The Canary News, Views & Sunshine 100 Summer 2015

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SUMMER: LOVE GRAN CANARIA

Our favourite time of year in the land of sunshine and our little subtropical newspaper has reached its 100th edition. Sincere gratitude goes to all of you who have supported us over the years, contributed your news, images and opinons and to all the businesses with whom we we’ve done such great work, through good times and bad. Thank you too Sanna, Ulla, Marty & Yul, The Canary team who worked so hard to keep us moving forward and loving life on Gran Canaria, without you none of this could continue. See you after the summer! x

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

Canary Islands Holiday Home Rentals Law

The Canary Islands autonomous regional government has, on Friday May 22, approved the long awaited new decree regulating holiday homes in the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands Government Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ricardo Fernandez de la Puente

Casa Rural Natura Canaria Armas, said that “after months of work, together with associations, industry players and public institutions, we have finally arrived at a standard for the development of this activity on the islands.”

Not in existing Tourist Areas...

In a shock for some, who thought inevitable the inclusion of homes and apartments in established tourist areas, the new decree “expressly excludes from the scope of this regulation” areas that are already covered by the tourism laws, which were fully ratified in Madrid, and as specified in Article 3, “buildings in tourist zones that are within tourism developments or tourist areas, as well as tourist homes located in mixed residential developments or tourist developments, according to the definitions established by the existing Law 2/2013, of May 29, on renewal and modernization of Canaries tourism”.

Sonnenland Dog Park The townhall of San Bartolomé de Tirajana is building a dog agility enclosure for Sonnenland.

It will feature 12 agility obstacles and will be 40 m x 18 m in size.

Basically this means, that if your holiday apartment is in an already regulated area, then it is still prohibited for you to rent to tourists or anyone for short periods, usually of less than three to six months.

Carmen’s Maritime Procession A tourist bus crashed The very popular fiesta Virgin del Carmen boat procession is celebrated on July 19 in Mogán. the icon of the Virgen del Carmen, who is thought to protect all fishermen and seafarers, is carried from the chruch of Arguineguín to the harbour , then loaded onto a traditional fishing boat to be taken to Puerto Mogán with local VIPs and hundreds of other boats following along. Its a great day out and well worth getting yourself a ticket to join in. Bring your own refreshments.

Get a Yoga and Zumba Buzz!

Outdoor activity plans for ‘summer of 2015’ in Playa del Inglés are now well underway. This summer it’s all about sand and sea with zumba and yoga, positive events for personal development, held on the beach in the area of Annexo II shopping centre.

Every Friday during the months of June, July and August, between 09.00 – 10.30 there is to be morning yoga. Every Sunday, for the duration of the summer months until end of September, a ‘Beach Zumba Fitness’ workout will be held starting at 18.00, in the same busy beach area on the “Maspalomas Costa Canaria”.

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Editor-in-Chief: Edward JB Timon Editor@TheCanaryNews.com

into Gran Canaria airport’s departure terminal.

Initial reports said that the accident left a German tourist slightly injured having been showered in glass.

The injured person was transferred to the Insular Hospital of Gran Canaria

New GC500 roundabout for Bahia Feliz

public transport, traffic has been diverted through the urbanization.

The route is fully signposted.

Construction of a roundabout for the Bahia Feliz urbanization, on the south east coastal road, started last month with precautionary closure of both lanes of the GC-500 heading north, and the outside lane heading south.

To facilitate the transit of cars and

The construction of the roundabout at the entrance to the popular tourist and residential complexes of Bahia Feliz, had been requested for a long time by employers, workers and residents of the area. San Bartolomé de Tirajana, through the Tourism Rehabilitation Consortium for Maspalomas Costa Canaria, has invested € 294,517.95 in the construction of the roundabout.

The work is expected to last at least until the end of September

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Speaking about the Zona Especial de Canarias project André says “It’s not just about saving taxes, it’s also about creating jobs.” André has recently set-up Intrahouse Spain, employing several young computer graduates to work alongside his other teams in Norway, California and Belarus. “The really good thing about the ZEC is that it is approved by the European Commission in Brussels,” he points out “and it is made to create jobs in this remote part of Europe.”

Of course the type of skill-sets that Intrahouse and Otech need are very much outside the reach of most job seekers in a place like this, but the key message here is that diversifying the types of industry that operate on the island is being seen more and more as a possible way to ensure that the island’s future is not solely dependant on the fluctuations of one industry. And with diversity, comes opportunity, whether that be management of ideas, or service provision for the new types of worker who are being attracted to the islands, a broader future can be envisaged. That brings hope and more ways to earn a living.

Back in May, Spanish national channel TVE1´s 60 minutes programme broadcast a special feature exploring Las Palmas and the island of Gran Canaria’s bid to promote itself as the primary tri-continental gateway between Europe, America and Africa.

This is a subject very dear to us here at The Canary News, Views & Sunshine, as it involves the future potential of this island in a way that goes far beyond the established tourism model. Featured in the ten minute segment were just some of the outstanding characters on whom we have reported over the last couple of years, including Odd Are Tveit, CEO of OTECH Marine Services (who have most recently been engaged to try and seal the leaks polluting the waters around the sunken Oleg Naydenov) and a fellow Norwegian computing guru, mobile business evangelist André Eidskrem of Intrahouse, both of whom were interviewed about their choice to set up a business hub here. Both men are participants, and have been key note speakers at our partner project, Gran Canaria Business Week, the convention for unconventional entrepreneurs, which happens at the very start of January every year on the south of the island and in the capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

It seems that a paradigm shift is occurring in this beautiful and distant subtropical corner of Europe, where those who think outside the continental box are finding innovative methods, as André puts it, of Shaping The Odds not only in their own favour, but to the direct benefit of the island´s economy.

Through organisations like The West African Cities Network unique links are being made with communities and business people who seek to improve opportunities in their localities, and models of democraticaly governed development and key infrastructure are actively being discussed to broaden the horizons of both The Canary Islanders and West African entrepreneurs so as to work together and play to each other’s strengths, bringing northern european businessmen into an evolving sphere of new challanges, emerging markets and previously remote popultations, including both work forces and consumers.

The outgoing Mayor of Las Palmas, Juan José Cardona, has expressed his sincere pride that the Gran Canaria capital is being finally realised as a key destination for business infrastructures servicing a global trade network. International players and executives bear witness to the island’s unique positioning under what is now the most attractive tax regime in all Europe, comparing very favourably to Luxembourg, Ireland and Malta amoung others also known previously for their incentives to big business.

It seems years of positivism and relentless constructive action is starting to result in tangible changes to the island economy, based for so long in simple tourism and agricultural. Gran Canaria´s future, it seems, is as the hub of an extraordinary range of service sectors which benefit from very favourable ZEC tax incentives, coupled with skilled workers and the best climate in the world, both for making money and building business on a global scale.

The Zona Especial Canaria is now seen by many as the key location in Europe to set up new business, and develop established models to deal with the world’s emerging markets.

Of course it can´t hurt either that the sun always shines on Gran Canaria. .

