Original post 15 May:  A 35-year-old man received serious head injuries shortly after 7am this morning in a bar in Los Cristianos. Emergency services were called out to a fight involving an individual behaving threateningly with a knife, and National Police got the situation under control while paramedics assisted the injured man. He was stabilized at the scene and then transferred with a heavily bleeding head wound to Hospiten Sur where he remains in serious condition. The bar was in a commercial centre in Calle Hermano Pedro Bethencourt, which runs from the main Los Cristianos roundabout up to the Hotel Paradise Park.

Photo IGN

IGN (Instituto Geográfico Nacional) recorded two earthquakes today between Gran Canaria y Tenerife. The first tremor, of 3.3 on the Richter scale, was registered at 5.31pm at a depth of 33km. The second occurred just three minutes later, and was of 2.6 on the Richter scale at a depth of 26km. The first tremor was felt by the public in Candelaria, and the Gran Canaria municipalities of Agaete y Gáldar. IGN says that no damage was reported, and that such tremors are normal in that location because of the fault line between the two islands.

Update 15 May: As things stand, the orange alert is reduced from 7pm this evening. Tomorrow is still under alert, but yellow, for temperatures up to a maximum of 34º. Thursday should see temperatures reduce back to below alert level.

Update 14 May: It’s not giving up. The orange alert has been extended to tomorrow now, with temperatures of up to 37º expected.

Meanwhile, one of the two women taken to hospital in Gran Canaria in critical condition yesterday was released today. The other, though still seriously ill, is progressing favourably and is expected to be moved to a ward in the hospital from the Intensive Care Unit tomorrow.

The Canarian Government says that the walkers were part of an organized group and that it is investigating whether the tour company had complied with all the necessary requirements. Viceconsejero de Turismo, Ricardo Fernández de la Puente, said that tourism inspectors were looking into whether there were any irregularities in the excursion, given that tour companies would have known about the orange alert at the time the walk started.

The minister said that Turismo would only be involved if it transpired that the excursion organizers had everything in order, because if any kind of negligence were apparent, then it would be a matter for the Policía Nacional and the Courts.

Update 13 May 11.50pm: Several teams of bomberos fought a forest fire today in the El Cabezón area of Los Realejos. Some 16,000 square metres of gorse and pine forest were affected before the Cabildo declared the fire under control. Cabildo Environment Councillor Ana Lupe Mora is overseeing the firefighting efforts, and says that bomberos will remain in the mountain area until the fire is completely extinguished.

Update 13 May 11.15pm: Aemet has extended the orange alert for Tenerife with temperatures of up to 38º expected tomorrow.

Update 13 May 11pm:  There are more details and a correction about this walking party.

The person who died was a 78-year-old British woman.

Another English woman of 66 was resuscitated from a heart attack and transferred in critical condition by helicopter to Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín.

A 65-year-old English woman with breathing difficulties was transferred in critical condition by helicopter to Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín.

A 61-year-old woman, and three men of 64, 65 and 69, all English, suffered minor difficulties due to the heat and were attended at the scene.

Update 13 May 5.30pm: A hiker has died and another seven have been affected, one seriously, in Gran Canaria’s Mogán municipality as a result of the heatwave. The group was walking in the barranco de San Andrés when they were overcome by the heat just after midday. Emergency services, including a search and rescue helicopter, attended the scene, but could do nothing for the man who died, and confirmed his death at the scene. A woman in the group was treated for respiratory problems and was taken by helicopter in serious condition to Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín. The others affected received assistance at the scene.

Update 13 May: Aemet has increased the alert level to orange for Tenerife and all islands in the eastern province. The alert level, which represents temperatures up to 37º, at present lasts until 7pm this evening, when yellow is re-established for Tenerife, though the eastern province remains on orange through tomorrow, Monday. As things stand at the moment, the yellow alert for Tenerife and the western provinces is lifted for Tuesday, when the eastern province reduces from orange to yellow alert.

Update 12 May: The Canarian Government has issued its general advice for public health during calimas and heatwaves, as above. The public is advised to keep doors and windows closed, and for those with respiratory illnesses to stay indoors; to be sure to take any habitual medication; to drink a lot of liquid and avoid dry environments; not to do any hard physical exercise; and to go to the doctor if there is any suspicion of feeling unwell. Finally, since visibility is often considerably reduced, to drive with extreme care, with lights on and reduced speed.

Update 11 May 10pm: Aemet has issued a yellow alert for heatwave for Tenerife on Sunday. The yellow alert will apply to the eastern islands of Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote from tomorrow, Saturday. Temperatures of above 34º are expected.

Update 11 May: The Tenerife Cabildo has banned the use of fireworks and controlled agricultural and forest fires in the mid-altitude and forest areas of Tenerife in the light of the high temperatures expected from this weekend, and asked the public to take the utmost care  during this period. The heatwave is expected to last from Sunday until Thursday 17.  The public BBQs have not been cordoned off, at least not at present.

Update 10 May: The temperature has already started to rise with the waft of hot air from Africa, and now a calima is forecast for the eastern islands between now and the weekend. If temperatures continue to rise as expected, and hit 34º on Saturday, Aemet will issue a Yellow alert.

Original post 8 May:  This last week’s lovely weather is just a prelude, it seems, to what’s coming next week, with Aemet forecasting a fair rise of temperatures from Thursday. The Met Office says that some 30º or so can be expected throughout the Canaries, though no heatwave warning is being issued, at least at present. The increasing warmth should start to become noticeable throughout today and tomorrow.

Update 13 May: The pair will be tried in Spain thanks to an international treaty, specifically article 5.1.c of the Montreal Convention - Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air, concerned with crimes against civil aviation security.

The Spanish press is saying they have been “saved” by the treaty because the maximum possible penalties for their crime are shorter in Spain than in the UK. Many may think, however, that Spain will be a far less favourable option for the two, as opposed to what is often seen as light justice in the UK.

The two men were transferred from the TFS cells yesterday and are now in Granadilla Police custody. They are expected to appear in Court tomorrow.

