Tenerife TF1 Motorway Extension

There is now strong evidence of the Tenerife TF1 motorway extension in various locations from the roundabout at the end of the current TF1 motorway in Adeje down to Playa San Juan. The first section of the motorway from the roundabout is already asphalted and you can seen it veering off the route of the current TF82 south of Los Menores. From there it appears to run west of Tijoco and Tejina and the construction can be seen passing over the top of the Abama Golf Course, Piedra Hincada and Playa San Juan where it heads south down towards Fonsalia. It will continue North Westerly towards Los Gigantes.

If you research the internet you will not find any published material showing the route of the new motorway, if you want to see it apparently you have to go to the Government offices in Santa Cruz. Why is there no electronic copy?  Theories are circulating that the route has been kept out of the public domain as much as possible to prevent people profiting by buying land and property on the route to gain from compulsory purchase. It you talk to the locals though, some will tell you that compensation payments are not very generous, which is what you might expect. No sensible government would be without an agenda to keep land purchase costs as low as possible. The bulk of land consumed by the new motorway is barren and not very useable for accessibility reasons.

The Tenerife Government have let the contract to a number of different contractors and work progress is evident in many different locations. Apparently the different motorway sections will all be joined up as the works become completed. The project would not be easy to undertake due to the topography of the land along the new route. Large cuttings can already be seen but the works also involve flyovers across some huge gorges and tunnels through many barranca ridges. The civil engineering design will have been very complicated and the contruction a daunting task because some parts of the route were not previously accessible to vehicles, temporary access roads have therefore been formed as enabling works.

The motorway will open up the west coast of the island and reduce travel times considerably, the current roads, expecially the coastal route through these areas where there is no direct route. The roads have many bends and journey times are slow because of single lanes and very few overtaking possibilities. The new motorway will follow the shortest route and will have overtaking lanes on the upward sections.

When complete, the new motorway will no doubt be very busy and apparently it is being designed so that it can be increased in width to accomodate more traffic. The proposed new port at Fonsalia between Playa San Juan and Alcala will be very busy because it will apparently handle all the ferry movements which are currently using Los Cristianos port. Such a busy new port could not have been contemplated without the new motorway currently under construction.

After the new port at Fonsalia is up and running, it is possible that Los Cristianos port could be used for cruise ship stopovers. This is purely conjecture and if any one wants to share their knowledge please leave a comment on the blog post. Comments about the new motorway would be very helpful due to the apparent lack of published information.

Read an update on works to the Fonsalia slip road which will run down from the Tf1 extension down to the proposed new port at Fonsalia

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

Tenerife Sports Activities

SURFING

Among surfers, the Canary Islands are known as the Hawaii of the Atlantic Ocean. Like Hawaii, the water and air temperatures do not vary much through the year making surfing in Tenerife a great experience.

SCUBA DIVING

Tenerife offers unique conditions for scuba diving. If you are diving here for example, you can swim among an incredible quantity of tropical fish or feed giant rays. There are many diving centres, numerous diving courses and also diving tours. Popular diving spots outside Puerto de la Cruz include the Chimney, Heaven’s Gate and the DC3 airplane wreck at El Sauzal.

CLIMBING

Due to the pleasant climate of Tenerife, lots of rock climbers come here in the winter. The most famous place, Arico, is an open gorge running north and south with climbing routes on both sides. There are also a few places in Puerto de la Cruz where you can climb, for instance near the Martianez beach.

PARAGLIDING

It is by no means an exaggeration to say that Tenerife is one of the most beautiful places in the world to paraglide as you climb the skies and look down on such incredible sights at any time of the year. There are numerous places to go paragliding and paragliders are not exactly a rare sight on the island.

MOUNTAIN BIKING

The area around the volcano Teide offers excellent conditions for Mountain bikes and downhill trips. You can rent bikes from several places or book guided trips to the mountains. More confident mountain bikers can take the bus tours to Teide and it’s downhill all the way from there!

