A lovely view showing the Christmas lights wound around the trees and beds planted alternately with seasonal red and white poinsettia plants. And just a reminder, if you haven’t already, that tomorrow, February 1st, is the traditional day to take down your Christmas decorations: "The eve of Candlemas was the day on which Christmas decorations of greenery were removed from people's homes and churches." Photo by GanMed64
Santa Cruz auditorium renamed in honour of late former Canarian President Adán Martín
"The Tenerife Cabildo has voted unanimously to change the name of the Santa Cruz auditorium, which will now be known as the Auditorio Adán Martín Menis, in honour of the former President of the Canaries who died last October. "
Almond blossom on the island of La Palma
"The trees in El Paso and Garafía are beautiful, but the best display of all is at Puntagorda. In fact Puntagorda hosts an annual almond blossom fiesta. The date varies -- the Town Hall sets it a couple of weeks in advance, to (hopefully) coincide with the best blossom. This year we've had a rather cold winter, so it's a little later than usual, on February 6th."
CD Tenerife Still Stuck On The Runway
"So much for the week of 3 home games, the points are slipping away and new coach Antoino Tapia is probably wondering what he has walked into. Leading 2-1 against 10 men, Tenerife wasted a golden chance in this game in hand, re-arranged after the air traffic controllers strike meant Granada couldn’t make the original fixture. "
Playing Tour Guide and Loving Every Minute
"One of the nice things about living on a sub-tropical island is the number of times the opportunity comes up to play truant, and spend time with visiting friends or family, and, of course, over Christmastime an ex-pat often finds themself playing at tour guide. Sometimes it’s lazing on the beach, or taking a boat trip, shopping in Santa Cruz or going to a “hidden” restaurant for a wonderful meal, and sometimes it’s exploring the parts of the island their brochures hadn’t covered. I enjoy it all, but especially the last, because I love to see people’s reactions to stunning scenery like the lunar landscapes of the Teide National Park, to peaceful, pretty villages and to a history which they didn’t realize were the other face of Tenerife."
"You would think that, having fought so hard to take Tenerife from its original inhabitants, the Spanish would have immediately set about shoring up their defences so that no-one else could come along and steal their prize. But it would seem that the blueprint for Tenerife political life was set right back at the end of the fifteenth century when the policy of ‘do nothing’ was first established."
Looking for an Authentic Canarian Resort on Tenerife
"A regular question that pops up from would-be visitors to Tenerife is a variation of ‘I’m looking for an authentic Canarian (Spanish) town to stay in. Where should I choose?’"
A Crazy Weather Day In Los Cristianos
"Noddy moving his house around, that’s what we used to call thunder when I was a nipper, but the almighty claps along with lightning and torrential rain in the early hours of this morning were like a pile driver pounding Tenerife. A yellow alert had been declared but it still disturbed me from my slumber and I awoke to find a Cabildo (government) press release advising that access roads to Mount Teide were closed due to snow. It does happen from time to time but will pass in a few days leaving a beautiful snow capped peak on the volcano and hardly a trace of the rain once the sun puts its hat back on."
The End of Veronicas & Bars Shut for Carnaval in Tenerife News of the week
"Tenerife Magazine’s round up of some of the most interesting news stories of the week "
Canarian leisure establishments announce lockout for 9 March in protest at smoking law
"Canarian bars and restaurants are to stage a “lock out” on 9 March in protest at the smoking ban law, and in particular at the losses brought by the the new legislation. The organization Federación Canaria del Ocio (Fecao: Canarian Leisure Industry Federation) hopes that other businesses will join in the mass closure."
Late Pio Goal Spoils CD Tenerife Party And Gets Coach Mandia Fired
"What a difference a goal makes, there we were cruising to a 1-0 win over deadly rivals Las Palmas but the pios nipped in with a 87 th minute equaliser leaving us deflated and coach Mandia heading for the exit door. "
"The new Live Music Steak House "The Clubhouse" have now started a bus service running from Los Cristianos, through all main areas to the Venue. "
Teide access roads closed due to snowfall
"access roads to Teide (La Esperanza and La Orotava-Boca Tauce) have been closed by the Tenerife Cabildo because of the weather which has left them blocked by snow."