Update 12 May:  The pair has been identified as Airam Paul Jerus and Nathan Levi Trippier, 20 and 21 years old respectively. The argument they were involved in with flight crew was based on demands for more alcohol when they had already been amply served. At one point the pilot was considering landing in Morocco, the country over which they were flying when the incident occurred, but radioed ahead to TFS to advise of the emergency nature of the approaching flight.

The punishment in the end will depend on where they are tried. In Spain, they would face between six months and a year in prison and a fine under the terms of 2003′s Ley de Seguridad Aérea. In the UK, though, under the 1982 Aviation Security Act, they would face anything from a minimum of five years imprisonment to a maximum of a life sentence. It is not impossible that they will be tried in Spain, but more likely that they will be returned to the UK for trial because the plane itself is “British territory”. As of last night, the pair were still in the police cells in TFS, not having set foot in Tenerife proper.

Original post 11 May:  Two 20-year-old Britons were arrested around lunchtime today at TFS Reina Sofía after getting into an argument with the flight crew of a plane from Manchester to Tenerife and claiming they had carried a bomb on board. The crew alerted the Guardia Civil who then met the plane having activated the emergency protocol involving their own Grupo Rural de Seguridad número 8 and the Unidad Orgánica de la Policía Judicial e Información, as well as civilian security patrols. The threat was not clearly genuine, and the two men were arrested for false alarm, though the plane was thoroughly searched as a matter of routine procedure in such cases.

Original post 9 May:  Due to new regulations announced on 25 March 2012, EU nationals who wish to remain in Spain for more than 3 months must comply with certain conditions before a Certificado de Registro will be issued. I updated my page HERE a little while ago, but there is now a problem in the Extranjería part of the Comisaría in Playa de las Américas. Until the rules are clarified, along with the necessary procedures the police must follow, the issuing of Certificados de Registro is on hold. Even worse, so is the issuing of NIEs. I will update as and when there is further information, but anyone now considering applying for a Registro should not do so, and anyone needing a NIE will need to go to the tax office to acquire a transitional one which will be ratified by the police in due course when they start processing them again.

Mootoo Model Management have made a Casting Call for children for a German catalogue shoot in Tenerife in the first week of June. The agency is specifically looking for boys and girls with the following heights:

• 96-106cm
• 126-136cm
• 138-148cm
• 151-158 cm

If you would like to take part in this casting, please send an email to booker@mootoo.eu and please include a RECENT photo, your name, height, age and telephone number. The client will be making a pre-selection. (Parents: please double check heights before sending emails).

The Canaries is suffering a “spectacular increase” in forced entry burglaries, with the figures from the Ministerio del Interior showing a rise in the first quarter of 2012 that is almost double the national average. This is a national problem, but like the crisis and unemployment, we are seeing the worst effects here, and the national rise of 22.3%, which is itself appalling as one quarter’s figures, is 38.8% in Tenerife province. This is even worse in Las Palmas, where it’s 44.4%, but the rise in Tenerife is the greatest – across the board for robberies, not just forced entry burglaries.

All we can do is protect ourselves as best as we can. Lock doors and, particularly now that summer’s coming, keep windows closed or barred if open overnight. Be alert and vigilant when out and about, keep bags and personal belongings closed and under tight control, and I suppose, keep copies and records of relevant document numbers so that replacements can be acquired with the minimum of pain if the worst should happen. Above all, remember that these are things: don’t try to defend your property when faced with violence. Your papers and belongings can be replaced. Your life can’t.

For many, it doesn’t take much of an incentive to visit the beautiful town of La Laguna, and one such motivation is now the offer of tapas and culture every Thursday during May and June in 41 restaurants in the historic centre for just €3. The offer applies every Thursday except fiesta days, and each of the participating establishments will have a placard clearly placed outside.  There is more information on the Facebook page La Laguna en directo tapa y cultura, with a map to plan a route and menus. Apart from the tapas, there will be theatrical and musical entertainments in the streets of the town, which is a delight at the best of times, let alone when it offers events like this.

Update 1 May: The Las Arenas, San Antonio, Taoro and Las Dehesas areas of Puerto de la Cruz are still under warning not to drink tap water. Sanidad has authorized Aqualia, the area’s water supplier, to carry out necesssary repair works to the La Vera installation, and says it will take further water samples for analysis once the works are finished.

Original post 28 April:  Puerto de la Cruz Ayuntamiento’s health department has issued a tap water warning to La Vera, Las Arenas, San Antonio, Taoro and Las Dehesas. These areas have been told not to consume water “until at least Monday 30th” when new more exhaustive microbiological analysis results will be available. The incident arises from the fall of a cover from one of the La Vera drinking water tanks. Health councillor Antonia Domínguez said that prevention was better than cure and that  the official warning has been issued despite initial tests showing optimal quality.

The Plaza de España in Adeje, the new square between the town hall and the church at the top of Calle Grande, is a finalist in the seventh edition of the European Prize for Public Urban Space. The award was created to recognize the recuperation and creation of public spaces, and is held every two years, being granted to the professionals responsible, in this case Canarian architect Fernando Martín Menis, the architect behind the amazing and beautiful Magma Centre. The above photo, which was taken by Simona Rota, along with several other beautiful ones, is on the Menis website HERE: I am grateful to Simona and the Menis agency for permission to use it.

Adeje mayor José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga said that from the outset they wanted to make a plaza which joined the present with the past, and paid homage to Adejeros of the past. The end result has been a new tower in the exact place where there used to be an ossuary, and under which, in the future, will be an art museum. As such, the project is unfinished, and is competing for the prize with 346 other finalists in Europe whose works are completed. The plaza will be included in the on-line European Archive of Public Urban Space which comprises a selection of the best projects presented for the prize.

Arona refuse collectors have announced a week’s strike between 14 and 20 May after talks concerning collective agreements and proposed lay-offs failed. Workers say that they feel they have been abandoned to their fate by the licence-holder and the Ayuntamiento, and that they will keep negotiations going to try to resolve the problem up to the last moment but that they will go ahead with the strike if talks continue to fail.

