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

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

Update 29 August: Today’s Orange Alert for temperatures up to 38º (though we’ve had 42º at just under 1,000 metres on the west coast) is downgraded from 9pm tonight to Yellow for temperatures up to 36º, 34º at altitude. The alert remains in place for Tuesday as well now, but for temperatures up to 34º. Aemet Monday, Aemet Tuesday

Update 28 August: Aemet has extended the orange alert from the eastern islands to cover Tenerife as well, where temperatures tomorrow are expected to reach 38º throughout the island. The orange alert is active until 9pm tomorrow evening. Winds are also expected to pick up, particularly at mid-altitude and altitude. Looks like the hair-dryer is back. C24H

Update 26 August 11.30pm: The Canarian Government’s General Council for Security and Emergencies  has declared an orange alert for the heatwave in the eastern islands of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, where temperatures of up to 38º are expected. Tenerife (and La Palma, El Hierro, and La Gomera) remains under Aemet’s yellow alert for temperatures up to 34º, with the alert extended throughout the whole weekend.

While the heatwave lasts, the Tenerife Cabildo has banned mountain activities with immediate effect. This applies to BBQs, agricultural or forestry fires, as well as machinery that could cause sparks. The ban will be effective while adverse weather conditions persist. The Cabildo also asked the public to avoid visiting the mountains over the next several days, and for those who cannot avoid travelling, to use main roads and avoid forest tracks. Everyone is asked to take the utmost precautions to avoid any activity that risks causing a fire in the mountains. C24H, C24H, C24H

Update 26 August: Aemet has now put Tenerife on Yellow alert for a heatwave, and raised the previous yellow alert in the eastern islands to Orange. Temperatures are expected to reach 34º in Tenerife, rising to 38º in Gran Canaria. The alert is currently in place for tomorrow and Friday. C24H

Update 25 August: The warm weather warning issued by Aemet has been extended to Friday, and Proteccion Civil and the Ministry of the Interior says there is a high risk of fires: that risk includes Tenerife as well. In view of the expected warm weather, the authorities have reminded the public to take the usual measures to protect themselves.

Recommendations are:

• avoid all physical exercise in the open air
• avoid exposure to the sun and heat where possible
• drink more water to ensure we are well hydrated and to avoid heatstroke
• avoid large meals and alcohol, coffee, tea or sugared drinks because they can cause dehydration
• stay out of the sun between midday and 4pm, when the sun’s rays are almost vertical and radiation at its greatest
• keep in the shade
• wear loose fitting, light coloured, natural fibre clothes if going out is unavoidable
• wear head protection if going out is unavoidable

If you feel any symptoms from the sun, try to cool yourself immediately, whether with a sponge, damp towel or shower, drink water, and if you do not feel better quickly, seek medical help. C24H

Original post 24 August: Aemet has activated a yellow alert for temperatures up to 35º in the eastern islands of Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. The alert, which is activated for between 9am and 7pm on Thursday, does NOT apply to Tenerife, at least not at present, but it will be fair to assume that temperatures here too will rise somewhat, and it’s always possible that the alert will be extended.  C24H

As posted below, previous crafts, whether wooden pateras or zodiac types, have appeared around the Tenerife coastline, for example in Los Silos, Buenavista del Norte, Valleseco, Las Gaviotas and Almáciga. The Guardia Civil believes that the entry points are varied so as to avoid the Sistema Integral de Vigilancia Exterior (SIVE) radar system.  El Dia

Update 19 June: Another narcopatera has been found on Tenerife’s coastline, on this occasion in Playa de Valleseco, near to Santa Cruz port. Everything suggests that this boat, too, was used to introduce drugs into the island though it appears from the picture above not to have been a zodiac, and it had again been abandoned after serving its purpose. Police have started an investigation to try to identify the traffickers who were on board. It is thought to have avoided being picked up on radar because of its small size. Local fishermen think for this reason it couldn’t have come very far.  RTVC

Original post 25 May: They call them “narcopateras”, drug boats, and over the last month, four have been found run aground on Tenerife’s coast. The fourth was found in the early hours of yesterday at the playa de El Socorro, in the Puertito de Güímar, say the Guardia Civil.

