NT Magazine 241

Jennifer Afonso - Saving Mr. Banks - A Coruña - Discover the Canaries La Estercolada La Escalera Beach - Nurses - Canarian recipes

STAFF

CONTENT COORDINATOR

Beneharo Mesa · redaccion@barabaracomunicacion.com

TRANSLATION

Karl McLaughlin

EDITING

Lavadora de textos

CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE

Beneharo Mesa, Francisco Javier Torres del Castillo, Saioa Arellano, Fabián Sosa, Aarón Rodríguez González, Raquel Álvarez, Cristina Torres Luzón, Francisco Belín, Juan Capote.

CREATIVE DIRECTION AND LAYOUT great · greatttt.com · estudio@greatttt.com

COVER PHOTO

Saioa Arellano

PHOTOGRAPHS

Saioa Arellano, Adriana Galdo, Nacho González, José Chiyah Álvarez, Jonay P. Matos, Pixabay, Adobe Stock.

ILLUSTRATIONS

Capi Cabrera, Ilustre Mario.

BINTER

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Alfredo Morales – Vicepresident

Noelia Curbelo – Institutional Relations and Communication

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PRODUCED IN THE CANARY ISLANDS

Editorial

THE BEST RECOGNITION COMES FROM OUR PASSENGERS

I would like to begin this month’s editorial by sharing with you the news that leading Spanish consumer body, OCU (Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios), has announced that Binter has been rated the best airline in Spain and fourth best in the world, based essentially on its «service, price and quality».

Recognition such as this inspires us and encourages us to continue to face the future with confidence and reassurance, spurring us to undertake new challenges with courage and energy to ensure we remain the preferred airline for all who choose to fly with us.

In May we celebrate the anniversary of our Vigo and Palma (Majorca) routes, which we have operated for five years now, with seven and six frequencies weekly respectively. These routes have enabled Canarians and those living in the two destinations to travel without the need for stopovers, thus facilitating connectivity.

Easter has just ended and it is a period that, in a sense, marks the beginning of summer. During Easter we carried nearly 98,000 passengers on 1644 flights. The holiday period also saw us bring forward several of our Menorca flights and launch services such as the new direct flight between Lanzarote and Guelmim in Morocco. We have also resumed flights to Ponta Delgada (Azores) and, thanks to the agreement signed with SATA Azores Airlines, our passengers can now fly on to other islands in the Portuguese archipelago and purchase fares to the United States and Canada.

Another important milestone which we are extremely proud of and want to share with you is the launch last month of Binter Social, a name that reflects our company’s commitment to society, channelled through our work in five key areas: environment, health, culture, education and sport. If you wish to know more about the different community actions in which Binter is involved, I would encourage you to have a look at this interesting project on our new website: https://www.bintercanarias.com/en/corporative/social.

We want to continue to be part of the history and lives of the people of the Canaries and to continue flying for you.

Thank you for choosing us. We hope we will continue to welcome you on board our flights.

Santiago Guerra Coordinador general

By Beneharo Mesa Illustrated by Capi Cabrera

«MENTALLY, SPORT HAS CHANGED ME»

Jennifer Afonso (Icod de los Vinos, 1989) is a Canarian sporting figure and fitness coach who has won several honours in the world of bodybuilding. Her successes include first and fifth place in the Bikini Wellness category in the Spanish and World Championships, respectively. Afonso encourages the practice of sport not just for aesthetic and physical reasons but also for the mental benefits it brings. With good reason, she more than anyone knows that the heaviest loads to bear are not always the weights in the gym.

How did you start off in the world of sport?

It all began when I was preparing for the fitness tests to join the police. I later realised that sport could be my thing but in a different way: after watching the Canary Island Fitness Championships, I said to myself «that’s where I want to be». My curiosity was triggered and I began training back in 2018.

How have you dealt with comments by others about your muscular appearance?

In the early days it very much depended on how I was feeling on the particular day and on the type of comment. The opinions expressed by members of my

family were the most hurtful and were more difficult to cope with.

I suppose your training has not been only physical but mental also.

Yes, mentally sport has changed me. It has made me stronger and helped me get to know myself better on the competition level, following a particular diet and gradually discovering more about myself: anxiety around eating, around whatever. You know yourself and push your body to the limit.

What about exposure on social media, how have you handled that?

In the early days I admit that I was worried more about how people might

view me or if I was stronger than the other girls. But because I have always considered myself to be a serious athlete, especially since Reebok started sponsoring me, I take my social networks very seriously and rarely put personal stuff out there. I show my sporting side and do not want to open the floodgates on my private life or have people knowing much more about me. -

they have to do it for their health, for their physical and mental wellbeing. I mention this because I see it in my female clients: in many cases, it is more about their mental health than physical health.

What has the fitness mentor learning process been like?

What has been the toughest moment for you in your sporting career?

My first year competing because my family did not support me. I won the Canarian championships and had to go to Gran Canaria for them on my own. I also celebrated my win alone. I returned to Tenerife and a week later went to the Spanish championships and won the national title. Again, alone. It was my biggest achievement and victory, but all on my own. I did not really care that much about friends and others. What I wanted was for my family to be there with me. However, they do support me now and things have changed for the better.

Summer is on the way so do you have any advice for someone hoping to get into shape or adopt healthy habits?

I believe it has to come from the person, not be forced on them. It is a long-term race, not just «I want to look my best for the summer» and do it for a month but then forget about it. It has to be for health reasons and also to look better, and that itself is motivation. But, as I said, it is a long-term thing; above all,

I began before lockdown in early 2020 and did it for free mainly because I had doubts about myself and my knowledge even though I already had the required training. I then started getting clients in south Tenerife and have continued to do so until now. It is very rewarding when they thank you for the change they have undergone with your help. Many tell me that the change has not been just physical but mental too, including having greater self-confidence, especially in the case of my female clients.

You were champion of Spain and came fifth in the world championships in the Bikini Wellness category. Which achievement are you most proud of?

I went to the championships alone. I never thought I would be able to go anywhere alone but I did, and I actually won. That remains in my heart forever. I did best when I did not have anyone’s support. I get goosebumps when I remember.

Did your mentality change as a result?

Yes, I was no longer afraid to travel to other countries or compete on my own. I could never have done that before. But once I did do it and, as a bonus, did so well in my first year competing …, that’s when I said to myself, not just in the sporting sense but on all levels, «if I have to go to France and I want to go, I’ll go. Alone». So, what was in essence something very negative turned out to be very good for me.

«I never thought I would go anywhere on my own, but I did go and I actually won»

Interview. Jennifer Afonso

By Francisco Javier Torres del Castillo* Ilustrated by Ilustre Mario

SAVING MR. BANKS

Films can often be a source of inspiration for us and they, in turn, draw their inspiration from stories in print, texts written and shared by some brilliant mind. These lead to screenplays, the stories that bring dreams to the big screen.

«Winds in the east / Mist coming in / Like something is brewing / About to begin / Can’t put me finger / On what lies in store / But I feel what’s to happen / All happened before.» These words mark the arrival of Mary Poppins.

The same words are used in the opening of Saving Mr. Banks, the film that recreates the transfer of copyright from the author of Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers, to Walt Disney.

The aforementioned winds from the east bring us the grey mist at present. They have brought a dizzying spiralling of interest rates. We could hardly have imagined what was about to happen, but it is worth noting that what is happening has happened before.

Panic and banking collapses have occurred in the past and in recent weeks, with Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Credit Suisse (CS) the latest examples.

* Director, Renta4 Banco in the Canaries

Runs on money occur when clients who lodge their money in a bank decide to withdraw it quickly. These common and well-known phenomena unfolded in a text-book manner in both the above cases.

The term «panic» is a very concise description of said phenomenon; once a wave of distrust is sparked in a bank it is very difficult to stop, to the extent that a perfectly solvent and stable firm can be destroyed in an attack of hysteria. This occurred to SVB and CS; their shares plummeted and that was the final trigger.

When this happens, it is often a case of a self-fulfilling prophecy: something happens because it was said it would happen. If customers of a bank lose their trust in it, they believe that their savings will not be returned and they rush to withdraw them. The bank will be unable to do so, causing even greater panic and further withdrawals. This would destabilise any bank to the point of collapse.

That is what happened in Mary Poppins. Do you remember? Young Michael, one of Mr Bank’s children, tussles with the manager of the bank where his father works as he does not want to hand over the tuppence he has saved up to buy food for the pigeons. Hearing Michael’s complaints about his coins, customers suspect the bank may be insolvent and panic sets in: «Get every last penny out». In a matter of minutes, an avalanche of customers head to the bank, triggering a run on deposits that forces it to close its doors.