CD Tenerife Stung In The Tail In Las Palmas Derby
"Hanging upside down from a tree and implanted with bangers the stuffed Pio bird refused to fall apart when the fuses were lit. In the end it took a sprinkling of brandy to make the symbol of Las Palmas burn to the satisfaction of the plaza full of CD Tenerife fans just down the road from the Heliodoro stadium in Santa Cruz. We should have taken that as an omen that the visitors from Gran Canaria were not going to give up easily. "
The Fiesta Where Two Worlds Collide
"According to the official website of the bishopric of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, around 30,000 people took part in or observed Thursday’s celebration of the feast day of San Sebastian in Adeje. "
Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 24th January to 30th January
"It doesn’t look like it’s going to be a great week for visitors to Tenerife with a mix of sun, cloud and rain forecast across the whole of Tenerife all week. "
Great Tenerife Views, the Dreamy North Coast
"I can easily recall the first time that I was captivated by the sun heading to bed and turning a view of the north coast which had already been stunning into one that was mystical and magical."
"‘Wow, I really feel I’m in Spain,” he shouted above the music. Twenty five years of visiting and those two bars inspired him to say that. It spoke volumes about the Puerto that some British visitors see and the ‘real’ Puerto that we know and love."
With a quick nod to Simon & Garfunkel, it may break your heart to learn that this solemn-faced figure, of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians and of the blind, is I’m told, the only work of religious art that was able to be salvaged from the church of Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios in Buenavista del Norte when it was destroyed by fire in 1996. Although I never saw it before, I've been told that and read that, amongst other pieces, important 17th Century, solid silver, altarpiece panels were lost. See where this picture was taken. [?]
A mosaic that was made to mark the event when we had reached 500 photos in January 2007. There are currently 1,253 images to see in our account at Flickr.
1. Market Mural, 2. Christmas Sweets, 3. Virgen de Candelaria, 4. Icon Collection, 5. The Old & The New, 6. Heavenly Approval, 7. Almendras garrapiñadas, 8. Collecting Water, 9. Irrigation's Infancy, 10. Corpus 2006, 11. Plum Pickin, 12. Nao Santa Maria, 13. May Flowers: Field of Poppies, 14. Red Roofs, 15. Hotel San Roque, 16. Roadside Poppies, 17. Three Red Poppies, 18. Nice Day Tomorrow, 19. Pretty Plaza, 20. Arrival of the King, 21. Helicopter Exercises, 22. Flor de Pascua, 23. Red Geraniums, 24. Apples on Speed, 25. Autumn Leaves, 26. Weather Cat, 27. Tourist Twits, 28. Red Banana, 29. Red Painted Sky, 30. Speed Demons
One of the cutest participants in the San Antonio Abad parade in Buenavista del Norte. See where this picture was taken. [?]
The storm that reached the Canary Island archipelago last night and, which is leaving moderate to locally persistent precipitations in all of the islands, with the exception of the north of Gran Canaria, is the cause of the declaration of an orange level weather alert, which continues active until 6 pm today.
As well as the heavy rains, the western province of Tenerife is affected by winds with gusts up to 70 kmph, rising to 85 kmph at the summit, as well as high seas.
Via Canarias7: Alerta naranja en todas las islas Image: AEMET
Goats, from the hamlet of Teno Alto, all wearing their pretty red ribbons ready to take part in the fiestas for San Antonio Abad in Buenavista del Norte.
A colourful cart full of kids, which, as the sign indicates. has been part of the parade in the fiestas for San Antonio Abad in Buenavista del Norte, since 1980.
Two Fiestas, Two Saints, One Great Week
"Any excuse for a party, I’m sure each year they slip in a few new saints days in the Tenerife calendar to keep us on our toes but there are always some old reliables that fire up the party spirit and this week the weather was at it’s scorching best. "
Mesón Era Las Mozas, in the Valle San Lorenzo
Some yummy images of typical, local fayre.
Spring – In The Air and In My Step
"After the almond blossom the next sign of spring is the wild lavender. I remember seeing it for the first time in profusion a few years back. There was a stretch of what can only be called desert, alongside the beach of Achile, where I used to walk Trixy most mornings. After choosing alternative routes for a couple of days we returned to Achile to find it covered in the delicate, pale purple flowers, and ever since I’ve thought of its arrival as the beginning of springtime."
"The start of the second half of the Spanish Second Division season. It can only get better for CD Tenerife and home form has to be strong. 30th January."
"A rare evening game after the original match was postponed due to an air traffic control strike. Will struggling Tenerife be able to shine under the floodlights? 26th January."
Leading A Horse To Water is Easy At San Sebastian Fiesta In La Caleta
"Rockets tore through the sky, church bells peeled and pigeons erupted from their baskets. It was a wake up call for horses, sheep, goats and foals not to mention the thousands of locals and tourists that had converged on La Caleta in Costa Adeje to honour San Sebastian."
