Well did it, at about 6.30pm last night? There was an earthquake just 50km south of our neighbouring island, La Gomera, measuring 4.2 on the richter scale.
Don’t get too concerned, there are 100’s of them in and around the Canary Islands all the time, but usually too small, too deep down or too far out to sea to notice. This quake was felt in San Sebastian, the main port and capital of La Gomera and in some southern and western parts of Tenerife.
It was the biggest since 1989, and that registered as 5.2 on the richter scale. There was virtually no damage, just a few pleasantly surprised wives and girlfriends. Just to put it in context, last months quakes that hit England were 4.8 on the richter scale.Â
 
There’s no mistaking that aah feeling. The whale is a majestic figure and recently I was lucky enough to go behind the scenes at Loro Parque to meet the whales and two of their trainers at the Orcarium.
Steve is an experiened trainer but Lia from Puerto de la Cruz has just started. Find out what their day involves and find out more about them and the four star turns. You can see the two page story under features in The Tenerife Sun, pick up a free copy from one of 300 points around the island or see the online version above. If you haven’t experienced Loro Parque yet, get up there soon.
 
Not enough southern holiday makers take time out to visit Santa Cruz, Tenerife’s capital, in the north. That is the finding of research done by Santa Cruz council, and from this week you will see a big poster campaign in the south to tempt people, and their wallets, up there.
Vibrant and interesting, there is always something going on in Santa Cruz, the tram has become an exciting part of the city and the Plaza de España renovation is nearly complete. A sea water lake, fibre optic lighting and a tunnel under the plaza past the ancient fortress, are just some of the new features.
Art figures heavily in the capital and until December 15 you can see some new sculptures by Greek artist, Sophia Vari. Most are by the Plaza del Principe, leading from the headquarters of Caja Canarias bank, the sponsors of the exhibition. There are also works by the Auditorium and the Plaza de Patriotismo. You will also find many older sculptures spread around the city and several art galleries.
If that wasn’t enough, all the top fashion shops are in Santa Cruz and there’s history by the bucket full. The 110 or 111 buses will whisk you up there in just over an hour from Las Americas or Los Cristianos or if you drive, the parking under the bus station came out the cheapest in the city in a recent survey, so go and enjoy. OK, where’s my cheque from the tourist board?
Forget the ongoing political row about the financing, and possible corruption surrounding Las Teresitas beach, it’s wonderful. Man made (take a bow man) from imported sand and protected from erosion by a rocky arm that embraces the bay, it’s huge and orange.
The back of the beach is lined with palm trees and refreshment kiosks but behind that and the main road, is just a sheer cliff face, no hotels, shops or any commercialism. The beach starts with a small shanty town of crumbling fishermens houses and an array of boats on the sea, but beyond that there is loads of swimming room. The sand though is amazing, fine and light orange but getting darker as it gets wet at the shoreline and even the sea seems tinted, the colour reminded me of Caramac chocolate bars.
Midweek it was sparsely populated, but it would take a lot to fill it. Maps and bus routes make it look like it is a little way from San Andres but it leads straight on from it, and San Andres has a good selection of bars and restaurants. The 245, 246, 247 and 910 buses will get you there from Santa Cruz or you can drive, there’s a fair bit of parking behind the beach and it takes about 20 minutes. Looking out to sea, you can see the hook nose of the Santa Cruz Auditorium, round the coast, that’s how close you are.
It has to be said, it can get very windy there, but well worth a look to see probably the best beach on the island.
It wasn’t a classic, but 0-0 away at Alaves, you gotta be pleased with that. There was always a chance of red faces with last seasons players Bernardo, Toni Moral and Raul Sanchez lining up for Alaves, but the only red was Tenerife’s third choice shirts.
Raul had a good chance after 8 minutes, but thought he was back in Tenerife colours and missed, heading over. A few minutes later, a Nino header was saved by Bernardo, the only decent chance of the half for Tenerife. Casar headed wide and Raul headed another over late on to end the first half.
The Tenerife defence looked tight, Juan Pablo’s handling was clean and confident and Santos was the pick of the bunch going forward. Santos had a couple of chances and Nino put a free kick wide and was harshly booked for diving, after a half hearted penalty call.
Arruabarrena came on 16 minutes from the end but really needs a full game to sharpen him up, even if it is with the B team. The only worry was in time added on when Juanma made a well timed clearing tackle and was carried off holding his leg, hopefully it isn’t serious.
