Tenerife News & Events 12/31/2010

• Spain minimum wage to rise, says Zapatero

  "The increase will take monthly minimum pay to 641.50 euros (£551; $851)."

  tags: tenerife Spain

• New Year’s Eve celebrations in Tenerife, including Adeje’s live on TV from La Caleta

  "There will be parties throughout Tenerife to celebrate the New Year, one of the foremost being the TVE Canarias live television party in the Plaza de San Sebastián in La Caleta, Adeje. This won’t just be broadcast regionally, but transmitted globally through TVE’s international channel."

  tags: tenerife

• An Off the Beaten Track Bar on Tenerife, Was it Worth More Than a Pause?

  "Almost on cue a man with a handlebar moustache wearing a cowboy hat, leather waistcoat and mirror sunglasses entered the bar, nodded ‘buenas tardes’ in our direction and plonked himself down at the bar. If the Robert Rodriguez Mexican bar reference needed reinforcing, he’d just provided the icing on the Navidad cake."

  tags: tenerife

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Lucky Grapes

On New Year's Eve in Spain, celebrations revolve around the eating of the grapes at midnight. The idea is to eat 12 "lucky" grapes (Uvas de la Suerte), one grape on each stroke of the clock - all suitably (and necessarily) washed down with Cava: Spanish bubbly - a tradition believed to come from ancient wine-growers.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Almond in Winter

An almond tree - behind it a Canary Islands palm and, in front, a little zen-like rock ornament - taken a week before Christmas in the gardens around the Finca Los Pedregales in the El Palmar valley. Notice the abundant weeds yellow spring flowers popping up everywhere and how green everything is, despite the time of year.

There are also a few early blossoms: within days it was in full bloom.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

More seasonal goodies

A display of seasonal goodies, with a Roscón de Reyes (Kings' Ring) as the centrepiece, in a shop window in the old part of La Laguna.

Bliblical Bloomers

Giving new meaning to the idiom, "to air your dirty laundry in public", this was part of the life-sized Nativity scene outside the town hall in La Orotava.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Three Kings Denied Visas

Christmas was already in doubt, it seemed, in the UK this year when it was reported that Santa had failed the CRB check.

A year ago, new Heath and Safety rules were brought in over Christmas songs.

Now there’s a cloud of doubt over the forthcoming visit of the Three Kings to the Canary Islands on January 5th.

Reports reached us this morning that the three men in question have been intercepted by Frontex over visa issues. It seems that although there is some doubt over their origin and, indeed they are undocumented, it is most likely that they hail from either modern Iran or Iraq and, as such, require entry visas into Spain.

The issue is also complicated because of controlled substances found on their person. And, in addition, Spanish border agents seem to have mistaken their ships of the desert as cayucos, a craft that is popular with the many illegal immigrants who try to enter Europe from Africa.

(Warning: This story was published on December 28th.)

The Interlude ...

Part of the marketplace in the Belén Navideño at La Villa shopping centre, which, fairly unusually for Canarian nativities - that often depict a town or landscape on the islands - actually seems to be of a faintly biblical location. But don't expect it all to be serious, as while we wait for the door on the little outhouse to fly open (see the reason why here), we bring you a short interlude to keep you amused. See the potter and his wheel? (If you're unfamiliar with British TV of old see, "Consisting mainly of live broadcasts, timings were not always accurate in early 1950's BBC programmes, so interludes would be inserted between programmes to keep the audience amused. Typical interludes included: The Potter's Wheel ...")

It’s the little touches …

A nativity display outside the Iglesia-Parroquia Matriz de Nuestra Señora de La Concepción (Church of the Immaculate Conception), in La Laguna. Knowing how messy stables (not to mention babies) can be, it’s nice to see that they’ve provided the holy family with their own trash can, complete with black plastic sack!

An Orange For Christmas

In a very different style of Island Christmas story, one from Prince Edward Island in Canada, David Weale told how, "for many children an orange, a simple orange, was a Christmas miracle," when they "appeared, as if by magic, on December 25th."

He made the distinction between "being poor" and how "rural Islanders weren't poor, they just didn't have much money." The same could certainly be said for many rural Canary Islanders, who live in locations where nature offers far more riches than the things money could buy and, where oranges are not in scarce supply either.

