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January 25 – February 7, 2018 CLIMATE CHANGE

GANG FRAUD

GUÍA DE ISORA

Facing Summerland, just off the roundabout at the Language School

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LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Whither the weather?

Successful bust

Olive oil award

Make it last

Pages 10 & 11

Page 12

Page 20

Page 27

TOPPING 16 MILLION

Record tourism figures The number of holidaymakers visiting the archipelago in 2017 looks set to break various records. By the end of November, 14.6 million tourists had already been verified, making it a record year in its own right. Once the final figures are in, the number is expected to be more than 16 million - a statistic that was forecast by the Canary Islands Tourism Councillor, Isaac Castellano. During the presentation of a new online platform called The Other Map, Castellano explained, “The number of arrivals is not the most important characteristic, but that these record figures also contribute to social welfare and primarily to more jobs. Continued on page three

EU MUST ARM AND DEFEND ITSELF

Cold war goes virtual By Sabine Virgin López Aguilar, an ex Canarian Pres- ganda. “It’s essential that Europe Las Palmas-born socialist MEP Juan Fernando López Aguilar has called on the EU to provide funds to combat Russian propaganda.

idential candidate, is a member of an EU commission for civil rights, justice and home affairs and sees European fundamental rights as being threatened by Russian propa-

invests in measures to tackle this threat, which is absolutely real”, he declared in a debate in the European Parliament, where the issue was on the agenda.

David Iliff License: CC-BY-SA 3.0, Wikipedia

Unusual accommodation is a factor appreciated by the “other” holidaymakers

Only union will make Europe strong

As an MEP López Aguilar has a lot of behind the scenes insight

“Propaganda as a political means is not extinct with the ending of the totalitarian regimes post World War II. To this day, it still threatens the fundamental rights of the EU in a mixture of cyberterrorism, fake news, agitation and blackmail. We have seen this recently in the US, Catalonia and the Brexit referendum”, he continued. He affirmed that the danger doesn’t only come from Russia and doesn’t only concern those countries in the immediate vicinity. López Aguilar called on the EU to invoke the Prague Declaration which was signed almost ten years ago, on June 3, 2008, by several prominent European politicians, former political prisoners and historians. Continued on page two

CANARY ISLANDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

INTERVIEW

Photo: PSOE

Protecting freedoms

Calling a halt to oil-drilling off Morocco was another one of the topics discussed

Continued from front page The Prague Declaration calls for the condemnation of communist crimes and resulted in the proclamation of August 23 as the European Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Stalinism and National Socialism. In a personal conversation, the Member of Parliament explained the background to his concern.

Russia undermines the values of democracy Mr López Aguilar, to what extent has Russia intervened in Catalonia or the Brexit referendum? “Investigations by the US Congress, Britain’s Committee of Inquiry and the European secret services indicate that there are thousands of automated Internet accounts controlled from Russia. This is known and is no secret. They use these accounts to spread lies and false reports and mount smear campaigns. With their comments they deliberately attack the fundamental values of democratic society. In Catalonia too, this approach has become apparent in recent months. Photographs and fictitious news were circulated in the social networks. It showed children and elderly people bleeding,

attacks by police officers and the like. Actors, who have clearly behaved unconstitutionally, were artificially stylised as victims. I’m not saying there were no riots in Barcelona, but most of the photographs that were circulated had nothing to do with what happened there. Or let's look at the election campaigns. In the USA it’s now known that close members of Trump’s family were in contact with Russia. The Russian secret services are observing very closely what is happening in Europe. As soon as parties emerge that are ultraleft or ultra-right, nationalist and militant, they are supported and promoted by Russian intelligence services using viral news of their own invention, with the aim of discrediting established parties or damaging the image of renowned politicians. Russia invests €1,000 million every year in advertising, propaganda, intelligence and networking activities. Around 1,000 civil

servants have been seconded for this alone. No country in the western world, neither in Europe nor the USA, has such a high budget for said activities. We must urgently create countermeasures and protect ourselves from such infiltration. We have no strategy for dealing with such attacks. We just react instead of acting and that has to change”.

exploited. The intention is to create chaos and confusion. Democratic societies are to be devastated from the inside by incited groups. Our values are being undermined and the European Union is to be fragmented. I think the situation is very critical and I believe that we, in the EU, urgently need to take action to counteract these trends.”

What do you think the target of these attacks is?

What do you think should be done?

“Russia has suffered greatly from the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the strong role Russia once played in the world has collapsed. Now Putin is regaining his power in a completely different way. It wasn’t for nothing that he was so involved in Syria. In Russia or China, those in power have no problem denying or censoring access to news on the Internet. This is unthinkable in our democratic society, but is exactly what is being

“First of all, I am very much in favour of European countries pooling their military expenditure and forming a unified European army. For too long we have left Europe's protection mainly to America. They're retiring from this role. None of the EU states would be able to defend themselves against an attack from Russia or China on their own, but together we would have the second largest military budget after the US. Russia wants the EU to

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break up. Putin would prefer to negotiate separately with Britain, Spain, Germany, France and all the others in which he is interested. The union of Europe makes us strong, but it’s currently weak and that is precisely what needs to be changed. We need to move closer together and to regain absolute unity. Further steps would be police and intelligence cooperation to ensure our security. Information policy and transparency are additional important points. We must move away from nationalist tendencies and towards a common European system that respects our democracy and civil rights. It’s imperative that all Member States uphold and protect these values. If these values are violated in any country, we must intervene”.

What worries you most at the moment? “At the moment we are in a phase of regression. I am con-

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cerned about nationalist and right-wing movements that undermine the democratic fabric. In my opinion, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic are highly contaminated by false reports. These countries, which once sought shelter in the EU, are currently doing exactly what they once fled from and what we call ‘Putinism’. They're restricting civil rights to strengthen their power. I find that extremely worrying. Or let’s look at Austria: we have a right-wing government there that has formed a coalition with the ultra-rights. In view of the fact that Austria will take over the EU Presidency in the second half of this year, I find this very worrying. We'll see what it can do. “The EU has the great task of reuniting. Unity is the strength of togetherness. We have to become ‘players instead of payers’ again and we have to shape our own European scene, firmly rooted in democratic values.” n

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25.1.2018 – 7.2.2018

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

CANARY ISLANDS

140 testimonials on diverse experiences from around the Canary Islands. The core themes are gastronomy, cultural events, creativity, architecture, shopping, unusual accommodation, and particularly intense moments in nature, be it sport, a sailing trip or maybe a flight over the island. Inspirational visits, such as to an agricultural enterprise or design studio, can also be organised. The presentation on the platform

available via Youtube, shows the Islands as being as modern as the type of holidaymaker it’s aimed at. The various sites promoting the Islas Canarias brand were visited more than 8.5 million times last year and videos on Youtube and Facebook have a combined ‘clicked rate’ of over 104 million. The aim is to show that the Canary Islands have so much more to offer than sun and beach, and that each one is individually quite unique. n

TOURISM BOOM

More visitors than ever Continued from front page “According to a survey of the active population in the last quarter of 2017, 253,000 jobs were linked to tourism. This was around 47.8 per cent more than in the same period of 2009, and sales figures also rose. The year closed with tourist spending of around €18 billion, a figure never seen before and representing an increase of around nine per cent over 2016. Nevertheless, we must continue to work on consolidating arrivals and on diversifying, so that the Islas Canarias brand can strengthen its position as a reference point for potential visitors, as well as opening up new markets." The councillor also pointed out that last year more than 250 advertising campaigns were launched to promote tourism on the Islands, in 15 languages and 19 different countries. And this covered very different areas. Nine out of ten holidaymakers still come to the Canary Islands because they are looking for the

sun and beach, but there are also more and more niches that are being discovered by other tourists. It’s particularly positive to note that 76 per cent of our tourists last year were return visitors to the archipelago.

Another way to enjoy your holiday The motto of the new online platform via which the Canary Islands are presented as an

Experience the Canaries in a different way Take pleasure in nature and enjoy the sensations

extraordinary holiday destination is ‘The Other Map - Moments for Atypical Holidaymakers’. Aimed at unconventional tourists looking for something a little different, the website currently boasts 14 bloggers and commentators, who have presented more than

CANARY ISLANDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

MOMOSHI'S COLOUR AND LIFE ART

DEADLY QUARREL IN RETIREMENT HOME

Romance in Los Gigantes Photo: Momoshi

Resident slain with a crutch

Find the hearts - then kiss and wish - for perfect happiness

St. Valentine's Day, the traditional day of lovers, is not quite here yet, but visitors to the Los Gigantes area can already make a romantic wish. German artist Momoshi (otherwise known as Peter Herr) has given the small southwest town a new highlight - a multicoloured mural which invites viewers to find three hearts hidden in the painting, to kiss

their partners and then make a wish. The interactive and charming character of Momoshi’s stylish addition is already inspiring visitors and residents alike. ‘There's always more love in Los Gigantes’, is the motto. The artist, who comes from Nuremberg, lives part time in Tenerife, in a home with a wonderful view of the Los Gigantes cliffs. That’s when he's not trav-

elling, of course, something he does regularly. His colourful and provocative art lives not only in the real world, on walls or printed T-shirts for example, but also in the virtual realm. Momoshi is co-founder of a technique which uses 3D glasses and self-created brushes and colours to create virtual-reality art, which means several artisans

can even work together. Speaking about other aspects of his art, Momoshi explains that, “Myself and two colleagues organise live events where you can watch me and other artists painting, and a DJ puts on the appropriate music. This year we also want to organise open-air events in this style. Ever since I began to paint my art live on people’s bodies, more and more individuals have become interested in us and our events." Another of his planned goals is a surreal exhibition of pictures in the USA this year, amongst others. In Würzburg he painted a 500m2 wall which has attracted a lot of attention, and next month an animated 3D music video with young, talented artist Luna Keller will be released in Tenerife. The combination of food truck, music, Momoshi art and openair party could soon be taken up as an event idea on the island. And maybe his heart's desire will come true - He wants to create something similar to Los Angeles’ Walk of Fame in Los Gigantes. Meanwhile, loved-up couples are invited to take part in a kissing contest on Valentine's Day. Simply take a photo whilst kissing and send it to the e-mail: valentine@ icmedia.eu by February 20. The most beautiful photo will be awarded a personalised mural by the artist. n

For many years, a 73-year-old man with the initials J.L.D. from Santa Cruz had been peacefully sharing his room at the Santa Rita II retirement home in Puerto de La Cruz with his 69-year-old roommate from La Orotava - that is, until the night of January 12. At about 1am a fight developed between the two of them, but the argument was not very important and a short time later it was considered settled. It was not until the next morning when a carer on the early shift made his tour at 7.30am, that he became aware of the seriousness of the situation. Apparently J.L.D. had killed his roommate during the night, probably with a crutch. All evidence points to the fact that the first blow was almost instantly fatal. The alleged killer lay calmly in his bed and slept. After waking up, he confessed to the deed. This is the first time there has been such an incident at the home. Santa Rita was founded in 1990 by the late Father Antonio in Punta Brava. Since the turn of the millennium, the home has been located in Las Dehesas. Staff described both seniors as affected by senile dementia, but not to the extent that they do not know what they are doing. This also underlines the confession made by the alleged attacker. He was placed under house arrest by the National Police until he appears in court. Meanwhile, the staff of Santa Rita II tried to remain calm and not to change the daily routine of the remaining 647 residents. Only after the autopsy and the final investigation will it be decided how to proceed with the suspect. n

Seven dead - this was the heartbreaking result of an attempt by a group of African immigrants to reach the coast of Lanzarote on a large launch. A total of 27 people of up to 30 years of age from the Magreb, including some minors, had left Morocco and tried to reach Playa Bastián in Costa Teguise in mid-January. Seven of them did not survive the attempt. Apparently, some of the immigrants left the vessel several hundred metres off the coast and swam for their lives. The two lifeguards, Víctor and Luca, who work on the beaches of Las Cucharas and El Jablillo in Costa Teguise, were the first to jump on their jet skis in the face of the dramatic situation in order to save as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. Erik, owner of the Windsurfing Club Las Cucharas, took his Zodiac into the sea. At the same time, the emergency services and the Local Police were deployed following a call from bathers and the staff at the Villa Toledo restaurant. Only 20 of the immigrants reached the safety of dry land. Four people were

Immigrant boat tragedy A minute’s silence for these and all other victims was observed in front of the Island Council building

taken to hospital, two with severe hypothermia, one with a knee injury and the fourth had suffered a severe blow to the face. The emergency workers found five dead immigrants in the boat and two others were pulled lifeless out of the water. The others, who were also cold and exhausted, were taken care of by Red Cross staff and bathers helped the emergency staff to provide first aid and comfort. There can be many reasons why people drowned. Many of them were not good swimmers. In addition, there are the cold temperatures of the Atlantic in winter. After the long crossing, peo-

ple are tired, exhausted, with their nerves on edge. Some also underestimate the weight of wet clothing and the adverse effect it can have on trying to swim. According to initial reports, the immigrants had spent two days at sea. They had left Tarfaya in the south of Morocco on the second Saturday in January. On the day following their arrival, the presumed captain of the launch was identified and arrested. He was carrying 9,000 dirhams (around €800) with him at the time. He now has to answer for seven charges of negligent homicide and violation of the immigration laws.

flee, but a problem that Europe and the world must tackle. We must act together to solve this problem." Lanzarote's Island President, Pedro San Gines, ordered a minute's silence for the victims the following day and expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the victims. The New Year began in a particularly tragic way in Lanzarote with these seven deaths. Back in 2009, another immigrant drama took place on the coast of Teguise at Los

Reactions The mayor of Teguise, Oswaldo Betancort, praised the courageous and prudent efforts of all the emergency workers, stressing that, "In this difficult situation they have proven their professionalism". The Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo who was at a meeting with high-ranking Cape Verde politicians said that, "It’s a terrible tragedy that proves that there are still many people who are willing to risk everything for a better future. Their motives are hope for a better life or to

Photo: Ayto de Teguise

LANZAROTE MOURNS

CANARY ISLANDS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

Photo: Cabildo de Lanzarote

25.1.2018 – 7.2.2018

An immigrant drama, beachfront in Teguise

escape from hunger and misery." He warned, "This is not a problem that only affects the countries from which people

Cocoteros. At that time, 25 people, including 17 minors, lost their lives off the coast after capsizing. n

CANARY ISLANDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

CARNIVAL QUEEN CANDIDATES 2018

Saida’s dream come true

Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez and Councillor Gladis de León meeting the 2018 Santa Cruz Carnival Queen candidates

The grand gala for the election of the Carnival Queen 2018 will take place at the Recinto Ferial in Santa Cruz on February 7. A total of 13 young beauties will present themselves and their fanciful costumes. Everyone is excited and all of them will fulfil a long awaited dream at this gala. However, for one young woman, this evening will

mean so much more. On the same day, on February 7, 2013, Saida Prieto Hernández stood in her costume based on the fantasy Isis, Reina de los Dioses, created by the designer Cavi Lladó, waiting to go on stage for her big performance. Her fantasy costume was attached to one of the typical supporting metal poles. Splendid fabrics, glitter and feathers adorned

it. The magnificent costumes can weigh up to 200 kilograms. The outfit which is mounted on casters, is attached to the candidate's body with a strap, so that she can move around more easily and change direction with her hips. What looks like a graceful and extremely elegant presentation requires a lot of stamina, practice, training and expression.

