Island connections 774 FLN 41

www.islandconnections.eu

1984-2016

041 1,80 €

774

June 23 – July 6, 2016 The lion’s share

exclusive inTerview

Tourism and proTecTion

ouT There

Islands’ budget battle

A president with a plan

Preserving El Puertito

Catch the unexpected

Page 8

Pages 10 & 11

Page 16

Page 20

Prostitution Polemic

no more DrillinG

Green light for renewable energy

Photo: Cabildo GC

The Spanish Supreme Court recently confirmed what was already obvious to many: all permissions for the oil company Repsol to drill off the coasts of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote have expired, bringing an official end to the long drawn out saga.

Renewable energy was the main topic at the International Engineering Congress for Canarian Conservation

marcial morales, the president of Fuerteventura’s island council and strong opponent of the drilling activity, was pleased to announce that “the island no longer has to face fears of contamination and can look forward to an era of renewable energy.

Continued on page 3

Modern day slavery?

Beneath the bright surface of beaches, sunshine and spectacular landscapes here in the Canaries, as elsewhere, runs another darker vein where women sell their bodies for money.

“Prostitution is clearly a form of violence between the sexes”, says the director of the canarian institute for Gender equality (ici) marián Franquet. together with non-profit organisations such as caritas and médicos del mundo (Doctors of the World), the ici have recently called for a workshop to analyse the current situation on the canary islands. “through these institutions we know that many women who made their way out of prostitution and found employment have been forced by the crisis and the subsequent loss of work to return to old ways. the age limit appears to be no barrier. We know of people aged over 60 with a basic income of only €340, whose unemployed children have returned home, sometimes with grandchildren, and they

see no other way to survive than to prostitute themselves”, she says. the reason a woman finds herself in this situation differs from individual to individual. they may be forced by a pimp, be addicted or financially desperate. the various agencies aim at individual analysis and aid through unbiased dialogue, attempting to integrate these people and take them out of the realm of social exclusion.

Clients are the key earlier this year the spanish Government launched a study in which 1,600 men in 10 provinces were asked about their sexual behaviour. one in five of those questioned admitted to having paid for sexual services within the previous 12 months. the majority seem unaffected by whether or not the person providing the sex was doing so voluntarily.

Zero tolerance of forced prostitution

Continued on page two

CANARY ISLANDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

tHe olDest ProFession

Voluntary or forced?

Continued from front page one in 10 believed that the person they were with was a minor but it didn’t stop them. experts believe that the fact that so many men made the admission probably means that the numbers are significantly higher. most men took advantage of the sex services mindlessly and for their own pleasure without bothering about the whys and wherefores of their partner’s situation. Asked why they didn’t report any possible forced prostitution or abuse of minors, they replied that they didn’t want to cause any trouble for themselves or for the women/girls. this is something that Óscar García, PP politician and director of the municipal institute of social services, instituto municipal de Atención social (imAs) in santa cruz sees as an important starting point.

Possible HelP Points: IMAS calle san Pedro Alcántara 5 santa cruz tel. 922 650 202 La Casita calle de carmen monteverde 8 santa cruz tel. 922 246 336 or 922 249 634 www.hermanasoblatas.org www.facebook.com/ la-casita-oblatas Médicos del Mundo tenerife calle sabino berthelot 3 santa cruz tel. 922 248 936 Gran canaria c/ senador castillo olivares 35 las Palmas tel. 928 367 100 www.medicosdelmundo.org National police there is contact information on the website: www.policia.es

“We have to begin to address prostitution in the schools and stigmatise it as violence against women. Going to a brothel has become almost socially acceptable. We have to make young men understand that by their actions they are probably supporting and promoting human trafficking and forced prostitution”, he explained in an interview. in fact, the statistics gathered by the human rights organisation médicos del mundo suggest that only 10 per cent of prostitutes are voluntarily in this trade, the remaining 90 percent are forced to take part. “this is sexual exploitation, violence and a form of modern slavery”, says García. “it’s a difficult subject which affects the freedom of part of our society and investigations often fail because of the taboo surrounding it. We can reach the women on the streets, which we call ‘known relevant contact points’ but the majority of them work from private homes. this sector has increased enormously in recent years. if neighbours who suspect there’s a brothel next door don’t report it, the police have no way of knowing it’s there.”

Here, in an ambience where they are under strict control and often intimidated by threats from the traffickers of harm to themselves or family members at home, is where minors and those forced into prostitution are habitually on offer. they have no chance of breaking free. in addition, many are in the country illegally and afraid of deportation and most know nothing about spanish laws and the help that could be available to them.

Important social work Women can find information about their rights, legal aid and social assistance in the ‘casita’. it’s run by the religious order of the Hermanas oblatas del santísimo redentor, which is active in 17 countries world-

island

connections

Kanaren express

Island Connections Media Group S.L. ciF: B-38748315 depósito legal: TF- 87/93 Foreign Language News calle Francisco Feo rodríguez 6 e-386 0 san miguel de abona Tel. +34 9 750 609

Print: artes Gráficas del atlántico s.a., agüimes, Gran canaria

Новости теНерифе

circulation controlled by

wide. they have been working with prostitutes and trying to point them towards alternative lifestyles since the 19th century. in Gran canaria it maintains several apartments where victims can get help and have company. in tenerife there is currently only a contact office available. However, they work

that they have a professional perspective and alternative”, said García. in 2014, casita looked after 123 people from 17 different nations. most (43) were from colombia, followed by spaniards (31) and nigerians (16). last year they helped 104 prostitutes from 12 nations.

Dialogue and education are important pillars for change

conserVAtion conGress

Sustaining an alternative agenda

Continued from front page in this technological age, advances are being made all the time and we must put our energy into alternative sources to keep the canaries a paradise”. morales also thanked those who supported the fight against the oil exploration and promised islanders that there will now be a “clear focus on clean energy”.

Energy revolution

Óscar García continues to be active in helping women to freedom

closely with imAs, which granted them €20,000 towards the costs of the contact point. they look for ways of helping the affected individuals.

“We have many methods with which we support women. We have asked for five per cent of the future social housing to be built by the Government to be set aside for women who want to get out of prostitution. We also offer legal and psychological support for any existing children. there are many tools, such as help with living costs, for rent or utility bills, drug and alcohol withdrawal programmes, and some women, especially from south America, have gladly accepted our offer to return them to their homes. We weigh each case individually to see how we can help. it’s very important to us that the women are trained so

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

the striking change is the switch in the nationalities heading the table, this time half of them were from spain.

“About 200 prostitutes work in our city, mainly involuntarily, either because of economic hardship, a drug addiction or because they are forced by traffickers to do so. it’s feasible to find a way out for 200 women and we are working on it. our social assistants work closely with casita or approach women on the street. it’s very important that people don’t close their eyes to this. We all have to look hard and take a stand. those who accept forced prostitution and pay for services are effectively helping to promote trafficking”, warns García. the appeal is that we should not tolerate hidden brothels in residential areas but report them n to local authorities.

features. 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.

Office hours: monday – Friday 9.30am – 4.00pm

renewable energy was very much at the centre of the first ever international engineering congress for canarian conservation which took place in Gran canaria recently.

During the seminar it was demonstrated that the need to develop sustainable energy sources is not only vital from an environmental perspective, but also for the investment and creation of jobs in a rapidly growing sector that would also bring substantial economic benefits to the islands. the president of Gran canaria, Antonio morales, has a vision to make the island completely ecological and has made great strides in promoting alternative energy sources n in the canaries.

Publishers: Tina straub schacher, Joe schacher Design team: Javier Gómez, maribel rodríguez Editor: andrea abrell editorial@ic-news.com Deputy editor: lee Bullen Editorial team: xena Fox, Karl mclaughlin, Barbara Belt, Theresa willson, sheila collis Contributors: Katy Kennedy, manuel de la Flor, chris Todd, sabine virgin Sales manager: Jamie lee armstrong sales@icmedia.eu Classifieds: classifieds@ic-news.com

European Union European Regional Development Fund

“Creating Europe” This company has qualified for subsidies from the spanish Government, cofinanced by funding from the european regional development Fund, for the transport of merchandise in the canaries.

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

CANARY ISLANDS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

3

lA orotAVA

Former mayor on trial Two men, who are now retired, are finally being called to account for alleged transgressions relating to the building of the El Trompo complex. the individuals involved are the former mayor of la orotava isaac Valencia and the constructor Ambrosio Jiménez. the town clerk is also indicted. they are all accused of violations in building and licensing codes leading to the supposed illegal construction of el trompo shopping centre next to la Villa complex. left wing politician José manuel Hernández (formerly with the iPu and now with unidos Podemos) was one of the group of ipo – los Verdes who originally made a formal complaint about the building in 2002, claiming that there was no licence for the work and that the area at the time was designated as farming land. “this isn’t a small add-on that someone has built on his pri-

El Trompo is the left half of the complex

vate property but a major project involving 80,000 square metres. it cannot be ignored,” said Hernández. He and the prosecuting council believe

it’s a clear violation of the town Planning code and in the case of the mayor, an abuse of the office he held. it’s claimed that whilst Valen-

cia was in office he repeatedly blocked the prosecution and four times he and his fellow accused requested that the case against them be closed.

the requests were denied.

Finally the accusations are being laid before the judge. the prosecutor is asking for three and a half years of prison

for the ex-mayor and two each for the builder and the town clerk, in addition to fines and a ban on working again in public office.

Given the advanced age of the main protagonists, it is unlikely they will receive a custodial sentence if they are found guilty and the professional ban wouldn’t affect Valencia either. However, both have two other processes hanging over them and a second conviction, even if only for one day in prison, would have the full punitive measures of the el trompo case fall on them. the resolution is expected by June 23 and if it goes against them the judge may order the demolition of approximately 2,000 square metres of the shopping centre. more of the background to this story will be covered in an exclusive interview with José manuel Hernández in the next edition of Island n Connections.

CANARY ISLANDS

4

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

stArmus FestiVAl

A star for Stephen Hawking Ahead of the Starmus Festival, the British astrophysicist and highly decorated scientist Stephen Hawking visited La Palma, an island which has had its eyes on the stars for some 70 years. thanks to national and international cooperation, the roque de los muchachos observatory was inaugurated in 1985. since 1988, the night sky over la Palma has been protected by the so-called ley del cielo (law of the skies), from light, atmospheric and radio wave pollution. even aircraft flight paths have been designed so that they do not disturb the stargazing in la Palma. in 2007 representatives of the island government signed the World Declaration on the protection of the night sky and the right to stargazing. Five years later, la Palma became the world’s first location to be recognised as a starlight reserve. since then, astro tourism has been specifically promoted. stephen Hawking disembarked in the capital santa cruz de la Palma from the cruise liner britannia to a warm welcome. in the Avenida marítima, a Path of the stars of science has been created, similar to the way Hollywood honours its biggest names. in la Palma it was

GrAn cAnAriA One of the key measures put in place in Gran Canaria to deal with forest fires over the summer period has come under the media spotlight, with one paper openly accusing the island’s authorities of improvising for a second year in a row.

Stephen Hawking during his visit to Santa Cruz de La Palma The new Stephen Hawking Science Medal

established to pay tribute to the most important contributors to universal science. the authorities on the island wanted to pay a tribute to Hawking by giving him the first of these stars, a permanent reminder of his visit which features not only the star but also an information panel. During his speech to welcome Hawking, the mayor of santa cruz de la Palma, sergio matos said, “it is an extraordinary privilege for me to welcome him to our city.

We are just a small island in the Atlantic, barely a dot on the world map and the earth itself is much less within the immense galaxy. but from this island, people obtain unprece-

dented images from the depths of the universe.” the president of la Palma’s island council, Anselmo Pestana expressed his admiration for the british scientist, who accepted the first star gratefully.

Stephen Hawking Science Medal the stephen Hawking science medal is being awarded for the first time this year, motivated by the starmus Festival. the venue chosen for the announcement of the selection was iter in Granadilla de

Abona (the technological institute for renewable energies). the new medal distinguishes persons or entities for their outstanding dissemination of science, arts and the cinema. in the category of dissemination of science, the medal is being awarded to the physicist and author Jim Al-Khalili for his physical concepts and his latest documentary film, The Secrets of Quantum Physics. in the arts category, the German composer Hans Zimmer is honoured for the soundtrack of Interstellar, a science fiction film which takes a journey through a black hole, created thanks to scientific assessment from Kip thorne. in the film category, the director mark levinson is recognised for the excellent documentary film, Something about Particles. the presentations will take place at 3pm on June 29 at the Pirámide de Arona in Playa de las Américas, when the medals will be presented personally by stephen Hawking, who will be accompanied by brian may, Alexei leonov and Garik israelian. the starmus Festival takes place from June 27 to July 2 in tenerife. You can see the full programme of events at: n www.starmus.com.

Fire helicopter concern According to the Canarias 7 daily, two helicopters leased by the cabildo for the annual campaign are not authorised to take part in fire operations.

The helicopters are currently not licensed to fight fires

the choppers have been leased on a four-year deal from a Portuguese company but are effectively useless until their owner obtains the required licences to enable them to tackle blazes from the air. Canarias 7 says the

GenerAl election

CC to lose only MP? The most influential political party in the Canary Islands could suffer the embarrassment of not returning a single MP to the Spanish Parliament in the elections on June 26.

Polls published as the re-run of last December’s General election looms closer show that the coalición canaria (cc) party, which has governed the canaries for years and holds power in many major towns and cities, could end up with no representation in madrid. some believe that the cc has been punching above its weight for many years and has benefited from an unfair electoral system which has helped it capitalise on the failure of the two big national parties, the PP and Psoe, to secure an overall majority in regional elections. the party’s only current mP, Ana oramas from tenerife, retained her seat back in December but the failure of Parliament to agree on a government has meant that fresh elections must be held on June 26 and oramas is in real danger of missing out this time. if the prediction is confirmed, it would be the first time the party did not have an mP in madrid and would be a masn sive blow to the coalición canaria.

Ana Oramas may lose her seat

same situation occurred last year and forced the cabildo to seek other helicopters for the summer months.

Questions are already being asked of the cabildo as to why it awarded a contract to the Portuguese firm if the air-

craft, which are due to remain on the island until november, cannot do the only job for which they are needed.

A source at the corporation said it was hoped the licence problem could be resolved by n July 1.

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

CANARY ISLANDS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

5

cAlls For unitY

Canary Islands pay tribute to Orlando Brutal and ugly cases of bigotry, xenophobia and homophobia seem to dominate world headlines at present, with many people calling for unity in the face of overwhelming examples of division and cruelty to others – whether based on nationality, religion or sexual orientation.

Government ministers and officials in the canary islands recently paid tribute to those killed in the horrific scenes in orlando in the us recently with a series of statements marked with a one-minute silence to show solidarity for the lGbti (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex) community. the unprovoked attack became the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman and the most violent assault against lGbti people in us history. on June 12, a shooting occurred inside Pulse, a popular gay nightclub in orlando. the attack resulted in 50 deaths, including the gunman who was killed by police after a three

hour standoff, with another 53 people injured during the chaotic scenes. the shooter was identified as 29-year-old omar mateen, an American born to parents of Afghan background. During the attack, he swore allegiance to the islamic

have been isil-inspired without being isil-directed. the Algarabía lGbti Association based in santa cruz slammed what it sees as systematic intolerance and disrespect for the lGbti community, saying that the general

The message was clear: solidarity and tolerance over phobia and division

public only sees “the tip of the iceberg” in relation to stories and examples of prejudice. Following the orlando massacre, the association organised several demonstrations in santa cruz and la laguna, including a tribute to the Florida victims at the Plaza Weyler in the tenerife capital. “We have to

The Algarabía LGBTI Association in Santa Cruz organised activities to commemorate the Orlando victims

state of iraq and the levant (isil) although investigators have said that the attack may

continue on the path of peaceful coexistence, tolerance and equality while rejecting all forms of violence and calls of division. A modern, cosmopolitan society can only be so if it is supported by the pillars of mutual respect”, said the mayor of Adeje, José miguel rodríguez Fraga during the borough’s recent commemoration for the victims. since April 2013, manuel Domínguez, the mayor of los realejos, has overseen a municipality-wide campaign against homophobia and presided over a one-minute silence at the local town hall to mark the recent tragedy. “We work with educational campaigns in schools and teach children to reject discrimination based on sexual orientation. the recent events in the us show the risk to people’s freedoms and choices, especially with regards to sexuality, and in this day and age we should be highlighting the value of tolerance in our society.” Domínn guez said.

6

CANARY ISLANDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

blooD boost

eDucAtion

Squeezing the last drop Hotels throughout Tenerife are taking part in a new drive to increase blood donations on the island. the canarian blood Donation service took advantage of the recent World blood Donation Day to sign a cooperation agreement with the local hoteliers’ association. mobile units will visit up to 50 hotels between now and the end of the year to encourage staff to give up a little of their time and provide blood for use in transfusions and operations in hospitals.

School bullying on the rise

Association President Jorge marichal welcomed the agreement and said it would help increase the contribution of the sector to the wider community. the head of the service, Ángel castilla, revealed at the press conference at which the scheme was announced that donations increased in the canaries in 2015 but at 31 per 1,000 of the population it is still below the average for spain (36/1000) and World Health organisation recommendan tions (40-44/1000).

Mobile donation units will visit hotels

sAntA cruZ

bAlconY lADY

social withdrawal, apathy, and compulsive hoarding of garbage or animals.

Following her admission to hospital for treatment, council workers were sent by social services to clear her home and removed a staggering 1,500 kilos of rubbish which had piled up over the years. the owner of a hamburger bar on the ground floor of the block in Avenida islas canarias provides her with food daily via the unusual method of a rope which the old lady hangs

Photo: Wikinotia

Elderly woman had 1.5 tonnes of rubbish Santa Cruz council had its work cut out to clear the home of an old woman who spent her days on the small balcony of her city apartment.

Known as ‘the lady on the balcony’ after her case, including the revelation that she had not ventured outside her home for a decade, olga marcilla has been the talk of her area. she is officially diagnosed as suffering from Diogenes syndrome, the name given to extreme selfneglect, domestic squalor,

Bullying is on the increase in Canarian schools and the rise is proving to be a major concern for schools and education authorities. the regional Department of education has revealed that cases reported to the telephone hotline which was set up a few years ago to help deal with bullying of pupils have increased by a third in just three years. specialist staff manning the line decide whether the allegation merits classification as bullying and, if so, they activate the Department’s protocol to advise the victim and intervene to halt the problem. According to the latest figures, nearly half of the allegations reported by pupils were later confirmed as formal cases of bullying.

Despite the rise, the islands’ education minister soledad monzón told the canarian Parliament that she expected the number of cases to “stabilise” in the medium term as the impact of school bullying awareness programmes and teacher training schemes Poster from the 2011 USA n documentary on bullying increases.

Diogenes syndrome patients live in squalor

over her balcony. the bizarre case has featured in local

and national media in recent n weeks.