These oranges are on a tree in the grounds of the Finca Los Pedregales, but there are orange trees dotted all around the the El Palmar valley, always laden with these juicy, nectar-like fruit at Christmas time. Tenerife’s own Christmas miracle.

Feliz Navidad - Merry Christmas - Joyeux Noël - Glückliches Weihnachten

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Comida de Navidad

More of those essential sweetmeats that will be eaten in huge quantities after the main Christmas meal on the night of Nochebuena – Christmas Eve.

Spanish Christmas Menu - Menú de Noche Buena

Photo by JaulaDeArdilla

Evening Glow

The patio of the Hotel La Quinta Roja, in Garachico, Tenerife, decorated for Christmas. See where this picture was taken. [?]

Concierto de Navidad (Christmas Concert)

Not to be missed is the annual Concierto de Navidad (Christmas Concert), given free by the great Tenerife Symphony Orchestra in the evening of Christmas Day, in the open air on the dockside at Santa Cruz.

This magical annual event usually attracts a football stadium sized audience of 20,000 plus, but if you can't be there in person, it will be televised live on TV by RTVE 2 and by Radio 5 and, as in previous years, is also scheduled to be broadcast on the internet, via the Tenerife Ports Authority website.

This year, the OST performs with the Black Heritage Choir from Mississippi in the US. The concert will begin with classical pieces, moving onto specially adapted renditions of Gospel numbers, such as 'Amen', 'Go tell it on the mountain' y 'O holy night'. If you’re in the capital tomorrow, December 23rd, Thursday, there is to be a full rehearsal at 8 pm at the specially-built dockside stage.

On Saturday, Christmas Day, the concert starts at 10 pm and will finish just after midnight with a lavish firework display.

Christmas Lottery Winners in Tenerife

Most years there is much lamentation that the Spanish Christmas Lottery (El Gordo) “forgets” the Canary Islands, however, 2010 has proved to be an exception.

Part of the first prize, which has gone to tickets with the number 79250, some €3 million, has been won in the northern Tenerife town of Garachico.

The No 1 Lottery Administration (at Calle Esteban de Ponte 22) says the prize has been well-distributed amongst locals from Garachico and the surrounding area, as well as tourists, meaning that different people bought individual “decimos” – 1/10th parts of a sheet of tickets – and have each won €300,000.

One of the winners, María del Cristo (36), from La Caleta in Los Silos, says that the €300,000 will help to pay off business debts and buy one or two indulgences.

It is only the third time ever in the Christmas Lottery’s history, since 1812, that tickets allotted to Tenerife have come up with a first prize. The second time was in 2007, although that time, the number had not been sold and had been returned.

Apparently, “A medium in Alcorcón correctly predicted the winning number.”

Video via Typically Spanish

Pan de Jamón

This news video at the BBC reminded me about this Christmas tradition - Pan de Jamón (Venezuelan ham, raisin and olive bread).

It’s a Venezuelan Christmas tradition, but as there are so many Venezuelans living in Tenerife, or Canarios who have lived in Venezuela and returned (many with Venezuelan born children), Pan de Jamón is yet another culinary tradition that has been introduced to the island.

If you’re in Tenerife, you can get this bread at many bakeries and possibly supermarkets now. I’ve had it delivered (special order), by the bakery in El Tanque.

Either way, look out for it, because it’s delicious and not usually available year-round. If you can’t buy it, you could have a go at making it: here’s a recipe.

Image by Wikipedia

El espíritu de la Navidad

The spirit of Christmas: although most people will be hoping for more than chocolate money today in the Spanish Christmas Lottery, El Gordo.

The Spanish Christmas Lottery (Sorteo de Navidad or Lotería de Navidad) is a national lottery game organized every year since 1812 by a branch of the Spanish Public Administration, now called Loterías y Apuestas del Estado. The name Sorteo de Navidad was used for the first time in 1892. As measured by the total prize payout, the Christmas Lottery is considered the biggest lottery worldwide.

