Last year was an eventful one throughout the world, with plenty of worrying news. There were, however, many causes for optimism as well.

In Spain and further afield it became clear that many millions of people are deeply  concerned about the situation we have got ourselves into. Spain, for example, sees almost half its young people with no job, no home and little hope, and the major political parties as well as European leaders, who are  supposed to serve their citizens, have failed them completely. No wonder they protest, and let’s hope that someone finally listens to them.

Here on Lanzarote, even taking into account the special factors that helped tourism  on the island, it remains clear that the island has lost none of its appeal for the many thousands of holiday makers who come here each year. this island really seems to get its hooks into people and draw them back year after year. It’s not too much to expect that many of this year’s first-timers have caught the bug.

Another hopeful sign is the way so many of people are willing to give time and energy for charity. Charitable organisations are the perfect example of grass-roots action – a problem is identified and selfless people, often with specialist knowledge and skills, dedicate themselves to fighting it. They deserve as much support as we can give.

But if you want the main reason to be optimistic in 2012., simply look outside your window or take a short walk. We are surrounded by beauty and showered with sunshine every day. Make the most of it.

 Shaun

A wise person once told me, that in order to be happy in the future, you have to be grateful for where you are right now. That the key is not in seeing happiness as a faraway destination that you long to approach, but something much, much nearer home, the place that you’re inhabiting right now. And that when you are able to grasp your experience of life in this way – and fully appreciate this moment, in all its imperfect glory – your future world will be much quicker to transform into what you desire it to be.

I love this analogy – but I think it is one of the most difficult to adopt. It’s one thing settling in the moment when things are great – quite another when they are bleak. So rather than make the obvious, and at times unhelpful observation about the current moment, I want to take a different tack. We might not be experiencing the easiest of times right now – but all of us have things in our lives that we can be grateful for, and would not change.

And if we could all take a moment to focus on and be thankful for them, then maybe all our futures will be brighter, and transform for the better. If you need a little more encouragement, take a look at our piece ‘The New Mood’, on p.30 it’s all about moving forward, without fear.

Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I wish you a happy, healthy and peaceful start to the year.

 Beth

Eric Willson from Romford was appointed an honorary Ambassador for Lanzarote by the island’s Tourist Board last month. 66-year-old Eric’s new position was announced in September, and he arrived to pick up his certificate a couple of months later – on his 72nd visit to Lanzarote. Eric has holidayed in Playa Blanca three or four times a year for 21 years. He always stays in the same room in the Hotel Hesperia Playa Dorada, where the staff know and welcome him like an old friend. When Eric appeared in our Lanzarote People feature in 2010 he said he didn’t want to come and live here because he “liked to be treated like a tourist.” Eric has travelled to other resorts, but it’s Lanzarote that draws him back again and again. “I think I get a bit depressed when it’s gloomy and cold,” he explained, “but it always seems to be hot in Lanzarote. I love it.”

If you haven’t got hold of the new calendar from SARA Animal shelter yet, you’re missing out on a treat. The calendar, produced thanks to Teguise Tourist department funding printing costs, shows some of the dogs and cats at the shelter enjoying the tourist opportunities in the municipality of Teguise – sunbathing at Costa, fishing at La Graciosa, or happily going walkies along some of Teguise’s footpaths. Photographer Ana Belen Dominguez snapped the animals, and created the entertaining collages, and also gave all her time and expertise free.

The calendar can be bought for €10 at SARA's base in Tahiche from Monday to Saturday from 10:30 to 13 hours, each Sunday at SARA's stand in the Teguise market (next to the tent), or at the bootsale on the second Saturday of the month.

Recently released statistics by the Cabildo’s Data Department show that the growth in the island’s population has now virtually halted. 142,517 people now officially live on the island, only 1,000 higher than last year. while Yaiza and Teguise were the municipalities that grew most, Arrecife and Haria have actually fallen in population.

The statistics also show encouraging signs for road safety, with 5 deaths this year (up to November) as opposed to 12 in 2010. In addition, road accidents of all kinds fell from 157 to 142.

Figures also show that hotel occupation has been up for most of the year, with 4 and 5 star hotels seeing the biggest increases of custom.

Lanzarote-born film-maker Roberto Perez Toledo, who we interviewed last spring, has been nominated for 15 categories of this year’s Goyas – Spain’s most prestigious film awards.

Roberto’s film, Seis Puntos Sobre Emma (Six Points About Emma), recently premiered in the Canaries and has been a remarkable word-of mouth success. On Lanzarote the film ran for four consecutive weeks at the Atlantida cinema in Arrecife, and demand meant that the cinema decided to introduce two showings a night. The principal actress, the talented Veronica Echegui has also been nominated for a best actress award.

Arrecife-born Roberto returned to launch the film, and says that one day he’d love to film on his native island.

Carlos Espino has resigned as General Secretary of the island’s Socialists due to internal pressures.

