October 2015 FREE!
MASPALOMAS OPEN FOR BUSINESS Kokoon Team Announce Stadium Project, once again
From Left to Right: A planning consultant, Jan Jacobsen, Ernst Pedersen, Per Solli, Alcalde Marco Aurélio Peréz, Big Ron Atkinson & a Maspalomas flying cow.
In September a group of gentlemen met with Mayor Marco Aurélio Peréz proposing one of the most audacious developments ever to be put forward on the island of Gran Canaria, this time in the famous tourist resort of Maspalomas. The meeting, at the southern town hall offices of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, produced the latest in a long line of announcements from the team behind the project Kokoon.
would not be high enough to meet their ideals, leading them to dub Kokoon to be Europe’s first “7 star” resort facility, and unlike anything to be found anywhere else. After several false starts, various companies having been created (and dissolved) in LA, the UK, Norway and in Spain, many rounds of funding and repeated promises of ‘spades in the ground by Christmas’, the Kokoon team report once more that this time they are ready to start building their showpiece Kokoon stadium. Phase 1 is ready to go.
Originally put forward eight years ago, and fronted by Norwegian ‘business man’ Per Solli, the Kokoon project team’s plans include a range of eyebrow-raising developments and facilities hitherto As various backers have come and gone, so the shape of these ideas unknown on this small Atlantic archipelago or elsewhere in Spain, and have changed with time. Several internationally famous names and promised to be of the very highest of standards anywhere in the world. personalities have been linked to the project, all giving their endorseSo much so that the usual 5 star rating for their resort just simply ments alongside well known locals including at least one member of
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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria
Where will Kokoon Stadium be built? the aristocratic del Castillo family here on Gran Canaria who, even up until the beginning of this year, claimed to be the primary landowner and local partner on the island, only to have then stepped down for reasons as yet undisclosed.
Phase 2 plans have also been submitted to the town hall for their
even The Rolling Stones.
Though the Kokoon project, even now in its eighth year, has only just begun to tackle the peculiarities of Spanish and regional Canarian planning laws and power structures; there can be little doubt that the pure scale of these proposals are bound to create their own buzz, it remains to be seen, of Solli and his cohorts, if they can muster the gargantuan financial and political muscle necessary to see their plans through. They’re not the first to come here with big ideas.
initial appraisal, says Solli, and are said to include private, gated-community “7-star” accommodations; Kokoon´s own hospital complex; a premier league winter training facility headed up by none other than the famous UK football manager and commentator, Big Ron Atkinson With several slick video presentations, high end animated graphics, himself; a series of innovative water desalination, cooling and treatstock imagery, celebrity endorsements and variously declared finances, at least on paper, ranging between several million and several ment facilities, utilising sea water sourced from great depths, 100% tens of millions of Euros; it would be fair to assume that planning for renewable energy systems and a positive carbon footprint to boot along with locally sourced organic food production and the promise of this resort was at a very advanced stage. However, though plenty of very good ideas have been discussed, very little information seems to “thousands of local jobs” being created to cater to the world elites at whom Kokoon is supposed to be ultimately aimed. be available at a governmental level as of yet, and as the project has morphed from one group to another so the direction of the develop- For now, says Solli, they will get started on ‘proof of concept’ with the ment and the proposed starting points have seemed to change. introduction of internationally famous performance artists and bespoke concerts catering to a european audience who are expected to Now, we are told, they are ready to begin with the latest version of be willing to fly to Gran Canaria to see some of the top names in the Phase 1; an 18,000 seater stadium, built from a modular system developed by The Arena group and used at the last olympics and world world perform live on stage on Europe’s premier all-year-round subtropical sunshine-island destination, widely regarded as having the cup tournaments to provide temporary-build venues, in this case to very best climate in the world. Could be very interesting indeed. host major music performances from the likes of Lady Gaga, Pink & Though this may seem like a fantasy, the project comes with its very own bona fide record industry mogul, Terry Slater, the man who discovered Kate Bush, The Sex Pistols and Aha, to name just a few of the globally known artists in whose careers he has been instrumental. Slater, though camera shy, is set to head-up Kokoon music and entertainment, with ambitious plans to schedule week long stop-overs on Gran Canaria for well known performers engaged in world tours, and who Kokoon plan to fly here specially to take advantage of, what is mooted to be, the only sub-tropical venue of its kind in Europe.
Whichever way you chop it, it can’t be too bad for Gran Canaria´s international street cred that the likes of Slater and Atkinson are visiting the island, pressing the flesh and briefing the local English language Mr Solli tells us, that if all goes to plan, then the appropriate licences news media over lunch meetings at top hotels, having piqued the interest of local politicians. As for Mayor Marco Aurelio Perez, he is, should be in place by this coming December and, with just a 3-week as ever, cautious, dubbing the plans as “a very interesting offer” and build time for the stadium, internationally renowned music artists could be performing on Gran Canaria as early as spring 2016. Though lending his support to “do what they can” to get the project started most we have spoken to say they’ll believe that, only when they see it. as per Mr Solli’s ambitiously proposed timescales. For now there has been no confirmation of where the stadium is to be located, though Due to the modular design of the stadium, says Solli, the usual planthere are several possible sites that could be used. We wait and watch ning laws will be no obstacle as it is in essence designed to be a temporary structure that can be simply “placed on the ground”, moved or As usual, we’ll keep you informed when the situation develops further... we’d be interested in your thoughts... dismantled within a very short space of time.
N ews ,
S unshine
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vided by the other migrants, Police were able to uncover the true identity of the man and arrested him, separating him from the rest. Free from his threats, the migrants helped also to identify the skipper, a 24 year old Senegalese man, who was also arrested for aiding and abetting illegal immigration.
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Canary Islands fuel most expensive in EU
A Gran Canaria Chamber of Commerce report last month claims that fuel prices in the archipelago are the most expensive in the euro The criminal group used violence, beating migrants zone
Man arrested for people smuggling Policia Nacional have arrested a 40 year old Senegalese national, for allegedly arranging boats to smuggle people to the Canary Islands. He was discovered in an immigration detention centre, pretending to be an migrant, after a patera with 33 people on board arrived at The Canary Islands in July. Investigations centred on the existence of a criminal organization based in Laayoune (Morocco), responsible for several pateras, destined for the Canary Islands. Various investigations were carried out, and led agents to identifying several members of the gang responsible. After the rescue of the patera with 33 migrants on board, the detainee pretended to be one of them using a false identity and false nationality and threatened the rest of the migrants into giving false information so as not to identify him or the other members of his organisation. During the processing of the case, using data pro-
when they refused to climb into the boat that had prepared for them, once they saw the conditions in which they were travelling, a lack of lifejackets, overcrowded and without navigation systems.
