People didn’t go to the shops, the shops came to them, all around the centre of Santa Cruz shopping stalls spilled out onto the street to boost trade. Dancing girls, marching drummers, and live music did the trick and ensured that customers were flowing between zones featuring fashion, electronics, childrens clothes and toys and even art and books.
I had a rough plan for what I wanted to see but drifting with the tide in Calle Castillo I was in no particular hurry. Little pots of fruit flavoured Actimel were being offered at every corner by some rather nice promotions girls, I had so many of these healthy drinks I’m now convinced I will live to be 150. I caught some of the early dancers on the main stage in Plaza La Candelaria and then popped along to Plaza del Principe where a carousel of tapas was the big attraction.
A dozen stalls were offering a tapa and a drink for 2 euros so of course I sampled a few, it was a lovely setting in the park area with plenty of seating in the shade, families were making the most of the relaxed feel and the wine samples from the stage were eagerly tasted – I tried a few glasses of the red just to balance things up a little after the healthy options. The previous night I attended the Excelencia 2.0 awards in Los Cristianos rewarding good use of social media and in the park I was impressed by a promotion run for Krakis, a new chocolate and nut biscuit with sweet chocolate cream inside mmm. Free bars came with a competition to pose in front of their giant internet screen to post a shot on your facebook page – the queue was massive all day.
Moving across to Parque Garcia Sanabria a sea of attentive children were enthralled by a puppet show. It was like Punch and Judy but involved a big ferocious looking dog – the teeny audience were made of stern stuff but it petrified me and I was found quivering like a jelly behind a bush. Parents were loving the free entertainment, the open air café was full as the grown ups enjoyed drinks and snacks with their offspring safe and in close view.
Cutting back through Calle Castillo I stopped to enjoy some street dancers evoking the spirit of Carnaval. I love living statues and a silver plated Robocop had me chuckling like a drain as he whirred into life to make passers by jump. A bit of rock music was on my list of must sees and I arrived back at the big stage just as a latin salsa academy were shaking their bodies. Los Descendientes then took to the stage and I was very impressed, their guitar sound owed a bit to Nirvana and the lead singers snarl reminded me of Alice Cooper at his best.
I had a few more calls to make away from Sal 2 but it was still in full swing with a10 pmfinish loosely kept in mind. Hopefully theSanta Cruzbusiness community will have topped up their tills and as for visitors they must have enjoyed the buzz that it brought to the capital city.
Rising above Santiago del Teide scorched brown pine trees were a dramatic reminder of the recent fires in Tenerife but nestled alongside them their greener cousins stood proud, nature is already fighting back. I don’t need much excuse to make the Icod run, the Titsa bus trip from Las Americas bus station is always a favourite, climbing above Adeje the film crews were warming up for another days car wrecking for Fast & Furious 6. For me it was a more sedate pace and good to see clear sunny skies as the bus cruised into Icod.
My main mission was to visit the newly opened Hotel San Agustin. I soon found it in the main street and as the music speakers tempted shoppers with a mix of Swan Lake and Latino dance I put down a mental marker and went for a mooch around. Plaza de Andres de Lorenzo – Caceres was set up for the Fiesta Santismo Cristo del Calvario, coloured bunting formed archways along the main walks and one of the best stage sets I have seen dominated one side of the plaza. Right on schedule a Red Admiral from the Butterfly Park did a mid air display to complete the scene.
The Hotel turned out to be very impressive, they even had CD Tenerife fixture cards on the reception, but more of that at a later date, next on my list was a bus up to Santa Barbara about 4 kms above Icod to see my friends George and Ingrid at Artlandya the teddy bear and doll museum. This time I got off at the top of the village to see the two churches but found a surprise in the nearby plaza. An artillery canon was set up as a monument looking out over the Garachico coast in the distance. Closer inspection showed it was an English design built in Spain by Vickers in 1920, originally carried on the navy ship Galicia it was retired to San Andres just beyond Santa Cruz in 2006. For the technically minded the canon weighs 8,738 kms can shoot to 21,600 metres away and pounds out four shots a minute.