Espino resigned to avoid “a battle” within the party, which recently suffered its worst results at the general and local elections. However, many commentators feel it was Espino’s fight against corruption on the island that has  been his undoing. He was behind an article in the Spanish national press that criticised illegal hotels on Lanzarote, and was also instrumental in the Union Case, in which dozens of  local officials and businessmen have been arrested and  questioned on corruption charges. His unflagging campaign against sleaze has succeeded in uniting not only almost every other party on the island against him, but has also alienated many of his Socialist colleagues.

Playa Blanca will be without a tourist information centre after Yaiza Ayuntamiento closed the only such office in the municipality in mid-December. The decision was blasted by the Coalicion Canaria, who said “Our tourism - which is our only source of income – does not deserve to be this badly treated. …It’s amazing that 10 councillors who cost us €400,000 a year can’t keep the only office open.”

The trail of Yaiza’s ex-Mayor José Francisco Reyes continues, and has revealed that in 2005, he bought a property valued at €180,000 without any money apparently leaving the bank accounts of himself or his family members.

Reyes also spent over €100,000 on building work, furnishings and a Segway around the same period, none of which again is accounted for by his bank. Reyes faces various charges, including money laundering, fraud and misuse of public office.

The statistics also show encouraging sightings for road safety, with 5 deaths this year (up to November) as opposed to 12 in 2010. In addition, road accidents of all kinds fell from 157 to 142. Figures also show that hotel occupation has been up for most of the year, with 4 and 5 star hotels seeing the biggest increases of custom.

Aston Villa Football Club have proposed that the Lanzarote Tourist Board be their shirt sponsor next season – a move which, if successful, would place César Manrique’s iconic sun design in front of  millions of potential visitors.

Aston Villa representatives approached Lanzarote Tourism professionals during the 32nd annual World travel Fair in London this year with the proposal, which is being studied by both sides, according to a press release from Lanzarote’s Cabildo recently.

If the deal does go ahead, it will undoubtedly be  he most high-profile publicity campaign carried out by Lanzarote in the UK.

 Readers are reminded that views and comment expressed within the Postbag pages are those of the contributors and may not necessarily reflect the opinions or standpoint of Lanzarote Gazette staff. It should also be noted that the Lanzarote Gazette is an independent publication free from political persuasion or governmental censorship.

Send your letters to our office (address on page 3) or email editorial@gazettelive.com

Corkscrewed?

Dear Editor
I’m back on the island for the winter and delighted to see the controversial harbour/container port plan for Playa Blanca has been changed, once again. Although the threat of development and the resulting noise, mess etc has put a blight on property prices on the complex.

Anyway, I wonder if you could let me know if there is a Spanish equivalent of the UK Sale of Goods Act?

I ask because on 10 November I bought a corkscrew from my local Spar shop, paying nearly €6. On the 4th December, having used the corkscrew no more than half a dozen times, it broke while I was trying to open a bottle of wine – and the twisted part remained firmly stuck in the cork.

I took the broken corkscrew and bottle of wine back to the store, together with the packaging and receipt I had kept (I’ve had problems with these bottle openers in the past).

Very reluctantly, they offered to replace the corkscrew and the wine. But they refused to give me a refund – I said I had no faith in the product and wanted a refund.

Imagine my surprise when they said they were only obliged to replace faulty goods AND only within 28 days of purchase!

Of course, in the UK, under the Sale of Goods Act items have to be of a merchandisable quality and the retailer (not the manufacturer) is responsible for refunds/replacement.

Does a similar act exist in Spain – or have I just been corkscrewed?

Jenny Campbell, Puerto Chico, Playa Blanca

Ed: A bit of research reveals the Spanish law is fairly similar to the UK one, Jenny, with consumers able to demand a replacement or refund for faulty goods within 6 months of sale. The notices that many shops place as time limits do not change their liabilities under the Ley de Garantias en las Ventas de Bienes de Consumo.

Anyone who feels local businesses or shops are trying to rip them off should demand a Complaints Form (Hoja de Reclamaciones), which all businesses are legally obliged to issue. In many cases, the simple threat of doing this will cause a rapid change of mind in the seller.

Fighting for Finn

Dear Gazette,

Please can you help? There is a Charity called Fighting for Finn (www.fightingforfinn.com) who are desperately trying to raise money for this little boy. His Auntie and Uncle live and work here on the Island and are promoting the sales of wristbands to help the cause. Donations can be made by several means and it is all registered and 100% kosher. All the info you may need in order to run a spot is on the website. Thanking you, in the hope you may be able to run something to help. There, but for the grace of God goes all our children/grandchildren.

Lyn White

Money changing scams?

Dear Gazette,
Is it not about time the money-changers scams be exposed ? We have used an exchange in Costa Teguise about ten times over the last two months. Every time there has been an attempt to short change us by a few Euros. It’s hard to believe this is an innocent mistake. A similar thing happened to my wife in Playa Blanca where she received verbal abuse. Incidentally, everywhere else the rate for travellers cheques is LESS than that for cash. Here the reverse is true. Cash gets a lower rate than Travellers cheques. In the current climate of money laundering one has to ask why?

