The Spanish government have promised three million Euros to build a one-kilometre beach and promenade at La Jaquita (Alcala). The plans have been approved, and the local council says it hopes to award the actual tender in the next few weeks.

Mayor Pedro Martín says the new beach will complement Playa San Juan, where a tourist information office has opened recently, and will strengthen Guía de Isora’s case to be formally designated a tourist town, which will bring more public investment and more flexible trading hours for local commerce. The project is the second to be undertaken in La Jaquita in the last few years, following the extensive work done to the seafront stretch in late 2007.

Click on photos to enlarge

Los Gigantes continues to be battered by high winds and torrential rain. The orange alert issued by the Met Office is extended until Tuesday evening.

A yellow alert for the south of Tenerife, La Gomera and El Hierro has been issued with warnings of heavy seas and gale force winds which could reach up to force 6 or 7.

Floods and electricity cuts are causing major chaos and the fire brigade and local authorities are working round the clock to unblock drains and clear the blocked roads of rocks.

The Cabildo de Tenerife Road Services Department has closed the TF-631 road from kilometre 3 to 4.8 from Abades to San Miguel de Tajao in Arico, due rock falls caused by torrential rain falls. The TF-21 Teide road from La Orotava is also closed because of hail storms. Access to the National Park using any of the other roads is not recommended.

Because of torrential rainfall and possible flooding, the following advice is a guide for the general public to follow:
1. Stay calm and stay at home; be on the alert for possible danger areas such as gullies and drains etc. nearby.
2. Keep watching local media for the latest weather updates.
3. Avoid driving during heavy rain. If you have to drive, pay particular attention to the depth of the water and be careful when braking. If your vehicle starts to fill with water, park it safely and abandon it.
4. If you are driving, keep to the major roads avoiding secondary roads, and drive in a lower gear.
5. Don’t cross bridges if the water has risen above the road level.
6. Don’t go into the lower areas of your house if they are flooded, such as garages and basements etc. If you are flooded, leave your house and find higher ground.
7. Disconnect the electrical power in these circumstances. Don’t use lifts in case there is a power cut.
8. If flooding has trapped you in the upper levels of your house, don’t attempt to leave it by swimming as you could be swept away by the current. It is preferable to call 112 and wait for help.
9. Keep a battery powered radio and follow instructions issued by the Protección Civíl through the press, television and radio.
10. Avoid unnecessary phone calls in order to keep lines open for emergencies.
11. In case of emergency, call 112.
These guidelines will be updated as weather conditions change.

There were 5 entries this year’s Los Gigantes carnival 2010 poster competition. The theme is “Africa” and the winning entry was painted by artist Rodolfo Jorge Gutierrez.

Juan Gorrín, The mayor of Santiago del Teide, appeared in court yesterday and was questioned for two hours about the landslide on Los Gigantes beach last November which killed two women.

The mayor may face criminal charges over the incident. Relatives of one of the victims heckled the mayor as he arrived and put up posters saying the tragedy ‘was not an accident but a crime’.

Today the beach remains closed to the public and local business on the beach road are still suffering from lack of business due to the closure.

Work is ongoing and financed by the Canarian Government to determine the safety of the cliff.

The mayor of Santiago del Teide, Juan Damián Gorrín Ramos, reported that after meetings with the Island Council improvement work will begin on the TF-82 at Tamaimo.

A petition of hundreds of signatures was collected from residents and road users seeking urgent action after continuous landslides put lives at risk.

Article from Tenerife News
‘The train now leaving for Fonsalia’….. words which will eventually come true.

As promised, Tenerife Cabildo has approved a plan which will extend the proposed train of the south to Fonsalia (the small village between Alcala and San Juan).

The idea received cross-party support last March and the formal document has now been approved. It will go out for public consultation for 70 days and also to the various public administrations.

Four alternative routes at a cost of 307 million Euros were studied. Including five kilometres of tunnels and one and a half viaducts.

The train service will eventually unite Fonsalia with Santa cruz with the journey time taking 52 minutes.
The trains will run every 15 minutes and will be capable of reaching speeds of 220kms an hour.

Santiago del Teide’s local police force now has six new officers. The new recruits were sworn in earlier this week.

The six new members took up their posts formally on Monday and were introduced to the public at a ceremony led by the town’s mayor.

Santiago’s police force now has 20 officers.

Work has started clearing loose stones and rubble from the cliff on the beach road in Los Gigantes.