Walking down to Artlandya I spent a pleasant few hours tasting home made food and drink with George and Ingrid, their former finca was bursting with flowers as always and the lizards were scuttling across the paths.George gave me a lift back down into Icod and I jumped out at the smaller church on the edge of town to grab a photo of the wonderful fiesta decorations outside. A young couple were posing for wedding shots a few days after their big event, it certainly made a stunning combination.
With impeccable timing my bus to the south was waiting for me, another pleasant trip with a stop off at Tejina to have a drink and food with some more friends – a great end to a fun day of new discoveries.
A goal feast was expected but a flat performance left CD Tenerife to come from behind for a 1-1 home draw with lowly Zamora. It was all set up nicely with the visitors carrying the worst defensive record in our section but when did logic mean anything in football.
Chechu’s weak tap in front of a welcoming goal in the second minute set the tone for the game. The midfield was not creating chances and although Aridane battled as always, there were too few scraps for him to feed on, his first effort was parried by Sanchez but there was no follow up. Tenerife had a new look defence, Amado filled in for the injured Tarantino in the centre and Jesus Alvaro slotted in for the suspended Llorente at left back. They had few defensive duties to worry about, Jesus looked comfortable on the ball and went on the attack forcing two defenders to bundle the ball out of play.
Sanchez looked vulnerable in the Zamora goal, a one handed flap saved him and a charge out to rob Chechu also came to his rescue. Something bizarre happened on the half hour mark – some light rain crossed the stadium, the locals thought nothing of it but it left us parched southerners bewildered.
Loro got into a strong position for a header but put it wide and Aridane was pulled up short for offside when a half chance arose. Cristo Martin did his best to force the pace but twice he got clattered to the ground although the ref kept his whistle dry. Goal less at half time the 8,013 crowd had the nagging thought that Zamora might nick a goal. It only took seven minutes for Santos to do the unthinkable, Sergio Aragoneses saved but couldn’t hold the ball and Santos nipped in and slid the ball under him to grab the lead.
Suso came on for Yeray and added some urgency, a nifty cross into the box and Aridane quickly leveled with a header. Tenerife pressed forward but Sanchez found his best form in the visitors goal denying Suso with a one handed stop. Jeremy became the latest new boy for CDT when he replaced Cristo and again it provided a brief boost. Loro was unlucky when Sanchez got a hand to his shot, just enough to take the power off it so a defender could hook it clear.
Guillem Marti was added to the mix as Chechu went off, he looked nippy but didn’t have the power to force his way through the block defence of Zamora. The former Austrian league striker came close but the Zamora keeper just got a foot to the ball to keep it out. Well at least we didn’t get a player sent off the pitch – this week we managed one from the bench. The ref had previously been over to have a word but when he returned he sent Yeray to the dressing room with a straight red – presumably for mouthing off.
It was a stupid way to get sent off, the third red in three games and for Yeray a chance to lose his team place after impressing with some fine performances. Zamora had shut up shop and were very happy to settle for an away draw, thankfully the other top teams failed to win so Tenerife stay top but missed a great chance to pull away from their rivals.
There was a whole lot of shaking going on in Los Cristianos as the mixers and shakers of Tenerife’s cocktail crowd gathered outside the cultural centre to find the most creative bar staff from the seven Canary Islands. The hunt was on to find a classic cocktail and the best gin and tonic – my taste buds had been salivating since I first heard of the Arona based Ruta de Cocteles that offered a month of cheap cocktails at selected bars around the area. So there I was lurking in the crowd with a pint glass in one hand and an extendable straw in the other. Normally I wouldn’t be too bothered about cocktails, ever since that film with Tom Cruise beer drinkers have cursed flash young barmen who want to juggle glasses, squirt juices into the air, and generally do anything except pour your damm pint.
There were 50 bar staff dressed to impress but I was pleased to see that several of them were young ladies, they wore slinky black uniforms and I half expected Robert Palmer to join them to sing Addicted To Love. But enough of my daydreams, this was serious business, the mixing bar was at the top of the centre steps and below a panel of experts prepared the fruit and other accessories in full view so no contestants got an unfair advantage. One immaculately dressed gentleman slipped on a pair of tight white gloves, I thought he might be a snooker ref but he set about dissecting a grapefruit like a brain surgeon while his colleagues teased their cherries and caressed their plums.
