The Gazette - March 2014 by The Gazette

There are now five Fazz´s restaurants on Lanzarote, each one offering the very finest Indian dining experience with Fazz´s winning formula. Puerto Del Carmen´s Old Town Harbour is one of the most charming parts of Lanzarote, and the perfect place for a delicious meal in a tranquil setting And if Indian food is what you´re looking for, Fazz´s Indian Restaurant brings you the luxuryand sensuality of Bengali cuisine in an attractive restaurant where you´ll be treated like royalty. All your favourite curries are available, as well as some new delicacies which will almost certainly become new favourites and all dishes are prepared in house by expert chefs. A symphony of spices and succulent ingredients, served to you while you enjoy the perfect holiday atmosphere, and friendly, helpful service with that personal touch - that´s the Fazz´s experience.

Go on and try it – you know you want to!

AY W E A ICE K TA ERV BLE S ILA A AV

5 Course Lunch menu

Just 6.95€ per person

(Served 1pm – 3.30pm)

6 Course Early Bird menu

Just 8.95€ per person

New International Wine List Corralejo Marina C / Playa Cho Leon, Fuer teventura Tel: 928 536 857

Puerto Calero Marina Puerto Calero, Lanzarote Tel: 928 849 664

C.C. La Mulata, Playa Blanca, Lanzarote Tel: 928 349 463

C.C. Aquarium Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote Tel: 928 510 385

The Old Town Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote Tel: 928 349 416

(Served 6pm – 7.30pm) Las Cucharas Beach Promenade (Back of Barcelo Galea Hotel) Costa Teguise, Lanzarote Tel: 928 346 482

March 2014 The

Gazette

contents

Features

Editors Letter

9 OIL VOTE

Don´t be so nesh! There’s a strange condition that affects Lanzarote expats but, strangely enough, the name for it only seems to exist in the Midlands. The word is “nesh” and it is used to describe someone who is always moaning about the cold. The weather on Lanzarote hasn´t been at its glorious best for the last month or so, but listening to how people go on you´d think we were suffering the same sub-zero polar ice storms that recently swept the USA. “It´s freezing” might be fair comment in the UK, where temperatures often drop below zero, but thirty years of weather statistics on Lanzarote show that it´s actually never been the case on Lanzarote. In fact, any temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius are extremely rare. Chat to any recently arrived tourist and they´ll soon put you straight on the supposed “terrible weather” we´ve been having. On Lanzarote, almost every day will see hours of sunshine and rain tends to last for minutes rather than days. As I write this the sea is warmer than it is in Brighton in August, and

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the people you´ll see swimming in it are perfectly normal, not the masochists you see taking a winter dip back home. You can understand the locals complaining about the cold – they’re used to the seasons here, and relatively, it is cooler at this time of year, but for those of us who are used to genuinely nasty weather, maybe it´s time to put a cardigan on and stop moaning. This month there´s plenty going on with a full array of carnival parades, punctuated by St Patrick’s Day celebrations. We cover both events, and regular readers will notice we´ve extended our Island Updates and Business Updates Sections. This means there´s plenty more room for your events, news and announcements. Just contact us, and don´t forget that the Island Updates are a totally free service.

Monday 17th March 2014

PRETINSA QUALITY SL

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DEPOSITO LEGAL: GC 73/2012 Whilst we make every effort to ensure that material published in the magazine is decent, legal and accurate, it can take no responsibility for any damage or loss which might arise as a result of material published herein. We are not responsible for third party advertisers within the magazine. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers or the editor.

El País has published a report on corruption on Lanzarote

12 Tourist Information Tourist Information Offices are hard to locate and often understaffed.

14 Abortion Reforms The Spanish Government votes for stricter abortion restrictions.

16 Paperwork Update The basic documents you´ll need to live on Lanzarote.

20 Our Man in Madrid We speak to Simon Manley, new British Ambassador to Spain.

Shaun

For all enquiries please call:

CIF: B-65735672

10 CORRUPTION EXPOSÉ

Enjoy carnival, enjoy March and enjoy the mag

PUBLISHED BY Carretera Macher - Pto. Del Carmen No. 24, 35571, Lanzarote

The Canarian Government wants a referendum on oil drilling.

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ISLAND NEWS ISLAND UPDATES PET SPOT EDITOR´S POST BAG PRIZE CROSSWORD LIVING LANZAROTE WHAT´S ON MAPS MY HOME LANZAROTE SPORT TIDE TABLES / USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS 129 HOROSCOPES 130 LANZAROTE PEOPLE The Gazette | March 2014 |

Gazette News Tias Councillor Jerónimo Robayna

Thomas Carver is a young Tias resident who is currently at the Queen Elizabeth Foundation for disabled people in the UK, where he is slowly recovering from a mystery virus that struck him down in January last year. Donations for Tom´s appeal can be given at www.justgiving/HealingTom.

El Agitador´s website ceased publishing last year, and a campaign has been launched to support its founders.

 Access protests

 Briton arrested A British tourist was arrested after attempting to abduct a four-year-old child on a tourist resort in Puerto Del Carmen. According to reports, the child was playing on an outdoor terrace when children next door warned the mother that a man was taking the child away. The mother pursued the man, and after a struggle, managed to get her child back. According to the child, the man had threatened that a “black dog” would get her if he didn´t come with him. The man was detained and taken into custody, and agents have claimed that they believe he suffers from mental problems.

 Tias councillor

donates expenses The Tias Councillor Jerónimo Robayna has asked not to receive expenses for food and taking part in political working groups, and has donated €480 of expenses to the Thomas Carver Appeal fund. Robayna, leader of the local, independent party San Borondón, has consistently campaigned against excessive expenses and recently voted against the passing of a new expenses regime in Tias, causing rumours of friction that may threaten the council´s ruling group – currently formed by the PP and San Borondón´s single seat. As well as having their travel costs reimbursed, councillors receive daily expenses of €50 when travelling to other islands, €75 if they go to Spain and €100 for foreign trips. They are also given monthly amounts for working in various political groupings.

Home

Car

Three men who poked fun at an ex-official on Lanzarote have lost an appeal against a judgment in which they were found guilty of libel and ordered to pay over 14,000 damages. The creators of the satirical website El Agitador (The Stirrer) printed an article about Miguel Pallares, the ex-Co-ordinating Prosecutor on Lanzarote, using a picture of Harpo Marx to illustrate an article in which they called him the “Silent Prosecutor” and alleged that he was failing to act in a case of illegal planning because he was related to parties in the case. Pallares sued the website, and won. The recent ruling by the Audience at Las Palmas upholds the judgment.

Pensions

Income replacement Travel

Pet

insurance

www.fia-lanzarote.com info@fia-lanzarote.com 4

 Tias quashes building taxes

Commercial

Life Assurance Savings

 Website fined

Hundreds of surfers and windsurfers have protested against plans to close access to the beach of Jameos Del Agua. The protests took place at the car park of the Jameos Del Agua, and are just the latest in a series of confrontations about access to beaches. The Spanish Coastal Department has gated off a number of beaches in order to prevent cars and other vehicles approaching the beach, but surfers and windsurfers oppose the moves due to the fact that they need to move heavy equipment close to the beach. In Famara, a wooden gate that the Coastal Department had put up to restrict access to the Rincón de Famara beach was destroyed, and locals have protested against the closure.

| March 2014 | The Gazette

Tias Ayuntamiento has announced that it will not charge tax on licences for urban planning projects, in a measure designed to regenerate economic activity within the municipality. The move was welcomed by the Lanzarote Business Confederation, who have called for other Ayuntamientos to follow the example of Tias.

Gazette News Gazette

 Guardia jailed

Bárbara Santana Photo: Lavozdelanzarote Guardia Civil officer Bárbara Santana was jailed for three years last month after being found guilty of the negligent homicide of a fellow officer. The incident took place at playa Honda in April 2011, when Santana crashed her car after a barbecue celebrating the promotion of a colleague. The colleague in question died in the accident. Santana was judged to be in excess of alcohol limit and traces of cannabis were also found in her bloodstream.

son, on 15th February. The accused, who worked as a cook at the Timanfaya Visitors Centre, had apparently split up with his partner and returned to live with his mother. In the early hours of the morning he returned to his ex-partners home claiming that he had killed his mother. San Bartolomé Mayor, Dolores Corujo, said “It´s a tragedy. We are absolutely horrified and we can´t believe this has happened.” A 43-year-old man has been charged with homicide and remanded in custody.

 Travel discount changes

 Phone complaints still No. 1 Lanzarote Cabildo´s consumer department has issued its 2013 report, showing that consumer complaints rose again last year, with 1,520 complaints made. Telephone operators were once again the main reasons for complaints, with 441 complaints about mobile services and 310 concerning fixed phones. Shops were the subject of 171 complaints and travel companies accounted for 105. Anyone on Lanzarote can make a complaint simply by asking for the complaint form that all businesses are legally obliged to issue to unsatisfied customers.

 Yaiza sports centre planned Yaiza Ayuntamiento is conducting the first steps in a process that it hopes will see the construction of a major sports centre in Playa Blanca. The centre will be located behind the bus station and will feature a gymnasium, paddle tennis courts and a pavilion. Yaiza Ayuntamiento has begun the process of including the project in the municipal plan and applying for funds from the Cabildo and other sources.

 San Bartolomé murder The town of San Bartolomé was shocked after a 70-year-old woman was killed, presumably by her

From the end of this year, Canarian residents who want travel discounts will no longer need to get a certificate to show they are on their municipal register. Instead, travel agents and ticket outlets will bear the responsibility of proving residency. The changes have been introduced by the central government in Madrid, and it is predicted that a database of all municipal residents will be created, with residents only needing to provide ID to claim discounts. The scheme, however, has been criticized by some who fear that the databases may not be available on mainland Spain for return journeys.

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The Gazette | March 2014 |

Island Update Your pages! Welcome to the new extended Island Updates pages. Previously, we´ve mixed business announcements with social news, but now our business clients have a two-page section all to themselves (pages 32 & 33). That leaves much more space for your news and events. So if you have a charity or social event, an announcement or would like to commemorate a loved one, celebrate a birth or marriage or simply send us a funny photo, do get in touch with us at editorial@gazettelive.com

 Island Angels

 Snip campaign at SARA Pictured is a “patient” at the recent SARA campaign in January when 208 animals were castrated or spayed. SARA would like to thank the ETN charity, vets Konstantin Antonov Antov and Vladislav Antonov Antov for their hard work and Cerstine Bauer for her assistance, as well as all the SARA and 9Lives volunteers who helped. Big thanks also to Lanzarote´s Colegio de Veterinarios and the Cabildo de Lanzarote for approving and supporting the campaign.

Lavaflowsurf Lanzarote are looking for volunteers to be Island Angels. If you´d like to help with any first aid and AED situations in and around Puerto del Carmen, they offer to train volunteers free of charge in First Aid and defibrillation with UKrecognised certificates and, in return, just want to get a group of people together to help in the event of an emergency. As reported last month, efforts are being made to get money together to place an AED in the resort, but qualified personnel are required. The training will take place on the afternoons of the 10th and 11th of March for 3 hours each afternoon and is free of charge for anyone who would like to be involved. If you´d like to take part, contact Paul at Lavaflowsurf Lanzarote on 636 391 549 or contact info@lavaflowsurf.com

 World´s Biggest Coffee Morning Loren Taylor of the National Events team at Macmillan Cancer Support in the UK has contacted us with the following appeal. “I work on an event called the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning which takes place every September and in 2013 raised a fantastic £20 million. I´d like to ask for The Gazette's assistance

CAMINO LOS ALJIBES

| March 2014 | The Gazette

in recruiting overseas supporters for this year’s event. I know September is a long time away, but we would be so pleased if you would be willing to put the word out. “Last year we had 165 overseas Coffee Morning hosts who raised a brilliant £28,415.60 and this year with your help we would like to break that record. As The Gazette caters to a large British expat community in Lanzarote, many of whom have most likely had cancer experiences themselves, or may even have a Macmillan connection back home in the UK, we would greatly appreciate your support.” If anyone on Lanzarote wants to get involved, contact Loren on 020 7091 2328 / Email: LTaylor@macmillan.org.uk, and the Gazette will offer full support.

 Trilogy completed Many readers will remember Margaret Sherlock, the British author who spends many months each year on Lanzarote. We have reported on her two previous thrillers, Against All Odds and Blind Truth in depth in these pages, and on 28th February the final instalment, Hounded, was released. It will be available in print and via Kindle in early March.

 New Market in PDC Tias Ayuntamiento has launched a new Friday market in the Old Town, Puerto del Carmen, from 14th February. 131 stalls will offer handmade crafts, accessories, cosmetics, gifts and souvenirs from 4 pm to 10 pm.

 Language get together

 Passport news

Gazette readers might be interested to know that there is a weekly get-together in Playa Blanca to chat in English and Spanish while socialising over a drink. You can pop in to the terrace bar at Las Brisas, next to the bus station, between 6pm-7.30pm on Thursdays and join the group, organised by the Lanzarote Business Association. These are not language classes, so a basic working knowledge of Spanish/English is essential. Nationalities attending include German, Italian, Belgian, Dutch, Polish, Croatian and Mexican. A topic for discussion is picked in advance of each meeting so there is time to prepare the necessary vocabulary. It´s a great way to intergrate with the local community and make new friends. Contact Jenny on jennycampbell60@hotmail.com to find out more, or just turn up!

The British Embassy has advised all British nationals abroad that, from no won, all passport applications for Britons resident overseas must now be made via the GOV.UK website www.gov.uk/overseas-passports. The new passport process, which is part of a worldwide changeover, helps to reduce the possibility of making errors that can delay applications. Applicants will find that the new process, which includes online payment, generates a personalised pack that must be printed, signed and sent with photographs and any additional documentation that may be required to the Passport Office in the UK - and no longer to a British Consulate or Embassy. Once an application has been submitted, applicants will receive instructions on how to track its progress via the website. It is important to apply in good time as a new passport will take at least four weeks from the time the completed application pack is received by the Passport Office in the UK, or six weeks if replacing a lost or stolen passport. Applicants who cannot access the online system or who experience any difficulties should contact the Passport Advice Line on +44 300 222 0000.

The Skatoons

 Brazil 2014: The only direction is Ska! “Rumbustious ska in the mould of Madness and Bad Manners, but with a chorus as brutally, straightforwardly effective as a David Beckham freekick” – that was how the Guardian’s Dave Simpson described the mighty Skatoons’ "The World Cup's Waiting For You" four years ago. Now Lanzarote´s nutty boys have decided to re-release the song to support the boys in Brazil 2014. Check the song out now on Youtube and help the Skatoons hit the charts. Not only will you be backing England, but there is a terrifying rumour that One Direction may be about to record an official world cup track! Just ask yourself: What would you rather hear all summer long? And check out our What´s on pages for the Skatoons´ performances this month.

 Daft Fine of the Month The invisible phone

Reader Ivica writes: “Around 30 minutes ago I was stopped and fined by Guardia for using my mobile phone. I argued with them for around 30 minutes, as I was not on the phone at all. I was simply rubbing the side of my face whilst driving. I showed them the last call made on my phone but they were not interested. If I was guilty I would happily pay up but this is so annoying as I know that clearly on this occasion they were wrong. What is worrying that they are allowed to get away with this and he would not even consider that maybe, just maybe, he had not seen a phone in my hand.” Remember folks, hands on the wheel and no invisible mobile phones!

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Canarian President Paulino Rivero

Oil

YES OR NO?

The Canarian Government has proposed a referendum allowing the islands to vote on whether oil drilling should

continue off Canarian shores. But the Spanish government has already declared its total opposition to any such vote. t´s a simple question: “Do you agree with the oil prospections that the multinational oil company Repsol has been authorized to carry out off the coasts of our islands?” But whether Canarians will ever get the chance to answer it is another story. Canarian President Paulino Rivero proposed the referendum in early February, and the proposal has been supported by the Canarian Socialist Party, meaning that it should be approved by the Canarian Parliament without problems. However, any vote may also have to be approved by the Spanish Government, and that doesn´t look likely.

NEWS

Industry Minister Jose Manuel Soria has declared any vote undertaken without government approval would be “illegal” while the Government´s Delegate to the Canaries, Bento Hernández, accused Rivero of “making a mockery of our democratic mechanisms.” The Canarian Government responded by pointing that the Canarian Constitution, which is fully integrated into Spanish law, allows local referendums to be held in cases of “special importance.” They claimed the vote would not only be legal, but “profoundly democratic”

Rivero´s move is a smart piece of politics, considering that all indications show massive opposition to oil prospections, especially on the eastern Canaries. In addition, the issue is a purely economic one which does not threaten the constitutional unity of Spain, as the referendum that Catalonian nationalists are campaigning for would do. The Catalonian referendum that has undoubtedly inspired Rivero has been a source of controversy for over a year, with the Spanish government adamantly insisting that all Spaniards, and not just those in Catalonia, should vote on the province’s future status. Catalonia points to the referendum which will be held in Scotland this September to support their campaign for a local poll. A vote on oil would certainly allow Canarians to make their voice heard on an issue which will be vitally important for the future direction of their economy. It would also allow Minister Soria to verify his repeated claims that the campaigners against oil drilling are an insignificant minority. Two years ago, when anti-oil campaigners organised the largest street demonstrations ever seen on Lanzarote. Soria responded by claiming that the two million Canarians who stayed at home had told Rivero “Go home, we don´t want you.” Soria also memorably stated that, on Lanzarote “Anyone will turn up if there are drums and sandwiches.”

March

Business Tax Form s 415 Begin pr eparing paperwo for annu rk al incom e t a x Last mon th for As set Repo rt Fax: 902 810 206

Please contact us for details on: 928 513 311 The Gazette | March 2014 |

NEWS

Lanzarote has once again appeared in the Spanish national news, this time in a devastating article published in the country´ s best-selling newspaper, El País, which describes the intricate networks of political corruption on the island. Recordings of conversations between politician Fernando Becerra and businessman Luís Lleó, key figures in the Unión Case, have mysteriously disappeared from Arrecife courts.

Dimas Martín

Corruption itled “Lanzarote: The Paradise of 200 Accused”, the three page feature by Jerónimo Andreu used the recent revelation that Arrecife councilor Pedro De Armas was being investigated by the police´s Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit as a starting point for a wide-ranging overview of political corruption on Lanzarote. The article listed the five major corruption cases that are currently underway on Lanzarote, in which over 200 politicians and businessmen are accused, among them 11 current or ex-Mayors. One of the more worrying implications of article is that the justice system on Lanzarote has also been affected by corruption. It mentions the fact that key secret recordings of meetings between developers and politicians have mysteriously “disappeared” from the Arrecife courtroom, and also points to the fact that the original judge in the Union case would not release evidence due to mistrust of the island´s legal system. The article says that “a profound

10 | March 2014 | The Gazette

REPORTS

scepticism towards politics and justice exists on the island.” The main figures mentioned in the article are Pedro De Armas; the jailed PIL founder Dimás Martín (described with the Mafia terms of “Godfather” and “Capo di tutti capi”), businessman Juan Francisco Rosa (whose Stratvs vineyard was recently closed down amid allegations of illegality) and the lawyer Felipe Fernández Camero, who is described as “a key figure in the professionalisation of corruption on Lanzarote.” Fernández Camero spoke to El País´s reporter, describing the current situation as “a civil war without weapons in which the traditional rulers of the island are confronted with new, rising classes,” but other figures refused to

comment. Even the César Manrique Foundation issued a short statement that “Political corruption is a serious problem affecting the governing of Lanzarote.” To Andreu, this reveals a culture of silence, in which “the cost of raising your voice is high”. He mentions politely worded threats that have been issued to those who denounce those in positions of power. Another problem he identifies is the sense of impunity that those in power enjoy. Fernando Jiménez Sánchez, a corruption expert, states “It is essential to end the climate of impunity on Lanzarote.” However, this may be easier said than done, given the extent of corruption. A local anticorruption activist states “We don´t want to send half the island to jail. But it´s a question of living together, and here there are people who want to fill their pockets with what belongs to all of us.”

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FOCUS

Here to

Help? Are Lanzarotes Tourist Information offices doing their job informing the millions of visitors who come to the island? We decided to find out.

The Music Kiosk in Arrecife where Tourist Information is located

e visited four Tourist information Offices on the island, to compare user-friendliness, standards of advice and helpfulness at each.

Costa Teguise First was Costa Teguise, which took at least ten minutes to locate, and was finally discovered after directions from a friendly shop assistant. Regular visitors and even a resident who has lived there for three years had no idea where it was. The only indication on the white building set back from the road a little way up from the Pueblo Marinero was a yellowing and battered “I” sign that is by no means immediately visible. Perhaps it´s hidden nature explains why it was empty when we visited, but full marks have to go to the service, which was provided by a friendly officer with excellent English, and who provided us with honest and helpful answers to our questions.

Arrecife Our next stop was Arrecife. Despite the fact that the tourism office here is located in one of the most stunning buildings along the seafront – a rebuilt vintage bandstand – it´s not exactly clear 12 | March 2014 | The Gazette

that it’s a tourist office unless you see a small blue “Informacion” sign about ten yeards away. Again, we were the only visitors to the office despite the presence of hundreds of cruise tourists in the city. Our enquiries were answered adequately by an officer, whose English was OK, but the range if information is limited and the office is less than welcoming. A new office has also been set up in a pre-fabricated building by the bus stop where cruise passengers are dropped off. Although much smaller, the English assistant there was friendly and helpful, and provided some honest tips about distances to various landmarks that the central office failed to warn us of.

Puerto Del Carmen Puerto Del Carmen’s Municipal Tourist Office is far easier to spot, located facing the main Avenida. And it is probably this, added to the fact that it is located in Lanzarote´s busiest resort, that explained why it was absolutely packed when we visited. The solitary tourism officer had his hands full dealing with a constant queue of tourists looking for everything from diving opportunities to hire car recommendations. He seemed to be doing a good job, although we overheard a

misunderstanding in which a British family seemed to think they would find a cable car at Timanfaya. Most of all, what the Puerto Del Carmen office seems to need is sufficient staff to deal with the constant traffic. We couldn´t visit the Playa Blanca office, but the fact that it was temporarily closed by Yaiza Ayuntamiento last year suggests that the local authorities are not taking the service seriously enough.

The Beaten Track

One of the main features we noticed from the service that we received on enquiring about sights and landmarks on Lanzarote is that tourist officers tend very much to steer enquirers towards Lanzarote´s established tourist attractions, in particular the seven official tourist attractions: Timanfaya, Jameos del Agua, Cuevas De Los Verdes, Monumento Del Campesino, the Cactus Garden, the Mirador Del Rio and the Museum of Modern Art in Arrecife. There are, of course, good reasons for this. As the centres so far remain publically owned, the money they raise will eventually help pay the

wages of tourist officers. However, it must also be borne in mind that officers may simply be making things easier for tourists. The centres are well signposted and at least five of them must be considered unmissable for most Lanzarote lovers. Sending tourists off to explore remote corners of the island may also not be a good idea. For example, many spectacular walks just outside the Timanfaya National park (the Volcan Del Cuervo, for example) are under-publicised on purpose, as authorities do not want to encourage the environmental problems that would accompany a mass influx of tourists. In addition, one accident might cause certain areas to be closed to everyone.

Office hours

Another complaint about Tourist Information Offices is their opening hours. Most open from 9 and close at 4.30 pm, and may be closed for an hour´s lunch break. The problem is that the staff are council employees, and generally follow council hours. Spanish funcionarios (civil servants) are notoriously fond of knocking off for the day in the mid-afternoon, and are also fond of coffee breaks. However, the hours that suit a council desk job are not the hours that suit many tourists.

asted Potential

Tourist information is a vital resource for visitors to Lanzarote, and a look at the queues and happy customers at an office like Puerto Del Carmen´s shows how effective a resource it can be. Once tourists know

the range of activities on Lanzarote, they are far more likely to reach into their pockets, spend their money and book another trip. It´s a shame, then, that some offices are difficult to find and most seem understaffed. We´ll be forwarding a copy of this Gazette to the relevant authorities in each resort in the hope that the message is understood.

The Gazette | March 2014 | 13

NEWS

NEW ABORTION RESTRICTIONS Women in Spain will find it far more difficult to terminate a pregnancy when the Spanish government approves a new law restricting the right to abortion to cases of rape or damage to the mother.

Alberto Ruíz Gallardon

he PP government has already won a secret vote on the law, and all that is required is approval of the new law by Parliament – a formality, given the PP’s majority. However, the reform has been criticized widely, both inside and outside of Spain, with pro-choice demonstrations taking place throughout Spain and in many major European cities. The current law was introduced in 2010 by the previous Socialist government and allows women to freely elect whether or not to terminate their pregnancies within the first trimester of pregnancy. The law followed current recommendations by the World Heath Organisation and is similar to abortion laws in most other European countries. When passed, 55 per cent of Spaniards polled said they were in favour of the reform. Now, however, the PP government has pledged to cancel the 2010 law. President Mariano Rajoy claims that this is an election promise that the party is obliged to fulfil. However, polls show

14 | March 2014 | The Gazette

Pro-choice protesters in Madrid

that between 70 to 80 per cent of Spaniards do not want any change. The reversion to the old law will mean that abortions can only take place in situations when a woman has been raped, or the pregnancy will seriously affect her physical or mental health. The mental health criteria was the one most often used before the 2010 law, when women seeking abortion would have to be assessed by two independent psychologists, both of whom needed to affirm that the woman´s mental state would be affected by the pregnancy before an abortion

could take place. This process could be lengthy, and in practice many women found it easier to fly to other countries, including Britain, where abortion laws are more relaxed, for a termination in a private clinic. Critics fear that the new law could see a return to this, as well as an increase in the number of backstreet abortions. While the measure clearly arises from the PP`s close links to the Catholic church, the government have been keen to play down the influence of the church on their reforms. Spain´s Interior Minister, Alberto Ruiz Gallardón, recently caused controversy when he justified the abortion restrictions by saying they would bring “economic benefits” for Spain due to an increase in the birth rate. Protest to the PP´s laws has been widespread, with large demonstrations in many Spanish cities. Lanzarote also saw a demonstration at which representatives of the Socialist party and the women´s association Mararia were prominent.

FOCUS

Getting your papers

IN ORDER Residency, empadronamiento, social security – the rules for the basic paperwork that anyone resident in Spain requires have changed a lot over recent years, and regulations seem to be tightening up all the time.

 NIE/NIF Your NIE/NIF is an official number that is necessary for a wide number of transactions in Spain. Bear in mind that the actual documents have an expiry date of three months, after which your residency certificate, which will feature the same number, should theoretically be used. The number you receive will remain unchanged throughout your stay in Spain.

 RESIDENCY If you are in Spain for more than three months you are legally required to register as a resident at the National Police Station in Arrecife. In practice, we have never heard of anyone who has been fined or prosecuted for not registering promptly, but if you do intend to

live in Spain it is a procedure you should look into. Acquiring residency means that you are formally registering as a foreigner living in Spain with the Spanish government. In 2012, the process was tightened up considerably, and residency applicants

REMEMBER: All information is correct at the time of publication but procedures can change quickly.

well as a Spanish bank account with a balance of at least €4,000. Residency is applied for at the National Police Station at Arrecife, and on your first visit you will be given an appointment for the actual interview and, hopefully, the granting of residency. The current waiting list is at least two months, but you may be able to use your appointment slip to carry out other transactions in the meantime. It is important to be aware that recent changes in Spanish tax law require all residents to declare assets and income in excess of €50,000 outside of Spain.

 EMPADRONAMIENTO must either show a certificate showing that they are registered with the Spanish Social Security system, or otherwise prove that they have the means to support themselves while in Spain. Currently, this involves showing evidence of health insurance as

The padrón is a list of municipal residents held by your local council, and if you are planning to live in Spain for longer than three months it is necessary under Spanish law to declare yourself on the pardon. The British Embassy and Consulates have been

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strongly campaigning for British expats to register on the padrón. The reasons for this are principally the fact that Spanish government funds are allocated on the basis of the population of each municipality, and by not registering you will be denying funds to your place of residence. Although empadronamiento does not bring you within the Spanish health service, it may entitle you to the limited assistance of the local Social Services department. Empadronamiento will also entitle you to residents’ discounts on water bills and travel, which is one of the reasons many residents value it so highly. The process takes place at your local Ayuntamiento, and is generally far easier and faster than the residency application. However, our sources inform us that it is currently possible to register on the padrón without previously getting a residency certificate in all Lanzarote municipalities apart from Tias, where proof of residency is required. Currently, signing onto the padrón does not bring any tax liabilities in itself. Local car tax and property tax, for example will be levied whether or not you are registered. However, the tightening up of the Spanish rules means that this may not be the case in the future, and registering on the padrón will be considered as evidence supporting the fact that you are resident in Spain and thus liable for tax.

 TAX RESIDENCY If you spend more than 183 days living in Spain, you are considered a “fiscal resident” for tax purposes, and will be expected to file a tax return in Spain. This is separate procedure handled at the tax office.

 SOCIAL SECURITY The Spanish health and social security system is a contributor-based system, which means that you have to pay in to get anything out. The EHIC health card will cover visitors for emergency procedures only during the first three months, and a private heath insurance is strongly advised for visitors and anyone resident longer than that time who does not have a Social Security card. To sign up with Social Security, you will be required you to show that your employer is making social security payments for you. In the case of a self-employed worker, you will have to register as an autonomo and make your own social security payments.

SUMMARY Spain is currently tightening up many aspects of its system, and it is becoming increasingly clear that, in the future, it will become harder to live and work casually in Spain without registering on the padrón or as a resident. The situation is perhaps easiest for those who are arriving to a paid contract, but other arrivals will need to take many factors into account. The first of those, of course, is the Spanish law governing your status as a resident. Anyone who plans to move to Lanzarote should, therefore, take extra care to get good, reliable advice from a lawyer or gestor as to their situation. As all cases vary, so will the advice. For further information, consult the British Embassy’s pages at ukinspain.fco.gov.uk

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The Gazette | March 2014 | 17

ADVERTORIAL

Brighter Outlook for Villa Rental Owners

At last the good news: Following intensive and extensive work we are happy to say that we now have a clear vision and precise path on how to begin the process to legalise villa rentals. ust over 18 months ago the Lanzarote Business and Residents Association was requested by a number of its members to form a project and act on behalf of a collective group of villa rental owners to try to legalise the private holiday rental market. As many who have followed or been part of this project will know, this has not been an easy task; but with hard work, the dedication and determination of the LBA team, the support of the members, and at a financial cost, we are pleased and excited to announce that many of our objectives are now within reach and success we feel is within reach. The project began by attacking the problem from different sides, lobbying at local and Government level and employing legal and technical experts to study the law and provide

Daniel Trigg, President of the LBA

solutions. The good news is that solutions have been found, and these have been proven by the success we have had in the Los Mojones and Risco Prieto areas of Puerto del Carmen which were the first areas where we were able to “road test” the results. The outcome was extremely favourable and many owners have now begun the process to legalise their villas. Our public Property Meeting in February was extremely successful and we have since received many messages of congratulations on how informative the meeting was. The lawyer that has been appointed to oversee the project presented a clear explanation of the laws and what needed to be done. Attendees also had the

opportunity to listen and question local officials and meet members of our legal team who have been studying the law on our behalf. It was explained that the legal team have produced a road map for the whole island, so we now have a clear picture of where and how we need to address the problem and begin to legalise villas in all areas. For those in the Los Mojones and Risco Prieto areas, the legal team have also prepared a step-by-step process of how next to proceed, and owners need to understand that there is a process to follow and that legalisation is not automatic. To summarise; our “legal team” have done the work; areas of Puerto del Carmen have already started the process; the “road map” for the island is ready to roll; the support group and back up is in place and most importantly, yes, there are ways to legalise your villa subject to meeting certain criteria. There are obviously costs involved in the legalisation process, but by forming a consolidated group, like that in the Los Mojones and Risco Prieto areas, costs can be considerable lower and time scales reduced. We would advise people to act now and start the process to protect their interests. If anyone would like to find out more about legalising their property via the association then please contact us; email lanzaroteba@gmail.com Telephone 638 240 224 / 928 596 080

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We are nonproﬁt making and we are the only legally registered association that exists for foreigners on the island. Our members are our number one priority and we are here to take care of their interests. Whatever our members need they know that they can rely on us to offer concise, professional advice at all times. We have the experience, contacts and knowledge to provide the solutions to their problems. Why not visit our website and see what our members have to say about us?

