Forged in the heat of the volcanoes, Lanzarote has always attracted the fit and the sporty from cyclists to walkers and has become the place to be for triathletes but now Playa Blanca is the stage for the ultimate challenge.

Enduroman comes to the southern point of Lanzarote on 4th and 5th February with competitors testing themselves at a combination of swimming, cycling, and running. Wimpen guests at Las Brisas and Las Casitas will be able to enjoy the thrills and excitement as the challenge unwinds around the village, and then return to the relaxation of our pools, sunbeds, and bars.

You might want to pull up a comfy chair just to read what these athletes are taking on, it’s enough to take your breath away.

• Double Enduroman – Saturday 4th Jan at 2pm, Swim 3.8 kms, Cycle 180 kms, Run 84 kms
  Enduroman – Sunday 5th at 8am, Swim 3.8 kms, Cycle 180 kms, Run 42 kms
  Medio Enduroman – Sunday 5th at 10pm, Swim 3.8 kms, Cycle 180 kms, Run 21 kms
  Olimpico Enduroman – Sunday 5th at noon, Swim 3.8 kms, Cycle 180 kms, Run 10 kms

That should be enough to test anyone. Normally the activity in Playa Blanca is sedate and restful consisting of strolling along the front to watch the ferries come in and out or to find the best spot on the beaches.

THE VILLAGE LEISURE HOTEL

Dolomite Avenue, Coventry Business Park, Coventry CV4 9GZ

Sueno Azul – Saturday 3rd December at 10.30am

El Marques – Saturday 3rd December at 1.30pm

Las Casitas – Sunday 4th December at 10.00am

Las Brisas – Sunday 4th December at 1.30pm

As Carnaval season binds its spell on the Canary Islands Lanzarote is gearing up for a whole series of regional events. Where ever you are living or visiting on Lanzarote it’s time to dress up and dance, the really hardy party goers will probably be popping into all the Carnavals.

It all starts in the capital city Arrecife with the longest party from 25 February to 9 March, all under this years theme of Opera. The big parade takes place on Monday 7th March when all ages unite to show off their costumes and to dance the night away. The capital doesn’t get it all its own way, there is a lot of pride at stake as other towns pull out the stops to try and outshine their rivals-

Playa Blanca will be awakening memories of childhood with their theme of Fairytales for their Carnaval from 17 to 20 March. It’s a great chance for our guests at Las Brisas and Las Casitas to enjoy the flavours and colours of this great Lanzarote tradition. The highlight of the celebrations is the big parade on Saturday 19 March from 5pm. Music and fireworks always play a big part and everyone is invited to join in.

Those with the stamina can also dip into the fun and games at Puerto del Carmen from 10 to 12 March and Costa Teguise from 25 to 27 March. The good news is that after all that late night partying the beaches and pools of Lanzarote will always be there to encourage a much needed relaxation under the clear sunny skies.

The Canary Islands are again proving to be the biggest draw as people start to book summer holidays but with increasing competition it’s important to keep people aware of the wonderful climate, beaches  and scenery. The 2011 tourism market fairs are about to start with Fitur in Madrid from 19 to 23 January and the Canary Islands will be making their prescence felt.

A huge stand for all the Canary Islands costing 360,000 euros will attract the crowds and individual islands and councils will be doing their best to entice the movers and shakers in the holiday trade. In these tough financial times the Canaries are looking to get value for money and their stand has been designed for re-use at the Berlin travel fair later in the spring.

The hot themes for this year in Tenerife are health and wellness, and gastronomy. Arona council are holding a special launch night on 19 January at the world famous Reina Sofia museum in Madrid, invited guests will be able to sample the best of traditional Canarian food as served in their region. All the signs are good for visitor numbers to the Canary Islands in 2011 and Wimpen are looking forward to welcoming back old friends and adding lots of new ones.

Has been with Las Casitas from the beginning, joining in 1982 as a maid, and promoted to house keeper in 1988, and continues to this day taking great pride in offering owners and visitors a warm welcome. On her last birthday she was 64.

Her husband Benabe joined Las Casitas in 1985 as Head of maintenance. until his sad death in December 2003.