They are zodiacs, small dinghy-type crafts with outboard motors, and they are used to slip drugs into Tenerife unnoticed. This latest one was spotted by a local around 8am, and as with the other three, there was no trace of drugs or occupants. They had managed to get in again.

Police sources believe that behind them is a well-structured organization which takes care of their security to the last detail. This view is reinforced by the latest one coming into Güímar after the Guardia Civil posted watch on the north coast where the previous three had landed, between Los Silos and Buenavista, on the 12th, 13th and 20th of this month.

They are believed to be bringing increasingly frequent consignments of hash into the island, and clearly have the means to know how to avoid police and immigration patrols. It seems, however, that despite the cat and mouse game the smugglers have been playing with the Guardia Civil, there has lately been a new tip off by phone for police to follow up. LO

Local Police chiefs throughout the island say they are overwhelmed by the numbers of denuncias for thefts that they have to deal with, not just of empty premises, but now very often of premises where the owners were at home and asleep. The capital is the area most affected by the crimewaves, but this is no longer a phenomenon that can be said to be restricted to any particular area of Tenerife.

We all need to maximise our personal and household security measures. Take extreme caution when out and about, especially when near cashpoint machines and banks, and when leaving or returning to a parked car. Don’t leave doors and windows open overnight unless you have security grilles in place. Finally, make sure that you have appropriate and adequate insurance so that if the worst happens, you can at least recover something financially.

There has long been an expectation of a “social crisis” following in the steps of the economic one. It appears that it is here.

It seems that as part of police investigations, a ring in the possession of the thieves has been identified by the victim as a stolen item belonging to him. The paperwork processing the four has been put through the courts, specifically Arona court 5, and all four were ordered by the judge to be remanded in prison. C24H

There is no further update on the victim’s condition, but this is almost certainly to be taken as good news, especially since it seems that it was he himself who was in a fit enough condition to be able to help police by identifying the ring.

Original post 20 August: A British man is in Candelaria hospital after receiving a brutal beating from thieves in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The attack happened in his own home in Urbanización Trébol, in Costa del Silencio. The man, 78 years old, is said to be in critical condition with severe head fractures.

It is not yet clear how large the group of robbers was, nor how much they got away with, other than they stole objects of value. The poor victim has lived in south Tenerife for several years, and works in his own bar. The Guardia Civil is investigating. RTVC

Members of The Tenerife Forum have confirmed that this poor man is called Tony, who owns the Gateway bar opposite El Chapperal. TTF

The calimas also bring bacteria and fungi that attack vegetable life, which would help explain the sometimes ravaging effects of calimas on crops. Ultimately, however, the studies are focused on human public health, and their research continues in the hope of finding clinical uses for the classifications and analysis of the spores, including whether the bacteria transported through the air during calimas can carry viruses.  The research could lead to vaccines to help prevent allergic reactions in those who are particularly susceptible or vulnerable. El Dia

Update 24 August: The contest ended just a few hours ago, and the winner was Miss Mexico, Jimena Navarrete. The hot favourite had been Miss Philippines, who eventually came fifth, but once again, as in the last couple of years, the winner is a Latin American girl. Adriana Reverón, Miss Spain, came 22nd out of a field of more than 80.

Update 22 August: Adriana Reverón says that “the support I’m getting from Tenerife is an incentive to bring out the best in me”. The 24-year-old student and beauty queen will be competing in just a few hours now for the Miss Universe title, though events have been going on for the past week or so since competitors arrived in Las Vegas.  The Spanish press says that she is one of the favourites, though some less directly involved sources suggest she is not a hot favourite. Miss Philippines is widely expected to win. El Dia

Original post 24 July: Adriana Reverón, a 24-year-old model and construction engineering student from Los Cristianos, is off to Las Vegas to represent Spain in Miss Universe on 23 August. Tenerife has had a Miss Spain take part in Miss World, when Patricia Yurena Rodríguez became Miss Tenerife 2007 and Miss Spain 2008, but Adriana is the first Tinerfeña since 1977 to represent Spain in the Miss Universe contest. She was chosen at a competition in Madrid on 13 July. El Dia

Today’s papers report that a bar in the urbanization has just been robbed for the third time in only a few months, and for the fifth time over the course of the past year. On this occasion, the thieves got away with two slot machines and other goods, valued in total at more than €15,000, as well as €2,000 in cash. The slot machines have now been found, totally destroyed, in a nearby banana plantation.