Carnival Museum a step closer Santa Cruz’s long awaited Carnival Museum has taken a step closer to becoming reality with the decision by the city council to award the tender for one of its most important features. mayor José manuel bermúdez confirmed that the job of designing and equipping the key carnival research and Documentation centre in the building that will house the museum, which will be known as the casa de carnaval, has been entrusted to top contractor sacyr and work is scheduled to begin next month. bermúdez said he expected the museum to be finished before next year’s celebrations in February and hinted that, contrary to previous assurances, it will charge for admission, although the fee might only apply to non-locals. “the money for the building will have to come from somewhere and we still have to decide on the exact formula,” explained the mayor, adding that the opening of the museum, which will be a permanent home for some of the lavish carnival Queen dresses worn in the past, will settle a “long-standn ing debt” owed by the city to its carnival heritage.

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

CANARY ISLANDS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

coPPer excHAnGe

Romanian police officer in GC

A Romanian policeman has arrived in Gran Canaria for a summer exchange which sees him patrol the resorts in the south of the island with his Spanish counterparts. madalín chitimburu was given a formal welcome by spain’s top official in the canaries, enrique Hernández, and senior brass from the national Police on arrival and quickly set to work getting to know how policing is managed in a major tourist area. chitimburu is spending three months attached to the station in maspalomas and will assist with combating crime committed by romanian nationals in the south, where gangs of organised pickpockets operate regularly, particularly during the high season.

He is one of a number of officers from european countries, including Germany, France and britain, who are expected to take part in joint patrols with spanish police n in resorts in the canaries in the coming months.

The Romanian officer will be based in Maspalomas

‘HeAler’ ArresteD

Quack cons elderly relative

A Tenerife man faces prosecution after conning an elderly relative out of hundreds of euros in cash and jewels in the belief that he would cure her of her ailments. the 65-year-old, who worked as a self-styled healer in the Adeje area, persuaded the relative that her problems and illnesses would disappear if he used an assortment of personal objects to connect with her and rid her of evil spirits. the gullible woman handed over €400 in cash and various items of expensive jewellery to be used in the healing but the items ended up in a second-hand shop. other family members are thought to have shared their concerns with police, who detained the ‘healer’ for questioning and later opened a formal fraud investigation against him. n

7

meDiA leAK

Hospital worker spared jail A Tenerife hospital worker who leaked confidential details of a critically ill patient to the media has been spared jail after the victim forgave him in court. the case involved saida rodríguez, a santa cruz carnival Queen hopeful who almost died when her costume caught fire as she waited to go on stage for the Gala in February 2013.

As she battled for her life in the university Hospital, an employee photographed her records, including full details of her horrific injuries, and filtered them to a well-known social blogger who used them to appear on prime time tV gossip shows.

Prosecutors wanted an exemplary sentence of four years for the worker but, in a late change of heart, saida withdrew her action for criminal damages and publicly forgave the clerical worker, whom she met face to face in court. the gesture, which spared the defendant - a father of two young children - a certain stint in prison and the loss of his job, has been given widespread publicity and saida, who suffered lifelong burns injuries, has been praised for her generosity. However, some have criticised the decision on the grounds that it sends the wrong message to those with access to confidential data that is of intern est to the media.

Saida was hospitalised in the HUC

8

CANARY ISLANDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

GrAn cAnAriA’s lion sHAre

Budget battle takes to the streets Over the next four years, the Canarian government have decided to allocate over twice as much infrastructure investment in Gran Canaria than Tenerife, which has raised many eyebrows and retriggered interisland tensions.

“We simply cannot allow it” said tenerife president carlos Alonso following the budget announcement, “they have to rebalance the budget better as the road problems in tenerife are far larger than those of other islands”.

While the budget has not yet been officially rubber stamped in madrid, the tenerife island council is far from in agreement, noting that even the small island of la Palma is scheduled to receive more money for roads and infrastructure. the news follows resentment over the last fouryear budget which saw Gran canaria receive €24.5 million more than tenerife, however, the latest plan for the period

little or no change in roads and infrastructure.

Alonso stated that each island has its own needs and projects to complete and that it’s not

Tenerife president Carlos Alonso is far from happy about the new budget Gran Canaria is set to receive over twice as much funding for infrastructure than Tenerife

of 2016 to 2020 sees the gap widen further. the current budget for infrastructure amounts to €293 million: €107 million is allocated to Gran canaria, €94 million goes to la Palma

and just €47.3 million is set aside for tenerife – the largest of the islands but still receiving half as much as its neighbouring rival to the east. Fuerteventura has an allocation of €32.4 mil-

with key figures to address the issue.

Whatever is decided regarding the canary islands budget, Alonso and the tenerife council recently announced an investment of €30 million into a three-year road improvement plan. the island president announced that ten companies will carry out the works related to road improvements and landscaping. Aside from the long-running island ring road project, a further 202 workers will be hired for additional road schemes, of which 118 will have a fulltime contracts. these include improving the access at the Playa de las Américas exit on the tF1 and various works between the south tenerife airport and Guaza on the same motorway. carlos Alonso also indicated that money from the budget is set aside for the construction industry and various mainten nance projects.

lion, la Gomera receives seven million and five million goes to lanzarote. At the bottom of the pile, with a paltry €550,000, is el Hierro. so for some islands, the next four years is going to bring

a case of simply wanting to see others get less but that there is a far more even distribution of funds. before the budget is presented to madrid for approval, Alonso has called for an emergency meeting

used violence against one of their street cleaners. she was charged and received a €600 fine along with compensation costs of just €30 to the victim of the attack. in court, the accused testified that it was her “duty to feed the creatures”. it is reported that she receives an approximate €2,000 pension every month therefore the recent sentence is unlikely to deter her comn mitment too much.

Rodents and other pests feed on human waste and multiply in large numbers

Vermin in Action

Bottom feeder attack In Santa Cruz de Tenerife there is a somewhat larger nuisance than the unpleasant rats and cockroaches that fill its underbelly – a retired woman who insists on feeding them. the senior citizen, well known in the area for her exploits and insistence on leaving food for commonlyperceived urban pests in the areas of las ramblas, calle Duggi and calle méndez núñez, has been fined by

local authorities several times but remains undeterred in her personal mission.

However, up until now the problem was solely a sanitary issue which has since become a violent campaign following her attack on a street cleaner in may. the sanitary worker employed by the company urbaser had observed the woman distributing food on the street and set about following her footsteps to col-

lect the opened cans and chunks of meat she’d left behind. the woman then pulled out a spray can from her car and discharged it into the man’s eyes, who suffered severe pain and blood congestion that required medical treatment. urbanser confirmed that employees had encountered verbal confrontations with the woman prior to the attack, but this was the first time she had

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

PROMOTION

9

CANARY ISLANDS

10

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

JuAn Antonio Quintero

A president with a plan Juan Antonio Quintero Medina, a businessman and broker from Santa Cruz, recently presented his candidacy for the presidency of CD Tenerife alongside an ambitious plan to invest €300 million into a new 40,000 seat multiuse stadium and commercial centre that will see parts of the current port area in Tenerife’s capital city completely modernised.

At a recent press conference where Quintero unveiled his ambitious project, the former sports agent announced that he is “the only candidate with a clear plan for the club” that will raise cD tenerife’s status in european football, see them play in the top flight and challenge for ueFA competitions. He was also quick to criticise the current board, saying that they’re only responsible for “administering the past” and have no real intention or vision to take tenerife forwards.

DO MORE DO MORE DO MORE THAN HOPE

Juan Antonio Quintero

the businessman who launched his campaign under the slogan “cambiemos, un voto para el

sporting directors, with links to one of spain’s biggest la liga clubs, to improve the training

stadium attracts an average crowd of less than 10,000” and that “the club should spoil the fans”, laying out plans for cheaper ticket offers and marketing campaigns to attract people to the club and proposed complex. He also plans to start a ladies’ side and improve the club’s sporting presence as well as the aesthetics of his hometown, santa cruz de tenerife.

Quintero, who recently visited Island Connections to speak to us about his presidency plans, is quick to point out that he is “not buying the club” only that he has a backer willing to invest in the extensive project. the Pratibha Group was named as the investor behind the €300 million company investment with Quintero commenting, “i am the first candidate to take the plunge and present a sound plan with a formidable investment group.” the project intends to bring in revenue with a series of sales and marketing initiatives, including sponsorship of the stadium name, club promotions, shirt deals, and con-

THAN HOPE THAN HOPE FOR THE BEST

FOR THE BEST FOR THE BEST

902 886 226

902 886 226 www.todocancer.org 902 886 226 www.todocancer.org www.todocancer.org

aecc

aecc Join us and combat cancer

Juan Antonio Quintero with Island Connections’ CD Tenerife columnist, Chris Todd

futuro” (change; a vote for the future) plans to bring in two known and experienced

and technical sides of the team. Quintero also said that “it’s a shame that the current

structing a luxury hotel and shopping complex around the new stadium that will incorpo-

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

CANARY ISLANDS

11

tion, saying “some investors in the club asked me to recon-

sider my decision to step down and see through the plans we put in place”.

Juan Antonio Quintero first came up with his concept two and a half years ago, and in that time he has visited many european stadiums and clubs to help construct the best project for cD tenerife, and the investor came on board soon after. Quintero speaks several languages and regularly deals with multinational companies, adding a broadminded appeal to his lofty vision. He sees building confidence and trust as one of the biggest obstacles at this present moment, admitting that such a project, while not uncommon in mainland europe, has initially been met with “shock” in canarian circles and local media.

A lifelong cD tenerife fan, Quintero fondly remembers the great season of 1996/7 when the team made it to the semi-final of the ueFA cup, narrowly losing to shalke 04 on the return-leg after eliminating brøndby, Feyenoord, lazio and maccabi tel Aviv along the way. “i really lived those games”, he said, “i laughed, cried and celebrated every moment, and it’s that level of possibility that i want n to return to the club.”

Quintero took time out to speak with the Armada Sur supporters’ association

rate restaurants, bars, supermarkets, nightclubs, a marina and possibly an aquarium.

Following Quintero’s visit to the Island Connections office, he took the time to meet with the Armada sur fans’ association, mostly made up of british supporters based in the south of tenerife, to answer questions and discuss the proposal, demonstrating his willingness

to communicate directly with fans – even in other languages – and not leave them out of the equation, as has been the case with the current administration. the date for the election to become the next president has been announced for July 15.

Former cD tenerife player Pier luigi cherubino is also running alongside Quintero, while ex-

canary islands president Paulino rivero has also been linked to the post. However, rivero’s potential election could land the club in trouble financially as it will probably have to give back several million euros in sponsorship if rivero, who personally approved the deal when in office, takes over so soon after leaving politics. miguel concepción, tenerife’s long-

serving chairman, recently decided to stand for re-elec-

1

CANARY ISLANDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

Promotion

Infinity Lounge & Restaurant paprika, a variant of the Galician style dish; tuna tartare; vacuum cooked cod; vegetables al dente with chives extract; fresh local rock sama fish on a bed of seasonal mushrooms, nuts and green pepper with garlic cream, and finally, seasonal fish with sautéed vegetables. the infinity menu also contains five meat dishes: venison sirloin steak stuffed with

and there is certainly something to suit all tastes and appetites. if you have a sweet tooth, then it is well worth leaving space for one of the very tempting desserts. treat yourself to the blueberry cheesecake with

The interior décor is fresh and white with touches of red From jumbo to shrimp – a delicious risotto The outside area with slatted wood floor and white furniture

Located at the Parque del Sol Hotel at Playa Fañabé, Costa Adeje, the Infinity Lounge & Restaurant is the perfect place to chill out after a beach session, after a hard day’s work, or for a relaxed evening’s dining. the infinity lounge & restaurant combines catering, entertainment and design ambience with an intriguing individual touch. casual but highly professional, the international venue provides a creative and most singular restaurant service for the south of the island: traditional but modern, their cuisine has been designed to suit the tastes and habits of today’s lifestyle. there is an informal space with sofas where you can relax and enjoy cocktails before or after dinner, with both indoor and outdoor areas. the décor is fresh white, and the outside area is lush with green vegetation. You can watch your cocktails being prepared by professionals, choose from the extensive range of sangrias, aperitifs, spirits, liqueurs,

origin from the Peninsula as well as canarian varieties, or you could choose from the list of five champagnes, cavas and sparkling wines.

Whatever you indulge in you will not be disappointed at the infinity lounge & restaurant where everything is beautifully presented and served with a smile. Above all, the unbeatable team do everything they can to make your experience unique. to top it all, you don’t even have to miss the major football matches, you can watch them both inside and out at infinity, and hookah pipes are available for your enjoyment after your meal. the infinity lounge and restaurant is highly recommended by diners on tripAdvisor. this is the perfect place to dine or simply chill out with a drink, so visit soon and treat your taste buds and eyes to something unique. there is also a bonus for drivers: if you spend €30 or more, you will be entitled to free parking at the nearby Playa Fañabé shopn ping centre car park.

Infinity Lounge & Restaurant A gin tonic being prepared at the bar

wines, soft drinks, beers and coffees, or try the infinity lounge gin tonics experience. then all you have to do is chill out and enjoy the great music. the kitchen is led by chef Jorge Pérez, supported by cristian. they use high quality ingredients for all their food and, as you will see, they are experts at presentation. the exciting

menu is also full of delicious sounding healthy food. the innovative starters include warm salad with foie and red fruit, sachets stuffed with goat cheese, apple compote and black olives, crunchy prawns with lime caramel, sautéed jumbo shrimps with coconut cream, mushrooms and thai curry. even the more conventional starters are given the chef’s magical touch, such as a selection of canarian cheeses with gofio and paprika, bellota iberian ham, salad with avocado and smoked salmon, grilled scallops, and the chef’s special omelette. the selection of risottos includes black aniseed flavoured rice with cuttlefish and limpets, From jumbo shrimp to whisky - in which the giant shellfish are marinated in a reduced comfort liqueur, and finally a vegetarian green risotto with crunchy sweet potato and a hint of basil.

For a lighter meal, choose from various tempting fish platters: octopus on mashed potato and

Delicious goats’ cheese sachets with black olives and apple compote

avocado and Parmesan cheese with wild berries; a really tasty iberian pork fillet and sautéed vegetables with apple compote and roquett; iberian pork cheeks with fruity spinach; beef steak with avocado and jumbo shrimps, or steak tartare with truffles and crunchy sweet potato. Whichever you choose, the flavour combinations are all exquisite.

You can also be really adventurous and try the chef’s sample menu, for which you will be served with five courses, all chosen by the chef himself. considering the high quality of food available, the menu prices are all very reasonable,

chocolate chips, the creamy white chocolate and strawberry coulis served with shavings of black chocolate, the three-milk cake (an original grandmother’s recipe), or choose from an assortment of delightful cakes. the wine list for reds, white and rosés contains a good range with denominations of

calle londres 11. Playa Fañabé, costa Adeje open: every day from 6pm to 2am Kitchen open: 6.30pm to 10.30pm For reservations tel: 922 723 076 www.parquedelsol.net Facebook: infinity lounge & restaurant tenerife

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

CANARY ISLANDS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

cAnAriAn DeAtH stAtistics

Bowel cancer kills 500

Bowel cancer kills an average of 500 patients in the Canaries every year, around half of all diagnosed cases. the grim news comes from a detailed study carried out by doctors at the Huc university Hospital in tenerife, which took part in a six-hospital review of the cancer at national level in which over 6,000 cases were analysed retrospectively.

According to the head of Digestive surgery at the Huc, Dr enrique Quintero, early detection of potential signs of bowel cancer, which often arises from a benign polyp and can take up to ten years to turn into full-blown cancer, is absolutely crucial to improving survival rates.

Quintero urges people, particularly men in their 50s who think they may be at risk due to hereditary reasons, to screen for the cancer at least once every two years. “early detection of polyps can prevent up to 90 per cent of the n cancers from developing,” he added.

Screening is currently carried out by a colonoscopy

13

Prunes For breAKFAst

A riveting good read Island Connections was delighted to be given a copy of our roving restaurant reporter’s latest book: Prunes for Breakfast, a story of World War Two heroism with a difference. the tale is centred round a series of letters that John’s father wrote to his mother throughout the War. edward searancke, at that time one of the heads of the family’s building company, was called up for duty in 1940 shortly after the beginning of the six-year conflict. sent on extensive training, searancke senior offers an insight into the intricacies of a life spent preparing for - and engaging in - battle. From the very first days, through years of instruction and exercise, to actual combat and being taken as a Prisoner of War, edward faithfully kept in touch with his dearly missed wife.

After the end of the War and his subsequent release, he returned home to his wife and young son. Decades later, John has woven a wonderful story around the letters - which

appear throughout the book in their endearing entirety. these provide a narrative of the man behind the quietly reassuring notes, and form the basis around which true incidents and circumstances of the war itself are ingeniously built. it could sound like a depressing read due to its subject matter but is far from it. edward’s gentle and gritty approach to his new vocation, the insights into the times and people of

his station, and John’s imaginative and delightful weaving of the tale all combine to turn Prunes for Breakfast into a jolly good book indeed. We give it five stars out of five. this wonderful read is available on line via: www.amazon.co.uk and: www.amazon. com, as well as from John’s publisher at: www.troubador. co.uk. Alternatively, purchasers in tenerife can buy it from the libreria redhound in los

cristianos and the bookshop at sitio litre (the orchid Gardens) in Puerto de la cruz. readers in the uK may wish to know that they can go into W H smith, Waterstones, or any good bookshop and place their order. more information about the author’s first book Dog Days in The Fortunate Islands and other options are clearly shown on John searancke’s website: www.johnsearancke.com. n

CANARY ISLANDS

14

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

cAnAriAn incursion

Jenkins’ ear and the Palmeros’ bloodless victory

By Barbara Belt session, and therefore quite british Parliament to whip up dent went largely unnoticed in the caribbean. the brits slaves in spanish America. bloody. lots of people lost more than their ears. the war’s peculiar name was coined by thomas carlyle much later, in 1858, in honour of an all-important ear, which belonged to an unfortu-

at the time.

also needed to beat the span-

Wars to sustain inhumanity and improve trading opportunities are no newcomers to the field of human folly.

Windham’s ‘main thrust’, according to the la Palma organisers, the Association of His majesty’s twelve, was in la Gomera. His ships appeared off the coast of the capital san sebastián and got involved in a skirmish there which is commemorated in a fresco in the town’s nuestra señora de la Asunción church, dating back to the fifteenth century. the fresco’s origins are uncertain.

A visiting nineteenth century brit, author olivia stone, maintained that a local artist named José mesa was responsible, but i can find no reference to him in island archives. the fresco depicts the ‘defeat of Admiral (he wasn’t) charles

ish so that british slave traders could continue to make lots of lovely profit selling

Windham’ with his three ships, which arrived on may 30 under French flags and

Photo: Los Doce de Su Majestad

anti-spanish feeling. Jenkins

Windham’s mission was to keep Canarian waters clear for the British Navy and to attack for provisions and property This La Gomera fresco shows Windham’s boats after their ‘defeat’ in La Gomera

Photo: Los Doce de Su Majestad

The victory proclamation was read in the Plaza The group has more props and a better wardrobe this year Photo: Cabildo de La Gomera

June 11 marked a singular event on the island of La Palma. should you go next year, as a british visitor you’ll find yourself far more welcome than were a group of your fellow countrymen when they sailed into view there two hundred and seventy-three years ago. local records tell us that ‘una pequeña escuadra’ appeared there on that date in 1743. it was a small squadron of british navy ships, led by captain charles Windham, who had been busy making a nuisance of himself on behalf of the british crown in canarian waters during the months of may and June. the spanish and british were skirmishing on both sides of the Atlantic at this point in history.

