Mars Looming - The Canary News, Views & Sunshine - 108 - May-June 2016

May - June FREE! 2016 Mars from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope on May 12th 2016

MARS LOOMING

One of the very best things about Gran Canaria is the clarity of the night sky. Simply go outside and look up.

In 2016, the planet Mars will appear at its brightest from May 18 to June 3.

The Mars “Close Approach” is May 30, making it more visible.

The red planet’s orbit will be the closest it has been to Earth in the last decade at a distance of 46.8 million miles (75.3 million kilometres) our neighbouring planet will appear bigger and brighter in the sky.

The red planet will be visible for much of the night and can be

clearly seen with the naked eye, so head away from street lighting and try to catch a glimpse.

In opposition, forming a straight line with Earth and the Sun, its surface will be more clearly lit from our vantage point.

By mid-June, Mars will start to become fainter again as we

travel farther away from each other in our solar orbits.

The next Mars Close Approach is July 31, 2018.

Gran Canaria and The Canary Islands are well known to star gazers as having some of the clearest skies in the world from which to explore the heavens...

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Newsbrief...

Questionable cop ‘Dirty News, Views & Sunshine

May

2016

Harry’ in court

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

Reviewing some of the stories we’ve covered over the last few weeks.

Stay up to date at TheCanaryNews.com

sentenced to 10 months imprisonment in 2014 and suspension of employment, for threats he made against three people late at night in Puerto Rico after flashing his gun at them.

duties by the court, he was then identified as supposedly collecting a debt on behalf of a third party. Some say “protection”.

Francisco is still employed by local police despite at least six complaints against him, The conviction didn’t put him in jail though. denuncias and his having been convicted Despite the judgement, in May 2014, he four times. Mogán Town Hall has opened was released, when the judge decided, some 16 disciplinary cases in which he has after a plea from the defendant, he would been charged with insults, harassment, not need to serve time, instead giving him a coercion and injuries.

The 53 year old detainee, Francisco A.S., conditional discharge whereby if he were to Locals might well have seen him recently appeared at a San Bartolomé de Tirajana commit any other offense over the follow- directing traffic on Tuesday mornings in the courtroom after he was arrested on 13 April ing two years, he would need to serve his centre of Arguineguín... dressed in full Policia Local uniform at the sentence behind bars. time.

The question is, how can any administration The previous arrest took place in Sepretain any legitimacy if they allow policemen He has been arrested several times tember 2015 for an alleged fraud, when, like this one to keep wearing a uniform? before, as alleged perpetrator of various despite having been suspended from his What is the message this sends? embezzlements and thefts, even being Guardia Civil have, again, detained a member of Local Police in Mogán, known as ‘Harry el Sucio‘ (‘Dirty Harry’), for embezzlement of public funds, according to reports from Europapress.

Regional Accounts by The Canarian 2015 the National Statistics Institute (INE). economy grew by All of the autonomous communities in Spain, including 2.8% in 2015 the two cities with a statute of autonomy, Ceuta and Melilla, The Islands Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose 2.8% last year, but remained below the national average at €19,900 per capita, according to the

Seventeen drownings in the first three months of 2016

grew however faster than the estimated figure for the 28 States of the European Union (EU-28), which increased at a rate of 1.8% over last year.

By gender, sixteen were men and only one was female, with 80% of the victims between 53-86 years old. Eleven men and one woman were rescued from drowning during the first quarter.

By islands, Gran Canaria has seen 9 drownings this year so far, Tenerife 4, La Palma 2 and Lanzarote 1 and Fuerteventura 1 Seven of the drowned were Spanish, two Swedish, 1 German, 1 Austrian and 1 Russian and five unknown.

In the Canary Islands already 17 people have drowned within the first three months of this year.

In January nine swimmers drowned, of which three were divers, February saw 6 drownings, Last year a total of 62 people drowned in the Canary Islands five of them on Gran Canaria.

N ews ,

S unshine

Editor-in-Chief: Edward JB Timon Editor@TheCanaryNews.com

In total, according to the latest figures, the Spanish economy grew by 3.2% in 2015. Valencia was the autonomous region that registered the highest GDP growth in terms of volume (at 3.6%), followed by Madrid and Catalonia.

If values are analysed by GDP per capita, Madrid citizens produce the most wealth, at €31,812 per head, which is 36.6% higher than the Spanish average which stood at €23,290.

By contrast, Extremadura had the lowest GDP per capita at only €16,166, which was 30.6% lower than the national average.

The regions with the lowest growth records were Cantabria (at 2.6%), the autonomous city of Melilla and Aragon (both at a Regardless of these numbers, rate of 2.7%). however, unemployment is high.

€18 million asphalt works for Gran Canaria roads

The contracts will last for two years plus one year extension and establishes two lots, South and North, in which all roads on the island are included except the Avenida Maritima in the capital, Las Palmas.

For the South, a budget of nearly €3.3 million per year has been set, more than €9.8 million in total. For the north, just over €2.7 million per year, representing about €8,1 million over the three years.

The Cabildo de Gran Canaria have initiated a procedure awarding €18 million worth of asphalt surfacing tender contracts for insular roads according to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Victor Many are interested to find out how the money is to be spent.

Angel Torres.

Telephone: 928 987 952 / Office Open Mon - Sat 9AM - 5PM Sales: +34 620 978 709 (En/Es/S) / Sales@TheCanaryNews.com via 928 987 952 (En) Accounts: Accounts@TheCanaryNews.com Production: Production@TheCanaryNews.com

The Canary News can not accept any responsibility for claims made by advertisers, either in advertisements or advertorial, nor can it be held responsible for any inaccuracies, errors, or the nonappearance of advertisements or advertorial. This publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors as a result of poor quality artwork or logos supplied by advertisers and no responsibility is accepted for any loss or damage caused by any error or inaccuracy or nonappearance of an advertisement or advertorial. Every effort will be made to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of articles and advertisements in this publication, however the publisher does not accept responsibility for claims or opinions in the same. Reproduction of any part of this newspaper is permitted under Creative Commons 3.0 rules of Attribution, unless otherwise stated.

Edita: JDC Canarias SL, Imprime: Canarias7, Gran Canaria, España. Deposito Legal GC1291-2013

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2016

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A meeting was held last month between the Deputy Minister for Industry, Energy and Commerce, Adrián Mendoza, wind power developers and the representatives of Spanish National Grid Red Electrica de Spain (REE), which owns the Canary Islands power transmission network. The aim of the meeting was to boost unfinished paperwork and coordinate the work of all those involved to promote the inclusion of energy from renewable sources without any network complications.

REE needs first to process the administrative authorization for the construction of four substations, two on Gran Canaria, one on Fuerteventura and one on Tenerife. These facilities will allow up to 80% of the projected wind power to be added to the network, while the other 20% will depend on other existing substations, which must be adapted to facilitate engagement between the network and the wind parks.

70 wind farms in the Canary Islands by 2018 The Canary Islands Government Ministry of Economy, Industry, Trade and Knowledge plan to accelerate the necessary steps to ensure that by 2018 70 wind farms are running and producing a total of 803 megawatts of wind power.

EU’s fourth highest unemployment rate in the Canarias

by Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office, as the region with the fourth highest unemployment rate across the entire European Union, with 29.1 % of the Canarian workforce officially unemployed. Youth Employment here stands at almost double that percentage.

Melilla, Andalucía, The Canary Islands, Extremadura, Ceuta and Castilla-La Mancha were The Canary Islands ended 2015, the Spanish regions last year with the highest recorded according to data published

Meanwhile, REE have agreed with the Ministry and wind developers to submit a specific construction plan for each of these four substations, so that developers will have maximum guarantees and lead time to facilitate financing of wind projects and their connection to the island grids.

Mendoza highlighted the willingness of REE to facilitate new wind farms having access to the network and re-emphasised that the company, who own the transmission network, is committed to the Government of the Canary Islands project, having assured developers that the company will provide mobile alternatives to guarantee that all wind farms can be connected to the network by 2018, even if there are construction delays on their side of the project. unemployment rates .

Six Spanish regions, and four Greek, fill the top ten in the EU with the highest unemployment rates.

Melilla was ranked as the worst region in the EU in terms of unemployment, at 34%, followed

by Andalusia, Dytiki Makedonia (30.7%) in Greece, and The Canary Islands and Extremadura both with 29,1%.

Among the 274 EU regions for which data is available, there

were 60 with an unemployment rate of 4.7% or less in 2015, which is to say half the overall average of the EU, which stands at 9.4%.

More than 60% of EU regions recorded a decrease of at least 0.5 percentage points in the unemployment rate in 2015 compared to the previous year.

The Spanish regions also stood among the ten regions with the worst rates of long-term unemployment in 2015.

Minister resigns over Panama papers José Manuel Soria has relinquished his duties as minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism of Spain after his name was linked to the so-called Panama papers and to a company, UK lines Limited, registered on Jersey in the nineties.

He was the Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism of Spain but also the regional president of PP (Partido Popular [the Spanish equivalent of the UK’s tory party]) in The Canary Islands. He has stated that he plans to leave political life for good.

Soria has now ended more than twenty years of a political career, very much focused on the Canary Islands, but that led him to national prominence and the halls of power in Madrid after the PP were elected in 2011.

José Manuel Soria was born in Las Palmas (his home town is Telde) on 5 January, 1958, and he has acted as deputy for his party in Las Palmas as well as having been the mayor of Las Palmas for eight years in the 1990s. He has served as the president of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and as Minister of Economy and Finance as well as Vice President of the Canary Islands. His political career has not been without controversy.

