tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16642562544665596112010-03-09T20:00:49.948ZAll about the island of La Palma, in the Canaries.Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.comBlogger272125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-79741853680887006412010-03-09T19:14:00.002Z2010-03-09T20:00:49.961Z

Los CancajosThey'll be having yet another attempt to cremate the octopus in Los Cancajos on Friday 12th, starting at 8pm. This was supposed to happen during Carnival, but it's been postponed twice due to bad weather. The town hall assures everyone that the octopus won't have gone smelly, because it's been frozen during the wait.[This is a joke. I'm sure it isn't a real octopus.]Anyway, the

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-20987905174050211732010-03-04T20:19:00.006Z2010-03-06T12:08:26.899Z

The outside of the church of St Michael the Archangel, Tazacorte On Thursday I was in Tazacorte, so I popped into the church. I'm not religious, but most of the churches on La Palma are beautiful, and worth at least a quick look. Even if the building itself isn't special, there's often a beautiful renaissance statue. In this case, I'd recently translated a text that said the church "was built

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-71339576774037402522010-03-03T11:20:00.002Z2010-03-03T11:26:37.171Z

The Cistercian convent at Buenavista in Breña Alta, La PalmaThe Cistercian convent of the Holy Trinity at Buenavista in Breña Alta is surprisingly new. It was founded in 1946, and it's the only closed order on the island. I was surprised to find out that there are only ten nuns who live there.The convent has a small shop. I first went there about eleven years ago, in search of a rosary made of

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-28761674013226689292010-02-26T15:59:00.002Z2010-02-26T16:22:44.328Z

(said in my best Victor Meldrew impersonation.)We're on orange alert again, because there's yet another storm headed our way. This one is small and intense and due to hit tonight with wind gusts up to 160 km/h on the peaks and possible heavy rain. The only good bit is that it's zipping along so fast that it should be over by lunchtime Saturday.The observatory has been evacuated, the Octopus's

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-85889093386944806782010-02-23T16:24:00.004Z2010-02-23T19:08:33.857Z

The Octopus's funeral has been rescheduled for Friday 26th.The procession will leave the pharmacy at 8 pm and make its way to the beach, where the octopus will be cremated. There will be fireworks and dancing. Everybody welcome.This is a new fiesta, so it'll be interesting to seeMeanwhile the sardine's funeral at Los Sauces will take place on Saturday 27th. The percussion music starts at 8 pm

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-20557194638915516492010-02-21T15:27:00.002Z2010-02-21T15:44:06.948Z

We've had major roadworks in the north of the island for some time, with some places reduced to one lane, so that you have to wait for traffic lights. Now they'll be closing the road completely at km 24, just north of Los Sauces, twice a day.The road will be closed Monday - Friday 9:30 am - 12:30 am and 4 pm - 7 pm.

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-73478583422551653992010-02-18T19:24:00.002Z2010-02-18T19:35:19.423Z

Well the storm's gone, thank goodness, but there's more rain due on Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy Friday, quick!We've had a lot more bad weather than usual this winter.On a happier note, there's a children's carnival party at La Polvacera Sports Ground, with dancing, games, art workshops and murgas. Come in fancy dress if you can, at 5 pm.

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-42157282259596299312010-02-17T16:48:00.002Z2010-02-17T16:56:30.834Z

It's raining cats and dogs in Breña Baja, and the Octopus's Funeral in Cancajos has been postponed. The new date hasn't been fixed yet.

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-68645867059895235522010-02-16T14:36:00.003Z2010-02-16T16:16:35.522Z

Today we have a yellow weather alert for the whole island, and most of the sea around it (the exception is the sea immediately east of the island). Tomorrow it becomes an orange alert for the whole island with a yellow alert for the sea. And for Thursday we have an orange alert again for the island, and an orange alert for the sea, except for the same patch of sea off the east of the island.

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-88442134077783284142010-02-16T12:14:00.004Z2010-02-16T13:03:50.743Z

Los Indianos, Santa Cruz de la PalmaTuesday 16thSanta Cruz de la Palma5 pm Fancy dress ball in the senior citizens day centre, with live salsa musicLos LlanosCancelledWednesday 17thSanta Cruz de la Palma11 am Presentation of prizes in the town hall.Los Llanos11 am - 1 pm Children's activities, Plaza de España8 pm Murgas, Plaza de EspañaCancajos8 pm the Octopus's Funeral followed by a

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-71149255560482436492010-02-15T16:32:00.002Z2010-02-15T16:44:11.231Z

One of my favourite things about carnival is the small kids in costume. I hope you enjoy it too.Some of the

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-15867450427514605372010-02-12T19:53:00.003Z2010-02-12T20:03:28.120Z

Sorry, I don't know Los Llanos nearly so well, so I can't tell you where to find things. But they're usually quite loud, so I suggest you just follow the noise.Friday 12th22:00 Masked dance with live music22:00 Carnival kiosksSaturday 13th10:30 Table Tennis12:00 "The Great Powder"Sunday 14th11:00 Table TennisMonday 15th11:00 Activities for children22:00 Carnival dance with live music

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-49890728330137998172010-02-12T18:27:00.005Z2010-02-12T19:47:40.496Z

Santa Cruz de la Palma will be starting Carnival tonight. If you're staying in town, it's a great spectacle, but you should probably buy ear-plugs, as the music will be loud, and most nights it will go on until about 2 am. On Monday there will still be people partying at dawn.Where things are:The Alameda Square is at the north end of town, next to the concrete ship.The main carnival stage is on