Update 27 April: And unemployment has risen yet again, to 32.28%, according to figures released by the National Statistics Institute. The rate means that 362,300 people in the Canaries are out of work, an increase of 20,400 in the first quarter of 2012. Only Ceuta and Andalucía have higher unemployment in Spain, with rates of 35.51% and 33.17% respectively, considerably more than the national average of 24.44%, representing 5,639,500 people without a job. Here in the Canaries, the 32.28% rate reflects 33.75% unemployment in the eastern province of Las Palmas, and 30.75 % in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which means that some 169.500 people in Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro are out of work.

Update 2 March: And it rose again in February. There are now 278,898 unemployed in the Canaries, a rise of 1.79% in February alone. In human terms, that’s 4,915 more people out of work. In Tenerife and the western province specifically, this means 2,083 more unemployed in the last month, a rise of 1.62%.

Original post 27 January:  It is a symbolic number that has been feared for some time, even though one or two positive stories about the rate of unemployment raised hopes that it might not actually happen. Those hopes have been dashed, however, with the news that unemployment in the Canaries is now over 30%. Latest figures show that the number of those out of work in the islands rose 27,500 throughout 2011, leaving 341,900 people without work, up 8.75% on 2010.

The exact rate we are suffering here is 30.93%, according to data from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE). The breakdown is Las Palmas province 32,36%, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife 29,46%. In Spain as a whole, only Andalucia has a worse rate, at 31.23%.

Excellently maintained 5-year-old apartment in Torviscas Alto, Adeje, comprising lounge with American-style kitchen, two double bedrooms one with en-suite bathroom, separate family bathroom, secure garage space. The apartment is large with a north-facing terrace with ornamental planters and offering spectacular uninterrupted views of La Gomera. To be sold furnished, including terrace furniture. Community fees are €70 a month.

Price: €199,000.

The President said the works had not stopped but were continuing at a rate dictated by budgetary demands, perhaps an oblique reference to the millions said to be outstanding to one major contractor who has been reported as having downed tools until payment was made. Nonetheless, it will please many to hear Sr Rivero confirm that the works are to continue, even if only slowly, and to affirm that the southern hospital is a necessity for the area. The President was speaking during a visit to the new San Isidro health centre.

Update 12 November 2011: Well it’s going nowhere fast. The work in this marathon and convoluted project  is still “paralyzed”, and contractors haven’t been paid … and the Canarian Government’s budget for 2012 contains not a cent for the southern hospital.

Times are hard, and even the association of Ayuntamientos are complaining that they aren’t getting enough filtered down money to keep some schools open, but there was a promise that frontline health service would not be prejudiced.

Well, the private ones aren’t, I suppose …..

Update 4 April 2011: At last, Sanidad has awarded the tender for the completion of the southern hospital. The works have been awarded to UTE, formed by FCC-ISOLUX-CORSAN-SYOCSA INARSA, and will cost almost 26 million Euros. The finished hospital will occupy 23,000 square metres distributed over 4 floors with 60 patient beds, 4 delivery rooms, and a treatment centre for 15 medical and surgical specialities.

The works will begin at the end of this month or the beginning of May, and will be in two phases, which will allow Casualty, laboratories, radiology and specialist consulting areas to be completed by summer next year, with the second phase being completed by summer 2013.  PV

Original post 23 December 2010: Work has stopped again on the Tenerife’s south Hospital in El Mojón as contractors say they have received “not a cent” of the millions owed them for work throughout 2010. The Canarian Government’s Social Welfare department says the non-payment is the result of “the end of the 2010 tax year”, though it admits that it now owes more than 3 million Euros to the builders, and was unable to specify when the monies would be paid given the current economic situation. PV

Update 1 May 11pm: Los Realejos Ayuntamiento will be broadcasting the display live through a stream on its website HERE.

Update 1 May: Although not a Tenerife-wide public holiday, a fiesta on 3 May in Los Realejos draws people from around the island and even further afield. The Exaltación de la Santa Cruz (Día de la Cruz) is known for providing the best fireworks display in Tenerife, and indeed, one of the ten best in the whole of Spain.

The fiesta is famous for the participation of the Hermanos Toste in a competition between two streets in Los Realejos for the best firework display, a tradition that started, incredibly, in 1770. The Hermanos Toste themselves date back to 1788 and have a factory in Los Realejos, the only one in the Canaries that makes fireworks. This year’s display on Thursday, they say, will bring new surprises in light, colour and sound … which was deafening when I went a few years ago! The short video above will hopefully give some idea of what to expect.

Update 29 April: Just a reminder that Tuesday 1 May is a public holiday, Fiesta del Trabajo, or May Day as we know it. Because it falls on a Tuesday, many workers will be making a long weekend of it and taking a “puente” tomorrow.

Update 4 April: Just a reminder that there are two public holidays this week, Thursday 5 and Friday 6, for Easter.

Update 18 February: Just a reminder that the following municipalities will be celebrating one of their two local fiestas next Tuesday, 21 February, for Carnival Tuesday:

Arafo, Arico, Arona, Candelaria, El Rosario, El Sauzal, Fasnia, Icod de Los Vinos, La Laguna La Matanza de Acentejo, La Orotava, La Victoria de Acentejo, Los Silos, San Miguel de Abona, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santa Ursula, and Tacoronte.

Update 30 January: Just a reminder that this coming Thursday, 2 February, is a Tenerife-wide public holiday in honour of the Virgen de la Candelaria. Many shops and businesses will be closed, as La Morenita (the Black Madonna) is the Canary Islands’ patron saint, and she has particular meaning for Tenerife because her apparition is said to have taken place in 1392 in Candelaria, where her basilica is now located.

There is always a televised mass and procession in Candelaria itself on the 2nd, as well as in many towns throughout Tenerife, particularly in the north. There is also a tradition here of pilgrims walking from all over the island to Candelaria, and they are a regular sight walking in groups, even on the motorway, in the days leading up to the fiesta itself, though efforts have been made to stop this in recent years for the walkers’ own safety. There is more information from the Tenerife Cabildo HERE.

Update 15 January: Just a reminder that this coming Friday is a public holiday in Adeje for San Sebastián, the saint of the many arrow wounds. It is also a time to see farmers ride their horses, as well as drive their sheep and goats, into the sea for a symbolic purification, to be followed by local food and music. The main events take place at Playa Enramada, between Fañabe and La Caleta, starting at midday, though crowds start to gather from as early as 8am.