Due to the lack of minimum security conditions, one of the boats arranged by the organisation, a journey that usually takes about two days, took eleven days before it was found and rescued at sea by the coastguard with 13 migrants on board in very poor condition. The vessel was on record as having left the African coast with 21 passengers but eight of them died on the way.
The study revealed that, for example, last December the price of petrol in the Archipelago stood at ¢68.61 per litre, before tax, an amount which is almost 30% higher than the ¢52.80 per litre pre-tax average in mainland Spain.
Many of you will have noticed however that prices at the pump are often much better than in the Spanish mainland, this is primarily due to extra subsidies achieved due to the isolated nature of the Investigators found that the man now detained al- archipelago with much further legedly worked for mafia style organised criminals, distances taken in to account for and was in charge of concealing migrants in various most imports.
homes used by the organization in Morocco, while they were awaiting passage. He is thought to have charged amounts ranging between €800 and €1500 each for the trip.
The Canary Islands almost
Among the passengers on the patera were several women of Nigerian origin who were reportedly being sent to Spain for sexual exploitation, once identified they were included in the Protocol of Assistance to Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings.
The Minister of Finance for the Canary Islands, Rosa Dávil, has announced that the government intends to discount 99% of inheritance and gift tax on the islands starting from January 1, 2016 which is to be reflected in the Budgetary Law of the Autonomous Region over the next year.
Tourist arrested for Faking a crime
Policia Nacional arrested a 28 year old Dutch tourist in Maspalomas, with no criminal record in Spain, as the alleged perpetrator of a “simulated crime”. The detainee reported a robbery on their departure day, claiming that two tablet computers, cash and other effects were stolen from the apartment where they were staying, estimating the value of the stolen items at €1,274. After an investigation and inqui-
ries, police were able to prove that the complainant faked the robbery and was in possession of the objects reported stolen. The detainee was made available to the competent judicial authority, which ordered them release on charges. The intervention was conducted by agents of the Crime Group attached to the Local Heritage Brigade of the Judicial Police Station of Maspalomas.
remove inheritance tax
Typically rates of tax in Spain are set from Madrid, with individual autonomous regions then being left to apply discounts and incentives for their official population as they see fit. This is where many foreign residents tend to fall down on available tax credits and reductions due to not properly registering within their localities or seeking advice from local professionals. The Canary Islands Autonomous Region is placing itself ahead of recent tax reforms, launched last July by the central government, and a reduction to income tax.
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ASSSA - YOUR PRIVATE HEALTH INSURER IN SPAIN CHANGE FROM YOUR CURRENT HEALTH INSURANCE TO ASSSA
Currently, many European citizens are experiencing changes which are bringing the effects of the crisis in Spain much closer to home. Some may be losing their entitlement to a SIP card while others, who already have private insurance, are finding out that their insurance company has been bought out by another insurance group. This has imposed limitations on their level of service or even on their quality of cover. Many have since discovered that they will no longer be able to visit the private doctor of their choice because the new company does not have a contract with them any more.
Are you in either situation? Would you consider a reasonably priced private health insurance with ASSSA so that you can visit local, English speaking doctors in Spain? Are you privately insured, but dissatisfied: premium increases; no customer service in your language; your insurance company has radically reduced and changed their services? ASSSA offers you impartial advice and tailor-made solutions with special offers available and special conditions for those transferring in from another private insurers. Personal advice and support even after signing your contract? With our insurance company, this comes as a matter of course. ASSSA has, for over 75 years, offered its customers in Spain excellent private health insurance at an affordable price. For the last 20 Years we have specialized in meeting the private health insurance demands of our fellow European citizens along the Costas of mainland Spain and now The Canary Islands. In order to achieve our superior customer service and customer proximity, we have set up a chain of customer service offices in key localities.
ASSSA – Experience, Expertise & Customer Service Our personal service is unique. Our friendly, multi-lingual employees are pleased to inform you of both our achievements and policies without any obligation to purchase. Our philosophy is to answer all client queries fully and with complete honesty. Many of our clients join us on recommendation from existing ones, which is a clear indication of our unique service. After joining ASSSA you are allocated a personal contact that speaks your language and assists with any questions that you may have. Your personal contact will deal directly with you for medical assistance, offering her personal empathy, help and support.
Doctors and Hospitals We offer our customers an extensive directory of private clinics, GPs and Specialists working from some of the best private health care hospitals. In order to comply with the wishes of our clients, we make contracts with many facilities who speak your language. For this reason, we have a number of English speaking medical professionals under contract with ASSSA.
Quality insurance We provide flexible levels of health insurance – depending on the cover level and premium best suited to the client’s requirements – from supplementary insurance (from 47 € a month) to more fully comprehensive insurance cover (from 88 € a month). During the current economic crisis we are pleased to be able to offer lifetime discounts up to 30% for the entire contract lifetime, 50% discount for children under 16 insured with parents, plus comfortable monthly payments without surcharge. In addition, we offer dental insurance (from only 68 € per annum) reduced by up to 30%.
Insure your health! The benefits of ASSSA insurance: ASSSA offers a variety of unique, written, contractual guarantees. The age at which you sign your contract is always used as the basis on which to calculate your premiums, i.e. the premium does not increase due to increased age. In addition, ASSSA provides protection against policy cancellation from the first day of insurance. Contracts with ASSSA are of course, in your native language as transparency is important to us.
The ASSSA Maspalomas office would like to invite new and existing clients to our Open day on Friday 16th October for drinks and tapas from 11.00 am onwards. SPECIAL OFFER FOR THIS DAY ONLY, in addition 1ST MONTH FREE. Visit us for a chat and without any obligation, receive a personal premium calculation. Our employees will be pleased to answer all your questions; Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9.30 to 13: 30, later appointments or home visits by arrangement.
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THANKS TO CANCER As many of you probably already know, October is Breast cancer awareness month. All over the World people will come together to organize charity events to raise awareness and funds in the fight against breast cancer. Friends and family members lost to the disease will be remembered and those currently in the battle will be encouraged.