The beach road was closed to the public a few weeks ago when more smaller rock falls occurred.

The results of the work will form part of a geotechnical study to decide how best to protect the beach from further rock falls.

There are bargains galore to be had as the winter sales begin today.

The date was announced last month by the Dirección General de Comercio, and has the backing of all the islands’ commissions, businesses, unions and consumer associations.

The chosen date was aimed at starting the sales as soon as possible after Kings’ Day on the 6th Jan, to give businesses the best possible chance of success. However a consumer group’s survey shows that people will be spending less than in previous years, with the average expenditure at 88 Euros per person. Items purchased will be essential items not impulvise purchases. The sales will finish on 6th March.

The Summer Sales will be from 1 July to 31 August.

The MSC Splendida, the biggest ship ever built in Europe, docked in Santa Cruz during the New Year festivities as part of an 11-day cruise. The ship brought 3200 passengers to Tenerife for a day attracting a large crowd of spectators in the port.

The Splendida left Barcelona on 30 December and visited Casablanca in Morocco on its way to the Canaries, from Santa cruz it heads to Madeira, Malaga and then Roma and Genoa.

Since the beginning of the year over 7000 cruise ship passengers have visited Santa Cruz.

The Santiago del Teide Branch of Asociación San Francisco de los Animales are holding a Fun Dog Show for Pedigree and Non Pedigree dogs, on Sunday, 10th January 2010. This will be held behind the Los Gigantes Hotel, Los Gigantes, Santiago del Teide. It is open to dogs from anywhere on the island.

Entries for the show will be taken at 10.30 a.m. There will be 4 classes for conformation for both pedigree and non pedigree dogs. The rest of the classes will be fun ones open to all dogs. Amongst these will be an Obedience and Fancy Dress - for the dog! Winners of each class will receive prizes and the first four placements in each class will receive rosettes. Certificates will be awarded to the top scoring Pedigree and Non Pedigree dogs.

All puppies entered must be not less than 4 months old and fully vaccinated.

There will be a Refreshment Stall selling food and drinks. Why not have a fun day out with your pooch and support our animal charity at the same time?

A full list of classes is as follows:-

Pedigree

Puppy (4 to 9 months) Pedigree not required
Junior (9 to 18 months) ” ” ”
Open (18 months to 8 years) ” ” ”
Veteran (8 years & over) ” ” ”

Mixed
Puppy (up to 9 months)
Junior (9 to 18 months)
Open (18 months to 8 years)
Veteran (8 years & over)

All
Obedience
Best Dog with Children
Dog most like the owner
Handsomest Dog
Prettiest Bitch
Best Six Legs (dog & owner)
Best Condition
Best Abandoned Dog which has been homed
Fancy Dress (the dog)

The yacht, said to belong to one of Russia’s mega-tycoons was ‘pictured’ at berth in Santa Cruz on a secret stop-over.
Other gags included the revelation that regional tourism minister Rita Hernández is to be replaced by Angel Llanos. Other jokes on Spanish newspaper websites include the scoop that National Geographic is to public scientific evidence that Stonehenge is a fake and news of Madrid’s plans to seek the 2018 Winter Olympics after its failed Summer Games bid.

It is with great regret that Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz has announced the death of the Orca whale coach Alexis Martínez, following an unfortunate accident during the first training session at the stadium ‘Orca Ocean’, which as usual, involved seven coaches.
Alexis Martínez was attended to immediately by Loro Parque’s specialized staff and the Canary Emergency Department who responded immediately after a 112 emergency call.
After on-the-spot cardiopulmonary resuscitation he was taken by ambulance to BellVue Clinic, where he went into cardiac arrest.
This news has caused enormous pain to all the Loro Parque Orca staff and the show has been temporarily suspended as a sign of mourning.
Alexis Martínez Hernández was an excellent trainer with 29 years experience. He joined the Loro Parque family in 2004 which he loved. The post Mortem is expected to take place soon.

This current spell of bad weather is set to last a few more days.

The Met Office has put out yet another weather warning. A yellow alert beginning at midnight tonight (Sunday), until midnight on Tuesday, forecasting winds gusting up to 85kph and possible up to 100kph in higher regions, for Tenerife, Gran Canaria and La Palma.

Let’s hope it ends there and the sun shines again in time for the Christmas season.

On Saturday 5th December the local Mayor switched on the illuminations in the Plaza in Los Gigantes.

