Christmas on Tenerife – Santa Cruz

This Christmas the streets of Santa Cruz will be filled with music as there are live performances nearly every night at 7pm and Christmas concerts at the weekends.  If you enjoy a bit of outdoor sax (I said sax before anyone gets too excited), head along to Plaza del Chicharro at 7pm on the 16th December. With theatre and dance performances in the city's plazas throughout the month the capital is set to resemble the scene of a musical all over the festive season. Don’t forget to check out the belén in the town hall, or to pick up some last minute gifts (if you’re handing over pressies on Christmas Day rather than Tres Reyes) at the Christmas market at Avenida Marítima from the 21st December.

The big events in Santa Cruz are, as always, the Christmas Day concert held at the port at 10pm (although the ayuntamiento haven’t mentioned it in their agenda this year even though they have a generic entry for it on their web site as does the Port authorities, but as this is Tenerife who knows if it’s happening or not); the big end of year party on New Year’s Eve from 11pm in Calle La Noría (is there a more picturesque setting on Tenerife to see out the old year?); and party time in CD Tenerife’s football stadium as the Tres Reyes hit town in style on the 5th January at 5pm.

Check out the full agenda here (in Spanish).

Christmas on Tenerife – Granadilla

It’s a more subdued Christmas programme for Granadilla with various smaller events around the municipality mainly for children. The Christmas market on the 19th sounds like it might be worth a visit with lots of Christmas foodie goodies on sale.

Location: Plaza de la Cultura de San Isidro

Time: From 11am to 11pm

Christmas on Tenerife – La Orotava

La Orotava, Tenerife’s classiest town is second only to La Laguna when it comes to cultural events… and not by far.

This year’s festival calendar includes music in the streets most nights between 6pm and 8pm; Tenerife’s biggest life-size belén filling much of the plaza outside the town hall; saxophone and folklore concerts; art exhibitions (‘Mi Alma al Desnudo’ looks particularly interesting at the Casa de la Cultura de San Agustín between 23/12 and 08/01) and a science fair (also at the Casa de la Cultura; on 12th and 13th from 10am).

The big Christmassy feel event is the concert in the Iglesia de la Concepción on the 19th at 8.30pm featuring the sweet voices of more than 10 choirs.

Another for aficionados of local heroes to look out for is the concert by Benito Cabrero at the Auditoio de Teobaldo Power at 8.30pm on the 18th. This man has enthralled New York’s Carnegie Hall with his timple playing skills.


See full agenda here.

Christmas on Tenerife – Guia de Isora

A lot of the festive activities in Guia de Isora centre around children with mini fairs taking place in towns and hamlets throughout the month; activities for the little ones also bizarrely include some belly dancing lessons. There are also Christmas parades and concerts in churches and in the Auditorio de Guia de Isora on various dates.

The Gran Cabalgata de Reyes takes place on the 5th January 2010 in Guia de Isora from 7pm

See full agenda of events here.

Christmas on Tenerife – Puerto de la Cruz

Christmas in Puerto de la Cruz is always a magical time. The bright neon lights of the funfair liven up the car park beside the harbour and Christmas street lights turn the plazas and old streets into an enchanting winter wonderland.

As for events, look out for concerts in the Centro Astoria-Bambi (12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, 26th, 27th) at around €5 a ticket and if you’re German speaking, the interpretation of Sherezade – 1001 Nights is always interesting to watch (Castillo San Felipe: Friday 11th at 8.30pm, €10).

To get right into the Christmas spirit, don’t miss either of the Christmas concerts performed by the Reyes Bartlet Choir in the Iglesia de la Peña de Francia on the 20th (7.30pm) and 23rd (8.30pm) or the traditional midnight mass, ‘Misa de Gallo’ in the same church on Christmas Eve.

Christmas on Tenerife – Adeje

Cultural overdoses, choir singing and Christmas concerts aren’t just confined to the north at Christmas; the south also has its fair share, especially around the older historic towns.

Visitors to Adeje town should pop into the cultural centre after the 4th of the month to have a look at a traditional Spanish nativity scene, the belén. These are really worth seeing.

Gospal fans are spoiled with two free concerts also at the cultural centre on the 4th at 8pm (with the group Aba Taano) and the 6th at half past midday (with Bridget Bazile). Both concerts are part of the IV Canaries International Gospel Festival.

Any visitors to Costa Adeje with children should definitely not miss out on the Gran Cabalgata de Reyes (Three Kings Parade) on January 5th at 8pm in Calle Grande Adeje. The children will love it and it’ll feel like Christmas all over again.

See full agenda here.

Christmas on Tenerife – Santiago del Teide

There are a couple of nice little events taking place in Santiago del Teide, particularly in Los Gigantes.

The turning on of the lights of the ‘arbol de luz’ on the 5th at 8pm in Plaza Bouganvillea in Los Gigantes sounds lovely, especially as it’s followed by a gospel performance by the Rainbow Gospel Choir.

The same plaza is also the scene for the Christmas concert at 8pm on the 19th and for the big end of the year party from 11pm on the 31st December.

The Three Kings are busy bees in Santiago as their Gran Cabalgata de los Reyes Mago de Oriente takes place on January 5th at 5.30pm in Arguayo, 7pm in Tamaimo and then leaves Plaza Pública in Puerto Santiago for Los Gigantes at 8.30pm.

Poor old Santiago del Teide town has to wait till midday on the 6th January before the Three Kings turn up there.

See full agenda here.

Christmas on Tenerife – San Cristóbal de La Laguna

La Laguna, the cultural heart of Tenerife never fails to disappoint with the range of activities which take place over the Christmas season. With concerts, choir singing in the plazas, theatre and ballet in Teatro Leal and some of the old streets being decked out to look like a medieval market, there is something happening every day between now and the Three Kings arrival at Los Rodeos Airport on the 5th January.

The pick of events are the concerts by the London BBC Symphony Chorus at the Teatro Leal at 9pm on the 11th and 12th December.

Other highlights include the Gospel Canaries performance, also at the Teatro Leal at 9pm on the 14th; the Christmas brass band concert in Plaza de la Concepción at 7pm on the 18th; the end of year party on the 31st and the Three Kings parade on the 5th of January from around 6.30pm.

The weekends either side of Christmas are jam packed with events so check out the full agenda here.

Events on Tenerife – Granadilla con Vive 09

As the title suggests, a lively day is in store in the old town of Granadilla de Abona.  It sounds like a sort of mini WOMAD (a very mini one) with dancing, ethnic music, food from around the globe, stories and henna tattoos.

Date: Saturday 5th December

Time: From 11am to 8pm

Place: Plaza de la Cultura, the Cultural Centre, San Isidro

Christmas on Tenerife – Arona (Los Cristianos)

So what does Christmas have in store for Arona? Quite a lot if you happen to be in Los Cristianos. If you’re in Las Américas… well at least there are plenty bars with entertainment to get you into the Christmas spirit there.

Much of the action centres around the cultural centre in Los Cristianos and things really kick off on the 3rd when the Christmas lights are switched on (8.30pm) and the belén and is opened to the public (9.15pm).