The support shown to me by family, friends and colleagues has been astounding. Family and close friends I could not have managed without. They provided practical help and have been a constant source of support. The doctors, nurses and staff at the Hospital San Roque in Las Palmas and Maspalomas I cannot praise enough and I am again reminded of how lucky I am to be surrounded by such lovely people. I was fortunate that Marisa Herrera from the Canarian Breast Cancer When I was asked to write about my own personal experiences with association was on hand to recommend fantastic Doctors – Dr Victor cancer to promote our upcoming fun walk on the 17th October – my Vega, Dr Elena Vicente and the fabulous Raquel who has administered first thought was why would anyone be interested in my medical hisall my treatments at the very pleasant chemotherapy wing in the tory? How tedious. However, then I got to thinking a bit more and in Hospital San Roque Las Palmas. reality it is not the operations and harsh medical treatments that go hand in hand with the disease that I have taken from my experience – Thanks to cancer I fully appreciate how short life is and how important its rather the joy and surprise at how this awful disease unites people it is to have a positive outlook and keep smiling. How important to from all walks of life. The kindness showed by so many. The excellent try to make the most of every moment and to cherish the good times. medical staff here on the island and the fighting spirit of those I have How important to be thankful for the things that really matter – like met along the way - those battling the disease and those supporting family and loved ones. And on an up note I am due to get some nice them. The generosity of people is astounding. In a World where new boobs at the end of this year - an added bonus! So, even though material concerns are often at the forefront it has been refreshing to there has been pain and some bad days my own overall personal exsee that most people still have enormous empathy and generosity in perience with cancer I think has had a positive effect on my life. But their hearts. everyone’s experience is different and fortunately there are great organizations like the ACCM – headed by the wonderful Marisa HerreCancer is a nasty disease – usually growing silently without alerting ra – to help those suffering this disease. Marisa and her team are on the victim until sometimes it is late. I was overwhelmed at the turn hand to give advice and assistance and receive very little government out for our walk last year and impressed by the stories of many there funding. It is for this they need our help. that had overcome cancer or overcome grief after losing loved ones. The strength of those supporting family members or friends should On the 17th October we will be walking again from the Parque Sur, also be recognized. I love the fact that everyone is united in standing Maspalomas to Meloneras. The walk is suitable for all ages, all fitness up against this disease that affects so many of the World´s population. levels and is meant to be a day of fun rather than a test of fitness. Because of all the support the survival rates have increased and the Last year we had over three hundred people – the atmosphere was treatments are becoming more advanced year on year. I like to think amazing. We hope to get as much support or more this year. The that Cancer will eventually be overcome. Mayor and local government have been fantastic in their organisation and we have many local business owners and organizations offering Despite my health issues I still consider myself to be very lucky. My support- Riu Hotels and the Hospital San Roque have both kindly first encounter with cancer was over a decade ago. At the time my agreed to collaborate with the event. If you can join us then please children were really young and initially it was terrifying. Mostly I was be in the park before 1700 hours on Saturday October 17th. We set terrified I would not see my children grow up. However, the disease off at 1700 hours. There is no need to subscribe but we do ask you to was caught early and with the support of those around me I quickly purchase a t-shirt at 10€ please to help raise as much as we can – also recovered and moved on. But I had changed. Whereas before I may to have everyone in pink! We have been given so great prizes for the have wasted time on negative thoughts or actions I decided to take raffle. If you are able to help by selling raffle tickets prior to the event life head-on and try to look at the positive in every situation. I am then please do not hesitate to contact me. T-shirts for the event are happier because of my change in attitude and I have cancer to thank now available for sale – they are 10€ per shirt with all proceeds gofor that. ing to ACCM – the breast cancer charity that works tirelessly assisting women who have been afflicted with this disease. T-shirts and raffle I have enjoyed many cancer free years since but the last eighteen months have been difficult. I was first diagnosed with Thyroid cancer tickets will also be available to purchase on the day of the event. So and six months later after having my thyroid removed, the breast can- please come join the fun and let’s get together again this year to stick cer returned. This time the treatments were harder – chemotherapy two fingers up to the greedy, cowardly disease that is Cancer. is nasty however well you handle it! I´ve lost my hair and put on Contact: Shirley MacDonald – s.macdonald@atlanticexperience.com weight – I never thought I would describe myself as bald, fat and nearFind us on facebook: ing fifty. But again, there have been very happy moments.
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The second round of the Love Boobies League,
raising funds and awareness for Canarian Breast Cancer Support Association, the ACCM, resulted in a win for a wholly better coordinated TUI Rep Selects returning to the field seeking retribution for their solid 10-6 thrashing earlier in the summer, at the hands of the highly committed, elite OPC All Stars. After a tense beginning the Reps were the first to score, the OPCs managing to equalise just minutes before half time. The second half again began with a focused barrage of shots on goal from alternate ends of the field, each goal keeper being stretched a little further every time. Eventually, after sustained play taking the action up and down the entire length of the pitch, time and time again, the OPC goal was relinquished and growing frustration evident from the fatiguing, if more experienced, leading team. Once they fell, they never truly managed to make it back, scoring just once as the Rep Selects held off their every effort to close the game which 3 - 1 up. Satti Kuar, and family, coordinated the raffle, with tee shirt sales helping these sporting heroes to at least double their last amount raised, with one last chance to support this extraordinary effort coming on October 17th, we hope that everyone who would like to contribute or participate in the LoveBoobies Final, will support their efforts and spread the word about the genuine commitment and talent going in to a competition that simply started from the idea of a midsummer´s night friendly, and has resulted in this clamorous clash of Titans heard by the Big Ron Atkinson himself, urging you all to Think PINK for October!
Comprehensive Cancer
Hospital San Roque strives for comprehensive patient care, the latest technology and a team of highly qualified professionals with excellent people skills. These, they say, are the three pillars of the challenges they face in offering the local population the very best possible services in cancer detection and treatment.
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.
Doctors Carmen Murias, Juan Hernández, Julio César Velásquez and Juan Carlos Durán head up the Medical, Surgical, Radiotherapeutic Oncology and Integrative Medicine departments, respectively, and have of late been successfully managing to apply a new medical paradigm, which focuses on the patient rather than the disease.
One-Stop Shop
One thing that has become obvious for medical researchers over the past few decades, is people affected by cancer are highly sensitive, and, in addition to suffering the uncertainty of not knowing how the disease will develop, they are also forced to wander from one hospital, specialty or administrative department to another in search of an holistic answer to their problem. In order to ease this added suffering, the Excellence in Oncology medical team at San Roque Hospital has implemented a “One-Stop Shop” plan, that is to say: the patient - the person- will find a facility that is not only welcoming and
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The best private hospital in the Canary Islands
Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, marked in countries across the world every October, helps to increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of this disease.