Original post 1 January: The calendar of public holidays in the Canaries has been published (see HERE), with the following the official fiestas (bank holidays) for Tenerife in 2012:

6 January, Epiphany
2 February, Virgen de la Candelaria
5 & 6 April, Easter
1 May, Fiesta del Trabajo
30 May, Día de Canarias
15 August, Asunción de la Virgen
12 October, Spain Day
1 November, Todos los Santos
6 December, Día de la Constitución
8 December, Inmaculada Concepción
25 December, Christmas Day

The above 12 holidays are the 11 fiestas for the Canaries together with the extra day which each island enjoys which, in Tenerife’s case, is 2 February for the island’s patron saint day, Virgen de la Candelaria.

In addition, each municipality will have its own two days, bringing the total number of fiestas for every part of the Canaries to 14. It is the proliferation of these two local days throughout the island that gives the impression that the whole of Tenerife is constantly on holiday. The local fiestas in 2012 for Tenerife are:

Adeje:
20 January – Festividad de San Sebastián
15 October – Festividad de Santa Úrsula

Arafo (Villa de Arafo):
21 February – Martes de Carnaval
27 de agosto: Festividad de San Bernardo

Arico (Villa de Arico):
21 February – Martes de Carnaval
8 September – Festividad de Nuestra Señora de Abona

Arona:
21 February – Martes de Carnaval
8 October – Santísimo Cristo de la Salud

Buenavista del Norte (Villa de Buenavista del Norte)_
24 August – Festividad de San Bartolomé, Copatrono de la Villa
25 October – Festividad de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios

Candelaria (Villa de Candelaria):
21 February – Martes de Carnaval
26 July – Festividad de Santa Ana

El Rosario:
21 February – Martes de Carnaval
6 August – Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza

El Sauzal:
21 February – Martes de Carnaval
29 June – San Pedro Apóstol

El Tanque:
31 August – Nuestra Señora del Buen Viaje
22 October – Santísimo Cristo del Calvario

Fasnia:
21 February – Martes de Carnaval
20 August – Fiesta Patronal de San Joaquín

Garachico (Villa y Puerto de Garachico):
26 July – Festividad de Santa Ana
16 August – Festividad de San Roque

Granadilla de Abona:
24 April – Festividad del Santo Hermano Pedro de San José de Bethencourt
13 June – Festividad de San Antonio de Padua

Guía de Isora:
25 June – Celebración de San Juan Bautista
17 September – Santísimo Cristo de la Dulce Muerte

Güimar:
29 June – Fiestas Patronales de San Pedro Apóstol
7 September – Fiesta en Honor de Nuestra Señora de El Socorro

Icod de Los Vinos:
21 February – Martes de Carnaval
25 April – San Marcos Evangelista, Patrón de la ciudad

La Guancha:
18 January – Nuestra Señora de La Esperanza
20 August – Lunes de las Fiestas Patronales

La Laguna (San Cristóbal de La Laguna):
21 February – Martes de Carnaval
14 September – Fiesta del Santísimo Cristo de La Laguna

La Matanza de Acentejo (Villa de La Matanza de Acentejo):
21 February – Martes de Carnaval
6 August – Día de El Salvador

La Orotava (Villa de La Orotava):
21 February – Martes de Carnaval
14 June – Infraoctava del Corpus Christi

La Victoria de Acentejo (Villa de la Victoria de Acentejo):
21 February – Martes de Carnaval
27 August – Fiestas Patronales

Los Realejos (Villa de Los Realejos):
3 May – Exaltación de la Santa Cruz
30 June – lunes del Carmen

Los Silos (Villa de Los Silos):
21 February – Martes de Carnaval
8 September – Nuestra Señora de la Luz

Puerto de la Cruz:
3 May – La Exaltación de la Santa Cruz y Conmemoración de la Fundación de la Ciudad
10 July – Conmemoración de la Festividad de la Virgen del Carmen

San Juan de La Rambla (Villa de San Juan de la Rambla):
25 June – Fiestas de San Juan Bautista
10 September – Fiestas de San José

San Miguel de Abona:
21 February – Martes de Carnaval
29 September – Fiesta de San Miguel Arcángel

Santa Cruz de Tenerife:
21 February – Martes de Carnaval
3 May – Día de la Santa Cruz

Santa Ursula:
21 February – Martes de Carnaval
22 October – Día de Santa Úrsula, Patrona del municipio.

Santiago del Teide (Villa Histórica de Santiago del Teide):
16 July – Nuestra Señora de la Virgen del Carmen
25 July – Festividad del Apóstol Santiago

Tacoronte:
21 February – Martes de Carnaval
26 November – Santa Catalina

Tegueste (Villa de Tegueste):
25 April – Festividad de San Marcos Evangelista
8 September – Festividad de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios

Vilaflor:
30 April – Festividad del Hermano Pedro
27 August – Festividad de San Roque y San Agustín

The hotel’s General Director, Carlos Martins, said that the award “endorses the Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora’s efforts to achieve the highest standards of quality and luxury service, as well as the value of its leisure offer, excellent gastronomy and well-being of the resort”.

The hotel has rapidly gained the reputation of being the best European resort, being in harmony with its environment, and offering exquisite rooms, haute cuisine, and an exlusive spa. It has an amazing total of 7,500 square metres of pools including an infinity salt-water pool which itself is 5,000 square metres, a spa centre, and an exclusive ’RedLevel’, the ultimate in adult-only boutique hotel luxury.

The hotel’s website is HERE.

An incredible opportunity to purchase a Canarian-style house in rough construction for the owners to finish according to their individual tastes. The property is located at the top of the idyllic village of Vera de Erques giving genuinely spectacular views, and is built to “tejado terminado” stage, with all external and structural work completed under legal licence and approved project. A quote is available from the existing builder for finishing.