According to locals, this is one of a continuous series of burglaries in the area, and not just in commercial premises. Residential properties have been targeted too, with thieves breaking in during the night while the owners are asleep in bed. Residents say that the area used to be very peaceful, but it has changed a great deal over the past several months to a year, with the thieves even scaling walls to break into third floor apartments.

Locals say that despite denuncias repeatedly being made to the Policía Local and the Guardia Civil, the robberies have increased. The Police have informed residents that the culprits could be an organized gang that is also carrying out robberies throughout other areas of south Tenerife, but which they have as yet been unable to break up.  El Dia

Two men and a woman, all Polish and aged 28, 30 and 35, were arrested after being caught red handed by security staff in a commercial centre in La Orotava where they were trying to steal clothes and accessories worth €1,691. After being detained, officers found further stolen clothes to the value of some €6,000 in their car.

Meanwhile, in Guía de Isora, the Guardia Civil arrested a 21-year-old Santiago del Teide man for breaking and entering a restaurant in the town. Agents were able to identify him thanks to a security camera in the premises.

Also, in Playa de las Américas, the Guardia Civil arrested four men, two aged 18, one 22, and the last 26, all Arona residents, for aggravated robbery in Costa del Silencio. The youths had broken into a dwelling while its owners were at home and in bed. They stole electronic goods and around €800 in cash.

Finally, Policía Local in Santa Cruz have arrested a 19-year-old youth for the theft of two pairs of sun glasses from a shop in Los Majuelos. The idiot thief was identified because he left his credit card on the counter. LO

The principal object of the Festival is to familiarise people with yoga, and to inform them about the benefits the discipline can bring in terms of preventative health, as well as physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Yoga sessions, with classes for all ages, will be co-ordinated by the masters of various yoga schools in Tenerife, and supervised by the guest of honour, Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, the spiritual leader of Rishikesh, India. The organizers say that the various yoga schools will also have stands in the El Galeón sports pavilion with information available on the courses they run.  El Dia

Note that this fine is just for not carrying a bag. Dogs do not even have to foul a pavement for the fine to be imposed. Mayor Pedro Martín Domínguez said that “despite the fact that there are many responsible dog owners who clean up after their dogs, there are many others who use public gardens and play areas as dog toilets, creating situations which carry unacceptable health risks”.

This is borne out no more clearly, perhaps, than in a current story from the UK, where a little girl is at risk of losing her eyesight after falling over in a play area and getting dog faeces in her eye.

Sr Martín said that dogs must wear collars and leads when in public spaces, owners must carry bags to clean up after them, and that any Policía Local officer can require a dog walker to prove that he or she has a bag with them. Anyone who does not will receive a €500 fine.  El Dia

The fiesta will continue today with a Junior Queen Gala at 9pm, and on Friday there will be bouncy castles and games in the morning from 10am, and a dance accompanied by the band ‘Revelación’ from 11pm in the night.

On Saturday, from 6pm, there will be dance music from various groups, with a full open air dance starting at 11pm. The fiesta will conclude on Sunday with a Mass at 8pm, followed by a procession with the images of San Casiano and San Claudio. The End of Fiesta Dance, with the group ‘Diamante’ will start at 11pm. El Dia

The public is asked to use public transport to get to the beach, rather than private vehicles, given that access to the whole area is still restricted. Bathers will, however, be able to use the now fenced-in part of the area nearer the cafetería, which can be reached on foot.

In view of the vehicular restrictions, from tomorrow the Titsa bus number 330 will add the beach onto its route from the Avenida de Canarias to San Vicente. It will run every half hour between 3pm and 9.20pm Monday to Friday, and 10.40am to 9.30pm at weekends. The Ayuntamiento is negotiating with Titsa to extend the timetable into the mornings. DA

Original post 27 June: Tenerife is starting the summer season with five fewer beaches than usual in the municipalities of Santiago del Teide, Los Realejos, Fasnia, El Rosario and La Guancha, and several coves affected by works pending completion or in some cases pending commencement in places like Santa Cruz, La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz.