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Put yourself in the picture & get all the answers at www.lanzarotebusinessassociation.com 18 | March 2014 | The Gazette

FOCUS

OUR MAN Simon Manley CMG replaced Giles Paxman

as Her Majesty´s Ambassador to Spain last October. On February 3rd, he made his ﬁrst visit to Lanzarote, accompanied by Canarian Consul Charmaine Arbouin and Vice-Consul Esther Martín, where he took the opportunity to speak to members of the local press.

Shaun Addison was among the reporters.

British Ambassador Simon Manley

imon Manley has an impressive record at the British Foreign Office, where he has worked in areas relating to counter-terrorism and European Union relations for over twenty years. His recent appointment to the Ambassador´s post, though, sees him pitched into one of the most important diplomatic posts in Europe, as the head of a British Embassy and Consular system that caters for more British tourists and residents than any other. Although no stranger to Spanish culture – he is married to a Spanish lawyer, and has spent numerous holidays in the country, including Lanzarote – Simon admits his Spanish language needed some improvement. “I´ve been taking four hours of lessons every day, followed by four more hours of homework,” he smiles, “My children want to know why I´m doing more homework than them.” Ambassador Manley takes over an Ambassadorial and Consular system that has seen considerable restructuring over recent years, with an emphasis on providing information and advice for Britons in Spain. This “helping you to help yourself” attitude will continue: “We´re increasing social media access to our services on platforms such as Twitter and Facebook ,” says the Ambassador, “And we are still encouraging British in Spain to ensure their stay is a safe as possible, whether it is for three days or 33 years.” British residents are encouraged to register on the local padrón and seek legal advice before buying property, among a number of other measures. This will allow the Embassy and Consuls to “focus on the most vulnerable people, those who have been taken ill, or have suffered other problems that require immediate

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MADRID

consular assistance.” Recent economic indicators show that Spain is slowly emerging from the brutal recession of the last five years, and business is another area that Simon Manley is very keen to nurture. “Britain already has 47 billion of investments in Spain and 900 British companies operate in the country,” explains Ambassador Manley. “Although the crisis drove a lot of investors away, I think many are now looking to return. Quality companies such as Jaguar and Land Rover have already made the break through and led the way for others to follow. I think it´s a good market for smaller British companies who are perhaps looking to export for the first time.” Europe is a subject that Simon Manley knows backwards, having worked directly with Brussels for many years, and he thinks it´s important for all voters to make their voice heard in the May elections. He explains “The Lisbon Treaty is increasing the power of the EU Parliament and Spain, as a good member state, can influence policy. As such I´d encourage everyone to make an informed democratic choice.” The Ambassador is also strongly supportive of the continued union between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, an area in which he may find common ground with a Spanish government who are also facing independence claims from Catalonia. “The situations are very different and not really comparable,” he says “But I support both the British government´s campaign on this issue, as well as the cross-party campaign led by Alistair Darling. Scotland and the rest of Britain share over 300 years of incredible richness, which includes the contributions of Scottish scientists and inventors, as well as shared sacrifices in two World Wars. I would hate to lose that creativity, diversity and respect for tradition.” Last summer saw a full scale diplomatic row between Spain and the UK after the British Foreign Territory of Gibraltar complained about lengthy queues caused by Spanish officers, and according to the Ambassador, there is still work to do: “The queues continue, they are still unacceptable and we think they are politically motivated. However, we´ve worked with the EU commission, we´ve taken

measures to cut down cigarette smuggling from Gibraltar and we hope that we can arrive at a solution by sitting down and looking at possible solutions.” I ask Ambassador Manley if he has any views on the Spanish plans to clamp down on rentals – a move which could affect thousands of British property owners. “I Ambassador Manley learns the ropes in Madrid was discussing this matter earlier today at a meeting with Canarian representatives, so at a political level it is clear that concern exists. However, it is a complicated legal issue that varies throughout Spain. What we can do is provide the best advice as to how to rent your property under existing legislation.” Finally, I take the opportunity to ask the Ambassador about the price of renewed passports, which remain £56 more expensive for a British resident abroad than for one living in the UK, despite the fact that the service no longer takes place in Madrid. “The extra price includes a fee for consular services abroad,” replies the Ambassador.

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The Gazette | March 2014 | 21

ADVERTORIAL

At the request of the British Government's Global School Partnership programme.

The Hispano Britรกnico has been twinned with a Primary school in Beijing

Student's drawing of the Beijing school.

Beijing is the capital city of the world's most populated country and the Zhongguancun Primary School is just 10 miles from the Red Square. The immense cultural and educational differences between this situation and the Hispano Britรกnico in Lanzarote, have led to this suggestion from the project Director. 22 | March 2014 | The Gazette

r. Angela Cook, the Director of the British Government's "Comenius" Global School Partnership program, recently visited the Hispano Britรกnico and, on seeing the extent of the Mandarin Chinese taught and the quality of the school, decided that for the benefit of both communities it would be truly interesting to twin the two schools. Apart from the evident advantages of language exchange, the youngsters in Lanzarote will begin to understand the way of life of Asian children in a huge

city. On the other hand the Beijing children can have a direct contact with the many European and other national cultures that are prevalent in the Hispano Britรกnico. Over the last year the Hispano Britรกnico has been improving its facilities for its youngest pupils in the Foundation and Primary section. The process has been one of re-imaging its educational spaces with children in mind. All classrooms for the 3 to 5 year olds have been refitted and redesigned to suit these young pupils.

Children's work covers the classroom walls. In addition, a new outdoor educational area or "Magic Garden" is being completed to be ready for the summer term. This has been created out of six traditional Lanzarote circular areas, each of which offers its own educational

at top British universities such as Oxford or Cambridge have a formidable set of qualifications if they are also fluent in Chinese, German and Spanish. Such a complete education has to start at the age of three, which at that level costs just 3,300â&#x201A;Ź per year.

The school is currently taking registrations for the next academic year. If you would like your child to join one of the most prestigious British schools in Spain you can contact: info@colegiohispanobritanico.com 928 173 066

Offering ordinary children an extraordinary education. experience. They provide valuable educational tools for young people to experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of their learning and personal development. The school is well known for the excellence of its results, but Headmaster Roger Deign believes that students who hope to study important scientific subjects

Noah's Ark in the Magic Garden.

The Gazette | March 2014 | 23

Update

Sign Up FOR SCHOOL During March and April, all schools on Lanzarote will be taking registration for the next school year starting in September. If you want a guaranteed place for your child, now’s the time to put your name down.

ducation is an issue that all parents worry about, and here on Lanzarote it is no different. Are your children getting the support they need? Are they able to communicate with teachers? How are their social skills developing? Will they achieve good grades? These are just some of the myriad questions that parents need to take account with school age children. On Lanzarote, those questions can be even more worrying for foreign residents, whose children may well lack the language skills that local children have been brought up with. With older children, concerns about exams and qualifications take over. But there is good news. While Lanzarote clearly cannot offer the facilities and choice of a major city, it can boast a well-established state school system that provides free education, as well as a number of private schools. Spain’s state education system is, apart from some expenses (the charge for textbooks may be a shock to some parents), free and all children resident in the country not only have the right, but also the obligation, to receive a basic education.

E Teaching Staﬀ required for September 2014 This caring, well disciplined school is looking for fully qualified teachers to join the team next academic year. We would be pleased to receive your CV detailing your experience and preferred age range. We are particularly looking for teachers of Foundation 1 (3 year olds), Year 2 (7 year olds) and a part time ICT teacher.

Please send details by email to info@thebritishschoollanzarote.com or, if you wish to visit the school, Telephone 928 81 00 85 to make an appointment. 24 | March 2014 | The Gazette

The state system is full of excellent, qualified teachers who do their best for their pupils, but there is no doubt that the lack of funding has had an effect, not only on class sizes, but also school facilities. The school you choose will depend on your location, your income, what you want for your children and also the age of your children. It is generally agreed that very young children tend to adapt to the local language far faster than those over 12, whose cognitive development means that new language skills are more difficult to acquire. As a very rough guide, most parents will find that younger children will adapt to life in a foreign language-

Lanzarote offers a broad range of schools. speaking environment far faster than older ones. The increasing intensity of school study also means that, after the age of 13 or 14, time spent getting up to scratch with Spanish will be time lost on other studies. Consequently, there are generally far less problems with plunging your child into a state primary (Colegio) than a secondary School (Instituto), although there are always exceptions in both cases. While the state schools do their best to accommodate children whose first language is not Spanish, they are currently stretched to the maximum. For this reason, many parents prefer to register their children in one of

SIGN UP FOR SCHOOL the private schools on the island, all of which feature classes in English as a principal element in their curriculums. To register your child in either a private or state school, you will first need to be registered on the padrón (municipal list of residents) at your local Ayuntamiento. Schools will also require proof of parent’s identity and the child’s birth certificate (or Libro de Familia for a Spanish-born child). Proof of children’s vaccinations and any medical conditions will also be required. A child moving directly into the Spanish secondary system from the British system may also be required to show some evidence of the child´s academic progress. In state schools, the catchment area system may be overridden if parents can show that, because of work or other factors, it would be more convenient to register their child in a school further away from the family home. However, acceptance is not guaranteed, and early registration is vital to maximize your chances. Once your child is entered on a list for a school, you will have to wait for news that he or she has been accepted. Priority is generally given to children who are already registered at the school, and the younger brothers and sisters of existing pupils. It is possible to put your name down for more than one school, but once you have accepted an

offer, it is necessary to inform the others you have applied to. If you are moving your child from one school to another, it is also necessary to inform the previous school so that they can take them off their list – if you don´t, the school will waste their and your time contacting you to ask why your

Update

child is not attending classes. If you’re unsure of what school to choose, ask around and get as much information as possible. The Secretary at any school will be able to fill you in on many matters, but talking to parents of children at schools is also highly recommended.

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Update Spanish is the UK´ s most needed second language, a recent study by the British Council has revealed. Word of the year Spanish experts have chosen “escrache” as their word of the year. The word derives from Latin America, and was used for the public protests against politicians which caused controversy last year. Other Spanish words of the year included “autofoto” (selfie) and “expapa” (“ex-Pope”). The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI last year meant that, for the first time in 500 years, the election of a new Pope had not followed the death of his predecessor, bringing the word into use.

Spanish IN DEMAND he Council took into account the business and professional applications of a variety of world languages and concluded that Spanish was the one that offered the widest possibilities. It was followed by Arabic, in second place, then French, Mandarin Chinese and German. The principal reason for Spain´s top spot is that it is the second most spoken native language in the world after Chinese, but unlike Chinese it is spoken officially in 20 countries throughout the world. The emergence of key Spanish-speaking markets such as Argentina, Chile and Mexico also reflects why Spanish is so valued.

Arabic, on the other hand, varies widely according to where it is spoken, while French remains limited to Canada and a number of excolonial countries in Africa. Spanish is now the most popular foreign language in British night classes, with thousands of classes taking place all over the country. Part of the reason for this is undoubtedly the popularity of Spain as a tourist and residential destination. But Spanish is also perceived as easier to learn than French, whose irregular verbs and pronunciation are more difficult for English speakers to grasp. Currently, 4 per cent of Britons claim they

speak enough Spanish to hold a conversation in the language, although this figure may reflect the optimism of those surveyed, rather than reality. Spanish varies wherever it is spoken, but not to such a degree that a Mexican cannot understand someone from Madrid. On the Canaries, the local accent and vocabulary has features of Latin-American speech as well as those from mainland Spain. And, of course, for those British who have chosen to live on Lanzarote, a working grasp of Spanish can be a real benefit.

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It´ s not just the youngsters who can study on Lanzarote. Adults can also benefit from Spanish lessons at any time of year. f you´re resident on Lanzarote then you have made the decision to come and live in a Spanish speaking island. It seems, at the very least, discourteous not to at least try to grasp the basics of the island´s only official language. And, although learning any language is a challenge, the good news is that Spanish is one of the easiest for English speakers to get a grasp of. Many of the words are similar, owing to both languages´ debt to Latin, and Spanish sentences are generally formed much the same way as English ones. Many worry about pronunciation, but once you´ve learned and practiced a few basic rules, you should be fine. And on the Canaries, it´s even easier, given that the locals tend don´t pronounce their cs and zs as “th” like they do on the mainland. Once again, it will take some time, patience and commitment before you´re speaking Spanish

Update

Speak UP!

Spanish is one of the easiest languages to learn.

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confidently, but once you start you´ll find the world that surrounds you on Lanzarote suddenly starting to make sense. There´s no greater sense of satisfaction for a language learner than realizing that they understand what the old ladies in the supermarket are nattering about. LAPTOPS PC,self-reliant and able to You´ll alsoAND be more PHONES MUCH look after AND yourself, in all sorts of situations; MORE it´s FOR SALE whether asking for directions, querying your change or simply greeting your neighbours. The options for language learning on Lanzarote are various. If you´re really serious you´ll probably want to enroll for a course at one of the language academies on the island. This is easily the fastest and most effective way to learn the basics – and it is the basics that may be most daunting for a newcomer to the language. Once you get past those difficult first steps, you´ll stand a far better chance of progressing. Classes are also good for brushing up the language you already know. If you´ve spoken some Spanish informally, then there´s a chance that you may have got into some bad habits. Now´s the time to iron them out and get back on the straight and narrow! Classes are generally made to measure, and available for individuals or groups. You´ll also find informal language exchanges on the island where speakers simply get together to chat in Spanish, and these can be a real help to your confidence in the language.

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The Gazette | March 2014 | 27

PET SPOT

Sense Uncommon

Our pets have incredibly fine senses that we may not always appreciate, and owners and vets can learn much from them to gain their own “sixth sense” for detecting problems, writes Lanzarote vet Jane Burke. t has always been a source of fascination to me that different creatures and different individuals use their senses so differently. Indeed, the senses themselves have dramatically different potential in different species. We lack some senses altogether. So the radar of a bat, the echo location of whales, the buoyancy receptors of fish , for example, are entirely beyond human 'sense'. And our abilities to perceive different light waves and sound waves are relatively limited. There is an annoying app on the iPhone that my children use to demonstrate how my range of hearing gets more limited each year (school children use it to test their teachers and then set their ringtones to a level only the kids can hear!) My microchip reader distresses some animals and, while my son tells me he can hear the high pitched noise that offends them, I can't. Human sight is concentrated on central vision and we can

focus on this small area; our pets do not have that facility, but they do see a much wider picture and are much more aware of peripheral vision. Horses (and prey animals in general) are incredibly sensitive to the slightest peripheral movement. Our sense of smell is so pathetically incompetent compared to the pets we live with that we cannot conceive how it is to live in a world where you can smell emotions, cancer, hormone levels and blood sugar levels, as many animals can do. When I went out with my deaf friends I was distressed to discover that the general human reaction to such 'handicap' is often offensive. But we are all capable of prejudice. I once rowed bitterly with a dear and kind woman who wanted me to remove the septic eyes from a totally blind kitten. Poor little soul; sick with pain and facing a lifetime of blindness. I agreed only after I was convinced a forever home definitely awaited her, and even then , my heart was troubled. Less than two hours after the anesthetic wore off she was

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wrapping herself round my neck, purring ecstatically and eating me out of house and home. With no concept of 'disability', and now free of the pain from her ruined eyeballs, she thrived. I had a three-legged, deaf dalmation for several years . A joyful robust and loving creature. She learnt hand signals with ease and if she didn't want to obey she would squeeze her eyes shut and thrash her tail with delighted disobedience. But as humans we are rarely kind to those we consider 'damaged'. Whether it is a physical or a mental difference from the norm, l our treatment of them is often judgmental. Cats and dogs see the person, not the differences. There is so much we could learn from them. My veterinary course, and I suspect my daughters medical education was, to a large extent, being trained to see what is visible; to hear what we listen to; to notice and analyse the smells of skin, ears, mouths and bottoms; to feel heartbeat, pulse quality, chest noise as we feel the

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quality of the fur, the temperature and texture of the skin. To detect abnormal from normal, and give reasonable bias to the picture our senses perceive. I think one must also learn to compute an animal’s movements and reactions in terms of balance, co-ordination and general interest in their surroundings. The longer one is in practice the less one relies on the words pet owners use to describe their concern. But the more certain I am that clients like mine know there is a problem long before there are any necessarily discernible signs of illness that their pet is not well. So, if your vet seems to chatter somewhat carelessly- apparently not paying full concentration on to your conversation; if it seems they are wasting time messing with your pet’s face and doing nothing very technical, moving their own face past the ears and mouth of your pet ( and possibly, in my case, planting an entirely

unprofessional kiss on their head); if they apparently randomly stroke your cat/dog's chest and inner thighs- be appreciative of a quiet, nonconfrontational physical examination examination.

“We can barely imagine how refined our pets’ senses are.” Bear in mind we are listening and looking and sniffing and feeling for any alarm bells. Be patient with our vague conversation and (my personal oddity) of talking to the animal itself. I am offering animals the social courtesy of letting them smell my breath and skin and feel and hear the calm, unthreatening vibrations of my voice. I am

evaluating their responses to sound and pressure. I do think all our children should be taught to see more of what they are looking at. To learn how to listen. I think they should be encouraged to smell the complexity of aromas in our sanitised and over-perfumed world. I think they should be helped to appreciate how everyone’s actions are interwoven, to understand that illness is never a simply physical problem, not just anatomy or physiology gone awry, but has psychological and probably metaphysical ramifications. I want them to appreciate the difference between science and pseudoscience and whatever religious convictions they strive under, I want them to consider that any God they have chosen to follow who does not put kindness and tolerance first should be dumped. He is not worthy of worship. Put clean fresh water out for all your pets and raise a glass with me to thank heaven for the privilege of living and learning from them.

Medication, M edication, S Surgery, urgery, L Laboratory, aboratory, C Chip, hip, O ld A ge C heck U p, C ertifi ficcates, V accinations, Old Age Check Up, Certificates, Vaccinations, S can, D og a nd C at G rooming Scan, Dog and Cat Grooming Top b rand P et F oods ssuch uch a CANA, R OYAL Top brand Pet Foods ass A ACANA, ROYAL C ANIN, HILLS, HILLS, IAMS, IAMS, EUKANUBA. EUKANUBA. CANIN, The first certified

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eterinariatiaslanzar ote@gmail.com – w w w.veterinariatias .com The Gazette | March 2014 | 29

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March 30th is Mothering Sunday, and if you´re British or Irish, that´s the day when your mum should be getting a card, a gift and a visit or a phone call. It´s just one day and a chance to show your appreciation and love for the woman you owe your very existence to, so no excuse is acceptable. f you´ve been living in Spain for a while, or if you spend much time on the internet, you may have been a bit confused about Mothers Day in recent years. That´s because Britain, Ireland and Nigeria are the only countries in the world that still celebrate Mothers’ Day on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Most other countries have followed American tradition and celebrate it on the second Sunday in May (although Spain does so on the first

um’s the Word

Sunday in that month). The mother in “Mothering Sunday” wasn´t originally a human being at all, it was the mother church where you were christened, and domestic servants in Britain were often given the day off to vist this important institution. Their long hours often meant that this was also one of the few times they would see their families, and so the current meaning of Mothering Sunday arose. The tradition fell by the wayside until the 1920s, when Constance Penswick-Smith, of Coddington, Nottinghamshire, decided to revive it, inspired by the success of American Mothers Day. The arrival of US and Canadian troops during the war also led to greater interest and by the 1950s, Mothering Sunday was an important event for card and gift manufacturers.

Mothering Sunday is also associated with giving a fresh posy of spring flowers to your mother, as well as the traditional marzipan covered Simnel Cake, with its twelve marzipan balls representing Christ´s apostles. Thie cake is also often decorated with Easter decorations such as eggs or chicks, reflecting the strong link that the British and Irish Mothers Day has with Easter.

Nowadays, of course, few of us visit our mother church, and on Lanzarote there´s a good chance that you´ll be hundreds of miles away from your mother. So make sure you get something in the post in time to make her Mothers Day a day when she´ll gaze at your photo with fondness, and don´t forget to give her a call. And cards remain one of the most important aspects of Mothers Day. However, if you´re looking for them on Lanzarote you´ll have to find a British shop. Spanish cards won´t be on sale yet, and they´re in a different language anyway.

Mother's Day Cards in stock + Helium Balloons • Greeting Cards • Party Goods • Stationery • Kids Books • 1000´s of Books, New & Second Hand • Up to 50% trade-in on our returns • Fax & Photocopying Service BS II /III

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San Antonio Hotel end C.C. Costa Luz, Puerto del Carmen Mon - Fri 09.30 - 17.00 Sat 09.30 - 13.30 Tel: 928 513 563

C/ La Corvina Rd. opposite the church, Playa Blanca Mon - Fri 9.30 - 19.00 Sat 9.30 - 14.00 Tel: 928 349 420

Come Visit Us

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The Gazette | March 2014 | 31

Business Updates

 Liquid brunch

 Mario´s Pizzeria Only the best survive in Lanzarote´s competitive restaurant world, so special congratulations to Mario´s Restaurant and Pizzeria at the Montaña Tropical in Puerto del Carmen for celebrating 20 years in business. With home-made dishes, attentive and friendly service and perfect sea views, let´s hope that Mario´s keep on getting it just right for another 20!

 A great Irish welcome at the Kinsale  Bogart’s Bar Donny and Lynne at Bogart´s Bar on C/Pedro Barba, Puerto del Carmen, would like to lift a glass and say “Here´s looking at you” to all their friends and customers who helped make the Christmas season such a success and whose support has meant that the bar is going strong after 15 months. With live musicians “playing it again, Sam” every Mon, Wed and Fri from 5-7pm, great drinks and friendly welcome, this is one of those bars you just have to walk into, kid.

We will be pleased to see you in our ofﬁce in Puerto del Carmen

On St Patricks Day, or any other day of the year, there´s nowhere better to relax in a welcoming atmosphere than the Kinsale Bar and Restaurant in Matagorda. That´s not a promise, it´s a fact that´s backed up by the owner´s status as winners of Cork Pub of the year Award back in Ireland. Our special tip: Don´t miss the Irish stew whatever you do!

 Hoyo 19 After 18 holes of golf, what could be better than to relax and enjoy a slap up meal. And if you´re not a golfer, you can skip the hitting balls with sticks bit completely! You´ll still find great food, an unrivalled atmosphere and some of the best views on the island at Hoyo 19 Restaurant, at Puerto Del Carmen´s golf course.

ut Checktofares our grea om r to and f

the UK

We ﬂy tto & from Dublin and 14 U K airports. Contact: Phone: email: Facebook:

Rick Ivanov 928 516 930 flights.lanzarote@thomson.co.uk Thomson Airways Lanzarote & Fuerteventura

Prices include all taxes and charges, plus 20kg hold baggage and 5kg on board baggage

Charges may apply to additional supplements. Subject to availability & applies to new bookings only. Price correct at time of going to press and are subject to change. Standard booking terms apply, visit www.thomson.co.uk for details. *Calls are charged at the local rate. Additional network charges may apply. Thomson, Falcon & First Choice are trading names of TUI UK Ltd, part of the TUI Travel PLC group.

32 | March 2014 | The Gazette

Take a break from shopping at the Deiland centre and grab a drink or a bite to eat at the Liquid Terraza – situated on the terrace just behind the centre. On Saturdays and Sundays, the €9.90 brunch offer is the perfect way to relax and enjoy great food in smart, elegant surroundings

 Thomson services Thomson Airways is the world’s largest charter airline carrying more than ten million holidaymakers a year for Thomson and First Choice. But it isn´t just charters - Thomson Airways Lanzarote/Fuerteventura Office, offer tempting flight-only fares for those who don´t need a charter. Services include: -One way and return flights to/from the UK and Ireland (London Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Bournemouth, Exeter, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol, East Midlands, Manchester, Doncaster/Sheffield, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast and Dublin)(Cork and Shannon in Summer 14) with competitive prices.  All bookings made via our office include 20kg hold and 5kg hand luggage – no extra charge for your luggage!  No hidden extras, we don’t charge for using credit cards  Option to increase luggage allowance from only €19 for 5kgs for one way ticket.  Pre bookable group seating, extra space seats and our new extra leg room seats on our recently refurbished 757s  Local office hours  Multilingual staff

Now the shop has arrived in Arrecife, with a new show room in the Tenorio neighbourhood of the capital (near the Eurospar) where all the latest trends can be seen. Macassar 30 imports furniture from China, Thailand, Indonesia and India and is world. Renowned for its teak garden furniture, fabrics and silk cushions, table lamps, ceramics, sculptures, chests and many other items that will give your home an exotic touch.

outings to Fuerteventura, are flexible enough to offer an ever-changing selection of special voyages, as well as their regularly timetabled schedule. For example, extra routes were added for the recent Eighth Island challenge, and the carnival on la Graciosa may also see a special link. Keep an eye on both company’s Facebook pages for up to date news of new routes, and make the most of Lanzarote´s neighbouring islands.

 Street party!

 Come to the Asadero de Macher

Don´t miss the St Patrick´s street party that will take place from 1pm till late outside Mulligan´s Old Town, Puerto Del Carmen. Some of the island´s finest performers, such as Colin Farrell, Valerie and Tomi, and Victor, will be performing, the drink will be flowing and the craic is sure to be mighty.

 Mutua Tinerfeña donate 20 tons of food On 17th February, Mutua Tinerfeña offically delivered a cheque equivalent to 20,000 kilogrammes of food to the Caritas charity. Over the second half of 2013, Mutua Tinerfeña donated a kilo of food for every policy it sold, and this finally was converted into a cheque to the value of 20 tonnes of vital resources for the charity for the needy.

 Choose Acegi

If you´re looking to promote two businesses, either two of your own concerns, or publicising yourself along with another company, then contact Imprenta Minerva, located at the Playa Honda Industrial Park (near Cabrera Medina) for a very special offer in March. For more details see ad on page 74.

ACEGI is the largest association of estate agents in the Canaries, with 63 associate agencies currently spread over all seven islands, and with unrivalled national and international contacts. In order to serve clients best, ACEGI link different professionals according to a strict ethical code, with exemplary professionalism and fully qualified and trained agents. By contacting an ACEGI agent you´ll have the peace of mind afforded by dealing with a professional estate agent who is fully at your service. Every year, thousands of satisfied customers return to ACEGI to buy or sell a Canarian property. Why not come and find yours?

 Macassar 30

 Flexible inter-island voyages

Macassar 30 is already a well known brand within the world of interior design and décor.

Lineas Maritimas Romero, who operate regular boat trips to La Graciosa, and Videocosta, who run similar

 Printing offer

Macher, perched on the hills overlooking the southern coast of Lanzarote, has its own relaxed atmosphere, and at the Asadero de Macher, you can enjoy some of the best char-grilled meats, fresh fish and seafood and home made dishes on the island. Open from 1 pm to midnight TuesSat, 1pm-6pm Sundays, why not try a dining experience you´ll remember for a long time. And for that special Canarian atmosphere come on Fridays for free live folk music.

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The Gazette | March 2014 | 33

Editor’s postbag Ed: Thanks, Mr Kerry. It´ s an eyesore, and we very much look forward to not printing your annual letter next year!

 Doctors orders

 Still terrible Dear Gazette During my annual visit to Costa Teguise this year I was absolutely delighted to discover that most of the dilapidated promenade paving on the seafront areas had been renovated since my last visit. However, my joy was curtailed when, once again, I came across the eyesore of the sewage treatment installation just above Playa Bastian. The only change I have noticed is that the graffiti artist responsible for the very apt comment written on the building has improved his knowledge of Spanish grammar, adding the necessary “es” between the words “Este Terrible” As I´ve mentioned when writing to you previously, the other sewage installations only seem to project about a metre above the ground, and are attractively clad in volcanic stone. Yet again, I remain ever hopeful that, in the near future, the local authority will take heed of the graphically clear message and at least make some attempt to improve the visual aspect of this monstrosity. John Kerry, Costa Teguise

Dear Editor, As a Lanzarote resident for the past 9 years, I soon realised that I should attempt to learn Spanish, and with this aim I studied for over 4 years. However I am now 84 years old and find I have difficulty in language retention. In other words, I quickly forget most of what I have been taught. I can make myself clearly understood in shops and restaurants but when it comes to a visit to the doctor, it is then that difficulties arise, especially when the doctor either cannot speak any English or refuses to speak any English. This has happened in the last three of eight doctors to which I have been allocated in the San Bartolomé health clinic. It has been repeatedly said that one should take an interpreter with you, but at around €30 a visit this does not come cheap when I am referring to friends and neighbours who are in their 70's and 80's, and interpreters may not be available when an urgent visit comes up. The dread of having to convey medical symptoms, and to expect an expert medical opinion from a non-English speaking doctor is a recipe for disaster. I am full of praise for the treatment received on the Island, but only wish that ex pats could be allocated a doctor who can speak some English as they do exist within the clinic. I am sure that this would relieve a lot of stress at

present felt by the elderly. Frank Purcell, Guime. Ed: As in the UK, users of the Spanish health system have the right to change doctors at any time, Frank, and many medical professionals have a working knowledge of the language acquired through their studies. Unfortunately, that doesn´ t mean they are always willing to do so, and older practitioners may have very rusty English indeed. Doctors also have to “ watch their back” against possible law suits, and so understandably prefer to use a language they are comfortable in As in the UK, doctors are employed for their medical skills rather than their language abilities. The only option is to change your doctor and hope you get lucky, or go to one of the private clinics where language skills are an important selling point.

 A fine mess Dear Ed, Regarding your letter about the police raising funds. On the 5th May 2013 I parked in the disabled parking bay facing Pueblo Marinero in Costa Teguise. My disabled badge was clearly displayed on the centre of the dashboard of my car. On my return, some 90 minutes later I was greeted with a parking ticket which was placed underneath the windscreen wiper directly over the disabled badge. Next day I went to the local police station in Costa Teguise where there was a sign in the

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Fuerteventura C/ Galicia 20, Corralejo

Arrecife C/ Jose Molina 6, 1st C

Puerto Del Carmen C/ Teide 22

Playa Blanca C/ La Lapa 27

eaders are reminded that views and comment expressed within the Postbag pages are those of the contributors and may not necessarily reflect the opinions or standpoint of Lanzarote Gazette staff. It should also be noted that the Lanzarote Gazette is an independent publication free from political persuasion or governmental censorship.

window saying "Back in 15 minutes". After waiting more than one hour I went to Trafico in Arrecife and waited again, only to be told to go to Teguise. After waiting yet again in the Ayuntamiento in Teguise at last an English-speaking gentleman suggested that I do a denunciation against the police, which he did on my behalf. After six months I received a letter from the police informing me that I now owed €200. After another visit to my English-speaking gentleman in the Ayuntamiento, Teguise he wrote another letter and informed us that they could not enforce this fine. After much correspondence from the Ayuntamiento I was advised not to take the police to court because, even if I won the case, the judge would probably make me pay my own expenses and the police theirs. I was told this could be very expensive. In January this year I received another letter from the police saying my disabled badge was not on the dashboard and that I must pay the fine. On advice from my friendly gentleman in the Ayuntamiento I paid the €200 fine as it was the police’s word against mine (no contest, nowhere else to go). I have driven this car for six years with the badge updated every four years and always with the badge displayed. Do I now avoid disabled parking bays as the same thing could happen again? Peter Dunwell Ed: This is a worrying story, Mr Dunwell, especially as it seems to concern a flat denial that the badge was in place, rather than any dispute about the type of badge. It looks like the Costa Teguise local police are as keen on fundraising as the Guardia Civil.