There are about 1.38 million new cases and 458 000 deaths from breast cancer each year (IARC Globocan, 2008). Breast cancer is of the by far the most common cancer in women (Ranking worldwide, both in theSpanish healthcare system) developed and developing countries. In low- and middle-income countries the incidence has been rising steadily in recent years due to increases in life expectancy, increased urbanization and adoption of western lifestyles. Currently there is not sufficient knowledge about the causes of breast cancer, therefore, early detection of the disease remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control. When breast cancer is detected early, and if adequate diagnosis and treatments are available, there is a good chance that breast cancer can be cured. If detected late, however, curative treatment is often no longer an option. In such cases, palliative care to relieve the suffering of patients and their families is needed. The majority of deaths (269 000) occur in low- and middle-income countries, where most women with breast cancer are diagnosed in late stages due mainly to lack of awareness on early detection and barriers to health services. Many thousands of women in resource constrained settings, if diagnosed at all, find themselves in advanced stages and less lilkely to be able to be treated. A situation that can be reverted if adequate public health programmes are put in place. The World Health Organisation promotes comprehensive breast cancer control programmes as part of national cancer control plans. The recommended early detection strategies for low- and middle-income countries are awareness of early signs and symptoms and screening by clinical breast examination in demonstration areas. Mammography screening is very costly and is currently feasible Think only in countries with good health PINK infrastructure that can afford a for long-term programme. W. H . O . October
Screening & Treatment peaceful, but also gathers all the consulting rooms of all the various different specialists into a single space with all the stateof-the-art technology necessary to offer an integrative approach to diagnosis and treatment.
To this end, they have a cutting-edge linear accelerator (RapidArc) that can be used to provide such sophisticated treatments as, Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Volumetric-Moderated Technology at the Service Arc Therapy (VMAT), and Radiosurgery for brain and of Human Excellence for body lesions; combining In response to the complex Computed Tomography (CT), psycho-physical situation cancer Nuclear Magnetic Resonance patients and their families face, (NMR) and Positron Emission and given the huge amount Tomography (PET) images in of evidence confirming that a order to design treatments multidisciplinary approach and that are so clinically precise patient-customised treatments that, in addition to sparing provide the best results, patients needless hardship Hospital San Roque is equipped such as having to travel to other with the latest technologies in regions-, have also put Hospital order to facilitate the work of San Roque at the very vanguard its medical personnel. Offering of private healthcare on the a comprehensive level of care. Canary Islands.
24 hours
Emergency Service Hotel Medical Attention Interpreter Service Travel Insurances accepted. We are the only private hospital on Gran Canaria where the E11 European Health Insurance Card is accepted. All medical and surgical specialities, General and Digestive Surgery, Dermatology, Neurology, Traumatology, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Gynecology, Hemodialysis, Ophthalmology, Pediatrics, Rehabilitation, Rheumatology, Aesthetic Medicine, Plastic Surgery, Radiology Service, Urology, etc.
928 063 666
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This is the latest news about the Residential Property situation in San Bartolomé de Tirajana (SBT) Thousands of property owners and communities have now handed in their objections to the recent proposals by the SBT townhall to restrict the use of property in tourist resorts. Over 6,000 official objections (known as allegaciones) were handed in before the deadline on September 30 So what happens next? The Municipal Authorities now have to examine the allegaciones and prepare a response. In the Meantime, property owners have FORMED on organization called the Plataforma de la Ley Turística afectados por (PALT). This is dedicated to representing Property Owners and Their Rights and to give them a voice during discussions about changes to the law. PALT is urging its members and those affected to attend their open meetings. What Might Happen We Know that the current laws will have to be amended as they are currently contradictory in several ways and do not fit in with the established reality in many tourist areas. The President of the Canarian Government has already said that the laws will be amended within a year after a period of consultation between the different authorities that have competency, the various economic agents and Organizations representing the owners. At Cardenas Real Estate we, through the Association of Canarian ACEGI Estate Agents, are actively campaigning for new rules to allow a broader use of private property in the tourist areas. We hope that the pressure applied by the thousands of official objections, plus campaigning by PALT and ACEGI, will have a significant impact on proceedings. As always, we will keep you updated as soon as there is any news. - See more at: http://cardenas-grancanaria.info/#sthash.sDoSAwO4.dpuf
[http://afectadosporlaleyturistica.com] You can find more info about PALT from their website:
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Canary Islands’ Government Suspends Holiday Homes Decree
The Canary Islands government has announced a decision to halt the decree regulating vacation homes, that was approved four months ago, following criticism from the Canary Islands Association of Vacation Rental (ASCAV) saying that the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) has claimed that the previous regional administration “removed or varied” several important procedural rules during implementation of the controversial new law. The full Parliament has approved a motion to suspend the new law, so as to allow the new regional government, formed by the Canary Coalition (CC) and the Socialist Party (PSOE), the opportunity to revisit the text of the decree. This will leave the sector without rules until the new amendments come into force, according to Spanish Language daily La Provincia. According to an analysis of the new Canary Islands regulations, and in accordance with competition law and the principles of efficient economic regulation, the Commission has revealed “numerous obstacles” to the development of effective competition in the market. Among these obstacles within the scope of regulation, they say, is the exclusion of homes located on land and in areas that, for planning purposes, have been designated tourist resorts, which by their very nature are the most common type of area in which vacation homes have always been offered before the new legislation entered into force. The commission has pointed out that it is into these privileged areas [both geographical and economic] that tourists and foreigners have traditionally been installed, tending to create concentrations in those areas, that could be seen as detrimental due to a lack of real competition within the property markets and exploitation within the tourism industry.
Additionally, say the commission, the tourism standards unnecessarily require landlords to be “habitually active” and they consider some sections of the rules to be contrary to the right of an employer to organise their business, and citizens to dispose of their property, without unduly prohibitive restrictions; citing a catalog of requirements, within the decree, set in terms of size and facilities within these properties, which “constitute an unnecessary burden on operators that increases costs and limits their freedom of self-organization”. Among the issues referred to are restrictions to accessing some of these economic activities making local administrative regimes responsible for certain types of authorisations, without those restrictions seemingly being justified in terms of necessity and proportionality, leaving a situation where such intense interventions by, for instance, local councils could consequently incur extra administrative costs and demands on public resources. Finally, the commission requested consideration of a requirement that properties within tourist areas display a distinctive plate on the outside of the buildings to clearly show whether they are licenced for tourism and even if the building’s designated activity has changed as well as displaying details of hotlines for emergencies and any prohibitions provided in the Regulations, both in Spanish and English, to help ensure that designations are kept to and that members of the public are informed. According to the CNMC, “all these measures unjustifiably raise costs of entry into the market, discouraging some traders who were already involved in the market with new models of service delivery and other potential bidders. The number of competitors is thus reduced, as are incentives to be more efficient and competitive for service users “, essentially
saying that in the end these new laws could be detrimental to tourism. The contested regulations could obstruct possibilities for innovation by operators, preventing consumers with different tastes, preferences and spending capacity, from being able to benefit from various offers based within different combinations of quality and price. The CNMC say they believe that within the legal limitations, these provisions should be deleted or modified to further encourage and develop the public interest, as they pose an obstacle to the development of effective competition. ASCAV say they are pleased that, following their objections, filed back in June, the Commission had “washed the face” of the regional government in regard to the regulation of holiday homes. As pointed out by the association, the CNMC statement is a preliminary step that seeks to avoid bringing an administrative appeal before the High Court of the Canary Islands, in the case of the Canary Islands Government deciding to not amend or abolish the restrictions. As this has all been continuing, a great mobilisation of public interest has occurred in recent weeks, with regard to the virtual “expropriation” of properties, under an envisioned system of fines, sanctions and “owner substitutions” as detailed under the new regulations through the General Management Plan (PGO) of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, which, say critics, prevent property owners from using their tourist property in southern Gran Canaria as they might wish. This has led to a vast public debate and a group of concerned citizens deciding recently to create the “Platform of People Affected by the Tourism Law” (PALT), who aspire to represent the upto 40,000 owners of tourist properties within the south who could be affected.
