The sands of the beach Cofete (Pájara) hosted the arrival of the shipment of about 1,000 eggs of loggerhead turtles ('Caretta caretta') from Cape Verde on Friday 30th
 This activity takes place for the fifth year in a row as part of the proposed reintroduction of turtles that are being developed with the collaboration of the Canary Islands Government, the State, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Pájara City Council and the Cabildo of Fuerteventura. They were delivered by helicopter.

A yellow alert is on for this weekend and early into next week for very hazy conditions and temperatures up to 34 degrees. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are expected to reach the highest temperatures in the Canaries this week.

Tenerife has topped Cosmos Holidays sales chart with a 60% increase year-on-year. Majorca, last year’s number one, is now fourth in the sales list with Florida and Turkey before it. Other Canary Islands have seen bigger rises in sales, particularly Fuerteventura (250%), Gran Canaria (100%) and Lanzarote (40%). The Algarve, Menorca, Shaem el Sheikh, Zakynthos and Mexico are also within the top ten. “Whilst early booking trends indicated that this summer was all about the Eastern Mediterranean, the improved strength of the Pound against the Euro has resulted in a last minute surge of bookings to destinations throughout the Western Mediterranean and the Canary Islands,” said Monarch Travel Group Tour Operations Managing Director Hugh Morgan. “After the challenges of the past 12 months, confidence has clearly been restored in the market and it’s great to see holiday durations lengthening from last year’s seven and 10 night durations to the traditional 14 night breaks.”

La Guardia Civil inspected a Ryanair plane that landed at Malaga airport after receiving a bomb warning on Friday 30th July. The flight ,between Frankfurt and Fuerteventura, has been determined as a "false alarm."

Local farmers are creating a local produce seal for island grown products, thus promoting quality and freshness for the consumer. Many island products are difficult to detect at present times.

Plans are in place to restrict the amount of travellers to the island of Lobos to 400 per day and only 40 campers allowed for a three day period. This is to help preserve it as a registered nature reserve. However boat owners are protesting against the motion as they would loose much revenue.

Ryanair have announced new links from Leeds Bradford and Valencia in the winter months. 
The airline will fly from 14 different destinations to the island.

They say that only those who live it know how it feels. Wind, jumps, extreme manoeuvres, choppy sea ... the world is back in Fuerteventura Windsurfing and Kite's hand Cerveza Tropical.

 From July 23 to August 2, 2010 on the beaches of Fuerteventura, the event will take place where the best riders will be measured in the discipline of Windsurfing and Kite surfing, among which there are many competitors. At night you can enjoy live music and DJs in a giant tent on the beach sponsored by Tropical. As every year you prove yourself and play in www.tropical.es to get one of three trips for two with all expenses paid and live a Tropical experience.

The festival of the sea and the fishermen runs on until 25th July in Corralejo. Many bouncy castles and foam parties around the town. Local musicians and dancing most nights around the harbour area.

The chain Barcelo is consolidating its bid to take over the “Blue Bay” hotel in Corralejo. This will be rated as a 4 star hotel with 231 rooms. The chain has one hotel in Caleta de Fuste and four in the south of the island.

The Spanish government has passed legislation that mobile phones can now be used on their flights apart from taking off and landing. This has caused great controversy amongst passengers one of the concerns being sitting next to someone who constantly chats on the phone during the flight. Strong objections are being raised to the legislation.

Sunday night at 7.30 sees the final for the world cup. With Spain playing in their first ever final many restaurants are expected to be closed around the towns.

Large screen showing of the match will be in many bars and attendance for this is predicted to cause standing room only in most venues.

Even Paul the octopus predicts a win for Spain!!!

Fuerteventura is to house one of three technology plants to be installed in the Canaries. It will aim to promote businesses and with a large influence on Africa. It will be sited in Los Tobacconists (formally Island Airport). This will create an experimental platform for testing and for demonstrating the latest technology.

June saw a 10% increase in tourists through the eight canary island airports compared to the same period in 2009. It is predicted that the increase will continue during the coming months.