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-20866125728033083612010-02-08T11:37:00.005Z2010-02-08T12:18:54.552Z

Puntagorda fiesta: almond blossomLa Palma isn't a big island, but it still takes almost 2 hours to drive from Breña Baja to Puntagorda. I found most of the blossom had been spoiled by the bad weather last week, but it was still pretty. (In a good year, the whole hillside turns pink.) Then I got sidetracked into visiting a friend's barbecue, and very nice, too. I finally got to the main fiesta

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-63916645782228228042010-02-04T19:01:00.008Z2010-02-05T13:38:42.929Z

The 19th century butcher's shop, Breña Baja, La PalmaThe old butcher's shop stands on the outskirts of the village of San Jose, in Breña Baja, near the Paradorof La Palma. The building dates from the late 19th century, and it was a butcher's shop until the 1960s. But now it's been renovated as a craft exhibition and shop.The famous cigars of The BreñasAlthough the place is small, they've packed

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-58914214795474504312010-02-01T20:09:00.002Z2010-02-01T20:24:22.275Z

Some people think it never rains in La Palma. Well, it's the greenest of the Canary Islands for a very simple reason. And right now, it's busy getting greener. In fact, we have an official orange weather alert, and all school is cancelled for tomorrow, for the whole archipelago.The thing is, it's not raining all that much, at last not here. It's just like a wet day in Wales.I suppose it's

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-35977333349757221682010-01-29T10:52:00.003Z2010-01-29T11:23:39.471Z

In aid of HaitiThere will be a fund-raising shindig for Haiti in the Plaza España of Santa Cruz on Saturday, from 10 am until 3pm. This includes a market, and a raffle. At least 6 local bands are turning out. The amateur astronomy group will set up telescopes for observing the sun (safely!), somebody's bringing "children's activities", and there's a "Recycle Art" workshop. (I wonder if that's

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-11142275676803866362010-01-27T11:06:00.001Z2010-01-27T11:32:26.764Z

M100 (NGC 4321), a barred galaxy in the Virgo clusterThere's a really simple reason why the Royal Greenwich Observatory moved their telescopes here. It's one of the three best places in the world for astronomy.A modern telescope could see the equivalent of a candle on the moon, so obviously they want to be well away from city lights. Even more obviously, they want to be somewhere that doesn't get

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-87415929434204565352010-01-24T21:48:00.005Z2010-01-24T22:12:11.300Z

Almond blossom in GarafiaThe north-west of the island is home to great many almond trees, and at this time of the year, they're all blossoming.The trees in El Paso and Garafía are beautiful, but the best display of all is at Puntagorda. In fact Puntagorda hosts an annual almond blossom fiesta. The date varies -- the Town Hall sets it a couple of weeks in advance, to (hopefully) coincide with the

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-28250606788464744232010-01-20T10:30:00.003Z2010-01-20T10:34:13.046Z

Traditional roof with a space to view the port.These days, Santa Cruz de la Palma is a bit of a backwater. But three hundred years ago, it was the third biggest port in the Spanish Empire. Almost every ship traveling from Spain to the Americas stopped here. In the 19th century, it was still a major port, and many of the inhabitants waited anxiously for a ship bringing their merchandise, letters

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-10767439796684477182010-01-16T16:49:00.002Z2010-01-16T18:19:37.419Z

Perhaps surprisingly, flights are not necessarily the fastest way to travel between islands. Certainly they are if you want to go to Santa Cruz de Tenerife: there are 17 flights a day, and they take about 30 minutes.But if you want to go from one small island to another, say La Palma to El Hierro, then that means two flights. By the time you've checked in, flown to Tenerife, waited for your

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-34141387911388123002010-01-13T13:41:00.008Z2010-01-13T16:20:55.209Z

The entrance to the island's museum, beside the church of San Francisco.The Island's Museum is in the old convent of San Francisco. The building itself is lovely. It dates from the early 16th century; work started in 1508, just fifteen years after the Spanish conquest. (Forty years ago, it was the technical school, and my husband studied there. It certainly looks better than the concrete box

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-42664293808847028492010-01-09T13:38:00.000Z2010-01-09T14:02:31.087Z

One of the landslides in FuencalienteJust before Christmas we had two winter storms back-to-back. It was a pain, but for most of the island, it was just wet and windy.Things were worse in Fuencaliente. Because a forest fire damaged much of the forest and farmland, ther were far fewer roots to hold the soil in place. So the heavy rains caused numerous landslides. Nobody was hurt, but some of

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-83000279835096368092010-01-05T18:57:00.005Z2010-01-05T19:07:38.016Z

Gaspar visiting Santa Cruz de la PalmaAlthough Father Christmas does visit Spanish children, he's a new arrival. Traditionally the presents arrive on the morning of January 6th, when the three kings visit baby Jesus. This is why the sales haven't really started yet - Christmas isn't over here. And on the evening of the 5th, they ride in procession through most of the major towns and villages in

Sheila, Canary Islandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10219032831132156995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664256254466559611.post-4230440837800321382010-01-01T16:46:00.004Z2010-01-01T18:21:27.791Z

New Year fireworks in Santa Cruz de la Palma, 2009The Spanish celebrate New Year in a big way. A lot of people go out for an expensive meal wearing evening dress - the the sort of thing I associate with Glyndebourne Opera. Most restaurants offer a special menu, and you have to book well in advance. This year, large family parties were back in fashion, because they're cheaper. I've usually gone

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