Among those lights was an artificial Christmas Tree, which the Santiago Del Teide Lions Club annually commemorate for their good causes. In previous years they have raised money for the Sight First Appeal, which was sent to enable those with treatable blindness maladies be restored to a life with vision.

This year, the buckets went round for the ‘Sweet Lucy’ fund. The young lady in question is an 8 year old with a genetic disorder called Sensory Neuropathy Atoxia (S.N.A.) which prevents the brains’ messages to the limbs being properly sent. Thus everyday activities such as catching a ball or even walking, are denied her.

The evening raised 520.00 euros which will be placed in her ‘Fund’ which is husbanded by the Lions Club, and has so far reached over 4,600.00 euros. Of this 2,600.00 euros will be spent on a special electric wheelchair for her.

The account for her is at the Banco March, and should anyone care to donate, the number is IBAN ES 39 0061 0215 140119520111.

Santiago del Teide council are organising a Christmas concert on Saturday 19 December, It will be held in the square of Los Gigantes.

Taking part will be Folk Groups “Brisas” of Arguayo, “Taym” of Tamaimo, and Cultural Association Folk Roots of Santiago del Teide, the Municipal School of Folklore and the Municipal Band.

The Canary Islands Met Office has issued a yellow alert warning of the possibility of heavy rains.

Weathermen are warning that some areas could see a return to last months conditions with up to 60L per square meter of rain falling in the next twelve hours

The affected areas are expected to include the south and west of Tenerife, anticipated rainfall is expected from around 6pm today.

Umbrellas to the ready!

The new Tourist Information Office in Los Gighantes was pleased to announce that since its opening on the 16th of October its had over 1,000 people asking for information on various activities etc.

The main Nationalities visiting in October were British (738) Spanish (457) German (227) French (55).

In November 2.225 visitors were recorded with the majority again being British (976) and German (494) and Spanish (46).

More figures to follow in the up and coming months.

Local police are on the lookout for a bogus policeman who robbed tourists of their credit cards and PIN numbers.

He approached tourists on Tuesday 10th, while they were taking photos at a local viewpoint, near Los Gigantes, and asked them for their paperwork. Those who could not provide any ID were then asked for their credit cards and PIN numbers. He then left them declaring he was going to the nearest bank to verify the cards.

Three tourists obliged and handed over their cards with PIN numbers and the cheeky criminal drew out almost Euros 2000 at the nearest cash point.

All the members of the various administrations insist that you gain much more than you lose by registering as a resident at your town hall.

For young mums and students, residents may have the right to grants for transport, school meals and materials. There is a wealth of free cultural and leisure activities for everybody such as theatre workshops, learning computer skills, excursions and holidays within the islands, within Spain and international at very cheap prices, celebra¬tions at Christmas and New Year, folklore classes, hiking and trekking, beach sports, yoga, golf, visits to spas, open air gym classes and Spanish classes.
Tenerife’s island council also has grants available and summer camps, here and abroad for your chil¬dren. They give out craft licences, hunting, fishing and camping permits and help to administer free public transport for those who are eligible.
The local social services department offer personal homecare for disabled peo¬ple or the elderly, tele-assist¬ance, help with paperwork and administration and there is also economic help available in special cases.
There website is www.tenerife.es, which has a selection of branch offices all over the island and a central phone line at 901 501 901 which operates 24 hours but is better 8 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday.

On December 2nd another small rock fall led to the partial closing of the street leading to the beach.
The landslide, at around 3pm, was reported to the police who apparently.
Mayor Gorrín had ordered the total closure of the road.
But it seems someone in authority later relented under the pressure from residents and retailers and instead ordered a partial closure of the road.
A council spokesman said that the water channel in the cliff was on the move again and it was that which was responsible for this latest landslide, which saw small rocks falling into the street.

Cancer, a foreign medical system, and no insurance cover – how would you cope with that? At times like this Spanish charities such as the AECC (one of two groups to benefit from the Walk For Life on 13th December) are there to offer compassion and kindness.
It’s four years since the Walk For Life began raising money and awareness in Tenerife for breast cancer – last year 2,000 walkers raised 20,000 euros. This year the streets of Playa de las Americas will again become a procession of pink as it winds its way some 3.5 kms from the Mediterranean Palace to the Sal Y Tien plaza. Proceeds will be split between the Spanish charities AECC and Amate.
Men, women, young and old are all invited to join the Walk Of Life on Sunday 13 December at 10.30am for an 11am set off. There will be music, entertainment and commentary in English and Spanish as both communities come together to support the cause. All you have to do is raise some money through sponsorship, or donation, and most of all, turn up in the pink and give your support. There is more information at the website www.carreraporlavida.com or telephone 600 821100.

