The sun shines today, there’s not a cloud in the sky and it is hoped that the more rain and strong winds forecasted for the Islands holds off for the New Year celebrations tonight.

Sea conditions continue to be rough, dashing the hopes of dive centre owners and whale and dolphin operators of a boost in business to help them through the current crisis but the high swell is delighting surfing enthusiasts at Punta Blanca.

The day will be spent for many mopping up flooded terraces and cleaning out mud filled swimming pools. An elderly couple who live near Santa Cruz needed medical treatment after a rockslide damaged their home.

La Gomera was worse hit with 300 children evacuated from their playschools and many roads were closed due to flooding. La Palma’s airport was closed for most of the day.

A spokesman from the Cabildo now confirms that the new direct Air Europa flight between Tenerife and Miami will commence at the end of April or the beginning of May, not at the beginning of the year as was first planned.

The weekly flight will operate from the North Airport, not from the South as was first suggested.

A young Italian tourist lost his way when he strayed off the main pathway while walking through the pine forests near Pico Viejo.

The emergency services came to his aid when he contacted Parque Nacional del Teide requesting assistance. Bad weather complicated the search but he was finally found at 3am suffering from mild hypothermia.

The next day a couple from La Orotava who were walking in the Los Organos forest, La Caldera above La Orotava, lost their way and were unable to find their car.

The couple, wearing only light clothing, were able to contact the emergency services and were found safe and well within the hour.

“Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends of Tenerife, as we enter a new period with the coming of the New Year, I would like to send you a message of hope for the future.

It is a time for looking back at what we have achieved during 2008; if our wishes have come true and if we have attained the goals we set ourselves with such enthusiasm at the start of the year.

This applies to all of us and for our society - the citizens of Tenerife, who are constantly striving to make the island a better place. We are all committed to this pledge.

Unfortunately, we face a period of growing problems due to an economic situation which affects our country and the world in general. But history tells us that in the past we overcame difficult circumstances thanks to the tenacity of the Tenerife people and we can do it again.

That is my message of hope and confidence in the future, which I am sure will be favourable.

I wish you and your family a HAPPY NEW YEAR”.

Ricardo Melchior Navarro
President Tenerife Island Government

Lions Christmas fund raising took off with a good start last Saturday night in the plaza Los Gigantes. The tree of lights was switched on by the Mayor, Damian Gorrín Juan Ramos, pictured right with Lions President Mary Thomson and lion member Sheila Widdrington.

Each light on tree of lights can be sponsored in memory of a loved one and the funds raised, together with the funds raised from the Grand Christmas raffle, is going toward funding a mini bus for the Santiago del Teide handicapped centres.

A very enjoyable evening of entertainment was provided by:-
Asociación Cultural y Folklórica Tayme.
Asociación Cultural y Folklórica Brisas de Arguayo.
Asociación Cultural y Folklórica El Bajío.
Escuela Municipal de Folklore de Santiago del Teide.
La Banda Municipal de Música de Santiago del Teide.

Mary Thomson, Lions President, would like to thank all the entertainers and organisers of the evening and to the many generous people who donated to the cause.

The annual Lions carol singing walkabout last night ended in the Los Gigantes Plaza with mulled wine for singers and the drawing of the Grand Christmas raffle

1st prize of €500 was won by Dorothy of MDI 07855
2nd prize of €300 was won by Sylvia of Sunflower restaurant 1168
3rd prize of €200 was won by Mrs Brown 8081 (now in the UK. She has been contacted and her winnings will be transferred to her)

Total funds raised - TBA

With effect from 1st December 2008 duty free allowance, on returning to the UK and Ireland, changed as follows:-

Table wine 4 lts
Beer 16 lts

Other goods £300 (€430 for Irish) including perfume and souvenirs.

From 1st Jan 09 this figure will increase to £340 for UK residents because of the pound/euro exchange rate.

If you live in the area then can’t have missed the publicity. The Hollywood Motor Show starts today in Puerto Santiago.

The show has been a huge success in Santa Cruz, San Isidro and Granadilla and will be in Los Cristianos from 25th Dec to 6th Jan

David Stey, representative of the show, confirmed that the show comes with more than 400 tons of material on wheels and 15 trucks for assembly. There will be 90 minutes filled with tension and risk with stunt drivers deliberately rolling their cars. There are also motorcycles, quads, tractors and an authentic American Monster truck which will flatten anything in its way.

The show takes place at Calle Lajial, near the new Costa Los Gigantes Hotel. The road will be closed to through traffic.