The five beaches which remain closed to the public are Los Guíos (Santiago del Teide), El Socorro (Los Realejos), La Nea (El Rosario), El Abrigo (Fasnia) and Santo Domingo (La Guancha).

All indications are that Los Guíos, El Abrigo and Santo Domingo will remain closed all summer. La Nea could reopen in July, while El Socorro could be partially open during August if there are no further unexpected delays.

El Socorro beach has been closed since December due to the danger of rockfalls, while Santo Domingo has been closed for three years for the same reason. Los Guíos was the beach in Los Gigantes where two women died in November after a huge landslide.  El Dia

The Summer Carnaval is a private initiative promoted by businessman Ismael Abbassi Rojas in collaboration with Arona Ayuntamiento, and is designed to bring the street to life and revitalize the area’s commerce. Groups performing include Cariocas, Joroperos, Danzarines Canarios, Bahía Bahitiare, Tabajaras, and Los Playeritos, as well as traditional carnaval characters.

The street will be closed to traffic for the duration of the Carnaval.  DA

Original post 14 August: Rain is forecast for tomorrow and Monday. For Sunday, the forecast is increasing cloud throughout the afternoon and evening, with light showers becoming moderate in the evening, especially in the south. For Monday, cloud tending to clear somewhat during the afternoon, with moderate showers bringing isolated torrential downpours. Aemet has raised an orange alert for these rains, with up to 30mm/30 litres per square metre an hour downpour expected.  Aemet 1, Aemet 2.

The works that are now going out to tender will involve the resurfacing of a 4.4 km stretch in both carriageways, the introduction of road safety signs and lights, slip-road improvements, and environmental enhancements with some 2,000 plants. Works will have a completion date of 12 months from commencement.  DA

A little eagle owl, perhaps from the Jungle Park, was the victim of an accident and the recipient of great kindness over the weekend in Armeñime, just off the current end of the TF1 at Adeje. It seems that the owl had stunned itself after flying into the wing mirror of a car driving along the TF47 Armeñime to Los Gigantes road. Seeing the bird lying dazed on the road surface after the impact, locals rushed to stop it being run over, and scooped it up and delivered it to the Guardia Civil in Playa de Las Américas.

The lucky owl has now been handed over to Seprona, the Guardia Civil’s Nature Protection Service. They will let the little survivor fly free once it has fully recovered from the incident. As one regional paper says, let’s hope that it will fly at a greater altitude in the future so that it doesn’t get into this sort of trouble again! C24H

Fines of between 30 and 150 Euros will be issued, on the grounds of hygiene, though some might think that with the numbers of people feeding these animals, it’s an easy way for the Ayuntamiento to raise some money. If so, Santa Cruz will merely lead where other areas are sure to follow.

The Council reminded residents that it was also against the law to use private or communal property to feed strays, and that it intended to enforce the law in order to ensure the city’s streets were not converted into rubbish dumps, and to guarantee minimum sanitary and hygiene conditions. LO

The mayor said that the hotel was inaugurated in 1963, before the Ley de Costas came into being, and that it had been a symbol of El Médano ever since it was opened, never mind that it also employs some forty people, the majority of which are Granadilla municipality residents. She deplored the decision, “taken in a Madrid office without any understanding of the reality of de El Médano”. DA

Update 9 July: It might be too early to talk of a reprieve, but Costas is making noises that demolition is possibly subject to negotiation, or at the least, dependent on reaching a consensus, and that the proposals are just part of a wider series of considerations to renovate the El Médano coastline.

The remarks came as Juan Carlos Martín Fragueiro, secretary general of the Mar del Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino, visited Tenerife yesterday and clarified that only part of the hotel is involved. He then stressed that Granadilla Ayuntamiento and local opinion will be taken account of, that each proposed demolition was investigated on a case by case basis. Perhaps something is going on behind the scenes, but there is a ray of hope in the hotel El Médano’s future. C24H

Original post 27 June: The Ayuntamiento de Granadilla de Abona has started its campaign to protect the Hotel Médano from demolition (see post HERE ) by arranging a petition. The mayor, Carmen Nieves Gaspar Rivero, said that she hoped the initiative, backed by all the municipality’s political groups and approved in council meeting, will now be backed by thousands of residents.