Ground floor: large lounge with two sets of double doors to front terrace and garden, separate kitchen, entrance hall with guest toilet and stairs to basement and first floor, and access to rear terrace. First floor: 3 double bedrooms, 1 with en suite bathroom, family bathroom, landing giving onto roof terrace with incredible 360º views of sea, west coast, village and mountains. Basement: very large double garage, storage room, and perhaps the most extraordinary feature of the house, a large natural volcanic cave (8m x 10m x 4m) which would make a superb bodega. The uniqueness of this feature cannot be emphasized too greatly.

The asking price is €195,000, and there is an additional option to purchase a structurally restored and protected original Canarian farmhouse of 60m2 for €45,000.

The ground and first floor plans are below, full plans are available on request; the ground floor plan is reduced and pictured above, as is the view from googlemaps.

Ground floor plan

First floor plan

an

A villa has come onto the market in Callao Salvaje with the owner needing to sell urgently. The sad circumstances, none the less, offer one buyer a seriously lucky opportunity to become the fortunate owner of a large and beautiful villa, priced considerably below similar properties.

The house is designed on 2 floors with the living accommodation occupying the airy open-plan upper level with superb views over Callao Salvaje and out to sea; the pictures above more than amply demonstrate the finish, quality, and luxury of the living areas, with a separate dining area and an extensively equipped kitchen. The main terrace on the upper level is a dream, with comfortable sofas, luxurious hammocks, and a separate BBQ area, the whole coolly shaded with stunning views for the ultimate in relaxing chic.

There is a guest toilet-washroom in the hallway, and from the living area, a wooden staircase leads down to a lower level, again fitted and equipped to an extremely high standard. The lower floor comprises 3 double bedrooms, one with en-suite bathroom and dressing room, a separate family bathroom with walk-in shower, and internal access via patio doors in the bedrooms to the terrace surrounding the lovely pool area.

The pool is 7m x 3m, is heated, comes equipped with a cover, and the surrounding terrace provides all-day shade and full sun areas as desired. It is equipped with luxury sunbeds and a bar-pergola area, and has its own separate external staircase from the upper terraces, the whole of the outside being beautifully planted to garden.

The property also has an enormous garage, which could accommodate up to 4 cars, to which there is internal access from an unobtrusive doorway on the lower level behind the bedrooms. The garage complex has associated storerooms, and is currently being used as a sports-table tennis room, since the property also has a driveway for off-road parking. This part of the property is so large, indeed, it might be possible for it to be converted into a self-contained apartment if desired.

The annual rates, at latest IBIs, are €279.11. Water and electric combined are roughly €700 per quarter. This property is genuinely and urgently for sale, hence the asking price of only €495,000 or nearest offer.

As I say on the main menu page itself, these are properties for sale direct from independent owners. Please just contact me to be put in touch with them. If anyone wishes to add a property for sale please just email the details to help@janetanscombe.com. Send me the type of description you see for the properties already listed, plus a range of photographs, plus your asking price, and confirm that I may pass on your details to enquirers. Please note if you are also using estate agents, the price quoted should be that which the agents themselves are quoting.

I hope this helps, and wish good luck to anyone who is trying to sell in this very difficult market.

The property in total comprises 5 kitchens, 6 bathrooms, 8 reception rooms, and 10 double bedrooms with huge built in wardrobes. There are also many large built in cupboards. Villa bathrooms have sunken baths and the apartment bathrooms have spacious showers: all bathrooms have bidets. The accommodation, with overall finish in wood and marble,  is arranged as a large house on the upper level with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and 4 apartments on the ground level. Of these, two are 2 bedroomed, and two 1 bedroomed, and they come equipped with satellite TV, hairdryers, videos and games. Windows all have tinted glass and all bedroom windows upstairs have shutters. The whole property is in pristine condition and sits on a plot of 2,538 square metres with constructed area of 539.60 square metres.

Externally: viewing gallery to lower terrace, office, utility room, laundry room, 2 upper terraces, large lower terrace with terrace furniture and illuminated, balustraded garden and separate BBQ area, large and mature easily maintained gardens including mangoes, oranges, lemons, coconuts, date palms, vines, guavas, pomegranates, tangerines, frangipanis, etc. There are ‘green’ water taps all around the grounds for watering. The swimming pool is 11 x 5 metres with night-time underwater lighting and surrounding terraces equipped with sun loungers: there is a sunken low noise machine filter room, efficient solar heating and outside shower.  There are also a garage and workshop, 3 kennels, large aljibe (underground fresh water storage). Two entrances and large parking areas for at least 12 cars. The whole property and gardens are illuminated at night by over 30 lights.

The house, which was built on commercial land in 1981, is being sold fully furnished and has spectacular views. It is in a central location with golf courses, large shops and supermarkets nearby. It has telephone and ADSL, intercom entry system, three-phase electricity and new PVC water pipes installed in 2007. It would be appropriate for any number of business ventures, including medical clinic, day care centre, offices, school, health and beauty centre, or indeed, a magnificent family home, or wedding venue – the house recently hosted its first wedding which was a huge success, with ample terrace area for a congregation of guests.

PRICE – €1,500,000

Please contact me for further details and pictures.

Original post 22 June 2011: The Foreign Office issues a monthly Pensions, benefits, healthcare newsletter for British nationals living in Spain. Past copies are available in links on the right of THIS page, and we are now getting advance copies. I have the June edition as a pdf file and so if anyone would like a copy, just contact me and I’ll email one to you. THIS is May’s edition, to give an idea of what the newsletters are like.

Making the announcement, the Ministerio de Interior said that the group moved entire families at a cost of €20,000 per person, less for children. In policies similar to airlines, children under two travelled free. The families were hidden in buses or lorries to cross the Turkey-Greece border, or were provided with airline tickets based on false documents. The Canaries was an integral part of the route, and the immigrants, whom the traffickers called “animals, sheep or the herd”, were tutored in how to behave at the British border in order to acquire legal residence, most notably in how to allege fear of torture and persecution in Iran.

The Interior Ministry said that among those detained was the ringleader of the group; it confirmed that the operation began in February after an Iranian citizen was stopped in Tenerife trying to get on a flight to the UK with a fake French passport. Tenerife, indeed, was the headquarters of the group, which had members also in Irán, Greece, Germany and Sweden. All used a range of false identities, making the operation extremely complex, and the police’s success all the more notable.

