Almost a third of domestic violence victims are foreign women

Some 32.4% of the victims of domestic violence in the province of Tenerife are women of foreign nationality, says this report. Between January 1st, 2009 and April 28th, 2010, a total of 2,162 complaints were registered by battered women, of whom 1,460 were of Spanish nationality and 702 were foreign.

This latter number has been increasing, according to the government, which in a press release, also notes that of the 5 fatal victims there have been in the province from 2009 until now, 2 were foreign. At a national level, in 2009, 38% of fatal victims were foreign, a figure which has risen to 40.9% in the current year.

The Spanish Government delegate in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Antonio Batista Medina, on Wednesday, presented to consular representatives in Tenerife, a new protocol for intervention in cases of domestic violence for foreign women living in Tenerife. This protocol aims to "facilitate an administrative channel that will guide foreign women through the administrative procedures, assist them to obtain residence and work permits [where required], with special sensitivity."

The phenomenon of domestic violence does not respect boundaries, but has been especially prevalent against Latin American women. Of the 702 victims registered since January 1st, 2009, 354 (or just over 50%) were Latin American women.

Victims from other European countries numbered 266, 37.89% of the total.

(Via 20minutos.es)

Population of the Canary Islands surpasses 2.1 million

The population of the Canary Islands (who don't all dress like this, honest), according to the last municipal head count on January 1st, 2010, had reached 2,114,928, which is 10,936 more than at the same date in 2009, a rise of 0.5%, slightly higher than the national rise.

Of those, 305,661 are of foreign nationality, 14.5% of the total inhabitants. In the year, the number of foreign residents in the islands has grown by 4,457 people, a 1.5% rise, which is 0.4 of a percent higher than the average increase in Spain.

The total number of residents in Spain now stands at 46,951,532 - 205,725 more than in 2009. Of this total, 41,242,592 have Spanish nationality and 5,708,940 are foreign nationals, who represent 12.2% of the total population in the country.

Report Canarias 7 ( Via territoriosred# )

Photo by Mataparda

The Beach Boys coming to Tenerife

Some folk may groan about Tenerife attracting another act that probably plugs their pacemakers into their amps and uses Zimmer frames as mike stands, but this is one that is almost guaranteed to be Fun, Fun, Fun ...

The Beach Boys are to play the Pabellón Insular de Tenerife Santiago Martín (popularly known as La Hamburguesa), the oval building alongside the highway between Santa Cruz and La Laguna, on Wednesday, July 7th, 2010, which will be their last European date before returning to the US.

Tickets are available via General Tickets CajaCanarias (at 25, 35 and 40 €)

Coincidentally, I saw the Beach Boys when they were supporting Elton John (who also played in Tenerife in recent years), 35 years ago, on June 21st, 1975, at the Mid-Summer Music Festival, Wembley Stadium, London. They may not be someone you would usually choose to go to see, but they were one of the high spots of that day and had the whole of Wembley on their feet, dancing and singing along.

If you're of a certain age, you know you already know the lyrics, if not grab yourself a copy of their Best Of ... album, but  either way, I'm certain that this will be a summer fun concert that will drive away any doldrums you might be in.

(Via Tinerguia)

Sahara Dust over the Canary Islands

Windy weather brought clouds of dust to the Canary Islands on April 28, 2010.

Click to enlarge and read more ... ( Via territoriosred# )

NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC.

Canarian balcony

One of several old buildings, with its typical Canarian balcony, that surround the Plaza de La Pila, just above the famous Drago Tree, in Icod de los Viños.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

The Canaries are prepared to cope with an eruption

So they tell us, which is good to know when Tenerife is home to the world's third-largest volcano, Mt Teide.

An expert vulcanologist (no, this isn't someone who studies a species found in Star Trek, well probably not, anyway), José Luis Barrera, vice-president of the Official College of Geologists (ICOG), speaking on "Volcanoes and Air Security" in Madrid, has said that "The Canaries are prepared to affront - with guarantees - a volcanic eruption, such as that produced in Iceland."

He added that, "We have at our disposal risk assessments and adequate [1] evacuation plans in case of a destructive eruption." Then mentioning that the last time Teide erupted was in 1909, underlined that it still remains dormant.

Much of the rest of the article talks about the Icelandic volcanos Eyjafjallajokul that has already erupted and Katlá that could erupt any minute and how circumstances there and that led to the air blockade were "exceptional", but I won't bore you with the details since you can read pretty much all of those in the English press.