Being a bank is a considerably riskier business than might seem. A current account or savings account balance is actually a very short-term loan given that the money can be withdrawn at any time. Banks use deposits to lend money

to other clients in the form of mortgages, credit facilities, credit cards and other formulas. The rest is turned into shares, bonds and sovereign debt. The margin, which is the bank’s main business, is the difference in interest rates between what is paid out to customers and savers and the higher rate charged to borrowers. The bank can sustain heavy losses if deposits need to be turned into liquid cash in a hurry.

Fortunately, such experiences led to the creation of Central Banks as «lenders of last resort». In this way, banks can secure the liquidity they need without having to sell off their assets to cope with sudden demands for withdrawals by clients and «liquidity crises» are therefore avoided.

-

These experiences led to the creation of central banks as «lenders of last resort»

In the most recent collapses, however, poor management was evident. Both banks were drinking an explosive cocktail with very spicy ingredients, including a lack of solvency and lack of liquidity, and there were also supervisory errors which, added to the spice served up on social media, proved enough to spark the run.

The market punishes badly-managed firms and did so in these two cases.

The scene is set and I reiterate my recommendation, not prophecy. Follow the cabin crew’s instructions, keep your seatbelts fastened tightly because, even though we are on a plane, bends lie ahead.

Have a good flight.

LORO PARQUE DISCOVERS THAT DOLPHINS CAN DISTINGUISH BETWEEN TWO IDENTICAL OBJECTS THAT DIFFER ONLY BY THE THICKNESS OF A HAIR

Dolphins possess a very precise ability to detect objects in the water and can even distinguish between objects that differ by the mere thickness of a hair.

The discovery was made by the Loro Parque Zoo and Loro Parque Foundation in collaboration with the University of Southern Denmark, through new research into dolphins’ capacity for echolocation. Funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in the United States, the research aimed to obtain more detailed knowledge of how bottlenosed dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) use echolocation in conditions of low visibility and how human actions such as noise can affect the technique.

Echolocation is a skill some animals use to move in darkness. They give off soundwaves whose echo bounces off

objects around them and they use this echo to create an image of their surroundings and to detect danger.

CANARY ISLANDS OPT FOR TECHNOLOGICAL AND GREEN SKILLS

The regional government and the Canarian Industrial Association (Asinca) have launched a new training programme for senior and middle managers working in the sector to help them acquire skills geared to sustainability and industry 4.0. April saw applications open for a new university-level course in digital transformation and big data which aims to help management personnel implement and improve big data and data analysis in

their companies. The course will include practical case studies of data use and analysis, a review of the main associated technologies, and an explanation of the steps to be followed to adopt the techniques and technologies. The content of the 30 hours of blended learning, to be delivered in person and/or online, will focus on the development of the skills needed to engage with the switch to a data-driven analytics culture based on self-diagnosis.

NEW BUSINESSES UP IN CANARIES COMPARED TO 2022

The number of new businesses in the Canaries rose by 15 % in February compared to the same month in 2022, with a total of 338 companies created. Meanwhile, the number of firms wound up fell by 10.2 % (97), according to figures released by Spain’s National institute for Statistics (INE).

All the new firms created in the islands were limited companies, with a combined share capital totalling 5.2 million euros. In Spain overall, the number of new firms rose by 9.9 % in February compared to the same month the previous year, with 10,154 new businesses created. The February upturn meant that the number of new businesses rose for the second successive month, albeit to a lesser degree in February compared to January, when the number was up 15.6 %. The creation of 10,154 firms in February entailed just over 344.7 million euros in subscribed share capital, 51.4 % less than in February 2022.

The average share capital per company was 33,949 euros, down 55.8 % compared to last year, according to newspaper CanariasAhora.

¡Estamos aquí!

CANARIES MOST SOUGHT-AFTER DESTINATION

The Canary Islands were the most sought-after destination in April, according to holiday search platform Chollómetro. Fuerteventura was the most searched for destination in Spain followed by, in order of importance, other beach destinations such as Lanzarote, Cadiz, Ibiza and Majorca. Foreign travel has picked up again for both Spanish and foreign holidaymakers following the end of the pandemic and despite high inflation. Destinations such as the Canaries posted occupancy levels of up to 90 % over the Easter period. Fuerteventura and Lanzarote recorded even higher figures, with the former attracting mainly regional tourism from the Canaries and Lanzarote attracting mostly Germans and Britons. In terms of foreign travel, tourists opted for Japan followed by Morocco, among many other destinations.

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By Saioa Arellano

FROM THE CUERVO VOLCANO TO A FILM SCENE

I first visited Lanzarote in October 2022. It took me a long time to do so because the right moment never came along. Now I am privileged to feel that I can never not go there. The Island of Volcanoes is simply captivating.

I travelled through La Geria, a landscape that leaves its mark on you and where grapes are grown in a very peculiar way, to get to a volcano that emerged during the six-year Timanfaya eruption of 1730. The massive lava flows around it that solidified during the eruption process are visible today and are part of a geological heritage that makes us feel eternally privileged.

The Cuervo Volcano was recommended to me as somewhere to visit during my short stay of a few days. It is a popular attraction due mainly to being easy to reach although appropriate footwear is required to explore the stunning scenery. We walk for about twenty minutes through a matchless volcanic landscape of lava fragments (rofe, in local language) covered in lichen before reaching the centre of a crater that is just amaz-

ing, not least because you do not get the opportunity to go inside one every day. Once inside you can but enjoy a silence broken only by sound of the trade wind that accompanies you along the way.

The

scene

Even though the visit itself is quite short, you can walk around the volcano on the circular path and also see Montaña Colorada, Montaña Negra and the Timanfaya National Park.

Before my trip, I was adamant that I wanted to visit a scene from a film and, if you don’t know this one already, I would

vantage point at the Charco de los Clicos lagoon was used for a mysterious reconciliation

encourage you to do so. I went back through La Geria, through the towns of Uga and Yaiza, and after about twenty minutes reached El Golfo.

This village is part of the municipality of Yaiza and has very few inhabitants. Like almost all coastal parts in the Canary Islands, it has a fishing tradition. The combination of the typical white Lanzarote houses and the reddish colour of the landscape makes it both magical and hypnotic.

The location is not just known for its fishing; here we find one of the island’s major attractions: the lagoon known as Charco de los Clicos or, more popularly, Charco Verde. After walking a short distance along a path, I came to a vantage point from which I had a great view over a natural wonder created by seawater

infiltration. The lagoon is in the centre of the crater of an old volcano, although you can only see part of it today due to the erosion caused by the Atlantic. Its greenish colour is the result of the seawater combining with the sulphur and algae, producing chlorophyll that causes these green hues to change depending on the time of year. –

LANZAROTE

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The vantage point I mentioned just now is featured in a famous scene in Spanish cinema. In Los abrazos rotos (Broken Embraces) Pedro Almodóvar used the view over the Charco de los Clicos for a mysterious reconciliation scene in which two people embrace on the dark volcanic sand against the backdrop of the roaring Atlantic Ocean and bathed in the light given off by this dark landscape.

A paradox to say the least. However, it does not happen only in the film scene. It happens every time you visit this spot. A landscape of volcanic sand, mixed with green tones and reddish sand; an explosion of emotions as pleasing and relaxing as the feeling of being somewhere where everything goes slowly, where life hits the pause button and waits for you.

YOUR DREAMS. YOUR WAY.

Dreams Lanzarote is the perfect paradise for those looking for a unique experience as a couple or a family, with its privileged location in Playa Blanca.

Enjoy an unforgettable experience by staying in our Preferred Club categories, which offer access to the most exclusive services of the hotel, and discover our “Unlimited Luxury”, where you will find everything included, from the best services, gourmet restaurants and premium liquors, to endless daytime and night-time activities.

Special prices for residents of the Canary Islands using promocode: RESCAN23

HOW TO GET THERE

Binter offers daily connections to Lanzarote from all the Canary Islands.

WHERE TO STAY:

Barceló Lanzarote Active Resort: exclusive all-inclusive suites next to the El Ancla beach in Costa Teguise, for a relaxing holiday and top food, drink and services. Sol Lanzarote: ideal for families. Located next to the Matagorda beach (Puerto del Carmen) and with an extensive range of activities for children and adults.

H10 Lanzarote Princess: one of Playa Blanca’s flagship hotels, recently refurbished. For those seeking the most attentive service.

