News from Fuerteventura. August 2005
August 31st
President in El Cotillo
The president of the Spanish government, Senor Zapatero, spent the day bathing in the crystal clear waters of the lagoons in El Cotillo yesterday. He and his family took the ferry over from Lanzarote where they are staying for their summer vacation. He also visited the Isla de Lobos. We suspect he has probably had a look at our website, and though they seemed like nice places to visit.
Cruise season begins
The cruise season began with the arrival of the "Royal Artemis", bringing 1150 passengers to Puerto del Rosario. The ship has a crew of 560. The captain, Ivan Jerman, met with several local dignitaries. Amongst them was Olivia Esteves, the tourism minister from the Cabildo, who apologised for the current lack of facilities for such cruise ships, but also indicated that new facilities will be ready by the end of 2007. The passengers are mainly British.
August 30th
Back to School
Although there is some flexibility for schools to choose on which date they return after the summer holidays, the infants and juniors will return between the 7th and 9th September. Those in secondary education will return between the 12th and 14th September and those doing a Bachillerato will go back between the 13th and 15th. The other holiday dates are 23rd Dec to the 8th January (inclusive) and the 10th to 16th April for Easter. Other dates are 17th September, 12th October, 1st November and 7th Dec.
August 26th
Army to transfer land to the people of Puerto Del Rosario
The army are currently in posession of a piece of real estate known as El Bikini, but have agreed to tranfer it to the Ayuntamiento of Puerto del Rosario. The ayuntamiento have been in discussions with the army about the matter for ten years without success, but the involment of Rita Diaz, a goverment delegate, has led to a successful outcome. The deal has not been finalised, but the Ayuntamiento are in the process of costing planned improvements.
The property was used during the seventies and eighties as a sporting club, but has been disused for several years. It is hoped that it will be economicaly viable to restore the currrent buildings, so that it can be used as a leisure facility.
One of the benefits of developing and improving this piece of property is that it will provide a permanent home for the lifeguards who work at the beach, allowing them to store more of the equipment they currently use, as well as being able to house a jet-ski. This will lead to an improved service for those that use the beach.
It is also the intention of the Ayuntamiento to extend the pedestrian walkway all the way to the Fuerteventura Playa Blanca. Up to date this has not been possible as the route involves crossing the land connected to the Bikini complex. As the path crosses the dunes at Playa Blanca, additional work will have to be done to preserve the nature of the environment.
August 25th
Nuevo Horizonte gets smarter
Nuevo Horizonte, or Costa Antigua as it is now called has been smartened up by the removal of the fencing around the Antigua Bay development and by the demolition of some unfinished property that has been there for several years.
Gran Tarajal Water
The cabildo has anounced plans to increase the amount of fresh water produced by the desalination plant at Gran Tarajal from 2500 cubic metres per day, to 4500 cubic metres per day. This is needed partly due to the development of several hundred houses to the south of the town. For details of the property being developed see Fuerteventura property: Gran Tarajal page.
El Seprona
El Seprona, the agency in charge of policing the sea, have seized more than 180kg of mussels, limpets and undersized fish since the law regulating this activity came into effect on the last year.
El Soprona have taken action against 28 individuals for the taking and selling of species that are protected. They have also taken action against 4 supermarkets. The maximum fines are 60 000 euro. The environmental agency say that whilst the law has been in force the stocks of various species have been able to recover.
August 24th
Fishing and Tourism to work together
The department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing have shown support for developing an initiative that will involve local professional fishermen becoming involved with the tourism sector. The scheme will involve these fishermen taking tourists out to sea and showing them their craft. ( We just realised you may be expecting them to say "Here's my boat" or "Aqui es mi Barca", but we meant their skills). The photograph shows a pair of fisherment at El Cotillo, the one at the rear is using a glass bottomed device to see below the waves. You can't do that in the Lanky!
August 23rd
Whale News
Sadly, the baby whale that was recently washed ashore on the south of the Island has died at the zoo. This brings the total number of whales washed up this year to 9. The cabildo are in the process on conducting a research study as to the feasibility of creating a whale sanctuary, particularly for the genus ziphius, a little understood group. The sanctuary will be around the southern shores of Fuerteventura. It is hoped that having the sanctuary will have benefits for the tourist industry. The photograph shows an autopsy done earlier this year.
August 21st
Ten Thousand more tourists arrive
According to the Patronado de Tourismo, the number of passengers arriving at Puerto del Rosario, on cruise ships is up 10,000 on last year with 45,000 arriving this year. The new season will begin later in the year with the arrival of the Royal Artemis, from England, with 1,200 British passengers. This branch of tourism is relatively new on the island, only having been developed in the last four years.