He was known as the minister who “Taxed The Sun” having almost single-handedly reversed Spain’s previous position as the world leader in solar energy investment with retrograde policies, including increased oil prospecting, that have eroded trust in the Spanish government and left a hugely negative impact on environmentally aware policy development.

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

NOISES OFF: SOUTHERN BAR OWNERS May

2016

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In the southern municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, what has been described as a "police crackdown" has been occurring throughout Playa del Inglés over the last few months with regard to licensing, music, terraces and sound laws.

Although the local Mayor, Marco Aurelio Perez, has claimed that nothing unusual has been happening, it has already directly led to at least one petition, signed by more than 5000 people in just 48 hours, asking for greater dialogue to avoid harm to popular night spots and tourist centres within the municipality.

It all started in the Kasbah commercial centre, the oldest in the south of Gran Canaria, at the end of February when, on a Thursday night, police and local council officials turned up to inspect all of the night time entertainment venues including those who have been operating there for decades.

Premises were ordered to close their doors, business owners fined and told to remove tables and chairs from terraces, despite the fact they had been using those spaces for many years. Anyone playing music was warned that they could be in contravention of local noise laws, and would not be allowed to continue, except in specially sound proofed areas, within the walls of the buildings they occupy. Amplified music over 55 decibels outside had to stop.

Bar managers say they had to remove speakers that were not within their brick built locales (commercial units) and told there would be further trouble if they were found to be putting on amplified entertainment, playing music or even just had their televisions too loud in any area not specifically licensed for the purpose.

Many at the CC Kasbah, and next door CC Plaza, felt that the actions of the police had been heavy handed and lamented the lack of warnings that it was going to happen. Criticism was also raised regarding the timing of the inspections, just before the weekend, which left many of the businesses unable to respond until the following Monday leading, they say, to a whole weekend of lost revenue with little or no recourse to the authorities.

Several of those businesses say they have not been able to operate "normally" ever since.

There was immediate uncertainty as to what was happening, workers were notified of cancelled shifts and top local performers had shows cancelled, with a lot of staff and business owners out of pocket and wondering what had suddenly changed.

What's more, that weekend, and for the following few weeks, the popular Kasbah was far from its usual lively self and described as being more "like a graveyard".

FECAO, the Canarian Leisure & Restaurant association who describe themselves as an advocacy and lobbying group for tourism and hospitality businesses, called a meeting for all those affected, and to listen to the complaints of business owners.

Local entrepreneur Paco Ramirez tells us "in the first meeting was about 25 different bar owners, from various commercial centres in Playa del Inglés including Kasbah, Plaza, Yumbo, Águila Roja, from Meloneras and others. The principal aim of the meeting, was to unite nightlife businesses, with FECAO, to make proposals to the town hall, the cabildo and the government of the Canary Islands, in recognition of shopping centres and to demand that they have the same rights as hotels or airports."

While this seems a little cryptic, the suggestion seems to have been that it is one rule for the hoteliers, but another for the commercial centres. At the meeting comments were also put forward "on the damage done by All Inclusive to the businesses in the tourist area," says Paco "we demand to be regularised", pointing to the fact that all of the affected businesses have been operating in the same way for many years, decades even, but now are expected to simply stop, or completely change their business model if they want to survive. They feel they are being attacked with no recourse One very popular venue, Cafe l’Opera at the Plaza centre, known for big show performances and catering nightly to large tourist crowds, simply decided to shut their doors and move on; unable to comprehend how the very town hall from whom they have been renting their premises for so many years could now suddenly turn the tables on them. It took them less than a month to decide to shut up shop with the loss of several full time jobs, and the loss of regular work for several long-standing performers in the area.

A TOWN HALL THAT MEANS BUSINESS OFFERS

In the last edition we provided details of San Bartolomé de Tirajana’s second conference on noise pollution, one of the primary instruments through which the southern town hall aims to inform and educate stake holders about their continued “fight against noise” in what has been referred to as the “noisiest country in Europe”

The sessions were open to participation by anyone who wanted it, whether entrepreneurs engaged in musical activity, professional technicians operating in licensed venues or working with other government events and public performances, along with experts and interested members of the public.

“It is an important issue, with awareness increasing and a greater number of complaints and claims,” said Yomara Garcia, the Las Palmas head of Lawyers Against Noise, who have been working with the local town hall to address the issues involved.

Mayor Marco Aurelio Pérez said that the initiative sought to complement and deepen knowledge of aspects to do with noise pollution that were not addressed in the previous year “with the aim of raising awareness about the reality of this problem” a problem that is

not exclusive or specific to San Bartolomé de Tirajana or Gran Canaria but present across the whole of Spain, he said.

“We have to find means, resources and procedures to raise awareness of the damage that is caused by excessive noise both to people and the ecosystem.”

“It is a serious problem and is an issue that is being addressed in our region, taking into account the importance of tourism revenue and income for the local economy.”

Councilman Fernando González Montoro says that this municipality, due to its tourist idiosyncrasies, has had “many problems” as to the compatibility of noise and nightlife in the places where people who visit us also rest and sleep. “This issue has been brought before the courts and has harmed people and the Administration,” he said.

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DEMAND TO BE HEARD

Others feel their only option will be to stand and fight.

"Another issue that concerns us" says Paco "is the new law of terraces that is being developed, we demand recognition of the terraces, the terraces have always existed and it is what is most attractive about the tourist area, the truth is that summer is approaching and the nightlife is very important for tourism, it generates significant revenue in Playa del Inglés and also creates jobs, and tourists will not want to go to a tourist area designed for the elderly."

Though FECAO did indeed issue a response, making demands, and being seen to mediate with the local council, there is unlikely to be any real change to the enforcement of existing laws, bringing to bear licensing regulations which have been hitherto ignored by proprietors and authorities alike, but are now very much on the agenda. Non-Spanish speakers enjoy little or no representation and have a hard time keeping up.

Rumours, of course, are rife, with some fearing that "enchufe" (plugged-in) big businesses are trying to take over from all the smaller and diverse cafes and bars that have helped to build up the area over the years. There may be some iota of truth in this, but there is much more to it.

The authorities, seem to have been applying the regulations quite uniformly, visiting establishments throughout the tourist zones and letting every business know that much more stringent enforcement is on the cards for the future. Survival for most will mean getting to know what is and isn’t allowed, and where. Ignoring the rules is unlikely to be a strategy for success, regardless of what has happened before.

When inspections arrived at the infamous LGBT Yumbo Centre, most business owners (who, incidentally, rent their premises) had no idea what was going on, leading to somewhat unfounded accusations of homophobia and "anti-foreigner" attitudes, when in fact the primary problem seems to have been wholly inadequate communication between the community of property owners, and

DIALOGUE:

the businesses to whom they rent. This led to an online petition being started from the UK, in the face of several very well known businesses being threatened with closure just before this year's main LGBT celebrations. It is very clear that much greater efforts need to be made at informing businesses of their responsibilities and working with them to ensure no further panic ensues.

Those with a serious interest need to organise. Getting properly informed, and getting involved in ensuring that their interests are being represented within the council will be paramount. Gone are the days when foreign residents can simply avoid local politics and hope that everything will be alright. If the people who live here want change, they'll need to make sure their voices are heard.

This town hall means to let "rogue operators" know who is in control, even if that means some businesses will have to move on or close their doors for good. European Union laws are being enforced.

Make no mistake, other town halls will be taking notes with enforcement of existing license laws expected in other areas too...

SOUND REASONING

Marco Aurelio Pérez has said that they seek to contribute to changing the mentality of the private sector and to abandon the passivity that had also affected past administrations.

“We want this change of mentality to actively reach the private sector. There have been many complaints filed and therefore we need many action plans in this regard. It remains an important task creating awareness and changes to address the [noise] pollution to which we are subjected” said the mayor.

“Many entrepreneurs have been quite remiss when adjusting to classification [and licensing] of the [areas] in which they operate. In this council we are trying [to ensure] all business that develops under classified areas has the [correct] authorisation certificate according to the activity [in question]. Those who are licensed as a bar-cafeteria can exercise that

activity and no other, and those with a music bar license, must comply with what the Ordinance on Noise Pollution approved by the City Council in August 2013 says” insists González Montoro.

exactly what the decibel levels that can be allowed in these types of activities are, within these areas” he said.

The town hall is working to regularise noise and activity on terraces, so as to allow citizens and visitors to rest uninterrupted as well as enjoy leisure activities on terraces favoured Decibel Level Noise Maps by the weather here. “In brief” says the counThe councillor has said that the Town Council cillor, measures “will be taken to rectify the already have noise maps of the commercial situation in accordance with the local laws.” triangle between the CC Plaza de MaspaloThe City Council want to implement and mas, Kasbah and Metro; and over recent months a mobile noise map of the Yumbo has to continue their work as a pioneer in the Canary Islands in 2013, when they approved also been created, and one will soon be unthe Regulatory Ordinance on noise pollution dertaken at the Cita. throughout the southern tourist town. It “These noise maps allow you to have accurate is hoped that the conference, and other knowledge of the noise that is being generconsultations, “can serve as a springboard for ated in the areas of greatest noise pollution, all those canary administrations who want which are the shopping centres, and define advice” said González Montoro.

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May

2016

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria The tranquil and unparalleled rugged beauty of this island can rarely be understood from the beaches, that’s why Gran Canaria Walking Festival began 5 years ago.

An opportunity to join one or a series of guided walks through some of the most amazing wilderness in the world...

