Tenerife Magazine’s round up of some of the most interesting news stories of the week in Tenerife.

The Anniversary of Santa Cruz as Capital of the Canary Islands
Ignore the fact that 190 years isn’t exactly a landmark number to celebrate. Ignore the fact that although the anniversary was celebrated on Monday, the date King Fernando VII decreed Santa Cruz de Tenerife to be capital of the Canary Islands was the 27th January 1822. What is really interesting is the politician who is recognised as being the driving force behind it happening – José Murphy. Tenerife increasingly looks to its Guanche past for its pride and character yet it was a son of two Dubliners who was responsible for Santa Cruz achieving status in the eyes of Spain.

Progress at Last for Las Gaviotas Beach
It is welcome news to hear that Santa Cruz council have allocated €400,000 to make the naturist beach of Las Gaviotas safe again for sunbathers. The beach has been closed to the public since December 2010, so the funding allocation is a step in the right direction. Now comes the bureaucracy and contracting process to determine who carries out the work. No dates have been suggested for when it’s expected to re-open but with any luck lets hope that by the summer it’ll be more than just the local fisherman on the rocks who’ll be able to get their tackle out at Las Gaviotas.

Spain Enters a Period of Drought
Those people who know Tenerife well will have registered that there has been a lack of rain so far this winter. There have been only a couple of days when there has been anything close to decent rain with little difference between south and north coasts. Whilst an absence of rain is what we all want when we take a holiday, it is potentially disastrous for the island. Scientists acknowledged this week that the pattern of a dry autumn (30% less rainfall than normal) followed by an equally dry December and January that has occurred across Spain is a rare and worrying combination. The conditions have also resulted in a lack of snow on the mountains; another valued source of water when spring arrives. Mount Teide has been noticeably devoid of the white stuff so far this winter. The situation isn’t critical yet but if the seasonal February/March rains don’t fall it could be. Still, it’s Carnaval in a couple of weeks and we all know what that means… there will definitely be a downpour of monsoon proportions.

Where Does a Prince Spend His Birthday?
On an island that is still experiencing an undersea volcanic eruption apparently. Spain’s Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia spent the Prince’s 44th birthday meeting with the people who were most affected by the eruption off the coast at La Restinga on Tenerife’s neighbour, El Hierro. Thankfully the volcanic eruption behaved itself during Prince Felipe’s visit; this was one birthday party that no-one wanted to go off with a bang.

And finally the TIT (This Is Tenerife) of the week award goes to…The University Hospital of the Canary Islands (HUC)
This week the HUC managed to ‘misplace’ a patient for 11 hours. Worse, not only did they misplace the patient, a woman suffering from mental health problems and a brain tumour, they informed the patient’s relatives that she had actually left the hospital. The woman’s family, being seriously concerned for her safety, reported her disappearance to the police who advised taxis, buses and trams in the area to be on the lookout for a confused woman wearing a hospital gown. Meanwhile the woman’s sister scoured the hospital whilst another family member stood watch at the hospital entrance… but with no success.
Eleven anxious hours later the family received a phone call to inform them that the woman had been found sitting in a wheelchair in Emergencies where, it was claimed, she had been all the time. It’s a claim that the woman’s sister, having searched the hospital’s public areas, disputes. HUC has admitted that there was a mix up in information between different departments in the hospital which led to confusion to her whereabouts although they still insist she was never actually ‘missing’. Could someone let us know the Canarian word for ‘not knowing where someone is’ because it’s clearly very different from the English one.

Starring: Mickey Rourke, Henry Cavill, Freida Pinto

Plot: King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) threatens to send the world spiralling into chaos by setting free an army of Titans to challenge the gods. Unable to use their powers to directly interfere in the destiny of man, the gods give Theseus (Henry Cavill) the task of stopping Hyperion and his muscle-bulging army.

TM Rating: Despite some dodgy scripts and creaky acting, movies involving Greek Mythology have been performing well at the box office – otherwise the critically panned Clash of the Titans wouldn’t have a second instalment coming out at the end of March. Although The Immortals storyline also revolves around Titans, the style and tone of this particular slice of mythological hokum is probably closer to 300 than Clash of the Titans.

