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February 4 – February 17, 2016 Celebration special
La Gomera
St Valentine’s
Health
It’s Carnival time!
Inspiring education
Spice it up!
Be prepared for emergencies
Pages 6 & 7
Pages 10 & 11
Page 18
Pages 34 & 35
Sunken treasure
Animal welfare
Seabed museum
Between horror and hope Photo: MiTierraTV
Continued on page 3
On the mend and gathering confidence
For many of us, our dogs and cats are our best friends, another member of the family, whilst others seem to be trying to find the cruellest way possible of ending their lives. One such case was recently highlighted on local TV station Mi Tierra in the programme Peludos Sanos. Sylvia Felst
reported on an 11-yearold Labrador called Martin who was found buried alive in a quarry near Arico. In an attempt to make it impossible to identify him, someone had sliced into his neck to try to find his identity chip. He had also been strangled with a sharp cable, wrapped tightly
in a blanket to inhibit movement and then covered with stones. Somehow he managed to wriggle his head out only to find it exposed to the blazing sun. Experts believe he was like this for at least five days before he was found. Continued on page 2
Walking on the seabed towards unknown destinations
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FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
Continued from front page Despite the horrific attempt on his life, Martin the Labrador was determined to survive. By struggling, he drew attention to himself and was eventually found. He was extremely traumatised, dehydrated, starving, suffering from sunburn, and had infected wounds, some covered with maggots. Thanks to a superb Los Cristianos vet called Yaiza, his life was saved and, as the attacker didn’t find the chip, the police were able to identify the owner via Zoocan. For the Guardia Civil unit Seprona, responsible for the protection of nature and animals, the case for inhumane disposal and agonising torture of an animal is clear. The names of those involved have not yet been disclosed as the investigation is ongoing.
Targeting homeless cats Another case of animal abuse was reported in Santiago del Teide, this time dealing with cats. An animal-loving French national had set up a feeding station for stray cats in the coastal area of Playa de La Arena. It’s illegal in Spain and you can be fined, but they ran the gauntlet and continued. Not surprisingly, more and more felines arrived, until there were around 25 regular diners, to the annoyance of some local residents. One disgruntled, though pragmatic, German resident arranged for the successive sterilisation of the cats, but someone else decided to poison the food at the feeding point. A police investigation continues.
Drowning attempt Spectators watched in horror as a young man first tried to drown his dog and then encouraged him to dig in the sandy beach of Playa de Las Teresitas in Santa Cruz before stepping on him in an attempt to suffocate him. Police were alerted, but the 24-year-old perpetrator claimed immunity because he was in psychiatric care.
Photo: MiTierraTV
Appalling animal abuse
In Tenerife, the latest in attacks on defenceless animals has been in La Laguna where some demented individual is leaving tasty titbits for dogs laced with nails. Be vigilant when you take your animal out for a walk that it isn’t eating anything similar – or poisoned.
Agony and assistance Unfortunately, here as elsewhere, animal shelters are full. Abandoned dogs, cats and even horses have been discovered, and several instances of the latter had to be saved in Tenerife and El Hierro as the crisis bit. One such animal was taken in by La Finca La Estrella in Icod.
Seprona The nature conservation unit of the Guardia Civil. In Tenerife they have three centres: Santa Cruz, La Laguna and Puerto de La Cruz. Telephone contact number 062. Information: www.guardiacivil.es. Enter ‘Seprona’ and the island about which you want information in the search box and the nearest office will be displayed. Other ways to make a complaint: www.faada.org is a Spanish non-profit animal protection foundation. They have an online form you can fill out and details of local assistance points.
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An international problem
It was uncertain whether Martin would live when he was found
Dangerous nibbles
Print: Artes Gráficas del Atlántico S.A., Agüimes, Gran Canaria
Новости теНерифе
Circulation controlled by
Thankfully, the reverse side to the abandonment and cruelty is the amount of people who untiringly devote their
leaves a lot to be desired. “The animals are usually not vaccinated, examined by a vet, nor micro-chipped and sterilised.
Excerpt from the Canarian Animal Welfare Act. “Imprisonment from between three months and one day and up to one year, and banned from working in an animal ambience for one to three years for mistreatment, injuries inflicted, health damage or sexual abuse to each animal. Penalties may be increased by half if a weapon, instruments, objects or methods endangering the life of the animal were used, or if particular cruelty was used resulting in the loss of a sense, an organ or a limb or if the cruelty took place in the presence of minors. If the animal has died, a sentence of six to 18 months in prison is imposed and the ban on contact with animals in a professional or entertainment field is increased to two to four years. Anyone exposing an animal to risk of its life or integrity shall be punished with a sentence of one to six months with an additional ban of up to a year on working with animals.” time to the many animal welfare groups. Some are Canarian and many are foreign residents or visitors who donate, or are active as flight partners, for example.
Illegal animal shelters However, not everyone in animal welfare is operating legally. MG, manager of an established shelter and wishing to remain anonymous, declared: “In recent years, illicit refuges have sprouted like mushrooms. That’s a problem because visitors and locals who want to help are often unable to distinguish between those who are, and aren’t, legal.” She believes that the conduct of these groups Disclaimer: Island Connections Newspaper is published and printed fortnightly by ISLAND CONNECTIONS S.L. Adverts, texts, photos or other parts of this publication are property of the publishers. They may not be used or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any other form or means without the prior written permission of the publishers. This newspaper cannot be held responsible for the contents of articles supplied by our contributors or advertisers claims. The publisher reserves the right to refuse to publish adverts, texts or advertising
ties and are always in need of support.” As an outsider, how can you tell if it’s a legal refuge or not? The first requirement is a statement confirming the home as a ‘nucleo zoológico’ and a registered CIF (tax/business) number. In addition, concrete proof that it is a registered association/foundation. It is very easy to set up a web or Facebook page with animals up for adoption, but it’s not proof that they are acting legally.
Sadly, cruelty to animals happens across the world. In August of last year one discovery in Carrières-sur-Seine near Paris set off a wave of indignation throughout Europe. A young Frenchman was out walking his dog when he discovered a brown bulldog buried up to its head, still alive but handcuffed and with a rope dug deeply into its neck. After digging the animal out with his bare hands, the rescuer took him to a local
vet. Thanks to a tattoo, the 21year-old owner was found. He claimed the dog had run away, but his trial will take place in March. If found guilty, he faces up to two years in prison and a fine of €30,000.
Animal welfare in the Canaries In Spain, the penalties imposed on those who abuse animals is decided individually by each province and the punishment varies widely. Sadly, the Canaries are softer on abusers than other provinces. For example, the highest fine here is €15,025, whereas in other provinces it’s up to €30,000. Prison terms are defined by the Animal Welfare Act. Details of convicted animal abusers are sometimes made public, but rarely. This makes it even more important that the man in the street takes responsibility, makes a stand and denounces whatever abuse they see. A call to the emergency services or Seprona will n start the ball rolling.
Help for Martin This lovely lab, now known affectionately as Pinky, is still in need of daily veterinary care and special food. If you would like to help to contribute towards the cost, you can do this directly at Clinica veterinaria Yaiza, Calle Oregón 7, Los Cristianos; via the Asociación Amigos de los Animales at tierschutz-teneriffa@gmx.de; or to his own bank account at: BIC: CAIXESBBXXX IBAN: ES04 2100 6785 31 2200 192 424.
Therefore they multiply. Basically, they usually receive only food. Donations end up more in the pockets of the operators than in benefits for their wards”, she added. Many animal lovers are happy to make donations. It’s also possible to put out collection boxes, but MG says these are illegal. “Recently, Lidl offered animal protection associations the opportunity to be there on certain days to ask for aid. Customers can buy animal feed and donate it there and then. We’ve tried it out and collected several bags of dog food and €60 cash. A shelter that functions legally is nearly always in the red, which is why we work closely with local communifeatures. Advertisements once contracted cannot be cancelled and have to be paid in full. The publishers can not be held responsible for variation on colour printed in this newspaper. Advertising conditions are to be obtained in our offices.
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European Union European Regional Development Fund
“Creating Europe” This company has qualified for subsidies from the Spanish Government, cofinanced by funding from the European Regional Development Fund, for the transport of merchandise in the Canaries.
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
Continued from front page Lanzarote’s latest, and surreally soggy, museum is finally underway. The sinking of the first 35 sculptures by British artist Jason deCaires Taylor, which will form part of the future underwater Atlantic Museum on the Costa Papagaya at Playa Blanca, was undertaken with an appropriate amount of pomp and ceremony. As the first of the eco-sculptures were lowered into the sea, president of the Lanzarote island council, Pedro San Ginés, proudly announced “This is a historic day for our island. We open a door to the ocean and show our visitors our most precious secret the seabed - in a very special way. This project strengthens us and makes us more competitive”. Tourism councillor María Teresa Lorenzo paid tribute to a concept that brings together tourism, culture and sport and thanked the artist for having chosen Lanzarote for the project, the first of its kind in Europe.
When it is finished, a total of around 300 sculptures will bring new life to an area covering some 400 square metres of sea bed.
Another sea world Life sculptures The artist used residents and visitors as models for his ‘Balsa de Lampedusa’ project where all the figures are seen running. Together, the sculptures represent the thousands of refugees who flee war and misery in search of a better life in Europe. Some of the figures are indicative of hope, sorrow and loss, but as a whole they pay homage to all those who didn’t make it alive and whose hopes and dreams now rest forever on the seabed. Yet, in other areas the artist´s sense of the sublime is on show: one couple is taking a selfie with their mobile phone camera. The sculptures are made of a special material which will not damage the coast’s ecosystem and will in fact encourage colonisation by sea-life.
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Eco-Art The British eco-sculptor, instructor, and underwater explorer creates mysterious underwater worlds. Over time, with the sun’s rays, water currents and the interaction with the environment, new effects and ecosystems are formed. The figures create new habitats for flora and fauna and provide a multi-dimensional and sensory experience for all who approach in a boat or whilst diving. He sees his work The anchoring of the figures is a logistical challenge Homage to all refugees: those who made it and those who unfortunately didn’t
as a medium to raise awareness of the fragile underwater ecosystem, and the dialogue
between humanity and nature in his work evokes romantic and apocalyptic feelings which also
make us question our future. Jason deCaires Taylor graduated in 1998 from the London Institute of Arts. He created the first underwater ‘park’ in 2006 in the Antilles, west of the Caribbean island of Grenada, and according to the National Geographic Magazine it is one of the 25 wonders
of the world. Three years later in Cancun, he created ‘MUSA’, a monumental collection of more than 500 figures, which are submerged off the Mexican coast. In 2014 in the Bahamas, the artist sank the world’s largest underwater statue - his ‘Ocean Atlas’ is five metres high and weighs about 60 tons. This year, Lanzarote has become the lucky owner of an amazing marine attraction to contrast and complement their superb fire paran dise ashore.
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FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
Promotion
A great place to relocate! By Alan Royles It is of little or no surprise that Tenerife attracts thousands of tourists each year and it’s easy to see why many of them choose to pack up their belongings and relocate here on a more permanent basis. For the vast majority of people it is important to earn an income so that they can support themselves and find the time to enjoy all that the island has to offer. No longer is Tenerife just sun, sea and sand! Now there is much more on offer, from the regenerated shopping zones to the amazing new shopping centres such as Siam Mall and Parque Santiago 6. There have also been infrastructure improvements, not least with the opening of the new motorway section and other major road improvements, making day trips around the island a little easier and opening up both the mountains and the North. In order to enjoy the island to the fullest, you need security and a job or business that allows you some decent free time. Many new arrivals decide to invest some of their savings
There is so much more on offer now, including great shopping centres such as Siam Mall
into a new business venture, shop or bar as they see it as a way of securing a good income and this can often be the case, but beware as there are many tales of woe.
Be diligent The importance of employing the services of an experienced ‘Gestor’ and agent can’t be over stated. They will help ensure that there are no nasty surprises around the corner, like the couple who invested a significant amount of money into a bar only to discover that the application paperwork was
out of date and therefore they had to submit an entirely new project as well as pay for an electrical plan, rewire the premises and build disabled toilets at a total cost of around €15,000! Providing you are diligent, buying or starting your own business can prove to be a wonderful experience and there are thousands of examples of people who have done it successfully. There are not just bars and restaurants on offer, there are many opportunities in other areas such as water sports, the service industries and entertainment. There are
also many new areas opening up with fabulous new beauty treatment ideas and franchise opportunities. It saddens me when I hear stories like the one above especially when it can so easily be avoided. A professional agent will investigate the paperwork and make sure you know exactly what to expect and, along with an experienced ‘Gestor’, they will ensure that your dream has every chance of becoming a reality. If you would like to discuss any aspect of buying a Business in Tenerife, call me on: 634 098 n 838.
Gran Canaria
Danish teenage love film It may not have quite the media repercussions of the latest Bourne blockbuster shot last September in Santa Cruz but the location shooting of a Danish film in Gran Canaria has been welcomed equally posi-
tively by the authorities as a major boost for the island’s image. The film, called 1,2,3 Go! and directed by Barbara Rothenborg, narrates the story of teenage school sweethearts
who decide to live their lives to the full after discovering that one of them has a lifethreatening illness. They fly to Gran Canaria without telling their parents as part of their throw caution to the wind phi-
losophy. The picture is being shot in various parts of the south, particularly Mogán, and is due to go on release in Denmark in May. It is the first use of the island for locan tion filming this year.
Santiago del Teide
Concern at crime wave The normally tranquil town of Santiago del Teide and its coastal parts have seen a worrying increase in break-ins and other forms of crime of late and the local authorities admit to serious concern at the growing phenomenon. On one night alone towards the end of January, thieves broke into ten homes in the town centre, Tamaimo and La Caldera, in one case entering the bedroom of the owners – a local businessman and his wife – as they slept and making off with a haul of jewels. Santiago’s mayor Emilio Navarro has acknowledged that the break-ins, coupled with thefts from tourists visiting popular beauty spots and shopping streets have damaged the town’s reputation and he has called on police and Civil Guard to make extra efforts to catch the culprits. According to Tenerife’s El Día newspaper, the authorities believe the crime wave is the work of a gang from Eastern Europe which is operating in the south of the island and has targeted Santiago del Teide in recent times. In one four-day period recently, visitors to Santiago del Teide reported a total of 24 crimes, n most of them car break-ins and pickpocketing.
Judges “being influenced”
Swaying justice for Gran Canaria water park
A small company that fought a successful battle to block the major water park planned for Playa del Inglés in Gran Canaria says there is a concerted campaign to pressure judges to allow the multi-million euro project to go ahead. As reported here, the plans to build Europe’s biggest water park – a near replica of Tenerife’s Siam Park – have sparked a bitter battle between the firm, Lebensraum Wasser, and the powerful Kiessling family, owners of the Loro Parque and Siam Park. Just before Christmas, Lebensraum won its bid to have the handing over of a giant tract of public land for the new attraction halted, among other grounds because the water park is a purely private venture and could not be considered a public-interest project. The ruling has led to a flood of support for the park by the local and island authorities, with many influential figures appearing in the media to stress the importance of the attraction for the tourist industry. The public statements of support are, according to Lebensraum, a form of pressure on judges to back the project when its legality comes before them for a ruling. “The authorities have bent over backwards to accommodate this project, changing planning rules to allow the land to be used for it. Yet many other companies that have tried to launch initiatives in recent years in the same area have been turned down”, said Lebensraum in a statement, on n which it warned of “attempts to sway the courts”.
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
PROMOTION
One of the world’s biggest carnivals takes place in Santa Cruz de Tenerife during February, with similar celebrations and events held in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Carnival fever kicks off in the capital cities with a mix of Latin rhythms, parades, concerts and street parties that absorb the Islands for several weeks. The main events include the election of the Carnival Queen, the murga contest, the burial of the sardine, and the all-night street parties where revellers draw on the pulsating party vibes to keep going and only make their way to bed when the sun comes up. This year’s theme is the 1980s and, as with every year, a poster is selected from a number of proposals by local artists. This tradition not only applies to Santa Cruz, as most town fiestas handle the visual promotion of the annual event in this way, affording prestige to the artists chosen to represent the carnival theme. Some towns such as Las Palmas, Playa del Inglés and
FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
The nostalgic 1980s Puerto de la Cruz also stage a series of events aimed at the gay community, including a drag queen contest.
The Carnival Queen The Gala to elect the Carnival Queen for Santa Cruz is always a highlight, with 14 candidates participating in 2016. The winner is judged not only on beauty but also charisma and costume. Designers have the opportunity to make a name for themselves, and a panel decides the best combination to take home the coveted crown. For many young women from Tenerife it’s a dream come true to win the Carnival Queen prize. A Junior Queen contest has been held since 1975, and Tania Quintero Martín is this year’s winner with her costume titled: Between good and evil, it will soon be midnight. Tania beat over a dozen candidates with her costume designed by Eduardo Martín and representing the company Cash & Carry Julián Hernán-
Key dates for Canarian carnivals
Tania is the Junior Queen of Carnival 2016 Dancing to the samba rhythms
dez. Her six maids of honour were Dafne Expósito Alvarado, Alexia Hernández Henríquez, Leire García Santana, Yanira Chaxiraxi Santana Lugo, Patricia Delgado Garrido and Paola Sánchez Herrero. The election of the adult Carnival Queen 2016 will take place on February 3, during a grand gala that is broadcast live on Canarian television and nationwide – look out for it earlybird readers. If you’ve never
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Photo: Ayuntamiento SC
Carnival 2016
CANARY ISLANDS
Photo: Ayuntamiento SC
seen the spectacle before you should try to catch it on TV at least, just to see the enthusiasm and passion that goes into the contest. It is the event that typically attracts the highest viewing figures during the carnival, and one that is oft repeated, so you won´t miss out either which way.
Dancing and singing Music groups and modern dance companies provide excellent entertainment on the streets and at the various galas. The beginning of Santa Cruz carnival is marked by an opening parade - known as a ‘cabalgata’ - with scores of floats, processions, and samba bands that wind through the main streets to the cheers of thousands of spectators, usually dressed up in costume and make-up and helping to create a jubilee atmosphere. ‘Comparsas’ are groups that dance through the streets to Caribbean rhythms and ‘Mogollón’ is an open-air dance with local or international music. The closing parade, or ‘coso’ as it is termed, is the final procession and an avalanche of colour, rhythm and celebration as the Carnival Queen and her entourage join the floats and bands in their parade along Santa Cruz’s seafront - to bid farewell to the festivities for another year.
Friday, February 5 8pm. Cabalgata opening parade Avenida de Bélgica. Saturday, February 6 9pm. Rhythm and harmony dance contest. Performances on Avenida Francisco La Roche, followed by a dance party until dawn. Sunday, February 7 1pm. Daytime Carnival. Shrove Tuesday, February 9 4pm. ‘Coso’ closing parade. Avenida Francisco La Roche. Ash Wednesday, February 10 9pm. Burial of the Sardine. Friday, February 12 6pm. Children’s parade. García Sanabria Park. Sunday, February 14 5pm. Carnival closing ceremonies at various locations. For more information visit: www.carnavaldetenerife.com.
Puerto de la Cruz Thursday, February 4 9pm. Carnival Queen Gala. Plaza Europa. Saturday, February 6 8.30pm. Parade and dance party at the Plaza del Charco. Sunday, February 7 1pm. Carnival concerts with various music and dance groups throughout the day with evening parties taking place after 8pm. Plaza del Charco. Monday, February 8 11pm. Public Ball and street parties around the Plaza del Charco. Ash Wednesday, February 10 9.30pm. Burial of the Sardine and public party. Plaza del Charco. Friday, February 12 10pm. Men’s Race in 10cm high heels. Plaza del Charco. Saturday, February 13 4pm. Carnival parade from Avenida Colón. Sunday, February 14 3pm to 7pm. Closing party. Plaza del Charco.
La Orotava Sunday, February 7 11am to 11pm. Carnival Parade. Plaza de la Constitución to Calle Calvario. Monday, February 8 9.30pm to 11pm. Masked Ball at the Plaza de la Constitución. Shrove Tuesday, February 9 5pm. Carnival Parade followed by public dancing on the Plaza de la Constitución.
Ash Wednesday, February 10 9.30pm. Burial of the Sardine. Plaza de la Constitución. Saturday, February 13 10pm. Public dance on the Plaza de San Juan Bautista.
Icod de los Vinos Saturday, February 6 9pm. Carnival Queen Gala. Dancing on the Plaza Luis de León Huerta. Sunday, February 7 5.30pm. Carnival Parade from La Centinela to Avenida Canarias, followed by parties. Monday, February 8 Children’s events during the day on the Plaza Luis de León Huerta. 9pm. Carnival concerts with Carisma Latino and the Maquinaria band. Saturday, February 13 6.30pm. Burial of the Sardine followed by dancing on the Plaza América.