After months of fittings and hard work, Saida was fully prepared, but just before her big moment, her nightmare began. A cold fireworks display that was part of the costume created by Willy Jorge and being presented by another candidate Magnolia Cruz, who was standing in front of Saida, ignited and sparks flew. It was 10.15pm and within seconds

Saida's costume caught fire, trapping her in flames that became her prison and the start of a nightmare. Thanks to the rapid intervention of bystanders, a technician and a fireman, Saida was freed from her burning costume. She was immediately taken to the University Hospital and later transferred to a specialist burns unit in Seville. She had suffered third degree burns to approximately 42 per cent of her body, especially her back. The young woman who was then 25 years old and the single mother of a little daughter, was put into an induced coma for over a month and she did not return to Tenerife until the beginning of 2015. Numerous surgeries, special treatments and depression lay ahead of her. Saida was already an enthusiastic carnival participator as a child and at the age of 17 she joined the group Cariocas. Back in Tenerife she began to rebuild her life. Today, she is a professional dancer, continues as a committed mother and has also put her legal dispute as well as the agreement on a compensation payment behind her. Her daughter Clara applied for the title of Infant Queen in last year's carnival. That was when Saida decided that she wanted to

take up this challenge again and now it's time: On February 7, exactly five years after the hell she went through, she wants to dare to go on stage again as a candidate. This will be the moment that she dreamed about when she was a young girl. In an interview with the newspaper El Español, she said, "I'm not interested in winning. It's all about those five minutes on stage that belong to me. For me, everything has come full circle." Her enthusiasm for the Santa Cruz Carnival is stronger than ever. Her costume, Mi sueño una realidad (My dream, a reality), created by Santi Castro, could hardly express this better. Just as five years ago, she is sponsored by the local newspapers Diario de Avisos and El Español. Saida doesn't want any special treatment, but the sympathy of the audience is already assured. The gala will take place on February 7 from 9.30pm. This event is traditionally broadcast on local Canarian and Spanish national television and is also the prelude to the 'hot phase' of the carnival when it takes to the streets of the city. For Saida, this evening will probably liberate her from the recent past. Let's all hope that she has a great time. n

25.1.2018 – 7.2.2018

CANARY ISLANDS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

LANZAROTE MAKES THE GRADE

The best beaches in the world

Photo: Cabildo de Lanzarote

The American television channel CNN has set up a special website dedicated to the world’s most beautiful beaches. Every week a different beach is recommended as a special highlight, for tanning, relaxing, taking a dip or just looking at the sea. There are wide sandy beaches, and spectacular beaches overlooked by ragged cliffs with virgin bays. Only two beaches in Spain are listed in this category and these are the Playa de Sant Sebastià in Barcelona and the Playa de Papagayo in Lanzarote which has almost two kilometres of golden sand bathed in turquoise crystal-clear water. From this perspective, Lanzarote, really does stand out. Every year, thousands of tourists enjoy lying on the warm sand and absorbing the magic of this idyllic location. CNN recommended a break on this beach in November. The other Spanish beach on the list, the Sant Sebastià in Barcelona is only a 15-minute walk from the old city centre and very close to an attractive marina. There are 13 more beaches throughout Europe that are included in CNN’s Top 52 list. n

The Playa de Papagayo in Lanzarote is simply fantastic

PUERTO DE LA CRUZ

Woman councillor mugged It was on a Monday morning at around 6.45am when the Puerto de La Cruz councillor, Noelia Rodríguez Abreu, was attacked just as she was leaving her home to go to work. The 43-year-old socialist runs the excursion stand at the Las Vegas hotel in Puerto de La Cruz and that is why she was carrying €2,400 in an envelope. As she left her apartment she was attacked in the stairwell by several masked men who dragged her back into her apartment. They gagged her with a cloth, tied her to a chair with cable ties around her wrists and with adhesive tape on her feet. The perpetrators apparently told her, "If you keep quiet, nothing will happen to you." They took the envelope containing the money and disappeared. Later, neighbours heard whining noises and informed the police. Both Local and National Police officers arrived at the scene within a very short period of time. On the staircase they stumbled upon a pair of black shoes and a tumbled flower

Noelia Rodríguez sells tickets for excursions and leisure activities in a San Telmo hotel

pot. Then they discovered a half-open apartment door and inside, a woman tied to an overturned chair. Using a knife from the kitchen the officers freed the very nervous and frightened woman. Support arrived very soon, in the form of her parents, brother and partner, and an ambulance was also requested. The victim told them her

story but she couldn't identify the perpetrators because they were wearing balaclavas. According to initial estimates by the National Police, the councillor was specifically targeted, as the robbers obviously knew her daily routine, and that she often carried large amounts of cash with her. Noelia Rodríguez has already been mugged and

robbed once before and her partner had asked her not to bring the money home. The police seized evidence such as the cable ties so that samples for DNA tests could be taken. The suspected perpetrators are still unidentified. The neighbours and residents of the housing complex are in turmoil, as they fear that they could also become victims. n

CANARY ISLANDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

INCREASING NEED FOR AID

Photo: FB Kairós

Poverty line workers

Last year Kairós distributed over 300 tonnes of food Volunteers pack monthly aid packages for those in need

In Santa Cruz, about 30 associations, via the food banks, are currently involved in providing food to families in need. One of them is the Asociación Kairós. Their résumé for the past year was alarming. Although the economy as a whole is growing, this growth does not necessarily reach all of the population. Benjamin Barba, chairman of the association explains, "The social and wage gap is widening so much that more and more people, despite the fact that they are working, are threatened with poverty." At Kairós, people of all ages work to regularly pack and distribute food parcels for families in need. Last year they looked after 1,014 families with a total of 2,728 peo-

ple. These include 726 children and teens under 15, 159 people over 65 years of age and 1,469 women. Often it is single mothers who need help. Last year, 300 tonnes of food were distributed by Kairós volunteers alone, from staple foods to fresh fruit and vegetables. In addition, there are other aid projects such as providing private lessons, play and recreational activities for the young-

est children, as well as courses for adults given by qualified people in the areas of health, nutrition, management of family finances and help in returning to work. However, reintegration into the world of work is not always the solution, as salaries are often so low that the people affected still need help from other sources in order to be able to pay their living expenses. Often people are only employed on an hourly

basis (approximately three hours a week) or on a half-day basis, or the monthly wage is so low at around €700 that a family cannot live on it. Barba continued, "The situation is very precarious. It should be temporary, but it’s often chronic. People who have been unemployed for two years often lose their professional skills and thus their future prospects. The consequence is, and we see this more and more often, that help from non-profit organisations or government aid packages is permanently necessary." His experience is underpinned by other relief organisations' track records. The profile of people who need support to reach the end of the month has changed in recent years. Between 2010 and 2014, Kairós' helpers primarily cared for people who had become unemployed and their families. Since the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015, the profile has shifted to people in need who, although they are working, earn so little that it is not enough to support a family. There have already been words of caution addressed to the Spanish Government from Brussels, which criticised the too little help available for the socially weak and needy. The South African freedom fighter Nelson Mandela once stressed, "Poverty is not natural. It is a man-made phenomenon that can be overcome and eradicated by humans." Eliminating poverty is not an act of mercy, but of justice. In this sense, there is still a lot to be done in 2018 to make life on the Canary Islands and in Spain better and fairer for all. n

TENERIFE’S PLACE OF POWER

Twixt art and energy In the world there are many geothermal places of power, such as Ayers Rock in Australia, Stonehenge in Great Britain, the pyramids in Egypt, the Nazca-Linien in Peru and the Externsteine in Germany. Now another such extraordinary place has been discovered in Tenerife - at the Gernot Huber Foundation sculpture park in San Isidro. It’s located at the highest point of the park, where the designer and sculptor Gernot Huber created a sculpture called Claustrum. In the midst of a circular wall made of lava stones which are 12 metres in diameter and millions of years old, a pyramid of 24 steel rods has been erected. In the centre of this pyramid, a porphyry ball rotates like the Earth in the Universe. The struts are designed to vibrate in the wind and these vibrations are transferred to the stone seat in the middle, whereupon it begins to hum. Claustrum is a work of art that can be seen, felt and heard. A comfort that seems to exert magical powers, at least this is the impression gained by some visitors. A Tibetan nun was put into a trance there in the lotus position and the Russian pianist and composer Valerij Petasch, who often visits the island, cleared up, in a matter of just a few minutes, a painful migraine that had been plaguing him. Altogether there are about 100 partly monumental sculptures created by artists from all over the world, integrated into the park which has been growing steadily since its creation in 1990. On the second Sunday of every month, from November to April, the park can be visited from 2pm to 5pm, without reservations. The next date is February 11. Groups are welcome to make separate appointments by calling 922 77 23 31. The Sculpture Park is located above San Isidro at the Finca de Los Cardones on the TF-64, take the first left into Calle Gernot Huber 33. For more information see www.gernot-huber-stiftung.de. n Photo: Alexander Stomberg

The Claustrum was created by sculptor Gernot Huber

25.1.2018 – 7.2.2018

CANARY ISLANDS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

BRITISH CAMPER CAUSED BLAZE

First forest fire of the year

In a double whammy, first of all it was a German man living rough in the country who caused a devastating forest fire in La Palma, one which killed a fireman, just by burning his toilet paper, and now a British camper has started a fire in Gran Canaria as he was cooking himself something to eat. The 55-year-old has no permanent residence and lives in a tent in the Camino de Piedra Camello area between the Soia and Cueva de las Niñas reservoirs. When the incident took place in mid-January, Local Police from Mogán, an emergency helicopter, the Environmental Protection Unit, Fire Brigade, Civil Protection and Guardia Civil officers were able to prevent the flames spreading, despite the fact that violent gusts of wind had created three different points of combustion. Thankfully, however, more serious damage was averted. The fire burned 3,000 square metres, mainly agaves, prickly pears and a few pines. The hapless author was found a little later with the help of statements by witnesses. The British camper still had traces of soot on his face and clothing and confessed to having caused the blaze. The penalties for causing a forest fire range from one to five years’ imprisonment and heavy fines from 12 to 18 months, depending on the A worse situation was avoided severity of the crime. n thanks to rapid intervention

FIRST 2018 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM

Woman stabbed by husband On January 19, a 68-year-old man, from Los Realejos in Tenerife, apparently stabbed his 47-year-old wife to death in their shared apartment. Local Police officers found a female body which had at least four stab wounds. Neighbours had alerted the emergency services after hearing a loud argument in the apartment in Calle Las Arenitas. By the time the police arrived, the woman, named Jennifer, had already passed away. Immediately after committing the crime, it’s believed that the suspect took the nine-year-old granddaughter, who was also in the apartment at the time, to be cared for by someone else, and she was found unharmed. The suspect at first managed to escape police intervention. However, officers located his car on the TF5 motorway and began pursuit. The 68-year-

old increased his speed and tried to flee but collided with another car near Santa Úrsula, overturning several times. He was severely injured and had to be cut out of the wreckage by the Fire Brigade. Two people in the other vehicle were also injured but not critically, and the accident caused long traffic jams on the motorway. The deceased spouse came from Venezuela and has lived in Tenerife for around 15 years. She had been married to the alleged perpetrator for a decade, but they had recently separated. The woman apparently had a new boyfriend, but still lived with the husband. On January 8, she filed a complaint because he had verbally attacked her. However, she also stated that she did not need any protection or a ban on him contacting her. The case was filed by the

court using a fasttrack procedure. However, the police advised the woman to move out of the shared apartment. On January 17, National Police officers contacted Jennifer to ask if everything was okay. Seemingly, there was no reason to classify the victim as acutely endangered, but sadly, only two days later, she was found dead.

Jennifer is the first woman in the Canary Islands to be murdered this year as a victim of domestic violence. Mayor Manuel Domínguez condemned all forms of this type of abuse and ordered two official days of mourning during

which all events were cancelled. Politicians of various government bodies denounced this and every other act of violence in public statements. The necessity of activating prevention plans was demanded as a matter of urgency. n

CANARY ISLANDS

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CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE CANARY ISLANDS

Whither the weather?

Guest speakers and conference organisers in the Teatro Leal lecture hall

cal nights and more hot days. For us, Tenerife is particularly important because the entire territory, which extends from the coastal region to the highest peak of Spain at 3,718

and lasting longer, whilst at the same time rain is decreasing. According to meteorologists, the weather on the Canary Islands is becoming increasingly similar to that of Hawaii.

Photo: Youtube Delta Puertito de Güímar

following month of July was also exceptionally hot. “Above all, we find that the minimum temperatures are rising, while the maximum temperatures are lower. This means

Even though many environmentalists like to come up with the argument that extreme weather conditions have always existed and that these are simply exceptional situations, meteorologists are convinced that the type of change and frequency of extremes are clear symptoms of the existence of climate change. The struggle for measures to halt climate change is becoming increasingly urgent - especially as in the recent past, economic development and the associated emissions of pollutants have increased enormously from China, India and Pakistan, increasing an already tense situation. With the following insistent words, Cuevas urged all those responsible to act. “How the weather develops post 2040 depends on the measures we take now - and by that I mean right now. If we apply the

Photo: SV

As last year came to a close, the latest conference on climate change and its impact on the Canary Islands was held in the Teatro Leal, La Laguna. First on the podium was Emilio Cuevas, director of the Centre for Atmospheric Research in Izaña (part of the national meteorological organisation Aemet), who spoke about climate extremes and climate change - keywords often heard throughout the course of various discussions. Though some deny changes exist, whilst others give out dire warnings for the coming decades. Objectivity and professional competence are good guides in the search for the truth. Statistics and scientific research over a long period of time allow conclusions to be drawn that go beyond the perceived reality. That is precisely why they are important. And the fact is, according to Cuevas' clear discourse, geophysical values such as earthquakes are behaving in a relatively stable manner, but meteorological extremes have increased massively in recent years. This is a trend that has also been noticeable in the Canary Islands since the turn of the millennium, in the form of more heat waves and more frequent bouts of severe weather conditions and storms. According to the records of the Spanish Meteorological Office Aemet, temperatures in the Canary Islands have been rising steadily since 1990. June 2017 was the warmest June in 102 years and the

Photo: Ayto. LL

By Sabine Virgin

Colossi bent over like matches It’s important to be aware of the changes in our sea temperatures

that the fluctuations become smaller. The southern island areas and mountain regions are the most affected by this change. There are more tropi-

metres above sea level, gives us an insight into the possible effects of climate change in a small area," explained Cuevas. Summer is starting earlier

The two archipelagos have in common not only their volcanic origins and the peculiarities associated with that, but now almost the weather too.

right levers today and noticeably reduce pollutant emissions, we can ensure that the climate remains at a tolerable level after 2040. If we do

nothing, the generations after us, between 2040 and 2100, will clearly feel the effects. Yet, anything in between is better than doing nothing and can only bring relief of the excesses.” Hurricanes, such as Delta storm that devastated the Canary Islands at the end of November 2005, are still the exception here, but violent hurricanes and tropical storms will increase worldwide. The typical ‘calima’ hazes brought by wind blowing from the Sahara, are an element that will be increasingly common in the Islands in the future. Last year was a year that brought a lot of dust, combined with light breezes. The fine sand is the perfect fertiliser for algae carpets and the light winds meant they weren’t dispersed but hung around the coasts. Alongside mineral dust, UVB light is a factor that promotes algae growth and UVB radiation is also expected to increase. For the benefit of the meteorologists who are responsible for weather observation on the Canary Islands, Cuevas would like another radar station. At present, our forecasts are based on the data that the radar based in Gran Canaria observes. If the weather comes from the northwest, the measuring station is in the shadow of Teide and therefore the data is difficult to intercept or, even worse, incorrect, which can lead to unsatisfactory forecasts. To avoid this, Cuevas claimed it’s important to set up another radar station on the north-western coast of Tenerife, in Isla Baja, near Buenavista.

25.1.2018 – 7.2.2018

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In December, Tenerife's capital Santa Cruz announced that the city is working on plans for a catastrophe claims office. It will be a contact point for residents who suffer damage in the event of storms, such as the extreme rainfall in 2015, and who need to apply for aid from Canary Islands’ funds. The new office will be equipped with competent contact personnel and information.

the ocean and increased UVB radiation. All of this combined together influences marine organisms and ecosystems", explained the expert. Observations of the water temperatures between 1948 and 2016 clearly show that in gen-

of coral reefs. On Tenerife, the only corals that remain are off the Anaga massif. El Hierro has already lost about 80 per cent of its coral population. This has a decisive effect on the underwater landscape and biodiversity. Another consequence can

have been discovered on the Canary Islands, which predate the arrival of mankind. Nevertheless, caution is advised. Many fish, shellfish etc. are considered invasive. They sometimes travel through the oceans on the hulls of ships,

Impact on marine fauna

CANARY ISLANDS

a disturbance of the marine fauna by invaders. It’s important for scientists to collect as much data as possible - data which can then be analysed. Marine scientists are concerned, among other things, with locating unknown retreats in order to protect them in a targeted manner. Díaz called for efforts to be made by every individual and also by the legislative institutions to protect the sea from ourselves and climate change. This clearly includes

fauna can recover and regenerate. In addition, there should be new standards for ships and oil platforms so that the crew would have to carry out cleaning work on board before entering the port in order to prevent tropical species from entering and possibly becoming a nuisance in Canarian waters. For both scientists, there was no question that climate change is an irreversible fact, but that the severity of the effects is still controllable

The high concentration of sand in the air and an increase in UVB rays are also an important phenomenon for Alberto Díaz, lecturer in marine biology and zoology at the University of La Laguna. He believes that “the carpets of algal blooms we saw last summer are clearly due Agaete’s Finger of God was lost forever during a storm Extensive damage caused a total system failure