As the la Palma association responsible for organising the recent event puts it: “the historical background of this occasion is the titanic conflict which the kingdoms of spain and britain were involved in over spanish dominions in the Americas, which lasted from 1739 to 1748 and was called the War of Jenkins’ ear”. the War of Jenkins’ ear! it sounds like a charming skirmish between groups of twits, but while there were probably many of those involved, the war was neither charming, nor harmless. it was about the three ‘P’s so beloved of men: Pride, Profit and Pos-

nate british merchant ship captain, and acknowledged smuggler, called robert Jenkins. the severed ear was paraded round

had lost the ear when spanish coast guards boarded his vessel in 1731, eight years before the war began, but the inci-

the ear was presumably carefully preserved for later use and canny opposition politicians, in cahoots with the british south sea company, used it to work up outrage against spain (there’s nothing like a severed body part for whipping up a bit of indignation). their reasoning was that war with victory against spain would improve britain’s trading opportunities

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

Photo: Sonia2397 / Wordpress

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

Santa Cruz de La Palma Photo: Los Doce de Su Majestad

anchored off san sebastián. nobody was alarmed. France and spain were allies. then the French sails were dropped and the true english colours hoisted. sneaking into hostile ports under false colours was a fairly common trick. the ships were revealed as a british frigate and two ships of the line: the sixty gun medway and the monmouth, with sixty-four guns. their mission was to patrol canarian waters, protect the british merchant fleet and attack enemy vessels. captain charles Windham was on the monmouth, leading the group, and George cockburn was his second in command, on the medway. shortly after raising their ensigns, Windham ordered the bombardment of the port’s three small fortresses and other strategic targets.

Diego bueno Acosta was captain of the local militia, who returned fire. the result of all this firepower, like most ‘his-

Stand off against the Brits

tory’, is open to interpretation.

According to local records, Windham’s men were forced to retreat to their ships, while british naval records mention no such defeat. our hero Windham confines himself to noting that an invasion was inadvisable, without going into details.

He then presumably set sail for la Palma, turning up to give everyone in santa cruz a fright on June 11, which takes

us back to la Palma’s recent anniversary celebrations of his arrival there. “Windham’s principal action took place in la Gomera, where his attack on san sebastián was repelled after a heavy artillery battle… in santa cruz de la Palma, although he maintained a menacing position with aggressive intentions, direct combat did not take place”, say His majesty’s twelve. “What we wish

to commemorate is a bloodless victory, achieved by mobilising the island of la Palma and placing the entire island militia in the capital at the ready, under the leadership of its commander colonel nicolás massieu”.

Historic santa cruz de la Palma provided the perfect backdrop for this re-enactment event, which started at midday at the san Francisco convent with an opening tableau providing historical background and a parade from the interior of the convent to the fortifications of the main castle. Association members told press that it: “…has continued to collect materials, arms and clothing at our own cost in order to make the event as authentic, correct and realistic as possible”. And it was. they described this year’s happening, which is one of the growing number of historical re-enactment events now taking place in the canaries, as:

CANARY ISLANDS

15

“… relatively complex, consisting of a sequence of acts linked by the parade through the town’s main streets”. the second part of the experience, in santa catalina castle, featured a re-enactment of what happened in the capital, with

narration and sound effects. the parade continued on to the Plaza de españa, where a victory proclamation was made, to noisy acclaim. it was all very atmospheric. if only all victories were bloodn less!

CANARY ISLANDS

16

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

enVironmentAl Protection AnD tourism

Preserving El Puertito On World Oceans Day on June 8, the Adeje Council announced an agreement with the Canarian Association for a Sustainable Ocean to preserve, promote and value the marine area of El Puertito in the district of Armeñime.

President of the association, Felipe ravina cortés, and Adeje’s councillor for tourism policies, urbanisation and accessibility, ermitas moreira García, are collaborating on the project, which includes the creation of a marine laboratory (seAlAb) for educational and scientific purposes, and the continued protection of the biodiversity of the bay that is a known refuge for young fish and sea turtles. moreira emphasised that: “Agreements like this form part of the council’s policy to protect and care for everything connected with our environment and natural diversity, which are an additional feature of the tourist attractions we offer to a market which values environmental care.” cortés added that he considers that initiatives of this type

Promotion

Nestled between the folds of volcanic rock formations above Costa Adeje lies La Caldera del Rey. owned since the 1800s by the Dominguéz family from Arona, the farm has been passed down through generations. back then, the typical cash crops of the canaries were cultivated, such as tobacco, cochineal and later, tomatoes. nowadays a wide variety of fruit and vegetables are grown, the farm also specialises in Asian produce, and there are farm animals too. in times gone by, villagers would use the road from Adeje to Arona via la caldera. this lush valley was created by a volcanic explosion at the time of the island’s formation. Here, the plantations of bananas and rows of orange, mango and avocado groves are sheltered from the coastal winds, making it a perfect location. the winding avenues between the cultivation areas are now used as horse and pony riding trails, while intrepid hikers can still

An encounter with a sea turtle when diving is an unforgettable experience A real insider tip, the bay at Armeñime

help the association’s work to “continue what we have been doing for years in the el Puertito area, where we have managed to recover the prosperity of the ocean floor with various accomplishments such as eliminating sea urchins, thanks to the collaboration of other associations such as

the ocean Dreams.” Another of the aims of the collaboration is the management and conservation of the bathing area and the consolidation of the marine laboratory, which has undertaken some very important work over the last few months. cortés stated that this includes “develop-

ing investigation, conservation projects and the sustainable management of marine resources.” moreira went on to say that Adeje council will be “supporting everything connected with education and taking care of the environment, and making all Adeje residents,

and the thousands of visiting tourists, aware of the importance of caring for the sea and its fauna and flora, which are such important elements of our identity.” in making the pact, Adeje council shows the importance it gives to el Puertito as a resource of socio-environmental interest and cultural and responsible tourism, and as a tool for educating the children and young people of Adeje.

the council will also create a mixed commission to follow the activities of the ambitious project to ensure that objectives are met, and to evaluate new challenges. the bay of el Puertito is particularly popular with residents during weekends and holiday periods, and a place where divers will find an amazing underwater paradise. Frequent encounters with sea turtles are a real treat for diving groups. Paddling and kayaking are other attractions, not to mention sunbathing on the small beach or on the warm, smooth sandstone formations n of the idyllic bay.

Finca La Caldera del Rey traverse the old roads leading through the majestic mountains, taking in stunning scenery seen by very few.

the insects. Workers from the nearby villages and even la Gomera came to live in the caves surrounding the farm

the rock was collected. tomatoes could now be grown. this sparked international trade with the farm, leading it to expand into the beauty that we see today.

a mouth-watering range of fresh fruit and vegetables, depending on the season, including strawberries, melons, cherries, plums, grapefruits, oranges, apricots, per-

ginger, cauliflowers, tomatoes, horseradish, cucumbers, celery, several varieties of lettuce, parsley, red onions and more, plus special offers.

Picking your own strawberries is on a trial run, and if this is successful, it could be extended to the family’s other farm near las chafiras. there is plenty of parking space, toilets with wheelchair access and a children’s play area. Visitors are welcome to walk around the farm and feed the cows, horses and ponies too, so visit la caldera del rey soon, it’s a great day out for n the whole family.

You can buy farm fresh produce at rock bottom prices

in the early years of the farm’s formation, years of drought struck the south of tenerife. many farmers moved to the north but a few, including the Dominguéz family, remained in the south to make the best of it. this was when the cochineal trade really took off. the prickly pears that were suited to the hot, dry weather attracted

and they harvested the cochineal that was sold to companies for use in cosmetics. it was not until the drought ended that reservoirs were dug to ensure that crops could always be cultivated in the south. irrigation systems were mapped out, as a combination of rainwater and water from streams deep beneath

Children can feed the cows at La Caldera del Rey

the DiY smoothie spot and Farm shop have now opened. right at the heart of the farm, visitors can buy fresh produce at rock bottom prices. cutting boards and blenders are provided so that you can make your own juices or smoothies at the push of a button.

At the farm shop you’ll find

simmons, kiwis, peaches, apples, papayas, pineapples, coconuts, bananas, limes and lemons. there are also potatoes, sweet potatoes, courgettes, avocados, aubergines, red and white cabbage, green beans, mushrooms, beetroot, garlic, celery, an assortment of peppers and chillies, root

Finca La Caldera del Rey Avenida Francia san eugenio Alto, costa Adeje open: tuesday to Friday 9am to 4pm, weekends 9am to 5pm tel: 608 974 895 / 669 886 445 www.fincalacaldera.com

TENERIFE GENERAL

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

Dear Editor,

By

Gölin Doorneweerd - Swijnenburg / FreeImages.com

As we often see letters in the local papers complaining about some issue or other, my wife and I decided we would like to write something positive for a change.

First of all, we wanted to say how much we enjoy your paper and thank you for all the hard work that goes into making sure that the expat (non spanish speaking!) community can keep up to date with what’s going on. thank you all.

And as for the other, well, we were lucky enough to both be in the position to take early retirement and after many happy holidays here decided to take the plunge to move to tenerife over 10 years ago. it hasn’t always been easy, making new friends, getting to grips with the paperwork, new laws etc., but we can honestly say that we truly consider ourselves blessed. What a beautiful island, how welcoming the canarians, what fabulous weather! ok, it isn’t perfect, but for us at least it is as near paradise as anyone can hope for. it certainly beats the doom and gloom of the uK. so come on everyone, if you’ve also chosen the canary islands as your second home, make the most of it. Don’t sit around moaning, get out there and enjoy it! two very happy residents of costa Adeje.

Hi everyone, I hope all is well in your precious corner of our world.

We live in such varied environments, some good some bad.

We are so lucky to be living here, or can come on holiday here. there are so many decisions to make, but apart from all the warring factions in the middle east, and in Africa, there are still dedicated people who spend their lives working towards the benefit and enrichment of mankind.

For example, on a very small scale, and needing full investigation and thorough testing, researchers have found a way to block the growth of cancer tumours and stimulate the body’s immune system to attack and eliminate them without side effects, they claim. this is a very positive step taken towards creating a universal vaccine against this deadly disease. the vaccine makes the body’s immune system treat the cancer growth like a virus and attacks it.

According to the journal nature “an international team of researchers described how they had taken pieces of cancer’s genetic rnA code, put them into nanoparticles of fat, then injected the mixture into the bloodstreams of three patients in the advanced stages of the disease. the patient’s immune system responded by producing ‘killer’ t-cells designed to attack and thus eradicate cancer.”

However, this treatment is in the earliest stages of investigation, and the three patients given the nanoparticles were only given a low dose for safety’s sake, and as yet there is no concrete evidence of a cure although their immune

y Kat

Hi everyone,

systems reacted to the injections.

Dr Helen rippon, chief executive of Worldwide cancer research said: “We know the immune system has great potential to be

The new research is a positive step towards creating a universal vaccine against cancer

manipulated and reactivated to fight cancer cells, and that’s why we’ve been funding research into this for fifteen years. However more research is needed in a larger number of people with different types of cancer and over longer periods of time before we can say we have discovered a ‘universal cancer vaccine’. but this research is a very positive step towards this future global goal.” this kind of research fills me with hope as i personally have lost three family members to cancer over the years. but looking further into the future, if scientists can stimulate the immune system to target ills within our bodies, then perhaps they can stop the immune system attacking our own bodies as it does with conditions such as rheu-

17

katykennedy@telefonica.net

matoid Arthritis and other immune system deficits. in the seventies and early eighties when i was teaching as well as doing shows every night, i taught for a year at a lovely little church Junior school in

Alice Wycklendt / FreeImages.com

letter to eDitor

Photo: Formateins / FreeImages.com

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

Formby, merseyside. it was a delightful school and i loved every minute of my time there, but i could never forget the one little boy who was a type one diabetic and had to have injections. His mum used to come in at lunchtime to give it to him before his lunch, and i had an extra one in my desk in case of problems after exercise. this little chap never cried, but in those days the needles were large and hurt a lot. His lip quivered both before and during, but he never made a sound. so imagine my feelings the other day when the british Diabetic society sent me an email with news of a new way

that meant that type one sufferers, especially children, could be injection free for up to two years. the patent is a combined product from scientists at the university of technology sydney and Pharmacyte, who have engineered melligen cells to produce insulin in response to low blood glucose levels while remaining protected from an immune system attack in a product called cell-in-a-box which is attached to the upper arm. the cell-in-a-box technology can work inside the bodies of people with type one diabetes for at least two years without damage. in the short-term, this could provide an injection-free treatment, and clinical trials are scheduled to assess how long the technology could work in people with type one. meanwhile, the screening of children between the ages of two and five helps to identify the risk of type one diabetes before any symptoms have appeared, according to a new pilot study. “if efficient screening is implemented within a public-health prevention program, the majority of future cases of childhood clinical diabetes could be identified in infancy, without most of the problems associated with non diagnosis in a child, causing dangerous complications”, said the researchers. so we live in exciting times, and i for one am exceedingly grateful. until next time, take care of yourselves, and especially of each other.

Yo u c a n e m a i l m e a t : katykennedydj@yahoo.co. uk or telephone: 0034 616 n 110 930.

18

TENERIFE GENERAL

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

multi-terrAin biKinG

Making a strong bike point The Vaca Loca (Mad Cow) Mountain Biking Club was formed in July 2011 to participate in multi-terrain biking (MTB) competitions and promote cycling in the Granadilla area. one year previously, three friends from el médano in the south of tenerife started cycling and found themselves becoming more and more competitive as they trained and raced the climbs and descents around Granadilla. to put an end to the friendly quibbling about who was fastest they proposed that they should take part in an mtb race. However, they couldn’t participate without a licence as they needed to be part of a club team, so they subsequently got the procedure underway. they spoke to the owners of bike Point in el médano and found their first sponsor. the group then met with the chafiras hardware store and received further support – if you don’t already have a discount at chafiras, well now you do! simply reference the Vaca loca account and you will receive a five per cent discount on all purchases and they support the bike group for every euro spent on the account. Finally, they spoke with indemnizacion Directa

showed just one degree celsius, which caused problems for 50 of the 396 riders who had to be helped by the emergency services. meanwhile, nigel lost his teammate, which meant disqualification in the end result, however, they both wanted to finish the circuit. christophe and Antonio finished in a well earned ninth position.

Madre del Agua 2016

Members of the Bike Point Las Chafiras team

who agreed to sponsor the team’s kit.

1x2 Bike Race Tenerife the group recently took part in the 1x2 bike race ten-

erife; a competition concept which joins two riders to race and finish together. christophe formed a pair with Antonio Gonzales from the bike Point chafiras team, competing in the Veteran category,

while nigel turner was coupled with michael rausch. the weather forecast predicted rain and temperatures of around 10 degrees celsius, which would mean difficult conditions for participants.

the distance was 58 km with around 2,000 m uphill climbing. As the pairs went up, the temperature dropped, and thick fog and rain fell over the course. At around 1,500 m height the Garmin

the next race saw the bike Point warriors participate in the ii xc madre del Agua race in tacoronte. this time the temperature was around five degrees celsius and riders remembered the tough conditions from the previous race and dressed accordingly. christophe and Antonio were defending the Vaca loca chafiras colours.

For those racing in the 50km race it would become a competition to remember, not because of the cold but for its incredible circuit. single tracks, technical sections and gradient variations made for a fun ride. christophe had to pump up his tyres twice due to a slow puncture and finished in 29th place in the master 40 category. Antonio had a good

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

day and was happy to finish in sixth position.

Porís de Abona the bike Point warriors had their ‘home race’ just 15 km from el médano in Porís de Abona. in the short 26 km race, Fran took part and had a tough time. on the double loop circuit, christophe, michael, nigel and Antonio – all proudly showing off the new bike Point/las chafiras/ indemnizacion Directa team kit – took part. Additionally, the team also had bike Point staff members carlos, Fran and Julien participating. the pace was immediately set, as only a small group of 10 riders could keep up at the front.

After the end of the first climb the top five riders were all from the loro Parque - los silos naturales team. this would remain the case until the end, show-

Nigel has claimed numerous podium positions in the Master 50 category

ing off their supremacy over the rest of the field. meanwhile, an internal bike Point battle was going on and

carlos won the contest over nigel and christophe, who both cramped up. Antonio, clearly the fittest of the bike

TENERIFE GENERAL

19

canarian championship mtb marathon. this meant that the track had to be at least 60 km

christophe rode a steady race and finished in 28th place in master 40.

The Vaca Loca Mountain Biking Club was formed in July 2011 Race conditions can often prove extremely tough Dean, Guy and Nigel – three friends from El Médano who started the club team

Point las chafiras team, rode a great race. michael, completely surprised at how technical a mtb race could be, did very well also. it was a beautiful race day with lots of sunshine. Afterwards there were all things necessary to enjoy it further; beers, paella and you

could even book a massage!

Well done to the organisers, Peleton tenerife. the team hopes to participate in the event again next year.

Hoya del Abade MTB the recent Hoya del Abade mtb race also hosted the

long and the winners get to wear the champion’s jersey for one year on all marathon events. the best riders from the canary islands came to challenge for the title, with about 500 participants in total.

Julien finished fourth in the elite category, Antonio reached 14th place in master 40, and

Contact information For further information on bike Point and the las chafiras team, please visit: www.bikepointtenerife.com, or email: n info@medanobike.com.

OUT THERE

0

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

icoD AnD sAntA bArbArA

Catch the unexpected

By Colin Kirby A long modern canon points A short walk brought me to www.colinkirby.com out to sea, made in spain to Artlandya teddy bear and Dream like figures greeted me at the Icod de Los Vinos bus station but the bizarre wall mural has long been a favourite of mine. maybe i invited something different by almost snubbing the iconic, ancient Drago tree in favour of the smaller version a little way uphill. the walled garden is a perfect frame for the old star but i quite like the smaller, overlooked version even if it is partly propped up. i was about to learn that in tenerife there are always alternatives.

After a 90 minute bus ride from the south, a 10 minute shut-

a british design it has put in some sterling service. From

doll museum, a beautifully converted farm housing a The Icod de Los Vinos bus station wall mural

The ARTlandya teddy bear and doll museum has over 600 exquisite exhibits The central car park near the Drago Park boasts a Guanche habitat

that land close up. Please don’t touch them, although capturing them on camera is welcome.

The Mariposario del Drago butterfly house is well worth a visit

tle to the top of santa barbara gave me great views of Garachico and the coast, with its craggy fingers clawing at the sea. there are two churches at the top of this old village, interesting in themselves but the nearby Plaza mauricio González González below caught my eye.

1920 it served on the ship Galicia before being lodged in san Andrés, just beyond santa cruz, 20 years later.

Just across the road a small pyramid caught my eye, there are others down the coast at san marcos, and later i saw another further down in santa barbara.

collection of over 600 childhood delights from around the world. birds sung, fruit hung from the trees, and ponds gurgled with flowing water as the church bells rang, what an idyllic setting. the cute bears and dolls looked pleased to see me again and they are always good company. on a clear day mount teide competes with the icod coast for attention but the explosion of flowers and plants runs them both pretty close. A quick check at www.artlandya. com will steer you in the right direction.