La Palma Friday, February 5 8pm. Concert by Mastiche on the Avenida Maritima followed by partying. Saturday, February 6 8pm. Music and dance with Arena Caliente on Plaza Alameda. Sunday, February 7 9pm. Concerts by Los Lola and Escuela de Calor. Monday, February 8 10.30am. Cuban music on the Plaza España. 11am. Parody of the Cuban returnees. Santa Cruz de La Palma Town Hall. 1.30pm. Public parade on the Plaza de España. From 4.30pm. White talcum powder battle on the streets. 9pm. Los Indianos public party. For more information visit: www.losindianos.es.
Gran Canaria Friday, February 12 9pm. Carnival Queen Gala. Parque Santa Catalina. Friday, February 19 9pm. Drag Queen Gala. Parque Santa Catalina. Saturday, February 20 5pm. Carnival Parade from the north of Las Palmas to the south. Sunday, February 21 6pm. The Burial of the Sardine. Calle León y Castillo, Plaza de la Feria to Playa de Las Canteras. For further information, visit: www.lpacarnaval.com.
Murgas The Murga groups are a treasured feature of the carnival, consisting of a collection of vocalists dressed in clown make-up with simple musical accompaniment of drums, kazoos and other wind instruments. The power of these groups has always been lyrical content using satirical statements, social comment, humorous wordplay and thick irony to form the songs, typically poking fun at authorities and rival carnivals. Murgas first appeared in Tenerife in 1917 with an official contest organised from 1961.
The burial of the Sardine When the carnival draws to a close the final organised event is the burial of the sardine. With a final weekend of street parties to come, the affair finishes several days prior on Ash Wednesday with a popular and light-hearted ceremony that parodies a funeral procession. People play along and mourn for the symbolic sardine as it’s paraded through the town and finally burned, signifying the coming of Lent and a time for reflection.
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764 The burial procession finishes at the Plaza de España and the burning takes place on the Avenida Maritima and is followed by a fireworks display.
Rondallas The Rondallas are one of the oldest and most traditional elements of the Santa Cruz carnival. They are an ensemble of string instrument musicians who typically play with a plectrum and sing light opera and romantic ballads in a choir, while dressed in costume. A festival for the Rondallas has been held since 1910.
Useful tips There is a special bus service put on for key dates to help people get to and from the carnival, especially during the street parties, with local buses running through the night. A word of warning: be careful with your purse or wallet and wearing comfortable shoes and clothes is a must! Also, remember to pace yourself, you don’t want to miss half the fun because you’ve overdone it, or spend most of the evening looking for a toilet. Plan ahead, dress-up and feel the rhythm!
Carnival in Puerto de la Cruz Following the commencement of the capitals’ carnivals, most local towns hold their own smaller-scale events, usually at the same time or just afterwards, and with a different theme to that of Santa Cruz or Las Palmas. Many people time
to travel too far, then smaller celebrations in a nearby town may be an easier way of ingesting the fiesta fever. For example, the parties in Puerto de la Cruz are a popular version that manages to encompass the same energy and many events of the capital. One fun feature is the race with men in 10cm high heels. This year’s theme is World Cinema.
Photo: Ayuntamiento SC
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
Puerto de La Cruz’s Men’s Race in 10cm high heels
their holidays to coincide with the dates so you can expect the Islands to be busy at carnival time. Therefore, if you find the prospect of fighting through the busy streets of the Islands’ two biggest cities a little daunting, or you prefer not
Other carnival strongholds Aside from Santa Cruz and Puerto de La Cruz, Tenerife has a number of other notable town carnivals. These include the celebrations in Icod de Los
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Vinos and La Orotava, which coincides with the Santa Cruz programme. Los Realejos is another popular carnival, while in the south of the island, Los Cristianos and Los Gigantes both stage impressive celebrations.
Islanders who came back were called ‘Los Indianos’. The scattering of flour and white powder dates back to the seventeenth century but it has been an integral part of La Palma’s carnival since 1966 and attracts thousands of visitors. This unique fiesta takes place on February 8 at 10am on the Plaza de España. A humongous powder battle begins at 5pm on Avenida Los Indianos.
Carnival in La Palma La Palma has a wonderful alternative to the carnival called Los Indianos. This fiesta sees everyone dress in white and take to the streets during the day to cover everything, including each other, in talcum powder. The origin of Los Indianos is based on the many Canarians who emigrated to Cuba during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many of them were Palmeros as there was better communication and links between La Palma and distant Cuba than with the other Canary Islands at the time. Canarians were frustrated by the lack of opportunity on the Islands so they sought their fortune elsewhere. Cuba was the land of opportunity until Venezuela opened up from the 1920s onwards. La Palma had an especially close connection to Cuba, with thousands of Palmeros emigrating there.
Carnival in Gran Canaria The theme for Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s carnival this year is The Roaring 20s. Gran Canarian celebrations differ slightly to Tenerife’s but are no less crazy! One of the highlights is undoubtedly the Drag Queen contest. Contestants are elected on February 13 at 9pm with the winner being announced during the final gala on February 19 at 9pm. Las Palmas crowns its Carnival Queen on February 12. For a full programme of events, activities and celebrations, please visit the Santa Cruz Carnival website: www.carnavaldetenerife.com and for Las Palmas: n www.lpacarnaval.com.
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PROMOTION
Special Valentine’s Day design San Valentín, Bodegas Torres’s most romantic wine, has been dressed in white for Valentine’s Day. The special edition slender bottle features a gold floral motif and the brand’s icon: two cherubs, each holding a wine glass. The fact that San Valentín is named after the patron saint of lovers has already made it a Valentine’s Day favourite. Now this special edition further enhances the wine’s elegance and sensuality to create the perfect gift for a romantic celebration. The wine’s name is no coincidence. Miguel Torres Carbó, part of the Torres family’s third generation, created this aromatic beverage for taking on vineyard walks and picnics. In a romantic move that would be hard to follow, he dedicated the wine to his wife, Margarita Riera, on February 14 almost 60 years ago.
San Valentín is made from traditional Catalan white varieties, mainly Parellada, which gives the wine its fine, delicate quality. The grapes are grown in high-lying vineyards, contributing to its aromatic intensity and moderate alcohol content. San Valentín is a very fruity white wine that pairs beautifully with seafood or fish in sweet sauces. Give it a try if you haven’t already. See: www.torreswines. com and www.torresearth.com for more information on San Valentín and the company’s n other delicious wines. Dressed in white for Valentine’s Day, the special edition San Valentín wine is available now from larger outlets
FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
Security forces
Anti-terrorism training
Unions representing the various branches of the security forces in Gran Canaria and Tenerife recently took the initiative to run an anti-terrorist training course. Around 300 officers from both islands attended from the port, local, regional and National Police and the Guardia Civil. The course focused on the jihadist terrorism that has sadly become such a worldwide threat today, the way it is financed, recruits, operates, what to look out for, how to identify possible dangerous situations and the most effective responses. They used past-case examples as a basis to illustrate the modus operandi of these terrorist groups and to help analyse what is occurring during a hypothetical attack. The unions emphasised that they had organised the courses because the appropriate authorities had failed to do so and stressed the real need for all officers to be familiar with the phenomenon in order to be able to act efficiently in an emergency. n
Photo: SUP
Officers at the anti-terrorism course
Man City sheikh eyes up Gran Canaria
The Arab billionaire who owns Manchester City FC is rumoured to be eyeing up a major investment in Gran Canaria following his latest visit to the island. According to the Canarias 7 newspaper and Canarian TV, which cite well-informed sources, Sulaiman Al Fahim is willing to invest up to 500 million euros in tourism and leisure projects, although no specific details have been released. The influential sheikh from Dubai spent a few days in Gran Canaria in late January and held a series of meetings with business contacts to finalise the deals, which are believed to include the purchase of significant amounts of land in the south of the island. According to Canarias 7, the 39-year-old sheikh – whose private jet was seen in Tenerife hours before arriving in Gran Canaria – has ruled out investing in Tenerife because he believes it is “sewn up by the Russians” and offers fewer interesting opportunities at present. The visit is the third by Sulaiman Al Fahim to Gran Canaria, following two previous trips in 2013 and 2014. It was described by his entourage as “strictly private” and did not include any meetings with the local or regional authorities. n
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
White lies and intrigue
Island-wide campaign
Chicken pox vaccinations coming Children in the Canaries are to be vaccinated against chicken pox as of March although the Department of Health insists the decision has not been triggered by a rise in cases or fears of a major outbreak. After months of uncertainty, officials have confirmed that the jabs are in the process of being purchased for the vaccination campaign, which will be aimed at approximately 17,000 children born after January 1, 2015. The first dose will be administered between the ages of 12 and 15 months and will be followed by a booster two to three years later. Health Service sources say the Canaries have no choice but to follow the instructions issued by the Spanish Ministry of Health, which has caused controversy with its decision to bring the chicken pox jabs forward by several years. The measure will cost the Canaries an extra €330,000. Regional health minister Jesús Morera slammed Madrid for changing the compulsory vaccination calendar at short notice and contributing to genern ating alarm needlessly among parents.
Café’s fib and courtesy humour A relatively new bar-cafeteria in La Laguna has shown it has a sense of humour with its blackboard price list, which includes some items for which an additional charge is made. The services include covering for clients who do not want to be located by their colleagues or better halves while they are enjoying time away from work or home and the degree of coverup dictates the fee payable. A ‘They have just left’ response to a phone call will set customers back €3 extra, while something along the
Photo: Karl McLaughlin
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
lines of ‘They are on their way home’, ‘They have not been
in’ or ‘Never heard of them’ proves more expensive at €5,
€10 a n d € 2 0 , respect i v e l y, p e r white lie. The café owners have also demonstrated their preference for polite customers by offering discounts for those who, rather than merely barking out a coffee order, add words such as ‘Good morning’ and ‘Please’. n
Photo: Lucyin CC A-SA 3.0 UL
Gran Canaria
The typical red spots of chickenpox
Government to tackle OAP loneliness The Canarian government is launching a scheme to combat loneliness among elderly people in the Islands. Social Services minister Patricia Hernández said the problem of loneliness was becoming increasingly serious among OAPs and €500,000 had been included in the 2016 Budget to help pay for measures to tackle it. The basis for the new scheme will be what Hernández termed an “alliance among generations” which will see young people encouraged to provide company to the elderly. According to the latest statistics, 15 per cent of the population of the Canaries is over the age of 65 and many do not have regular company. “We need to pay the elderly back for what they have contributed to society through their hard work for decades, and tackling their current loneliness is one way” said the minister, who made the announcement at an event commemorating the community n project work of a well-known bank.
Massive 1500 kilo drug haul The authorities in the Canaries have notched up another important success in the fight to curb drug trafficking, this time with the interception of a haul of 1500 kilos of hashish from Morocco as it was about to arrive by sea in Gran Canaria. The seizure was made after a Civil Guard patrol boat detected the presence of a motorised dinghy making its way towards the coast at Gáldar under cover of darkness. Offic-
ers moved in to intercept it six miles off the shore and found it was carrying the massive ship-
ment of drugs, packed in 49 large bales. The two men on the dinghy, both Moroccan,
were taken into custody, and a further four – all Spanish – were detained as they waited in a jeep on a Gáldar beach to collect the drugs. The vehicle was found to contain boxes, wrapping tape and waterproof clothes to be used by the men to enter the water and unload the dinghy. A fifth local was arrested at a small cottage near the beach with canisters of petrol to be used by the crew for their return journey to Morocco. n
Chinese baby death case reopened A Chinese family living in Tenerife have succeeded in having the case into the tragic death of their young baby reopened. The parents of infant Ziyao Li have fought a bitter battle against the decision by a Santa Cruz court to take no further action against the authorities for the delay in having the
baby treated for serious heart problems detected a few weeks after birth. After being referred by a private hospital in south Tenerife, the newborn girl was initially scheduled to receive an operation in the Children’s Hospital in Las Palmas but the Department of Health then decided to divert her
to Madrid by air ambulance. The transfer was delayed by six days, allegedly due to adverse weather conditions, and the baby died before she could undergo surgery. The case caused considerable controversy at the time in March 2013, with reports that health chiefs did not want her to be treated in Las Palmas
because they hoped to close the prestigious Heart Surgery Unit. Tenerife’s High Court has ordered the case to be investigated further to see if the authorities breached their duty of care to the baby and her family and were negligent in changing the original decision to operate in Las Palmas. n
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FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
Achieving the impossible By Barbara Belt ister of teachers, who must La Gomera doesn’t exactly spring to mind as the birthplace of innovative education. It suffers the fate of all smaller Canary Islands and most rural backwaters: teachers don’t want to be here. They generally stay for as short a time as possible then move on. The effect tends to be adequate, rather than excellent, education, plus limited community involvement and innovation, and uninvolved parents. Yet the island’s schools have great
go wherever they’re sent, is an enormous stumbling block to involvement and commitment. Schools and colleges can’t choose staff, but must take who they’re given, suitable or not. The school year often starts without the full complement of teachers, as those destined for La Gomera wriggle out of postings and hasty substitutions from further down the list are made. “Phobia of La Gomera” was even accepted as a valid reason for sick leave for a Valle Gran Rey teacher!
A music and book collection for recycling in the town square The original work group
Shirly Millo is the project’s modest instigator
potential. Class sizes are wonderfully small. Pupils generally live well, in communities where they’re known and therefore accountable. There’s little real poverty, they enjoy extended families and a healthy generational mix. The ingredients for a community/school initiative to broaden and improve educational quality exist but the centrally controlled reg-
Imagine you’re a disenchanted teenager in La Gomera, hormones rioting, trouble at home, failing at school. There’s little communication between your teachers and family. Your teachers, anyway, can’t even spend weekends (horror of horrors!) in the small town that’s suddenly suffocating you. You drop out, a common phenomenon here, and perhaps in all
tourist destinations. Boys in particular suffer early disenchantment with education. Post-sixteen girl students easily
outnumber the boys, probably motivated by their greater drive for independence and autonomy. Dropout girls wouldn’t
get away with hanging round smoking joints all day when there’s plenty of housework and cooking to be done. With sons
here still allowed far more freedom than daughters, the lack of feedback from professionals and no community forum for discussion about how to even things up, mean nothing changes. The background to academic success in La Gomera is complex. It depends a lot on who your parents are, like everywhere, but sadly the chances here of being inspired by a demanding teacher with a sense of vocation and a real connection with the community, who really knows the students and
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
tive communication between parents and schools. So, recent news that one of the island’s schools, Santiago Apóstol in Playa Santiago, has won a national award for addressing all of the above is extraordinary indeed.
Making school lockers Learning about organic gardening Mothers and teachers working together during Education Week
how they live, are pretty slim. Notable exceptions exist, of course, but it’s hard to stay motivated when everyone else is abandoning ship.
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on an already scrambled education system. Israel born, long-term La Gomera resident, Shirly Millo is the project’s modest instigator. Mother of two, and involved with various educational schemes and the Parents’
contacts at the Institute for Democratic Education was organised, and the seeds of the plan were sown. There was obvious enthusiasm for the 2014 Education Week kickstart, which generated input from both school
Association, she contacted Israel’s Institute for Democratic Education some time ago for advice on constructive change. When the Education Department announced funding and support for ideas to improve schools, Shirly also found the CEP (Island Teachers’ Centre) keen to get involved. A joint visit to Israel to consult her
communities and local people, and took the initial look at how to turn ideas into reality: “It was such a positive experience, both from a personal and professional point of view. I grew, and learned, a lot”, commented a parent. A psychologist involved in the venture enthused: “We started the group feeling impotent and
finished with sun and light!” “In general, we’re buried within society, afraid of change. I hope we can spread change with what we’re trying to do here”, said one teacher. But the effect on the students is the most significant, of course, and the positive outlook it gives them: “I’ve seen that creativity’s my future. I don’t know yet where that’ll lead me, but I know my work will involve action with other people” were the confident words of one pupil. Nineteen months on, with a national prize already to its credit, the project goes from strength to strength: “The climate of cooperation between the school and different sectors of the education community has been transformed. As a consequence, pupils are better motivated and their academic and personal success has improved. This is sure to have an affirmative effect on academic continuity… and the stability of teaching staff”, notes the Department of Education. And in the words of school headmistress Estefanía Montesdeoca: “We’ve re-launched ourselves using cooperation, and achieved the impossible.” n
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
Exacerbating the problems is the abyss between the theory and practice of new educational ideas, plus the lack of careers advice and construc-
The prize-winning project began to take shape in June 2014, with an Education Week in which teachers, advisors, parents and pupils, members of the PTA, town council and Teachers’ Centre, along with Garajonay National Park staff and local people in general, got together to have a look at problems affecting pupils and their school, and to come up with solutions and ways to improve educational performance. During that week, with input from everyone, ‘Naveguemos’ was born, based on a desire for positive change via good communication within and between local and school communities. And it’s working! There’s increasing success in involving the local community in the life of the school, and vice versa, using round-table sessions to design, develop and implement new ideas. Israel’s Democratic Education Institute initially helped assess the school and community proposals, while economic help came from the regional government’s Education Department. The €10,000 prize will be useful and, in recognition of the project group’s dedication, vision and energy, gratifying. Should other schools and communities be inspired to do the same, this small island, parentled, format will have achieved far more than any of the educational reforms that each new Spanish government imposes
CANARY ISLANDS
Photo: fcl1971/freeimages.com
How to negotiate roundabouts if I’m in the right lane? Drivers must exit roundabouts from the right hand lane, because the only way to leave the roundabout is by turning right. This doesn’t mean we always have to enter the roundabout from the right hand lane. It depends on the exit we need to take. However, this simple rule, in practice, can be more complex. Let us see some examples.
1st exit right If you are unsure about the correct way to negotiate roundabouts, here are some simple rules to help you enter and exit roundabouts safely and in the right lane.
Approaching roundabouts It’s important to remember to give way to traffic already on the roundabout. If the roundabout is outside urban areas of
towns or cities, keep right. If the roundabout is in a builtup area inside a town or city and the lanes are clearly marked, you should use the lane that best corresponds to the exit you need to take.
Leaving roundabouts This causes the most confusion amongst drivers. Which lane to choose? Why do I get beeped at
Enter roundabout keeping to right hand side lane. Stay in lane until exit is reached. Indicate and exit roundabout.
Continuing straight on (e.g. 2nd exit straight ahead) Enter roundabout keeping to right hand side lane. Stay in lane until exit is reached. Indicate prior to exit and leave roundabout.
Turning left or changing direction (e.g. 3rd or final exit) Enter roundabout keeping to left hand side lane. Stay in lane until you have passed the exit before your turn off, then change lane by indicating right and giving other road users sufficient time to anticipate your manoeuvre. Don’t forget that drivers circulating in the outside lanes have priority, so use your mirrors to ensure you are not blocking them as you change lanes.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
Route restoration
Rejoining Guanche springs San Juan de la Rambla mayor, Fidela Velázquez, has announced that work will shortly begin to repair the route between the two historically important natural water sources of Fuente del Bardo and Fuente del Rey. Fuente del Bardo was interred during the construction of the TF344 and it is to be dug up and restored as part of the works. Both sites were important during the times of the Guanches as they formed settlements where the Ycoden local aboriginal Mencey (king) was based and the route was used frequently into modern times by local residents as a source of fresh drinking water. The trail is in the denominated ‘area of influence’ of the Teide National Park, in the middle of Los Campeches, Tigaiga y Ruíz Nature Reserve and the mayor believes the project is an important step towards consolidating rural tourism in the area and will be of interest to both walkers and historians. In all, €58,323 has been budgeted for the plan which also includes clearing the overgrown paths of brambles and weeds, building stone walls where necessary to make it safe, improving the path over the ravine and installing standardised information signs. n
We hope the information provided in this article is of interest. If you would like to contact Línea Directa please call 902 123 151 More information on Línea Directa online at www.linean directa.com.