Barrera does attribute the eruption of Eyjafjallajokul with climate change and says that, "The increase in global temperatures originates the melting of the glaciers and provokes the increase in volcanic eruptions." [2]

Canarias está preparada para afrontar una erupción como la islandesa

[1] This, I guess, depends on what your definition of adequate is, because, as an example, I was told, by the mayor's mother in Garachico that the town - which was partly destroyed in the eruption of 1706 - "has a boat".

Yes, "a boat", singular, to evacuate a 6,000+ population. Let's hope they never need it, because you'd be more likely to get killed in the crush trying to board!

[2] Thank goodness eruptions aren't caused by "women who wear immodest clothing and behave promiscuously", or Tenerife really would be in deep do do!

Red Roofs

Houses, both old and new, looking down into the El Palmar valley.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Whitney Houston won't sing in Tenerife

Whitney Houston definitely won't perform in Tenerife, as had been planned, owing to logistical problems according to the concert's production company, Rolo Producciones.

The concert planned for this Friday, April 30th, 2010 in Santa Cruz, has been suspended, despite the fact that, according to information given by Cadena Sur, 10,000 tickets had already been sold.

The official reasons given are logistical problems, citing that the planes that need to bring all the equipment for the concert have been affected by the ash cloud generated by the now famous (but unpronounceable) Icelandic volcano.

There are other rumblings, hardly surprising given the press Houston has received over previous concerts, that the trip to Tenerife would make her fragile health worse, preferring to reserve her energy for the concert in Glasgow on May 1st.

The organizers will announce shortly how to obtain refunds on advance tickets.

Whitney Houston no cantará en Tenerife

Guanche Menceyes

A line of bronze Guanche Menceyes (kings), rulers of the island’s original inhabitants, stand tall between the sea and the the vast Plaza de Candelaria in Candelaria, Tenerife (town in the northeastern part of the island and home of the archipelago’s patron saint). Click here to see more photos of Candelaria.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Where Wine Comes From

Chatting with Don Horacio who tends these vines, he commented that even other locals think that wine comes from a bottle - much like city kids who've never seen a cow, think milk comes from a carton. He'd mentioned to an acquaintance that he was coming up to spray the vines and their reaction had been, "Whatever for?"

This is how the vines look at this time of year, with the tiny bunches of grapes already formed and with plenty of young, succulent leaves. It's interesting that the people from the Canary Islands are masters at utilizing every last thing, but hadn't thought of eating their vine leaves. See where this picture was taken. [?]

Corpus Christi Carpets

The 2010 Corpus Christi Carpet Day will fall on June 10th this year. If you were thinking of taking a break in late spring / early summer, it would be well worth planning it to coincide with this amazing festival held in La Orotava.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

A Quiet Corner

An old house in a quiet corner of El Palmar's tiny square.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Canaries for Sale

Well, did you expect them to be sold in the Canary Islands? These are, of course, the domestic canary bred for keeping in cages, but they are so popular on the islands that there is hardly a flat or balcony without one. These were being sold, as well as cages and parafinalia, at a small side street florist - which is often the case, not just in pet shops - in Icod de los Viños. Selective breeding has arrived at these yellow fellas that hardly resemble the wild birds on the island, but I will just underline that, contrary to several misinformed reports I've read on the internet (don't believe everything you read online), there are still wild canaries (Serinus canaria) on these islands. Lots, in fact. Literally hundreds of them hang about on wires and in the trees and bushes and sing all day, every day. It's a wonder they don't get laryngitis! :) See where this picture was taken. [?]

Rows of Spuds

It should give you some idea how damp - I mean fertile - Tenerife's northern valleys are compared to the almost desert on the south of the island, for it to share a major crop of importance locally, with the that of the Emerald Isle.

Indeed, earlier in the year, it was too wet at planting time and smallholders were gravely concerned about getting them in at the right time or with them rotting.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Ship Ahoy

Some time ago, when I was down in Buenavista del Norte, I watched for a while as they were building this fantastically detailed, replica galleon. Never did find out what it was for - some fiesta obviously, but exactly what or why put a ship outside the church that is a long way from water, I may never know. The ship was probably only there for a couple of days for whatever the event was, which seems like a lot of work for something short lived. See where this picture was taken. [?]

