The €142m All-Inclusive Problem

THE new prime minister of Greece has declared war on the country’s all-inclusive resorts – a move which will reinvigorate the will of those who want them banned in Tenerife.

All-you-can-eat buffets and unlimited drinks by the pool are under threat, even though that particular tourism sector brings in £1.5billion a year for the Greek economy.

And with so many all-inclusive hotels here on the Island also popular with the British, could Greece PM Alexis Tsipras have sparked the first hint of a revolution throughout Europe’s tourist industry?

The Canarian Weekly estimates that over 140 million euros is being lost to the Tenerife economy through all-inclusive packages which drive people out of local bars, restaurants and businesses.

The €142m All-Inclusive Problem

Santa Cruz main roads to have alcohol checkpoints over next few weeks

Over the next few weeks drivers in the Santa Cruz area will almost certainly pass a series of Guardia Civil alcohol checkpoints which are being set up on all main roads in and out of the capital. It’s because of the Santa Cruz Carnaval, of course, but anyone driving to and from Santa Cruz is just as likely to be stopped and breath-tested. The measures, under the control of thirty Tráfico officers, will be operating around the clock in an attempt to persuade carnival-goers into using public transport for the major events, and to keep the roads safe while the city is in party mode.

Santa Cruz main roads to have alcohol checkpoints over next few weeks

Carnival’s hotting up!

LAST night (Thursday) saw the final eight groups competing for a place in the final of the Santa Cruz Carnival Adult Murga competition.

All week long, competition has been fierce as months of hard work and practice came down to the will of the judges.

The heats were all performed in front of capacity crowds at the fairground arena, and tonight’s final (Friday) is also sold out.

Carnival’s hotting up!

Festival Internacional de Música de Arona (FIMA)

FIMA 2015, the sixth Festival Internacional de Música de Arona, starts tomorrow, offering a series of concerts, dance, workshops and classes which will be performed in various locations throughout Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas over the next three weeks.

Festival Internacional de Música de Arona (FIMA) 2015, 31 January-21 February

Something for the weekend: Candelaria / Candlemas

Monday, 2nd February is a Public Holiday in Tenerife, which is for the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin or Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, probably better known as Candlemas. The Patron of the Canary Islands, the Virgin of Candelaria or Our Lady of Candelaria (Virgen de Candelaria, Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria), is housed in the Basilica of Candelaria (pictured) in the town of Candelaria. Candelaria translates to Candlemas.

The Quiet Side of Roques de Garcia on Tenerife

There are a couple of popular beliefs about visiting Teide National Park to worship at the feet of Spain’s highest mountain, the slumbering Mount Teide.

One is it’s nearly always cool in the park outside of summer – a fair assessment given the air temperature at the moment is a not so sultry 2C. The other is that, like highly popular tourist attractions all over the world, it is packed to the gunwales with other people wanting to be wowed by one of the most outstanding views on the planet.

Those views are a bit like many perceptions of Tenerife itself. They’re not strictly wrong, but neither are they totally correct. They simply don’t paint the full picture.

The Quiet Side of Roques de Garcia on Tenerife

How to get to the Summit of Mount Teide

The ultimate trip on Tenerife is to go to the tip of Spain’s highest mountain to gaze across a fantastical landscape often referred to as out of this world. It might be an overused term, but it’s not an exaggeration.

How do you actually get there?

Climbing seems the obvious answer, and that’s the established way to get from the base to the peak of a mountain. But there are technicalities involved with scaling the third highest volcano on earth. Like the little matter of requiring a permit.

How to get to the Summit of Mount Teide

Almond Flower Walk, 7th February 2015

It's that wonderful time of year  when the natural world begins to reawaken from it's winter slumbers (which in Tenerife seems like only a short nap) and blossoms begin appearing once more on the trees.

This also means it's time for the famous, annual Almond Flower Walk in Santiago del Teide.

This year's XVIII RUTA DEL ALMENDRO EN FLOR - I make that the 18th - is taking place on Saturday, 7th February 2015.

For this edition, two routes have been prepared, a long route, which is 4.5 hours and of HIGH difficulty (not recommended for the under 10's and over 65's who are not habitual walkers), and a short route for the rest of us of just 3 hours and low to medium dificulty.

Both walks start out from Santiago del Teide at 8.30 am and take in the almond groves in the Chinyero Forestry Reserve, walking along lava paths laid by the Chinyero volcano eruption in 1909, ending in the village of Arguayo.