El Hierro has already lost 80 per cent of its coral reefs

in cavities and platforms. If they come to a new port, they may remain if they find suitable conditions. Until now, tropical species have had little chance of survival in the colder oceans around the Canary Islands. This is changing and could lead to

to these factors. They have nothing to do with untreated wastewater.” Climate change affects not only the weather, but also the oceans and the associated diversity of marine species. “In the last 20 years, the water temperature around the Canary Islands has risen by between 0.5 and one degree Celsius. Sea level has also risen by about ten centimetres in the last 13 years. In addition, there is an increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the water, acidification of

eral they are on the increase, even if there have been some colder years in between. It is particularly noticeable in the south of the archipelago. In the summer of 2017, the Atlantic water reached a peak of 26 degrees Celsius. All these factors contribute to the formation of algae carpets, but that is only the visible side. Less obvious are the changes in marine flora and fauna that are associated with the increase in temperature. Alongside the algae, these include, for example, a drastic decline in the number

be the development of cyanobacteria. Although only ten cases of these bacteria have been found in edible fish (especially grouper) in the Canary Islands, it’s important to develop a rapid test to detect possible dangers in the human food chain at an early stage. Another important factor is migration. It affects not only life on land but also in the water. More than 7,000 species are currently migrating and changing their habitats. This is nothing new, as the remains of tropical organisms

the avoidance of plastic waste. Everyone can make a contribution in this respect. Small ecosystems that are still preserved must be protected, whilst whole marine reserves must be established at the same time, so that flora and

within a small remaining window of time. And this does not only refer to extreme weather conditions, but also includes ecological and socio-political consequences. Climate change is the greatest challenge facing mankind today. n

CANARY ISLANDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

COMPOSITION BY SUSO SAIZ ALCÁNTARA

Icod Dragon Tree’s symphony located, accompanied by his family and representatives of the Icod de los Vinos council, the author explained that, "It's majesty, powerful charisma and the fact that it is a clear example of nature protection touched me and inspired me to create this piece. For me, it’s a symbol of the will to survive, of an overdose of vitality. After all, it has survived for centuries in the middle of an inhabited area. That's pretty unusual. When I had the oppor-

tunity to visit this Drago and feel it, it was clear to me that I wanted to dedicate one of my compositions to this tree." The piece will be premiered in May. He revealed this much:

Age music in Spain and was one of the founding members of the Orquesta de las Nubes in 1980. He was a member of the well-known groups Esclarecidos and Los Piratas

Alcántara is considered a pioneer of the Spanish New Age music scene

and has worked with famous artists such as Iván Ferreiro, Luz Casal, Christina Rosenvinge, Los Planetas, Tahúres Zurdos, Duncan Dhu, Celtas Cortos and Luis Eduardo Aute. He has composed music for movies, documentaries and television, as well as the environmental music at Expo Zaragoza 2008, and now it is the turn of the legendary Drago in Icod de los Vinos. n

Photos: Ayto. de Icod de los Vinos

Nature and its destruction are an important subject for the well-known contemporary composer Suso Saiz Alcántara from Cádiz. In fact it’s so important that he has dedicated a whole work Canto a la naturaleza (Song for Nature) to mother nature and this includes a symphony for a tree, not just any tree, but the legendary dragon tree of Icod de los Vinos. During a tour of the park where the famous Dragon Tree is

The composer at the Drago Park with his family and local officials

it’s a score in which electronic sounds and folklore are mixed and completed with vocals by the soprano Estela Díaz. Alcántara is a musician, producer and composer who is regarded as a pioneer of New

RETAILERS SWINDLED

Fraudulent gang arrested The National Police in Gran Canaria have busted a criminal organisation and arrested seven suspected members. The six men and one woman are between 29 and 58 years old. One person, an 84-year-old, is still under investigation. The gang is said to have swindled around 90 companies by using fictitious companies they set up to purchase goods that were never paid for, causing what is said to have been a financial impact of over one million euros. The investigation began after a homeless person received a tax claim for a company that was founded in 2013 and in which he appeared as the only administrator. He said that he had been paid the sum of €50 in exchange for signing a document as administrator. He informed the police of other acquaintances who had also signed contracts. Specifically targeting the homeless and drug addicts seemed to have been part of the gang’s modus operandi. The marks were offered between €50 and €400, so that they would sign up as a company administrator and later open a bank account as such. Sometimes they also lured people with false job opportunities. Two gang members who managed a small tax advice office from home gave the companies the appearance of legality. Through these fictitious companies, they ordered goods worth over a million euros from more than 90 different retailers, which they then didn’t pay for. Some gang members took care of transporting the stolen goods to warehouses from where they were sold. Other accomplices specifically recruited people on the street for their false signatures. One person acted as head and coordinator. Seven people have been arrested and one is still under investigation. During a search of two apartments and a warehouse, the police found 23 different company stamps, computer technology, documents, goods worth more than €38,000, £6,785 sterling in cash and two pistols. n Photo: Polícia Nacional

Evidence found by the police in apartments and warehouses

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PROMOTION

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KEDDY’S ENTERTAINMENT

Natalie Stafford’s in the house! This year is looking to be an exciting one for we here at Keddy’s Entertainment, and to kick start it off in true style we are happy to announce that we have taken on board Natalie Stafford as the entertainment manager for Tenerife. Natalie has a wealth of experience within the entertainment industry and currently performs in hotels across the island. So we thought it would be great to catch up with the new addition to the Keddys Entertainment family and find out more about her and the interesting life that has led her to beautiful Tenerife with her wonderful family. It always amazes us how all different kinds of people end up on this gorgeous island to live the dream, so here’s Natalie’s story and what she had to say: “I cannot remember a time when I didn’t want to perform. I’ve been entertaining from my very first time on stage at four years old, when I won a talent show at a holiday camp in Woolacombe in the UK. Since then, I’ve sung and danced my way through life, entertaining people from the ages of one to 101. So joining Keddy’s Entertainment as Entertainment Manager is a very exciting venture for me. “I was born in Boston, England, not USA, and lived in the small market town, Spalding, then started performing in amateur dramatic companies from the age of four, progress-

The lovely ladies who make up Sweet Sensations Natalie, Keddy Entertainment’s new Entertainment Manager A Sweet Sensations performance

ing to lead roles and winning awards by the age of 15. I loved every second of being on stage and knew that I wanted it to become my career. I gained a place at a college to study performing arts and received the highest qualifications at that level. I then received an unconditional place at the Arden School of Theatre in Manchester, studying a wide range of styles of singing, dancing and acting for three years and qualified with a 2:1 BA Honours in Musical Theatre: Professional Stage Practice. Theatre school finished in 2009, at the age of 21, and I moved back to my home town with the offer of being a performing arts teacher and resident actress for a children’s academy. I taught children both in the academy and in schools and in the school holidays

toured the UK in their production of the Jungle Book. “After a few years of teaching I wanted a change and decided to look at performing jobs outside of the UK. I ended up landing a job as an elf over the winter in Lapland. The day I boarded that flight I was both extremely nervous and excited as it was the beginning of my life outside of England. Working in Lapland was the most amazing experience, I drove snow mobiles, toboggans, mushed huskies, saw the amazing northern lights and worked with the big man himself, Santa Claus. When I returned to what I then thought was the warm weather of England, I had yet more auditions to attend, one of them being the tour operator, Thomson, now TUI UK. I remember the phone call offering me the job overseas as an entertainer

for them, as I was standing in Leicester Square in London with my mum, waiting to buy tickets to watch The Phantom of the Opera on the West End. I was so happy and excited I could hardly sit still watching the show. “My first placement was in Majorca in an adult-only hotel as the entertainment host. Taking care of all the daytime events, hosting the evening entertainment, and singing two nights a week in the hotel as well. Then I became a family entertainer in a resort, after

By Chrissie and Ray

that Thomson Gold (adults only). After Majorca I did a small stint in Ibiza in another family resort. In November 2012, my manager at Thomson rang and asked me to go early to Tenerife to work in the new Couples hotel in Los Gigantes. Once I arrived on the island I completely fell in love with it. I was working as the entertainment host and then as the entertainment coordinator, still singing two nights a week. “Coming towards the end of my contract I really wasn’t looking forward to going back to the UK and was offered a job in a singing show for hotels. It was a dream come true as it meant I could stay here on the island and work full time on stage within Sweet Sensations. I have worked in the show for just over four years. Our main show, Sweet Sensations, is a mix of motown, rock and roll and swing music and we have three other shows of different styles. I also teach singing on a Saturday afternoon at Ritmania Fame Academy. “I’m really excited about my new role in Keddy’s Entertainment. I’ve known Adam Keddy the director for quite a few years, after working for him at TUI when he was the senior entertainment manager and, fortunate to say,

I’ve also attended a number of entertainment based training courses that he managed and delivered back in the UK. I knew of the work Keddy’s Entertainment have done here on the island, and now with myself joining the team has over 70 years of combined entertainment experience. We provide a bespoke programme for daytime and evening entertainment in hotels, our training of staff is unlike any other, and we pride ourselves on offering a professional service. We also provide acts and shows for hotels, and we offer a unique consultancy service. If you would like any more information or would like to become an entertainer and join us, then please drop me an email at: natalie@keddys entertainment.com. If you would like to see Sweet Sensations in Tenerife, please visit our Facebook page to see our programme: www.facebook. com/Sweetwestendgirls.” I’m sure you’ll agree that Natalie has had an exciting life in the world of entertainment so far and another chapter is about to start by joining us at Keddy’s Entertainment! All that’s left for us to say is: Welcome aboard Natalie and looking forward to working with you! n

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ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

PROMOTION

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TENERIFE CARNIVAL IN MADRID

Running high on heels the participants, have inspired copies in other cities, such as New York and Chicago. This year, a dozen of Puerto’s regular participants were invited to strap on their frocks and towering footwear to be transported to Madrid’s Plaza de Ópera to recreate the thrilling chase for the city’s residents and visitors. They also did a nice line in attracting attention to themselves and the northern metropolis of Tenerife when they took a casual stroll through the exhibition halls at Fitur. Prospective contestants have already prepared their costumes for this year's run in Puerto de La Cruz, the starting shot for which will be sounded on February 16. n

A hot race on high heels in the midst of the cold Madrid winter

People in Madrid were pleasantly surprised when, during the course of the recent Fitur tourism fair, a Canarian delegation brought a taste of Puerto de La Cruz carnival to the city. Each year for almost a quarter of a century, men wearing outlandish women's garb, including heels at least eight centimetres high, have tackled an obstaclecourse running race as part of the celebrations. The popular ‘Mascarita ponte tacón’ fancy-dress challenge attracts 500 competitors, and tens of thousands of people to the northern metropolis. Often named ‘One of the craziest carnival events in the Canaries’, the originality of the race, and the hilarious antics of

Showing off their heels, which have to be at least eight centimetres high

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

A singles‘ party by Siam Mall On Saturday, February 10 at 6pm, there will be a very special singles’ party at Siam Mall, where those who are unattached can meet people in a fun and safe way. Come and spend a fun evening at Single Party by Siam Mall, meet some new people, and talk to everyone via some fun games. There will also be a DJ set, photo booth, and a chill-out area, all with a touch of love. Participants can enter a raffle for a dinner at one of the Siam Mall’s restaurants for two strangers who would like to spend some more time together. Participants must register in advance, on the same day before 6pm, at the information point on the ground floor. There will be a gift for two people who leave the Single Party by Siam Mall as a couple: We will help you with your wedding up to the end of 2019. Sponsored by Musicaliabodas. See legal bases at http://bit.ly/2r7K6uf n

PROMOTION

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La Guinguette Carretera General Piedra Hincada 42, Guía de Isora Opening hours: Tue – Sun 12:30–16:00 Wed – Sat 19:00–22.30

& 922 857 327 La Guinguette is a French restaurant where you can enjoy music, dancing, good food and wine. We have created a place where we combine art, food and drink at La Guinguette in South Tenerife. The food is based on traditional French cuisine, combined with country-specific and local products. Musicians of all genres provide inspirational shows, theme nights, and also perform during our Sunday BBQ. Our terrace with shady trees and a breathtaking view invites you to relax. Our team awaits you to offer you an unforgettable time.

AMERICAN CANARIAN & INTL.KITCHEN CUISINE STEAKHOUSE SUNSET BAR

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Mirador de Chirche is situated in Tasteful, canarian kitchen, the most beautiful and peaceful a rustic and authentic spot, in the Municipality of Guia ambience and a breathtade Isora, 300m up the main road king panoramic view cha“Carretera Boca Tauche”, turracterise the Bodegón Las ning intoinChirche Vistas Santa (uphill, Úrsula.direcAlso tion Mount Teide). Here you the of very hospitable servicecan appreciate the most specstaff and the favorable pritacular viewsplace of La Gomera, El ces. This welcomes Hierro & La Palma, besides the everyone, from local Canalocal coastline below, all who the rian or foreign residents while typicaltohomedon‘t enjoying want to cook, holimade Canarian food, as daymakers who findsuch themrabbit Salmorejo & goat dishes, selves in an extraordinary delicious and good local place indesserts the middle of typiwines. El Mirador ideal locacal island life.isAanplace you tion a leisurely lunch. Visit us willfor never forget. once and you are sure to return!

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Calle Rompida Calle Era Bencomo 58 s/n Chirche, Guía de Isora Santa Úrsula

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25.1.2018 – 7.2.2018

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What’s on the menu here?

touches like that which endear me to a place. Main courses were three plump Ibérico pigs’ cheeks in a rich wine sauce with sauté potatoes (€13.90), rabbit cooked with a salmorejo sauce (€12.80), and for me, the hit of the day, their signature dish of black squid ink spaghetti with prawns, lemon and basil (€12.80). None of us could have chosen better. I had been tempted by their other house speciality, the fish and shellfish stew (€15.90) but decided to try that on my next visit. The vegetarian pasta with seasonal vegetables, fresh mushrooms, olive oil and basil would have made a lovely lunch choice at €12.00. I was also tempted by the beef tenderloin with chilli marmalade, oxtail sauce and sauté potatoes (€15.90). There is also a tempting range of tapas, salads and desserts. Whatever your taste, you should not be disappointed. By the time that we left, the place was almost full, including the small open terrace on the first floor, which gave nice views over the old town. The kitchen was going full swing, and Cornelia seemed to be in her element. I’ve had a bet with myself that it won’t be long before we go back there. n

By John Behind this pale blue exterior lies a restaurant quite out of the ordinary. Perhaps all the more unexpected because it lies outside the centre of town where one might expect most upmarket restaurants to be. With a hearty welcome from the proprietress, Cornelia, we were shown to a decently sized table, with – oh! such luxury – chairs with comfortable seats! As a place that is definitely not cheap, it remains a mystery to me that other similar priced restaurants expect diners to spend a significant amount of money to sit on plain hard wood seats for upwards of two hours. Time was given to read through the menu, whilst house wine and water was brought. The wine was from Navarra on the peninsula, and had travelled well: an excellent choice.

Restaurante La Carta

We opted for some prawns in garlic (€9.90) and they came in a sizzling skillet, accompanied by three sorts of home-

made bread, and two sorts of butter, one with caramelised onion, the other with lemon zest and herbs. It is the small

Calle San Felipe 53, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz. Tenerife. Tel: 922 381 592 Open: Dinner only (Closed on Wednesdays) Loo Score: 6/10

25.1.2018 – 7.2.2018

FOOD

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

GOOD CUISINE MADE EASY

Pasta and parsley treat BUENA COCINA HECHA FÁCIL

Pasta con pesto de perejil, nuez y queso de cabra Un pesto modificado de perejil y nueces, combinado con queso de cabra canario, es una especial fusión culinaria de la cocina ítalo-canaria que sabe delicioso. Sobre todo, esta receta es un buen ejemplo de cómo una cocina sana también puede ser rápida.

Ingredientes para cuatro personas: 400 gramos de pasta, un manojo de perejil, 75 gramos de nueces, 75 mililitros de aceite de oliva, sal y pimienta. Además, dos aguacates, 150 gramos de tomate cherry y 150 gramos de queso de cabra, curado o fresco al gusto.

Preparación: La pasta se cuece según las instrucciones. Mientras tanto, se pueden batir con cuidado el perejil, las nueces y el aceite de oliva hasta conseguir un pesto. Se añade un poco de sal y pimienta. Los tomates cherry se rehogan brevemente en aceite de oliva en una sartén. La pasta terminada se pone en la cazuela para mezclarla bien con la salsa pesto. Después se emplata una ración de pasta con los tomates y un medio aguacate fileteado y se añade el queso de cabra. ¡Listo para comer! n

A modified pesto with parsley and walnuts, combined with Canary Island goat cheese, is a special culinary fusion of Italian-Canarian cuisine that tastes delicious. This recipe, added to pasta, is a good example of how healthy cooking can also be quick to prepare.

Ingredients for four people: 400 grams of pasta, a bunch of parsley, 75 grams of walnuts, 75 millilitres of olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. In addition, two avocados, 150 grams of cherry tomatoes and 150 grams of goat cheese, cured or fresh to taste.