WHAT TO EAT:

Lanzarote has always depended on the sea and non-irrigation farming, both of which play a prominent part in the food served here. Enjoy fresh fish (sea bream, wreckfish, meagre, tuna, parrot fish, grouper…), octopus, limpets, prawns, fried moray eel and La Santa squid, washed down with delicious wine made from malvasía grapes grown in volcanic sols. An absolute must! For affordable prices, try the local eateries known as Teleclubs. Don’t forget to sample some of the craft beers made on the island, including Malpeis and Nao, along with a packet of El Jable sweet potato crisps or a tapa of artisanal goat’s cheese. Lanzarote is enjoying a gastronomic boom at present. Dine in one of the restaurants awarded a Sun in this year’s Repsol Guide: El Risco (Caleta de Famara-Teguise), Isla de Lobos (Playa Blanca-Yaiza) and Kamezi (Playa Blanca-Yaiza). Alternatively, try one of those listed in the 2023 ViaMichelin: Aguaviva (Playa Honda), Mácher 60 (on the TíasMácher road), Lilium (Arrecife) and Tacande (Haría). Bon appetit!

MUST DOS:

Visit the protected natural landscape of La Geria and its wineries. Admire the primitive beauty of Timanfaya National Park. Discover the legacy of artist César Manrique throughout the island. Relax on the golden sand and in the turquoise waters of Papagayo beach, the endless beach at Famara, the pools in Playa Blanca, and the natural pools at Punta Mujeres... Capture on camera the colours of Los Clicos Lagoon and the sunset in El Golfo.

Buy souvenirs and craft products in the Haría and Teguise makers markets. Learn to surf at Famara, paraglide at El Risco, dive in Puerto del Carmen, walk in a volcano crater at La Corona… Walk through the history-steeped streets of Teguise and Haría and enjoy a seafront stroll in Arrecife.

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CASA LEÓN ROYAL RETREAT, AN OASIS OF TRANQUILITY

Monte León is a little corner on the outskirts of Maspalomas that offers a unique and authentic experience. Casa León Royal Retreat is the ideal starting point to explore this privileged location in Gran Canaria.

Casa León Royal Retreat is an oasis of peace and tranquility where guests can relax and enjoy a genuine experience for all five senses. The sound of silence is all that will accompany you in this haven, which guarantees a feeling of inner peace and the opportunity to return home

revitalised. In Casa León Royal Retreat, guests can enjoy relaxing massages, sign up for a varied range of beauty treatments and savour its exquisite gastronomy.

Casa León Royal Retreat boasts an outdoor pool surrounded by beautiful gardens and elegant rooms. If you are looking for a romantic break, total relaxation or just somewhere to switch off from the world and enjoy a unique experience, Casa León Royal Retreat is the perfect place for you.

THE BALCONY OVERLOOKING THE ATLANTIC

Mere mention of A Coruña brings to mind a city that is inextricably linked to the Atlantic. As proof, look no further than the Tower of Hercules. The oldest working Roman lighthouse in the world has stood imposingly on a hill next to the sea since the 1st century A.D and is an absolute must on any visit to the Galician city.

Text by Fabián Sosa

Photos by Adriana Galdo

Once inside the tower, assuming you have climbed its 234 steps, you will enjoy magnificent views over the city and the Gulf of Ártabro. That said, the best thing to do is to explore the area around the lighthouse and discover some of the eighteen works –such as La rosa de los vientos or Los menhires– that make up the sculpture park and sprinkle this peninsula with legends and history.

Heading further into the city we come to the Plaza de Lugo, the square around which A Coruña’s main shopping area is situated

To the west, an extensive seafront walk stretches for two kilometres, bordering the Orzán and Riazor beaches. The sea breeze along the promenade means you can be in contact with nature without having to leave the city, hence its attraction for sports people and anyone keen to breathe fresh air yet have the conveniences of a city. The proximity of the beach makes it hugely popular In summer, although few are brave enough to cross the promenade and take to the sand when winter arrives.

In the centre, the Méndez Núñez Gardens are the city’s oldest green space. Designed in 1868, they are home to a range of monuments and flagship buildings such as the La Terraza or the Quiosco Alfonso art gallery. The gardens regularly host craft fairs, art exhibitions, concerts and a wide range of cultural activities, and are an ideal spot for a stroll.

Heading further into the city we come across the Plaza de Lugo, the square around which the main shopping area of A Coruña is situated.

However, the main attraction is not the actual shop windows but what can be seen above them. Look up and you cannot help but be amazed by the modernist buildings that line the streets of the Ensanche district. Built in the late 19th century and drawing on the latest trends emerging from major European capitals, they marked the beginning of a revolution in the city’s urban planning. They served as the homes of the new bourgeoisie spawned by the lucrative trade with the Americas. The curved lines, floral and marine motifs and the elegant wrought iron elements on the fronts are a good reflection of the prosperous situation of the newly rich who took up residence in this part of the city.

A few streets away from Orzán Beach lies an absolute treasure for art lovers. A Coruña’s Museum of Fine Arts, built in 1995 on the ruins of the former Capuchin nuns convent, boasts a collection of over 5000 works from the 15th century to the present day, including some by internationally-renowned artists such as Rubens and major Spanish figures such as Sorolla and his local disciple, Francisco Lloréns.

The museum building is a work of art in itself and also houses various sculptures, drawings and engravings among its collections. Admission is free so there is no excuse not to pay it a visit. –

A CORUÑA

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On the city’s other coast, a bronze sculpture of a woman with a defiant expression and brandishing a spear stands opposite the town hall. In her other hand she grasps the hand of her recently-killed husband. The statue is of María Pita, the A Coruña heroine who led the rebellion that ousted the English troops from the city in 1589. The statue, made by Xosé Castiñeiras in 1998, stands in the square named after her.

Occupying an area of almost 10,000 square metres, María Pita Square is a major one. It dates back to the mid-19th century and is protected by buildings with colonnade archways that shelter it from the sea. If we make our way through these, we will find ourselves in front of the port of A Coruña, one of the most important in northern Spain. It is also ideal for a walk and an ice cream as the boats return to port and the glazed balconies of the buildings become bathed in the golden light cast as the sun goes down.

WALKING ROUTES TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA

The Vegueta-Triana quarters, a stroll through rationalist architecture, ideas to travel through the history and heritage of Gran Canaria’s capital

A visit to the Vegueta and Triana quarters, the origins of Las Palmas, is a must for anyone keen to discover the soul of this Atlantic city. The Plaza de Santa Ana is the perfect place to start a walk that takes us to squares, museums, doorways to pretty Canarian courtyards, colonial buildings, wooden balconies, pedestrian streets, fountains, art and history.

The cathedral, town hall, Pilar Nuevo, Santo Domingo and San Agustín squares, Canarian Museum, Columbus House, Atlantic Centre for Modern Art, the market … For its part, in Triana, a hive of commercial activity with great restaurants, the Pérez Galdós Theatre, Literary Circle, Pérez Galdós Museum-House, and Mata Castle stand out among delightful facades and streets full of shops and café terraces.

The rationalist city of Miguel Martín-Fernández de la Torre

The Gran Canaria island government building (Cabildo), Santa Catalina Hotel, the Casa del Marino –Spain’s first

multidisciplinary building–, the Parque Hotel, Cuyás Theatre, Ciudad Jardín district… are just a few iconic examples of the legacy left by top architect Miguel Martín-Fernández de la Torre, the main exponent of vanguard architecture in the Canaries who was behind the stylish and modern growth of Las Palmas in the first half of the 20th century.

You can get a glimpse of the city’s rationalist architecture on four wonderful walking routes: Ciudad Jardín, the Vegueta and Triana quarters, Port-Canteras Beach, and Tafira.

www.miguelmartin.turismolpa.com/rutas/

Coast and Nature

Other walking routes that are particularly inviting in spring include the charming seafaring district of San Cristóbal, with its north facing bay and long beach, Las Canteras, the hidden natural landscape of El Confital, and the Viera y Clavijo Canarian Botanical Gardens in Tafira.

Photographs: Nacho González.

DISCOVER THE CANARY ISLANDS

The Canary Islands. A multi-faceted, enriching, diverse, surprising and stimulating reality. A world full of things to do, all of them accessible, for old and young as well as for families. Take the plunge and rediscover the Islands through original environmental and cultural activities and even community engagement initiatives to care for our land, sea and air. Here are four suggestions.

Guinea Eco-Museum

The Guinea Eco-Museum is situated in the Valley of El Golfo on the island of El Hierro and the guided tours of its houses allow you to discover how these have evolved between the 17th and 20th centuries from simple habitable shelters to homes. The heritage on view here is an illustration of El Hierro’s traditional architecture.