To take part, you must register (and places are limited), which you can do by downloading the registration form (Word DOC) at the website of Santiago del Teide council here and then sending it to the email address given at the foot of the form. There is a notional cost of €5.00. Once registerred, you will be notified and given an account number to make payment to.

For more information, phone 922-86-31-27 ext. 234.

XVIII Ruta del Almendro en Flor

Strolling the Sculpture Trail in Santa Cruz

One of the things that surprised us when we moved to Tenerife was finding out Santa Cruz had a Rambla just like Barcelona; a tree-lined avenue that cuts through the city where you can stroll hand in hand in the dappled shade, stopping every so often to partake of refreshments (i.e. have a beer).

Strolling the Sculpture Trail in Santa Cruz

Why I Live in the North of Tenerife

The biggest reason why we chose to settle in Puerto de la Cruz in the north of Tenerife is something that is difficult to explain as it’s something you can only feel. From the moment we arrived, having checked out a few other towns first, and ordered our first cerveza (with a Madrid type ‘th’ until we knew better) in Plaza del Charco, we were infected by the strength of the town’s soul. It seeps out of historic buildings and rises up from the cobbles that people have trampled for centuries, filling the atmosphere so that although you can’t see it, it courses through your veins. Places either have a soul or they don’t and not everyone can tune into it.

Why I Live in the North of Tenerife

Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 26 January to 1 February

More of the same. The pattern for the coming week follows recent weeks with sunshine and warmer temperatures at the start of the week and cloud rolling in during the second half, although there will still be long sunny spells most places. The outlook for the weekend doesn’t look great, with cloudy skies and rain falling most places at some point during the day. Saying that, even then there should be sunny spells.

Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 26 January to 1 February

Masca Deep And Teide High With Tamaran Jeep Safari on Tenerife

A slipper, a dog, a giant’s head, and even a swan; we all had our own ideas of the volcanic formations 2,700 metres up in Teide National Park. It’s all about perspectives and our Tamaran Jeep Safari was giving us plenty of browsing time to assess the moods and wonders of Tenerife.

Masca Deep And Teide High With Tamaran Jeep Safari on Tenerife

The Barranco del Infierno Update January 2015

Something may actually be happening with the Barranco del Infierno in Adeje. Spanish press reports claim that work to make it safe for walking could be completed  in March, meaning there’s a chance that the popular hiking route could be open sometime in April.

The Barranco del Infierno Update January 2015

Six Tenerife Shopping Centres

With the January sales now in full swing, it might be useful to have a quick look at six of the largest commercial centres (CCs) on the island so you can plan where you’re going to spend all the money you don’t have left after Christmas. Most are open 10am to 10pm every day but the Santa Cruz and La Laguna ones close on Sundays.

Six Tenerife Shopping Centres

San Sebastian bathing in Adeje’s adulation again!

Following the traditional dip and blessing of the animals, which  included goats, horses, cats, birds, donkeys and others, the Saint’s statue was carried back up to the plaza and the church.

Given the numbers in attendance, there was, as usual, local police, civil protection and maritime units on stand-by at all times, and no untoward incidents were reported during the event.

This is a celebration with many years’ history, dating back to the late 18th century, though it has changed somewhat over the years.

San Sebastian bathing in Adeje’s adulation again!

Space-age Carnival has Gala warm-up

THE Santa Cruz Carnival is just a matter of hours away, and on Wednesday night the inaugural gala was held at the fairgrounds.

The 90-minute extravaganza set the stage for a month of festivities and featured the long-awaited draw for the Carnival Queen, Princess and senior galas.

The gala opening had a futuristic feel and included the unveiling of a spaceship, which symbolises the theme of this year’s carnival which is ‘the future’.

Space-age Carnival has Gala warm-up

Something for the weekend: Fiesta Feeling

If last week was the turn of Los Silos, this weekend sees the Fiestas for San Antionio Abad the massive gathering of domestic animals (both livestock and ever more bizarre and wonderful pets) for their annual blessing in Buenavista del Norte, which Jack Montgomery says "... is probably a better introduction for anyone who isn’t familiar with Tenerife’s fiestas." 

Sunday morning, from around 11am, is when you want to be there. Follow the crowds to the town's main square, where the processions will end in front of the church, or better yet follow those aiming for where the animals will gather first for the livestock fair. 