Pilar Rodriguez the advisor to the Cabildo council has resigned after 11years in office. It has been a difficult decision to come to and one that will leave the Cabildo sadly lacking in support.

The sparkling water of Firgas is recommended to reduce stress and heart rate . A scientific study recommended the consumption of water and found that it does not affect the tension or pressure.
 Until now, doctors themselves recommended their patients not to consume water with gas Firgas. However, a scientific study developed by cardiologist Canaria Society of Cardiology, Carlos Culebras, has shown that gas Firgas water helps to reduce heart rate, and thus reduce stress in people with hypertension and heart disease.

The study by cardiologists at the Hospital Insular also shows that water intake Firgas gas does not affect renal function. Urine analysis performed in patients indicated no significant differences in the volume of urine, or in terms of renal function or in levels of sodium. With regard to the symptoms commonly present in patients with severe hypertension and heart disease, it is reiterated that during the experimental period there were no differences in functional capacity or chest pain.

The island of Fuerteventura will participate for the fourth consecutive year in the manifestation of the Pride of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Madrid 2010 with its own float, which was made Thursday by the Minister of Tourism of the Cabildo Insular, Agueda Montelongo , along with Morillo and Jorge Hernán Dams, representing the collective LGBT Fuerteventura, Altihay.
The coach will be an English-style bus, two plants, which bear the brand of Fuerteventura 'La Playa de Canarias', the collective mark Altihay and 'winks' to the LGBT segment, and the theme of the event.

This popular event is scheduled for 2nd and 3rd July on the beach front at El Cotillo. 10 bands from Jamaica, Africa, Spain and Venezuela will be performing. This event is free to attend. Access to the town is restricted these days as thousands flock for the festival.

It was published this week that 29% of hotels in the Canaries are “all inclusive” this is the second highest percentage in the whole of Spain. Does this tell us something about why the small businesses are not surviving!! Many restaurants and bars continue to close through lack of trading here in Fuerteventura

The Cabildo of Fuerteventura, through Presidential, Sports and Game who runs Edilia Perez reports that starting this Saturday, June 26 six training camps for hunting dogs will be made available for use by groups of hunters on the island. This is always a period where many hunting dogs are found wandering the island after the season finishes and their owners discard them. Much controversy remains about this sport.

The training days are on Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays . Contact the Cabildo for further details. Hunters not keeping to the issued regulations will be fined 600€,

Ryanair, a carrier of Spain villa holiday tourists, has announced new rules for taking luggage on board flights.

The company, which flies Spain villa holiday customers to airports including Alicante, Murcia, Almeria and Malaga on the mainland, as well as to Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, has unveiled new rules that will mean holidaymakers can take more baggage.

Customers can now pay £25 for a 20kg allowance, while the standard £15 for 15kg deal is also still available. In addition Ryanair is offering an additional 15kg bag for £35.

Ryanair's Stephen McNamara said: "Ryanair continues to encourage passengers to travel light and save even more by leaving the checked-in bags at home and taking advantage of our 10kg free carry on allowance and our great value Samsonite bag."

The company unveiled its Samsonite bag recently, which at £69 is specifically designed to meet the airline's carry on requirements.

Contribute to the historic recordings of the Canaries.

To mark the Day of the Canaries readers are invited to send in their photos of the islands and their inhabitants to “Canarias7” the on line Spanish newspaper. This is the 6th year of the competition.

 Thousands of people each year send photos and are helping to build a database of photographs of great documentary value.

20th – 29th June is the period for sending the photos on line. July 4th the winners will be published

The Cabildo of Fuerteventura collaborates with the city of Puerto del Rosario in the works to improve access to the village of Playa Blanca. These works have a twofold purpose, first to sort the entry and exit to the FV2 road, eliminating a shortcut that currently exists and that creates problems of insecurity in the circulation, to channel all entrances and exits to the area through the intersection of Playa Blanca. At the same time to proceed with the paving of a dirt road currently existing in the area, so the traffic has better conditions for greater safety and comfort for residents.
The President of the Cabildo, Mario Cabrera, and the mayor of Puerto del Rosario, Marcial Morales, visited the area this week and the work has already started. It is expected to be completed mid July.