Bad news from Las Palmas where the Pio’s won 1-0 against Gimnastic. Cordoba at home next weekend, once the TV people decide what day. If you want to go, contact the Armada Sur for a great day out.
No, it’s not my latest cheesey chat up line, but a genuine opportunity. Next Thursday (Oct 4) there are casting tests for L’Oreal in San Telmo, Los Cristianos.
To have a chance, you need to be between 15 and 30 years old, from 1.65 metres high to 1.75, and have long hair. Also you should be willing to have your locks cut and styled by a top Italian stylist.
The auditions are being run by Sur Film production company, who have a permanent base in San Telmo, have English speakers, and are frequently recruiting for adverts, photo shoots and even movies.
You have from 10am until 8pm to pop in. San Telmo is the block facing Las Vistas beach, take the road behind it and about half way between the 2 sets of steps to the beach you will find some small stairs down to a terrace where the casting will take place. There will be notices to guide you on the day or you can phone 822106914 (yes it is an 8).
Good luck, you might as well at least try….Because Your Worth It.
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How much beer have you drunk on the beach this week? Did you snooze and wake up to see a Mini skimming across the sea? Don’t worry you were’nt drunk – well not that drunk. The specially adapted model of the Mini popped in to Playa de las Americas this week for a few days promotional work and will move on to Las Terresitas beach, just beyond Santa Cruz, for the weekend.
BMW through their Spanish division, have built a few of the Sea Minis to appear around Spain and promote their new models, in particular the 2008 Mini Clubman. They can drive over the sand and straight into the waves. I just hope that Garfield in the back window has been given a life jacket.
Now it’s official, Santa Cruz council have finally admitted that Elton John will not perform in Tenerife this year. They say that his people wouldn’t agree to the venue, the dock side, but the concert will go ahead sometime next year at the Recinto Ferial, just across from the auditorium.
It’s no good blaming Elton’s people, why did deputy mayor, Angel Llanos pose with Javier Rolo of promotors Rolo Productions, at a press conference on August 30th, as they signed the concert agreement. If the venue hadn’t been nailed down, how could they announce that Elton was coming. Ever since then the official Elton John website has carried no confirmation of the concert and once contacted, they flatly denied there would be a concert. At the same time the council kept insisting it would go ahead.
Still, Elton will be here next year, the council have an “agreement” Oh yes, is that like the agreement I have that I can sleep with Girls Aloud? The Recinto Ferial only holds 15,000 people, half of the dockside figure, so tickets would have to be very expensive to guarantee a decent return.
Remember, this is the council that hired an expensive choreographer for Carnival this year, only to see his show booed off and condemmed as the worst ever, and since then they have been locked in legal battles over not paying his entire fee. This is the same Angel Llanos, being denounced for his recent expensive jolly to New York to see a musical.
Sadly the council have also cancelled the planned Piss Up in a Brewery , apparently due to organisational problems.
There’s bikes, and then there’s BIG bikes, and on Tenerife you can have both. Last Sunday, the annual bicycle fiesta took place in Santa Cruz, 8,000 cyclists gathered in Avenida Tres de Mayo and rode along the coast to San Andres and back again. Lots of fun and smiling faces all round, apart from anyone who leapt on their bike only to find the saddle was missing.
This Saturday, Sep 29, there’s a big motorbike rally down in the south organised by two of Spains biggest biker groups, Lobos del Asphalto and Moto Las Guadanas. They meet up at 10am at Cheers bar in Aldea Blanco for breakfast and then roar off to Los Menores and Taucho and set up camp. It’s a ticket only event and they will be sold out by now, but look out for the Wild Ones streaming down the road, and give them a wave, they’re a friendly bunch.
It’s so hot you could fry an egg on the pavement! We have all heard that comment but a new exhibition outside the Los Cristianos cultural centre, takes that a stage further.
It’s a look at solar energy and in particular, using it to cook. A basic box design covered in silver foil, sits there in the sun and the thermometer inside shows 130 degrees centigrade, capable of cooking anything. The Canary Islands come third in a table of kw hours that can be solar generated per square metre, just behind Saudi Arabia and the Sahara desert.
If this turns your mind to renewable energy, you might fancy a trip to I:T:E:R the renewable energy centre on the Granadilla industrial estate. You will have noticed the huge wind turbines, but at the centre, they have much more on display and it’s free to look round. The centre is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10an to 6pm, it’s easier to drive there but a 111 Santa Cruz bus (dont get the 110-it doesnt stop) will drop you just past the shark fin bridge on the TF1 motorway, then it’s a near hours walk down to the coast.