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The International Contemporary Dance Festival of the Canary Islands, MASDANZA, was founded on Gran Canaria, in 1996. It was the result of an initiative by Natalia Medina who is still its primary force and director, with help from the Department of Culture of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, creating a unique and important cultural space not included previously in the agenda of any public or private institution in the Canaries. Since its first beginnings, MASDANZA has consolidated itself year after year, going from a small regional festival, to a national refernce point, spreading beyond Spain’s national borders and participated in by international choreographers and dancers. MASDANZA has grown as an event that every year acquires more strength and prestige outside our community, allowing the public to see that there are important cultural alternatives when visiting Gran Canaria. The most convincing evidence of this fact is the increasing numbers of the public attending every edition of the Festival. Thanks to their interest in discovering new creations and trends, this Festival has become a leader in national and international arenas.
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after year, this event has attracted the interest of the general public, awakening their interest in discovering a new form of artistic expression which until now seemed destined for a select minority. The Organisation´s commitment to offering audiences the best in dance, has led them to invite Dance Companies of recognised prestige to perform during the Opening Ceremony and at different events during the Festival, bringing their latest productions. Parallel to the competition, during the week, there are many activities: Guest Companies, Break-Dance Championship, a Masdanza Showcase, Dance Marathon, Exhibitions, Dance In Open Spaces, Conferences, workshops and courses. It is important to mention also, that the Organisation is sensitive to the difficulty that new creators have in obtaining a place in the professional world, that is why it guarantees the winners participation in important circuits and national and international dance spaces. At the same time, MASDANZA also awards grants to outstanding performers. After 19 years, MASDANZA has become a platform for the launching of new local, national and international creators. And because of the geographical location of our archipielago, longstanding events like MASDANZA prove the TRANSCONTINENTALITY of the Canary Islands, with visitors and participants travelling back and forth from Latin America, Africa and Europe. MASDANZA is an international showcase for the Canary Islands, which for a few days become the neuralgical center of the world’s dance avant-garde, and an unprecedented reference in this community.
One important objective of MASDANZA is to promote The Canary Islands and their culture. Dance has recognition around the world In the beginning, the audiences were formed by dance profession- and we are contributing to it from the Canaries. als and people with a very keen interest in dance, however, year Find out more at: Masdanza.com
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The village of Tejeda has received a plaque crediting it as one of the “most beautiful villages in Spain”. Tejeda is the only one in the Canary Islands to receive this recognition.
The president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales, and the Minister of Tourism, Inés Jimenez, attended the ceremony which was also attended also by the President of the Association for the most beautiful villages of Spain, Francisco Mestre, held at Tejeda Town Hall chaired by the mayor, Francisco Perera.
House Prices Up
The price of housing rose 3.6% in the Canary Islands during the second quarter compared to the same period last year, 0.4% less than the national average of 4%, according to the Housing Price Index (HPI) released by the Spanish INE (Instituto Nacional de Estadística – National Statistics Institute) During the first quarter of the year, The Canary Islands ranked sixth, out of the 17 regions in Spain, with a rise of 4.4%, higher than the average (4.2%) and surpassed by Madrid (5%), Cantabria (5.1%), Melilla (5.1%), Catalonia (5.4%) and Ceuta (5.8%). By type of housing, the price of second hand homes rose 5% in the second quarter, the The Canary Islands saw the fourth largest rise again after The Balearics (7.4%), Madrid (5.9%) and Catalonia (5.5%). Meanwhile, new housing prices rose 5.7%, in annual terms, the fourth largest rise after Madrid (8.4%), Balearic Islands (7.8%) and Andalusia (6.2%). However, compared to the previous quarter, The Canary Islands lead the increase in new home prices, at 3.4%, compared to an average national price rise of just 1.5%.
More Funding for Desalination
The Canary Islands Government has come to an agreement with the Spanish state to improve funding availability to facilitate the incorporation of new technologies to improve fuel economy and energy efficiency in water cycles. This should contribute substantially to reducing the significant energy expenditure that is used in the desalination process and represents between 15 and 20 % of total electricity demand in the Islands. “In a territory like the Canary Islands, where drinking water is a scarce resource, its comprehensive management requires increasingly more energy resources for actions such as harvesting water from the aquifer or desalination of seawater and brackish waters, making it extremely important to introduce advanced technologies that reduce consumption” said the Minister of Economy, Industry, Commerce and Knowledge for The Canary Islands, Pedro Ortega. According to a study by the IDAE (Instituto para la Diversificación y Ahorro de la Energía – the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving of Energy), Canary Islands desalination processes could save 207,000 MWh/year of electricity, which in economic terms is equivalent to €18 million, with the implementation of various energy saving and efficiency measures, including the replacement of turbines for isobaric chambers, using reverse osmosis membranes, regulation and control and replacing the engines used with newer more energy efficient models.
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Those who follow our little newspaper will know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to highlight it a small group of adventurers joined us this year to walk across the island once again, coast-to-coast over the highest point. We will be announcing the total raised in the next edition of the paper, but between now and then we encourage as many people as possible to get involved, celebrate life and raise some much needed money for our local breast cancer charity, the ACCM. We’d love to hear from you if you hold an event or contribute in any way. To make donations just visit: TheLongWalk.es/Donate or call us on 928 987 952 with any questions and we’ll do our best to help.
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GRAN CANARIA WALKING FESTIVAL 2015 Gran Canaria Walking Festival 2015, now in its 4th year, is offering 5 amazing guided trekking routes which will pass through the heart of the island.
As well as walking through unique panoramas with the most incredible views, this growing event gives participants the most unique opportunity to discover the local people and traditional cultural legacies in a way it simply is not possible
Fancy mixing two of Gran Canaria’s greatest passions? Asoflor (La Casa del Queso) will help to evigourate your taste buds with their unique, traditional cheeses, as a reward for a walk from the sea up to the island summit. This route is a real joy, as it runs partly along the famous Camino de Santiago and the trade paths which were used in years gone by to cross the island, before any roads existed here. The “picón” volcanic rubble remains from the convulsive volcanic activity that gave birth to the island, while the ancient footpaths are still used today by locals, allowing us to imagine a time of migrating animals and inter-village trade, century-old pine trees still stand, revealing the tiny village of Montaña Alta, which sprang up at the end of the 18th century. This will be a day to remember for a very long time to come.
to do by vehicle or any other means of transport. This is your chance to step into a postcard and enjoy pure nature.
