Experince Lanzarote
FIESTAS AND FOLKLORE
Fiesta is certainly no strange word for canarios. There are more days of celebration on the Canary Isles than in any other place. During the carnivals and bank holidays many people go out and the flights and sea routes are completely booked. The number of religious bank holidays is roughly the same as other European regions, but the holidays for the patron saints of the islands come in addition. On Lanzarote the whole summer comprises a series of fiestas, one following the other:
15 May Uga
24 May Montaña Blanca
13 June Güime
24 June Haría
29 June Máguez
7 July Femés (San Marcial del Rubicón, patron saint of the island)
16 July Teguise; Puerto del Carmen; Tías, Famara, Playa Blanca
24 August San Bartolomé
25 August Arrecife (San Ginés)
30 August Haría (Santa Rosa)
8 September Yaiza (Virgen de los Remedios)
14 September Guatiza
15 September Mancha Blanca (Tinajo)
30 November Tao
4 December Máguez
24 December Teguise (Fiesta de Rancho de Pascua)
The main days of the Fiesta are given in the table above. Printed programmes are hung in bars and supermarkets for each fiesta. Villages festivals have a religious and folkloric character, but in most cases they have developed into a sort of fair with motor scooters, shooting galleries and sausage stands. The smaller the village, the more original the fiesta. A fiesta has only one main day, but it begins about two weeks beforehand. The Lanzaroteños enjoy dancing into the night, until six o’clock in the morning. Singers, comedians and show girls perform at the larger celebrations. The fiestas are closed with a show of fireworks (which are sometimes spectacular) and the asadero, a communal meal of sardines which the inhabitants of the village and the surroundings participate in. They gather around small fires, sitting on the ground, grilling fish. Traditionally the fish is donated by the fishermen of the village, the wine by the wealthier residents. Today, this part of the fiesta is organised by the mayor’s office.
Christmas does not have the same value as here. On the 24.12, the canarios work until evening. They go to Christmas mass, and celebrate Christmas Eve just like New Year and have only one day of celebration at Christmas. New Year is celebrated out on the streets; it is likely and noisy. At midnight it is traditional to eat uvas de la suerte (lucky grapes), one for each chime of the clock.
The most important feast on the Canary Islands is Los Reyes, the Feast of Epiphany. One day before, on the 5th January, the three kings make their way across the villages in a festival procession, giving sweets to the children. This is the day when Christmas presents are distributed.
The Canary carnival is similar to the carnival in Rio de Janeiro. At Easter, La Semana Santa, processions make their way through the decorated streets. Corpus Christi is a delightful celebration to see. The roads in some villages are decorated with salt carpets. Because blossom petals are so rare, the Canarians dye sea salt and lay artificially-made carpets of splendid colours showing pictures and ornaments. The fiestas are the most impressive showcase for Canary folklore. The character of the people is illustrated by their customs, dances and songs. Some of the ancient customs have survived over the years. They tell stories of folk history in songs and dances, accompanied by the guitar, mandoline, lute and timple. The timple the predominant instrument in folk music. They are made in Teguise. There are performances of folkloric events for tourists. This is one way of maintaining the traditions, which due to modern media, are now fading into the background.
Konsulatssprechtag auf Lanzarote:
15. Februar 2011, 09.00 - 12.00 Uhr,
jeweils im Hotel Los Jameos Playa, Puerto del Carmen
Eine Voranmeldung ist nicht erforderlich, jedoch bei komplexeren Sachverhalten wie z.B. Geburtsanzeigen, Namenserklärungen, Erbschaftsfragen empfehlenswert. Anträge auf Ausstellung biometrischer Reisepässe (ePass) können bei den Konsularsprechtagen nicht entgegengenommen werden.
Konsulatssprechtag auf Lanzarote:
15. Februar 2011, 09.00 - 12.00 Uhr,
jeweils im Hotel Los Jameos Playa, Puerto del Carmen
Eine Voranmeldung ist nicht erforderlich, jedoch bei komplexeren Sachverhalten wie z.B. Geburtsanzeigen, Namenserklärungen, Erbschaftsfragen empfehlenswert. Anträge auf Ausstellung biometrischer Reisepässe (ePass) können bei den Konsularsprechtagen nicht entgegengenommen werden.
LANZAROTE ERLEBEN - Sports - general
Last Updated (Wednesday, 26 January 2011 18:07) Written by Administrator Wednesday, 26 January 2011 17:25
Lanzarote is a paradise for sport lovers. Almost all the larger hotels and some apartment complexes have their own sports facilities. There are tennis courts, some floodlit, squash courts, volleyball fields and bowling alleys. You can hire bicycles and fly a kite, ride, climb, and play golf or darts, and there is also archery. But the most popular sports are of course water sports:
Deep-sea angling: You can go out on deep-sea angling trips to catch tuna, bonitos, barracuda, sharks, marlin and wahoo. The most prized catch is a swordfish. Please inquire at your own reception.