Dolores has 2 children, Carmita who joined Las Casitas in August 2004 and is still working as one of our maids, and her son Alberto who joined Las Brisas in 1993 after completing his military service and is still working on Brisas in the Maintenance Department.

Many congratulations !!!!!!

There’s good news for regular visitors to Lanzarote, Thomson Airways have launched a new service from Doncaster-Sheffield airport, also known as Robin Hood airport. New once a week flights have been added to the winter schedule starting from November 7.

Nick Smillie, Aviation Sales Director at Robin Hood Airport said the airline had recognised that holidaymakers want to travel from local airports. “This additional route has been added thanks to great customer support and demand,” Opening offers include return flights from as little as 169 pounds per person return.

It’s a great winter boost to Wimpen clients heading out to Las Brisas and Las Casitas resorts in Playa Blanca. Lanzarote enjoys wonderful winter weather and has a wealth of beaches to relax on and incredible volcanic scenery to explore.

My villa at Las Rosas is owned jointly with my wife and on 16th October last we visited the Consular General´s office at 20m Draycott Place, London SW3 2RZ, just a few minutes walk from Sloane Square Tube Station, where we met a Consular Officer – a lady, who was very courteous and helpful.

YOU MUST APPEAR IN PERSON AND TAKE WITH YOU:-

A) Form EX-14 IN DUPLICATE – two for each owner, this form may be downloaded from the Spanish Consulate´s website www.conspalon.org or alternatively obtained from WimPen´s Admin Office in Tenerife, and since this form is printed in Spanish and MUST be completed in Spanish online, PDF or on a typewriter, NOT HANDWRITTEN, I decided to contact WimPen whose Admin staff were very helpful and in addition to copies of the Spanish Form will also send you an English version as a guide, which will undoubtedly help facilitate your completion of the form.
Complete the Spanish form in front of the Spanish Consular Officer, who will then stamp the form and hand one copy of the form back to each owner. The retained copy will be forwarded to Madrid and in 1 – 3 months time the NIE Number will be forwarded to WimPen in Tenerife for personal collection in due course.

B) YOUR VALID PASSPORT and a photocopy of the page in your passport containing your personal details, but make sure you also copy the blank page opposite your personal details which will also be stamped and retained by the Consular Officer.

I am pleased to say that this service was provided completely free of charge. No passport size photographs were required, I did take my Escritura with me.

We arrived at the office at 10.50am and left at 11.00am – an excellent and efficient service, and we will collect the NIE certificates from WimPen when we next visit Las Rosas in August.

As indicated, the procedure is very simple and if any Las Rosas owner(s) would like to discuss the matter my email address is nallen772@btinternet.com

Nevilla Allen – Villa 50 – Weeks 35 & 36.

“After travelling for 3 days – arrived home exhausted! Met some terrific helpful people on the journey, Saw a lot of Spanish & French countryside.
Thanks to everyone in the office, particularly those that helped with the “bodywork repair” to our hire car with a sink plunger!!
See you next year.”
Mr & Mrs Cox – Owner Las Rosas

“Josi at WimPen Sueno Azul was marvelous, she tried and succeeded in helping everyone. I thought the price charged for the additional week was fair, no attempt was made on your part to profit from the situation – took all the stress away for me and my grandchildren. Thankyou”
Mr & Mrs Barrett – Owner El Marques

“Thank you for all you help at a difficult time. This experience has not put us off our visits to Las Rosas we will be back” – Many thanks to all the staff
Mr & Mrs Howe – Owner Las Rosas

“We cannot express our gratitude enough as to how helpful & kind everyone was in such difficult circumstances. I would recommend Las Brisas to everyone as at no point was anyone trying to make a “fast buck”, like many others around the world.”
Sara Denton – Las Brisas

There were 4 interactive themes to the display, Volcanic Experience, Wellness Delight, Family Welcome and Water Sports Experience. They must have made a good impression, because the organisers voted the stand the best at the show. It wasn’t just inside the hall that the Canary Islands were turning heads, several London taxis were covered in promotional pictures, and Herons Quay Bridge, an important landmark in Canary Wharf, displayed a 50 metre billboard.

There is a further boost to come next year when the British Travel Writers Association will hold their annual AGM in Tenerife during  January. Around 100 influential journalists will attend, as they help to shape the trends for future holidays.