After that, there’s theatre in the streets for the children; music and dance in the Plaza de la Iglesia in Los Cristianos as part of the Festival de Lirico (9pm on 11th); Gospel concert with the Georgia Mass Choir (Los Cristianos cultural centre, 9pm, 13th); Christmas concerts by Arona’s School of Music and Dance – also in the cultural centre in Los Cristianos (17th at 6.30pm, 19th at 8pm and 20th at midday).

The big end of the year party takes place in the Recinto Ferial deLos Cristianos from 10pm on the 31st, but there’ll be plenty of fun to be had on the streets as well.

The parade of the festive season, the Three Kings Parade leaves from Los Cristianos port towards the cultural centre at 7.15pm on the 5th January – don’t let your children miss it.

See full agenda here.

Fiestas on Tenerife: Shake, Rattle and Roll – It’s San Andrés

Don’t forget that we have wino weekend coming up this fin de semana (I only wrote that so I didn’t need to write weekend twice) otherwise known as the celebrations in honour of San Andrés.

It’s a great excuse to pop open a bottle of new wine, which is what the fiesta is all about, and sink a few… well it would be rude not to and when in Rome and all that.

Celebrations take place in towns all over Tenerife, but the two stand out places are Puerto de la Cruz where you can test wine from all over the valley at the wine fair on the harbour, or grab a table and order a poke of chestnuts and try to listen to some traditional Canarian bands whilst kids drag anything from coke cans to washing machines across the cobbles – follow this link if you want to find out why.

The other choice venue is Icod de los Vinos which becomes Tenerife’s extreme sports capital for a couple of days when local lads, and occasional lassies, take to using trays to get from the top of Icod’s steep streets to the bottom in record breaking, and potentially bone breaking, time.

Events take place in Puerto from the 27th November with the main celebrations taking place on the evening of Saturday 29th November.

Fiestas on Tenerife - Festival Internacional del Cuento Los Silos 2009 (Story Telling Festival, Los Silos)

It’s tall tales time in Tenerife again; although there are those who'd say that you can hear tall tales any night of the week in some bars across the island.

These ones are told by professional word weavers. For five days at the beginning of December, storytellers from around the world converge on the charming little town of Los Silos in Isla Baja to enchant locals and visitors with tales of magic and wonder.

The town’s Plaza Nuestra Señora de la Luz, provides the perfect fairy tale backdrop for one of Tenerife’s more spellbinding little fiestas.

Many of this year’s storytellers are from South America, but even if you don’t understand Spanish, the town has such a lovely feel to it and there’s always plenty of things to see which don’t require any translating.

Best days should be Saturday and Sunday.

Dates: 4th to 8th December

Entrance: Many events are free, but there’s a charge for others. See Full Agenda of Events here for more details (In Spanish).

Events on Tenerife: Walk for Life in Playa de las Américas

We receive lots of queries about walking on Tenerife, well here’s the opportunity to indulge in something you enjoy and also do it for a great cause as donations made go to (AECC) “Asociación Española contra el Cáncer” (Spanish Association against Cancer) and (AMATE) “Asociación de Mujeres afectadas por Cáncer de mama” (Association of Women Affected by Breast Cancer).

Each year, thousands of people turn the promenade at Playa de las Américas into a pink parade in a colourful show of support for those who have been affected by this horrible disease.

Simply register, make a donation, pick up your Walk for Life t-shirt, or pink cap and you can become a member of the pink parade.

Walk for Life this year takes place on Sunday the 13th December and the route runs along the promenade from the Mediterranean Palace hotel in Playa de las Américas to the Sally Tien Plaza, Costa Adeje.

Have a look at the Walk for Life website for more information

Food and Drink: Third ‘Ruta de la Tapa’ in Granadilla de Abona

Tapas routes are becoming more and more popular on Tenerife. As the one in Puerto de la Cruz comes to an end, another in the municipality of Granadilla de Abona begins.

22 restaurants in El Médano, Granadilla, Los Abrigos, San Isidro y Cruz de Tea are creating some delectable tapas dishes for the competition which runs from the 15th November until the 15th December for €2.50 a tapas.

Look out for crab montaditos, grated white cheese and almogrote, meatballs with dates and montaditos with goat’s cheese and gofio amongst loads more goodies.

Click here to see a full list of participating restaurants, tapas dishes, opening hours, names of everyone present, past and future who has ever made a tapas dish in Granadilla, their relatives, friends of their relatives, and anyone they’ve ever met…(scroll to the bottom to find the list of restaurants)

The art of being concise isn’t a concept in Granadilla yet.

Food and Drink on Tenerife – The 4th Wine Route ‘Vinos y Viñedos'

The wine bus is on its travels again, this time visiting Bodega El Moral in El Sauzal for a bit of wine tasting, then the Los Nateros vineyard and the La Matanza market. The last stop is at Bodega Insercasa in Valle de Guerra before you’re dropped off back at the bus station in Santa Cruz.

It’s just dawned on me why there are always inebriated fellows in bus stations – they’re not ‘alkies’ at all, they’ve simply been on wine tasting tours.

It costs €15 to join the wine tasting bus and you can reserve a place by phoning 922 56 40 66.

The bus leaves Santa Cruz at  08.45 on Saturday 7th November

See www.rutasyvinos.com for more details (I'm sure they'll have their site up to date before the bus leaves).

Concerts on Tenerife: Madel, Hijos de Eden Heart to Heart Tour

If you haven’t been to any local concerts yet, now is you’re chance to dip your toes in the island’s rock scene. Singer Madel is performing three concerts on Tenerife this month as part of his ‘Heart to Heart’ tour.

I have no idea what Madel sounds like, but Spanish language site Tinerguia describe his style as being a mix of romantic pop and melodic rock with a nod to the blues and Latino thrown in for good measure.

And as the concerts are free, it doesn’t really matter if it doesn’t turn out to be your sort of thing. These events are nothing less than an interesting little experience at worst.

Locations, Dates and Times:
Friday 6th November, 21.00, Auditorio Teobaldo Power, La Orotava
Wednesday 11th November, 20.00, Ateneo de la La Laguna, Plaza de la Catedral 3, La Laguna
Thursday 19th November, 20.30, La Trinidad Tram Station, La Laguna

Events on Tenerife - ExpoInfancia 2009, Children’s Fair in Santa Cruz

If anything to do with rugrats makes you go all goo-goo, gaa-gaa then you might be interested in hearing about ExpoInfancia 2009 at the Recinto Ferial (Trade Fair Centre) in Santa Cruz.

The fair covers everything to do with children from clothes to wear when they’re a bulge in the belly to changing the classy sports car for a boring family model and decorating their rooms to arranging parties – I’m not sure if there are any stalls dedicated to how to get rid of them when they’re still a drain on finances long after they should have flown the coop.

If you’re like me and subscribe to the W.C Fields approach to kiddiewinkles, then you’ll probably have something better to do during the 3 days of the fair.

Dates: 20th to 22nd November

Times: 11.00 to 21.00

Entrance: €2

Concerts on Tenerife – Rocking the Streets of Santa Cruz

And with some more last minute ‘advance’ notice from Santa Cruz, you’ve just about got time to make arrangements to head into the Capital tonight for a free concert in the Noria district.

Alberto Saura2Rock are performing between 21.00 and 23.00 in one of Santa Cruz’ most picturesque streets which is also the haunt of some of the coolest people on Tenerife.