In a surprising new development, the Mayor of Santiago del Teide has changed his statement regarding the warning tape on the beach at Los Gigantes.
Immediately after the tragic events of Sunday November 1st, Mayor Gorrín appeared adamant, in statements made to the media that the area where the massive rock fall occurred, had been cordoned off. Now, in testimony given at the official Guardia Civil enquiry, taking place at District Court Number Three, in Arona, Mayor Gorrín has done a complete about-turn.
Under questioning, Mayor Gorrín said that he does not know for certain if there was warning tape cordoning off the area, only that he was told so by the lifeguard on duty on that fateful day
The mayor said he had also been informed of the smaller rock fall, which took place on October 2, by the local chief of police. Gorrín said he was told that the area had, at that time, been provisionally cordoned off with plastic warning tape attached to steel poles.
Mayor Gorrín also told the court that at no time did the Department of Coasts, or experts from the municipal engineering department, recommend closing the beach prior to the accident.
According to the mayor`s testimony, he was advised by the councillor responsible three days later that a more permanent warning had been put in place.

The Black Heritage Choir is one of the most prestigious gospel choirs in the United Sates. Formed in 1994 their repertoire includes both classic and cotemporary gospel numbers and hymns. In this performance entitled ,The Sound Of Gospel, they recreate the history of this musical form.

Auditorio de Tenerife- Sala Sinfonica.
Avda. de la Constitución
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
S.C.Tenerife
Tel. 902 317 327

It’s not just the sun and sea which take centre-stage when Tenerife promotes itself these days.
Sustainability, our green spaces, renewable energy, the island’s whales, festivals, its landscape and nature are all high on the list.

The point was demonstrated when executives from Thomas Cook and Neckermann (Germany), together with nearly 100 journalists, were invited on a hospitality trip to Tenerife.

The programme included a reception at the Hotel Iberostar Anthelia at Costa Adeje where the Tenerife Cabildo president Ricardo Melchior stressed the importance of sustainability.

There was much praise from the delegates for Tenerife’s hotels, leisure, maritime activities, green spaces, infrastructure and the ‘magnificent’ south airport.

They were personally shown many of the island’s top attractions, including the new Katandra Treetops free flight jungle aviary at Loro Parque and were also entertained to lunch at the Casa de los Vinos wine museum.

Delegates also went on a tour of the Institute of Renewable Energies at Granadilla under the huge wind turbines, as well as enjoying whale-watching trips, golf at Costa Adeje and hiking in the Mount Teide National Park. They were also treated to two theme suppers, one of them on a Carnival theme to show the colour and excitement of the annual event in Santa Cruz.

The Ayuntamiento of Santiago del Teide in conjunction with Pancraico Socas Gym, has put together a series of events for children and adults at the Laguilo in Los Gigantes, which is free.

The Los Gigantes Laguillo is a natural lake with a huge sunbathing area for sun lovers, it will be opening its doors at 8:am sharp till 9:am free for people to partake in the activities offered.

Due to the closure of Los Gigantes beach Laguillo has reduced its entrance fee to the price to 1,50€ with use of sun beds and umbrellas at a reduced price as well this will continue until the beach re opens.

Laguillo is situated just before you enter Los Gigantes marina opposite the beach entrance.

Changes in existing regulations will see a uniform application of (fixed) fines, regardless of which authority is imposing the sanction, and a 50 per cent reduction (as opposed to 30 per cent) in the event of prompt payment of said fines. Guardia Civil traffic officers will also carry a technology allowing drivers to pay on the spot fines by credit card if they so wish
From the beginning of 2010 the Spanish department of traffic will introduce new fixed distance speed traps, which are to be placed in traffic black spots throughout the country..
The new system works with two radars in place between two fixed points. The time it takes to travel from one spot to another is pre-determined, so any vehicle that does the distance in a shorter time, having exceeded the speed limit at some point in the journey, will be automatically sanctioned. The length of road will be between three and five kilometres and the special radar cameras will be able to record car registrations and the exact time of the incident with a high level of precision

The government have also just approved new points reductions (see chart on this page) as well as introducing higher fines for certain crimes – for instance possession of radar detection equipment which previously carried a fine of €150 could now see you €6,000 worse off.