A 10 minute ride back to the heart of icod gave me the chance to stroll along the narrow main shopping street that approaches the imposing town hall building. the church of san marcos was undergoing a well deserved spruce up but still looked impressive among the flower garden. tourists flock to the large plaza that wraps around the church and looks over the Drago Park; it’s a nice setting to enjoy a snack and a drink from the bandstand style kiosk.

A little way up from the park there are plenty of places to sample the wines that draw

their satisfying taste from the local soil, banana plantations take up much of the other open land. the corkscrew road down into icod gives visitors a sneak preview of the history and charm that the area offers but you can’t beat a close up study. using the central car park near the Drago Park adds a new meaning to pay and display, it boasts two large exhibits: a year round christmas nativity spread, and a Guanche habitat giving an insight into the lives of the old aboriginal inhabitants of tenerife. Just opposite a feast of colour awaits in the mariposario del Drago butterfly house. there’s a bizarre game to be played to reap this colourful reward, a long running planning dispute has seen the tropical building open and shut more times than a butterfly’s wings. the local police have a semi permanent patrol outside the building which means when they are around they cannot charge the entrance fees. it’s crazy that the dispute has dragged on for years, icod should embrace this attraction. i love walking among the exotic plants and spotting the many species of butterflies

there’s more information at: www.mariposario.com. icod is a great place to visit and a good base to reach out to Playa san marcos and Garachico, both a 10 minute drive away. i’m looking forward to more surprises on my next visit. in the meantime you can keep track of me at www. n colinkirby.com.

041

Canary Islands’ attractions for tourists and residents where To visiT

euro 016

upcominG evenTs

whaT’s on

Islands summary

Tournament calendar

Spin news

Cultural guide

Pages 22 & 23

Pages 24 & 25

Page 26 & 27

Page 28

Pure DAnce mAGic

Photos: Mare Nostrum

Antología at the Pyramids of Arona

For the last two decades the Carmen Mota Dance Company has entertained visitors with spectacular shows at the Pirámide de Arona in South Tenerife.

With a flamenco base and idiosyncratic composition, the great choreographer’s aim to revolutionise traditional spanish dance has certainly been achieved, and now audiences can revisit some of her career’s very best moments in her lat-

est offering, entitled Antología. mota is one of the biggest names in her field. originally a soloist dancer, in 1977 she decided to dedicate herself to choreography and artistic direction, creating her well known dance company and breaking the mould of traditional flamenco: under her careful direction flamenco has been merged with a variety of styles and perfectly fused with modern dance and music.

Flamencas, Julio romero, repercusión, rasgos de Aragón, and bolero, and is a fascinating combination of bulerías (a fast and energetic flamenco), contemporary, tap, and Jota folk dance.

mota’s immense talent. For lovers of dance, this is one show not to be missed. tickets cost €49 or €53, or €79 for the Diamond experience, which guarantees an exclusive spectator area and

the second part, called Jaleo, is a composition of different flamenco styles, providing an impressive mosaic of techniques and a poignant journey through various eras.

Antología debuted on June 14 and truly showcases carmen

includes a bottle of sparkling wine and snacks during the show. residents receive a 30 per cent discount on purchases at the box office.

For more information and tickets, visit: http://marenostrumn resort.expohotels.com.

Antología: A new show is born Sexy and stylish Passionate flamenco moments

each of the performances is a breathtaking whirl of colour and movement, performed by some of the greatest dancers

on the island. Her latest offering is a compilation of some of the best moments from throughout her illustrious career, each brought bang up to date whilst still maintaining its original structure. the first half of the performance consists of seven scenes: carmina burana, evoluciones

HOLIDAY GUIDE

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

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

ous luxury hotels and some very nice, small white sand beaches. in the foothills above these towns you will find three great places to visit. Siam Park (The Water Kingdom), recently declared the best in the world, has something for everyone, from beach lovers to adrenaline freaks. see: www. siampark.net Aqualand, on Avenida de Austria, a water park with a dolphin show. see: www.aqualand.es.

The Jungle Park, at las Águilas del teide, is great fun for kids of all ages. see: www.aguilasjunglepark.com

Tenerife Teide National Park the highest peak in spain, at 3,718m, is one of tenerife’s greatest attractions. it is possible to hike to the top, and also to catch the cable car. see: www.telefericoteide.com. to access the summit of the volcano, Pico del teide, you need to obtain a free permit in advance, issued by the Administration office of the national Park, which you can download at www.reservasparquesnacionales.es.

Los Gigantes

Los Gigantes

summer solstices. see: www. piramidesdeguimar.es

Santa Cruz

Playa de Las Américas

santa cruz, the vibrant, bustling capital city of tenerife, is located on the northeast coast. it has a variety of interesting museums and art galleries, a well maintained historical centre, and an important commercial port. see: www.santacruzmas.com.

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

La Laguna la laguna, a university city, has been a unesco World Heritage site since 1999. it has a lively night life and a thriving cultural scene.

Puerto de la Cruz the town of Puerto de la cruz was a popular tourist destination long before the south was. its attractive and busy town centre has maintained its picturesque fishing-village charm, and nearby is the prestigious, award-winning loro Parque Zoo. see: www.loroparque.com.

Fañabé beach

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

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

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

Güímar this northeastern town is best known for the ethnographic park which was developed by thor Heyerdahl. the pyramids are a complex construction, astronomically orientated according to the winter and

once a little fishing village, los cristianos began as a tourist destination for ailing swedes who came to enjoy some rest and recuperation. From the port you can take a ferry to la Gomera, la Palma or el Hierro. the two main beaches offer safe swimming with disabled access.

Costa Adeje costa Adeje is an upmarket area of south West tenerife

which is popular with european, russian and national tourists. there are vari-

the town of los Gigantes, which lives mainly from tourism but on a much more modest scale than Playa de las Americas or los cristianos, is overlooked by the towering cliffs. there is good diving and a small harbour.

El Teide National Park

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

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: Mathias Weil / FreeImages.com

La Gomera

La Gomera view

Gran Canaria street

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

3

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-

Photo: Miguel DP / FreeImages.com

Photo: Manny Proebster / FreeImages.com

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

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

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

Cactus garden, Lanzarote

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.

UEFA EURO 2016

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

UEFA EUR

GESUNDHEIT

FRA

Group A

Group B

Albania / France / Romania / Switzerland

England / Russia / Slovakia / Wales

JUNE 10.

JUNE 11.

Friday

Saturday

Wales 2 : 1 Slowakei England 1 : 1 Russland

JUNE 11.

Russland 1 : 2 Slowakei

14:00

Saturday

JUNE 15.

Wednesd

JUNE 15.

JUNE 16.

England 2 : 1 Wales

14:00

Russland 0 : 3 Wales Slowakei 0 : 0 England

20:00 20:00

Wednesd

JUNE 19.

Sunday

France 2 : 1 Romania

Albania 0 : 1 Switzerland

20:00

14:00

Romania 1 : 1 Switzerland France 2 : 0 Albania

17:00 20:00

Romania 0 : 1 Albania Switzerland 0 : 0 France

20:00 20:00

Thursday

JUNE 20.

Monday

Group D

Group E

Croatia / Czech Republic / Spain / Turkey

Belgium / Italy / Ireland / Sweden

JUNE 12.

Turkey 0 : 1 Croatia

14:00

JUNE 13.

Spain 1 : 0 Czech Republic

14:00

Sunday

Monday

JUNE 17.

Friday

JUNE 21.

Tuesday

Czech Republic 2 : 2 Croatia Spain 3 : 0 Turkey

17:00 20:00

Czech Republic ___:___ Turkey 20:00 Croatia ___:___ Spain 20:00

©2015 FLN

4

JUNE 13.

17:00 20:00

Monday

Ireland 1 : 1 Sweden Belgium 0 : 2 Italy

17:00 20:00

JUNE 17.

Italy 1 : 0 Sweden

14:00

JUNE 18.

Belgium 3 : 0 Ireland

14:00

Italy ___:___ Ireland Sweden ___:___ Belgium

20:00 20:00

Friday

Saturday

JUNE 22.

Wednesd

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

UEFA EURO 2016

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

RO 2016

GESUNDHEIT

Nce Group C

Group F

Germany / Northern Ireland / Poland / Ukraine

Austria / Hungary / Iceland / Portugal

JUNE 16.

Thursday

JUNE 21.

Round of 16

Tuesday

Ukraine 0 : 2 Northern Ireland 17:00 Germany 0 : 0 Poland 20:00

Ukraine ___:___Poland 17:00 Northern Ireland ___:___ Germany 17:00

JUNE 25.

2A

14:00

2c

JUNE 25.

1B

17:00

3 A/c/D

JUNE 25.

1D

20:00

3 B/e/F

JUNE 26.

1A

14:00

JUNE 26.

17:00

JUNE 26.

Tuesday

JUNE 18.

Saturday

JUNE 22.

Wednesd JUNE 30.

3 c/D/e

20:00

JULY 01.

20:00

JULY 02.

20:00

JULY 03.

20:00

1c 3

A/B/F

1F

20:00

2e

JUNE 27.

1e

17:00

2D

JUNE 27.

2B

20:00

JUNE 14.

Quarter finals

Sunday

Poland 1 : 0 Northern Ireland 17:00 Germany 2 : 0 Ukraine 20:00

2F

Final Semi final

JUNE 12.

JULY 06.

20:00

JULY 07.

20:00

JULY 10.

20:00

Austria 0 : 2 Hungary Portugal 1 : 1 Iceland

17:00 20:00

Iceland 1 : 1 Hungary Portugal 0 : 0 Austria

17:00 20:00

Iceland ___:___ Austria Hungary ___:___ Portugal

17:00 17:00

5

6

HOLIDAY GUIDE spin news

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

From moscoW WitH loVe

Swanning around One of the most popular ballets of all time will be performed by the Moscow Ballet Company in Los Cristianos on July 14. the story of Swan Lake was based on russian folk chronicles and follows the tragedy of princess odette who was turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer and can only regain her human form during night hours. composer Pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky was purportedly so excited at his commission to write the score to accompany the tale that he finished his masterpiece in just 12 months. now, 150 years later, the music he wrote for it is some of his most known and appreciated, and the ballet has been shown in almost every country in the world. much of its modern day success is undoubtedly down to the masterful performances by members of the moscow ballet – a company founded in 1989 by russian choreographer and dancer timur Fayziev. it is

made up of some of the leading lights from russian companies such as the bolshoi and the stanislavsky, and today is one of the largest companies in the country. since its foundation it has offered over a thousand performances and played in countries as far afield as Japan, china, italy, switzerland, england and spain. in 1991, the company was chosen by the great rudolf nureyev for his last tour of europe. the moscow ballet has an extensive repertoire with titles including The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Giselle. see Swan Lake at the infanta leonor Auditorium in los cristianos on July 14 at 9pm. tickets, priced at €38 can be purchased online via: www.4tickets.es/balletdemoscu. For groups of 12 or more the cost is €20 per person. see www.arona.org for this n and other great events.

Fine tuninG

Get tHe rHYtHm AnD…

Artist Isaac Correa is showing a collection of paintings at the Guía de Isora Cultural Centre until June 30. entitled ‘contemplation’, the exhibition is made up of 20 works using acrylics and mixed techniques on canvas. isaac correa was born in santa cruz de tenerife in 1979. showing aptitude from a young age, he went on to study fine arts and further develop his individual, and introspective, style.

Visitors can also see beautiful handmade jewellery which is still on display from a previous showing. the exhibition is part of a series of collections from the santa cruzbased magda lázaro gallery that will each visit Guía de

There are a couple of delightful end-of-year dance extravaganzas coming up at the Infanta Leonor Auditorium in Los Cristianos.

First off is the ritmanía Dance Academy’s show on June 26, when the students will demonstrate their fine mix of energy and skill in a performance which starts at 8pm and costs only €5 per person. next, on July 3, members of the Dile Que sí (say yes) Dance school will be showcasing their own artistic abilities, with some stunning performances of varied genres. styles will range from Zumba and modern through to canarian folklore and salsa. the show starts at 8pm and entrance costs €8. these evenings are sure to delight all fans of music and dance and are a great way to

Contemplating art

isora, in a move from the local council to bring art from the capital to the south. entrance is free and you can visit the showing from 9am to 2pm and 4pm through to 9pm, monday to Friday. Find the cultural centre on the main road through the town. see: www. guiadeisora.org for more information on this and other local n activities.

Say yes!

A fine mix of energy and skill from Ritmanía students

show your support for some talented youngsters. tickets for both shows can be bought from the los cristianos cultural centre between the hours of 9am and 2pm (monday to Friday), or from the auditorium’s box office two hours before the show begins on the day. check out: www.arona.org n for more information.

los cristiAnos

Arona’s best A fabulous free concert is open to one and all on June 24. the Arona music band will fill the infanta leonor Auditorium with their big and bright sound in a professional show from 8.30pm onwards. the band was formed in 1985 when the local council began its very own music academy with classes in piano, wind instruments and percussion. in 1987 the school was affiliated to the santa cruz superior conservatory of music, from which time it has gone from strength to strength. the music band’s artistes regularly play at specialist festivals and other events, as well as providing fabulous free concerts of a very high standard for the general public. support the talented players by simply turning up on the night and enjoying the show. see more information on this and more at: www.arona.org. n

el sAuZAl celebrAtes

Fabulous fiesta time Pop along to the El Sauzal fiesta for some good old fashioned party fun. on until July 3, there is a range of activities to join, including the election of the Queen of the Fiestas in the Plaza de san Pedro on June 24. starting 9.30pm, entrance costs €3 and there will be various entertainers throughout the evening. the following morning from 11am till 2pm the younger members of the family can enjoy games, bouncy castles and a foam party in the Plaza del Príncipe. on the 26th classic bikes are on show in the Plaza de san Pedro from 11am, a fashion show on June 27, and on June 28 there will be a Drag Queen night in the same square, from 9.15pm.

July 2 sees the Fiesta canaria start at 9.30pm in the Plaza del Principe, and the next day there will be a Donkey fair in the area next to the museo de lucha canaria. this, the last day of the celebrations will be packed full of activities and will end with a firework display. these are just some of the exciting events. see: www. elsauzal.es for a full list. n

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

HOLIDAY GUIDE spin news

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

Free concert

Cinema sounds Visit the Plaza de La Candelaria in Santa Cruz for some film tune favourites from the city’s Municipal Band on July 7. in the first of a series of concerts, the group will play an exciting repertoire that includes Ben Hur by miklos rozsa, Exodus from ernest Gold, and Highlights from Hook by J. Williams. the free show starts at 6.30pm. Have a coffee and snack and chill out and enjoy. see the local council’s webpage at: www.santacruzdetenerife. n es for more information.

7

ADeJe

More than words...

sAn miGuel

Creative collective Members of the Pintores del Llano Cultural Association have a wonderful collection of artworks on show until June 30. based in san miguel de Abona, each year the artists belonging to the group exhibit a variety of paintings in a myriad of styles: Drawings, oils, acrylics, watercolours, abstract, realism, pop art and more. From vibrant colours to subtle shades, the amateur painters show a level of skill that makes all their hard work worthwhile. the collection can be visited on mondays, tuesdays and thursdays at the el Aljibe exhibition centre - which is a fascinating building in itself. originally a huge water tank that served the building the local council now calls home, the reservoir lay empty for 30 years before being converted into the present day art centre. opening times are 10am to 1pm and 5pm to 7.30pm. see: www.sanmigueldeabona.es for information on the exhibition, or learn more about the cultural organisation on facen book at: Pintores-del-llano.

A fascinating collection of photos by a talented young man is currently on show in Adeje.

Photographer barea Gauracandra Goteea from Fañabé was born into a family from the indian Hare Krishna culture. this double background has given him a broad perspective on life which is reflected in his insightful works. Fascinated by photography and imagery from an early age, he soon developed an outstanding ability to capture unique moments in stills.

tAKe AWAY tunes As part of the celebration of International Jazz Day, the second Vijazz event will take place in La Orotava on June 24 and 25. the macaronesian Jazz Quartet will kick off proceedings on the first date, presenting their exciting mix of sounds that range from Hard bop through traditional to the most modern jazz. their eclectic and energetic repertoire is fresh and intense, but also offers some soothing and relaxing moments too.

After their show, o.m.t. will perform their incredible combination of live music with

in his exhibition entitled ‘más de mil palabras’ (more than a thousand words) you can see an inviting mix of snapshots highlighting the beauty of everyday life, of both people and nature, as well as colourful representations of the indian culture which is so prevalent in the costa Adeje area.

You can visit the collection at the casa de la Juventud, Avenida de los Vientos, Adeje, until June 30. entrance is free. see: n www.adeje.es.

Jazzing it up

loops, samples and special effects that is sure to have the audience on the edges of their seats. the collective of musi-

cians come from jazz, rock, funk, latin, and electronic musical backgrounds and it shows: their sound is unique and not to be missed. on June 25, the simbeque project will open the show, in a joint affair between teachers and students of the Asociación sociocultural mousikê. led by guitarist miguel manescau, the group offers a reinterpretation of canarian folklore music with a modern twist. the event will round off with the banda del solar, a personal project of young trumpeter natanael ramos which combines different musical

concepts from cultures as diverse as european, American and African. the concert on June 24 will take place in the Plaza del Kiosko from 12.30pm, whilst the next night’s entertainment will start at midnight and will be held at the café Quilombo in the Plaza del Quinto centenario.

A must for all lovers of the immortal musical genre, tickets for this year’s Vijazz cost between €8 and €18 and can be purchased from various outlets in la orotava town. see: www.laorotava.es for full n details.

HOLIDAY GUIDE whaTs on 016

8

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

June - JulY

June - JulY

Gran canaria TeneriFe DIARY DATES The coming period is a busy one for local fiestas, with loads of varied events for all ages and tastes, often before, during and after the local patron saint’s day. Banks and some businesses may be closed on the actual day. See programmes on council websites for more information.

June 23 On the night before San Juan’s Day, there are celebrations all over the Islands involving bonfires, rituals and midnight dips. check at your local tourist information office for a celebration near you.

9.30am – 1.30pm and 4pm – 9pm: Historical recreation and workshop on the foundation of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Free entry, Parque santa catalina, lPGc. 10.30pm: San Juan celebrations on las canteras beach, Free entry, entertainment by Gerson Galván, said muti and los coquillos, fireworks at midnight, Plaza saulo torón, lPGc.

DIARY DATES We are entering a busy time for local fiestas, most of which have plenty of varied events for all ages and tastes, on, leading up to and after the local patron saint’s day. Banks and some businesses may be closed on the actual day. For more information see the events programmes on local council websites.

June 25 - 26 and July 1 - 3 Various times: Folklore concerts by Los Gofiones, €10, teatro Pérez Galdós, lPGc. auditorioteatrolaspalmasgc.es.

June 25 5pm: Regatta across the bay between the entrance to La Laja tunnel and the marina.

9pm: Valbanera, Canarian folk music, also tangos, boleros etc., Free entry, Pueblo canario, Francisco González Díaz, lPGc.

June 27 - July 3

Tapas route, €2 per tapa, nine restaurants in el sauzal. www.elsauzal.es.

9am - 9pm: Summer Basket Camp, las torres sports centre, costa Adeje.

June 23

San Pedro Apóstol – patron saint’s day in: Agaete, www.aytoagaete.es. ingenio, www.ingenio.es.