It’s another tale of man taking on the gods in super stylish fashion (i.e. cinematography and effects rather than in the clothes sense) and there’s no denying The Immortals is stunning to look at, featuring gore galore as Theseus takes on overwhelming odds in a bid to save the world.
Like the Greek myths it’s based on, The Immortals is suitably epic in scope but unlike Greek mythology, not in substance. However, it’s a decent enough offering of its kind and people who were thrilled by 300 should lap it up as should people who get excited by any film involving that involves lots of gleaming breastplates and flashing blades.

7/10 – The Immortals is diverting enough, exciting and is visually stunning. But in terms of satisfying film fans’ cinematic appetites it’s a snack rather than a slap up meal.

Screening Times: 3.30pm daily till 2nd February

Tickets: €6.50 Buy Your Tickets Here

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

There’s been a church here since the beginning of the 17th century and although there are a lot of fine churches around Tenerife, this one has the added bonus of a mature drago tree to add to its appealling good looks, something that should act as a clue to help identification…but only if you’ve been here.

This baroque building is located deep in farming country where potatoes and tomatoes are the main crops…but where on Tenerife is it?

Starring: Daniel Craig, Christopher Plummer, Rooney Mara

Plot: When political journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is disgraced after losing a libel case, he takes up the offer of helping a rich businessman solve the mystery of a family member who was murdered decades earlier. His investigation  pairs him up with the strange and aloof researcher Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), the girl with the dragon tattoo, and together they face danger from thieves, misers and bullies (i.e. the businessman’s family) on their quest to uncover the truth about the murder.

English language films on Tenerife: English speaking film fans are in for a big treat this week. There are three films in Tenerife’s cinemas being screened in their original language. Gran Sur in Costa Adeje has the funny and likeable Puss in Boots, getting his own starring role after stealing the show in the Shrek movies (3.30 and 5.10pm daily). Also at Gran Sur is Drive, a darkly violent and exciting thriller with Ryan Gosling (7.40pm).

But our choice of the week is the film that the Zentral Centre has chosen to re-launch screening film in their original language, the eagerly awaited English language remake of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

TM Rating: First there was the super successful book, then there was the moody and occasionally shocking film adaptation that was one of those rarities – a movie adaptation that didn’t disappoint and one that uncovered an actress who really was Lisbeth Salander.

So why remake an already successful and critically acclaimed film? Because the original movie was Swedish and like it or not, the great movie going public won’t fork out to see a subtitled film. So we get The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo; the Hollywood version. It was a move that had film fans disliking the movie before it was even released.

But Hollywood’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo comes with strong credentials in a director, David Fincher, who rarely puts a foot wrong with his movies. The main cast – Daniel Craig, Christopher Plummer and Stella Starsgard are all actors who don’t normally make poor choices with the roles they pick. It also introduces another strong and faithful characterisation of Lispeth Salander thanks to Rooney Mara this time. Most importantly, the movie doesn’t go all Hollywood and change key elements of the story to suit an American audience reared on the notion of the great American dream.-
Settings, mood and accents (except Daniel Craig) are all uniquely Swedish as this slow burner of a mystery unfolds against icy and unwelcoming landscapes. Like the original film, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo can shock, with content that will make virgins to the series squirm uncomfortably. Also like the original it is an utterly compelling film.

8/10 – If there hadn’t been an almost perfect Swedish version, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo would have been an excellent movie…but there was, so that only makes it a very good movie.

Dates: 13 to 19th January

Screening Times: 4pm daily

Tickets: €6.50 Buy Your Tickets Here

In the second of our series of holiday destinations that are easily accessible from Tenerife, we turn our camera lens onto the island’s closest  African neighbour, Morocco. Just 300km (186 miles) off the coast of Tenerife, rarely has a destination been so near and yet so many worlds apart as Marrakech.

Don’t let fears about the political unrest and violence in North Africa put you off a trip to Marrakech. Morocco has a stable government and a King for whom the people have a great deal of respect. Unfortunately, the country has suffered in tourism terms as a result of the conflict in its less fortunate neighbours, the up side of which is there are many bargains to be picked up. So if you’ve ever thought about going to Marrakech – now’s the time to seize the day.

