Rally Sprint Tejina – Tegueste

Preparations are in place for the first Rally Sprint Tejina – Tegueste

Here's a new one: the Rallye Sprint Tejina-Tegueste, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday 10 April 2021. Apparently, the first edition of this event was previously planned for December last year, but had to be suspended because of the COVID-19 restrictions in place at that time. Now preparations are back on for this new fixture on the rally calendar. 

The video below drives part of the intended route for this new rally. We have to assume that the drivers in the actual trial will encounter *less* vans coming in the opposite direction. The condition of the road surface and number of potholes will make it interesting in some sections. And I know from personal experience that all those residents who live right alongside the road will probably hear of this the first time a noisy vehicle rushes past. Do they know they'll need to move their parked cars and plant pots?  Can you see this even being allowed in other locations? That's what makes it so typical of Tenerife.

Vídeo tramo Tejina-Tegueste del I Rallye Sprint Tejina-Tegueste

Vegetable stew with red beans from Ortigal

Vegetable stew with red beans from Ortigal

The best remedy against the cold - this recipe for vegetable stew with red beans - came from an elderly woman from the La Laguna neighbourhood of El Ortigal. 

Ingredients:

250 gr. of canned red kidney beans 

1 carrot

1 piece of pumpkin

1 bunch fresh spinach

250 gr. of green beans

2 medium potatoes

1 white onion

1/2 green pepper

1/2 red pepper

1 ripe tomato, grated

Olive oil, a bay leaf and salt

1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika

1/2 litre of vegetable stock

Method:

Start by making the sofrito, adding a good glug of olive oil, thinly sliced onion, the two types of peppers, finely chopped, and the grated tomato into a deep pan. Cook over medium heat so that the vegetables are poached.

Put the beans in a colander and rinse well, reserve. Cut the rest of the vegetables (potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, and beans) into pieces, then add them to the pan once the sofrito is well poached, season and add the sweet paprika, then cook the vegetables alone for a few minutes. Add the vegetable stock and enough water until the vegetables are covered and let it cook for about 8 minutes.

When the vegetables are almost cooked, add the red beans, stir and cook for another 5-10 minutes. Chop the spinach leaves and reserve.

Add the spinach near the end of the cooking time, correct the seasoning and cook for the last few minutes for all the ingredients and the stock to mix well and thicken a little. 

Potaje de verduras con judías rojas del Ortigal

Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 1992

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1992, Patricia Rodríguez Pérez

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1992 was the 17 year old, Patricia Rodríguez Pérez with a costume entitled, ‘Catire Goayana’, designed by José Julio Rodríguez y Juan Fajardo and sponsored by the capital's CC Maya shopping centre.

The theme that year was 'Cinema': The stage in the Plaza de España evoked a Western movie set.

In 1992, the court was made up as follows:

1. 1st Maid of Honour: Laura Infante Castilla, with "Made in Canarias", representing McDonalds and designed by Leo Martínez.
2. 2nd Maid of Honour: Sole Yunta Domínguez, with a costume entitled "Montecarlo", representing Almacenes El Kilo and designed by Leo Martínez.
3. 3rd Maid of Honour: María del Mar Esteban Vargas, with a costume entitled "Máquina Total Dos" (Total Machine Two), representing Galerías Preciados and designed by Leo Martínez.
4. 4th Maid of Honour: Raquel Bedoya González, with a costume entitled "Y ahora vengo yo" (And now I come), representing Casinos de Juegos de Tenerife and designed by Carlos Marrero.

Here is coverage of the Comparsas in 1992, among them many names that still feature at carnival and a few that no longer do: Cariocas, Bahia Dorada, Joroperos, Brasileiros, Valleiros, Tabajaras, Corumba, Danzarines Canarios, Rio Orinoco, Rumberos.

Tenerife group "Salsarrica" released an album entitled, "Colón, Colón - Sabor Canario", which included the songs "Colón, Colón", dedicated to the 500th Anniversary of the Discovery of America (by Columbus) and also "El Carnaval lo hace el pueblo" (The People Make the Carnival), dedicated to the carnival of Santa Cruz of Tenerife. 

Reina del Carnaval de S/C de Tenerife 1992

The wind sculpture by César Manrique

The wind sculpture by César Manrique

This sculpture is located in the centre of the square in front of the Auditorio de Tenerife, the Castillo de San Juan and the Parque Marítimo César Manrique, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It was built in 2001 by Aquilino Dorta Pérez, although it was designed by César Manrique, whose sketches to make it were interpreted by Juan Amigó and José L. Olcina.

Manrique, in addition to being an architect and painter, designed several sculptures, always based on mobility, which he called "toys of the wind." They are generally metallic structures formed by a composition of geometric elements that rotate with the action of the wind, interacting with each other. The various sketches that he left after his death are being made and the mobile sculptures are being placed in different parts of the Canary Islands. 

Escultura Móvil de César Manrique

Tegueste to hold local Craft Fair in April

Tegueste Council, "in its commitment to supporting the handicraft sector", has organized a Local Craft Fair, which will take place on the weekend of April 10 and 11 at the Mercado del Agricultor de Tegueste Farmer's Market, from 9:00 a.m. at 2:00 p.m..