July 2 - 10 Gran Canaria Wind and Waves Festival, organised around the local leg of the PWA windsurfing championships. national and international champions live and train in the canaries and a lot of famous surfers will be competing, Pozo izquierdo, lPGc. www.grancanariawindandwavesfestival.com/.

Thursday – Sunday CamBuyon Market, art, second hand, vintage and antiques, mercado del Puerto, lPGc, thursday and Friday 7pm – 11pm, saturday 6pm – 11pm and sunday 12pm – 3pm.

June 29

On the night before San Juan’s Day there are celebrations all over the Islands involving bonfires, rituals and midnight dips. check at your local tourist information office for one near you.

Particularly spectacular is san Juan de la rambla where their festivities include the sounding of the bucío, a large conch shell. if you want to avoid large crowds, head for one of the smaller villages where there will be a more modest affair. buenavista del norte’s event on Playa las Arenas beach starts at 9pm and includes a bonfire, dip in the sea, dancing and DJs.

San Juan Bautista - patron saint’s day in: Guía de isora, www.guiadeisora.org. los silos, www.lossilos.es. san Juan de la rambla, www.sanjuandelarambla.es.

9.30pm: Election of the queen of the fiestas, music and entertainment, €3, Plaza san Pedro, followed by a street party with live music, Free entry, Plaza del Principe, el sauzal.

June 25 11am - 2pm: Water-based bouncy castles and foam party for children, Free entry, Plaza del Principe, el sauzal.

Sundays

San Pedro Apóstol – patron saint’s day in: el sauzal, www.elsauzal.es.

Güímar, www.guimar.es.

5pm: Talk on breast reconstruction by plastic surgeon Doctor sánchez Peraza, Free entry, Pink room, escuela de seguridad y convivencia, 2nd floor, calle beneharo s/n, las nieves, Adeje, register to book, limited places. 674 352 002.

9.30pm: Torch-lit religious procession, followed by a free paella and street party with live music, from Plaza el Principe, el sauzal.

July 1 - 3 Fiestas in honour of local patron saint San Juan, los carrizales, buenavista del norte. www.buenavistadelnorte.com.

July 1 - 8 Residencial basketball camp, €250, buenavista del norte. www.sporteamconsulting.com.

July 1 7.30pm: Charity dinner dance and massive raffle in aid of AECC and breast cancer charity organisation Walk for Life, €20, cDtcA, Adeje. macu 619 320 920 / Alicia 659 928 831 or info@carreraporlavida.com.

8pm: Augusto Brito and Ana Delia García, lyrical music concert, Free entry, sala sebastián Pérez enríquez, Antiguo convento de san sebastián, los silos.

of the area, canarian black pig sellers, potters, a priest, barter, witches hexing the path and getting drunk, and much more. catch them at 10am at san Francisco de la montañeta (Garachico), 11.30am at san José de los llanos (el tanque) and 1pm in the main square in santiago del teide.

12.30pm: Sax4you, funk/jazz/Latin, Free entry, Glorieta de san Francisco, Garachico.

July 6 6pm: Workshop on breathing and relaxation techniques with Jesús castro Almazán, Free entry, Pink room, escuela de seguridad y convivencia, 2nd floor, calle beneharo s/n, las nieves, Adeje, register to book, limited places.

674 352 002.

July 9 Until midnight, Nuit Blanche, exhibitions, bouncy castles, live music and entertainment, late-night shopping, discounts and special deals, buenavista del norte.

Children’s swimming classes Most boroughs offer subsidised swimming classes throughout the summer for non-swimmers through to perfection classes. Ask at your town hall or local pool.

Until further notice Open air cinema at the magma centre, Adeje, from €4 for residents, many films in the original language. see: www.openaircinematenerife.es for programme and non-resident prices.

Every Thursday Until July 28, group therapy sessions for women with any type of gynaecology-related cancer, with Alejandro san blas, 6pm – 7.45pm, Free entry, escuela de seguridad y convivencia, 2nd floor, calle beneharo s/n, las nieves, Adeje.

Saturday mornings Events for specific groups, families, seniors, women etc., Activate sports club. www.tenerifeactivate.com.

EXHIBITIONS

July 2 - 3 Aikido summer camp, register before June 27, €65, teacher - 4º Dan of Aikikai, Hombu Dojo de tokyo, Japan. terrero de lucha calvario, next to el sauzal sports centrewww.dojokuubukan.es / 639 187 140 / secretariadeldojo@ yahoo.es

Until June 30

July 2

Folklore exhibitions, Free entry, Pueblo canario, Francisco González Díaz, lPGc.

9.30pm: Canarian fiesta, election of the romera Queen and Princess, folklore festival, followed by a street party with live music, Free entry, Plaza del Principe, el sauzal.

EXHIBITIONS Until July 24 Summertime, 25 years of the International Jazz & Mas Heineken Festival, photographs, audio, video, Free entry, san martín centro de cultura contemporánea, ramón y cajal 1, lPGc, tuesday to saturday, 10am – 9pm, sunday, 10am – 2pm.

June 28 - 29 Children’s gastronomic camp, el sauzal. 639 925 966 / elminichefdetenerife@gmail.com.

June 24

June 29

Starmus, music and astrophysics convention, amazing guest speakers, world renowned musicians, talks, concerts, etc. this year is a special tribute to stephen Hawking. www.starmus.com

Until July 3

June 24 San Juan Bautista - patron saint’s day in: Arucas, www.arucas.org. la Aldea de san nicolás, laaldeasanicolas.es. telde, www.telde.es.

Also, the celebration of the founding of las Palmas de Gran canaria, www.laspalmasgc.es.

9.30am – 1.30pm and 4pm – 9pm: Historical recreation and workshop on the foundation of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (see above).

June 27 - July 2

4pm: Laurisilva Xtreme race, 18km, los silos.

8pm: Unión Artística El Cabo, opera and zarzuela, Free entry, cine/teatro municipal, buenavista del norte.

July 3 10am – 2pm: Paso por el Cumbre; recreation of the olden days when people would walk the hills selling their wares, complete with the lord

Enparejadas, photography, Juan Carlos Chico, a combination of art, nudity and relationships, sala de exposiciones, Parque García sanabria, scdt, tuesday to saturday, 11am – 1pm and 6pm – 9pm and sunday, 11am – 2pm.

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

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

MUSIC

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

9

ecliPse

Pure Reggae for a Perfect Summer The QFM Music Review is a comprehensive guide to music created in the Canary Islands. now we have officially entered summertime, and the beach parties, barbecues and late evenings will, as always, be a large part or our agendas.

And what music could be better to accompany these social get-togethers than some madein-tenerife reggae? We are certainly not talking about reggaeton (heaven forbid), but sweet, positive uplifting world class reggae, written, recorded and produced on the island of tenerife. in 1996 in Arafo, eclipse reggae was formed and the group rapidly became a major force on the reggae scene in the canary islands, performing in many national festivals. they shared stages with international heavyweights such as the Wailers, stanley beckford, turbulence, Queen ifrica, chukkie starr, cañaman, the Fully Fullwood band, and brinsley Forde (Aswad).

english, others in spanish, but all with passion.

From the opening track Eclipse Reggae SKA, we’re transported to different times and places.

We’re reminded of years gone by, 80s ska with its energy, 70s progressive reggae with its protest lyrics, and the emerg-

in 2001, their first studio album, Rasta, was published, which was followed by Buenos Moments in 2003, and their ‘best of’ 15 Años Con Eclipse in 2011. their latest album, Mucho Amor, in 2013, is the subject of this review. the album was produced and recorded in the multitrack studios in santa cruz de tenerife, and consists of nine original compositions and just one cover version. invited artists include Dactah chando and la isla music, both renowned artists active

more information and download purchase from www.eclipsereggae.com. Don’t forget to tune in to Qfm 94.3 or listen online n at: www.qmusica.com.

on the tenerife reggae scene. some songs are performed in

TRACKLIST

ing 60s roots reggae with its simple but distinctive chords and melodies. our pick of the album is Olas, Reggae, Sol, an ode to the surf culture in tenerife. but to create that upbeat vibe for this summer’s parties, just leave Mucho Amor on repeat and nobody will resist its positivity.

01. eclipse reggae sKA 02. i miss you 03. Hierbita buena 04. olas, reggae, sol 05. mucho amor 06. es verdad ft. Dactah chando 07. suspirar 08. Princesa ft. la isla music 09. mi libertad (Frankie ruiz) 10. siete estrellas

SPOTLIGHT

30

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

sPotliGHt on A cHAnGinG islAnD

Tenerife on the move

By Theresa Willson to that area and beyond much ers soon discovered los Abri- Further north, we now bene- queues at banks were enor- need to queue at the bank

For daily news, updates and event information

visit

easier. looking to the east, the access road from the motorway to los cristianos used to be a single track affair, and prone to dreadful traffic jams during the rush hour. eventually the dirt tracks to the rear of the Valdes centre suddenly became tarmac roads, and before we knew it, roundabouts came into fashion too, but no one knew how to use them. ten-

gos. the dirt track along the seafront to the restaurants and the tiny port soon became a tarmac road, and nowadays it is a beautifully designed pedestrian area. san blas has also grown beyond anyone’s imagination, and now local residents on Golf del sur are eagerly awaiting their beach. We have also seen improvements to the southern airport, but to date there is still no sign of a second runway.

fit from the tF-4, linking the southern and northern motorways, and santa cruz has its auditorium, a congress and fairs centre and a delightful tram service. in terms of entertainment, we now have international shows, artists and groups visiting the island, and no longer feel that we are at the back of beyond. this is not all that has changed in tenerife. back in 1993, the

mous. most people knew to beware of ‘pagaré’ cheques which seemed to be popular at the time. Pagaré simply means ‘i will pay’ but the question was always, when, if ever? People also had to queue for hours once a year at their local town halls to pay their ibi and vehicle taxes, but nowadays the banks and the councils have discovered direct debits and payments

for most transactions. over the last 23 years, everything in the canaries has become more efficient, the areas where we live and work are surrounded by pretty gardens instead of waste ground, as are our motorways, we have a wide selection of supermarkets, national and international stores, large out of town shopping centres, reputable vehicle dealers and workshops, great restaurants and

Photo: Diego Delso

The view from my terrace, high on a hill overlooking the area now known as Costa Adeje, has undergone a radical change in the last 23 years, as have many other parts of Tenerife.

Development had extended along the coast as far as the Gran Hotel bahía del Duque, which was inaugurated in 1993, also the year when michael Jackson visited tenerife, but much of the area extending to the west was still occupied by banana plantations. they are now mostly only memories, but in their place we have more hotels, residential properties, shopping centres, supermarkets, and an excellent golf course.

Happily, the grey building with the red tiled roof, a former monastery, high on the rocks near to the bahia del Duque, still stands overlooking the beach and there is a wonderful footpath which runs around the back of it.

Along the coast to the west there used to be a belgian bar, only known to residents, called the coqueluche. it backed onto a pebbled beach near la caleta, a village which was always known for its fish restaurants. the only way to access this bar, a chill out venue for workers of all nationalities, and a great hideout if you were with anyone you didn’t dare be seen with, was via a rather bumpy dirt track. nowadays, the chiringuito (beach bar) on the enramada beach has inherited the name of the former coqueluche bar.

We have seen the tF-1 motorway extended, with much huffing and puffing, not to mention rock blasting, as far as the Armeñime roundabout at Adeje, and the construction of the island ring road has now also changed the countryside of the south west of the island.

Although not fully completed, it has already made travelling

The Infanta Leonor Auditorium in Los Cristianos was inaugurated on March 12 2011

The tram service which links Santa Cruz with La Laguna

erife was jumping head first into the 21st century without any training.

Further afield, most residents probably remember when the small village of los Abrigos was relatively unknown to tourists for its fresh fish restaurants. the road which led to the village was fairly narrow, full of bends, and extremely close to the end of the runway so the main distraction was low flying aircraft. However, holidaymak-

The Spanish peseta was replaced by the Euro on January 1999

The Tenerife Auditorium was inaugurated by the Principe de Asturias (now King Felipe VI) on September 26, 2003 Much of the south west coast of Tenerife used to look like this

san isidro was another town which lacked tarmac roads, and which has undergone a massive change. it has extended outwards on all sides, with new shopping and residential areas.

banking system was primitive to say the least. most items and bills were paid in pesetas, our currency then, and the

can be made automatically.

With the arrival of internet on the island, and hence online banking, there was now no

entertainment venues, and most of all the weather! there’s not really much to moan about n nowadays, is there?

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

BLEVINS FRANKS

31

DEcLArIng SpAnISH ASSETS

Modelo 720 proves profitable

By Paul Montague, Partner, Blevins Franks

The Modelo 720 may be unpopular with residents of Spain but it is proving rather successful for the Spanish government – which was the intention, of course.

In May, the Spanish tax authority Agencia Tributaria published new data regarding Modelo 720. Everyone who is resident “It is essential that everyone resident in Spain, with non-Spanish in Spain needs to submit this informative annual declaraassets worth over €50,000, submit the form Modelo 720.” tion listing the non-Spanish assets they own worth over real estate and €10.1 billion The tax authority also provided were therefore treated as unre€50,000. in investment funds, shares data from actual inspections. alised capital gains and he had • Since it was introduced in and insurance products.

Here are three examples: to pay €140,000 as well as the 2012, €141 billion of non- • To date, there have been 1. A taxpayer declared two bank formal sanction and late paySpanish assets have been more than 8,800 inspec- accounts in Switzerland in the ment interest. declared. This equates to 12.6 tions as a result of Modelo 2013 Modelo 720. However, 2. The tax office discovered per cent of the Spanish gross 720. So far this has gener- after reviewing the file, the tax that a taxpayer (convicted in domestic product. ated €840 million in penal- office realised that he should the past for tax fraud) had an • In the 2015 declaration (subties, surcharges etc. have declared them in the 2012 offshore corporate structure. mitted by March 31, 2016) • 32 per cent of all the assets form, when they were worth In addition, this individual €13.7 billion of new assets declared with the Modelo 720 €260,000. The taxpayer could claimed that he lived abroad were declared: €2.6 billion in are in Switzerland and Lux- not prove that these had pre- when he was actually a Spanbank accounts; €1 billion of embourg. viously been declared. They ish resident. For not submit-

ting Modelo 720, the tax office charged him with an unrealised capital gain of €6 million. This implied €3.5 million to be paid (including the tax due plus the late payment interest). In addition, the formal sanction is yet to be paid (which could be up to 150 per cent).

3. A taxpayer submitted the 2012 Modelo 720 eight months after the deadline, including information about an investment fund worth €250,000.

Since he could not prove that the fund had previously been declared, an unrealised capital gain of €135,000 was charged.

This resulted in tax due of €64,000. The formal sanction could be up to €96,000 (150 per cent).

There are currently around 7,000 taxpayers being investigated as a result of Modelo 720. The Spanish Finance Ministry also believes there could be around two million foreign taxpayers resident in Spain with overseas assets who have not submitted this form since 2012.

It is essential that everyone resident in Spain, with non-Spanish assets worth over €50,000, submit this form. If you spend time in Spain but believe you are not resident, make sure you have got this right – you may be resident without realising it and this could prove a very costly mistake. Taxation in Spain need not be as high as you fear, particularly on your investment assets.

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

Blevins Franks provides tailormade advice on investment strategies, tax mitigation and estate planning. It has decades of experience advising British expatriates in Spain. contact paul Montague on 922 716 079 or paul.montague@ blevinsfranks.com. www.blevinsfranks.com

BUSINESS

3

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

KnoW tHe roADs

trAnsPort

Driving in Tenerife

Half of taxi day ‘unproductive’

Those of us who live here are probably used to driving in Tenerife, but it can certainly be confusing for people who are new to the roads here.

When going straight on at traffic lights it may be best to get into the left-hand lane as, if the lights are on red, there is often a flashing yellow light for right turns, meaning that anyone wanting to turn right may proceed with caution. if you’re in that lane waiting to go straight on you may hear a few horns being sounded behind you for blocking their way, especially if there is a taxi behind you! if you’re behind a car and it suddenly indicates to turn left when there is no apparent left turn in the offing, it means that the driver is coming to a halt or slowing down to allow a car to pull out for instance, or on the motorway that there is a build up of traffic ahead. this seems to be the main use of the indi-

Photo: Raysonho CC0 1.0 UPDD

Sponsored by the Free Advice Centre Tenerife

Taxi drivers in Las Palmas have called for a relaxation of the new steps put in place to ensure that they do not exceed an eight-hour day. the strict enforcement of the rules, which were created to prevent overtime abuse, is “counterproductive” say the drivers, who have produced the findings of studies showing that as much as half a working day generates no revenue for the taxis. representatives of the 800-strong taxi workforce in the capital have provided the Department of employment’s inspectorate with data from taximeters showing the income from a 12-hour shift and an eight-hour one. the findings reveal that of the average of 170 kilometres covered by a car in the city on a typical day, the vehicle is not carrying passengers for just over 90. “enforcing the eight-hour shift to the letter will put many drivers at risk as they will not n earn enough to live on” said a spokesman.

Some junctions are close to the motorway, meaning that cars often queue on the hard shoulder

cators, as they are often not employed for the purpose for which they are intended, ie to let everyone else know where you are going. if you are on the motorway and approaching your exit, keep an eye out for heavy traffic. the junctions are very close to the motorway here and traffic quickly backs up, meaning that cars often queue on the

hard shoulder. You will need to join the queue or risk missing your junction. most people know that there is an upper speed limit of 120 km per hour on the motorway but there is also a minimum of 60 km per hour, except in exceptional circumstances, such as a traffic queue. there are a few tunnels in tenerife, and even though some of

them are only very short it is obligatory to put your lights on when going through them. this can be a favourite for the police to issue a fine and it is not unheard of for them to be waiting at the far end. And as for roundabouts, most of the residents have gone with the flow and just use the outside lanes. enjoy the idiosyncrasies of n driving in tenerife!

Drivers are disputing the eight-hour day

BUSINESS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

costlY roW

Unlicensed cafeteria open 15 years

A row over a motorcycle parking spot on a Santa Cruz Street has proven costly for a cafeteria, which has been closed down after it was discovered that it had been operating for over a decade without the mandatory licence. the bizarre incident occurred earlier in the month when police were called to deal with a heated argument triggered when a motorcyclist objected to the parking space being obstructed by tables and chairs placed by the cafeteria on the pavement. the row over the occupation of the public highway led officers to check the establishment’s paperwork and, to their amazement, they discovered that it had been in business for 15 years without so much as a health and safety or hygiene standards inspection. the current leaseholder said he had “no idea” that the well-known cafeteria did not have a licence and would file the required applications as soon as possible. the incident is proving to be a major embarrassment to the city council, which has ordered an investigation to determine how the cafeteria could have gone undetected for so long. n

33

emAil scAm

Endesa customers targeted Customers of Spain’s big energy supplier have been warned not to open emails with electronic bills purporting to come from the firm. endesa, which has a virtual monopoly on household electricity in the canaries, took the unusual step of writing to its many clients and also issuing a media notice to ask people to be on their guard against the scam emails, which take the form of an exorbitant bill designed to anger the recipient and encourage them to open the link to the bill to check the contents. once the link is opened, the scammers install malware on the victim’s computer to access confidential information or render the computer unusable until a ‘ransom’ is paid to delete the virus. endesa says it is doing all it can to prevent the cyber-attack

in its name and asks customers to check the origins of any

suspicious emails before openn ing them.