GranCanariaWalkingFestival.com

Wine production grew 16.5% on Gran Canaria The winemakers of Gran Canaria, from the 15 municipalities where grapes are grown here, harvested 573,300 kilos of grapes last year, of which 423,000 were black and 150,600 white.

Wine production on Gran Canaria grew by 16.5 % over the last harvest of 2015, which means soon more than 570,000 new bottles will come to market under the Designation of Origin (DO) certification from this island.

It takes just over a kilo of grapes to produce a 75 cl bottle of wine.

Luis Lopéz, the president of the Regulatory Council of the DO of Gran Canaria, says not only did the harvest increase but the

quality of the harvest improved also, thanks to a wetter than average winter, low night time temperatures and moderate day time temperatures, which let the grapes mature slowly.

72 Bodegas and more than 300 growers officially collaborate to make up the Denominación de Origen collection of wines from Gran Canaria.

The Federación Insular de Asociaciones Vitivinícolas de Gran Canaria (Vinigran), is made up of 350 winemakers and producers.

Small agricultural plots settled on volcanic soils, combined with local trade and manual collection are said to be the primary factors that differentiate these limited edition wines and their artisanal production from other parts of the world, very few other places in the world have such a variety.

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The Santa Mónica hotel reopens

Santa Mónica Suites Hotel, a modern 4Star+ on the dunes of Maspalomas, located within the Natural Park itself and with direct access to the beach, re-opened its doors officially on 1 May after millions of euros worth of renovations.

The building, located in one of the most privileged places in the South, next to the Special Nature Reserve of the Dunes of Maspalomas, has more than a hundred owners, and has just gone through a modernisation project, with the original apartments having been transformed into a hotel with 182 four-star suites.

The new hotel has 182 rooms, all 45 m2 Junior Suites, of which 113 have views of the dunes and to the sea, 39 double Junior Suites with views of the gardens from the second floor and 30 double

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2016

Junior Suites with terrace, on the first floor.

An environmentally friendly hotel Santa Mónica Suites Hotel has been redesigned using the most advanced technology. The installations are equipped with a management and control system to help maximise energy savings.

A solar thermal plant has been installed on the roof to provide domestic hot water and to heat the pools. The hotel has a centralised inverter system for producing highly efficient air conditioning, incorporating residual energy recovery for domestic hot water and pool heating. The air conditioning units are equipped with dynamic balance and proportional demand control. The pumps include speed controllers to adjust consumption to real demand. The state of the art LED lighting system also optimise energy consumption.

Tourist bed occupancy on ​​Gran Canaria Meloneras was the tourist resort in 2015 with the highest occupancy rate on Gran Canaria, according to indicators and statistics published by the Gran Canaria Tourist Board (Patronato de Turismo).

In Meloneras 86.12% of the 10,778 beds offered were occupied in 2015, followed by Taurito with 80,08% occupancy of its 3,291 beds. Playa del Inglés, recorded an occupancy of just 56.69% of its 48,567 beds, whereas the lowest recorded on the island was in Tauro -Playa del Cura with just 44% of the 3,482 beds available having been filled throughout the year.

Meloneras was also the “most productive tourist area” on ​​Gran Canaria, both in employment figures and relating to the average revenue per room. It is also a very popular tourist destination with some of the highest prices on the island.

In total revenues from the tourist centres, Playa del Inglés topped the rankings, totaling €315,526,091 in 2015, an increase of 3.77% compared to 2014. Meloneras brought in €252,537,488, (+14.70%) and Amadores €68,445,631 (+14.17%). The biggest drop in revenues experienced was Sonnenland which saw a drop of -13.99% bringing in €24,242,498.

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The average daily rate earned in Meloneras was €152.65 per day per accommodation unit, followed by Bahía Feliz (€93.47) and San Agustín (€91,75). The average daily rate in ​​Playa del Inglés was €65.07 and the lowest average incomes were in Tauro-Playa del Cura with €52.87 and Sonnenland €45.06.

In response to the importance of tourism in the archipelago, the Canary Islands Institute of Statistics (ISTAC) has developed the Regional Tourism Statistics System.

Gran Canaria has fifteen tourist “micro destinations” integrated into five core tourist areas: • Mogán: Puerto de Mogan, Taurito, Tauro-Playa del Cura, Amadores, Puerto Rico and Arguineguín-Patalavaca.

• Maspalomas: Meloneras, Sonnenland and Campo Internacional.

• Playa del Ingles : Playa del Ingles, El Veril-Las Burras, San Agustín and Bahía Feliz.

• Las Canteras: Las Palmas beach front • Rest of Gran Canaria: other areas that are not included in the above areas.

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May

2016

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

NEW OFFICE TO OPEN FOR TOURISTS TO REPORT CRIME Maspalomas is to get a permanent police office specifically for tourists to make reports in their own language, exclusively handling complaints made by visitors who may have been victims of any crime. This despite Maspalomas being seen as one of the safest tourist destinations in Spain.

The creation of the pioneering service, planned by the Town Council of San Bartolomé de Tirajana and the Ministry of Interior’s Secretary of State Security was approved unanimously by the Municipal Corporation in its plenary last month.

If you have suffered a robbery or criminal behaviour it can be a disconcerting situation made even more complex if the incident occurs in a country where they speak a different language or are simply governed by unknown protocols. In a progressive new project San Bartolomé de Tirajana has taken steps to launch a combined effort to create a specialised office to deal with problems that may arise while pro-actively trying to minimise negative effects on the visitor, who may require extra assistance.

One of the primary advantages of this new system according to Councillor for Security, José Carlos Alamo, is personalised attention for tourists in a strategic location right next to the courthouse in Maspalomas. The aim is to be able to offer the opportunity to attend a “speedy trial” before having to return to their home country on their scheduled flight.

Alamo says that the service has the support of staff working in the tourist information offices throughout the municipality, adding that “the agents themselves will also have language skills.”

The town´s social services will also coordinate with the office to assist in dealing with gender violence or cases involving minors The Foreign Tourist Assistance Service

(Servicio de Atención al Turista Extranjero or SATE) will be the first of its kind on Gran Canaria and will also serve Spanish tourists.

It is to be located on the premises of the police station of the Policia Local, and will be headed up by multilingual agents of the Policia Nacional with the help and collaboration of members of the Policia Local, specifically members of the Tourist Police unit.

The Town Council and the Ministry of State Security have reported that the opening of this office next to the building of the Maspalomas courtrooms “is suitable” due to its proximity and centrality, since officers will be dealing with complaints and any subsequent remands making cases available to the Courts. They said in a statement that the office will be dedicated to providing “a fundamental service to visitors,” aiming to enhance the quality of tourism services on offer.

The official tourist police reports office, for the victims of any criminal offence, will aim to assist in the visitors own language and will give personalised attention to help ensure speedy processing of suspected crimes being committed against visitors.

The office will be open from 9:00 to 21:00 without interruptions from Monday to Friday, and Saturdays from 9:00 to 14:30.

There is also advice offered and advertised on the steps and procedures one must undertake for the cancellation of credit cards and documents, and help for contacting embassies and consulates, and to locate or communicate with family and others.

Those affected will be informed of their rights and will be assisted in the handling of complaints and the citations process for prompt or immediate judgements as appropriate.

The Policia Nacional meeting about SATE (Servicio de Atención al Turista Extranjero) was held at the beginning of March 2016 to discuss the matter and to give a boost to

the creation of a Policia Nacional Foreign Tourist Assistance Service on Gran Canaria.

Great interest has been shown by the President of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales, and municipal representatives in the implementation of this resource, which aims at improving the attention to foreign tourists visiting the island of Gran Canaria, and is a sign of the commitment of the Government of Spain to ensure the security and protection of the tourism sector.

The meeting was held between the government delegate in the Canary Islands, Enrique Hernández Bento, President of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales Méndez, Mayors of Las Palmas, Augusto Hidalgo Macario, and Mogán, Onalia Good García, and the Councillor for Citizen Security of the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, José Carlos Alamo Ojeda as well as representatives of police forces.

Editor’s comment: This is a great move from San Bartolomé de Tirajana, and some may say long overdue.

After an alleged assault was reported in Norwegian media back in February, a spot light was shone on the procedures in place for dealing with tourist incidents. One of the biggest problems identified was the blatant lack of service to non-spanish speakers, with only a telephone number provided for a central switchboard who are able to take reports and complaints in other languages, which then needed to be signed for the following day.

This new provision should go a long way toward developing trust and improved facilities aimed at the security of tourists, and assisting their ability to report substandard practices and criminal activity in what has become one of Spain’s most precious revenue generating and most visited destinations. Great Work!

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Shooting goats to preserve “Life” project The Cabildo de Gran Canaria this month started a controversial second cull of “wild” goats , reportedly because they are endangering native indigenous plant life, which is protected under the ‘Life’ project funded by the European Union.

During the first round, 77 goats were killed and 47 captured out of an estimated population on the island’s north west slopes of beween 200 and 400.

The island cabildo, including both the environment minister, Juan Manuel Brito, and the president, Antonio Morales, insisted that the cull was absolutely necessary, while animal protection activists called for alternative solutions to simply shooting the goats and leaving them to die in the hills.

Many of the wild goats did not die instantly, despite professional hunters having been hired by the cabildo, with images and video emerging on social networks of seriously injured animals found suffering, having been shot but not killed.

The Cabildo of Gran Canaria, meanwhile, again reiterated that attempts to capture or manage the wild goat population have not been successful and that sending out hunters was the last resort.

However activists submitted a petition with more than 17,800 signatures rejecting the actions and denouncing the Cabildo, as they have repeatedly confirmed that many of the goats are killed in easily accessible areas where they could have been captured without needing to be exterminated.