Backstage tables were loaded with fresh fruit, juices, syrups, whisks, and syringes. Senior officials in blazers checked clipboards and adjusted stop watches as the first contestants took to the stage and poured liquers, rums, and brandies into tall stemmed glasses. I was surprised to see a large bottle of Sunny Delight on one table but not a Nesquick in sight. The first finished creations took their place on the judging table and it was onto the next batch of hopefuls.
With my curiosity satisfied but not my thirst I headed off for a Dorada, maybe I would go wild and have a pineapple chunk in my pint. I did spare a thought for the judges, maybe they would be seen later staggering up the road singing rude ditties about women of dubious backgrounds whilst wearing a traffic cone on their heads.
Have you seen my garden? Walking through the dew laden grass at Golf Las Americas I could see Kirby Towers just above a crescent of palm trees beyond the sparkling lake. It was the morning of the Pro Am event just ahead of the Spanish Ladies Open and ok I admit it, the only garden I really have is a very hardy cactus that has survived despite years of my neglect. In contrast my nearby golf course radiated health and beauty as preparations continued for the four day spectacle on the Ladies European Tour.
Over the past four years I have covered the annual ladies golf championships in Tenerife and although not a player myself I always appreciate the skill and dedication of the golfing girls – and of course their alluring fashions and physiques. I managed to grab a few words with Laura Davies at the end of her Pro Am round, she seemed positive and upbeat despite a nagging achiles injury. Something of a veteran now, Laura is still the most well known name to casual followers of the sport and still in the frame at the major championships.
Somehow my attention was drawn to the cavalcade of young lovelies on the practice green, caddies and trainers offered advice as they went through their paces. Surveying the scene from the club house balcony things were coming together well, marquees were springing up around the course, the swans and geese that live around the lake were groomed and smart, and the leader board was clear and inviting for all the contestants.
The food up in the restaurant was very nice, the majestic views across the course added a level of enjoyment and the press room downstairs was slowly filling up with visiting media. During the Pro Am lunch was served in La Carpa the modern function hall opposite the main building, I was very impressed with the décor, layout and fabulous choice of food. Most players were going for the healthy options such as pasta and salad but at one stage there was quite a build up for scoops of varied flavours of ice cream – well they will soon sweat it off out on the course.
I will be dipping in and out as the Spanish Ladies Open progresses to it’s big Sunday climax, the whole event is free so hopefully the public will flock in each day – may the best lady win.
Skill, pace, belief, and teamwork, all qualities that made CD Tenerife a pleasure to watch as they took Caudal Deportivo apart 2-0 to keep them top of Segunda B with four straight wins.
The final score didn’t reflect the dominance of Tenerife with every player adding something positive to the mix. Only some inspired saves from Caudal’s keeper Segura prevented any goals in the first half. Chechu was a constant menace on the right and exposed the visiting defence with two early raids. Caudal had little to offer against a tight home defence with Yeray doing a superb job of the holding role just in front of them, the only slight concern was a weak back pass from Llorente that Sergio dealt with easily.
After 20 minutes Loro turned quickly and fired in a shot that Segura dived to keep out. It was the start of a golden spell for the keeper as he denied Chechu twice, the second with an athletic full length spread. Loro flashed a header wide and Chechu looped a shot over the bar – what a charmed life Caudal were living. We thought we had a pretty decent ref but he rammed our compliments down our throats in the second half, Martin cursed as his promising break was cut short by a clumsy foul that was ignored.
Suso came on for Bruno for a short cameo role as he played the cat among Caudal’s defensive pigeons. Martin had a more productive run and as the visitors defence hesitated his pass found Chechu whose shot trickled teasingly slow over the line for the first goal after 61 minutes. Llorente was unlucky to see his effort from a free kick cleared by the goalies outstretched boot. Suso charged at the Caudal goal and squared the ball to Aridane who couldn’t quite get the killer touch but a few minutes later Suso tried again and this time Aridane converted perfectly for his fifth goal of the season.
