, 6-4 and remain in second place.

Bar 180B trounced Summerland Shooters 7-3 to leapfrog Lupain Properties, who lost 73 to the Boothen Squad. The Hunters were slain 7-3 by the George Bar, whilst Bar Leones travelled to Costa del Silencio to play Britannia Bar and left with all three points following a 6-4 win. James Place had a great result at Nauta, winning 8-2. Scruffy Macs drew at

home to the Tavern 5-5, which keeps them rooted to the foot of the second division.

Week 13, Express Bar Deliveries Cup first round results The tie of the night was Sloops Bar v Legends A, and Graham started proceedings and made it 1-0 to Legends. Simon continued where Graham left off, potting five reds but leaving an easy yellow for Micky, which he potted. His next shot was unlucky to go in off, and Simon potted an easy red but delib-

erated over what shot to play next and gave away two shots to Micky. He potted one then snookered his opponent, but it was a good get out from Simon. There was some excellent safety play by both players which was good to watch, but a mistake by Micky left a long pot on for Simon which he finished and then sank the black, 2-0 Legends.

John potted two reds off the break and played it safe; Ian also had no clear shot and opened up the table for John to sink two reds. Ian responded by potting four yellows but a miss

Granadilla Tenerife Sur

While the two big men’s teams in the Canaries continue to struggle in the bottom half of their respective divisions, a ladies’ side from Tenerife can rightly claim to be the region’s most successful club in senior football at present.

Low-budget Granadilla Tenerife Sur won promotion to the Spanish First Division in the summer and were tipped by many

for a quick return to the lower ranks, but they have proven to be the surprise package of the league so far. The southern ladies began poorly with two opening defeats but then found their form and have climbed the table with impressive showings against more established sides such as Huelva, Rayo Vallecano and Real Sociedad. Late November saw them reach the

lofty heights of fourth spot in the division, behind the three big names in ladies’ football – Bilbao, Atlético de Madrid and Barcelona – and they next face Atlético in an eagerlyawaited clash which should see a good crowd at Granan dilla’s home ground.

The ladies are outdoing the big boys

Photo: udgtenerife.com

Ladies show men the way

Tenerife Pool Super League Powered by EXPRESS BAR DELIVERIES S.L. Information supplied by Tenerife Pool Super League www.tenerifepoolleague.com

invited John back to the table.

He finished three reds then got a fortunate foul off Ian but failed to capitalise and missed a double on the black. Ian had a good chance to clear up but it was John who took the game and made it 3-0 to Legends.

It was up to Chris to stop the rot for Sloops. He broke but didn’t pocket anything and Mick sank four reds. Chris potted his first yellow then played it safe. Mick found a long red and managed to snooker his opponent. Chris played a great shot and got the foul, which resulted in two yellow pots but he missed the next shot. Mick grabbed the opportunity and cleaned up. 4-0 to Legends!

Micky and Ian were up first for Sloops in the doubles against Paul and Mick of Legends.

There was good play from all four players but Sloops gained their first win of the night. The second pairs match was won by Legends following good play by Simon and John against Chris and Paul, 5-1.

The writing was already being scribed on the wall for Sloops Bar as Micky got up to play Graham, who fouled off the break. Micky used his two shots to pot one red and leave another over the corner pocket.

Graham missed his next shot as Micky potted two more reds

then fouled, leaving Graham a great chance to clear up. He miscued the last yellow and Micky took full advantage to win the frame.

With the score at 5-2 it was Paul to play Mick next, and it was a very close game which was won by Paul, 5-3. John broke next, potted a yellow but decided on reds and potted one, only for Chris to sink a yellow. There was some excellent play from both players until John realised it was 11pm and thought the car park was going to close. He rushed off, returning after 10 minutes to continue the game. Chris had the match won but decided to hand the game, and the tie, to John and Legends A.

Other results Leones 6-5 Scruffys. Toby Jug Saints 7-3 Mad Hatters.

Atmosphere 4-6 Britannia Bar. Clouseaus 4-6 Boothen Bar. Marius & Lo 6-4 Palms Pool Bar. The George 5-6 Summerland Elite. Hunters 1-9 James Place. Bar 180C 6-4 Boothen Squad. Scruffy Macs 4-6 Legends B. Polygon Legends 6-4 Summerland Shooters. Grandee O’Donnell 5-6 Dos Hermanos. Legendry Jokers 7-3 Bad Bobs. Bar 180B 5-6 The n Tavern.

3.12.2015 – 17.12.2015

FOOTBALL AND SPORTS NEWS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 760

47

CD Tenerife news

New CD Tenerife boss Pep Marti has enjoyed a fairly successful start to his managerial career, winning eight from his first 12 points in play. It was a bold move by the club to appoint the 40 year old exblanquiazul captain Marti, and so far it has paid off.