Piñata Pick 'n Mix

The Piñata is has become the custom for kids birthdays - so, where do you go when you want a piñata? A piñata shop, of course, like this one, which was in Icod de los Viños with a huge variety of containers hanging from the shop's ceiling and around the shop was a kind of pick and mix for toys, novelties, confetti and sweets that you can put inside the piñata. See where this picture was taken. [?]

Daisy Dome

A perfect dome of margaritas in Spring. See where this picture was taken. [?]

Hotel San Roque

A view at dusk of the Calle Esteban de Ponte and the Hotel San Roque (the red building on the right). The renovated 18th Century mansion - originally built by a descendant of Garachico's founder, Cristobal de Ponte - is now a 20 room boutique hotel, combining old architecture and modern furnishings. The gardens feature an incredible collection of tropical and sub-tropical trees and plants, which you can see here peeping over the patio wall and a pool carved from volcanic rock, whilst the house is home to a collection of original work of renowned contemporary artists. The hotel's website has more photos and info.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Weatherworn cafe

In Benijo. Photo by goro

Los Pedregales

The management offices of the Teno Rural Park, at Los Pedregales in the El Palmar valley, complete with friendly dog who seemingly, deliberately posed for the photo! The offices themselves are housed in several old buildings, which seem to form an finca of some size, though, unfortunately, I can find no information about its history. The rural park management is mostly involved with conservation and environmental issues, balancing these with development to improve the quality of life of the local people. More See where this picture was taken. [?]

Spring Colour

Yellow broom in the gardens around the Teno Rural Park management offices, however, if you take a drive or walk up to the hamlet of Teno Alto, the roadside at this time of year is completely lined with this cheerful, spring colour.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Purple Poppies

More roadside spring flowers that you can find in the north of Tenerife.

V Ruta Camino Hermano Pedro

This Saturday, April 17th, sees the 5th edition of the annual Ruta del Hermano Pedro in Granadilla de Abona, when thousands will join a pilgrimage to follow the route taken by Brother Peter when he was a simple goatherd, from his home up in Tenerife's highest village of Vilaflor, down to his cave near the airport.

The airport wasn't there, of course, when he was in the early-mid 1600s, which is a shame, because it would have been handy for his later journey to Guatemala, where he did the good deeds that earned him his Sainthood.

Whether for religious reasons or for an unique view of the countryside, this little 16 kilometre stroll, passing though Vilaflor, Granadilla, Charco del Pino, San Isidro and El Médano could make a very different and interesting day out.

The walk is guided and security, civil protection and Red Cross will be in attendance.

Inscription needs to be made by calling 922 759900, where you can get more information about the times of the departure from various points.

(Via: Blog-Tenerife.com)

Whitney Houston: Dazzling or disappointing?

With the Whitney Houston concert coming up in Tenerife on the 30th (hopefully) and doubts raised over it after her recent cancellations for a respiratory infection, this review of her recent performance in Birmingham in the UK, might be of interest:

While, “Some of her behaviour here, it’s true, petered between the eccentric and the charmingly kooky – she chattered ramblingly between songs, signed an autograph from the stage, started sentences and didn’t finish them – but the proof of her sanity was in her singing.” The Guardian review also says, “contrary to reports from Australia, the pipes were in full working order. Whatever drugs did to her they didn’t impede her ability to deliver a song with all flags flying.”

Not every account agrees however, with Bernadette McNulty in the Telegraph saying that her performance "didn’t add up to enough", was sporadic and, at one point after a 20 minute absence from the stage, she received a chorus of boos.

She says "it was a night that in the end still tasted of disappointment."

Easter Lily

Whilst Easter has been and gone this year, these Cala lilies are associated with Easter and usually flower at around this time of year. In actual fact, in the fertile north of Tenerife, these have been known to flower constantly since the beginning of the year and had once even flowered in November. Originally introduced by humans, but like everything else once it gets a hold in this immensely fertile territory, now grows with weed-like enthusiasm, with groups often having tens of flowers at once. See where this picture was taken. [?]

Abundant Growth

Vegetation flourishes where plants have attached themselves to the walls and roof of an abandoned house in the village of El Palmar.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Windy weather in Tenerife on Tuesday & Wednesday

The Spanish State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, have declared an orange alert because of strong winds that are forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Winds from the south east, with gusts of up to 90 kmph, will be felt most in the central peaks of Tenerife; in the districts of La Orotava and Vilaflor.