Preparation: Cook the pasta according to its instructions. Meanwhile, the parsley, walnuts and olive oil can be carefully beaten until a pesto is obtained. Add a little salt and pepper. The cherry

tomatoes should be briefly sautéed in olive oil in a frying pan. Place the cooked pasta in a

casserole and mix it well with the pesto sauce. Serve a portion of pasta with the tomatoes

and half a prepared avocado and add the goat cheese. It's ready to eat! n

FOOD

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

GRAN CANARIA GASTRONOMY

CHEESE SUCCESS

Taking a stand at Madrid Fusión For the first time ever, the Gran Canaria Island Council was this year present at the Madrid Fusión culinary fair, which was held from January 22 to 24 in the Spanish capital. The assembly hosted two stands throughout the event, from which the island's enormous potential as a gastronomic tourist attraction, the excellent quality of its products, and the talent of the island's chefs were showcased. The stands were entitled ‘Gran Canaria, Isla de Sabores’ (Island of flavours) and ‘Saborea Gran Canaria’ (Taste Gran Canaria). Chefs Alexis Álvarez and Germán Ortega included a presentation on traditional tuna fishing and its use in recipes. During his last visit to Gran Canaria, the president

LIQUID GOLD

Farmer José Carlos Acevedo from Guía de Isora was way ahead of his time when he began planting olive trees on Tenerife in 2005. Back then it was something completely new on the island. José recalled that "Don Manuel, who was then president of the Cumbres de Abona cooperative, encouraged me to do it. Three years later, the first olive oil was produced, a small amount of only 15 litres, but already of a very good quality." Since then, he has planted

Gran Canaria was able to showcase its gastronomy at Madrid Fusión

of Madrid Fusión, José Carlos Capel, was in charge of choosing tuna as the star of the event, as it’s a product with unique characteristics, and an exclusive taste and quality that distinguish it from other types caught in the Mediterranean before spawning. In addition,

the fishing technique with cane and hook that is practiced in Gran Canaria is practically unique in the world and has a direct impact on the conservation and texture of the product that reaches the kitchen. Some 1,500 Congressmen and 630 members of the spe-

Fuerteventura wins in Mexico cialist press were able to taste 20 products representative of the island and ten dishes prepared by a selection of chefs from Gran Canaria. There were also over 12,000 accredited visitors. The president of the Gran Canaria Council Antonio Morales said that those present were able to see "the work carried out by the Departments of Food and Tourism, giving visibility to one of the most unknown elements of Gran Canaria: its gastronomy". At both stands visitors were able to discover delights such as local honeys and cheeses, as well as matalaúva bread, morcilla (sweet blood sausage), and crispy rice with chorizo (spicy sausage) from Teror, and recipes such as cheese with almond toffee from Tejeda.

There is no question that the dairies in Fuerteventura are known far beyond the island for their goats’ cheeses. The goat farming association in Fuerteventura has been awarded a gold medal for its Maxorata goats’ cheese in the International Cheese Awards which were celebrated recently at Celaya in Mexico. The cheese dairy Rosa de la Madera in Tuineje won a silver medal and the cheese from the Granja La Villa in Betancuria was awarded a bronze medal. n

The Maxorata cheese won the gold medal in Mexico

Councillor for tourism Inés Jiménez explained that, "The gastronomic offer in Gran Canaria has an excellent reputation online, well above other mainland desti-

nations that have an international culinary fame, so it’s necessary to participate in initiatives that allow associating the destination with a delicious cuisine". n

Olive oil award for Guía de Isora

Olive-growing in the mild climate of the medium altitudes of Guía de Isora José Carlos Acevedo had the courage to try something new. Success proved him right

around 500 olive trees on the 25 square kilometre Finca Las Pardeleras. The good climate in the zone produces top quality oils. He added, "Most trees are of the Arbequina variety, but I also have some picual olives. The last harvest was 3,000 kilos, from which we were able to extract about 300 litres of olive oil. We combat all possible plagues 100 per cent ecologically. In December my olive oil was awarded the Oliva de Oro prize, of which we are very proud." In fact,

he was even close to getting the highest award, the Gran Oliva de Oro, but was prevented by some bureaucratic hurdles. The top award went to the Teguerey olive oil from Fuerteventura, the desert-like island which has the longest tradition of olive cultivation in the Canaries. A total of 19 olive farmers from Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Palma and El Hierro took part in this third olive oil contest organised by the Tenerife Island Council. n

25.1.2018 – 7.2.2018

BUSINESS

ator, it offers not only products already existing on the market, but also its own! Whether snorkelling in Egypt, island hopping in the Canary Islands, day trips and activities in Tenerife, relaxing beach holidays in Turkey or the Caribbean, cruises, holidays really far away or sightseeing in the metropolises of the world - at LMX Viajes everything is possible and there is something for everyone. LMX Viajes offers its customers a select and outstanding range of travel products. Its special aspect is the not locally tied customer service. No matter if someone is on the island and would like to book a trip to one of the numerous possibilities or if someone is in the UK and needs to fly to Tenerife or somewhere else - LMX Viajes makes it possible thanks to an English-speaking team.

‘Somos vacaciones – we are vacations’ stands for that pure holiday feeling, because vacations begin with competent travel planning and advice in the travel agency, in order to experience beautiful and unforgettable moments during the best time of the year. “The greatest sight may be the world. The greatest sight to see is the world. See it!” n

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

PROMOTION | LMX VIAJES: ‘WE ARE VACATIONS’

Your new travel agency in the south of Tenerife ‘We are vacations’ is the motto of the LMX Viajes travel agency, part of the recently founded Spanish tour operator Last Minute Express S.L.U. The new Spanish tour operator belongs to the LMX Group, which also includes the German tour operator LMX Touristik, well-known among German tourists. As Spain is one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe, the LMX Group decided to establish a tour operator based in Tenerife. Therefore, on November 4, the new travel agency - LMX Viajes - officially opened its doors. At the opening ceremony, more than 200 travellers and guests were able to get an insight into the wide offer of LMX Viajes. The beginning of the year is a good time to plan the best part of year - the holiday. Most of the time, a holiday is also connected with a trip,

but what is a trip? It is a door that opens up new experiences and emotions, not only in the case of a return to a place that someone likes to remember, but also when discover-

ing new places. Considering the importance of a trip, some may ask "What makes LMX Viajes really different from other travel agencies?" This question can be answered

very quickly and easily. LMX Viajes offer, as well as friendly and competent travel experts, basically everything the travel heart desires, and more. Since LMX Viajes is also a tour oper-

LMX Viajes Calle El Drago CC HLS, Local 13 38670, Miraverde-Adeje Monday – Friday, 9am – 6pm Saturday 9am – 1pm Tel: (0034) 922 971 727

BUSINESS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

GOYA LAWYERS

Photo: Gabriella Fabbri freeimages.com

Divorcing in Spain for foreign spouses via a Public Notary

Both parties must be in agreement on divorce terms

The new Law on Voluntary Jurisdiction now allows a married couple to divorce before a Notary without the need to go to court, provided that it’s by mutual agreement. This path is also open to foreigners who wish to divorce. In the event that you are a foreigner married to a Spaniard, and celebrated the marriage in Spain, the requirements for divorce to be performed before the Notary are the same as for nationals who wish to divorce, always remembering that it must be by mutual agreement. The requirements are: 1. That the couple have no children who are still minors. In the case where children

are legally adults, but still economically dependent on their parents, you can still divorce before the Notary, but the adult child/ren must give their approval on any issues that may affect them. 2. The couple must be in agreement over the terms of the divorce including the subsequent economic regime. 3. Both must be assisted by a lawyer; however they can share one if they wish. 4. The Notary should be based in the area of the last marital home or the current residence of either spouse. 5. On the day of the divorce hearing you must present the following documents

before the Notary: the marriage certificate, identity documents and the empadronamiento (council registration) for each of the spouses, the divorce declaration and the governing agreement. If the marriage ceremony took place abroad, in addition to the above, it’s necessary to have a copy of the formal Spanish registration of the marriage from the Central Civil Registry in Madrid, which can be obtained online via the web pages of the Ministry of Justice. If both the partners are foreigners, if the ceremony was carried out in Spain, the requisites for the divorce are the same as

the above. In the event that the marriage was celebrated abroad, it will be necessary that the registration of the marriage is legalised and has The Hague Apostille (a simplified method of legalising documents in order to verify their authenticity in the field of private international law). In all cases, for a divorce to proceed in Spain, at least one of the partners must be a Spanish resident. For inquiries and any further information don’t hesitate to contact us via the following email, goyaabogados@gmail.com, or by calling 922 797 500. n

FITUR INTERNATIONAL TOURISM FAIR

New direct flights for Tenerife

Once of the first results to come in from the Canarian delegation at the Fitur Spanish tourism trade fair in Madrid was the announcement of the positive trend for flight connections this year, as well as three new routes. Nearly 1.3 million aircraft seats on flights between the Peninsula and Tenerife are to be provided between April and October this summer, the largest volume in nine years. The three new direct routes are to Israel, Russia and the Ukraine. Island President Carlos Alonso explained that, “All of these are welcomed, and the direct flight between Tenerife and Israel is very important for us, as it opens the door to a market we have been working on for a long time. As a rule, the Israeli holidaymaker is financially strong, active and spends a lot of money at holiday destinations.” The route between Tenerife South and Tel Aviv will be operated once a week by Smartwings. The aircraft has 189 seats and flights will leave on Tuesdays from March 27 onwards. The second of the flights, an additional connection to Moscow, will operate twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays, all year round. Island Councillor for Tourism, Alberto Bernabé, declared that: “This is great news and a sign that this market is recovering.” The flights will be operated by the S7airline, using aircraft with 180 seats including a business class section. Finally, the third flight will connect Tenerife with the Ukrainian capital Kiev from April 30. The charter airline Sky-up will be running it, every eleven days until the end of the year. n

25.1.2018 – 7.2.2018

BUSINESS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

BLEVINS FRANKS

What can expatriates in Spain do with their UK pension in 2018? By Paul Montague, Partner, Blevins Franks

With pensions, your longterm financial security is at stake, so take care to do what is right for you and your family. Start by understanding the options available for different pension types.

‘Defined contribution’ or ‘money purchase’ pensions Since the pension freedoms of 2015, members of defined contribution schemes can usually do the following from age 55: • Take the whole fund as cash – 25 per cent will be tax-free in the UK. • Make cash withdrawals when you want – a quarter is usually free of UK tax each time. • Take regular income through ‘flexible drawdown’, leaving the remainder invested. • Take a regular income for life through an ‘annuity’.

Expatriates can also transfer to a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS). QROPS benefits include more estate planning flexibility, multi-currency options and protection from future UK taxation. However, QROPS benefits and rules vary between providers and jurisdictions. Also, a 25 per cent UK tax charge applies on transfers to QROPS outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Gibraltar, with funds remaining liable for five UK tax years. Take professional advice to establish if transferring is suitable for you and navigate the complex options. drawing a guaranteed pension for life. However, today, some ‘Defined benefit’ or ‘final providers are offering memsalary’ pensions bers ‘transfer values’ of up to 40 times the annual benefits due at Often called ‘gold-plated’ pen- retirement. Although a one-off sions, here your employer guar- sum could potentially provide a antees a proportion of your sal- retirement income that exceeds ary for the whole of retirement. the original annual payment, it While you cannot usually with- is crucial to fully understand the draw cash from these pensions, consequences before giving up you can transfer to a defined con- ‘gold-plated’ benefits. tribution scheme or QROPS. Traditionally, this has been Considering your options considered less attractive than

With pensions, your longterm financial security is at stake, so take care to do what is right for you and your family

The freedom to withdraw or transfer your pension does not mean that you should. If you choose to take your benefits as cash, make sure you have a reliable plan to fund your longterm financial future. Also note that, while a quarter of cash withdrawals can be taken taxfree in the UK, they are usually taxable in your country of residence. Pension scams are more widespread than ever – Age UK estimates £43 million has been lost

to scammers since April 2014. Generally, if an investment sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Also, beware of unregulated companies offering pension services. Whether they aim to defraud you or not, there is no recourse if things go wrong. Even amongst regulated providers, check for quality. The UK Financial Conduct Authority found that under half of those cashing in final salary pensions received suit-

able advice. Getting it wrong could have serious and unexpected consequences. Make sure your adviser considers your needs, objectives, personal circumstances and risk appetite to find a tailor-made, tax-efficient solution for you and your life in Spain. Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; individuals should seek personalised advice. Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page at www.blevinsfranks.com Blevins Franks provides tailor-made advice on investment strategies, tax mitigation and estate planning. It has decades of experience advising British expatriates in Spain. Contact Paul Montague on 922 716 079 or paul.montague@blevinsfranks.com. www.blevinsfranks.com

WHAT’S ON 2018

JANUARY / FEBRUARY

GRAN CANARIA DIARY DATES January 26 – February 18 Las Palmas Carnival, theme is Magic and Fantastic Creatures. www.lpacarnaval.com January 26 7.30pm: Música para el recuerdo (Music for memories), Spanish hits from the 60s - 80s, Sala de Ámbito Cultural, LPGC. www.elcorteingles.es 8pm: Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra (FIMC), Beethoven, Strauss, N. Rimski, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, LPGC, from €30. www. auditorioteatrolaspalmasgc.es

days and Fridays, 7pm – 11pm; Saturdays 6pm – 11pm; Sundays 12pm – 3pm.

EXHIBITION Until February 18 Los pasos perdidos (The lost steps), anthological exhibition of hundreds of works by six renowned Gran Canarian artists from the 20th century: José Arencibia Gil, Sergio Calvo, Elvireta Escobio, Carlos Morón, Chelín Reino and Cirilo Suárez, San Martín Centro de Cultura Contemporánea, LPGC, free entry, Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 9pm, Sundays 10am – 2pm. www. sanmartincontemporaneo.com

JANUARY / FEBRUARY

TENERIFE

8.30pm: Rafa Pons, Spanish pop, Sala Insular de Teatro, Las Palmas, €12. www.salainsulardeteatro.com January 28 12.30pm: Gioachino Rossini 150th anniversary concert, classical, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, LPGC, €7. www.auditorioteatrolaspalmasgc.es February 2 8pm: Vienna Chamber Orchestra (FIMC), Nach, Nielsen and Vasks, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, LPGC, from €35. www.auditorioteatrolaspalmasgc.es February 4 12pm: Pasión Española (Spanish Passion), Gran Canaria Wind Orchestra, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, LPGC, from €5. www.auditorioteatrolaspalmasgc.es February 10 9pm: ST Fusión, modern jazz, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, Las Palmas, from €15. www.auditorioteatrolaspalmasgc.es 9pm: Pastora Soler, Spanish pop, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, LPGC, from €35. www.auditorioteatrolaspalmasgc.es

4pm - 10pm: Food and crafts market, over 30 stalls, Plaza de La Pescadora, Los Cristianos, free event. www.arona.org 8.30pm: Canarian folk music, Plaza de La Pescadora, Los Cristianos, free event. www. arona.org February 3 4.30pm: XV Carrera Vertical Subida del Panadero, uphill running race, Tamaimo to Arguayo, 5.76km, must be run in 1.5 hours, sign up before January 29, €5, free for those resident in Santiago del Teide. www.deportesantiagodelteide.com

4pm - 10pm: Food and crafts market, over 30 stalls, Plaza de La Pescadora, Los Cristianos, free event. www.arona.org

9pm: Tontxu, Spanish pop/indie, Búho Club, La Laguna, €12. www.tomaticket.es 10pm: Jardin de la Croix, progressive rock, Aguere Sala2, La Laguna, €10. www.tomaticket. es

January 25

8.30pm: Priscilla – Queen of the desert (Priscilla, Reina del Desierto), Award-winning Spanish musical based on the Oscar-winning film, recommended for adults and children from 12 upwards, €30 - €55. www.tomaticket.es 8.30pm: Canarian folk music, Plaza de La Pescadora, Los Cristianos, free event. www. arona.org January 26 6.30pm: Selection of Canarian short films, plus live music from Nicotine Swing, Edificio Multifuncional M3, El Médano, free entry. www. granadilladeabona.org 8pm: Troveros de Asieta, Cuban music, Espacio Cultural Cajacanarias, Santa Cruz, €12. www.entrees.es 8.30pm: Film Symphony Orchestra plays theme tunes from movies such as Titanic, Pearl Harbour, and La La Land, Auditorio Adán Martín, Santa Cruz, from €30. www.auditoriodetenerife.com January 27 5pm: Children’s’ theatre, Pinocho (Pinocchio), rendition of the classic fairy tale in Spanish, Teatro Circulo de Bellas Artes, Santa Cruz, €6. www.tomaticket.es

6.30pm: Selection of Canarian short films, plus live music from Nicotine Swing, Edificio Multifuncional M3, El Médano, free entry. www. granadilladeabona.org 8pm: III Carrera Nocturna La Caleta (night running race), five and 10km, starts from the La Caleta Cultural Centre, Costa Adeje, register in TDC shops in Adeje and Cabo Blanco or at www.conxip.com

Thursday – Sunday: CamBuyon Market, crafts, second-hand, Mercado del Puerto, LPGC, Thurs-

February 1

DIARY DATES

6.30pm: Coldplay and Katy Perry tribute concert, Magma Arts and Congress Centre, Costa Adeje, from €20. www.tenerifemagma.com

Until further notice

animals and farmers, various activities and celebrations around the island, especially Buenavista (January 28), free events. www.buenavistadelnorte.com

5pm: Children’s’ theatre, Pinocho (Pinocchio), rendition of the classic fairy tale in Spanish, Teatro Circulo de Bellas Artes, Santa Cruz, €6. www.tomaticket.es