You can also visit the Guinea volcanic tube, which is highly recommended if you want to learn more about the geology of El Hierro. All visits to the cave are guided and take place at the same times as the Eco-Museum tours, with tickets available from the museum ticket office.

Playa de Las Cocinas

This is one of La Graciosa’s iconic beaches and is situated half an hour’s walk from Caleta de Sebo. Gazing down from high up onto this small bay protected by Montaña Amarilla (literally. Yellow Mountain) is absolutely priceless. The mountain gives its name to the beach, which is also known as “playa de montaña Amarilla”. This secluded spot offers a generally calm sea with delicate turquoise tones, fine golden sand and very refreshing waters.

Guinea Eco-Museum.

Playa de Las Cocinas.

GRAND HOTEL RESIDENCIA

Maspalomas, Gran Canaria

PALM BEACH

Maspalomas, Gran Canaria

WHY SETTLE FOR LESS?

Excellent service, exquisite cuisine, each with a style of their own, and just a few steps away from the golden sand beach.

SEASIDE SANDY BEACH

Playa del Inglés, Gran Canaria

SEASIDE LOS JAMEOS

Playa de los Pocillos, Lanzarote

Garajonay

Designated a National Park in 1981, Garajonay is the fourth and youngest of the National Parks in the Canaries. A visit is a must if you are in La Gomera. It stretches over an area of nearly 4000 hectares, with its lowest point at 650 metres and highest at 1487 metres above sea level.

It is home to one of the best surviving examples in Europe of laurel forest, a humid forest comprising a range of species of evergreen trees which covered nearly all of Europe in the Tertiary Age. Laurel forests are present in uniform climate regimes where the annual temperature fluctuation is slight and rainfall is relatively abundant. Humidity is near-permanent due to the ever-present cloud cover.

Goat’s meat

Goat’s meat is a typical dish in the Canaries, with recipes varying slightly from island to island, depending on the specific ingredients used. The most usual way is to start by preparing the star ingredient, which is cut into pieces and the bulk of the fat removed. The goat meat is cooked in a pot with water, lemon and a little white wine, and it is important to skim off the ‘foam’ or fat released during cooking.

Once cooked until tender (a good indication is when the meat begins to detach from the bone), the liquid is drained off and the meat can be fried lightly, according to taste. The next step is to prepare a sauté using various ingredients and aromatic herbs, which are all placed in a separate pot. To this we add the meat and cook everything at low heat for a further two hours approximately for to ensure the fullest possible flavour.

Garajonay. Goat’s meat.

THE BANANA TREE KILLER

A silent disease is ravaging the banana trees of the Cavendish group, the banana that we consume around the world. Caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4), it affects the vessels of the plant whose leaves turn yellow and wither.

It is transmitted through the infected plant material, the ground, irrigation, footwear, tools, and machinery. Once established, it is very difficult to eradicate. It can survive for more than 10 years in an uncultivated land, waiting for its chance to attack again.

Restricted until recently to the southeast of Asia and Australia, it has now been detected in Jordan, Israel, Mozambique, and the banana-growing region of South America (Colombia, Peru). There is an increasing risk of FOC TR4 reaching our islands.

Let’s avoid putting our banana production at risk. If you have visited banana plantations in risky areas, throw away your footwear. Do not bring in plants, fruit, or objects made from banana tree leaves. www.cuarentagri.com

By Aarón Rodríguez González

IN THE MIDST OF GREEN MOUNTAINS

On this month’s recommended walk we will enjoy the wonders of one of the last and best-preserved bastions of Canarian green forest: the Anaga Mountains Biosphere Reserve in Tenerife.

Photos by José Chiyah Álvarez

Departing from Cruz del Carmen, the point where all local trails converge, we head down the old Las Montañas trail towards Las Mercedes, following in the footsteps of the itinerant women peddlers and coal sellers of bygone days.

Arriving at Llano de los Loros, we have a wonderful vantage point to look out over the arid southern face of the mountains and take in the panoramic view stretching from the giant Roque de la Lombarda rock, at the head of the Tahodio ravine, down to the sea and even as far as the peaks of Gran Canaria.

The path then continues to wind its way down among the green mass of laurel trees that form an impenetrable canopy near Llano de los Viejos, the source of the water that supplied the town of La Laguna in the days following the Spanish conquest.

When we reach the Casa Domingo restaurant, on the edge of the forest, we follow the path up through Lomo de los Risquetes and back up through the forest again via the pass known as Degollada del Boquerón.

We cross the Mina Ravine, the name of which indicates the presence of underground tunnels for water extraction, and join the La Estercolada path which takes us west along the hillside of the same name and towards Pedro Álvarez valley, until we skirt around the base of Cabezo del Carcamal, a small mountain.

At this point, the path veers east again and makes its way through the spectacular Viñátigo and Zapata woodlands and Llano de las Hiedras.

The path then continues to wind its way down among the green mass of laurel trees that form an impenetrable canopy near Llano de los Viejos.

On this last stretch, we join Trail PR-TF 12 and head uphill for less than two kilometres, through Cruz de Cha Lucía and Cabezo de los Sanguinos, before arriving back at Cruz del Carmen, the end point of the walk.

Positive elevation: 560 metres uphill.

Negative elevation: 560 metres downhill.

Length: 8.83 km.

Highest point : 977 m.a.s.l.

Lowest point : 692 m.a.s.l.

Nearby places of interest : Cruz del Carmen is the gateway to the Anaga Mountains and to all the secrets of the deep and winding green valleys which are sprinkled with pretty hamlets and villages of great ethnographic importance and wonderful places to sample the area’s rich gastronomy.

Notes: throughout the entire walk, we will go through the splendid Macaronesia laurel forest of Monte de Las Mercedes. We will be in the shade at all times but the ground will be damp and slippery for much of the year.

Did you know ? The area covered by the walk, in and around Cruz del Carmen, boasts the highest proportion of different species of living creatures per square kilometre of any part of the European Union where sampling has been carried out.

Cruz del Carmen

Cabezo de los Sanguinos

Cabezo del Carcamal

Cruz de Cha Lucía Llanos de las Hiedras

Hoya Zapata

Degollada del Boquerón

Lomo los Risquetes

Lomo la Estercolada

Hoya el Viñátigo

Casa Domingo

Llano de los Loros

Llano de los Viejos

SECOND EDITION OF THE WOLFGANG KIESSLING INTERNATIONAL AWARD

American Humane, the world’s largest animal welfare certifier, has announced the opening of nominations for the 2023 Wolfgang Kiessling International Species Conservation Award. Established in 2022, this award recognises those who achieve significant positive change in the field of conservation practice, theory and research. The annual award was created in honour of Wolfgang F. Kiessling, founder of Loro Parque and a globally recognised leader in the field of conservation.

“Incredible work is being done right now to protect and preserve our world’s diverse animal life. I am honoured to be part of this effort to recognise and support the world’s leading animal conservationists who are carrying out crucial missions to preserve species before they are lost forever,” says Wolfgang Kiessling, president and founder of Loro Parque and Loro Parque Fundación.

The Wolfgang Kiessling International Award committee will select and vote on

the candidates, ultimately choosing the winner of the Wolfgang Kiessling Prize and a grant of $80,000 to help advance their work and make significant contributions to the practical application, research and theory of species protection.

Text by Raquel Álvarez

Photos by Jonay P. Matos

FEW STAIRWAYS TAKE YOU DOWN TO HEAVEN SO WONDERFULLY

The Playa del Águila beach, also known as La Escalera (The Stairway), is located near the coastal town of El Cotillo in the north-western part of the municipality of La Oliva. It would be the star of many seaside areas on earth, including several very tourist locations, but is disadvantaged by its proximity to other incredible heavenly beaches on Fuerteventura, which is rightly known as the Island of Beaches. Despite this, it is still a wonderful example of a secluded cove with fine golden sands and dark volcanic rock cliffs that overlook an Atlantic Ocean that is as intense as it is appealing.

Location: northwest

Fuerteventura, in the municipality of La Oliva, near the coastal town of El Cotillo and other heavenly beaches.

Lifeguards: no.

Surfing beach: yes, although the best-known one for this is El Cotillo (Piedra Playa).

Restaurants: no.

Toilets: no.

Showers: no.

Sunbeds and umbrellas: no.

Adapted for the disabled: no.

Parking: yes, at the end of the dirt track access.