ProPertY mArKet

Signs of recovery Further signs of recovery in the property market have been confirmed with the news that year on year house prices in the Canaries rose on average by nearly six per cent during the first quarter of the year. spain’s national office for statistics has just published the data for property sales up to the end of march and the upturn in fortunes already seen late last year has continued into 2016

in the case of the canaries. the islands enjoyed the fourth highest increase of all 17 spanish regions in prices during the quarter. the 5.9 per cent rise compared to the first three months of 2015 is bettered only by catalonia (8.6 per cent), the balearics (8.8 per cent) and n madrid (9.7 per cent).

Property prices are up almost six per cent

Photo: Matteo Canessa

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

Endesa has written to its customers about the email scam

HEALTH

34

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

meAninGFul meDicAtion

Alleviating arthritis

By Xena Fox the main damage is to the joint is used, a condition that is autoimmune disease. the become dry and inflamed. like cartilage that covers the ends of bones. cartilage is the body’s shock absorber: a substance with a slippery surface that helps the joints to move smoothly. However, with advanced age, excessive wear or injury, the cartilage can

delightfully called crepitus. sufferers may find that joints become stiff after resting, especially in the morning, but this generally improves after an hour or so. if knee, hip or foot joints are affected, there may be difficul-

immune system is effectively targeting the joints unnecessarily, and instead of helping repair damage, the inflammation triggers pain and stiffness, and may also damage the cartilage. in addition, it often affects the surrounding tendons and ligaments, exasperating the condition. it mostly arises in the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, ankles, feet, jaw and neck. more than one joint is usually affected, and often in a symmetrical pattern. For instance, knuckles on both hands, or both shoulders, at once. symptoms can come on gradually or suddenly and are often more debilitating than with osteoarthritis. it can affect anyone of any age (though is more prevalent in adulthood) and is significantly more common in women than in men. movement and everyday activities can be greatly affected, morning stiffness may last for hours, and many people also

many autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis usually comes and goes, with people experiencing easier periods interspersed with times of more severe symptoms.

Doctors do not understand the causes, though many believe that the immune system’s ‘confusion’ often occurs after an infection.

Psoriatic arthritis this condition is also an inflammatory one, which affects both the skin and the joints. the skin condition is relatively well known - sufferers tend to have various patches of inflamed, scaly, red and white areas of skin which, apart from being unsightly, are also itchy and uncomfortable. these matters aren’t helped by the fact that psoriasis thrives in delicate areas such as the scalp, navel, skin around the genital areas or anus, and on the points of elbows and knees. unfortunately, up to 30 per cent of sufferers will also have

Causes and cures? the origins of ‘wear and tear’ arthritis seem relatively obvious. Although some do have a predisposition towards it anyway, being overweight, previous injuries and having a physically demanding job - particularly one that involves repetitive movements – can all put extra stress on joints.

Yet, for the many of the other types, very little is known about their causes, there are as many different possible reasons as there are types of the condition.

What is known is that many forms tend to run in families, most types are caused by several factors acting together, infections can cause an onset, symptoms usually come and go, and that people who smoke are particularly susceptible to developing rheumatoid arthritis. treatment is aimed at controlling pain and minimising any progression of the disease.

As each person will have very different symptoms, treatment must be geared to the needs of

Photo: J Boontje FreeImages.com

Photo: melodi2 FreeImages.com

There are literally hundreds of millions of people around the world who suffer from arthritis.

Although the word ‘arthritis’, strictly speaking, means inflammation of one or more

Arthritis affects many millions of elderly people – as well as young adults and children too

joints, it is used to describe the more than 100 conditions which can affect articulations.

All of these share certain common symptoms such as pain, stiffness, swelling and, often, reduced mobility in the joint.

Arthritis affects people of all ages, and symptoms can range from vaguely uncomfortable to totally debilitating. Here we will look at some of the most common types and the ways in which sufferers can be assisted in enjoying as normal a life as possible.

Osteoarthritis Also called degenerative or mechanical arthritis, this condition is what everyone knows as ‘wear and tear’ of the joints.

become thinner, uneven and less able to do its job effectively. As the bone tries to compensate for the damage it can also grow incorrectly, changing the shape and working of the joint. this condition is the most common form of arthritis and usually affects the joints that play a major role in weight bearing, such as hips and knees, but also regularly develops in the spine, at the base of the thumb and in the big toe, as well as in other joints. usually developing over a long time period, osteoarthritis can affect just one, or several, articulations. it typically causes pain and stiffness, and sometimes swelling in the affected area. often a grating noise can be heard when the

ties with walking, or arthritic hands – caused by any of the conditions - may mean trouble with simple jobs such as getting dressed, brushing hair or gripping cups or other items.

Injuries can lead to arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis this is also very common and is one of the ‘inflammatory arthritis’ conditions. under normal conditions, inflammation is a standard element of the body’s healing process and usually arises as a reaction to injury or as part of the body’s defence against invading viruses and bacteria. in rheumatoid arthritis, however, the joints become inflamed for no apparent reason, in what is known as an

suffer fatigue, depression, flulike symptoms, reduced appetite and/or weight loss. some people will also develop deformities from the damage to bones and tendons, especially in the hands and feet. the condition can actually affect the whole body, including major organs such as the heart (where it causes fluid to collect or damages the muscles, valves or vessels); the lungs, where once again fluid levels may rise or tissue is damaged; or the eyes, which may

psoriatic arthritis. it is equally common between men and women, and usually begins between the ages of 30 and 50 but can also start in childhood. one or more joints may be affected, and as well as the symptoms already outlined for inflammatory arthritis, fingernails can also be influenced, leaving them pitted or discoloured. other types of arthritis include bursitis, degenerative disc disease, gout, lupus, systemic sclerosis and tendinitis.

the individual and may include medication, physiotherapy and/ or changes to diet.

Meaningful medication Pharmaceutical drugs can make a huge difference to quality of life, though should always be taken with a ‘little is more’ approach. unfortunately, none of the effective treatments come without possible sideeffects and minor side-effects are relatively common. serious effects are unusual, however,

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

and many believe that the risk/ benefit balance is worth it. basically, there are two main groups of pharmaceuticals which are used in treatments for arthritis: ones that treat the symptoms and others that repress inflammatory diseases.

Analgesics, otherwise known as painkillers, can be used for all types of arthritis. Paracetamol and the like can be particularly effective when taken before any activity that has a high probability of causing discomfort - as opposed to waiting until the pain has really set in.

Doctors can provide stronger painkillers if necessary. the acronym ‘nsAiD’ stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which as well as dealing with the pain will also reduce stiffness and swelling. they are useful not only in cases of inflammatory arthritis but can also help people in whom inflammation isn’t the main cause of the joint problems, such as with osteoarthritis. However, they can only be used for short periods as they can damage the digestive system, and occasionally lead to heart attack, stroke or liver and kidney damage. nevertheless, they can be taken with analgesics when pain is excessive and can be a useful tool during flare-ups. steroids are widely used, but also have some pros and cons.

Powerful, anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive agents, as well as coming in tablet form they can be injected directly into joints or muscles, providing significant relief. High blood pressure, digestive problems and osteoporosis are a few of the main possible side effects so, again, they are best used for a short amount of time. though they are mainly used in the treatment of inflammatory arthritis, they can also be useful for short-term relief of osteoarthritis.

the other group of treatments - that suppress inflammatory disease - mainly consist of DmArDs, otherwise known as Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. As well as

joints are better supported and therefore less painful.

Depending on the condition, osteopathy and chiropractic can also be helpful, particularly for back pain.

choosing specialised aids and equipment, and protecting joints from further damage.

Help yourself

Arthritis in the hands can make everyday tasks difficult or impossible

Getting physical

regular massage can help relieve symptoms, and occupational therapy can provide practical advice on managing everyday tasks and fatigue,

Physiotherapy helps to improve general fitness and muscle strength - meaning that

Photo: Walter Groesel FreeImages.com

improving inflammation they can reduce the risk of further damage to joints.

A somewhat newer approach involves biological therapies which block messages between the white blood cells that cause inflammation. these are only used when other disease-modifying drugs have been tried and no improvement has been experienced. if the damage to the joint is severe enough there are a number of surgical options available such as the reconstruction of partly damaged joints or the replacement of a whole joint such as a hip, knee or shoulder.

Swimming and pool exercises are ideal for those with the condition

Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect major organs such as the heart

full range of motion at least once a day to prevent them stiffening. However, if joints are inflamed it is vital to not over use them as this will only

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

Pilates trainer ä Physiotherapist ä

Call 619 519 858

Tel. 699 521 649

©2014 FLN

pedroalegrealonso@hotmail.com

exacerbate the problem. Damaged articulations will not benefit from more wear and tear either.

Walking and other gentle to moderate exercises are ideal, and swimming or pool exercises are also perfect as there is much less pressure on the joints and muscles when in water. rest is important too, especially if there is inflam-

cycling is particularly good for strengthening knees, and you don’t have to suddenly take on the traffic - static bikes will have the same positive effects as riding outdoors. it is important to keep your weight down as well, as this puts extra stress and strain on joints. many claim that losing around six kilos (if you need to) can reduce pain by

Knee, hip and shoulder joints can be completely replaced if necessary

Therapies, Spiritual hypnosis, Past life regression

Pedro Alegre Alonso

35

Photo: Tanja Jans FreeImages.com

Photo: Julia Freeman-Woolpert FreeImages.com

one of the main ways you can help yourself is to simply keep moving and stay strong. regular exercise will build supporting muscle, and joints benefit from being put through their

HEALTH

Photo: Lesli Lundgren FreeImages.com

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

mation, but too much of it can actually be detrimental. moderation in all things is the key.

During severe flare-ups, applying ice wrapped in a damp towel to the affected joint may help reduce the inflammation, heat can also help. stretching exercises help keep articulations mobile and can ease the aches and pains.

half. eating a diet that is as natural as possible has also been said to have helped many sufferers. learning relaxation techniques can help with dealing with the stress that comes from any chronic condition.

When to seek help it’s common to experience aches and pains in muscles and joints from time to time, particularly if taking part in strenuous physical activities. but if there is ongoing swelling or stiffness, crepitus, and/ or you also feel run down, it is time to speak to your doctor. the earlier you are diagnosed, the better.

World Arthritis Day is held every year on october 12. For more information, see: worldarn thritisday.org.

36

GARDEN

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

PirÁmiDes De GüímAr

Leave it to nature A new feature adorns the widespread gardens in the Pirámides de Güímar Ethnographic Park – a sustainable garden.

Far from the instant plantings of many landscaped areas, this has been a long thought out process and created mainly by nature itself. the idea emerged during a conversation of one of the local university’s most distinguished and renowned professors, botanist Wolfredo Wildpret de la torre, with his wife and fellow scientist Victoria eugenia martín osorio.

Wildpret and martín were the joint scientific managers for the project which was produced in collaboration with the university of la laguna. the scientists simply cleared a small area in the park that wasn’t being used, marked it out with a small stone border and waited to see what would happen. before long, plants that are endemic or autono-

whether they will survive, but the basis of the garden is that it should be completely sustainable, environmentally, economically and socially.

As they have seeded and spread, the plants have been

forged a small water course with gravel, this too was left and also became populated with plant life. in addition it was decided that as the garden in many ways mimicked the canarian ravines and their

Aimed at both residents and tourists, the garden is also a perfect educational tool for the local schoolchildren and of course there is a lot more to see in the rest of the ethnographic park.

today; the cultural route featuring the use of water, traditional costumes, pirates, famous visitors, mythology and much more; the botanical route though a landscape

What are the origins of these fascinating structures?

Guaydil and tajinaste

The garden mimics the Canarian ravines

mous to the island began to appear and a few non-native plants were permitted to remain although exotic species were weeded out. However, there were no pesticides or fertilisers used nor was there any watering; nature was just left to itself and it did a splendid job.

An area of over 1,000 square metres was cleared, larger examples were planted such as the canarian palms and the rest gradually became populated with a wide variety of canarian plants that are typical of the area and the altitude. since then some additions have been made with some young trees which are from a higher region and it remains to be seen

A natural water course was formed by heavy rain

Nature just got on with it itself

clearly labelled, making the visit not only interesting but educational.

During the period of the initial experiment there was some very heavy rainfall which

wildlife, a small water feature and pond should be installed.

With the help of the neotropic Foundation, wild european eels have been introduced into this mini-environment.

inside, there is an exhibition about thor Heyerdahl and his many achievements and there are recreations of his famous craft within the grounds, some of which had to be rebuilt after tropical storm Delta. Heyerdahl was the soul and founder behind the creation of the park.

And of course there is the fascinating exhibition about all the pyramids themselves, both here and worldwide.

Don’t miss the volcanic garden, explaining in simple language the island’s geological creation and development; the export garden highlighting the many agricultural products that have been shipped out in the past or continue to be sent from the islands

clearly marked with the plant names; the Guanche cave and its archaeological findings, and the poison garden.

And of course, the step pyramids themselves. What is

the real truth behind their origins? Are they older than current tests to date have established? Would any busy farmer really bother to have stairs built into the piles to face a particular direction or line them up so that they are astronomically orientated to the summer and winter solstices?

Why not go along and see for yourself and make up your n own mind?

Pirámides de Güímar calle chacona, Güímar open 9.30am – 6.00pm Fully accessible to people with reduced mobility Prices residents: Adults from €7.75, children from €4.50 non-residents: Adults from €11.00, children from €5.50 student and group discounts available Additional charges are made for the poison garden and some exhibitions. see the website for full information or call the number below. www.piramidesdeguimar.es (0034) 922 514 510

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

BEAUTY & FASHION

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

37

Glamorous and ethnic beach styles The latest swimwear for men, women and children from various international designers was presented during the second weekend of June in southern Gran Canaria. the swimwear show, which was celebrated for the second time, is unique in europe and one of the few in the world, along with the miami show.

Feminine looks, sometimes cheeky, sometimes elegant or ethnic, put the female form in the spotlight, much to the appreciation of enthusiastic audiences. bikinis, trikinis, swimsuits and unique designs, for which there is simply no name yet, were all presented with aplomb. internationally acclaimed designer Agatha ruíz de la Prada took the opportunity to present her very first swimwear collection. With the words “let’s see if you dare to wear it” she even gave Gran canaria’s president Antonio morales a tie. in addition to the big names of fashion designers, more than 30 internationally famous models took part, such as canarian beauties sara Kuhlmann, Aida Artiles, raquel Palomo, marina Peñate, marina García and Joana sanz. Former miss spain winner, Desirée cordero Ferrer, and miss World 2015, mireia lalaguna, also graced the event. there were plenty of perfect male models on the catwalk as well, such as mister spain 2015, Daniel rodríguez, plus oliver baggerman, carlos Gómez, mauro Quintero and Aridane da silva. Actor José lamuño was also amongst the big names and celebrated moto GP rider Axel Pons debuted as a model at the event.

Breathtaking beachwear the house of livia montecarlo presented chic, elegant and minimalist bikini fashion, whilst Hipertrófico swimwear gave a convincing show with

Lightness and vitality from head to toe by Ágata Ruiz de la Prada

All photos: Cabildo Gran Canaria

moDA cÁliDA sWimWeAr WeeK

Sexy at the beach or pool with models from Dapresa

The alluring collection from Aurelia Gil

vegetation-rich designs and open-sided trikinis. exotic flowers, tropical kimonos and floral bermudas came from the californian company banana moon, with colourful and comfortable obviously being the motto there. lycra and transparency, coupled with the sporty aesthetics of the 1990s were on show from cápsula A3 in their models for the beach and city. the collection of Arcadio Domínguez with transparent fabrics and unusual designs, now also for men, tore the audience from their seats. the calima brand by nuria Díaz Pavón set this summer alight with buddhist mandalas and an ethnic style with plenty of feathers and tassels. the olympian gods of ancient Greece arose on the designs of Gabriel croissier. israeli label Gottex celebrated its 60th anniversary with fancy and extravagant fab-

Transparent and extraordinary forms from Arcadio Domínguez

Ethnic look for the beach

Greek gladiator menswear from Gabriel Croissier

rics, and the highly anticipated collection from Ágata ruiz de la Prada brought bold roses and fuchsias decorated with hearts for the ultimate summer mood n on the catwalk.

Loose surfer look for the guys

Playful beach dresses for the girls

Fetching funny swimsuits for children

38

PETS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

ADoPt, Don’t buY

Animal charities’ round up Live Arico (PAWS) For some of the best charity store chic around, bag a bargain at our shops in: san eugenio (open monday to saturday, 10am to 4pm); los cristianos (calle reverón, 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). Don’t throw things away! call us on 629 388102 and we can sell it to help the dogs. Find us at: www.livearico.com, on Facebook, or join us on twitter: twitter.com/live_arico.

Cats Welfare Tenerife We are inundated with kittens at the moment and we do our best to home as many as possible. We manage to home white, siamese, long haired etc. eventually but to find a home for black ones (and adult cats) can be incredibly difficult. through no fault of their own, black cats and kittens are overlooked time and time again, as most people tend to choose ‘prettier’ coloured cats. but is it because of superstition? it all depends on how we think, and even where we live! superstitions in different cultures and countries vary as to whether black cats are considered good luck or bad. the old idea of black cats being ‘witches’ cats’ may still influence some people, particularly here in spain. However, in britain, scotland and Japan, a black cat crossing your path, or even dreaming of one, is said to bring you good luck. And, in scotland, finding black kit-

tens sitting in your porch is a sign of riches and happiness to come! so, maybe it’s a colour thing? there are a few suggestions for this, such as: the black cat or kitten may blend into the shadows more in a new home, making it harder to

adopted a black cat consider themselves extremely lucky indeed!

You could also consider fostering. We have a huge influx of kittens and a steady stream of adult cats requiring a temporary home whilst we find something more permanent, so we

make that initial connection with them, or because black cats don’t always show up as well in photographs online.

We also normally have a wide range of colours which people are more drawn to - whilst the black cats can seem to fade into the background, and are just passed by. but black cats have all the charm and charisma of their more colourful cousins. their sleek glossy coats complement their bright shining eyes. they are stunning, regal looking animals - each one an individual. they are just as wonderful as any other, with all the same needs for love, care and a home of their own. Please consider adopting a black cat – as ever, they will have their kitten injections, microchip and neutering paid by us. You will not be disappointed. And one thing is certain: those who have looked ‘beyond the coat’ and

are always looking for people willing to foster on a temporary basis for us. We provide everything required, such as food, litter, bedding, bowls etc. and pay for all veterinary care. it doesn’t matter if you are only here for a few weeks or months. it’s a great way to have a pet without any long term commitment. if you would like to have a no-obligation chat, we would be happy to answer any questions you have.

And, do you have anything to donate to help us raise funds? items can be dropped into the shop on san blas in Golf del sur (behind Hiperdino). it is open seven days a week 10am until 6pm but on saturdays is open from 11am until 4pm. if you don’t have transport or have large bulky items such as furniture and household effects

Perfect Pincho

to donate please ring mark on: 636590557 and he will arrange collection from you. contact us via our website www.cats-welfare-tenerife. com/contacts or ring or whatsapp theresa on: 680475500 (seven days a week 9am until 6pm).