Regards, John Smith

Ed: It makes sense to ask the rate  before buying currency and work outexactly what you’ll expect to come out of the shop with in these cases. And count it again and again, of course.

Strictly Lanzarote

Dear Ed
Just back from our latest holiday in PDC – good to see some signs of economic recovery compared to eighteen months ago. However; two areas which are huge world-wide are unexploited on the island. The first of these, and which has most potential is sequence and ballroom dancing. Many companies, in addition to individual Clubs, organise dance holidays in mainland Spain as well as the Balearics and other parts of the world. The cruise lines have long realised the popularity of dancing. Many German and Scandinavian visitors share the view that Lanzarote lags behind in this regard, notwithstanding the good efforts of some hotels. The second holiday activity, perhaps not with the same potential, but nonetheless immense worldwide is the flying of radio controlled model aircraft. A small hotel in Corfu exists solely for model aircraft flyers and provides everything needed. These two recreational activities reflect our own amateur hobby interests and if any commercial undertaking is interested in discussing this further we would be happy to help on a purely voluntary basis (both
being retired). In any case we wish all on the island a Happy Christmas and every Success in the New Year.

Best Regards — Sam and Margaret Barbour.

Ed: The dancing is a great idea, Sam and Margaret – let’s hope someone steps up onto the floor. As for radio-controlled aircraft,. There are many keen local modellers who can often be seen flying their aircraft or sailing their yachts. Again, it’s something that Lanzarote might consider broadening for more tourist appeal.

Well done Car 24!

Dear Gazette,
With all the bad things going on in the world, I thought this would be a good read for a change. My husband lost his mobile phone and as he doesn’t use it very often he only noticed it missing a few days later, I tried ringing it thinking it was in the apartment and to our amazement it was answered by a taxi driver who obviously had found it at the back of his cab and waited for someone to ring. He even delivered it personally to us the very
same day.

There are some good people around and we would like to thank Costa Teguise Cab 24 for restoring our faith in human nature.

Olly & Ian, Costa Teguise residents

Emu mystery solved?

Dear Gazette,
In response to your appeal for theories as to how prehistoric emus got here (Gazette, November); may I offer the following?:

About 30 million years the Sahara was a verdant land. The Saraismus Emusus Xoticas Intactus Totalis, to give it its full name, had moved north from South Africa. They had evolved a secondary food source – cropmilk – to enable breeding to take place all year round.

Around 25 million years ago a huge earthquake near Madeira breached the Pillars of Hercules and flooded the Mediterranean basin. It caused vast tsunamis, smashing up the northern ice floes and flooding huge areas but leaving others dry for many years.

While thousands of emus perished, others moved west, some on ice floes and others on the Waddle Ridge, between Tarfaya and Lanzarote.

The ridge was discovered in 1807 by explorer William Walter Waddle of the Royal Society. The birds were not totally flightless, and were able to reach the island by walking and flap-gliding, where they found an abundance of tropic vegetation. However, climate change wiped them out through lack of
their succulent foods.

Emunonimous, Via email

Ed: Hmmm… it’s a good story, but that Waddle Ridge sounds a bit suspect, so I wouldn’t contact New Scientist just yet.

FEATURES

09 WHAT IF…?: David Cameron’s recent veto at the EU has raised the question: what if the UK did pull out of the EU?

10 THOMAS COOK: The UK’s biggest tour operator has received a multi-million bail out, calming fears ON Lanzarote for the time being.

12 ALL CHANGE AT PUERTO NAOS: With Lanzarote fishermen ordered home and a  facelift on the horizon, Lanzarote’s historic port is changing.

14 IN WITH THE NEW!: Lanzarote tourists tell us about their New Year wishes

16 PLAYA BLANCA SHOPPERS SETBACK: Shoppers in the south may have to travel north to enjoy budget supermarket bargains.

20 REVIEW OF 2011: The protests, the tourists, the celebrations and the ups and downs of an eventful year.

24 HERE THEY COME!: Baltasar, Melchior and Gaspar, aka The Three Wise Kings will be at a town near you on January 5th.

32 YOUR STARS FOR 2012: Gazette stargazer Jan Draper consults the heavens

Puerto Naos in Arrecife is the historical hub of the island’s fishing industry, but recent events and new plans mean that the port could be changing very rapidly.

Puerto Naos has always been a hugely important part of Lanzarote. Merchants and fishermen have operated from the large bay for centuries – it was here that Sir Walter Raleigh put ashore to raid Arrecife in the century, and it was here that Gregorio Caceres, Ernest Hemingway’s Old Man of the Sea, first learnt his trade. The neighbouring barrio of Valterra has traditionally made its living from the harbour, keeping the smaller Charco de San Gines for leisure craft, and the port is still home to the Fishing School of Lanzarote – an establishment which receives students from all over Europe who wish to study navigation, fishing ,management and other courses. But now all may well become the stuff of history books.