Part of the historic trail
Street art in Puerto de La Cruz
Triumph of the Urban Warrior Periplo is the International Festival of Travel Literature and Adventure which is held every year in Puerto de La Cruz, with the attractions of last October’s event still very much the talk of the town. Pichi & Avo, two artists from Valencia who mix fine art and illustration with graffiti, designed the imposing Urban Warrior image, pictured here, on the side of a building by the Placeta de Benito Pérez Galdós in La Ranilla near the old town, and public interest in the mural is still buzzing. Puerto de La Cruz’s street art scene has become one of the most striking cultural initiatives on the Islands and has helped to bring a wide range of tourists and new attractions to the town. Since preparations for last year’s Periplo Festival began, Puerto de La Cruz has been transformed into an open air urban art gallery. To date, 15 gigantic murals decorate the old
Photo: Ayuntamiento Puerto de La Cruz
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The Urban Warrior can be seen in the district of La Ranilla near the old town of Puerto de La Cruz
town, with works by artists such as Roa, 3ttman, Victor Ash, and El Niño de las Pinturas. Pichi & Avos’ Urban Warrior was perfected with a great level of figurative detail to create the captivating graffiti. Argentinean artist Martín Ron also painted a mural to join the other works of urban art around the town. Martín Ron is best known for visually striking pieces which are typically large in size. His style has been labelled as ‘urban surrealism’ and blends realistically illustrated elements with fantasy and abstract imagery, and has provided eye-catching murals on walls and buildings in cities
around the world. All City Canvas (ACC) is an online platform that showcases artistic content in all its forms and artists are welcome to contribute works to a global audience. Pichi & Avos’ Urban Warrior was voted in 16th position out of the 20 best works produced in 2015, giving notable recognition to both the artists and the Periplo Festival. Puerto de La Cruz also comes off well, showcasing its cultural side and demonstrating that the coastal town is far more than just hotels and beaches. This year’s Periplo Festival promises even more urban art activities. For more information visit: www.festivalperiplo. n
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
Promotion
It will soon be time for a traditional spring clean, and in some cases to give homes a facelift, completely renovate kitchens or bathrooms, or simply retile a lounge floor. For this, you’ll want to see a complete range of everything you need to create a functional new look – and you’ll find just that at Cerámicas Miguel Gómez, where English is also spoken so all your questions can be dealt with easily. You can’t fail to be inspired by the ideas on display in the large and bright showroom occupying the ground floor of the premises, and which is being extended to the first floor. There’s a magnificent choice of wall and floor tiles in bright and more subdued colours, adding freshness or warmth, all in very modern designs, some of which would blend in perfectly in a more rustic scheme. In fact it is Miguel’s aim to supply goods that would suit any property, from country cottage to the most contemporary style. You could choose a wall tile and incorporate feature tiles to create a stunning picture or a bor-
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
CANARY ISLANDS
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a wide variety of vinyl woodlook flooring options which make the home feel cosy, look authentic and are amazingly easy to maintain. You’ll also see some innovative ideas for wall coverings to suit any room, and for creating unusual and stylish partitions. All this, and of course all the fittings and other ancillary materials that you’ll need to
incorporate these ideas into your home. The choice is all yours! Cerámicas Miguel Gómez is a regular port of call for tradesmen of all nationalities, and that speaks for itself. Why not go along and take a look? You’ll find this store at Cruz del Guanche in Valle San Lorenzo, on the road to n Buzanada.
Cerámicas Miguel Gómez fixtures including baths, toilets, shower screens and trays in all shapes and sizes to suit the space available, plus wash basins, vanity units, separate mirrors, a full selection of taps including designer models and, of course, some extremely attractive accessories. For kitchen renovations you’ll find sinks in various shapes and sizes, circular, square, rectan-
Miguel (centre) with his colleagues Rayco (l) and Yumaira (r) Colourful and inspiring ideas for kitchens and floors Turn your bathroom into a rocky seaside paradise
der, or floor tiles with which you could create a bordered feature. There are some delightful eye-catching examples on display. Miguel also stocks tiles
Warm designs for bathrooms at Ceramicas Miguel Gómez
which are suitable for terraces and swimming pools. For those who are planning a complete bathroom renovation, you’ll see plenty of fittings and
gular, single, double, in stainless steel and other materials, and of course a great selection of taps to choose from. In addition to tiles, Miguel stocks
Cerámicas Miguel Gómez Ctra General Cruz del Guanche 23 Valle San Lorenzo, Arona • Tel/Fax: 922 765 950 Open: Weekdays 9am to 1pm and 3pm to 7pm
TENERIFE GENERAL
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FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
Promotion
Property market plus Villas And More-Tenerife real estate agents recently opened a new office in the south of Tenerife. Taking their 20 years of experience with them, they have moved to the Fañabe I Commercial Centre below the Lagos de Fañabe reception area, opposite the La Tosca restaurant – with plenty of free parking facilities in the underground car park for their customers. Services that are offered include sales, rentals, property quotations, refurbishments, mortgages, investments, translations, company foundations, and wills. They can also help in obtaining NIE numbers or Residencies free of charge, as well as also offering information about laws, taxes and inheritance. Find them in the Commercial Center Fañabé I Villas And More-Tenerife speak your language
The staff on hand is even more multilingual then before. Between those based in the Fañabe office, English, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, Finnish and French are all spoken fluently.
See all our shops
and you?
vape ? SMOKE or
www.goodsmoke.es
If you are just setting out on the adventure of acquiring a property or have any questions about selling or renting, this is definitely the place to go. Villas And More-Tenerife will give you professional and free advice: Their
excellent reputation comes from thousands of satisfied customers since 1996. Clear and precise quotations are given in writing, including any taxes and fees arising from a property purchase, and
they will clarify laws, rights and other obligations, as well as offer advice on insurance. Existing clients are even given assistance with NIE and Residency applications as well as information about tax, laws and inheritance regulations, totally free of charge. And for those who are interested in buying a business such as a bar or restaurant on the beach, at Villas And More-Tenerife you will find excellent offers. With several associated offices in a variety of countries, clients come from all over the world - and are truly welcomed. For more information, see: www.villasandmoren tenerife.com.
Puerto de la Cruz
La Paz renovation Take a stroll along the cliff-front path in La Paz in Puerto de La Cruz and you can’t fail to see the work now being undertaken to renovate the almost 500 metre stretch between the Hotel Semiramis and the Mirador de la Paz. At around €2,000 per lineal metre, this is a strong investment on behalf of the Puerto de La Cruz Renovation Consortium and the €1,000,000 project is expected to take about 10 months to complete. The path runs along a steep drop which is 75 metres above sea level and has marvellous views over the town. At the launch of the project, Puerto’s mayor Lope Afonso recalled that this initiative, providing a connecting coastal walkway from the Playa del Bolullo in La Orotava to the Playa de Los Roques in Los Realejos, was one of the grand ideas provided by a legendary local hotelier Enrique Talg Wyss, who with his father founded the Hotel Tigaiga which his three children Enrique, Irene and Úrsula now manage in a spectacularly successful fashion today. At the launch of the project, Island Council president Carlos Alonso underlined the necessity of public works being accompanied by private investment and mentioned that the Apartamentos Bellavista will also be undergoing a makeover during the same period. He also emphasised the necessity not just of getting the town up to scratch, but underline that “We need a cleaner Puerto de La Cruz, with good maintenance of the works that are carried out. It’s important that things are done well and maintained in a good condition.” His meaning was clear to anyone who opens their eyes as they walk through the town. Despite a very busy gardening team, unsightly and abandoned banana trees, palms and other exotic plants are infected by leaf diseases and pests, turning a beautiful exotic ambience into a chamber of horrors. It wouldn’t take much investment, knowledge or effort to present a cleaner face to the town. Puerto shouldn’t have to hide its light under a bushel; it has a great deal of charm to offer and should have the Diseased trees detract from maintenance it deserves. n the town’s beauty
Renovation is now underway
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
TENERIFE GENERAL
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
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Religious anniversary
In this case, we’re not just talking about spirit, but the actual body of a nun born in Tenerife, whose corpse lies in state in La Laguna in a glass coffin, viewed by the public every February 15 on the anniversary of her death, as they
come to ask her intervention in their affairs. Sor María Jesús de León y Delgado, known popularly as La Siervieta (the Little Servant), of the convent of Santa Catalina de Siena in La Laguna (next to the town hall), was born on
Dive in
Municipal pool reopens Due to popular demand, Candelaria’s municipal swimming pool is due to reopen in February – one month before schedule – and people can start booking classes for adults and children now. Candelaria’s mayor, María Concepción Brito, announced that the pool’s services will be available every year from February to November, allowing for repair work in the December and January months. Alongside general courses, the pool will also have therapeutic classes and programmes for pregnant women. The pool is situated directly on the coast and offers discount packages for families and multiple admissions. A monthly pass for adults resident in Candelaria costs €20 and the price is €40 for non-residents, and offers are available for seniors and disabled people. For more information visit the Candelaria borough council n website: www.candelaria.es.
Candelaria’s municipal swimming pool reopens
March 23, 1648, in the north Tenerife town of El Sauzal and joined the Dominican Sisters Second Order in La Laguna aged 26. This was a closed order which was simple, austere, very strict and involved frequent fasting, flagellation and sometimes walking around the garden bearing a huge wooden cross. Evidently deeply religious and modest from childhood, the young woman embraced religious life and never again left the cloister. During her period as a sister there were many reports of a strange nature, such as a bro-
Photos: www.inselteneriffa.com
The incorruptible nun
The ‘miraculous’ corpse on display on the anniversary of her death Her childhood home in El Sauzal has been turned into a museum
ken religious medal that reassembled itself spontaneously and the signs of ecstasy with a strong light shining from her face and extreme heat emanating from her body, especially when she took the Eucharist. Her cell companion’s brother, a famous local pirate, Amaro Rodríguez Felipe, known as Amaro Pargo, reported an instance of bilocation where she interceded for him in Cuba during an attempt on his life, when she was obviously still in Tenerife. An instance of levitation was reported too and she was also regarded as a prophet, predicting her own post-death glorification, a volcanic eruption and a flood. The cause of her death in 1731 is unknown. Apparently she fell into a state of ecstasy before
her demise, her pupils were clear and her pulse strong for 24 hours and she reportedly showed signs of stigmata in her side next to her heart such as that suffered by Christ after his crucifixion. The famous pirate considered her a spiritual friend and never went out adventuring without first receiving her blessing. Three years after her death,
he returned to his homeland and arranged for a glass coffin adorned with gold leaf to be made for her. It was during her transfer to the new coffin that it was apparently discovered that her body was uncorrupted, whole and flexible, her palate and tongue were preserved fresh and rosy and jasmine-scented blood came from her mouth.
A request for her canonisation was made to the Vatican in 1992, supported by a document from 1771 which listed 1,251 miracles attributed to her intercession. She is particularly revered by exploited children, people with skin diseases and sailors. Despite the lack of official Vatican recognition she is regarded by the Canarians in the same way Saint Theresa is regarded in the rest of Spain, how Saint Catherine of Sienna is worshipped in Italy, and Saint Rosa of Lima is followed in Peru and Latin America. Every year on the anniversary of her death people queue from 5am to 10pm to see her in her glass coffin. The event attracts approximately 40,000 people on the day and hundreds more attend the special Mass on the following Sunday, where the coffin is also on display. n
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TENERIFE GENERAL
FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
Promotion
Much more than flowers Just as the Spanish name implies, Flores y Más is a florist with flowers and more. This beautiful shop in the centre of Los Cristianos is definitely the place to visit for cut flowers, bouquets, arrangements, pot plants and accessories. To make life easier, Lorenzo will process your order with a smile, and to the relief of many, he speaks perfect English! Lorenzo was educated at an international school in Puerto de la Cruz, and has spent time in the UK, so he’s
Flores y Más Avda. Suecia, 25 Los Cristianos, Arona Open: 10am to 2pm and 4.30pm to 8.30pm Tel: 650 926 729 Email: cmstfe@hotmail.com Facebook: Flores y Más, Flowers and More Lorenzo, the man behind Flores y Más One of Lorenzo’s beautiful flower arrangements
perfected his command of the language. His customers really appreciate knowing that they are going get exactly what they have ordered. The premises has been occupied by a florist for six years, and opened as Flores y Más three years ago. As such it is now well established, and Lorenzo has a host of regular customers. As well as flowers, the shop also stocks a wide variety of pot plants, both flowering and
pure foliage, all very green and healthy looking, as well as various hanging-basket plants. Additionally, he stocks a good range of the most popular herb plants and a variety seeds. Whether you have a garden, terrace or even a small balcony, it is easy to grow your own favourite herbs and such a pleasure to be able to cut them when they are fresh as and when you need them. To keep all these plants looking good, there are pots in a wide
range of colours and sizes, plus composts, fertilisers and watering cans. It really is a mini garden centre! You’ll also find some wonderful gift ideas including attractive ornaments, fountains, Mikado air freshener kits, baskets, potpourri, vases, and a range of small handmade statues, as well as greetings cards. Lorenzo also supplies bouquets and floral arrangements for weddings and other events. He proudly told Island Connections that he covered a British wedding last October which included not only supplying bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids and pins for the bridegroom and guests, but also candleholder arrangements for all the tables at the lavish reception that followed. At Flores y Más, orders of €20 or more can be delivered locally to your door for a small fee, and this florist is part of the
Los Realejos school project
Free tutoring for disadvantaged kids
In order to improve school performance rates, the borough council of Los Realejos has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative. The mayor Manuel Domínguez and councillor Sandra Pérez recently presented a new project that offers free tuition and extracurricular activities for children from socially disadvantaged families. As a town which considers itself child friendly, authorities certainly have their youngest residents at heart. The project also aids low-income families and offers extracurricular classes to students from that background, helping to raise their academic performance and prevent them from falling behind by allowing them to learn at their own pace through fun and structured tutoring. The project is being organised in close cooperation with social groups in the area, allowing school staff to select the families that are most suitable and would benefit most from the extra tuition. Students from the areas of Palo Blanco, Las Llanadas, La Ferruja, Cruz del Castaño, La Montaña, La Cartaya, La Santa Cruz and Icod el Alto are set to benefit from the plans. n
Lago Martiánez
Accessible bathing
Interflora network so you can order flowers for delivery all over the world. Lorenzo is now preparing for St. Valentine’s Day. He says that the entire week before the big day is a crazy one, but it works well. Although the price of red roses almost triples for St. Valentine’s Day, the cost of all other flowers and arrangements remains the same as always. When you’re shopping for this very special day, or if you are planning to tie the knot soon, remember to visit Lorenzo at Flores y Más. If you’d like to see some fine examples of his work, take a look at their Facen book page.
The deputy mayor of Puerto de La Cruz, Sandra Rodríguez González, recently presented the new amphibious chair that has been bought for the famous Lago Martiánez pool complex. “Thanks to this chair, people with mobility challenges will have direct access to the water. It’s lightweight, comfortable, easy to handle and requires very little effort to use” she explained. She took the opportunity to point out that the entire swimming complex is accessible via ramps etc. for those with difficulties, although bathing facilities are only available in the artificial lake via a ramp access which is where the chair will be located. The council has also revamped the fleet of wheelchairs available and further investment in the area is planned n for the near future.
The latest technology water-wheelchair
TENERIFE GENERAL
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
Letter to the editor
Scooter pooper
By
Phasmatisnox CC 3.0 UL
After continually visiting the island at Christmas and New Year I felt I had to write about something that is becoming a scourge: mobility scooters! I do not have a problem with people who use them that really need them but to see people as young as 13 driving them at such high speeds thinking that they’re Lewis Hamilton - and families carrying young children, whizzing down from the San Eugenio shopping centre – has simply made me angry! Is there not an age limit to hire them? Are they insured? I no longer feel it is safe to walk on the pavements. I fear there is an accident waiting to happen. Torviscas is becoming another Benidorm. Let’s hope they get banned! Regards Sharon Cook Caerphilly, Wales
Some people are using mobility scooters irresponsibly
Poem to the editor
Again and again We first came to Tenerife in 1981 We weren’t very happy as we had no sun In the north we were, so that was why In 1983, we decided to give it another try We chose the south this time, Tenerife Sur The weather was wonderful, that’s for sure! The apartment was splendid, everything there All we could ask for, except a bomb scare! We had two in fact, during our short stay But it didn’t deter us, not in any way We’ve returned every year since then, and hope to keep doing so again and again! S. Bailey Los Cristianos
I didn’t make any New Year’s resolutions but I intend to keep giving my custom to some of the best people I have dealt with in the past year. For excellent care of my car, I recommend Graham’s family business. Not only does he come and collect customer’s cars, and services them to the highest quality, but he also leaves you with a courtesy car free of charge. He also has a service like the RAC. His number for anyone wanting to get in touch is 686 539 751. For beautiful care of my teeth, Simeon at Kutnjac Clinic in Mariverde is superb. I had a really bad extraction with several stitches. He is a beautiful dentist and it healed quickly. His number is 922 705 307. For looking after my daughter’s apartment and dealing with everything concerning the sale, I recommend Tenerife Royale Estate Agents. They also dealt with the sale of my friend Sylvia’s apartment and Tony the managing director did everything possible to help, and therefore it was absolutely free of problems. He does the same for everyone. His office number is 922 788 305. I recently had a sore throat, no voice, hacking cough and I felt ill only three days after flying to the UK. Luckily my doctor had given me antibiotics to take home with me just in case. I needed every single one. I was just feeling a little better when I flew home, with everyone coughing and sneezing around me, and three days later I was ill again, with no voice, the cough and feeling ill. After another bout of
y Kat
Hi everyone,
Sunnis hold that the prophet Muhammad’s first Caliph was Abu Bakr
antibiotics I’m beginning to feel better but so many friends have rung or emailed to say they too have it, I’m afraid to go out. Next time I go on a plane I’m wearing a mask. I’ve been asked a lot of questions about terrorism and acts of violence in the Middle East, and am continually asked about the difference between Sunni and Shiite religions in that region. The division began as long ago as 632AD. The split emerged over a disagreement on who should succeed the prophet Mohammed, who died in that year. Some felt his successor should be chosen from among his followers (the Shia sect) while others believed the position should stay within the prophet’s family and that Mohammed had backed his cousin Ali (the Sunni sect). Eventually, Abu Bakr, a confidant of the prophet, became the first caliph and was succeeded by two other members of Mohammed’s inner circle before Ali assumed the post. Shiite Muslims hold all of the prophet’s family, and particu-
17
katykennedy@telefonica.net
Photo: Ahmet Baris ISITAN - CC A-SA 3.0 UL
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
larly Ali and his sons Hassan and Hussein, in high esteem. Hassan was murdered in 680 along with most of his family, although it is not clear who the assassins were. These murders are commemorated each year by Shiite Muslims in the Ashura ritual, a day of mourning. Sunnis regard themselves as the orthodox branch of Islam. The name is derived from the phrase ‘Ahl al-Sunnah’ (People of the Tradition). The tradition in this case refers to practices based on what the prophet Muhammad said, did, agreed to or condemned. The great majority of the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims are Sunnis - estimates suggest the figure is somewhere between 85 per cent and 90 per cent. In the Middle East, Sunnis make up 90 per cent or more of the populations of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. According to investigations by the BBC, Tehran’s policy of supporting Shia militias and parties beyond its borders was matched by Sunni-ruled Gulf
states, which strengthened their links to Sunni governments and movements elsewhere. Today, many conflicts in the region have strong sectarian overtones. In Syria, Iranian troops, Hezbollah fighters and Iranianbacked Shia militiamen have been helping the Shia-led government battle the Sunnidominated opposition. Sunni jihadist groups, including ISIS, have meanwhile been targeting Shia and their places of worship in Syria and neighbouring Iraq. In January 2016, the execution by Saudi Arabia of a prominent Shia cleric who supported mass anti-government protests triggered a diplomatic crisis in Iran and angry demonstrations across the region. It seems the problems of these two sects living together in a peaceful way are far from being resolved. In the UK, the majority of Muslims of either sect seem to co-exist peacefully and condemn the radicalisation of a small minority of their young men and women. If any of you have any questions or subjects they would like me to research, send an email to: katykennedy@telefonica.net. Telephone: 616 110 930 Until next time, take care of yourselves and especially of n each other. The majority of the information on the Sunni and Shiite religions was taken, with thanks, from the following site: www.bbc.com. Email: katykennedy@telefonica.net. Tel: 616 110 930.
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Spice it up
St Valentine´s threesome! As well as the religious commemoration of St. Valentine’s Day, it is a custom for men and women to show their love for each other through the sharing of cards and trinkets, though some firmly believe this latter aspect is mere modern hype. The February 14 tradition has its roots in centuries far past, though scholars cannot agree on which of the three contenders a bishop of ancient Interamna, a missionary in Africa, or a priest in Rome - is the actual St Valentine. Two of them were certainly martyred on February 14 within the first few centuries of the first millennium, but some say the celebration goes back to a Roman rite of passage for young men in honour of the god Lupercus. Held in mid February, names of nubile young girls were placed in a box, from which the young men picked a name out randomly to win themselves a mate for 12 months. This apparently continued for eight hundred years until Pope Gelasius ordered that instead of young women, it should be the names of saints in the box, and that both sexes would be
Chocolate is a great aphrodisiac – what luck!
counter, bathroom, sofa… the list is endless. And then there’s always the car. Drive somewhere where you won’t be disturbed and pretend you’re a teenager again.