Watch the video on TheCanaryNews.com

'HFN 3OD\ One of the many projects being tackled by Intrahouse Spain is team building and creating a process whereby new projects can be planned, developed and then brought to market using some of the latest entreprenurial techniques. Deck2Play, the brainchild

of tech guru Todd Michael Heater, after months of programming, is the first of their products nearing readiness to come to market. To fund this fun idea, which is in essence a highly versatile app for playing a multitude of card games, they are looking at

crowdfunding sources like Kickstarter, whereby they will invite a multitude of small investers to help get their project going. If successful in bringing their work to market, they will have done more than stack the deck in their own favour for card games, they will also have proven the concept of direct egalitarian investment in people producing opportunities that can lead directly to profit; and that is a very powerful idea. Any team that manages to launch a newly developed project of this sort, could foreseeably turn their hands to anything, and therin lies their opportunies for future development. In less than a year, Intrahouse Spain might well have created a winning formula for the future, as well as a series of self propelling prospects that can adapt to any given task...

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS Saturday June 13th was an important day across the islands as all the newly elected mayors and municipal councils were being sworn into office after last month’s local elections. Now that they have, the work of deciding who won the regional elections can commence to see who will lead the island councils (cabildos) and the regional Government of The Canary Islands.

Known as the day of ‘pleno de constitución de la nueva Corporación Municipal‘ (full inauguration of the new municipal corporation), this is the day when all the candidates for mayor and the elected representatives decide who among them it is that will lead the local council, and its various areas of responsibility, over the coming four years.

Once the public votes were in after the May 24th local elections, representatives had a total of 20 days to form the necessary alliances to vote on the new councils and their leaders. Most achieved coalitions, though there are some who have formed minority governments, without the majority support of their fellow representatives to be able to guarantee outcomes to their manifesto promises. Time will tell how each of these councils will play out.

With seismic shifts having occurred across Spain, where the conservative national ruling party (PP) lost their absolute majorities and control of councils in more than half of all major towns and cities, with only a few exceptions, fresh

coalitions galore have emerged with many newcomers being elected into local government; municipal councils throughout the country have seemingly broken the previous bipartisan (two party) model, with a plethora of newly formed local parties, several of whom are strongly allied to the newly emerging politics of Spain, notably driven by independent parties keeping step with newcomers Podemos, the unequivocal rising star of Spanish politics.

Podemos, Spanish for ‘We Can’ were only formed as an official party in March of last year, surprising everyone by winning European parliamentary seats to represent Spain. Instead of trying to push themselves as a national brand in the local elections, they instead encouraged their supporters in each region to form their own independent parties, aligned with the Podemos school of thought, namely transparency and integrity over all things.

Podemos inspired mayoral candidates and councillors have gone on to be selected in many of the largest towns throughout Spain, notably in both Madrid and Barcelona, as well as Zaragoza, Badalona, Cádiz, Santiago de Compostela and A Coruña; supported by other left wing parties including PSOE, the traditional party in opposition to the PP under the two party system that has been manifest for nearly 40 years. Even Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s usually conservative electorate have been divided, leading to a left wing coalition in city hall, which includes the Podemos option LP Puede.

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Podemos-led councils now control the daily lives of nearly 6 million Spaniards, with serious implications of course expected in the outcomes of the general election later this year. It will be interesting to see how this plays out over the coming 6 months, and how the old structures stand up against this highly dynamic new force in Spanish politics.

Throughout the Canary Islands, also, a distinct shift to the left was clear, nowhere more so than on Gran Canaria; though the archipelago remains very much in the hands of regionalist parties and influences, PSOE and Podemos have both gained some serious traction.

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Check out our full list of municipal mayors elected on Gran Canaria at: http://is.gd/CanaryLocalElections

The best private hospital in the Canary Islands (Ranking of the Spanish healthcare system)

Although the regional pact between regionalists CC and PSOE failed in seven municipalities throughout the archipelago, sources from both parties dismissed the idea of that having immediate consequences in negotiations to form the next government of the Canary Islands.

The PP lost 8 of their mayors on Gran Canaria, notably the capital Las Palmas, the island’s second city Telde, and the popular tourist municipality of Mogán in the south west.

The wealthy southern municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, which includes the well known tourist destinations of Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés, renewed their mandate of existing PP-AV mayor, Don Marco Aurelio Pérez, one of the few mayors in Spain to enjoy an absolute majority, however the electorate also tempered his administration with two complete newcomers from the local Podemos option, San Bartolomé También Puede.

This is an extraordinarily interesting year in Spanish politics, where the new series of coalitions has lead to the expectation of potential confusions, as well as the possibility of a wholly more representative model of governance, at least for now at the local level.

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UD Las Palmas

promotion dreams come true Las Palmas V Real Zaragoza 21/6/15 After losing the first round final away in Zaragoza 3-1, Las Palmas needed at least a 2-0 score to win the play off final and make it back into the first division after a 13 year absence.

Due to stadium changes, the capacity was reduced to just over 28,000 and tickets were snapped up days after going on sale.

For big games here, its traditional that the fans greet the team bus and show their support to the players before the kick off. I got the the stadium around 3pm, 3 hrs before KO and already it felt like there were 28,000 fans waiting. The atmosphere was amazing and any team with this support would want to repay their fans and get the all important win.

Bounou in the Zaragoza goal produces a great save. That looked like a goal all the way there!!

Midway through the 1st half, LP are doing all the attacking with Zaragoza content to get men behind the ball and just defend their lead. 21mins in and the first chance for Zaragoza, from a corner, the big defender Rico raises the highest but see’s his header crash against the bar, we were lucky!

On 58mins, a Zaragoza defender slips which again lets Araujo in but the referee awards a free kick for a foul though it was a slip, lucky escape there for the away team.

68mins, and corner for LP sees the captain David Gracia hit the bar with a powerful header, really unlucky!

A moment of crazy on 70mins sees Casto in the home goal give away a free kick by handling the ball just outside his box. Luckily for the home team, the resulting free kick flies straight at the wall and the ball is cleared.

On 33mins, a good flowing move which includes a great flick by Aruajo puts Roque clear on the edge of the box, he slams his shot With just five minutes to go LP win a free kick, into the bottom corner and the stadium goes the ball is played into the box where Lopez wild, 1-0 Las Palmas! beats the keeper and flicks it to the far post The 37th minute and another good chance for where Gracia somehow pulls the ball back to After the players coach passed, we made our the home team, but this time Araujo’s header the other post giving Araujo just enough time goes just wide. to slam the ball home, 2-0 LP!!!! The fans go way to a local bar to refresh the voicebox into a frenzy, with an extra 5mins of injury ready for the big match. We arrived inside the HT - Las Palmas 1 Real Zaragoza 0. Good time to play out the home team hold firm ground with still 1/2hr to KO but the stadium first half for the home team and they have was full already. The atmosphere was electric. changed their tactics compared to the 1st leg, and finally the crowd can celebrate their hard earned promotion to the land of La Liga. they are moving the ball quicker to the front The crowd were in great voice singing the men and this is causing Zaragoza plenty of This was the perfect end to a long season clubs official hymn and the Las Palmas song, problems. which saw LP start very promisingly and “Yellow is my colour”. maintain the top 2 position until the last few 2nd half continues in the same way with the The match started very brightly for LP with games of the season, but this year manage them winning a couple of corners in the first home team having all the play and on 53mins to get there. Finally home 8hrs later with Araujo breaks clear, slotting the ball home few minutes. A good move by LP down the no voice but plenty of great memories of an only to see the lineman flag, to rule the goal right wing and a dangerous cross, but the excellent day, PIO PIO . Roll on August 15th & offside. 2mins later another good shot by ball was just cleared by the last defender. the start of the new season when we will see Araujo but this time a good save keeps him On 16mins, LP are awarded a free kick in a the likes of Messi, Ronaldo and more of the out. dangerous position about 25yards out, but true greats in Spanish football on the island!