Brave young cancer survivor to climb Teide

A 10-year-old boy who overcame a three and a half year battle with leukaemia will be climbing Mount Teide to raise money for charities which helped him when he was unwell at home in Alderney, in the Channel Islands. Zack’s mother Jo says that his only respite at the time was the family’s twice-yearly trips to Tenerife, and that her son always wanted to climb Teide. Now he’s going to do so, with his 11-year-old friend Liam, and the two have raised almost £2,000 so far with sponsorship for a two-day ascent in April. The boys’ goal is to raise £5,000 in total, and if that amount is exceeded, any balance will go to Tenerife causes. If anyone would like to sponsor the boys there is a gofundme page HERE to do so online. Good luck to them both!

Brave young cancer survivor to climb Teide

Views, Food and Miracles on a City Walk in La Laguna

Except if you happen to be sitting in a queue on the TF1, I cannot imagine how people cannot love La Laguna, it’s crammed with character, oozing history and buzzing with city life. I can only assume that the people who hate it don’t really know it. And the easy way to correct that, is to follow one of our city walks. Taking in the main attractions, the La Laguna guide is crammed with information, advice and tips on how to get the best from the city, including how to get there, where to park and recommendations for where to eat.

It’s a fascinating city and I defy you not to love it.

The La Laguna – UNESCO World Heritage Site city walking guide is now available to buy online in PDF format for just €3.

Views, Food and Miracles on a City Walk in La Laguna

Things to do on a Cloudy Day in the South of Tenerife

It’s winter on Tenerife. Some people don’t like to mention the ‘W’ word, or admit that Tenerife enjoys anything other than perpetual summer temperatures.

I’ve often wondered if there’s a secret science lab on the island where people go to have memories of gloomy days erased and replaced with ones of cloudless blue skies.

But we do have a winter on Tenerife. It’s not a particularly long one, and it certainly isn’t a particularly cold one by Northern European standards. If temperatures drop below 20C at the coast we raise a quizical eyebrow and wonder if it’s a sign that the world is about to end.

Things to do on a Cloudy Day in the South of Tenerife

Fiestas and Romería de San Antonio Abad in Güímar

This coming weekend, on Sunday, 25th January, 2015, the Fiestas and Romería de San Antonio Abad also take place in Güímar.

The Güímar romería is considered one of the most important on the island. As in previous years, there will be livestock, pets and exotic species taking part, as well as folk groups from the district and from other parts of the island.

Fiestas y Romería de San Antonio Abad

The Eighth Off The Beaten Track Tenerife Viewpoint

In a recent article, Ten Off The Beaten Track Tenerife Viewpoints, at number eight, Andrea Montgomery writes, "Drag yourself away from the El Caletón rock pools of Garachico and go into the little Parque Puerta Tierra built around the toll gate which survived the earthquake of 1706. At the very back of the park climb up to an obelisk for great views over the town." 

We thought you might like that interpreted in images (click the links to see each one full size): 

1. El Caletón rock pools 
2. The toll gate which survived the erruption of 1706 
3. An obelisk (erected to conmemorate the 300th anniversary of the 1706 erruption.)
4. Great views over the town

Well worth the climb and a fascinating part of the island's history.

Playa De Las Americas from £329 per person

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Forget the Label, Review of El Maná in Puerto de la Cruz

Even when we didn’t eat meat, we hated it when we were dished up the blandly boring and, frankly, too healthy looking food that many people who aren’t vegetarian visualise when they hear the word ‘vegetarian’. One look at El Maná’s menu and it was instantly obvious that it was our sort of vegetarian restaurant – creative and yummy sounding food that gets the juices flowing whatever your culinary persuasion.

Forget the Label, Review of El Maná in Puerto de la Cruz

Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 19 to 25 January

The chances are it could be quite a cloudy and cool week everywhere on Tenerife… except Teide National Park which should be sunny, but cool. The south west (around the Los Gigantes area) looks best for most coastal sunshine, whereas it’s a week of two halves in the south; sunny for the first part, cloudy the second. In the north there could be quite a bit of cloud every day, but there should also be sunshine every day as well. Temperatures will remain on the cool side and there will be a chance of showers most days. A weather alert for high waves affects all coasts on Monday and Tuesday.

Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 19 to 25 January

San Antonio Abad Buenavista del Norte 2015

Details of the Fiesta for San Antonio Abad in Buenavista del Norte this coming Sunday, 25th January 2015 are as follows: The Exhibition and Livestock Fair takes place at Finca La Peña from 11 am. The traditional Romeria begins from there at 2 pm and ends at the Plaza Los Remedios in front of the church and, upon arrival, there will be dancing to the Orquesta Malibú Band. 