Various route levels from introductory level to advanced ensure that no-one is left out of this extraordinary experience. Local guides will lead walkers on each route throughout the whole event, each one of them fluent in two or more languages, including English and Spanish.
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PUERTO RICO SHOPPING CENTRE The ever popular Puerto Rico shopping centre, located in the southern municipality of Mogán, will be the first of its kind to be renewed in the Canary Islands, according to it’s manager, Ubaldo Marrero.
The renovation will be carried out with a private investment of €3 million. Funding is already in place allowing the renovation of 65 percent of the building. The process of renovation of the shopping centre began in April 2014 with a design contest, won by architect D. Francisco Roman Barbero.
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TO GET â‚Ź3MILLION FACELIFT...
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The centre is one of the main tourist shopping areas in the south, and was started in the early seventies, it has 200 retail and leisure outlets, and is divided into four sections (known as phases), of which only the two occupying the most outer surface are to see the majority of work, starting with Phase 1. If the deadlines are met the refurbishment of the building looks set to begin within a year and last for 18 months, it will involve closure of various establishments, according to various press reports. Most will agree it is long overdue.
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If you have any questions for Lilly you can reach her here:
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Lilly@TheLongWalk.es or call 928 987 952
Recent research has proven that a healthy and active lifestyle can help in the treatment of certain cancers.
LillyRikhter.co m
I can tell you with confidence that fitness is one of the very best medicines. This has been shown in the data from numerous studies conducted since the early 1980s in various countries, with different groups of patients, both in the early and the late stages of cancer. Still more research has examined the likelihood of developing cancer when you take regular exercise. Not all of the results have been identical. But the impressive fact is that none of the studies have given a negative result. They all suggest that regular excercise can be a key factor in reducing your probability of developing cancer.
Positive effects What effects can regular exercise have for a diagnosed cancer patient?
A regular focus on your fitness helps to strengthen the immune system, helping fight off additional infections or disease that can strike an already weakend body. Working out significantly improves your psychological state, reducing the instances of depression so common even among people who haven’t been diagnosed with cancer or other life threatning illnesses. All this eventually, positively affects your quality of life, regardless of your starting point, you can be sure that a focus on fitness will help you feel much better. Feeling fitter and stronger can also help to reduce recommended dosages, not only after initial treatments, but also while undergoing chemotherapy. Chemo is often accompanied by dibilitating chronic fatigue syndrome, leaving sufferers feeling listless and weak.
However inactivity and sleep do little to rid you of fatigue, on the There is plenty of evidence that contrary, it can actually make it people who do not exercise reguworse, depriving your body of larly have a shorter life expectanmuch of its own natural ability cy. Cancer patients who regularly to fight the disease. Moreover, exercise can seriously reduce with physically inactive patients, unwanted side effects of their chronic fatigue syndrome can treatment leaving them feeling persist long after chemotherapy. less haggard. Benefits can include an almost complete reduction of It turns into a kind of vicious cirnausea, improved digestion and, cle: inactivity in the chronic stagconsequently, promote output es, undermines not only physical from the body of harmful eleand mental health of a patient, ments that are contained in many but also their ability to find a cancer drugs. support network through reduced social activity. In particular, say Regular exercise supports your scientists at a recent Congress muscle system (it is a fact that on the subject of cancer and its muscle atrophy can be quite comtreatment is why physical activity mon after chemotherapy), as well has been officially recognised as a as helping you to maintain your supportive cancer therapy. weight and physical capabilities.
Vs CANCER
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Recommendations from Lily Richter
The Lily Richter programme:
The type and amount of exercise you undertake should begin only after consultation with a physician and under professional supervision.
Before performing this programme make sure to start with a full five to ten minutes of stretching every major joint. Next, continue to warm-up with at least 5 minutes walking or cycling and then start training.
It is desirable to begin as early as possible, ideally immediately after diagnosis, if you have not been training before that point and if you have you must still seek advice to adapt to your new situation and work in the best way for you and your body. The idea is to optimise a combination of sport, endurance (exercise bike, walking) and gymnastics (exercises for coordination, strength training & stretching). It is best to work with a personal trainer or specialised groups. You should try to increase, even if just a little, your motor activity: try to walk as much as possible, if only down corridors and stairways, do not spend all your time in bed - it will just promote that vicious circle of chronic exhaustion and fatique. Even while in a hospital where there is a lack of opportunities for movement, you need to find ways; for example, buy a simple stimulator in the form of a resistance band or mini-stepper. Do stretching and relaxation exercises, try massage. Once home try an exercise bike, and just go for a walk often, or jog. Keep yourself in a routine, making sure you always properly stretch, warm up and warm down. In moderation this can only benefit your health. Chemotherapy, can provoke reduced heart rates, it is ofen necessary to avoid activity on the day of treatment, and in any case - for six hours immediately after the procedure. Also, you should be careful of strenuous movement if medications produce negative impact on the kidney. If you feel any pain during exercises your should stop! It is important to realise that exercise does not replace basic therapy. Be sure to take proper advice and consult a specialist, who can guide you well.
BREAST CANCER Regular metered training has been shown to reduce the likelihood of relapse by 40% (data Nurses Health Study). Regular exercise can reduce the frequency of primary, as well as recurrent, breast cancer in women. 3-5 hours of physical activity per week, significantly reduces the likelihood of the most common cancers, also noticeably reducing effects of existing cancers. Results show that the effectiveness of basic medical treatment can be much improved, increasing the ability of bone marrow cells to regenerate, which is very important when undergoing chemical and radiation therapy, which may then be carried out more consistently and rapidly. It is recommended that you concentrate on sports where there is no danger of falling, no sudden movements or collisions. Optimal “soft� sports techniques include yoga, aerobics, pilates, swimming & cycling, among others.