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Our annual and extraordinary epic walk across the Island to to raise funds and awareness in support of International Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the outstanding work undertaken by the independant Canarian Breast Cancer Association, the ACCM, is a little over 3 months away.

The Long Walk 2015, our fourth edition, will once more cross mountains and rough terrain going coast to coast from the port town of Agaete, on the north of Gran Canaria, over the highest peak, Pico de Las Nieves, through some of the wildest and most beautiful countryside anywhere in the world to finish once more at the Dunes of Maspalomas.

Supporting us once more in this mammouth act of solidarity will be the senior resort managers from Thomson Holidays and TUI, the largest tour operator in the world, who will be joined on the last day, for the third year running, by the entire resort team for Gran Canaria and as many others who want to show their solidarity with this great cause.

Last year, the English speaking residents of Gran Canaria raised a whopping €24,000 for the charity, a much underfunded association run by real cancer sufferers and supporting not just vicitms of the desease but those nearest to them, through their trials and treatment in the fight against cancer.

This year the long walk will be over three days (Sept 30th - Oct 2nd) and follow much of th route of the TransGranCanaria from Agaete to Maspalomas. We will soon have more information about this year’s walk and how you can participate, in the meanwhile you can check photos and videos from the previous years at .

TheLongWalk.es

Do something extraordinary, join us and walk in solidarity, one step at the time, we can cross mountains.

Terms & Conditions apply: Racing Federation rules stipulate that personal indemnity & insurance is obligatory before being able to enter the pit area or drive our racing cars. Available onsite for €20 and valid for the whole day. Contact us for more info.

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El Peri贸dico Ingl茅s de Gran Canaria

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UNA MUJER LIBRE Summer

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Fatima Yrayzoz has, over the last eleven years in The Canary Islands, placed herself at the forefront of LGBT discourse, and the many surrounding events. She brandishes a fierce commitment to social justice and a vocal belief in direct accountability.

Of Basque blood, she was born in the ancient urban-marine melting pot of Cádiz, a fortressed merchant city of Phoenician origins, “a narrow spit of land hemmed in by the sea”, it is thought to be the oldest and longest standing, continuously settled area of Spain, if not the most ancient city in all Europe.

She began with what she describes as “a lovely experience in Fuerteventura”, working on a local TV Channel, after which she found a place with the respected Canarian daily La Provincia, covering the South of Gran Canaria, and picking up freelance work, with the local town hall, as press liaison for the world famous International Carnaval de Maspalomas.

Discovering that the primary annual LGBT event in The Canary Islands is run by GLAY, a small underfunded Cádiz is steeped in colourful tales of vast riches, Spanish gold, association of volunteers magical monoliths, fiery battles waged, victories, ransoms and and local businesses, from razings to the ground; distinguished warriors, extraordinary the Playa del Inglés Yumbo seamanship; a history of siege and plunder, piracy and commercial centre, she rebellion; and as the birthplace of the Spanish constitution of introduced herself to the 1812, the most liberal of its time, through which principles like event organisers, as a universal suffrage, freedom of the press, land reform and free competent journalist, herself enterprise established the beginnings of a political revolution on lesbian, bilingual and able which much of Spain’s modern democracy is now built. to offer them professional services never, she says, As well as being a primary Atlantic base for the Spanish previously employed in the Armada, for centuries and to this day, Cádiz is thought of as promotion of PRIDE. most typical of Al-andalusian heritage.

Endowed with irreverent eyes, fortitude and a distinct sense of purpose, anyone who has met her will attest to Fatima´s longing fervency. Perhaps Cádiz being practically an island is the reason she is such an avid lover of the beachlands and the sea.

Since childhood, Fátima says, she has known journalism was in her heart. At eighteen she “most wanted to be a journalist and a free woman.” The radical image of Spanish female empowerment, those armed civil war Mujeres Libres of the 30s, is not lost on her; organising resistance, profoundly shifting society as they brought brute-forcing-fascists to task, making them yield and take note. Few who meet her fail to take note.

After studying at Complutense University in Madrid, well renowned as one of the oldest and best in the world, she was lucky enough to get work with some of the most well known mass media organisations in Spain, global groups like PRISA, as well as national broadcast institutions Cadena SER Madrid, and Canal Plus television; where she honed her skills and learned her trade, imbuing her with a world-view not often gifted to young journalists straight out of college. While in Madrid, she took a fancy too to the world of cinema, producing several short films, and creating various types of publicity, working with video production.

“I dreamed of becoming a war journalist, that was my dream.”

Years later she says meeting Julio Anguita had a profound influence on her, as did his 2003 death while embedded with the US army in Iraq.

El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

The then vice-president of GLAY (and later president) Paul Barnes put a lot of trust in her and she was employed to work for for the association over the next three years.

“I worked as press liaison, but tried also to promote greater numbers of Spanish and Canarian people to participate” on the basis that using the name ‘Maspalomas’ for a PRIDE event of this type, made clear to her that it was destined to become much more than simply a “YUMBO show for foreign visitors.”

She was adamant that PRIDE start to protect intellectual property and ensure this community event was not left open to commercial abuses like so many volunteer led events of this kind have been elsewhere.

She found herself, not long afterwards, on a small subtropical island off the coast of Africa, Gran Canaria, where she discovered a partner, friend, everything, for her the greatest For the PRIDE pool parties bounty of these fortunate islands, her love Anabel, a professional she selected juries, for the photographer and artist, becoming a formidable team.

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Mr Gay Gran Canaria Competitions, made up of highly relevant and distinguished Spanish personalities, pushing too for higher profile lesbian activities to come out and be better represented, “because PRIDE has to be for all, for LGBT community”. She admits feeling often out-numbered and sometimes embattled among many foreign men, each attempting to push their own agendas. She held her own, and helped shape the way forward.

“My first PRIDE was one of my favourite achievements, a production with a team of gay men, all of them speaking in English;” she sparkles “I felt like Snow White!”