Canarian Restaurants on Tenerife, Great Value and Surprisingly Familiar Food
"Sometimes perceptions about the local cuisine in foreign climes can involve visions of odd looking critters that still have their eyeballs attached and whose tentacles sprawl across the plate unappealingly. Okay, maybe it’s not quite that extreme when the destination is somewhere like Tenerife, but a little wariness about the local food is not unknown."
Tenerife From The Air Is Picture Perfect
"This is Tenerife as seen by Vistaire Canarias and their aerial photo system and that’s just a hint of the new horizons opened up by this eye in the sky."
Of Almond Blossom and St Anthony
"... on a small island, where you have spent 20-odd years of your life, you can still find pleasant surprises. "
Away Draw For CD Tenerife But Much More Needed
"Every morning I recite at least 5 stupidly optimistic sayings like Worse Things Happen At Sea and It’s Allways Darkest Before The Dawn but even that doesn’t dispel my sense of impending doom over CD Tenerife. A 1-1 away draw at Ponferradina was better than a defeat but at 7 points adrift from safety it didn’t feel like enough, especially after going 1-0 up."
“Fuerte” calima in Tenerife today brings appalling air quality and poor visibility
"The Met Office is saying it’s like a tongue of dust licking the Canaries from Africa, which is horrible imagery, but it makes the point. T"
“Almond Blossom Route”: Santiago del Teide’s 2011 organized walk on 29 January
"Places are limited, so those who are interested will need to register. Simply call the Ayuntamiento’s Culture Department on 922 863 127 ext 234, or fax 922 863 212, or email cultura@santiagodelteide.es. The walk costs €4, and it is perhaps to limit numbers and ensure payment that no starting time has been announced in advance. "
San Antonio Unites The Arona Party Animals
"All over Tenerife similar scenes were being played out with horses, goats, pigs and even ferrets taking centre stage to celebrate the Egyptian born saint known as the protector of animals. Rose growers twitched with anticipation at the thought of all that free manure and dancing shoes were well and truly polished. I was pleasantly surprised and quite proud to see such a scrum of Brits waiting at the Los Cristianos bus stop, keen to taste some Canarian flavours. It momentarily turned to panic as the crowd swelled to bus bursting size but the Titsa bus company came to the rescue when an additional bus joined the groaning scheduled one."
Two fishermen, two pigeons and the two pieces of the minimalist Carrara marble sculpture by Japanese artist Kan Yasuda, entitled Tensei Tenmoku or Door without Door, exhibited on the esplanade adjacent to the quay in Garachico.
Generally, I tend to avoid hard news here, but the sad and shocking story which is getting the coverage throughout the Spanish press in the Canary Islands today concerns the arrests of 6 people; one man and 5 women, all accused in a racket where money was offered to homeless, pregnant women in Santa Cruz to sell their babies.
With these detentions, Civil Guard agents were able to prevent the sale of a new born baby that had already been arranged between a mother and an interested family.
According to the Civil Guard investigations, one person was in charge of finding out from pregnant women among the homeless of Santa Cruz, which of them did not have the resources and did not wish to take responsibility for the upbringing of their child once they had given birth, in order to offer them the chance to receive economic compensation from families interested in adopting the babies.
This person, who resided in Tenerife’s capital, then made contact with families, taking advantage of those who were unable to have children and, who at the same time had the economic means to cover the cost. It’s reported that the compensation offered to the pregnant women was in the region of €10,000.
Image from FailBlog
Here’s a question for you …
When is the 3rd Sunday in January held on the 4th Sunday in January? Give up? OK, I’ll tell you: it’s when it’s in Tenerife, of course! (This also feels like a re-run of Groundhog Day. *)
As anyone who has ever lived in Tenerife will tell you, organizing proverbial piss-ups in breweries is not one of the culture’s strong points and getting information prior to events taking place is often somewhat akin to getting blood out of a stone.
And even when you do have the information in advance (from official sources, no less), there’s absolutely no guarantee that it’s going to be correct.
Case in point: The Fiestas in honour of San Antonio Abad in Los Silos.
This will also give you some idea of the frustration that fools like me and those lovely folk over at Tenerife Magazine have to suffer and the sort of “detective work” we have to undertake in order to inform you of some of the island’s cultural events. Events we imagine that locals would love you to be able to enjoy too.
According to the Tourist Board (who ought to know), the San Antonio Abad fiestas in Los Realejos and Buenavista del Norte were supposedly taking place last week, January 16th. Also according to the same tourist board info, the San Antonio fiestas were to be taking place in Arona, next week, January 30th.
