Archive for the 'Funny/Curious news' Category

Drinkable tap water…

Thursday, October 25th, 2007
The tap water in the city of Las Palmas, is known to be very bad tasting. Though the sanitary quality of the water is acceptable already, enough to be drunk, the taste is not as good to be comparable with bottled water. This is about to change. José Luís Talavera, the production director of 'Emalsa', Las Palmas' water company, stated that they're testing a new system at the 'Las Palmas III' desalination plant which will be working in a matter of more or less a month. This new system will treat the water to achieve a better taste of it, for now its rather disgusting than tasteful. Well, that is good news. Its only thought to be done in Las Palmas at first, for its very expensive to be done anywhere else. Either way, great news, one step more towards future.
Posted by klopapier

Comments: 1 Comment so far » Categories: About Gran Canaria, Funny/Curious news, Local news, Tourism

380 million € Runway

Thursday, September 6th, 2007

Plane

Not a 'million dollar, baby,' ;) but 380 mil. € is the estimated budget of the project for the new Gando Airport Runway. The president of the Gran Canaria Council, José Miguel Pérez, advanced yesterday some details of the project that soon will be presented by the 'furtherance ministry'. The time-frame is estimated to be 38 months but the beginning hasn't been determined yet. The new runway will be connected to the actual one and will have a length of 1.100 meters and will also be suitable for class F aircrafts, like the new Airbus A380. This new runway will make Gran Canaria a very important enclave for trans atlantic flights. Well..., though good for us on the one side, the environmental impact of this will be also considerable.

Naked on Las Canteras

Monday, August 27th, 2007
The canary islands naturist association has been demanding a nudist area at the 'Las Canteras' beach in Las Palmas for years, an idea that is now being overthought by the local coastal councillorship. Last July 15th was the international "swimsuitless day" and due to this the canary islands naturist association (Aniscan) wanted to state their claim for a nudist area at the 'Las Canteras' beach. Paco Ojeda, the president of Aniscan, is greatful that the Las Palmas council is going through this idea, which he stated would be a great touristic appeal for those naturists who decide to stay at the south of Gran Canaria since there are only nudist areas in this part of the isle. Well, good news for those who like to hang around the beach in their birthday suit ;)

“The branch” without branches

Friday, August 3rd, 2007
One of the most famous, if not the most famous, 'fiesta' on Gran Canaria is "La Rama", which literally means 'the branch' but is at the same time short for "La Bajada de la Rama" or 'the descent of the branch', is held every year in August 4th, which would be tomorrow. Traditionally the celebration is about going up the valley of Agaete dancing to the sound of a marching band, getting some tree branches, previously taken from trees in the 'tamadaba forrest', and taking them down (always dancing) to the 'port of Las Nieves' (the port of Agaete) to Our Lady of Las Nieves, who reside in the port hermitage, as an offering, after hitting the ports' waters with them. The mayor and the different neighbourhood associations of Agaete have decided not to carry branches this year, as a gesture of solidarity for the catastrophe suffered by the island due to ...

Isle on fire…

Monday, July 30th, 2007
The forest fire i talked about yesterday, which was aparently controlled, was stoked up due to the high temperatures and the extreme wind that hit us last night. The municipality of Mogan got the worst part, since there have been people evacuated from their homes to avoid human casualties. Almost 60 to 70 homes have been already affected by the fire and around 2000 people evacuated. The towns of Ayacata, La Plata, Veneguera, Barranquillo de San Andrés and Cercados de Araña are within the heavily affected area. The area burnt until yesterday was about 3500 hectares, wich should be unfortunately way over 4000 hectares. Lets hope all the firemen and all volunteers manage to extinguish it as soon as possible. :( Some of the evacuated people shelter at the beach in 'Mogan Playa' were the ashes carried by the wind fall to their feet. In Maspalomas we ...