This is pretty certain to close the cable car on Mount Teide, so it would probably be a good idea to postpone any trips up the mountain for a couple of days.

(Via Canarias24horas.com)

Baskets of Joy

One of the island's traditional crafts is basket making, given their many uses around the house and in agriculture. These baskets are hand made by Sr. Andrés Alegría - alegría meaning joy - whose workshop and shop can be found on the main road through the valley of El Palmar. See where this picture was taken. [?]

Hera's orchard in the west

Quince blossom in the north west of Tenerife, yet I still can't seem to get away from Greek mythology. The Canary Islands - no strangers to myths themselves - are traditionally associated with the Islands of Fortune, in which the garden of the Hesperides is where Hera grew her immortality-bestowing golden apples.

Many references translated to "apple", such as the fruit in the Garden of Eden, may have been a quince. The 'golden Apples' of Virgil are said to be quinces, as they were the only 'golden' fruit known in his time. Columella mentioned the "golden apple" that may have been the paradisiacal fruit in the Garden of the Hesperides.

Yesterday, we met the never-sleeping, hundred-headed dragon that was supposedly placed in the garden to stop the Hesperides from plucking these fruit. Pliny speaks at length of the medicinal virtues of the quince (he also wrote about the Canary Islands and that the name "Canary" derives from the Latin word canis, meaning "dog"), so why not?

Quince from A Modern Herbal by Margaret Grieve

See where this picture was taken. [?]

The Dragon in the Garden

Myth and symbolism, that wonderful staple of Canary Island history ...

Is this the dragon in the Garden of the Hesperides? Some would have it so. Icod de los Viños' famous Drago or Dragon Tree (the endemic Dracaena draco), is said to be anything up to 3,000 years old. More recent tests suggest an age of around 800 to 1,000 years, which is time enough.

Certainly it is the largest and oldest specimen known and has become the symbol of the town in which it stands, apparently attracting up to 6,000 tourists gawking at it every day. Measurements vary, depending upon which report you read, but the best seem to suggest a height of around 25 meters and some 10 meters around the perimeter of the base. The enormous Drago has around 300 branches and an estimated weight of 80 tons.

The land on which it stands, the finca formerly the property of Doña Guillermina Fajardo Carballo, was acquired by the local town hall on September 6, 1916, for the princely sum of nine thousand pesetas. In today's money, that is 54 Euros or about £36 / US $65. Records indicate that the finca was then being watered with 480 liters of water daily.

The Drago was declared a Natural Monument of National Interest in 1927, since which time it has enjoyed and suffered many fates. At the beginning of the 1980's an immense hole, four meters high and three meters wide, was found in the center of the tree, caused by rotting. The tree now has a fan installed inside to ensure that the damp can't attack it and an artificial, metal structure to ensure that it won't be uprooted by hurricane winds.

Today, the Drago tree is housed within the more than three hectares of the Parque del Drago of great botanical and historical interest, which shows various of the island bioclimatic zones, endemic plants, medicinal plants, along with traditions of the area.

Dragomilenario - everything about the myths and the history of the Drago. Drago de Canarias dracaena draco - photos and plant information. Dracaena draco "Drago" - much clearer photos here. See where this picture was taken. [?]

Canary Palm

A native palm tree, aptly, in it's native habitat in the El Palmar (Palmgrove) valley. See where this picture was taken. [?]

Hope for improvements to electricity network security

Representatives in the Canaries of Red Eléctrica de España (REE) and Endesa-Unelco were up before the headmaster regional Parliament yesterday to answer questions about the circumstances surrounding the total blackouts, of which there have been three in the last year alone.

Both coincide on pointing to a bottleneck at the power station at Candelaria, which presents "an enormous potential risk" and the need to split the supply into two independent lines to reduce the potential impact.

The three general power cuts in Tenerife, caused by meteorological conditions, were extended to the entire network, because systems of protection and isolation did not function to prevent short circuits.

Santiago Marín, director of REE in the Canaries, points to the "inadequate configuration" of the systems of protection to isolate short circuits.

Pablo Casado, director of Unelco-Endesa, says that since the last incident, they have "readjusted the parameters" in order to achieve proper isolation if the problem is repeated.

Full report in Spanish: Canarias24horas.com

Photo: by Mataparda

Daisies in sunshine

More of those prolific daisies by the side of the roads in springtime.

