Janet Anscombe

In real life, I am an ancient historian, and was a university lecturer before moving to Tenerife in 2004 after finding the climate perfect for my rheumatoid arthritis. Mainly to avoid getting bored at first, I became involved with the Canarian property market as an estate agent, but branched off as an independent consultant, not just for property purchasers but for anyone moving to Tenerife. My goal is to provide impartial advice and knowledge of the local property market and the bureaucracy and legalities involved in living or conducting business here, and to enable people to fulfill their dream without it turning into a nightmare, something that can unfortunately be an all too familiar story.

I hope that this blog will be helpful to anyone looking for up-to-date and relevant information about what is happening in Tenerife, as well as a straightforward guide to the procedures involved in buying and owning property here. Below on this page are the five latest of regularly-updated current news stories; for earlier news, just click on the main news link in the right hand column. Please feel free to express opinions or ask questions by clicking on individual headlines and submitting comments. There is also a Tenerife Sur current weather box in the right hand column which links to Weather Underground for more detailed forecasts. For other more specific  property-related information, simply browse the links at the top of this page. Now and then, too, I’ll post a selection of the best properties on the market.

I am happy to answer any questions about Tenerife, whether the island and current affairs, or events and general information, as well as specific property queries. Forewarned is forearmed! If one person can be saved a small fortune by avoiding falling into the wrong hands here, then I will be happy. Either contact me by e-mail or phone one of the numbers in the box below right (the 922 number is a landline, the 678 one is a mobile).

With the temperatures going down, the Tenerife Cabildo has lifted the ban on fire activities in the mountains. The BBQs are open again! Given how hot and dry it has been, however, the public is asked to take extreme care and act responsibly in forest areas, and to keep to the main roads and avoid forest tracks as far as possible.  El Dia

Adeje is celebrating its Fiestas Lustrales de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación 2010. The Fiesta proper started on 26 August, but lasts until 3 October with a wide programme of events that have been months in preparation. Throughout September and up to 3  October the virgin, or her statue at least, will visit all the towns and villages of Adeje municipality, ending up in Adeje town itself to coincide with the beginning of the fiestas patronales in October.

The Consistorio, CajaCanarias and the Lustral 2010 Committee have prepared an incredibly wide range of events organized by Adeje Ayuntamiento over the next several weeks, including recreations of the 16th century with guanches, pirates, slaves, and other period characters. The mayor stressed that all residents of the municipality of Adeje, as well as of other municipalities, would be welcomed to the festivities with open arms.

The full programme is HERE in pdf form.

Los Cristianos is celebrating its Virgen del Carmen fiesta, with events lasting until 6 September.

The festivities scheduled are:

Wednesday 1 Sept: 6-11pm. Ruta gastronómica marinera “Los Cristianos en 1000 sabores 2010″. This is, in fact, a three-week seafood event involving over 30 local establishments and lasting until 22 September, but timed to coincide with the Fiesta del Carmen. Tapas and a drink will be available for €3.

Thursday 2 Sept: 9pm. Cine de Verano.

Friday 3 Sept: 6pm. Parade through the town centre with the Banda Municipal de Arona.
6.30pm. Musical concert with the Banda Municipal de Arona
9.30pm. Fairground. Gran gala for the Young Fiesta Queen with musical performances.
11pm. Fairground. Open air dance with Orquesta Deliciosa.

Saturday 4 Sept: 11.30am. Plaza de la Pescadora. “Fiestas de Los Cristianos” with Radio Arona and presented by Agustín Negrín.

12 midday. Bahía de Los Cristianos. 1st Acuatlón Virgen Del Carmen 2010.
1.30pm. Harbour. Children’s games.
2.30pm. Plaza de la Pescadora. Open air Paellada.
5pm. Playa de Los Cristianos. Aqua Soccer competition.
From 6.30pm. Plaza de la Pescadora. Festival Juvenil Zona DJ´S.
8.30pm. Fairground. Children’s Festival.
9pm. Fairground. 1st Los Cristianos Póker Tour.
11.30pm. Fairground. Open air dance with Orquesta Fortaleza.

Sunday 5 Sept: 10.30am. Plaza de la Pescadora. Photo and fishing exhibition.
12 midday. Casa del Mar. Classic cars exhibition.
1-6.30pm. Playa de Los Cristianos. Giant table football competition, Aqua-Soccer and other activities for children, including bouncy castle.
2.30 horas. Casa del Mar. Children’s party. 7.30pm. Parroquia Ntra. Señora Virgen del Carmen. Procession through the town to the harbour and then out to sea for the travesía marítima. At the end of the procession, fireworks from Hermanos Tosté.
10pm-2am. Fairground. Dance with Orquesta Wamampy.

Monday 6 Sept: 9.30am. Playa de Los Cristianos. Aqua-Gyn for the Third Age.
10.30am. Playa de Los Cristianos. Relaxation activities for the Third Age.
12 midday. Casa del mar. Workshop for the Third Age.
4pm. Casa del mar. Sweets competition.
5pm. Casa del mar. Festival Third Age “Noches del Recuerdo”. With music and performances from Musicales Clave de Son, Rosa Jiménez, Dúo Amanecer. Third Age parade.
8pm. Casa del mar. Dance through the night with Orquesta Los Concejales.

Arona Travel

Aqualand Costa Adeje has proudly announced the birth of a new baby dolphin. The baby, called Waka, is a female who was born last Friday, 27 August, in the dophinarium. She is the offspring of Gara, a 24-year-old dolphin who has given birth twice before. The calving was a complete success, Aqualand says, adding that it is the fifth birth in the centre in the last fourteen years, making Aqualand Costa Adeje one of the foremost centres for dolphin births in Europe.

The new arrival weighs 12 kilos and measures 1.10 metres long, is extremely active and in excellent health. It took just four hours for her to be suckling well and she is now swimming constantly alongside her mother.

Gara and her baby have been accompanied at all times by mum’s friend, the dolphin Yemaya and her own male baby Aitami, who was born last summer in the same park. As soon as little Waka and Gara herself are transferred to the principal pool, visitors will be able to see them both.

Aqualand Costa Adeje, along with Jungle Park, are the two attractions of the the Aspro Group in Tenerife. C24H

The minimum age to ride motorbikes up to 50cc rises from 14 to 15 tomorrow. I must admit I always thought it was 15, but apparently not. The new minimum age is set by the reform, coming into force tomorrow, of the Reglamento General de Conductores, whose general provisions came into force last December.

Although youngsters of 14 will no longer be able to ride these bikes until they’re 15, they cannot, as previously, take pillion passengers until the age of 18. They must also pass both a theory test and a practical exam in a closed circuit.

The measure has been criticized by the motorcycle industry, as well as by motorcyclist associations, which have warned that if it comes to a choice of being able to ride a motorcycle of 50cc at age 15 or one of 125cc at age 16, consumers will probably opt to wait and buy a bigger bike, causing “drastic” losses to the industry. Industry insiders also quote the Greek example, where a similar measure caused an increase in accidents in new riders of larger bikes. C7