A cyclist in his early 30’s was killed this past week by a driver of a private bus between Rossario and El Cotillo. The young man suffered critical injuries and died shortly after arriving at hospital. An inquest is to be held on the circumstances.

The famous Portuguese writer, Jose Saramago, died at his home in Lanzarote on Friday. He had chronic Leukaemia

José Saramago, said he was not afraid to die. As recognized during the presentation of his latest book, 'Cain' (Alfaguara), last November (a text in which the Literature Nobel rewrote the history of the Old Testament, and in questioning God's goodness), said "death has simply not been.” The author wrote on many controversial topics.

The pictures around the town displaying all that is said to be “the best” on the rock will be on display until mid July. This has proved to be very beneficial to tourism.

Around the town of Corralejo from this weekend posters will be displayed showing local places of interest in the island. This is a great opportunity for the tourist to be aware of all that the island has to offer. This display should stay for two weeks.

A new uniform has been introduced to our National Police. The kit has been updated and modernized according to the standards of comfort, safety and prevention of occupational risks in such a way that combines the ease of use and operability with an image "art" of the police.
Thus, the navy blue uniform is provided with a peaked cap, easier to use than the traditional service cap, a polo shirt model that combines wear resistance with comfort and adaptation in police work, a pair of outside pockets on the legs and black boots to replace the classic shoe sole. Also incorporated is a jersey for the winter season.

The airline Air Berlin has announced that starting this autumn it begins to operate three new routes that join Fuerteventura and the cities of Berlin, Dusseldorf and Nuremberg, which will add to its forecast of transport this summer to the island more than 18,000 tourists .

The ministry of agriculture has lifted the ban, for one year, in the months of May, June, October and November for white lapa in the Windward coast - from Corralejo to the point of Jandia - and the area between Matas Blancas and Punta del Roque . The black limpet is still unable to be included in this agreement.

Another addition to the award for “Blue Flag” beaches has been given to the beach in El Cotillo.

Fuerteventura is proud to have many beaches around its coastline that have achieved this reward.

This past week has seen the highest temperatures this year. With the records showing 38 degrees a yellow alert was given for the island, warning people to drink plenty of fluids and stay out of the direct sun. However Fuerteventura still had lower temperatures than some of the neighbouring islands.

Easyjet is to trial in-plane technology that will detect ash clouds and allow pilots to fly round them.
The ash radar is known as AVOID (Airbourne Volcanic Identifier and Detector) and could spell an end to the chaos caused by Eyjafjallajokull’s glacier.

The airline is the first to use the technology which works like a weather radar and uses infra red technology to send pictures to pilots and flight control centres which allow them to see an ash cloud 62 miles ahead.

The technology, invented by Dr Fred Prata of the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, will mean that huge areas of air space shut down during times when ash clouds have been spotted would now be opened up for flying.

EasyJet chief executive Andy Harrison said: "This pioneering technology is the silver bullet that will make large-scale ash disruption history. The ash detector will enable our aircraft to see and avoid the ash cloud, just like airborne weather radars and weather maps make thunderstorms visible.”

This month the schools in Fuerteventura break up for the long summer holidays. The water park in Corralejo will be
re-opening during the summer season.

Remeber all car taxes, for residents in the north of the island must be paid by this Monday 7th June or 20% will be added to the bill.

Monday 30th May is “Canary day” in the islands. All villages will be celebrating with traditional dancing and local cuisine. All banks and the majority of shops will be shut until Tuesday 1st June.

The directors and employees of the Cooperative Villaverde Guriamen at the Feaga agricultural fare received the news of winning the award for the prize of the Best Canary Cheese 2010. The President of the Cabildo, Mario Cabrera, and the minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Natalia Evora, visited the cooperative, and congratulated and encouraged the work , which has become a role model.