Mayor of Tegueste, Ana Rosa Mena, explained that the Fair, which had been postponed at Christmas due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will comply with the access restrictions and security measures dictated by the health authorities to avoid contagion. "Guaranteeing the safety of the participating artisans, as well as visitors is our priority," said Mena. Likewise, the Councillor for Crafts, Eladia López, announced that in total there will be 20 artisans who will participate in this fair and that they are specialized in ceramics, embroidery, jewellery and textile manufacturing, among other disciplines. “It is a great opportunity to show support for local artisans, especially this sector that has been so hit by the crisis generated by COVID-19, and that is part of the culture, traditions and lifestyle of the municipality”, said the councillor.

The handicraft guide

"The Tegueste Handicraft Fair joins other actions promoted by the council to highlight the work of professionals in the artisanal sector, such as the handicraft guide, prepared and distributed by the  council itself", explained a note to the press sent from the Council.

El municipio celebrará el próximo mes la Feria Local de Artesanía

Town Hall of Buenavista del Norte

Town Hall of Buenavista del Norte (left) in the Calle Alhóndiga

Address: Calle la Alhóndiga, 5, 38480 Buenavista del Nte., Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

Phone: +34 922 12 90 30

Official website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

In addition, Buenavista del Norte has a Tourist Information office at the “Casa Matula”, Plaza de Los Remedios, 4. Phone: +34 922 12 80 80 and +34 922 12 90 30-Ext: 1071. Email: turismo@buenavistadelnorte.es and it's own Facebook: Turismo Buenavista del Norte

Traditional Fiestas in Buenavista del Norte

Via Crucis in the Historical Town of Adeje

Via Crucis in the Historical Town of Adeje

Good Friday and under normal circumstances, the Representación de la Pasión de Cristo (Representation of the Passion of Christ) - Passion of Jesus -  or Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross) would be taking place in the historical town of Adeje. Usually more than 300 local amateur actors would take part and the event transmitted live on TV, as well as drawing hundreds of thousands of tourists to the area. This year, as with last, however, because of the pandemic, the Bishop has suspended all such Easter processions and events outside churches, so this will not be taking place today. 

Here, instead, is the TV coverage from the last time it was celebrated in 2019:

Representación de la Pasión Adeje 2019

Tenerife in April 2021

Holy Week Procession in La Laguna Koppchen, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

April 2021 begins with two Public Holidays today, Thursday 1 April (Jueves Santo/Maundy Thursday) and, tomorrow, Friday 2 April (Viernes Santo/Good Friday). This year, because of the ongoing pandemic, the Bishopric has suspended acts of worship and processions outside the churches, so there will be none of the usual processions.

Municipal Holidays: Monday 19 April is the Festivity of Santo Hermano Pedro in Vilaflor de Chasna and Monday 26 April, the day after the Festivity of San Marcos, is a holiday in the municipalities of Icod de los Vinos and Tegueste. 

On the Rally Calendar for 2021, the RallySprint Atogo is scheduled for 10 April and the Orvecame Norte Rally for 24 April. More details if or when we get them.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 1991

Carnival Queen in 1991, Isabel Luis Hernández

In 1991, Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife was Isabel Luis Hernández, with a costume entitled, ‘Al ritmo de la noche’ (To the rhythm of the night), designed by Leo Martínez and sponsored by J&B Whisky.

The theme for carnival that year was 'Space': The tower of the Plaza de España was integrated into the scenery, transforming it into a giant telecommunications antenna dominated by metal, neon and laser lights.

It has to be said that 1991's carnival poster, designed by Mel Ramos, is the most saucy we've seen to date.

In 1991, the court was made up as follows:

1. 1st Maid of Honour: Concha Hernández Padrón, with a costume entitled "A La Guaira en correíllo cargada de loros stop. Besos, Concha" (To La Guaira ...), representing Almacenes El Kilo and designed by Justo Gutiérrez.
2. 2nd Maid of Honour: Míriam Rodríguez Afonso, costume "Viajar en mascarón", representing Almacenes Número 1 and designed by Miguel Ángel Castilla Abreu.
3. 3rd Maid of Honour: Gema Medina Cambero, "Escarlata O'Hara" (Scarlet O'Hara), representing Galerías Preciados and designed by Leo Martínez.
4. 4th Maid of Honour: Beatriz Curbelo González, with a costume entitled "Como una tormenta de Carnaval" (Like a carnival storm), representing Centro Comercial Maya and designed by José Julio Rodríguez.

Coronación Reina del Carnaval de S/C de Tenerife 1991

Guided Tour of the Auditorio de Tenerife

Auditorio de Tenerife "Adán Martín"

Plaza de los Alisios / Trade Winds Plaza

Lunch at the GastroMag Auditorio de Tenerife

Mag Café Bistro Auditorio de Tenerife

Auditorio de Tenerife with the Castillo Negro

Las torres gemelas de Santa Cruz de Tenerife / The twin towers of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The Castillo Negro from the Auditorio.

Castle of St John the Baptist or Castillo Negro

View from the balcony on the Auditorio. In the foreground (right) is the Castillo Negro, in the middle ground is the Parque Marítimo César Manrique and the hillock behind is the Palmetum: a botanical garden which has transformed a rubbish tip. A Paradise Built On Top Of A Landfill

Last time I was in Santa Cruz, I accepted an invitation for a Guided Tour of the Auditorio de Tenerife, emblematic building, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. It seems that these tours are still available as their page states, "The guided tours offered by Auditorio de Tenerife include the same prevention measures against Coronavirus as for the rest of the building." As I had my non-Spanish speaking husband with me, the lady who took us round - yes, just the two of us - explained everything in English. You do need to reserve in advance through: call 922 568 625 or via email to visitas@auditoriodetenerife.com