Tenerife Magazine’s Guide to Marrakech    
Jump on a bus in Playa de Las Américas, take a flight from Tenerife North airport to Marrakech and you’re about to swallow the red pill and take the rabbit hole all the way down.

From the moment you take to the road that links the airport to the city, amidst the clapped out motors, entire families precariously balanced on small motorbikes without a helmet between them, buses and cycles, the TF motorway will be a distant, tranquil dream.

Head for the famous Jemaa El Fna square where a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice will refresh you for just a few pence and let you take in your surroundings while you sip it. Spend any time in the square and you’ll quickly realise that time revolves around frequent fresh mint tea breaks, tajines for lunch and a nightly transformation of its spaces into the largest open air restaurant and street theatre this side of Beijing.

The best advice is not to try to find logic or familiarity with Marrakech, instead let yourself be taken with its foibles, sights and sounds from the five times daily call to prayer whose volume would wake the dead, to the banter of the nightly food stall holders trying to entice you onto their benches.

Shoppers, garden lovers and culture seekers will all find something to enthral and amuse them in Marrakech. Shoppers will find the Medina swallowing them up to haggle for bargains; culture seekers will love wandering its dusty palatial museums, and garden lovers have acres of scented oases to soak up.

The Museums and Medina of Marrakech
Nothing adequately prepares you for the sensory onslaught of the Marrakech medina. Through its warren of tiny alleys which all look disconcertingly alike and in which you’re pretty much guaranteed to get lost, continuously, your senses will be constantly assailed by the exotic. Everywhere you wander your eyes will be drawn by intricately crafted lamps; silver teapots with coloured glasses and ceramic spoons; soft leather bags; beautiful jewellery and wall upon wall of richly embroidered carpets and dazzling reams of cloth. Don’t be afraid to dive in there and begin to barter.

The best of the museums are the Medersa Ben Youssef and the Marrakech Museum. The Ben Youssef is a 14th century former school where students were taught the Koran. Its  endless corridors, exquisite tiles and carved sandalwood decoration are a photographer’s dream. The Marrakech Museum is a former palace which houses contemporary art exhibitions as well as historic Islamic artefacts while its tiled courtyards and domed ceilings are spectacularly splendid. Another ‘must’ on the cultural agenda are the Saadian Tombs which house the ornate tombs of over 200 members of the Saadian dynasty from the 16th century.
After all that dust and death, a breath of fresh air is called for and Marrakech has a surprising number of beautiful parks and gardens, the best of them being the Jardin Majorelle. This is a stunning exotic garden dating from the early 1920s and restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé.

Where to Stay in Marrakech
If you want to enjoy your Marrakech experience to the full, opt to stay in a riad in the medina. Authentic Moroccan houses with garden courtyards, excellent home cooking and top class service, the riads are like individual boutique hotels. I recommend the rather lovely Riad Merstane in the heart of the medina but there are lots to choose from.

Food and  Drink in Marrakech
Around Jemaa El Fnaa you’ll find no shortage of restaurants whose menus all feature the ubiquitous tajine, couscous, kebabs and lamb cutlets so why not go for the full Monty experience and grab a seat at one of the benches of the food stalls in the square. Your choices may be limited and you’ll find the chef adding extra dishes for you, but the food is tasty, your wallet will love the place and as long as your stomach isn’t too delicate a flower, you shouldn’t suffer any ill effects. Just don’t watch them doing the washing up – nuff said.

Venture into the medina and you’ll discover some more bohemian settings such as Café Bougainvillea where you’ll find Italian, Moroccan and French items on the menu and a romantic courtyard setting. In the ‘new’ city of Guéliz you’ll find more International menus and generally classier establishments such as Chez Pascal and Al Fassia.