The cull has been carried out based on reports from cabildo technicians. The feral goats, they say, are endangering vegetation and native plants in protected areas of Gran Canaria, including Güigüi, Tamadaba and Inagua. Some of these plants are only found on this island.

It has also being stated that technicians from the European Commission, who were here last April to check the situation, warned that with the existing “threat” it might not be possible to continue funding the project.

There have been denials that this was the official advice offered.

The public outcry appears to have taken the Cabildo by surprise.

Editor’s Comment: While nobody disputes the necessity to preserve and protect the unique indigenous plants found on Gran Canaria, there is a clear public feeling that the Cabildo de Gran Canaria may have been lazy when trying to find a solution to habitat damage by wild goats.

Though scientists may or may not value rare flora more highly than wild goats, must citizens wonder why public money needs to be spent to shoot defenceless animals, when they could be caught and relocated.

Many agree that this is simply inhumane, especially when the hunters can’t even to finish the job, leaving animals suffering and dying in the hills.

According to “animalist political party”, Pacma, the Cabildo has not taken into account studies of a team of researches from the department of ecology and biology faculty of the University of La Laguna that states that the three indigenous species of goat, which have been here since pre-hispanic times, have adapted to this environment and form part of this respective ecosystem, therefore they cannot be seen as an “invasive species”.

Sanna Says: It seems unbelievable to think that there is no other way to deal with this issue.

Especially since it was humans who originally introduced these animals here in the first place.

Many farmers have offered to take them.

Yet we were repeatedly told that all this killing must continue simply to protect funding for a project called ‘Life’, a name that now seems tragically ironic The Cabildo of Gran Canaria did eventually respond positively to the outcry, with the minister of the environment, Juan Manuel Brito meeting with shepherd associations to try and put in place more humane alternatives to capture the goats as has been done traditionally across the islands over the centuries.

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

Should I stay or should I go now?

British Vice Consul Esther Martín paid a visit to the south of the island this month with Mr Will Middleton, the Consular Regional Director for Southern Europe, as part of an outreach effort on behalf of the FCO to encourage Brits to vote in the upcoming and historic EU referendum on June 23rd. Middleton is a very busy, erudite man, overseeing more than 150 staff, working in 37 Consulate offices in 17 countries, and he spends much of his time flying between places to offer assistance to the various consular teams and to try and ensure provision of the best service possible to British subjects and migrants living abroad. Local bloggers active on social media were invited to help spread the word and allay concerns regarding registration to vote.

There are expats living on Gran Canaria who have not been able to register for postal votes in the EU Referendum. Eddie Gorman, originally from Northern Ireland, says that he, and at least 30 others that he knows, can only register for a proxy vote due to a problem picked up too late to expect any changes before this referendum, that means he must now try to find someone back in his old constituency to whom he can give a proxy if he wants to use his right to vote.

“Essentially,” says Middleton, “this is down to local authorities.

You register with local authorities, they send out the ballot papers and they collect, which is why you need a post code registered in a particular place.” The anomaly was picked up only a couple of months ago, fed back to the electoral commission, but it is unlikely to change anything in time for this vote. “I think it is because each local authority can choose whether they want to allow postal voting and in northern Ireland traditionally it has not been allowed, for whatever reason.”

Gorman points out that he thinks the situation for people like him is terribly unfair. Many from northern Ireland, who retired in the years following the Good Friday agreement, felt a strong desire to distance themselves from The Troubles when they retired, and therefore may not have anyone that they know or trust, in the places they used to live. The RUC, for example, was reduced by more than half in that time. Just from that force alone more than 8000 retired around the same time as Gorman. He is aware of at least 1000 who are now living over seas, and who will be finding it very difficult to vote, and that’s just ex-police officers.

Anyone else who has come from there to live abroad will be having similar problems.

Middleton says we can all speculate on the ins and outs of why it is like it is, and though he can see it may be frustrating, there really isn’t a lot he can do to change things until the powers that be recognise the issue and proposals for change are accepted. For this referendum, anyone living abroad who was registered to vote in UK in the last 15 years can vote, if not by post then through a proxy, and if they have no one they can nominate then they may have trouble casting their vote. Most Brits however should have no problems at all.

Local author, blogger and ex-newspaper editor Barrie Mahoney asks when it is that the postal votes will be sent out.

“Registrations close on 16th of May, the electoral commission has said that they should send it out by the 23rd, but of course because this is all devolved, it is down to each local authority to move through that process. The electoral commission knows, well enough, about the problems with postal voting from the last general election, there were problems with ballot papers going out, overseas, but not being sent out in time in order to be sent back in time. We heard that a lot, where people had done all the right things but their vote did not get there, and the electoral commission is well aware of that and have, this time round, tried to really build in extra time to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

Gorman points out that even this will be “a very short time span” saying “the postal service on this island is renowned for being terrible.”

Mahoney doesn’t agree “we get stuff that’s been sent out within a few days” though does admit “but other times it can take weeks. It’s just extremely variable is, I think, the best way to describe it” “I’ve been waiting for two months and a day now for a letter sent out from Northern Ireland” counters Gorman “and that’s by registered post!”

“Wow!” says Middleton “We’re very conscious of the risks. The British government, the consular service, the consular network, have made a big push on encouraging people to register, and of course it is reliant on the postal service working, and ballot papers getting out.” adding “That is unfortunately the system we have. I’ll be voting by proxy” Of course referendums are rare, even if Middleton jokes “Not under this government!”, but it does seem that there has been a greater push towards getting overseas voters to register, on which he says “Well yes that was in the conservative party manifesto, they talked much more about abolishing the fifteen year rule, ensuring the views of overseas voters are reflected, or represented, as well; so I think that’s partly a party political position.”

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Simon Manley, British Ambassador to Spain, says:

“Although the deadline for expats to vote by post in the EU referendum has now passed, you can still register to vote by proxy, as long as you do so by 7 June. We all know how important the referendum will be, for us, for our children, and for our country.

“Whether you think we should leave or remain, I would encourage those who have not yet registered to vote, and who are eligible to do so, to avail themselves of this final opportunity to have their say on 23 June.”

“Obviously we see the European Referendum as being of a whole different order, in the way that overseas voters may not be so interested, certainly if we look at British voters and if the turn out rates are indicative, they’re not hugely interested in local elections, or even European elections. I think everyone recognises that the EU referendum is of a different order. It has a huge impact on British expats overseas, particularly in Europe, but this is also about Britain’s place in the world.”

as a consular service, are British residents not thinking about the complications of getting old, and losing contact with family, with the UK, losing a partner, getting ill health, all the complications of bereavement, or death and so on… and so we do a lot of messaging about that and thinking ahead. Essentially the more you think ahead, the less likely you are to get into difficulty, and the less likely you are going to need the consular service, and we are doing exactly the same thing with the EU Referendum.”

“This is of a different order than a general election. The Prime Minister has said that this is a once in a generation referendum, the last one was in the 70s, it’s very unlikely we’re going to have this kind of choice again any time soon, and so it is incredibly important, and as good civil servants, as people who believe in democracy, obviously you want to make sure that that voice is heard.”

“The reason we are trying to get people involved is because, firstly, we’ve been asked to do it by the electoral commission, but actually it is about getting people who’ve chosen to live overseas, and for whom we still have a responsibility, to think about what the implications might be, and we as the consular service, as the embassy, as civil servants are entirely impartial.”

While it is reassuring to hear Mr Middleton clearly differentiate a “conservative government” it is worth remembering that the civil service are the representatives of Her Majesty’s government, who ever that happens to be, but of course are subject to the ebbs and flows of whatever happens there. It could be suggested that a large number of expats have tendency to think in a particular way, that may well be appealing to the conservative world view. An expat living in Europe is of course going to be very concerned with the upshot of an EU referendum, and some critics may suggest there could even be a little cynicism in encouraging much greater numbers of them to participate, though certainly very important, it is clear that the current government is not without bias.

When asked what the perspective of his office is, and that of the consular service, on what in fact happens one way or the other; if they have prepped for it, had lots of meetings about it, maybe even received extra training, or if indeed there has been no such exercise, and in fact they are quite relaxed about it and just going to wait and see what happens, Middleton spells out the overarching mission of the British Consuls and embassies: “As a consular service, outside of an EU referendum, we do an awful lot of work about trying to get residents, who’ve chosen to live overseas, to think ahead. So a lot of the problems we see,

“The government has taken a position that we should stay within the EU, and therefore we will promote that position, but quite separate from that; voter registration is ultimately about ensuring that people think about the future and what the implications might be for them.”

“It’s not really for me to tell you which way to vote, even though the government has taken an official position, and you will find that British ambassadors are not going around and banging a drum and saying ‘you must vote to stay in’, and if you’ve heard that message I would be very surprised.”

“You should make sure you are informed, and you should make sure that your voice is heard. If you have a view, you should make sure it is heard. We have been trying to work with the electoral commission to iron out as many of the problems, which might block people from their voices being heard, as possible; including the Northern Ireland one, even though, you know, we didn’t get the solution; but also giving feedback on speed of turnaround of postal votes last time and so on. “Our message is get registered, if you can, appoint a proxy and get your papers off quickly as soon as they arrive.”

Registration to take part in this historic decision closes on June 7th, whatever your thoughts on migration, Europe, Britishness, Brussels, sovereignty and how you will be affected, you are thoroughly encouraged to make sure your voice heard.

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Food For Thought...

El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

Foreigners bought 10.3% more homes Foreigners bought a total of 7783 homes on the Canary Islands in 2015, representing an increase of 10.3%, according to data from the General Council of Notaries. This shows that foreign purchases have been increasing since 2007.