9pm: Sinne Eeg, singer/songwriter from Denmark, jazz, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, LPGC, €15. www.auditorioteatrolaspalmasgc.es January 27

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

8.30pm: Inspector Sullivan, comedy about a bitter police detective, in Spanish, La Pirámide cultural building, El Sauzal, for over 16s, from €5. www.tomaticket.es Until January 28 Fiestas de San Antonio Abad, patrón saint of

11pm: A Buenas Horas (ABH), Tenerife band, covers of popular blues, jazz, Motown, funk, rock, soul and rhythm & blues, Búho Club, La Laguna, €7. www.tomaticket.es February 4 10am – 2pm: Mercado ArteSano, crafts, culture and local agricultural produce, San Juan de la Rambla. www.sanjuandelarambla.es February 4 - 18 Puerto de la Cruz Carnival, theme is Greek Mythology. www.puertodelacruz.es February 8

February 9 8pm: CinemArona, opening concert of the Arona International Music Festival (FIMA), film soundtracks by the Municipal Music Band and top Tenerife soprano Candelaria González, Auditorio Infanta Leonor, Los Cristianos, €5. www.arona.org February 10 7.30pm: Sentimiento Flamenco (Flamenco feeling), Teatro Príncipe Felipe, Tegueste, €12. www.tomaticket.es 8pm: FIMA, Pulso y Púa, Arona Municipal School of Music and Dance, Auditorio Infanta Leonor, Los Cristianos, free entry. www.arona.org February 13 8pm: FIMA, multidisciplinary show of contemporary dance with percussion and audiovisuals, Auditorio Infanta Leonor, Los Cristianos, €5. www.arona.org Until February 18 Santa Cruz carnival, 2018 theme is ‘fantasy’. www.carnavaldetenerife.com Until February 28 Arona Son Atlántico, environmental marine festival, talks, exhibitions, diving sessions, workshops, music and more. www.sonatlanticofestival.com Until further notice Open air cinema at the Magma Centre, Adeje, from €4 for residents, many films in the original language. See www.openaircinematenerife.es for programme and non-resident prices. Every Saturday morning Events for specific groups, families, seniors, women, etc. Activate Sports Club. www.tenerifeactivate.com

EXHIBITIONS Until February 4 Reflexiones (Reflections), paintings by Attilio Falsetti, Sala de Exposiciones, Plaza del Príncipe, Los Silos, free entry Wednesdays – Sundays, 5pm – 8pm. www.lossilos.es February 5 - 9 Exhibition by students of the Granadilla Atelsam Occupational Centre, photography and paintings, range of styles and techniques, Casa de la Cultura, San Isidro, 8am to 3.30pm, free entry. www.granadilladeabona.org Until May 13 La ciudad sumergida (The sunken city) by Aube Elléouët-Breton, French artist, daughter André Breton, ‘the founder of Surrealism’ and artist Jaqueline Lamba, more than 500 works, Tenerife Espacio de las Artes, Santa Cruz, free entry, Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10am to 8pm. See more at www.teatenerife.es

For regular church, charity and recreational events, please see:

25.1.2018 – 7.2.2018

SPIN NEWS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

COVERING UP

Song selection Tenerife band A Buenas Horas will be rocking La Laguna with a very varied repertoire on February 3. Otherwise known as ABH, the Tenerife band has a knack for emulating a range of classics from blues, jazz and Motown to funk, rock, soul and rhythm & blues. More than just covers, the group aims to play some of the lesser known versions of songs - everyone’s favourites but with a twist. Performing top tunes from Stevie Wonder, Amy Winehouse, Peter Gabriel, James Brown, The Police and many more, talented singer Abora Abreu is backed by Marcos Walker on bass, Jonás Álvarez on drums, and Saúl Ascanio on guitar and voice. The concert will start at 11pm at the Búho Club, Calle Catedral, San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Entrance costs €7 and tickets can be bought online via www. tomaticket.es. n

MOVIES IN EL MÉDANO

Free films and fun Enjoy some of the best Canarian short films on January 26 and 27 in El Médano. Granadilla Council and Canarias Cultura en Red (the Canarian Cultural Network) have joined together to present their latest project, through which members of the public from 16 years old and above are invited to attend the two evenings of completely free entertainment. From 6.30pm onwards on both days there will be a number of movies and documentaries on show, as well as music from Nicotine Swing, taking place at the Edificio Multifuncional M3. Places are limited so arrive early. See www.granadilladeabona.org for more information on this and other events in the area. n

COLLECTIVE EXHIBITION

The creative mind Check out the latest exhibition by students of the Granadilla Atelsam Occupational Centre between February 5 and 9. A collection of photography and paintings, the show will include a range of styles and techniques, which highlight the incredible talent there is in the area. Atelsam was formed in 1993 by, and for, those with mental health conditions and their families, with the aim of promoting professional and social inclusion. See the exhibition at the Casa de la Cultura, San Isidro, between 8am and 3.30pm each day of the show. Entrance is free, see www.grana dilladeabona.org. n

TASTEFUL TRIBUTES

Coldplay and Katy Perry Coldplace, the band that has been dubbed ‘The world’s leading tribute to Coldplay’, will be playing the Magma Arts and Congress Centre, Costa Adeje, on January 27. According to the Magma website, the group, “formed by Coldplay fans, for Coldplay fans”, is a tribute band “whose quality and experience are second to none”. Going for 12 years, they have played extensively in the UK, as well as abroad in nearly 20 different countries. Their adventures have led them to appear on Sky, BBC Radio One and Two, and The Gadget Show, plus they have played at festivals along with Bob Geldof, KT Tunstall, Ringo Starr and Roxette to name but a few, in front of crowds of over 30,000 people. Accuracy, musicianship, dedication and passion for Cold-

Katy Perry

play’s music are what make Coldplace special, as well as their ability to capture the feel-

ing of a live Coldplay performance: the music, the visuals, the energy and the atmosphere.

FIMA

Music to the ears The Arona International Music Festival (FIMA) will offer a range of concerts in Los Cristianos between February 9 and 17. Now in its ninth year, audiences can look forward to another series of quality shows by top musicians from around Europe and beyond. The first concert, on the 9th, will be headed by the Arona Music Band, accompanied by top Tenerife soprano Candelaria González. Entitled CinemArona, the show will be an evening of film soundtracks and will cost just €5 to attend. On February 10, the young musicians of the Pulso y Púa group from the Arona Municipal School of Music and Dance will be giving an exciting performance, with free entrance for the public. February 13 sees a multidisciplinary show of contemporary dance with percussion

and audiovisuals (€5), and on February 15 renowned Spanish musician Isabel Martínez will thrill audiences with an evening of classical guitar (€5). On February 16, Gyorgy Gyivicsan, from Hungary, and Tomoko Sawano from Tokyo will give a trombone and piano recital (€5), and the closing concert, on February 17, will offer a varied and rousing repertoire and will also be free. All of the concerts take place at the Infanta Leonor Auditorium, starting 8pm. For feepaying shows, tickets can be bought from the town’s cultural centre between 9am and 2pm, Monday to Friday; on the day of the function for two hours before each show (up to 15 minutes before start); or via the internet at: www.arona.org. Those interested in attending the free concerts should arrive early as places are limited. n

In addition, Charlotte Hopley, the “first and most accurate Katy Perry tribute on the scene”, will be wowing the audience with her eye catching, handmade replica costumes, coloured wigs and makeup, in a performance which will make people wonder whether the real Katy Perry has stepped onto the stage. No stranger to lookalike work, Charlotte’s ability makes for a magical show, which is especially popular with children. In fact, youngsters are actively encouraged to attend the concert, with reduced prices for the under 18s. Doors open at 6pm. See: www. tenerifemagma.com for more information and tickets, which start at €20. n

PROMOTION

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

25.1.2018 – 7.2.2018

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS It’s a poignant time of year for many right now, as some forge ahead in making changes to their health and lives, whilst others lower their head in shame for having ‘failed’ already. Resolutions for self-improvement come thick and fast as January looms, yet it’s estimated that only one out of four people will still be motivated a few weeks down the line. It’s been suggested that one reason for this is that goals are too specific. Quitting smoking, learning a new language, losing weight etc. are all valid objectives, but each addresses only one area of our wellbeing. A holistic approach considers every aspect of life which contributes to health and happiness. Generally speaking, these are considered to be the following: Nutrition, physical activity (fitness), environment, relationships and family, emotional health, self-care, stress management, and life purpose and spirituality.

FITNESS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

Lasting lifestyle changes

Forming loving and supportive relationships is vital for health

All of these factors continuously affect one another, so it’s important to pinpoint the areas in which you are doing well and those that need attention. That way you can work towards achieving a balance across your whole life. For instance, you may be an avid exerciser and eat a healthy

diet, but tend to skip sleep and neglect relationships. Alternatively, you may have a great career but need to improve your nutrition and also want to spend more time with family. Or you may have mastered stress and dedicated much of your time to spiritual matters, but don’t get enough exercise

No fuss, no fad By Debbie Gilbey doing more harm than good?

Internet blogs and magazines are littered with ways to lose anywhere up to five kilos in a fortnight in the run up to little black dress season. Sadly, a ‘crash’ type diet (where you lose a lot of weight in a very short

Keeping meals and exercise balanced and consistent is the key

with, coupled with the general ‘Oh well, it’s December – I will get back on track in January’ mentality. Well, here we are. Were you one of the people that dieted and exercised in the run up to the celebrations in a vain attempt to ditch a kilo or two to justify the coming overindulgence? And is this approach actually

period of time, typically through food-group or calorie restriction) will often cause you to gain even more kilos than you started with. On these fad eating regimes, the body goes into a sort of state of starvation mode, normally when you begin to deviate from the norm once the diet is ‘finished’. The body then does everything in its power to cling

and would like a more fulfilling social life. Taking the time to pinpoint areas in which we are doing well, and others we would like to improve, can help us form a balanced plan of action.

Body and mind Reaching optimum health means addressing not only

A CONSISTENT APPROACH

The final month of a year is when typically all recent progress goes out of the window. There’s the bank holidays, office parties, Christmas and New Year’s Eve all to contend

on to much needed extra nutrients. The main difference here is, you are not slowly reintroducing healthy habits or food and calories. It’s party time and you are literally stuffing the gut to capacity. Whether you did the diet or not really serves as a moot point. When January comes, it brings a whole host of self-promises to begin a new health regime. Many people choose to do a form of detox or cleanse for their system, thinking it will act as a sort of bodily reset button. I can assure you, if you have functioning kidneys and liver your body automatically detoxes itself. All a juice-style cleanse will do is allow your body to fall back into a starvation mode as discussed above. Keeping meals balanced and consistent is the key to maintaining your energy levels, while keeping metabolism ticking over, thus actually burning more calories throughout the day. You will also find you may not have as many cravings as you are less hungry. For more information about health and fitness, please contact Debbie via: www.fitnesswithdebbie.com n

our bodily needs but our emotional ones as well. The way we react to others around us, our personal attitudes and stress levels, will all have a direct effect on our health. Of the many spheres of life which affect our emotional wellbeing, forging interesting and supportive relationships is one of the most important. Being involved with others can help us feel fulfilled, secure and loved. It can also give us purpose in life. Various studies have shown that those who have strong relationships, enjoy helping family and friends, or doing voluntary work in the community, tend to have a longer life expectancy than those who stay isolated. Our environment has an immediate effect on our moods and mindset as well. Clutter and chaos in our homes and workplaces has a negative effect on emotions, as do buildings which are run down and in need of painting or repair. Clearing out and cleaning up will not only provide more comfortable surroundings, but will also be good exercise!

Spending a little time in nature every day is also key for mental health. A walk by the sea or in the woods, or even just 10 minutes appreciating the view, will boost your mood and clear the mind.

Rugged reflection This is a great time for reflection, so a good opportunity to truly consider which aspects of 2017 made you feel happy and healthy, and which didn’t. Understanding how we felt in the past can serve us well when making choices for the future. Concentrate on those activities which make you feel good, try to do them as much as possible, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Talk to family and friends about your challenges, you may find you have similar goals and can help each other out. In addition, health and lifestyle coaches are professionally trained individuals who can provide information, resources and referrals, as well as support and encouragement as you make changes. n

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HEALTH

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

HEALTH SERVICE WAITING LIST

Treatment time reduction the departments of General Surgery, Ophthalmology, Traumatology, ENT and Urology decreased the most. Those going on the list for surgery today will have to wait an average of 110 days. A year ago it was 131 days. Most patients, especially when it is urgent, wait even less. â&#x20AC;&#x153;More than 44 per cent of people on the waiting lists are treated after less than three months", said the Canary Islands Min-

year, meaning that more than 43,000 diagnostic procedures have been carried out. Nevertheless, only 125 more patients are still waiting for an appointment than a year ago. Measured by the six per cent increase in tests, this also computes as a success. However, there is still a need for action to reduce waiting times further and improve efficiency through better processing.

16 per cent to 25,529 across the archipelago. Looking at the people on the list who have been waiting for an appointment for over six months, 3,021 cases were resolved. The waiting times in

ister for Health JosĂŠ Manuel Baltar when announcing the latest figures. The number of diagnostic tests carried out at Canary Islands hospitals has also increased by six per cent over the past

One serious point of criticism is that improvements are often made on the backs of medical staff who are burdened by overtime. Ideally new jobs should be created and filled in all the public hospitals. n

Photo: SCS

organisation and cooperation between medical and nonmedical institutions and the increased use of outpatient operations have also had a positive impact. At the end of the year, 28,678 people were still on the operation waiting list, but this is a drop of 5,649 compared with December 2016, and the number of patients waiting to see a consultant has also fallen by

and again in recent years, and these finally seem to be bearing fruit. In December 2017, the number of people who have to wait more than half a year for surgery was reduced by

Baltar at the presentation of the Annual Report 2017

Photo: SCS

Specific measures have been in place to reduce and manage waiting lists in the National Health system since 2003. Here in the Canary Islands, changes have been made time

Graphic showing the waiting list decrease

23.6 per cent according to the year on year figures, and taking the previous 12 months as a whole, the number of those on the waiting list fell by 16.5 per cent. This is the largest decrease since 2003, mainly due to the fact that more surgeries were carried out, processing the waiting lists in a targeted manner. Improved Therapies, Spiritual hypnosis, Past life regression Come, unleash your internal power and heal your mind, body and soul completely through energy healing, hypnosis and past life regression. Get Space Clearing carried out for more positivity at home and in your work place

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25.1.2018 – 7.2.2018

HEALTH

Transplantation Act. It’s based on the selflessness of donation and equal opportunities for all patients for access to a transplant. In order to guarantee the principles of equality and equal treatment, there are two basic guidelines: locality and compatibility. This means that organs donated in a region should be given to other patients within that region wherever possible. The faster an organ is inserted into the new body, the less time there is a lack of blood circu-

lating through that organ and the more likely it is the transplant will be a success. From a clinical point of view, the compatibility of the donor and the recipient is checked first and then the decision is made according to the condition of the waiting patients. Possible donor organs are kidneys, liver, heart, pancreas, intestines and lungs as well as different ‘tissue’ types, such as bone marrow, bones, tendons, corneas or heart valves. n

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

ORGAN DONATIONS

Saving lives

Donating life In Tenerife in 2017, there were five donations of a kidney from a living person. This is an operation that is normally practiced between close family members and increases the chance that the donor organ will be accepted in the new body without any problems. The number of people who donated their organs in the asystolic state, i.e. according to strict criteria that confirm that breathing and circulation has

Members of the medical profession responsible for transplants in the Canary Islands would like to express their thankfulness to all the deceased and family members who decided to agree to donation. Thanks to them, many lives have been saved or the quality of life of the sick has been improved.

Photo: SCS

come to a standstill, doubled last year. A total of 17 patients acted as donors. The protocol is stringent and follows established standards. Further donations are possible after brain death. The donor can determine when and what may be removed. It’s not only organs that are in demand in transplantation medicine. Thanks to tissue donations, the quality of life of over 250 Canarian residents has been improved every year. Procedures include bone marrow and tissue transplants, cornea and periosteum donations, as well as those of the amniotic fluid membrane.

Antonio Alarco is one of the leading transplantation doctors in Tenerife Organ donations save or improve many lives

Advice for donors An organ donation card demonstrates your willingness to donate organs, but has no legal weight. Therefore, your intentions should be discussed with close friends and family. As a rule, they are responsible for giving the medical team consent to organ harvesting. If you want to be absolutely certain that a positive donor decision will be made after your death, you should make a legal voluntary patient's decision (Manifestación Anticipada de Voluntad). This can be done at the health authorities’ offices or through a notary public.