Well, the Arona festivities took place last week, as did those in Los Realejos and Buenavista’s always (with the proviso that it could be changed) take place the week after those in Los Silos (I know they were never the same week, because I used to go to both Los Silos’ and Buenavista’s and never managed to be in two places at once) – which according to Los Silos Town Hall (who again, you’d imagine have a clue) – takes place on the 3rd Sunday in January each year, which according to the calendars I’m consulting, meant last week.
Only it doesn’t. Why should it? T.I.T. = This is Tenerife, after all!
Reading a report today in 20minutos, we learn that the Livestock Fair and Arts & Crafts Fair in honour of San Antonio Abad in Los Silos – along with the procession, blessing, etc. - celebrates it’s 263rd Anniversary this weekend, according to a press release from the Los Silos town hall.
Yes, the same town hall that says it’s always the 3rd Sunday … To be fair, their calendar does also say that the fiesta is this weekend (despite what it’s other page says.)
We thought that a 263rd Anniversary was a funny one to make a “newsworthy” press release from too, but to mention that would seem like we’re really splitting hairs! :)
Then we go on to read that even the 263 is a bit tentative ...
According to a local historian the first religious icon of San Antonio Abad arrived in Los Silos on August 4th, 1748 (2011 – 1748 = 263 and, yes I did check the maths. Can you blame me?) Although, the report continues, there’s no documented source in that respect, it is logical [Ed: logic, in Tenerife?] to think that the image arrived in the cited year, in order that it could go out in the procession the following year. Right. The actual first documented report to that effect, actually, isn’t until 1906.
Those anecdotes notwithstanding, the release goes on to detail the events of this year’s fiesta, which begins today at 8 pm with the inauguration of a photographic exhibition and a folk festival in the patio of the former convent of San Sebastián.
Tomorrow, January 23rd, at 10 am, the Arts & Crafts Fair will be open in the Plaza de la Luz, the patio of the former convent of San Sebastián and surrounding streets.
Meanwhile, the Livestock Fair will assemble 400 head of cattle, sheep, goats and horses in the Fairs Enclosure (waste ground) behind the cited ex-convent.
Mass will be held at mid-day, after which will be the procession of the icon, followed by all the livestock and pets, which will subsequently be blessed by the clergy.
The Arts & Crafts Fair is lovely and it all makes a great day out.
In case you were as confused as us, just to recap:
* Thereby hangs another amusing tale … Back in 1992, the year I moved to Tenerife, I had to commute backwards and forwards between the island and the UK several times before I finally made the move permanently. On each and every one of the flights I took, the movie being shown was Groundhog Day.
Repeats of the repeat of …
The life of a soldier at the Castillo San Miguel, in Garachico in the 16th Century was hardly a luxury, given the toilet facility which we find on the castle’s upper floor.
Dancers in traditional costumes gather in front of Los Silos’s town hall before the processions for the fiestas of San Antonio Abad in the town, 2008.
Livestock lined up at the fair before the procession for the fiestas of San Antonio Abad in Los Silos in 2008. This year’s fiesta in Los Silos should be taking place today. (UPDATE: Well, according to the town hall it should have been on the 3rd Sunday, but we've since learned that it is taking place on January 23rd.)
You’d Be Nuts To Miss The Almond Blossom Walk In Santiago Del Teide
"The Saturday 29 January walk is organised by Santiago del Teide council, costs 4 euros and places are limited. Call 922863127 ext 234 to book."
Samurai swordsman arrested after New Year’s Eve attack on Briton in Playa Paraiso bar
"English papers have identified the victim as British holidaymaker Gary Wainwright, and the bar as the Britannia."
"Not for the squeamish, a 23,000 full house will create a special atmosphere for the Canarian derby. January, 23rd."
Access to Summit of Mount Teide Re-opens
"It looks as if you can once again apply for permission to access the summit of Mount Teide."
Overseas flights up as Brits attempt to escape the cold
"Online travel company lowcostholidays.com also said its website traffic was up 60 per cent since the first snow fell. Lowcostholidays.com said top searches on its site were for holidays to the Canary Islands, Dubai and Thailand. "
Tenerife’ Bluetrail Cross-Country Race
"On April 16th, Tenerife Tourism will host the island's renowned cross-country race, "Bluetrail Tenerife, from Sea to Sky", organised by the Tenerife Cabildo's Department for the Environment, in collaboration with the Sports Corporation."
Walk this Way, Guía de Isora to Chirche
"There’s no better way to dispel the gloom of mid-winter and the excess pounds of the festive season than by lacing up the walking boots and getting out into the hills and sunshine of Tenerife."