Tenderly tantalising expected to mimic the ways of that holy person for the coming year. Not the most popular change for the young men by all accounts, and it’s said that they continued to show their affection on February 14 by offering small tokens. Whatever the truth may be, it seems that for a long age before commercialism, for many, Saint Valentine’s Day was already about the union of male and female. And so it remains. Men and women across the world will
Spice up intimacy levels for Valentine’s Day For centuries past, Saint Valentine’s Day has been associated with love
declare their affections in a myriad of manners on this date - and expectations for an exciting, probably late night, union will be running high. Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity for taking the initiative and injecting a little frisson into your intimate relationships. Spicing up your love life
doesn’t have to mean investing in a range of wild and wonderful toys and gadgets, however. There are lots of ways of building excitement, and one of the most sexy is simply sharing.
Talk it out No, not talking dirty – though you can certainly do that too. But intimacy created through chatting to each other, and really listening, can be one of the greatest turn-ons ever, especially for women. The first rule is to keep it light and playful (heavy, blameful conversations tend to have the opposite effect to that required!). It should be fun and non judgmental: Swap stories about the craziest thing you’ve done; on mad moments when you were younger; dreams for the future you’ve never admitted before and, yes, your intimate fantasies. We all have them, but are often too shy to share. Why not take the bull by the horns (so to speak) and confess what really gets
you going. Who knows what it could lead to…
Democratic dominatrix How about taking it in turns to be in charge? This doesn’t have to be a 50 Shades moment – simply give each other detailed instructions on exactly what, when and where. This one needs a little confidence to carry out – but you will find that being direct is a pretty effective way to get what you want!
You can always fall back on the tried and tested methods of course. Nothing is as sexy as having your partner truly pamper and appreciate you, and it also opens up a whole load of opportunities for exciting rendezvous! Breakfast in bed is a good place to start. It doesn’t have to be the ‘full English’ either. Food with aphrodisiac properties include avocados, bananas, figs, oysters, asparagus, almonds, honey and, yes, chocolate! Sharing a bath or shower can be great fun too, or how about mutual massage? Whatever you choose, spoil each other with good food and drink, and some sensitive touch, and make it a night to remember!
Act it out It’s surprising how inhibitions crumble when we are pretending to be someone else, so why not dress up, put on a funny accent, or simply play a part – getting out the costume box has never been more fun.
Location, location, location… It’s all too easy to fall into the ‘only in the bedroom’ trap so how about introducing some new scenarios? The kitchen
Take it slowly – let the emotions build
For those who do not have a partner there is no reason to despair, however. Your time will come and, meanwhile, like many others, why not use Saint Valentine’s Day to express all kinds of affection. Don’t hold back: say ‘I love you’ to anyone you do – knowing they are appreciated will give a welcome n boost to anyone’s day.
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
TENERIFE GENERAL
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
19
Promotion
Rocking in the Rocket Café Rocket Café, a 1950s American-style diner, occupies a small premises with a big personality, hidden in the pedestrian area of Las Galletas on the southernmost tip of Tenerife. Las Galletas is well worth a visit in its own right: a coastal town with a marina and a beautifully natural coastline – and, while you’re there, you can pop into this brilliantly themed café which offers a unique dining experience. The décor is boldly 1950s, with a pink, blue and white colour scheme plus a touch of red and walls lined with pictures of rock and roll stars, plus plenty of posters, advertisements and other memorabilia. The atmosphere is completed with low volume music from the 50s and 60s. There is also seating outside on the terrace for those who wish to enjoy that area. Natalia and Pablo, a brother and sister-in-law originally from Uruguay, are totally dedicated to their business, and concentrate on serving fresh homemade food and providing great customer service. One of the mainstays on the Rocket Café menu is clearly the burger, available in beef or chicken. There are16 varieties to choose from and they are all even more tempting once you know that the fresh meat is minced on the premises. There are several fairly normal sized burgers on the list, but as you read on you’ll see the Super Rocket which is extra large and garnished with salad, cheese, bacon, mayonnaise and chips – suitable
cheese, ham, egg, sultanas and walnuts. If you have any space left, there are some delicious ice creams, hot pancakes, cakes and gateaux to choose from.
The Rocket Café has a pleasant terrace for al fresco dining
only for those who are more than hungry. If you do have an extremely healthy appetite, you might fancy tackling the Empire State burger, a fourlayer construction in a toasted bun with salad, cheese, bacon, egg, crispy onion, barbecue sauce and chips. The extensive menu also contains six complete dishes ranging from a relatively light French omelette to grilled chicken breast, both served with chips and salad, or a Mega burger with chips, fried egg, ham, bacon and cheese. And a diner such as this just
You have to be really hungry to eat this!
Irresistible milkshakes and homemade cakes
wouldn’t be complete without hotdogs - there are seven to choose from, all named after singers such as Roy Orbison and Peggy Lee. If you order chips, there is a choice of eight different sauces and accompaniments, all with names like Betty Boop and Lucille. The Rocket Café has a complete breakfast menu too. You can start your day with a choice of filled rolls and pick from 13 fruit juices. There are also coffees (which are said to be the best in town), coffee cocktails, hot chocolate and 60 different teas, served in a teapot. At the far end of the café, there is a rack which displays the infusions in their sealed jars. They are not the type you can buy in the supermarket, but you’ll find some extremely interesting combinations which can all be very soothing and/or therapeutic. Take note that vegans and vegetarians won’t be disappointed at the Rocket Café either, as they have their own menu with 10 tasty choices including vegetarian hotdogs and burgers. For smaller appetites, there is a range of tempting nibbles or starters, including garlic breads, nachos with guacamole, onion rings, cheese fingers, and crispy, spicy or barbecue chicken wings. For those who like to add a healthy option, choose from four delicious salads, one of which is the Rocket, with lettuce, tomato, pepper, sweetcorn,
We can thoroughly recommend the blueberry gateau, with the sponge somewhat similar to that of a carrot cake, but made in several layers filled
with blueberries, topped with cream and sauce, and out of this world! To accompany your food, there is Estrella Galicia beer on draught plus Heineken, Dorada, Vegas, Duvel and more in bottles, homemade lemonade, divine milkshakes, piña coladas, mojitos and Piruleta liqueur. There’s also free wi-fi for clients, and customers can now buy black t-shirts bearing the Rocket Café logo. With great food, foot tapping music and a wonderful atmosphere, the Rocket Café is suitable for all the family. It currently closes at 9pm, but Pablo says that they are considering staying open until 11pm on weekdays and until midnight on Saturdays in the near future. The café is located in the first pedestrian street behind the post office, which is on the dual carriageway at the front of Las Galletas as you approach the town from n Costa del Silencio.
Cool and refreshing drinks for hot days
Rocket Café
Address: Calle Luis Álvarez, 5 Las Galletas Tel: 922 731 847 Open: 9am to 9pm Monday to Saturday Facebook: lasgalletasrocketcafe
FOOD
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FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
The best of both worlds
A capital rustic tavern By John
rano ham pieces and a bowl of small Canary potatoes with two sauces, as usual the spicy and the green one. What was not usual was that both were
After a shopping spree in El Corte Inglés in Santa Cruz, my wife and I crossed the dual carriageway and made for a restaurant we had originally found by looking at an old leaflet, probably 10 years old. Now, we go there every time we shop at this end of town. On the dot of 1.10pm the other day, we stand outside. There is a light on, but the door is locked. It is opened with the comment that they do not start until 1pm! These city people with strange city hours! It is all a bit like stepping back in time 50 years. There’s a nice bar to the left, with racks of wine behind it. A small kitchen straight ahead, and half a dozen tables to the
clearly home-made, the spicy one tingling fresh and sharp and the green one a mix of parsley and coriander. And those potatoes – small and dark
Check out the crazy sinks!
right. Everything panelled in old wood, and we could have been in a throwback of an alpine dwelling in Austria. This small place boasts two people in the kitchen, an owner doing his bit, and two waitresses, and is clearly popular with locals
and us alike. By 2pm every table has been taken. Cold beer and superb quality bread, white and brown, is brought, accompanied by cream cheese dips and a couple of slices of aged sausage, rock hard but full of flavour.
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A delicious salad of kumato tomato, tuna belly strips and avocado Ibérico cured ham with slivers of hard cured cheese Tiny baby broad beans served with crispy fried serrano ham pieces Cold beer and excellent quality white and brown bread, accompanied by cream cheese dips and aged sausage, rock hard but full of flavour
The starter for my wife was a salad of kumato tomato, tuna belly strips and avocado. The dressing was made with a really good quality olive oil, such that one wanted more of it in which to dip that gorgeous bread. My starter was small cuts of Iberico cured ham (cut in front of us from a complete leg), accompanied by slivers of hard cured cheese, much like pecorino. We followed that with a bowl of the tiniest baby broad beans served with crispy fried ser-
skinned, so knobbly, and with golden yellow creamy flesh; a treat indeed, though dear. Prices? Well, the bread and dips were €1.20, very cheap for what was provided. The salad was €12 and the beans with ham was €10.90. The papas negras weighed in at a hefty €5.70 although there were enough for two of us. You can eat more cheaply, but we reckon this place offers very good value for money, coupled with attentive informal service. And to sum up – a lovely place, lovely people, and lovely food. No wonder it was full, and one of our favourite places to eat n in Santa Cruz.
La Taberna del Cortijo Avenida La Salle 25, Local 15 Santa Cruz de Tenerife Tel: 922 213 309 Closed: Sunday Loo Score: 7/10 Check out those basins!
031
Canary Islands’ attractions for tourists and residents Where to visit
General information
Upcoming events
What’s on
Islands summary
Useful contacts
Spin news
Cultural guide
Pages 22 & 23
Pages 24 & 25
Page 26 & 27
Page 28
Disney on Ice
Frosty fun for all the family The magic of Disney comes to Tenerife and Gran Canaria in late March, early April for a series of performances of the popular showcase Disney on Ice. Dreamy-eyed children can meet the characters they’ve come to know and love, such as Ariel the little mermaid, who will be there with her friends enjoying exciting adventures in an underwater world. Of course, the toys are back in town: Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the gang will skate into your hearts with their tale set in the Sunnyside day care centre from the film Toy Story 3. Elsa and Anna from the kingdom of Arendelle feature in the Frozen special, spinning a yarn of true love, friendship and hope. And of course, Mickey and Minnie will make an appearance too! Disney on Ice is a heart-warming production that will enter-
acters themselves, who perform their parts in mock cameos while the skaters remain anonymous.
Show history
Disney on Ice comes to the Canaries
tain adults and children alike. It incorporates all your favourite characters with breathtakinglychilling ice routines, guaranteeing a show to remember!
The touring ice show is produced by Feld Entertainment under agreement with The Walt Disney Company. The storyline features figure
skaters in performances that derive their music and plot from elements in various Disney films. The ‘stars’ of the show are credited as the char-
Soon after the Irvin and Kenneth Feld Productions company bought Ice Follies and Holiday on Ice in 1979, the company approached Disney about doing a related ice show. Feld Entertainment then obtained a license to develop the shows and production began in 1981, under the name Walt Disney’s World on Ice. The title was changed to Disney on Ice in late 1997. They currently run over eight production and touring companies at any given time and the shows have played all over the world, including the Americas, the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
Ticket sales Be sure to book early as tickets are expected to sell out quickly. Disney on Ice will be at the Pabellon Santiago Martín in La Laguna, Tenerife, from March 23 to 27, with several performances between 12pm and 8pm. Depending on the time, tickets are priced between €17.80 and €19. The Gran Canaria Arena in Las Palmas hosts the extravaganza on April 2 and 3. Shows on the second will take place at 4pm and 8pm, and on the following day they will be at 12pm and 8pm. Tickets are priced at €19.80. The Disney on Ice showcase lasts approximately two hours and includes a 20 minute interval. For further information and online bookings, visit: n www.entrees.es.
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HOLIDAY GUIDE
FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
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.
Photo: ubik2010
Tenerife Teide National Park The highest peak in Spain, at 3,718m, is one of Tenerife’s greatest attractions. It is possible to hike to the top, and also to catch the cable car. See: www.telefericoteide.com. To access the summit of the volcano, Pico del Teide, you need to obtain a free permit in advance, issued by the Administration Office of the National Park, which you can download at www.reservasparquesnacionales.es.
Los Gigantes
Las Teresitas beach
summer solstices. See: www. piramidesdeguimar.es
Santa Cruz
Playa de Las Américas
Santa Cruz, the vibrant, bustling capital city of Tenerife, is located on the northeast coast. It has a variety of interesting museums and art galleries, a well maintained historical centre, and an important commercial port. See: www.santacruzmas.com.
Currently Tenerife’s main tourist destination, this area has spectacular views of La Gomera. There’s a big night-life scene which attracts younger tourists, but it’s also somewhere you can relax, eat, and go sailing, whale and dolphin watching or golfing.
La Laguna La Laguna, a university city, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. It has a lively night life and a thriving cultural scene.
Puerto de la Cruz The town of Puerto de la Cruz was a popular tourist destination long before the south was. Its attractive and busy town centre has maintained its picturesque fishing-village charm, and nearby is the prestigious, award-winning Loro Parque Zoo. See: www.loroparque.com.
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
Los Gigantes cliffs
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-
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. Teide National Park
Los Cristianos sif in the northeastern corner of Tenerife. This is a steeplysloping area with exceptional natural and cultural treasures, and amazing landscapes.
Güímar This northeastern town is best known for the ethnographic park which was developed by Thor Heyerdahl. The pyramids are a complex construction, astronomically orientated according to the winter and
Once a little fishing village, Los Cristianos began as a tourist destination for ailing Swedes who came to enjoy some rest and recuperation. From the port you can take a ferry to La Gomera, La Palma or El Hierro. The two main beaches offer safe swimming with disabled access.
Costa Adeje Costa Adeje is an upmarket area of South West Tenerife
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Other islands Only a 45 minute ferry ride from the port of Los Cristianos, La Gomera is a small, peaceful island with amazing hiking and a prehistoric 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
Photo: Stellab
La Gomera
Volcanic cones, Lanzarote
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.
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 The capital, Las Palmas, is a much bigger city than Santa Cruz de Tenerife and has a nice historical quarter, a good night-life and Las Canteras - a long, yellow sand beach with areas for supervised swimming - and another beach for surfers of all levels. The main tourist areas are Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas, with its beauti-
Lanzarote Lanzarote is known as the ‘Isla de los Volcanes’, with over 300 volcanic cones. Like Fuerteventura, it’s flatter than the other islands and there’s very little rain, even by Canarian standards. The whole island was
Elder Museum, Gran Canaria
Juniper, El Hierro
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
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 031
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 Cristóbal, Plaza de España Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm 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
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
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.
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.
Taxis: (0034) 922 747 511
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.
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.
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
FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
En Pie Foundation
Walking for mental health
Happy participants from a previous En Pie event in Santiago del Teide
Haven’t got any plans yet for February 6? Well now you have – a chance to do something fun and fit and support a worthwhile local charity at the same time. The En Pie Foundation for people with mental health issues has organised another of their popular Santiago del Teide charity hikes to raise awareness and much appreciated funds. It will be great day out where you will make new friends, sample some local Canarian food and do something meaningful
- all among some spectacular scenery. Apt for all levels and ages, the walking trail event will take participants down through picturesque hills with a couple of stops along the way for a local style breakfast, hot Canarian food and a cheeky glass of wine or two. The excursion will end as ever with a port party in Los Gigantes – something that can be enjoyed by anyone, whether taking part in the hike or not – where there’ll be great live
entertainment, games and a hot barbeque. To join in, all participants have to do is fundraise or donate the minimum amount of €40, and there is a student discount available where applicable. All funds raised will go directly towards achieving the foundation’s quality of life programme. The walk will start with a meet and greet in Los Gigantes port, from where – included in the fee - buses will then take participants to
the Chinyero Visitors Centre in Santiago del Teide, ready to begin a fun hike. Donations can also be made in person on the day, or through the Triodos Bank Account: ES64 1491 0001 2920 2316 7428 or on the website through paypal: www.enpie.org Sponsorship forms can be found at the same website or contact Lisa on 636 271 853, Liz on 661 274 281 or Andy Tenerife Walker on 616 892 909. Or find ‘fundacionenpie’ n on Facebook.
Dulce Pontes
Fados, folklore and new songs The Mar Abierto Festival returns this year with a great range of artists from the best of the national and international music scenes, to delight the public in the Canaries. There will be almost 20 concerts in Tenerife, Gran Canaria and a third island yet to be confirmed. The first concert this year will be by Dulce Pontes – known as the Queen of Fado (traditional Portuguese music) - who will be arriving in the Canaries with a suitcase full of new music. On this visit, part of
the repertoire offered will be some of the songs from her latest album Peregrinaje, on
which we can listen to music ranging from duets to songs accompanied by piano, and
simply enjoy her privileged voice which she modulates infinitely from intimate whispers to vocal highs to which there seem to be no limit. She has a surprising range of new songs to present, some with very modern arrangements. Concerts will be at the Adán Martín Auditorium in Santa Cruz on February 20 at 9pm, and at the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on February 21 at 8pm. For more information and tickets, which cost €43 to €48, see www. n festivalmarabierto.com.
Adeje art
The great Giuseppe Giuseppe Granzo, a self-taught painter and sculptor, began to exhibit his work with other artists as far back as 1972. His first solo exhibition, which was a great success, was just one year later in 1973 at the Vittoria di Dolo gallery in Venice. In that same year, Giuseppe formed a partnership with his brother Egidio, calling it Granzo & Granzo, and this became a prelude to an intense period of artistic endeavours. Later, in 1977 he founded the Triade team with his brother Egidio and Maurizio Piovan, and in 1980 he attended a workshop given by the master Giuseppe Santomaso, during which he benefitted from a magnificent human and artistic education. In the 1980s he founded a publishing house for graphic artists, and this led him to seek artists from across Europe, inviting them to take part in the project. During the 90s, he discovered a new form of expression with sculpture, the language of the hands, which almost became an obsession. He continued to create several artistic groups, until in 2012 he began something new in the field of digital art, working with some of the best photographers. He even opened a commercial website: www.Quadrifoto.com. Many art critics and journalists have written of Giuseppe Granzo, including the top specialist magazines. His works can be found in important public and private collections throughout many European countries and the United States. Until February 16, his paintings can also be seen at an exhibition at the Cultural Centre in Adeje. See: www.adeje. es for more information. n Photo: www.adeje.es
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HOLIDAY GUIDE SPIN NEWS
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
Anni chases illusions Anni B. Sweet is the stage name of Ana López Rodríguez, who was born in Málaga in 1987. This young indie and folk singer-songwriter has been composing songs since the age of seven, and in her teenage years performed in a number of bands with her friends. Having studied at a British school, Anni writes most of her lyrics in English, and her style - soft, delicate and melancholic - has hints of both those folk music and indie pop roots. In 2007, Anni started to perform as a solo artist and developed a huge following of music fans via the MySpace online portal. After moving to Madrid in 2008 to study architecture, she began to give concerts at small clubs in the city. During that same year, after recording a demo disc, she was signed by Subterfuge Records, Spain’s biggest independent label, with whom she released her debut album Start, Restart, Undo the following year. Anni was offered the chance to perform at the popular Festival Internacional de Benicàssim in 2009 before the album had even been released. This was followed up by a massive tour of Spain and several other countries. In October 2009, her acoustic cover version of Take On Me by A-Ha was used on a television advert for a major fast food chain. She was also voted Artist Sensation of 2009 by El País online. In 2011 her album Start, Restart, Undo was released in France, and within a few weeks she gave gigs in Mexico, Germany, Switzerland and Japan. She has also performed in France, Argentina and England. In 2012 her second album, Oh, Monsters! was released, and 2013 saw an EP called Ridiculous Games. In March 2015 she published her latest offering Chasing Illusions, with new and unforgettable songs which move between soul and the 70s, the new wave of the 80s and the catchy rock of the 60s. She is still only in her late twenties but with her privileged voice is already considered one of Spain’s best international artists. Anni B. Sweet will be presenting her latest captivating album at the Teatro Leal in La Laguna on February 19 at 9pm. Tickets, costing €8 to €15, are available from the box office which is open Mondays to Saturdays from 11am to 1pm and 6pm to 8pm, and Sundays and bank holidays from two hours before any concert. n See www.teatroleal.com.