She went on to create Visible Magazine, the island’s first regular newspaper LGBT tourism supplement. Making it a reality demonstrated that LGBT news is much, much more than simply sex and whimsy; Fatima presented a professional perspective on the LGBT community. It was created alongside La Provincia, whose director showed faith in the idea and gave Fatima the space to develop its focus, it became the first regular LGBT commentary published, in both Spanish and English, by the newspaper. It remains a cultural focal point for Spanish speakers, crossing boundaries and influencing table talk along with vigorous social narrative.

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thanks to Yumbo businesses, but city hall do not control it enough, and without controlled numbers and proper support, there will never be the right kinds of good feedback, safety or professionalism to help promote PRIDE in the tourist markets” “In terms of promotion” she says “we have made major steps forward, but none of us can relax; Maspalomas, as an LGBT tourist destination, has to lead the field, not simply sit under the Gran Canaria brand umbrella.”

This year The Canary Islands have demonstrated excellent homegrown campaigns of real merit, at least one of which Fatima participated in, she argues that Maspalomas, as a family, golf or spa product, of course has its place, but as an LGBT destination, it is unparalleled.

Promotion, she says, of this has to come directly from Maspalomas, as this was the very first beach and sun destination to be openly “gay friendly”, now boasting more than a dozen gay-exclusive hotels and of course the Yumbo, since 1982 Europe’s very first LGBT commercial complex and openly proud community catering to the gay tourist. Maspalomas Costa Canaria is the driving force behind the Gran Canaria “Gayfriendly” brand. GLAY is their direct link to the community.

She wants to see city hall protecting people’s rights, alongside business associations, ‘gay friendly’ businesses, and adultonly hotels. She points to the leaps and bounds being made in Fuerteventura, where the head of the tourist board is also openly gay. The balance between social politics and business “Events using the name PRIDE must is very important, especially here where there are so many business run by foreign residents. Working together is a must. never become simply another Over the next 5 years she says she would like to see carnival, LGBT issues placed on the agenda at the same level as controlled and all heterosexual issues, where the economics and cultural manufactured importance of unified representative groups are looked at for by town halls. their own merits, rather than as a charitable token gesture PRIDE never towards a group that are not taken seriously enough as forgets the word business people, professionals and ambassadors for culture PRIDE. “ and creativity, let alone fully functioning members of society.

“The freedom Fatima likes that many people consider her as a professional shown, in the first, an enthusiastic, imposing persona, “I have Vasca blood, south during PRIDE that is why I really trust in honour and punctuality, but my week, is not the real general humour, as a southern woman, is that you must enjoy situation the rest of the year, life.” outside of the Yumbo, in San Fernando, on the streets, in Her gut response to what we can expect to see from schools, there is important work this Spanish quintuple election year displays her mind’s to do around the subject of sexual exasperation with the issues “Uff! I would like to see new orientation, about respect in society.” people, new faces, young people in politics, people prepared to

She is adamant that an important event like PRIDE “can not be just in foreign hands, with people who don’t even use the Spanish language, and particularly should not be controlled by people who do not even belong to the LGBT community.”

Fatima bristles while admitting “the event runs

represent us with integrity.”

“I consider myself a free woman,” she says, como una Mujer Libre “free to live my sexuality. I have the honour to work on the themes that I most love, though I am probably too transparent…

I don’t have many faces.” Fatima simply says what she means, and that is something she can truly be most proud of... . . © Edward Timon

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PASSING OFF

representatives has done some rather amazing work over the last two years in particular having managed to all but erradicate its debts incurred under previous management, and provide real hope for the future in Maspalomas.

Unfortunately it seems a pair of “businessmen”, have been trying to take advantage of this group by GLAY Maspalomas, the Gay & acting rather questionably, while Lesbian Association of Yumbo & supposedly in GLAY’s service; Maspalomas, has already started registering domain names and preparing celebrations for its 15th trademarks as their own personal PRIDE in Maspalomas along property, and using heavy with the local town hall who have handed tactics to try and bully the helped to nurture the event from its association in to working in ways inception. Next year’s event looks that stand against democratic to be a real cause for celebration decision making, simply for their too, with this volunteer-led own profit. They’ve even launched community organisation looking a rival event under the pretence like it will return to profitability for of having GLAY’s support. What the first time in a decade. shameful behaviour, will the This unique associtaion, with community stand up to bullies, or its democratically elected will sharp practice win the day...? management committee of

El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

RS Sonocom was started in Gran Canaria 25 years ago by an audio engineer named Rafa. He has been one of the main supporters of large municipal events here for years, and his business these days is run by his sons, Paulo, Eduardo and Oliver, who continue not only as one of the most cutting edge audio visual outfits anywhere in Spain, but they also offer their services for a huge range of activities from Carnival to stage shows, catwalks and conferences as well as supporting a bewildering array of charities and good causes. They are true stars of the Gran Canaria community.

Oliver, who runs most of the shows, seems to cultivate his father’s talent for getting along with people and ensuring the best possible service to their clients. No wonder he is in such high demand.

They have been supporting major events like PRIDE and the Breast Cancer Charity ACCM since their very beginnings and were it not for their community spirit and worlclass levels of professionalism many of the really good deeds done on this island would really not be possible.

Their technical excellence at events is, in our experience, unparrallelled, and as a thank you to them we wanted to tell you a little about what they do, just in case you ever need help from the best...

Concerts - Sound and lighting for concerts, everything from a small traditonal folk groups to major international stars, they have worked with customers that demand the very best sound and staging, always using the top brands available in the market.

Conferences - Gatherings of hundreds and thousands of people who need to hear what a speaker’s says, RS Sonocom make sure of it.

Everything from projections to sound equipment, cameras, simultaneous translation equipment, no matter what the requirements; they can.

Presentations - Product presentations for the public or any industry.

Public engagements - Every kind of event its own requirements, even if there are common elements to all of them. That is why RS Sonocom plan every job for the best results. At public engagements, it is of paramount importance that everything runs smoothly.

Technical staff - The RS Sonocom team is entirely made up of fully qualified and certified personnel. It comprises experts in the installation, assembly, maintenance and use of the most advanced sound, image and lighting equipment available in the world today.

Simultaneous translation - They offer everything necessary to make a complete success out of any conference or presentation in which speakers and an audience of different languages participate.

Infrastructure - RS Sonocom have a wide range of experience installing large frameworks for all sorts of events, such as concerts and carnival stages, stands at fairs, weddings, parties, events of all sizes etc.

You can sincerely count on their team and their expertise to give you the highest levels of support for any event, regardless of your needs.

Lomo de Maspalomas, 152 Bajo 35100 Maspalomas

Gran Canaria Tel: +34 928 77 62 14 Fax: +34 928 76 17 43 Email: info@rssonocom.com www.RSSonocom.com

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28˚ Culture Editor - Daniel Dixon

The Canary News, Views & Sunshine

Telde - Las Palmas & Gran Canaria North 28degrees@TheCanaryNews.com

The best example of this kind of geological formation on Gran Canaria. A set of prismatic stone figures that are battered by the ocean, which is drawn in through an underwater hollow and expelled through another. You can often view rainbows as the water is expelled through the sunshine. El Bufadero can be found on the La Garita promenade. The name El Bufadero comes from the Spanish verb “bufar” which translates to “snort” the sound heard as the sea moves through the formation.