Events on Tenerife – 12th Adeje Theatre and Dance Festival

For anyone who thinks that the south of Tenerife is all English breakfasts and beer at a euro a pint, here’s the chance to discover otherwise with some excellent contemporary dance and theatre taking place in Adeje during November.

Perormances
Saturday, 31st October,  19:30,  - Garoé, Plaza César Manrique, Adeje
Friday 6th November, 21:00, - Impresiones, Cultural Centre, Adeje
Friday 13th November, 21:00, - Luz más luz, Cultural Centre Adeje
Friday 20th November, 21:00, - La Loca de la casa, Cultural Centre Adeje
Friday 27th November, 21:00, - El Sexo Sentido, Cultural Centre Adeje

Tickets are available from the Cultural Centre in Adeje and cost €6

Of course, there are those that are bound to say, ‘stuff that, I’d rather have the English breakfasts and pints of beer at a euro?”

Food & Drink on Tenerife: The 3rd Ruta de la Tapa Puerto de la Cruz – Un Mar de Sabores (A Sea of Flavours)

All you foodies out there will be salivating at the news that the 3rd tapas route starts today in Puerto de la Cruz (of course a bit more notice from the organisers might have been nice, but on Tenerife 24 hours is still considered a lot of notice).
Grumbles aside, the Ruta de la Tapa is a great way to sample local goodies and some new delish' concoctions for only €2.50 a throw (glass of wine, water or beer included).
28 restaurants in the town are participating and offerings include tastebud teasing treats like ‘mushrooms and seafood tempura’, ‘salchichas in beer’ and 'pork with caramelized onions and curry sauce' (not particularly Spanish sounding, but who cares).

Okay, I’m not sure I can type any more – I’ve got a date with a tapas ración or two.

Don’t forget to pick up your ‘Ruta de la Tapa’ passport at the town hall and get it stamped each time you try a ‘tapa’.

Dates: From 30th October to 22nd November

See Full Tapas Route and Dishes Here

Events on Tenerife:- The Tibetan Monks’ ‘Walk For Peace’

I don’t know what’s going on with these all singing, all dancing Buddhist Monks. First it’s a concert in Tijoco, then it’s cancelled and now news comes through that they’re performing all over the joint between now and the 14th November.

A lot of the venues are in the southern resorts which will make a nice change from all those Rod Stewart and Tina Turner tribute acts.

If they're performing near you go and see them, it'll be interesting and different and any donations received go to a good cause.

Click on the image to see dates and locations.

Of course the poster doesn’t show times but come on, this is Tenerife after all, you can’t have everything.

Festivals on Tenerife – 14 Festival MasDanza

It’s dance yourself dizzy time on Tenerife, or at very least it’s watch participants from all over the World dance themselves dizzy at the 14th MasDanza Festival in Santa Cruz.

Over the course of two days, dancers from Japan, China, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Portugal and Macedonia are set to whirl, twirl and perform moves that’ll make your eyes water at The Auditorio de Tenerife and the Teatro Victoria.

Dates: 25th and 26th October

Location: Auditorio de Tenerife, Santa Cruz (25th) & Teatro Victoria, Santa Cruz (26th)

Times: 19.30 (25th), 21.00 (26th)

Events on Tenerife – Tenerife Design Festival

It’s arty farty time in the capital as stylish Santa Cruz looks trendier than ever this week when designers from around the world showcase their work in galleries and plazas around the city for the Tenerife Design Festival.

So what is the Tenerife Design Festival? Well I think the festival’s website can explain it better than I can.

Expect to see designs which show that “…concepts are the starting point for establishing synergies between local factors and international proposals, consolidating design as tool of change and economic stimulus.”

If you know what that means send answers on a postcard to…

A healthy dose of pretentiousness is great now and again and usually guarantees that the exhibitions throughout the week will be visually stimulating.

Dates: 19th to 25th October

Location: Various venues around Santa Cruz

See Full Programme Here

Events on Tenerife – The Young Ones; Young Week in La Orotava

I feel like the oldest swinger in town at the best of times at some of the more modern fiestas aimed at Tenerife’s more youthful  population, so I think I’ll be giving La Orotava a body swerve this week. The lovely old town gives itself over to the young ones for its ‘Young Culture Week’ (La Semana de Juventud y Cultura).

Events include photography and comic exhibitions, musical workshops and, at the end of the week, a rock concert featuring Spyral, Naufrago Lunar and Patafisica.

(Note to La Orotava Ayuntamiento: If you’re promoting a young persons’ week, don’t send out a promo photo featuring people as old as I am)

Dates: From 16th to 23rd October

Rock Concert: 21.00 at the Parque Cultural Doña Chana

Events on Tenerife: Chanting for Charity – Tibetan Monks on Tenerife

NEWS UPDATE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Here’s one of those quirky, magical little events which takes place on Tenerife every now and again.

A group of Tibetan monks from the Sera Jhe monastery in India are going to perform traditional songs and dances from Tibet in Tijoco on Monday, the 9th of November.

It’s all free, but as they're doing it for a project in India (I don’t know what it is, but I’m sure it’ll be worthy), any donations given at the performance would be greatly appreciated.

It’s definitely worth leaving ‘Ohm’ to see.

Location: Plaza Tijoco, Calle San Antonio, Tijoco, Adeje

Time: 18.00 to 22.00

For more info call Sophie on 922 78 06 32

Events on Tenerife – Miss and Mister Tenerife 2009

Ever wondered whatever happened to beauty queen contests? In Tenerife they’ve never gone away and remain as much a part of the culture as pulling on a scarlet waistcoat and breeches and playing with your timple.
Every single fiesta in the smallest village holds a fiesta queen competition, but the big event on the beauty queen calendar is the Miss Tenerife competition.
And for anyone who thinks that beauty queen contests degrade women, there’s also a Mister Tenerife competition as well and believe me theirs balances out any amount of female beauty queen contests.

Saturday night is the turn of the 28 chicos competing for the title of Mister Tenerife.  Check out the candidates here. God, they’re brave lads. I’m still rolling about after reading the logo on their swimming trunks – who the hell thought that was a good idea?

On Sunday night 28 lovely chicas will slap on glam make-up and sport 70s style hair dos and strut their stuff in front of a panel of judges in historic La Laguna to compete for the coveted title. Have a look at the lovely line-up in their sparkly bikinis here. They get off much lighter than the lads if you ask me.

Location: Plaza del Cristo, La Laguna

Time: from 21.00 on 10th and 11th October

Entrance: Free

Events on Tenerife – The International Clownbaret Festival, Santa Cruz

Clowns… people either love ‘em, hate ‘em, or are scared witless by them which makes Santa Cruz the place to be, or to avoid like the plague next weekend when the streets are filled with these strange creatures as part of the international Clownbaret Festival; an open air showcase for contemporary clowns.

The festival kicks off on Thursday the 15th when there’s a screening of a Charlie Chaplin movie (not a good start) before packs of the painted face ones take to the streets (mainly Plaza del Principe and Plaza Isla de la de Madera) trying their utmost to make adults and children laugh, and no doubt scaring the beejesus out of some in the process.

Personal prejudices aside, it should be quite good and surrealistic fun in the capital during the festival. I might even go and see what’s going on, but if you see someone running through the capital’s streets waving their arms in the air and gurning and screaming, it might not be a clown, it might be me having rediscovered childhood phobias at the sight of too many grotesquely painted clown faces in the one place.