Hip-hop therapy
Removing inner demons From the early 90s, Sergio Rodríguez, also known as Sho-Hai, was completely taken by hip hop, for its enormous expressive potential and its almost therapeutic ability to draw out his inner demons. Rodríguez eventually joined a group called Los Violadores del Verso, who knew how to turn Zaragoza into the Spanish mecca of hip-hop, having just produced the first rap album to top the charts in the country. This group also made hiphop a credible genre in Spain by adapting it to the peculiarities of our daily lives. In March 2011 Sho-Hai published his first solo album entitled Double Life, which was a great success, going straight to number three in the charts and receiving good critique. In December 2011, he began a tour which took him all over the Peninsula, the Canary Islands, Mallorca, and London, and to some of the country’s most important festivals through-
Area 60
In one of the latest exhibitions at the Tenerife Espacio de Arte (TEA), called Now we know what we wanted to say, creators Alejandro Castañeda, Fidel Darias and Patricia Fernández offer a reflection of art and emerging artists. Born in 1985, 1990 and 1993 respectively, like many of their generation the places they were brought up and educated, and those they lived and worked in were not the same. Being active in the social media, combined with the effect of the ‘brain drain’ dilutes the idea of their actual presence, however. On the one hand, communication is presented as a new field of possibilities, but above all, imperative. On the other, their contact is a kind of delayed experience with conversation taking place using video conferencing, audio messages,
Photo: Daniel L. Cetrulo
Sweet songs
27
out 2011 and 2012. Xhelazz is the stage name of Mario Celimendiz, an MC from Zaragoza. Over 15 years ago, when hip-hop was almost nonexistent in Spain, he was producing instrumentals. In October 2006, and after a year of touring with Los Violadores del Verso, the group had sold 3,000 copies of their maxidisc and were showered with
requests to produce another. The Dreamer One went out in 2007, and sold over 15,000 copies, triggering a tour across the Peninsula which lasted for two years. RdeRumba is the DJ and producer of Los Violadores del Verso. These three talents, who just don’t stop, have now united so we can expect to see some fantastic hip-hop in
concerts and at the festivals this year. Sho-Hai & Xhelazz + RdeRumba will be at the Aguere Cultural Space in La Laguna on February 27 at 9pm. Tickets, which cost €12 in advance or €15 on the night, can be purchased from the box office, or www.ticketea.com. See www.aguerecultural.com to n keep up to date.
Speaking out Photo: webtenerife.com
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
Island councillor for culture and education, José Luis Rivero, and from the TEA, Yolanda Peralta and Néstor Delgado, with the artists at the inauguration
emails, and more. That’s why in their position as artists, they say, they must lead with their own sense of a loss of aura. The problem isn’t the work, but what happens when an artist is diluted in this vast universe of communication? Based on a reading of The idea of Europe by George Steiner,
the experience is based on an internet search for the phrase ‘emerging artist’, and the results. The devices in the room will carry out searches via streaming, interspaced by periods of silence, and later the material generated will be placed at the disposal of the public.
This Ahora sabemos lo que quiso decir exhibition is now open in Area 60 of the TEA in Santa Cruz, until March 20. Entry is free, and the opening hours are Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 8pm. See www.teatenerife.es for a full list of the exciting exhibitions n on show.
HOLIDAY GUIDE WHATS ON 2016
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FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
February
February
GRAN CANARIA TENERIFE DIARY DATES
DIARY DATES
Carnival
Carnival
For details of the main events see pages 6 and 7. Some boroughs take one of their local holidays during Carnival and banks, administrations and some businesses may be closed. February 9: Arucas, Firgas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Moya, Santa Brígida, Santa María de Guía, Tejeda, Teror, Valleseco and Vega de San Mateo.
For details of the main events see pages 6 and 7. Some boroughs take one of their local holidays during Carnival and banks, administrations and some businesses may be closed. February 9: Arafo, Arona, Arico, Candelaria, El Rosario, El Sauzal, Fasnia, Granadilla de Abona, Icod de los Vinos, La Matanza, La Orotava, La Victoria, La Laguna, San Miguel, Santa Cruz, Santa Úrsula and Tacoronte.
February 4 10pm: Overbooking, open air concert and dance, followed by DJ Frank, Free Entry, Plaza Ntra Señora del Socorro, Tejeda. February 6
11am: Hunting dog exhibition, Hotel Casona del Patio, Santiago del Teide.
8.30pm: Quebranto, flamenco, (see above), Auditorio Infanta Leonor, Los Cristianos.
February 8
Tuesdays
9am - 2pm: Carnival in the museum, fun, learning and entertainment for children 4-12, games, masks, costumes, €15, possibility of early drop off from 7.30am and late pick-up up to 4pm, Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre, Santa Cruz. www.museosdetenerife.org.
Tour of Dorada beer factory, Avenida de Ángel Romero, Santa Cruz. doradatour.es. Thursdays
February 4
February 9
6.30pm: Concert, students of the municipal music school, Free Entry, Plaza de La Pescadora, Los Cristianos.
8pm: Guitar recital, €5, Auditorio Infanta Leonor, Los Cristianos.
Hiking, Masca ravine, €45, visit Masca village, 4-hour hike, ½ hour on the beach, 1 hour food and boat trip, guide, insurance and transfer to and from Puerto de la Cruz, Los Gigantes, Garachico, Los Silos and Buenavista. www. elcardon.com.
10am: Tourist Day, folk music and dancing, traditional games exhibitions, craft fair, 12 different stalls offering tastings at just €1, Calle Principal, free street party with live music, Plaza de Ntra Señora del Socorro, Tejeda. Special bus service from San Mateo.
February 10, 11 & 12
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays
9am - 2pm: Carnival in the museum (see above), Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre, Santa Cruz, Museo de la Ciencia y el Cosmos and Museo de Historia y Antropología, La Laguna.
February 7
February 10
10am: craft fair, folk music, stalls with local products, 15 stalls with tastings at just €1, Plaza de Ntra Señora del Socorro, Tejeda. Special bus service from San Mateo. 8.30pm: Niños Cantores de Vienna (Viennese children’s choir), classical music, from €30, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, LPGC.
8pm: Flute and piano recital, €5, Auditorio Infanta Leonor, Los Cristianos.
Canarias Folk Fest, parade, regional costumes, traditional dancing, singing and crafts and tastings in Las Galletas and Los Cristianos. Thursday – Rambla Dionisio González, Las Galletas, Friday – Avenida Las Américas (Golden Mile), Playa de 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.
February 11
Saturday mornings 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.
February 9
8pm: Cowspiracy, humorous documentary in English, Free Entry, Museo de la Ciencia y el Cosmos, La Laguna. 8.30pm: La Petite Band, classical music, €40, Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín, Santa Cruz. 8.30pm: Orquesta Sinfónica de Tenerife, music from Queen, from €11, Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín, Santa Cruz. February 5 8.30pm: Mezzo-soprano Yael Raanan-Vandor, classical music, €15, Teatro Guiniguada, LPGC. February 10 8.30pm: Orquesta Festival de Budapest, classical music, from €35, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, LPGC. February 12 8.30pm: La Petite Band, classical music, €40, Teatro Guiniguada, LPGC. Sundays Folklore exhibitions, Pueblo Canario, Francisco González Díaz, Free Entry, LPGC.
EXHIBITIONS
8pm: Concert, trombone and percussion section, municipal music school, Free Entry, Auditorio Infanta Leonor, Los Cristianos. 8.30pm: Macaronesian Jazz Quartet, Free Entry, Teatro Unión, Tejina, La Laguna. www.aytolalaguna.com. February 6 Morning: Solidarity hike for mental health, Santiago del Teide to Los Gigantes, party in the port, €40. www.enpie.org. 8.30pm: Los Niños Cantores de Vienna, (Viennese children’s choir), classical music, from €30, Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín, Santa Cruz. February 6 & 7 8am – 5pm: Local products market, main square, outside the town hall, Santiago del Teide.
Until February 19 Anne Frank, a current history, Monday to Friday,10am – 1pm, 6pm – 9pm, Fundación Mapre Guanarteme, Edificio Cultural Ponce de León, Calle Castillo, 6, LPGC.
February 7 10am: Downhill rally cycling, registration/information in Vadebicis shops, Candelaria.
Sundays Secrets of Teno, 4-hour hike, demonstration of local traditions and activities, cheese and wine tasting, guide and insurance, Plaza de Teno Alto, Buenavista del Norte, €25 (transport available). www.elcardon.com. 8pm: Quebranto, flamenco, Antonio de Verónica and Saray Cortés company, Teatro Timanfaya, Puerto de la Cruz. 8.30pm: Orquesta Festival de Budapest, classical music, from €35, Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín, Santa Cruz. February 12 8pm: Body percussion show, €5, Auditorio Infanta Leonor, Los Cristianos. 9pm: Quebranto, flamenco, (see above), Centro Cultural, Adeje. February 13 11.30am: Wine tasting and open doors all day, Hotel Casona del Patio, Santiago del Teide. 8pm: End of course concert, municipal music school, Free Entry, Auditorio Infanta Leonor, Los Cristianos. February 14 9am – 4pm: Local wines, cheeses, honeys and bread, main square, outside the town hall, Santiago del Teide. 11am: Demonstration of traditional threshing, Hotel Casona del Patio, Santiago del Teide.
EXHIBITIONS February 5 - 15 German/Canarian Carnival interchange, photography, Vicente Rodríguez González, inauguration at 6pm on February 5, remainder of days 10am - 7pm, Ex-Convento de Santo Domingo, Puerto de la Cruz. Until February 22 Photography by Vanessa Winship, TEA, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 8pm. www.teatenerife.es. Until February 26 Recovery of the traditional pottery of El Frontón, paintings, pottery, etc., Museo de Historia Casa de El Capitán, Calle El Calvario, San Miguel de Abona, Monday to Thursday 9am - 1pm and 4.30pm – 7pm, also Friday morning 9am – 1pm. Until March 6 Photography by Janek Zamovski, TEA, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 8pm. www.teatenerife.es.
For regular church, charity and recreational events, please see: www.islandconnections.eu/1000003/1000027/0/41004/living-lifestyle-article.html
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
MUSIC
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
29
The Qfm Music Review – Your guide to music created in the Canary Islands
Simbeque – The evolution of Canarian folklore? As the major record labels continue to bury their executive heads within their own anatomies, often rejecting genuine new musical talent in favour of the next Justin Bieber or reality show by-product, many musicians and producers are engaging in new platforms to create and distribute their own work, without third party interference or costs. With the arrival of the postMySpace social platforms such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, many artists seized upon the opportunities to bypass the mainstream media and reach their audiences at a low or even zero cost. But one Tenerife project has taken the initiative even further, to cover the studio and production costs of a debut album via crowdfunding. Simbeque is a groundbreaking project in more than one way. Miguel Manescau, guitarist, maestro and musical director of the project, is no newcomer to the music business. A Tenerife resident, Miguel has led several studio and live projects, with styles ranging from jazz or
preliminary marketing material from the project, my first impression is that we are witnessing the birth of a new genre. And a very palatable one at that! Eleven of this island’s finest musicians, adorned with Beatriz’s exquisite vocal talents, and no record label’s
José Alberto Medina plays piano and keyboards Miguel Manescau, guitarrist, maestro and musical director of Simbeque
Brazilian to world folklore. He is joined by fellow musicians Octavio Hernádez and Alejandro Martín on guitars, Roberto Domínguez on electric bass, José Alberto Medina on piano and keyboards, Beatriz Alonso on vocals and percussion, Gustavo Gamaza, Norberto Arteaga and José Ángel Vera on saxophones, Natanael Ramos on the trumpet, Akior García on drums and Luis Suárez on percussion. So, about the music. Imagine traditional Canarian folklore
The extremely talented vocalist Beatriz Alonso
Alejandro Martín
Natanael Ramos is Simbeque’s trumpeter
Guitarrist Octavio Hernández
music, updated to the 21st century with modern instruments, harmonies and melodies, then given an icing of Flamenco and Brazilian fusion. Having listened to some of the
Roberto Domínguez, electric bassist
Gustavo Gamaza is one of the project’s three saxophonists
stock producer to limit creativity, have resulted in an incredible sound and ambience. The project has now surpassed its minimum required crowdfunding threshold, and is currently in production. As soon as this album is completed, you’ll hear some great, new and fresh 2016 style Canarian folklore on Qfm 94.3, and of course, you’ll read about it in Island n Connections!
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SPOTLIGHT
FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
Spotlight on the mystical East
Güímar’s greatest gems Continuing our exploration of Tenerife’s east coast – the stretch of towns and coastline which are often ignored when commuting from the south of the island – this edition we travel past the towns of Los Roques and Porís de Abona, featured in the last two editions, and visit Güímar. The borough of Güímar borders those of Arafo, Fasnia and La Orotava and is located in a deep, channelled ravine which, according to most geologists, was formed by a landslide of volcanic matter. Güímar has many ravines, with the principal ones being the Barranco de Herques, Escobonal and Badajoz – a site of particular archaeological importance where significant prehistoric artefacts were discovered, including several Guanche mummies. Most of the ravines contained water right until the end of the eighteenth century. These dried out due to volcanic activity, with the last eruption taking place in Güímar in 1705. The Teide National Park and the Corona Forestal Natural Park - the largest protected area in the Canaries – also cross into Güímar. Today the municipality has a population of around 19,000 people. More than 86 per cent of Güímar’s locals were born in the Canaries and 62 per cent of them hail from the borough. Around 10 per cent are nonSpanish residents, with 70 per cent of those originating from Latin-American countries. In recent years the borough has been committed to rural and cultural tourism, and has
it’s a particularly popular spot with Canarian day trippers from the north. The resort doesn’t provide water sports activities but has a few hotels and holiday apartments for those who pre-
carried out substantial work to accommodate emerging industries and the construction of homes and hotels. The borough
and one which is shrouded in mystery and mixed opinion. The site consists of six pyramid-shaped, terraced structures built from lava stone, and is located in the district of Chacona in Güímar.
El Puertito has a string of stunning bays and beaches The Club Náutico de Puertito de Güímar
lantic link between Egypt and Central America, believing they formed a geographical stopping point between the two continents and were once connected with the Guanche race. This has been the subject of some debate as many experts say that the structures were formed from 19th century rural practices and were created while clearing land. Heyerdahl disagreed with this and always maintained that the structures were not just stone piles. Opinion remains divided; however, experts generally consider that the pyramids were built in the 19th century while agreeing that they were not simply the result of discarded stones.
The Pirámides de Güímar Ethnographic Park is located in the district of Chacona
largely caters for alternative tourism and those attracted by nature, gastronomy and culture.
Puertito de Güímar During the 1970s, Puertito de Güímar (or El Puertito) began to emerge due to locals acquiring second homes in the remote fishing village, and the area quickly expanded. Today it is a sprawling urbanisation with a striking coastline and thriving town centre.
El Puertito has a series of bays, with Playa del Cabezo the longest at around 700 metres in length. The beaches are dark lava sand and there are breakwaters in every bay, reducing the wind and waves and making the resort child-friendly for fun, family beach days. There is also an attractive seafront boulevard with palm trees and benches that offer views of the town, beaches and ocean, as well as the numerous restaurants and cafeterias dotted along its length. On weekends
Playa del Cabezo in Puertito de Güímar
fer a nice, relaxed holiday stay. There is also a large marina - visible from the motorway – and the Club Náutico de Puertito de Güímar offers port services as well as public leisure and sports classes and a large restaurant area.
Pyramids of Güímar The Pirámides de Güímar Ethnographic Park is a famous tourist attraction in the borough
Visit El Puertito the next time you’re passing on the motorway
The Norwegian explorer and archaeologist Thor Heyerdahl put forward the theory that they were part of a transat-
The next time you plan a trip to the north, take the time to visit Güímar along the way and n see what you think!
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
BLEVINS FRANKS
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
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Estate planning – Will you have control and certainty? By Paul Montague, Partner, Blevins Franks
We all sleep better when we feel confident that our affairs are in order, and as we get older we think more about the legacy we will leave to future generations; specifically, how and to whom our assets will pass on our death. Increasingly, estate planning is a major concern for our clients. You have worked hard to build up your wealth and want to pass it on to your children and grandchildren to help them as they make their way through life. However, you want to ensure the money is used wisely, and at the time your heirs need it most. But how can you have control over what happens after you are gone? For example, you want to leave money to your children but are concerned about how they will handle it at this stage in their
life. You would prefer it if they received their inheritance as they reach the end of their working life, to help them enjoy a comfortable retirement. Or you may want to contribute to your grandchildren’s higher education fees, and/or leave money for them to inherit when they buy their first property. You may be able to set capital aside now to plan for the above situations, but need to leave other funds available for your and your spouse’s use through retirement. So you need to have full ownership of these funds now, with full withdrawal and income rights, but set up in such a way that they can easily pass to your chosen beneficiaries when you die.
after it. It is important to use arrangements which are compliant in Spain and the UK. Creating and maintaining a good ‘estate plan’ is primarily about ensuring your wishes are carried out in the way you wish, but taking account of relevant legal and tax considerations. Cross-border tax and estate planning has become more complex over recent years. This is a very specialist area and professional advice from an experienced wealth manager is essential.
“As we get older we think more about the legacy we will leave to future generations.”
hard earned wealth to pass to your chosen heirs, rather than a large part of it going to the taxman. British expatriates in Spain have both UK inheritance tax (which is based on And then there is the significant domicile, not residence), and issue of tax. As much as pos- Spanish succession tax to consible you would like all of your tend with. The two tax regimes “You would like all of your hard earned wealth to pass to your chosen heirs, rather than a large part of it going to the taxman.”
work very differently, and you also need to understand how the Spain/UK double tax treaty works in this case. The solutions you use for your estate planning should therefore be tax favoured ones. And not just for inheritance tax purposes, but also during your lifetime,
so that you can enjoy a tax efficient income today. In our experience it is possible to structure your affairs, for both Spain and the UK, so that the right money passes to the right hands at the right time, at the same time as reducing tax during your lifetime and
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 031
Jaguar XE
Cool and protected
The Jaguar XE: cool, sophisticated and safe
Safe: Perhaps not the first word that pops to mind when the name Jaguar is iterated but, nevertheless, the company’s XE model recently trashed its closest rivals to be rated the safest Large Family Car by crash testing body Euro NCAP.
This is the latest in a long line of successes for the XE, launched around 10 months ago, which has also been included on the shortlist for the prestigious European Car of the Year (ECOTY) title for 2016.
During Euro NCAP’s stringent crash safety procedures, the XE was consistently strong, scoring maximum points in the side barrier impact test for adult occupant protection, giving the XE an impressive 92 per cent overall in the category: a testa-
ment to the inherent strength and stiffness of the XE’s innovative lightweight aluminiumintensive architecture. With an impressive array of active safety technology fitted as standard, including Autonomous Emergency Braking, the XE also performed extremely well in the safety assist, pedestrian protection and child occupant protection categories. The XE’s status as the safest car in its class comes shortly after a panel of 58 motoring experts from throughout Europe shortlisted the model to be one of only seven cars in contention for the European Car of the Year 2016 title. Its benchmark driving dynamics, dramatic design and efficient Ingenium engines have already helped the XE win 23 global awards to date. The award for the Best Small Family Car was given to the allnew Infiniti Q30, which easily surpassed the competition n across the categories.
Guinness World Record
Spinning Subarus Subaru has again demonstrated the agility and handling prowess of its rearwheel drive BRZ sports car by securing the Guinness World Record for the ‘Tightest 360° spin’. The result was secured at the Autosport International Show in late January, with the BRZ in the capable hands of former World Record holder Alastair Moffat. Stunt-driver ace Moffatt broke the previous 2.5m Guinness World Record, which was achieved in 2014, by flicking the BRZ into a 360° spin between two obstacles in the UK’s Autosport International Live Action Arena.
Not just a pretty face: the Subaru sure can turn
The 4.24m long Subaru BRZ is renowned for its low centre of gravity – lower than many high-end supercars – and naturally aspirated two litre ‘Boxer’ engine, making the BRZ one of
the most exciting and engaging cars on the road. For maximum command throughout the manoeuvre, the traction control was switched off and ABS disengaged.
Moffat was keen to make the attempt in the BRZ, given its combination of lightweight, rear wheel drive, and highly controllable chassis: “The Subaru BRZ was the perfect car in which to do it; light, highly manoeuvrable and easy to control. It’s great to have another record to my name”, he said, referring to previous accolades which include Tightest Reverse Parallel Park and Tightest Parallel Park. A YouTube video showing Alastair’s attempt can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=699J3ig_mok. To find out more about the rear-wheel drive Subaru BRZ, visit: www. n subaru.co.uk.