It has been presented as a successful outcome, of course, but the reality is that the promised public funding has not materialised and private funds will be needed – in the worst crisis in recent history. Arona Ayuntamiento will start immediately to seek finance in the private sector, perhaps starting with the hotels which would most benefit from the beach, namely the Moreque and Princesa Dácil. All is not lost, however, because it seems that if partial private funding can be achieved, national and regional Governments together with the Cabildo and Aronas Ayuntamiento itself, will stump up the remainder.

Original post 21 September 2009: The Environment Department has announced an investment of €26,487,084 for the restoration of Los Tarajales beach and its promenade in Los Cristianos. The finished promenade will be 850 metres long, and the renovated beach will involve two semi-submerged dikes in natural stone which will be merged into the surroundings. In a press release, the department has confirmed that the project is currently in its public evaluation stage, whereby those affected can study the detail and make any comments they consider appropriate.

For the works to proceed now, the compulsory purchase orders announced a year ago will need to be made and environmental approvals gained. Fourteen buildings are likely to be affected, though one of these is Cristianmar, which incorporates 60 apartments and several commercial locales. Canarias24Horas, (original announcement: El Dia)

I can’t remotely pretend that I’ve ever heard of Pitbull, apart from in the context of a dangerous dog, but apparently he’s an internationally famous American rap star of Cuban origin… and he is giving a concert in Golf Costa Adeje on Saturday, 23 June as part of his Planet Pit World Tour, which will also see him perform in Gran Canaria on the 22nd.

The event is being produced by Airbag Events, who originally planned it to take place in the Estadio Olímpico de Arona, but who moved it to Golf Costa Adeje after a high level of interest. Some 1,500 tickets have already been sold, but at least 13,000 have been released, and Golf Costa Adeje has a capacity for an audience of 20,000. Tickets are available HERE  (the site also details other outlets where they can be bought) and cost between €25 and €40. The venue will open at 6pm, and the concert will start at 11pm.

The property in total comprises 5 kitchens, 6 bathrooms, 8 reception rooms, and 10 double bedrooms with huge built in wardrobes. There are also many large built in cupboards. Villa bathrooms have sunken baths and the apartment bathrooms have spacious showers: all bathrooms have bidets. The accommodation, with overall finish in wood and marble,  is arranged as a large house on the upper level with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and 4 apartments on the ground level. Of these, two are 2 bedroomed, and two 1 bedroomed, and they come equipped with satellite TV, hairdryers, videos and games. Windows all have tinted glass and all bedroom windows upstairs have shutters. The whole property is in pristine condition and sits on a plot of 2,538 square metres with constructed area of 539.60 square metres.

Externally: viewing gallery to lower terrace, office, utility room, laundry room, 2 upper terraces, large lower terrace with terrace furniture and illuminated, balustraded garden and separate BBQ area, large and mature easily maintained gardens including mangoes, oranges, lemons, coconuts, date palms, vines, guavas, pomegranates, tangerines, frangipanis, etc. There are ‘green’ water taps all around the grounds for watering. The swimming pool is 11 x 5 metres with night-time underwater lighting and surrounding terraces equipped with sun loungers: there is a sunken low noise machine filter room, efficient solar heating and outside shower.  There are also a garage and workshop, 3 kennels, large aljibe (underground fresh water storage). Two entrances and large parking areas for at least 12 cars. The whole property and gardens are illuminated at night by over 30 lights.

The house, which was built on commercial land in 1981, is being sold fully furnished and has spectacular views. It is in a central location with golf courses, large shops and supermarkets nearby. It has telephone and ADSL, intercom entry system, three-phase electricity and new PVC water pipes installed in 2007. It would be appropriate for any number of business ventures, including medical clinic, day care centre, offices, school, health and beauty centre, or indeed, a magnificent family home, or wedding venue – the house recently hosted its first wedding which was a huge success, with ample terrace area for a congregation of guests. There are advance holiday bookings but any deposits will be refunded if a purchaser does not wish to continue commercial letting.

PRICE – €1,500,000

Please contact me for further details and pictures.

Update 23 April 2012: It’s the time of year for the annual Adeje Arts and Crafts Fair, and 2012′s will take place on the 19th and 20th May between 10am and 8pm in the Plaza de España between the Ayuntamiento and the church at the top of Calle Grande.

Original post 3 May 2011:  It’s an annual event now, and a big and popular one too … the Adeje Crafts Fair will be held again in Calle Grande on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 May, between 10am and 8pm. There will be loads of local arts and crafts, and foods, on display and for purchase, and there’ll be workshops too. These are always great fun, so definitely one not to be missed. More HERE

Three of those changes which will perhaps have the most direct impact are:

• IGIC (essentially Canarian VAT) is to go up. This is a banded tax, and the changes will see the general 5% rate (that applied to property purchases from developers, for example) increased to 7%. The 2% rate will rise to 3%, and the 9% and 13% rates to 9.5% and 13.5%. Articles which are zero rated, generally those deemed “essentials”, will remain zero rated. IGIC discounts for fixed and mobile telephone lines will be withdrawn: these will now attract the 5% rate instead of being exempt.

• Fuel taxes are also to rise, the first time in the Canaries since 2004. The increases will add an extra 5.5 cents per litre to unleaded 98; an additional 5 cents to unleaded 95; and put diesel up 10 cents. Diesel for commercial purposes will not be affected.

• The 99.9% reduction in the inheritance tax rate for fiscal residents, only recently introduced, has been removed.

Original post:  Trafico is reporting in the last half hour (around 1 o’clock) a bad traffic accident at the entrance to Playa de la Arena. Bare reports right now, but a bus seems to have been involved, and there are casualties, some foreigners, being attended to on the ground. Details later as they come.

Update 9pm: Seprona, the Servicio de Protección de la Naturaleza de la Guardia Civil, has imputed (named as a formal suspect) a 55-year-old man on suspicion of polluting consumer water in north Tenerife with diesel. The Guardia Civil says that the man was trying to repair a vehicle in the Pino Soler area when a pipe broke, releasing an indeterminate number of litres of diesel into the water supply. Three municipalities, Santa Ursula, La Matanza and La Victoria are still under safety restrictions, says Sanidad.