Not Just A Plaza, A Window On The Heart Of Adeje
"If that is the frame, then the Barranco del Infierno provides the masterpiece as the backdrop. A shelf-like stage seems to fall away directly into the depths of the ravine that has carved its way through the history of Adeje but a closer look reveals a mirador (viewpoint) that skirts it just below for an even closer inspection of the twisting stratas of rock."
Prize Winning Cheese & a Belfry Bust up
"Tenerife Magazine’s round up of some of the most interesting news stories of the week"
Going Native in Tenerife over the Festive Season
Apart from the fact we were failures as friends [Ed note: they weren't really], we enjoyed a varied and interesting festive period on Tenerife.
Stunning Street Scenes on Tenerife, the Sculptures of Julio Nieto
"Anyone who’s walked past the wonderful sculpture of the fishwife in Puerto de la Cruz is already familiar with the work of Julio Nieto. But pretty though she is, she’s only the conventional tip of the iceberg when it comes to his creations."
CD Tenerife Press Self Destruct Button
"Not the worst performance of the season but probably the most frustrating. The better side for much of the game CD Tenerife made some suicidal mistakes on the pitch and paid with a 1-0 defeat."
Where on Tenerife is this? Photo Challenge #1 2011
"... for our first Tenerife photo challenge of 2011 we’ve decided to raise the bar a little and test you with what we think could be a tricky place to identify. "
Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 10th January to 16th January
"Looks like more of the same for the next week at least. There is a remote chance of rain on Tuesday and on Friday and Saturday, but even if it happens it will probably only be a quick, light shower."
The Prettiest Village in South Tenerife
"Santiago del Teide is the name of the municipality which covers an area of just over 52 sq kilometres, ranging from 1015 meters above sea level, right down to the stunning cliffs of Los Gigantes on the coast, but when you say the name most folk think of the village at the heart of the municipality, which lies at a mere 936 m above the ocean, and that was our destination."
This weekend marks the start of the fiestas for San Antonio Abad (Anthony the Great, also known as Saint Anthony, Anthony the Abbot), held in various parts of the island, where livestock and pets are brought to town to be blessed. Tomorrow, Sunday, there should be such fiestas in Los Realejos. This picture was taken in Buenavista del Norte, who usually celebrate theirs the week after Los Silos.
A permanent display of this traditional Canarian craft – which, reportedly, was picked up from the British – at the Casa de los Balcones, La Orotava.
Also in La Orotava, with the dome of the Iglesia de La Concepción in the background. See where this picture was taken. [?]
Tickets go on sale today in Tenerife for the Gran Gala de Elección de la Reina del Carnaval (Gala for the Election of the Carnaval Queen) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. (The real, human, one that is. *)
The gala will take place at 9.30 pm on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011 at the Recinto Ferial / Centro Internacional de Ferias y Congresos (International Fairs and Congress Centre) in Santa Cruz (see map).
Tickets are available online from General Tickets (minimum 2 tickets), as well as via the network of Cajacanarias ATM machines around the island. However, at a price of just €10 each, I reckon these will sell out faster than hot cakes.
Via: La Metro Project
* This Barbie doll in a Carnaval Queen costume (pictured) was once part of an exhibition in the Parque García Sanabria. Photo by Antonio Tajuelo
The Prettiest Village in South Tenerife
"Santiago del Teide is the name of the municipality which covers an area of just over 52 sq kilometres, ranging from 1015 meters above sea level, right down to the stunning cliffs of Los Gigantes on the coast, but when you say the name most folk think of the village at the heart of the municipality, which lies at a mere 936 m above the ocean, and that was our destination."
No takers for my question on Saturday asking what 17th Century grand house this was the front door to. It was the Casa Lercaro in La Orotava, often cited as the best example of Canarian architecture. This photo is of a model of that mansion, and was part of a nativity display in La Orotava's library, back in 2006/7. (This beautiful scale model can still be seen, as it is now on display at the Museo de las Alfombras (Carpet Museum), showing the history and methods of the making of the sand and flower carpets that are the tradition of the town's annual Corpus Christi celebrations.) See where this picture was taken. [?]
Access to the Summit of Mount Teide Still Closed
"For anyone who’s considering climbing to the peak of Mount Teide as part of a Draconian regime for shedding the Christmas extra inches or just for pleasure, the summit is currently still off limits to the public due to compacted ice and snow rendering the conditions too dangerous."
"... it’s very typical of the habits of the masses here – it’s post Christmas, so everyone will be using up their leftover cuts of meat to make puchero."