In his first match Tenerife easily put aside Alaves 2-0 before winning 2-1 the following week at Albacete. The week after league leaders Cordoba visited the island and an entertaining affair ended with a 1-1 scoreline with the blanquiazules on fine form.

The unbeaten run of four matches continued against Girona but it must be said that this time they failed to match their previous excellent performances.

22/11/15 CD Tenerife 1 Cordoba 1 Despite numerous suspensions and injuries, the blanquiazules pulled off a spirited draw against league leaders Cordoba in a showery Heli-

Photo: CD Tenerife

Positive start for new boss, Pep Martí

Jorge, Alberto and Abel: three young guns defending the shirt this season

odoro Stadium. The visitors from Andalucía had been in fine form and were managed by ex-Tenerife manager/legend Jose Luis Oltra, who received generous applause from the 8,967 home fans.

Youngster Jorge Saenz was brought in to cover the suspended Carlos Ruiz and it was his header that struck the top of the bar early doors. The 19year-old centre half has been watched by various Premier

League clubs after good performances for the Spain U19 team, and he is one for the future. Thankfully he has just signed a new contract with CD Tenerife.

As the game rolled on Cordoba gained the lead in the most unlikely manner, immediately following a Tenerife corner! The set piece was punched clear to Cordoba striker Florin who ran half the length of the pitch to score.

A sucker blow for the home side but they came back fighting with great spirit. Argentinean playmaker Tommy Martinez was brought into the fray and he showed some of the reasons why he was a teenage sensation at River Plate. He began to run the show and it was his sweet volley that led to the Tenerife equaliser. The goal will actually go down to Nano, who steered the ball into the net, but Tommy gained most of the credit.

The final minutes saw Tenerife push for the winner but they failed to create any real

chances. As the final whistle blew the players enjoyed a standing ovation. The ‘Marti Effect’ – as it has been labelled – worked well again.

29/11/15 CD Tenerife 1 Girona 1 Tenerife came up against a solid Girona team who were the best travellers in the league.

The man of the match award was given to visiting keeper Becerra, who pulled off some fine saves, but the draw was a fair reflection on play.

The mid-table status of both teams and similar tactics should have been a warning of the ‘average’ contest that it proved to be. The blanquiazules certainly missed the spark of their last few matches.

Both goals came at the end of the first half. A rare Girona venture into the Tenerife box resulted in an easy tap in for Sobrino; a sloppy goal to give away. But soon after the hosts were level after a fine Omar header found the back of the net to make the score 1-1.

Canarian youngster Omar Perdomo is another one of the success stories from this season, and we really have some promising players coming through the ranks.

Just before the hour mark Girona were reduced to 10 men but it really did not make much difference to the rest of the match, with Girona playing deep and attempting to catch Tenerife on the break.

Suso almost made it 2-1 with a superb free-kick and Alberto forced a good save from Becerra in the closing minutes but Tenerife failed to take advantage of their extra man. And we should thank our lucky stars as Girona could have nicked the game as they spurned two good chances in the dying minutes.

So, Marti`s unbeaten run stretches to four games and that was largely without our top striker Choco who is nearly back to full fitness.

After this is a tricky away game at Elche before CD Tenerife play Mallorca in the Heln iodoro Stadium.

the men’s weekly social 6s league and friendly games, and also the growing youth football classes and teams.

Please visit: www.nomadsfc. com. Also, email: info@premfs. com or contact: +34 654 200 n 470.

Nomads Football Club

Fascinating footballing fun Sponsored by: Foreign Language News & www.windowsplus.co.uk

Nomads FC group photo

Nomad’s youth sides still need a few extra players for the under 10s, 12s and 14s teams.

We have started a new youth club that helps youngsters start to enjoy playing in the local Spanish leagues, and now at Nomads Football Club in South Tenerife we have a weekly

group of kids from countries like Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, Spain, Uruguay, England and Russia and more. Now that the new league season is about to start we are looking for new players to join the teams and will be providing weekly football sessions at our training pitch in Los Cristianos

for the following groups. If your child would like to come along please let us know: Pre Benjamin (under 8s) on Mondays at 5.30pm, Wednesdays at 5.30pm, and Thursdays at 5.30pm.

Benjamin (under 10s) on Mondays at 6.30pm, Wednesdays at 5.30pm and Fridays at

5.30pm – this team still needs two additional players.

Alevin (under 12s) on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6.30pm, and Fridays at 5.30pm – this team still needs two players as well.

Infantil (under 14s) on Tuesdays at 5.30pm, Wednesdays at 6.30pm, and Fridays at 6.30pm – this team still needs one player.

Each team has its own webpage. For more information visit: www.nomadsfc.com.

We also host a weekly men’s 6-a-side league for the social adult footballer living in the south of Tenerife. Some teams need a few extra players so please contact us if you would like to play in the weekly 6s league.