Acción del Sol

Cats Welfare Tenerife has kittens, kittens everywhere at the moment

looKinG For loVe

What a fantastic day we had recently. A day full of fun for the animals, adults and children alike, we had singing, dancing, face painting, a children’s workshop, horse riding, doggy bathing, a wonderful bbQ, a puppy play area, a foam party for the children and much more. We would like to say a very big thank you to all the staff, sponsors, volunteers and avid supporters of Acción del sol who jointly made the day a great success.

With the high summer temperatures upon us, please do remember to keep your pet safe by ensuring they have plenty of shade and cool water (a frozen cool box refrigeration block in their bucket of water will help the water stay cool longer, or add a handful of ice cubes).

And please do avoid walking your dog on the hot pavements in the heat of the day to avoid burning their pads. Please also remember never to leave your dog in a car as they can get extremely hot, extremely quickly: When the temperature

Pincho is a real cutie

Look at this cheeky wee man. Pincho is four years old and finds himself looking for a forever home.

He is small to medium sized, cute and friendly. if you think you would like to give him a chance, call sue at n live Arico for more information on 629 388102. reaches just 22°c/72F outside, the temperature inside a car can reach 47°c/117F within an hour. leaving a window open or covering the windscreen has very little effect on keeping the vehicle cool. A panting dog in a hot car can be the start of heatstroke and it can die very quickly. if you see a dog locked in a car during the hot weather please contact the local police immediately - it may just save a dog’s life.

Please do call the refuge on 922 778 630 if you can help in any way. We are always in need of tinned dog food for our older dogs, plus blankets, towels, sheets, dog toys, and collars and leads for everyone. if you have any of the above to spare they would be very much appreciated at the refuge, or visit monday, tuesday, thurs-

day and Friday afternoons from 2pm -5pm and saturdays 1pm4pm. We are situated directly under the eolica Parque’s wind turbines at exit 52 on the tF1 north bound, which is after the el médano junction. Just head for the wind turbines on the coast and you will see our buildings on the right. Alternatively, email the refuge at: teneriffa@aktiontier.org or visit our Facebook page: action tier Acción del sol.

K9 our shop on Alcalá 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.

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

FARMERS MARKET

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

Farmer’s Markets Adeje calle Archajara, s/n, in front of makro saturday/sunday 8am – 2pm / Wednesday 4pm – 8pm telephone: 922 775 200 Alcalá Plaza de llano monday 8am – 1pm telephone: 922 850 100 Arafo Plaza san Juan Degollado thursday 8am – 1pm telephone: 922 511 711 Arico Porís de Abona sunday 8am – 1pm telephone: 676 159 034 Arona Valle san lorenzo, carretera General 122 monday/Friday 8am – 2pm telephone: 922 767 138 Buenavista del Norte Plaza de san sebastián opening times: saturday 8.30am – 2pm telephone: 922 129 030 Candelaria Wednesday 8am - 2pm next to council offices saturday 8am – 2pm.

Plaza del centro comercial de Punta larga telephone: 922 505 014 El Médano Plaza Principal Wednesday 8am – 2pm telephone: 922 759 966/62 El Rosario carretera General del norte, la esperanza saturday/sunday/festivals 8am – 4pm telephone: 922 010 160 El Sauzal Hoya de la Vida, next to the church, ravelo Friday/saturday/sunday 7.30am- 2pm telephone: 922 584 657

Güímar Plaza del Ayuntamiento sunday 8am – 1pm telephone: 922 526 105

side behind titsa Depot) 8am – 3pm closed mondays tel 922 076544

Guía de Isora Plaza del Pueblo de Garachico Friday 8am – 1pm telephone: 922 850 100

Playa de San Juan Plaza de la iglesia Wednesday 8am – 1pm telephone: 922 850 100

Icod de Los Vinos calle Key muñoz 5 monday/Friday 8am – 2pm telephone: 922 815 700 / 922 447 938 La Guancha carretera General tFs km 49 saturday/sunday 8am – 3pm telephone: 922 360 788 La Laguna Plaza del cristo tuesday/thursday/saturday 6am – 2pm telephone: 922 601 100 / 922 253 903 La Matanza de Acentejo ctra. General del norte saturday 8am – 3pm, sunday 8am – 2pm telephone: 922 577 120 La Orotava calle educadora lucía mesa saturday 8am – 1.30pm telephone: 922 336 804 / 681 277 633 Los Realejos camino Viejo de san benito, Finca el llano, realejo Alto saturday/sunday 9am – 2pm telephone: 922 346 234 Los Silos Plaza de la luz, los silos sunday 9am – 2pm telephone: 922 840 004 Parque de la Reina – El Cho calle infanta elena, 32 (before Karting on right hand

39

FArmer’s mArKets

Island support!

Puerto de la Cruz Avenida blas Pérez González, 4 Wednesday to saturday 8am – 2pm telephone: 922 386 158 San Isidro mercado del Agricultor de Granadilla off the roundabout leading to el médano saturday/sunday 8am – 2pm telephone: 922 759 966 San Miguel de Abona P.i. las chafiras, san miguel de Abona, next to the fire station saturday/sunday 8am – 2pm Wednesday 2pm – 7.30pm telephone: 922 735 386 Santa Cruz de Tenerife Avenida José manuel Guimerá sunday 8am – 1pm telephone: 922 606 000 Santa Úrsula carretera General, near the town hall saturday 8am – 1pm telephone: 922 301 640 Tegueste calle de Asuncionistas, 6 saturday/sunday 8.00am – 2pm telephone: 922 316 100 Vilaflor Plaza de Vilaflor monday to thursday 8am – 1pm telephone: 922 709 002

We at Island Connections are sure in the knowledge that one of the best ways to help yourself, and the economy, is to buy locally – even if you are just visiting for a short time. canarian farmers harvest an extensive range of crops, which can be seen growing in the typical stepped-terrain farms around the islands. Products range from tropical fruits, such as mangoes, to worldwide staples like lentils, potatoes and onions.

According to the agricultural group coAG-canarias, prices of fresh fruits and vegetables differ greatly between the amount the farmers receive and the sale price in the supermarkets. For instance, towards the end of last year, small marrows, which the farmers were paid just €0.07/ kilo for, retailed at €0.84, and leeks sold at €0.36 were passed onto the consumer for around €2.23 a kilo. many of the prices don’t even seem to cover the cost of production - and this is when subsidies became necessary to keep farms from disappearing, which, like the hiked prices, also come out of our pockets. enter the farmers markets, where the grower can sell directly to the customer without an intermediary. they are

dotted all over the islands, with at least one in almost every town. they allow customers to purchase fresher, higher quality produce at cheaper prices, and the farmers receive a fair payment for their efforts. this enables them to maintain or raise the standard of their crops and uphold productivity levels – it’s a win-win situation. in these markets you will be sure to see a variety of seasonal products, as well as some local home-made delicacies such as

preserves, honeys and canarian goat’s cheese. A selection of meats and fish can also be found among the stalls, along with an assortment of cakes, pastries and biscuits. buy locally, eat healthily, pay fairly – this is one way we can all help each other. so, to show our support of local farmers we are taking this timely opportunity to publish the details of the many farmers’ markets around the island n of tenerife. enjoy.

40

HOROSCOPES | CLASSIFIEDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

Horoscope for period: June 23 to July 6 Aries 21.3 - 20.4 You are expending endless energy but feel you are getting nowhere. that’s because you don’t really know what you want. taking a moment to work it out will be far from wasted time in the end.

Taurus 21.4 - 20.5 if you are wondering whether you have taken the right attitude on a difficult situation recently, worry no more. though it may be hard to stand your ground, over time other people will come round to your point of view.

Gemini 21.5 - 21.6 try not to let people walk all over you; you deserve better treatment than you have been receiving recently. stand up for your rights, without getting aggressive, and you will see improvements in all your personal relationships.

Cancer 22.6 - 22.7 everything may seem a bit humdrum right now but it is a necessary period – and one that will allow you the time to sort yourself out. if you are one of those who are living too fast, however, you need to chill – now.

Leo 23.7 - 23.8 no two people are the same - and thank goodness for that. You could do with developing a little more tolerance of other people’s foibles: no one likes someone playing the big ‘i am’. Humble is a word you need to add to your dictionary.

Virgo 24.8 - 23.9 no wonder you are feeling insecure at the moment - it seems that everyone is talking about you behind your back. to a degree, this is true but they are actually complementing you, not trying to put you down.

Libra 24.9 - 23.10 Your loved ones are worried that you appear to be stuck in a rut, repeating behaviours that everyone can see are doing you no good. try to take their advice rather than shutting them out. it isn’t the easier route in the end.

Scorpio 24.10 - 22.11 two and two make four but you seem to have been mistaken with your addition lately. A suspicious mind will always find ‘evidence’ to support its imaginations. Are you jumping to conclusions too quickly do you think? try to take a step back.

Sagittarius 23.11 - 21.12 For many of you money has been tighter lately than it has been for a while: so you’ll be relieved to know that there is not only light at the end of the tunnel, but that this is actually the start of an exciting financial period.

Capricorn 22.12 - 20.1 A relative may be causing you problems. Don’t take things at face value. Also: Get your best clothes on and go out and about: you are going to meet someone who will have a massive influence on your future. Will you be ready?

Aquarius 21.1 - 20.2 there seems to be a change or problem for those of you who have joint finances, particularly from your point of view. However, if you can sit down and talk about it you will find a simple solution. the rest of you need to control your spending as well.

Pisces 21.2 - 20.3 never before has the time been so auspicious for a new start. Grab this opportunity while you can or you may regret it later. there will be plenty of obstacles, but just keep your eye on the goal and you will get there in the end.

Contacts Los Cristianos, 2 girls: slim and discreet Hungarian, and a dominant english girl (sado, toys), both young, all services, discreet apartment, edificio royal, in front of the bus station, los cristianos. call first. tel: 626 712 090.

tion. i’m a bisexual guy, good iting your location is also looking, sportsman, mascu- possible. tel: (0034) 630 line, discrete and pleasant. 759 974.

WhatsApp: 695 793 841.

Cockney girl, Ana, just what I’m Diana, a pretty Latin you need to get pampered. girl, 23 years old, good stunning hot brunette. let body, pleasing, French, posi- my pleasure be your pleations, massages, available sure, owo, French kissing.

24 hours. i’m waiting for you los cristianos, opposite the in my private apartment in bus station. tel: (0034) 611 the centre of los cristianos. 203 925. busty curvy.

Home/hotel visits available. tel: 605 072 917.

PAMELA, brunette, Las Chafiras. Massage service Los Cristianos, Paradise, available for gentlemen erotic massages, relax, only. no limits, French posicomfort, showers. A clean, tions, private apartment, HH peaceful, discreet place. Franciscano street, beside You’ll be attended to by the large park, las chafiras. lovely national and inter- tel: 608 285 035. national girls, great bodies, mature, young, fiery, com- Los Cristianos, Silvia, placent and agreeable. We blonde, Spanish. no limoffer all services and invite its. my place or yours. tel: you for a free drink. tel: 639 608 103 319.

101 096.

Transsexual, 37 years old, beautiful, tall, fat, blonde, long big penis, active/passive. €60 half hour, €80 one hour. Apartments royal, in front of the bus station, los cristianos. sms/WhatsApp for info. tel: (0034) 602 Erotic massages, also Tantric 626 848. and other services. AttracLos Cristianos, Patricia from tive lady. Without rush.

Venezuela returns. Beautiful. nice location. Jacuzzi. tel: blonde. big breasts, French, (0034) 619 614 380. erotic positions, kisses, vibrators, private parties for singles massages, private apartment and couples, also quickies in calle noruega, near the and threesomes. english Altavista supermarket in los and German speaking. tel: cristianos or i can come to (0034) 648 245 425. you 24 hours a day. tel: 650 English model, showgirl, pro442 665. fessional striptease, quality Los Cristianos, Anahi, age service, general entertain25, no limits, French, posi- ment, stag nights, domitions, kisses, Greek, private natrix, fetish, luxury condiapartment in calle noruega. tions, visits 24 hours, escort service available. tel: 697 tel: 672 970 209.

227 139.

Los Cristianos, Paula, Latin girl. Enjoy my kisses, body, Beautiful girl, Puerto de vibrators, no limits. Available Santiago, Alcalá, Playa san 24 hours in my private apart- Juan. los Gigantes. i offer ment, or i can come to you. all services. Hotels only. i am slim, brunette, big bosomed, tel: 604 115 052. and hot. text messages only Come and enjoy our erotic to: 603 394 389. body to body massages with a happy ending! unforget- Los Cristianos, Ukranian, table experience, beautiful provocative blonde, escort, Polish ladies. opening hours great body only for demand10am to 10pm, Playa Para- ing men. incalls or outcalls. iso, costa Adeje area. tel: All my services will fulfill (0034) 662 960 065. www. your dreams. Just call me. tel: 602 631 367. edentenerife.com.

Roberto, Spanish guy, Los Cristianos. relaxing massage services, sports massages, erotic massages with a happy ending. natural French, kisses, penetra-

For ladies: Excursions, wellness, shopping, erotic massages and more with marc who speaks good english. i have my own apartment and car in south tenerife. Vis-

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

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

the deadline for edition 775, which is published on 6th July, is 4th July. 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

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, Petras Deutscher Bücherstand in puerto de la cruz.

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.

islAnD connections meDiA GrouP s.l. www.islandconnections.eu

island connections online: www.islandconnections.eu

ClassIfIeds deadlIne next edItIon

CLASSIFIEDS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

General Services 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

translation services nie and residencies car transfers school registration Driving licences General ‘tráfico’ Problems Also doctors and hospital appointments. transport provided excellent rates. tel: 606 583 178

Spanish and English Lawyers

Conveyancing • Inheritance & Wills Family Law • Criminal Law Civil Litigation & Personal Injury Timeshare • Tax & Commercial law

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.

tunity with financial independence and personal fulfillment? become an independent beauty consultant!!! more info: 642 601 553.

For sale, cooker with three burners, spit roaster for chickens, three freezers, chairs and decoration. tel: carlos on 676 243 558.

Qualified specialist from Germany helps you with back pain, neck pain, sciatica, headaches and insomnia. Tel. 0034 699 15 61 47 (ask for eugene).

Spanish native teacher and interpreter gives spanish lessons at reasonable prices. Tel: 747 790 001. k.arim555@ live.com 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 You’re invited!!! FREE BEAUTY SESSION. this is your time to relax with friends or on your own, share the excitement of trying new products, learn about the latest techniques and trends and of course, earn fabulous rewards. more info: 642 601 553 Maggie.

Are you looking for an oppor-

MASONIC MEETINGS Logia Ave Fenix Nº 73

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.

BLOCK BUSTERS WE UNBLOCK ALL TYPES OF DRAINS

Edificio Simón, Los Cristianos.

Meetings every fourth Tuesday. We are back in October!

internal and external using our high pressure jets and cameras.

All Visitors welcome Contact John Donaldson (Secretary):

Call

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

41

647 928 223

We sell furniture suitable for bar/restaurant (tables, chairs, kitchen accessories, decoration etc.) in excellent condition. Price negotiable. tel: 922 717 613 or 671 912 301

T: E:

922 719 520

tenerife@decottalaw.net

Av. de Los Pueblos, Residencial Villaflor B-20, San Eugenio

www.decottalaw.net

4

RENTAL classifieds Apartment for rent, 1 bedroom, fully equipped, near Playa martiánez, in Puerto de la cruz, €470 /month + electricity. tel: theresa on 606 105 101.

Winter letting Puerto de La Cruz Studio apartment, 24 hour concierge, pool, sea views. minimum three month contract. €500 per month. 669 652 149 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 Studio for rent, in quiet Bio Finca, 25 sqm, in los realejos, close to restaurant monasterio, furnished, balcony, parking, garden, terrace, sAt tV, internet, €280/month, incl. additional costs. tel: 616 802 861 or 699 044 668.

Looking to exchange or rent: Luxury 85m2 apartment in Travemünde (on the Baltic Sea, Germany) in exchange for 2/3 bedroom apartment in Tenerife for 4-6 weeks January/ February 2017. our property is located on the 2nd floor overlooking the sea and the city and furnished to a very high standard. there is a Wellness and spa on resort and underground parking. We are looking for a 2/3 bedroom apartment in tenerife in a nice complex with heated pool and spa facilities. email: m.perling@gmx. de or 0049 179 51 75 987.

CLASSIFIEDS Chayofa. Quaint 2-bedroom apartment for rent, partially furnished with large terrace. safe and secure, ideal for mature couple. €600 including bills. tel: 609 588 038 after 6pm.

Garage to rent, double width.

Victoria Court 1, los cristianos. close to sunday market. Very secure lock-up. tel: 679 919 623.

Large villa for rent, San Isidro.

4 beds, garage, large terrace, 3 bathrooms, sea views. €750 per month. tel: 669 831 439 or 686 290 903. email richard@larkinproperty.com.

SALES classifieds We are looking to buy a 1 bedroom apartment in the south of tenerife up to €100,000.

We are a German couple. We pay cash quickly. tel: (0034) 662 507 191.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041 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 For sale www.teneriffa-fincas.net 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

property for Sale Playa Honda 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

Las Américas

one bedroom apartment, tiled throughout, American-style kitchen, separate bedroom and terrace. located in the center of las Americas within 3 minutes walk from the beach.

€ 122,000 ALAN: 634 098 838

British Style Bar

Playa de Las Américas located just off front line, excellent reputation, regular clientele. terrace for approximately 10 tables and refurbished interior in timber. bar walls adorned with memorabilia. includes store room and ladies & Gents toilet facilities.

€ 25,000

ALAN: 634 098 838

30€/month

Tel 629 244 958 € 155,000

Freehold

Roadside Cafe Bar High profile main road bar located opposite one of tenerife major parks and situated on the side of a busy main thoroughfare to one of the south’s largest residential areas.

€ 188,000

ALAN: 634 098 838

Apartment and Villa for rent in Tenerife south. tel: (0034) 662 507 191.

Beautiful seafront apartment for private sale. one bedroom, garage, sea views and in a sunny position. Price: €120,000. no agents. tel: 922 752 759. mobile: 608 425 426.

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

Wonderful rustic house available for holiday rental in san miguel de Abona. 4 bed rooms, independent flat on the roof. Very well furnished with amazing views. Please call for further information. €70 per night for 2 people. €15 per extra person maximum 5 people. close to the local town, restaurants, bars, cultural centre.

the easy way to sell or rent properties

Situations Vacant / wanted

Instructor required to teach essential life skills and thinking for young kids, in south Tenerife.

Diplomas not needed.

Please send cV to lin@ rebl.biz. Tel: 696 713 635 Lin. 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

Vehicles to advertise please call 922 75 06 09

Porsche Panamera 2012 / 36.000 km 3.0l- 3.0 D/ Automatic Diesel /sport 4doors / color : White 1 owner

€69,000

CLASSIFIEDS | PASTIMES

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

43

Are looking for international girls to model swimwear in the south of Tenerife for an immediate start. must be presentable and speak good english, other languages are an advantage. Pr experience essential. Daily work, salary, commissions paid and contracts given.

