Lanzarote Relocation

Archive for the ‘Lanzarote News’ Category

We received a phone call from “Canada Bob”, a friend of Alan’s, today… who had spotted a commotion on Playa Blanca seafront. Not far from the TImanfaya hotel, a group of spectators had gathered around a sad sight.

A young whale had been washed ashore. It unfortunately did not survive. It was about fifteen feet long. Bob surmised that it may well have been a newborn or stillborn, and that a propeller had caught it, as its head was badly damaged, and there wasn’t much of it left. Apparently newborn whales go from the white they are born, to a darker colour within a few days – which shows this one was very young.

Many of us have never had the opportunity to see a whale up close and personal, so it is sad when your one opportunity is with one that has died. Let’s hope that there are not too many casualties in the unusual Lanzarote weather we are experiencing right now.

Supermarkets in Playa Blanca are often the subject for conversation in various Lanzarote forums and on travel sites on the web.

Supermarkets in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote

Hiperdino is well regarded as the best place in the town to do your main shopping. The original store (opened 2006) is located on the dual carriageway from the harbour to the town centre (directions at the end of this article). Read the rest of this entry »

Some of you will know that we are big fans of Allan Day. He and his wife Elaine were amongst the first people we got to know when we moved to Lanzarote 3 years ago – and they moved over 2 days before us.

Allan is an ex-copper from Scotland, and some of you may remember his story being told on here – if not, here’s a link: Allan Day’s Experiences

Well… the lovely Allan has had some exciting news this week.

Here’s what he had to say…

*** In September 2009 the cover track “Home” on Allan’s album “You Don’t Know Me” made its way to the New York Offices of EMI – The track was actually listened to and also liked by the bosses and has been passed to the 2nd stage. Allan will be discussed in a conference in Los Angeles with EMI bosses along with another 2 bands and a decision will be made as to whether Allan or the bands are chosen for EMI’s next project **

Whatever happens Allan is overwhelmed and very happy that his voice has carried him this far. Thank you to everyone for their continued support.

We are over the moon for him – and wish him all the very best of luck. Couldn’t happen to a nicer chap!

Yes… the madness has finally hit Lanzarote, with the new branch of the Monster Raving Loony Party opening at its new headquarters at the Bulldog Bar in Costa Teguise.

Alan “Howling Laud” Hope from Fleet was invited to along to officially open the new HQ by Dick “ReDICKulous” Knowles who moved to the Canaries 15 years ago. Dick is an old friend of Alan’s and Lord Sutch, the original party leader.

May the mayhem commence!

Following well informed sources, the traffic fines imposed by the Yaiza local police, will never be claimed and charged… except in the cases of  “on the spot” fines which offer a discount – because:

• There is no formal administrative procedure to recover later payment
• There are no recovery vehicles to remove your car
• There is no “pound” in which to leave said vehicles

In other words… if the fines are not paid, then nothing happens. This means that people who infringe traffic rules do not have to fear rhe fine… even if the police detain and sanction them

The reasons for the above situation has to be one of the following:

• Neglect or imcompetence of the administration of the Yaiza Town Hall government in order to organise the corresponding system of collection and apply it efficiently
• Political convenience, because if minimum severity ios applied at the execution of the traffic rules this could lead to discomfort of the victims and therefore a possible loss of votes by the poilitical party that is supporting the opportunr measures
• A mixture of the two

In any case the lack of action in this sense leads to a relaxation of the traffic by-laws, because the payment of the corresponding sanctions is not demanded and this leads to the absence of income for the municiapl ark, income which, in times like these, could be used to help the most needy citizens

These views do not reflect our own, but are gratefully received from Yolanda and Claudia of Playa Blanca Hoy. We would never recommend the non payment of fines, and would advise all persons to treat police officers with respect – whilst adhering as far as possible to the letter of the law (even if you disagree with it).

Driving in Lanzarote has been covered already elsewhere on this site… but we wanted to remind you about footwear. When driving in Lanzarote – please remember that you must wear closed in shoes to be legal.