Update 4pm: Teidagua says the water in the municipalities of La Laguna and Tacoronte can now be used without restrictions.

Original post 20 April: An accidental diesel spill in the Santa Cruz Aguamansa canal has resulted in Sanidad issuing water warnings to six municipalities in north Tenerife. The affected areas are  Santa Úrsula, La Victoria, La Matanza, El Sauzal, Tacoronte and La Laguna. Water was shut off to the canal the moment the spill was discovered and it remains closed, said Sanidad. There will have to be considerable cleaning and checking carried out to the installations, particularly in Santa Úrsula, La Matanza and La Victoria de Acentejo, before the all clear can be issued. Please note that this warning is not just for drinking water, but also for cooking, food preparation, and personal hygiene. Santa Cruz, at least at present, is not affected by Sanidad’s safety restriction.

Plan provided by Capitanía Marítima de Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Update 9 March: Capitanía Marítima de Santa Cruz de Tenerife has reduced the maritime exclusion zone to a radius of just half a mile around the volcano emission point south of La Restinga. The sector is defined as a circle drawn with its centre at latitude 27-37.18 N and longitude 017-59.58W – as per the map above. The decision was taken in the wake of Pevolca’s reduction of the alert level. In the newly reduced exclusion zone, all fishing and water sports, including diving, are banned. Any navigation within the zone must be with prior authorization from the Capitanía Marítima.

Update 6 March: The red alert for the Las Calmas sea area of the eruption has been reduced to yellow. The rest of the island remains on yellow alert. The restrictions on Arenas Blancas, Tacorón and Playa de Los Mozos will be relaxed as soon as a new document is released giving details of a reduced exclusion area. At the moment, the 4 mile maritime exclusion remains. Recommendations against swimming, fishing or scuba-diving remain in place until samples from the area’s water are analysed by Public Health services.

Update 5 March: The science committee says that the volcano, which started erupting on 10 October, has died. The decision to make the announcement was agreed unanimously by the experts. In what must have meaning for the scientists, if not for the public, they say that the “eruptive process continues” and that scientific vigilance will be maintained.

The volcano is now just 88 metres from the surface of the sea, well within the limits for a Surtseyan eruption which, it now appears, will not happen after all.

In the next few hours Pevolca will meet to decide what measures need to be left in place for public protection.

Update 29 February: There was an earthquake just after 5am yesterday morning with its epicenter east of La Restinga, i.e. between El Hierro and Tenerife. There is now a stain in the area, as shown in the map below, which suggests there might be another vent in this area.

Update 28 February: The main cone has been growing over recent weeks: as we saw on 14 February it was at a depth of 120 metres. The latest scans from the Ramon Margalef show that it is now at a depth of 100m. Since this is the point at which Surtseyan activity could take place, we could see some real action any time now if the eruption continues.

Update 23 February:  Over the past week and a half, the harmonic tremor and surface activity have both been at very low levels, leading some to argue that the eruption is slowing down to an effective halt. At the same time, however, the number of earth tremors has been very high – there were 23 on Monday alone – and some have been strong or shallow enough to be felt by the public. Today, the activity is clear, with 7 tremors, and visible bubbling on the Las Calmas sea surface, and a heat haze above it, which vulcanologists say is caused by superheated steam warming the water column above the vent.  Meanwhile, the science ship Ramon Margalef is carrying out further bathymetric scans to contribute to creating a detailed image of the sea bed.

Update 14 February: The Canarian Government has issued a statement that the eruption is still active, and constant vigilance is being maintained. Pevolca say that there are two cones: the first main one is at a depth of 120 metres and the second at a depth of 200 metres. The harmonic tremor is currently registering minor activity. The Tacaron coast which has been closed is now reopened.

Update 12 February: More mixed messages over the last couple of weeks, with the authorities saying the eruption is diminishing, and the science ships leaving the scene, but at the same time, a powerful bubbling has been visible with smoking lava stones and a huge stain, the harmonic tremor is up and down as usual, and there have been an increasing – and increasingly shallow – number of earthquakes. It could be about to go up or fizzle out, and no-one seems to know.

I have pruned this post because it was becoming too long and unwieldy. I have had to divide all previous posts into two sections: the earliest are now HERE, and the later ones, to the start of this post, HERE.

Update 20 April: The publicity is really gearing up for the Los Cristianos public march on Saturday, with the above poster appearing all over the area to drum up support. As said earlier, and shown on the poster above, the march starts from the Los Cristianos auditorium at 4pm.

Update 19 April: To coincide with the general protests taking place about the paralysis of works to the southern hospital, and of course the public march in Los Cristianos this Saturday, one woman is taking her own personal protest to the hospital itself. Diario de Avisos HERE reports on Consuelo Alayón, 66 year old activist and Las Galletas businesswoman, who is sleeping for a week as from last Sunday in her car outside the building site that should have been a functioning hospital many years ago.

Original post 15 March: There will be a public march in Los Cristianos on 21 April to protest against the continued delays and unfulfilled promises over many years concerning the southern hospital. “Hospital público ya” (public hospital now) have organized the march for Saturday 21 April, and call on everyone to participate who is interested in the completion of the hospital in the south for treatment in our own region, without forcing patients and visitors to travel to the north.

If you want to take part and add to the numbers please do join in. It starts at 4pm from the Auditorio Infanta Leonor in the centre of town near the cultural centre, and will end at Avenida de Suecia and the harbour.

Further protests are planned throughout the whole of south Tenerife, and will take place at 7pm every Friday starting from tomorrow, 16 March, in the plaza Cesar Manrique de La Postura in Adeje. This will be followed on 23 March at the plaza de Playa San Juan, Guía de Isora; 1 April at the plaza de El Médano, Granadilla; 8 April in the plaza de San Pedro in Vilaflor; and 15 April in the plaza de la Pescadora in Los Cristianos and simultaneously in the plaza de Valle San Lorenzo.

Update 17 April: Transport minister Carmen Librero says that the requirement for residence to be accredited by a Certificado de Empadronamiento for travel discount applies from now. The Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea is already co-ordinating this, she said.