In 2015, housing transactions by foreigners stood at 39% of total in the Canary Islands.

The average price per square meter (/m2) of transactions by foreigners on the islands stood at €1,548, representing an increase of 2.3%. The average price acquired by non-residents increased by 5.6% to €1,792 /m2, while the price of real estate purchased by foreign residents fell by 0.1%, standing at €1,367 /m2.

In this image, it is assumed that everyone will benefit from the same supports. They are being treated equally.

This image shows individuals being given different supports to make it possible for them to have equal access to the game. They are being treated equitably

In this last image, all three can see the game without any supports or accommodations, because the cause of the inequity was addressed. The systemic barrier has been removed

As for the nationality of foreigners who bought homes in the Canary Islands, out of non-resident buyers 27% were British, and 16.9% were Germans, and among foreign residents on the Islands, 21.9% were Italians followed by 18.7% who were British.

Days of Brad on Gran Canaria

The Cabildo de Gran Canaria and the city of Las Palmas have not been hiding their glee that the island was chosen for shooting part of the film ‘Allied’, having joined efforts and resources to provide every facility to the production, under the coordination of the Gran Canaria Film Commission.

Shooting for the film on Gran Canaria will bring significant benefits adding to efforts promoting our island paradise as a versatile film set for large productions, as well as significant investment that will affect diverse sectors, from catering to transport and hospitality among others. So much so, that this is thought to be one of the most important film investments made so far on the island.

The film shoot takes in three locations in Las Palmas; la Plaza Cairasco, Belén María and calle Canalejas.

The base of operations for the shoot was the government’s innovation centre Infecar, where services like costume, props, makeup, equipment, materials and everything related to production was located, while the administrative part was located in the Edificio Quegles.

The Gran Canaria Film Commission has worked for months on bringing the blockbuster to Gran Canaria, facilitating access to locations and dialogue with the authorities, not only with the capital’s City Hall, which has been involved from the beginning, but also with the Government, Guardia Civil and the port Authority on issues such as the search for harbour space, permits for detonations, colour changes to façades, removing road signs, traffic lights and any other sign of modernity, among many other actions to ensure the production has everything it needs.

BRAD PITT AND MARION COTILLARD FILMING

The World War II thriller, starring Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard, will be part shot on Gran Canaria.

Marion Cotillard, the oscar winning French actress is known for her parts in films like La Vie en Rose as Édith Piaf, The Dark Knight Rises, Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen, and Public Enemies by Written by Steven Knight and directed by oscar winner Robert Michael Mann Zemeckis (Forrest Gump), Allied has been shooting in London, The movie “Allied” previously had the working title ‘Five seconds with production also taking place in our capital, Las Palmas. The Paramount picture is set for release during Oscar awards season, of silence’ and was scheduled to be shooting in Las Palmas in at least three locations starting from 20 May. The scenes aim to reccurrently scheduled for 23 November this year in the US. reate the atmosphere and ambience of the 40s in the Moroccan Zemeckis has directed some of the most memorable films to grace enclave of Casablanca. the silver screen such as Forrest Gump, Back to the Future I, II & Set in 1942 the film follows a French-Canadian spy Max Vatan (Brad III, Cast away and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Pitt) who falls in love and marries a French agent (Marion Cotillard) Brad Pitt probably does not need explanations of any sort, needless to say that his presence on the island has caused a major stir with swoons expected across Gran Canaira.

during a dangerous mission. Later in Casablanca he is notified that his wife is likely to be a Nazi spy and he begins his own investigation of her, finding himself having to deal with her secrets from the past.

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Julio Iglesias concert in Las Palmas in July (obv!)

Oh Julio! The Grammy Award-winning Spanish singer and songwriter has been entertaining with his sultry soft music performances for more years than most want to admit they can remember, and he is giving three concerts in the Canary Islands this summer. He arrives on the Islands as the main star of Festival Mar Abierto, 2016, organized by ArteValle Productions.

In Gran Canaria Julio Iglesias will be performing on 20 July at the Gran Canaria arena in Las Palmas Tickets available online: www.festivalmarabierto.com and entrees.es - Points of sale on Gran Canaria include: Shopping Center El Muelle (Las Palmas), C/ Pérez del Toro, 79 (Las Palmas) and Shopping Center El Tablero (San Bartolomé de Tirajana)

Second Maspalomas Soul Festival in July

This time Iglesias comes to the Islands after recently releasing his new album “México”.

The stars discography includes over 80 albums since 1968 and with over 300 million albums sold. He can easily be confirmed as the single most successful Latin artist in history, and one of the ten highest selling musical artists of all time, in addition to having performed more than 5,000 concerts around the world and been seen live by millions and millions of people.

After a successful first weekend of shows on San Agustín beach, in July last year, including world class performers from around the world, the town hall have more than welcomed a second edition.

The II Soul Festival is going to be the last weekend in July (29th31st), and has been awarded a budget of €174,000.

The first edition of this free event, the Maspalomas Costa Canaria-Soul Festival, was themed as a tribute to the legendary Otis Redding. The lineup included a glittering array of career soul-music performers including Chick Rodgers, the Frank Bey & Anthony Paule All Star Band, David Hudson, Sweet Nectar, Sax Gordon, Theo Huff and local Gran Canaria soul aficionados; Sugar Hill Band, among others. More than 10,000 people are estimated to have participated.

Maspalomas Soul Festival is an extension of the Porretta Soul Festival held annually in Italy, through an intermediary of the producers DD & Company Productions, providing an exclusive Spanish manifestation sharing artists with the very well established Italian event. That means that artists performing at the Italian festival are likely to be participating later in Maspalomas. This essentially allows the two venues to share transport costs and subsistence for the artists, mostly American, while also ensuring the quality of groups and singers.

At the council plenary session in Tunte, San Bartolomé de Tirajana has given a green light for the second edition of Soul Festival Maspalomas Costa Canaria, reporting the unanimous support of the Municipal Corporation.

The stated intention of the Town Council is to consolidate this musical event and link it to the Maspalomas resort as an international claim, making it a cultural leisure product that tour operators and travel agencies can incorporate into their tour packages to be announced in advance.

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

MY LIFE IN YOUR HANDS

AN APPEAL

A Horse Show exhibit will be held

I am 34 years old and suffer from in Arguineguín on the morning of Type II Recklinhausen disease that July 3rd and will be organised by the keeps me paralyzed on the left side Asociación Canaria de Criadores de of my body and causes problems with speech, vision, and other things Caballos de Pura Raza Español The treatment that can guarantee my There will be several exhibits of about complete recovery over the coming 15 minutes each, Dressage, Western, years costs about €50,000 Sevillian Styles etc. and a BBQ to raise With your kindness, help and funds.

There will also be musical contributions I can get my life back. performances and dancing.....

Wholeheartedly I’d appreciate any help and offer my sincere thanks to If you can help please donate below: all who in one way or another are working to help me overcome this.

Many thanks!

Sergio.

I.T. tips - I.T. tips - I.T. tips - I.T. tips - I.T. tips Useful Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows Computers While most of us are already aware of obvious keyboard shortcuts like “Ctrl+C” to copy highlighted text, and “Ctrl+V” to paste what you just copied, there are some less well known shortcuts which most of us tend to overlook. These keyboard shortcuts are not only useful for the average PC user computer but also for advanced users as well. This and one more articles in the next edition of Canary News contain contain many such amazing keyboard shortcuts, which if used properly cansave a lot of time and effort. So let's get started.

Windows key+D: This shortcut is the keyboard equivalent of “Show the Desktop”. It is useful for quickly minimizing every open window when someone walks in and you are doing some private or personal work. Windows key+D again, reverses this.

Ctrl+C on an error dialog box to copy its contents: Suppose your computer is giving an error message and you want to copy its contents to send to the support guy, what do you do?

Just press Ctrl+C while the dialog box is highlighted and its contents will be copied to your clipboard.

Ctrl+Shift+T: Reopens the last closed tab.

Ctrl+Shift+N: This shortcut opens a new incognito window in Google Chrome.

Ctrl+Shift+P: Opens a new private window in Mozilla Firefox.

Alt+Enter after writing the domain name in the address bar of your browser to insert .com automatically.

Shift+Enter inserts .net domain name extension.

Ctrl+Shift+Esc: This shortcut directly starts the task manager.

Ctrl+W: This shortcut closes the current tab in your browser While Alt+Ctrl+Del was used to bring out the Task Manager in Windows XP and earlier versions, in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, quickly.

Windows 8 and Windows 7, it just brings up the lock this Ctrl+Backspace: This shortcut deletes the last word you computer screen. have typed. It is useful in case you typed in a wrong word and want to delete it quickly.

Ctrl+Click: This shortcut is useful for opening a link in a background tab. This is useful when you Ctrl+Left or Right Arrow key: This shortcut allows you to have to load a page without leaving the current one. move the cursor one word at a time instead of the default one character at a time.

Alt+Print Screen: takes the screenshot of the current active window as opposed to just Print Screen which takes the screenshot of the entire screen.

Shift+Click for Yes to All and No to All: If you have a lot of dialog boxes asking yes and no question, just shift+click Yes or No on one to yes all, or no all.

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Canary Current

The

JU NE 8TH IS

WORLD OCEA NS DAY Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet

The World Oceans Day theme for 2016 is Healthy oceans, healthy planet.

The ocean is the heart of our planet.

Like your heart pumping blood to every part of your body, the ocean connects people across the Earth, no matter where we live.