 Access all areas! Dear Gazette Having just spent another peaceful holiday on Lanzarote I am again amazed at how so many places (bars etc) have so little regard for disabled people. In the UK businesses have, by law, to provide access for people with disabilities; yet it appears to be very much "Do as we say not as we do" when it comes to EU countries - Spain in this case. Personally, I found wheelchair access non existent, and even for people with walking difficulties it was almost impossible at some of the bars I visited. It's about time EU politicians got off their high horses and put their own houses in order before they dictate to us how the UK should be run! Maybe through your magazine a clearly overdue change can be encouraged. Professor Tom

 Not such a hero Dear Gazette The recent letter in your January and February edition portraying “Freddy” in Playa Blanca as some kind of local hero doesn´t tell the full story, I´m afraid. He feeds cats, yes, but he is also someone who has been verbally aggressive to me and my daughter, who has been filmed on CCTV throwing eggs at newly painted houses and who takes rubbish from bins and deposits the remains in local gardens. He is currently squatting in a home that was repossessed by the bank, and has no water or electricity, which leads him to take water from the local community.

Send your letters to our office (address on page 3) or email editorial@gazettelive.com His behavior seems to be getting progressively worse, and it is quite worrying to live near such a person. I think he is someone who really needs some help. Name and address supplied

 Dialysis appeal Dear Gazette I desperately hope someone can help me. I have recently been placed on dialysis due to kidney failure. Before I was struck down by this problem my wife and I invested in a villa in PDC. I am hoping some of your kind readers can advise me as I am getting so many conflicting stories about dialysis in Lanzarote. I desperately want to get back to Lanzarote as I simply love the place, the people and the whole culture. So can anyone advise me where I can get my dialysis done on my EHIC card? Or do I have to pay at a private hospital? If this is the case I would not be able to return to the island for any length of time, as we simply could not afford the cost of my dialysis. Thanks in advance. Warren McKibben Ed: If anyone can help Mr McKibben, please contact us at editorial@gazettelive.com so we can pass messages on.

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We speak English, German, French and Spanish. • Tel. 607 729 935 rouxolivia@hotmail.com The Gazette | March 2014 | 35

The

Gazette

crossword

This month´s crossword has an Irish theme for St Patrick´s Day. Send your completed solutions to us by March 16th for a chance to win a bottle of Lanzarote wine. The winner of last month´s Spanish-themed puzzle was Marian Booth of Costa Teguise. Buen trabajo!

ACROSS

1.The second largest city in the Irish Republic (4) 4. Irish for Patrick (7) 8. Bizarre, odd (7)

9. It flows on March 17th (5) 10. Smithwicks, Murphys and Kilkenny are all Irish …. (4) 11. Farmyard fowl (7)

13. Irish staple made from flour, buttermilk, baking powder and salt (4,5) 15. Working class Catholic suburb of Belfast, popularly known as “Andytown” (13)

17. Not a friend (5) 18. US band which featured singer Gwen Stefani (2,5)

21. Actor from Ballymena, Co. Antrim, whose most famous role is probably that of Oskar Schindler (4,6)

17 Last months answers: Across: 3.Valencia 7.Eve 8.Guernica 9.Cuatro 12.Lean 13.Navarra 15.Necktie 16.Cadiz 20.Rimmer 21.Arrecife 22.Grit 23.Pyrenees Down: 1.Barcelona 2.Salamanca 3.Vigo 4.Lleida 5.Nine 6.Itch 10.Trademark 11.Lanzarote 14.Airline 17.Trees 18.Pray 19.Fete

DOWN 2. Irish writers Flann and Edna and US chatshow host Conan are all members of this clan (1,6)

stories, regarded as among the greatest of the 20th century (9)

Paycock and The Plough and the Stars (4,1,5)

6. Much of it about nothing in Shakespeare (3)

16. To live somewhere, or to spend too much time considering a problem (5)

4. The Irish 007 (6,7) 5. James Joyce´s 1914 collection of short

8. Irish playwright, author of Juno and the

36 | March 2014 | The Gazette

7. Irish superhero? Well maybe not, but with his assistant Kato he fought crime on 1930s radio and in a 2008 film starring Seth Rogen (5,6)

3. Brian Boru was an ancient Irish one (4)

14. ….. Old Town, 1985 single by the Pogues (5)

19. In America they use this to colour their beer and their rivers green on March 17th (3) 20. A flying saucer (1,1,1)

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38 | March 2014 | The Gazette

The

Gazette

living Lanzarote

Leap into March! - March in Lanzarote means party time, with a month-long cavalcade of carnival processions, and St Patrick´s Day slap bang in the middle. If you´re a party animal, it´s the perfect time to be on the island, but even if you´re not, it´s still a wonderful time to enjoy the island – not too scorching hot, but still delightfully warm. It´s so good you´ll want to make the most of it, and there is no better time to get out and about and be active. And, of course, there´s plenty to eat, drink, enjoy and experience. It´s what Living Lanzarote is all about.

contents

40 42 44 48 50 52 54 58 60 63 64 67 68 70 72

Fit for Life Mommie Dearest! Face Facts Eating Out Any Style Cook like a Pro Mediterranean Fusion Fab Fish Paddies Everywhere Grill It! Let us Entertain You! Carnival! Let the Wine Flow! Art and Culture Lounging Around What's On

FITNESS

FIT FOR

LIFE

There are many good arguments for getting fit. It can be terrific fun, it makes you feel exhilarated, it can broaden your social life, and you´ ll also look better. But the one, unarguable reason that you can never ignore is that it will improve the one thing all the others depend on – your health. he human body is a wondrous machine that has adapted over millions of years. And the fact is that, for most of that time, it has been used to hard work and regular exertion. No car designer has ever invented a suspension system that comes close to our own system of bones, ligaments and muscles, no robot can emulate our incredibly subtle and flexible ways of movement, and no machine can fuel itself, maintain itself and keep running for over 80 years. And it´s only over the last century or so that we´ve neglected our bodies. Modern life means that we live a life of leisure and ease unimaginable even to our own greatgrandparents. It protects us from wearing out, but it also causes its own problems. Sedentary lifestyles, overeating and other modern ills are the root cause behind many of the health problems and diseases that we are most at risk from, including heart disease, diabetes, depression, obesity, thrombosis, high blood pressure, certain cancers and kidney stones. Some experts even say that “sitting down is the new smoking,” due to the increased health problems of a couch potato lifestyle. All of these complaints, and many more, can be avoided simply by exercising

40 | March 2014 | The Gazette

regularly. And, at the end of the day, that´s all you need to know. If you want to live a longer, more fulfilling life and cut down on countless future worries, expenses and regrets, it´s time to get off your backside and do something. It doesn´t matter how old you are or what size you are: if you start now you´ll be making a difference. And on Lanzarote, where there are endless possibilities to enjoy exercise, you have fewer excuses than ever.

Here´ s How The first step can often the most difficult when it comes to making a commitment to fitness, but it´s also the easiest. You could put down this magazine and start right now if you wanted to, but read on just a little. A plan helps, but it is not the most important aspect. Don´t spend ages looking at gym schedules, balancing them with existing commitments and give up because it´s all too daunting. The first step is just to do something. Get out, take a brisk walk or a jog, take a dip in a pool and come back feeling just that little bit better. You can make exercise a part of your daily life without a timetable – just resolve to get a little bit in every day. It can be as simple as deciding to take the stairs instead of the lift in the beginning. Park a little further away from places you normally go to and walk the rest. Get outside and sort the garden out. There are a million ways to increase your daily exertion and get out of those lazy ways.

You can also make new friends at gyms or fitness groups

Get Support One of the main obstacles to those starting a fitness regime is solitude. It´s no fun putting your jogging gear on for a run while the rest of the family are enjoying a favourite film, so ask for some support. Friends are a vital support system, and on Lanzarote we know of plenty of groups of people who have decided to get together and blend their social life with exercise and activity. It´s what children do naturally, after all, and the fun never goes away. So talk to your friends and see if they are as interested as you are in getting fit. And if not, keep on at them! You can also make new friends at gyms or fitness groups, and even a daily jog or walk will mean you´ll soon get to know new faces and perhaps the personalities behind them. But if you really need help with motivation, nothing beats a professional. Hiring the services of a personal trainer or gym instructor means you´ll not only be losing money if you don´t keep up with it, you´ll also be letting someone down. When you stir in the fact that health and fitness professionals can help get you where you want to be in the fastest and most efficient way, you´ve got a powerful argument for picking up the phone. We´ll be covering more specialist aspects of fitness over the coming months, but now it´s time to put this magazine down, get off your backside and do something!

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DEAREST Mother’s Day is a day you get

to show your mum (or the mother of your children) how grateful you are that she is in your life. Don’ t waste the opportunity. There are, of course, many more than ten reasons, but this is a magazine article and not a book!. 42 | March 2014 | The Gazette

• If it weren’t for your mum, you wouldn’t be breathing right now. She carried you for nine months, went through agony bringing you into the world and fed you with her own goodness. If nothing else, you should thank her for that.

•

Mothers are the emotional backbones of any family. They are the protecting, , nurturing restraining influence in a family, while fathers are far more keen to see children testing themselves and taking the

world on. It is possible for a single parent to fulfil both these roles, of course, but the mother´s role is key. Think, for example, about all those articles about children needing a fatherly role model – no one talks about a motherly role model, because motherhood is, simply, taken for granted as fundamental.

• Who would kiss you better if she weren’t around? All of us have deep, primal memories of running to mum with a cut finger or a tummy ache, and recall the fact that a simple hug and a kiss may not heal the wound, but makes it feel so much easier to bear. That sense of security is a truly powerful psychological bond, and one that we never entirely forget.

• Our mothers worked hard and almost always made sacrifices so our lives would be better. It´s only when you undertake parenthood yourself that you realize the worries, the doubts, the agonies and the sheer exhausting grind that your mother put in to keep you safe and happy. Few people, apart from mothers, are willing to do that, so let her know you appreciate it. • Mothers are forgiving - so forgive her in return. Many damaged relationships with mothers arise from a grudge that neither of you has ever been able to let drop. So make the first move. Ignore the “I told you so’s” and patiently accept that love does not always manifest itself in perfect ways. Perhaps nothing will be as valuable a gift to both of you as forgiveness, so open your heart and drop your resentments.

help her recall moments that have slipped her mind. The result is a rich tapestry of interlinking memories.

•

Your mum kept you down to earth. It was her raised eyebrow that made you rethink that wild party outfit, it was her calm advice that stopped you running off to be a pop star, and it was her experience that helped you to choose a partner who would support you, as well as sweep you off your feet.

• A mother’s smile, or a few kind words directed toward you, make your day a whole lot better. All she needs is to know that she has helped you to be and feel your best. Mother’s Day comes only once a year. Make it special for her, and it will come back to you. It is perhaps impossible to use words to express to the person who helped you to walk and talk, who gave you your first puppy, who guided you through adolescence, and who gave you all the love she possibly could. Show her you care by acknowledging her value in your life. And if you´re unfortunate enough to have lost your mother, Mothers Day is still a wonderful time to get in touch with your family and loved ones and remember the good times, the laughter and the tears.

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• Mothers create boundaries. Those boundaries may have been painful to establish and you may not have been grateful for some of her decisions, especially when you wanted to party with your friends, but she did her best to keep you out of trouble. Those boundaries have also helped you assert yourself when you feel pressured, and will be valuable guidelines when you bring up your own children.

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The Gazette | March 2014 | 43

Face Facts ............................................................................... Beauty is a purely human concept that can change according to wherever you are in the world, but there are certain elements of female beauty that appear to be almost universal. And if you want to catch the eye, these should be what you focus on.

Skin ...................................... Skin is one of our most important features, and the stuff on our face is on display almost all the time. This is good news if you´ve got good skin, but on a sub-tropical island like Lanzarote, it also means that you´ll have to take extra special care of your skin. Attractive skin is, simply, healthy skin. It doesn´t matter what colour it is, as long at is free of obvious blemishes, firm and evenly shaded. The freckles that many of us despaired about when we were girls are not blemishes, and a sprinkling of freckles can be one of the most tantalisingly attractive features a woman can have. Looking after your skin on Lanzarote will require a daily regime of moisturizing, sunblock application if you´re planning to spend time outdoors, and almost certainly protection such as sunhats and sunglasses. Even if you like to have a healthy tan on your face, the sun you soak up by accident on this bright sunshine island will probably be more than enough to get you where you want to be. Sun damage is one of the things that can age

facial skin most rapidly, but it´s also a good idea to cut down on the cigarettes and booze, as well as drink plenty of fresh water. And while facial beauty treatments are treats for a special occasion back home, a regular session should be a part of your Lanzarote life. Book that appointment now!

Eyes ...................................... The eyes are the windows to the soul, or so they say, and a pair of attractive, flashing eyes is often the very first thing that attracts attention. Again, an attractive pair of eyes is a healthy pair of eyes, with clear whites and sparkling irises. The colour is not important, but if you´re lucky enough to have striking green eyes, flashing blue peepers or deep brown, almost black, irises, you should definitely make the most of them. Of course, nowadays, you can choose your eye colour, with a wide selection of tinted contact lenses on offer, but do so carefully – it´s a look that can be initially disconcerting to those who know you well. On Lanzarote, the sun means that your eyes will often be hidden behind a pair of sunglasses, so

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Looking after your skin on Lanzarote will require a daily regime of moisturizing, sunblock application, sunhats and sunglasses. ................................................................ choose your eye protection carefully, and choose the right times to unveil your gaze for maximum impact. If you have sight problems, then lenses allow you the most freedom in terms of use, but many are still wary of actually putting things in their eyes and prefer glasses. The good news is that opticians are always introducing new, more attractive and tempting spectacle designs. The old saying that men don´t make passes at girls who wear glasses just isn´t true any more, and the right pair can really set your face and your eyes off to maximum effect.

Teeth ............................................. A set of gleaming, regular teeth is one of the most important aspects of a beautiful face, allowing you to smile confidently, laugh and speak without worrying about what you´re revealing. And the good news is that, even if your teeth aren´t in the best of shape, there´s never been a better time to put it right. Cosmetic dentistry is a filed that has moved light years recently, offering new procedures, new materials and new solutions to fit every face and every pocket. It´s an investment that you will really never regret, and one that will literally put a smile on your face.

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FOOD

Tapas hether its a small snack to tide you over, or a full meal, the bars and restaurants on the island cater for everyone's appetite and are open throughout the day, meaning that you are never short of somewhere to enjoy a drink and something to eat, whether with friends, or simply content in your own company.

Island living is all about the taking things slowly, and at your own pace. The relaxing climate and the chilled out way of life means that we enjoy ourselves whenever we can. And whilst it's a treat to have a meal out with friends or family, it just as nice to laze leisurely at one of the many places on the island that serve food throughout the day.

This is the beauty of eating out on Lanzarote. It doesn't have to be a special occasion. It's more like something you can treat yourself a few times a week, where back in the UK we have to resign ourselves to the relatively limited range of bar snacks that are on offer, or a token bag of crisps, here, the world of tapas, and more, is your oyster.

The Gazette | March 2014 | 47

Eating Out If you´ re new to dining out on Lanzarote, then you´ ll need a brief guide to what sorts of establishments to expect. From tapas bars, comedores and sociedades to classy restaurants, there´ s plenty to choose from.

Tapas

Spain´s most famous export is actually just one of many ways of dining. Here on Lanzarote, you can get a tapa (the word simply means a small portion) almost anywhere, but the classic place is a bar. When you enter a tapas bar, you will see rows of glass-covered display cabinets along the counter containing a variety of tasty morsels. There will probably be a kind of potato salad with tuna called ensaladilla; there may be some meat balls called albondigas, and almost certainly a tasty potato omelette called tortilla. Bars frequently have their own specialities, and there’s nothing stopping you trying some out by pointing to them and saying "Una tapa de esto, por favor" ("a small portion of this one, please."). Many tapas bars have a blackboard listing the snacks available, and most waiters will know enough English to help you out with this. Order at the table and the waiter will bring them over to you, along with a plate, fork and serviette for each person and a basket of bread. In Spanish eating places there is rarely any pressure to get rid of you, or to take your money. You can feel free to take the time you wish to relax, chat, order another beer, pay for the whole lot together as you leave.

Menus If what you are interested in is plenty of food at a budget, then you cannot do better than find a restaurant that offers the menú del día, which means the set meal of the day. Don´t forget that the Spanish word for menu is la carta, and these meals are separate, and usually a little more expensive, than the more limited selection on the menu. You´ll find menus del dia at many restaraunts, as well as in smaller comedores (family enterprises often run alongside a bar) and at a number of the sociedades (a social meeting place roughly similar to a British village hall) on Lanzarote. The menú del día offers a limited choice of first and second courses, a dessert, bread, wine and coffee all for a fixed low price. One of the

“

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We open Tue - Sat from 1.00 pm to 12 am Sun 1:00 pm to 6 pm Monday Closed

Our specialities are char-grilled meat, fresh fish and seafood paella.

Live Music every Friday Tel: 676 10 36 21

48 | March 2014 | The Gazette

A place where you can enjoy delicious food with views over the Mácher countryside down to the sea.

Carretera Tías-Macher 110 Yaiza Mácher

On Friday we have live music with a Canarian folk group from 9:00pm on.

Any Style! drawbacks in some of these places is that the contents of today’s menú del día is often retained in the waiter’s head and not on paper, so when you ask ¿Qué hay de menú? (What is there for the set meal?) he may simply rattle the list off to you, leaving you none the wiser. However, on Lanzarote, there is almost always someone close at hand with enough English to help you out.

Restaurants If what you’re interested in is something a little more special, there is a huge variety of restaurants in Spain, all of which will display their menus and prices at the door. As well as the full meals on the menu, you can also share out several different raciones amongst a family or group of friends, with everyone helping themselves from dishes placed in the middle of the table. The selection of raciones may include tasty, plump prawns; fried squid called calamares; mild green peppers called pimientos padrón; a selection of cheeses or quesos, and of course, jamón serrano. It is also very usual in these circumstances to order a green salad, una ensalada, which you can season yourselves with olive oil, white vinegar, salt and pepper. If you decide to choose from la carta, you will find that this is divided up into various sections under general headings. For the first course there will probably be ensaladas and soups or sopas. For the main course there will be a list of meat or carne, and fish dishes under the heading pescados. Keep an eye out for daily specdials on a balckboard, and ask the waiter for more details Vegetarian food is not yet well known in local Lanzarote bars, so if you´re a veggie, stick to clearly vegetarian dishes such as tortilla, gazpacho, pimientos padrón or patatas bravas. The last section in la carta will be the list of desserts, called postres. Just one last word of advice – remember that to really fit in with the way of life you will have to follow the Spanish timetable by having a late lunch and very late supper. ¡Qué aproveche! Enjoy your meal!

“

...Enjoy your meal!

The Gazette | March 2014 | 49

Cook like a

Home cooking has never been more popular, and here on Lanzarote it´s every bit as easy to join in the kitchen revolution.

While cookery programmes have always been popular, it now seems that British cooks have moved to a higher level. No longer is it a question of following Delia´s every word to create tried and tested favourites – cooks are becoming more adventurous, more demanding and more open to new ideas and flavours. A quick look at restaurants on Lanzarote will also show that many local chefs are becoming more and more fascinated with new tastes, fragrances, textures and flavours, and local shops are increasingly catering for this demand.

Tías

50 | March 2014 | The Gazette

As well as the usual fruit and veg that has always been fresh, affordable and delicious on the island, retailers are increasingly stocking imported ingredients that home cooks can use to really let their imagination run riot, meaning it´s increasingly possible to source items such as fresh chillies, parsnips or rhubarb. The English shops on the island also do their bit, and home cooks and bakers are among their best customers. The range of British baking products is far more extensive than the selection you´ll find in local supermarkets, and the famous British fondness for exotic and tantalising spices and spice mixtures is well catered for. Good home cooks will require a good kitchen, as well as decent equipment, and there are a number of specialists on the island with years of experience who can install your perfect cook-zone, while you equip it with all mod cons.And if you´re short of ideas or tips, you can even hire a trained, professional chef to prepare a meal in your own home, taking you through every ingredient and every procedure as he does so. You´ll not only learn new ideas, but you´ll experience the perfect meal at the same time.

Island Specialities While you can cook anything on Lanzarote, there are a few styles of cookery that really lend themselves to the local surroundings, and they are also at the very forefront of recent cookery trends. Here are just a few ideas.

 FISH.......................................... This is an island where you can really get into fish. Local shops stock huge amounts of it, and it is almost always fresh and delicious. Lanzarote´s airy, outdoor lifestyle also means that fish cookery is a far more attractive proposition – you can cook and fry to your heart´s content, and let lingering odours simply blow away in the breeze. Why not try your hand at a few Japanese style sashimi starters, for example? Or you could take a closer look at Spanish seafood dishes such as octopus, tuna stew or freshly grilled sardines.

 BARBECUE............................... Outdoor cooking is nothing new, but new technology and new ingredients mean that it´s a style you can really make the most of. Instead of breaking out the bangers for the umpteenth time, explore local Spanish cuts of meat and experiment with grilling vegetables such as peppers and aubergines. Use some the excellent local olive oil, and load up on plump, fresh garlic, good wine and fresh herbs for the perfect marinade.

 STOVE TOP COOKING............ Baking and roasting is fine, but can be a little hot and labour intensive for Lanzarote life. All the more reason to fully develop your stove top cooking skills. From steaming to flash-frying, charring over naked flames or quickly reducing tasty stocks, there are scores of skills to be perfected on your hob, and they will provide you with a fast, delicious meal.

 FORAGING......................................................... Open your eyes to the wild food that surrounds us. From samphire to wild fennel, handpicked limpets to sea urchins, Lanzarote offers more wild ingredients than you might suspect. With time and determination you may locate blackberries, free growing wild figs and even the strange papas locas – a nutty truffle-like fungus that is popular in the winter months.

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Reservations: 928 349 679 The Gazette | March 2014 | 51

Mediterranean Fusion It is hardly surprising that so many unique and delicious cuisines have grown up around the Mediterranean Sea – it is, after all, the home of the Phoenicians, the ancient Greeks, the Romans and many other civilizations where cooking was raised to an art. But nowadays, Mediterranean cuisine is blending with ideas and ingredients from far, far away.

he Mediterranean basin

is home to some of the most famous cuisines in the world. From the magnificent riches of Lebanese cooking to the paellas of Valencia; from the multifaceted aspects of Italian food to the luxurious royal cookery of Turkey, and from the warm, peasant foods of the south of France to the ancient recipes of Egypt, this is a part of the world that, in terms of food and cookery, is a world in itself. By its shores entire civilizations have grown, flourished and fallen, and countless millions of ships have plied their way across the fertile waters of the virtually landlocked sea, carrying conquerors, traders and refugees, all of whom have taken their traditions with them. There is a tendency nowadays to think that Mediterranean food is somehow typically native to the countries that produce it, but nothing could be further from the truth. For centuries, ingredients and ideas have arrived in the Mediterranean from the Far East and the unexplored west, leaving an indelible mark on the cookery of these countries. Think, for example. of Italian food without tomatoes ( arrivals from south America) or pasta (an idea originally from China); the rice dishes of eastern Spain rely on a cereal that was introduced from the far East and the spicy, fragrant recipes of the Middle East rely greatly on historical links with ancient spice routes. Mediterranean food has always adapted, always opened up to new ideas and continues to do so.

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Puerto del Carmen – Av. de las Playas, 41 – (near Casino and Café La Ola) 52 | March 2014 | The Gazette

If there is one thing that links all Mediterranean cuisines it is, perhaps, olive oil. This golden liquid has been produced for millennia and still provides the basic cooking medium all around the Med. It is used for frying, for dressing, for preserving, for adding flavour and can be found in a million recipes. Fresh fruit and vegetables are another link that unite this warm, fertile area, while chicken and fish have always been more accessible and widespread than meat. Cheese, herbs and, to a lesser extent, yoghurt, are also ingredients that span the Med.

New Fusions The recent popyularity of fusion cuisine was spurred by the dishes prepared in multicultural areas such as Australia and California, with Asian ingredients and techniques being the first to be incorporated into local cooking. But once the fusion bug had started to spread, it wasn’t long before cooks realized that the riches

and lore of the Med were ripe for new interpretations. Ingredients such as Italian balsamic vinegar, Spanish chorizo and Moroccan preserved lemons quickly found their way into the fusion style, and soon the only limit to experimentation became the cook’s imagination. In fact the only thing limiting total fusion seems to be the attitudes of those who still stick by classic interpretations of all regional cuisnes. Chinese cookery, for example, uses barely any dairy products, but there’s no reason why cheese, yoghurt or sour cream can’t add tang and flavour to a stir fry. Similarly, the traditional Japanese and Spanish values of unadorned natural flavours may produce delicious meals, but they are no barrier to anyone who wants to experiment with more exotic and varied spice mixtures such as those that dominate Indian or Middle Eastern cuisine

In Every Kitchen In fact the word ‘fusion’ itself is a little misleading,

as it is currently associated mainly with highprofile trailblazing restaurants. Nevertheless, the adaptation of Mediterranean ingredients into local cooking traditions is something that is happening all over the world, at almost every level. Take. For example, British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, who has made his name and his fortune by cleverly fusing traditional British cooking with mainly Italian influences. Other cooks such as Nigel Slater haven’t let their love of comfort food stop them including tasty foreign ingredients such as chickpeas, salt cod and lemon into the sort of food that will always go down well on a chilly day in the UK. In pubs throughout Britain you’ll now see chefs blending Mediterranean style with local grub in a way that is seized upon enthusiastically by local diners. And as transport links improve, and chefs continue to explore and experiment, we are sure to see many more. We may now feel we are all experts on Italian food, but what do we really know of the treasures of the Lebanese meze or the magnificent fresh foods of North Africa? One thing is for sure, we’ll probably soon find out…

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The Gazette | March 2014 | 53

Fabulous

Chefs today are ﬁnding increasingly inspiring thing to do with ﬁsh and seafood, it continues to feature on restaurant menus as one of the most popular foods of the 21st century.

Fish

ish is favoured for being wholesome, versatile, fashionable and fabulously tasty. Even confirmed meat eaters are turning to fish in a regular basis. Rick Stein started it in the late 1990s, one of the most famous fish empires that serves everything from adventurous monkfish curries to plain old fish, chips and mushy peas. He very cleverly marketed to everyone, those with more extravagant and expensive tastes, as well as those who would never dine in at his restaurants but were happy to stop by for fish and chips at the takeaway stand.

 All

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And then there is the grand appeal of sushi. Fifteen years ago, we were a little wary of eating fish that hadn't seen a naked flame. But fast forward to now, and we are all hooked on the little slivers of salmon and tuna sashimi. We can confidently order in Japanese restaurants without stumbling all over the things that we don't understand. Because, it's easy to understand the wide appeal of fish. It's fresh and fast, and nutritionally speaking, second to none. Lower in both fat and cholesterol than meat, it's high protein content means you can still make a meal out of even the less expensive options. But whilst years ago it would come simply battered or grilled, today it's served in a much fresher and more modern way. The flavour of fish today has a modern, European influence.

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Eastern inspiration



Think of seared loin of fresh tuna, served on a bed of noodles, and doused in a citrus lime dressing. It will be pink in the middle, giving it the most exceptional flavour and texture, influenced by the mediterranean, perfect eating for a hot summer's day when you don't want anything that is tooheavy. Indeed lime and chilli a perfect partners to fish, they retain the freshness but give it an extra kick to help it a long the way. They are the perfect example of the flavour chefs like to infuse into fish today. Fish and pasta are a natural and winning combination. The options for eating these foods together are endless, seafood in particular works wonders with long thin linguine, the traditional shaped pasta that is served with the old Italian favourite, pasta de la mer, (of the sea), where clams are cooked in a garlicky, tomato based sauce. The strips of pasta are the ideal texture to accompany that of the clams. And what about prawns or lobster with spaghetti? Where the lobster is lightly cooked with chilli and lemon, garlic and fresh herbs that are to hand, and melds with spaghetti. It's delicious outdoor food. The taste of summertime by the sea.

A passion for purity

And for the purists, nothing can beat a whole white fish that is freshly caught and has been brushed with a little lemon juice and the finest olive oil, grilled, then served simply with some local Canarian potatoes and a fresh, green salad. Whilst a hearty fish soup starts many a meal here on the canaries. Chefs take inspiration from the home cooking of the island, and turn it into something really spectacular, that is a wonderful way to start your meal. With fish, today, you see, it's a case of old meets new. They have been catching and cooking fish on this island for generations, yet they are enjoying the inspiration that is coming from Europe right now. Modern ways with very traditional ingredients. Inventive ways of eating fish and seafood. Fish is a great option when eating out because you get a lot for your money. You can dine out on the finest catch for a lot less than you would for a fillet steak. Yet you are still getting the best of the best. What more encouragement do you need to get out there and taste some of the best cooking with fish, that the island has ever seen?

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The Gazette | March 2014 | 55

á Fhéile Pádraig, La Fiesta de San Patricio or St Patrick’s Day – call it what you like, but all around the world, and not least here on Lanzarote, 17th March will see celebrations of all things Irish.

No other national patron Saint´ s day seems to have entered the popular imagination quite so much as that of St Patrick, and the reason for this is surely down to the fact that you´ ll find the Irish in every corner of the world, and that Ireland´ s reputation for hospitality, celebration and simple good times is world-famous. Lanzarote is not only an island where Catholicism is the main religion, but also one where the Irish have been enjoying holidays and settling down for decades. They are an important sector of the foreign community and an ever-visible element of the island´ s leisure opportunities and, as a result, St Patrick´ s Day is welcomed by everyone on the island. So whether you´ re Irish or not, you´ re sure to find a parlour that will welcome you as you raise a glass to the old snake banisher on the 17th. Slainte!

Serving Traditional Irish Stew on St Patricks Day C.C. Jameos Playa, local 47 • Puerto del Carmen • Lanzarote • Tel: 690 196 653 The Gazette | March 2014 | 57

It´s no surprise that St Patricks Day will be celebrated on Lanzarote. Like Ireland, Lanzarote is a mainly catholic island situated in the Atlantic Ocean, and the Irish have been coming here for centuries. In fact, when you consider the number of Irish residents and tourists who you´ll find here at any time of year, it would be more surprising if it wasn´t celebrated. March 17th is celebrated worldwide, and here are just a few of the biggest, and strangest parades.

Japan Three years ago, Tokyo´s main St Patrick´s Parade was cancelled as March 17th fell just a few days after the earthquake and tsunami that devastated much of Japan´s coastline. But they´ve been back with renewed vigour in the last two years, and Irish ex-pats and plenty of Japanese fans of Irish culture will be out in force to celebrate this year.