Spain to part-privatise 'fat one' lottery as it tries to head off bailout

Photo by airefresco

Garlands & Lights

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Christmas Sweets: Turrón

Turrón (Spanish), torró (Catalan), or torrone (Italian) is a nougat confection, typically made of honey, sugar, and egg white, with toasted almonds or other nuts, and usually shaped into either a rectangular tablet or a round cake. It is frequently consumed as a traditional Christmas dessert in Spain and Italy.

Turrón - Spanish Almond Candy

Pan de Higo

Fig cake or loaf, another Christmas sweetmeat essential.

Looking for a date?

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Tenerife News & Events 12/18/2010

• Lions Club Santiago del Teide “Tree of Light”

  Every year before Christmas it has become a tradition here in Los Gigantes to illuminate the “Tree of Light” to raise money to assist people less fortunate than ourselves.

  tags: tenerife

• Christmastime on the Islands

  23+ years ago one of the delights of our first festive season in Tenerife was the lack of commercialization. In the whole of Los Cristianos, there were two shops selling decorations, and the Spanish treats and “festive fayre” didn’t appear in the shops until well into December. It was nice to opt out of the commercialization at the time, although I have mixed feelings about it now.

  tags: tenerife

• New measures for the property market in Spain and Tenerife

  Appearing before the Parliamentary Housing Commission to explain his department’s priorities for housing, Blanco said steps will be taken to make Spain more attractive to foreign buyers.

  tags: tenerife

• 7th storm alert

  State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) issued a yellow alert yesterday due to a storm approaching the islands.The alert has been extended to all the islands today with warnings of high winds and heavy seas.

  tags: tenerife

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Nuts!

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without nuts.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Tenerife News & Events 12/17/2010

• 17 inspectors in 2011 to find and fine owners of residential apartments who let commercially

  Rumours have been circulating for months about the new Canarian Police trapping residential apartment owners who offer commercial lets to holidaymakers, but now the Canarian Government has committed itself to identifying the 400,000 or so “illegal beds” and around 650,000 “clandestine” ones thought to be available in the Canaries.

  tags: tenerife

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Iberian Hams

One of THE most typical food items on sale in Spain and the Canary Islands for Christmas are these hams, either Jamón Serrano or the superior, Jamón Ibérico. Pictured is just a part of the massive mouth-watering display we saw in the supermarket, Al Campo. See where this picture was taken. [?]

North Pole

Stopping off for coffee at the Texaco gas station (one of the best cafes anywhere) along Tenerife's north coast on the way back from Christmas shopping, we had the chance to see their Christmas display: this delightful and amusing tableaux in a half igloo shaped tent on the garage forecourt, complete with polar bears and husky dogs pulling Santa's sleigh, which, curiously, seems to place the icy North Pole somewhere at the foot of Mount Teide. See where this picture was taken. [?]

Tenerife News & Events 12/15/2010

• La Ruta Del Guachinche

  The Guachinche restaurants are really like small pearls. They are not easy to find if you don't know where to look for them.They only have a few different Canarian delicacies on the menu (mostly no written menu) and they are very small in size. They are clean and nice and the food has got the best quality even when the prices are very low.

  tags: tenerife

• Botanical Gardens & Magic Mushrooms in Tenerife News of the Week

  Tenerife Magazine’s round up of some of the most interesting news stories of the week in Tenerife.

  tags: tenerife

• Mount Teide Summit Out of Bounds

  The Tenerife Government have announced that access to the summit of Mount Teide is closed until at least 20 December because of ice and snow.

  tags: tenerife

• Pink Sunshine On The Walk For Life

  Roused from their sunbeds by the rhythmic beat of drums, the sun worshippers of South Tenerife were somewhat surprised to see a pink and white convoy snaking its way along the promenade. Was it a protest or a demonstration? No just a thousand plus friends going for a Sunday morning walk, but what a walk, and what a cause.

  tags: tenerife

• Top Ten Reasons to Holiday on Tenerife

  Well of course the weather’s the number one reason for throwing the bikini and factor 15 into a suitcase, perusing the Net for cheap flights to Tenerife and waving goodbye to the snowman.

  tags: tenerife

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Navidad

Christmas lights and Canarian balconies in Candelaria, Tenerife.

