Mogan´s Motorway link

The extension of the GC-1 motorway linking the Southerly resort of Playa de Mogan is to become a reality. A new 111.7 Million Euro contract has been signed by Gran Canarias transport counsellor Juan Ramon Hernandez to provide the 6km extension which it is estimated will take a further 4 years to finish. Being the last exclusive touristic resort in the South, Playa de Mogan will benefit from the faster link to Puerto Rico and the airport and the West of the Island will become more accessible to those who like to explore. Property investors and owners in Mogan area will also benefit from higher capital appreciation as there is a limited number of properties available in the area.

The ARC

This annual transatlantic rally starting each November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has now become the most popular way for yachts to cross the Atlantic. This is the largest transocean sailing event in the world, and every year the ARC brings together over 150 yachts from all over the world. This is the 23rd annual event and this year’s entry stands at 225 craft. The Caribbean destination is Rodney Bay in St.Lucia, and the 2700 nautical mile trade wind passage takes on average between 12 and 24 days.

Yachts are now converging on the Canary Islands from all over Europe, before finally arriving in Las Palmas, before the start. Numerous seminars and safety checks are carried out by the ARC committee and the Cabildo provide concerts and entertainment for the contestants and spectators. The start is a fabulous spectacle with hundreds of spectator craft, warships and of course the contestants. We will be providing more information about this event in later newsletters.

Virgen del Pino Festival in Teror

September the 8th was another big day in the Fiesta calendar for Gran Canaria with the celebration of the Virgen del Pino, Patron Saint of Canary Islands. The festival marks the visitation of the Virgin Mary in 1481 on top of a pine tree to a group of shepards.

The waters at the base of the tree were said to have magical powers and in the 16th Century the image of the Virgin was taken to Las Palmas as it had been without rain. Today the festival combines a mixture of popular sentiment, faith, pilgrims and visitors who come to the ancient village of Teror in the Northern part of Gran Canaria. This year was also the 300th anniversary of the tower that holds the bell used to announce that the Virgin has left the Basilica. Sunday the 7th started with singing and dancing, plus a procession of gifts from each municipality on the island as well as those from surrounding islands. Almost everyone on the island visits the village at some point in September to pay their respects. The festival continues until October so if you are planning to visit soon, there is still time to visit Teror.

Premium Class Flights to Gran Canaria on offer from Cadogan

Cadogan Holidays are offering special ‘Cadogan Class’ seats on their BMI flights from the UK to Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote. The up-rated seats offer an improved seat pitch of 32 inches, a 30kg baggage allowance, upgraded in-flight meals including free wine and bar service, as well as access to the executive airport lounge and check in service.

In all six separate flights will offer the seats bookable through agents on routes in December and January.

Loggerhead Turtles flown back to Gran Canaria

Two Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) washed up on beaches in Devon and Cornwall were flown back to Gran Canaria after being nursed back to health by the Blue Reef Aquaruim in Newquay.

In all 23 Loggerheads have been stranded off English and Irish coasts this year with ‘Dink’ and ‘James’ being lucky enough to be returned to the warmer waters off Las Palmas. Mr Slater from the aquarium said "It was absolutely beautiful. Let's hope no more turtles get stranded, but if they do we know we can look after them." Both turtles have been microchipped, so if they are ever spotted again, they can be identified by a tag in their flippers. After arriving in Gran Canaria, Dink and James were checked over and given the all-clear at the Wildlife Recovery Centre of Tafira. Some 150 injured turtles from around the Canary Islands are taken here each year. "Through diagnosis, treatment, operations, protein-rich food, fluid and antibiotics, we help save 80% of the turtles that we receive," said Pascal Calabuig the centre’s director. It was Mr Calabuig's excellent reputation and his centre's track record that helped Blue Reef decide to choose Gran Canaria as the release site. "We could also get cheap flights and the Canary Islands are the nearest land point to the loggerheads' migration route around the Atlantic," explained Mr Slater.

‘Free Software Desktop’ meeting to be held in Gran Canaria

The GNOME Foundation and KDE e.V. today announced that they will hold their yearly conferences, GUADEC and Akademy in 2009 in Gran Canaria. The conferences will be separate events, but co-located and hosted by the same organizers, the Cabildo of Gran Canaria and its Secretary of Tourism, Technological Innovation and Foreign Trade in the famous Alfredo Kraus Auditórium.

"The GNOME community is very excited about the co-hosted GUADEC and Akademy" says Behdad Esfahbod, president at the GNOME foundation, "GUADEC has traditionally been a very important chance for our community to meet in person, build great working relationships and make new friends. We're looking forward to having the opportunity to extend those relationships to our KDE colleagues at Akademy/GUADEC."
KDE e.V.'s vice-president Adriaan de Groot adds "KDE e.V. is looking forward to a co-located conference, where the GNOME and KDE communities can mingle and cooperate as never before in one location. Gran Canaria is uniquely located at the junction of Europe and Africa, close to the Americas and is a fitting place for a historic 'meet-your-neighbours' conference."
GUADEC and Akademy 2009 will be held on Gran Canaria, an island of the Canary Islands archipelago. The tentative schedule plans the event from Friday, July, 3rd until Saturday, July 11th 2009 in the Alfredo Kraus auditorium and the adjacent Congress Palace in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
This co-located event will turn Gran Canaria into the capital of Freedesktop.org development for a whole week next summer.

Congress on CO2 emissions in Gran Canaria

All across the world scientific experts are working hard at ways to limit CO2 emissions, and Spain is doing its part. This year, the 12 th annual Congress of Spanish Geologists is meeting in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria to look at ways to make a difference.

The congress runs from July 14 to 18 and will be based at the Alfredo Krauss auditorium, where 500 delegates will pool their knowledge and ideas. Representatives and speakers will not only be from Spain, Holland, Italy and several other European countries will be taking an active interest.As well as using the auditorium, some of the experts will be going out around the Canary Islands. Visits have been arranged to Roque Nublo and the Maspalomas sand dunes in Gran Canaria and even further afield to Tenerife, Fuerteventura and El Hierro.