Via: Ayuntamiento Buenavista del Norte

Would you like to take part in a sponsored cycle ride for a mental health charity?

If you would like to take part in a sponsored cycle challenge on Saturday 7 Feb click through for details on how to obtain an information pack. The ride is downhill all the way from Teide to Los Gigantes!

Would you like to take part in a sponsored cycle ride for a mental health charity?

Chilly December

THE month of December was the coldest in the Canary Islands since 2008 and the second coolest this Millennium.

The average temperature in the archipelago was 15.5 degrees Celsius or 61 degrees Fahrenheit.  This is around 2C below the average temperature as recorded by the Advancement Climatology of the State Agency Meteorology (Aemet) .

This is unusual because there have been a high number of calima days. The unseasonal weather event has helped push the average temperature up, and it’s understood the figure would have been as much as 5C cooler but for the strange weather just before Christmas.

Chilly December

Ten Off The Beaten Track Tenerife Viewpoints

We love our views here on Tenerife and we love to share them with visitors. To date, we’ve shown you the best views of Mount Teide, the best miradors and the most panoramic cafés on the island. Now here are my ten tips for some lesser-known places from which to get cracking views.

Ten Off The Beaten Track Tenerife Viewpoints

Adeje honours San Sebastián

WITH Christmas and the Three Kings’ celebrations out of the way, Adeje is now ready for the next annual fiesta – to honour the town’s co-patron, San Sebastián, on Monday and Tuesday (19-20^th Jan).

This is one of the most popular and engaging fiestas in Tenerife, the highlight being the bathing of horses and other four-legged mounts at La Caleta’s La Enramada beach.

Adeje honours San Sebastián

Something for the weekend: Canarian Cowboy

 

Coming up this weekend in Los Silos is the Fiesta of San Antonio Abad, whose saints' day is on January 17th. The agricultural fair and blessing of domestic animals as they parade through the streets, will take place on Sunday, January 18th. Gather for the fair from 10am, with mass and the lunch-time processions to follow.

Racing the Storm to see the Lunar Landscape in Vilaflor

Normally when it’s one of those irregular times when there’s a storm alert, we stay well clear of the hills. But we’ve booked a night in a rural hotel, Alta Montaña, in Vilaflor so we’re committed.

The storm isn’t due to arrive till late afternoon, around 4pm. In theory we’ve got time to reach the Paisaje Lunar and return to the hotel before it arrives… as long as the Spanish weather forecasters are right.

Racing the Storm to see the Lunar Landscape in Vilaflor

Ten Tenerife Hotels with Unusual Quirks

Although we live on Tenerife we also stay in hotels around the island on a regular basis. What’s interesting about Tenerife is that there are all types of hotels to suit wildly varying tastes: from budget to luxury and from boutique to rural.

Some hotels look like 70s apartment blocks, some look like colonial mansions. Some are like carbon copies of a thousand other hotels around the world, whereas others are wonderfully individualistic.

The last lot are the ones I particularly enjoy staying in.

Ten Tenerife Hotels with Unusual Quirks

Villages at the End of the Tenerife Road

There’s something different about end of the road places; something slightly unsettling in one way and exciting in another. They’re too tucked away for casual explorers to stumble across. Their access roads are far too narrow and winding to accommodate anything but the smallest of coaches, so they simply don’t exist for tourist excursions. They feel different; remote with the faintest aroma of frontier land still hanging over them.

There are a few places on Tenerife that stir these, possibly over-romanticed, notions. Maybe it has no meaning or relevance, maybe it does, but the ones where it feels strongest are located almost at the island’s most easterly and westerly points.

Villages at the End of the Tenerife Road

Ryanair: Extra flights to Tenerife, Berlin and Ibiza from East Midlands Airport

This year, rather than adding lots of new destinations, Ryanair’s focus is to increase the frequency of some of its most popular routes.

These include extra flights to Alicante, Berlin, Faro, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Malaga, Palma and Tenerife. Tickets have now gone on sale, with the first 100,000 seats priced £19.99.

Ryanair: Extra flights to Tenerife, Berlin and Ibiza from East Midlands Airport

Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 12 to 18 January

Not a lot of difference from last week – a sunny start to the week with some cloud rolling in during the second half of the week bringing rain to some parts. Shade temperatures will remain on the low side, especially during the second half of the week and there might some more snowfall on Mount Teide. But, and here’s the Tenerife winter reality check, the sun should still be around a lot, even on the days with cloud.

Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 12 to 18 January

Police And Painters Amid The Santa Cruz Bargain Hunters

Just when you think people’s wallets are empty from the festive period along come the sales and they squeeze a little more to pick up a good offer. Santa Cruz always has big reductions in the January sales and it was buzzing for my latest visit.

Police And Painters Amid The Santa Cruz Bargain Hunters

Kissing Canaries

Christmas festivities over, and Carnival weeks away, I wondered, what’s on the agenda for January? Surfing the internet showed that January 21st is National Hugging Day. I had to smile, because it seemed to me that the Canary Islands have no need to elect a specific day, since hugs and kisses are seen on every street corner and supermarket isle. Indeed, you might be forgiven that you’d stumbled into an awards dinner, watching the effusive greetings when friends meet in a bar or restaurant, including the most macho of men.

Kissing Canaries

Fiestas of San Antonio Abad 2015

This coming weekend sees the Fiestas of San Antonio Abad (St Anthony Abbot) in both Arona and Los Silos.

San Antonio Abad, Los Silos

In Los Silos, the program of events get underway on Friday, 16th January with the opening of an art exhibition at 7.30pm, followed at 8pm by a tapas tasting with wines from the region in the former Convent of San Sebastian, opposite the main town square, Plaza de la Luz.

On Saturday, 17th January, there will be Lucha del Garrote Canario (Canarian Stick Fighting) from 11am in and around the Plaza de la Luz. From 9pm, in the area around the church, will be a Noche de Parrandas where bands of local folk musicians will provide music, no doubt well lubricated with more of the local wine.

Sunday, 18th January, from 10am, sees the Livestock Fair and Craft Fair, the former gathering on ground to the rear of the former convent and the latter in and around the Plaza de la Luz. Mass will be celebrated at mid-day and the processions will follow, during which all the animals will get their annual blessing.

San Antonio Abad, Arona

In Arona, highlights include a dance on the Friday night; hot chocolate for everyone and fireworks on the Saturday and the traditional Romeria at 12.30pm on the Sunday.

There is also transport laid on to take you to Arona from the centers of Los Cristianos and Playa de las Ameicas.

The full program has an English translation included and can be downloaded here (PDF).

Something for the weekend: Continuing Christmas Season

You will notice that Christmas decorations don't come down on Twelth Night in Tenerife - this image was taken in mid-January some years ago - and that makes perfect sense when you realise that the Eve of Epiphany (that is Twelth Night, in case you weren't aware) is when the biggest celebrations of the Christmas period take place - the Three Kings Parades - and Epiphany itself (January 6th) is a Public holiday, so you wouldn't want the decorations already gone.

It is the custom in many places in the Catholic world to keep the Nativity and some of the garlands up in churches and homes until February 2, the Solemnity of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple - otherwise known as Candlemas. Candlemas is the last festival in the Christian year that is dated by reference to Christmas; subsequent holidays are calculated with reference to Easter, so Candlemas marks the end of the Christmas and Epiphany season.

Adeje Rally to kick off the National season

The news was relayed to the Adeje mayor José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga and the borough’s sports councillor Adolfo Alonso by the sport’s local team president Policarpo Delgado and Orlando Méndez, in charge of Team Factory. They outlined their plans for the rally to the mayor and the councillor and promised “a lot of surprises” during the event.

Adeje Rally to kick off the National season

The Best Fiestas, Festivals and Events on Tenerife in January 2015

In terms of events on Tenerife, there aren’t as many as in other months and local councils are frustratingly slow at publicising what’s on. I could put this down to a Navidad hangover if it didn’t happen continually throughout the year. This year we have an early Carnaval (main events start on 11 Feb) which means that traditional areas will already be distracted by the biggest event in the fiesta calender.

There’s still plenty to see and do on Tenerife this month, especially if you’re into animals (so to speak).

The Best Fiestas, Festivals and Events on Tenerife in January 2015

Catering for Different Tastes in Tenerife’s Resorts

Whatever you think about Tripadvisor, it’s a good resource for checking out restaurants in any destination you’re considering visiting. You have to be able to ‘edit’ a bit, sorting out the reviews that tell you nothing, or that say more about the preferences of the person writing the review than they do about the restaurant. But there is useful information to be found in there.