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

What is your favourite route?

For me it has to be our round the island day, as it incorporates the amazing West What made you decide to leave the UK, Coast Road from move to GC and set up this business?

Agaete down to My partner Martin owns a Motorcycle Training School in Aldea then onto the UK, and after a particularly cold winter in a freezing car park Mogán. I wish it in Manchester, he said never again!!! This coincided with the chance for would re-open for my own voluntary redundancy. I had worked in the UK Civil Service for motorcycles again; nearly 20 years so it was now or never really. soon though. In the How long have you been living in GC now? meantime we love We have just celebrated our 2 year anniversary. I can’t believe it has roads around Santa been 2 years already and it has been wonderful.

Lucia, especially You live in the Piletillas near Telde, Joy & Martin the GC550 from what made you decide to live there?

Canary Motorcycle Tours Santa Lucia to We wanted to live away from the resorts so we could learn the language Agüimes. Martin’s favourite has to be the road from Artenara to Aldea and immerse ourselves in the Canarian way of life. However, we live which is absolutely fantastic. on “probably” the smallest road on the island next to a Swede who What’s the best thing about your job? speaks perfect English, as do most of our neighbours. We haven’t The views, the riding, the scenery and of course meeting so many mastered the language yet but we keep on learning and have lessons wonderful people who come over to Gran Canaria especially for the each week, slowly but surely. The area is great and the locals are very riding - they think we have the best jobs in the world, and they’re right friendly. We think we are ideally situated, close to the airport and 20/25 too. minutes away from both the South and the capital so its perfect for us.

What’s the best thing about living in The Canary Islands?

Of course the proximity to the mountains is the main reason - literally The lifestyle is very relaxed and laid back which is wonderful after two minutes and you are on the windy and twisty roads and riding on the having a very stressful job in the Civil Service for so long but it has best roads for motorcycles we have ever been on. to be the people. Everyone we have met, whether they are ex-pats or Tell us more about Canary Motorcyle Tours. locals, have been kind, supportive and so very friendly. Oh!!! Did I We provide everything from day rides for visitors in the resorts, looking mention the weather is good too. to have time away from the pool to two week inter-Island visits when we ride Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. However, our For more information about Canary Motorcyle Tours, most popular tours are our week long rides on Gran Canaria. With several please visit their website different full day rides to choose, everyday is different. We provide the bikes, fuel, insurance, jackets, gloves and helmets, so people can just www.canarymotorcycletours.com arrive and ride. We have had some amazing feedback and we Telephone numbers wereeven featured in the national UK Ride magazine +44 (0)7738 529 487 recently. That was great fun. or +34 616 611 287

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Gran Canaria enjoys some of the most amazing mountain roads in the world; smooth ribbons of tarmac through an ever-changing series of gorges, peaks, forests and lakes that will simply take your breath away. And we’ve found two people who know how to make it even more thrilling. Meet Canary Motorcycle Tours...

RIDING THE ISLANDS

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Swimwear in The Canary Islands Here comes the sun on our beautiful island, we normally have great weather most of the year but this year it was a longer and colder winter on the islands. Now that the first rays of sun are breaking through, we are more than ready to start going to the beach to recharge our batteries on the sand.

We begin with Gran Canaria Swimwear Fashion Week 2015. This year the international swimwear catwalk in Gran Canaria is between 18 to 20 June 2015 and is part of Gran Canaria Moda Calida.

The event is an opportunity for different Canarian, Spanish and international designers to present their latest collections.

The Canary Islands have a wealth of exciting and talented designers and this month we would like to introduce you to a couple of them.

Aurelia Gil Aurelia Gil’s collection for this summer is inspired by corsets and surfwear with sophisticated aesthetics, neoprene, grids, and high-end lycra. The color range focuses on khaki and earth colours. www.aureliagil.com

Nieves Barroso

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This local designer makes very comfortable swimwear. For this years summer collection, she has utilised lace and silk, and predominantly nude tones. Billowing silhouettes, lightweight fabrics that are illuminated with sophistication and embroidered with beads and swarovski crystals.

In her male collection, Nieves opts for comfort, with cotton, lycra and the freshness of linen that give form to shorts, baggy pants and pareos. www.nievesbarroso.com For more information about Gran Canaria Swimwear Fashion Week, please visit their website www.grancanariamodacalida.es/

MODA CALIDA #GCMC

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HOT SWIMWEAR FASHION WEEK JULIET KIM BATES

GRAN CANARIA 2015

Guests from across Europe gathered for Gran Canaria Moda Calida: Swimwear Fashion Week. Runway shows competing on a global level, with the very latest swimwear collections trending for summer 2016.

Designers, fashionistas, opinion makers, bloggers, journalists and models mingled with global brands and industry players for what is certainly the hottest ticket on the summertime circuit, and the only subtropical Fashion Week in Europe.

Dolores CortĂŠs: inspired by rainforest, infuses florals with animal prints encapsulating a tropical feel throughout her collection. Using light patterned fabrics for maxi dresses and colorful lycras for swimsuits and bikinis. This collection was cool and fresh.

Theme: Tropical

Key items: Shoulder tie maxi dress cover up. Coral ruched bikini.

Colours: Aqua, fuchsia, white, coral, blue, pink, purple.

Print and Pattern: Florals, Swirls and animal print.

Trims and materials: Lycra and cotton.

Gottex: created a colourful lineup.

Offering two-piece bikinis in strikingly patterned Lycra fabrics, which complimented floaty kimonos and dresses.

Chic but elegant shiny Lycra one-piece swimsuits followed and monokinis teamed with shiny gold accessories.

Theme: Romantic and dreamy meets chic.

Key Items: White and Gold plunge swimsuit, chiffon dress, and Shiny Lycra monokini.

Colour: Fuchsia, White, Pale blue, Raspberry cream, Pink, Purple, Black

Print and Pattern: Chevron stripes, Vintage florals.

Trims and Materials: Lycra, Crochet, chiffon,

Aurelia Gil: with boundless creativity, this fun edgy designer showed us the ultimate in swimwear-chic with a safari twist! Low cut Lycra swimsuits, visors and sneakers, this was the quirkiest and most fun collection yet. As the safari bongo drums played the models were clearly strutting happy.

Theme: Safari Kenya

Key Items: Culotte shorts, white Lycra playsuit, High waisted buttoned skirt, Criss cross mono, PVC Maxi skirt with metal ring detail and jumpsuit.

Prints and patterns: Plain/neutral

Trims and materials: PVC, Lycra, Calico, Cotton, and Metal.

The English Newspaper Agua Bendita: a bold collection featuring strong prints and designs. Material tied fringes and trims adorned bikinis and crop tops, bringing us up to date to beyond 2015.

Plunge neck swimsuits tied with intricate lacing.

Eye-catching from the get-go.

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Banana Moon: a mixture of Aztec, block and floral patterns to created the most variety out of all the collections. Accessorized with straw beach bags and hats the collection definitely brought a mix and match beach inspired theme.