Dates: From 15th October to 18th October

Times: Street performances take place from 17.30 to 22.30 on Friday 16th; 11.00 to 22.30 on Saturday 17th and from 11.00 to 17.00 on Sunday 18th.

See here for full details

Events on Tenerife – La Gran Majada (the Almond Fair)

This is one of those lovely island traditions which captures the imagination. La Gran Majada almond fair is a wonderful example of keeping important island traditions alive, in this case the collection and storing of almonds and dried fruits such as figs by the local children in the Plaza de San Pedro in Aripe, Guía de Isora,

It’s a great opportunity to experience part of a way of life which has existed for centuries and one which seems an eternity away from that of the tourist resorts a short distance away.

Date: 25th October

Times: 10.00 – 14.00

Food on Tenerife: Cheese and Wine – the Perfect Couple

The Casa del Vino La Baranda in El Sauzal is definitely pulling out all the stops to seduce our taste buds. First it was their ridiculously good value and highly appealing menu, now it’s their ‘DEGUSTACIÓN DE VINOS DE TENERIFE’  between the 2nd and the 16th of October.

During this period, twelve of the best of the island’s wines can be tried for around a euro a glass accompanied by award winning cheeses (or after 12 glasses of wine ‘sheeesses’) from Arico and Benijos (€2.60 - €3.40 per ration).

Festivals on Tenerife – VII 50s Rock ‘n’ Roll Festival on Tenerife

The other week it was neo hippies and bikers, now it’s the turn of the rockabilly rebels.
Girls, pin up your hair and squeeze into a figure hugging wiggle dress, or a sultry halter neck heartbreaker’s frock and guys – just think Jimmy Dean.

For three days over the weekend, Los Realejos is set to swing to the best rockabilly sounds at the 7th 50s Rock ‘n’ Roll Festival in the Panoramica Gardens Hotel.

With bands and DJs from Tenerife (Los Contratiempos, Little Big Rebel, Billy Loy & Ballbreakers, Neón Boggie), Madrid (Tano 47, Rey Luy), Valencia (Rubén Gordon), Malaga (The Beerbellys), La Palma (Los Tihuya Cats) and the UK (Big Vinnie), it looks like a rocking good time is all but guaranteed.

Dates: 9th to 11th October

Time: Starts 21.00 on the Friday; from Midday on Saturday and at 09.00 (do rockers really get up that early?) on Sunday.

Tickets: €10 in advance, €12 on the door (tickets available from the hotel).

Fiestas on Tenerife – Fiestas Patronales de Adeje (Virgen de La Encarnación)

If you can’t take Mohammed to the mountain…

The resort of Costa Adeje isn’t particularly a stronghold of Canarian culture, but visitors should be able to get a taste of the real Tenerife without having to stray too far from their sun beds during October when Adeje holds its Fiestas in honour of the Virgen de La Encarnación. Admittedly most of the events take place in the old town, but some make their way to the coast including the ‘sortija de caballos’ on Saturday 17th October when local horsemen ride their steeds into the sea next to the municipal swimming pool at around 16.00.
Other events include parades, a romería, concerts, firework displays and open air dances (all in Adeje town).

Dates: 3rd to 18th October

Highlights:
10th – A full programme of events, the highlight being the parade in Calle Grande at 21.00 followed by a verbena (that's Spanish for party with music & wine) at 23.00.
17th – Day of Traditions and Folklore. The Sortija de Caballeros at 16.00 is followed by a folklore concert and another ‘verbena’ at the recinto ferial in adeje from 21.00.

See Full Agenda Here.

Tapas on Tenerife – Tapas Route in Tacoronte – Acentejo

Tapas routes seem to be really in vogue on Tenerife over the last 12 months. Puerto de la Cruz has had them and so has Los Cristianos in the south.

They’re a great way to sample local tapas for a couple of euros a throw. The Tacoronte – Acentejo area has now followed suite. However, they’ve taken the idea a saucy step further and themed their version as ‘tapa afrodisíaca’. It doesn’t take a fluent Spanish speaker to translate that one.

It sounds like an invitation to have an orgy of a tapas tasting. Aphrodisiac offerings include intriguingly sinful delights such as ‘Noche de Pasión’, ‘Sueño de un Eunico’ (I wonder if eunuchs do have sensuous dreams?), and ‘Papa Romántica’. I don't know what any of them are, but who cares?

Sounds great and as it’s in the area with Tenerife’s best wines and also some of the island’s best restaurants you’re guaranteed some seriously tasty and possibly sexy little treats.

There are 25 restaurants participating and each tapas costs €2.50 (glass of wine included). There are also prizes for the first 10 people who try 15 tapas and the first 5 who manage 20 tapas.

 See here for the full list of participating restaurants.

Exhibitions on Tenerife - Saqueo de Souvernilandia, La Laguna

A deliciously tasty and irreverent finishing touch to the ‘Exhibition of Souvenirs’ at the Museum of History and Anthropology in La Laguna is ‘Saqueo de Souvernilandia’ by artists Alicia Ríos and Antoni Miralda. The pair mix art and food to create amusing masterpieces (see the edible London exhibit in the photo) in what they term ‘cannibalism culture’.

Personally, I think it’s a great idea. If you don’t like the exhibit… eat it; which is what is going to happen to the exhibit at around 20.00 on the 2nd of October. So get up there before then if you want to see the piece in its entirety.

UPDATE: The edible part of the exhibition wont be at the Museum until Friday, it's currently in La Matanza  (but I had to go to the museum to find that little fact out). It will be devoured, so the incredibly helpful attendant told me rubbing her tum in anticipation, as previously stated on Friday at 20.00.

The Tourist exhibition is on at the Museum and although there's an amusing ironic aspect to it, any visitors going out of there way to see it and finding a mock-up of a hotel dining room might just think someone's havin' a laugh.


Location: Museo de Historia y Antropología de Tenerife, Casa Lercaro, La Laguna

Festivals on Tenerife – Perrada Fest ’09, El Sauzal

The end of September/ beginning of October sees the emergence of some great little fringe festivals. This one is for the true fiesta die-hards as it takes place at Ravelo (where?) in El Sauzal.

Organised by ADEPAC (Association for the Defence and Protection of Animals in the Canaries) it’s a festival with a very good cause as its raison d’être and all proceeds will go to helping animals.

The fun kicks off at 13.00 and the event includes sets from 12 bands as well as theatre and dance performaces.

Date: Saturday, 3rd October

Tickets: €10

Festivals on Tenerife – 7 Rockas Festival, La Laguna

An eclectic mix of activities awaits anyone who heads into La Laguna this Saturday. The ‘7 Rockas Festival’ is classed as a showcase for rock in its purest state (I’m guessing that you could probably replace ‘pure’ with ‘raw’ here); however, festival events also include master classes in drumming and guitar playing during the morning.

These are followed in the afternoon by air guitar (the one musical instrument that I can actually play), guitar hero, ‘juego de palo’ (traditional stick fighting – your guess is as good as mine about what that has to do with rock music), and rock hairdressers (if these are the same as the ones I’ve seen at Mueca in Puerto de la Cruz, they’re worth going to see just on their own).