WIND AND KITE SURFING

El Médano in the southeast corner of Tenerife (about one hour by car from Puerto de la Cruz) is a great place for wind and kite surfing. The 2002 double World Champion Mark Shinn is one of the kite surfers who have settled down in El Médano.

Many of the locals are fanatical about these sports but they are also a great draw for Tenerife Tourism.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

Campaign for promoting Tenerife Tourism

Last week the big guns of Tenerife tourism met to discuss what they were doing to promote the island and combat the downturn due to the world economic crisis. The image of Tenerife as a successful tourism destination is powerful and tourist chiefs say that they have every confidence in the product, not least because of it’s stunning scenery and wonderful climate.

They all agree that there is nothing wrong with Tenerife from a tourist’s perspective but the global downturn and pressure on people’s pockets is making them look at how and where they can spend their money and go on holiday.

The directive is to support and continue the campaign to improve the Island’s tourist facilities. Tenerife will be using 50% of its’ tourism budget to promote the main markets of the Spanish peninsula, the UK and Germany but it will also focus on the emerging tourist markets of Russia, Poland, France and Italy.

The tourism campaign will include specific targeting through tour operators, travel agents and media including radio, TV, brochures and the internet.

Tourism councilor and vice-president of the Tenerife Government, Jose Manuel Bermudez has said efforts were being stepped up because of falling occupation numbers and an uncertain summer, not just for Tenerife and the rest of the Canary Islands but all of Spain and holiday destinations around the world. He stressed that he strongly believes that it was not a tourism crisis but down to the general recession in the international economy.

He said he had every confidence in Tenerife and pointed out that the island’s tourist market had to grow. Their tourism strategy has named 12 main objectives which include continuing efforts to improve tourism areas with refurbishments and modernisation projects.

Diversification into new products, in harmony with the traditional, is also a top priority. These will include spotlighting on everything from the culinary delights of the island to sporting activities, Tenerife culture, nature, walking, etc.

All efforts will be made to win the loyalty of holiday-makers who come to Tenerife on a regular basis to make sure they keep on returning and staff will receive special training. It is also planned to catch young people early who want to make their careers in tourism so staff become more professional.

Information, satisfaction, maximum co-operation and co-ordination, professional, promotion, diversification, consolidation and qualifications are all key objectives. It is also planned to capitalise on the growing use of the internet to promote Tenerife to the worldwide market.

Sr. Bermudez said the tourism industry would continue to be very competitive but it would generate new opportunities for Tenerife. Everyone had to work together, private and public, with no political motivation.

Read more about the Tenerife long term tourism action plan. Tenerife is also driving hard to attract corporate tourism. Another market which is currently being promoted is disabled tourism. Another example of how Tenerife is to be given a marketing boost is via film media.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

New Hospital for Tenerife South

A population explosion often results in infrastructure facilities lagging behind. The population of Tenerife has grown dramatically in recent years, particularly in the south and the construction of a long awaited new hospital is well underway. The new hospital is located just the other side of the motorway from Los Cristianos and Las Americas, a readily accessible location for the southern catchment area.

Most of the hospitals are located in the north of the island and the new hospital will be of great benefit for residents and tourists alike. The new hospital will also create employment opportunities and stimulate the economy which will also boost Tenerife property prices.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

Tall Ships race line up for Tenerife leg

The following vessels will be participating in the Tall Ships Race 2009 and sailing on the first leg from Vigo in Northern Spain to Santa Cruz in Tenerife. The tall ships are expected to arrive in Tenerife on 14th May 2009, departing on 17th May for the second leg to Bermuda.