 Guriamen Cooperative began operating in 2005, bringing together eight herds in the area, with a total of about 6,000 head of goats, which daily produces 6,000 litres of milk and an estimated 5,000 kilos of cheese a week.

The giant wind turbines in Corralejo are now fully operational. The 45 meter turbines are set to generate twice the electricity required by the desalination plant they were built to supply. The scheme is part of the islands water board plan to become self sufficient and power all of the islands desalination plants. A great success story.

Residents in the municipality of Antigua have had the dates for taxes changed. Taxes on vehicles and on rubbish collections must be paid before 4th June. Failure to do so will result in additional charges.

A new centre is open in Costa Calma which will serve over 16,000 residents. This is a huge step forward for the island relieving the pressure on the main hospital in Puerto Rossario. Improvements are now in place for the hospital itself and also the health centre in Corralejo.

Britain’s new coalition government has announced it is getting rid of the controversial Air Passenger Duty (APD) which was passionately campaigned against by the UNWTO, PATA and all those long haul destinations that regard the UK as a major source market, in particular the Caribbean.

 The British government’s plan to replace the APD with a per flight duty, in keeping with the manifesto promises of both the Conservative and Liberal Democratic parties which now form the new administration, was among the list of agreements made to reach a coalition deal on Tuesday. The agreements were made public yesterday.

 The APD, which was imposed by the Labour government of former prime minister Gordon Brown, saw passengers paying tax depending on the distance between London and the capital of their destination. The duty on long-haul economy fares to the Caribbean rose from £40 ($60) to £50 ($75 in November 2009 and was to increase further this November. The fact is that individual APD, purported to be a ‘Green Tax’ was never anything of the sort, merely a transparent effort to use airlines’ bad emissions reputations to collect money from travellers to swell the UK exchequer.

The new method of assessing charges may not be perfect, but at least it is logical and understandable. If one uses the principle of ‘Let the Polluter Pay’ it has the right target in sight – after all it isn’t the passenger that pollutes, it’s the mechanism that the traveler uses that actually creates the emission and releases it into the atmosphere. It favours the most efficient airlines and harms consumers and the industry least. Above all, it’s reasonably honest.

Where tourism is a fundamental method of development and poverty-alleviation, as it is in many countries, any tax on long haul travel is punitive and mitigates against the least powerful.

The best result in this current economic situation would be to scrap the tax entirely, second best to replace it with a true green tax with actual benefits for poor destinations. The UK government has chosen the third best, and most efficient route, which may well be nuanced in future. It is very likely that cash-hungry governments will follow suit.

There was a fall in April due to the volcanic ash of 13% for the month of April.
It was suggested that people are now afraid to travel for fear of being stranded, unable to return to their homeland.

The average cost of rental of properties has dropped by a further 5% on last year. This situation is set to continue for the foreseeable future.

The Ministry of Culture and Historical Heritage of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura allocated  more than 300 tables for groups of people interested in attending the traditional 'Taifa Dance', which, with Canary Day will be held on May 29th in the esplanade of the dock in Puerto del Rosario, with the collaboration of the Port Authority and the Municipality of Puerto del Rosario.

The Port Authority has dealt with the request made by the council and the city, not only to give up the space but also to improve their condition, because the track was much degraded. The central campus will be devoted to tables and the dance area but we will have to locate, in the area surrounding the tables, stalls and will also focus on an area near the stage, explained the minister of Culture.

Spanish airports and Air Navigation (AENA) has chose to close the air traffic at the airport of Puerto del Rosario last week due to the cloud of ash from the volcano Icelandic Eyjafjall.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled throughout the Canary islands causing chaos to travellers.

The Canary Islands government has established in coordination with the shippers a plan to relocate, if necessary, to passengers affected by the closure of airports by sea through Cadiz, and amounted to 117 flights canceled by the volcanic cloud, with A total of 28 438 seats.