Montserrat This British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean is the only other place apart from Ireland to celebrate St Patrick´s Day as a national holiday, and the reasons for this are sobering yet fascinating. Montserrat was discovered by Spain but came under English control in 1632 after anti-Catholic violence on the neighbouring island

LIVE MUSIC SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

of Nevis forced a group of Irish slaves to settle on Montserrat. English slave owners soon began to bring African slave labour to the island, but many Irish slaves were also taken there, especially after Cromwell´s purges in Ireland. However, this strong Irish heritage isn´t the main reason why March 17th is celebrated there. In 1768 the African and Irish slaves rebelled against their owners on that very date. The revolt was unsuccessful, but has become a national symbol of freedom ever since. Montserrat has suffered terribly over the last 30 years, first being devastated by Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and then seeing the southern part of the island wiped out by the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano in 1995. Over half the population left the island after these events. However, many remain, and on March 17th Montserrat will host one of the liveliest St Patricks Day celebrations in the world.

Authentic Irish Bar in the heart of the Old Town of Puerto del Carmen

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Sunday, Tuesday & Friday Andy, Nuala & Billy C/Roque Nublo 21 – Old Town Puerto del Carmen • Tel.: 928 513 009 • Find us in Mulligans Oldtown Lanzarote 58 | March 2014 | The Gazette

Dubai You wouldn’t think that a “dry” Middle Eastern country would be the best place to mark a day that is well known for its heroic levels of alcohol consumption, and it´s true that parades in Dubai will be limited to the expat compounds that exist . But the Irish ex-pat community hold a popular annual ball there, as well as many other Irish-themed events. Dubai also sends candidates to the annual Rose of Tralee festival and is the base of the Middle Eastern Hurling Club.

Spain Lanzarote isn´t the only Spanish tourist area to celebrate St Patrick. The largest parade in Spain takes place every year at Cabo Roig on the Costa Blanca, where the seafront “strip” turns into a sea of green every March 17th. Irish traditional dancers swop fancy footwork with flamenco dancers, the Guinness and sangria flows freely and, as on Lanzarote, the event receives the support of the local Town Hall.

USA Only two counties in the US celebrate St Patricks Day as a public holiday – Chatham County in Georgia and Suffolk County in Massachusetts, both of which have substantial historic Irish communities. However, descendants of Irish immigrants celebrate the day with parades from the east coast to the west coast. The strong protestant tradition of the early American pioneers meant that St Patricks Day was never a particularly important religious festival, and over the centuries it has become far more of a celebration of national heritage. However, strong Catholic communities in towns such as Boston, New York and Philadelphia mean that current parades are often blessed by local Bishops. American Paddy´s Day celebrations have become renowned for stunts such as dying the Chicago River green for the day, repainting street markings green and the easy availability of rather unappetizing looking pints of green-tinted beer. In many cities, the emergency services such as the police and fire brigade are a major part of the celebrations, as Irish immigrants often formed an important part of these services as they

were founded. Another unique aspect of American parades is the presence of Scottish bagpipe bands. The largest parade in the USA, and the world, takes place in New York City, when 150,000 people parade watched by an average of two million spectators. This year, St Patrick’s Day falls just a week and a half after the carnival celebrations, both in New Orleans and here on Lanzarote, making this March by far the biggest month for party lovers.

The Gazette | March 2014 | 59

FOOD

Grilling and barbecuing is the simplest, most effective ways of cooking, and can also be one of the healthiest. And on Lanzarote, perfectly grilled food is something you can enjoy anytime, anywhere.

Grill t one point in the long and distant past, a human being fearfully took a burning branch from a fire caused by a lightning strike or a volcanic lava flow, and managed to create and nurture a domestic fire that would give warmth and scare off predators. Shortly after that, that human, or one of his tribe, probably invented cookery – applying meat and vegetables to flame to create

It!

flavour, digestibility, texture and tenderness. And hundreds of thousands of years later, we still use exactly the same method. That is reflected in the almost primal joy we take in grilled and barbecued food. It´s no surprise that a barbecue is a time for celebration and partying – humans have celebrated successful hunts in similar ways for millennia. Nowadays, of course, modern technology means we can cook preprepared meat, fish and vegetables to absolute perfection. And here on Lanzarote, we can also

E uce en e E R & a wh zett

F Dill rd Sase e Ga taurchg Th s u P M ithtionin tM

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enjoy one of the most perfect climates in the world to do it. At weekends you´re never far from the smell of sizzling meat, whether it’s a private barbecue, a restaurant doing a weekend special or one of the local fiestas. Lanzarote is not only the perfect place to grill food, but its wide cultural make-up means that different types of grilled meats are available everywhere. The Spanish have long

enjoyed meats cooked on a parrilla (grill), and incomers from countries such as Argentina, where barbecuing has become an art form, have also brought their influence. Try an Argentinian grill accompanied by spicy chimichurri sauce for an experience you won´t forget. You can enjoy a barbecue in your own home, or you can go out and find one of the local restaurants that either specialize in perfectly grilled meats or do a special weekend grill. And don´t forget fish – local catches such as sardines and tuna steaks are often best enjoyed fresh from a smoking grill. The overall experience is one that is hardwired into the human brain – the smell, first of tantalizing woodsmoke, then of slowly cooking meat, fish or vegetables, sets our taste buds tingling; the sight of the browned and often blackened meal is deeply appetizing, and finally there is that first delicious mouthful. Welcome to civilization, humans!

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{ NIGHTLIFE}

et us Lanzarote is an island where art is visible everywhere, thanks to the legacy of César Manrique. It´s a place where music can be found at hundreds of bars, dozens of fiestas and, of course, this month´s vivid, thunderous carnival processions. It is a sporting Mecca, a paradise island where thousands of athletes arrive every year to compete on land and on sea. And it´s an island where food, wine, and good living are just outside your front door every day of the year. There´s always something happening on this island, and over the next few pages, we´ll tell you where, when and how. Let us entertain you!

{ CONTENTS } 66 68 70 72

Let The Wine Flow Art & Culture Lounging Around What’s on

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UPSIDE

DOWN

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orld TURNED THE

CARNIVAL

This year all of Lanzarote´s carnival parades take place in March, with the party starting in Arrecife on 3rd and carrying on every following weekend until the 29th. If you´re a newcomer to carnival, here’s what to look for, a full guide to parades and some useful tips. arnival is an ancient tradition that started in Venice before travelling all over the Mediterranean and further afield. Strongly linked with the Christian period of Lent, in many places it actually draws inspiration from earlier pagan traditions. One of those traditions is that carnival is a time when the normal state of things is reversed. Costumes and masks allow a King to become a pauper and a beggar to become a King just for a day. The disguises also allow participants to poke savage fun at their rulers and their politicians. That´s why it helps to have an idea of local current affairs before visiting a parade. You´ll often see satirical and humorous costumes and floats on the streets. For example, last year Arrecife saw walking oil rigs as a protest against oil drilling plans of the Spanish government. There are also groups that take place every year. Perhaps the most famous are the Diabletes of Teguise, shambling figures who wander around in Manrique-designed pyjamas and bells, carrying fearsome hand-made bull masks that they use to terrify children in the crowd. The Buches from Arrecife, recognizable by their fishing boat float, are another veteran group who like to hit people on the head with inflated fish bladders – don´t worry, this is supposed to bring good luck. The noise of carnival is provided by batacudas – Brazilian-style drumming groups who raise a thunderous racket and are often accompanied by troupes of scantily clad dancers. You´ll also see comparsas, more traditional dancing groups, as well

64 | March 2014 | The Gazette

as murgas – singing and kazoo-blowing groups who have composed and rehearsed songs that are frequently very rude about politicians. Keep an close eye out for the carnival Queen, often wearing an amazingly impractical bird-ofparadise outfit, and more recent children´s Queens and flamboyant drag queens.

Carnival Diary

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TIPS  Plan your trip to carnival well. Parking will be impossible near the routes, so prepare for a walk or take the bus.

3rd March

The island´s capital starts the carnival celebrations, as always, with what is the largest parade on the island; a seemingly neverending cavalcade of inventive floats, thunderous drumming groups, swaying dancers and crazy costumes. Floats gather at the football ground to set off for a short but slow parade to the Cabildo building. The theme for this year is The Olympic Games.

4th March

San Bartolomé Grand Parade, 5-6pm

 Wear a costume! At carnival, those who don´t dress up are the ones who stand out. And remember that March evenings can still be a bit nippy before you don that Tarzan loincloth or Little Mermaid bikini.

8th March

Puerto Del Carmen Grand Parade, 5 pm Perhaps the most popular parade among expats and tourists, the floats travel from Barcarola Apartments to Fariones, along the Avenida De Las Playas. This year´s theme is Africa.

8th March

The Costa Teguise parade begins at Sands Beach Resort and makes its way uphill to the Pueblo Marinero. This year´s theme is Mount Olympus of the Greek Gods.

Carnival parade in Tinajo, 5-6pm The same day will see a much smaller, traditional parade in Tinajo

22nd March

Carnival Parade in Haria With no larger parades this weekend, why not take trip up north to enjoy Haria´s smaller, cosier celebrations?

29th March

San Bartolomé´s parade assembles at the Secondary School and makes its way to the Parque Felix Rodriguéz De La Fuente.

5th March

 Agree on a meeting point with your friends and family in case you get separated. Or take a mobile.

to Reducto Beach), escorting a gigantic fish which is followed by wailing mourners. The sardine is then cremated on a huge bonfire.

Carnival Parade in Costa Teguise, 6 pm

Arrecife Grand Parade, 6pm

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 Make sure your money and valuables are safe – although crimes such as pickpocketing are virtually unknown, and the main risk arises from losing stuff in the packed crowds, it pays to be on the safe side.

Apologies for the mistakes in last´s months list. Lacking information from the Ayuntamientos we assumed it would be the same order as previous years. These are the confirmed dates of all Lanzarote´s 2014 carnival parades.

Carnival parade in Playa Blanca Playa Blanca´s parade starts at Playa Flamingo and moves to the Plaza Nuestra Señora de Carmen, and this years theme is The Caribbean. Meanwhile, up north in Haria, townsfolk will also party the night away.

Arrecife: Burial of the Sardine

Carnival in La Graciosa

San This surreal event marks the end of Arrecife´s carnival. A smaller parade travels along the seafront (from the Fishing School

Lanzarote´s last carnival parade is also its smallest, with the tiny port of Caleta Del Sebo throwing a party thast usually makes up for its smallness with sheer enthusiasm.

TIMETABLE: ÓRZOLA - GRACIOSA

08:30 16:00

10:00 17:00

11:00 18:00

GRACIOSA - ÓRZOLA

12:00 13:30 19:00* 20:00*

08:00 15:00

08:40 16:00

10:00 17:00

11:00 12:30 18:00* 19:00*

*Summer WINTER - From 1st November to 30th June

SUMMER - From 1st July to 31st October

Celebrate Carnival in La Graciosa!

The Gazette | March 2014 | 65

{ NIGHTLIFE }

Let the

Winef low!

Lanzarote´s wines are the fuel of the island´s lively social life, and there´s no better time to discover them than this month, when carnival celebrations are in full swing and last years vintages are now fully available. anzarote´s wines have been associated with good living and carousing for centuries, and their fame is so ancient and wideranging that they were celebrated by Shakespeare and other British writers in the days when sweet, fortified wines known as Canary, Malmsey and Sack were regularly shipped to England from the islands. Today´s wines are very different from those old-fashioned wines, although you can still find bodegas such as El Grifo making a modern-day version of these foundations of the island´s economy. Lanzarote is now most famed for young, light dry white wines, although it is rapidly making a name for itself with sparkling Cava-style vintages and some very interesting recent red wines. The principal grape used is the malvasia, and on Lanzarote the vine stocks are ancient, unaffected by the Phylloxera aphid which caused the Great French Wine Blight of the mid-19th century and saw most continental vine stocks grafted with American vines. The traditional method of wine-making, in which camels bring grapes from the fields to be stamped by foot in a large stone vat, can still be seen at the August 15th festival at

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Bodega La Geria, but has long been replaced by more modern, industrial methods. However, the method of growing the grapes has remained largely unchanged ever since the island´s vine growers developed an innovative way of cultivating grapes after the volcanic eruptions of the early 18th century. Wine is a way of life on Lanzarote, and many farmers and islanders make their own wine which can be found on sale at various local markets. Meanwhile, commercial Bodegas have moved with the

“Centuries of Tradition.”

}

times and successfully promoted Lanzarote wines abroad, leading to rave reviews in the New York Times and a number of international prizes. The main bodegas behind this move have been Reymar, Bermejos, Stratvs, El Grifo, Martiñon and La Florida, all of which produce excellent, award winning wines that cannot be found cheaper anywhere else in the world. Try a Malvasia Seco (dry white) from the excellent vintage of 2012, experiment with a Tinto (red) made from Listán negro and Syrah grapes, or celebrate with a sparkling Brut-style white or rosé wine. But more importantly, make sure you do so with an event worth celebrating!

2013 National Competition “Baco” Gold Medal for Malvasia-Moscatel Semiseco Los Perdomos 2012 Alhóndiga Award 2013 Bronze Medal for Malvasia-Moscatel Semiseco Los Perdomos Agrocanarias Gold Medal for Moscatel Dulce Los Perdomos Alhóndiga Award 2013 Bronze Medal for Malvasia Seco Los Perdomos

2011 Agrocanarias Silver Medal for Malvasia Semiseco

2010 Plaza Virgen de Dolores, nº 19 • Mancha Blanca, Tinajo, Lanzarote 35560 • Tel./Fax: 928 840 737 • Mobile: 649 993 096

Agrocanarias Gold Medal for Reymar Moscatel Dulce … and much more prizes The Gazette | March 2014 | 67

rt &

Culture Subresiduos

Off Island

Throughout March

If you’re thinking of taking a spring br eak to one of the other Canary Islands, you could do a lot worse than the south of Gran Canaria, where a new venue will be hosting some fascinating events. The ExpoMeloneras Auditorium in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana is an exciting new venue sponsor ed by the Lopesan Hotel group. In March it offers two unmissable concerts which ar e well worth consideration. First, on the 8th to the 1oth, the unique itralian artist Ennio Marchetto will visit the island with his gigantic suitcase full of paper disguises. A gifted and hilarious mime, Marchetto simply dons extravagant paper costumes to immediately assume hundreds of differenty personalities, including a vast number of celebrities. And on 22nd March, the auditorium will host an unforgettable Irish music exoerience to celebrate St Patrick´s Day. Anúna are an Irish choral group who combine classical techniques with Irish traditional music to create a wonderful spiritual soundscape. The independent has said "Anúna provide the sort of thrilling, lifeaffirming music that makes you think Ir eland, indeed the world, is not such a bad place after all."

Anúna 68 | March 2014 | The Gazette

Ink and guitars 21st March, Arrecife If you associate Canarian music with timples, traditional costumes and fiestas, then you’re only getting part of the story. What many residents don´t know is that the islands have a vibrant and lively punk and r ock scene dating back to the 1980s. The years after the end of the Franco dictatorship saw a surge of Spanish cr eativity, with the rise of punk in the UK and Eur ope leading to movidas (scenes) in a number of Spanish cities. The Canaries joined in, with the scenes on the islands mainly focusing around the universities in Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Early bands such as Escorbutos Cronicas and Familia Real were soon joined by others as the 80s developed. As in the UK, the music scene was accompanied by wave of fanzines, photocopied and sold for a few pesetas at r ecord shops throughout the islands. These vivid publicatiuons often featured. On 21st March, the punk and fanzine scene on the Canaries will be celebrated at the Charco de San Gines in Arr ecife. At 7.30 pm there´ll be an exhibition of Canarian fanzines at Arrecife´s City Archive (on the seafront) as well as a discussion and book launch featuring Canarian music experts. This event will be followed by one of the incr easingly popular rock nights at the Cahrco de San Ginés, with Lanzarote band Emisora Clandestina, Las Palmas r ockers Subresiduos and Eldorado.

Pedro Guerra

28th March

With his curly hair, prominent teeth and glasses, Pedro Guerra doesn´t really look like a music star, but the Tenerife singer/songwriter has forged a 20 year car eer in Spain, becoming probably the most well-respected artist from the islands along with Lanzar ote´s Rosana. The son of two prominent Tenerife politicians. Pedro became known locally in Tenerife, with his group Taller Canario de Cancion (Canarian Song W orkshop) before flying to Madrid at the age of 27 to go solo with just his guitar and a suitcase full of songs. Soon, rumours of a talented young Canarian playing in bars and small clubs began to cir culate in the capital. Spanish superstar Ana Belén r ecorded one of the young singers songs, and was followed by other artists including the legendary Joaquin Sabina, until Pedr o finally released his first solo album Golosinas in 1995. Twelve albums later, Pedro Guerra is one of the most r espected songwriters in Spain. Deeply committed to the cantautor style, in which poetic and socially awar e lyrics are matched with beautiful tunes. Pedro Guerra comes to Lanzarote on March 28th to perform in the old town of Teguise. The concert is listed as taking place at the Casa Museo Del T imple, but anyone planning to go should confirm with the Teguise Tourist Office beforehand.

Fight Night! 15th March - 7.30pm Titos Karaoke Bar, Pto. Del Carmen Jon O´Brien isn´t nicknamed “The Thunderbolt” for nothing. The Dublin cruiserweight trained alongside Prince Naseem at Brendan Ingle´s gym in Shef field and later did a stint in New Y ork at the even mor e legendary Brendan Gleason´s gym. After a professional career that saw 12 wins and only one loss, Jon moved into training, setting up the Thunderbolt gym in Dublin and later coming to Lanzarote, where his boot camps have pr oved highly popular.

Currently. The latest boot camp is coming to an end, and the event will be celebrated with a boxing night at T ito´s in Puerto Del Carmen. There´ll be 8 to 10 bouts, featuring lads and lasses from the bootcamp as well as invited fighters from local Lanzarote gyms. Money raised will go to the PerpertuArte cancer charity, a cause that is close to Jon´s heart, having lost his own father to cancer. Tickets are €20 and will include food, music, special prices at the bar and, of course, a terrific night of boxing. For more information contact thunderbolt1obrien@yahoo.ie

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{ NIGHTLIFE }

around

The clubbing revolution that started in the The starlit nights, clear full moons, warm evenings 80s and took over the world in the 90s and beautiful sea views, of course, gave Ibiza an changed the face of nightlife. All of a sudden advantage that Manchester or Brighton were never it was all about dancing all night long to going to match, and its fair to say that the chill-out thumping music, waving your hands in the concept still works best in warm climates. air and staggering home exhausted in the In Spain, of course, it´s almost a necessity. small hours. Nightlife here starts around midnight and can go But even in the early days it became clear on until sunrise the next day. This means that you that many people preferred a more relaxed have to pace yourself, allowing plenty of time to pace, and relax between dancing. the move And there are no warmer NIGHTLIFE HAS NEVER back to a climates in Europe than the BEEN ALL ABOUT DANCING more laidCanary Islands. Even Ibiza UNTIL YOU CAN HARDLY back vibe shuts down for the winter, started in STAND. AND ON LAID-BACK Spain. It was but here, a hundred miles LANZAROTE, A MORE on Ibiza that off the coast of Africa, we RELAXED EVENING OUT HAS smart live on a sub-tropical island ALWAYS BEEN IN DEMAND. entrepreneurs that enjoys year-round spotted that the warmth and sunshine. all-night frenzy that most clubs offered led to a Lanzarote’s distance also means it has never had demand for a calmer, more spiritual atmosphere, the party reputation of Ibiza or Ayia Napa – there are and the chill-out concept was born. few raucous hen or stag parties here, and the tourist In the UK, it was generally limited to chill-out profile has always been a little more mature – the rooms where ravers could flop down and get their type of people who come here do so to enjoy breath back while listening to some ambient themselves at their own pace. music, but on Ibiza entire establishments Which is why chilling out is so easy on Lanzarote. appeared, offering comfortable spaces to relax, You´ll find places to dance yourself to death if that´s cocktails and a much more organic, soothing style what you want, but you´ll also find plenty where you of music which soon started popping up in can sit back, relax and enjoy great music without restaurants and cafes all over the world. necessarily having to scream to be heard over it.

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YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT´S ON AROUND THE ISLAND

MARCH - APRIL 2014

MUSIC

JAMEOS NIGHTS

Every Tuesday & Saturday, 9pm Dinner and live music. Jameos del Agua

GOPAR LIVE BAND Every Thursday Arrecife, Gran Hotel - Doblón Bar

SKATOONS 14th March Playa Blanca, Harp Bar (C.C. Papagayos) 15th March Puerto del Carmen, Brendon Behan

MIGUEL AFONSO (Acordeon) 21st March - 9pm Miguel Afonso, from Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, is a maestro of the accordion an instrument that has its special place in Canarian folk music. Teguise, Museo del Timple. Entry 5 €

PEDRO GUERRA (TBC)

28th March - 9pm One the Canary islands’ most popular Singer/ songwriters, who has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the country´s music business. Teguise, Museo del Timple. Entry 5 €

SPORTS

THEATRE

MUSIC MARATHON

RAFAEL ÁLVAREZ EL BRUJO CÓMICO

1st March Puerto del Carmen, Avenida de las Playas

FIGHT NIGHT 15th March - 7.30pm Charity boxing event Tito´s Karaoke Bar, Puerto del Carmen. Entrance €20

TRI 122 TRIATHLON 22nd March Costa Teguise

OTHERS CARNAVAL TAPAS DAY 1st March - 12 am Tapas for 1 €. Arrecife, Parque Ramírez Cerdá

CAR BOOT SALE in aid of SARA Animal Centre 8th March - 9.30 - 1pm Tahiche Garden Centre. Call 646838749 for info.

CONCERT 21st March - 9:30 pm with Emisora Clandestina (Lanzarote), Subresiduos (Gran Canaria) and Eldorado (Madrid). Arrecife, Charco de San Ginés

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA BÉRGAMO 29th March - 9pm Teguise, Convento de Santo Domingo 72 | March 2014 | The Gazette

ST. PATRICKS DAY FESTIVAL 15th & 17th March Parade and live music, Puerto del Carmen

(LITERATURE AND ROCK DAYS) 21st March 5pm: Exhibition of Canarian Fanzines 7:30 pm: Book presentation and debate with different musicians and authors (Archivo Municipal). Arrecife, Charco de San Ginés

Comedy (Spanish language) 21st March - 9pm Arrecife, Teatro Insular. Entry: 15 €

OPERA FOR CHILDREN:

Los Tres Cerditos (The Three Little Pigs) 15th March - 11am The perennial favourite fairy tale The Three Little Pigs is presented in Spanish language, but don´t let that put you off what should be some great fun. Music by W.A. Mozart. Arrecife, Teatro Insular. Entry 6 €

}

EVERY ........ TUESDAY ........

MOVIES

31st March - 8th April Film festival with 95 short films. The Lanzarote film festival will be showing over 90 short fils as part of this year´s festival. Screenings will take place at the Teatro InsularArrecife, Teatro Insular. Entry 1 €

EXHIBITIONS DIETER NOSS AND FRIENDS Until 15th March Yaiza, Casa de la Cultura Benito Peréz Armas

TRAZADOS DEL DISEÑO Until 28th March Lanzarote-Berlín-Chicago by German designer Wolfgang Deisig. Arrecife, La Casa de Los Arroyo

LANZAROTE AND IT´S PASSAGE TO MODERNITY Until 4th April Arrecife, Sala de Exposiciones Charco San Gines

LEANDRO PERDOMO Until 20th April A legendary ﬁgure on Lanzarote, Leandro Perdomo was a writer and journalist who founded the Spanish emigrant paper Volcan in Belgium before returning to his native island in 1968. Taro de Tahiche, Fundación César Manrique

Susi & Gopar, Playa Blanca, Cuatro Lunas

{REGULAR EVENTS}

XIV FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE CINE DE LANZAROTE

10-2pm: Art and Souvenir Market, Puerto Calero

Every second Tuesday of month, 11am: Cancer Support Group, Marilyn´s Bar, Playa Honda.

..... EVERY FRIDAY ..... 10-2pm: Art and Souvenir Market, Puerto Calero 10-2pm: Social Fridays / Expat Community. Sun Park Living 5-10pm: Market, Costa Teguise, Pueblo Marinero 9pm: Cuban Music, Teguise, El Patio Creperie 10pm: Jam Sessions, Teguise, Bar La Galeria

EVERY ..... WEDNESDAY ..... 9-2pm: Market, Playa Blanca, Marina Rubicón 6-10pm: Craft and Souvenir Market, Costa Teguise, Pueblo Marinero 5pm - 7pm: Sun Rockers Tea Party, Sun Park Living, Playa Blanca

New! Summer concerts: Live Concerts with different groups (call 928-826789 to confirm) Costa Teguise, Terraza Zen (Campo de Golf)

... EVERY SATURDAY ... 9-2pm: Market, Playa Blanca, Marina Rubicón 9-2pm: Market, Arrecife, Plaza Iglesia de San Ginés 9-2.30pm: Market, Haría, Plaza 10-2pm: Traditional Market, Uga

EVERY ...... THURSDAY ....... 10pm: Mauricio & Angy, Playa Blanca, Cuatro Lunas Cinema In Original Version Don´t forget: Every Thursday the cinemas in Deiland (Playa Honda) and Atlantida (Arrecife) show ﬁlms in their original language, with Spanish subtitles, giving you the chance to see US and British ﬁlms often before they arrive in the UK.

10-2pm: Market at La Recova, Tias, Plaza Anfiteatro El Pavón 10pm: Cuban Music, Playa Blanca, Cuatro Lunas

.... EVERY SUNDAY .... 9-2pm: Market, Teguise 9-2pm: Farmer’s Market, Mancha Blanca 10-2pm: Original PALS Car Boot Sale, Lanzarote A Caballo. Call 928830298 for info. 10-2pm: Market, Uga

The Old Town Harbour, Puerto Del Carmen - Call us or text "wave" to +34 672 969 852 - Oﬃce +34 928 849 409 The Gazette | March 2014 | 73

Lanzarote

LANZAROTE Map Pages

LA GRACIOSA ÓRZOLA MIRADOR DEL RIO MALPAIS DE LA CORONA

GUINATE

CUEVA DE LOS VERDES

MÁGUEZ

FA M

AR A

HARÍA

LA SANTA

CALETA CABALLO

CALETA DE FAMARA SOO

LA ISLETA

EL CORTIJO MIRADOR TABAYESCO DE HARIA

PLAYA DE SAN JUAN LA SANTA SPORT

AY PL

TAJASTE CASAS DE GUIGUAN

SAN BARTOLOMÉ MASDACHE GUIME GOLF

FUNDACIÓN CESAR MANRIQUE

GOLF

COSTA DE TEGUISE LASPLAYA CUCHARAS PLAYA BASTIAN

CASTILLO DE SAN JOSE MUELLE DE LOS MARMOLES

PLAYA HONDA

CASTILLO DE SAN GABRIEL

N Á LC O V EL

Art Trail

AIRPORT PLAYA DE MATAGORDA

PUERTO DEL MATAGORDA CARMEN PLAYA DE LOS POCILLOS PUERTO CALERO PLAYA BLANCA FEMÉS PLAYA QUEMADA

PAPAGAYO

PUNTA DEL PAPAGAYO

NAZARET TAHICHE

Cycling

PLAYA BLANCA

TESEGUITE

MONUMENTO AL CAMPESINO

CONIL

LAS BREÑAS

EL MOJON

CASTILLO DE GUANAPY

MOZAGA

LA GERIA TÍAS LOS HERVIDEROS UGA SALINAS DE JANUBIO YAIZA MACHER PLAYA DE JANUBIO

TEGUISE

Art Trail

MONTAÑAS DEL FUEGO

EL GOLFO

TINGUATÓN Art Trail

PARQUE NACIONAL DE TIMANFAYA

GUATIZA

Art Trail

MANCHA BLANCA

PLAYA DE LA GARITA

JARDIN DE CACTUS

MUÑIQUE

TIAGUA LA VEGUETA TAO

ARRIETA

MALA

LOS VALLES

EL CUCHILLO

TINAJO

JAMEOS DEL AGUA PUNTA MUJERES

Police

Golf Course

Marina

Harbour

Taxi Rank

Ferry

Windsurfing

Petrol Station

Church

Chemist

Post Office

The Gazette | March 2014 | 75

Business - Tías

NEW SERVICES: COLOUR COPIES, SCANNER AND FAX SERVICE

Furniture • Sofas • Decoration Mattresses • Kitchens • Appliances

ALSO FROM YOUR MEMORY STICK!!!

• Everything for your home with the best prices at top quality • Free delivery

2 C/ Libertad nº 19 - Local 2 35572 Tías Tlf./Fax: 928 83 36 28

C/ Libertad nº 17 - Local Tías Tlf./Fax: 928 8834 041 Fax: 928 834 025 info@galeriaslaura.com 2 www.galeriaslaura.com

CALLE HINOJO

• Everything you need for school • Visit us and find out our great prices • Tabacco - Newsagent - and Much more

Los Lirios

Conil

AV. CENTRAL Av Central

RAL

EN AV. C

CA LL

.C AV

ERES

CALLE S AN

CALLE LA LUCHADA

LZ2

PED RO

LZ2

GALD OS

Macher/Yaiza

P CA

ARDO

AT O

AD A

O DR PE

Footb Cou

ENAD

OR LE

N SA CALLE

O FAJ

AS AIB S TAB CALLE LA

TRAL AV. C EN

CALLE DRAGO

TÍAS

ANDR

Qualified mechanics at your service in Tías. Open from 8am till 1pm and from 4pm till 7pm

CHEAPEST UK TOILETRIES & GROCERIES ON THE ISLAND Have you checked out our fantastic range of UK products? Groceries, household, toiletries, stationery and pet products all at amazing prices. Check out our website for prices & availability.

Simple. Just bring us your car, and we´ll take care of the lot. All you have to do is come and fetch your car with it´s brand new ITV !

Soft & Gentle, Lynx, Sure, Supersoft, Nivea, Dove, Simple etc. Sharwoods, Pataks, Dolmio, Colmans, Heinz & many more.

CAN´T GET TO TIAS, ASK ABOUT OUR DELIVERY SERVICE.

12 C/Reyes Católicos, Tias. 928 524 744

email: alittlebitbazar@gmail.com • www.alittlebitbazar.net

76 | March 2014 | The Gazette

ITV (MOT test) due?

Now stocking Lay-Z inflatable Spas

We carry out all mechanical services including:

• Pre - ITV • Air conditioning refills • Diagnosis • Car wash • Fast service

Find us in Tias opposite the Ally shop. C/ Matorral Nº 5. Mobile: 659 88 54 51

Quality Materials & Guaranteed Workmanship Open: Mon-Fri 08.30am-1.30pm, 5-8pm & Sat 9am-1pm

Personalised Gifts for

Contact us for many more Mother´s Day ideas C/Islote de • Visit us and discover our Aladdin's cave with quality household, garden items, Hilario, 6 basketry, jewellery, fireworks…at prices you can afford. Tias. (Opposite 3 Hiperdino supermarket) We are open Monday to Friday from 9,30hrs till 13,00hrs and Tel./Fax: 928-524317 from 17,00hrs till 20,00hrs Sa turday from 10,00hrs till 13,30hrs.