The petition reads:

After the announcement by the Spanish Government’s Department of the Environment of the intended demolition of the hotel Médano following the expiry of the award to  this tourist installation of this municipality, the following signatures both support the proceedings started by Granadilla Ayuntamiento to reject the plan and demonstrate our clear and categorical opposition to the demolition of this emblematic hotel, a touristic and architectural symbol, as well as generator of employment and economic activity for the municipality and the region. We equally demonstrate our will to maintain the frontline buildings between the hotel and Playa Chica, the original heart of El Médano, and which currently house numerous businesses mainly involved in catering.

The petition is now available for signing in the hotel itself, as well as being distributed in various businesses in El Médano itself and the municipality generally and, indeed, more widely throughout Tenerife. It is also intended to take this fight to other islands to get the maximum support for the petition.

The Ayuntamiento is currently also looking at ways to include the hotel and the buildings to its side in the catalogue of protected buildings.  DA

The John Lowe Golf Classic is now in it’s 6th year, and is becoming a significant fixture in Tenerife Golf. The Amarilla Golf and Country Club has become home to the event, successive captains have made it part of their charity, and members have given wonderful support, not only entering teams, but also sponsoring individual tee’s. The day begins with team photographs, and light refreshment, before the teams head off to their respective Tee’s, at 10am the claxon sounds, and play begins. The format is Stableford, the best 2 scores to count at each hole, drinks are provided on some tee’s, and the refreshment cart is never far away. The golf is fiercly competitive, but also very friendly, at 3pm all teams are back at the club house, and the banter begins, “How did you do” “I hit the pin on the 5th” “If we had not missed so many putt’s” and of course the team who have 90 points, and are quitely confident they are the winners.Everyone is kept entertained by a Spanish group of musicians, and the barbecue gets under way. A charity auction is held, with some great lots to bid for, wekends in 5 star hotels, a trip to La Gomera on Fred Olsens fast cat, and many others. The day ends with the awards presentation, everything finished for 6pm. This year I will be joined by Eric Bristow and Bob Anderson, making the event a triple Legends Classic. There are places left at this time. for more information, how to enter, etc. contact me at: jloweprodart@aol.com

Events will be going on all day, particularly from the afternoon throughout the evening. Thousands are expected to attend, and many will sail out from the little bay in order to see from the sea, and the council has asked people to share cars, or get to the town by taxi or bus, to avoid traffic congestion as much as possible. C24H

Fire crews were called out to 6 fires in La Laguna, 3 in Arona, 2 in Granadilla, and one each in San Miguel and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Thankfully, there is nothing remotely on the scale of the fires, now extinguished or almost under control, that have been seen over the last day or so in Gran Canaria and La Gomera, where around 500,000 square metres of scrubland have been burnt. C7

Original post 5 August: The La Siesta Hotel in Playa de Las Américas will be the host for the World Dance Music Arona 2010 concert, the first time the event has been held in Tenerife. It will take place on Saturday 14 August from 8pm, lasting until 2am, and will fill the terraced area next to the Conquistador beach.

The event is open to all and free, and around 5,000 are expected to attend. The noise level is anticipated to be around 40,000 watts, and lighting at 110,000 watts with special effects, LED screens, entertainment and dancers galore.

This is an event that is clearly aimed at young visitors, which makes a welcome change from the older luxury-end tourism marketing of late. Arona Ayuntamiento itself stressed that the initiative showed the municipality’s committment to dynamism, revival and economic mobility, as mechanisms to pull the area out of the touristic doldrums. C24H

Having been detained, his luggage was searched but nothing was found. He was then transferred to a hospital to check whether he was trafficking drugs within his body. X-rays confirmed that he was carrying 80 capsules filled with cocaine, weighing 1,018 grams in total.