The ref was unraveling fast and making some bizarre calls, Suso was on the receiving end with a second red card and he was heading for the dressing room after just 22 minutes of play. Caudal may have ejected CD Marino from the Copa del Rey but Tenerife were a far tougher proposition and even a man short they looked more than good enough to complete the win. The crowd was up nearly a thousand to 7,340 and if Tenerife can keep up this form and the pleasing style of football there will be more good times ahead.
How very remiss of me, it’s been a few months since I last made the short hop to Las Galletas, one of my favourite ports of call. So with a volunteer clean up of the beaches taking place last week it seemed a perfect time to see how the neighbours are doing.
Change arrives in small measures for this delightful fishing village, well it would be difficult to do anything major without ruining the natural charms of Las Galletas. The main beach looked much the same, it was never dirty, most people’s beef seems to be with the shingle and stones and their aspirations for sand to be added. When I first went to Las Galletas some ten years ago the beach was mainly large stones, this was scraped clear and a fine shingle added but sun bathers began popping over the road to the waste ground and bring back large stones to peg their towels out – you can’t please everyone.
Anyway back to the clean up, around 60 volunteers pitched in and removed 600 kilos of rubbish, 500 kilos of that was from the sea bed. It was clear to me that some of the older weather beaten small fishing boats had been pulled over to a quiet corner and several other bigger and possibly abandoned craft moored in mid water now had for sale signs on.
Earlier in the week I had noticed the long deserted Yellow Submarine re-located to Los Cristianos quay side. This former under water viewing ship has been a dirty and unloved anomaly at the Las Galletas for as long as most people can remember – it looks like it outdates The Beatles. It will be interesting to see if it is salvaged, the layers of caked on silt will take more than a few cans of Mr Muscle.
The Marina del Sur is a more recent cautionary tale of apathy and bad planning, it is well used by pleasure craft and excursion trips but is still only a shadow of what was intended. 8 years ago. The Policia Local and fishermen never did move into their purpose built new premises and the little cafe at the far end of the marina arm that embraces the bay opened and shut in the blink of an eye.
Despite all this it is still a hub of fishing tradition with some lovely cheap shops, bars and restaurants in the back streets and the undeveloped nature of the main beach ensures plenty of room and I always enjoy a swim along the sweep of the bay with the mountains of Arona as an inspiring back drop.
Another win but nearly a harsh lesson as CD Tenerife went from coasting at 2-0 to hang on for a 3-2 win at Ourense. Tenerife were majestic for most of the game but relaxed in the second half and let their hosts back in with a shout. The first 15 minutes belonged to Ourense, Quintairos was a handful and Sergio Aragoneses had to be strong to gather the ball at his feet. Sangines also had a half chance but his weak header hardly tickled Sergio’s hands.
Moyano looks better with each game, his 16th minute intervention on Pillado in the penalty box was timed to perfection and straight after that he went on a run that ended with a cross into the danger area that out witted the defence and his team mates. Yeray was the surprise selection for the injured Medina and he forced a save with a glancing header after good work from Chechu and Martin.
Loro opened the scoring in style with a delicately stroked free kick into the top corner of the home net. Tenerife were in control now and the second goal was a real team effort. Moyano put the ball in from a deep position, Aridane brought it down for Martin and he touched it back to Aridane to slot past the keeper. Tenerife were lining up to shoot with Martin and Aridane have a dig before Loro shot wide.
Bruno made a great block to snuff out a raid by Quintairos early in the second half, Suso came on for Chechu and hustled the ball off a home defender before curling his effort just wide of the target. There was more frustration as Suso shrugged off two defenders only to see his shot bounce back off the post. The win seemed secure then but 2-0 is never enough and as Tenerife eased off Ourense came forward. Josu flashed a long ball across the goal mouth, Sergio did well to finger tip it over to safety. With five minutes left the ball came into the Tenerife area and Jona had a free header that left Sergio stranded. Another great move looked to have closed the door on Ourense, Suso put the ball into Aridane, he turned two defenders and passed to give sub Bravo a simple tap in. Even at 3-1 up and in injury time there was more drama, a free kick into the box and a hand ball penalty was called against Loro, Claudio put it wide of Sergio to reduce the arrears just before the final whistle blew.