Photo by Emilio García

Tenerife News & Events 12/14/2010

• Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 13th December to 19th December

  So far today it looks lie a beautiful sunny morning across Tenerife.

  tags: tenerife

• Restaurant Rosso Sul Mare – La Caleta

  ... sometimes, restaurants don´t always stand the test of time and after receiving generally good comments on websites like Tripadvisor they become a little complacent, expecting people to accept whatever they are prepared to offer because of previous reviews. This is not the case however with the Rosso sul Mare, we have returned on several occasions and each time the food is as good if not better than the first time.

  tags: tenerife

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Luces en la noche

Lights reflect on the waters of the lake in the Plaza de España in Santa Cruz.

Photo by Daniel López

Tenerife News & Events 12/13/2010

• Tenerife Christmas cultural programmes 2010

  As every year, all municipalities in Tenerife will be holding their own Programa de Navidad, offering a range of social, cultural and religious events and entertainments for Christmas. All the websites of the local authorities will have links and information of their Christmas programmes.

  tags: tenerife

• Police warn of fake email from policia@goberno.es containing Trojan virus

  The email was detected last week after members of the public contacted them after becoming suspicious of orthographic errors in it. Of course, this might be obvious to anyone fluent in Spanish, but maybe not to those still learning the language.

  tags: tenerife

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Christmas Lights

Outside the church in Buenavista del Norte. I so like the understated elegance of the mainly white Christmas lights that have been usual on the island.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Tenerife News & Events 12/12/2010

• Where on Tenerife is this? Photo Challenge #8

  ... it isn’t located on one of the more popular tourist routes on the island and that just might make it a teensy bit more taxing.

  tags: tenerife

• Baby Boom and Snow on Mount Teide in Tenerife News of the Week

  Tenerife set for a White ChristmasAfter storms and strikes, let’s put aside the week’s woes and try to dunk ourselves in some Christmas spirit. Christmas lights are being erected and turned on across Tenerife’s towns, nativity scenes are springing up in shops and town halls and Santa Cruz and La Laguna councils are planning hours upon hours of festive entertainment to help make life for residents and visitors that little bit more jolly.

  tags: tenerife

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Santa Landing

Credit to the management of Reina Sofia airport on the south of Tenerife for their sense of humour. They had Santas in bi-planes decorating their Christmas trees.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Nativity in the Plaza Candelaria 2007

Each year a life-size nativity display is erected in the Plaza de Candelaria in the centre of Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz. Here’s an example from a previous year. This year's nativity will be revealed today, December 10th and will remain on display to the public until January 7th. See where this picture was taken. [?]

Variegated poinsettia

Streets and plazas in towns and villages all over the island are decorated at this time of year with thousands of specially grown poinsettia plants. Here is one seen in La Laguna one year with a most unusual variegated colouration.

Felices Fiestas

Traditionally, December 8th, date of the Immaculate Conception, is when people in Spain put up their Christmas decorations. Like everywhere else in the western world, this has been brought forward in commercial areas and large towns, but in many homes, rural towns and villages, this custom is still observed.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Pico de Baracán

Best seen large or original size (2080 x 1368) here.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Tenerife News & Events 12/07/2010

• UK National Lottery tickets bought by Britons overseas no longer valid

  New rules coming into effect next week will prevent Britons abroad from playing the National Lottery online.

  tags: tenerife expat

• No Planes But Oh So Many Ships

  It took me right back to 2002 and the Tenerife coach strike, Reina Sofia south airport was spilling out passengers into the car parks and waiting areas, some were kipping on benches and others just looked bored. No great problem for me as I was on the TITSA bus on the way up to Santa Cruz ...

  tags: tenerife

• Going Native in Tenerife: Why it's important to Research Where to Stay on Tenerife?