Public transport: taxis, but rare. Buses and taxis do go as far as El Cotillo.

Dogs: yes.

Interesting facts: as with all beaches that have famous steps leading down to them, many people know exactly how many there are here: 160. Care needs to be taken when going up and down as many of the steps are quite narrow. Moreover, the wind can often be very strong and you might be blown off balance if you are carrying sun umbrellas, large bags or surfboards.

Fuerteventura, the quintessential island of beaches, has endless coves that will send us into raptures if what we are after is solitude, freedom, fine golden sands (there is dark sand also) and, in short, nature at its most authentic with no man-made additions to undermine it. The island also boasts, needless to say, many immense beaches with full facilities and an extensive range of accommodation, shops and restaurants. While these are impressive, the array of unspoilt beaches is simply enormous. One example is the beach known as La Escalera or El Águila, near El Cotillo in the north-western part of the municipality of La Oliva. A trek down a total of 160 steps takes us down to a delightful cove sheltered by a cliff formed by black volcanic rock, with fine golden sand and a powerful sea that requires great care on account of the currents and waves typical of the north coast.

Getting to La Escalera beach is easy, although an off-road vehicle is an advantage given that access is along a dirt track from El Cotillo. On arrival in the town, just take the tracks on the left that lead to beaches such as El Cotillo or Piedra Playa. From this large stretch of flat land, you have views across an extensive area of the north-west whose arid terrain contrasts sharply with a coast where the black volcanic rock combines excellently with the golden sand and sea blue. Many visitors stop off along the way to take in the views of these first beaches, which are all accessed down small cliffs offering stunning panoramic views from above.

Like other beaches in these parts, this one is popular with surfers and with intrepid young locals and tourists who prefer wild locations. You need to be careful with the wind, particularly when walking up or down the steps, and also with the force of the sea, bearing in mind that there are no lifeguards. Notwithstanding these considerations, the journey and the location’s attributes make a day on this small beach a lovely

A delightful cove sheltered by a cliff formed by black volcanic rock, with fine golden sand and a powerful sea

experience, especially if the sea conditions are good and the weather is as sunny as is usually the case on Fuerteventura. The clean sand, lack of constructions –except those at El Cotillo, some way off, and the 160 steps whose number and features are well known by regular users–, the pure air, and the realisation that the spot has changed little down the centuries are all good reasons to visit.

On what is unquestionably the island of beaches, this is a magnificent example of why the Canary Islands are not just world leaders in tourism but are also one of the destinations that attract most repeat visitors, for very convincing reasons.

LA CASA DEL CARNAVAL RECEIVES OVER 10,000 VISITS IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2023

Santa Cruz’s Carnival Museum (La Casa del Carnaval) welcomed over 10,000 visitors during the first quarter of 2023 and has now been visited by more than 103,000 people since it opened back in 2017.

The museum has hosted numerous temporary and permanent exhibitions together with an extensive programme of activities since it opened and is now firmly established as one of the top places of tourism interest in the Tenerife capital both for locals and visitors to the city.

The figure of 10,202 so far in 2023 is nearly as big as that recorded (10,500) in its first year in 2017 and brings the total for the last five years to 103,436.

Further information on the Casa del Carnaval can be found on its website www.casacarnavalsantacruz.com.

LA VACA AZUL

El Cotillo in Fuerteventura is an ideal spot for campers and should be underlined in red in any decent travel notebook if the aim is to spend a few hours trying wonderful sea food. Of the wide range of places available to eat, one stands out by tradition for its quality ingredients and friendly service.

La Vaca Azul is one of the top restaurants not just in Fuerteventura but also in the entire Canary Islands. Set in a stunning location looking out over the Atlantic and the old harbour at El Cotillo, here you will enjoy excellent fresh fish and seafood dishes, along with an extensive selection of soups, salads, meats, rice dishes and home-made desserts.

Requena, 9. El Cotillo - Fuerteventura. T. 928 538 685.

By Cristina Torres Luzón Illustrated by Ilustre Mario

CARING FOR SOCIETY

When we speak of nurses, we tend to think immediately of those who work on hospital wards, in A&E and in doctors’ surgeries. They look after us by treating injuries, but also by educating us on health and monitoring our health. However, the type of care provided by public health nurses is different and little known; would you like to know how they look after your health?

Florence Nightingale is considered a role model in nursing. She was a nurse, writer and statistician.

During the Crimean War, she raised the visibility of measures to prevent hospital-acquired diseases and these measures improved the sanitary conditions of health facilities, reducing the number of deaths.

Something as simple as handwashing was and still is one of the main ways of preventing illness. Society has now added other day-to-day prevention actions to avoid contagion, including ventilating closed spaces and rooms in the home, wearing face masks to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, and even self-isolating when ill.

Returning to F. Nightingale, it is worth recalling that her success served as a springboard for the creation of the role of «public health nurses». The aim was to differentiate these nurses from those dealing with illnesses in hospitals. This marked the beginnings of the development of the functions of public health nurses at international level, with each country promoting the new occupation as much as possible.

The road taken by this specialist branch of nursing in Spain has been somewhat complicated. Indeed, as things stand today, it is not recognised legally as a profession. Nonetheless, public health nurses have existed in our country since the early 20th century.

In the early days they were known as visiting nurses and, later, health instructors, providing health education in what we now call primary health care settings, monitoring and offering health advice to the most vulnerable, including the mentally ill, pregnant women and mothers, and studying and intervening to prevent the spread of venereal diseases and tuberculosis.

promotion in hospitals. Among other things, their interventions and studies ensure that hospitals are safer spaces, reducing the risk of contracting infections while in hospital.

They can also be found in research centres, universities and in regional and central health services. These positions are geared more towards management and knowledge, the fruits of which lead ultimately to improvements for the population.

Lastly and more recently, in recent decades public health nurses have come to form part of primary care epidemiology services, where they conduct contacts studies in notifiable diseases such as tuberculosis. During the pandemic their numbers were increased for the purposes of studying COVID-19 contacts.

This type of work was clearly one of the main strategies for controlling the pandemic and has laid the foundations for the use of such professionals to manage and interrupt the chains of infection of other transmissible diseases such as STDs and monkeypox.

Through their epidemiological work, it was these nurses who were responsible for passing on to us all the appropriate prevention measures to avoid us giving Covid to our loved ones, while also showing us the importance of identifying contacts to stop it from spreading further.

-

Today, public health nurses occupy different posts but all work towards a common goal: to monitor and look after the health of the population. For the last half a century, these nurses have worked in preventive medicine services, undertaking health monitoring, prevention and

So now you know: if you are ever diagnosed with a contagious disease that poses risk to the community and you get a call from a public health nurse asking to do a contacts study, remember that your cooperation is crucial to stop the spread and avoid putting more people at risk.

Today, public health nurses may occupy different posts but all work towards a common goal: to monitor and look after the health of the population.

THE BEST TRAINING WILL TAKE YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO GO

INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES AND DRUGS TO TREAT HAEMOPHILIA

Our Grupo Dentazul Vocational Training Centre is a private centre accredited by the Canarian Ministry of Education, Universities, Culture and Sport. It offers higher-level vocational qualifications in Dental Hygiene, Dental Prosthesis and Prosthetic Audiology, which provide access to university degrees, preferably in the field of health.

The Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital, which belongs to the Canarian Department of Health, is using innovative techniques and drugs to treat haemophilia, including a new drug that is delivered subcutaneously once a month and provides greater patient autonomy.

GRAN CANARIA DOCTORS GET UP TO DATE WITH HEART FAILURE KNOWLEDGE

A recent symposium focusing on heart failure which was held in the lecture theatre of Gran Canaria’s Primary Health Care Service enabled doctors working in heart failure departments in hospitals to update their knowledge of the field. In what proved to be a highly productive forum, specialists from the various services outlined the work they do with patients, discussed new forms of treatment and shared their experiences.

Training and refresher courses in heart failure in primary health care help increase the quality of care provided to patients suffering the condition and enables a multidisciplinary team approach to be taken, thus improving the quality of patient care, life and experience.

In addition, integrated care reduces hospital admissions and mortality due to heart failure.

REFRACTIVE SURGERY AT HOSPITEN

The term refractive surgery refers to a series of surgical procedures that modify the refractive state of the eye to eliminate or reduce the use of glasses or contact lenses.

Refractive defects cause blurred vision at different distances due to the poor focus of the images on the retina. «Refractive surgery uses laser techniques or the insertion of intraocular lenses to correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness, astigmatism, presbyopia (eye tiredness) and cataracts».