MULTI REPAIR & ENGRAVING CENTRE

ria

NTR

RA AT v

FL EM S E ME

PA BL O

las nB Sa lle Ca SA N E LL CA

LA UE INZ QU

EL P AVO N

O AL

LLE

A REZ F O NT ES

CALLE PIO XII

JAS

OS OLIC CAT

CAL LE

ES EY ER LL

LIBE

Arrecife

CAMINO VALICHUELO

CAL LE

O CT OR

III

CAL LE TA

E AT

L O RE N Z

F AV A

CALLE

LE D

LE AL C

CA L

P IO XII

B LI

CALLE SAN BLAS

D TA ER

E RTA D

CAMINO BERN

Football Court

Ayuntamiento Tias

tra

ANTONIO CALLE SAN

POST OFFICE

AN TA

Av Central

IGUALID

POLICE

L AL

n LCe

.C AV

CHEMIST

4 L UG AR L

W PO

CHEMIST

CALLE

Tias Primary School

D AL W

NIDAD CALLE FRATER

CALLE LIBERTAD

CALLE AU

LAGA

LE P AJA CAL

Hiperdino Supermarket

E CALL

CALLE VICTOR FERN ANDE Z GOP AR

AV. C E

CALLE CA

LUGAR TINGUATON

RDO

geppettolanzarote@gmail.com geppettolanzarote

BROWN DELI & POPEYE'S BAR

PICK UP POINTS:

Ferrete CA LLE M

Calle Libertad 19, Tías

Tel: 928 834 428 / 676 670 786 0 Watch Repairs 0 Key Cutting 0 Personalised Gifts www.geppettolanzarote.com 0 Boot and Shoe Repairs 0 Laser Engraving and Cutting

YOUR DECORATION & GIFT SHOP IN TÍAS

CALLE SEVERO OCHOA

Tías - Business

Tias

Arrecife

Monday - Friday 10:00 - 20:00 Saturday 10:00 - 16:00 Tel : 928 833 299

Monday - Friday 10:00 - 20:00 Saturday 10:00 - 16:00 Tel : 928 816 940

Email: info@gangasoutlet.com

Web: www.gangasoutlet.com

Please message us on Facebook and give us suggestions of products you would like to see in our stores.

The Gazette | March 2014 | 77

Business - Puerto del Carmen

+ Mother´s day

cards available +Helium balloons • Credit Cards Accepted

BOTH ENDS OF PUERTO DEL CARMEN

BOOKSWOPS

Hotel San Antonio end, C.C Costa Luz - A6 Tel: 928 513 563

• 1000´s of Books, New & Second Hand • Up to 50% trade-in on our returns • Greeting Cards, Party Goods • Stationery, Kids Books • Fax & Photocopying Service +Boarding cards BS II.

Mon - Fri 9.30 - 17.00 & Sat 9.30 - 13.30

Closed Sundays

S GO

N LO

ACIÓ GRUP

RLOS 1

CALLE TOGIO

JUAN CA

ES FFON

LA QUINZE

CALLE GUANAPAY

ARGENTINA

CINCO PLAZAS

ELO

OBIO

CALLE GU AR DI

APARTMENTS DEROS PLAZA AZUL CHUPA

ANZU

ACA TIFE

EROS

BUFAD

MEXICO

ISAS

VIA MARE

Hotel Los Fariones

LAS PLA YAS

MALAGUENAS

YA LA

CEN

TIMANFAYA

Ñ TA

STA

EL E

UE D

Hotel Fariones Playa

C.C.TABAIBA

POTERA

COSTA RICA

COLUMBIA

TANAUSU

ROQ

AVENIDA

FAYNA

FOLIAS

CHEMIST

POLCA

C.C GUANAPAY

BERNEGAL

DORAMAS

Hotel La Perla

E SA GUAYARMINA

TIMPLE

GUATIFAY

PRIN C

SORONDONGO

CIOS A

VENECIA

CALLE PRINCESA ICO

CALLE TINGUATÓN

GRA

AMAS

ZONZ

APARTMENTS LAS ACACIAS AJEY

TENECHEID

CESAR MANRIQUE

CESTO

GARAJONAY

RQUE

APARTMENTS HG LOMO BLANCO

ARFIA

LAS MAJADAS

POST OFFICE

E BA

POLICE

A M LA

GUAD

LUZ Y MAR

BENIDORM

CALLE ALCORCE

ESA TEGUISE

CALLE PRINC

CALL

BAN

APARTMENTS TISALAYA

ISE

TEGU

A TEGUISE

ES CALLE PRINC

9 LOS SA

CESA

RIN LLE P

C.C. LA CURVA

DENOS

ELO

ERA

QUES

Avda de las Playas 19 Puerto del Carmen. Tel. 928 51 40 27

ANZU

A GRUP

CALLE SÁLAMO

INOS

MPES

S CA

LO CIÓN

RUTA 66 Great atmosphere, good music and the latest videoclips. Only a few meters from the beach. The best fun to be had - day and night in Puerto del Carmen

Mon - Fri 9.30 - 18.00 & Sat 9.30 - 14.00

FEROS E LOS RO

SALIN

Fariones Hotel end, corner of C/Timanfaya 1st floor Tel: 928 514 931

LANZA PLAYA

NIC

3 ENA DORADA C.C.AR

AG UA

C.C.ATLANTICO

PLAYA G RANDE

APTS. LA GERIA

Have your car looked after by

FULLY QUALIFIED and EXPERIENCED MECHANICS with over 75 years combined knowledge and experience in all aspects of vehicles. Affordable prices to keep your car on the road

ITV SERVICE - (INCLUDING Test Fee and IGIC)

• €89.88 - Petrol • €99.98 - Diesel • Pre-Check • Check all Electrics • Steering and Suspension

Open Mon-Fri 8.30 to 3pm Burki´s / El Toro Roundabout • Brakes and Brake Balance • Handbrake • Tyres • Exhaust System Calle Reina Sofia 70 • Emission Check • Check all Levels • Check Battery Secured Puerto Del Carmen • Check all Seatbelts • There is NO re-test fee in the unlikely Email: carmenautos@hotmail.com event that your vehicle does not pass.

78 | March 2014 | The Gazette

FREE PICK UP & DELIVERY TO ALL RESORTS 0 Curtains 0 Carpets 0 Sofa Covers 0 Blankets 0 1 day Turnaround 0 Duvets - Vac Packed & fresh for next season 0 Take all your holiday clothes home clean. 3€ per kilo - Washed - Dried - Folded 0 Contract work for villas and apartments

9 Calle Los Sabandeños, 47 - Puerto Del Carmen Tel: 928 512 440 smartpm@hotmail.co.uk

Puerto del Carmen - Business THE ZAFFRAN GROUP OF INDIAN RESTAURANTS Authentic

Indian Cuisine I Indian Z Zaffran ff T Ta Tandoori specialties Indian ndian dian A Aroma rom Over 200 dishes ro We cook to Bollywood Children Menus your taste,

• • • • • •

mild or hot Gluten-free dishes also available

Indian Zaffran Pto. del Carmen – C/Juan Carlos I, 25 – C.C. Olivin – Tel. 928 512 747. Near the Biosfera Commercial Center

The British Surgery of Lanzarote offers a 24 hour medical service. If you need to see a doctor , you can come to any of our surgeries in Puerto del Carmen or simply call our FREEPHONE 900 811 555 number and ask for a home visit.

6 Bollywood Pto. Del Carmen – Avenida de las Playas 67 – Tel. 928 511 532 Near Café del Carmen

Indian Aroma Pto. Del Carmen – Avenida de las Playas 14 – C.C. Las Tabaibas – Tel. 928 528 405 Near Tito’s Bar

General Practitioner 24 hr Ambulance E.C.G Pediatrician Orthopedic Surgeon Laboratory Avda. de Las Playas 67, Bungalow 1 (opp. S. Antonio Hotel) Pto. Del Carmen Tel: 928 5142 74

C./Plutón 6, Matagorda (opp. Jameos Playa), Tel: 9285 1 68 10 SU

LANZAROTE VILLAGE

NO A

IRLAN

MON

ACO

PORTUGAL

COSTA LUZ BEACH APARTMENTS

E ELD GU

Hotel Los Costas

A RB

L AV. ITA

C.C.LA PENITA

U KF

CAPELANIA

BU RG O

SA NA

PEDRO

NA CHALA

CHEMIST

HORR

CHINC

IST IDA EM

ANCLA

HOL

S YA LA

.F AV

AND

ROCIE

GRE

ARPON

O S

N PALA

LGIC

E BE

FOND

AND

TIMON

ROS

MIRA

FINL

REMO

CALL

POTERA

Hotel San Antonio

N VE

ino Cas

PUERTO DEL CARMEN

E AV

Chevere Gift Items & High Fashion Jewellery Canalejas, 4 - Arrecife - Telephone : 928 80 88 44

Avenida de las Playas, 111. C.C. Maritimo - Unit 3-4. Puerto del Carmen

The Gazette | March 2014 | 79

Business - Puerto Calero

Enjoy our new menu

Bookings: Maxi Vidal - 928 513 181 Groups: Mariluz Pérez Fajardo - 928 513 243

AMURA

La PAPPARDELLA

Welcoming and friendly restaurant serving authentic Italian cuisine. Only a few meters fr om the sea. Tel: 928 51 29 11

Co Hot sta el Ca lero

Enjoy the gastronomic experience we can offer you. It’s unique, it’s special. amura@puertocalero.com New and ample dining rooms where you can celebrate with your family, friends www.restauranteamura.com or business colleagues. Magnificent views to the Puerto Caler o Superyacht area from our splendid terrace. Now try our Chef ’s menu, a delicious off-menu Tel: 928 513 181 2 creation that we change every week, for only €32. Open Everyday Fax. 928 511 462

Caleta del

Sebo

Hotel Hesperia Lanzarote

KIN

R PA

7 NG

PPI

SHO

G RKIN

A ARE

Amura 2

MOBILE BEAUTICIAN

Maxine Kemble

MOBILE BEAUTICIAN

l Manicures & Pedicures l Nail Extensions l Facials Call for Weekly Offers l Exfoliating Treatments l Massage l Make-up l Waxing l Eyebrow and Eyelash Tint l Party lashes Email: maxine_kemble@hotmail.com

Tel: 674 661 857

80 | March 2014 | The Gazette

NOS MOVEMOS POR TÍ - WE ARE THERE FOR YOU

902 300 400 Open Monday to Friday 08.00-20.00. Saturday 09.00-13.00. Email: 04902@grupomrw.com www.mrw.es

Fenauso 3 35500 Arrecife Tel: 928 806 480 Fax: 928 806 480

Puerto Calero - Business

BEST ATMOSPHERE

Marina Puerto Calero Buda Tlf. 928 849 631 Puerto Calero - Lanzarote

Right on the Harbour

Discover the treasure in Puerto calero

ELISAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S OFFER 50% OFF

We have many items on 2 x 1 promotion

Marina Puerto Calero, Antiguo varadero 3 Tel: (34) 928 51 62 73. email: solyarte@telefonica.net

PA RK I

PA R

LANZAROTE'S UNIQUE ALADDIN'S CAVE

Puerto del Carmen

PARKING

OLD VARADERO 6 CHEMIST

MARKET

PARKING

PUERTO CALERO

The Gazette | March 2014 | 81

Business - Playa Blanca The Euro Coin Operated Electronic Meter

24 h phone: 649 973 366 Take control of your bills today

We are friendly, knowledgeable and approachable making any visit to the practice comfortable and ef ficient. We offer a comprehensive range of services and medical facilities. All our team members ar e very experienced and highly qualified in their respective fields.

Tel: (0034) 928 519 719 (0034) 679 607 534 Email: info@lanzarote-playablanca.com

G LA LE CAL

AF AV

LZ-2

CALLE DEL ENZO

CALLE DEL CABOSO

CALLE DE LA TEGALA CALLE DEL

EL AV D

CA LL TER MIN D ITO E L A

YO AGA PAP

URA FUERTEVENT

D AV

CALL E

CALLE DEL CERCADO

Tel: 928 512 611

Hotel Lanzarote Princess

CALLE DE LA

DER

OME

EL C

LE D

ERO

CAL

RAD

L VA

E AV D

CALLE DE LA BRECA

Fem

CALLE DE LA CORVINA

CALLE DEL PUESTITO

CALLE DEL CALAMAR

Av A

ERA OM

Yaiza Timanfaya

CALLE DE LA BRIOTA

Pechiguera Lighthouse

2 Puerto del Carmen Playa Blanca Costa Teguise

DE LA LAPA

PROPERTY SOLUTIONS 0 The remaining credit is updated and displayed. 0 Save electricity and be eco-friendly. 0 You can recover the investment of the unit within 2 months. 0 With a unique serial number and a 2 year guarantee.

R OR

BUS STATION E

L DE

G AL

M LI

RIL

CALLE DE PO

CALLE DE PORIL

5 ES

LIM

PLAYA BLANCA Unbeatable prices For professional Styling & Treatments PLAYA BLANCA - CALLE LIMONES 125 TEL. 928 594 463 Other Elite shops in Lanzarote C/ Avda. del mar, C/C Playa Bastian. 26A Local 3 (Costa Teguise) 928 82 68 00

82 | March 2014 | The Gazette

Perez Galdos, 91 (Hiperdino Valterra) 928 80 47 12

Colour €10 Cut €10 Pedicure €10 Manicure €10

tupeluqueria10@hotmail.com C/ Mayor, 20, Local 7 (Playa Honda) 928 82 34 23

C/ Góngora, 37 (Arrecife) 928 80 49 06

Playa Blanca - Business

Mother´s day

Insurance Car Insurance Home Insurance

3 C. la Corvina Rd. opp. Church Tel/Fax: 928 349 420

Mon - Fri 9.30 - 19.00 - Sat 9.30 - 14.00 Closed Sunday

www.libertyinsurancespain.com

T. 0034 928 944 789 E. libertyseguros@spectra247.com Office. Calle Correillo 87, Playa Blanca. CALL

Pechiguera Lighthouse

EXCLUSIVE AGENT: SPECTRA 247 S.L.

MA AJA

LE B

YA BO CALL E

BOYA

ACIO

TA S A RI RG

ARIAS

RAN

LE CAL

ERIF

EN LE T

CAL

CALL

ARIA

CAN

A PAP

N AS CA

LE G

E D

Calle lS LA PALMA aP

alm

AG AP LP DE

AV DEL PAPAGAYO

O AY

Princesa Yaiza AV DEL

Z CALLE VELAZQUE

CALLE VELAZQ

IOT MAC

PAP AG AYO

UEZ

CALLE D EL TER MI

AL AM AR IN

TILLADERA

CALLE DEL ZURRÓN

CA MI NO

GAY

EL AD

T NI

AV DEL PAP A L PORIL CALLE DE

CA LLE D

ADER

L VAR

E AV D

CALLE CABOSO

Fe M

Hotel Princesa Yaiza

CALLE DEL ENZO

V A

Hotel Iberostar

CAL

Hotel Natura Palace

YO GA

EL AV. D

DIVE COLLEGE

te s

CAL

E CALL

CALLE BO YA

AV. DE

CAL

Boat Insurance Pet Insurance Golf Insurance

BOOKSWOP • 1000´s of Books, New & Second Hand • Up to 50% trade-in on our returns • Greeting Cards, Party Goods • Stationery, Kids Books • Fax & Photocopying Service.

Life Insurance Business Insurance Community Insurance

RIA

cards available +Helium balloons

LAS CAN A

MARINA RUBICON A CAMINO A L A MA R IN A

• A bespoke, complete villa • A.T.I certified management pool and spa package, tailored technician. to your needs. Websites : www.playablancavillamanagement.com • www.playablancapoolservices.com Email : info@playablancavillamanagement.com • info@playablancapoolservices.com Telephone : Oﬃce : +34 928 387 854 (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm) Mobile : +34 697 330 412

Playa Blanca Villa Management & Pool services” This is our FaceBook page. Many thanks and feel free to “like” us!

The Gazette | March 2014 | 83

Business - Costa Teguise

FROM

41.000€ *

* * Picture of a refurbished apartment. Refurbishment not included in the price.

Address:

• 1 Bedroom Apartments • 49 m2

C/ Adefas s/n 35508 Costa Teguise Telephone: +0034 928 59 2006 E-mail: info@teguisol.com

LA DE LLE

AVENID

5 Hotel Coronas Playa

6 CA

LA MARETA

ID EN

ALET AS

ABLIL LO

Hotel Teguise Playa

TAB

LCA

AS C

MAR

LOS

A DEL

LAS

LLE

REAL

DE L

OLDEN

APTS G

CALLE

Hotel Oasis

DEL

ANIOS

IDA

Hotel Blue Bay

S GER

Apts. Los Molinos

AVE N

GOLF CLUB

LLE

LAS S HIG DE LA

DE LO

GOLF

LES

ERA

YUCAS

PAL M

HOS

Hotel Barcelo

LAS

HELEC

UERIL

A DEL

IDA

S VERO

AVE N

AVENID

DE LO

ISL A

PUNTA JABLILLO

LETA

PLAYA BASTIAN

C/ GO

COSTA TEGUISE

LOS AMIGOS 0 Breakfast 0 Coffee and Cakes 0 Teas and Infusions 0 Full Tapas Menu 0 Ice Cold Beers 0 Sea View Terrace 0 Daily Specials Board 0 Free Wi-Fi

84 | March 2014 | The Gazette

Open from 10am Sundays Closed Apartments Playa Bastian, Costa Teguise Tel: 928 592 522

P JAB

Costa Teguise - Business

inter - denominational

Sunday Worship 11am 11am at at the the Barceló Barceló Lanzarote Lanzarote Resort Resort -- Costa Costa Teguise Teguise www.sundayworshiplanzarote.com www.sundayworshiplanzarote.com

Hotel Barceló Avda de Mar ( for more information Tel: 928 833 382)

CALLE

LOS D

LLE

S AD

S IA

C/ LA

A EL

R NA CA

LO EB

ARK RP

IAS

O ER

POLICE

IN LO

E AV

RAGATA

GATAR

ABLIL

TAB AIB AS

S ELFA

MAR

A DE J

LAS

C/ LA F

C/ BER

AVENID

A DEL

C.C.CALIPSO

POST OFFICE

Hotel Los Zocos

N RI MA

CHEMIST

C.C. TANDARENA

Hotel Beatriz

RV I

RAGO

AVENID

A DE J

Hotel Puerto Tahiche

Sands Beach Resort

WINDSURFING

Hotel Teguise Playa

ABLIL

CHEMIST

Hotel PLAYA Melia Salinas DE LAS CUCHARAS

C/ MASTIL

AVENID

Oasis Lanz

PUNTA JABLILLO

ALM LAS P

FICUS

AVE

N GOLDE OS LOS PIN

S FIC

ERAS

E NIDA D

APT

Map: E6 Avda. Islas Canarias No 1 Tel: 928 59 04 16 Tel: 928 59 08 01 3 Fax: 928 59 08 66

A relaxing stay with the opportunity of sampling a little of the cultures of Lanzarote mixed with warm hospitality and friendliness. www.mansionnazaret.com. email: info@mansionnazaret.com LE

RUTA

CALLE

OTOS LOS CR

MANSION NAZARET

Come as you are, bring the kids. Wheel chair access (chairs from reception) and free shuttle bus at 10.45am, opposite Las Cucharas beach car park, close to Lanzarote Gardens (Map E7).

FU ER T

RELAXED & INFORMAL

LETA

C/ GO

(30th March)

Amazing views, excellent Italian food, top quality pizzas & pastas, superb wines. This is Mister Romeo! Find us in Facebook

Mister Romeo

Costa Teguise C.C. Maretas – Loc. 27 Tel. 928 346 313

1000’s of Greeting Cards SWEET New & memories! Secondhand Books MOTHER'S DAY CARDS NOW ON SALE

• Gifts and Gift Wrap • New & Secondhand Books • Newspapers & Magazines • DVDs • Cigarettes • Souvenirs • Stationery • Aloe Vera Products thebookshop@outlook.com (next to Hotel Coronas Play a) opening times: Mon-Fri 8.15am-5.00pm & Sat-Sun 8.15am-3.00pm.

DVDs 5 Avda. Del Mar Costa Teguise 626 409 365

The Gazette | March 2014 | 85

Ref. 340 - PLAYA BLANCA NEW Large detached property in Faro Park, comprising 2 bed 2 bath house and 1 bed 2 storey annexe. Large plot, roof terrace with sea views, private heated pool, many extras. PRICE: 389.000€

Ref. 244 - PLAYA BLANCA PRICED TO SELL 2 bed 2 bath house in quiet residential area. Walled garden, off street parking, private heated pool. PRICE: 148.500 €

Ref. 275 - PLAYA BLANCA REDUCED 2 bed bungalow in Casas del Sol. Healthy forward bookings, tourist licence, great investment opportunity. PRICE: 139.000€, reduced from 149.000€

Ref. 220 - PLAYA BLANCA BEACHFRONT 2 bed bungalow on Playa Flamingo, 2nd line and a 30 second walk to the beach. Sea views, great rental potential. PRICE: 220.000€

Ref. 114 - PLAYA BLANCA CENTRAL Located a 5 minute walk from the port, beach and town, this 1 bed bungalow is located in a popular urbanisation with large communal pool. PRICE: 129.500 €

Ref. 498 - PLAYA BLANCA SUPERB SEA VIEWS Well maintained 4 bed 3 bath villa with many extras. Saltwater heated private pool. PRICE: 269.000 €

Ref. 321 - PLAYA BLANCA REDUCED With sea views and only a 5 minute walk to the seafront, this 3 bed property offers many possibilities, with a large garage beneath. PRICE: 231.000€, reduced from 297.000€

Ref. 499 - PLAYA BLANCA MODERN AND SPACIOUS 4 bed villa with possibilities for 2 separate accommodations: 2 floors, 2 kitchens, 2 living areas. Private heated pool.

PRICE: 348.000 €

Ref. 510 - PLAYA BLANCA REDUCED A large 6 bed 5 bath property with sea views, two lounges, roof terrace and private heated pool. PRICE: 450.000€, reduced from 550.000€

Ref. 393 - PLAYA BLANCA MARINA RUBICON Detached 3 bed 2 bath villa within a short stroll to the Marina. Beautifully presented inside and out. PRICE: 380.000 €

Ref. 200 - PLAYA BLANCA REDUCED 2 bed property in quiet but central complex with communal pool. 5 minute walk to old harbour and to town.

REDUCED Detached 4 bed 3 bath property located close to Playa Blanca town centre. Modern interior, large plot

PRICE: 180.000€, reduced from 359.000€

PRICE: 290.000€, reduced from 350.000€

Ref 446 - PLAYA BLANCA

The

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my home March on Lanzarote If youÂ´ve watched the news recently you may

have noticed that the rest of Europe has been suffering from some serious weather. Britain appears to be half-flooded and battered by 100 mph winds, while the west coasts of France, Spain and Portugal have been hammered by massive waves and freak tides. Here on Lanzarote, most of us will have watched this from warm, dry, sheltered homes. Of course, this island can have rough weather at times, too, but as long as your home is well maintained you have little to worry about and can concentrate on decorating, furnishing and improving your safe haven in paradise.

contents

88 92 94 96 98 100 102 104 106 108 110 112

Property Shorts Make Some Room Property Buyers Guide Currency Changes My Home Interiors Be a Big Softie! Light it Right Soak it up Why Buy a Pool or Spa? Air Supply Living in the Sun Minimal Style

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PROPERTY SHORTS Spain: Third Most Visited

pain’s tourist boom means that it is now the third most visited country in the world, and probably the most popular tourist location on the planet when you take its size and location into account. Foreign tourist arrivals surged by 5.6 per cent in 2013 according to the Spanish national statistics group FRONTUR, adding almost 11 per cent to the country's total GDP and remaining a key driver of economic recovery. In fact, Spain officially exited the EU bailout scheme in early January, ending its dependency upon the Eurozone's financial assistance. Spain's improving conditions, both in terms of finance and tourism, mark a growing confidence in the country, particularly when it comes to overseas appeal. The only two countries in the world to receive more visitors in 2013 were France (83 million visitors) and the US (67 million). The recent strength of the pound against the Euro also means that British tourists can get “more bang for their buck”, and has also been a contributing factor to increased movement in the property sector. Commentators warn that Spain still has a long way to go before it exits the crisis, and worryingly, the tourist boom does not seem to have resulted in any significant employment. But the exit from the EU bailout is definitely good news, and 2014 is increasingly shaping up to be a promising year for the Spanish property market in desirable tourist locations.

Spain Sheds Unsold Stock

pain built a huge amount of

homes during the property boom, but when the market crashed, lack of demand from buyers left many projects standing vacant. Ghost developments continued to hold back the market's recovery in the following years, as agents battled to sell off enough of the excess to get the supply/demand cycle back on track. Now, however, the Ministry of Development conﬁrms that the country's supply of unsold housing fell by the largest amount yet in 2012. Stock fell 6.9 per cent year-on-year down to 583,453 properties. The decline followed a drop of 1.1 per cent in 2010 and a decrease of 2.5 per cent in 2011. Nevertheless, there is a long way to go. At 2009, the peak supply of empty homes stood at

88 | March 2014 | The Gazette

649,780. Since then, only 66,327 – just over 10 per cent – have been sold. The report also compared unsold old homes to unsold new homes, ﬁnding that 2.3 per cent of existing properties in Spain were awaiting a buyer in 2012.

The

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my home Established Since 1984

Black Economy Booms

hile much of the visible portion of Spain's economy remains

stagnant or in decline, a new report shows that the so-called “black” economy is booming and accounted for 24.6% of GDP in 2012, 6.8% higher than in 2008. A report by Spain's tax department (Hacienda) titled The Cost of the Submerged Economy: Increased Fraud During the Crisis claims that the black economy is now worth €253bn (£208bn) – €60bn more than in 2008. Meanwhile, ﬁgures released on Thursday show that Spain's GDP rose by 0.3% in the last quarter of 2013, up from 0.1% in the third quarter. This represents the biggest rise in Spanish GDP since the beginning of 2008. The Hacienda report says the submerged economy has grown fastest in those areas most affected by unemployment and the burst housing bubble, such as the Canaries, Andalusia, Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha. The housing boom "created a huge reserve of black money, especially in coastal areas", demonstrated by the "massive use" of €500 notes, which the report claims account for 70% of all the cash in circulation. Other important factors are the punitive social security regime imposed on self-employed workers and the lengthy and labyrinthine process of setting up a business, both of which discourage entrepreneurship and boost the cash-in-hand economy. The report also commented on the "serious moral problem when it comes to paying taxes", a situation that has put Spain's black economy high

C.C. Costa Luz, 37 Opposite San Antonio Hotel Puerto del Carmen - Lanzarote Islas Canarias 35510

WINTER OPENING TIMES : 10:00 – 19:00 HRS

609 14 61 33 - 928 51 02 31 www.kcpropertiesestateagent.com www.lanzaroteconnoisseurvillas.com

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ROPER, THE ONLY NAME IN PROPERTY ESTABLISHED SINCE 1984 we have the knowledge of what you need when purchasing a property

KEVIN ROPER,

above Germany (13.1%), France (10.8%) and the UK (10.1%), although the rate in Italy, Portugal and Greece is closer to Spain's. The authors of the Spanish report criticise the government for turning a blind eye to fraud. They also claim it is only thanks to the black economy, along with family support and charity, that there has not been widespread social unrest in Spain. Although unemployment stands at around 26%, it is an open secret that this ﬁgure disguises the large numbers working “black” . Nevertheless, in spite of the high levels of fraud, there is only one Spanish tax inspector for every 1,928 taxpayers, compared with 860 in France and 729 in Germany

Commuting From Spain?

ocketing rental prices in London and the south east now mean

that it is actually cheaper to live in Spain and commute to the British capital than it is to live in London. Sam Cookney, a London businessman,

recently blogged about the extreme disparity between the cost of living in Barcelona and London. He pointed out that the average rent for one-bed ﬂat in West Hampstead is £1505 (€1767). Add to that council tax (another €88) and the monthly travel card to get around the city (€137), and the total cost is €1979 per month without even thinking about eating. For Barcelona, in a similar “up market” residential district, a three-bedroom apartment should cost in average €680 a month, with no council tax involved. Monthly travel expenditure using budget airlines to London would be €912. Add this to rent, and the ﬁnal cost of living in Barcelona and working in London is €1,592, exactly €387 cheaper than actually living in London. The downside is, of course, travel time. However, increasing numbers of workers on mainland Spain and the Canaries are discovering that it is more practical to work from home in the sun and limit visits to London to those that are absolutely necessary.

known for his reputation and honest talking will provide you with all the help you need,

JUST ASK ANYBODY ON LANZAROTE. We provide all the services you should expect from organising bank accounts, N.I.E. numbers, contracts, changing of utilities, mortgages…

FULL AFTER SALES SERVICE

is our strongest point, our past and present clients know all about this.

MARCH 2014 PUERTO DEL CARMEN Ref No : 1579 Immaculate villa, built to the very highest standards. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, lounge, kitchen, very spacious terraces, bbq area and private heated swimming pool. Viewing strongly recommended. A top quality property. Reduced from 350.000€ to 295.000€

Priced to sell! GUIME Ref No : 1393 Spectacular views from this two ﬂoor villa + basement. 266 m2 built, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, salon, kitchen and garage. Own private swimming pool. This property would be ideal for a builder as a renovation project or for investors. In need of some T.L.C. Reduced from 300.000€ to 189.000€

The Gazette | March 2014 | 89

The main Association of RealEstate

Professionals in the Canary Islands

PUERTO DEL CARMEN

MATAGORDA

MACHER

TIAS

Detached 1 storey house with 3 bedrooms, terraces, garden and private parking.

Detached 2 ﬂoor villa in Matagorda with 4 bedrooms, terraces, garden and private parking. Sea views.

Building plot with stunning sea views. 2000 m2 to build a detached villa. Build your dream house!

Duplex with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, large living room and mountain views. In the center of Tias.

199.000€

265.000€

120.000€

90.000€

Johnny +34

606 659 362

Johnny +34

606 659 362

Ana +34

660 947 146

Johnny +34

606 659 362

PLAYA HONDA

EL CABLE BAJO

TAHICHE

Apartment of 75 m2 in perfect condition with 2 bedrooms on ground ﬂoor, with terrace. Only 200 m away from the beach. INCREDIBLE PRICE FOR QUICK SALE

Detached villa of 175 m2 in a 600 m2 plot, exclusive area, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 living rooms, separate kitchen, plus 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom as a studio apartment.

Stunning luxury villa of 400 m2 with 600m2 plot, outstanding design and made to measure with high quality materials, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and an additional bedroom and bathroom in basement.

Attractive villa near the César Manrique Foundation. Plot of 1.750 m2, gardens, large terrace and heated pool. Extremely quiet.

79.000€

490.000€

790.000€

390.000€

Michael +34

615 950 298

NAZARET

Detached villa of 128m2 with 400m2 plot, 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, separate kitchen with dining room and large living room. Gardens and parking area.

185.000€ Michael +34

615 950 298

Michael +34

615 950 298

Michael +34

615 950 298

TINGUATON-TINAJO

Ana +34

660 947 146

PUERTO CALERO

Wonderful 1 bedroom top ﬂoor apartment in a privileged location. Excellent sea views and to the port. Viewing recommended.

Detached 2 storey house with 5 bedrooms. Built 194m2 on a 307m2 plot. Bargain.

125.000€ Johnny +34

606 659 362

130.000€ Johnny +34

606 659 362

The main Association of RealEstate

Professionals in the Canary Islands

PLAYA BLANCA

Wonderful, totally refurbished 3 bedroomdetached villa, 120 m2 with 55 m2 of terraces, separate kitchen, large salón, 1 WC on ground floor, 1 bathroom on first floor, parking. Stunning sea views and to Papagayo Park. INCREDIBLE PRICE FOR QUICK SALE

Two bedroom-house with prívate pool and large plot. Quiet area.

139.000€ Ana +34

PLAYA BLANCA

139.000€ Michael +34

660 947 146

Wonderful detached villa with 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, terraces, garden and private pool. Excellent opportunity.