  There’s nothing wrong with choosing a purpose built resort if that’s what rings someone's bell, but for those who complain afterwards about it lacking character and not having a Canarian feel, it just demonstrates that they hadn’t done their research properly.

  tags: tenerife

• Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 6th December to 12th December

  That must have been the worst week of the year for anyone visiting Tenerife and those of us who live here are certainly glad to see the back of it. Apart from the Spanish air traffic controllers’ strike adding misery, the week was book-ended by storms.

  tags: tenerife

• Eating Gofio on Tenerife, the Original Power Drink

  It might seem like an outrageous statement but that little bowl of gofio accompanying soups and stews such as puchero and in some traditional Canarian restaurants was partly responsible for the birth of civilisation. It’s true, honest.

  tags: tenerife

• Running a Business on Tenerife? Can You Smell the Coffee?

  You’d think that bars, restaurants and anyone at all trying to attract the attention of the millions of visitors to Tenerife would have long ago woken up to what was staring them in the face – that the internet might just be their best friend,. But many are working almost as though they exist in a stand-alone cottage industry.

  tags: tenerife

• Never Be Without a Camera

  So, when you’re remembering that Life’s a Journey, Not a Destination – remember to take your camera!

  tags: tenerife

• Big freeze changes opinions on holidays

  As the big freeze grips the country and temperatures continue to drop it comes as no surprise to hear that fewer people are planning a ‘staycation’ in 2011…

  tags: tenerife

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Tenerife weather today and tomorrow

Skies in the Canary Islands today will be cloudy, with light rain, locally moderate in the islands of highest relief (Tenerife and La Palma, in particular) until the early hours of the afternoon.

Temperatures will be without change and the wind from the south west, is expected to be strong to very strong in the peaks of Tenerife.

Predictions from State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, say tomorrow the wind will blow from the south west, moderate to strong on the coasts, medium altitude locations and peaks and, will be more intense in the second half of the day.

[Still, it beats frost, snow and sub-zero temperatures, doesn’t it?]

Photo: Palms Blow in 100 Mile-Per-Hour Winds

Danza de las Flores

The colourful Dance of the Flowers in Tegueste, November 28th.

Photo by Mataparda

Tenerife News & Events 12/06/2010

• A Christmas Cocktail In Santa Cruz And La Laguna – Hold The Ice

  Trying hard not to step on a shepherd or reduce the wise men to 2, I picked my way through the large free standing nativity or belen (above) at the Casa de Los Capitanes Generales. Better known as the Tourist Information Centre just off Plaza del Adelantado, the historic courtyard under traditional Canarian wooden balconies was a subtle and unexpected bonus on my search for Christmas presence.

  tags: tenerife

• Loro Parque announces birth of four meerkats

  Loro Parque has delightedly announced the birth of four new meerkats, all of whom are healthy and integrating well into the centre’s meerkat community.

  tags: tenerife

• World Squash Circuit

  The 12th Canarian Open International featuring 28 of the worlds best squash players including GB stars Joel Hinds, Jonathan Harford, James Simpson, and Jonathan Geekie

  tags: tenerife

• Christmas words in English and Spanish

  The vocabulary of Christmas (Navidad)

  tags: tenerife

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Market Mural

The mural painted on the side of the building which houses the Farmers' Market in the village of El Palmar, Buenavista. See where this picture was taken. [?]

Tenerife News & Events 12/05/2010

• Three Kings Parade – Adeje

  In Adeje the 3 kings will arrive by helicopter and land at the football ground for 5pm for a welcome party. Then from 7pm they will parade down Calle Grande to the plaza to hand out gifts.Date: 2011-01-05

  tags: tenerife

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Public Holidays in Tenerife in 2011

Here is a list of the Public Holidays in the Canary Islands for 2011, as approved by the Government of the Canaries.

1 January, Año Nuevo / New Year
6 January, Epifanía del Señor / Epiphany
21 April, Jueves Santo / Holy Thursday
22 April, Viernes Santo / Good Friday
30 May, Día de Canarias / Canaries Day
15 August, Asunción de la Virgen / Assumption
12 October, Fiesta Nacional de España / Spanish National Holiday
1 November, Todos los Santos / All Saints
6 December, Día de la Constitución Española / Day of the Spanish Constitution
8 December, Inmaculada Concepción / Immaculate Conception
26 December, Natividad del Señor / Day in lieu of Christmas Day

In addition, in Tenerife only, the following date is also a public holiday:

2 February, Virgen de la Candelaria / Candlemas

The two peculiarities in this list are that because Fiesta del Trabajo / Labour Day, May 1st falls on a Sunday, the day in lieu, rather than the next day, has been given as May 30th, for Día de Canarias / Canaries Day instead.