Hang up
Mobiles as dangerous as drink driving

There will be a series of TV and radio ads as well as increased vigilance by police on roads throughout Spain designed to alert people to the dangers of talking on the phone while behind the wheel of a car.

According to the depart¬ment inappropriate use of your phone while driving increases by four the risk of an accident – similar to driving under the influence of alcohol. There is also, say the experts, a false perception that use of the hands free apparatus means there is no distraction – evidence shows that a driver involved in a conversation of over a minute and a half will have reduced levels of concentration. Studies show this could lead to a 40 per cent reduction in attention to road signs, speed drops by up to 12 per cent, the heart rate accelerates rapidly during the phone call and reaction times are slower, “behavioural traits that combined could lead to an accident”

New points reduction chart
The following are the new points reductions as passed recently by the Spanish government.

6 points
• Driving under the influence of alcohol: 50mg/l private drivers, +25mg/l professionals and drivers with less than two years experience
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Refusing to take drink/drug test
• Driving carelessly, in the wrong direction, taking part in illegal road races/competitions
• Using or carrying instruments that would inhibit traffic officers, such as radar inhibitors
• Exceeding commercial transport driving time by over 50 per cent/resting for less than 50 per cent of established time
• Manipulation/participation in the manipulation of a tachograph

4 points
• Driving under the influence of alcohol: 25mg/l – 50mg/l private drivers, 15mg/l – 30mg/l professionals and drivers with less than two years experience
• Driving with a licence inappropriate for the vehicle
• Throwing onto the road objects with could ignite a fire, cause traffic accidents, impede free circulation of traffic
• Ignore give way or stop signs or traffic light signals
• Ignore norms regarding overtaking on roads thus placing other drivers in danger, overtaking where there is reduced visibility
• Endangering/hindering cyclists during overtaking
• Reversing on a motorway
• Ignoring a traffic officer’s instructions/signals
• Failure to leave appropriate braking distance between you and the vehicle in front
• Driving on motorways in vehicles that are not licenced for these roads
• Driving a car exceeding by more than 50 per cent the allowed number of passengers, except for buses in urban/inter-urban areas

3 points
• Wearing headgear/headphone while driving or using a hand held mobile phone, navigator or other medium of communication. (This list may be updated in line with technological advances)
• Failure to wear seatbelt, use child seats or other protective apparatus where appropriate
• Making illegal u-turns; Failure to comply with mandatory traffic signs at junctions/u-turn points
• Driving a vehicle that is not licenced to be on the road/that you are not permitted to drive

2 points
• Stopping or parking on bends, in tunnels, intersections or other dangerous areas which would cause a risk to the flow of traffic and pedestrians
• Stopping or parking in zones designated for public transport
• Driving without lights when it is obligatory or failure to use lights in accordance with regulations
• Driving a motorbike/scooter with passengers under 12 years of age (some exceptions apply)
• Driving in a negligent manner, creating risks for other road users
• Speeding. The amount of points to be deducted depends on the speed limits exceeded and by how much

Santiago del Teide mayor, Juan Damián Gorrín, has announced that the beach will remain closed for at least four months this announcement is yet another nail in the coffin of the area small business sector, already suffering from the fall in visitor numbers.

Mayor Gorrín repeated claims that the council had previously submitted plans to stabilise the cliff face but that these plans had been rejected, a claim that has been denied by the Department of Coasts.

In a preliminary report made by the Instituto Canario de Investigaciones de la Construcción, (Icinco), into the landslide on Los Gigantes beach says the rock fall was probably caused by water. Their report points to a water source which runs through a small natural tunnel in the cliffs at a height of around eight metres.

Experts believe it was the increase in humidity and damp from this source that has, over a long period, seeped into the cliffs, weakening the rock face.

In what many view as an extraordinary outburst, Mayor Gorrín claimed that the Department of Coasts had rejected every plan put forward for improvements to the shoreline in Santiago del Teide, while at the same time approving plans submitted by Socialist administrations in other municipalities.

Click on photo for larger view

From the 9th of november to the 22nd of december there will be a collection of toys for the under priviledged children run by town hall of Santiago del Teide. You may also donate the toys by dropping them into the youth hostles in Tamaimo, Puerto de Santiago and Santiago del Teide, with this campaign the idea is to run a series of challanges and games for the children of all ages to celebrate Christmas. The campaign will run until the 22nd of December with it ending with prizes given for diffrent dance routines, the best Christmas card etc

The object of the campaign is that no child will not go without a present this Christmas as its such a special time of year for them.