Theme: Holiday

Key items: Aztec bikini, Fringe Floral Bikini.

Colour: Jade green, orange, black, white and turquoise.

Print and patterns: Aztec, floral and block.

Trims and materials: Lycra, fringe, chiffon and Jersey.

Theme: Patterns

Theme: Fashion forward

Colour: Mixture, Kaki, Blues, Pinks, whites, turquoise, purple.

Carlos San Juan: Pure fashion for those addicts among us.

San Juan’s latest screams sex appeal featuring a twist on the bandage bikini; bold solid colours gave this collection an eye popping clean-cut look.

The men’s swimwear complimented the ladies offering his and hers style for any couple who love to match.

Key items: Bandage bikini and colour block briefs.

Print and patterns: Army print, abstract and stripes.

Colours: Jade, purple, green, blue.

Trims and materials: Fringe, Cotton and Lycra.

Print and patterns: Plain Trims and materials: Bandage wrap

Lenita and XTG: Now two of the biggest swimwear designers in Europe, this home gown Canarian swimwear label did not disappoint! Celebrating their 30th anniversary they came complete with a full on runway party.

Models wore high cut crystal swimsuits, studded bikinis and patterned leggings ranging from beach to sportswear. Serenaded by two male vocalists they owned the runway, party in full flight. Style and theme turned to Rio carnival and their models were allowed to have a little fun showing off their dance moves, along with these latest design offerings for next year, their thirty-first summer season.

Theme: Carnival in Rio

Key items: Crystal Swimsuit, studded bandage bikini, Lycra shorts, hooded top and Indian headdresses.

Colours: Mixture

Prints and patterns: skulls, studs, sheer panels, stripes, zig zags and Aztec.

Trims and materials: Lycra, spandex and cotton.

Check out the highlights of this year’s outstanding show on our website: TheCanaryNews.com/ModaCalida

© Rob Davis Photography

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

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Real Estate Agents in Gran Canaria

selling and renting property since 1980

Gran Canaria Property Viewing Trips

Cardenas Real Estate is proud to announce an exclusive offer: viewing trips where your accommodation is free when you buy a property.

The benefits of a Cardenas viewing trip • • • •

•

Viewing trips are a great way to see a wide selection of property in a short period of time.

As members of the BOICAN shared property database we can show you almost any property on sale in south Gran Canaria during your trip.

Our highly trained real estate agents speak nine languages and know the Gran Canaria property market better than anyone.

Once you choose a property you know that we’ll take care of the paperwork. With over 35 years of experience in south Gran Canaria and over 465 published testimonials, we are the island’s most recommended agency.

If you buy a property through us during your trip, we’ll refund the cost of your accommodation.

Reserve your viewing trip today

Reserve your viewing trip today: just contact us with your requirements and available dates and we’ll confirm availability right away.

Why summer?

Summer is the best time to view property in Gran Canaria and here are the four reasons why: • • • •

It’s low season in Gran Canaria so our agents have more time to dedicate to showing you the best range of property Prices are lower as owners don’t expect to sell during the summer and are more willing to negotiate.

There’s more choice because properties don’t sell as fast during the summer.

Flights to Gran Canaria are cheaper during the summer.

Terms and conditions

The accommodation we offer is at our Sea Breeze apartments in Agua la Perra in Puerto Rico (New Puerto Rico). Fully renovated in 2014 it has great views and a sunny pool surrounded by

wooden decking.

Check more details at: FB.com/SeaBreezeGranCanria

Offer valid for viewing trips between April and September 2015, and subject to availability.

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POSITIVE CHANGE TRANSFORMATION THERAPY Do you ever wonder why no matter how hard you try to change habits the result can be very disappointing?

Do you despair at the way things always seem to happen to you rather than for you?

Every day we go through our lives doing the same things, following the same patterns often with the same negative outcomes regardless of how hard we try.

The default setting in our mind is to protect ourselves and to preserve our well-being.

However, life experiences can create negative feelings about ourselves or others.

Our behaviour and thoughts can be learned through a variety of ways. Whether it is how we were raised by our parents, taught by our teachers, influenced by our friends and peers or just through our day to day experiences.

The negative experiences can continue to trouble us throughout our lives and colour our view of the world.

Have you struggled with your confidence or become anxious in situations when you know there is no foundation for those feelings?

The good news is that these beliefs DO NOT have to be permanent and that this negativity can be transformed.

Kevin O’Brien from Positive Change uses Transformation Therapy to help you view past events with clarity and, with your own worldly experience, can change this negativity into

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positive thoughts and feelings. By analysing your experiences, you can see the causes and be able to re-evaluate and dismantle it. This will result in a deep sense of freedom and increased confidence.

Kevin will teach you to reach inside and make a Positive Change to your life with his Transformation Therapy.

You can become the person that you have always known is within you and has been hidden away for so long... who you DESERVE to be!

El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

Kevin trained under Dr. John Butler at the Hypnotherapy Institute of Britain and after a term as President of the Irish Hypnotherapy Association (IHA) he has now relocated his practice to Gran Canaria.

It is now possible for the Residents of Gran Canaria to avail of this remarkable Therapy and become the person you have always known that you can be.

Contact Kevin on 666 312 230 to make an appointment or visit www.positivechangehypnotherapy.com for more information.

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There aren’t many as nice as Nisa!

We really only recommend one Car Hire company in The Canary Islands.

Book through their website Top-Car-Hire.com for the very best deals and prices anywhere on Gran Canaria. Then go see Nisa in Maspalomas, and she’ll simply make your day!

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Twitters from the Atlantic

ISLAND PRIDE © Barrie Mahoney

that respect and acceptance are not concepts yet shared across the world. The rainbow flag remains the centrepiece of the celebrations to remember those people across the world that still suffer from appalling discrimination and cruelty.

Maspalomas Pride seeks to celebrate and give thanks for the freedoms enjoyed in Spain and the Canary Islands, as well as other countries that respect this equality. This event was one of the biggest Pride events ever seen on the island, with more than 80,000 visitors and residents lining the parade route.

Visitors often ask me why Gran Canaria, which is the third largest Canary Island by landmass, has become such a draw for gay and lesbian tourists. Gran Canaria has a well-deserved reputation for inclusivity and equality that has embraced gay and lesbian visitors for many years. People of all races, colour and religions live and work on the island and, in the main, happily coexist together. It is an island where the old adage ‘live and let live’ still strongly applies; as long as your activities don’t hurt anyone else, then you are welcome. After visiting the island over many years, this was one of the main reasons that my partner and myself chose to move here; it was a decision that we have never regretted.

Visitors to the Canary Island of Gran Canaria may be forgiven for thinking that it is a non-stop party island. The recent successful vote in Ireland for equal marriage, the Eurovision Song Contest and Maspalomas Pride have created an atmosphere of one long, heady party. The Canary Islands are blessed with one of the best climates in the world, which lends itself to an endless succession of parties and outdoor living. However, I can assure readers that we do get down to doing some work as well, but at our own pace.