Update 4 April: Although up to now residents have just had to produce a Certificado de Registro to demonstrate their residence in the Canaries (as well as photographic ID such as a passport or a Spanish driving licence) in order to get a resident travel discount, Madrid is reintroducing the requirement for a Certificado de Empadronamiento. The requirement applies to both flights and ferry transport, the ministra de Fomento, Ana Pastor, has announced.

Update 30 March 10pm: However they’re going to finance this, the ministro de Industria, Comercio y Turismo, the Canarian José Manuel Soría, has just confirmed this evening that it will not affect resident discount, and that Canarian residents will retain their 50% reduction in air tickets. That means, of course, cuts elsewhere ….

Original post 30 March:  The Spanish budget was presented in Parliament today, and one of the most important issues for the Canaries was the announcement that the transport subsidy for residents in the Canaries (and the Balearics) has been reduced by 65 million Euros. The level of interest in the measure is indicated by the fact that this has become a global “trending topic” on Twitter – number 4 in the top ten items being discussed worldwide. It’s number one in Spain itself this afternoon. What this means in specific terms for “resident discounts” on travel to and from the Canaries is yet to be clarified.

His comment was:

The latest official tourism statistics are interesting:
 
Overnight stays in hotels fell by 10% in March over the same month of 2011, as a result of a reduction by 8% of travelers staying, which means a difference of 74,392-year travelers less. This drop in the number of overnight stays is not offset by the growth of the average stay of travelers come in, which amounted to 6.45 nights.
 
The rate of room occupancy census stood at 79.41%, suffering a fall 6 points over the same month last year.
 
Source: http://www2.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/jaxi-web/menu.do?path=/08022/C00031A/P0002&file=pcaxis&type=pcaxis&L=0
 
One frost doesn’t make a winter, but if this trend continues it might become obvious to the authorities that making private rentals unavailable doesn’t result in visitors choosing hotels instead. Tourists do have a choice. They can choose Cyprus, Israel, Egypt and many other places.
 
In addition to the proposed petition and lobbying by ALOTCA, which may eventually get results but will take a long time, I am in favour of a media campaign to win hearts and minds. I guess ALOTCA will be doing this too, but so much can also be done by individuals, for example: blogs, tweets, and youtube. I think there’s scope for someone to make a video showing the abandoned and decaying apartment blocks and commercial areas of which there are plenty of examples in the south of Gran Canaria.

Please feel free to discuss at your leisure.

Mootoo Model Management have made a Casting Call for a Stock Photography shoot in Tenerife in the first week of May. The agency is looking for models of all ages:

• Boys and Girls 3 months – 17 years old
• Men and Women 18 – 70 years old – they are especially short of models in the 45-70 year old category
- No previous modelling experience necessary

If you would like to take part in this casting please send an email to booker@mootoo.eu and include your name, height, age and telephone number … and a recent photo. Mootoo will do a pre-selection from emails received.

Currently, the employed pay 40% of the cost, and the retired pay nothing. Now, pensioners will pay 10% up to a monthly maximum of €10-20, while the employed will have their contribution increased from 40% to 50% or even 60%, the upper limit which will apply to those with an annual income of more than €100,000.

This will almost certainly means changes in the tarjeta sanitaria, which will presumably need to have a built-in microchip containing information about income from the tax office. Various exemptions are envisaged for the unemployed and those suffering from some chronic illnesses. More details when the measures are approved on Friday.

It’s 30 years since the Falklands war and so it’s a fitting subject for a Help for Heroes Day theme. There’s a “yomp” from Palm Mar  to Playa de las Américas starting at 11am, and afternoon events and evening entertainment in Vivo (ex-Pleasure Island). See the poster above for further details. It should be a good day and, of course, in a very good cause.

Update 4 April: The works on the new beach will be finished a few days after Easter, Adeje mayor José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga said today in a visit to the area, confirming that they will be formally concluded by tourism councillor Rafael Dolado. The beach and surrounding landscaping has cost around €1.2 million, fully funded by the Department of the Environment.

All the photos from previous posts during the works are in the original thread HERE.

Update 13 April:  The man accused of maltreating Vela, identified as G.R., said in Court today that he had never mistreated her or any other animal and, indeed, that he had given her food.  He said that she wasn’t his dog and that she had been abandoned in his banana plantation where she had lived with his two dogs. He insisted that over the time she had been with him she had been well behaved but had disappeared one day; he had next seen her after an intervention by the Arafo Policía Local, by which time she had been injured. Vela’s previous owner, however, testified that he had given her to the accused because he needed a guard dog for his finca.

The president of Addanca, Teresa González, gave evidence that the Policía Local had found Vela suffering from hypothermia and unable to stand, weighing only 14 kilos. Vets said that her extensive injuries could not have resulted from an accident, that she needed five operations, and had taken a whole year to recuperate fully. The Policía Local testified that that they had found her in a bin, with scars, ulcers and half dead.

A friend of the accused gave evidence that G.R. was incapable of killing animals, being unable even to kill the pigs or chickens from his finca. He confirmed that G.R. fed Vela as well as other abandoned dogs in the street.

The hearing continues.

Original post 12 April:  Unbelievably it’s the first case of animal cruelty that has actually made it to Court in the Canaries, but tomorrow the case of the German Shepherd bitch Vela will hopefully see the start of justice for these poor animals who are victims of wilful human cruelty. Vela’s case is horrible but sadly far from unique. Half starved to death, beaten brutally, and with scars from abrasive liquid used on her coat, she is alive only through the efforts of animal welfare organization Addanca which is behind the case against the 80 year old accused of harming her. He, it seems, is not on the receiving end of such accusations for the first time, and took on Vela after she had been ceaselessly bred by her previous owner for puppies to sell.

The actual proof for the legal case is somewhat thin, it appears, but Addanca has nonetheless called for a prison sentence (the maximum possible is one year), payment of outstanding vet bills of some €5,000, and a two year ban from keeping animals; the public prosecutor is also asking for indemnity of €1,000.  Addanca has also begged for support for a protest to take place outside the hearing at 11.30am tomorrow, Friday, at the Santa Cruz Courts. The dog’s case has become a cause celebre in Spain, trending on twitter under hashtag #justiciaparavela.