If you stay in a hotel in Guéliz you may not even be aware that alcohol is a rare commodity in Marrakech or that few restaurants in the medina have wine, beer or spirits available. For a tipple with your culture shot, head to the stylish rooftop bar of Café Arabe in the medina where ex-pats and visitors sip cocktails amongst the traditional Moroccan décor, or opt for an aerial view of the night madness of Jemaa El Fna from the rooftop terrace of Café de France.

How to get to Marrakech from Tenerife
Binter Canarias fly twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays from Tenerife North airport to Marrakech via Gran Canaria. The flight to Gran Canaria is just half an hour and then there’s a short wait before onward connection to Marrakech two and a half flying hours away. Residents’ discounts apply only on the Tenerife to Gran Canaria leg of the flight. Keep an eye on billboards and TV advertising for special offers – in summer 2011 it cost just €99 one way from Tenerife to Marrakech.

Tenerife Magazine’s round up of some of the most interesting news stories of the week in Tenerife.

A Tenerife Hero
This week Tenerife’s President, Ricardo Melchior and the Mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez paid tribute to a Tenerife hero, Lieutenant General Antonio Benavides, by laying a crown of flowers on his tomb at the Iglesia Matriz de la Concepción in Santa Cruz on the 250th anniversary of his death.
Antonio Benavides, born in La Matanza, was a soldier whose story is the stuff of movies and historic fiction. Apart from demonstrating bravery and heroism in a number of battles, he ostensibly saved the life of King Felipe V during a skirmish in Asturias by giving the King his less recognisable war horse, it was a gesture which nearly cost him his own life. As a reward he was made Governor of Florida which, in 1718, seemed more a punishment than a reward. Florida at that time really was the wild, wild west. Benavides found himself battling Native American Indians, English settlers and even pirates in his quest to bring law, order, peace and prosperity to the state. But he managed it and even struck up a treaty with the Appalachian tribes who came to trust Benavides because of the respect he showed to them and their rights as indigenous peoples. He remained governor until 1734 when he was reassigned to Veracruz in Mexico. Despite his distinguished career Antonio Benavides died in poverty back in Tenerife at the age of 85. These few lines only give a taster of the exceptional life of this heroic Tenerife soldier, it’s worth delving deeper into his story. It’s good to see that a Tenerife’s son who helped shape history is still remembered and honoured.

Photographing The Firm
What does a photo documentary by Jocelyn Bain Hogg illustrating scenes from the lives of people involved with the British organised crime scene have to do with Tenerife? Some of these ‘gritty’ images were shot (maybe not the best phrase to use) in Tenerife.

Navidad is Over…Time to Get the Wallet Out
Almost as soon as the Tres Reyes clip-clopped out of town on the backs of their grumpy camels, the fervour started anew with the beginning of the traditional winter sales on Tenerife and the other Canary Islands. From the 7th of January until the 6th March our favourite shops will have rebajas plastered all over their windows and people will be forking out less money for items they don’t really want or need. The sales can be a nightmare for the first few days but after that things calm down. For anyone not on Tenerife during this time, there’s a second chance to pick up some Tenerife bargains as there are also summer sales which will last from 2nd July to 1st September on all the islands except El Hierro where they’ll run from 15th July to 15th September.

Navidad is Over Part 2 – Get Ready for Carnaval
Almost before the last firework has petered out, it’s time to start preparing for Carnaval 2012 on Tenerife. Carnaval die-hards will want to know that tickets for the murga contests and the election of the carnaval queen are now on sale. Tickets for the murgas cost around €10 and €19 for the final (do people really pay that much?) and €10 to €15 for the election of the queen. They are on sale at generaltickets.com

And finally the TIT (This Is Tenerife) of the week award goes to…Santiago del Teide
Sometimes it seems as though Spanish officialdom is hell bent on making life as difficult as possible for small businesses. How else can we explain why, in the middle of an economic crisis when local authorities should be supporting businesses in their community, officials in Santiago del Teide take an opposite stance. Some cafes and restaurants in the town were forced to remove tables and chairs from the pavement even though owners claimed they’d paid the required taxes to have them there. The reason seems to have been a decision to enforce a law that had been more or less ignored since 2005. Laws are laws and have to be complied with, but the gripe in the town is that there was no consultation beforehand, no period of grace to resolve the issue before it became a problem. Even the iconic horse and cart that is a symbol of the town apparently fell foul (foal) of the law.