The ocean regulates the climate, feeds millions of people every year, produces most of the oxygen we breathe, is the home to an incredible array of wildlife, provides us with important medicines, and so much more!

In order to ensure the health and safety of our communities and future generations, it’s imperative that we take the responsibility to care for the ocean as it cares for us.

Everyone’s health depends on a clean, productive ocean. During our celebration this year, we encourage our partners and friends to once again think about what actions each of us can take to safeguard vulnerable ocean communities.

Please focus on whatever issues you think are most important for a healthy ocean future.

No.3 - Spring 2016

Its all about the little things, here are a few ways you can help...

- Bring your own bags when you go shopping. Most the larger shops like Al Campo and Carrefour sell strong, re-usable bags and they are really pretty too, with various designs and prints.

- Recycle your plastic bottles and if you see one on the ground or the beach, pick it up.

- Until “edible six pack rings” are made available, remember to cut up plastic ones, we all have seen the photos of trapped turtles.

- Save bottle tops, there are still places that collect them for charity fund raising.

- Old plastic toothbrushes can be used to clean around the house like taps or the corners of sinks and bathtubs.

- Things like yogurt cups, are the perfect size for growing seedlings indoors before planting them outside and a great thing to do with children using seeds you get from the fruits or vegetables you eat.

- Opt for matches over disposable plastic lighters

.

Outstanding Trip Advisors No 1 Boat tours and Water Sports in Puerto Rico

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El Peri贸dico Ingl茅s de Gran Canaria With Special Thanks to:

An oceans series

Timon 2016 .:.

Canary Current

The

in association with

BLUE EXPLORERS?

The ultimate diving experience!

Blue-Explorers.com

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Facebook.com/YumboBar.Diamonds Forever@Bar.Diamonds

Bar (dot) Diamonds

19

Established 1996

Celebrating 20 years on the Yumbo Main Square, Playa del InglĂŠs - Gran Canaria

Why have we lasted so long, and still going strong?

It’s not complicated:

Fantastic Staff - Outstanding Service - Delicious Drinks - Honest Prices A great night time atmosphere & Sunshine All Day Every Day Simple as that. To all our customers, returning, new or yet to meet us.

Thank You!

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Language Lesson #102

EN EL DENTISTA!

El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

with Theresa Coe

Getting by at a check up Understanding the dentist

Si necesitas visitar al dentista, aquí tienes unas frases útiles. If you need to visit the dentist, here you have some useful phrases. However, on a personal note, I´d like to recommend the Danish dentist Eddie Do you have any problems Basson at Clinica Las Margaritas in el Tablero – no need to speak with your teeth?

Spanish there either!

Okay, here we go - aquí vamos: Making an appointment

Can I make an appointment ¿puedo pedir una cita para ver Where does it hurt? to see the dentist/ al dentista o higienista dental? hygienist…? (pweh-doh peh-deer oona seeta para vair al den-TEES-ta o ee-heeWhen does it hurt – all the en-eesta dental) time?

I’d like a check-up me gustaría una revisión (meh goos-tah-ree-ya oona reh-vee-seeON) Can you open your mouth, please?

How much would it cost? ¿cuánto me costaría? (kwan-toh meh costa-reeya?)

How much do you charge for a check-up/cleaning/ filling?

Does the dentist speak English?

¿Cuánto cobra usted por una I’m going to give you an x-ray revisión/una limpieza/un empaste (kwan-toh cobra oo-sted por oona reh-vee-see-yon/oona leem-peeYou’ve got a bit of decay in ESS-sa/oon em-PAS-teh) this tooth ¿Habla el dentista inglés? (a-blah Your gums are inflamed el den-TEES-tah in-GLES)

Explaining your problem I’ve got toothache

Tengo dolor de muelas (TEN-goh doh-LOR deh mweh-las)

I´ve lost a filling

he perdido un empaste (eh pairdee-doh oon em-PAS-teh)

I’ve chipped a tooth

me he roto un diente (meh eh rohtoh oon dee-EN-teh)

I’d like a clean and polish me gustaría una limpieza y pulido (meh goos-tah-REE-ya oon lim-peeEH-sah ee poo-LEE-doh) My gums are bleeding

A little wider, please

Mis encías están sangrando (mees ehn-SEE-ass eh-STAN sahn-GRANdoh)

My denture is bothering me

Mi dentadura postiza me molesta (mee dehn-tah-DOO-rah pohs-TEEsah meh moh-LESS-tah)

It hurts when I chew

Duele cuando mastico (dweh-leh kwando mas-TEE-koh)

You’ve got an abscess

¿Tiene algún problema con los dientes? (tee-YEH-neh al-GOON proh-BLEH-ma con los dee-YENtess) ¿Dónde le duele? (DON-deh leh DWE-leh) ¿Cuándo le duele – todo el tiempo? (toh-doh el tee-EM-poh) ¿Puede abrir la boca, por favor?

(PWEH-deh a-BREER la boca) Abra un poco más, por favor (A-bra oon poh-koh mass) voy a hacer/le una radiografía (voy a ass-AIR-leh oona rah-deeyo-grah-feeya) tiene un poco de caries (‘CAHree-ess) en este diente las encías están inflamadas (las en-SEE-yass est-AN in-flah-MAHdass) tiene un flemón (tee-YEH-neh oon fleh-MON)

Bite slowly

Muerda despacio (MOO-erdah des-PAH-see-oh)

Bite again

Muerda otra vez (MOO-erdah OH-trah vez)

Are you allergic to any medicines?

¿Es alérgico a algún medicamento?

(Es ah-LUR-hee-co a al-goon me-dee-ka-MEN-toe)

Dental treatment - tratamiento dental You need two fillings I need to take this tooth out Do you want to have a crown fitted?

I’m going to give you an injection Let me know if you feel any pain

necesita dos empastes necesito sacarle este diente ¿quiere que le pongamos una corona dental? voy a poner/le una inyección (in-yek-see-ON) dígame si nota algún dolor (doh-LOR)

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Would you like to rinse your mouth out?

¿quiere enjuagarse la boca? (en-hwa-GAR-seh)

You should make an appointment with the hygienist

debería pedir cita con el higienista dental

Do not chew on this side for 24 hours.

No mastique en este lado por 24 horas. (Noh mahs-TEEkeh en ESteh LAH doh por VEN-tee KWAH-troh O-rahs)

Do not brush tonight.

No se cepille esta noche. (No seh she-PEA-yeh ESS-tah NO-cheh)

Do not rinse tonight.

Call me if it does not get better.

No se enjuage esta noche. (Noh seh en-HUAH-ghe ESS-tah NO cheh) Llámeme si no mejora. (YAH-maymay see no may-HO-rah)

Tendrá que hacer otra cita para regresar. (Ten-DRAH kay AH-ser OH-trah SEE-tah PA-rah ray-GRAYsar) For more phrases you can use at the dentist see: You will need to come back for another appointment.

www.richmondinstitute.com where you can download the PDF: ‘English-Spanish Terminology in Dentistry’ Remember that you can visit www.spanishdict.com to translate words and phrases and to hear how they are pronounced in Spanish (just press the speaker button).

WANT TO PRACTICE SPEAKING SPANISH? All over the island we have free conversation clubs in Spanish or English as well as language exchanges where people of different nationalities help each other out by chatting in Spanglish. These groups are NOT classes but are a great way to meet new people – especially locals – and practice your Spanish.

Check out the new website for the LEG (Language Exchange Gran Canaria) which I´ve just launched to complement the Facebook page.

Here you can find a selection of my best Spanish lessons from The Canary News updated and categorized, which I´ll be adding to every week. More importantly, I´ll keep the listings updated so you can easily find the LEG group nearest to you or latest event taking place such as cinema trips, hiking or ‘Spanglish’ meals out.

Find your nearest LEG:

LanguageExchangeGC.es Facebook.com/LEGintercambio

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The author of our Spanish lessons these last six years is Theresa Coe from London, who is based in Playa del Inglés. She´s launched a new website including the best of her lessons from this paper (revised and updated) and the latest news on language exchange events around the island. New lessons will be added as often as possible.

She´d also love to hear ideas from readers for her next few columns in The Canary News. What would you like to be able to say in Spanish?

Just email her or contact her via the website

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Twitters from the Atlantic © Barrie Mahoney

REFERENDUM? WHAT REFERENDUM? This is an anxious time for many expats. The question of whether or not the UK will remain as a member of the European Union is an issue that many thought would never arise.

The number of expats living overseas seems to be shrouded in mystery and depends much upon which side of the argument is reporting these so called ‘facts’. It is widely thought that there are about 750,000 expats living in Spain, which vastly outweighs those living in any other European country. The issues about what will happen whether or not the UK remains in Europe matters to a significant number of people who have made their lives in a country of their choice, and not merely where they happen to have been born.

property buyers, particularly from the UK, are returning in large numbers. House prices and availability of rental properties are usually reliable indicators, and estate agents in the Costas are currently reporting that property sales and rentals are once again doing very well.

Although this activity is not at the pre-2008 crazy levels, house prices are increasing at a sensible rate, and particularly in the favoured areas of Valencia, Catalonia, the Balearics and the Canary Islands. The Brits are once again in the lead in both purchasing and renting properties in these most popular areas. Enquiries and hits on expat websites, as well as enquiries to removals companies, are also demonstrating a rapid increase in activity from would-be expats intent upon heading across the Channel.

Amidst all the scare stories from both sides of the argument, there are very few real facts to hand. Indeed, I would be hard pressed to name even one fact with absolute certainty.