He is now being processed, and could face some 8 years in prison. DA

Update 9 May: The bin men have now been paid for April and have called off the strike. They have started to collect rubbish immediately, and the council thinks the situation will be back to normal by tomorrow morning.  El Dia

Original post 8 May: Yet again San Miguel bins have not been emptied because binmen have not been paid. Rubbish has now piled up for two days, apart from in medical and educational centres. During 2009. there were at least four actions by refuse collectors for the same reason, and there are still complaints about the lorry fleet being obsolete. In Granadilla de Abona, where the same business, Clusa S.L., is responsible for rubbish collection, the Ayuntamiento has rescued the service, while in Arona, Clusa’s contract has been adjudicated to another business.

The mayor of San Miguel, Víctor Chinea, gave assurances today that the missing payments will be made up within “a few hours”. Sr Chinea indicated that he would try to reach an agreement with Clusa so as to avoid a repetition of similar situations, but said there were plans at present to go down the route adopted by Granadilla, of the municipality rescuing the service.  C24H

Original post 12 August: The Canarian Government’s Health Department, Sanidad, has reminded the public to take suitable precautions in the high temperatures we’re currently experiencing in the islands.

Recommendations are:

• avoid all physical exercise in the open air
• avoid exposure to the sun and heat where possible
• drink more water to ensure we are well hydrated and to avoid heatstroke
• avoid large meals and alcohol, coffee, tea or sugared drinks because they can cause dehydration
• stay out of the sun between midday and 4pm, when the sun’s rays are almost vertical and radiation at its greatest
• keep in the shade
• wear loose fitting, light coloured, natural fibre clothes if going out is unavoidable
• wear head protection if going out is unavoidable

If you feel any symptoms from the sun, try to cool yourself immediately, whether with a sponge, damp towel or shower, drink water, and if you do not feel better quickly, seek medical help.  C24H

Update 12 August:There is to be a residents’ protest in front of the Casas Consistoriales at midday tomorrow to denounce, apart from anything else, the attitude of the Ayuntamiento during this now week-long contaminated water situation.

The ban on domestic consumption is still in place in the seven affected areas of the municipality: Chimiche, Las Vegas, Las Rosas, La Higuera, El Desierto, Cruz de las Ánimas and Los Blanquitos.  El Dia

Update 11 August: The Ayuntamiento has lifted the ban in Granadilla town centre but it remains in place in the upland areas. Specifically, the ban remains until further notice in Chimiche, Las Vegas, Las Rosas, La Higuera, El Desierto, Cruz de las Ánimas and Los Blanquitos. Water tanks will be kept in place in the two Chimiche co-operatives, and in the plazas of Los Blanquitos and  El Desierto. C24H

Update 9 August: Granadilla Ayuntamiento says that water is still not fit for consumption in Chimiche, Las Vegas, Las Rosas, La Higuera, El Desierto, Cruz de las Ánimas, Los Blanquitos and a part of Granadilla town centre (they don’t say which part … ). In the affected zones they have placed 3,000 litre tanks of drinking water which will remain operative between 8am to midday and 6pm to 9pm today and tomorrow while analysis results are awaited. The council asked the public to be patient with these preventative measures, and said that it was proceeding to empty and clean water tanks. C24H

The Council’s website HERE says that tanks of drinking water have been placed at various points in the municipality, specifically the two cooperativas at Chimiche, El Desierto church square, and the squares of Los Blanquitos and El Calvario. All these will be available all the time, while there is one in the parking area of Los Hinojeros which will be open from 8am to midday, and 6-9pm.

Original post 8 August: Entemanser has warned that the public water supply in parts of Granadilla de Abona is not fit for consumption. The areas affected are Chimiche, Las Vegas, Las Rosas, La Higuera, Los Blanquitos, Cruz de las Ánimas, El Desierto, and the town centre of Granadilla itself. The water can be used for cleaning purpoess, but the levels of contamination of Clostridium perfringens detected are higher than permitted, and have resulted in a ban on the public using it for drinking or food preparation or cooking. Granadilla Ayuntamiento sources have said that they are working to ensure the water quality is restored as quickly as possible, and permission from Sanidad will depend on further analysis. Megaphones have been employed to inform locals. Further information is available from the helpline that Entemanser has set up: 902476064. DA

The Cabildo said that it will be lifted only when the weather cools down and the “extreme risk” of firest fires has been reduced. Meanwhile, it begged the public to avoid the mountain areas over the next few days, and if travel to those areas is unavoidable, to use only main roads.  C24H