Read more about the race, or more about these magnificent sailing vessels:

Arosa

Class: D Flag: Spain L.O.A. 22.84m Rig: Ketch Year Built: 1931

Entered By: Escuela Naval Militar (Spanish Navy) Biographical Data: The Schooner “Arosa” was built at the Scottish dockyards “Bute Slip Dock Co.” in 1930. She was designed under commission by a rich young English broker and her first name was “Roska” She was owned by an American and was called “Algoma”. In 1981 she was incorporated into Spanish Navy by the Ministry of Economy. Ever since she has served the Spanish Navy and has carried out a number of trips with cadets from the Naval Academy, visiting Spanish ports as well as other European countries. She serves as a training sailing vessel on the Pontevedra estuary throughout the academic year. The 75th anniversary of her construction was celebrated in 2005. In 2006 she completed 25 years of service with the Spanish Navy. As an active and well maintained vessel in the Spanish Navy she is the second most senior vessel after the four-masted topsail “Juan Sebastián Elcano”.

Belle Poule

Class: B Flag: France L.O.A. 30.48 Rig: Schooner Year Built: 1932 Home Port: Brest

Entered By: Marine Nationale – Ecole Navale Biographical Data: Belle Poule and Etoile, these two schooners were constructed in 1932 by the « Chantier Naval de Normandie », in Fecamp, for the French naval academy (Ecole Navale). They are identical and of the “Paimpolaise” type of fishing schooner which used to sail from the North coast of France to Iceland during the late 1800’s. The schooners are used in the training of midshipmen in the fine arts of open sea sailing and navigation. The normal complement aboard is one officer, ten petty officers, five non rated men and about twelve midshipmen or trainees. The regular crew is permanently attached to their ship while the trainees usually are aboard for a period of one to two weeks of extensive sail and navigation training. The home port for both vessels is the Naval Base in Brest, near the Naval Academy which is across the roadstead, in Lanvéoc. The specifications of the ships are: displacement 280 tons, length overall 123 feet (37.5 metres), beam 24 feet (7.2 metres), mean draft 12 feet (3.7 metres), height of the main mast above the waterline 107 feet (32.5 metres). The ship is also equipped with a 285 horsepower auxiliary motor, driving a two bladed screw, used for entering and leaving ports. The ship has a possible sail area of about 500 square metres. During WWII, both schooners were used by the French Naval Free Force (FNFL) as training ships, based in Portsmouth (from 1940 to 1944).

Etoile

Class: B Flag: France L.O.A. 30.48m Rig: Gaff Schooner Year Built: 1932 Home Port: Brest

Entered By: French Navy – Ecole Navale Biographical Data: Etoile and Belle Poule, these two schooners were constructed in 1932 by the « Chantier Naval de Normandie », in Fecamp, for the French naval academy (Ecole Navale). They are identical and of the “Paimpolaise” type of fishing schooner which used to sail from the North coast of France to Iceland during the late 1800’s. The schooners are used in the training of midshipmen in the fine arts of open sea sailing and navigation. The normal complement aboard is one officer, ten petty officers, five non rated men and about twelve midshipmen or trainees. The regular crew is permanently attached to their ship while the trainees usually are aboard for a period of one to two weeks of extensive sail and navigation training. The home port for both vessels is the Naval Base in Brest, near the Naval Academy which is across the roadstead, in Lanvéoc. The specifications of the ships are: displacement 280 tons, length overall 123 feet (37.5 meters), beam 24 feet (7.2 metres), mean draft 12 feet (3.7 metres), height of the main mast above the waterline 107 feet (32.5 metres). The ship is also equipped with a 285 horsepower auxiliary motor, driving a two bladed screw, used for entering and leaving ports. The ship has a possible sail area of about 500 square metres. During WWII, both schooners were used by the French Naval Free Force (FNFL) as training ships, based in Portsmouth (from 1940 to 1944).

