There are some notable differences, Christmas Eve tends to be a family thing with shops closing mid afternoon but by Christmas Day afternoon most Canarian bars and restaurants will be open, and  there is even a normal Sunday service on the public buses. Boxing Day doesn’t exist on the Canarian calendar but off course home traditions are celebrated with great enthusiasm among the ex pat community, the happy mix of cultures is one of the big attractions of Tenerife life. Wimpen staff will be throwing themselves into the festivities and the poolside is a wonderful alternative to the sofa after a filling christmas dinner.

New Year is a massive event centred around the main plaza like in Los Gigantes, or down at the beach like in Los Cristianos and Playa de Las Americas. If your in a dancing mood prepare to keep going long into the early hours. The firework displays seen at New Year are always spectacular and last for ages, it’s a great night for everyone. That still leaves the big day Reyes-Kings Day on 6 January when Canarians exchange their presents, again a very family oriented day but the evening before is one of the biggest events of the year as the three kings arrive in all cities and towns.

The three kings are Balthasar, Mechior, and Caspar, the three wise men that arrived at the stable. They arrive on camels showering the crowds with sweets before taking their thrones to give out presents to children, in Adeje they arrive by helicopter into the local football ground. As Reyes is the big day, late night christmas shopping goes on until then, some of the big department stores in Santa Cruz open until midnight on 5 January.

However much you want to mix and match traditions there is plenty to see and church services including midnight mass are open to all worshippers. The major events for Adeje, Arona and Santiago del Teide are pulled together on this listing. Have a great Christmas, New Year, and Reyes.

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

Taken by Owner : Rachael Bareham

The European Union awards yearly blue flags to beaches for their cleanliness and safety, they are tough to win but Tenerife has seven spread around the island. Starting from the west coast there is Playa de la Arena just along from Los Gigantes, then in the south Troya in Adeje is another prize winner followed further south by El Camison and Las Vistas in Los Cristianos. Just before the south airport El Medano can boast its main beach and the smaller La Tejita in the shadow of Montaña Roja, the red mountain that greets visitors as they land in Tenerife. Just to make sure the north doesn’t miss out, La Arena in Tacoronte is another beach that has been recognised for its special qualities.

Zona Comercial Abierta is a local business initiative to encourage visitors to try the local shops for fashion items. Last years fashion shows were such a success that it’s happening again on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 June near the old beach in Los Cristianos with 2 shows each night at 6.30 pm and 8.30 pm. The stage and catwalk will be set up in Plaza del Pescadora where the statue of the fisherwoman stands and the models are mainly from local schools and colleges. The clothes are all on sale in the nearby shops and each outfit will be matched to its shop on the large video screen so you can make a note to pop in and get your own make over.

I’m sure many of our friends from Los Claveles will be nipping down to see the shows. This is just one of many summer fiestas and shows being put on around Tenerife to make sure there is something for everyone. If you want to know whats happening near to your Wimpen holiday home just ask at reception, their local knowledge will point you in the right direction.

The Tenerife Tourism department has just installed a series of information panels along the south and west coast at key vantage points to explain more about these creatures and their habits. From Los Gigantes down through Adeje, Arona, Puerto Colon and Los Cristianos it’s now possible to pick up background information on the cetaceans that swim in our waters.

A third of all the planets species of whales and dolphins either live or pass through Canarian waters and the sea around Tenerife is the second most important important place in the world to view sea creatures. That’s why around 700,000 people per year visit Tenerife with the intention of seeing these animals.

This wealth of sea life does bring a great responsibility and the Tenerife government does its best to ensure that the fragile eco system is protected. Understanding nature is a key part of that so as well as the new panels there are new leaflets, in 4 languages, that explain in more detail about the whales and dolphins. These can be picked up from most Tourist Information offices.

Legal arguments delayed repair work to the 40 metre stretch of cliff but 500,000 euros later the Santiago del Teide council has ensured that the inserting of iron pins and concreting of the cliff surface has made it safe for the public to once again enjoy bathing at the postcard setting. A day of storms put the new repair work to the test a few days after opening but it stood up well.

The marina area has continued to be busy with many pleasure boats operating from the pontoons and the fish restaurants packing the customers in. Now the beach approach road can re build its trade, the walls have been decorated with tiling depicting nautical themes. The west coast of Tenerife has one of the best sun records on the island, it’s good to know that if you want to sample the sea as well as the first class Wimpen complex pools, the sand is awaiting your visit.

It’s good news all round as new airline routes are making it easier for the Scottish and Irish to enjoy some Tenerife sunshine. Easyjet are opening a new high road from Edinburgh airport  starting on 19 September, flights will operate twice a week using the 180 seat airbus A 320.

Over in Northern Ireland they have their own reason to celebrate thanks to Ryanair. The low cost airline is starting up regular weekly flights to Tenerife from the City of Derry airport, starting from April. Tenerife is enjoying a boom at the moment partly due to uncertainty in other destinations such as Tunisia and Egypt but there has always been a steady influx of visitors from all parts of the UK.

It all adds to the diverse mix of tourists in Tenerife, the island government has worked hard in recent years promoting the island in new markets such as eastern Europe and Russia and that work is starting to bear fruit. Wimpen extends a warm welcome to all visitors and looks forward to making new friends as well as greeting old returning faces.