Update 11 August: Aemet has put Tenerife on Yellow Alert today for temperatures up to 34º, rising to Orange Alert for temperatures up to 37º on Thursday. At the moment, the alerts are running until 7pm on Thursday. Aemet

Original post 9 August: Aemet has forecast the possibility of a calima in the south of Tenerife tomorrow, with temperatures up to around 30º, rising slightly on Wednesday, and worse at altitude. C24H

The Communication Secretary of the Union, César Cabo, said that despite AENA’s irresponsible attitude, the Union had decided to bring forward its meeting and had taken its decision to avoid uncertainty and damage to the tourist trade. Not that their action to date will not have had that effect, of course … C24H

Update 7 August: It appears that talks have broken down between AENA and the ATC unions, and that a strike is now likely from 21 August. The sticking point appears to have been that after a generous offer, AENA refused to continue negotiating while the unions were still threatening strike action.

ATC union USCA spokesman Daniel Zamit thinks AENA will come back to the table on Monday or Tuesday, and said that if they do not, the Executive Committee will meet on Wednesday to decide its position. If a strike goes ahead, said Sr Zamit, it will probably start on 21 August, allowing for the legally required 10 day period for notice of strike action. C24H

Update 5 August: Air traffic controllers say that an agreement might now be possible after certain “advances” were achieved in yesterday’s negotiations. Union reps say that talks will continue over the weekend to see if a solution can be thrashed out to avoid a strike that nobody wants. Apart from a stunning salary offer, AENA has also shown itself prepared to compromise on working shift changes and working hours. El Dia

Update 4 August: AENA has offered air traffic controllers an average annual salary of €200,000 fixed until 2013 on condition that they work “to full normality” and in a competitive framework, with reductions in absenteeism and greater efficiency. If they turn this down they want shooting … or at least sacking … C7

Original post 3 August: In a vote earlier today, Air Traffic Controllers voted with a massive 98% support for a strike. Legally, they have to give 10 days notice, so the strike will be effective from around 18-20 August.

More than 1,800 controllers from 49 centres voted on the strike, called after negotiations with Aena for a new agreement about rest periods reached deadlock. Aena itself says it remains “open to dialogue”. Daniel Zamit, spokesman for the ATC unions, said that a strike was the only solution given that anything is better than the current situation.

Government minister, José Blanco, expressed surprise about what he called a change of attitude on the part of the ATC unions, and stressed that in his opinion the new agreement represented a substantial improvement in the controllers’ working conditions. Sr Blanco said he would guarantee the movement of Spain’s air traffic if the strike were to go ahead, either with military controllers, or more likely, a skeleton service on the part of the controllers themselves. C24H

El Médano’s plaza will be home to a Tenerife’s Got Talent type competition between Wednesday 11th and Saturday 14th.

This is the fourth edition of the Festival Nuevos Talentos Canarios, and prizes amounting in total to €5,700 will be awarded to the top three in each category of dancing, singing, and variety. Over 130 young contestants are signed up to take part, from all parts of Tenerife and some from the other islands.

The Ayuntamiento says that the event is intended to empower and support young Canarians’ creativity, and that the previous three years’ competitions have been very well received. Hopefully, this year’s will be no exception.  El Dia

The motorist was driving in Las Galletas, and when he stopped to help the man he presumed to be injured, the thief threatened him with a kitchen knife. After a struggle, the despicable con man started to drive away with the victim being dragged along the ground. Eventually, with the help of various passers-by, the thief was overpowered and the Guardia Civil called.

The motorist thankfully suffered no more than light injuries, while the would-be robber has now been charged with robbery with violence and intimidation. LO, El Dia

Original post 8 July: An Asian woman of around 30 to 35 years old has been found dead in a house in La Orotava. It seems that the victim was a prostitute who had spent the night with the man who lived there, who telephoned the police himself to say he had awoken to find her dead.

First indications are that it was not a violent death, and that it was possibly due to a drugs overdose, given that the man seems to be an habitual user, with a record for trafficking, as well as for domestic violence. The Guardia Civil have him into custody while investigations continue, including into her identity since she had no papers with her. DA

Update 16 July: El Médano is in the forefront of the sporting news for the moment, with the annual Triathlon having taken place on Saturday, and the Kite-surf world championships coming up between 9 and 15 August this year, with the very best kitesurfers in the world taking part. Let’s hope that the boost to the town will promote the plight of the Hotel Médano, and help to preserve this iconic landmark.