Show times are:-
Friday 19th 20:00
Sat 20th 12:30 & 18:00
Sun 21st 12:30 & 18:00
Adults €15 Children under 14 €10

According to comments on local news blogs the show is well worth a visit.
“We went to the motor show tonight and was very impressed. As the missus thought the stunts etc were brilliant for all the family boys and girls alike. Well worth the money when you consider how much it would cost to put on this sort of thing”.

The organisers of the Rod Stewart concert which is scheduled for May 16th 2009 at the Adeje Golf Course have announced that tickets are now on sale.

More information about the concert, purchase of tickets, flight and hotel packages can be obtained from web site www.canaryfestival.com Ticket prices range from €50 if you don’t mind standing, up to €175 for a front row seat.

After the successful Sir Elton John concert , and the confirmation of Rod Stewart, Canaries Sun Live Festival are working on the production of shows from three other great artists for 2009, a project that has already been submitted to different governmental authorities.

Anyone needing a physiotherapy service can now have treatment at the Pancracio sports centre, behind the Playa Arena Hotel

The prices for the 30 minutes session vary depending on age: Resident adults 18 - 60 years €15, non residents €20. Anyone over 60 or under 18 €6

To make an appointment call the sports complex on 922 868041.

After many month of planning the new Air Europa flight between Tenerife and Miami will commence in the New Year.

A spokesman from the Cabildo confirms that plans are going ahead, despite recent rising fuel costs, but a commencement date and which days of the week the service will run have still to be agreed.

The plan is to start the service weekly using the Airbus 330 which can take 300 passengers and 18 tons of cargo with a flight time of eight and a half hours using Reina Sofia (South) airport for arrivals and departures.

Tax authorities are asking the banks to step up their cooperation by reporting all transactions of €3000 or more suspected of being fraud, as well as providing detailed information of deposits and withdrawals of high denomination notes, particularly the €500 note.

Carlos Ocaña the junior finance minister, during a recent conference, confirmed that several new plans are being introduced to track down those guilty of tax fraud and will come into effect on 1st Jan 2009.

In a statement by Hacienda Director, Luis Pedroche, the time and money spent on the anti fraud campaign is proving to be very worthwhile, as for every euro that has been spent twelve euros have been recovered, that doubles the success rate of recent years.

Roberto and Mark are back in town managing Arch’s lounge bar and restaurant in the centre of Los Gigantes. The entrance is behind Verde’s, down the steps from the pharmacy.

Their superb menu changes daily with a 2 course meal at €11.95 and 3 courses for €13.95. Plus Los Gigantes’ only carvery on Thursday and Saturday evening, or call in for a drink in their lounge bar.

They are open from 5pm till late 7 days a week. Private parties can be catered for.

For reservations call 637820709 or 678069025

View “What’s on locally” http://www.losgigantes.com/evenings.htm for their Christmas Day and New Years Eve menu

(Press release from Siam Park) A day full of adventure and fun at the new Siam Park is possible in the winter as well as the summer. Loro Parque group keeps working for the improvement of its parks quality and the comfort of their visitors launching Siam Park´s water heating system. At 24 º Celsius visitors will enjoy the newly open attractions despite low temperatures, enjoying sunbathing at Siam’s white sand beach and taking pleasure in a tasty meal contemplating the wonderful views of the Wave Palace. Water is heated by the only natural gas plant of the island which keeps the water warm and reaches the company’s genuine concern for the protection the environment.

Siam Park shows care for the comfort of the whole family in its exclusive adventurous attractions. Its sunny beach, with exotic views of the wave palace and La Gomera Island, the relaxing sensations to be found in the waters of the lazy river also benefit from the 24 º temperatures that provide a warm feeling to all visitors. Water through out the park is constantly renewed to ensure its purity, as well as the health of the swimmers, making them feel just like fish in the water. Once out of the water, swimmers may indulge themselves by relaxing into the expert hands of Siam Park masseuses (at the floating market).

A great chance to enjoy the sun and pleasant temperatures of south Tenerife, surrounded by beauty and adventure, that will make a day at the park one of the most special days of the year.

The Guardia Civil, with their breathalyser units, are out in force in a bid to clamp down on drinking and driving in the run up to Christmas.

The new campaign runs until 21st December. We can expect road blocks throughout the day as well as night, as their aim is also to clamp down on those driving home from office parties.

This year alone, in the Canary Islands, over 450 people have lost their driving licences, and the total number of banned drivers since the introduction of the point system in July 2006 is over 800.