Sailing: If you want to hire a sailing boat, inquire at Catlanza in Puerto Calero. Tel. 928 51 30 22. Fax 928 51 10 01.
Wind-surfing: The Canary Isles waters are well-known as good wind-surfing. There are wind-surfing schools at the Playa de las Cucharas on the Costa Teguise, at the Playa de Matagorda in Puerto del Carmen, and at the Playa Blanca. The La Santa sports facility, which has a lake, is ideal for learners.
Diving: There are diving bases in Costa Teguise, Arrieta, La Santa, Puerto del Carmen, Puerto Calero, Playa Quemada and Playa Blanca. These are kept by diving schools. If you want to go in for independent diving, you should first inquire about currents. Underwater hunting is not permitted along all stretches of the coast, compressed-air harpoons are completely prohibited. Give the physallia carabella (a kind of jellyfish), which comes sometimes close to the cost during the summer, a wide berth. Its stings, 6–7 cm in length, are caustic to the touch, and can cause paralysis. The islanders treat the burns with garlic and onion juice. You should also beware of the moray, whose blood and bites are venomous. There are no dangerous sharks close to the coast. The thornback ray has a span of up to 2.5 m and is fascinating to watch.
Surfing: There are good conditions for surfing on the north coast of Lanzarote, at the Playa de Famara by La Santa and at the Playa de la Cantería by Orzola. On the east coast, only the coastline between Punta de Mujeres and Los Jameos del Agua is worth mentioning.
The ECONATURA group offers a wide range of adventure, sports, and leisure activities, supervised by well-trained young people. The focus is on active tourism that respects the environment. You can take part in the following activities: walking, kayaking, archery, fishing, mountain-biking, climbing, riding and others. ECONATURA, on the main road between Mala and Arrieta. Tel. 928 17 31 06.
Canary Island sports:
The Canary Islanders love football and Vela Latina. A form of pole-vault known as salto del regatón has developed on La Palma. Lucha canaria, or Canary Island wrestling, is widespread on all the islands except Gomera.
Lucha canaria:
The lucha canaria is reminiscent of Celtic wrestling, but this particular type is known only on the Canary Islands. According to some sources, the sport was practised in Egypt. At the very least, there are some parallels in the reliefs of Beni Hassan,which depict situations in a wrestling match. It is a martial art typical of the Ancient Canarians, who liked to test their strength a their festivals – and present-day islanders still do. The lucha canaria is held at every fiesta, on a ground called the terrero. This is a double ring with a floor of hardtrodden earth or sawdust. The inner ring measures 10 metres, the outer ring 11. The wrestlers are called pollos (fighting cocks); successfull ones are worshipped like football stars. They wear thin shirts and short trousers of linen, with the legs rolled up. The adversary grips hold of these trousers. The pollos fight barefoot. The fight is fair, as the opening ritual proves. Each team consists of eleven fighters. There is a maximum of three rounds, each round lasting three minutes at the most. The winner is the one who throws his opponent twice. This has to be inside the inner ring, or between the inner and outer rings provided the winner remains inside the inner ring. The victor can continue fighting for up to three more fights. Each fighter has to fight every member of the opposing team. The best have a mastery of all the 43 holds that are allowed – beginners have to have a command of five holds.
Stick game: The stick game has also been handed down from the Ancient Canarians. The aim of the stick fighters used to be to defend themselves against attack without killing or seriously injuring their opponents. There are two different types: fencing with flexible rods known as varas, and fencing with rough sticks called palos. The players’ feet are not allowed to move from the spot, so the players can only parry blows or bend their upper bodies to avoid being hit. All in all, fighters are supposed to move their bodies as little as possible during the fights. Only men use the varas, while in the palos fights, there may be matches between men and women.
Last Updated (Thursday, 02 December 2010 16:18) Written by Administrator Thursday, 02 December 2010 16:15
CATRIONA MORRISON Y ENEKO LLANOS WINNERS OF THE IRONMAN LANZAROTE 2010The Tourism Councillor of the Canarian Government, Rita Martín, gave the starting signal for the 1,405 competitors of the triathlon. The Ironman is one of the nicest and also hardest competitions worldwide.
The Scot, Catriona Morrison was the leading lady of this competition. Although she suffered a flat tyre on her bike and lost 40 minutes, she reached the finnish after 10 hours, 3 minutes and 52 seconds as the first one. Second place was won by Louise Collins and third was Nicole Woysch.