Maspalomas Pride, which is often billed as ‘the largest Pride event in Europe’, once again drew thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, and transgendered visitors to the island from all over Europe and further afield. There were also huge numbers of straight visitors too; many having visited in earlier years, and had such a good time that they come again each year to relive and share the experience.

Maspalomas Pride is a huge two-week party, with many spin off events, but above all it is a time to demonstrate equal rights, tolerance and equality, as well as a time to remember

El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria Barrie Mahoney was a head teacher and school inspector in the UK, as well as a reporter in Spain, before moving to the Canary Islands to launch and edit a new English language newspaper. He enjoys life in the sun as a columnist and author, and continues to write a series of popular novels, books for expats, as well as designing mobile apps and websites to promote the Canary Islands.

If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s websites: www.barriemahoney.com and www.thecanaryislander. com or read his book, ‘Expat Voice’ (ISBN: 9780992767174).

Available in paperback, as well as Kindle, iBooks and Google The Yumbo Centre, which is the main ‘gay centre’ and the cenPlay editions. tre for Pride is an uninspiring building, built 40 plus years ago as an arena. Over the years, it was slowly converted and now iPhone/iPad and Android houses 40 plus gay bars, saunas, drag shows, supermarkets, Apps: ExpatInfo, CanaryIsle gadget shops, cafe bars and restaurants. To some, it looks like and CanaryGay now available. a badly worn multi-storey car park, which by day is a rather © Barrie Mahoney tacky commercial centre. However, by night, this uninspiring heap of concrete transforms itself into a throbbing and lively centre with something for everyone. From its early days, the Yumbo Centre became a beacon of hope for many gay men and women, and a place where they could relax and be themselves. It is a place where many relationships have begun, and ended, but above all it continues to be a place where gay men and women continue to feel safe, welcomed and valued.

So how did all this begin? I recall a conversation that I had with an elderly man, an ex-soldier, many years ago when I first visited the island. He told me that during the Spanish Civil War, the dictator, General Franco, would exile any soldier who was found to be gay to an island penal colony that was far away from the Spanish mainland; that island was Gran Canaria.

As the Pride procession and parties take place, my mind often goes back to this story and the fight for equality that has taken place over the centuries in Spain, as well as elsewhere in the world. The fight for equality and acceptance continue, but I am sure that those exiled Spanish soldiers would be very impressed with the part that this small island in the Atlantic has played in the fight for equality and justice for all.

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GETTING TO GRIPS WITH CANARIAN SPANISH Diego Mesa (Puerto Rico Language Centre)

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understanding the locals

The 30th of May was established as regional government. Symbolically ‘El día de Canarias’ to commemorate the Autonomous Parliament of The Every year‘El día de Canarias’ (Canary when the Parliament of The Canary Canary Islands was inaugurated Islands’ Day) is celebrated on the 30th Islands was first opened to hold its on the day commemorating the May throughout the archipelago. first parliamentary session, on that Catalayud Pact of May 30 1481, Not everyone actually understands same day in 1983 in Santa Cruz de an agreement with the Catholic what it means, what it represents to Tenerife. After the Spanish Civil War, Monarchs making Gran Canaria part different sectors within the Canarian Dictator General Franco’s regime of the Spanish kingdom. Therefore, population, and how you are able ruled Spain and it was not possible not all Canarians accept this as a to use occasions of that type to for the people to choose their day to celebrate, however you can meet the locals and practice a little own government, five years after take advantage of this celebration to Spanish.

Spain became a democracy, The better understand Canarian culture.

Canary Islands appointed their own Take a look at the following Canarian words: GUAGUA •

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Better known in Spanish as ‘autobús’ or a bus as all English speakers know it. It can refer to an innercity or intercity bus, school bus or even a bus used for excursions. One eplanation of the word ‘guagua’ is that it comes from the English word ‘wagon’, which Americans used in Cuba. Canarian expats in Cuba brought it to the islands on their return.

Eg. Como se quedó sin coche, venía todos los días al trabajo en guagua – Since he was left without his car, he had to come to work everyday by bus.

Eg. Alquilaron una guagua para ir de excursión – They rented out a bus to go on an excursion.

JILORIO • It is an uncomfortable sensation in your stomach due to feeling hungry.

• Eg. Como no había cenado, el jilorio no lo dejaba dormir – Because he didn´t have any dinner, the rumbling in his stomach wouldn´t let him sleep.

The best places to go and join the locals are Canarian bars and restaurants all over the island. There you can taste food from the islands sorrounded by local people, providing you with an opportunity to meet new faces and become part of a different environment. In Las Palmas city centre there are Canarian folklorical groups singing typical Canarian songs and all over the island there will be different celebrations on the ‘Romería de Canarias’ celebrating this occasion.

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Language Lesson #94

El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

with Theresa Coe

‘BACK TO BASICS - PART 1: KEEP IT SIMPLE!

Some things are easy to say in Spanish – for instance putting the word ‘no’ before the verb (action word) to make any kind of negative. See below for more good news to keep you motivated learning Spanish.

TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE: When you learn certain key nouns (e.g. those for relatives, or many professions) you´ll find that the masculine version ends in –o, and the feminine in –a. For example ‘hermano’ means brother, so sister is ‘hermana’. (Remember not to ever pronounce the ‘h’ which is silent as in ‘hola’). As novio is boyfriend, so novia is girlfriend. Now you know the difference between un amigo and una amiga.

NO QUESTION FORM: To ask a question in Spanish, you don´t need additional words like ‘do/does’, you simply make the same short statement sound like a question using your tone of voice. Consider these two examples – Puedo fumar aqui. (I can smoke here), with ¿Puedo fumar aqui? (Can I smoke here?)

UNLIKE ENGLISH, EVERY WORD IN SPANISH IS WRITTEN AS IT SOUNDS (PHONETICALLY): This is why it´s essential to learn how each letter is pronounced over here. Once you´ve mastered that (and many of them rhyme) you can read, write or pronounce just about anything.

Pronunciacion step one: A E I O U A – sounds like the short ‘a’ in ‘amigo’ (friend) or apple in English.

E – [eh] Practice saying ‘elefante’ and ‘queso’ [keh-zo] meaning cheese.

I – [ee] like the ‘ee’ sound in cheese. Practice saying ‘invisible’ the Spanish way [een-vee-ZEE-bleh] O – sounds like the short ‘o’ in often. Practice saying the number ‘ocho’ to get the sound right.

U - [ooh] like the sound a monkey would make! Practice saying ‘usted’, [ooh-stedd; you] or ‘uvas’ (grapes)

LOST WHEN THEY ANSWER?

JUST SAY ‘NO’! If you´re good at preparing what to say, then can´t understand As mentioned before, we make all negatives by putting the word ‘no’ before the verb. Quiero mas: I want more. No quiero más – I don´t want anymore.

the response, try these phrases to make communication easier: ‘Perdona, no comprendo. Por favor, repite despacio.’ [rep-eetay dess-pass-ee-oh] Sorry I don´t understand. Repeat slowly please.