The evening sees the real rocky part of the festival get underway with sets from the best rock bands from across the Canarian Archipeligo.
Bands include: Machango (La Palma), Blackened (Lanzarote), Cuerno Cabra & Alea Jacta (Fuerteventura) and Histeria, Nadien and Guerilla Urbana (Tenerife).

Wait a minute, there are some islands missing. I can understand there not being a band from San Borondón (nobody knows how to get in touch with them there), but what about Gran Canaria, La Gomera and El Hierro? Maybe they should rename it '5 Rockas Festival'.

Date: Saturday, 3rd October

Location: IES, Viera y Clavijo, La Laguna

Events on Tenerife: Katandra Treetops – Loro Parque’s New Treetop Adventure

Ironically for many years, the parrots which made Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz famous were the only dodgy aspect to a visit to one of Tenerife’s top attractions. Tiny cages didn’t sit comfortably with visitors.

But tomorrow (24th September)all that changes with the opening of Katandra Treetops; a free flight aviary where visitors will be able to climb suspended bridges and get right up amongst the hundreds of parrots, cockatoos, kookaburras, pheasants, thrushes and fruit doves at the same time as having a real bird’s eye view of crowned pigeons, golden pheasants, herons, Asian parakeets and Mandarin Ducks hanging out by the lake way below the treetops.

The exotic jungle sounds alone will be worth the entrance money.

It’s a great move by the Loro Parque Foundation and one that’s sure to enhance its reputation and up the enjoyment factor even further.

Fiestas on Tenerife – San Miguel de Abona

The romería season is drawing to an end, so if you haven’t managed to catch one of these lively, colourful processions, then this may just be about your last chance.

Normally one of the big drawbacks for many visitors and ex-pats is that the biggest of these take place in the north, but there’s no real excuse for missing this one as it takes place in the lovely little hill town of San Miguel de Abona only a hop, skip and a jump from Los Cristianos, Las Américas and Costa Adeje.

The Romería is the highlight of the town’s celebrations in honour of San Miguel Arcángel and is great fun whether you’ve seen a Romería before or not. Bands, traditional costumes, beauty queens and decorated carts from which free food and wine are handed out. This is what the Canarios do best.

Date: Sunday 27th September

Time: From midday onwards.

What an Incredible Meal Deal - Casa del Vino, El Sauzal

Any number of people will tell you that you have to pay for quality. Whilst this is often true, it’s not a given. Especially when it comes to eating out in the north of Tenerife.

There are few places on Tenerife to match the aesthetic ambience of the Casa del Vino in El Sauzal. It’s the sort of place where you might expect to shell out a small fortune, but wait till you hear about this.

How about a first course choice of Vichisoisse de Puerros con Virutas de Jamón, Tomate Relleno de Atún en Escabeche, Ensalada Cesar con Queso Curado, Lentejas Estofadas, Rissotto de Setas y Langostinos, or Sopa de Pescado?

Followed by: Cazuela de Cherne, Bacalao Confitado con Encebollado, Salmonetes al Horno con Verduritas Salteadas, Filetes de Cochino con Salsa de Moscatel, Pollito Tomatero Asado con Papas Panaderas or Ragut de Ternera.

And Rounded off with Postres de “La Casa”, Fruta o Helados y Sorbetes hechos en Casa

And what’s the cost of this wonderful meal in the exquisite surroundings of an old Canarian mansion? We’re not talking €20. We’re not even talking €15. No we’re talking an incredibly wallet friendly €10.

Drinks are separate, but still it’s too good an offer to miss.

(Casa del Vino is beside the El Sauzal exit of the TF5. Menu available between 13.00 and 23.00 Tuesday to Saturday, 13.00 to 16.00 Sunday, closed Monday)

Harlem Globetrotters in Tenerife

I used to love watching the Harlem Globetrotters on TV, but that was centuries ago. I didn’t even realise they were still strutting their stuff on basketball courts around the world until I saw the unmistakeable stars and stripes strip on a poster in Puerto de la Cruz some time back.

That’s right, the legendary clowns of the basketball courts are bringing their inimitable show to Tenerife next month for a one night gig at the Palacio Municipal de Deportes in Santa Cruz.

Date: 9th October

Time: 21.00

Tickets: From €20 available here from CajaCanarias

Sex and the City Santa Cruz Style - Bounty Tenerife Fashion Show

There can’t be many backdrops which are more appropriate for a glitzy fashion show than Tenerife’s iconic Auditorium in Santa Cruz. You can bet all the beautiful people will be out in force on Friday 2nd October when Plaza del Castillo Negro is transformed into a catwalk for the Bounty Tenerife Fashion Show in aid of disadvantaged families in the Canary Islands.
The charity event promises fab fashions from international and local designers as well as music from Barcelona born, electronic music diva, Rebeka Brown.

It goes without saying, but anyone who fancies going should leave the BHS T-shirt in the wardrobe.

Time: 21.00

Tickets: From €15 at Bounty shops around Tenerife and at CajaCanarias

Festivals on Tenerife – Santa Cruz Carnaval Theme 2010

The sharp eyed out there might just spot a continuity error here or at very least be experiencing a sensation of déjà vu.

Back in June we posted a picture of the winning carnaval poster and theme for the Santa Cruz Carnaval 2010 and very nice, if a tad surreal, it was too.

So it came as a bit of a surprise when this week Santa Cruz announced its theme for next year's Carnaval and, in best Monty Python fashion, it was a case of 'and now for something completely different.'

It seems that the theme is now 'Tenerife - History of the Carnaval'. In the photos accompanying this announcement, the ape in the glitzy bikini was nowhere to be seen, instead, in the reports I saw, was a completely new logo.

If I didn't have a picture of the damn ape with 'Carnaval 2010' splashed across it, I'd be thinking I was going off my chuffin' head by now, especially as the Spanish reports I've read make no mention of the tranny ape and previous Carnaval theme even though they reported it at the time!

So what I want to know is what happened to the ape? Was that just some sort of 'kid on' competition? Am I going loopy, or is living in Tenerife like living in some parallel universe where very little makes sense and the illogical rules? (Actually I know the answer to the last one)

Exhibitions on Tenerife: Orcas at the TEA

There’s no need to take to the high seas to see whales on Tenerife this month.

Whales seem to be a popular subject matter, with the festival in Los Silos and now, this exhibition of 18 sculpted beautifully and imaginatively painted orcas outside of the TEA (Tenerife Espacio de las Artes) in Santa Cruz. These fun creatures are worth a visit if you happen to be visiting the capital and the TEA building is an interesting piece of architecture in its own right.

Dates: Until 4th October

Sport on Tenerife: The Tenerife Champions Cup – Beach Volleyball Tournament at Siam Park

You realise that the World has become a strange place when you hear that a championship volleyball tournament is taking place on a hillside nowhere near the coast and in surroundings that are distinctly Thai in appearance… even though they’re on Tenerife.

Still, these little surreal observations aside, Playa Siam at Siam Park is a stunning location for this major beach volleyball tournament featuring teams from Poland, Russia, Italy, England, France, Germany and Spain – golden sands, aquamarine water and the added attraction of the entertainment team, ‘Champion Girls’; a groups of girls who are sort of cheerleaders with talent and model good looks and who, lets be honest about this, will probably be as much of an attraction as the volleyball.