Meanwhile, we are assured by what used to be a reliable media heavyweight, the Times, that British expats are packing their bags and heading back to the White Cliffs of Dover in droves. Figures of around 100 expats a day are being quoted. However, what these ‘statistics’ fail to report is that there are many more wouldbe expats leaving the UK each day and heading to a new life in the sun. Of course, it is not in anyone’s interest to report this, is it?

What about established expats? The idea that established expats are being frightened back to the UK, ‘just in case’, is nonsense. There has always been a flow of those heading to Europe and those returning to the UK, because of ill health, relationship breakdowns, business failure or homesickness, which will always continue.

I know of many established expats who are considering a number of options, should the worst happen, including opting for Spanish citizenship, or relying upon a passport from another European country. One example of this is the large number of UK expats who already have, or are applying for an Irish passport.

How do we know this? Important data relating to Spain’s economy, which is usually conveniently ignored by the UK, reveals that the country’s economy is recovering well, with a gross domestic product forecast outperforming both the UK and Germany. The International Monetary Fund has hailed Spain for its remarkable economic rebound, and overseas

Currently, even the vague threat of British exit from the European Union has not put off would be expats to head to a new life in the sun.

Referendum? What referendum? It’ll take much more than a bureaucratic and divisive exercise, masquerading as democracy, to stop a Brit from living his or her dream in the sun.

Barrie Mahoney was a head teacher and school inspector in the UK, as well as a reporter in Spain, before moving to the Canary Islands to launch and edit a new English language newspaper. He enjoys life in the sun as a columnist and author, and continues to write a series of popular novels, books for expats, as well as designing mobile apps and websites to promote the Canary Islands.

If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s websites: www.barriemahoney.com and www.thecanaryislander.com or read his latest book,

‘Island in the Sun’

(ISBN: 9780992767181).

Available in paperback, as well as Kindle, iBooks and Google Play editions. iPhone/iPad and Android Apps: ExpatInfo, CanaryIsle and CanaryGay now available. © Barrie Mahoney

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DENTAL PHOBIA

Approximately 40% of the population suffers from dental phobia to a greater or lesser degree. Are you one of them?

When you are afraid, the mere thought of having to go to the dentist, can be enough to make you get physically ill.

You become restless, nervous; feel your heart beating fast, perhaps start to sweat and your mind begins to wander around nervously. When you have these symptoms, it can be hard to get your act together and make an appointment and go. Just experiencing these bodily responses can seem really scary.

For some the fear is about sitting, leaned back, with open mouth – which is often filled with cotton pads and instruments for drilling, extraction or injection – and perhaps also the feeling of losing control. The mouth must be kept open, so you cannot talk or bite together or otherwise express our needs and it can give you the feeling, that you have no control over the situation.

For others the mind focuses on pain. They are afraid that it will hurt (again). Many adults have had bad experiences with dental visits from their childhood. Back then there was perhaps little understanding that a dental visit should feel safe and even enjoyable. The teeth had to be taken care of! – And it was very often a painful and unpleasant experience.

Others do not have confidence that they can “handle” a treatment. They may be afraid that their anxiety and aversion, will not be treated with care and understanding. They may have lost confidence in dentists altogether.

But there is hope if you are one of those who fear dentists and / or dental visits and as you read this, you may feel that going to the dentist is something you do a lot to avoid.

If you are really, really scared, it may be necessary to process the fear before you can receive dental treatment.

Clinica Margarita C/ Isla Margarita 29 E 35100 El Tablero Gran Canaria Tlf: + 34 928 14 3221 Mob: 622 15 8817 Email: info@odont.eu

• Therapists educated in Scandinavia • New dentures made in Denmark • Surgery is preformed by Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon • We tell you the different possibilities, and you choose the treatment • We do most treatments on the same day • We use only the best materials, with the best record • Communication is a high priority, and you are always welcome to talk to us

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10 pieces of advice from our partner, Jill Liv Nielsen

1 - Tell your dentist about your anxiety and ask if he / she are able to help you, or if you prefer, look for another dentist.

2 - Its OK to show emotion in the dentist’s chair, even crying – tell of any bad experience you have had and see if they show the understanding you need.

3 - Try to get up from the chair, so you get a feeling that you always can leave the chair and the clinic if you like. It is not a straitjacket.

4 - Do not be a hero. If it hurts, you can ask for more anesthetic. In special cases, you can also get a tranquillizer from the dentist to take an hour before your next visit. Some patients benefit from additional acupuncture treatment.

5 - Arrange from time to time with the dentist, what needs to be done, so you know what to expect every time you go

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6 - Ask for an explanation of what is happening, here and now or in advance – it can help you to feel in control. Ask for a hand mirror so you can follow the work process.

7 - Agree on a signal for the dentist to stop, for example by lifting your hand. Make use of the signal - It´s your responsible to say yes or no – the dentist cannot read your mind.

8 - Use music to distract your mind.

Bring a iPod along, if the dentist does not have music.

9 - Try to breathe from your stomach slowly – or counting to 5 while you breathe in – and again 5 on exhalation.

This will help most people. Moving ankle joints and feet can give a sense of better grounding. Make use of the exercises during treatment.

10. - You always have the right to choose a new dentist – There must be trust between you -chemistry between you and the dentist must be good. Listen to yourself, to make sure that you are in safe hands.

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

GETTING TO GRIPS WITH... La Isleta

In the previous issue I shed a light on the old town in Las Palmas, Vegueta, which is where the city was originally founded as a Spanish army encampment. This issue, we’ll continue from the April one, by taking a closer look at the area in Las Palmas known as ‘La Isleta’ and the castle there, converted from an old settlement, known as ‘El Castillo de La Luz’.

By Diego Mesa

The district ‘La Isleta’ has been built on an uneven land, on a little peninsula which is found on the north east corner of the island, filled with narrow streets, street vendors, little old shops, bars and an important naval base. It is separated from the modern part of Las Palmas by a narrow isthmus, one of the most important in Europe.

(Puerto Rico Language Centre)

Palabras Canarias Diego Mesa’s

AUTODATE – A type of locally grown potato which takes its name from the English phrase ‘up-to-date’

alternative Canarian Lexicon of Colloquialisms

GUACHINCHE – An expression taken from when the English used to come to try Malvasia wines in the Canaries and the merchants would show him all he had and get him to try all the different sorts of wine. The buyer in response would say ‘I’m watching you’, which the merchants understood as ‘Hay guachinche’. It has therefore become a typical expression when Canarians want to mean that they’re keeping a close eye on someone.

CURVACEOUS! You automatically know that when you are with a person with curly hair, that you are going to have fun.

Man are those straight hair days over. Infatuation for frothy hair is now everywhere.

The best part is, it´s time saved for many people. The best curls are the ones that take care of themselves. A little good quality

product is what makes them pop. A little spray water in the morning and some dry shampoo during the day can make your curls super glam and carefree.

No Comb! No Brush!

Styling tools are easy too, if you feel you need to tame your curls or even have to create them where none were. The big thing now seems to be a fat

curling tong, lift out a vertical parting from your hair, spray it with heat protector and roll the hair around your tongs, leaving the ends out and not too close to the roots. Leave the heat to penetrate, slide the tongs out of your hair and tug that tip down a bit. Curl the front of your hair backwards. Once finished, spray with a little sea salt spray and ruffle the roots to get that

effortless beachy look.

Although tempting, perms fell out of fashion because of the chemistry behind them, generally leaves hair too porous.

Combined with colour, most hair would only look older. We want spunky, healthy hair that enhances vitality and enchants.

Unleash your inner curl, it´s just there waiting for you.

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La Isleta’s harbour was originally constructed to provide employment for the locals, and has now become the biggest in the container shipping industry for North Africa.

It also plays an important role in the prosperity of the island, because a 1000 ships dock there every month.

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the oldest Spanish stronghold on the island, built in 1541 on the ruins of an older wooden fort from the time of the Spanish conquest. It has defended the harbour for centuries, and even though it was built solidly on a platform that can hold up to eleven canons, it suffered great damage in 1599 when the Dutch Pirate/Admiral Pieter It’s uneven land is due to the district being built on a hilly van der Does tried to take over the city, unsuccessfully. area. On the north side of the district, 239 metres high, you will find the highest mountain in the city called ‘Las The castle was rebuilt, expanded and improved in the centuries after that, and in 1941 was declared a national Coloradas’, from which one can enjoy fantastic views of historical monument. It was last refurbished in 1990, the sea, mountains on the inside of the island and the city itself. and it is now used for numerous cultural activities and national and international exhibitions.

Right in the centre is a busy square called ‘Plaza Ingeniero Manuel Becerra’ which can be recognised because the entrance to the harbour is on one of its sides.

On the south side of the district quite close to the centre of La Isleta you will find ‘El Castillo de La Luz’,

Frederick Cleverly, Tamas Szigeti and the FRDK beauty salon

Frederick likes to work with people. Anybody can have there hair done by Frederick, even if you only need a trim or maybe you would like to explore long hair or dreadlocks: he is your man. He will do your hair and makeup for a party, school pictures, the carnival, or even your wedding.

Tom Szigeti is also a professional hair and makeup artist, and he always does any job enthusiastically. Tom is wellknown in Hungary for doing ´drop In styling´ work for top magazines and Television shows like The Voice.

Both work from their busy little salon in Playa del Inglés. So if you’re looking for that personal style and attention, these are the hair professional you need to see.

Both Tom and Frederick also love to do makeup, if you need any advice or some really good makeup products to go with your fab hairstyle, both are happy to assist you.