Likewise, as Christmas Day in 2011 will also fall on a Sunday, December 26th has been given as a day in lieu. Boxing Day isn’t a holiday in Spain.

There’s a legal right to days off on public holidays in Spain (there's no such right in Britain), however, you should note that the official working week in Spain consists of 6 days, Monday to Saturday, inclusive, so that as Christmas Day this year (2010) falls on a Saturday, this is a working day and thus no day off in lieu is given.

To make up the 14 days public holidays decreed by law, two additional days are added that are specific to each municipal council area.

Aprobados los festivos de 2011

Husband by the hour in Tenerife

We’ve a feeling that there may be a few restrictions to the type of husbandly duties that are available for hire, but nevertheless, we applaud the resourcefulness of one unemployed man in the south of Tenerife.

José Antonio Martín is a lorry driver, who, back in July, became unemployed, at which time he started to advertise himself as a “husband by the hour”, an original idea that has allowed him to make enough money to get by.

He advertises his services in various shops in his neighbourhood, which is how his neighbours know about his services when they need to do some small repairs around the house.

At economical prices and on any day of the week, José Antonio has ensured that the crisis hasn’t been an impediment for him by carrying out whatever domestic labours that present a difficulty for others because of lack of time, etc.

Of course, we’d usually call him a handyman, but “husband by the hour” is a much more fun and memorable description to market himself with.

Via RTVC: De camionero a "marido por horas"

Another weather warning for Tenerife

Spanish Meteorological Agency, AEMET, have issued an orange level alert for Tenerife and the western Canary Islands for tomorrow, Sunday, December 5th, 2010. Hopefully nothing like last week’s red alert, nevertheless, heavy rainfall, high winds and choppy seas are expected and care should be taken.

La Gomera

The outline of the neighbouring island can be seen in the distant blue haze.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Tenerife News & Events 12/04/2010

• Walks That Make You Go 'WOW'

  Stepping out onto the terrace yesterday morning and catching my first glimpse of Mount Teide coated in a thick layer of snow elicited an involuntary ‘WOW’.It got me thinking of all the places on Tenerife where you turn a corner or emerge above a ridge and are stopped in your tracks by the drama in front of you. Many of those WOW moments come when I’m out walking and they leave an indelible mark on the memory and an itching to go back and capture it again.Here are just a few of those special places.

  tags: tenerife

• Walking in the Upper La Orotava Valley Prohibited

  The Tenerife government hs just advised that walking in the upper La Orotava Valley is being prohibited from today, 3rd December until the 8th December.This is purely for safety reasons. The network of paths in the area have been seriously affected by the storm of last weekend with fallen trees blocking a number of paths.

  tags: tenerife

• The Port after the storm – November 2010

  ... a photo story of D-Day (and also the day after) by Alejandro Amador.

  tags: tenerife

• Christmas Day Concert

  Santa Cruz DocksideDescription: The annual FREE christmas night concert featuring the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, this year with the Black Heritage Choir from America. Starts at 10 pm and finishes just after midnight with a lavish firework display.

  tags: tenerife

• Mississippi Mass Choir

  Los Cristianos Cultural CentreDescription: part of the 5th Canaries Gospel Festival. Starts at 9.30 pm, free entry, places limited.

  tags: tenerife

• Mississippi Mass Choir

  Teatro Leal, La LagunaDescription: The award winning gospel choir in this historic setting. Part of the 5th Canaries Gospel Festival.

  tags: tenerife

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Watching You!