Photo: SCS

The Canary Islands Department of Health have reported that 193 lives were saved last year thanks to the generosity of 93 donors who made their organs available post mortem. A total of 123 kidneys, 45 livers and a pancreas were transplanted last year. In Tenerife, 45 liver transplants were performed at the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria (HUNSC) in Santa Cruz and 65 kidneys and a pancreas were transplanted at the Hospital Universitario de Canarias (HUC) in La Laguna. In the Hospital Madre Infantil in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, 58 kidneys were transplanted. And with regard to bone marrow donors, the Canary Islands set a new record last year with 1,567 donors.

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Despite the great willingness to make donations on the Canary Islands, around 21 per cent of relatives refused to make a positive decision last year. Many people are too overwhelmed to make this choice at a time when they are deeply distressed, which is why making your own feelings absolutely clear is so important. The Spanish donation model is the world's leading mould and promotes the willingness of its inhabitants to donate.

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Organ donation myths Myths and fears about organ donation are usually based on false information. In Spain, donations and transplants are governed by the

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PETS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

ADOPT, DON’T BUY

Animal charities’ round up Acción del Sol With more than 220 dogs looking for new loving homes please do come and visit us to see if maybe one is the dog for you. Every one of them has a full clean bill of health and is fully vaccinated, micro-chipped, castrated, which is compulsory to try to reduce the large numbers of unwanted litters here on Tenerife, and has a passport. There are no adoption fees but donations are welcomed towards the upkeep and running of the refuge. How you can help Many times we are asked how people can help. We need many things for the animals and refuge, such as products for our clinic (e.g. hydrogen peroxide, Betadine (iodine), surgical alcohol, towels, blankets and sheets), cleaning products and utensils, building materials, dog toys, leads, collars, tinned food for our elderly dogs, puppy milk, beds, and dog coats for when our dogs fly to Germany, as well as materials to help with our educational programmes (pens, paper, glue, play-doh and crayons). Every donation is greatly appreciated. In addition, we are desperately looking for people who are travelling to Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Berlin or Frankfurt who would be prepared to be a flight sponsor. All that’s needed is a little time at the airport: all the necessary paperwork and handling of the dogs is done by AccionTier staff. We are also always looking for afternoon dog walkers. Please call 922 778 630 if you can help in any way, or visit us on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons from 2pm to 5pm, and Saturdays 1pm to 4pm. We’re situated directly under the wind turbines, from exit 52 on the TF1 north bound, just after the El Médano junction. Head for the windmills on the coast and we’re located in the buildings on the right hand side. Alterna-

tively, email us on: teneriffa@ aktiontier.org or visit our Facebook page: Action tier Acción del Sol.

K9 The problem with Podencos Podencos are a breed of Canarian hunting dog which we often find coming into the kennels. Because hunting is still permitted on the Islands, thousands of them are still used as working hunting dogs. Inevitably, these dogs often go missing and end up as strays which breed continuously or are collected and delivered to local shelters such as K9. Podencos make remarkable pets. Although they are notorious for their energy and nervous attitude, they are very loyal and gentle dogs which cherish their owners. Because of their nervy behaviour, they can develop phobias if not socialised. Many of them are nervous around strangers and that can make them difficult to home, but they make terrific pets. Car boot sale Our next boot sale is on February 4 at the Los Gigantes bus station from 9am to 1pm. Our friendly K9 people will be waiting for you and are always happy to help. Shop till you drop Visit our shop at Alcalá Plaza, every day from 10am to 2pm. Donations of quality household goods are very welcome as well. Call 646 561 035 to arrange collection of larger items from all local areas. Proceeds from our shop are essential to ensuring our K9 dogs have everything they need to make their time at the refuge as comfortable as possible. There are always lots of bargains to be had and our volunteers will make you very welcome.

Cats Welfare We all know kittens are adorable, cuddly, playful and curious, but there’s more you may not know. All kittens are born with blue eyes, because the

Cats Welfare shares some interesting information about kittens

pigments that create eye colour haven’t developed yet. It takes two to three months for cats to develop their permanent eye colour. Kittens also have extremely poor eyesight until they’re about three weeks old, after that it continues to improve as they grow. Everyone’s familiar with the word ‘litter’, which is used to describe a group of kittens. Another less-familiar term for the same thing is a ‘kindle’. The difference is that a kindle is a term specifically for kittens, but the word litter can describe a group of many other types of animals. A litter or kindle of kittens is generally one to nine kittens. The number can be influenced by different factors, including the age of the mother. The largest recorded litter was 19. Kittens begin to grow tiny and sharp teeth when they’re about three to six weeks old. These are their deciduous teeth, and by about six weeks all the deciduous teeth are present. Kittens have 26 of these teeth, while an adult cat has 30 permanent teeth. At about three months of age, a kitten’s teeth begin to fall out as the permanent teeth come in. Around six to seven months old, they usually have all of their permanent teeth in place. Please consider adopting from us. All of our cats go on a week’s trial in your home so you can be sure you’ve made the right decision. If you adopt two kittens together then kitten injection, micro chip and neutering is free for the second kitten. Adopt a black kitten or two and both kittens receive the above treatments for free. Contact us via our website, www.cats-welfare-tenerife. com, or ring/whatsapp Sharon (English) on 662 524

006, seven days a week 9am to 6pm, or Sandra (Spanish and German) after 6pm on 671 282 773. Alternatively, message us on Facebook. Our shop Our shop is our main source of income and incredibly important for us for raising funds, so we always need good quality/condition items donated, as well as happy customers in the shop!

ADOPTION

Marco Find it on the San Blas complex in Golf del Sur (behind Hiperdino), open seven days a week, 10am until 6pm, except Saturdays when it’s 10am until 4pm. If you don’t have transport or have large bulky items to donate you can ring Mark on 636 590 557 to arrange collection. Or maybe you would you like to help in the shop? It’s a great way to meet new friends and support the local community at the same time. Want to help but not sure how? We go through vast amounts of bedding each week so we always need towels, blankets, sheets etc. to keep the cats clean and warm. Food and litter is a large part of our expenditure each month as we feed 20 large colonies of cats and also have foster carers who need them for their charges. Any brand is always welcome. Also, do you have any pet carriers or dog training cages to spare? n

Marco is one of the many Podencos waiting for someone to give them the opportunity they deserve, so why not take the chance to meet him at K9? Podencos make amazing, loving and intelligent pets and deserve great homes! Call: 667 638 468 or email: info@k9tenerife. com for more info. n

25.1.2018 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7.2.2018

PROMOTION

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

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FARMERS MARKET

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

FARMER’S MARKETS

Island support!

Farmer’s Markets Adeje Calle Archajara, s/n, in front of Makro Saturday/Sunday 8am – 2pm / Wednesday 3pm – 7pm Telephone: 922 775 200

El Sauzal Hoya de la Vida, next to the church, Ravelo Friday/Saturday/Sunday 7.30am- 2pm Telephone: 922 584 657

Alcalá Plaza de Llano Monday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 850 100

Güímar Plaza del Ayuntamiento Sunday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 526 105

Arafo Plaza San Juan Degollado Thursday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 511 711 Arico Porís de Abona Sunday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 676 159 034 Arona Valle San Lorenzo C/ Cooperativa, 2 Saturday/Sun 8am - 2 pm mercadoagricultor@arona.org Buenavista del Norte Plaza de San Sebastián Opening times: Saturday 8.30am – 2pm Telephone: 922 129 030 Candelaria Wednesday 8am - 2pm Next to council offices Saturday 8am – 2pm. Plaza del Centro Comercial de Punta Larga Telephone: 922 505 014

We at Island Connections are sure in the knowledge that one of the best ways to help yourself, and the economy, is to buy locally – even if you are just visiting for a short time. Canarian farmers harvest an extensive range of crops, which can be seen growing in the typical stepped-terrain farms around the Islands. Products range from tropical fruits, such as mangoes, to worldwide staples like lentils, potatoes and onions. According to the agricultural group COAG-Canarias, prices of fresh fruits and vegetables differ greatly between the amount the farmers receive and the sale

price in the supermarkets. For instance, towards the end of last year, small marrows, which the farmers were paid just €0.07/kilo for, retailed at €0.84, and leeks sold at €0.36 were passed onto the consumer for around €2.23 a kilo. Many of the prices don’t even seem to cover the cost of production - and this is when subsidies became necessary to keep farms from disappearing, which, like the hiked prices, also come out of our pockets. Enter the farmers markets, where the grower can sell directly to the customer without an intermediary. They are dotted all over the Islands,

with at least one in almost every town. They allow customers to purchase fresher, higher quality produce at cheaper prices, and the farmers receive a fair payment for their efforts. This enables them to maintain or raise the standard of their crops and uphold productivity levels – it’s a win-win situation. In these markets you will be sure to see a variety of seasonal products, as well as some local home-made delicacies such as preserves, honeys and Canarian goat’s cheese. A selection of meats and fish can also be found among the stalls, along with an assortment of cakes, pastries and biscuits. Buy locally, eat healthily, pay fairly – this is one way we can all help each other. So, to show our support of local farmers we are taking this timely opportunity to publish the details of the many farmers’ markets around the island of Tenerife. Enjoy. n

El Médano Plaza Principal Wednesday 8am – 2pm Telephone: 922 759 966/62 El Rosario Carretera General del Norte, la Esperanza Saturday/Sunday/festivals 8am – 4pm Telephone: 922 010 160

Icod de Los Vinos Calle Key Muñoz 5 Monday/Friday 8am – 2pm Telephone: 922 815 700 / 922 447 938 La Guancha Carretera General TFS km 49 Saturday/Sunday 8am – 3pm Telephone: 922 360 788 La Laguna Plaza del Cristo Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday 6am – 2pm Telephone: 922 601 100 / 922 253 903 La Matanza de Acentejo Ctra. General del Norte Saturday 8am – 3pm, Sunday 8am – 2pm Telephone: 922 577 120 La Orotava Calle Educadora Lucía Mesa Saturday 8am – 1.30pm Telephone: 922 336 804 / 681 277 633 Los Realejos Camino Viejo de San Benito, Finca el Llano, Realejo Alto Saturday/Sunday 9am – 2pm Telephone: 922 346 234 Los Silos Plaza de la Luz, Los Silos Sunday 9am – 2pm Telephone: 922 840 004

Playa de San Juan Paseo El Bufadero Wednesday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 850 100 Puerto de la Cruz Avenida Blas Pérez González, 4 Wednesday to Saturday 8am – 2pm Telephone: 922 386 158 San Isidro Mercado del Agricultor de Granadilla Off the roundabout leading to El Médano Saturday/Sunday 8am – 2pm Telephone: 922 759 966 San Miguel de Abona P.I. Las Chafiras, San Miguel de Abona, next to the fire station Saturday/Sunday 8am – 2pm Wednesday 2pm – 7.30pm Telephone: 922 735 386 Santa Cruz de Tenerife Avenida José Manuel Guimerá Sunday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 606 000 Santa Úrsula Carretera General, near the town hall Saturday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 301 640 Tegueste Calle de Asuncionistas, 6 Saturday/Sunday 8.00am – 2pm Telephone: 922 316 100 Vilaflor Plaza de Vilaflor Monday to Thursday 8am – 1pm Telephone: 922 709 002

25.1.2018 – 7.2.2018

DIRECT TELECOM POOL LEAGUE

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

Champions again! Gaffers A have secured Division One of the Direct Telecom Pool League once again. They have been in the box seat for most of the season and confirmed their domination with yet another title success. Last Tuesday’s draw with Blue Water Bar was only the second time this season they failed to win and they are showing no

Scores Division One Gaffers A 6 6 Blue Water Bar James Hammers C 5 7 Palms Elite Pool Centre 7 - 5 Exiles A Tenerife Hammers A 8 4 Terrace Originals Terrace Subs 6 6 Gaffers B Treehouse A 6 - 6 Dreamers Blue Water Bar 8 4 Phoenix Potters Dreamers 8 4 Pool Centre Exiles A 7 - 5 Terrace Subs Gaffers B 7 - 5 Palms Elite Tenerife Hammers A 9 3 James Hammers C

Scores Division Two Exiles B 5 - 7 Bluebell A Palms Rebels 7 5 Treehouse B Picasso’s A 6 - 6 Hoppys Yates Bar 9 - 3 Bluebell B Hoppys 3 - 9 Bluebell A Picasso’s B 7 5 Picasso’s A Treehouse B 4 - 8 Exiles B Yates Bar 4 - 8 Palms Rebels

Pickup Point

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signs of being pegged back. Well done to Neil, Bangkok Kev, Lee and Top Six Dave. There is a real bunfight behind them for second place and it would take a brave man to predict who will finish second and third. Ninth place Exiles A will still feel they could finish in the top three and there are sure to be more twists and turns as we enter the last couple of months of the campaign.

Pool Centre are currently second, despite having a frame difference of just plus 2. Palms Elite are always in tight games and they won one and lost one 7:5. They have games in hand and will be confident of picking up at least third place. Tenerife Hammers A are finishing the season well. They collected another six points with wins over Terrace Originals and James Hammers C. Dreamers are also finishing well. They

Division 1 POS 1 Gaffers A 2 Pool Centre 3 Palms Elite 4 Blue Water Bar 5 Tenerife Hammers A 6 Gaffers B 7 Dreamers 8 Treehouse A 9 Exiles A 10 James Hammers C 11 Phoenix Potters 12 Terrace Originals 13 Terrace Subs

P W D L F A +- PTS 19 17 1 1 162 66 96 52 20 9 6 5 121 119 2 33 18 9 5 4 123 93 30 32 21 7 11 3 133 119 14 32 20 9 4 7 124 116 8 31 19 9 3 7 116 112 4 30 17 8 4 5 114 90 24 28 20 7 7 6 120 120 0 28 18 7 4 7 107 109 -2 25 19 7 2 10 105 123 -18 23 18 3 2 13 80 136 -56 11 19 1 6 12 96 132 -36 9 20 1 5 14 87 153 -66 8

Division 2 POS 1 Palms Rebels 2 Yates Bar 3 Hoppys 4 Bluebell A 5 Bluebell B 6 Picasso’s B 7 Treehouse B 8 Exiles B 9 Picasso’s A

P W D L F A +- PTS 19 12 2 5 127 101 26 38 19 10 4 5 133 95 38 34 21 9 6 6 136 116 20 33 19 10 3 6 118 110 8 33 18 9 2 7 115 101 14 29 19 8 3 8 122 106 16 27 19 6 2 11 93 135 -42 20 21 5 3 13 108 144 -36 18 19 3 5 11 92 136 -44 14

Champions Gaffers celebrate winning the title again

banked another four points and will have felt they could have got more than just a draw at Treehouse A. At the bottom there is still a scramble to avoid the wooden spoon. Phoenix Potters are now without a win since mid October after getting chinned at Blue Water Bar 8:4. They are still above water after another loss for Terrace Originals, while Terrace Subs were delighted with the point at home to Gaffers B.

It looks like a three horse race to win Division Two after a couple of winless matches for Hoppys. The draw at Picassos A has surely ended their promotion hopes. No such worries for Palms Rebels, who picked up back to back wins. They have three home games left and play the bottom two before the end of the season. It may be theirs to lose after they beat second place Yates. Bluebell A will feel they are still the mix

and their close win at Exiles B could prove vital. The B team have bragging rights in Picassos after a tight win over the A team. This week sees a break from League action as the Cup and Plate has reached the quarter final stage. There could be a couple of giant killings. Palms Rebels will smell blood at Treehouse A while Picassos A may give Terrace Originals a game in the Plate. n

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SPORTS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

THE TALISKER WHISKY ATLANTIC CHALLENGE 2017

A double rowing record About 3,000 nautical miles lie between La Gomera and Antigua in the Caribbean and the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, which every year sets this course as a contest for the world's toughest rowing regatta, ended with two new records. The team The Four Oarsmen, from Great Britain, finished the race on January 13 and set a new world record. They were the fastest four humans to ever traverse the Atlantic, and they did it in only 29 days, 14 hours and 34 minutes. This year the expert athletes had an incredibly close race. Within only 17 hours, four teams arrived at the finish. After the extremely fast Brits, came the teams Antigua and Swiss Mocean who rowed themselves into the second and third places. By the way, the four guys from Swiss Mocean wrote their own place in the history books of their country as the first Swiss team to row across the Atlantic. The Dutchman Mark Slats scored spectacularly in the boat Row4cancer. No one has ever rowed single-handedly

The Four Oarsmen set a new record

He rowed for up to 20 hours at a time. Never before has a single rower been as fast

across the Atlantic as fast as he did. After 30 days, seven hours and 49 minutes he reached the Caribbean, beating the previous record by an unbelievable five days. He was welcomed euphorically in Antigua. His colleagues greeted him with his new moniker, The Flying Dutchman.

