Representatives from the county of Santiago de Teide are getting ready to take part in the Feria Internacional de Turismo (International Tourism Trade Fair) which is to be held in the Juan Carlos the 1st Exhibition park in Madrid from the 28th January to the 1st february. This is one of the most important Tourist Trade Fairs in Spain and perhaps the second most important exhibition in the world of its type.
As in previous years the Tenerife tourist board has prepared a wide range of materials offering visitors to the stand a change to see products and services unique to the Canary Islands, and this year the particular delights offered by the municipality of Santiago del Teide are also included: Its natural beauty, the friendliness of its inhabitants, the climate, the opportunities for hiking and rambling, its farming and pottery museum at Arguayo, its beaches (one of which bears an EU blue flag category), the natural magnificence of the Cliffs at Los Gigantes together with the possibilities offered for water sports, including whale and dolphin watching, from the marina there

Mayor Juan Damián Gorrín Ramos, together with councilor for tourism in the area Sra. María Ramona González Pérez and tourist department administrator, Gladys Hernández Pérez, are representing the county on the stand and are going armed with 1.200 postcards, 1.000 general area pamphlets, 500 walking tour guides, 200 pamphlets for the Alfarero Cha Domitila Farming Museum, and extensive list of available accommodation, 1.000 ecologically correct tote bags, 1.000 pins, and 500 pens and pencils all promoting the area of Santiago del teide, as well as figs and almonds grown in the area for visitors to try.

more information about the show (in English) can be obtained by clicking here http://www.fitur.ifema.es/ferias/fitur/entrada_i.html

The National Park of Tenerife " Las Cañadas del Teide " celebrates today the 50th anniversary of its inaguration in 1954. The park which is visited annually by more than 3 and half million visitors is the most popular of all the national parks in Spain.
.
The Conservationist and director of the park, Manuel Durbán, announced yesterday that the latest statistics to be published revealed that 75 per cent of the tourists who visit the island each year take the opportunity to visit the Teide National Park. Durbán went on to say that the protected space contains invaluable treasures of flora and fauna including 50 species of plant life which are found no where else in the world.

The State Government´s Minister for the Environment – Elvira Rodriguez - attended the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Mount Teide as a National Park which took place at the Parador. The President of the Canarian Government - Adan Martín, the President of the Cabildo – Ricardo Melchior, the President of the Canarian Parliament – Gabriel Mato, together with councillors and the Alcalde of La Orotava also attended the event. The Park was created in 1954 with 11,000 hectares. This area has now increased to 19,000 hectares today.

The Mayor of Guía de Isora, Pedro Martín Domínguez, met with Cabildo Councilor for Highways, Lorenzo Dorta yesterday and demanded that urgent attention be paid to the state of the county's roads which are in a terrible state.

Pedro Martín has raised this point on numerous occasions, not just with the minister for Highways but with the leader of the Island government Ricardo Melchior, and hinted that as soon as the current Cabildo Budget came into effect, the repair asphalting could be completed in under 2 months and hopes to receive a definitive plan within the next ten days, in order to acquire any necessary land needed for road widening as soon as possible

The biggest and most luxurious cruise ship in the world, the "Queen Mary 2," arrived in the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife this morning just before 8am. The cruise ship, which is on its maiden voyage, left Southampton earlier this week and is on its way to Florida.

Dozens turned up to welcome the ship which will be leaving for Las Palmas de Gran Canaria later this evening, but were prevented from getting too close by security guards. Buses were laid on to pick up the 2,620 passengers and 1,253 crew, for whom the Town Hall has organised various cultural activities culminating in a firework display to see them off.

The "Queen Mary 2" is equipped with five swimming pools, a planetarium, a hospital, and a theatre which can hold up to a thousand people.

The Councilor for Tourism and Transport in Adeje, Miguel Ángel Santos, advised yesterday that there were a huge number of complaints directed at TITSA (the local bus company) due to the lack of information on timetables at bus stops. The Costa Adeje tourist office alone, received over a thousand complaints last month regarding lack of transport information.

Complainants said that where there was information it was located so high above ground level as to be almost impossible to read

The councilor continued "In town transport systems are vital for workers in the area, but we must not forget that this is also the main method of transportation for the thousands of tourists in the area"

The Santa Cruz Port Authorities are completing last minute preparations for the arrival next Friday (16th January), at 8am, of the largest transatlantic liner "The Queen Mary 2", which was launched by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 at Southampton yesterday.

Its debut cruise which is the longest, most luxurious and most expensive in history will take in Santa Cruz before leaving at 23.00 the same day then going on to its next port of call - Las Palmas.

The Plaza Bouganvilla plays host to the "ReyesMagicos"

The Legend of The Three Kings
The Twelfth Night (also known as The Feast of the Epiphany) celebrates the arrival of the Three Kings to the birthplace of Christ. It is on January 6th and it marks the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas. The Magi came and gave the baby Jesus gifts. How many Magi were there? Actually, the Bible does not say. It is thought to be three because the Bible mentions three types of gifts: gold, incense and myrrh. Eastern traditions favour twelve. The wise men, the Magi, were astrologers and probably came from Persia or southern Arabia. They are believed to be linked with the priesthood of Zoroastrianism, who practised astrology. The historian Herodotus (5th Century BC) attested to the astrological prowess of the priests of Persia.

Psalm 72 speaks of how the Gentiles will come to worship the Messiah: "The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts, the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute. All kings shall pay Him homage, all nations shall serve Him" (72:10-11). Isaiah also prophesied the gifts: "Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord" (Isaiah 60:6). Although not mentioned by name in the Bible, tradition holds that the three wise men were: Caspar, King of Tarsus - The land of Myrrh, Melchior, King of Arabia - The land of Gold, and Balthasar, King of Saba - where Frankincense flows from trees.

HOME