Dates: 9th, 10th & 11th October, Siam Park

Entrance: Free

Sport on Tenerife: Tenerife Ladies Open, Golf Costa Adeje

A whopping great €300,000 is up for grabs at the prestigious Tenerife Ladies Open Golf Tournament at Golf Costa Adeje between 24th and 29th September.

As far as spectators are concerned, it’s much easier tracking a little white ball against a bright blue Tenerife sky than watch it disappear against a grey white one in the UK.

Festivals on Tenerife – Campus Rock, La Laguna

And the beat goes on at Campus Rock La Laguna, the former capital of Tenerife and probably the current musical capital of the island. It might not be the best rock festival in the world, but with Heineken sponsoring, it’s probably the best on Tenerife… that weekend anyway.

Bands playing include el canto del loco, Taxi, Nena Daconte and Sidonie.

Tickets: €20 in advance, €24 on the door. (See here for ticket outlets)

Festivals on Tenerife: The Festival of the Whale – Boreal in Los Silos

This is a new festival where I can honestly say where you’ll have a whale of a time – given that it takes place beside the huge skeleton of a whale on the coast at Los Silos.

The festival is only in its 2nd year and is a fusion of art, music and environmental awareness in the one package – so you get to party, be pretentious and learn something all in the same afternoon.

It all takes place on Saturday 26th September and between midday and 18.00 there are all sorts of exhibitions and workshops for adults and kids which range from kite-making, salsa classes and paragliding displays. At 12.30 turtles will be released into the sea. Between midday and 22.00 there’s an eco-market (good opportunity to pick up some unusual Xmas pressies) and providing the musical soundtrack for the shindig throughout the day and into the early hours are 10 bands and DJs with sounds ranging from dub-reggie to batucada to electronic house.

 Sounds all good stuff.

Festivals on Tenerife – CATH 2009

The name of this festival might not capture the imagination, but that’s because it stands for ‘Canaries at the Hotel’… err, okay I’m guessing your imagination is still completely under whelmed, but stick with me.

CATH 2009 takes place over the 11th and 12th September and is a bohemian two day (and night) festival of art, music and dance taking place in one of the north’s lesser known entertainment hotspots (lesser known to most visitors and anyone unfamiliar with the north that is), the Panorámica Garden Hotel in Los Realejos.

It includes two concerts featuring more than 10 bands, 4 DJ zones, experimental art exhibition rooms, dance performances and contemporary magic shows. It is a jam packed weekend of events and finishes at 6.30 on the 12th September with a ‘Chill Out’ session in the swimming pools (only for people staying at the hotel) and at that time of the morning I’m willing to bet that the ’Chill Out’ will be a literal one.

There are a number of ticket options (a two day ‘bono’ costs €45 on the door, €40 if purchased beforehand), but the coolest, rock ‘n’ roll way to do it must be to take a package staying at the hotel for the two nights of the festival for €120 per person.

This is an event which will suit seriously COOL people

See Full details of CATH 2009 here (in Spanish only)

Festivals on Tenerife – Tenerife Touring Ride: Moto Rock

Don’t you just love this poster? I mean, how many 15 year old boys’ fantasies can you get in the one image?

The unlikely tranquil and picturesque setting of Garachico is going to be home to a biker and rock music festival for a few days this month as Moto Rock comes to town.

During the days, the bikers will take to Tenerife’s roads for a sort of ‘angeles del infierno’ on tour before returning to Garachico for the ‘rock’ part of the festival on the nights of Friday 25th and Saturday 26th September.

Bands playing include Warners, Line, Marvel Hill & Hot Vulcan Stompers on the Friday and 13 Motos and Comsat, The Mistake, Brutalizzed Kids & Los Contratiempos on the Saturday night.

The music is free, but a weekend’s package for any bikers wanting to sign up for the whole festival including all meals and hotel accommodation, costs from €150 (see website for more detail – in Spanish only)

Can Moto Rock’s four days of biker action and hard rock live up to the promise of the poster? It’s tempting to go along to find out even if I might have to paint a skull and crossbones on the bonnet of the punto so that it won’t feel too out of place amongst the ‘wild hogs’.

Dates: The Festival takes place from 24th to 27th September.

Fiestas on Tenerife – Fiestas del Cristo, Tacoronte

Another town where it’s party time for the whole of September. Tacoronte used to be on every traveller’s route, but now is pretty much by-passed by the majority of visitors to Tenerife, even though it’s reputed to have some of the best restaurants on the island (it’s where King Juan Carlos chooses to eat – so the locals say).

Celebrations take place throughout the month and apart from the usual suspects of parades, processions, dances and firework displays, there are a few other interesting events.

Highlights

Sunday 6th September: Turron and wine tasting in Plaza del Cristo at midday. This is the Tacoronte – Acentejo region so there should be some decent vino to quaff.

Friday 11th September: The Canarian popular TV programme 'Tenderete' is going to be filmed from Plaza del Cristo – there are no times in the festival agenda, but it usually takes place at night.

Friday 18th September: It’s throwback to the glamorous 70s time with the election of the fiesta queen in Plaza del Cristo with a set from pop duo K-Narias from 22.00

Saturday 19th September: A packed evening with a horse race – we’re not talking Grand National here (C/Teobald Poer, 17.00), religious procession & firework display (Plaza del Cristo, 21.00) and dance (Plaza del Cristo, midnight)

Friday 25th September sees another beauty queen contest in the plaza at 22.00, whilst on Saturday 26th, there’s another procession, firework display and dance (with Pepe Benavente – who seems to perform at every fiesta going) from 21.30 onwards.

The Fiesta comes to a close on Sunday 27th September with yet another procession at midday, a concert by the municipal band at 19.00 and a traditional folk festival at 20.00

Phew!

Fiestas on Tenerife - NTRA. SRA. de Las Mercedes de Roja, El Médano

There’s another fishermen’s fiesta in the lovely town El Médano which is usually held on the third weekend of the month, but Granadilla Ayuntamiento website is not the greatest, so information is scarce. I’ve probably got a better chance of getting more info from a poster in the town (often the best source of info about what’s happening in places).

We’ll post more info as we get it.

Fiestas on Tenerife – Fiestas de Los Cristianos, The fishermen’s fiesta

Lots going on in Los Cristianos for the celebrations in honour of the ‘Virgen del Carmen’ this weekend with a lot of events for the young taking place around Playa de Los Cristianos this morning and afternoon followed by a DJ concert in the recinto ferial at 20.00 and a ‘Grand Dance’ at midnight.

But the event that most visitors should enjoy is the fishermen’s procession tomorrow (Sunday 6th September) from the Church of Neustra Señora Virgen del Carmen to the harbour at 20.00. After the ‘Virgen’ is loaded onto her waiting carriage (fishing boat). After that she’ll be taken for a wee trip around the bay before being welcomed back with a firework display, so lots of ‘ooohs’ and ‘aaahs’ are the order of the day.

Fiestas on Tenerife - The Fiestas del Santísimo Cristo, La Laguna

There are too many events taking place as part of The Fiestas del Santísimo Cristo in La Laguna to list. Apart from the usual processions, there are classical concerts, the famous annual Sabandeño performance, comedy nights, musicals, galas, flower battles in the streets, art exhibitions, parades, firework displays, Dance Festivals (including a homage to Michael Jackson), rock concerts, pop concerts and a folk concert with the lovely Alba Pérez and as they say, much, much more.