We have started a new local website to inform people on

PROMOTION

48

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 027

Promotion

Welcome, Namaste

By Theresa Willson Namaste is the newest Indian restaurant in the south of Tenerife, and has as its head chef Dilbagh Singh who worked as head chef at the Bombay Babu restaurant in Torviscas for nearly five years.

Dilbagh’s culinary career began when he was working as a kitchen porter for Frenchborn Raymond Blanc, one of the UK’s most respected chefs and famous for his TV appearances in the programmes Food & Drink, Take Six Cooks, The Restaurant and MasterChef among others. Mr. Blanc took a liking to him, recognised his interest in the kitchen, took him under his wing and trained him as a chef. Here, he worked with Gary Jones, who became executive head chef at Raymond Blanc’s La Manoir aux Quat’Saisons restaurant, and who left briefly to become resident chef for Richard Branson at his Necker Island home, eventually returning to La Manoir. Following training, Dilbagh worked in Barcelona for 11 years before coming to Tenerife. He has just returned from London where he was recording a TV programme with Mr. Blanc.

When we visited Namaste, we were greeted by our waiter and shown to a table on the ample terrace, which is well shielded from the cool evening breezes, and then offered drinks.

Namaste has a fully stocked bar and a good wine list.

There are no less than 29 starters on the menu, so we ordered the Namaste Special Starter for two, a great way to try onion bhajis, chicken barra kebab,

Dilbagh Singh with Gary Jones

chicken tikka, pudina tikka, vegetable pakora, sheikh kebab and the chicken pakora. While we were waiting, our waiter brought papadums with four sauces: mango, hot and spicy garlic, chilli and raita. There was also an exquisite sauce called Imli, based on tamarind and chilli. All five sauces were left on the table during our meal.

Our beautifully presented starters arrived. The chicken was mouthwateringly tender and delicately spiced, the bhajis were crispy on the outside and soft inside, just as they should be, and the lamb kebab was made with very lean meat, and despite the welcome lack of fat, very succulent. The dish was garnished with very fresh coriander leaves, tomato, black olives and cucumber. This delicious starter was quite substantial, so we needed a break before tackling our main course.

With a chance to look around, we noticed that the terrace is very large, with tables for two or six people, and a total capacity

at a heat level to suit you. There are also 10 side dishes, vegetarian options, selections of Biryanis, pizzas and kebab rolls, something for all the family.

We had ordered the Lamb Tikka Sizzler, a medium hot Chicken Jalfrezi, pilau rice and a Peshawari nan. The pilau rice was perfectly cooked, and our lamb sizzler was very tender and delicately spiced, wonderfully complemented by the minty raita, and left a pleasant warm glow behind! The delicious Peshwari nan was full of coconut, but not too sweet. As

Inside the Namaste Restaurant

The delicious lamb sizzler

for 85. The restaurant owner, Sujin, told us that he plans to give the terrace a little more Indian atmosphere, adding some partitions and plants, as it is currently very modern and in a plain style. As we spoke, a big screen was placed at one side showing a brilliant Bollywood video!

Inside the sparkling white airconditioned restaurant, there is a long bar to one side, and a squeaky clean kitchen at the

Dilbagh with Raymond Blanc

back which is open for everyone to see. The indoor area which can seat 32 diners, and the terrace, can be used for special events. In fact the restaurant is now taking bookings for Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties, and will be open on Christmas Day. After our break, the main courses arrived. There are some 30 curries and special Indian dishes to choose from and you can order most dishes

we tucked in to our Chicken Jalfrezi we discovered that it was garnished with fresh slices of green chilli and root ginger, as well as tomato. The chicken was tender and juicy,

and the sauce well spiced and extremely tasty. My companion felt that this dish was a little above the medium hot level that we had ordered, but I thought that this could depend on whether you choose to eat the raw chilli and ginger garnish, or leave it aside. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful dish to be savoured.

The friendly staff at Namaste work to a very high standard, this is top class Indian cuisine at its best. We found the service at Namaste impeccable, and the prices very reasonable. The very clean toilets are also all white, with a separate one for people with disabilities.

Due to its location, at Siam Mall, and with the shopping centre’s high level of security, you won’t be bothered by street hawkers and your car will be safe outside.

Namaste also offers a special banquet menu between 12.30pm and 6pm, home deliveries within 20 kilometres and a takeaway service. To find this fabulous restaurant, go up the escalator, turn left and walk back towards the stage. Turn right, and it is at the end on the right. We enjoyed an exquisite meal in a relaxed atmosphere at Namaste. No wonder it is highly recommended by TripAdvisor. We also recommend that you visit this resn taurant soon!

Namaste Indian Tandoori Restaurant CC Siam Mall, first floor. Costa Adeje Open: 12.30pm to 11.30pm Tel: 922 751 615 or 667 221 962 Email: namastetenerife1@gmail.com Web: www.namastetenerife.com