Operations to correct refractive errors range from the use of advanced lasers in a totally individualised treatment to the insertion of soft and flexible ICL intraocular lenses, which are placed between the iris and the natural lens but without modifying the anatomy of the eye.

Presbyopia and cataracts can be resolved by inserting monofocal or multifocal lenses that replace the natural lens. There is a solution for every patient and every refractive defect.

Refractive surgery offers numerous benefits: it is performed in outpatient mode, lasts around 10-15 minutes, vision recovery is achieved in just a few days, and work or studies can be resumed in one or two weeks.

Eye Surgery Department at Hospiten Roca.

THEATRE, MUSIC AND ACTIVITIES

TENERIFE KIKE PÉREZ ¿ES LA MIL?

17 June

GRAN CANARIA EFECTO PASILLO

University of La Laguna Auditorium

9 June

Comedy and wit in vast amounts. ¿Es la mil? (Is this the 1000 th?) is the question Kike Pérez asks his audience given that he is on track to reach this number of shows some time in 2023. Calculations from when he began his career in 2006 indicate that he will soon hit the figure, something unthinkable when the Lanzarote comedian first started out … What we have not managed to identify is exactly which show will actually be the one thousandth one.

MUNDO CHILLÓN

Sala La Bowie

26 May

On the third planet of the solar system, around 4543 million years ago, a breed of stupid nincompoops with sufficient intelligence to just about manage, at most, to do one thing properly has inexplicably colonised all corners of the world, their stupidity beginning to expand into space also.

Efecto Pasillo’s new tour includes a date at the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium. The most successful and scurrilous Canarian band in recent years have listed three exclusive concerts in the calendars of their loyal fans to present their latest album, Los Reyes del Mambo, which is due for release in May. The group comprising Iván Torres (vocals), Javi Moreno (drums), Nau Barreto (guitar) and Arturo Sosa (bass guitar) will be joined on the tour by top musicians Totó Noriega (percussion), Stefan Navarro (trombone), Marcos Pulido (trumpet) and Tato Latorre (guitars, keyboards and musical direction). Everything is geared towards creating an unforgettable and unique show befitting Los Reyes del Mambo

A festive live concert full of optimism and in true Efecto Pasillo style, featuring songs from the new album as well as the band’s greatest hits. Songs whose every word we have danced to ever since the foursome began to produce their charismatic and upbeat lyrics.

CANARIAN LATEEN SAILING

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, southern shore

7 May to 27 May

Canarian lateen sailing is a form of sailing typically practised in the Islands, especially Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. Depending on the type of competition, the regattas are staged in either fleet or individual boat v boat format. The small boats are entirely wind propelled and are steered by their crews who aim to take full advantage of the wind dynamics. The races can be viewed on Sunday 7, Sunday 14, Saturday 20 and Saturday 27 May along the southern shore of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: El Tritón-marina. www.federacionvelalatinadebotes.com/

ASTURIAS

VESU FESTIVAL 2023

Oviedo

30 June to 2 July

This popular Asturian festival returns to Fábrica de Armas

De la Vega for its fourth year, on this occasion from 30 June until 2 July. The line-up this year features Alizzz, Curtis Harding, Carlangas, Futuro Terror, Jimena Amarillo, Klangphonics, La Plazuela, Sila Lua, Le Boom, Alien Tango, Monteperdido, La Paloma and Pipiolas.

Alfredo Kraus Auditorium

SANTANDER PEDRO GUERRA

Gardens of Puente Viesgo

Town Hall

10 June

As part of the fourth Entre luces series of concerts, which sees events staged every Saturday in June, Canarian singer-songwriter Pedro Guerra will delight his Cantabria audience with songs that merge different styles and rhythms including folk, Latin American music and popular Canarian music. His lyrics frequently highlight social and political issues such as eliminating poverty and injustice, defending human rights, and promoting cultural diversity.

SAN SEBASTIÁN

LADYSMITH Y JOSS STONE

Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Joss Stone come to San Sebastián in July. Ladysmith Black Mambazo are Africa’s leading choral group and their music is associated with the fight against apartheid, its abolition, and the subsequent freedom and coming to power of Nelson Mandela. Also performing for the audience in San Sebastián will be Joss Stone, who came to prominence in 2001 at the age of just thirteen, when she won two talent shows in Great Britain. Shortly afterwards she released her first album, The Soul Sessions (2003), aged fifteen. In total she has released seven albums and sold fifteen million records in all.

GRANADA GRANADA FESTIVAL

JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA RAPHAEL

25 July

Various venues

21 June to 19 July

The programme includes different musical genres, each with its own stage: concerts by major symphony orchestras in the Palace of Charles V; dance and ballet in the outdoor theatre of the Generalife Gardens; recitals in the Alhambra’s Patio de los Arrayanes; morning concerts in Granada’s churches and historic buildings; and flamenco and world music in the traditional quarters of Albaicín and Sacromonte. The events draw over 30,000 people every year.

Bodegas Las Copas

29 July

Spain’s singing superstar returns to the stage in 2023 to present his wonderful new album called Victoria. Written and produced by the peerless Pablo López, this latest work consists of eleven songs in which the boundaries between the two artists become blurred in a fusion of consummate talent that produces an outcome which is as novel as it is captivating, the songs De tanta gente, Por si acaso and A punto de besarte being excellent illustrations. Along with these latest songs, the new tour will of course include the greatest hits of Raphael’s remarkable career, among them Mi gran noche and Yo soy aquel

Plaza de la Trinidad

LILLE PAT METHENY

Santa Catarina Park

7 July

Samara Joy, who hails from Castle Hill in the Bronx and recently scooped two Grammy Awards for best jazz vocalist and best new artist, comes from a musical family that was very active on the gospel scene. She studied at Fordham High School for the Arts, where she performed with the college band and won the best vocalist at the Essentially Ellington Competition sponsored by Jazz at the Lincoln Center.

EXHIBITIONS AND FAIRS TENERIFE ALEXIS RAVELO (1971-2023) IN MEMORIAM

Sebastopol Theatre

10 July

Pat Metheny is an American guitarist, composer and arranger of jazz and contemporary music. Famous for his unique guitar style, which features a variety of influences from jazz and rock to classical and ethnic music, he is also innovative in his use of synthesisers and other electronic instruments in his music. He is one of the most influential and innovative musicians of his generation and has left a lasting mark in the world of jazz and contemporary music.

SAMARA JOY

VENICE FESTA DEL REDENTORE

Venice

16 July

Every third Sunday in July, the residents of Venice celebrate the Festa del Redentore. If you are a fan of fireworks, you will simply love this day. From early morning, people throughout the city set about decorating their porches, balconies and boats with flowers, balloons and garlands. At sunset, St Mark’s Basin begins to fill up with boats from all over Venice in anticipation of the start of the festivities. The various firework displays commence at 11pm and last for sixty minutes.

Central Municipal Library

Until 15 June

Alexis Ravelo is the author of books for children and teenagers, scripts for TV and theatre, short stories, micro-fiction and short essays. He was a hugely successful writer on the Spanish literary scene and portrayed and projected the Canaries beyond the islands’ borders through the voices of the characters of his literary universe. Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s Municipal Library pays tribute to Ravelo by selecting twenty of his works, including novels and short stories covering crime fiction, historic novels and tales of the fantastic. The exhibition is accompanied by a digital guide which can be accessed on the Municipal Library System website. Holders of BICA (Canarian Libraries) cards can take the books out on loan from Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm.

MADEIRA

SAN SEBASTIÁN ATLAS OF AN EMPIRE OF PAPER

PICASSO MUSEUM HOUSE

San Telmo Museum

Until 28 July

Entitled Atlas of an Empire of Paper, this exhibition centres on a tool that creates a journey through the map holdings of the San Telmo Museum. A robotic arm moves a camera along each document, taking hundreds of close-ups. The results can be seen in this installation housed in the museum’s church. The resolution of the images is so impressive that you can even see tiny details such as the paper fibres, a lithographer fingerprint and little holes caused by a moth.

TRAVEL TO PAINT

Until December

San Telmo Museum

Until 15 October

Coinciding with the centenary of the death of Joaquín Sorolla, this exhibition brings to Donostia (the city where they were created) works from the Sorolla Museum, which are displayed alongside others from San Telmo’s own collection. Sorolla was a leading Spanish painter from the modernist period. He is renowned for the skilful capture of light and colour in his works, which led him to be known popularly as the painter of light. His style is impressionist and his works comprise mainly portraits, landscapes and costumbrista scenes.