The game-changing women who break into the male domain

A special tribute must be made to the strong ladies of the race, which is still a mainly male domain. Only three out of 25 teams in the race were female. At the time of going to print, the trio Rowegians and the quartet Kung Fu Cha Cha are not only still rowing, but are also among the leaders in the first

third. The Atlantic Ladies, consisting of Elaine Theaker, Dianne Carrington and Sharon Magrath, are at the tail and still have a long way to go, while others are much further ahead. Yet they are absolutely admirable and they prove that age doesn't matter. Dianne had her 62nd birthday at sea and is not the slightest bit tired. With her efforts, she wants to encourage all women of her age to dare to do things that go beyond their supposed limit. Elaine said, "When my son is grown up and one day can say that his middle-aged mother motivated him to do things he never thought possible, I consider this to be the greatest gift that I can give him". This trio doesn't care when they cross the finish line. For them, they have already won a battle and all that matters is to prove it to everyone and to arrive. These women make a difference and pave the way for others who want to face such challenges. Lauren Morten from the organisation commented, "They are my real heroines!" n

GRAN CANARIA OBSTACLE COURSE

V Guayre Extreme

The V Energy Drink Guayre Extreme mountain obstacle race will be held in the borough of Teror in the north of Gran Canaria on February 10 and 11. It’s considered to be the most Canarian competition of its kind, running cross-country through scenic areas, complete with mud and trenches, walls and hurdles, some with a unique tribal touch. Four routes are offered. The longest, Nublo, covers 13.5 kilometres and Bentayga consists of nine kilometres. The shorter distances begin at the Finca de Osorio or in the town centre. This competition is original and innovative, with new ideas constantly incorporated. Athletes can enjoy the scenery, as the competition tracks lead through the most beautiful nature reserves and traditional areas. Mayor, José Luis Báez said, “The obstacles are original and there are some innovations that will surprise the athletes.” By mid-January, more than 750 participants had already registered. Interested parties can still register as individuals or groups until February 4. In addition to the sporting challenge of pushing oneself to the limit, the sport and team spirit is what counts in this competition. For more information and registration, see www.guayreextreme.com. n Photo: Ayto. de Teror

In this competition, the athletes not only sweat but get dirty too

LOS REALEJOS

Elite international triathletes The British brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, their compatriots Mark Buckingham and Gordon Benson, the Australian Aaron Royle and the Slovakian Richard Varga are currently preparing for the 2018 competition season at the Iván Ramallo stadium in Los Realejos. Alistair Brownlee won the gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and at the European Championship in London (2012). He also won gold at the World Triathlon Championships in Australia (2009) and Beijing (2011), at the European Championships in Ireland (2010), Spain (2011) and Austria (2014). He won a silver medal at the European Championship in the Netherlands (2009). His brother Jonathan won silver at the Olympic Games in Rio (2016), bronze at the European Championships in London (2012), at the World

Championships in China (2011), London (2013) and Mexico (2016). The World Championship in New Zealand (2012) even brought him a gold medal and he returned with a bronze medal from the World Championship in Canada (2014). The Slovakian triathlete Richard Varga is considered the fastest swimmer among triathletes. He won gold medals at the 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015 World Aquatic Championships. He also represented his country at the Olympic Games in London (2012) and Brazil (2016). Australian Aaron Royle won the Oceania Championships in Australia (2014) and won silver at each of the Oceania Championships in 2016 and 2013. He also won the Sprint category at the Oceania Cup in New Zealand (2012). He represented Australia at the Olympic Games in London (2012) and Brazil (2016).

World elite sportsmen and women in the north of Tenerife

England's Mark Buckingham won the 2011-2013 duathlon championships in England, bronze at the 2011-2013 duathlon world championships in Australia (2015) and Canada (2017) and bronze at the mixed relay triathlon championships in Germany (2015). His fellow countryman Gordon Benson was also part of the bronze-winning mixed relay in Germany. He was the winner of the European Games in Azerbaijan (2015) and the European Cup in Spain (2015). As a triathlete and a member of the British national team, he represented his country at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and now the hunt for medals continues in the 2018 season. Their batteries should be well charged after training in Tenerife. n

25.1.2018 – 7.2.2018

FOOTBALL

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

CD TENERIFE

Major changes expected By Chris Todd to play him as he was just A disappointing pair of results puts the manager on the spot 13/01/2018 Real Zaragoza 1:0 CD Tenerife Zaragoza had been suffering an ‘average’ season for their high standards but as is often the case CD Tenerife proved to be an excellent rival for any struggling team to play against. As the heavens opened in La Romareda Stadium it was the local team that adjusted to the conditions more quickly and after a chaotic first few minutes they took the lead on six minutes with a sweet strike by Pombo. Worse was to follow for the blanquiazules as centre half Alvedaño injured a shoulder and was replaced by Jorge Saenz and the injury hoodoo continued for Tenerife as striker Juan Villa also needed to leave the pitch after just 20 minutes. It was a risk

returning from injury but with main striker Samuele Longo out manager pep Marti took the gamble. Needless to say it didn’t pay off and now the side lacked shape and a target man. Zaragoza are a club desperate to retain their place in the top flight and despite being €82 million in debt they still seem able to splash the cash in the transfer window and have a high budget set by the league. The home team bossed the game whilst Tenerife attempted to launch counter attacks. In the second half Borja missed a penalty for Zaragoza to sentence the match but with very little created by Tenerife it hardly mattered. A deserved victory for the home side and another away defeat for Tenerife. They had won the previous week on their travels, so it was too much to expect another one in the same season wasn’t it?

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New signing Luis Milla is the big hope to rescue the season for Tenerife. The talented youngster will make his debut on January 28 in the Heliodoro Stadium against Valladolid - kick off 7pm

21/01/2018 CD Tenerife 1:3 Barcelona B Not even the most pessimistic supporter could have seen this one coming. Yes, once again Tenerife were ravaged by injuries with both main strikers out but there can be no excuses for the first half performance. The youngsters from Barcelona are a talented bunch and they do play the tiki-taka Barca style but they have struggled to pick up points away from home this season, often being out muscled by rival teams. Tenerife normally are strong at home, in

fact prior to the match they had only lost two out of the previous 46 games played at the Heliodoro stadium. On a pleasant winter’s evening in Santa Cruz a crowd of 13,079 witnessed a thrilling first half an hour of football with three goals and a penalty miss to boot. Thrilling for the few Barca fans or neutrals in the stadium that is, as for the loyal blanquiazul supporters this was a total embarrassment. The players were simply not playing for their under-fire coach Pep Marti and the result was an acute

lack of concentration, especially in defence. Barca took the lead on nine minutes through Carles Pérez and same player added to his tally soon after to make it 0-2 to the visitors. The Tenerife reaction was tepid but their perseverance paid off when they won a penalty on the half an hour mark. A goal now would have given a huge boost to everyone. However, Aitor Sanz would have been better taking penalties for Hull Kingston Rovers than any footballing side, as his penalty troubled fans in row 20 more

than the Barca keeper. You could just tell that it was not going to be our day. When the Barcelona B boys made it 0-3 minutes later it was the final straw for many and thoughts turned to criticising the players. The second half did show some spirit and dare I say it a slight improvement (it couldn’t have been much worse) but the visitors let Tenerife have the ball and defended deep. When Jorge Sanz pulled a goal back on 77 minutes there was a slight chance of a revival but the crowd by this time was almost accepting defeat in order for major changes to take place for the rest of the season. Manager Pep Marti has been a hero here in the past, he was captain under Rafa Benitez when Tenerife gained promotion in 2001 and in his first managerial role he led Tenerife to the Play-off Final last season. Perhaps his time is up now. Maybe being of a similar age to some of the more established players in the dressing room has hindered him, he has been too soft. It is a shame to have ended like this but we need results now, not to make a late dash for a play-off spot, which is still possible, but to make sure we don’t get involved in a relegation fight. n

HOROSCOPES | CLASSIFIEDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

Horoscope for period: January 25 to February 7 Aries 21.03 - 20.04 You have an extraordinary zest for life as January comes to a close. The 27th and 28th are the days to look for adventure. You like to hold all the cards in a relationship, but don’t look for anyone domineering, as Aries love to be the pursuer.

Contacts

Taurus 21.04 - 20.05 There’s a lot on your plate, but you have every intention of finishing every last bit of it. You are fired with ambition on the 1st and 2nd of February, and as the month flows towards Valentine’s Day, you may be in for a pleasant surprise.

Are you looking for erotic relaxation of a special kind? www.lynn-tantramassage. com.

Gemini 21.05 - 21.06 It takes an extremely special person to get the single Gemini to settle down in a relationship, but they’re definitely out there. It’s the right time of year for romance and it could be the right year for you single Geminis to find your special someone. Cancer 22.06 - 22.07 It could well be a little erratic dealing with this new energy burst. Try to be flexible as this is long term. There seems a lot of oomph going into how you make a living. Use the qualities that you have within you and see where it takes you. Leo 23.07 - 23.08 Quite a lot of your current effort is going into creativity. If you can break away from your own limitations there’s no telling where, and how far, you can go! So you need to take the plunge and get things moving in the areas that are relevant. Virgo 24.08 - 23.09 Inspired by the blue moon at the end of the month, your seductive side gets equal time to come out and play on the 1st and 2nd of February, so if you feel like you’ve been neglecting your libido lately, this is your chance to make up for lost time. Libra 24.09 - 23.10 Unexpected surprises put you in a perfect frame of mind. When it comes to romance, Libra doesn’t skimp at the beginning of February. You aren’t above spending some serious money in order to impress your special someone with a special gift. Scorpio 24.10 - 22.11 There’s going to be changes over the next several months to do with children, romance, creativity, and possibly domestic arrangements. You will find that you are going to need some time for yourself, to take charge and get the rhythm right. Sagittarius 23.11 - 21.12 Part of your current redirection may include a short course to provide the right knowledge in order to accommodate this new ambition. This may mean changing or altering home life but sweeping changes seem to be on the horizon. Be prudent. Capricorn 22.12 - 20.01 You need to be free from worries over changing direction, so that you can use your talents where they are more respected. You should have extra energy on the 1st and 2nd of February, making these perfect days to start your next big project. Aquarius 21.01 - 20.02 It’s your prerogative to change your mind, but before you do you might want to think about your reputation. You are starting to feel claustrophobic in a relationship where the other person wants to control you. Find the freedom you deserve. Pisces 21.02 - 20.03 The blue moon makes you a bit more experimental and risqué so if you have a willing partner you’re ready and willing to explore some new territory as long as it’s on your terms. Think twice though before getting into a situation you may regret.

good bodies. Mind blowing French, Greek, lesbian, positions, vibrators, toys. Apartment in the centre of Los Cristianos. Tel: 639 121 699. Transsexual, beautiful, tall, fat, dark haired, long big penis, 140cm breasts, active/passive. €60 for half hour and €100 for one hour. Apartments Royal, in front of the bus station, Los Cristianos. WhatsApp for info. Tel: (+34) 602 626 848.

speaks English and Spanish, has an apartment and car and also does visits. We can meet in a café before. Tel: (+34) 630 759 974. Los Cristianos, beautiful Colombian girl, providing all types of services without limits. You can visit me in my private apartment or I can come to you. Tel: 604 117 090.

Lorena, hot Latin girl, 35 years old, pretty, good body, big breasts, I am all-terrain. You will enjoy this with no limits. Private apartment in the centre of Los Cristianos. I can do outcalls. Tel: 610 359 339.

Los Cristianos, new, Aracely, Spanish blonde. All services. I can do hotel visits Los Cristianos, Alejandra, or I will welcome you in my Venezuelan, beautiful, large private apartment. Tel: 664 breasts, great body. French 099 043. natural, kisses, positions, sado, golden rain, fetishism, Los Cristianos, Meliza, Venvibrators. Private apartment ezuelan, large breasts, all in the centre of Los Cris- services, natural French, tianos, or I can do outcalls. positions, kisses, sado. I Tel: 603 375 934. have a private apartment in Calle Ramón Pino, near Tenerife South, Latin girl, to Playa Las Vistas. I do out20 years old, active, hot, calls. Tel: 602 629 191. party lover, perverse games, I will make your fantasies Pamela, Afro-Brazilian, Las come true. I can also do Chafiras. Massage service home visits. Tel: 698 597 available for gentlemen 133. only. Private apartment. HH Franciscano Street, beside €60 an hour, Carolina, tall, the large park, Las Chafiras. fair skinned, 90cm breasts, Tel: 608 285 035. slim, affectionate, fun, allbody massage on a table with oils, no rush, happy To advertise ending. Los Cristianos, Calle Monaco, Edificio Marte. For your services an appointment, call 610 with us, 620 089.

Enjoy two Venezuelan girls, one blonde, one brunette, 26 and 37 years old, beautiful, luxurious, party lovers,

Only for generous ladies: Excursions, escorts, massages (also erotic) and more. Marc (German)

You’ll love the details. Luxury erotic massages. Beautiful masseuse from the East. We are in Playa Paraiso, near the Hard Rock Hotel, in the Costa Adeje area. Tel: (+34) 662 960 065. www. edentenerife.com. Erotic private massages, parties, threesomes, bondage, escort, in a beautiful location or at your home/ hotel, with German couple or alone with me, a nice little lady with piercings in all the best places, enjoying French and realising your secret wishes. Tel: (+34) 648 245 425.

please call

922 75 06 09

25.1.2018 – 7.2.2018

ISLAND CONNECTIONS MEDIA GROUP S.L. www.islandconnections.eu

Island Connections Online: www.islandconnections.eu

CLASSIFIEDS DEADLINE NEXT EDITION The deadline for edition 814, which is published on 8th February, is 6th February. No classifieds will be taken after this date.

Head Office: Calle Francisco Feo Rodríguez 6º- first floor. Pol. Industrial Las Chafiras 38620 - San Miguel de Abona. Tel.: 922 75 06 09 Fax: 922 795 810 OFFICE HOURS: Mon-Frid 9:30 -16:30 hours

Classified Info Adverts for our Classifieds Section must be sent by email or hand delivered to the office. If you would like to advertise, please send your classified text to: classifieds@ ic-news.com. Alternatively, place your classified advert with one of our four agents: Now Tenerife.com in Golf del Sur, Redhound Bookshop in Los Cristianos, The Bookswop in Las Américas, Petras Deutscher Bücherstand in Puerto de La Cruz.

Rates: * LINEAGE CLASSIFIEDS: From €16 * SMALL & LONG TERM: Ask for long term advertising (3, 6, 12 months) and our special discounts. * FURTHER OPTIONS: color / boxed adverts. TO PLACE YOUR ADVERT CALL: 922 75 06 09 You are welcome to come to our offices in Las Chafiras to place small ads. Card payment facilities are available.

CLASSIFIEDS

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

General Services Massage and more. Offer: 60 minutes body massage €36. Couples, four hands, lava stones, tantric massages, etc. Playa de las Américas, Ernesto Sarti no.8, across from Iberostar Hotel Torviscas Playa. Tel. 602 608 626 For sale. Home-produced ecological vegetables, Tenerife south. Interested businesses, call 650 323 751 (Spanish only), send WhatsApp or email to: michelteide@hotmail.com www.mascuidados.com Website for our massages, dedicated to bringing the benefits of therapeutic massage to your home or hotel, no charge for travel. Do you want a massage? www.mascuidados.com Tel. 663 190 727

After school classes, help or activities in English, German or Spanish, please contact Mrs. Garus. Tel. 602 506 793. We are 5 minutes away from Wingate School in Cabo Blanco. Qualified specialist from Germany helps you with back pain, neck pain, sciatica, headaches

Donaldson is available to contact on Tel: (+34) 922 178 091 or Email: ave.fenix73@gmail.com Are you looking for an opportunity with financial independence and personal fulfillment? Become an Independent Beauty Consultant!!! More Info: 642 601 553.

Spanish and English Lawyers

Conveyancing • Inheritance & Wills Family Law • Criminal Law Civil Litigation & Personal Injury Timeshare • Tax & Commercial law and insomnia. Tel. 0034 699 15 61 47 (ask for Eugene). Masonic Lodge - Ave Fenix No.73. New meetings starting in October 2017 on the fourth Tuesday of the month. If interested, all visitors are welcome to come down. For further information, lodge secretary John

Mobile welder for hire anywhere on the island Contact Jason:

683 422 304

T: E:

922 719 520

tenerife@decottalaw.net

Av. de Los Pueblos, Residencial Villaflor B-20, San Eugenio

www.decottalaw.net

Santiago del Teide Lions Club Bargains galore From clothes and children’s toys to kitchenware and books – there are plenty of great deals on second-hand goods. They even have sets of golf clubs! Don’t miss out – visit their shop below the plaza in Puerto Santiago (Behind Vigilia Park). Open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10am – 1pm and Wednesdays 2pm to 8pm.