I’m guessing that not a lot of work is going to get done in La Laguna during September.

Highlights

5th September – XXXI Sabadeño Festival, Plaza del Cristo, 21.30

12th September – Battle of the Flowers, Around the old city streets, 18.00

13th September – La Pandorga Cabalgata, traditional parade from Iglesia de la Concepción, 20.00

14th September – Main Firework display with fireworks from 3 factories followed by a dance, Plaza del Cristo, Midnight.

15th September – Dance Festival featuring Sleeping Beauty and a homage to Michael Jackson, Plaza del Cristo, 21.00

16th September – Rock Festival with La Vieja Morla, Oi Se Arma and Perro Cruz, Plaza del Cristo, 21.00

17th September – Folk Festival with Alba Pérez, Plaza del Cristo, 21.00

19th September – Pop Festival with La Sonrisa de Julia, Plaza del Cristo, 21.00

25th September – Heineken Campus Rock with El Canto del Loco, Taxi, Sidonie and Nena Daconte, 21.00

Festivals on Tenerife – Salpica, Buenavista del Norte.

Playa de las Mujeres is a great venue for the third Salpica festival in Buenavista del Norte.

Sounds like a good line up too, with heavy rockers, Soundchaser and Senegalese rap family Bou Bess amongst others. It’s just a bugger of a place to get to, especially for those who live in the south.

Date: Saturday 5th September

Time: From 16.00

Price: Free

Fiestas on Tenerife – Fiesta de la Virgen de los Remedios – Tegueste

Another virgin, another fiesta; it’s that time of year when boats sail up Tegueste’s main street which is no mean feat as Tegueste isn’t actually on the coast.

Another lovely little town off the tourist beaten track, the ‘boats’ are on display in town at midday on Saturday 5th September. The fun continues throughout the day with horsemen, a parade of decorated floats, traditional bands and generally a party until the wee small hours.

Festivals on Tenerife – Nuestra Señora de la Luz, Los Silos

The Fiestas de la Luz started in August, but the main events take place during September. Despite being one of the North West coast’s most picturesque towns, Los Silos still doesn’t really make it on to the tourist trail (probably because tour buses can’t negotiate its narrow streets). Quite a bohemian little town, fiestas here are full of creativity and unique touches; the town’s biggest fiesta lasts from 1st August till mid September with the main events taking place this coming weekend.

Friday 4th September, Traditional Music Festival, 2100, Municipal Auditorium

Saturday 5th September, exhibition of traditional games and sports in Plaza de la Luz, 11.00: Art and Music Festival followed by a dance, Plaza de la Luz, 22.00

Sunday 6th September, Dog Show, Juan Valiente stadium, 11.00: Children’s Day, Plaza de la Luz, 16.00, Concert - 5 Centuries of Music, San Sebastián Convent, 19.30

Monday 7th September, Grand Dance from Midnight in Plaza de la Luz

Tuesday 8th September, closing parade, 17.00 followed by music and dance concert at 21.00

Sport on Tenerife – Tour de Tenerife, LIV Vuelta Ciclista Isla de Tenerife

This week Tenerife becomes one big circuit for cyclists with the ‘Vuelta Ciclista a la Isla de Tenerife’.

Lots of guys, and possibly a few girls, will be lycra-ing up and racing along Tenerife’s highways and byways over the next few days. Great if you’re a cycling fan… a pain in the streamlined butt if you’re trying to get anywhere that’s on the cyclists’ route (Arona - Candelaria, Santa Cruz - San Andrés – La Laguna, El Sauzal - Santiago del Teide).
The ‘tour de Tenerife starts on La Gomera on the 2nd September and finishes on Tenerife on 6th September.

Events in Tenerife – Bavarian Week in Puerto de la Cruz

The Bavarian Week (Semana Bávara) gets going in earnest from tomorrow with concerts in and around Puerto de la Cruz by the Bavarian orchestra, Die Lustigen Egerlaender. The highlight of Bavarian Week is the beer festival in Plaza Europa on Saturday 5th September from 19.00.

Entrance ticket is €10 which entitles you to ONE DRINK & ONE RATION OF FOOD.

Concerts:
Friday 28/08, 20:15, Iglesia Peña de Francia
Saturday 29/08, 21:00, Avda. Colón / Avda. Venezuela
Sunday 30/08, 12:00, Lago Martiánez
Tuesday 1/09, 20:00, Playa Jardín
Wednesday 02/09, 17:00, Hotel Tigaiga & at 1900 at Supermercado 2000, La Paz
Thursday 03/09, 21:00, Plaza del Charco

The Best Place to Buy Goodies on Tenerife – Pinolere 2009

I hate to mention the X word when we’re still in the midst of summer, but the Pinolere craft fair in La Orotava will have so many goodies on offer that it’s too good a chance to miss out on some early and unique Xmas shopping (aaargh, there I’ve gone and done it).

It’s a beautiful location, set in and around the thatched huts of the ethnological museum in the green upper reaches of La Orotava and there really will be some cracking stuff to pick. Stalls are packed with artisan crafts ranging from hand painted shoes and jewellery to local produce and eclectic ornaments.

Apart from the stalls there are craft work exhibitions, musical performances and entertainers. It’s a good day out even in you don’t buy anything

Dates: 4th, 5th and 6th September

Times: From 10.00 to 21.00

Price: There’s usually a charge of a few euros to enter the fair.

Fiestas on Tenerife – Corazones de Tejina (Hearts of Tejina)

One of the more unusual fiestas on Tenerife takes place in the northern town of Tejina in La Laguna. The Corazones de Tejina are three large hearts, created from fruit and vegetables and adorned with images made from pastry, which are paraded through the town and erected in the plaza outside the church.

After that it’s a free for all as the ‘heart makers’ insult rival's hearts in a sort of ‘Don’t go slating my heart’ fest.

The hearts themselves are beautiful creations and the area around the church is a charming location for Tenerife’s fruitiest fiesta.

Dates: The Corazones de Tejina are part of the Fiestas de San Bartolomé de Tejina which takes place between the 21st August and the 1st September. The Hearts of Tejina ceremony takes place on Sunday 30th August.

Time: Make sure you’re there for midday.

Festivals on Tenerife – Goymar Fest 2009 in Güímar

If, like me, you sometimes feel like you’re banging your head against a wall on Tenerife, head for El Puertito de Güímar on Saturday for some bona fide headbanging of a more enjoyable type – Goymar (I suppose a sort of Tinerfeño version of a West Country way of saying Güímar) is Tenerife’s biggest Heavy Metal Music festival.

The bands Blood, Thrashtorno, Disomnia, Gemitus Mortis, Hybris, Zen, Sinestesia, Soundchaser, Wickedness and Hollow Core are going to rock the port from 14.00 until 02.00 at the basketball court beside the Club Nautico.

Nice and convenient if you happen to be one of El Puertito’s summer campers – but maybe not if you’re one that doesn’t happen to be into heavy metal.

If you want an idea of what it’s going to be like, check out this link – the people dancing don’t seem to be to be very co-ordinated as they seem to keep bumping into each other.

