Tenerife Magazine’s round up of some of the most interesting news stories of the week in Tenerife.
Tenerife’s Eco-Friendly Tram
A survey commissioned by the Tenerife Government revealed that there are an estimated 3 million less car journeys a year due to the existence of the tram in the Metropolitan area. Many city dwellers had ditched their cars in favour of the tram because they felt using the tram was an efficient, safe and an easy way to get about. Having travelled on it plenty of times we’d have to agree, it’s a great way to get from La Laguna to Santa Cruz or vice versa whether you’re a commuter or a visitor wanting to explore the current and former capital.
A Cover Up on Tenerife This Summer
Tenerife’s naturists will have to make do with a limited choice of where to let it all hang out this summer. Following a meeting in Santa Cruz it was decided that the popular nudist beach at Las Gaviotas near Tenerife’s capital will remain closed to the public whilst an agreement to address the risk of falling rocks is reached. Don’t hold your breath on that happening. The same applies to Igueste beach further along the coast.
No Abortions on the Public Health in the Canary Islands
Sometimes a news report comes along that highlights the cultural differences of moving from countries such as the UK to other parts of Europe. Take for example the sensitive subject of abortions. A law decriminalising abortion in Spain was only passed last year. However, there is still nowhere on any of the Canary Islands where abortions are performed on the public health service. There are three clinics, all private, on Tenerife and Gran Canario. The procedures before an abortion is ‘approved’ are complicated enough, but for anyone living on one of the other islands there is the further impracticality of having to travel to one of the licensed clinics. The law might have been passed but the words lip, service and paying spring to mind.
And finally the TIT (This Is Tenerife) of the week award goes to…the defeat of Nelson in Santa Cruz
Possibly the proudest moment in Tenerife’s history is the defeat of Nelson on the 25th July 1797. Streets and avenues are named after the victory and each year the historic event is vigorously re-lived on the streets of Santa Cruz…every year except this one. Apart from a lack of boats and fireworks to celebrate the battle there was one particularly essential ingredient missing ““ British forces. Nelson and his boys were absent from the scene. The Santa Cruceros and friends might have defeated Nelson back in 1797, but it was that familiar old chestnut, ‘the economic crisis”, that did for him this year.
A comment in one Spanish newspaper suggested that Tenerife might have been a very different place if Nelson had won. It’s an interesting thought. Just imagine, Tenerife might have been full of British bars serving John Smiths, dishing up fish and chips and with British soaps on the telly…wait a minute.