1. Exercise Swing your hands by your side in soft rhythmic movements: bringing them slowly up above your head and back down again and by your sides. 5 mins 2. Exercise Squats. Place your feet shoulder width apart. Squat as if to sit on a chair. Your knees should not extend forward of your toes and your heels shoul stay on the floor. As you squat extend your hands forward. If you need to steady yourself hold a table, chair or place your hands on a wall. 10 mins slowly 3. Exercise Gluteal bridge. Lying on your back, bend your legs at the knees, arms extended along your body. Raise your bottom off the floor and your pelvis upwards, hold it for a second or two and slowly lower. x20 4. Exercise Lunges. Find a focus point ahead of you, where you can maintain a steady body posture. Start in a standing position, then take a slow step backwards on to the ball of your back foot, lowering yourself and bending both knees so that they are each bent at 90 degree angles. Slowly return to your starting position and step backwards on to the other foot. x5 5. Exercise Bicycle press. Starting position: lying on your back, arms by your sides. Slowly raise your feet off the floor and cycle as if you were pedaling a bicycle in the air. This is one of the vew lower abdominal exercises to place very little or no stress on the upper body. do this for 5-10 mins. If you can, do it all again!
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Twitters from the Atlantic
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© Barrie Mahoney
EXPATS ARE MIGRANTS TOO
Afghanistan, as well as from several African countries, including Mauritania and Senegal. In most cases, we are no longer talking about economic migrants, but refugees in fear of their lives, sufficiently desperate to take enormous risks for themselves and their families in order to start a new life in a country where they feel safe. A few days ago, the situation worsened, when a boat holding 40 migrants from Africa, including a baby girl, arrived on a beach in Gran Canaria. They were discovered huddled together on the beach in darkness, and Red Cross volunteers gave them blankets and water. This incident in Gran Canaria is just a tiny example of what has been happening on the Syrian/Turkish border, Italy, Greece, Hungary and Calais; desperate people looking for safety.
From the time that we moved to the Canary Islands, each year has brought with it attempts by migrants to land on the islands. Some attempts have been successful, whilst the police, as well as Frontex, the European organisation charged with tracking and dissuading migrants from arriving in Spain and other European countries, have thwarted others. Most migrants are from sub Saharan Africa, in search of a better life and prospects in Europe. The arrival of migrants reached a peak of 32,000 in 2006, but fell to around 300 in 2014, which was mainly due to increased patrolling and effective border controls. Since that time, the issue has become much more serious in Europe, and the occasional flow of mostly economic migrants from African countries has turned into a massive exodus of refugees from Syria, Iraq,
In recent days, I have been horrified to read some of the negative, cruel and thoughtless comments about refugees on social media, and particularly from a number of expats living in Spain and the Canary Islands, who should know better. Some have seen it as nothing more than a potential irritating interference in the usually smooth pattern of their daily lives, as well as angry comments from potential visitors concerned that an influx of refugees could disturb their holiday plans on our sunshine islands. Others have seen a boat full of exhausted men, women and children as nothing more than an inconvenient drain upon the islands’ health and welfare resources. What has happened to love and basic humanity? I know that many of the comments that I have read stem from fear and ignorance of the plight of so many desperate people. Fear always comes from the unknown and, has history has shown, is at the root of xenophobia and
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terrible acts of cruelty that were common during the two World Wars. People under threat always blame minority groups; those with a different religion, different colour of skin or different values. This fear contributes to prejudice and hate, which often leads to terrible consequences.
where in Europe. We do not have to fall into the hands of people smugglers, taking the little money that we have to be crowded onto small, unseaworthy boats, suffocating vans and lorries to risk our lives trying to reach safety. Most of us were fortunate enough to be able to rent or buy a home, stay with friends, or at least have a roof over our heads and a bed to sleep in; not cowering on a dark beach at night relying upon charity and strangers speaking in a language that we don’t understand.
What many expats voicing fear and hatred demonstrate, although they have every right to express their opinions, is complete ignorance of the fact that they too, as expats, are migrants. It is true that our circumstances are very different. Thanks to the European Union, many of us have chosen to live and work in another country; we have not been forced to flee by oppressive regimes, butchering militants, or dictators to seek a new life in the sun. Most of us could afford a plane or boat ticket to get us to our destination; we have passports and identity papers that demonstrate our right to live any-
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It is purely an accident of birth that we did not find ourselves in the same situation as these refugees; born in another country or continent and in the hands of tyrants. As expats, we need to remember that we are migrants too. Now is time that we should show love, compassion and understanding, as well as insisting upon practical support for the vulnerable refugees from those who lead us.
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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.
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If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s websites: www.barriemahoney.com and www.thecanaryislander.com or read his latest book,
‘Island in the Sun’
(ISBN: 9780992767181). Available in paperback, as well as Kindle, iBooks and Google Play editions. iPhone/iPad and Android Apps: ExpatInfo, CanaryIsle and CanaryGay now available. © Barrie Mahoney
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LEG END UP THE BARBACOA 2015
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This ‘Fat Bastard’ typically arrives on stage in moccasins, patchwork clown pants and tails, topped with his trademark flying goggles and leather helmet, his long career marked with consistently vile perspectives on women and foreigners. He is more than happy to offend anyone from practically every vulnerable group, ethnic minority, member of the establishment, and any other person, at whom he might throw the words ‘fuck’ or ‘cunt’, in his earnest attempt to be the very most politically incorrect commentator and “comedian” on the British circuit.
Middlesbrough born ex-vagrant Royston Vasey visited Gran Canaria for a one off up close and personal at the Barbacoa emporium of fun and leisure at the top of that hill, Puerto Rico, last month.
Roy Chubby brown is iconic simply for trying, at every opportunity, to embody the opinions of what he thinks working-class middle England represents, in some form of symbolic, yet puerile, gesture back to Having originally started out as a drummer, when ‘England were English’ and everyone else inferior. No group or individual is safe he quickly found another job, pulling few from this ‘art form’ honed through the tespunches, in the notorious working men’s clubs of the nineteen-sixties. His first televi- tosterone filled, smoky, ale-quaffing venues of the brown painted mahogany sevension appearance was on talent show New ties. Those much loved shit-holes, where Faces, the seventies precursor to X-factor, thrupence-and-a-ha’penny-in-a-pot dancwhich saw him come second to a country ing girls were given just enough time to and western band; later reportedly failing replace their skimpies by would-be funny to get on to Opportunity Knocks, for using men, as pint-chugging punters nipped off the word ‘arse’ at the end of his audition.
to the Gents, or occasionally the other toilet thought of as for “Disabled”, or simply those who drank from half-pint glasses. This extraordinarily well known yet disgusting throwback of a man, managed to fill the Barbacoa, a venue run by infamous local tearaway Andy Mockonohey, which among various qualities of offering, has had, as their main headline act, for several years, a tribute Chubby Brown performed by recently departed comedy person Gary Gobstopper. Reincarnated in the flesh by the very man he’s been pretending to be all these years, Gary was present too to see his hero play his home crowd, much to the delight of many a tourist, we are assured. Noone easily offended was welcome, nor were migrants, asylum seekers, foreigners (ie not English) or believers in feminism, and anyone too heavily tanned was in danger of ridicule too. To top off his Barbacoa debut, Chubby treated his audience to a full monty strip tease, mooning them openly as he left the stage. Everyone who went had an excellent night, we are informed. Especially Andy. Heckling this article is highly encouraged.