August 20th
Historic Find
A newborn whale was found today, washed up on the southern shores of Fuerteventura. The whale is of a little known species and is being cared for in the zoo at La Lajita.
August 19th
New Church Bell
The church at La Oliva, Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, has had a new bell installed in the tower, as the old one had deteriorated. The new bell was cast in bronze, is a metre and a half in diameter and has a mass of 150kg. It will mark the hour, and call people to services.
August 17th
Safety at Sea
As from today the bombadiers of La Oliva will have a new "moto de agua" to assist in allowing them to maintain levels of safety on the beaches in the municiplaity of La Oliva. This fits in with the Cabildo's programme of aid to the municipalities in this area. The next municipality to benefit from receiving this type of equipment will be Pajara.
Big trucks in Puerto.
There will be an event this Sunday in Puerto del Rosario, when there will be a display of 4x4 vehicles with enormous wheels at the motocross track.
Hotels Almost Full
For the last couple of months the Fuerteventuranews, has run stories about tourism numbers; first it was up, then it was down. Generally speaking it has been a bad year but the hotels are currently 98% full. There has been a change in the demographics in that there are less English visitors and more Italians and mainland Spaniards here. The German market has also stabalised and the hotel owners are optimistic, whilst realizing that one good month will not make the year a success.
August 16th
New places to eat/admire the view.
A couple of new places to eat have opened in Caleta. The bar/restaurant Revolution, on the upper floor of the Atlantico Center, serves excellent food and the bar has impressive views of the Atlantic. Simon and Andrew, the owners of Revolution are originally from Sheffield, where they had a couple of bar/restaurants of a similar nature, but without the views.
The other is Chiringuito, which is Spanish for Stall or Kiosk. A nicely understated name. It is far from being a kiosk and is situated on a small man made island near the new hotels.
August 11th
Vandalism of Streetlights
The Ayuntamiento de La Oliva have asked for the co-operation of the people who live in the El-Cotillo and San Roque area after 35 streetlights were vandalised in the early hours of August 6th. The ayuntamiento said they thought the streetlights had been pulled down and ripped out by cars pulling on anchors attached to the lamps.
Some people are opposed to the development of the area, as they feel the new development will swamp what is already there.
On a Brighter Note
El Cotillo is celebrating its Fiesta from 16th - 26th of August. Events include a football match between married and single men, and outdoor fiestivals late in the evening all this weekend.
August 10th
El Point Jazz Festival
For details of who will be playing at this event, see Forthcoming events
Photographic record of Fuerteventura
The Cabildo have organised courses based around the gathering of digital copies of Fuerteventura so that they can be stored for posterity. It is hoped the photos will form the basis for a website. For more information contact nuevastecnologias@cabildofuer.es . No Previous experience of computers is needed. The courses will run at various telecentros on the island, beginning with those in the municipalities of La Oliva and Pajara.
August 9th
Workshops on Adolescent Pregnancy
The Department for Social Matters of the Cabildo have organised in cunjunction with PIS, a sexual health information service have organised a series of workshops for adolescents on the subject of adolescent pregnancies. The aim is to inform adolescents about matters relating to and to provide a forum for discussion. Workshops have been held in Morro Jable during July and will run during August in Puerto Del Rosario and Gran Tarajal as well as in Tefia.
Courses in Tourism
Hoteles Escuela de Canarias (Hecansa), will be presenting a catering and hospitality type course in Gran Canaria and Tenerife. The course will take 3 years to complete and includes English and German language lessons. There will be a 70% reduction of the cost of the course to those residing in Fuerteventura and a discount on airfare.
August 4th
Fuertemúsica on TV
Televisión Canaria will be showing a special program about Fuertemúsica 2005 at 12.50 on Sunday. The eight artists who played at the festival were Link, Elephantes, Haze, Los Coquillos, shown left, Carmen Paris, Son de la Frontera, Cafe Tacuba and Mastretta. For more photographs of these artists see Fuertemusica
Fast Car Ferry Announced
The negotiations regarding the setting up of a high-speed ferry service between Fuerteventur, Gran Canaria and Tenerife are almost complete. The ferry service is due to begin some time in October, and will run ourt of Morro Jable.
August 3rd
Cleaner roads in Tuineje.
When you are out and about in Tuineje, you may see the new automatic roadsweeper that has been added to the fleet of municiple vehicles.
August 1st
Fuertemusica, a sucess!
Fuertemusica 2005 was a resounding success. Over the two days, more than 16000 people attended and the event ran to schedule and without incident. See Fuertemusica , for details.
Imagine a Better World 2005
Yesterday the "Imagine a better world" charity event was held at Sadie's bar in Corralejo. This annual event raises lots of money for various charities and we will let you know how much was raised this year. There was an official photographer there but here are some of the pictures we took.
© "sunnyfuerteventura.com 2005"