Citroën
Just perfect The latest Citroën consumer study has identified the top six ingredients for the perfect day. The French manufacturer hoped that the campaign would encourage people to banish the January Blues and lift their spirits. Citroën toured the UK to find 12 of the happiest people around and see what makes their perfect day, including the likes of a double amputee soldier, who at the age of 21 years old suffered catastrophic injuries from an IRA bomb. Despite spending six years in hospital, he overcame this horrific incident to become one of the world’s best skydivers and now finds happiness in the freedom skydiving gives him to move in ways not possible on the ground. Overall, almost half of those surveyed (49 percent) admitted that a hug is the best way to start the day. The other top five ingredients were receiving a kiss from a loved one, having a lie-in, enjoying good food, a sunny day and being smiled at by a stranger. Oh, and driving a Citroën, of course. For some great photos and videos, as well as some wonderfully uplifting messages, visit: citroen.co.uk/my-perfect-day. n
Dakar spirit
Canary Island team challenge Shortly after the finish of the Dakar Rally, a team of three riders set off from the Canary Islands to take part in the Intercontinental Rally, a race designed to recapture some of the original spirit of the Dakar. The Intercontinental Rally is an annual off-road competition and adventure rally for motor enthusiasts. Starting on January 25 from Almería in southern Spain, main participants set out to cover a six-stage challenge down the west coast of Africa, finishing in Lac Rose, Dakar, around February 7. A second section, nicknamed ‘Lite’, has the town of Dahkla as its goal - still a challenge that will encompass rough riding, extremes of heat and cold, and a variety of terrains which are enough to warm any off-road rider’s heart. The Canary Raid Team, consisting of Luis Javier Fernández (KTM 350 EXC), José Ramón Amondarain (Husqvarna FE 350), and Víctor Manuel Hernández (KTM 450 EXC Six Days), fared well in the Lite category. Don’t be fooled by the name, however, this was no ride in the park: the riders covered around 3000 very tricky kilometres. You can keep up to date with the team’s results and future challenges at: www.canaryteamraid.es. Along the way, members of the support team also worked with local NGOs to distribute 100 kilos of school supplies to children aged three to fourteen years old which had been collected thanks to volunteers in the Islands. For more information on the Intercontinental Rally, see: n www.intercontinentalrally.com.
©2016 FLN
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4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
HEALTH
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
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Massage Ilona Rebisch
Promoting health
Respiratory relief By Elena Herz Asthma, bronchitis or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are almost commonplace in our lives today, and we all know someone affected by one such respiratory condition. How we breathe is very important and influences our wellbeing. Even someone suffering from respiratory disease can find relief through specific breathing exercises. When doing so, we are able to relax and anything that has accumulated in the respiratory tract dissolves better and is easier to cough up. To relieve a persistent cough, for example, you should inhale through the nose and slowly exhale with pursed lips. Pursing your lips when exhaling produces an air cushion between your upper row of teeth and upper lip in much the same way as drinking through a straw, which is also another useful technique for exhaling slowly. Taking long breaths while alternating with a shorter breath is also helpful and beneficial. In severe cases, you can use a PEP (positive expiratory pressure) mask which is a tool designed to achieve slow exhalation. Standing with your hands on your knees, slightly bent forward, is a posture that offers respiratory relief and helps when suffering a coughing fit. Even the so-called ‘driver seat’ or ‘goalkeeper’ positions can help you to breathe better. Respiratory muscles need to be trained to help breathing against resistance and improve nasal breathing, etc. To help with coughing up built-up fluid and easing the respiratory tract there are massage techniques that can be applied directly by a qualified physiotherapist. Similarly, there are numerous floor exercises that help chest mobility. Many people experience good results with the automatic cupping massage therapy using a Pneumatron device which applies pneumatic pressure on the connective tissue without causing hematoma or injuring tissue. For further information contact physiotherapist and holistic therapist Elena Herz on: 600 424 252. Also visit Elena’s website at: www.elenaherz.com. Elena is based in Chayofa and also does home visits. n
Finding a better way of life In this stressful modern age, people are seeking more relaxation methods and forms of unwinding to allow the mind and body to recoup. For over 4,000 years massage has proved an effective healing method, and has always been surrounded by a touch of mysticism. It has a firm place in traditional therapies, especially in Asia where many cultures believe that the body and soul come together and influence each other, and this form of spirituality accompanies and compliments the many other forms of traditional healing. Ilona Rebisch is a massage therapist with a spiritual outlook and has always chosen to express herself through her hands via painting, poetry and massage. After travelling around the world, Ilona arrived
The Ilona Massage studio opposite the Iberostar Torviscas Playa Hotel
and booked herself on a Reiki course. She could hear her inner voice speaking and felt a strong calling to help others
their energy themselves and my energy is transferred alongside. Even customers who don’t consider themselves spiritual can usually open up and get their soul talking. I’m always particularly proud when I help to
chakras more than most people expect. Ilona Rebisch embarked on this new path five years ago and proudly follows her vocation in life; using spirituality, sensuality and expertise to
Ilona Rebisch and her healing chakra stones
Elena Herz is an experienced physiotherapist and holistic therapist
in Tenerife 24 years ago. She spent many years running her own restaurant, Woldy, in Playa de Las Américas before closing it for personal reasons. She then went through a period of change and began working with the elderly, supervising and massaging groups, with people suffering from a wide range of ailments. She began to receive glowing praise from her senior patients
heal. She attended various specialist courses in Europe and the Canary Islands and obtained relevant qualifications and licences to open her own massage studio in Playa de Las Américas. Alongside her colleague Mariana, Ilona offers a wide range of therapeutic massage services for the body and soul. “Everyone reacts differently to massage and touch”, says Ilona. “They’re able to change
Ilona Rebisch with her colleague Mariana
resolve someone’s mental tension or tired body. All chakras must flow.” Ilona uses chakra stones, and trusts in their cleansing and healing properties: “People open up through energy transfer, even if they don’t believe in the traditional concepts”. Massages often open up the
improve harmony in clients’ mind, body and soul. The Ilona Massage studio is located on Avenida Ernesto Sarti, No.8 in Playa de Las Américas. It is on the first floor on the left hand side, opposite the Iberostar Torviscas Playa hotel. For more information telephone: 602 608 626. n
HEALTH
What to do in case of a heart attack In modern industrial countries, heart attacks are the
more pain. The deep breathing pumps oxygen into the lungs and the pressure on your heart from coughing is said to pump the blood out, circulating it and normalising the heart rhythm. This should enable you to reach the hospital or survive until the health specialists arrive. If you are in a position where you need to help someone else, first notify the emergency services. Then calm the victim down as much as you can. Sit them upright against a sup-
leading cause of death. If the symptoms are interpreted correctly and acted on immediately, the chances of survival are increased, but how can we tell if it’s a heart attack? The symptoms vary from person to person and between men and women. The Red Cross lists the following signs as clearly indicative of a heart attack and say it is essential to immediately contact the emergency services doctor: A noticeable tightness in the chest, acute respiratory distress and severe chest pain or pain radiating to different areas of the body such as the left arm, the lower jaw, back, shoulder or upper abdomen. Women often complain more of pain in the back and upper abdomen rather than chest pain. The danger here of course is that they don’t connect that pain with a heart attack and by the time they do, it’s often too late. Look out for previous symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, pain in the abdomen and back, weakness and shortness of breath, all of which could indicate an impend-
correctly. They are often understated and are therefore not taken very seriously, and they can be very different between individuals, which makes them difficult to detect. Most strokes give warning signs which are called transient ischemic attacks (TIA) which you should follow up on immediately. These TIAs can manifest themselves for example as short-lasting paralysis of half of the face, general faintness or numbness in half of the body
The signs may only last a few minutes which is why people often fail to go to a doctor when they should. However, it is very important to visit a specialist a.s.a.p. and to be examined and treated immediately. If the symptoms last longer than a few minutes, it’s not a TIA, it’s a full-blown stroke and every minute counts. Women may also suffer shortness of breath, chest pain and palpitations, facial, limb or joint pain and hiccups.
With a stroke, every minute counts Heart attack pain may radiate outwards Mid shoulder blade pain may indicate a heart attack in a woman
ing heart attack. It’s strongly advised that you go as soon as possible to see your doctor. The symptoms may occur days or weeks before the heart attack. If they occur during physically or emotionally stressful situations, but disappear again when you are relaxed, it’s still necessary to go and see a doctor as they may be indicative of heart disease and the possibility of suffering a heart attack increases considerably. Get an ECG done and find out what’s causing the problems. If the symptoms occur whilst you are at rest, contact the emergency services immediately. Other signs may include: cold sweats, a pale complexion and cold skin, a burning sensation and severe pain lasting longer than five minutes that may radiate to the arms, between the shoulder blades, in the back or neck or jaw.
Perform this self-help action immediately! Many schools of thought believe that the following could save your life. First, don’t panic. Start immediately to cough as often and energetically as you can. Before each cough, breathe deeply and then imagine you are trying to pull up mucus from the bottom of your lungs. Try for a pattern of breathing and coughing every two seconds. Call the emergency services and continue to breathe and cough until help arrives or your heart is beating normally again and you have no
port such as a wall and loosen their clothes to relieve tightness. Encourage the patient to breathe calmly and deeply. Should they fall into unconsciousness, begin chest compressions immediately.
What to do in the event of a stroke Early treatment within three hours can diminish the harmful – and possibly fatal - effects of a stroke. However, how can you tell it’s a stroke? It’s not easy to distinguish the signs and symptoms of a stroke
Photo: wikipedia.org/JHeuser
Imagine it now: it’s just an ordinary day when suddenly you’re immersed in a crisis situation... Alone in your car, wending your way home after a busy day at work. You may be tired, frustrated and driving along a barely frequented lane when you feel a sudden stabbing pain in the chest which escalates into your arm and face. The nearest hospital is miles away and it seems as if it would be impossible to make it there. What can you do? In some countries such as Germany and Denmark, a first aid course is an integral part of the driving test, but few people have the knowledge to aid others in an acute emergency and even fewer know how to help themselves if they are far from outside assistance. Many people are alone when they have an attack like above. Without help, they have about 10 seconds before they lose consciousness. So, what can you do to help yourself under such conditions? The first thing is to interpret correctly the signs of a stroke or heart attack. You would normally have had some warning signs, but even in an acute emergency you have an increased chance of survival if you recognise the danger and take action immediately. Read the following article carefully, memorise the actions to be taken and share the information with as many other people as possible.
Action in emergencies
Photo: wikipedia.org/JHeuser
Help and self-help
FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
Photo: pixabay.com/geralt
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- one leg or arm for example. The patient may experience blurred or double vision, short term blindness in both or one of the eyes or a restricted field of vision (tunnel vision) for example. Hearing and speech may be impaired and there may also be difficulty in understanding others. Less conspicuous symptoms include dizziness, lack of coordination, sudden falls or stumbling and sudden severe headaches as well as nausea or vomiting. Spatial and temporal disorientation or loss of consciousness may also be symptoms of a stroke.
How to check for a stroke With these simple but vitally important tests, you can determine whether a person may have had a stroke. Ask the patient to smile at you or to repeat a sentence such as, ‘Today is a beautiful day’; to lift both their arms (if they have had a stroke they will not be able to do this or only be able to do it partially; or ask them to stick out their tongue: if it is curved or sinuous it is an indication of a stroke. If any of these tests give a negative
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
Better a false call than a late call The Heimlich manoeuvre saves lives
Why are these emergency measures so important? The first few seconds are vital in any emergency. Why? More than half of all heart attacks become deadly because most people wait too long to see what happens or the people around them don’t know how to react. It’s a fatal error. Ambulances are fitted with defibrillators which can immediately eliminate cardiac arrhythmias. The longer you wait, the more heart muscle is lost forever, the brain is no longer supplied with sufficient oxygen and the patient dies or suffers permanent damage. With stroke victims, the most common cause is calcified
Photo: wikipedia.org/AmandaM.Woodhead
response, call the emergency services immediately even if the person recovers within a few minutes and feels better.
arteries. Over time, blood cells, cholesterol, calcium salts or connective tissue accumulate in the arteries, gradually clogging them up. Another prime cause is cerebral haemorrhages where a blood vessel bursts in the brain preventing an adequate supply of oxygen and essential nutrients to the area,
which, if not treated rapidly, can cause death or lifetime consequences such as paralysis, speech disorders or the necessity for long term nursing care. Of course, preventive measures are the most important thing to keep the risk of suffering a stroke or heart attack as low as possible. Regardless of age, heredity and diseaserelated histories, the lifestyles of today’s fast-paced world contain many of the factors that may cause these deadly health episodes. Often it is a combination of irregular sleep, professional and personal stress, a poor diet and alcohol, and nicotine or drug consumption. In plain language, this means it can happen to anyone. Increasingly, young people are victims of a heart attack or a stroke. Check out your lifestyle and find out about a healthy alternative. Make sure, whatever your age, that you have a regular medical check-up and talk to your doctor, who can and will support you and help you. Do yourself a favour and stay healthy. However, there are health emergency incidents that can happen even if you follow a healthy lifestyle pattern…
What to do if someone is choking As every parent knows, children put everything in their mouths, toddlers especially have the habit of swallowing small bits and pieces, and it can be a nightmare. However, if you are prepared, you can deal with this and help the patient eject foreign objects from the
trachea and oesophagus. Quick action is vital! A lot depends on whether the person is still able to communicate, cough or even breathe. If someone is choking and cannot talk, look for the following signs: a strong urge to cough, wheezing, the face turning red to blue, shortness of breath or no longer breathing…
HEALTH
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How can you help? If the person is talking, breathing and coughing, encourage them to cough as hard as they can to throw out the foreign body. If it doesn’t come out, contact the doctor immediately and keep the patient calm until he or she arrives. If the person concerned cannot speak, breathe or cough, bend them forward from the waist and smack them with the palm of your hand up to five times between the shoulder blades, checking between each blow if the stuck item has come loose. If there is no sign of what has caused the choking, immediately call the emergency services. Learn and apply the ‘Heimlich manoeuvre’ or ‘Heimlich grip’. Lean the patient forward and embrace him or her from behind with your hands gripped together in a fist at the upper part of the stomach, above the navel and just below the sternum (breast bone). In this position, up to five times, pull upwards and backwards towards you sharply. If the foreign body isn’t hurled clear, smack them on the back between the shoulder blades and repeat the Heimlich grip until help arrives. If the patient is unconscious and not breathing, lie them down and begin
resuscitation until the ambulance comes. Remember to do this extremely gently with children or you could do more harm than good. Insect bites in the mouth and throat can cause a situation with a high risk of suffocation. Contact the emergency services immediately and encourage the affected person to eat ice-cream or suck ice cubes, if he or she can swallow. Cool the neck area with ice packs or cold compresses and keep the patient calm until help arrives. If breathing stops or the patient loses consciousness follow resuscitation procedures immediately. The emergency number throughout Europe is a common one to all countries, 112, and the web pages of all the international Red Cross and Red Crescent organisations worldwide have information on emergency assistance and valuable tips for lifesaving manoeuvres in case of accidents such as falls, poisoning etc. Even if your country doesn’t insist on a first aid course to get you through your driving licence, you may want to consider taking one anyway. You or somebody close to you may be very grateful for it in n the long term.
HEALTH
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FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
m_delaflor@hotmail.com
Dear Dr. De La Flor,
I’ve noticed a bit of blood in my semen. It also happened a few weeks ago and it went away. Can it be something malignant? Any advice? Regards, R. Dear R., Blood in the semen is known as hematospermia. Prostate biopsy is the most common cause but it can also be secondary to tumours, infections, anatomical abnormalities, stones, or inflammation anywhere throughout the genitourinary system. In most cases, blood in the semen is benign and self-limiting. Treatment, if indicated, depends upon the underlying cause. My advice is to pay a visit to your trusted GP to rule out any treatable underlying origin. Best regards. “The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.” Thomas Edison
Dear Dr. De La Flor,
Do you know a reputable web to buy medications and supplements? Thank you, Lewis Dear Lewis, Operation Pangea stands for an international week of action tackling the online sale of counterfeit and illicit medicines. It’s coordinated by INTERPOL and highlights the perils of buying medicines online. During 2015, the results were astonishing: 2,410 websites taken offline, a record 20.7 million fake medicines seized (including blood pressure and erectile dysfunction pills, cancer medication and nutritional supplements); 550 adverts for illicit pharmaceuticals were removed from the internet and 156 ruthless money-grabbers arrested. Please, always consult your trusted Pharmacist and/or GP. Crooks focus on
your pocket, not your wellbeing. Best regards. “He’s the best physician that knows the worthlessness of the most medicines.” Ben Franklin
Dear Dr. De La Flor,
My boyfriend told me that my genital herpes can be due to the spa. Is that possible? How is genital herpes transmitted? Cheers, W. Dear W., Genital herpes (GH) is a condition caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus. This infection belongs to the so-called STD family. The acronym stands for Sexually Transmitted Disease. Fortunately, the capital ‘S’ stands for ‘Sexually’ and not for ‘Spa.’ As the acronym appropriately indicates, it is transmitted by a direct person-to-person sexual contact that involves the genital region. GH can also be caused by mouth to genital contact with a person who has cold sores or herpes infection of the mouth. Best regards. “Boys think girls are like books, if the cover doesn’t catch their eye they won’t bother to read what’s inside.” Marilyn Monroe
Dr. De La Flor Facts
Thumbs Up By Dr. De La Flor
… A B C, it’s easy as 1 2 3,
as simple as do re mi… Diabetes ABCs are essential to add years to your life and quality of life to those years. My ABCDE acronym stands for: A (A1c Hb control), B (Blood Pressure), C (Cholesterol, especially the Lousy LDL), D (Diet), E (Exercise).
Apples’ magic
Despite its ominous theological consequences, apples can
Bonne nuit Morpheus!
Neurologists now consider that disempowering sleeping habits may actually be setting the stage for dementia. Architectural sleep-related damage speeds up the development of sticky amyloidal plaques that flourish and entangle the neural pathways of sleep-deprived mice. Let’s remember: fatigue is the best pillow.
Live better, longer, fuller… “Talent is God given: be humble. Fame is man-given: be grateful. Conceit is self-given: be careful.” John Wooden, 1910-2010, The Pyramid of Success
“Let’s dance… Let’s sway through the crowd to an empty space.” A few days ago I read on his passing away. He was never a favourite artist of mine. However, his kneeling down moment, added to my juvenile memories attached to his Let’s dance hit, swiftly overwhelmed me with emotion, appreciation and payback prayer moment too. “Because my love for you would break my heart in two, If you should fall into my arms and tremble like a flower.” “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Pain of all sorts, even the one arising from a swallowed tear can be such a tough pill to swallow, such a tough pill to accept, such a tough hug to embrace. But pain purifies our body, enlightens our soul, illuminates the path to the eternal dance floor. Unashamedly genuflecting one’s knee denotes wisdom, unashamedly genuflecting one’s will breeds humility, unashamedly genuflecting one’s knee make us so tall…
Unexpected blood pressure
surges Common drug-related suspects: cold and flu preparations; NSAID (ibuprofen, diclofenac); steroids; diet pills; birth control tablets; some antidepressants, certain supplements. Let’s be prudent.
Coaching Corner By Dr. De La Flor “… Let’s dance… put on your red shoes and dance the blues.” On April, 1992 Wembley Stadium was dressed in full regalia. It was an Olympic year, and it deserved abundant Olympic moments. Freddie Mercury’s tribute concert brought together a plethora of talent, genius, and a bit of eccentricity too. During Bowie´s appearance his entire chameleonic persona was shown. The iconoclast moved and removed, changed and inspired by piously reciting the Lord’s Prayer. It was Bowie’s anticipatory bow to the eternal dance floor…
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
ReSOLUTION By Dr. De La Flor For the next two weeks, you and I can spend a few minutes pondering about our health’s ability to adapt. Health is all about dancing, and about constantly adapting to the beat of the drum. You and I need a tenacious but chameleonic will to adapt to the ever-changing life circumstances you and I encounter and tackle. Chameleonic so that we can acclimatise to personal challenges, chameleonic so that we can adjust to unexpected letdowns, chameleonic so that we can boldly attune to the whisper of our conscience, and chameleonic so that we can elegantly dodge the inevitable darts of life. Our health isn’t monochromatic but chameleonic… Don’t you think? Anyways, let’s dance… let’s fight. “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory.” Luke 9:26
Dr. De La Flor, licensed G.P. (6089). In dealing with his patients he is highly influenced by Humanistic Psychology - an encompassing way of approaching patients through the study of their strengths and virtues to enable them to thrive and lead fulfilling lives, accept the past, find happiness in the present, and hope for the future. Call him today on: 0034 697 888 666 or email him to register.