A black cat watches passers by from between the plants growing on this rustic wall.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Tenerife News & Events 12/03/2010

• Kick Boxing

  The clash of 2 World Champions, Tenerife’s Loren Jorge and Catalan Cesar Cordoba, plus 5 other bouts.

  tags: tenerife

• Ministry of Sound World Tour Tenerife

  Ministry of Sound, who are the biggest and most famous dance music brand in the World are coming to Tenerife. They are here on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th December and during these two nights the island will bounce with the rhythm of the best music sessions in the world.

  tags: tenerife

• 3 new bases in Canaries for Ryanair

  Ryanair announced on the 1st December 2010, that it is to open three new bases on the Canary Islands in summer 2011.

  tags: tenerife

• Two public holidays next week: 6th and 8th December are Día de la Constitución and Inmaculada Concepción

  Monday and Wednesday next week will be public holidays. The 6th December is Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day), and the 8th is the feast of Inmaculada Concepción (Immaculate Conception), so many things will be closed. There may well be widespread closures on Tuesday 7th as well, with workers taking a puente, or long weekend.

  tags: tenerife

• Orphan's Christmas Party

  Every year, Resort Properties and Lineker's have hosted a Christmas party for the orphans and underprivileged children of Tenerife. What began as a very small event has now grown to encompass several different orphanages and homes from all over the island. This year, a total of 70 children will enjoy a very special pirate themed Christmas party at the Beverly Hills Club.

  tags: tenerife

• Be Like a Boy Scout – Prepared!

  Major and unavoidable damage apart, it surprised me last weekend how many folk were unprepared for the consequences of the storms. Taking precautions isn’t alarmist, it’s sensible, but on the other hand, don’t panic and make a situation worse than it is. Simple things to do:

  tags: tenerife

• Tenerife Ballet, Christmas Gala

  Great value with all tickets just 20 euros. Starts at 8 pm, tickets from the box office, call 902317327 or www.generaltickets.com/cajacanarias

  tags: tenerife

• Tenerife Symphony Orchestra

  The latest concert from the acclaimed OST, with Lu Jia conducting and featuring Ivan Martin on piano. Starts at 8.30 pm, tickets from 15 euros to 30 euros, at the box office, call 902317327 or go to www.generaltickets.com/cajacanariasDate: 2010-12-17

  tags: tenerife

• Spirit Of New Orleans Gospel Choir

  Top gospel music in the best of settings, starts at 9 pm. All tickets 30 euros, from the box office, call 902317327 or www.generaltickets.com/cajacanarias

  tags: tenerife

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Flor de Pascua

The Flor de Pascua, or poinsettia, is an essential part of Christmas in the Canary Islands and they grow wild, mostly on the northern slopes of the island.

You can download this image as Windows Wallpaper.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

Tenerife News & Events 12/02/2010

• Storm Damage to Jardin Botanico

  There was a segment on TV Canarias this morning about the storm, which saddened me on a different level, and that was information that Sunday/Monday’s storm destroyed 60% of the Botanical Gardens in Puerto del la Cruz. Let’s hope that’s one of those statistics which will change for the better as damage is assessed.

  tags: tenerife

• Three Kings Parade 

  The biggest night of the Tenerife festive season, Reyes Eve Jan 5, when the Three Kings ride into town on camels, throwing sweets to the crowds, followed by a musical fancy dress parade.

  tags: tenerife

• PIT – Childrens Festive Fair 

  How do you keep the youngsters happy over the long festive season? PIT – Parque Infantil y Juvenil de Tenerife, has long been the family saviour offering a magical world of daily entertainment for children and their parents.

  tags: tenerife

• Walk this Way, La Caldera  

  With heavy snow in the UK and Mount Teide wearing her finest winter white, peak holiday season looms and thoughts turn to an escape to the sun. What better time to think about pulling on the walking shoes and heading into the great outdoors to explore some of Tenerife’s lesser known beauty spots?

  tags: tenerife

• Disney Christmas

  Location: Church Plaza, Los CristianosDescription: A Boxing Day bonanza of Disney characters for all the family. Starts at 5 pm, everyone welcome.Date: 2010-12-26

  tags: tenerife

• Shine Voices

  Location: Los Cristianos Cultural CentreDescription: Part of the 5th Canaries Gospel Festival. Starts at 9.30 pm on Sunday 19 December. FREE entry but places limited.Date: 2010-12-19

  tags: tenerife

• Los Gigantes has escapes major storm damage

  The electrical storms and rough seas prevented diving or dolphin watching boats from leaving the safety of the harbour but Los Gigantes has escaped major damage during the storms of the past few days.