With the Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz announcing the birth of some baby Gentoo penguins this week, here’s a view of their penguin 'experience' island.
Photo by tizzle
Loro Parque announces arrival of baby penguins
"The timing of the latest arrivals coincides with the Antarctic summer, and there’s a lovely video here from Loro Parque showing the little ones, who are cared for in turn by their parents, and whose speed beneath the water is already incredible."
Of Quiet Villages and Internet
"When I see rocky coastlines like the one below I am reminded that this island is volcanic, and it’s easy to imagine how it was when these steely-grey rocks were molten lava, hissing its way into the Atlantic."
Andy Montgomery mentioned that all the vegetable ingredients for puchero were laid out for sale on a special display at her local supermarket yesterday.
In my opinion, puchero is by far the best dish in Canarian Cuisine.
It’s a wonderfully warming stew of meat, vegetables and legumes, often served with a gofio accompaniment, which is a perfect dish for a party or family gathering. Indeed one of my recipe books has a version that was used for weddings in the 19th Century. However, it’s also perfectly suited to everyday eating, so here’s a translation of the most typical version used in Canarian home cooking.
Ingredients:
200 grs dry chick-peas (garbanzo beans), 500 grs beef, 500 grs pork (cheap cuts are best, with fat for flavour), 1 kg cabbage, 200 grs pumpkin, 200 grs French beans, 1 fresh corncob, 1 sweet potato, 1 kg potatoes, 30 grs vegetable marrow, 1 or 2 carrots, 1 leek, 1 head of garlic, 1 onion, 1 tomato, saffron, thyme and salt.
Method:
Soak the chickpeas overnight in cold water, drain well and put in a large saucepan with the meat and cover with water. Add chopped leek, onion and tomato to the pan. Crush the garlic, and mix with the thyme, saffron and salt, preferably in a pestle and mortar, then add these to the pot also. When the meat is cooked add all the other vegetables, cut into large pieces, and then continue at a simmer until all the vegetables are tender but still whole.
To serve, remove the meat and vegetables from the pot with a slotted spoon and arrange on serving dishes. Then use some of the stock to make the ESCALDON to serve as an accompaniment, which is simply to put gofio (500 grs) into a dish and add the hot stock a little at time and mix to form a stiff consistency. Even better if there is some vegetable residue, particularly potato to mash into the mixture. Provide plenty of typical Canarian bread (crusty), wine if it is your thing and you have a very pleasant and relaxed meal for your guests to help themselves to.
Buen provecho!
Photo: Canarybird at Tenerife Journal, who presents another puchero recipe here.
Here's a little quiz for all you residents and regulars ... What 17th Century grand house in La Orotava is this the front door to? Leave answers in the comments.
There’s A Bolied Sweet In My Ear, It Must Be Reyes Eve
"Aah Christmas Spanish style is always a delight."
The Three Kings' thrones stand empty and that, sadly, is the end of the Christmas Season for another year. Still, in Tenerife, there'll be another fiesta along any minute! See where this picture was taken. [?]
One of the retinue from Garachico’s Three Kings parade. Seeing this again, I’ve realized that many fiestas offer ample opportunity for Canarian men to wear make-up and, they’re never noticeably uncomfortable or self-conscious about it.
Another magical video, from those wonderful folks at Tenerife Magazine, showing highlights of last night’s magical Three Kings parade in La Orotava.
Oh Come All Ye Faithless on New Year’s Eve 2010
"Snippets of the two sides to our NYE party so that anyone who has never experienced New Year’s Eve in Puerto de la Cruz can see what they’re missing and book now for 2011/2012."
A Walking Route Through the Bananas in Isla Baja
"There’s been one part of the north west coast of Tenerife that has whispered ‘come explore’ for years. We’ve driven passed the area on countless occasions, each time commenting on how good it would be to trek along paths through the forest of bananas, grand haciendas and half hidden churches. And yet for nigh on seven years we ignored the call, usually because every time we passed we were en route to somewhere else. Just before Christmas we decided to rectify the situation."
The Great Tenerife Ice Rink Stink
"If you fancy hopping on the bus to go ice-skating in Santa Cruz – don’t bother! Not unless you’ve got tickets booked for days in advance."
Rowing For A Record Come Hell Or High Water
"Sickness, blisters, dehydration, and lack of sleep, not the most enticing sea crossing but Team Hallin will tackle all these problems and more to tame the Atlantic Ocean and hopefully break a world record. The 6 strong British crew have been biding their time in San Miguel marina over the festive season waiting for the weather they need to row the 3,000 miles (2,600 nautical miles) from Tenerife to Barbados."