Pedro Alegre Alonso Pilates trainer ä Physiotherapist ä
Tel. 699 521 649
pedroalegrealonso@hotmail.com
©2014 FLN
Last year 2,410 websites were taken offline and a record 20.7 million fake medicines seized
be considered nutritional wonders. They are roughly 45 calories a piece. However, it takes approximately 120 calories for the body to metabolise it! On top of that… an apple a day will surely help you and me keep the doctor away.
©2014 FLN
Photo: Cristian Bender / FreeImages.com
Dear Dr. De La Flor
Place your advert at our Classified Agent
New and second hand books
C. Juan XXIII, 29 Los Cristianos 922 797 542 www.libreríarehound.com
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
FASHION
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
37
Tender temptation for Valentine’s Day
It’s not just the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day: delicate lingerie can be a pleasure just in itself. From Boux Avenue
February 14 is the day of love – a concept that can easily be taken literally. With the latest enchanting lingerie ideas, every woman can find something that is just
right. Wear it to pamper the eye of your partner, or just to make yourself feel good. Elegant ideas in gently shimmering fabrics are the current trend in lingerie, as well
as romantic intimate wear in delicate pastels or erotic black – take your pick! Here is a little something for every taste and every type of n figure.
Refined back views. Lace set. From Lascana
Between Sporty and sexy. From Sainsbury’s
Black meets bright fuchsia. From Evans
Lady in Red: Lingerie with gemstones. From Penneys
Artful: lingerie set with floral lace. From Marks & Spencer
Rosy times for the set with a bustier top. From Matalan
Photos: www.prshots.com
The ultimate feminine TOUCH
38
PETS
FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
Adopt, don’t buy
Animal charities’ round up Acción del Sol Over 200 dogs at the refuge had a great time recently thanks to all our supporters coming together for our open weekend. We asked people to come and help us with the animals, and every single dog – whether big or small, young or old – over the course of the whole weekend was duly
will help towards the running and upkeep of the refuge. On a day to day basis, we are always looking for dog walkers and people to play with and brush some of our many dogs. If you would like to do so, please visit us during our opening hours. Call 922 778 630 if you would like to help out in any way at all. The refuge is situated at the Poligono Industrial Estate; Exit
walked, bathed, brushed, played with and given some loving cuddles plus a treat or two. It was great to see them so happy and having the attention they crave and deserve. Thank you to all that attended and also for the donations of tinned dog food and money from the collection tins, which
51 off the TF1, directly next to the Parque Eolica where the wind turbines are. We are open to the public Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 2pm to 5pm. On Saturdays we’re open from 1pm till 4pm. The refuge is closed public holidays. Email: teneriffa@aktiontier.org. Also visit Facebook: ‘action tier Acción del Sol’.
Lennon legend It’s Lennon again! Live Arico keep trying to find him a family to save him from going back to the refuge. That will be very soon unless they can find someone to offer him a loving home. He’s such a good boy and extremely well behaved. Could you give him a noobligation trial? For more information call Sue on: n 629 388 102. Contact Live Arico about adopting Lennon
Smokey is at Cats Welfare Tenerife, hoping for a new home
Over 200 dogs at Acción del Sol were given plenty of TLC during the shelter’s open weekend
Live Arico adoption
Live Arico (PAWS)
Cats Welfare Tenerife
Our first fundraising event of the year takes place at Clouseau’s in Palm Mar on February 21 from 2pm onwards. Hosted by Derrick Lynes and Suzy Q, there will be some great artists lined up to entertain you! Or, come join us on the MustCat on February 27, sailing from the Las Galletas port at 10am. It is a three hour trip to watch the whales and dolphins, and for the heavily discounted price of €25 you even get free drinkies! Call Sue on 629 388 102 and reserve your tickets – they are selling fast! Come and bag a bargain at our shops in: San Eugenio (opposite Hotel La Niña. Open Monday to Saturday, 10 to 4pm); Los Cristianos (Calle Reveron, near the Thistle and Dragon Bar. Open daily, 10am to 4pm); Golf del Sur (Golf Park, just before the lottery kiosk. Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday 10:30am to 3:30pm). Please don’t throw things away! We can always use it to sell and help the dogs. Find us at: www.livearico.com, on Facebook, or join us on Twitter: twitter.com/live_arico.
A female cat has the ability to produce an average of 12 kittens a year and if those kittens are not spayed or castrated then in just six years there could be as many as 40,000 cats, all from one female! Letting your cat have a litter of kittens may seem like a fun thing to do, some even believe that it helps their female cat in some way, but neither may be true. Most suppose that becoming pregnant and having a litter of kittens in no
way alters the maturity of the cat, either physically or mentally. And in most cases, people find it hard to home all the kittens. In addition, not all pregnancies go smoothly. Difficult labour, kitten mortality and potential health problems, such as uterine and mammary gland infections, can take all the fun out of the experience. Also, females in heat will actively search out males and may attempt to escape, putting them in the danger of traffic, fights with other animals, etc. Then there’s the howling at 2am and the possibility of females spraying urine when on heat. Unspayed cats can develop a severe uterine disease which, undetected, is almost always fatal. Cats Welfare can secure inexpensive spaying for your cat at any of the four veterinary practices we collaborate with. Contact us for details. If you’re looking for a new furry companion please consider Smokey. She is an all-black, cuddly bundle with so much love to give. She has tested positive for leukaemia but is
so loving that we really want to give her a chance to live her life out in peace. We will pay for her leukaemia treatment so there will be no extra cost to her new owner, plus she is already spayed. Smokey will need a home where she is an indoor cat and either an only cat or with other Leukaemiapositive cats. For more information please contact Theresa on: 680 475 500, 10am till 6pm every day. Pictures of all our cats and kittens awaiting adoption can be found on our website: www. cats-welfare-tenerife.com/pets. This page is updated daily so it always has the latest availability. For general cat information you can also follow us on Facebook.
K9 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 number n is: 667 638 468.
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
FARMERS MARKET
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
Farmer’s Markets Adeje Calle Archajara, s/n, in front of Makro Saturday/Sunday 8am – 2pm / Wednesday 4pm – 8pm Telephone: 922 775 200 Alcalá Plaza de Llano Monday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 850 100 Arafo Plaza San Juan Degollado Thursday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 511 711 Arico Porís de Abona Sunday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 676 159 034 Arona Valle San Lorenzo, Carretera General 122 Monday/Friday 8am – 2pm Telephone: 922 767 138 Buenavista del Norte Plaza de San Sebastián Opening times: Saturday 8.30am – 2pm Telephone: 922 129 030 Candelaria Wednesday 8am - 2pm Next to council offices Saturday 8am – 2pm. Plaza del Centro Comercial de Punta Larga Telephone: 922 505 014 El Médano Plaza Principal Wednesday 8am – 2pm Telephone: 922 759 966/62 El Rosario Carretera General del Norte, la Esperanza Saturday/Sunday/festivals 8am – 4pm Telephone: 922 010 160 El Sauzal Hoya de la Vida, next to the church, Ravelo Friday/Saturday/Sunday 7.30am- 2pm Telephone: 922 584 657
Güímar Plaza del Ayuntamiento Sunday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 526 105
side behind Titsa Depot) 8am – 3pm closed Mondays Tel 922 076544
Guía de Isora Plaza del Pueblo de Garachico Friday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 850 100
Playa de San Juan Plaza de la Iglesia Wednesday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 850 100
Icod de Los Vinos Calle Key Muñoz 5 Monday/Friday 8am – 2pm Telephone: 922 815 700 / 922 447 938 La Guancha Carretera General TFS km 49 Saturday/Sunday 8am – 3pm Telephone: 922 360 788 La Laguna Plaza del Cristo Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday 6am – 2pm Telephone: 922 601 100 / 922 253 903 La Matanza de Acentejo Ctra. General del Norte Saturday 8am – 3pm, Sunday 8am – 2pm Telephone: 922 577 120 La Orotava Calle Educadora Lucía Mesa Saturday 8am – 1.30pm Telephone: 922 336 804 / 681 277 633 Los Realejos Camino Viejo de San Benito, Finca el Llano, Realejo Alto Saturday/Sunday 9am – 2pm Telephone: 922 346 234 Los Silos Plaza de la Luz, Los Silos Sunday 9am – 2pm Telephone: 922 840 004 Parque de la Reina – El Cho Calle Infanta Elena, 32 (before Karting on right hand
39
Farmer’s Markets
Island support!
Puerto de la Cruz Avenida Blas Pérez González, 4 Wednesday to Saturday 8am – 2pm Telephone: 922 386 158 San Isidro Mercado del Agricultor de Granadilla Off the roundabout leading to El Médano Saturday/Sunday 8am – 2pm Telephone: 922 759 966 San Miguel de Abona P.I. Las Chafiras, San Miguel de Abona, next to the fire station Saturday/Sunday 8am – 2pm Wednesday 2pm – 7.30pm Telephone: 922 735 386 Santa Cruz de Tenerife Avenida José Manuel Guimerá Sunday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 606 000 Santa Úrsula Carretera General, near the town hall Saturday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 301 640 Tegueste Calle de Asuncionistas, 6 Saturday/Sunday 8.00am – 2pm Telephone: 922 316 100 Vilaflor Plaza de Vilaflor Monday to Thursday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 709 002
We at Island Connections are sure in the knowledge that one of the best ways to help yourself, and the economy, is to buy locally – even if you are just visiting for a short time. Canarian farmers harvest an extensive range of crops, which can be seen growing in the typical stepped-terrain farms around the Islands. Products range from tropical fruits, such as mangoes, to worldwide staples like lentils, potatoes and onions. According to the agricultural group COAG-Canarias, prices of fresh fruits and vegetables differ greatly between the amount the farmers receive and the sale price in the supermarkets. For instance, towards the end of last year, small marrows, which the farmers were paid just €0.07/ kilo for, retailed at €0.84, and leeks sold at €0.36 were passed onto the consumer for around €2.23 a kilo. Many of the prices don’t even seem to cover the cost of production - and this is when subsidies became necessary to keep farms from disappearing, which, like the hiked prices, also come out of our pockets. Enter the farmers markets, where the grower can sell directly to the customer without an intermediary. They are
dotted all over the Islands, with at least one in almost every town. They allow customers to purchase fresher, higher quality produce at cheaper prices, and the farmers receive a fair payment for their efforts. This enables them to maintain or raise the standard of their crops and uphold productivity levels – it’s a win-win situation. In these markets you will be sure to see a variety of seasonal products, as well as some local home-made delicacies such as
preserves, honeys and Canarian goat’s cheese. A selection of meats and fish can also be found among the stalls, along with an assortment of cakes, pastries and biscuits. Buy locally, eat healthily, pay fairly – this is one way we can all help each other. So, to show our support of local farmers we are taking this timely opportunity to publish the details of the many farmers’ markets around the island n of Tenerife. Enjoy.
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HOROSCOPES | CLASSIFIEDS
Horoscope for period: February 4 to February 17 Aries 21.3 - 20.4 A slow start to the month signals greater activity for the second half. A disappointing relationship may tend you towards erratic behaviour, try to avoid it. You will be actively looking for love and affection, but may see your loyalty tested. Choose wisely. Taurus 21.4 - 20.5 Unsociable influences abound at the moment, but it is nevertheless a good period for Taurean’s love interests, for making new commitments or strengthening existing ones. Cash matters are going well too: Enjoy the Sales! Gemini 21.5 - 21.6 Things may get tougher pretty soon so clear the decks as much as you can. It’s a good time to teach and train, whether at home or in a work situation. Socialising is important this month, but person to person: Go offline and see more of real life. Cancer 22.6 - 22.7 Struggles at the beginning of this fortnight should be resolved in the latter half when you enter into a period of calm, with fewer obstacles and goals more easily obtained. It will also usher in higher levels of energy, self-confidence and libido. Leo 23.7 - 23.8 The coming period is likely to be testing, especially with close family and loved ones. You are a sensitive soul; try not to overreact to problems. You may also be bursting to share some important information, but hold off and think it out well. Virgo 24.8 - 23.9 It’s business as usual! Crack on because it looks as if things may soon line up against you to seriously challenge your abilities. Don’t let your ego get in the way of your goals: keep it in check and new ventures have a high probability of success. Libra 24.9 - 23.10 Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus and Mercury are lined up right now for the first time in a decade. Good news is on the way and it’s a good time to go for that promotion or new job. Try to resolve problems with a close friend: Choose history over mystery. Scorpio 24.10 - 22.11 Try not to make your search for affection too obvious, it frightens people off. Your pushy-gene is also to the fore and that may make you enemies. Determination for success is enviable, but take care how many people you trample on along the way. Sagittarius 23:11 - 21.12 It’s a great time for forging new business relationships, friendships and even love-interests. Your newfound sense of personal freedom is making you flex your wings. Be cautious, don’t fly too close to the sun! A cool time for work and play. Capricorn 22:12 - 20.01 More enjoyment and less stress at the beginning of the month are setting a particularly hopeful stage for a great Valentine’s Day. You’re full of energy right now, as well. It may be a good time to tackle things you have on your ‘to do’ list. Aquarius 21.1 - 20.2 Greater self-confidence makes it easier for you to explain your point of view and to sway others. New projects are favoured during the latter part of the month, especially from the 9th onwards. Don’t be shy in coming forward: It will be worth it. Pisces 21.2 - 20.3 You are on a roll. You will be experiencing lots of personal, material and spiritual growth - so make the most of it! Try not to tip over your assertiveness into an area which may be seen as threatening, however. Stick to what you know.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
Los Cristianos, Patricia from Venezuela returns. Big breasts, French, positions, kisses, vibrators, massages, private apartTo advertise your ment in Calle Noruega, services with us, near the Altavista superplease call market in Los Cristianos 922 75 06 09 or I can come to you 24 Do you want to experience hours a day. Tel: 650 442 an orgasm without ejacu- 665. lating? The main idea is to extend the excitement Los Cristianos, Lucia, 23 and prolong pleasure. When years old, Colombian, full you decide to go for it, it is figured, 140cm breasts, really intense. I’m Amaia, no limits, French, posian exotic Colombian girl. tions, kisses, Greek, priTantric massage and all vate apartment in Calle services for men. www.sens- Noruega. Tel: 665 303 estantricmassagetenerife. 382. com. Appointments also via WhatsApp. Tel: (0034) 673 Los Cristianos, Margaret, 28 years old, beauti631 177. ful, slim, white, dominant, Venezuelan transsexual, 35 erotic massages, natuyears old, beautiful, tall, ral French, horny, advenfat, blonde, long big penis, turous, spectacular hips, active/passive, natural spe- explode in my mouth, pricial services to the end. vate apartment, discreet, €60 half hour, €80 one 24 hours. Tel: 692 506 hour. Apartments Royal, in 973 / 664 077 390.
Contacts
front of the bus station, Los Cristianos. I will send you all the information needed. Basic English. Tel: (0034) 602 626 848. Cockney girl, Ana, just what you need to get pampered. Stunning hot brunette. Busty and curvy. Let my pleasure be your pleasure, owo, French kissing. Los Cristianos, opposite the bus station. Tel: (0034) 611 203 925. Los Cristianos, 2 girls: well built Russian 35 years, and a slim Ukranian 23 years. Peaceful, discreet apartment. Edificio Royal, in front of the bus station, Los Cristianos. Call first. We speak a little English. Tel: 626 712 090.
Come and enjoy our erotic body to body massages with a happy ending! Unforgettable experience, beautiful Polish ladies. Opening hours 10am to 10pm, Playa Paraiso, Costa Adeje area. Tel: (0034) 662 960 065. www.edentenerife.com.
being with me. I’m waiting for you in Las Américas. Tel: 697 226 821. I’m Diana, a pretty Latin girl, 23 years old, good body, pleasing, French, positions, massages, available 24 hours. I’m waiting for you in my private apartment in the centre of Los Cristianos. Tel: 605 072 917. Tantric and Thai massage with a happy ending (no sex) at Los Cardones, San Isidro, second exit after the airport. Shower and tea service offered. There’s the possibility of a 4-hands massage. For appointments call 631 801 293. Los Cristianos, Paula, Latin girl. Enjoy my kisses, body, vibrators, no limits. Available 24 hours in my private apartment, or I can come to you. Tel: 604 115 052. English model, showgirl, professional striptease, quality service, general entertainment, stag nights, dominatrix, fetish, luxury conditions, visits 24 hours, escort service available. Tel: 697 227 139. Los Cristianos, Silvia, blonde, Spanish and complete. My services are inclusive. I’m waiting for you in my apartment, or I can come to you. Tel: 617 035 582.
Los Cristianos, provocative Ukranian blonde, escort, great body only for demanding men. You come to me or I can come to you. All my services will fulfil your dreams. Just call me. Tel: Los Cristianos, Susana, 602 631 367. You won’t young Canarian, 20 years regret it. old, natural breasts, I love kissing, I will do all that Deborah, transsexual, you ask. You’ll enjoy it. I’m young, childlike but well waiting for you in my private endowed brunette. Come apartment, or I can come to and enjoy the adventure of you. Tel: 674 557 114.
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
CLASSIFIEDS
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
41
Island connections media group s.l. www.islandconnections.eu
Island Connections Online: www.islandconnections.eu
Classifieds Deadline Next Edition The deadline for edition 765, which is published on 17th February, is 15th Feb. 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
You are welcome to come to our offices in Las Chafiras to place small ads. Card payment facilities are available.
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.
General Services Nageltanten Onkel Tenerife (Facebook). Gel nail artist using German products to strengthen natural nails, help with splitting/split nails, breakage and soft nails. Creative airbrush designs. Info and appointments, call Heidi on 667 802 156, nageltanten. onkel@gmail.com. Massage and more. Offer: 60 minutes body massage €36. Couples, four hands, lava stones tantric massages, etc. Playa de las Américas, Ernesto Sarti no.8, across from Iberostar Hotel Torviscas Playa. Tel. 602 608 626 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 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).
MASONIC MEETINGS Logia Ave Fenix Nº 73 Edificio Simón, Los Cristianos. Meetings every fourth Tuesday, January to April, October and November. All Visitors welcome Contact John Donaldson (Secretary):
(+34) 922 178 091 or ave.fenix73@gmail.com
Classified Info Adverts for our Classifieds Section must be sent by email or hand delivered to the office. If you would like to advertise, please send your classified text to: classifieds@ic-news.com. Alternatively, place your classified advert with one of our four agents: Now Tenerife.com in Golf del Sur, Redhound Bookshop in Los Cristianos, The Bookswop in Las Américas, Petra s Deutscher Bücherstand in Puerto de La Cruz.
Integrated Tax Planning and Wealth Management since 1975
922 716 079 www.blevinsfranks.com
BLOCK BUSTERS WE UNBLOCK ALL TYPES OF DRAINS
internal and external using our high pressure jets and cameras.
Call
647 928 223 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.
Mirela: 663 216 858
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
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
Caron Murgatroyd B.A. Hons
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
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
42
Rental Classifieds To rent, large STUDIO apartment in Las Americas, 2 minutes from Torviscas Beach. Separate kitchen, Sat/TV, wifi, fabulous terrace, views, parking, swimming pools and gardens, €590 plus bills. Call 670 558 208. No agents please.
Puerto de la Cruz, two bedroom furnished apartment on quiet,
select complex with tennis court and pool near Parque Taoro. Private gardens and garage. Long let only. €575 monthly. Call owner 922 20 53 50 / 699 424 501.
Apartment for rent, 1
bedroom, fully equipped, near Playa Martiánez, in Puerto de La Cruz, €470 /month + electricity. Tel: Theresa on 606 105 101.
For rent, La Florida, house
with garden and sea view. 2 double Bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, large open plan living room and kitchen area, 2 terraces and garage, fully furnished. €700 plus bills. Tel: 922 722 040 or mobile 680 545 827.
For Rent Playa de las Americas 1 Bedroom apartment. Wellfurnished 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. Minimum 3 months. Tel: 629 606 494.
Rustic finca for long term let near Icod de los Vinos. Fully equipped and furnished, open fire, satellite TV and Wi-Fi available. Fantastic sea and mountain views, sun terrace and barbeque, €450 PCM. Tel. Spain: 0034 922 865 776. UK mobile: 0044 (0) 7786 390541. Spanish mobile: 0034 674 287 632. Email: Philhirstconsultant@btinternet. com or P.D.Hirst@gmail.com
SALEs Classifieds 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
www.teneriffa-fincas.net
CLASSIFIEDS 80m 2 premises for sale on the first floor of the Santiago Commercial Centre, Puerto de Santiago. Price is from €40,000. Phone: (0034) 609 531 178. For sale, rural complex near the sea, made up of 5 bungalows, swimming pool, gym, BBQ, sauna, etc. 5000m2 plot. €1,000,000 negotiable. Phone: (0034) 609 531 178. 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 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 031 German couple seek 1 bedroom apartment in South Tenerife. Up to €100,000 cash available. We speak English. Tel (0034) 609 445 122 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 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 FOR SALE Beautiful apartment in Los Cristianos 1 bed 1 bathroom, living area, fully furnished with panoramic views of the sea.New pool area and garage. Tranquil area 120,000€. Without agent 922 752759 / 608425426 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. 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. 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 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
Property for Sale
“We can help sell your property!! With 20 years’ experience in the south and multilingual staff (8 languages including Russian). www.villasandmore-tenerife.com Tel: (0034) 662 50-71-91 Existing buyers waiting !!!