175.000€

615 950 298

Johnny +34

606 659 362

COSTA TEGUISE

First ﬂoor sunny apartment with stunning sea views, terrace and parking.

Duplex in quiet residential area. 2 bedrooms from 120.000 € 3 bedrooms from 150.000 €

Stunning Duplex with sea views, fully furnished, 90 m2 built area, plus 58m2 of gardens and terraces. 2 large bedrooms, main bathroom, toilet, separate kitchen, living/dining room.

Wonderful 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom dúplex in a quiet location.Terrace with mountain views. Private parking.

90.000€

120.000 /150.000€

132.000€

135.000€

Ana +34

660 947 146

COSTA TEGUISE

Ana +34

660 947 146

Michael +34

Detached villa, 250 m2 built area, in a luxury Complex, with private pool. 100% ﬁnance

Ana +34

660 947 146

270.000€ Ana +34

660 947 146

Johnny +34

606 659 362

SAN BARTOLOME

COSTA TEGUISE

Semi-detached large duplex. Big terrace with private pool. Viewing is recommended.

275.000€

615 950 298

Duplex facing South, 213 m2 built area, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, separate kitchen, large basement and terraces. Amazing sea views.

180.000€ Michael +34

615 950 298

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Make

Some Room! T

he most drastic way to create space is to knock a wall down.

This is worth considering if you want to create an open-plan, ranchstyle area for cooking, eating, family living, and informal entertainment. Opening the kitchen in this way allows the cook to join in conversations with family and guests and gives a wonderful sense of open space. However, don´t remove any walls before consulting a builder to determine whether the walls are load-bearing. Also, remember that it isn't always necessary to remove a wall completely to make a room more spacious. Removing even a small part of the wall can add visual space. On Lanzarote, it´s worth considering the fact that it is easy to extend the amount of space you have by creating a private outdoor living space adjacent to the indoor living area. A patio or balcony can provide a great zone for relaxing or entertaining.

Windows

Adding a window or sliding door is much less expensive than building a whole room and can make a small space appear larger. On the other hand, eliminating a small or awkward window in a room will increase wall space. Before you remove a window permanently, cover the opening to see if the reduction in light and ventilation is acceptable. If possible, add a skylight to a room or hallway to open up the ceiling, let in light, make the interior space more usable, and give the area a more spacious feeling.

Decorating For Space

Space is often at a premium in Lanzarote villas

To create a feeling of spaciousness and continuity, plan the decor for the entire home as a unit rather than treating each room separately. Carry wall and ﬂoor colours from room to room and change textures, rather than colours, to achieve variety. Blend simple window treatments with wall colours to make rooms seem larger. Pale walls that reﬂect light tend to make you feel less enclosed than dark walls that soak up light. Avoid dark panelling and furniture because they will make the room appear smaller.

and apartments. If your home is starting to feel too small for you, consider some tried-and-tested methods of creating more space, or at least giving you the illusion that you have more room.

Brent Hart, A.R.I.C.S Chartered Surveyor & Exclusive Property Sales With over 30 years experience we can ensure clients a reliable, dedicated and professional service from start to finish with financial control for your peace of mind.

TEL: (00 34) 636 708 136 92 | March 2014 | The Gazette

•

SERVICES For clients considering building works i.e. villas, alterations / extensions etc, we provide dedicated project management and surveying services using the most reputable and long established building contractors with over 25 years in Lanzarote: • • • •

Quotations for the Works and adjudication advice. Contractual agreement of Works including time scale/completion date. Cost control of Works and certiﬁcation for payments. Quality control – regular site visits/progress of Works.

Independent structural surveys of properties, including services (electrical and plumbing) prior to purchase. Sale of exclusive properties, and Design & Build opportunities for individual villas on prime building plots including Exclusive golf course positions.

EMAIL: brentlanzarote@yahoo.co.uk

We only work with the best Casas Yaiza

Passionate Professional In Property

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Blend indoors with outdoors to create more space

Furniture

Furniture takes up a large amount of space, so it is important to plan furniture arrangements carefully to make the best use of space. Use only as much furniture as is needed, leaving as much open space as possible. Limiting the amount of furniture also helps traffic flow from one room to another by keeping doors and passageways open. Go for smaller items with simple lines, and look at multipurpose pieces such as sofa beds or drop-leaf tables when selecting or replacing furniture. Avoid large dressers that require a lot of wall space and limit your options when arranging furniture. Several small stacking chests and cabinets are more flexible. Consider built-in items such as a television set, stereo system, bookshelves, and storage cabinets in a wall unit to help eliminate clutter, increase floor space, and add interest to your room The placement of furniture defines and separates areas for different activities such as eating, sleeping, and watching television. Cluster furniture to save space. Placing furniture with its lines parallel to the walls usually gives a feeling of greater unity than positioning pieces diagonally. Place large furniture against walls to leave as much space as possible in the center of the room Furniture can also be used to divide larger spaces into smaller areas for different

activities. Tall bookcases make good use of available wall space and can be used to store many items. They also add a feeling of height to a room. You can gain valuable space by modifying a guest room or extra bedroom to double as a study, television room, sewing room, or hobby room. A bedroom can be made available for other uses during the daytime if conventional beds are replaced by daybeds with bolsters. Using trundle or bunk beds will save on ﬂoor space. If a double bed is used, remove the headboard and footboard to increase the feeling of spaciousness.

Lights and Mirrors

You can expand space visually by the use of mirrors - for example, on the long wall of a narrow room to make it appear wider. If possible, hang mirrors so that they reﬂect the outdoors. Additional lighting can also make a room seem larger. Select light-colored shades for lamps. Small neon lights situated under cupboards will add life to a small kitchen. In general, eliminate unnecessary clutter. Beautiful objects need space around them to be fully enjoyed. Remember that you need "eye room" as well as elbow room.

We do all types of refurbishments and building work in general Exteriors, Stone Walls, Pools

We work with Brent Hart A.R.I.C.S

QUOTATION WITHOUT COMPROMISE

Constructors and founders of the company since1992 Tel : 928 518 076 Mobile : 680 296 559 casasyaiza@yahoo.es C/ Lituania No. 1 - Playa Blanca Zona Industrial Urb. Montaña Roja The Gazette | March 2014 | 93

The

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my home This article is intended as a general guide to buying real estate in The Canary Islands. It has been compiled from the knowledge and experience of a number of professionals involved in the selling, buying and conveyancing of property in Spain, but it should not be taken as a substitute for proper legal advice. It is intended only as an explanation of the system, customs and practice which you will come across, should you be interested in buying a home on the islands.

DECIDING THE LOCATION You need to decide whether your property is intended for holiday use, longer term visits, or whether you intend to live here year round. Y our choice of location should take your needs into account, such as schools, medical services and recreational outlets. CHOOSING THE PROPERTY You need to know a great deal more about your property than you would if you were just spending a couple of weeks there. If there is a community association, ask your neighbours if it is well run. Ask about the community fees - don’t forget that if you are in a Community you are legally obliged to pay them or you could lose the property. BUYING THE PROPERTY The first essential thing before you part with a penny is to make sure that the person selling you the property is entitled to do so. Any agent worth his salt will have carried out a basic search and will be able to show you that this is correct. Y our agent will be able to supply you with a list of suitable Lawyers to act on your behalf, the British Consulate in Las Palmas will provide a suitable list on request, if required. Your lawyer needs to check out your intended property thoroughly. The process is not dissimilar from the UK and a check of legal title will be made through a search in the local Land Registry Office which will also indicate if there are any mortgages or charges against the property. If you are buying a plot of land, the lawyer will also check if

How to buy your

dream home

you can obtain permission to build on the land and what size and type of property you can build; there are zoning controls on this island as well as anywhere else and an old document presented to you pertaining to be planning permission may well have changed in the interim period. Once you have been assured by your lawyer that all is in order, you will need to sign a Contract of Purchase raised by a lawyer, and pay a deposit which is usually 10% of the intended purchase price; this deposit is normally held by the lawyer who has been appointed to arrange the signing of the T itle Deed. The contract will state the terms and conditions of the sale and will state a specific time for completion of the transaction when you must produce the balance of the price. If for any reason you decide, up to this completion time that you cannot proceed with the purchase, you will forfeit the deposit paid, but if the seller changes his mind, he must return the deposit to you in full, plus a compensation payment for damages. Obviously if a lawyer is holding these funds, there’s no problem in the purchaser’s deposit being refunded. The next step is to complete the transaction by making the outstanding balance of payment and signing the title deed, which is known in Spain as the Escritura; this must be done in the Notary’s Office. The Notary’s task is to ensure that all of the legal documentation is correct, he will also carry out a search in the Land Registry Office on the day of signing to check the current status of the property or land, (and will require the last annual rates receipt from the council in which the property is situated), that this is up to date as well. It is essential to ensure that your lawyer has current receipts for all other payments such as water, electric and community charges, as debts such as these in Spain are levied against the property and not the owner. When in the Notary’s Office, you will be asked to produce your passport as evidence of identification. You will also be advised to obtain a NIF number, Numero Identificación Fiscal, which your lawyer can arrange for you.

928 072 149 SAN BARTOLOME info@geejayestates.com • www.geejayestates.com 160,000 euros Wonderful farm situated on the Famara - Soo road overlooking stunning views to Famara. 75,000 sqm with a farm storage unit/shell perfect for reforming into a stunning property. If you love the outdoors then this is for you.

Stunning apartment 2 bedrooms in Puerto del Carmen minutes from the beach new reduced price of 109,000 euros

A truly stunning Property in Islote close to San Bartolome 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms Wonderful Opportunity 335,000 euros

Soo: This stunning property is decorated beautifully throughout and has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, security gate and garages. Also small ranch for horses.

94 | March 2014 | The Gazette

MONEY WORRIES?

If you are a UK Ex Pat then call this number to find a solution 928 072 149 Office hours 09.30-17.00 after hours help-line 617 57 44 55

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my home PAYING THE PRICE If you are not a resident in Spain and are buying property or land it is advisable to bring your money from abroad to complete the purchase, it is simple to open a non-resident account in a local bank, and your estate agent will normally help you with this. You can then transfer your funds from your own bank in the UK, to this new account. On the signing of the new Title Deed your cheques for payment will be shown to the Notary and included as part of the documentation of the deed. They must be inscripted with details of the property of land to be purchased, or have an investment certificate from the issuing bank attached. The Notary will also require you to sign a Spanish ministry form, declaring that the investment has been made. It is also possible when purchasing from a non-Spanish resident, to pay the completion funds abroad in any currency. In this case, the deed will state an equivalent amount in Euros as this gives the value in which the transmission tax (stamp duty) is calculated. You will have to produce more than one cheque as you will be liable for capital gains tax. In this situation a sum of 3% calculated against the value declared in the title deed will need to be retained and paid to the Spanish Tax Authorities. The Estate Agents fees are normally paid by the vendor and the details of the specific percentage to be paid will normally be noted in the Purchase Contract. Beware, some unscrupulous illegal agents have been known to charge the purchaser as well as the vendor for their fees. You may well also find that the price of your title deed is not exactly the same as the cost of the purchase, as some sellers prefer to treat the furnishings and fittings, if they are included, as a separate item. REGISTERING THE PURCHASE Signing the escritura in the Notary office does not yet mean that you officially own the property . For the transaction to be complete you must register the deeds in the Registro de la Propiedad

(Property Registry). When the deeds are taken to the Registro, the purchase tax of 6.5% of the value of the property must be paid. Later the Registro will write to whoever presented the documents and ask for a second payment to cover their charges. In addition, a tax to the Local Authority , based on the increase of values of land in their area since the property last changed hands (known as ‘Plus Valia’) is payable. This is subject to negotiation between the vender and purchaser. Your Lawyer can get an estimate in advance of the purchase, so that you have the funds ready. At the same time, a form should be entered to the local authority, advising them of the change of ownership. You should remind whoever is doing your paperwork about this, as it is often forgotten. Residents must alo be tax registered in order to sell property and avoid retentions, even if they pay no tax. COSTS TO LOOK OUT FOR Other bills which will have to be paid include the Transmission Tax, the Plus Valia, the Notary’s bill, the fees from the Registro and the bill from your Lawyer , will probably come to about 10% of the purchase price. Your Lawyer will ask for these funds to be placed with him before the work is done, as too many times clients disappeared leaving these bills unpaid. Non-residents will be liable for property tax, while residents will pay the IBI assessed by the local council. However, it cannot be stressed enough, though, that you should deal in these matters with a professional person who is well established. THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Spain has firm laws on how a Community Association shall be run, and you can find useful advice in English on this subject at www.c-euro.org and www.spainlawyer.com.

Information about your Association has to be freely available to you, as do the accounts which have to be published to the members every year. Belonging to a Community Association brings many advantages to the owner who does not intend to live in the property year round, as you can be sure that someone will be keeping an eye on things when you are away. Should you be buying a property on an ‘Urbanisation’ you will find that there is a Community Association, of which you must become a member. Each property owner on the site owns a percentage of the communal areas, and is responsible for making a payment to the Association for their upkeep. You should check before you buy that your Community Association is functioning well, how much the monthly payment is, and whether the payments for your intended property are up to date. If these payments are not made the Association can eventually seize your property, so be careful. OUTSTANDING BILLS When you buy a property you become liable for any outstanding bills for water, electricity, local rates and community fees. Both the Electricity Board (UNELCO) and the Water Company (INALSA) have forms which you and the seller must sign, to transfer the bills into your name. When you go to do this you should check that all payments are up to date. Local rates are payable at the Town Hall. You or your representative needs to visit the ‘Oficina de Recaudacion ’ at the Town Hall to give them the form changing the rates into your name, and again, checking that all payments are up to date. As bills are not sent out for the rates, property owners often forget to pay them, and they can soon mount up.

www.lanzaroteinvestments.com email: listings@lanzaroteinvestments.com

Sell

your property

in 90 days

*Average period for sales of our listed properties.

Call our Playa Blanca or Puerto del Carmen ofﬁces now! Puerto del Carmen office: 928 51 62 38 43 Avenida de la Playas, Puerto del Carmen.

Open Mon-Fri 9am to 7pm & Sat 10am - 2pm

Playa Blanca office: 928 34 94 80 135, Calle Limones. Playa Blanca. The Gazette | March 2014 | 95

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CURR€NCY CHANGES

The Euro is currently weaker against the pound than it has been for years. Good news for British property buyers looking to get more bang for their buck on Lanzarote, as well as pensioners whose income relies on a strong pound.

he last ten years have seen huge fluctuations in the Euro/Poundf exchange rate, with the pound being at it´s strongest in September 2007, when it would buy you €1.50, and at its weakest at the end of 2008, when the currencies almost reached parity. A pound sterling has not bought you more than €1.30 since March 2008, but the current rate stands at around €1.20, and at the current time is showing a positive rising trend. A number of expert forecasts have confirmed that they believe the pound is set to continue rising in 2014. Then exchange rates reflect new-found British economic optimism and the continued struggle of Eurozone countries to get their houses in order. It should be stressed that a strong pound is not necessarily good news for all expats. For example, companies importing British goods to Lanzarote will find

96 | March 2014 | The Gazette

themselves getting a worse deal than they have in the past, and island residents who have no British source of income will suffer accordingly when they visit or carry out transactions in the UK. Nevertheless, a strong pound is generally regarded as positive as it puts more Euros in the pockets of British tourists, many of which will be spent on the island. Pensioners who rely on a UK pension will also have more spending power, and the rallying pound will be welcome news for many of them who have suffered genuine hardships over recent years. And, of course, a strong pound is also good news for the slowly recovering property sector. Buying a property in Spain or Lanzarote is still a dream for hundreds of thousands of Brits, and a strong pound means they are more likely to make that dream come true. One question that many ex-pats ask is how best to exchange their money, given the fact that banks and other entities offer widely varying commission rates. HSBC was recently criticized for charging up to €30 for a single transfer to Spain, and other High Street banks including Santander have also been blasted for rip off exchange rates. Fortunately, cheaper and just as secure alternatives are widely available, The simple answer is to shop around and if you really want to get the most bang for your buck, seek professional advice.

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98 | March 2014 | The Gazette

very human being has a deep-seated longing to come indoors, to relax in the shelter of their own space and to be themselves, either alone or with those they have chosen to share their lives with. And that doesn’t change just because you’re living in an outdoor paradise such as Lanzarote. Your home provides relief from the sun and breeze, and allows you to do exactly what you want to do in peace and privacy. Designing, decorating and furnishing your

home will be vital if you want to make your living space into a place where you can really be yourself and enjoy your Lanzarote life to the fullest extent, and luckily you’re on an island where there are almost limitless options to do so. Over the next few pages we’ll be focusing on indoors, and featuring some of the most reputable and exciting businesses specializing in interiors on the island. So come on in, and make yourself at home…

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Be a Big

Softie! S

A home should be a place that is relaxing, welcoming and something you can just sink into. There´s nothing wrong with being a big softie, so celebrate it!

ometimes it seems that interior design trends are invented to

stop us actually enjoying our homes. Clean, defined lines and sharp edges may be easy on the eye, but they´re rarely easy on the bottom, and in our urge for practicality, durability and modernity, it seems that we often forget the original purpose of a living place. When psychologists tried famous optical illusions on certain African tribes, they discovered that they didn´t work. Why? Because they were simply not used to clean, geometrical lines, and their homes were rounded, simple mud huts filled with equally organic and natural shapes. Straight lines and geometrical patterns can be found in nature, of course – an ocean horizon is the original straight edge, the moon a perfect circle, and crystals, seashells and leaves also exhibit geometry. But most humans have only spent the last thousand years surrounded by right angles, living in boxes and working on flat, even surfaces. That´s why, when we want to feel truly relaxed and comfortable, we seek rounded edges, irregular patterns and, above all, soft, luxurious surroundings. Softness is vital for our lives. We need it to sleep well – and recent studies have confirmed that, rather than the hard, unyielding mattresses that we were told for years were good for our backs, the best choice for health is a medium soft bed. Softness is also elemental for our family life, with our childhood memories almost certainly dominated by security blankets, the texture of deep carpets and furnishings

Furniture and nd Handicraf Handicrafts for your

Home

Arrecife – Calle Nestor de la Torre, 30 – near Eurospar Supermarket - Tel : 928 81 63 96 macassar30@gmail.com – Find us in Facebook Macassar Lanzarote 100 | March 2014 | The Gazette

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Break up straight lines and create comforting curves and, of course, the contours of our parents’ own bodies. So how to celebrate softness in your home?

Rooms On Lanzarote, your home will almost certainly consist of hard, straight angles. Fine from the outside, but not quite so welcoming inside. The ﬁrst challenge is to break up those straight lines. This can be done by decorating the walls with curved, wavy patterns; adding inviting, soft furnishings and making sure that the eye is led gently from one zone to the other. One of the easiest ways to add softness to a room is with drapes, throws or curtains. It is well worth investing some time and energy into planning this correctly.

Colour, Light and Texture Softness is in the eye as much as anywhere, and choosing the right shade for your interior will go a long way to adding that soft sensation. The rules are simple – avoid harsh, glaring colours such as brilliant white, canary yellow or swimming pool blue and go for gentler pastels or warm natural colours. The shade you choose will depend very much on your own taste – some love toasty, deep oranges and brickreds; others will favour cooler, yet calming blues and greens and then, of course, there are those who think pink.

Patterns are also important, with natural ﬂorals and wavy curves being far more welcoming than jarring stripes and blatant polka dots. Again avoid whites in patterns, and go for more subtle cream or ivory shades. Lighting is perhaps the one factor that can really transform your room into a beautifully welcoming refuge. The wrong lighting can turn a welcoming room into an operating theatre, while carefully planned underlighting, spots and diffusers can change an unwelcoming room into a tempting grotto of relaxation and calm. Texture is also important, and the fabrics you use should be as easy on the eye as they are on your skin. One keynote rug or wall hanging can change the entire tone of a room, and the ultimate aim is to have a room that caresses your eye whewrever your line of sight lands.

Furnishings Don´t forget that it´s possible to overdo softness - few of us want to live in a room full of beanbags, and over-plump sofas and beds can tend to look as slovenly as they are tempting. You´ll need structure, but with a rounded, curvy voluptuousness that is inviting. And even if your sofa or bed is a little geometric, it´s perfectly easy to soften those harsh lines with the use of cushions, pillows and other soft furnishings. This is an area where you can really let your imagination run free, choosing attractive items that will, somehow, work their way into your fondest memories.

The Gazette | March 2014 | 101

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he ﬁrst thing to do when planning lighting is assess what kind of lighting each room in the house requires. This will, of course, be very different in a kitchen than it will in a living room. There are two rules of thumb: You should have a mix of light sources at different levels to create a ﬂattering atmosphere, and you will need task lighting for whatever you do in that space (reading, cooking, getting dressed).

Living Room......................... Light three of the four corners, focusing one of those lights on an object ( a piece of art, a plant, a striking chair). Use a combination of table lamps and ﬂoor lamps, some with a downward glow and some that shine upward. Permit reading in as many seats as possible with down-glowing lights. If you have an overhead ﬁxture, be sure it can be dimmed. Dimmer switches allow huge versatility in interior lighting.

Dining Room........................

To draw people in, make the table the brightest spot in the room. Use a chandelier or a pendant style ﬁtting above the table, but limit the total wattage to 100. Elsewhere in the room, indirect lighting is relaxing and ﬂattering. Give the space a subtle glow with a pair of small table lamps on a sideboard or matching sconces on the wall above.

Kitchen..................................

Light

Focus on overhead lighting (on a dimmer that you can crank up when cooking), and add lower sources to illuminate work surfaces. Use pendants, under-cabinet lights, or a sturdy table lamp (kept well away from the sink). Task lighting is probably more important in the kitchen than anywhere else.

it right

The first electric light bulb on Lanzar ote arrived in 1912, and was powered by a ship´ s generator. Nowadays it is difficult to imagine a world without electric light, but despite the countless lighting alternatives available, many still make basic errors when lighting their homes.

Bedroom................................ Aim for a cosy, private atmosphere: Place reading lamps or sconces beside the bed—but not pointed directly at it. If you have recessed or track ﬁxtures, angle them away from the bed, toward the dressing area. On a low table, include a small, intimate lamp with a tinted low-wattage bulb to mimic candlelight.

Bathroom............................... The best choice for applying makeup is sidelights, such as a pair of sconces ﬂanking the mirror. An overhead light helps ﬁll in any shadows on your face and also fully illuminates the room (important when cleaning). In a large space, you might also want a light directly over the shower.

With 1200 colours to choose from, you ﬁnd the colour and we can mix it! * Ronseal wood products. * Weathershield Exterior Paint & Gloss * Undercoat & Gloss. * Satinwood & Eggshell

tel: 669 399 458 The Dulux shop @ the old English food market, San Bartolome Rd, Playa Honda. Shop hours Summer: Monday - Friday 9.00 - 12.30pm Winter: Monday - Friday 9.00 - 1.30 pm 102 | March 2014 | The Gazette

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Nothing heats us up faster than warm water, and on Lanzarote in March having your own heated warm water source is a real boon.

anzarote is famed for its year-round warm climate, but that climate also changes, and the ﬁrst three months of the year are the time when temperatures tend to be at their coolest and the cardigans, sweaters and jackets come out of the wardrobe. And if you´re a water baby, the bad news is that the sea around the island are colder than at any other time of the year. Add to that the fact that many pools in complexes and hotels are unheated, and you may conclude that the only way to warm yourself up is to run a hot bath. But think again – a hot tub provides a gorgeously tempting and relaxing facility where you can let warmth penetrate deep into your very bones without having to worry about banging your head on the taps! Hot tubs come in all different shapes and sizes, but the main attraction in most cases is that they provide really warm water at a relatively cheap price. It will cost

you an arm and a leg to heat a full swimming pool to the level where you´ll simply want to relax and soak, and pools are almost always aimed at an exercise-loving homeowner in any case. A tub, however, offers pure unadorned luxury; the chance to simply let the heat soothe away all those worries and cares while you enjoy a long drink, a good book or the company of someone special. Tubs also offer health beneﬁts, and this should be taken into account by everyone who owns one. Most hot tub owners tend to turn the water jets up to the maximum at all times; and this can be absolutely wonderful for easing tired muscles and joints. Most will ﬁnd a way of aiming direct jet pressure at the parts of the body that really need massage, softening and soothing muscular aches and pains. But soft massage is often overlooked. Our lymphatic system extends throughout our whole body and hels us eleiminate waste products from our bloodstream. Masseurs have long known that the lymphatic system responds best to very light pressure, and in a hot tub with a soft, churning movement of water, this is easily achieved. It also creates the perfect, caressing sensation that really make us relax, taking right back to the soft sensations we experienced in the nine months of our existence before we were born. There really is no substitute, so why not soak it up now?

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Tel: 928 822 057 or 661 960 307

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Why Buy a Pool or Spa?

Owning your own swimming pool and spa

is never just about one single thing like exercise or entertainment, but encompasses so much more. Your new pool and spa will reward you from the first day that you switch on the pumps and filters to “ﬁre up” the system and for the many trouble-free years that you use it. Here are just some of the attractions…

A Family Boon There is nothing like a swimming pool to bring the family together. It is an everpresent facility that’s ready for an impromptu gathering or a long-planned party. It’s perfect for an afternoon barbecue or a long night under the Lanzarote stars. If you are always wondering where you´re kids have got to and what sort of trouble they are getting into, build that pool and spa – all of a sudden you’ll know exactly where they are and you’ll probably get to know all of their friends as well.

Health Asset Many pool buyers will happily admit to the fact that exercise was not on their agenda when they first purchased their new pool and spa. But as time goes by, fitness becomes more important, and it seems like a sin not to take advantage of such a perfect opportunity. A pool offers cardiovascular and health benefits to so many members of the family at different times in their lives.

Rental and Sales Boost. Does a pool and spa on your property add to the value of your home? The answer depends on the style and age of the pool. If the pool and spa are properly designed by an experienced pool builder and have been kept in good condition, it can

Made to measure

Windbreaks Sunblinds Shade sails See our website or call to ﬁnd out about our unbelievably low prices 106 | March 2014 | The Gazette

at affordable prices

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Manufacturers of ELITE AUSTRALIAN POOL COVERS for the last 10 years

Call James for a free quote on: 928 072 029

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increase the value of your home. Some estimates say it could add a whopping eight percent to the home’s value.

Lifestyle The great thing about owning a pool and spa is that it ﬁts your lifestyle exactly as you want it to. Got a big family and lots of kids? Then it is the ideal place to go as long as a responsible adult is always watching the little ones. Are you an exercise freak? Nothing beats your own pool for getting ﬁt. Want a romantic luxury zone for you and your partner? You get that too!

Recreation One of the great lures of a swimming pool and spa is its endless capacity for recreation of various kinds. There is swimming and in-pool sports as well as a potpourri of other activities perfect for the pool and surrounding areas.

Convenience As mentioned above, one beneﬁt that sets the pool and spa apart from anything else you can buy, other than perhaps your main residence, is convenience. The pool and spa are always there for your immediate pleasure whether it is an early morning, pre-work swim to get your blood racing; the come-home-after-work and pop into the spa with a cold drink session; and everything else in between. Compare that with paying for a dip in a warm, municipal pool, driving to the beach for a chilly swim or forking out for a spa session.

Anti-Stress

Design The swimming pool and spa and the entire poolscape, if designed and installed properly by a professional, will be a little piece of paradise in your back yard. On Lnazarote, a perfect pool and spa can be ypour won little slice of tropical paradise, and you can furnish, plant and decorate it exactly as you like.

Scene Setting

“

Want a romantic luxury zone for you and your partner? You get that too!

“

The swimming pool and spa are not speciﬁcally designed as anti-anxiety medicine, but if you give them a chance to work their magic that is what you are likely to experience. A brisk swim to get your heart racing, followed by a relaxing soak in a spa may not make your problems disappear, but it will certainly make you forget about them and feel better when you face them.

Along with recreation, one of the most-mentioned reasons to own a swimming pool and spa today is entertainment value. The pool and spa can be a setting for an elegant party, a casual barbecue, a date with friends to watch the football on an outdoor ﬂat-screen TV, a teenage party and extended family gatherings.

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SOLAR SYSTEMS - SOLAR COVERS - AUTOMATIC COVERS - POOL ROLLERS - SAND CHANGE - ALJIBE LINERS - CHEMICALS The Gazette | March 2014 | 107

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AIR SUPPLY The summer heat and strong breezes on Lanzarote mean that ventilation is something that every home owner should take into account. The key is to give yourself complete control.

anzarote locals know all about ventiliation. It´s how they use the natural breezes and air flows that surround their houses to keep them fresh, airy and dry. Spanish housekeepers will generally have a set routine of which windows and shutters they open at various times of the day in order to guarantee the best possible airflow. And that airflow is vitally important, not just to keep your home fresh, but also to stop the build up of damp. Most homes on Lanzarote aren´t nearly as well protected against damp as those in wetter countries, but it can still be a problem in stuffy, unaired rooms. The key is to plan the times of day when you can open windows. This will, of course, depend upon the location of your home and the wind. Given that most Lanzarote properties tend to face south, and

the prevailing wind on the islands is from the north east, the secret is to open ground ﬂoor windows at the back of your home and upper windows at the front. The natural vacuum caused by the warmer air at the front “drawing” air from

the cooler area will also help on days when wind is non-existent. The best time of day for airing is early morning, as the heat can often build up during the day making open windows uncomfortable. Evenings are also a

good time, but you may need to bear in mind that twilight and after dark are the most popular time for mosquitoes. Of course, to make the most of this, you´ll need to ensure your home is absolutely air-tight when you want it to be, and that there are no unwanted draughts. Modern window and door ﬁttings in attractive and practical materials mean that this is now available to us all. Once you have complete control, you can plan your fresh and airy home. Air-conditioning is another way to guarantee a supply of fresh, clean air in your home, and can be really useful for those who suffer from allergies. Air-con is perhaps the only way you can enjoy the airy, open-plan style of living that has dominated interior design over recent decades, while living in a hot climate such as Lanzarote´s.

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Arrecife – Calle Triana 99 doorway F- 302 – Tel./Fax 928 80 35 16 - 625 682 394 - 615 301 175 antalanzarote@gmail.com 108 | March 2014 | The Gazette

MILNROW WINDOWS FOR THE COMPLETE PACKAGE High security windows and doors fitted with double glazed toughened glass and deadlocks No more painting or sanding & will last years. No Salesman

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You can rely on Milnrow to utilise the best pr oducts and design prinicipals; which is why so many home owners turn to them when they want to add value, style and comfort to their property by fitting PVCu windows in natural wood colours. Tilt and turn, opening out on wind resistant hinges, we can do what others can’ t. Cladding the windows to the inside or outside keeps the realistic wood canarian feel without having the trouble of sanding and staining

French doors provide a dramatic and luxurious improvement to any environment. They allow sunlight to stream into your house and give you the feeling of space and light that will r eally transform your home. Sliding doors are great when short on space. Ours are fitted with 6 point locking systems and anti lift mechanisms. Beautiful composite front doors made from grp skins in traditional or moder n design

ATRIUMS & CONSERVATORIES ATRIUM roofs are hugely popular with Lanzarote home owners who want to make the most of the island's year-round sunshine. Both additions increase valuable living space and create a stylish environment to unwind or entertain - not to mention add significant value to your property.

CONSERVATORIES Why settle for a cheap low spec conservatory , which is unsightly and gloomy, when you can have all the latest featur es. Your order will be manufactured to your requirements so you can tailor this new extension to your living space to suit your needs whether it be for dining, lounge, a games r oom, a place to sit and r elax we can make it. Our roofing systems are made from aluminium purpose built systems and are available in a range of colours including white to the interior and dif ferent colour to the outside.