Stronger measures requires to avoid real estate slump staying around for decades
"For “stronger measures” read taking a hit. Some banks are starting to talk of selling at a loss to get properties off their books, say Idealista, who point out that banks have been asking prices beyond the reach of most buyers, and as a result not selling much. The only solution is further price reductions."
Or Saint Michael’s Castle, if you wish to Anglicise it, was built in 1575, to protect the town of Garachico against the island's frequent pirate attacks. Tonight, the Eve of Epiphany, the town will willingly allow the castle to be taken over by King Herod and his Roman troops for the evening, during the annual visit of the Three Kings.
Consumers in the UK will be already familiar with vegetable box schemes, such as those provided by firms such as Riverford. Now Tenerife has its own equivalent with a new company launched today, Naturpac, supplying first-class, natural, fresh Canarian products, straight “from the farm to your table.”
All of the producers involved in the Naturpac project offer the maximum standards of quality and use sustainable agricultural practices, respectful of the environment, which benefit the maintenance of agricultural diversity in the Canary Islands.
Servicing the metropolitan area (Santa Cruz - La Laguna -Tegueste - El Rosario-Candelaria) only at the moment, they supply a regularly changing, seasonal selection in the familiar weekly box configurations; Box A contains a selection of both fruit and vegetables, whilst Box B contains just a selection of vegetables.
Either box costs 18 euros, package and delivery included. Customers who order a box can also add a 5 kilo net of potatoes for another 6 euros (not sold on their own.)
They accept orders by phone or online and payment is COD, either in cash or card.
If this catches on, I’m sure the service will grow, as such services will provide an important means for smallholders to get their products to the consumer.
Via: Noticias Yahoo
Love this video from my friends Jack and Andy Montgomery, of Tenerife Magazine (and numerous other projects that keep our email exchanges infrequent), who show us snippets of the various aspects of party time in Puerto de la Cruz.
Now, I wouldn’t have noticed the presenter’s slight inebriation, until she mentioned it and likewise, if you live in the typical British “Dullsville”, you won’t have noticed that the celebrations in Puerto were apparently cutback from previous levels either.
Why I like it – apart from it giving me the chance to re-live some fiesta atmosphere – is that it provides a very concise and comprehensive sampler (in just over 4 minutes) of what to expect at most of the celebrations in Tenerife; be they New Year, Carnaval street parties or many of the various other fiestas held all over the island throughout the year. Obviously, size varies according to budget – generally commensurate with the size of the town or pueblo where the party is – and there may not always be a fun-fair, but otherwise the formula is similar: magnificent firework displays follow whatever event is being celebrated, then the masses dance all night in the open air (sadly, yes, to an over-predominance of salsa and merengue) and a bit of 1990’s house, if you’re spectacularly lucky!
Where in the UK would you find anything remotely like it, all FREE, with a safe, friendly atmosphere and, where all are welcome, from kids to grannies?
Of course, it’s warm enough to be outside in January in Tenerife (yeah, even in the “cold” north), so the smoking restrictions won’t affect these parties either.
Keeping the Faithless at New Year in Puerto de la Cruz
"New Year’s Eve in Puerto de la Cruz is Groundhog Day.
Every year the drill is this – people dress up to the nines; go out to eat; head to the main plaza at around 11.30pm; salsa a bit (unless you’re me, then you shift from foot to foot with no rhythm whatsoever); move to the harbour; eat 12 grapes when it’s midnight; make a lot of oooh and aaah noises at the firework display; drink cava until your head’s as fizzy as the stuff in your plastic glass; then salsa some more (after the cava even I believe I have rhythm) until you die…or dawn arrives.
Simple really."
No Smoking and Satanic Cults in Tenerife News of the Week
"It’s the dawn of a new year; a time to start afresh, eager and hungry to put into practice all the things we learned from our mistakes over the last year…or is it?
"
Spanish real estate market to be flooded with properties from local banks
"Local banks in Spain and Tenerife are responsible for a flood of foreclosed properties set to hit the Spanish real estate market in 2011, it is claimed."
Late Goal Lights Up New Year Hopes For CD Tenerife
"Unsure of their positions, constantly wandering away from the action and looking lost and forlorn, well that was the plight of the smokers in The Royal Oak but although CD Tenerife were not much better at times, there was more character in their 2-2 draw at Valladolid."
Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 3rd January to 9th January
"If the forecasters are right 2011 should get off to a beautiful start. Apart from a cloudy day forecast for today (Monday), the rest of the week is expected to be mostly sunny everywhere on Tenerife."