Amongst the men the Spanish Eneko Llanos won the race after having had a hard competition at the marathon with the last year's winner Bert Jammaer who finished second. Third was the German Maik Twelsick. (25.5.10/LoBo)
UNTERWEGS MIT KINDERN
Kinder, die Sonne, Sand und das Meer lieben, haben es gut auf Lanzarote. Die Papagayo-Strände, die Strände vor Puerto del Carmen, Los Pocillos und Matagorda, die Playa Flamingo, die Playa Dorada und die Playa Blanca in Playa Blanca sind für Kinder und Kleinkinder besonders geeignet. Dort gibt es helle, weite Sandstrände und das Wasser ist am Ufer relativ flach. Von den Papagayo-Stränden abgesehen haben Sie an diesen Stränden reichliche Einkehrmöglichkeiten und Schattenplätze. Ärzte raten immer wieder davon ab, Kinder zu lange der Sonne auszusetzen, vor allen Dingen niemals nackt und nie ohne Kopfbedeckung. Durch den erfrischenden Passatwind wird die Intensität der Sonne leicht unterschätzt.
In beinahe allen Hotels sind Kinder gerne gesehen, es stehen Spiele und Spielplätze zur Verfügung und die Kleinen werden mit kindergerechten Animationsprogrammen beschäftigt.
Für Kinder besonders interessant:
Agua Lanza ist ein Schwimmparadies mit vielen verschiedenen Wasserrutschen. Es liegt unterhalb des Golfplatzes an der Costa Teguise. Täglich geöffnet von 10–17 Uhr.
Mit dem Aquascope können Sie aufs Meer hinausfahren und die Unterwasserwelt beobachten. Diese Boote sind sicher und klimatisiert. Jeweils ein Aquascope verkehrt vom Hafen von Puerto del Carmen und Playa Blanca aus. Ab 10 Uhr jede halbe Stunde eine Rundfahrt.
Das Castillo de Santa Bárbara oberhalb von Teguise ist eine echte Burg mit Zugbrücke. Hier ist das Auswanderermuseum untergebracht. Geöffnet 10–17, Sa und So bis 16 Uhr.
Auch ein Rundgang durch eine Höhle wird Ihre Kinder begeistern. Die Cueva de los Verdes nördlich von Punta de Mujeres ist geöffnet von 10–18 Uhr.
Auf dem Weg von Yaiza in die Feuerberge gelangen Sie zu erst an den Timanfaya. Hier kann die ganze Familie auf Dromedaren den Berg hochreiten.
Verbringen Sie doch einen Tag auf dem „Piratenschiff“ Marea Errota, einem zweimastigen Holzschoner von 24 Meter Länge. Bei den Piratenspielen werden Sie und Ihre Kinder viel Spaß haben. Selbstverständlich werden Sie an Bord auch verpflegt und ein kostenloser Zubringerdienst holt Sie von Ihrem Hotel ab und bringt Sie nach Playa Blanca zur Marea Errota. Für weitere Informationen wenden Sie sich bitte an Ihre Hotel- oder Apartmentrezeption.
Das Museo Agrícola El Patio in Tiagua ist ebenfalls ein idealer Ort für Familien mit Kindern. Auf diesem großen Gelände mit den typischen Tieren eines Lanzaroter Bauernhofes, können Sie Ihre Kinder in Ruhe spielen lassen, während Sie sich beispielsweise bei exzellentem Wein und Ziegenkäse erholen können. Außerdem gibt es in diesem Heimatmuseum eine Menge über die Lebens- und Arbeitsgewohnheiten der Lanzaroteños zu sehen. Geöffnet Mo–Fr. 10–17.30, Sa 10 bis 14.30 Uhr. Sonntags geschlossen.
Ponyreiten können Ihre Kinder bei Rancho Texas in Puerto del Carmen und bei Lanzarote a Caballo zwischen Uga und Mácher. Beide Reitställe haben dieselben Öffnungszeiten: Täglich geöffnet im Winter von 10–14 und 16–19 Uhr, im Sommer von 10–14 und 17–20 Uhr. Weitere Informationen erhalten Sie an der Rezeption Ihrer Unterkunft.
Wenn Sie Ihren Kindern radfahrende Papageien zeigen wollen, dann statten Sie doch dem Parque Tropical in Guinate einen Besuch ab. Dieser exotische Vogelpark beherbergt über 300 verschiedene Vogelarten. Geöffnet täglich von 10–17 Uhr.
Im Puerto Calero, einem der schönsten Yachthäfen der Kanarischen Inseln, gibt es große Yachten zu sehen und Sie können U-Boot fahren. Die Submarine Safaris bieten einen Tauchausflug an, der Sie auf eine Tiefe von 25–30 Metern bringt. Getaucht wird täglich von 9–19 Uhr. Weitere Informationen bekommen Sie direkt am Hafen im Büro von Submarine Safaris.
Unser Lesetip für Kinder:
FRAU LIESE. Ein Bilderbuch für Kinder von 3–99 Jahren. Es erzählt die Geschichte eines Hundes, der am Meer wohnt.