The perverse aspect to this is that in troubled times a council would take a course of action that makes it less attractive for tourists to stop there. Where’s the horse sense in that?

In holiday booking terms, the beginning of this week is the lull before the storm as hotels gear up for the Christmas Eve influx. But not in Hotel Las Águilas which sits calmly, both physically and metaphorically, above the shopping bedlam. Here, the hotel is currently on 80% occupancy and hurtling towards full to the brim.

As the sun sinks on the Monday before Christmas, Tenerife Magazine heads to the hotel on the hill for some early festive R&R.

A cut above the rest
Winding up the hill that leads to the Hotel Las Águilas in Puerto de la Cruz, you quickly realise that you’re not just checking into any old hotel. Set in two and a half acres of botanical gardens and woodland on its panoramic hilltop, think country estate with pools and parasols.

Inside the lobby, the marble effect walls and floors coupled with the Titian-style mural lend it an Italian classical look, but wander through to the Internet lounge and you’ll find sepia images of Native Americans. Descend the stairs to the stylish and spacious bar lounge area and it’s pop art that adorns the walls. Refreshingly devoid of the uniform look of hotel chains, the style of Hotel Las Águilas is both contemporary and traditional, an elegant simplicity bringing eclectic themes together.

View from a Hill
The sky is just beginning to glow orange as we check into reception so we take the elegant, sweeping staircase down a level, through the chic bar lounge to the beautifully manicured gardens, palm filled lawns and freeform swimming pool with its rockery waterfall, to watch as night falls gently over Puerto de la Cruz. Following the path beneath the tunnel beside the poolside restaurant, we make our way to the children’s pool and the larger swimming pool with its walk-behind waterfall where views open up across the rest of Puerto de la Cruz.

At our backs the slopes of the La Orotava Valley twinkle against the deepening sky, fading to obscurity as they reach the edge of the Teide National Park, ahead of us the Atlantic Ocean is slowly slipping from azure to cobalt blue while below, the street lights, Christmas decorations and windows of the town are gathering strength in numbers.

Over indulgence
With the sun well and truly over the yard arm, there’s just enough time to order a cold beer and try out the bar stools in the Vulcano Lounge before dinner. Resisting the temptation to order another couple of beers in the amiable company of the bar tender, we make our way to the restaurant where one look at the evening’s buffet selection has us instantly regretting the small bowl of nuts we just demolished.

Fresh and fabulous salads accompanied by cheeses, cold meats and more toppings than you could shake a lettuce at, give way to heart warming, home made chicken soup and an entire wall of piping hot, freshly made, main courses including several fish, meat and pasta options. Vegetables are fresh, meat cuts are succulent, the fish is savoury and vegetarians would be just as happy as the carnivores. The fruit and desserts section would be the undoing of even the most avid of dieters.

Half hoping that some things would be less than average when it comes to taste and I can spare my waistline a millimetre, my hopes are  dashed when everything proves to be every bit as good to eat as it is to look at.

The Essentials

Location: Atop a sizeable hill on the border of Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava and Los Realejos so that you get some of the best views anywhere over mountain, valley and coast. Rooms at the rear of the hotel overlook the La Orotava Valley, Puerto de la Cruz and naturally, the ocean, while those at the front have widescreen vistas of Mount Teide, the Tigaiga Mountains and La Orotava Valley. Puerto centre is a 20 minute stroll or a ten minute taxi ride away and the hotel has a free, daily shuttle bus service to town.

Rooms: Former apartments, the rooms are some of the most spacious you’ll find on Tenerife with a lounge/kitchen/dining area, a large bathroom incorporating a Jacuzzi bath and a spacious bedroom with a bed so large you’ll lose each other during the night. Walls are pale lemon with floral prints, art nouveau style mirrors and lamps giving them a contemporary, simple elegance. Furniture is bleached pine with mahogany fitted wardrobes and cupboards. Double sliding doors lead from the bedroom and from the living room onto a completely private balcony large enough to house the Royal family at a State occasion.