With this in mind… we received an email today from MVP Pool and Spa Warehouse in playa Blanca… telling us the following:-

“…we´ve just been on the phone with the Yaiza police who have informed us that the police are now actively ´pulling´ people to check what footwear driver is wearing – flip flops/sandals/crocs will get you a €150 fine. Closed shoe/trainer is what you have to wear, not barefoot either. Pass that on as we could probably all do without that right now!”

Thanks for the info Angela – interesting that the police have now also included crocs and sandals in that list now too. We have been warned!

TUI Spain is currently organizing a trip to Lanzarote for the chief Austrian media, in collaboration with the Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort and the Lanzarote Tourist Board and Overseas Promotion Office.

The country’s main tourist company specializing in incoming tourism products and services, TUI Spain is organizing through GTT (TUI Group’s tour operator) a fam trip for Austria’s leading media. This initiative forms a part of TUI Spain’s strategy aimed at boosting the promotion of Lanzarote as a tourist destination.

The reporters comprising the group will be staying at the deluxe five-star Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort, one of the island’s most prestigious properties.

The fam trip has been scheduled for September 2009. During the trip, the Lanzarote Tourist Board and Overseas Promotion Office will organize a number of visits to the island’s main attractions, featuring its culture, cuisine, natural heritage, tourist facilities, and leisure activities.

“The Austrian market is among the top 10 as regards foreign tourism in Lanzarote. In the last few years, the number of Austrian tourists has declined slowly, so TUI Spain and GTT, in collaboration with Lanzarote’s public and private sector, aim to reinforce the promotion of the island in the main Austrian media,” explained Monique Lupgens, director of Destination Lanzarote for TUI Spain.

Marking the 30 anniversary since the company started operating in Lanzarote, TUI Spain is currently carrying out a number of activities geared to promotion, sustainability and solidarity in Lanzarote.

Info from Event Planners Spain

It would have been hard to pick up a paper recently without hearing about Michelle Massey being shot by her partner, Eulogio (Lolo) Ramonbernal in Lanzarote.

Lolo shot Michelle repeatedly, in front of their 6 month old son, Ruben. Having lost a kidney, and recovering slowly in Negrin Hospital, Gran Canaria… Michelle has been on the minds of many expats in Lanzarote.

Michelle originally moved to Lanzarote in 2006, and started working at McSorley’s Bar in Puerto Calero. Tom and Suzi Mooney, the owners of McSorley’s, described Michelle as “such a lovely girl”.

If you would like to help raise some money for Michelle… then a benefit night is being held at The Rare Auld Times bar in the Old Town, Puerto del Carmen on June 22nd.

Our thoughts remain with Michelle and her family, and we wish her a speedy recovery.

We would urge all residents, aspiring residents and tourists to avoid the site known as “Lanzarote Society” – which has been bombarding us, and many others with spam lately. Read the rest of this entry »

The plot of municipal and town-planning corruption fell apart at the Cabildo in Arrecife yesterday, as several politicians of the PIL (Party of Independents from Lanzarote), were arrested for receiving illegal commissions from businessmen, according to the Guardia Civil.

The police operation known as “bautizada con el nombre de Unión” and that extends as far as Gran Canaria, began immediately after the cashing of a “commission” (yeah, we laughed too) of €100k, which was intercepted by the Guardia Civil Guard.

Although the “Tribunal Superior de Justicia” reported the detention of 10 people involved in this, the Civil Guard only arrested nine – whilst stressing that any more arrests are not discounted.

The arrested include the leader of the PIL, Dimas Martín, who is in prison for another offence;  his daughter Elena Martín, head of “contract” in Arrecife;  Ubaldo Becerra (PIL), and the head of Urbanisno and Treasury, José Miguel Rodríguez (PIL).

They have also detained the engineering head of the technical municipal office, Rafael Arrocha; the ex-vice-president of the Cabildo, Rodríguez (PSC-PSOE); a businessman of Gran Canaria and two intermediaries.