Jolie Brise

Class: B Flag: UK L.O.A. 17.1m Rig: Gaff Cutter Year Built: 1913 Home Port: Hamble

England Entered By: Dauntsey’s School, Wiltshire, England Biographical Data: Jolie Brise is a 56′ gaff rigged pilot cutter that was built in La Havre in 1913. In 1925, she was the first winner of the first Fastnet Race, repeating the success in 1929 and 1930 and is still the only vessel to have won the Fastnet three times. Her most noted achievement was her rescue of all but one of the crew of the schooner, Adriana, which caught fire during the 1932 Bermuda Race. She is now owned by Dauntsey’s School Sailing Club. The school started a sailing club in the 1970s when some pupils placed an advert in the Times saying:”slave gang from Wiltshire offers free labour to owner of embarrassingly large yacht in return for some free sailing”. They gained the use of Griffin II which was rebuilt by the school, but was tragically wrecked when she broke free of her moorings in Portland Harbour. In 1977, Jolie Brise was made available to the club on a long-term lease. She is a regular competitor in The Tall Ships’ Races and raced in every leg of the Tall Ships 2000 Race coming first overall on corrected time.

Kruzenshtern

Class: A Flag: Russia L.O.A. 114.5m Rig: Barque 4 Year Built: 1926 Home Port: Kaliningrad, Russia

Entered By: Baltic State Academy of the Fishing Fleet Biographical Data: Kruzenshtern is the second largest sailing ship in the world behind another Russian ship, Sedov. Originally called Padua, she was built in Germany in the 1920′s as one of five clipper ships for the ‘Flying P Line’ which traded in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and Pacific. The five ships’ names all began with ‘P’ and only Padua is still sailing. Pamir sank in a hurricane off the Azores, Peking ended up as a museum in New York, Pommern is alongside in Mariehamn and Passat is tied up as a youth camp with mast, but no sails, near the Kiel Canal. Padua was awarded to Russia in 1946 and renamed Kruzenshtern after the famous Russian hydrographer and navigator. She is easy to recognise with distinctive black and white sides, common on ships that traded with the East, where the design imitated gunports to scare away pirates.

Peter von Danzig

Class: D Flag: Germany L.O.A. 16.90m Rig: Bm Sloop Year Built: 1992

Entered By: Akademischer Seglerverein Kiel Biographical Data: “Peter von Danzig” is a 55ft sloop designed by Georg Nissen and built by Thyssen Nordseewerke in Emden, Germany. He (since 1936 the club refers to his flagship in the male form) is owned and operated by the Akademischer Segler Verein in Kiel (ASV), a student run sailing club affiliated with Kiel University. The mission of the 1910 founded club is to introduce students to blue-water sailing and teach them life-lessons no classroom can provide. “PvD” is the second club flagship bearing this traditional name. The first “Peter” was built for the 1936 New York to Hamburg race and afterwards participated in many Tall Ships’ Races since the 1960s as well as the first Whitbread Round the World Race in 1972/73. In 1992 the new “Peter von Danzig” started his life at the ASV making his maiden voyage across the Atlantic during the Columbus Race’ 92. Since then the students from Kiel sailed him in various journeys including the Fastnet Race, multiple North Sea races as well as a cruise to Greenland. In 1996/97 more than 100 students sailed “Peter von Danzig” for more than a year participating in the multiple legs of the Hong Kong Challenge Round the World Race. After sailing in the Tall Ships 2000 to Boston and Halifax, the 2002 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers and the 2003 Newport-Hamburg race, the 2009 Atlantic Challenge is the adventure of a lifetime for a new generation of young students from Kiel.

Rona II

Class: D Flag: UK L.O.A. 20.6m Rig: Bm Ketch Year Built: 1991 Home Port: Hamble, England

Entered By: Rona Sailing Project Biographical Data: The original Rona, a 77′ classic ketch was bought by Lord Amory, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the 1960′s for the Rona Trust (London Sailing Project), which he had formed to take parties of young sea cadets from London to sea. The Rona Trust (LSP) now runs the Rona II, Donald Searle and Helen Mary R which take young people from Scouts, Guides, colleges, sailing clubs, Youth Offending Teams, Social Services and care homes to sea. The LSP also runs voyages for Deaf people, Visually Impaired people and those with severe learning difficulties. The aim is to provide, through the medium of sea training in offshore craft, opportunities for young people and people with disabilities, to acquire those attributes of a seaman, namely; a sense of responsibility, resourcefulness and team-work, which will help them throughout their lives. Rona II is a regular participant in the Tall Ships’ Races and competed in the Tall Ships’ 2000 Trans-Atlantic Race.