The Casa Picasso houses reproductions of 33 works, four of which are by Picasso’s father and the rest by a young Picasso. The works are integrated into the decor of the house, in all rooms except the bedrooms. The house itself is in typical A Coruña architectural style, including the characteristic wooden galleries, and retains its original structure. The city council has recreated in the apartment a 19 th century home which features reproductions of Picasso’s A Coruña works together with an original engraving by the artist and his father’s best painting: a pigeon loft with nine birds. Admission is free, with dramatised visits available since February.

Rúa Payo Gómez

By Francisco Belín Illustrated by Ilustre Mario

RECIPES FROM THE CANARIES, A RESERVOIR OF TASTES WITH PLEASANT SURPRISES INCLUDED

Potatoes and spicy mojo sauces. The motto at present is «The Canaries are much more than potatoes and mojo sauces!». Traditions such as thick gofio paste mixed with stock, vegetable and other stews, thick soups, and sweet puddings are being revisited to provide modern-day interpretations of escachos, polines and desserts. In the present article we highlight some indispensable dishes as well as lesser-known and curious ones we did not even know existed.

«Our cuisine is, in my view, one of the richest in Spain in terms of flavours; not better or worse. In view of our limited raw materials, some ingenuity was required to further enhance the delicious sensations of our meals. We eat differently as we have to inject life into traditional as well as vanguard variants of cuisine». These are the words of La Gomera chef and food advisor Juan Carlos Clemente in noting that, in bygone days, just three ingredients (potatoes, egg and Canarian saffron, for example) sufficed to prepare a tasty dish even from the most basic foods.

Among our special dishes –neither better or worse, Clemente dixit–, we have to highlight a reservoir of masterful resources for our hobs that reflect a very unique wisdom. That is why it is so important to restore to our tables dishes like the near-forgotten maize soup, turre de trigo pork stew with wheat, split pea or gourd soup... Recipes from old to cheer us up through homely, tasty, Atlantic and healthy cooking, even if we might feel we lack the skills to make them. Just think back to luxuries that are relatively simple to reproduce today, among them escacho (slices of gofio with boiled potatoes, onion and mojo) or moray eel cooked in onion.

There is no reason either not to revisit dishes such as noodles with mackerel, exquisite carajacas (liver steaks), cuttlefish in spicy sauce, rabbit stew from Icod, yellow conger fish, and even kidgoat cooked in El Hierro style.

As mentioned in the introduction, among the indispensable and other dishes mentioned, we can try our hand also at some rare –and practically unknown– ones that stand out due to their anthropological characteristics, use of local products and the way they help forge bonds between locals through gastronomy.

A prime example is caldero stew from Fuencaliente (La Palma). It is almost unheard of the Canaries to find something as particular yet simple as cooking potatoes and vegetables together with freshly caught fish in a big pot full of seawater on the beach! The potatoes, sweet potatoes, peppers and a variety of fish (parrot fish, fried or boiled moray eel …) are all left to stand in the pot, which is also called a caldero. The water is very clean due to the sea conditions in this part of the La Palma coast and that

purity is guaranteed to be passed on to the dish itself.

The dish known as ajoahogado is an age-old recipe associated with the slaughter of pigs in upland parts of Candelaria (Araya, Cuevecitas and Malpaís), with variants in the form of offal soup in the Arafo area. Also surprising is the Lanzarote traditional dish consisting of a blend of raw sea urchin, a solid slice of gofio and watered-down wine known as aguapata or aguapié. -

Turning to cakes and pastries, we also have the extinct or near-extinct sopaingenio, literally ‘soup from Ingenio’ (a town in Gran Canaria). However, the name is misleading as, rather than a soup, it was an ever-present dessert in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and to a lesser extent La Palma.

It was usually made during Christmas, Carnival, Easter, specific feast days such as that in honour of the Virgin of the Pine, and for the occasional party also. The dessert reflects the influence of Canarian emigrants who returned to the Islands after making their fortune, or failing to do so, in Cuba and Venezuela. It also reflected the importance of the sugar industry.

As you can see and, to make a play on words with this last dessert, Canarian cuisine is clearly one of great ingenuity. Enjoy!

We should encourage ourselves to recreate rich and homely canarian recipes for an atlantic and healthy diet

By Juan Capote*

CANARIAN GOATS IN SENEGAL

Goat milk has been used as food since time immemorial. Goats were first domesticated 10,000 years ago and various ancient records, including references in the Bible and in Egyptian murals, indicate that they were consumed by humans. Goats have been an essential part of Mediterranean diets from their earliest days, in particular the use of their milk to make cheese, as mentioned by classical authors such as Cato and Virgil. According to Adela Bidot, goat milk has more proteins, vitamin A and B, calcium, potassium, manganese and phosphorous, and less lactose, than cow’s milk. Moreover, goat milk’s essential and short-chain fatty acids mean it is healthy for the heart. Lastly, it can help prevent iron deficiency anaemia and bone demineralisation.

* Research professor, ICIA.

The protein profile of goat milk is closer to human milk than is cow’s milk and it is estimated that goat milk can provide the daily protein requirements of a child up to the age of eight. In children presenting malnutrition due to poor eating or poor lactation, it has been shown to be a better substitute than cow’s milk.

A cooperation project between the Canarian Agricultural Research Institute (ICIA), Tenerife’s governing Cabildo and a Senegalese university commenced in 2010 and consisted of the introduction of forage and hardy goats from Fuerteventura with a view to increasing the production and financial viability of livestock in rural communities badly affected by drought and by the resulting reduction in pastureland.

Although numerically goats come third behind cattle and sheep in Senegal, interest in them had increased considerably due to their hardy characteristics. However, local goats produce little milk and tend only to be milked for human consumption when cows dry up, usually due to a lack of nutrients.

The project involved different actions, one of which was the export of 128 young goats from Fuerteventura to Senegal, some of which were installed on a farm run solely by women. Despite the inhospitable conditions, the goats adapted without problems. After four years, the Coopera Senegal NGO bought several of the goats for its own new farm in Malikuonda and soon managed to grow the numbers. As a result, children schooled by the NGO were able to drink goat milk and cheeses were also made for sale.

Several years after the goats were imported, the NGO detected an increase in inbreeding, a situation that placed the maintenance of production levels at risk. The help of the Canarian government, through the ICIA, was sought and the response was immediate, in the form of two young Tenerife buck goats, descendants of breeding goats from Fuerteventura, being sent to Senegal. Although the flight organised from Tenerife by Binter had to overcome various problems beyond the airline’s control, thanks to the sterling work of the airline staff the goats finally reached their destination.

In the technical scenario envisaged, it was assumed that after two years the offspring of the two select breeding goats would increase the average yield per goat by 0.5 litres daily, giving eighty more children access to this unique foodstuff. Regrettably, a Rif Valley fever epidemic affected the animals and it has taken time for numbers to recover, something that would have been impossible without the provision of genetic material from the Canaries.

According to the WHO, the likelihood of dying before the age of five in Senegal is 44 children per thousand. Most child mortality is the result of immunodepression caused by the lack of quality food. In spite of everything that has occurred, the milk will help improve the immunocompetence of many children and stop them from being added to the above sad statistic. That is what we have been working to achieve and we could not do so without the support and collaboration of Binter.

BINTER STEPS UP ITS COMMITMENT TO SOCIETY

Canarian airline Binter is proud to unveil Binter Social, a new name reflecting its commitment to society and its longstanding contribution to a more sustainable future through its work in five key fields: environment, health, culture, education and sport.

In devoting the utmost attention and care to each action and collaboration, the airline pursues social, economic and environmental improvement both in the Canaries and in the other areas where it operates, thus contributing to a better present and future.

Binter collaborates with more than sixty projects distributed across all the Canary Islands and of wide-ranging and major benefit to society.

Examples include the transportation of body organs and 400,000 kg of blood in the past decade to supply hospitals on the different islands, flying injured animals so they can receive urgent treatment, and transporting the educational materials needed for charity projects.

In addition, the acquisition of the new fleet of Embraer E195-E2 aircraft enables us to reduce our noise footprint by up to 75%, while also lowering nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 50% and CO2 emissions by around 25% compared to the previous model. What’s more, we have now stopped using over three million plastic cups per year.

From its earliest days, Binter has worked to develop and put in place environmental and sustainable policies through actions that include the renewal of our fleet, which is acknowledged by Ch-Aviation as being one of the youngest in Europe. Thanks to the incorporation of more sustainable aircraft such as the aforementioned Embraer E195-E2, we have reduced fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and noise pollution.