Tenerife are staying in mainland Spain through to Wednesdays Copa del Rey match at Alcoyano so they will have plenty of free time to mull over today’s lessons. It was still a fine win and the squad is developing nicely, new striker Guillem Marti may well get his debut along with several changes on Wednesday.
Confidence and competition for places, two driving forces that can take a football team a long way, and for CD Tenerife things look good on both those fronts after a second 2-0 win in the opening two league games. Rayo Vallecano B came calling to Santa Cruz and like CD Marino last week they looked very average but Tenerife cruised to a comfortable victory with plenty of plus points to enjoy.
Aridane was again outstanding using his bulk and presence to lead the line but there is much more to this player and his deft touch to set up the second goal was a delight to witness. Rayo were a scrappy side relying on crunching challenges instead of skill, Tenerife were a little nervous in defence early on but after Aragoneses had saved from Jorge and Manquillo had put a shot wide CDT took the game to their visitors. Chechu was again hard to mark on the right and the opener came from his move down the right teeing the ball up for Aridane to score after 15 minutes. Loro is now showing his true form and after a defensive howler nearly resulted in an own goal the ball fell to a closely marked Aridane so he back heeled the ball to Loro for an easy finish.
The floodgates could have opened then if the referee had let the game flow, to be fair he was hampered by a slow linesman who seemed to be in another time zone. Chechu did well to ride a crude tackle when cutting in towards the goal but the ref somehow awarded a free kick against him. Llorente was turning defence into attack on the left and Moyano at right back chipped in with a good interception to set up a goal chance only to hear the whistle interrupt his progress.
The second half brought more chances for Tenerife, coach Cervera gave a run out to local youngster Yeray replacing Medina in midfield and he showed some good touches. Jorge for Rayo spurned a great chance chipping high and wide of the home goal and the visitors began to tire in the intense heat. Suso came on for Loro and showed how much he has grown since his early spell with Tenerife, strong and determined he took over the main striking role with Aridane dropping back a little. Cristo Martin had a half chance that the Rayo keeper juggled before holding and Suso skied the ball with the goal open before him.
Abel was the final home sub, on for Martin, and he too slotted in well. Suso used his strength to shrug off a defender and run the ball along the byline before slipping it to Abel whose shot hit the post. If I wanted to be picky I could say that we should have added more goals but 2 wins, 4 goals scored and none conceded will do nicely. Another good team performance with Victor Bravo, Josmar Zambrano and new striker Guillem Marti still to come. The first proper away game next Sunday at Ourense should give a better indication of how we stand in the pecking order.
The clock of progress ticks slowly in Tenerife, projects seldom finished on time even before the recession. Parque Central de Arona, between the court building and El Camison where Los Cristianos meets Playa de Las Americas, looked finished for its delayed opening date of 12 February but the fences stayed up. Tantalizing glimpses through the mesh promised a well planned and delightfully executed new green space just a car horns blast away from the busy Avenida Chayofita.
Now the covers are off and the park has been revealed in all its green glory. A small lake by a children’s playground provides a focal point at one end and a circular stone kiosk may provide the reason for the tardy opening. The swings and slide were getting a good testing on the day that I passed through but the benches around the lake were empty as the kiosk is not yet open. It seems that much like the new beach in Callao Salvaje the kiosk will go out to tender to entice someone to add a commercial side to support the up keep of the park.
There is a lot to admire here, the foot path meanders slowly through the serenity of the open grassy areas, however relaxation and education go hand in hand here if you look to the banked verges. Plants and bushes familiar by sight around Tenerife are showcased with photos to clearly identify them and background information in Spanish and English puts them into context with their history and uses.
If you find yourself nearby don’t just peep over the hedge, take a stroll, smell the flowers, and admire the growing saplings. Maybe local workers will start to enjoy their breaks with a fistful of sarnies and a lung full of fresh air, could we even hope that miscreants up before the nearby court will pop in to turn over a new leaf or two. If nothing else it should provide a pleasing distraction when taking a short cut across this busy corner at the heart of the modern tourist zone.