Roadside Poppies

Wild poppies grace the sides of the roads, both the main roads and every side track, throughout the El Palmar valley, in the north of Tenerife in spring.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Peaceful Patio

This shuttered window is inside the patio of the 19th century Casa de los Cáceres, now a museum and arts centre, used for a variety of exhibitions, in Icod de los Viños' Plaza de la Pila - just above the church and the famous Drago tree. You can see an old black and white photo of the building, with Mount Teide in the background. See where this picture was taken. [?]

Margaritas

These pretty little white margaritas (daisies) bloom in great clumps (approx. 5 foot diameter) around the rural valleys of Tenerife in springtime.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Plaza de La Pila

The fountain in the Plaza de La Pila, in Icod de los Viños, with the Casa de los Cáceres (house of the Cáceres family), with its three-story neoclassical facade - now a museum and arts centre - in the background. The Plaza itself, bordered by grand old homes and, with its small botanic garden, is considered the most beautiful plaza in the Canary Islands. See where this picture was taken. [?]

(NOT) The Easter Bunny

In springtime, rural areas of Tenerife suddenly become full to bursting point with little fellas like this. Too many, both for their own good and for the health of the crops around them, so from August to November each year, their numbers are brought back under some control during hunting season. We *foreigners* tend to  think of the hunting as cruel, but it's a far more humane manner of culling them than, say, poisons or traps that could also kill domestic animals. It can be very hard, but sometimes you just have to accept the ways of the countryside.

(Personally, I'd recommend a farmed rabbit for Conejo al Salmorejo (rabbit in salmorejo sauce), which is a typical dish from the Canary Islands.)

In my dreams alone, I imagined such a place

Do you remember in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, where, on first sighting the wide river in Nottingham forest, Azim (Morgan Freeman) declares, "In my dreams alone, I imagined such a place." Those words sum up my feelings too when I came upon this stream, running through La Gomera's Bosque del Cedro (Cedar woods): the laurisilva - or laurel rain forest - which, in the Tertiary period had covered almost all of Europe and extended across the Mediterranean region.

Today, La Gomera's Bosque del Cedro is the best example left of these forests, only small portions of which remain in the Canary Islands and, is part of the Garajonay National Park, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. La Gomera is only a 90 minute ferry ride (faster by jetfoil) from Los Cristianos in Tenerife and, if you ever have the chance, I highly recommend that you take it.

This image is also our featured image for April, which you can download as Windows Wallpaper, or send as a free postcard to your friends.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Lost in Tenerife

Whilst I agree with my friend Jack and have no doubt that getting mentioned on Lost will be good advertising for the island (I mean Tenerife), it's possible that some are getting a little too excited about the free publicity and have *lost* the plot (pun intended.)

The background, in case you're the other person on the planet who hasn't seen any of this series, is that Tenerife got 5 seconds of fame having it's name splashed across the screen at the start of one episode.

Just the name mind. As Miguel at Canarias Bruta points out, the scenes were actually filmed in Hawaii, which, as everyone knows, is similar. Obviously, it'll do!

What I'm saying is that to sit up and think, "Oh that looks nice, I think I'll go there for my vacation", kinda tends to require that the images are of the real thing.

Although, as Miguel says, at least they didn't put a bloke in a Mexican sombrero sleeping his siesta (undoubtedly beneath a cactus, at a hacienda in the pueblo.)

And, bear in mind that it's only the fictional character of Richard Alpert who is purported to have originated from Tenerife, not an actual real person.

In a further post, Bermúdez is "Lost", however, we learn that José Manuel Bermúdez, Vice President of the Tenerife Island Corporation and Councillor for the area of tourism and planning, has now offered up the island (of Tenerife) to the producers and scriptwriters of Lost and invited them along "so they can get to know the island's possibilities as a filming location." Words like stable door, horse and bolted come to mind, because the final season of the series is being shown now, which they've practically finished shooting and film in Hawaii anyway.

Canarias Bruta also point out the flaw that Alpert is hardly a Canarian name, though my guess is he's the granddad of that bloke with a brass band in Tijuana.

Tenerife where everything is on the menu

Tenerife where everything is on the menu, originally uploaded by Secret Tenerife.

Starting today - no this is not an April Fool: that happens on December 28th in Spain - we intend to re-post images from our collection of photos of Tenerife and hopefully add some small insights into island life and culture.