Service: From managers to gardeners, everyone we encountered provided us with warm, friendly and efficient service. In the dining room, plates were cleared, tables cleaned and drinks served with the minimum of fuss and a smile.

Food: Any hope that the calories gained at dinner could be forfeited the following morning evaporated in the face of one of the best breakfast buffets we’ve eaten. Six varieties of cheese and six more of cold meats accompanied cereals, fresh fruit, yoghurts, jams and a baker’s dozen varieties of bread. Hot choices were too numerous to list but included such decadent goodies as churros with chocolate and pancakes with honey. You don’t have to be a guest to try the excellent food at Hotel Las Águilas, pop along at weekends for breakfast, a barbecue (Saturdays) or paella (Sundays) on its terrace.

Entertainment: The youngest guests of the hotel are treated to their own Mini Club and Mini Disco entertainment programme and once the Sandman takes them to beddy bo-bos, live cabaret keeps adult feet tapping in the Vulcano Lounge.

Overall: The winner of our current holiday competition is in for a real treat. Without doubt, one of the top hotels in Puerto de la Cruz, Hotel Las Águilas is packed to its friendly and stylish rafters with comfort and taste. Beautiful grounds, excellent food and spacious accommodation are the trademarks of this unique hotel which is ideal for families and couples.

Hotel Las Águilas, Doctor Barajas, 19; 4 stars; Puerto de la Cruz; (0034) 922 37 28 06; email reservas@hotellasaguilas.com

Of course there were tears but it was smiles and laughter that dominated the two thousand plus pink army that danced through the tourist heart of South Tenerife. The Walk For Life is a loud, musical, happy expression of hope and defiance for all those people and their families touched by breast cancer. This year there was a new route to spread the message to holiday makers, residents and all nationalities, that early diagnosis and huge strides in treatment means the war against this blight on life can and will be won.

Anyone emerging from the nightclubs near the CC Gala start line feeling a little hazy may have doubted their vision as pink took on the form of bunny ears, wings, wigs, and a whole tide of balloons for women and men. Some brought their dogs with them suitably tinted and decorated for the morning.

Recent years had seen the walkers hug the coastline on the way into Los Cristianos but this time they spilled into Avenida Rafael Puig, crossing the border from Arona to Adeje. Sueños del Sur samba band led the way and provided the infectious beat as they put their best feet forward. Hotel balconies filled up and sun bed worshippers pressed their creamy bodies against pool fences to enjoy the passing parade.

Many wore signs dedicating their walk to lost loved ones and others carried photos to inspire them. So many stories were contained within those jaunty steps but everyone had found something positive to hold on to, maybe increased hope for the next generation or a raised awareness that could save a life. As a party, it stood strongly in its own right, even the climb up into San Eugenio seemed easier with friends on every side. At one stage some hairy bikers roared by, they too had added touches of pink, one even had a cute pink teddy bear tied to the bike.

Pouring down into Fañabe, the walkers could feel the sea breeze and see the finish line as they spilled onto the promenade. As they entered the park area in front of the stage, a flotilla of pink and white balloons was released into the sky to rousing applause. The swimmers of Tenerife Masters had their own transport and plunging in at Puerto Colon they were rounding the point ready to swoop onto the beach. The pink skull caps made them easy to spot and their close grouping enabled them to take a well deserved bow before touching dry land.

This year’s total raised stood at 15,000 euros immediately after the walk but the work goes on to raise money for the chosen cancer charities AECC and AMATE. The 2012 calendar featuring the swimmers is on sale for 10 euros and already plans are being drawn for next year. For now though, a lot of feet will be kicking off shoes and socks and wiggling in a bowl of water. For more photos follow this link.

Hotel reviews in the travel sections of magazines and newspapers tend to focus on the luxurious and the quirky. Although we all love to have a nosey at these types of places, the truth is that the majority of holidaymakers don’t stay in a hotel that costs €300 a night or is made entirely of glass and is located at the top of a baobab tree.

With this in mind, we thought it would be interesting to take an inside look at a popular affordable hotel on Tenerife, the Aparthotel Noelia Playa in Puerto de la Cruz.