Call José, between 11am and 5pm on 606 181 946 or 922 751 021

VETERINARY PRACTICE for sale / Tenerife south Fully equipped 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? Contact 667 811 462 or veterinariotenerifesur@outlook.com.

Ford Fiesta 1.6, 2007.

ITV until February 2018.

Good condition. 87,000km. €4,750. tel: 922 861 332 / 609 227 562.

Place your advert at

MG Sport 1.6 Convertible 2003, itV to october 2016, one owner, excellent condition, only 25,000km. €8,500. tel: 922 861 332 / 609 227 562.

Classified Agent for

Mercedes 420 Elegance, 1996. 115,000km. itV to november 2016. €4,500. tel: 922 861 332 / 609 227 562.

Books, cards, internet Pto. Colón 1st floor Las Américas 922 715 682 bookswop@spantel.com

(For crossword and sudoku solution see pag 40)

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

Across

7 - official (6) 8 - provoke (6) 10 - streaks of light (7) 11 - improve (5) 12 - gang; group (4) 13 - mouths (5) 17 - temporary police force (5) 18 - habitation (4)

22 - fish (5) 23 - made available (7) 24 - managing (6) 25 - flower (6)

Down

1 - hill (7) 2 - make an explosive sound (7) 3 - factual evidence (5) 4 - exposes (7) 5 - trickery (5) 6 - long grasses (5) 9 - rise (9) 14 - taking notes (7)

15 - monitors security (7) 16 - not sudden (7) 19 - broth (5) 20 - closed car (5) 21 - meat trimmings (5)

MOTORING

eVerYDAY motorinG

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

Great driving tips

Much as we might not like traffic rules, they are generally there for a reason, so a reduction in speed before a bend is because it is dangerous to go round it too fast, for example. the itV test is in force to ensure that vehicles are roadworthy and not a danger to the driver, or other cars and people. safety is an obvious consideration for the vehicle itself, and the usual aspects apply. For example, keep your windows clear of dirt, water or mist so that you have good visibility. make sure your car is serviced and maintained properly so that it is safe, and that your tyres are correctly inflated so that they grip the road well, but don´t drag and increase fuel consumption. safety applies to the driver as well. Allow logic and good practice to dominate when you are driving. Don’t be too distracted by outside elements such as the radio, and defi-

miGHtY mini A recent worldwide survey of Mini owners has clearly demonstrated the amount of affection that is geared towards the iconic cars. the questionnaire, which brought answers in from as far afield as Australia, new Zealand, sri lanka, malta and the usA, showed that 86 per cent of people not only name their car but also, perhaps obviously, have also decided which sex it is! of course, anyone who has ever had the thrill of a mini knows they have their own personality, which is maybe why 51 per cent of current owners have decided their mini is male and 35 per cent just know that theirs is female.

Among the boy minis, the most popular names are marvin, tommy (cooper) and Jack,

Photo: Eva Bonner / FreeImages.com

By Wheeler Dealers

Good driving skills depend on having full awareness of what is around you

nitely not your phone, to the point that you are not aware of your surroundings. especially in tenerife, you may encounter unexpected hazards, as a lot of the tourists are driving on the wrong side of the road for them, and they don´t know their way around. look ahead for potential hazards and they won´t catch you by surprise.

A better overall understanding of the road means that you will

be able to spot events leading up to a potential accident, and take evasive action. sometimes crashes are inevitable however good a driver you are, but travelling at an easy, sensible pace gives you plenty of time and distance to respond to anything you might encounter. Particularly common here is the lack of the use of indicators, which has a negative effect on traffic flow.

Handle your steering and brakes firmly without making harsh movements. increased awareness means you can brake earlier and with a smoother action, which is safer, kinder to your car and gives you better fuel economy as well.

Fast driving belongs on the race track. Young and inexperienced drivers often have accidents, not because they are bad drivers, but because they lack experience and have not yet developed road awareness. expect the unexpected on the tenerife roads, and you won´t go far wrong. based on their years of experience in the car industry, Wheeler Dealers will be providing useful advice and indepth information for the coming editions of Island Connections. call Wheeler Dealers, las chafiras, on: n 922 73 64 51.

More than just a car although there’s a developing trend towards the names Dave, stuart and bob, made famous

being the three most favoured monikers. some of the more unusual names include Pingu (because he’s white with a black roof), tetley (because he has more

The iconic mini – loved by many

by Minions - The Movie. their girlie counterparts tend to follow a more alliterative tone, with minnie (perhaps unsurprisingly), mollie and millie

holes in him than a tea bag) and mojo Jojo (after the evil monkey in The Powerpuff Girls).

the survey also proves the diversity of the world’s mini owners, with the youngest respondent being 17-yearold luke from Auckland, new Zealand, who has a male mini called sheldon, after sheldon cooper from the Big Bang Theory. the oldest respondent was 80-yearold John from bangor, north Wales, who has a female mini called mavis, named after his late wife. the survey was carried out by the organisers of mini World live, which will take place at the uK’s rockingham motor speedway on July 10 (see: www.miniworldlive.co.uk).

And what about the other 14 per cent who were surveyed?

Well, they thought their car was, err, just a car. but love n it all the same.

rolls-roYce silVer sHADoW

Iconic models in print

The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow & Bentley T-Series were a revolutionary step forward when launched in 1965 and are still many a person’s perfect ideal of a car today.

For fans, the latest edition of a popular book by motoring author malcolm bobbitt, now available in paperback, is sure to delight and inform. the rolls-royce silver shadow/bentley t-series tome tells the full story, and gives details of models, history, and design of the classic british cars, including related coach-built models: the silver Wraith ll, corniche and camargue. bobbitt also uses his extensive experience to provide valuable advice for buyers, owners and restorers. the Fourth edition has been fully revised, and contains much new and updated information as well as several recently added pictures.

You can view sample pages and text at: www.veloce.co.uk, where you can also place your order. the book can be n bought from suppliers such as Amazon as well.

crYstAl cleAr cHrYsler

Not to be sneezed at It’s that time of year when those who suffer from hay fever and its like begin to really feel the effects of the higher rates of pollen and other particles in the air.

For anyone driving a Fiat chrysler there may be help available, thanks to an innovative in-car filter with anti-allergen features that include a special treatment to neutralise pollen and dust.

A boon for many, the filter has been launched by mopar, the Fiat chrysler Automobiles aftersales brand as part of their ‘mopar Prime’ products. the anti-allergen add-on will be available on the Alfa romeo Giulietta and mito, new Fiat Panda, Grande Punto and the entire 500 family (500, 500c, 500l n and 500x) and Jeep renegade models.

©2016 FLN

44

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

SPORTS NEWS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

tHe Hot seAt

olYmPic oPPortunitY

Good news for Canarian yachtswomen

Photo: Etnoy CC A-S A 3.0 UL

Two yachtswomen from the Canaries could go to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympics after all. the decision by new Zealand not to field a team for the ladies’ laser radial class at the Games means that spain has been awarded an extra place and will now compete in a total of nine of the ten olympic classes in rio. the Kiwi withdrawal is great news for tenerife’s Alicia cebrián and Gran canaria’s martina reino, although they will have to compete against each other to book the berth. cebrián is currently ranked 34th in the world and finished 11th in london 2012, while reino, who is just 20, is the world youth radial laser champion and is ranked 52nd in the world. the selection will be decided at the Keil sailn ing championships to be held at the end of June.

Tenerife to choose ‘new’ chairman The long running saga of who will take over as chairman of Tenerife is nearing its climax, although it is likely to have a surprise ending.

After almost two years of speculation surrounding who will replace the controversial miguel concepción, the current president is now seeking re-election, despite previously announcing his intention to stand down, and is more than likely to succeed. the decision has been prompted largely by the failure to garner support to have former canarian president Paulino rivero installed as chairman, not least because “revolving door” rules could force tenerife to repay a massive sponsorship contribution from the regional government in the latter part of rivero’s term in office, which ended in 2015.

Another main candidate is former player Pier luigi cherubino, who although very popular with fans due to his association with tenerife’s glory days in the mid-1990s, does not have the support of influential shareholders.

Juan Antonio Quintero medina, a businessman from santa cruz, recently presented his candidacy alongside an ambitious plan to invest €300 million into a new stadium and commercial centre. see pages 10 and 11 for an exclusive interview with the prospective chairman and his vision for the club. the election is due to take n place in mid-July.

The fans’ favourite, Pier Luigi Cherubino

HonDurAn miDFielDer

‘Cheapest signing ever’ for Tenerife

Photo: Warrenfish CC A-S A 4.0 IL

CD Tenerife have wasted no time starting to put together their squad for the coming season and the first signing has already made the headlines as possibly the cheapest ever import by a club here.

Darixon Vuelto has been signed from Honduran club Victoria and will initially be with the reserves until the coaching staff decide whether he is up to the standard required for the second division.

Attacking midfielder Vuelto is considered one of the rising stars of south American football although he figured on few people’s lists of potential summer arrivals. club sources have revealed that his transfer has cost a mere €12,000 payable in two instalments of €6,000 euros to Victoria, and tenerife will be hoping he is as successful as his compatriot Anthony Honduran striker Anthony lozano, who spent last sea- ‘Choco’ Lozano impressed during son on loan and impressed his first season in the second n division with 10 goals.

Silva joins Centenary Club Canarian footballer David Silva has become one of the exclusive group of players to have earned 100 caps for Spain. the elegant manchester city midfielder is one of just eleven players to have achieved the landmark figure, which he did by taking the field against the czech republic in spain’s euro2016 opener on June 13. it has taken him almost a decade to enter the 100 club, having made his international debut in a friendly against romania in november 2016. the diminutive silva’s behaviour on and off the field for club and country during his distinguished career has made him one of the most popular and respected players in spain and he joins eight of spain’s “Golden Generation” of World cup and dual european championship winners in passing the milestone. the others are: iker casillas, carlos

Puyol, xavi Hernández, sergio ramos, xabi Alonso, Fernando torres, Andrés iniesta and cesc n Fábregas.

Silva playing for Spain at Euro 2012

Photo: Дмитрий Неймырок CC A-S A 3.0 UL

10 For 100 The Laser Radial is a popular one-design class of small sailing boat

45

SPORTS NEWS | POOL LEAGUE

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041

locAl ruGbY

Ñandú: champions and runners-up 04/06/2016 The 23rd Canarian 7s Tournament the sun was shining for the 23rd canarian 7s tournament and the venue was set for an enthralling day of fast, vibrant and exuberant rugby. the Ñandú boys did not fail to disappoint, and neither did the Federation who put together a day to remember. Ñandú registered two teams and came up against the boatmen and an unfamiliar la laguna team, crull. Ñandú A started brightly and the opening try of the tournament was scored by their captain toby Denholm-smith. Altogether, they put 34 points away against a determined university group, allowing Álvaro Gómez to score a hat-trick. conversions were taken by Daniel Pérez, following his 12 month lay-off from a serious knee injury. the final score ended 34-0. Ñandú b were up next, and they played against an el médano side that were efficient in defence, but the scintillating rugby that flowed from the Ñandú boys could not be stopped. the final score was 28-0. the final games of the morning session allowed Ñandú b to score 53 points against crull, who failed to register a point but showed a level of perseverance that they could be proud of. Ñandú A suffered their first loss with a 21-5 defeat against the boatmen.

Whilst Ñandú were down to six men, the opposition pounced and scored. the Ñandú heads dropped and failed to capitalise on daring runs into the opposition half. the semi-finals saw Ñandú A against the boatmen again, and this time they were fired up by their captain toby Denholmsmith. the boys dug-deep and delivered a performance that they would be proud of. A quick score came from thiago Groba, whose position and running line was timed to perfection as he darted down the wing to score his first try for the club. Daniel Pérez converted,

Ñandú Rugby Club celebrates another memorable milestone

as player of the tournament, which was completely justified through his effort on the field. the club are very proud of his achievement and the continued development of his game. the club captain, Jacob oakenfold, also reached the final of the kicking tournament, ending as runner-up. it was a truly fine display by the fly-half. the final was between Ñandú A and Ñandú b. both teams were exhausted by the physi-

DesiGnAtion For GrAn cAnAriA

European Volleyball Championships Gran Canaria is to host a qualifying group for the next European Volleyball Championships. the island has been announced as the venue for a fourteam round robin tournament featuring spain, Germany, switzerland and moldova from september 23 to 25 to see which team qualifies directly for the european championships. the designation has delighted the canarian Volleyball Federation and the Gran canaria authorities, who anticipate that coverage of the tournament in spain and abroad, particularly in Germany, will provide the island with excellent publicity as a sporting venue. in addition to the group winner, the team that finishes second of the four will also qualify if they win a play-off against another second-placed team from another group. if the team is spain, the play-off will also be staged n in Gran canaria, on october 1.

Photo: tigger11th freedigitalphotos.net

46

Gran Canaria is to host a qualifying group for the next European Volleyball Championships

Ñandú under 18s were enormously proud to finish the 2015-2016 season as: undefeated league champions; league cup champions; copa canarias champions; canarian 7s champions; national tournament bronze cup Winners; and Adeje multi culThe Adeje side was strong in the scrums Ñandú registered two teams for the 23rd Canarian 7s Tournament

which gave the Ñandú boys a 7-0 lead. the boatmen replied instantly but failed to convert which meant Ñandú held on to a slender two point lead. in the second-half, Ñandú put together a string of passes through the back line which created space on the wings, and they never looked back. the final score was 17-10, and they were through to the final. Ñandú b were pitted against crull in their semi-final. the effects of sustained running were taking their toll on the university side, and coupled with a Ñandú team playing with their tails up, there could only be one winner. the Ñandú boys scored a plethora of silky tries which showed deft handling, pace and tactical nous to deliver the ball over

the try-line. six of the seven players touched down, with a final score of 47-0.

For Ñandú b, ricardo bernal was simply too hot to handle as he carved open defences and used his rocket pace to score four tries. He was voted

cal nature of 7s, but gave their all in a final which proved the pace of Ñandú b too much for the A’s. However, there was only one winner on saturday and that was the entire Ñandú rugby club and everyone involved.

tural team of the Year. this season will be the last for some familiar faces; Facundo Patsouris is moving to england to ply his trade in the ultra competitive under 18s league; edu Francoli will be playing with the older age

group, and Danila borisov will be moving to pastures new as he attends university.

Wingate teachers and coaches; Jamie Whelan and rachael Watson have also completed their third season with the club and will be moving to malawi and bournemouth respectively. they both want to express their gratitude to the committee for supporting them, the sponsors for providing everyone with opportunities, Wingate school for their endless assistance both financially and in terms of encouragement, and to the players for being the best group of young men that a coach and club could ask for. the end of season awards evening was a fitting finale, and was an emotional affair as goodbyes were said and memories shared. However, as with any end, there are new beginnings, and the club, now in the best shape it has ever been in, has a bright future ahead. new players are joining and new coaches will take the helm as we all look to an exciting future.

For further information on how to get involved in the club, please call Paul on 664 n 361 058.

3.6. 016 – 6.7. 016

FOOTBALL AND SPORTS NEWS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 774

47

cD teneriFe

Summertime in Santa Cruz

By Chris Todd However, our local side cD attracted attention from leices- ica with Honduras, will stay in ian rivals uD las Palmas on ter city in the Premiership (Villarreal and real betis are also in running) whilst goalkeeper

tenerife and a new deal should be signed any day now.

Players return for training on

tuesday July 26 in santa cruz with the return leg being played on thursday August 10. the

Photo: Casualito CC A-S A 4.0 IL

tenerife has been busy planning for the new season with up to nine new players being lined for the team. rumours abound regarding tenerife’s top players; young striker nano has

Photo: Vinotinto1000 CC A-S A 1.0 GL

With most football fans engrossed in Euro 2016 this summer the spotlight has been slightly taken off club football.

The return leg of the Mahou Cup will be played in Maspalomas due to work being carried out at the Gran Canaria stadium

Dani Hernández, currently playing well in the copa America, has turned down an offer from club Atlético Huracán. it is hoped that choco lozano, also playing in the copa Amer-

July 11 with the first friendly likely to be played on the island towards the end of July. the first real test of the pre-season will be the mahou cup match against la liga side and canar-

game in Gran canaria will be played in maspalomas due to work being carried out at the stadium in las Palmas.

Fixtures for the new season in the spanish first and second

division will be released on Friday July 15, with the new season starting on August 21. let’s see what the spanish cup has in store for cD tenerife this year or to be more precise, the cup draw. incredibly for the last seven years the team has been drawn away for the first round match (and have lost every game except one which was drawn but was lost on penalties). it is not just ueFA that seem to possess warm balls, allegedly, but here’s hoping tenerife can have a good cup run this time. the last decent run was back in 2004 when real madrid visited the island with michael owen. the first round is to be played on september 7. With the club’s presidential elections to be held on July 14 there certainly is a n lot going on.

nomADs Fc

Players needed for summer trips Sponsored by: Foreign Language News & www.windowsplus.co.uk Club Atlético Huracán had an offer turned down for Tenerife keep Dani Hernández

euro 2016

Struggling for games?

Pay-per-view TV has made it difficult for some to watch particular Euro 2016 games, with broadcasters only tending to show matches of national interest. to be sure of definitely watching a desired match, trust George’s restaurant & sports bar in el madroñal, costa Adeje. every remaining fixture will be shown across several large screens so you needn’t miss a minute of play!

George’s restaurant & sports bar will then close for holidays after the Finals and return for business on August 1. For further information, contact the bar on 922 717 613. n

You can rely on George’s Restaurant & Sports Bar in El Madroñal for all Euro 2016 games

The Nomads Football youth teams will go on football, cultural and fun trips to Granada and the Costa del Sol in early July 2016, and the following week they will participate in a UK competition against professional academy teams. these trips are an amazing opportunity for young players and provide them with excellent experience and enjoyment.

We still need a few players for the under 14s for the uK trip so please get in touch as soon as possible if you know of anyone interested in taking part in this opportunity. more info can be found at: www.nomadsfc. com. nomads Fc recently celebrated its end of season party which featured a Parents v children fun match. the club’s teams are looking for more players next season, so please contact us. the men’s 6-a-side division needs new teams for the summer 6s league so if you and

Everyone involved with Nomads FC is looking forward to a fun-packed summer

some friends want exercise and fun playing football why not get together and make a team to play every week at our field in los cristianos?

We are getting more requests to provide daytime football games and bookings for night time workers, so if you and your friends want to use our renovated pitch in los cristianos or organise a friendly game during the day, please contact us. big congratulations to nomads Fc under 8s, who in their first year of playing in the local league won the south tenerife league and cup double. it

was a wonderful achievement for all the boys, parents and coaches involved. nomads Fc are a brand new club helping young footballers in south tenerife. the sides play against spanish clubs that are over 50 years old while nomads is just one year old. they have already won the under 12s league last year and that team almost won the double but lost in the cup final, and now the under 8s have really achieved something special by winning the double in a very tough and competitive category. the young side has play-

ers from scotland, england, spain, sweden, russia and beyond, and we are delighted that we have players from so many different countries. if any tenerife based players would like to join nomads Fc next season please come along to one of our weekly training sessions or have a look at the teams on our website.

For more information visit: www.nomadsfc.com. Alternatively, email: info@premfs.com or visit: www.premfs.com. call/ message: +34 654 200 470.

Also visit our general website: n www.premfs.com.

48

PROMOTION

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 041