  tags: tenerife

• Extra six months payment for unemployed whose paro has expired is itself to stop

  There will be no state financial assistance for the unemployed whose paro has run out. What people are supposed to do when they have no job, nor unemployment benefit, I cannot imagine.

  tags: tenerife

• Tenerife Scene of the Week a Snow Clad Mount Teide

  With almost perfect timing for the start of December and to get Tenerife right into the Christmas spirit, the spectacular storm that hit Tenerife at the end of the weekend bringing wind, rain, thunder and lightning also left Mount Teide with a thick covering of snow.

  tags: tenerife

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

First Snows on Mount Teide

From a couple of years ago, but still a most beautiful sight.

Photo: by Jack Montgomery

Tenerife News & Events 12/01/2010

• Christmas Fiesta

  Location: Centro Hipico del Sur, BuzanadaDescription: Christmas fund raising for the Aktiontier animal charity at the show jumping centre from 1 pm on Sunday 12 December. Lots of sporting challenges with horses and dogs plus a BBQ and drinks.Date: 2010-12-12

  tags: tenerife

• Tenerife Nightlife, Bar Hopping In Los Cristianos, Part One 

  Blue unicorns, alien lampshades and luke warm treacle, well that’s what my scribbled notes seemed to say when I woke in a haze on Sunday morning. Thankfully a shower, food and a quick scroll through my camera helped to focus my mind, and memories of Los Cristianos bars formed a semi orderly queue.

  tags: tenerife

• Of Red Alerts and Forgotten Pasttimes

  No-one remembered an actual red alert, but knew of plenty yellow or even orange ones which had turned out to be storms in teacups, so throughout Sunday, when warnings were mis-interpreted there was a lot of sarcasm going around - and this in a country which really doesn't do sarcasm.

  tags: tenerife

• Nieve en el Teide / Snow on Teide

  tags: tenerife

• Violent Storm Lashes Tenerife 

  As something resembling normality returns to Tenerife and the Canary Islands, reports of the intensity of the wind, rain, lightning and thunder that have spectacularly assaulted the island range from being not as bad as expected to being described as Delta 2.

  tags: tenerife

• Another weather front approaching Tenerife should bring rain on Saturday

  Aemet is forecasting a “new borrasca” starting on Saturday. It will bring rains, but it will not be an electrical storm such as we’ve just experienced, and most importantly, will pass quickly. It should be over by midday Sunday.

  tags: tenerife

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Tenerife in December

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Flor de Pascua

The Flor de Pascua, or poinsettia, is an essential part of Christmas in the Canary Islands and they grow wild, mostly on the northern slopes of the island. This particular specimen was captured at the Castle Museum Park in Los Realejos.

 

Tenerife Weather in December

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.

December Averages	Tenerife	UK
Daily hours of sunshine	5.5	1.4
Daytime temperature C	18.7	7.4
Sea temperature C	20	-
Days with rain	5	13.1

In December, you should enjoy an average of 5.5 daily hours of sunshine in Tenerife (in contrast to an optimistic 1.4 hours in England).

The average daytime temperature in December in Tenerife is listed as 18.7 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 7.4 degrees centigrade.

The sea temperature in Tenerife in December averages at 20C.

Although there are an average of 5 days with rain in December, this means any amount of rain from a short sharp shower. Better than the 13.1 days in the UK.

Tenerife Fiestas in December

The month starts with two fiestas, the Día de la Constitución Española / Day of the Spanish Constitution on December 6th and the Inmaculada Concepción / Immaculate Conception on the 8th. These are both Public Holidays and are usually joined up and tacked onto the nearest weekend and taken as an early December break.

It’s also customary to put up Christmas decorations – at least in homes – on December 8th, or the closest weekend to it.

December 22nd is a very important date throughout Spain, being the date of the annual Christmas Lottery, the largest in the world, El Gordo.

Christmas, of course, falls in December, being celebrated, traditionally, on Christmas Eve, December 24th with a family meal and get together, although this is not typically when the gifts are given. That waits until January.

December 28th, the Day of the Innocent Saints is the Spanish equivalent to “April Fools Day” and, that brings us right round to New Years Eve.