Title: Los Cristianos Carnaval Queen Presentation – Children & Adults
Location: Auditorio Infanta Leonor, Los Cristianos
Description: Meet the candidates for the big events at this year’s Carnaval. Starts at 8.30pm.
Start Time: 20.30
Date: 2012-03-02

Title: CD Tenerife v Albacete
Location: Heliodoro Stadium, Santa Cruz
Link out: Click here
Description: A “six pointer” as CD Tenerife try to get back into the top four play off places. Kick off at noon.
Date: 2012-02-05

Scampering up one of the 200 foot masts of the sailing brig Stavros S Niarchos, second officer Ben Wheatley made it look easy. Having climbed the rope ladder, and worked along one of the slats holding the sails, Ben was just below the 12 metre high Up And Over platform, one of the initial challenges to crew members signing on for a Tall Ships Adventure to build character and team work.

Santa Cruz and Portsmouth, the home ports of Stavros, are forever linked in history by a certain Horatio Nelson but these days there’s no need for press gangs. Up to 48 raw crew members of all ages pay to join the ship for week long voyages from its three month base in Tenerife. There are also 10 volunteer crew in key positions and six permanent paid crew who have worked their way up to Captains and Skippers.

I caught Stavros between a Sea Shanty and a Wildlife Watch week as Ben explained. “We had two professional musicians on board to teach traditional sea shanty’s, when we came back into Santa Cruz from our tour around the Canary Islands we entertained a bar full of people. On the wildlife trip we have an expert to educate the crew about the animals we see.”

It’s not all music and mammals, Happy Hour is a jolly name for scrubbing the decks to music. There are also long watches to keep the ship manned around the clock, maintenance, steering, and hauling the sails. “Climbing the masts to set the sails is a small part of the job, they are controlled by hauling on ropes that are coiled on deck. We have a motor but like to use wind power for as much of the voyages as possible. On a good week the sails are our sole source of power for two thirds of the trip.”

Topside the ship looks and creaks like a well worn eighteenth century rig but down in the modern hull the maker’s plate gives the true version, built in Appledore, Devon in 2000. The mess has a modern stainless steel kitchen, not a ship’s biscuit in sight, but the table area is cramped and the six cabins, each with eight bunks are best described as cosy. Sailors’ possessions are limited to a locker and a small box. Ages on the voyages range from 18 to 75 and each work team (watch) is a mixed bag of ages and both sexes. No sailing experience is required for the adventures, it’s a big learning curve that includes map reading, course plotting, and lots of team work.

Ben has been riding the waves since dipping his toe as a raw crew member but seven years on he is dedicated and very happy with a routine of five weeks on and two weeks off. “We tell our new recruits you will learn a little about sailing but a lot about yourselves.”

If anyone fancies a nautical challenge there’s more information at www.tallships.org

Title: Banda de Musica de Arona
Location: Auditorio Infanta Leonor, Los Cristianos
Description: Plenty of brass with the local Arona band, starts at 8.30pm, tickets 5 euros from the Cultural Centre or the Auditorio Cafe Bar.
Start Time: 20.30
Date: 2012-02-17

Title: Tak-Nara Percussion Trio
Location: Auditorio Infanta Leonor, Los Cristianos
Description: Live music in the heart of Los Cristianos, starts at 8.30pm, tickets 10 euros from the Cultural Centre or the Auditorio Cafe Bar.
Start Time: 20.30
Date: 2012-02-11

Nipping out for some shopping takes on a whole new meaning when faced with a two hour downhill trek. That was the reality in the small village of Jama some 700 metres up above Valle San Lorenzo on the border with Vilaflor. Maybe that’s why most of the houses at Casas Altas are deserted although the freshly restored homes looked magnificent with the Barranco de Chijas and a bounty of plant species spreading out below.

Arona is known for its beaches but the Ayuntamiento (council) is rightly proud of its heritage and beauty and have started a programme of free guided walks to show the other side of the municipality. After dipping into a similar series a few years ago I couldn’t strap my walking shoes on fast enough to enjoy the first of eight walks offered for January with the promise of more to follow.