Spirit of Bermuda

Built to American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) standards; registered as a British sail training vessel. Length on deck: 86 feet. Length including bowsprit: 112 feet. Length of waterline: 75 feet. Beam (width): 23 feet. Draft (depth): 9 foot 6 inches. Displacement (weight): 230,000 lbs. Tonnage: 88 gross registered tons. Height of tallest mast: 93 feet. Sail area: 4,437 square feet. Engine Power: Cat 2136 mechanical 385 horsepower diesel. Construction materials: Hull and decks: cold moulded wood/epoxy. Spars: carbon fibre

Tecla

Class: B Flag: Netherlands L.O.A. 27.50m Rig: Gaff Ketch Year Built: 1915 Home Port: Winkel

Entered By: Jan Bouwman & Jannette Sluik Biographical Data: Originally TECLA was built in Vlaardingen, in the south of Holland, as a fishing boat for herrings. Launched under the name of Graaf van Limburg Stirum she fished the Doggersbank for over 10 years. As the fishing fleet shrunk she was sold to Denmark to become a freighter under the name of TECLA. She returned to Holland in the 1980′s to be re-fitted as a sail training vessel. She is now owned by a family of four and she is one of the most original and beautiful sail training vessels in Europe. On board trainees from all over the world learn how to sail a vessel with a gaff rig and learn how to navigate near land and on open waters. Tecla has competed in The Tall Ships Races 2008 and Funchal 500 Tall Ships Races in which she came 1st in her Class from Ilhavo, Portugal to Funchal, Madeira.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

Fly Bristol to Tenerife

Tenerife has received a boost after a holiday company announced its first new services from Bristol International Airport. Kiss Flights will operate routes to Tenerife from 3rd July to the end of October. This is also good news for people resident in the Bristol area who can now benefit from direct Tenerife flights.

Kiss Flights national sales manager Abbey Thomas said: “We have received huge demand for local services and now we are able to offer customers these new departures from Bristol International Airport.

There will also be direct flights from Bristol to Sharm el Sheikh on Egypt’s Red Sea coast.

Tenerife will be very pleased to receive new visitors because many return every year once they have discovered the delights of Tenerife tourism.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

Sympathy for Jade’s Mum in Tenerife

According to an English tabloid newspaper yesterday, Jade Goody’s mum caused a security alert at Gatwick airport, whilst checking in for a flight to Tenerife she was asked if she had anything dangerous in her bag, apparently she replied; “Only my gun.”

She almost missed her flight in the furore which followed after having her luggage searched and being subjected to a strip search. The captain then decided that he did not want her on the flight but he was subsequently persuaded to change his mind.

Obviously Jade’s mum was only joking about the gun, a flippant comment probably made in all innocence and with no idea of seriousness. Although airport security protocols have to be followed at least she did not miss her Tenerife flight. Everyone will be sympathising with her over the tragic loss of her daughter at 27 years old last month to cervical cancer. We hope she enjoys her break in Tenerife despite her unfortunate ordeal at Gatwick airport.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

Mount Teide Volcano

Further to recent controversial reporting by British newspapers about a possible Volcano eruption on the Island of Tenerife, the “Cabildo de Tenerife” (Tenerife Government) have issued a welcome statement:

“Mount Teide is a dormant volcano and shows no signs of volcanic activity according to ITER; (the institute that manages volcanic surveillance and which is a member of WOVO, World Organisation of Volcanic Observatories).