Original post 1 Feb: Granadilla has announced that El Médano will host the Kite-surf world championships between 9 and 15 August this year. The announcement was made at the International Tourism Fair in Madrid by the tourism councillor, María Candelaria Rodríguez González. Also present were several professional “riders” who will be competing in the event, which it is hoped will be a shot in the arm for Granadilla municipality’s touristic revenues. The Ayuntamiento attended the Fair armed with a range of promotional material, including a number of rural hotels in the hills which offer a different type of nature tourism to contrast with the traditional beach-type Tenerife holiday.  Diario de Avisos

Six Los Abrigos restaurants will be taking part with marquees offering beer at 50 cents and traditional tapas at €1. The restaurants are Cafetería Matracaso, Arepera Maracay, Tasca Delicias La Caña, Vistamar, Placeres and Yaizara.

The festival starts at 10am and lasts until 7pm, in Calle La Marina, and will be accompanied by music and performances. It is hoped that this will be the first of many years that this festival will take place, and that it will help to boost local businesses and bring local flavours to wider notice. TinerGuía

It transpires that two commercial parks are being planned: as well as the Barranco Las Torres one, there is to be another next to Siam Park. It’s possible, it seems, that they could be commercial centres with leisure facilities if not large superstores. Either way, local small businesses are completely up in arms about the now approved plans, and are planning a massive petition which they intend to hand personally to President Paulino Rivero. DA, C24H

I can’t make up my mind whether I think these new centres are a good idea or not, but I’m tending towards approving of them …

Original post 29 July: The Canarian Government’s Board of Commerce has called an Island Commerce Commission for tomorrow, 30 July, to approve the setting up of a Commercial Park of 23,842 m2 in parcela ET1, Plan Parcial Sector 10, Barranco Las Torres, Adeje. This is where Mercadona, Makro, the agricultural market are, and in brief, this means they’re looking to introduce more big names like Lidl.

There’s an absolutely huge outcry from small businesses and their federations, but generally the Government gets its way here. This whole plan won’t be without its problems and delays, but in my opinion, they’re about to open the gates to more. Lidl has set the stage … who knows what will be next.  C24H

The specific link to make a reservation is HERE, with general information (in Spanish) HERE, both links being part of the more general national park reservations site www.reservasparquesnacionales.es.

Those wanting to go right to the top are reminded that for protection of this conservation area, numbers are restricted to 200 people distributed in groups of 50 every two hours between 9 am and 5pm. C24H

“Nuestra Señora” is the black madonna known as “La Morenita”, the patron saint not just of the Canaries but of Tenerife in particular, and her veneration celebrates a vision of the Virgin Mary in the area of the current Basilica in pre-Spanish conquest times.

Although her Saint’s Day is 2 February 2, her fiesta is held in August, and groups of walkers can regularly be seen coming from all directions along the roads to Candelaria, including the motorway itself, in a famous and much revered pilgrimage.

The programme is available in pdf format HERE with events running from tomorrow, 5 August, all the way through to the 15th, with an additional mass on 22 August. C24H

Update 1 July: Endesa and Red Eléctrica de España (REE) have now officially agreed the sale whereby REE takes over the majority of the Canaries’ electricity supply. The total price of the sale is valued at nearly 1.5 billion Euros. The two companies will close the deal before 7 July. C7

Let the blackouts begin …..

Original post 18 May: The Director General of the Spanish national grid (REE), Carlos Collantes, has warned today that there will be a period from July when the Canaries will be at risk of blackouts because REE will be taking over responsibility for the majority of the islands’ supply from Endesa and will need to upgrade the network’s parameters.

The risk of these blackouts will last three or four years until the system is fully upgraded, as happened on the mainland 5 or so years ago. Some might well ask what is new, given that Tenerife alone has suffered three complete blackouts in the last year, but it will perhaps be some comfort that it is part of a modernization and upgrade that, for all it might take 3 or 4 years to achieve, is long overdue. C24H