Meeting at 9am in Valle San Lorenzo I was hoping the full compliment of 25 enthusiasts would have signed up but it was just myself, our council guide Virginia, and three holidaying ladies from Rotterdam, who had seen the publicity at Las Galletas Tourist Information. A steep side road and we were looking up at the small houses perched on the lip of the hill, the sun was poking through two volcanic peaks and the tranquil sounds of nature soon had us moving.

I do a lot of walks but rarely have the advantage of a local guide. Virginia is from Valle San Lorenzo and a keen bird spotter, the high pitched shrill overhead was quickly identified as a Buzzard. The walks are aimed at locals and tourists and the guide’s knowledge comes in several languages including Spanish and English.

As the road changed to a track and then a rough rocky path the upward climb began. A chunky metal water pipe headed up with us but about half way up we found a crossing point of several old concrete channels that were gushing fast with cold water, an amazing work of skill and dedication that stretched down into the town. Even the ugly ducklings of the plant world have a story to tell and the cochineal beetle had left its white scale on many of the cacti, a quick rub revealed the rich crimson colouring that was exported to dye clothes in mainland Europe.

By the time the Jama houses loomed large above us we had been introduced to garlic flowers, mastic trees, Pistacia Atlantica and many more. The most restored house boasted a lovingly tended garden with a well inside and another near the partly re-constructed barn. And how about this as a bonus… a deep, cool cave split into chambers with a long table set out for relaxing away from the high summer sun. Walking inside the dusty shells of the neglected dwellings, I could see daylight through the floorboards of one. Thankfully the next one had a hewn stone floor and a window with a large sill to rest on which afforded inspiring views of the valley.

The wider area offered us a fragrant Rosemary bush. Virginia told us that it was often used locally to make honey. Suddenly my cheese rolls seemed very inadequate. After a short rest we started the walk down. Nature had a colourful rival as paragliders swirled in the air currents on their own graceful descent. It’s always quicker on the downward route but we made plenty of stops to admire flowers and plants, questions are encouraged on these walks and the pace is leisurely, the walk took just over four hours. Back in Valle San Lorenzo we went our separate ways but the Dutch ladies had plenty of good things to report to less active fellow holiday makers and to spread back home.

Here are the walks for the remainder of January, you must register (for insurance) at any Arona Tourist Information Office, or call (0034) 922761600, or via the website www.arona.travel

•  Tuesday 24^th – Montaña Guaza
• Wednesday 25^th – Arona Casco to Altavista
• Thursday 25^th – Barranco Chijas
• Saturday 28^th – Arona to Ifonche
• Tuesday 31^st – Malpais de Rasca

There should be more walks in the following months depending on the response. Publicity had only just been launched before this first walk. Arona is well worth getting to know and this free initiative is waiting to introduce you to a new landscape.

Title: George Harrison – Living In The Material World
Location: TEA – Tenerife Espacio de Las artes
Link out: Click here
Description: Here’s a little gem for you. this Martin Scorsese film looks at the life of the Beatle with contributions from his friends and musical colleagues. Showing at 7pm and 9.30pm in the TEA Cinema, entry is 4 euros. Shown in English with Spanish sub titles.
Start Date: 2012-01-27
End Date: 2012-01-29

Title: CD Tenerife v Sporting B
Location: Heliodoro Stadium, Santa Cruz
Link out: Click here
Description: Back to home action after a months gap and a few inspiring displays are owed to the fans. Kick off noon.
Date: 2012-01-22

Title: Tango Concert
Location: Auditorio Infanta Leonor, Los Cristianos
Description: Music, dance, poetry, and theatre all with a tango theme from Uruguay and Argentina. Starts at 8.30pm, tickets 10 euros from the Cultural Centre or the Auditorio Cafe.
Start Time: 20.30
Date: 2012-01-28

Title: Piano Concert
Location: Auditorio Infanta Leonor, Los Cristianos
Description: Valeru Petasch and Sergej Metelsku perfprm classics on the piano. Starts at 8.30pm, tickets 10 euros from the Cultural Centre or the Auditorium cafe.
Start Time: 20.30
Date: 2012-01-20