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WINDOW & CONSERVATORY SPECIALISTS

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Exteriors

Living Sun In The

Outdoor living in a hot climate is

nothing new – humans have been doing it for millennia – and you can get a lot of ideas to improve your outdoor space on Lanzarote from other parts of the world which are just as used to dry, hot climates.

f course, the most important influence on

Lanzarote exteriors will be the way the locals have adapted to their environment. A quick look at older traditional homes on Lanzarote will show that houses tend to be built with thick stone or brick walls. This means that heat is effectively insulated and the interior of the home remains cool and inviting. But once you´ve seen how its done here, there´s nothing stopping you looking further aﬁeld and soaking up ideas from other countries that have made outdoor living a way of life.

Desert style

Jamie Durie – Revolutionising outdoor living

110 | March 2014 | The Gazette

The southern states of the USA, such as Nevada, New Mexico and Texas, are well used to dry arid conditions and share with Lanzarote

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the legacy of Spanish colonial architecture. Just as here, they have recognised that shade is an essential element for a house in the desert. Outside, deep overhanging eaves, and porches help to keep the interior cooler and provide an outdoor setting for days when people want to really enjoy the outdoors. Desert homes tend to use tile or metal-clad roofing to provide temperature control, and as on the hotter Canary island, flat roofs allow for. Inside, high interior ceilings capture heat, and ceiling fans set in “summer mode” pull the warmer air upward. Desert homes, like many Lanzarote villas, are well positioned to take advantage of dramatic views and avoid the glaring afternoon sun. Floorto-ceiling windows are common, but are frequently tinted to protect the interior from heat and sunlight, as well as to save energy. When open, windows allow air to flow in all directions – another important consideration on Lanzarote, where ventilation is one of the key factors in efficient living. Stone and adobe are common exterior finishes because of their natural cooling qualities. Painted light colors, they don’t fade in the sun, help keep the interior temperature cool and withstand the extreme desert weather. Wood is not a good choice for a desert exterior because seasonal strong rains, wind and the intense heat can cause wood to warp and deteriorate. Here on Lanzarote, the “all-white” decoration rules will limit what you can do, but that whitewash is perhaps the most efficient covering for your exterior. In more protected areas outdoors that are not visible from outside, you can do what you like, and considering some of the more attractive desert shades may allow you to cut down on the glare that pure white can cause. As in Lanzarote, most desert homes have covered seating areas that are open to the outdoors. Water features enhance the serenity of the desert lifestyle. Moving water not only cools the immediate area, but provides an important psychological effect of coolness. Once the heat of the day passes, outdoor desert living begins. You´ll find outdoor summer kitchens with adobe or stone-faced grills, surrounded with canvas-covered lounges and chairs. Colourful fabrics that withstand fading are widely available for both exterior and interior uses, although many choose to go with more authentically faded desert colours.

The big difference with the American desert and Lanzarote is the sea – on this island it´s a constant presence in the wind and on the horizon. That´s why nautical colours such as blue and green are strongly favoured here, allowing you to add an nautical, beachcombing style that would be totally out of place in Texas.

There´s nothing stopping you looking further afield and soaking up ideas from other countries that have made outdoor living a way of life. But it´s not just America that leads the way in outdoor living. Australia is perhaps the world leader in stylish outdoor living, and is the place where outdoor living zones have been adapted in the most innovative ways. The outdoor designer Jamie Durie is one of the leading lights in Australian exteriors, and his innovative “outdoor rooms” have won prizes at the Chelsea Flower Show, as well as many other design events. His series, The Outdoor Room, was a huge success down under, and was perhaps the ﬁrst show devoted to exterior design, rather than gardening. Durie´s idea of moving indoor rooms outdoors has been seized on throughout the world, and the resulting interest in outdoor design means that this important aspect of living is only just starting to become something that millions of householders in hot climates will beneﬁt from.

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(34) 928 833 302

• Specialists in Sun Lounger cushions & outside chair cushions • Parasols and stands • Specialists in custom made “al fresco” dining area cushions • Soft furnishings for homes

Open Mon-Fri 9:30am to 5:00pm Satur day by appointment only The Gazette | March 2014 | 111

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Style

Minimal

A minimal garden is perfect for Lanzarote, where growing plants is a constant challenge, and space and time is often precious. You can do it yourself, but you´ll have to make it perfect. THE LAWN SPECIALIST

minimalist garden suits someone who is looking for a clean, smart, low- maintenance garden. Young, busy professionals; frequent travellers who are not interested in a lot of maintenance; minimalist enthusiasts who want home and garden to complement each

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Transform your outside spaces

112 | March 2014 | The Gazette

other; those with small areas who want to make maximum impact; and even the ecologically conscious who don´t want to waste water. On Lanzarote, a well designed minimalist garden can effectively provide you with an extra outdoor room. The need for plants is minimal as you are aiming to create a structure as much as a garden. So employ artiﬁcial materials to create a bold, crisp landscape. Ideally, you want to strike a balance between the living (softscape) and the modern (hardscape) elements of your outdoor space. The softscape usually consists of plants, whether trees, shrubs, ﬂowers, climbers, container plants or cacti. A minimalist garden isn’t overrun with multiple plants of varied colors, and selecting plants with a minimalist style in mind will make the garden more striking. Make the plants a bold feature but allow the hard landscape features tie the whole design together. Plants are key to a minimalist design, but it should be the hard landscape features which tie the whole design together. The plants should also be low maintenance. Try to restrict your plantings to no more than two or three species all similar in color and hue, repeated, if necessary within the scheme. There are a number of local plants that are perfect for this, including cacti, olive trees, aulagas etc. Limiting the number of hardscape materials, as well as colours, is important to achieve a clean, simple

• • • •

Please contact Lucy on 696 270 282 or Peter on 625 946 159 Office 928 854 759 gagcanaries@hotmail.com

Full Landscaping & Design service available

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The

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my home

look. Too many and the design will feel fussy. Use similar materials for sculpture and furniture and allow these to be echoed in the paving. For instance using the same tone of timber for fencing and decking creates a harmonious scheme. In designing a minimalist garden, you want to consider the main attraction of the garden atmosphere – what is the focal point or main attraction of the garden. You can use a fountain, a statue, or large pot with flowering plants, or you can also make a composition of natural stones the main focus of your garden. Besides designing a garden location, you also need to pay attention to the surrounding atmosphere. If you have a small garden, try to include bright colours on walls around the garden. Vivid, simple colours will create a visual impression that the garden is more spacious. If you want to employ objects as decoration try to choose items that have a vertical or horizontal pattern and have a hard and flat surface. Unify the scheme by using a cohesive colour scheme, both in the choice of plants and in the use of a restricted palette. Containers should be contemporary, with clean lines and stylish finish Lighting effects also play an integral role. Set low voltage LED

‘Industrial’ does not mean it has to be stark and unwelcoming, though a good knowledge of how to utilise these material is essential.

lights into the paving and walls, to alter the garden’s mood as you enter the twilight hours. This enables the garden to serve both as day and evening zone. Plan lighting carefully so as to make the space look bigger at night. Use industrial elements to create a minimalist tidiness. Steel, glass and concrete are all materials that are featured in many minimalist gardens. ‘Industrial’ does not mean it has to be stark and unwelcoming, though a good knowledge of how to utilise these material is essential. For example; use wood for functionality; corrugated iron swirls for drama, and mirrored panels for an ever changing play of light and space enhancement in the garden.

Zen Garden

minimalist garden you can also create a Zen garden as this ﬁts in nicely with the minimal principles of landscaping.

Stone Natural stone can beautify a minimalist garden and on Lanzarote there is no shortage. Try choosing one or two large rocks, but don’t overdo it otherwise, the garden will start to become cluttered. Natural stone can give an overall impression of ‘naturalness’ ; it can also literally affect coolness or warmth, so apply it appropriately along your garden wall or paths and focal points. Get it right and you end up with a tranquil, low maintenance garden that is a perfect antidote to the stresses of modern life, with space for the whole family.

Get in a Zen state of mind, with the restricted planting, understated features and strong landscape lines. Within a

• Maintenance for communities, hotels, private homes, etc. • Design, creation and maintenance of all types of garden (small and large) • Natural or artificial grass

• NEW - Swimming pool construction from blueprint to finish

• Tree and palm pruning • Installation of automatic watering system • Low maintenance gardens • Cleaning of fincas and garden maintenance • Construction and design of barbeques, Thai beds, benches, paths, entrances, fountains, terraces, etc.

www.mandragoragarden.com • mandragoragarden@yahoo.es • Tel.: 659 81 27 53 The Gazette | March 2014 | 113

RUGBY

Two out of Three ain´t bad! With two back-to-back fixtures away in Las Palmas, the Conejeros were going to struggle to put together full strength teams for both occasions, but what they lacked in numbers, they certainly made up for it in spirit. Leroy Heatley reports on Lanzarote Rugby Club first XV’s recent results.

he first outing was against close rivals Club Las Palmas, who were after their first victory over Lanzarote in five games. The home team were quick to throw down the gauntlet, running in a couple of soft tries catching the Conejeros on the hop early in the game, to which they could only reply with well-disciplined play, gaining a few penalty opportunities. Unfortunately, Captain Turri didn’t have his kicking boots on, missing a few pops at the posts, but eventually slotted one over to bring the score up to 13-3 at half-time. Lanzarote started the 2nd half at full pelt, and Julio Cueball ran in an early try, and with his proper boots on, Turri added 2 points bringing the score to 13-10. And that score would remain so until the final whistle, with Lanzarote defending valiantly, not allowing Club to score a single point in the 2nd half, which meant we collected a losing bonus point whilst denying the opposition a 4-try bonus point, thus keeping us top of the league, even with a 13-10 defeat. The following week’s visit to Gran Canaria was to face bottom-of-the-table Atlántico, but with recent improvements in their squad, this would be no walkover. Speaking of Walkers, our star 2nd rower, Stephen, in an heroic try-creating off-load, landed awkwardly under his tackler and the ensuing snap, crackle and pop had nothing to do with breakfast cereal as the X-ray later revealed a triple fracture in his wrist. Later, Vikram who was only five minutes into his game, suffered a similar injury. On the bright side, at least they each broke a different arm, so they could help each other out in the changing rooms later …. Anyway, running low on subs, Lanzarote had to concentrate hard on the game in hand, but with clinical finesse went out on a limb and secured a 0-55 bonus point win. Here´s wishing a speedy recovery to Steve and Vikram. Despite injuries in previous games, Lanzarote’s

114 | March 2014 | The Gazette

strength in depth meant they could call upon some of the semi-retirees to answer the call to arms (sorry Steve & Vikram!) in time for a visiting CR Mahoh from Fuerteventura. This home ﬁxture was also to be an important milestone for stalwart, Timmy Spittle who took to the pitch with his whistle in hand to ref his ﬁrst ever senior game, and a huge “well done” goes out from all of us at LRC. The Mahoh men took to the pitch looking a lot more organised than our previous encounter and were soon on the scoreboard following a bit of daft indiscipline from the Conejeros, giving the visitors a couple of penalty chances which they took. However, Lanzarote soon settled down and were providing the vociferous crowd with some entertaining rugby, along with several tries, pinning the

Mahoh players near their own line. The second half proved too much for the tiring visitors, although their scrum worked extremely hard throughout, and once the home team had ball in hand, it was only a matter of time that the gap in points stretched beyond reach for Mahoh. A few more tries and the bonus point 45-6 victory was in the bag. Lanzarote Club de Rugby continue to grow from strength to strength …but we really need help with sponsorship and fundraising (ﬂying to away games is a bit costly!) so for more information please contact Leroy on +34 659 956 700 (text or call), or via e-mail to lanzaroterugby@ymail.com or at www.lanzaroterugby.com, where our full ﬁxture list for the season can be found.

FOOTBALL

Away day blues Over the last nine games on the road the Rojillos have only one point to show for their efforts. Fortunately their home form has been reasonable, which leaves Lanzarote in 13th position in Spain’s Tercera División (Fourth Tier), reports Ian Lane.

he club recently survived a winding up order. Ten years ago a Lanzarote player was injured in a Copa Del Rey match and the then secretary forgot to include this player in the social security payments. The club ended up with a debt of €457,000 but a judge awarded that the club pay back this money “on the never never” rather than seize its assets. On the football side the Conejeros (locals) won three home games on the bounce, with British boy Louis Kennedy bagging a couple of goals, and this helped steerthe club nine points clear of the relegation zone but a million miles away from the playoffs. Things just haven’t been running well for Lanzarote; they have been forced to play their home matches in Tias rather than their natural home in Arrecife and with the lawsuit always at the back of their minds it has been difﬁcult to

concentrate solely on football. The Arrecife ground has had a new stand as well as a re-laying of the astroturf. It looked as though the derby match between Lanzarote and fellow island side Yaiza was going to be played there on the 16th February. Unfortunately the company who marked the pitch with white lines made their markings too wide, so the game was switched back to Tias. What made matters worse was the 0-1 defeat by our southern neighbours.

FORTHCOMING HOME GAMES SHOULD NOW BE BACK IN ARRECIFE BUT PLEASE CHECK ON WEBSITE OR FACEBOOK (DETAILS BELOW)

2nd March Lanzarote v CD Marino (3rd)

16th March Lanzarote v CD Tenerife B (2nd)

30th March Lanzarote v CD Mensajero (4th)

Home games should now be in Arrecife but do always check time and date on the Lanzarote football club Facebook page or website (details below). The Lanzarote football shirts, shorts and other merchandise can now be seen in the new Puerto Del Carmen Friday evening market in the Old Town as well the established Teguise market stall on Sundays.

For more info contact Ian Lane on 928 843332 or 649963943, info@mercancialanzarote.com or on www.lanzarotefootball.com as well as Facebook: Lanzarote football club. Official Club shirts and merchandise are on sale with Ian at the Club’s stall every Sunday at the Teguise market (near the public toilets)

The

Your Gazette delivered right to your door Delivered to your door every month From €2 The Canary Islands & Spain 2€ per month Total 24€ per year. The rest of Europe 8€ per month Total 96€ per year

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classified@gazettelive.com Post details to: PRETINSA QUALITY S.L. Carretera Macher - Pto. Del Carmen No.24, 35571 Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain The Gazette | March 2014 | 115

M TORING

REVIEW

Back in 1997 Toyota revolutionized the motor industry with the first hybrid, the Prius. Since then, other manufacturers have also seen where the future of motoring lies, but Toyota still lead the field.

ince their introduction, Toyota have sold over 6 million hybrids This is heartening news indeed and reﬂective of the fact that among the major manufacturers Toyota has really championed the hybrid. Overall hybrid sales have been helped by the recent expansion of the Prius family in the last eight months (high fuel prices could also have something to do with the trend, too). In Spain, the main hybrid models are the Prius, the Prius Plus, and the hybrid versions of the Yaris and the Auris.

Yaris Hybrid This all-new Toyota Yaris was introduced at the end of 2011, and offers more space, more kit and more efficiency than before, rivalling cars such as the Ford Fiesta, Suzuki Swift and Mazda 2, and is available as a three or five-door. There are five trim levels and mid-spec TR cars get air-con and Toyota's clever 6.1-inch touch screen. The hybrid version is capable of emitting just 79g/km and has a claimed economy

116 | March 2014 | The Gazette

ﬁgure of 3.5 litres per 100 km. The Yaris’s bulletproof durability and accesible prioce have alreadyt carved It a niche in the market, and the hybrid can surely only increase this.

Auris Hybrid The Toyota Auris Hybrid is pretty much alone in being a mainstream family hatchback with a hybrid powertrain. That allows for the lowest CO2 emissions in the class and some seriously impressive fuel consumption ﬁgure, too. But apart from its efﬁciency, the Auris struggles to keep up with the class leaders in terms of driving thrills, performance and quality. The styling is a big improvement over the old Auris and Toyota’s reliability record is enviable, which, in a family car is probably the most important consideration for many buyers. Toyota’s performance in safety tests remains among the best in the business, and now you can add environmental friendliness to the list of virtues, too.

Prius The Prius is the world's best-selling hybrid and there's a good reason for its success. The petrolelectric power train is reliable, reﬁned and extremely fuel efﬁcient, allowing drivers to travel for short distances in full-electric mode or with a combination of the engine and electric motor. It’s this combination that is at the heart of the hybrid experience, and Toyota remain not just the innovators, but the masters of the technology. The Prius, simply, speaks for itself as probably the most important development in motoring for the last 20 years.

Prius + The Prius+ looks just like the standard Prius from some angles, but it's in fact 155mm longer, 30mm wider and 85mm taller. The aggressive cuts in the front bumper house a set of bright daytime running lights and the sloping rooﬂine

makes the Prius+ look like it’s moving even when it’s standing still. The intricate taillights and sloping rooﬂine are also very appealing. Inside, there's a new dash design, which is simply and effectively laid out. It's just a shame that the interior plastics feel a bit cheap, and the slither of silver trim down the side of the central display makes the whole setup look a bit lopsided. The Prius+ gains an extra 155mm over the standard car, and by doing so gets two extra seats in the rear. The clever seating system is tiered, with each row sitting 45mm higher than those in front, which gives passengers a great view of the road ahead. Headroom and legroom are generous, too, and two adults can squeeze into the rearmost row of seats when necessary. However, Toyota’s main priority with the Prius+ was fuel economy, as well as the safety and given the car’s bulk, a claimed urban consumption ﬁgure of 3.8l/100km is astounding. The Prius + has also performed outstandingly in european safety tests.

Tias hybrid discounts If you live in Puerto Del Carmen or anywhere else in the municipality of Tias, there is now added incentive to buy a hybrid car. In January this year, Tias Council announced that all electric or hybrid cars would be entitled to a 75 per cent discount on their annual road tax. Anyone who wants to take advantage of the discount will have to be currently up-to-date with their road taxes and apply to the council. Tias has also announced 100 per cent discounts for cars adapted for disabled drivers and cars that are exclusively used by the disabled.

M TORING NEWS BAD BOY BIEBER

The Spanish Trafﬁc Department has announced that Justin Bieber´s recent drug and drink fuelled road racing exploits are a “bad example” to Spanish drivers. The DGT is just the latest in a long list of critics of the Canadian heart-throb´s bad-boy behaviour. However, their warning may not be too effective considering that the vast majority of Bieber´s fans are girls who are not old enough to drive, and almost every male in the world couldn´t care less what he does.

PIVE 5 APPROVED The Spanish government has approved a fifth PIVE plan, allowing purchasers of new cars to enjoy a sizeable discount if they trade in their old vehicle. The government have devoted €1.75 million to the project, which is largely credited with a recent boost in auto sales in a country where car manufacture is one of the major industries. 365,000 new cars have been bought during previous PIVE plans, with owners able to partexchange vehicles over seven years old and obtain a discount of several thousands of euros on straight-off-the-forecourt newly-registered models. The last four Plan PIVEs have helped create 10,000 jobs in the motor industry, with over two million new cars manufactured in Spain being sold via dealerships in the first 10 months of 2013 more than in the whole of 2012, and a rise of 30 per cent a year. To find out about the PIVE plan, simply ask the retailer whose new car you´re thinking of buying.

At Multicar,

VW GOLF CABRIOLET 1.6 121€ Month

Offers of the Month:

Total 5,700€

CITROËN SAXO 1.1 84€ Month Total 2,500€

January 2014 was the safest month for road deaths that Spain has ever seen. The entire country suffered 56 deaths in a month that saw bad weather and holiday traffic. Spain´s Interior minister Jorge Fernández Díaz congratulated the Traffic Department on its work in the past year, including its 'zero tolerance' stance on driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, making passing a driving test a reality for more disabled people, and its moves to get older cars off the road, such as by subsidising large part-exchange deposits for new cars when an owner trades theirs in for scrap with a dealership. The number of fatal accidents has been falling now for 10 consecutive years, with last year seeing 1,128 deaths and 5,206 serious injuries – the lowest since records began in 1960. Lanzarote has also seen a huge reduction in accidents, with deaths at sea now far outnumbering those on the island´s roads.

Quick, easy and immediate

Car Finance CITROEN C5 AUTOMÁTICO 2.0 191€ Month

SPAIN GETS SAFER

Total 3,600€

V W GOLF 5 PUERTAS 1.6 218€ Month Total 6,500€

SEAT CORDOBA 1.4 131€ Month Total 3,900€

NISSAN ALMERA AUTOMÁTICO 1.8 151€ Month Total 4,500€

SEAT IBIZA 1.2 111€ Month Total 3,300€

HONDA VARADERO 125 64€ Month Total 1,900€

HONDA DYLAN 125 34€ Month Total 1,000€

Note: The Prices are references to the 36 monthly payments, WITHOUT DEPOSIT.

With TRANSFER & WARRANTY

Dual Carriageway LZ-2 - Arrecife - Aeropuerto, 2.6km 35550 San Bartolomé - Lanzarote - Canary Islands

Tel: 928 82 16 16 Fax: 928 82 00 32 The Gazette | March 2014 | 117

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Gazette Marketplace

Gazette Marketplace offers the services of some of the most reputable and best suppliers available throughout Lanzarote. Many have been established for many years on the island and your business is very important to them; and no one is working harder or smarter to ﬁnd solutions for their customers. You need look no further than the Gazette´s Marketplace with conﬁdence for a job well done.

The Gazette both in print and online links these advertisers with our readers. It is the largest shop window available on the island. No other publication can offer you 10,000 free copies throughout the island and over 2,000 copies in the media related outlets including the airports, plus full web coverage on gazettelive.com.

If you are interested in advertising in the Marketplace please do not hesitate to contact Judith on the following:

Office hours Monday - Friday 9am - 2pm

Tel: 928 51 15 15 or 646 529 422 Email: classified@gazettelive.com 1 1 1

Marketplace prices start from as little as 30€ per month Classiﬁeds prices start from as little as 7€ per month The deadline is the 15th of the month prior.

Please take note: All adverts in The Gazette Marketplace are on a prepaid basis, either by Bank Transfer, Visa or in Cash at the office

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BUILDING IN LANZAROTE FOR OVER 20 YEARS

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The

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NEW AND REPLACEMENT LOCKS

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points

Playa blanca

Playa honda

• Gravity • Nags Head • Atlantico • Pharmacy • Il Nuovo Gelato • Santander • Tourist Office* • La Caixa • Irish Anvil • Kirsty Hair • All sorts • Bowling Center • Rest. Fazz • C.C. El Pueblo • Snug • Lighthouse • Le Moka • Port of Call • Café 34 • Miscues • Home Zentrum • Sandra’s Cafe • Freedom Properties • MVP • Dr. Mager • Las Brisas • Las Casitas • Casas del Sol • Roper • Property Solutions • El Parque • Sebastyan´s • Lounge Bar • Panda’s Gallery • Bookswop III • Sun Park Living

• Megacentro • El Paso • Roper • Pharmacy • Lolita • Caja Canarias • Ambar • Banca March • Terraza Concorde • Aquadreams

Puerto calero • Le Parisienne • Mc Sorleys • Puerto Calero Cafe • Casablanca • Cafe Milla • Bulldog • Amura • Hotel Costa Calero • Pto Calero Offices • Sub. Safaris

10,000 Free

Deiland • Lolita • Oh! Regalos • Caffé Di Roma • Lottery • Pharmacy

Outlying areas Arrecife • Tourist Office Famara • Tertulia Haria • Pharmacy • Rest. El Mirador de Haría La Geria • Stratvs • Handicraft Centre • Bodegas El Grifo La Santa • Club La Santa Macher • The Gazette Offices* • Sociedad Mala • Pharmacy San Bartolome • San Simon • Pharmacy • Health Centre Tahiche • British School • El Pastelito Teguise • Pharmacy • Caja Canarias • Estilo • Emporium • Tourist Office* • Casa León • La Cantina • Bakery Tinajo • Bakery • Pharmacy Uga • Ahumadería de Uga Yaiza • Rest. El Campo

Over 2,000 in Media Outlets

Classifieds For Sale

PALM TREES

5 years. 1.20m. 12€. Arnold:

696 125 597 L-02.14

Sky UKTV/ through your WIFI Nilesat/German/European TV through satellite Spanish TV, re alignments TV sales and repairs Call Freesat on

928 845 522 679 316 036 PIC-R.N.

L-12.13

TNL Carpentry, building & maintenance.

616 254 762

Tnl123@hotmail.co.uk

YOUR LOCAL DEALER OF: HOTSPRING SPAS & HOT TUBS We have the largest range of spas & hot tubs to suit every budget.

www.aquadreamspoolsandspas.com

Shop:

928 822 057 Mob: 661 960 307

THE DULUX SHOP

Weathershield, Trade and Retail paints mixed in store from a choice of 1200 colours. Matt, silk, gloss and undercoats. Also Thomson waterseal and Ronseal products. Summer shop hours Mon-Fri from 9am-12pm Winter shop hours OctMay/Mon-Fri 9am-1pm

669 399 458

piscinasdirect@hotmail.com Pool covers and Aljibe/pool liners also made to measure PIC-V.A.

Boats WANTED TO RENT Berth in Marina Rubicon Telephone:

602 586 425

Situation Vacant CLUB LA SANTA S.A. (TINAJO) is looking for qualified Aerobics freelance instructors to work as extras. The ability to instruct in English is required. Please send CV to: jobs@clublasanta.com B-03.14

LIBERTY IN PLAYA BLANCA

is looking for motivated sales rep to join their team. Please send CV to libertyseguros@spectra247.com

PIC-RN

POOL COVERS

MVP´s great pool covers come with up to 8 years guarantee! Contact us for details:

928 518 980

info@mvplanzarote.com PIC-RN

FOR ALL YOUR POOL & SPA NEEDS

* Helicol Solar Panels * Heat Pumps * Salt Chlorinators * Elite Solar Pool Cover * Pool Safety & Enclosures. Visit our showroom in Playa Honda (next to the Deiland & Car Shop)

L-V.A

WINDOW FITTER NEEDED

Contact with Mick at The Ally Shop on

L-V.A

Shop:

PIC-RN

Cars HEAVY DUTY, QUALITY COIN METERS Ideal for the control of Air Conditioners, Heaters, Washing Machines and other High Power Consumption Appliances * Robust and reliable (5 year written warranty). *Programmable for any cost/unit of electricity consumed *Usually installed in less than two hours Tel:

+34 677 428 919

or email: coinmeters@inbox.com PIC-V.A. (03.14)

Personal MONEY WORRIES? If you are a UK Ex Pat then call this number to find a solution

Tuition & Translation CAN’T SPEAK SPANISH?

Englishman resident in the Canaries for 39 years and teaching Spanish for 10 years gives private Spanish lessons in the comfort of your own home, at times to suit yourself. 20€ per hour. Extra pupils in the same class only 5€. All levels. No books required. First introductory lesson free of charge. Advance-payment discount rates available. Phone Cliff on

629 108 681

josie@josiecoulcher.com PIC-03.14

PIC-N.K.

MOBILE NAILS

Extensions - Gel or acrylic 35€. Also Manicures 15€ & Pedicures 20€. Done in comfort of your own home. Ring Dorothy

660 188 128

All prices plus 5€ travel for Costa Teguise/Playa Blanca L-03.14

BRANDNEWTOLANZAROTE

606 446 550 L-S.A.

NEED HELP WITH TRANSLATIONS

Residencias, doctor, hospital, police or school visits. Call Heidi on

628 000 884

for information L-R.N.

Facebook: Wanda’s Zumba Lanzarote

PIC-V.A.

YOGA CLASSES

MUSICIANS AND ENTERTAINERS! You need a Spanish contract now! Call Lez:

690 964 520

STARLIGHT CARE & BABY SITTING SERVICES

Do you need a carer? Do you need a home help? Do you need a babysitter? We have a team of qualified carers. Reasonable rates. For a free assessment with no obligation. Please contact us on

636 582 076

TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM Piloxing - Pilates combined with Boxing - The new rage in the fitness world. Fully Certified instructor Wanda Melody Knight Fully qualified as a Personal Trainer / Aerobics Master / Nutritionist & in Sports & Holistic Therapies. Also Fully Certified Zumba instructor Call Wanda:

653 239 145

617 574 455

+34 649 157 725

928 515 836

amayafisioterapia@hotmail.com

LEARN SPANISH With a highly qualified native teacher Telephone

Health & Beauty

Healing the physical and emotional Reiki, Aura & Chakra Cleansing, Clairvoyant Readings, Reflexology Telephone:

Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation, Exercise programmes, Stretching, Acupuncture. Massages: Deep tissue + triggerpoints, Relaxing, Aromatherapy, Lymphatic Drainage. Half hour 20€ Full hour 40€ Gift vouchers available For appointment call

L-.03.14

928 072 149

CORSA 1.3 CDTI 2008

PIC-03.14

B-R.N.

www.spotlightlanzarote.com B-03.14

B-V.A.

620 999 362

Are you a freemason or ever thought of being one? Please contact simonclaxton92@gmail.com Telephone

Music & Entertainment

Office hours 09.30 - 17.00 After hours help-line

Three door, six speed, air conditioning, central locking, CD and handsfree. Very economical. Roughly 750 kms on one tank of diesel. 83,000 kms. Immaculate. Fully serviced. Price reduced to 5,000€ Telephone:

Physiotherapy Centre

679 568 700

www.aquadreamspoolsandspas.com

928 822 057 Mob: 661 960 307

LANZAROTE FREEMASONS

649 817 197

L-03.14

NEW AND USED WINDOWS

B-RN

Any condition. MOT failers. Cash paid. Tel Alan:

689 693 728

PIC-01.14

and doors and more for sale at Tahiche Garden Centre. Open between 10am - 4 pm Mon-Sat

CARS WANTED

Email: starlightservicesscp@yahoo.com This is a registered company G35794155 L-02.14

Puerto del Carmen: Mondays and Wednesdays 7am to 8.30am Tuesdays and Thursdays 7pm to 8.30pm Playa Blanca: Mondays and Wednesdays 6pm to 7.30pm Ana Garmendia:

657 170 844 L-R.N.

www.TantraLanzarote.es Tantra-Massage is: sensual, tender, charming, relaxing, incl. Body2Body, Lingam and prostate massage (no extra services) Only with appointment: Mo-Sa 10am - 6pm

646 583 371

(Puerto del Carmen) PIC-12.14

The Gazette | March 2014 | 123

Classifieds HATHA YOGA CLASSES

Also pregnancy class. In Macher Telephone:

928 512 773 L-R.N.

DOULTON WATER FILTER All the fresh water you need for drinking and cooking for only 3 cents a litre. Domestic and commercial. www.aguaclara.eu Telephone:

661 041 155

THE ART OF HAIR, NAILS, TANNING & BEAUTY & MASSAGE+ SOLUTIONS ALTERNATIVE THERAPY CENTRE

C.C. Matagorda, Pto del Carmen. Professional qualified first class service in all aspects of hairdressing, nails, acrylic gel & geleration, non-chip polish, Chiropody, Luxury Pedicures, SemiPermanent Eyelashes, Airbrush Tanning, Holistic & Non- Surgical Facial & Bodylift procedures. STOP SMOKING NOW Clinical Hypnotherapy NO MORE PAIN!!! Sports Remedial, Deep Tissue & Holistic Massage Telephone:

928 511 460 653 239 145

Facebook: Cleopatra Lanzarote PIC-V.A.