Catering for Different Tastes in Tenerife's Resorts

Tenerife Public Holidays 2015

With no less than 14 National, island-wide and local festivals a year, not to mention the multitudes of local Patron Saints days, keeping on top of the festival calendar is a challenge. In an attempt to pull the main days together, here is my run down of the main dates in 2015 when you can expect Government offices, Correos and commercial centres to be closed.

Tenerife Public Holidays 2015

Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 6 to 11 January

It looks as though those clear blue skies might disappear with the Christmas decorations. Although it’s not looking like a bad week on Tenerife – there will be sunshine most days – there will be more cloud than in recent weeks. There’s also a good chance of some rain in most municipalities. It’s not going to get any warmer yet and in fact Friday will be cool in the shade everywhere. It should be warm in the sunshine, unless you’re in a breezy area. Most dramatic impact could be on Mount Teide where there will be snow and almost Arctic temperatures.

Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 6 to 11 January

31st International Music Festival of the Canaries

The 31st International Music Festival of the Canaries will be held throughout the islands between 11 January and 13 February. In Tenerife, the concerts will be in the Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín in Santa Cruz.

31st International Music Festival of the Canaries

Swimming and Sunbathing all Year on Tenerife

Despite millions upon millions of people having arrived on Tenerife looking ‘sheet of paper white’ and leaving with a far healthier golden complexion whatever month they visit, there are still lots of people who ask ‘can you sunbathe on Tenerife in… (add the month of your choice here)?’

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again… and again… and again, the answer is a huge yes. You can sunbathe and swim on any of Tenerife’s coasts during any month of the year.

Swimming and Sunbathing all Year on Tenerife

Meteor showers in the Canaries in 2015

The first meteor shower of 2015 was the Quadrantids, which hardly provided any show a couple of nights ago since the peak only lasted a few hours, and there was an almost full moon which didn’t set until just before dawn. With this year’s Quadrantids not giving the best show, below is a full list of this year’s other meteor showers. The next is the Lyrids in April:

Meteor showers in the Canaries in 2015

Low temperatures forecast for Tenerife tonight

Meteorologists are saying that a particularly cold front is affecting the Canaries, with temperatures at midday in La Laguna not getting above 14º. Tonight, however, they are set to drop significantly, with the Teide national park expected to record -6º, and medianías (between 600 and 1500m) just 2º.

Low temperatures forecast for Tenerife tonight

Something for the weekend: We Three Kings

Upcoming this week is probably the most anxiously awaited event of the entire year as children and adults alike wait to see what Los Reyes (The Three Kings) will bring them on the evening of January 5th - The Eve of Epiphany. If you get the chance, do go to see one of the Los Reyes parades on that night, which take place in most towns on the island. Pictured is the parade from Garachico.

San Pablo Gourmet Food Market Opens in La Laguna

Two months ago La Laguna, the former capital of Tenerife, added another string to its not inconsiderable bow making it an even more attractive city for visitors. Known since the conquest as a city of poets, writers and artists, its obvious attractions have always included stunning architecture, multiple art exhibitions and a thriving tapas scene.

San Pablo Gourmet Food Market Opens in La Laguna

Valerij Petasch, performs in Los Cristianos auditorium

Russian concert pianist, musicologist and composer Valerij Petasch will be giving a concert on Saturday 24th at 8.30pm. Alhough the programme is still to be confirmed, it will certainly include works from the composers which Petasch is most known for, namely Chopin, Schubert, Brahms, Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Liszt, Debussy, Ravel, Tchaikovsky, Glinka, and of course, the works which Petasch composed himself.

Tickets are €10, and as usual are available Monday to Friday between 9am and 2pm from the Cultural Centre in Los Cristianos, or two hours beforehand at the auditorium itself.

Another international concert pianist, Valerij Petasch, performs in Los Cristianos auditorium

Gordon Ramsay still fighting Tenerife restaurant trading on his name

The chef was furious after his eponymous brand was hijacked by a business at the resort that sold cheap three course meals and deals including “breakfast and a drink” for 2.99 euros and ordered lawyers to take action.

"We are taking immediate steps to ensure it does not continue to infringe our intellectual property rights,” he said.

But four years on, Gordon “Ransay’s” Cocktail Lounge Bar and Restaurant in Puerto Colon, Tenerife, is still thriving.

Gordon Ramsay still fighting Tenerife restaurant trading on his name

Tenerife in January

Find out what's on in Tenerife in January, what the weather averages are and grab a free copy of our exclusive image of the month.

Tenerife in January