Solar eclipse visible in Tenerife tomorrow
"The first solar eclipse of 2011 will be visible from the Canaries from 7.50 am tomorrow morning."
2011 Rebajas 7 January-6 March
The date was chosen so that the sales could start as soon as possible after Kings’ Day on the 6th, to give businesses the best possible chance to have a successful “rebajas”. The sales will finish on 6 March.
"At a time when Spain is in the grip of a major economic crisis, the association believes that the introduction of such uncompromising legislation could herald the end of Spanish café culture." At least in the Canary Islands, people can sit outside bars for most, if not all of the year, so the effects might not be quite so badly felt as it will in other parts of Spain.
Whatever age child you are, anywhere between 0 and 110, if you can, you really shouldn’t miss one of the Three Kings Parades on the night of January 5th.
(These guys bring the presents then, not the red-suited bloke on Dec 24.)
Their wonderful parades are usually held in almost all towns and villages on the island (by magic, obviously), but some of the bigger ones are as follows:
1. Santa Cruz: The Three Kings arrive in a helicopter to the CD Tenerife football ground (for that you need tickets and they sell out well in advance), but the parade around the capital’s streets from 7 pm onwards is free to all. See video from 2010.
2. La Laguna: The Three Kings arrive via Tenerife North Airport, Los Rodeos and seem to bypass luggage restrictions as they have plenty of sweets and gifts to distribute around the streets of the former capital later.
3. Puerto de la Cruz: Well, hopefully, if the current mayor hasn’t put a damper on it, as seems to have been the case with many other events in the town.
4. Garachico: My favourite and the oldest Three Kings celebration on the island and highly recommended since you get real camels – generally up close and personal - and a whole evening’s magnificent and fun entertainment amongst the beautiful 16th to 18th Century buildings that the town mostly comprises.
5. Los Christianos: The best choice if you’re on the south of the island. The Three Wise Men begin their traditional route from the wharf of Los Cristianos, along Avenida de Suecia to end up at Los Cristianos Cultural Center. From 19:15.
And I hope Los Reyes bring you everything you asked for!
Come On 2011 Show Us What You’ve Got
"As the magic hour approached crowds took up prime positions with many heading down onto the sand and bottles of champers and Cava were clutched in readiness."
"This restaurant, that is located on the right side of the road when you go from Las Chafiras down to Guarcgacho, is very popular among the Canarians. There is a couple of trees out at the road that are cut like a sheep and I think it's quite easy to find the place if you keep this in mind."
Herzog + de Meuron’s Gorgeous Green-Roofed Plaza de Espana
Nice article with many photos of the Plaza de Espana in Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz.
Is This The Way To Granadilla? Just Follow That Bus
"The 470 bus was bang on time and only half full so off we set along the TF1 motorway with generous diversions down into Guaza, Costa del Silencio and through Los Abrigos before heading up through San Isidro."
Come On 2011 Show Us What You’ve Got
"As the magic hour approached crowds took up prime positions with many heading down onto the sand and bottles of champers and Cava were clutched in readiness."
"This restaurant, that is located on the right side of the road when you go from Las Chafiras down to Guarcgacho, is very popular among the Canarians. There is a couple of trees out at the road that are cut like a sheep and I think it's quite easy to find the place if you keep this in mind."
Herzog + de Meuron’s Gorgeous Green-Roofed Plaza de Espana
Nice article with many photos of the Plaza de Espana in Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz.
Is This The Way To Granadilla? Just Follow That Bus
"The 470 bus was bang on time and only half full so off we set along the TF1 motorway with generous diversions down into Guaza, Costa del Silencio and through Los Abrigos before heading up through San Isidro."
The Christmas season isn’t over yet in Spain and the Canary Islands. On the night of January 5th, the Three Kings make their procession, bearing gifts, into towns and villages across the country. Here's Rey Gaspar arriving in the town of Garachico.
To download a copy of this image to use as desktop wallpaper, learn more about this and other fiestas upcoming in Tenerife in January, as well as seeing the weather averages for the coming month, see our page about Tenerife in January.
Please bear with us ... We're gradually building this section of the website to bring you information about the different districts on Tenerife and apologise for the relatively blank page while this work is in progress.
Please bear with us ... We're gradually building this section of the website to bring you information about the different districts on Tenerife and apologise for the relatively blank page while this work is in progress.
Please bear with us ... We're gradually building this section of the website to bring you information about the different districts on Tenerife and apologise for the relatively blank page while this work is in progress.
Please bear with us ... We're gradually building this section of the website to bring you information about the different districts on Tenerife and apologise for the relatively blank page while this work is in progress.