OJ REMOVALS Man with Van. Collections Deliveries - Removals Tip Runs. House clearances. From 25€. Telephone:

669 986 259

L-06.14

Locks opened, windows & doors repaired. + property maintenance. Call Peter:

636 611 408 B-02.14

WINDOW CLEANING Best prices for domestic and commercial premises. Fully experienced. Quick, clean and reliable. References available. For a free quote Phone:

680 317 766 L-03.14

CAN’T GET YOUR POOL OR SPA

to balance? Visit our showroom for free computerised pool & spa water analysis. www.aquadreamspoolsandspas.com

Shop:

928 822 057

Mob:

661 960 307 PIC-R.N.

PAINTING Wood staining + roof repairs. Call Peter

669 911 844 L-02.14

General Services PROPERTY MAINTENANCE & PROFESSIONAL CLEANING

For your home or holiday let. Internal & external renovations & cleaning, from full renovation to minor touch ups, from complete spring clean to regular weekly clean. We also unblock drains. Satisfaction guaranteed.

696 861 436 L-03.14

FREE GLOBAL TV! (everything) NO DISH REQUIRED NO SUBSCRIPTIONS EVER AGAIN XBMC Android Box fully loaded and remote costs 200€ Ipads Tablets PCs loaded for 50€ Internet connection 2mb + needed Deal includes brief tutorial and idiots guide. Call Mark:

679 321 823 B-03.14

CURTAINS & SOFT FURNISHINGS

Professionally made to measure. Tel Sue:

609 917 068 L-04.14

WHO MANAGES YOUR PROPERTY?

Professional property management services by Spectra. info@spectra247.com Tel: 928

PIC-V.A.

944 789

POOL CLEANING PERFECTION

Bargain prices. Top quality. 14 yrs experience on Lanzarote For free friendly advice or free quote. Phone Derek

678 007 244

Facebook: Delpools L.-04.14

TOTAL DEVELOPMENTS Professional cleaning services Telephone:

628 354 887

WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION

to get rid of your tax and paperwork headaches for residents & non-residents. A professional service from a simple NIF application to setting up a company with tax declarations. Telephone:

928 513 311 928 513 300

www.ebfconsulting.com PIC-R.N

LOW COST SATELLITE SOLUTIONS Full HD system, BBC & ITV, Ch4 etc with no monthly payments. Full sky systems for as little as 200€ a year Call for details:

673 665 589 B-02.14

L-J.F.

BEST POSSIBLE PRICES FOR SKY!

Call is for all your satellite needs. Installations. HD Boxes, Freeview cards, Internet systems. We offer a quick, reliable, guaranteed service.

ROOFING SYSTEMS

518 825

TNL Carpentry, building & maintenance.

616 254 762

Tnl123@hotmail.co.uk PIC-01.14

STEAM CLEANING of carpets, upholstery, mattresses. Over 20 years on the island, 34 years in the business. Telephone Deet:

928 806 295 606 237 296 L-03.14

HANDY TANDY

GENERAL PLUMBING SERVICES Hot water thermos, pumps repaired & replaced. All your plumbing requirements catered for. SPECIALIST IN Swimming pool maintenance & cleaning. Tel Sean:

669 399 403 B-V.A

QUALIFIED PAINTER & DECORATOR Tel/Fax: 928 822 694

Playa Blanca669 399 403 Sean All aspects covered. Español 626 271 461 Fully qualified NVQ level 1, 2, 3 painter and decorator Lee Womersley

L-N.K.

still available from C&K Haulage Service. Order placed via email at info@ckhaulage.com Brand names you can trust! Enquiries:

928 524 190 PIC-V.A.

INTERNET TV Easy Plug ‘n’ systems (Internet Router Connection) All UK channels BBC1, ITV, Ch4, Ch5, etc. plus all Sport Channels and Free Movie Package Call Roy on:

650 475 259

L-R.N.

www.alexcontrol.com

PIC-R.N.

L-04.14

928 833 581

info@mvplanzarote.com

PIC-R.N.

615 179 233

Please contact us for details.

Offers professional services from residential and commercial pest control. All work is guaranteed Call Alex on

928 518 980

ELECTRICIAN English-born Spanish qualified No job too small. Fault finding, extra sockets to full rewire. Bulletins. Free quotations Sean

Tiling, interior & exterior, painting, joinery work, flat packs assembled. Property 655 781 735 maintenance. Any odd jobs leewomersley@yahoo.co.uk large or small. Call Richard L-02.14 vices 638 734 491 & Tax Ser g n ti n u o • Acc L-03.14 Licences • Opening EX-PAT INSURANCE ts is L ce • Pri TROUSERS AND Expatriate insurance icences L rt o sp n • Tra SHORTENED CURTAINS underwritten by Lloyds in as ci en id Res & zips•replaced London IBEX the largest es • NIF Tel Sue insurance iene cours expatriate yg H & /export h Healt 068 ers for import provider. 24hrs/365 days 609••917 b m u n EORI emergency clains assistance. WE CAN L-04.14 tection FIND A • Data Pro Tel/Fax: SOLUTION

The Rooflex system from MP will go on any roof surface, even pergolas and comes with a 12 year guarantee! Also great for roof terraces and balconies! Contact us for details:

928 845 522 679 316 036

124 | March 2014 | The Gazette

Tel: 928 L-05.14

L-03.14

LOCKSMITH UK REGISTERED

PANDA’S GALLERY

International prints. Local prints. Original local art. Fast framing service. Open 10am - 5pm. Closed Sun, Mon & Thurs. C.C. Costa Papagayo, Playa Blanca.

ALEX PEST CONTROL

689 085 508 B-0.14

NEED A RELIABLE ASESORIA

To navigate you through the minefield of paperwork for Businesses here in Lanzarote then contact us Telephone:

928 834 103 Mail: gesgroup@terra.es

PIC–V.A.

UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

professional cleaning services using injection/extraction machine - perfect for upholstery, sofas, rugs, car interiors, bar stools, etc. Call Crystal Clear on:

628 835 174 L-03.14

Classifieds WASHING MACHINE Cookers, M/Waves. Water heater repairs. Qualified engineer. All work guaranteed. Call Alan on:

699 708 238 L-04.14

RENT IT QUICK

LOW COST SATELLITE SOLUTIONS won’t be beaten on price Realigments, problem solves spares etc. Systems from 150€. No call too small free advice given

673 665 589 B-02.14

& CO

THE COMPLETE GLAZING SERVICE

UPVC, Aluminium & wood frames catered for. Broken glass replaced. Frames repaired or renewed. Locks and handles replaced. 24 Hr Glazing / Boarding service. Telephone:

928 518 663 PIC-RN

UK TV LANZAROTE BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, cbeebies and many more. Direct to your television via your router and our set top box. www.aguaclara.eu

661 041 155 L-03.14

INSTANT INDEPENDENCE For Rent, For Sale. For You! Walking aids, Wheelchairs, Bathroom/ toilet aids, Home nursing aids. Free delivery and collection.

928 823 593 630 335 073 L-12.13

INSURANCE

Best prices ever for your car, house, health & commercial insurance. No claims bonus respected. Veronica on

928 801 985 928 801 929 676 217 329 After 2.00 pm 928 845 348

Lanzarote Drain Services BLOCKED?

628 104 752 PIC-02.14

IN AND OUT DECORATING SERVICES Professional, reliable, affordable for a competitive free quote. Contact Sean:

696 569 818

SATELLITE SERVICES For all TV viewing. Over 16 years on the island. For free advice call Dave Office:

928 845 386 Mobile: +34 629 161 263 www.digitaldave.eu.com Email: info@digitaldave.eu.com PIC-R.N.

L-02.14

ODD JOBS

DIY handyman Telephone:

669 986 259 PIC-06.14

& CO

WE SUPPLY AND FIT SOLAR

polycarbonate to your existing pergola. No painting or refelting ever again. No maintenance required and comes with a 10 year guarantee. Telephone for quotation:

928 518 663 PIC-RN

Telephone:

+34 928 387 854 +34 697 330 412

Door opening. Lock replacement and repair. UK security products available. Call Brian

928 845 886 620 896 185 PIC-J.F.

PLUMB CRAZY PLUMBER & POOL ENGINEER

669 663 602 928 520 640 L-12.13

Building Allied Trades THE MULTI REPAIR AND ENGRAVING CENTRE

in Tias. Shoe repairs, keycutting, engraving, watch repairs, clothing repairs & alterations. Computer repairs, knife sharpening, engraveable gifts & signs, passport photos. Pick up/drop off points for shoe repairs: Playa Blanca - Popeyes Sports Bar Costa Teguise - Brown Deli PDC - Raffles Bar PDC Old Town - Kazbar

PIC-N.K

PROFESSIONAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT MVP Playa Blanca’s most recommended property managers - for the highest standard of villa pool & guest care. Call Angela on:

928 518 980 L-R.N.

renovations & refurbishments 28 years experience Call Julian:

+34 637 832 982

www.lanzarote-builders.com PIC-02.14

NS CARPENTRY JOINERY

Telephone:

geppettolanzarote@gmail.com

nscarpentry@aol.com

www.geppettolanzarote.com

676 670 786 PIC-V.A.

680 882 863 L-05.14

BE AWARE

When transporting personal possessions choose a company that is correctly licensed and insured to ensure your goods will arrive and not be impounded. We can offer you both the security and peace of mind from a long established legal company, plus a guarantee of the safe delivery of your possessions. Contact C & K Haulage Services. A Professional Haulage Company. Telephone:

0034 928 524 190 The cheapest option is not always the best option.

TNL Carpentry, building & maintenance.

616 254 762

Tnl123@hotmail.co.uk PIC-01.14

PLUMBING PROJECT?

Bathrooms, Solar water heating, electric, water heater, swimming pool plumbing, Storage tanks, Aljibe, Airconditioning, New Pump

630 738 202 L-J.F.

B.E WELDING

ENGLISH OWNED AND STAFFED

928 833 581

SPECIALIST IN

A professional and reliable service for ALL your carpentry needs. www.nscarpentryjoinery.com Telephone:

L-V.A

angela@mvplanzarote.com

* A bespoke, complete villa management package, tailored to your needs. * A.T.I certified pool and spa technician Email:

info@playablancavillamanagement.com

L-12.13

for 20 years. Repair service, ITV for all makes, used cars bought & sold, vehicle transfers & imports, car storage, prompt & efficient service. Tel/Fax:

inandoutdecoratingservices@ yahoo.com

689 694 299 928 511 507

Over 30 yrs experience in * Domestic plumbing * Bathrooms conversions * Kitchen fitting * Tiling * Small building works * Painting * Pool & Spa maintenance. Reliable service. No call out too small. Call Steve Thacker

B-02.14

Toilets, baths/showers, sinks, drains, etc. Unblocked Fast Call Nobby:

The original. The best. We’ve got it all!!! Wheelchairs, Crutches, DVDs, Playstation, MP3-CD Players, Cots, Highchairs, Car seats, Buggies, Heaters, Fans, Baby bath, Sterilizers, Z-Beds, etc. New stock, fast reliable service.

FOR ALL YOUR SWIMMING POOL NEEDS INCL CHEMICALS Piscinas Direct have over 12 years experience and were the first to manufacture pool covers, install solar systems and heat pump systems. The only Company with Professional Engineering qualifications. They have now reduced their major overheads so are better value than ever and they cover all of Lanzarote. ALJIBE AND POOL LINING SPECIALISTS....

928 833 338

piscinasdirect@hotmail.com Dulux and Ronseal paints in stock

PIC-V.A.

Is your home secure? *Customized window grills *Security door grills *Iron gates & railings *All made to your design

639 916 557

www.bewslanzarote.com L-J.F.

WE MANUFACTURE, SUPPLY & INSTALL powder coated aluminium windows, doors, pergolas, shutters and mosquito nets. Fast - Efficient & Reliable Service. Email: theallyshop@gmx.com

Tel: 928 524 597 Fax: 928 833 378 Mob: 679 568 700 PIC-V.A.

Pool covers, sun blinds & windbreaks Specialists. Over ten years experience. Superb materials and prices.

(Mon-Fri 8am - 5pm)

Tel: 928

B-V.A.

PIC-V.A.

072 029

Protect your home with an Alarm System. (Discrete Wireless Installations). lanzsecure@gmail.com Phone us:

TILING & SCREEDING

See main advert.

677 428 919

928 517 709 678 451 168

Balaustrade + Blockwork + Render. Call Billy:

PIC-V.A. (03.14)

PIC-R.N.

L-02.14

No monthly charges

606 419 334 928 524 406

The Gazette | March 2014 | 125

Classifieds Home & Garden PROFESSIONAL PALM TREE MAINTENANCE.

Certified with licence Nº 1803. For free advice and quotations call Estif & Raul, Mon - Fri on

686 846 958 655 683 272

or visit my website www.palmtreespecialist.com L-03.14

COLONY CLUB PUERTO DEL CARMEN 125 m2 Duplex. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms ensuite, toilet, living room + kitchen, views to Fariones beach / Fuerteventura, terrace with BBQ. Fully furnished. Communal pool, stairs to the beach. 680€ + bills. 1 month deposit. 1 year contract. Available from the 1st of April Telephone:

619 261 485 L-N.P.

COSTA TEGUISE FLOWER POWER

Garden centre. Healthy plants, Professional advice in English, Picon, Soil Landscaping

928 510 562 Mon-Fri 10.00-18.30 Sat 10.00-13.30

PIC-V.A.

To Let LANZAROTELANZAROTE.COM offers the best selection of holiday rentals in Lanzarote. If you are a villa owner please contact us for a free listing. B-02,15

COSTA TEGUISE

2 bedroom apt. Sea views in Los Molinos. Telephone:

699 616 266 659 624 020 L-N.P.

Duplex. 3 bedroom, 2 bath, toilet, garage, garden. Telephone:

699 616 266 659 624 020 L-02.14

COSTA TEGUISE LONG LET

Luxury one bedroom apartment on superior beach front resort available for long let Mid April to End of June 2014. Min. 2 months. Fully equipped Email: judyartworks@aol.com Mobile:

+44 7970 554 398 B-03,14

EL CABLE

1. Very spacious 2 bedroom penthouse with 80m2 terrace. Fully furnished with satellite TV, dishwasher, DVD, etc. Close to main strip of Puerto del Carmen in Calle Suecia. Rent: 800€ + bills 2. Modern 2 bedroom apartment, first floor with own private parking space. Small residential complex in quiet street but at walking distance from all amenities in Puerto del Carmen. Fully furnished. Rent: 700€ (bills incl.) Long term rental in Arrecife front line El Reducto Beach: Superb 4 bedroom apartment brand new and very luxury! Situated on the 3rd floor, overlooking the beach and Ocean. Prime position. Completely furnished and garage space for 2 cars included. New building known as Siglo XXI (next to the Cabildo)

Info and viewings:

Large lounge, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, separate kitchen. Fully furnished. Reduced to 149,000€ Call:

928 823 906 678 478 387 L-04.14

LA CONCHA

Grand duplex. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, separate fully fitted kitchen, lounge, separate dining room. Garden, terrace and parking. Fully furnished. Close to C.C. Deiland. 198,000€. Private sale.

Telephone:

639 242 370

699 616 266 659 624 020 COSTA TEGUISE

Villa with sea views. Heated pool. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, terrace

699 616 266 659 624 020

Sea Front Quite 2 bed flat. Direct sea access / fishing. Cliff top walks Low outgoings + 6 1/2 m Sail boat on safe harbour nearby pontoon. Both need some renovation. Offers for quick sale Telephone:

609 146 133

+34 928 514 395

L-V.A.

B-03.14

126 | March 2014 | The Gazette

as a children’s entertainer. Magic tricks, puppets and Punch and Judy Theatre for sale. Tuition given Telephone:

928 592 063

Express door to door service, all customs formalities adhered to contact Woodside Trading on

928 869 036

www.woodside-tradingsl.com PIC-R.N.

B-02.14

LEASE FOR SALE Internet Cafe in Playa Blanca. Fully working. Computers and printers used for less than one year. Owner moving off island. For more information call

671 219 466 L-N.K.

Computing COMPUTER DOCTOR

Repairs, upgrades, maintenance, internet connections, virus removal. No call out charge. Where possible same day service.

696 473 446

help@compdoctor. org L-09.13

LANZAROTE LIVING is a new company on the island, offering a comprehensive service for sellers and buyers. We are looking for quality properties for sale, particularly in the Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca areas. Please email info@lanzaroteliving.com if you would like help in selling your property L-12 .13

Wanted WANTED TO RENT

CATS

Secure accommodation provide to look after your cats while you are away.

www.purrfectvacations.net

928 520 781 For Hire

Holiday Let

MAN WITH A VAN LOOKING FOR A HOLIDAY LET?

Friends or family coming over? Visit “Casa Tiffany” at www.cristalvillas.com or contact us on

+34 606 884 132

Large van for removals, deliveries and collections. Any size or load Tel Brian:

928 514 497 606 823 718

Storage available

info@cristalvillas.com

B-03.14

L-R.N

STORAGE AVAILABLE

Holiday Rentals for over 50s. A holiday home away from home in the sunny Playa Blanca at extremely reasonable prices. For more information contact the Sun Park Living’s Team at

+34 620 172 318 +44(0)1614083360 www.sunparkliving.com L-N.K.

HOLIDAY ACCOMODATION

Self-contained, in delightful country house near Puerto Calero.

928 512 773

L-R.N

Berth in Marina Rubicon Telephone:

602 586 425 L-03.14

Telephone: PIC-03.14

AFFORDABLE & FLEXIBLE

LOCATION LOCATION

EARN UPTO 100€ PER HOUR

Pets

L-02.14

Property for Sale

Business Opportunity

B-V.A.

Studio & 2 bedrooms apartments with sea views. Telephone:

L-02.14

LONG TERM RENTALS IN PUERTO DEL CARMEN

DUPLEX IN PLAYA HONDA

From just 2€ per week. Price per item or m3. Long term discounts. Collection service. For more info

928 823 593 689 694 299 L-12.13

PURCHASE OF 10 MTRS BERTH in Marina Rubicon.

928 518 663 L-R.N.

WE BUY ANYTHING Household furniture, domestic appliances, gold & silver jewellery. Top prices for right articles. Tel Alan:

689 693 728

B-12.13

TOOLS WORKING OR NOT

all trades. Also household items. Cash paid. Tel Alan:

689 693 728 L-12.13

LARGE VAN AND DRIVER Collections and Deliveries Also large storage available. Tel Alan:

Miscellaneous

689 693 728

CHEAP INTERNATIONAL CALLS

Man with a very big van for removals of anything, any shape or size. Near or far. No job too small. Telephone:

REMOVALS

NubeCall offers amazingly cheap international call rates using your regular phone. No computer or internet required, no need to change your phone company and no contracts or commitments; just great quality calls! Visit nubecall.com for a FREE TRIAL

L-06.14

L-R.N.

B-12.13

928 823 045 628 474 534

NEW RANGE OF PRODUCTS NOW AVAILABLE : UPVC WINDOWS AND DOORS PLEASE CONTACT US FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

We manufacture, supply & install powder coated aluminium windows, doors, pergolas, shutters and mosquito nets

FAST – EFFICIENT & RELIABLE SERVICE ARCHES

Up to date machinery for manufacturing and construction of aluminium products

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Roller shutters: Manual and electric

Interior & Exterior Factory produced powder coating

Mosquito Nets: Fixed - Roll down - Sliding

Also fly screen doors C/ Matorral, 6–Tias. Tel: 928 524 597 Fax: 928 833 378 Mobile: 679 568 700 email : theallyshop@gmx.com

useful

tide tables

telephone numbers

March 2014

Please dial 928 before all local (Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria) numbers, unless specified.

Tide Tables for Arrecife, Lanzarote. Units are in metres. (Times may vary by a few minutes around the island).

AIRPORT Iberia General Info. . . . . . . . . . . 902 400500 Aena General Info . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .846000 Flight Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .846001

Monthly Tide tip: Tides are highest and lowest during the full moon and new moon.

Day New moon

Hour

Metres

Day

Hour

Metres

AYUNTAMIENTOS Arrecife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .812750 Haria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .835251 San Bartolome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .520657 Teguise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .845001 Tias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .833619 Tinajo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .840237 Yaiza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .836220

H: L: H: L:

1:24 7:37 13:41 19:48

2.8 0.2 2.7 0.3

H: L: H: L:

1:55 8:08 14:12 20:21

2.8 0.2 2.7 0.3

H: L: H: L:

2:28 8:40 14:45 20:55

2.7 0.3 2.7 0.3

H: L: H: L:

3:03 9:14 15:21 21:33

2.6 0.4 2.6 0.4

H: L: H: L:

3:42 9:53 16:02 22:18

2.5 0.5 2.4 0.6

2.5 0.6 2.3 0.7

H: L: H: L:

4:28 10:40 16:52 23:13

2.3 0.7 2.3 0.7

CHURCHES

5:03 11:16 17:28 23:49

2.2 0.8 2.1 0.9

H: 5:26 L: 11:40 H: 17:58

2.1 0.8 2.2

Family Church Pastor Chris Herman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .618186755

H: 6:00 L: 12:14 H: 18:33

1.9 1.1 1.9

L: H: L: H:

0:26 6:44 13:00 19:23

0.8 2.0 1.0 2.1

L: H: L: H:

1:03 7:19 13:34 20:00

1.1 1.8 1.2 1.9

L: H: L: H:

1:58 8:18 14:32 20:52

0.9 2.0 0.9 2.2

L: H: L: H:

2:37 8:54 15:05 21:25

1.1 1.8 1.2 1.9

L: H: L: H:

3:23 9:40 15:50 22:04

0.7 2.1 0.8 2.4

L: H: L: H:

3:56 10:07 16:13 22:26

1.0 1.9 1.0 2.1

L: H: L: H:

4:29 10:42 16:50 23:01

0.5 2.4 0.5 2.6

L: H: L: H:

4:49 10:57 17:01 23:11

0.9 2.0 0.9 2.3

L: H: L: H:

5:22 11:32 17:40 23:50

0.3 2.6 0.3 2.8

L: H: L: H:

5:30 11:36 17:40 23:48

0.7 2.2 0.7 2.4

L: 6:08 H: 12:16 L: 18:24

0.1 2.7 0.1

L: 6:04 H: 12:09 L: 18:14

0.5 2.4 0.5

H: L: H: L:

0:33 7:49 13:57 20:06

2.9 0.0 2.8 0.1

H: L: H: L:

0:22 6:36 12:40 18:46

2.6 0.4 2.5 0.4

H: L: H: L:

2:14 8:28 14:35 20:45

3.0 0.0 2.9 0.0

H: L: H: L:

0:53 7:07 13:10 19:17

2.7 0.3 2.6 0.3

H: L: H: L:

0:52 7:10 13:17 19:24

3.1 0.0 2.9 0.0

H: L: H: L:

1:34 7:51 13:58 20:06

3.1 0.1 2.9 0.0

H: L: H: L:

2:15 8:31 14:38 20:46

3.1 0.0 2.9 0.1

H: L: H: L:

2:55 9:11 15:17 21:26

2.9 0.1 2.7 0.3

H: L: H: L:

3:35 9:50 15:57 22:08

2.7 0.4 2.6 0.5

H: L: H: L:

4:17 10:30 16:39 22:54

H: L: H: L:

7 First quarter moon

Full moon

128 | March 2014 | The Gazette

BRITISH SCHOOLS British School of Lanzarote . . . . . . . .810085 Colegio Hispano Británico . . . . . . . . .173066 Colegio Arenas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 590835 CHEMIST Puerto del Carmen (Aquarium) . . . .513207 Puerto del Carmen (Fariones) . . . . .515588 Playa Blanca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 518942 Costa Teguise (CC Jablillo) . . . . . . 826628 Costa Teguise (Av Islas Canarias) . . .590423

Anglican Chaplain Rev Tom Barnfather 514241

Christian Worship Centre, Playa Blanca Last quarter moon

New moon

H = High L = Low

Pastor Victor Hardwick. . . . . . . 620 309 684 Sunday Worship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .833382 CONSULATES Britain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .262508 922245671 Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491880 CREDIT CARDS - LOST OR STOLEN? 4B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .902 114400 Visa/Mastercard . . . . . . . . . . . . . .915 . . 196000 . . 375637 AMEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .902 Visa International . . . . . . . . . . . . .900 . . 991124 EMERGENCY SERVICES Police, Fire, Ambulances . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 Spanish Emergengy Services . . . . . . . . . .061 Red Cross (Ambulance) . . . . . . . . . . .812222 Lanzarote Cabildo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .810100 MEDICAL SERVICES British Surgery Lanzarote . . . . . . . . .514274 OR FREEPHONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . .900811555 Hospital Arrecife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .595000 Alcoholics Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . .173525 Dr. Mager Clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .512611 Hospiten Lanzarote . . . . . . . . . . . . . .596100 POLICE Arrecife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .811317

Haría . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .835252 Yaiza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .836243 San Bartolome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .520712 Teguise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .845252 Tias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .834101 FERRIES Naviera Armas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .902220225 Fred Olsen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .517266 Líneas Romero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .842055 POST OFFICES Costa Teguise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .827268 Playa Blanca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .518389 Puerto del Carmen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .510381 SPORT ORGANIZATIONS Club La Santa Events Office . . . . . . .599995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext: . 4451 THE GAZETTE Telephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .511515 Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .512461 TAXI RANKS Airport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .520176 Arrecife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800806 Haría . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .835031 Teguise/Costa Teguise . . . . . . . . . . . . .524223 Puerto del Carmen/Tías . . . . . . . . . . .524220 San Bartolomé . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .520176 Tinajo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .840049 Yaiza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524222 TELEPHONE ( MOVISTAR) Faults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1002 Directory Enquiries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11811 International Directories . . . . . . . . . . .11825 TOURIST INFORMATION Arrecife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .801517 Costa Teguise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .592542 Tías . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .515337 Yaiza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .517794 TRANSPORT ITV Station (MOT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .582555 Intercity Bus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .811522 UTILITIES Unelco (Electricity) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800135 Unelco Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800384 Canal Gestión (Water) . . . . . . . . . . . .814400 VETS Jane Burke 513895 . . .or 649 910784 Pet Veterinary Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . .346207

horoscopes

MARCH

2014

By Clairvoyant Patrick Keaton

PISCES 19 Feb to 20 March

Snarkiness and cruel humour don´t really suit you, Pisces, so try to leave off it. You may think you´re being entertaining, but if you’re honest, you´re really just trying to get one over on others. A more positive attitude to others will reap huge rewards.

TAURUS

VIRGO 23 August to 22 September

You´ve recently learnt that “if it ain´t broke, don´t ﬁx it”, but this month you´ll have to intervene in a work situation that promises to get out of control, and some will resist. Be sure to explain carefully and remain ﬁrm. It may be stressful, but family life will provide relief and consolation.

20 April to 20 May

You´ve held ﬁrm so far, Taurus, and there´s no reason why it shouldn´t continue. Stability is well-starred for a few months at least. Remember that a rainy day may come one day, and now´s a great time to prepare for it. Romance will continue to surprise you.

21 June to 22 July

Work continues to be promising, and you have received new-found respect from quarters where it matters. Don´t let that ringing phone take your eye off the ball, though. You´re in high demand everywhere this month, and will have to plan things accordingly.

LEO 23 July to 22 August

There´s a strong gulf between work and personal life this month, Leo. Professionally, you´re roaring ahead and things can only improve. However, your closest relationships could come under strain from a completely unrelated area, and you´ll need tact and sensitivity to prevail

You have a real tendency to brood, Scorpio, but now is not the time. Get over yourself and look to the future. Family and romantic life will both beneﬁt if you just let bygones be bygones and realize that you have every reason to feel conﬁdent.

22 November to 21 December

Tact is not your strongest point, Sagittarius, so it may be better to just step away from a potentially sticky situation at work, rather than jumping in feet ﬁrst . You can return to it when the heat is off and your balanced mind will guarantee a much better outcome.

21 May to 20 June

CANCER

23 October to 21 November

SAGITTARIUS

GEMINI You´ve had a tiring time recently, and your nerves may be a little frayed. But you´re going to have maintain all that Gemini charm for an important confrontation in midFebruary. If you come through that well, you can afford to really let your hair down for a day or two.

SCORPIO

CAPRICORN

ARIES 21 March to 19 April

You´ll be feeling the centre of attention at the start of the month, but take care not to get too cocky, Aries. Remember to spare a little time for those who don´t normally get as much of the spotlight in both your working and personal life, or you may ﬁnd yourself riding for a fall.

LIBRA 23 September to 22 October

Recently, things have seemed to get you down at work, but this month offers an exciting new chance to turn things round. The enthusiasm you get from this will make you shine, and you´ll be at your most charming this month.

22 December to 19 January

You´ve been a rock recently, and now´s the time when you can expect some payback. The trust of friends and colleagues has been well placed in you, and they will make their appreciation known. Bask in the attention, but don´t let it go to your head.

AQUARIUS 20 January to 18 February

Strange how your brilliant ideas and plans have been so well received at work, yet at home it’s a different matter. Don´t worry, Aquarius, it´s not your problem. Just be calm and wait for someone close to you to realize exactly what they´ve got in you.

The Gazette | March 2014 | 129

Lanzarote People

Francisco Rodríguez

Where did you show the films? Francisco Rodríguez, commonly known as “Paco had a cinema here in Tias, we used to do shows in Uga, and in Canario” in Tias, will be known to many as a long-serving We Puerto Del Carmen, which was called La Tiñosa back then, we used an teacher and headmaster at Tias Primary School, but a old tomato warehouse. The viewers used to sit on old tomato crates to the films. You have to remember that there was no mains recent exhibition in Tias revealed a fascinating glimpse into watch electricity back then, either, so we had to use a noisy generator. If it his earlier job, when he brought the thrills and excitement rained, or if some joker decided to take a pee on the generator, there of cinema to a rural island. Shaun Addison spoke to him at was no show. Later, in 1969, we set up a proper cinema, called Luz,on C/Juan his Puerto Calero home. Carlos in Puerto Del Carmen. How did you start in cinema, Paco? My father came from Gran Canaria in 1931, which is where I get my nickname from, and he married my mother, who was from Tias. In 1961 he decided to set up a cinema business and started out with a small 16mm projector, showing mainly black and white films in local churches and social areas. Later he upgraded to a larger 35mm projector, allowing us to show a much wider range of films, including colour productions.

What did you do? A bit of everything. I helped wind ﬁlm onto the reels, and I used to drive down to the towns and villages on my BSA motorbike to put up the posters. Later I´d clean the venue, help take the money and stand by while the ﬁlm was projected.

What sort of films were popular? Westerns were always popular, and at that time they had been rejuvenated by Sergio Leone and his spaghetti westerns. We also showed a lot of religious epics and many Spanish films. Spain was the fifth largest producer of films in the world back then, and there were hundreds of films with stars such as Sara Montiel and Lola Flores. Another favourite was the Mexican comedian Cantinflas.

Films were censored at the time, weren´t they? Yes. That´s one of the reasons we showed so many Spanish films. Back then women wouldn´t even wear trousers in the street, so there was no chance that we could show a film like 1,000,000 Years BC, even though it was filmed in Lanzarote. Even the films that we did get were often mangled by the censors.

Do you still go to the cinema? Yes, I love it. Recently I´ve enjoyed Inglorious Basterds, Life of Pi, and The Book Thief recently. But when you think how easy it is to project ﬁlms today I´m always surprised by how expensive it is. Back then we charged 1.5 pesetas for children, 3 pesetas for adults.

Do you have a favourite film? I love the old Cantinflas comedies and have them all on DVD now, but a real favourite is the Italian film Cinema Paradiso about a young boy and an old film projectionist. It brings back a lot of memories of working with my father.

130 | March 2014 | The Gazette