Second-Hand Sale LOS ABRIGOS & Auction X Room

We sell everything you need for your home or rental apartment. We buy quality furniture for CASH. Free Valuations! Collection & Delivery Service. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am-1pm & 4pm-7pm · Sat 10am-1pm Tel: 922 749 664 Los Abrigos, 1st building on the right, coming from Las Chafiras News: Los Abrigos Auction Room www.second-hand-tenerife.com

General Services

CLASSIFIEDS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

Boiler King

All plumbing works undertaken including boiler replacements, drain clearance, swimming pool pump repairs and maintenance. Call Rory 680 278 579 or Tom 642 771 035

We sell furniture suitable for bar/restaurant (tables, chairs, kitchen accessories, decoration etc.) in excellent condition. Price negotiable. Tel: 922 717 613 or 671 912 301

Teacher (English and Spanish) and interpreter gives Spanish lessons. I would also like to work as a secretary. Tel: 747 790 001 or email: k.arim555@ live.com. Body, foot reflexology, Breuss massage, manual lymph drainage. Let yourself be pampered by Simone’s hands. Economic price. Tel: 611 277 578. www. simonehands.de. Professional massage therapy, available at the client’s home/ apartment. Certified and experienced masseur for remedial, deep tissue, Swedish, sports and relaxing massage. Mobile/ WhatsApp: (+34) 683 141 129

You are invited to

Integrated fridge freezer, Ikea Whirlpool H173´5 x 54 x 51´8 (Similar to Ikea Islande). Good condition. Costa del Silencio. €70. Tel: (+44) 7565 428 833.

LOCKSMITH Instant response, 7 days a week call out

Call 647 92 82 23 Sunday 10am and Wednesday 7pm

Shopping Center Salytien Av. Rafael Puig Lluvina 37 www.clifchurch.org Pastor Mark 637 321 453

MASONIC MEETINGS Logia Ave Fenix Nº 73 Edificio Simón, Los Cristianos. New meetings start in October, on the fourth Tuesday All Visitors welcome Contact John Donaldson (Secretary):

(+34) 922 178 091 or ave.fenix73@gmail.com

You’re invited!!! FREE BEAUTY SESSION. This is your time to relax with friends or on your own, share the excitement of trying new products, learn about the latest techniques and trends and of course, earn fabulous rewards. More info: 642 601 553 Maggie.

Rental Classifieds

Wanted urgently: an apartment to rent in El Médano with 2 bedrooms and a garage. Tel: 676 243 558.

Apartment for rent, 1 bedroom, fully equipped, near Playa Martiánez, in Puerto de La Cruz, €470 /month + electricity. Tel: Theresa on 606 105 101. Winter letting Puerto de La Cruz Studio apartment, 24 hour concierge, pool, sea views. Minimum three month contract. €500 per month. 669 652 149 Looking to swap my house in Tenerife for a house in Dublin or surroundings. If agreed, the time could be arranged. From a month to a year time gap. Call Carmen 693 727 683 Apartment and Villa for rent in Tenerife south. Tel: (0034) 662 507 191. Garage to rent, double width. Victoria Court 1, Los Cristianos. Close to Sunday market. Very secure lock-up. Tel: 679 919 623

Sales

Classifieds APARTMENT TABAIBA ALTA For sale, only five mins away

from the German school, roughly 102ms, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, living room, utility room, garden, big terrace. Spectacular views of the sea and mountain, big garage with 2 spaces, 2 closed store rooms, price €180,000, mob. 686 798 367, email e optene rife @ gmail.co m LOCAL FOR SALE. For sale: commercial shop unit for refurbishment. The former Venus Gymnasium in front of Mercadona and Lidl in Santa María del Mar, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Ask for Eustakio or Mara. Tel: 670 862 803. www.teneriffa-fincas.net Beautiful seafront apartment for private sale. One bedroom, garage, sea views and in a sunny position. Price: €120,000. No agents. Tel: 922 752 759. Mobile: 608 425 426. For sale, Bungalow 160m2 Costa Sauzal, situated front row with guaranteed spectacular sea-views, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, living room with panoramic windows, modern kitchen, dining room connected to the terrace, including a heated 4 x 8 m pool, all on same level, garage and a marvellous tropical garden with 800m2 landscaped with various plants

CINDERELLA’S SE TRASPASA Fabulous boutique with all stock, fixtures & fittings €75,000

(price negotiable without stock)

Situated in the beautiful plaza of San Sebastián in a fast growing area of La Caleta Enquiries call 660 295 647 or 667 659 739 or email annienolan8@gmail.com and lots of fruit-trees. Private sale contact: info@ simonsananes.com. Tel.: 00 34 699 444 879 For sale Local in Americas Shopping (Patch) – front line facing Parque Santiago 2. Freehold of 75 square metres with 5m ceiling height. Suitable for bar, restaurant, mini supermarket, surf shop, office etc. Price – €150,000.00 for quick sale. For viewing or further particulars, contact David on 609 072 467. Investment property – Rental €20,000. Per annum. On lifetime traspaso with current ten-

Advert Placement www.islandconnections.eu

Vehicles To advertise please call 922 75 06 09

Car needed for long-term rental 676 378 618

ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

CLASSIFIEDS | PASTIMES

ant in for seven years. Asking price – €230,000.00. Excellent investment opportunity for the long term investor with annual increase in return. Prime location in Playa de Las Americas, Garden City. For further particulars, call David on 609 072 467.

(For Crossword and Sudoku solution see pag 36)

25.1.2018 – 7.2.2018

One bedroom apartment for rent in Edificio Las Plataneras in Los Cristianos. Five minutes' walk to the beach. Fibre optic internet, international television. No pets. Would suit mature couples. Available February 15 to September 30. Tel: 637 268 337.

Situations Vacant / wanted Come and join our Dynamic Team! Te l e m a r k e t i n g company on the coast surrounding Marbella / Fuengirola is looking for Brokers /Qualifiers. High revenue. English, German, Dutch and Scandinavian. Send your CV to: telesalestenerife@ hotmail.com

Across

7 - effect (6) 8 - fastening (6) 10 - deforming (7) 11 - sense experience (5) 12 - small compartment (4) 13 - change (5) 17 - propose (5) 18 - covering material (4) 22 - piece of land (5) 23 - wearing away (7) 24 - meaning (6) 25 - travelled on water (6)

Down

1 - multi-span structure (7) 2 - early Christian teacher (7) 3 - performing artist (5) 4 - planned (7) 5 - itinerant (5) 6 - unpleasant people (5) 9 - services (9) 14 - engraving (7) 15 - dreams of future (7) 16 - cyclone (7) 19 - tore (5) 20 - numbers; analysis (abbrev) (5) 21 - deceives (5)

GARDENING

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

GARDEN CRAFT

Growing ginger on. This can be cut into small pieces, making sure each section has a bud on it. Soak them overnight in warm water to prepare them for planting.

Fresh ginger always on hand with easy DIY pot-grown

Careful with containers

risottos, and is a great source of nutrients such as vitamins C and B6, potassium, iron, zinc and magnesium.

All year supply

Fresh ginger is an increasingly popular culinary addition to various recipes, as well as a potent spice that can be used to soothe a variety of ailments. Ginger is now more commonly available in the larger food chains and speciality grocery stores, although it’s not so long ago when procuring a section of the root could involve a desperate chase round various shops before, hopefully, leaving with a piece or two of the precious commodity in hand. Used for centuries to reduce pain and symptoms of nausea, ease digestive problems and boost metabolism, amongst other medicinal uses, ginger is a ubiquitous presence in a variety of health foods and drinks, as well as being a main ingredient in a whole range of soothing teas. In addition, it can be used fresh, dried or powdered in cooking, adding a pleasantly piquant taste to dishes like curries, soups, cakes, stir-frys and

Growing ginger indoors is surprisingly easy. It’s not only an option for those with a small balcony or none at all, but is actually a great way of growing your own – ginger is low maintenance and loves partial sunlight, and once a plant is established, the roots can be harvested all year round. Start with a plump, healthy looking piece of organic ginger root with plenty of buds

Ginger roots grow horizontally, so always use a large, wide, shallow container with plenty of drainage holes to home them. Fill it with rich potting compost to up five centimetres lower than its lip and moisten lightly. Ensuring that the eye bud is pointing upwards, gently place a portion of ginger root into the soil, leaving just the sprouting bud sticking out at the top. Cover the rest and moisten the soil again. Position the container in a spot that stays nice and warm but not directly in front of a window where the plant can get burnt. The soil should be kept slightly damp at all times, but never wet, so be careful not to over-water. Ginger is slow growing, but shoots should appear after around a fortnight or three weeks. Between three and six months later you will be able to use your first piece of truly fresh ginger. To harvest it, carefully move the soil at the edges of the container to uncover the rhizomes (the name for ginger’s roots, which are actually subterranean stems). Choosing a small section towards the edge of the pot, simply cut or gently break off a piece of rhizome and then cover the rest with soil so they can continue to grow. Give the plant a good watering afterwards as well, and wait at least a week before disturbing it again. n

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PROPERTY GUIDE

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Homes and properties for sale in the Canaries

PROMOTION

The best at Bettenhaus Hammerer As you get older you begin to realise that a good bed is worth its weight in gold. If you are already 65 years of age or more, you probably still feel far from elderly and many people feel so fit and vital that they are eager to start a completely new life. For some this means moving to Tenerife or at least to a 'winter swallow's nest' on this sunny island. Particularly in view of increased life expectancy, pensioners should not try to save money on certain items when it comes to maintaining their health. The more consciously the individual deals with his or her wellbeing, the better it can be maintained. Beds play an important role in this. After all, people spend six to ten hours in one during every night's sleep. Maria Hammerer from Bettenhaus Hammerer says, "It is not surprising then, that it’s important how people take care of themselves during this time. Back, disc or joint pain is often caused by sleeping on the wrong mattress. However, it is not possible to make a general assessment of what is a good mattress and what it is

their different physical constitutions. Nevertheless, the best and most relaxing solution for both of them can be found, with a mattress and adjustable slatted frames that can be individually adjusted for the back or legs, independently of each

Mattresses and more As well as the best mattresses, at Bettenhaus Hammerer there are also numerous bedsteads in different styles to choose from, all from renowned manufacturers.

perfect dining area with everything that makes a home cosy. The best thing to do for your welfare is to drop by and ask for advice. Sleeping and living comfort cannot be ordered at the click of a mouse, but must be tested on site. n

Bettenhaus Hammerer North

not, as this always depends on individual needs and a possible medical history." It is for these reasons that she, her two sons and the team always give the best advice to the customer, who benefits from the bed specialists' wealth of experience and knowledge. The expert explains, "For example, there are the so-called comfort height beds. This means the sitting and lying position is slightly higher, making it easier to get up." At Bettenhaus Hammerer, the customer is always given allround recommendations. For

Calle El Toscal 7 (on the main street) Los Realejos/La Longuera Tel: 922 36 24 08 Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10am to 6.30pm, Saturday from 10am to 1pm

The best relief for the spine promotes healthy sleep Individually adjustable slatted frames give the flexibility to adapt to the needs of each person A comfortable height when getting up helps to start the day on the right foot

instance, a couple who have been sharing a bed for a long time may still enjoy it, but not always the mattress because of

Bettenhaus Hammerer South other. Here too, professional advice is the be-all and endall that brings soothing sleep. Mattresses and bedding should be replaced approximately every ten years - not only important in later years, but throughout life for good quality rest. With a good bed and mattress, you won't be able to go to bed soon enough!

In addition, you will find highquality duvets, pillows and bed linen, as well as towels and bathrobes for a feeling of well-being in the bathroom. At Bettenhaus Hammerer you will not only find out how to sleep well, but also how to relax in the daytime! They also have a choice of the finest seating furniture, from sofas to Stressless® armchairs, or the

Las Chafiras Industrial Estate Avda. Claudio Delgado Díaz 23 Tel: 922 70 35 22 Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 1.30pm and 3pm to 6.30pm Saturday from 10am to 1.30pm www.bettenhausteneriffa.com

PROPERTY GUIDE

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

SOUTHWEST TENERIFE

Property of the month covering a total of 284m², with beautifully kept gardens, a BBQ, dining and cooking area, and an exceptionally large swimming pool which has lowrise steps down into it for easy access. In addition, there is also a separate bodega and study room. With unparalleled views across the sea to the neighbouring island of La Gomera, located on an urbanisation that is maintained to the highest standard and built just over 17 years ago, in an area which is peaceful yet within easy reach of all amenities, the villa is one of the best on the market and can be purchased for just €899,000. n

Los Gigantes Properties S.L. has a wide range of homes for sale in the south of Tenerife. For anyone who is thinking of buying a property, be it a family home, winter retreat, or holiday haven, there are plenty of opportunities to suit all budgets and tastes, and the staff at Los Gigantes Properties are always happy to answer any enquiries at any time.

Luxury and comfort Each month we will be highlighting one of the most interesting properties currently on the market. This edition the focus is on a spacious and luxurious villa in the quiet residential urbanisation of San Francisco, a few minutes’ drive from the popular resort of Los Gigantes. A beautifully presented detached home, the property boasts marble

floors throughout the extensive interior, which covers an area of 186m². With three double bedrooms and en suite bathrooms, as well as a large lounge and dining area, the villa is fully furnished, has air-conditioning in every room and benefits from fly screens and electric shutters throughout. The well-appointed and generous kitchen has a separate utility room leading off it, as well as direct entry to the large, private garage. One of the most striking features of the property is the extensive terrace,

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: PAUL RUANE PART FOUR

All change

Paul Ruane has been a leading figure in the property market in southwest Tenerife for the last 38 years. Island Connections had the privilege of speaking with him in an exclusive interview, which we shall be publishing over the coming editions. Paul originates from the UK and moved out to Tenerife to take up a temporary position renting out holiday lets. However, whilst here he was offered a post by local property developer of the time, J. P. Fulda, with whom he spent over a decade and a half. It was an opportunity that not only changed the course of his life, but which gave him an invaluable insight into construction and the local property market. After selling properties with J. P. Fulda for 15 years, you decided it was time for a change, what was your next move?

If you would like more information on this or other opportunities in the area, please contact

Los Gigantes Properties S.L. by calling: 922 861 313 607 371 666 647 943 721 Alternatively, see their website at: www.tenerifepropertysales.com Or call into the office at: Calle Flor de Pascua, 43 Los Gigantes 38683 Santiago del Teide

In 1994 I opened my own business, Los Gigantes Properties S.L., which was the very first estate agents in the town. It was the right moment to take up the challenge, both on a professional and personal level. Not only had I gained an enormous amount of experience, but the market in the mid-90s was thriving. That was almost 25 years ago. You must have seen many changes in that time? There have certainly been many up and downs over the years, but the Islands have always been a popular choice and will continue to be so, as they are the only area in Europe with guaranteed winter sunshine. Discover more in part five of this interview in our next edition. n

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ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

LUXURY DEVELOPERS Arquitect Teótimo Rodríguez Hermoso is delighted to present state of the art villas, located in the most exclusive area of Golf Costa Adeje just above the picturesque village of La Caleta, overlooking the golf course, the sea and La Gomera island.

Arthectónica Costa Adeje, Plaza del Duque Mall, Stand F, Tenerife, Spain Tel.: +34 608 495 131 Office: +34 922 716 312 arthectonicaluxury@gmail.com www.arthectonica.com www.teotimoarquitecto.com Follow us on Instagram @arthectonica

PROPERTY GUIDE

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

BAR/RESTAURANT COSTA ADEJE This excellent traspaso opportunity has just recently come on to the market. This busy establishment specializes in lunch and dinner service along with a strong football/sports customer base who regularly frequent the establishment to watch their favorite sport on one of the 7 TV’s located around the bar. The restaurant/bar has an oﬃcial opening license

676 378 618 CONTACT: +34 icrealestate@icmedia.eu

TRASPASO

€200.000

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ISLAND CONNECTIONS 813

PROPERTY GUIDE

FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWS 080

Townhouse in Residencial El Galeón

& + 34 822 144 541 The triplex consists of 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, living room, 3 terraces (one with ocean views), 74 metres, 200 metre floor area, furnished, no community payment, pre-installed solar powered hot water as well as air conditioning and terrace Jacuzzi, fully renovated, exterior, bright.

Property by Playa de Los Cristianos

& + 34 822 144 541 Apartment with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, separate kitchen, garage parking space, communal swimming pool, terrace with excellent sea views, bright, 90 metre floor plan, €68 community fee including water, close to the beach, central.

Urb. Oasis Dakota, Playa Fañabé 3 Bed Semi Detached

Toilet, complete bathroom, separate kitchen, totally equipped, furnished, 35m2 terrace, secure access to pool, infant park, good views, beside commercial centres, 800m from Playa Fañabé, community fees

British Style Bar

Playa Honda

Playa de Las Américas

Las Américas

Located just off front line, excellent reputation, regular clientele. Terrace for approximately 10 tables and refurbished interior in timber. Bar walls adorned with memorabilia. Includes store room and Ladies & Gents toilet facilities.

€ 122,000

€ 25,000

One bedroom apartment, tiled throughout, American-style kitchen, separate bedroom and terrace. Located in the center of Las Americas within 3 minutes walk from the beach.

ALAN: 634 098 838

30€/month

Tel 629 244 958 € 155,000 More than 200 real estates for sale. Videopresentation, fincas, villas, apartments... (+34) 617 825 331 agatastenerife@gmail.com www.agatatenerife.com

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