Bank holiday tomorrow celebrates Spain’s Constitution Day. 30 years of Constitutional Monarchy following the death of the fascist dictator, Francisco Franco.

Monday is also a bank holiday for Catholics to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Most offices and shops will be closed but some supermarkets, normally banned from opening on Sundays, will be open on Sunday morning.

Guardia Civil officers, the mountain rescue services and a helicopter were called early this morning to recover the bodies of two men who died when the lorry they were travelling in plunged 12m down a barranco between Armeñime and Playa San Juan.

The two men, identified only by their initials as, 27-year-old E.A.F. and 32-year-old M.G.H were travelling in the lorry which belonged to the laundry company, Tabona. There were no witnesses to the accident but police believe that the driver lost control as a result of driving too fast, crashing through the barrier on the bend and plunged down the ravine.

The Fred Olsen ferry, Bonanza Express, which ran aground at Los Cristianos earlier this week, has been successfully re-floated. She is now berthed in Los Cristianos harbour.

The ferry ran aground on the rocks when the gears failed and she was unable to reverse.

A spokesman for the company said that the re-floating was a massive operation which involved 250 specialised staff. The load of the ferry had to be lightened, so a second ferry, in a very tricky manoeuvre, reversed in so the cars and lorries could be unloaded. Then on the high tide tugs pulled her clear.
She is now undergoing inspections in Los Cristianos and will be taken to Las Palmas for repairs as there is no shipyard on Tenerife that can handle a vessel of that size.

An investigation into the accident is now in progress using data from the ships’ computers and statements from the crew and passengers.

The Fred Olsen Bonanza Express transporting 172 passengers from La Gomera to Los Christianos harbour ran aground on the beach of Los Tarajales last night.

Passengers, and eye witnesses on the shore described hearing a loud bang just after 8pm as the ferry struck the rocks, the vibrations from the impact were felt 500 yards away.

The ferry’s second engine developed reversing problems during the docking procedure and the first engine had already broken down.

The 95m long catamaran had been operating since 1999 and was the first of the company’s high-speed wave piercing catamarans with a top speed of 38 knots (more than 70kmh) and capable of carrying a maximum of 800 passengers and 235 cars. She covers the route between Valverde in El Hierro, La Gomera and Los Cristianos.

All passengers and 16 crew were taken off the stricken ferry just after 9pm by two Marine rescue craft and a Guardia Civil patrol boat, which ferried everyone to shore. There were no reported injuries though two were found to be illegal immigrants and will be deported.

A large oil slick developed around the boat and was quickly contained by a floating barrier.

A full investigation into the cause of the accident has been launched.

For the first time ever the Santiago del Teide Lions Club, the Asociacion de San Francisco de Los Animales – Santiago del Teide branch and the San Juan Asociacion got together and organised the biggest Christmas fair Los Gigantes has ever seen.

There was tombola, cakes, bric brac, crafts, clothes and many games to occupy the children as well as the Carnival bar raising funds for next year’s carnival.

The biggest problem all the organisers had to cope with were the dozens of people who could not wait for opening time, they all wanted to be first in the queue for a bargain.

Lion President Mary Thomson opened the fair and over the next two hours, despite the concern over looming of black clouds and a few spots of rain, the various charities raised over €3000 between them for their various causes.

Then in the evening the fund raising continued when the Lions kicked off their Grand Christmas raffle. There are cash prizes of 1st €500 2nd €300 and 3rd €200 to be drawn in the Los Gigantes Plaza on 23rd Dec in the Los Gigantes square after their walk about carol singing. To assist with the fund raising Santiago del Teide Council organised various superb entertainers in the church square for the early part of the evening then from 10pm – 2am Viana Shows took over and hosted an amazing variety of acts, including Hot Ice, Scheherazade, Ian Anderson, Glam Slam and Helen Dixon – Pride, who kept the audience glued to their seats, until they could resist no longer and had to get up and join in the dancing.

For the first time ever the whole show went live via Power FM radio to all seven Canary Islands, as well as being broadcasted worldwide on their web site.

During the show Lions members Mary, Lizzy, Sheila and Monica, in their superb outfits, raised over €1000 in raffle ticket sales and donations.

If you didn’t get your ticket there’s still plenty time. They can be purchased from any Lion member. They are on sale at MDI in Alcala and also in the losgigantes.com office in El Varadero and the ladies will be calling into many bars during the run up to the draw.

There are many more photos, in two files, one of the daytime fair and the other of the evening entertainment, in the photo galleries. Click this link. http://www.losgigantes.com/pictures/