Price: Free.

Events on Tenerife – Ride Your Roads 2009

This is the weekend for slipping on the leathers and heading into the countryside astride a growling two wheeled monster… or not if you don’t happen to own a two wheeled monster.

The oddly named (because it’s in English) 'Ride Your Roads' event sees thousands of motor cyclists congregate in La Orotava before heading off around the Island; a biker’s army filling the roads with their mechanical steeds.

It’s quite a sight to see, there’ll no doubt be the odd (literally) gorilla on a motorbike and other unusual creatures, but it is not a day for planning a leisurely drive in the countryside if you’re in a car.

There will be thousands of bikes and they take it easy on their journey around Tenerife, so if you get caught up in the rally, be prepared for a long wait.

If you’re a biker, no worries, it’ll be a blast.

Now if I can only convince them all that a copy of Island Drives will enhance their trip around the island...

Location: Centre of La Orotava

Date: Sunday 23rd August

Time: Leaving La Orotava at 10.00, returning at approx. 17.00

Price: To enjoy the full range of activities on offer it’s €25 for bikers and €15 for passengers.

See Tinerguia’s website here for more details (in Spanish only)

Festivals on Tenerife – Aquazone and White Night Sensation in Puerto de la Cruz

In keeping up the tradition of having some sort of musical festival every other weekend over the summer, Puerto de la Cruz’ latest is the probably self explanatory ‘Aquazone’. The festival poster promises music, party, lots of water and more music throughout the day before transforming into White Sensation Night after dark where the only remit is to turn up dressed all in white for a night full of surprises. Sounds like good clean fun to me.

Date: Friday 5th September

Location: Beside Casa Aduana at the harbour, Puerto de la Cruz

Time: Aquazone from midday, White Sensation Night from 22.00

Cost: Looks like it’s all free

Events on Tenerife – XI Drag Queen Festival in Bajamar

Funny, I can’t say that I would have ever pictured Bajamar on Tenerife’s north coast as a likely venue for a drag queen festival, but there you go, I’ve still got an awful lot to learn about this island. Next I’ll be hearing that Taganana is the ‘swingers’ centre of Tenerife.

There’s a whole show planned with drag queens, singers, dancers, illusionists and DJs and it’s all free… unless you want a seat in which case it’ll cost you €2

Location: Open air swimming pools, Bajamar

Date: Friday 14th August

Time: 23.00

Fiestas on Tenerife – Virgen de Candelaria in Alcalá

Don’t forget that you can see one of the biggest firework displays on Tenerife’s fiesta calendar tomorrow night. The charming fishing village of Alcalá on the south west coast holds its celebrations in honour of the Virgen de Candelaria and the firework display which is part of the proceedings is not to be missed.

Events on Tenerife – Gay Pride Week in Puerto de la Cruz

There’s a great line-up of events to celebrate Gay Pride Week in Puerto de la Cruz next week.

From the opening ceremony on Monday night to the closing parade the following Sunday there’s plenty of outrageous fun and frolics as well as some more serious messages.

With events like underwear fashion shows, ‘Pink Karaoke’, the ‘pink fiesta’ in various bars, beauty ‘queen’ competitions and ‘nudist day’ it sounds like great fun.

But shhh, don’t tell some of Puerto’s more mature winter visitors who think Puerto’s a sedate town… if only they knew what went on in summer months - come to think of it, it still goes on in winter months as well but long after they've had their Horlicks and gone to bed...

Dates: Monday 17th August to Sunday 23rd August

Full Agenda (in Spanish)
Lunes 17 de Agosto:

17:00 Desfile de diferentes batukadas por el Puerto de la Cruz. Llegada a la Plaza de Europa.
18:00 Ceremonia de Izado de la bandera representativa del orgullo LGTB.
19:30 - 00:00 Fiesta de Bienvenida en la Plaza Europa.

Martes 18 de Agosto:

11:00 “Patea el Puerto”. Salida desde la Playa Martianez.
18:00 Taller Afectivo-Sexual (UNAPRO): Plaza del Charco.
20:00 Charla-Coloquio en el IEHC. Calle Quintana. Emilio Gómez. “Bulling homofóbico”
22:00 Cine en el Lago Martianez. Temática LGTB. “Vivere” y “Coffe date”.

Miércoles 19 de Agosto:

11:00 Gimnasia en la calle: Plaza de los Reyes Católicos.
11:00 - 14:00 Emisión de radio “Music FM” en el Pub Robin Hood.
14:00 - 17:00 “Tea Dance”, Danza del Té, en el Pub Robin Hood.
18:00 Taller Afectivo-Sexual (Cruz Roja Española): Plaza del Charco.

Noche íntima:
19:00 Concurso de cócteles en La Suite.
Desfile de moda (ropa interior) en La Suite.
22:00 - 00:00 “Ess Essentials”, desfile de ropa interior en el Pub Robin Hood.
23:00 Cine en el Lago Martianez. Temática LGTB. “Vida de familia” y “A four letter word”


Jueves 20 de Agosto:

11:00 Gimnasia en la calle: Aqua Gym: Lago Martianez.
16:00 - 22:00 Día Nudista. 10 € por persona. Sauna Laurent. Calle Iriarte.
18:00 - 21:00 Taller de Caracterización y Maquillaje. Espacio de La Aduana. Épsylon.
19:00 Teatro en la calle. Punta del Viento.
20:00 Charla-Coloquio IEHC. Calle Quintana. Eugenia San Gil. “Dificultades en el entorno escolar”
21:30 Gala Reinas de la Belleza 2009. Plaza de Europa. Entrada 3 €.

Viernes 21 de Agosto:

11:00 Gimnasia en la calle: Plaza Reyes Católicos.
19:00 Teatro en la calle. “Teatro K2”. Plaza del Charco.

Noche Rosa:
21:00 - 00:00 “Pink Karaoke” (Karaoke rosa): Pub Robin Hood.
19:00 Fiesta Rosa en diversos bares de ambiente de Puerto de la Cruz. Vampis, Ánderson, Despanto, Majestic, La Suite, Angelus, La Gramola, Bar Cervecería Cimaï café…

Sábado 22 de Agosto:

11:00 Gimnasia en la calle: Plaza Reyes Católicos.
14:00 - 22:00/ 00:00 - 05:00 Sauna Babilón. Calle Blanco.
19:30 Exhibición de Grupos Coreográficos de Puerto de la Cruz. Primer escenario: Plaza Reyes Católicos. Segundo Escenario: Espacio Aduana. Grupos. Épsylon, Mohana, Zulú, Renacer Bohemio, Hespérides, Bella Calima.
20:00 “My boy lollipop” Pub Robin Hood.
22:00 - 3:00 Fiesta de blanco. Lago Martianez. Entrada 5 €.

Domingo 23 de Agosto:

11:00 Gimnasia en la calle: Plaza de los Reyes Católicos.
18:00 Manifestación del Orgullo LGTB 2009. Salida Avenida Familia Betancourt y Molina, hasta la Plaza de los Reyes Católicos, pasando por la Avenida de Colón. Carrozas, Batukadas, zancudos y muchas sorpresas a lo largo del recorrido, bajo el lema: “Año de la diversidad Afectivo-Sexual en la educación”.