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Language Lesson #96
with Theresa Coe
SELF STUDY: A GUIDE TO THE BEST RESOURCES Not everyone can afford Spanish classes and even if you can, you´ll make progress more quickly if you do extra practice between classes. So this month I´d like to recommend some websites, books and activities – often free – that will get you speaking and understanding more of the lingo. Websites and apps
BBC INTERACTIVE SPANISH
Another free course over 12 weeks is offered by the BBC online including the interactive simplified video drama ‘Mi Vida Loca’ (with subtitles) and lessons with audio, games, vocabu-
lary, and grammar explanations and exercises. For those with a higher level, the crosswords help increase your vocabulary or you can watch BBC News in Spanish. (It´s also a good idea to activate the hard-of-hearing subtitles that make Spanish tv easier to understand). The BBC site has a lot of practice for GCSE Spanish – a great course whatever you age as it’s so focussed on ‘real’ Spanish needed for daily life. Other categories include Spanish for football lovers and holidaymakers plus ‘cool’ Spanish MP3s if you’re interested in slang.
See: www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish
STUDY SPANISH – ALL LEVELS
SPANISHDICT AND FLUENCIA More than just an online dictionary, this fab site also allows you to type in text and choose from one of three suggested translations, either English to Spanish or vice-versa. Then you can click on the speaker button to hear the word or phrase pronounced. In addition, it offers a fun, interactive Spanish course called Fluencia which is compatible with any computer, tablet or smartphone. Fluencia offers personalized feedback (like a tutor) and includes more than 60 lessons at each stage of progress. Level 1 includes ordering in restaurants, greeting people and the verbs ‘ser’ (to be) and ‘gustar’ (to like). Level 2 has 69 lessons and helps you discuss weather, sports, ser/estar verbs and regular verb endings. If you work through to level 3 you start to get more vocabulary but can take things at your own pace. See: www.spanishdict.com
GAME YOUR WAY WITH DUOLINGO This fun app is great for people who like to learn languages through visual prompts and play, and is especially useful for building up vocabulary at a basic level. For example, you can match images with words for feelings, clothing, food, time and common phrases. Each exercise teaches you new words and grammar patterns by having you practise speaking, translating with fill-in-the-blank or writing, and transcribing from listening. See: www.duolingo.com
A more serious site, this one gives very clear explanations of all aspects of Spanish grammar in English, inlcuding lots of examples to clear up confusion. Then you have the option to select a series of multiple choice quizzes to practice each area e.g. the different past tenses. They now also offer a more complete conversation course at beginner, intermediate or advanced level, for which you need to pay. See: www.studyspanish.com
FIND THE BEST APP FOR YOU There´s a very helpful review of 11 of the most popular apps for learning Spanish, explaining how each one works, what they offer and whether you have to pay or not. Well worth a read to find the online course that best works for you, from Duolingo games to Rosetta Stone´s total immersion method. www.fluentu.com/spanish/blog/best-apps-for-learning-spanish/
PAST LESSONS: GET THE SET After five years of writing self-contained lessons for this paper, I´ve compiled a contents’ list so you can select which ones are most helpful. Whether dealing with banks, police or workmen, seeing the doctor or booking restaurants and hotels, my lessons cover most common situations with relevant phrases and vocab. In addition, I´ve done themed sets on avoiding common mistakes, understanding popular expressions and how to use different verb tenses or other areas of grammar. Just email me to request the contents’ list or complete set of lessons.
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Free! FOR BOOKWORMS: ‘PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT’ As a teacher, this series of books is my favourite for its nontechnical, detailed explanations of everything you need to know plus tons of examples and practice. ThePractice Makes Perfect range includes books dedicated to Spanish vocabulary, Spanish verb tenses (my top choice), Complete Spanish Grammar plus more specialized titles relating to conversation, the past tense or subjunctive etc. All are available post-free from www.bookdepository.com or buy second-hand from just 1p via www.amazon.co.uk
JOIN A CONVERSATION CLUB We now have two weekly Spanish conversation clubs here in Gran Canaria: one in San Fernando and the other in Las Palmas. Native speakers like Spanish teacher Cynthia help guide the conversation for all levels of ability, with the only rule being that you have to speak in Spanish! If you´d rather help locals with their English, we also have weekly English-speaking social clubs north and south. In addition, there are language exchange groups every day – and all are free. More details are available via email to LEGintercambio@ gmail.com or at Facebook.com/ LEGintercambio
For past lessons or info about books, conversation clubs or private tutors around the island, email: theresacoe@gmail.com
The Gran Canaria Language exchange 1,500 people take part in language exchange gatherings and conversation clubs around the island. – English speakers always welcome and a great way to meet local people. We meet weekly in Playa del Inglés, San Fernando, Vecindario Arguineguin, Agüimes Las Palmas, Telde and Arucas. 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.
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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. Which team does Lewis Hamilton drive for
6. Who presents the weakest link quiz
2. Chamber of secrets is from which series of books
7. Who wrote the Winnie the Poo books
3. What nickname is given to the Loch Ness monster
8. Faulty towers waiter Manuel was from where
4. Welsh, Border, Irish, Lakeland are what breed of dog
9. A Octagon has how many sides
5. How many dots are on a standard dice
10. Spanish words for white wine Ans Rabbits
5.What pastry is traditionally used to make sausage rolls Ans Pacifier
2.The film water ship down was based around a family of which animals
Ans Rod Stewart
1.What river flows through Glasgow
Ans Clyde
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8.What 2 colours are on the Swedish flag Ans Puerta
7.Spanish word for door Ans Liverpool
4.What is a baby’s dummy called in America
Ans Puff pastry
3.Maggie May was a hit for which singer
6.Which UK football team call Anfield home
Ans Mount Tiede (Tenerife)
10. Name Spain’s highest mountain Ans Italy
9. What country produces parmizan cheese Ans Yellow and blue
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The best private hospital in the Canary Islands
El Peri贸dico Ingl茅s de Gran Canaria
(Ranking of the Spanish healthcare system)
24 hours
Emergency Service Hotel Medical Attention Interpreter Service Travel Insurances accepted. We are the only private hospital on Gran Canaria where the E11 European Health Insurance Card is accepted. All medical and surgical specialities, General and Digestive Surgery, Dermatology, Neurology, Traumatology, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Gynecology, Hemodialysis, Ophthalmology, Pediatrics, Rehabilitation, Rheumatology, Aesthetic Medicine, Plastic Surgery, Radiology Service, Urology, etc.
928 063 666
www.hospitalessanroque.com