In The Heart of Tenerife’s First Tourist Town
It’s one of those perfect Tenerife winter days. On Tenerife you sometimes only know it’s winter because the adverts on television tell you so. The sky is a sea of blue, the temperatures are in the mid 20s and from the rooftop pool and sun terrace, the views of the Orotava Valley send a tingle of joy skipping down the spine. The Tigaiga Mountain range to the west slopes down to an invitingly blue sea. To the east there are views all along the north coast to a horizon where a few fluffy white clouds break up the blue canvas. The crowning glory on this voluptuous vista is of course the great Mount Teide, watching over the valley like a benevolent father.

As I walk from one side of the roof terrace to another, I peel a banana (Canarian clearly) from the complimentary fruit bowl in my room/apartment and allow at least a couple of my senses to savour the essences of north Tenerife.

Who’d have thought that here in the concrete centre of the main tourist resort in the north of Tenerife, I’d be overwhelmed by nature’s palette?

Review of the Hotel Noelia Playa: The Essentials

Location: Whether you’re a beach bum or culture vulture, the Noelia Playa is conveniently located. Playa Jardín, the town’s main beach, is 10 minutes walk away. Similarly, head in the other direction and a 10 minute stroll will lead you to the heart of Puerto’s old town at Plaza Charco with its restaurants and bars. In between are more restaurants, so  the teasing aroma of grilled meats and fried fish may prevent you from actually reaching the plaza. For anyone arriving in Puerto by bus, it would be difficult to be any closer; the Noelia Playa is situated beside the bus station.

Rooms: Being an aparthotel, the rooms are a good size and smartly laid out; the lounge area is in an alcove so it feels separate from the bed. The kitchen (with all the necessary essential tools for holiday cooking…and drinking) lies in another alcove with doors that, when shut, lend it the appearance of a cupboard, which is pretty neat. The décor is bright and there are loads of big mirrors throughout which can make things ‘interesting’. The bathroom is on the ‘bijou’ side but fine as long as only one person uses it at a time. One of the best features is the balcony – ideally placed for relaxing with a glass of local vino to watch the sun set on Mount Teide.

Service: The Noelia Playa isn’t a massive hotel which means that you soon get to know  staff members. All work very hard to keep the food replenished in the buffet and the drinks flowing in the bar. It was extremely busy when we stayed and the staff, although working long hours, remained friendly and efficient throughout.

Food: The Noelia Playa is a budget hotel, therefore don’t expect gourmet food at the buffet. Breakfast is mainly continental with some hot food choices as well. The selection of dishes at lunch and dinner probably wouldn’t satisfy foodies, but seemed appropriate for most of the clientèle. When the restaurant held a theme Canarian cuisine night, the quality went up a notch… I confess to having a second helping of conejo en salmorejo (rabbit in a sauce). Ultimately, the Noelia Playa is an aparthotel, so if food is important to you I’d recommend making full use of the apartment facilities (there’s a supermarket with reasonable prices attached to the hotel that is open until 11pm) or eating out.

Entertainment: Although the main client group, at this time of year at least, seemed to be mature Northern Europeans and Spanish, there were some younger families as well and the hotel has wifi and video games in the lounge. There’s also a games lounge with a pool table, table football and air hockey. The evening entertainment is fascinating. It consists of a guy at a keyboard singing old Spanish pop songs. It might sound a bit cheesy, but the place is heaving with the local Canarian population at the weekend. It might not be what British visitors are familiar with, but it’s a winning formula.

Overall: For a budget hotel, the Noelia Playa does what it does well. The rooms are generous sized and, being apartments, offer a range of options regarding eating in, eating out or opting for the hotel buffet. It’s in a prime position for exploring Puerto de la Cruz and has superb views from its rooftop pool. It’s not chic, it’s not trendy but what it is, is damn good value for money.

Hotel Noelia Playa; 3 Star; C/ Hnos. Fdez. Perdigón 9 , Puerto de la Cruz; www.gfhoteles.com ; (+34) 922 38 42 11 ; email info@gfhoteles.com