Moreover, the company has replaced its ground support equipment with electrical vehicles, distinguishable by their Ecological Fleet markings, or with less polluting models. As a result, we have reduced the impact of our ground handling activities, anticipating the requirements of Spain’s Airports Authority (Aena) in this area.

Our corporate website now features a new Binter Social section (https://www. bintercanarias.com/en/corporative/social) which contains information on the main projects in which the airline is currently engaged, to which we will add the new ones we will be carrying out on the different Canary Islands.

BINTER VOTED BEST OVERALL SPANISH AIRLINE BY USERS

In April, leading Spanish consumer body, the Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios (OCU), published the results of its survey of the airlines best rated by passengers together with a league table based on traveller opinions concerning each airline’s level of service, fares and quality. Based on the experience of almost 20,000 users surveyed in eleven countries, Binter was rated fourth best airline worldwide and first among Spanish airlines. Binter stood out as one of the world’s best commercial airlines on account of the professionalism of its cabin personnel, the ease and convenience of boarding, and its diligent checkin processes.

BINTER CONNECTS THE CANARIES WITH ALL EIGHT AZORES ISLANDS

Passengers can now fly with Binter from the Canaries to all eight islands of the Azores archipelago via Ponta Delgada, thanks to the agreement signed with Portugal’s SATA Azores Airlines.

The cooperation between the two companies makes travel more convenient for passengers, who can avail themselves of connections on a single ticket, including the stopover in Ponta Delgada, and only need to check in once.

Binter resumed its flights to the Azores on 1 April from Gran Canaria (LPA), departing at 08.20 and arriving in Ponta Delgada (PDL) at 09.45. The return flight to the Canaries departs at 10.30 and lands at 13.40. From July, Binter will operate two flights per week (Tuesdays and Saturdays) between the two archipelagos.

The Canarian airline will fly the Gran Canaria to Ponta Delgada leg, with SATA Azores Airlines providing the connections to the other islands in the Portuguese archipelago.

Passengers can fly from the Canaries to the islands of Santa María (SMA) and Terceira (TER) on Tuesdays and Saturdays, with same-day connections in both directions. Same-day connections are also available for travel from the Canaries to the islands of Flores (FLW), Horta (HOR), Pico (PIX), São Jorge (SJZ), Corvo (CVU) and Graciosa (GRW), although a night stopover will be required on São Miguel, where Ponta Delgada airport (PDL) is located, in the case of flights to the Canaries.

CORAL HOTELS

EARN x2 POINTS AND EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT

Choose the ideal hotel for your next break with your family, partner and/or friends and earn double points for every night of your stay. In addition, holders of BinterMás Gold and Silver cards will receive a free room upgrade*.

Cards Exclusive benefit BinterMás Gold and Silver Room upgrade*

327 700

DUNAS HOTELS & RESORTS

EARN x2 POINTS AND EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT

Earn up to 1000 points per night as you enjoy the sun, pool and full entertainment in a single location. In addition, holders of BinterMás Gold and Silver cards will receive a free room upgrade*.

Hotels Earn x2

Don Gregory by Dunas 4* 500 + 500 points/night

Suites & Villas by Dunas 4* 500 + 500 points/night

Valid: May 2023. *Upgrade subject to availability .

Cards Exclusive benefit BinterMás Gold and Silver Room upgrade*

hotelesdunas.com

902 142 828

Coral Cotillo Beach, Gran Canaria

Don Gregory by Dunas 4*, Gran Canaria

MELIÁ HOTELS INTERNATIONAL

EARN x2 POINTS

Switch off in the islands where summer is ever present. Book a stay in selected Meliá Hotels International hotels and earn double points with this exclusive offer.

GOLD BY MARINA

EARN x2 POINTS AND EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT

Enjoy our adults-only hotel in Playa del Inglés and earn double points for your stay. Holders of BinterMás Gold and Silver cards will receive a free room upgrade*

Valid: May 2023. Cards Exclusive benefit BinterMás Gold and Silver Room upgrade*

Valid: May 2023. *Upgrade subject to availability .

Meliá Paradisus 5*, Gran Canaria

LOPESAN HOTEL GROUP

EARN x2 POINTS

Enjoy spring in selected hotels in Gran Canaria and earn double points for every night of your stay.

Hotels Earn x2

Lopesan Villa del Conde Resort & Thalasso 420 + 420 points/night

Corallium Beach by Lopesan Hotels 260 + 260 points/night

Validity: book until 31/05/2023. Stays between 01/05/2023 and 31/05/2023.

lopesan.com 928 402 418

Lopesan Villa del Conde Resort & Thalasso, Gran Canaria

FLIGHTS

BINTER

(922) o (928) 327 700

bintercanarias.com

Earn: from 50 to 1.800 points

IBERIA

902 400 500

iberia.com

Earn: from 10 to 1.650 points

CAR HIRE

CICAR

928 822 900

cicar.com

Earn: from 40 to 100 points

AVIS

902 135 531

avis.es

Earn: from 50 to 75 points

FLIGHTS + HOTEL

CANARIASVIAJA

(922) o (928) 24 81 61

canariasviaja.com

Earn: 1 point per 1 €

WELLBEING

TALASOTERAPIA

LAS CANTERAS

928 271 170

talasoterapialascanteras.com

Earn: 40 points/circuito

PETROL STATIONS

DISA

900 818 411

disagrupo.es

Earn: up to 75 points

FINANCIAL

BINTERMÁS MASTERCARD

900 108 705

santanderconsumer.es

Earn: 1 point per 2 €

SHOPPING

CANARIENSIS

900 252 423

aldeasa.com

Earn: 120 points per 30 €

GOLF

SALOBRE

GOLF RESORT

928 94 30 04

salobrehotel.com/golf/

Earn: 100 points

SOCIAL

UNICEF

928 269 293

unicef.es

Donation from 300 to 500 points

HOTELS

ARRECIFE

GRAN HOTEL & SPA

928 800 000

aghotelspa.com

Earn: from 240 to 330 points

BARCELÓ

HOTEL GROUP 902 101 001

barcelo.com

Earn: from 150 to 660 points

BUENDÍA

CORRALEJO NOHOTEL

928 943 027

buendiacorralejo.com

Earn: 215 points

CORAL HOTELS

928 327 700

coral-hotels.com

Earn: from 160 to 560 points

HOTEL CORDIAL

MOGÁN PLAYA

928 143 393

becordial.com

Earn: 470 points

DREAMPLACE

HOTELS & RESORTS

902 210 902

dreamplacehotels.com

Earn: from 200 to 600 points

DUNAS HOTELS & RESORTS

902 142 828

hotelesdunas.com

Earn: from 300 to 500 points

GLORIA THALASSO & HOTELS

928 128 505 gloriapalaceth.com

Earn: from 315 to 450 points

GOLD BY MARINA

928 948 555 goldbymarina.com

Earn: 215 points

SECRETS BAHÍA REAL RESORT & SPA

911 229 866 secretsbahiareal.com

Earn: 600 points

H10 HOTELS

900 444 466 h10hotels.com

Earn: from 250 to 420 points

HOTELES ELBA

902 172 182 hoteleselba.com

Earn: from 140 to 800 points

HOTEL PARQUE TROPICAL 928 774 012 hotelparquetropical.com

Earn: 200 points

IBEROSTAR HOTELS & RESORTS

902 995 555 iberostar.com

Earn: from 210 to 300 points

LOPESAN HOTEL GROUP

928 402 418 lopesan.com

Earn: from 260 to 420 points

MARINA GRAN CANARIA

928 153 015

marinagrancanaria.com

Earn: 215 points

MELIÁ HOTELS

INTERNATIONAL 912 764 747 melia.com

Earn: from 100 to 200 points

R2 HOTELS 928 546 054 r2hotels.com

Earn: from 200 to 300 points

SALOBRE HOTEL RESORT 928 943 000 salobrehotel.com

Earn: 340 points

SHERATON

FUERTEVENTURA

BEACH, GOLF & SPA RESORT 928 495 100 sheraton.com/fuerteventura

Earn: 640 points

VILA BALEIRA HOTELS & RESORTS +351 291 980 800 vilabaleira.com

Earn: 165 points

For the full terms and conditions governing the award and use of points, see bintermas.com or call (922) or (928) 327 700.

A WORLD OF ADVANTAGES, WITH OVER 30 PARTNERS...

#FLYINGWITHBINTER

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Adela Herrero

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A CORUÑA

Chef Borja Conde

La Arrocería

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by Tadashi Tagami

Oxean Bar

Spa Callao

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