In addition, neither the Scientific Volcanic Evaluation and Monitor Committee (Comite Cientifico de Evaluacion y Seguimiento de Fenomenos Volcanicos), a national commission that evaluates volcanic activity in Spain, nor the IGN (National Geographic Institute), a public organisation responsible for the observation, surveillance and communication of volcanic activity, have sent a warning of volcanic activity in Teide to the authorities responsible for civil protection on the island.

We therefore must highlight that the volcanic situation in Tenerife remains normal, as there is no indication of any volcanic risk. The President of the “Cabildo de Tenerife”, Ricardo Melchior, has submitted a written complaint to the Superior Council of Scientific Investigation for the contradictory and incorrect information released by certain scientists of this organisation, which could lead the public to believe that there is a risk of volcanic activity in Tenerife.

The Cabildo would like to stress that Tenerife remains a safe destination, not only because there is currently no evidence of any risk of volcanic activity, but also because the island is equipped to deal with any volcanic risk situation (evacuation, volcanic surveillance and monitoring programme, etc.)”.

This is indeed good news for the residents of the Island and for Tenerife Tourism.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

Tenerife Volcano Fears

An online edition of the Sun newspaper ran a brief story yesterday putting fear in the minds of tourist visiting Tenerife; “BRITS off to Tenerife are being warned of the danger of a massive volcano eruption”.

The report follows a controversial statement from a scientist expressing concern about the Island’s vulnerability to a volcanic eruption. There are claims that the Island does not have an evacuation plan.

The  President of Tenerife recently called a press conference after a scientist from the CSIC Higher Council for Scientific Investigation had spoken of concerns about the Island’s vulnerability to a volcanic eruption. There had been some controversy because another scientist from the same organisation has said there is no risk.

The President said that the difference of opinions reinforced the need for a Volcanic Institute on the Canary Islands. During the press conference the President admitted that there could be a volcanic eruption during the next 50 years, he said that is to be expected on a volcanic island.

The last eruption in Tenerife on Mount Teide was El Chinero in 1909 and statistically, eruptions have occurred around every hundred years. The statistical time line would suggest an eruption is due around now but there is no immediate evidence to support the statement made by the Sun newspaper.

Furthermore, previous eruptions during the past 500 hundred years have been insignificant and without any serious level of casualty. The Sun newspaper uses the term “massive volcano eruption” which is hardly likely based on past history.

It is true that around 1.5 million tourists visit the Island every year, not all of them British though, as the Sun suggests. With regard to the claim that the Island does not have an evacuation plan, the numbers of visiting tourists annually is around equal to the population, but they they are not all here at one time. If everyone came for a two week visit there would be less than 60,000 visitors at one time. It is therefore difficult to see how the number of tourists would complicate an evacuation.

Normally volcanic activity is not without some warning and the topography of the Island, together with lava flow prediction would afford sufficient shelter for an evacuation to be planned. Seismic activity on the Island is constantly monitored and that would probably provide some early warning.

This is only my opinion but I personally think the risk to tourists and residents is minimal and the Sun newspaper would be better off reporting the many reasons why tourists should visit this beautiful Island, volcano watching?

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

Lidl to boost Canarian Economy

The German discount supermarket chain, Lidl has announced a major expansion plan to commence operations in the Canary Islands. The move has been contested by local traders fearful that the Lidl pricing policy will have a detrimental affect on local businesses. Next year there is a new EU directive which will be favourable for the company’s pricing policy.

Lidl will be opening twelve stores across the Canary Islands, six of them will be in Tenerife in Santa Ursula, Puerto de la Cruz, La Laguna, Granadilla, Las Chafiras and Adeje, there will also be a large distribution depot at Guimar in south Tenerife. There will be four other stores in Gran Canaria and one in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

Lidl will be boosting the local economy by creating 500 permanent jobs as well as many temporary construction jobs. Local contractors have been appointed and the company will adopt a policy of hiring Canarian residents. The company also says it will sourcing many of it’s products locally, which is a further boost to the Canarian economy.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property