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 www.teneriffa-fincas.net 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
www.villatenerifenorte.com
€690.000
8% Commission to intermediaries
Private Sale 10.800 m2 Tel. (0034) 682 392 956
Golf villa for sale
Situated in the
Real Golf Club Tenerife in Tacoronte
243 m2. Garage for two cars. Hall with a little toilet, dining room, living room, 2 bedrooms with 2 complete bathrooms, dress room, kitchen, service bedroom with bathroom, and terrace around the villa. Garden 750 m2.
Information Tel. +34 659 928 805
Urb. Oasis Dakota, Playa Fañabé
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
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
CLASSIFIEDS
43
44
CLASSIFIEDS | PASTIMES
FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
B Funky Fashion Shows are looking for internatio-
Situations Vacant / wanted
nal 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
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
on 606 181 946 or 922 751 021
WINGATE SCHOOL TENERIFE MUSIC TEACHER WITH PIANO OR VOICE FOR KEY STAGE 1, 2 AND 3 REQUIRED WINGATE SCHOOL REQUIRES, FOR SEPTEMBER 2016 A MUSIC TEACHER. For application forms and futher information please see the school website www.wingateschool.com
Veterinary practice for sale in the south of Tenerife Fully equipped
Journalist wanted
veterinary practice (small animals) for sale leasehold, due to health issues. The practice is located on the busy main street of a small town in the South of Tenerife. It measures 85m2 and has a spacious waiting area, a small shop, a consulting room, toilet, laboratory, operating room, etc. It is sold including stock, furniture, equipment and instruments. The only vet in town. Good customer base. All licenses and permits are fully up to date. Interested?
The IC-Media Group is extending its services. Therefore we are looking for a Spanish native speaker with a high level of skill in the English language and experience in the editorial field
Contact 667 811 462 or veterinariotenerifesur@ outlook.com.
publisher@icmedia.eu
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
(For Crossword and Sudoku solution see pag 40)
Looking for a new career?
Vehicles SMART FOR TWO, YEAR 2012. Special edition with 117 horse power and maximum speed of 190 km/h. Papers for performance enhancement available. The car is fitted with satnav, and with only 24,000 km is like new. Price: €8,700. Telephone: 630 265 188.
Across
1 - duplicate copy (3) 3 - increase (3) 5 - mitre (anag) (5) 8 - role plays (4) 9 - communicator (8) 11 - lovingness (10) 13 - decline (6) 14 - wear off (6) 17 - they cut pencils (10)
21 - provoking (8) 22 - volcanic rock (4) 23 - dangers (5) 24 - diffident (3) 25 - slippery fish (3)
Down
1 - distributed (5) 2 - life scientist (8) 4 - colouring (6) 5 - protective coverings (5) 6 - floor covers (4) 7 - dish (7) 10 - colloids (4) 12 - called the same (8)
13 - stretching device (7) 15 - cattle; meat (4) 16 - lifting devices (6) 18 - dislikes intensely (5) 19 - tiny; modest (5) 20 - seabirds (4)
SPORTS NEWS
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
Injury blow for Las Palmas
Photo: Øyvind Kvamme Vik CC A-SA 3.0 UL
Las Palmas have been dealt a major blow in their bid to avoid relegation in their first year back in the top flight for 13 years. The Gran Canaria side faces the prospect of playing the entire second half of the season without Vicente Gómez, who suffered a serious injury during the Cup quarter final against Gary Neville’s Valencia. The midfielder damaged three ligaments in his shoulder after just 20 minutes of the first leg and underwent surgery a few days later in the Perpetuo Socorro hospital. He is expected to be sidelined for up to three months, by which time Las Palmas will have nearly completed the season. The injury is a case of lightning striking twice for the side given that it’s exactly the same as the one that kept Gómez was injured in the 1Nauzet Alemán out of action 1 draw against Gary Neville’s n Valencia for much of last year.
Gran Canaria marathon
African dominance continues
Different fortunes for Canaries’ sides The Canaries’ two top flight basketball sides ended the first half of the season in the ACB league in somewhat different positions, with Herbalife Gran Canaria qualifying for the Cup and Iberostar Tenerife beginning to pull clear from relegation worries. Herbalife ensured a top eight finish to put them through to the Cup later in the month and cemented their status as one of the strongest sides in the country outside the big four of Valencia, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Caja Laboral. Their European form has been nothing short of spectacular and they have notched up some significant scalps in the EuroCup
Iberostar Tenerife’s coach talks to players during a timeout
to give them a good chance of repeating last season’s appearance in the final. Neighbours Iberostar Tenerife have begun to show the form
that made them a feared team in the ACB on their return after a lengthy absence and, under new coach Txus Vidoretta, have claimed several big wins – par-
ticularly away from home – to put daylight between them and the bottom two sides. Home fans at the Santiago Martín stadium had something to cheer about at last in the thrilling win against Murcia, which saw Iberostar come back from 12 points down in the second half to snatch a last-gasp victory by the narrowest of margins (70-69). Iberostar were brought back down to earth by their Gran Canaria neighbours the following week in Las Palmas, although they are still on course to survive for another season despite having one of the ACB’s n lowest budgets.
Australian progress
Try as they might, local runners failed to get a look-in once more in the Gran Canaria Marathon this year and could only watch as the strong African contingent swept the boards again in the men’s race. Kenya’s Julius Korir improved on last year’s runner-up spot by winning the annual January race through the streets of Las Palmas in a time of 2:14.48, despite being billed as the pace setter for compatriot Pharis Kimani, who won last year and came second this time. Ethiopia’s Zemenu Tsega finished in third place. There was European success in the women’s race, which was won by Finland’s Elina Junnila, who capitalised on the absence of the two favourites, Ethiopians Sasho Insermu and Megertu Tafa, and won in just under three hours. Britain’s Lucy Biddlestone finished second and Holland’s Ines Rinsum Van came third. This year’s race attracted n over 7,000 runners from 60 countries.
Carla as good as her word Canarian tennis player Carla Suárez proved as good as her word when she vowed to begin the year in a positive style in a bid to get back into the Top 10 on the WTA circuit after her disappointing latter half of 2015. The Las Palmas-born player opened the year with a run to the semi-finals in the Brisbane tournament, picking up 185 ranking points and over €50,000 on the way, and then followed up by reaching the quarter finals in the Australian Open, matching her best ever performance in Melbourne.
Photo: fibercool CC CC A-SA 2.0 GL
Place your advert at
Gran Canaria recently staged its annual marathon
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ACB basketball
Photo: David Rodríguez
Gómez out for three months
Classified Agent for
Books, Cards, Internet Pto. Colón 1st floor Las Américas 922 715 682 bookswop@spantel.com
Photo: Robbiesaurus CC A-SA 2.0 GL
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
Carla Suárez has had a good start to 2016
The 27-year-old, who stands just 1.62m tall, showed she remains one of the most gutsy players on the women’s circuit by coming back from a disastrous opening set (0-6) against Daria Gavrilova to reel off two magnificent ones and book her place in the last eight for only the second time in her career and her first Grand Slam quarter final since Roland Garros in 2014. Suárez, who is based in Barcelona, is convinced that her good start to 2016 will put her back among the top players on the circuit, at least until the n summer.
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SPORTS NEWS | POOL LEAGUE
FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
Tenerife Pool Super League
Express Bar Deliveries Cup sion leaders Legends A. Graham beat Jamie in the first frame to put Legends in front. Jimmy levelled the score,
the frame and force a tie break to see who would progress to the next round. The same two players contested the tie
The draw for the third round will feature in the next edition of Island Connections. In the last issue we forgot to
Bar Leones were defeated in the first game of the night Division one leaders Legends A were knocked out of the cup by Boothen Bar
The results of the second round of the Express Bar Deliveries Cup Competition are as follows: Bar Leones were at home to The Tavern in what turned out to be a very tense evening. Young Kieron won the final frame to level the scores at 55 to force a tie-break played between the in-form Jamie of the Tavern and Phil of Leones. Who would win to book a place in the third round? True to form, Jamie came out on top and The Tavern are through to round three.
Rally Championship
Lupain Properties of the second division were losing 51 and looking down and out against Legendry Jokers of the first division. Preparing for an early bath, they rallied with excellent play from all their players to win the final four frames and level the match to force a tie break. The cliffhanger featured Ben and Mike and was duly won by Ben to put Legendry Jokers in the hat for the next round. It could have been a different story for Lupain who fea-
tured in the third game of the night. Sam was snookered on the black and played a hit-andhope shot off the cushion. He managed to make contact only to see a yellow fall into a pocket, with the black also going into the opposite corner pocket. He was reminded by his teammates he had achieved a combination shot to win the frame, unlucky Graham took the defeat with a smile. The match of the night saw second division leaders Boothen Bar against first divi-
beating Simon. The ever reliable John beat Rich to make the score 2-1. Stokie once again came to Boothen’s rescue to level the tie. The pairs matches were shared leaving the four singles games to be played. Rich won the next tie against top-of-the-stats Graham, and the Boothen wild card beat Mick for a two frame lead. Jamie was next up on the table hoping to win the match for Boothen but Simon had other ideas and emerged victorious. Jimmy was the last man up against John of Legends who held his nerve to win
mention the eight from the break achieved by none other than Chris Furey of Legends B against Paul of Sloops Bar. n Well done Chris!
Tenerife Pool Super League Powered by EXPRESS BAR DELIVERIES S.L. Information supplied by Tenerife Pool Super League www.tenerifepoolleague.com
Adeje set for big year The Villa de Adeje Motor Rally will take place on March 18 and 19 The Adeje Rally makes up part of the Spanish Championships
With the cooperation of the Adeje borough council and the Canarian government, the 26th Villa de Adeje Motor Rally was recently unveiled at the Fitur travel fair held in Madrid and will take place on March 18 and 19, 2016.
with Jimmy winning to send the second division side into round three. They must now be one of the favourites to lift the trophy. Also in the hat are Marius & Lo after a resounding home win against Toby Jug Saints, 7-3. The all Legends affair resulted in a 6-4 victory for the B side playing Polygon. Summerland Elite were good value with a fine away win against Britannia Inn (Paraiso), 7-3. Lastly, Dos Hermanos of division one beat Bar 180C of division two, 6-4.
The new poster design for the prestigious race, which makes up part of the Spanish Rally Championships, was presented by organisers at the international expo. In attendance were the Adeje councillors for tourism, Ermitas Moreira, and sport, Adolfo Alonso. Team president
Poli Delgado was also there, alongside Mamerto Cabrera, representing Cicar, one of the event’s sponsors. Adolfo Alonso commented: “The Adeje Rally has become one of the most important races in Spain and a tourist attraction for the borough. The event
continues to grow and stand as a key date in the national championships. Every year it attracts more sponsors and supporters, helping to establish its importance.” Poli Delgado added that “it’s an honour to be at the Fitur travel fair to promote the 26th
Rallye Villa de Adeje. Team Villa de Adeje’s philosophy is to keep working hard on the sporting side to attract the best drivers and help place the name of Adeje high up in world sport.” For more information visit: www.rallyevilladeadeje.com.
More good news for Adeje Representatives for Adeje were also proud to announce recent
tourist figures for the borough, making Costa Adeje one of the most popular in all of Spain for overnight stays. Costa Adeje also came second for hotel occupancy rates with 78.8 per cent just behind Arona with 81.2 per cent. Benidorm in Alicante came third with 77.1 per cent and San Bartolomé de Tirajana in Gran Canaria was fourth with 76.6 per cent. In terms of visitors, over 1,439,566 people holidayed in the borough of San Bartolomé de Tirajana last year compared to 1,253,888 in Adeje. The municipality of Pájara in Fuerteventura received 871,628 tourists and Arona in Tenerife welcomed 741,233 n visitors.
4.2.2016 – 17.2.2016
CD Tenerife latest
ISLAND CONNECTIONS 764
FOOTBALL AND SPORTS NEWS
47
performance they will be lucky to remain in the play-off zone as Tenerife were the better side overall. After a scrappy start with the referee handing out various yellow cards for hardly any reason at all, it was Tenerife who took the initiative. They were cheered on by a small band of fans that included a dozen or so that had flown from the UK. However, disaster struck half way through the first half
the score 2-1. Soon after, Tenerife could have levelled when Omar struck the post. A couple of penalty shouts were waved away by the referee (that makes it 22 games without being awarded a penalty) but still Tenerife pressed. Nastic held on and they are now just three points off a promotion place.
Fighting for form
By Chris Todd half belonged to Tenerife but that
Photo: Warrenfish CC A-SA 4.0 IL
24/01/2016 CD Tenerife 0 Numancia 0 The biggest crowd of the season (10,796) made their way to the Heliodoro Stadium to see if the blanquiazules could claim a third straight victory. The atmosphere was as hot as the unseasonably warm weather in Santa Cruz, but despite 100 per cent effort, the CD Tenerife team were unable to break down a resolute Numancia outfit. With both clubs occupying mid-table positions a draw was always likely and that is the way the game ended. It could have been very different if Honduran striker Choco Lozano had scored early on after he raced through on goal but his low shot was well saved by the visiting keeper. The first
extra bit of class was missing – a player to make a killer pass, or a free-kick specialist perhaps. Just before the break Numancia attacked down the right flank and the resulting shot was brilliantly saved by Dani in the Tenerife goal. The second half produced a better spectacle with the blanquiazules raising their game, although they were playing with more heart than head. Nano came off the bench and he almost made an instant impact as his shot was parried away for a corner. The game rolled on and despite a lot of huffing and puffing the deadlock could not be broken. In fact Numancia, against the run of play, could even have sneaked a goal in on the very last minute but their effort was blasted over the bar.
Ñandú rugby club
A fine start to the season
The home game against Numancia saw the biggest crowd of the season (10,796)
In-form ‘Choco’ Lozano missed a great opportunity against Numancia
So the third-straight victory eluded CD Tenerife but on the plus side the defence has been superb recently.
31/01/2016 Nastic Tarragona 2 CD Tenerife 1 The blanquiazules returned from Cataluña with nothing to show despite a spirited second half display. Nastic are enjoying a good season but on this
when in the space of 15 minutes Tenerife were two goals down and had Jorge Saenz sent off. It was cruel luck but the second half saw a determined visiting team take to the field. New boy Saul was playing a blinder on the left flank and it was his cross that made
Overall, Tenerife deserved more, and the fans after the match were quite optimistic despite the defeat. The play was better and with new signings waiting in the wings there is still a lot to play for. A win in the next game is essential if we are going to keep in touch n with the play-off zone.
Join the right team Ñandú rugby club made the best possible start to the new season
Ñandú v El Médano. 24/01/2016 Ñandú kicked off the new season in style with a resounding victory over a tough El Médano Boatmen side. The match was played in El Médano, in good weather conditions and watched by an expectant crowd. After a physical start from both sides, Ñandú took the lead when prop Gregor Prieto muscled his way over from a tap penalty 11 metres out. The try was converted by full-back Francisco Argilio. The Boatmen pushed back but were unable to convert good breaks to points. Ñandú scored their second try through Facundo Patsouris, who cut his way through the Boatmen’s defence, breaking several tackles, and crossed over the line. Ñandú started to settle, led as always by their excellent captain and fly-half Jacob Oakenfold. Despite valiant resistance from the boatmen, Ñandú furthered their lead when wing Edu scored the third try which was duly converted, and the team went in at halftime with a 21-0 lead. The boatmen started the second half well with good organisation. A great battle commenced with the only score of the second half coming from Ñandú, again from Facu. After great build-up play, Patsouris darted over near the posts for his second try of the day. Another conversion from Ñandu’s solid fullback Fran completed the final scoreline: 28-0. n
Nomads Football Club Sponsored by: Foreign Language News & www.windowsplus.co.uk We are starting a new first and second division six-aside league and if any players would like to play in the high level of the first division or try a fun and sociable second division side, then please get in touch. We will help you find the right team to suit your level and schedule. More information is available at this link: www.nomadsfc.com/#!adult6s-league/cgwa. Nomads Youth Football Club still needs a few extra players for the under 10s, 12s and under 14s teams. We are looking for players to join the teams
Nomads Youth Football Club needs extra players
and provide weekly football sessions at our training facilities in Los Cristianos for the following groups: Under 8s on a Monday at 5.30pm, Wednesday at 5.30pm, and Friday at 5.30pm. Under 10s on a Monday at 5.30pm, Wednesday at 5.30pm, and Friday at
5.30pm. This team still needs two players. Under 12s on a Monday and Wednesday at 6.30pm and Friday at 5.30pm. This team also still needs two players. Under 14s on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6.30pm. This team still needs two additional players.
Each team has its own webpage link. For more information visit: www.nomadsfc.com. The under 8s team is presently top of their league, so well done to these very young footballers. The Nomads Football youth teams and friends will be organising football, cultural and fun trips to Granada and the Costa del Sol in July 2016, and then the following week in July they will participate in a UK competition against professional academy teams. More info on the trips can be found at: www.nomadsfc.com/ #!blank/lw5bo. Alternatively, email: info@premfs.com or visit: www.premfs.com. Call/ message: +34 654 200 470. For general information, visit: n www.nomadsfc.com.
48
CANARY ISLANDS
FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 031
Fitur 2016
Putting our best foot forward Mid-January saw one of the biggest holiday and travel expos of the year – Fitur - take place in Madrid, with the Canary Islands present to market its many resorts and offers. South Tenerife was promoted as a modern and thriving destination, not only perfect for sun, sea and sand but also for its wide range of cultural, sporting and leisure pursuits. Arona tourism councillor David Pérez said: “We always treasure our traditional holiday markets, in particular those from Britain and Germany and the winter holiday packages that serve us so well, but we also have to keep opening up new markets and look to be innovative enough to develop other services and needs. We are targeting the 25 to 50 age group here in Madrid as they are the tourists who are usually on the go and interested in a range of activities, and as a rule they aren’t all-inclusive holidaymakers. They tend to be interested in leisure, culture and shopping options.” As well as promoting holiday locations, the fair also relays key feedback and market needs to the authorities and organisers.
Growth in Gran Canaria Gran Canaria island president Antonio Morales visited Fitur with the good news that there are now more direct flights than ever between the island and Spanish peninsula; around 1.4 million seats and a 14 per cent rise on last year, with the quota to be extended further. The winter season has already
travel fairs in Madrid, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart and Vienna. La Palma’s Mazo airport saw a 12.6 per cent increase over the last year, with 971,676 people passing through its doors. The number of foreign visitors also increased by 19 per cent, and this didn’t include those that arrived by ferry from other islands. Further still, Lanzarote was highlighted for its culinary
Panorama of South Tenerife’s tourist resorts
Spanish acting prime minister Mariano Rajoy presents Christoph Kiessling with an award for Siam Park
Casa del Sol in Puerto de la Cruz and the Hotel Hacienda San Jorge in La Palma. Spain’s current acting prime minister Mariano Rajoy presented Christoph Kiessling, the vice-president of Loro Parque, with a medal for tourist merit. This award was announced by the Spanish Council of Ministers in December 2015 and presented at the fair.
The Canary Islands fared well at Fitur 2016
started and, according to reports by airlines such as Iberia, Air Europa, Vueling, Norwegian Air and Ryanair, passenger numbers have increased by around 17 per cent.
Awards During the fair, various resorts were awarded for outstanding results in terms of environmental protection, sustainability and preservation of cultural values. The association Ashotel was pleased to receive
Other islands
Winners of the Rethink Hotel Initiative
awards for six of its hotels out of 20 prizes presented, including: the Gran Meliá Palacio de
Isora, Costa Adeje Gran Hotel, Hotel Alexandre Troya, Gran Hotel Bahía del Duque, Hotel
Tourism officials for the small picturesque island of La Palma have been busy since the start of the year, so far attending
delights and Fuerteventura was noted for its arts, crafts and cultural aspects. The archipelago presented itself well at Fitur 2016, showing its innovative and progressive ideas for expanding the potential of the Islands as the ideal holiday destination. During the financial crisis, the national travel market severely crashed, but thankfully it is recovering well and arousing interest from all over the world once again. The attractive presentations at Fitur will go a long way in helping to bring more n to the Islands.