This is one of the conclusions of the Monitoring Committee constituted by the Government of the Canary Islands and headed by the Director of Public Works and Transport, Juan Ramón Hernández, who also integrates representatives from the departments of Tourism, Transport and Security Emergencies.
The areas of high concentration of ash affected the southern and central Spain and Portugal, the Canary Islands and Madeira.

The leading figures in Canary government agreed to cut their wages this week by 15% in order to help the economy. This decision is not final and is to be reviewed and settled in the near future.  

The president of the La Oliva has suggested that the bus shelters in Rossario are to serve as private parking shelters for homeless !

The agricultural fare is confirmed for 20th – 23rd May in Pozo Negro. Well worth a visit to see the livestock and the crafts for the local people. This is one of the largest events of its kind in Fuerteventura.

Those with a special fishing licence are now able to fish for limpets in designated areas around Fuerteventura.
This lifting of restriction is expected to be for a three year period. Check with each local area for this activity.

This past week has again seen disruption on flights to the island from Ireland and Scotland.
The restrictions are now lifted but officials say that this could continue intermittently for several months.

Six of Fuerteventura’s fifteen museums will begin Sunday opening hours as from May 2nd. The salt museum, spider caves, Antigua windmill, Betancuria museum, Mirador Morrow and the Ecomuseum in Tefia. These will remain open for the summer period.

The Tour Operator Travel Czech Canaria Fuerteventura has visited the island this week. The Fuerteventura Tourist Board organized trips throughout the island to let them know the main attractions of Fuerteventura geography, with particular emphasis on those places that reflected the history and culture of Fuerteventura. Within the published schedule they visited Oasis Park La Lajita, Villa de Betancuria with its archaeological museum, a lunch with typical canarian food, and other places of the island and the Sacred Mountain of Tindaya, the Eco, The Alcogida, House of the Colonels and El Cotillo. They spent time in the Natural Park, Dunas de Corralejo, and its great beaches, this is of course one of the main attractions of the island terrain.

During their six day stay they worked with Canaria Travel, which is spread over the entire island territory in the towns of Corralejo, Caleta de Fuste, Costa Calma and Jandia.

Ryanair and Thomas Cook are in fierce dispute over airport charges in Fuerteventura. It seems Ryanair are receiving discounts and subsidies are being paid by local authorities. Unless the dispute is settled Thomas Cook are warning that they could pull out of the Canaries. 

A yellow alert has been issued for the islands for the weekend of 1st May. Heavy winds and rough seas could cause problems. The yellow alert is the lowest of the warnings issued but care needs to be taken in the seas.

Massive air lifts have operated throughout Spain this week returning weary travellers to their home lands. Many people have been stranded in Fuerteventura for nearly two weeks after their scheduled return time.

Chaos reigns this week as stranded tourists wait to return to their homelands. The airlines are honouring new flights both incoming and outgoing, but many of those affected, by the recent cancellations, are still on the island. This of course means accommodation is overflowing and it looks like the situation will continue until well into next week.

59 flights have been cancelled on Thursday and Friday between the UK and the Canary islands due to the eruption in Iceland. The disruption is expected to last for several more days. Prior to this on Wednesday strong winds caused the closure of several airports across the region making this past week a very difficult time for holidaymakers. Please check with your airline before setting out to travel to and from the island.

The Minister of Employment, Industry and Commerce, Government of Canarias, Jorge Rodriguez, warned that the energy system of Fuerteventura is "near saturation" and he has to find a solution.

The nationalist Lidia Esther Padilla requested that before discussing, in ful,l the decisions they must have the approval of the council of the island and then bring it to the house. The popular Agueda Montelongo also stressed the need to "solve the energy problem".

The Red Cross in collaboration with the Canarian government have put a foster home project in place. In the islands there are over 1000 neglected children.
The idea is to house them in a stable environment where they would otherwise live in very poor conditions. There is no option for adoption as the family ties are usually strong; it is just to help the poorer families throughout the current crisis. Any one interested to help in the project should phone the Red Cross on 902 222 292.