What interest could this sign, seen outside the cafe that is below the town hall, at the top of the main street, in Icod de los Viños possibly have? Those "well-fed" gentlemen certainly aren't Herakles and Atlas standing about outside the gardens of Hesperides. Nah, I had far more base and superfluous reasons for snapping this. The harshness of the literal translation, even though perfectly correct with the proximity of two very pink sausages just made me giggle. (See detail).

I knew the photo would come in handy for something.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Friday sees the end of analogue TV in Tenerife

The last analogue television transmitter still working in the Canary Islands, at Izaña on Mount Teide, Tenerife, is to be switched off tomorrow, Good Friday.

With the disappearance of this last transmitter, homes in the islands that still receive analogue signals to their televisions will cease to do so forever. The 43% of homes who still watch the traditional TV channels will have to switch to TDT (DTT) if they wish to watch the Spanish channels that broadcast in digital.

The switchover had been planned for the whole of the country for April 3rd, but elsewhere had been brought forward a few days so as not to coincide with the pubic holidays of Easter Week (that's today, Thursday and tomorrow, Friday.)

Nevertheless, the Canary Islands is one of the few Spanish communities which continue to be connected to the analogue system (is anyone surprised about this?) until Good Friday. But after that date, there's no going back: users who still haven't acquired a decoder and a suitable aerial won't be able to watch TV.

What may surprise British visitors is that the switchover in Spain and the Canary Islands is terminating more than 2 years before it finishes in the UK.

The Ministry of Industry, Tourism & Commerce guide to Televisión Digital Terrestre offers information and help for troubleshooting if you have any problems with reception - in Spanish, of course, but it's a good place to start.

El próximo viernes será el apagón analógico en Canarias

Tenerife in April

Click here to download this image as desktop wallpaper (1280 x 1024). The full size image will open in a new window. Once the image has downloaded, Right Click on the image and choose Set As Wallpaper. Close that window. You're done!

Gomera Forest

Do you remember in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, where, on first sighting the wide river in Nottingham forest, Azim (Morgan Freeman) declares, "In my dreams alone, I imagined such a place." Those words sum up my feelings too when I came upon this stream, running through La Gomera's Bosque del Cedro (Cedar woods): the laurisilva - or laurel rain forest - which, in the Tertiary period had covered almost all of Europe and extended across the Mediterranean region. Today, La Gomera's Bosque del Cedro is the best example left of these forests, only small portions of which remain in the Canary Islands and, is part of the Garajonay National Park, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Tenerife Weather in April

Tenerife features the lowest temperature 'difference' between summer and winter for anywhere in the world. The minimum and maximum annual average air temperatures in Tenerife are about 15C in winter and 24C in summer.

April Averages	Tenerife	UK
Daily hours of sunshine	7.7	4.8
Daytime temperature C	19	11.7
Sea temperature C	18	-
Days with rain	3	10.1

In April, you should enjoy an average of 7.7 daily hours of sunshine in Tenerife (in contrast to an optimistic 4.8 hours in England).

The average daytime temperature in April in Tenerife is listed as 19 degrees centigrade. This is, of course, an average for the entire island. And, no matter where you are on the island, it is sure to be better than the English equivalent, given as a maximum of 11.7 degrees centigrade.

The sea temperature in Tenerife in April averages at 18C.

Although there are an average of 3 days with rain in April, this means any amount of rain from a short sharp shower. Better than the 10.1 days in the UK.

Tenerife Fiestas in April

On a Saturday in mid-April is the now annual Ruta del Camino del Hermano Pedro, whether for religious reasons or for an unique view of the countryside, this little 16 kilometre stroll, passing though Vilaflor, Granadilla, Charco del Pino, San Isidro and El Médano could make a different and interesting day out.

Easter, in 2011, falls in April. Celebrations for Semana Santa (Holy Week) begin on Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday). Jueves Santo / Holy Thursday (April 21st, 2011) and Viernes Santo / Good Friday (April 22, 2011) are Public Holidays.

Whilst every town and village will have it’s own versions, the two main events on the island during Easter are the re-enactment of the Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross or Way of the Cross), the depiction of the final hours (or Passion) of Jesus that is performed in Adeje in Tenerife every Easter on Good Friday.

The other is the processions of the type more traditionally known in Spain (particularly those in Seville and other parts of Andalucia), in La Laguna.

See: Easter Week in Tenerife, which also gives Good Friday dates until 2050.