FrederickCleverly.com Playa del Inglés - 609 938 267

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

DESTINATION WED

Organising a destination wedding, blessing or renewal of vows cer5 – BUILD UP A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR emony can be much more complicated than organizing an event SUPPLIERS in your local area. Here are a few tips that can help you along to Building a relationship with your suppliers is paramount. They are ensure your day runs as smoothly as possible. not local businesses that you can pop in and see whenever you 1 – GET HELP wish, so stay in contact with them as much as possible with updates and thank you emails or calls.

If you haven’t already, check out the local wedding planners to see what services and packages they offer.

A little goes a long way; the level of service they offer you can make or break your wedding day so building a rapport can help Organizing a wedding in your local area can be daunting enough you deal easier with any issues that may occur or even help you but in a different country can be a minefield. negotiate little extras.

A Wedding Planner will shoulder the burden of researching, inter6 – BRING YOUR OWN PROFESSIONALS viewing, and securing local suppliers especially if the said suppliers do not speak your language. They are also the behind-the-scenes Don’t be afraid to fly in your own pros for important aspects of fairy godmother, vetting special requests such as hair and beauty, your day such as hair, makeup and photography. dry cleaners, and so on.

7 – INFORM GUESTS OF THE DESTINATION

They also get everyone where they need to be on time and ensure Before you invite your guests to join you on your very special that you have a “go to” person to send your guests when all the day, give them a well informed explanation of your destination of itinerary queries get a little too much. choice to enable them to politely decline should finances be tight.

2 – ITINERARY Gran Canaria is great destination for your wedding, blessing or renewal of vows. Flights and accommodation are available to acUnlike a wedding in your local area, guests are dependent on you commodate all budgets and tastes. It’s a great holiday destination, once they reach the destination. Create an itinerary of pre and enabling your guests to combine your wedding with a fantastic post wedding events along with an itinerary of the day, important holiday for all the family. It’s only 4 hours from most European contact numbers and addresses. This will avoid them asking you countries and it’s known for its all year round sunshine, making it when & where they need to be and will help them in the event the perfect winter and summer wedding destination. they get lost or delayed.

3 – PRE-WEDDING VISIT

8 – BE REALISTIC

You’ll need to take a trip to the destination to visit local venues and suppliers such as the church, reception venue, hotels for you and your guests, rehearsal dinner venue and local suppliers such as florists, photographers and hair and beauty salons.

Try not to be too upset if some of your closest friends or family cannot attend. Although you are footing the bill for the wedding, the cost of travel, accommodation and car rental costs can mount up. Your chosen destination might be the perfect holiday for you; but it may not be the type of holiday that they want to take.

Food tastings and hair and beauty trials can be organized in this trip or a second trip may need to be made depending on the size and complexity of the wedding and the arrangements. You can also take advantage of organizing activities (golf, spas and excursions) for everyone while they are in the destination.

Take into account the climate when choosing that perfect wedding dress. Choosing a satin ball gown to get married in the summer sun may have you more stressed than impressed.

9 – DRESS TO IMPRESS NOT STRESS!

4 – SUPPLIER CHECKS Check out the average temperature and weather conditions for

the chosen month in the local town where you plan to get marIf you’re hiring a supplier without any experience of their work, ried. Remember, temperatures can vary from resort to resort so ask for a portfolio of pictures and references from previous clients don’t just take the temperature rating for the capital of the counwho held a similar event as yours. try if you’re to marry in a totally different area.

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DINGS –13 TOP TIPS

10 – RELAX & ENJOY! Always pre arrange for your wedding dress to be steam when arOne advantage of marrying on an island or in a tropical destination riving at your resort, 9 times out of 10 it will get slightly creased in transit no matter how much care you take. is its relaxed and laid back atmosphere.

Keep an open mind on slight punctuality differences and minor mishaps; they can even make for some of the best memories.

Also take into account that supplies available on islands can be limited so slight differences in the products you order may occur.

Flowers are a great example of this; their availability differs from season to season.

11 – PACKING YOUR SUITCASE! Be sure to pack lots of strapless tops if you’re wearing a strapless dress or wedding gown and slap on the suntan cream. You would be surprised how much you can catch the sun by just walking to the local supermarket in the morning. You don’t want noticeable strap marks or post sun burnt peeling skin on your wedding pictures.

Also don’t forget to leave ample room for your wedding gown and contact your airline to get advice as to how your gown will be transported so you can pack it accordingly. It’s very disappointing to get to the check in desk carrying your perfect wedding dress only to find that it needs to be checked in with your suitcases or will be thrown in the overhead compartment with other passengers bags.

12 – WEDDING GIFTS Organize for all wedding gifts are sent directly to your home address. If you do happen to have some gifts brought to the destination, arrange for family and friends to take them home with them to keep until you come back from your honeymoon. Alternatively pack an extra bag to bring them home yourself just in case.

13 – WELCOME YOUR GUESTS It can be customary to leave a wedding basket of destination essentials for your guests that have travelled a long way to share your special day with you. It can include samples of local cuisine or artisan goods, sun cream, local wines or spirits and can be adapted to your own budget. Coupled with a thank you note, it’s a lovely way to show your appreciation to your guests for taking the time and effort to come and stand alongside you on such a memorable day in your life.

If you’re interested in Gran Canaria for your perfect destination wedding, blessing or renewal of vows ceremony, contact me, I’m more than happy to answer any questions or queries no matter how large or small.

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

L i l l y R i k h t e r. c o m

Nutrition

There is, in fact, no perfect diet, because each person is unique in their own way. Everyone has their own preferences and tastes in life. But the very concept of “diet” for many suggests restrictions despite the fact that the word simply describes what it is you put into your body regularly or most frequently.

What you need to know:

Fourth: Eat often and little. Drink at least two liters of clean water a day. And do not forget about exercise.

The whole idea is to regularly supply your body with the energy it needs, and help burn off any excess.

To get results you need to try to combine these First: Try to minimize, as a general rule, products ideas.. Exercise, eat right, maintain a healthy that bring no actual benefit, or even adversely lifestyle and never lose heart. affect your health, like anything that is quickly deposited as fat within the body.

And that is the real secret, because as a rule if you are experiencing grief based on what you Products containing sugar, salt, flour, starch, think isn’t working right, you’ll find it much various fats and of course alcohol, should all be harder to correct it, with a greater potential for treated with caution. trying to find comfort from the foods that are at Second: Do not use semi-cooked products. It is the very core of your sadness. always better to cook for yourself from natural, Much better to rejoice in all the little things, preferably fresh, produce. Whether you bake, spend more time outdoors, more often, love, boil, simmer or roast try to do it without adding motivate and praise yourself, and importantly oil. others around you too, and you will succeed!

Third: Do not forget your natural rhythms. Your Life is beautiful, and so are you; remember that! body quickly gets used to eating at the same times of day and if you eat regularly it will not feel it needs to store extra “baggage” in the X form of fat.

er t h k i R Lilly

CHI KUNG Chi Kung (also known as Quigong and translated literally as ‘Energy Training’) is a discipline which is more than 4000 years old.

In Chi Kung you not only work with what you see, like your muscles, but develop your breathing as the connection between body and mind, which can influence deeper aspects in the person, accessing different states of consciousness.

Its contents are very wide, covering self-massage, control and regulation of the body, breathing, emotions, mental activities, vital energy and the spirit.

As a consequence of all this, we can say that it not only reinforces and benefits other martial arts, but all kinds of sport disciplines. It also has the capacity to improve work activities and social relationships.

Wubaomen Chi Kung is like medicine in movement. It works to help maintain your health and to heal illness, to reduce mental suffering and stress, to clean and purify your energy and can help you live longer feeling fulfilment and happiness.

Wubaomen practice includes all aspects of life and it is a method of purification and transformation in order to reach for the eternal nature of existence. It is not only about absorbing energy from heaven and earth through the body and viceversa, but also assists in achieving a deep state of relaxation and serenity, combined together with the energy of the Universe.

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928 987 952 We love to help.

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You can always find the newspaper, and often Quinny too, up in the sunspot at the top of Phase IV in the Puerto Rico shopping centre, they’ll even collect your quiz entries and letters to the editor...

Send your answers by email to: Quinny@TheCanaryNews.com, text them to 626 641 537 or call 928 987 952 for your chance to win a Whale and Dolphin spotting trip, on Spirit of the Sea, leaving from Puerto Rico Harbour, Gran Canaria. All correct answers will be collected together, independently drawn and announced in the next edition Last edition’s winner is Jack and Elsie, who have won dinner for two at A Taste of India, Phase 2 CC Puerto Rico! (subject to availability - CALL 928 153 620) 1. Which tree has conkers as its fruit?

6. What is the Spanish word for happy?

2. Cobalt is a shade of which colour?

7. The millennium stadium is in which UK city?

3. What is the main emergency services number in Spain?

8. Jamie Oliver is a TV what?

4. A silver wedding celebrates how many years of marriage?

9. Name the capital city of Malta?

5. Blue suede shoes was a hit for who?

10. 45’s and 78’s are types of what?

Ans Sweden

Ans Ostrich

Answers from last edition

6. What is the worlds largest bird

3. Which country did ABBA come from

8. Which country has Sophia as its capital city

5. What can sometimes be found inside oysters

2. Which is the worlds deepest ocean Atlantic, Pacific or Indian

7. What name is given to a male elephant Calf,Bull, or Stag

4. Donny and little Jimmy were from which family pop group

Ans Pacific

Ans The Pope

1. Which religious figure lives in the Vatican

Ans Pearls

Ans The Osmonds

Ans Bulgaria

Ans Bull

Ans Gin

10. Which alcohol is used to make a Tom Collins cocktail

9. Cheddar cheese is made in which English county?

Ans Somerset

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