MANY WORDS ARE SIMILAR TO ‘FANCY’ ENGLISH: If it´s just one word you don´t get, name it, eg: ‘no comprendo About 30% of Spanish and English words have the same origins. Examples include the nouns ventilador (fan) , and profesor (teacher); the verbs comprender (to understand or comprehend), and significar (to mean, or signify); and the adjectives ‘necesario’ (necessary), importante, excelente, perfecto. Some words are identical; you just have to pronounce each letter the Spanish way e.g. horrible, terrible, posible.

And while we no longer say: ‘I´m enchanted to meet you’, the Spanish do – in far less words: ‘encantado’ (for a man) or ‘encantada’ (for a woman) – literally ‘enchanted’ or pleased to meet you.

boli’ (I don’t understand ‘boli’) or ¿Qué signífica “boli”?’ (what does it mean?) It´s a pen and they may demonstrate this by showing you one or miming writing).

THIS ISSUE´S RECOMMENDATIONS The website: www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/index.shtml a fantastic resource from the BBC which offers a range of fun and interactive ways to learn and practice Spanish in different everyday situations The book: Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Spanish Grammar delivered to Gran Canaria for 12e from www.bookdepository.co.uk The Top Tip: Carry a small notepad and pen with you to jot down new words you learn, or write those you don´t understand to look up later.

The dictionary/translator: www.spanishdict.com has a speaker button that allows you to hear how words and phrases should be pronounced

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Free! The Gran Canaria Language exchange 1,500 people take part in language exchange gatherings and conversation b.com/ProyectoVecinalDeAlimentosDeMogan clubs around the island. We meet A VOLUNTEER FOOD DISTRIBUTION POINT FOR THE NEEDY OF MOGÁN weekly in Playa del Inglés, San Fernando, Arguineguin, Agüimes Las THE NEIGHBOURS’ ASSOCIATION OF Palmas, Telde and Arucas.

LAS LOMAS DE ARGUINEGUÍN To find out more, check out:

Facebook.com/LEGintercambio or email me theresacoe@gmail.com For info about Spanish classes, the language exchange or to receive past lessons from this newspaper, just drop me an email.

Any amount is welcome!

If you wish to make a donation earmarked for a special need (dental costs for a child, nappies, rent, eggs, potatoes, baby food, a specific family, transportation, etc.), please state it when making your deposit or transfer. Better still, why not pop along and see what they do in person, they love to receive help from visitors They are deeply grateful for your support!

Asociación de Vecinos de Las Lomas de Arguineguín Banca Sabadell: IBAN ES50 0081-1394-11-0001028108 & SWIFT BSABESBB

CUSTOM STAMPS WHILE YOU WAIT!

From 15.00€ Tel: 677 807 300 The Print Shop theprintshopgc@yahoo.com Your Name or Logo Here

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The crew of the Afrikat are getting ready for The Long Walk once again this year (Sept 30 - Oct 2).

To help boost awareness and raise funds for our local Breast Cancer Charity ACCM they are organising a Charity Cruise onboard their wonderful catamaran on Wednesday 23rd September for more information or to book just call +34 637 56 46 79

Members of GEPAC - The Spanish Group for Cancer Patients

Raising Funds Throughout Summer 2015

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News, Views & Sunshine 10E0dition!

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El Peri贸dico Ingl茅s de Gran Canaria

The English Newspaper

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THE SOUND OF SUMMER

Send your answers by email to: Quinny@TheCanaryNews. com, text them to 626 641 537 or call 928 987 952 for your chance to win a day trip for two aboard the amazing Afrikat catamaran, for an all inclusive voyage of discovery in the southern waters of Gran Canaria leaving from Puerto Rico. All correct answers will be collected together, independently drawn and announced in the next edition Last editions winner is Angela Black, who has won a trip for two on the Afrikat! (subject to availability) 1.What type of institution is the Bangkok Hilton

6.What was a snickers bar originally called

2. Which football club play at Goodison Park

7.Name the capital city of Gran Canaria

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Maspalomas Costa Canaria once more hosts the Franz & Friends Festival of chamber music from 2 to 12 July. Now in its 18th year this series of evening celebrations is organized outdoors at the Finca Justus Frantz in Monte León, overlooking the popular southern tourist zone.

The Piano Festival was founded 17 years ago, and is the only international classical music festival in the Canary Islands that is not organized in the capital cities.

The launch presentation of the Festival was attended by the mayor of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Don Marco Aurelio Pérez, artistic director Rubén Mayor González, Councillor for Culture and Social Action, Elena Álamo Vega and the Cabildo de Gran Canaria’s Tourism minister Don Melchor 8.Who is the longest serving actor Camón.

3.Emerald is a shade of which colour

in Coronation St

The festival opens on July 2nd with German pianist, and musical director, ‘adopted son of Gran Canaria’ Justus Franz accompanied by Russian violinist Ksenia Dubrovskaya and trompista, Polish director Dariusz 4.Chrissie Hynde was lead singer 9. Slip, Reef, Granny, Sheepshank Mikulski, playing pieces by Brahms and Chopin.

in which band

are all types of what

5. Spanish word for a male dog

10. Which company makes the Corsa motor car

Answers from last edition

In this edition International piano maestros will once again perform, including Derek Han, from China; Steven Lin, from Tawain and the Russians Sergey Belyavsky and Georgian Valerian Shiukashvili, award winners in Portugal, Russia, Holland, Georgia, Bulgaria and Israel.

Also in this edition, the organization has included performances from two Canarian musicians; guitarist José María Ramírez,from Ingenio, who on Saturday 4 July presents a Spanish evening playing music from Malats, Joaquín Rodrigo, Francisco Tárrega, Antonio José and Piazzola. Awardwinning Gran Canarian pianist José Luis Castillo, will give a concert on Saturday 11 July with works by Bach, Bonino, Ramos, Siemens, Guillermo García Mayor, Enrique Mateo, Scriabin Wagner, Albéniz, Vega and Liszt.

For the third consecutive year the Festival will offer an evening of silent film accompanied on piano from the German composer and pianist Stephan von Bothmer, founder of the Silent Film concerts in Berlin. This year the film is ‘Las Tres luces’ (Der Tod müde), shot by Fritz Lang in 1921.

The ticket prices for individual an concert is €49 or for the whole festival (13 events: 11 concerts, 1 nocturne, 1 silent screen) the price will be 450€.

More information : FB – Finca Festival Frantz & Friends 2015

Ans Marc Bolan

5. Lead singer with T.Rex Ans Manza

4. Spanish word for apple Ans Black forest gateau

3. Cake named after a heavy wooded area in Germany Ans Leicester City

2. Premier league club nicknamed the foxes Ans 10

1. How many points is Z worth in scrabble 9,10,11

Ans Athens

10. Name the capital of Greece Ans Thames

9. Which river flows through London Ans Darts

8. Which sport did Jocky Wilson play Ans Blue

7. Sky, Azure, Dark and Light are shades of what colour Ans Lion

6. M.G.M movies start with a what Lion,Tiger,Puma

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Summer

2015

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News, Views & Sunshine 10E0dition!

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