Sheraton Mencey Hotel

Dining room of Hotel Mencey,...

by rtroth

Dining room of Hotel Mencey, Santa Cruz
The restaurant is located in a gorgeous hotel, near a park. Prices are surprisingly reasonable. Rice with seafood. (Some people would call it 'paella,' but a true paella does not contain seafood.)

An Introduction To Santa Cruz de Tenerife

by digate

"All About The Island of Tenerife"

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary islands, of which there are 7 major and 6 Smaller islands.
The westerns Islands of Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro form the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, whilst the eastern Islands of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura form the province of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The Canary Islands lie between 96 and 304 km ( 60 -90 ) Miles off the North West Coast of Africa, but they are a part of Spain.

The island of Tenerife covers an area of 2057 sq km ( 794 sq miles) and is shaped like an Isosceles triangle with Mount Teide, The Volcano in the centre rising to 3718 m ( 12,199 ft ) with The Caldera de las Canadas ( a gigantic collapsed grater ) surrounding the peak.

Population
The population currently stands at approximately 1,000,000 inhabitants, this obviously is not counting the tourists.

Climate
Tenerife is fortunate to have warm temperatures all year round, rarely falling below 18 degrees C in the coastal areas, the norm being in the mid 20's, rising to the 30's in the summer months.
Temperatures are on average around 3 degrees cooler when going in land away from the coast.
The north side of the Island is cooler than the south.
Rain fall is generally confined to the winter months October through to March, there is very little and even less on the South Coast, but when it rains it tends to be heavy, it very rarely lasts long and all is normally back to the normal sun the day after, again the north coast getting more rain than the south.

Language
Spanish is the main language on all the Canary Islands, although if you ask a Canarian, they will tell you they speak 'Canarian', which is a version of Spanish.
In the tourist areas you will be understood speaking English or German along with a few other languages.

Currency
Being a part of Spain, the currency is the 'Euro' (€).
There are plenty of banks, even away from the tourist areas, all having cash machines, so the normal cards can be used to obtain cash.
Travellers cheques can be used, although they seem to be less popular now.

Driving
In Tenerife you drive on the right .
Cars are readily available for hire, you normally get the best deals by booking on line before you leave home.
If you need transport form the airport to your accommodation, it's worth considering booking a car from the airport.
All road signs etc. are the same as any other European Country. Speed limits and Alcohol Levels are very similar as well. It is best not to have a drink when you are going to drive, they are very hot on breathalizing.
Updated Rules of the Road as of December 2009.

Opening Hours
In the tourist areas shops, restaurants etc. are open all day from 9/10am until late.
Offices, Banks and official places open 8/9 am until 1/2pm.
In some areas they still work the siesta hours this being 8am - 1pm then 5pm - 8pm. It all depends on which area you are staying in, just check on arrival.

Transport
The Titsa bus service is excellent and covers almost all of the Island, even going up to Mount Teide, the fares are reasonable and 'Bono' cards can be purchased if you intend to make use of the service on a regular basis, these offer good discounts.
There are ferries to all the other main Canary Islands as well as inter island flights from the north and south airports.
There is a tram service running from Santa Cruz to La Laguna every 3 minutes or so.
Taxi's are always available.

THE EMERGENCY NUMBER IS 112.
This number will put you in touch with the emergency services, Police, Ambulance and Fire.
There should be someone there who can speak your language.

"Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Programme 2010"

Tuesday, 26 January
20:30 h. Nomination of the Queen
Teatro del Círculo de Amistad XII de Enero

Wednesday, January 27
19:00 h. First phase of the Children's Parades Contest
International Trade Fair and Congress

Thursday, 28 January
19:00 h. Second Phase of Children's Parades Contest
International Trade Fair and Congress

Friday, 29 January
19:00 h. Third phase of the Children's Parades Contest
International Trade Fair and Congress
Saturday 30 January

20:00 h. Groups Musical Contest
International Trade Fair and Congress

Sunday January 31
17:00 h. Gala Election of the Queen Child
International Trade Fair and Congress

Monday February 1
21:00 h. Competition Phase Murgas Adult
International Trade Fair and Congress

Tuesday, 2 February
21:00 h. Contest Phase II Adult Murgas
International Trade Fair and Congress

Wednesday, 3 February
21:00 h. Third phase of Murgas Adult Contest
International Trade Fair and Congress

Thursday, 4 February
17:00 h. Gala Election of the Queen of the Third Age
International Trade Fair and Congress

Friday, 5 February
20:30 h. Gala-Final Contest Adult Murgas
The Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
20:00 h. Comparsas Contest
International Trade Fair and Congress

Saturday 6 February
20:00 h. Comparsas Contest
International Trade Fair and Congress

Sunday February 7
11:00 h. Costume Contest for Children and Adults
International Trade Fair and Congress
17:00 h. Choreographic Festival
International Trade Fair and Congress

Tuesday, 9 February
20:30 h. The Musical Lyric Concert Association Fregolina
Hall CajaCanarias

Wednesday, 10 February
21:30 h. Gran Gala Election of the Carnival Queen
International Trade Fair and Congress

Thursday, 11 February
21:00 h. Song of Laughter Contest
International Trade Fair and Congress

Friday, 12 February
19:00 h. Procession
Starting from the Avenue of Belgium, the Dominican Republic Plaza, Avenida de la Asuncion, Ramon y Cajal, Galceran, Plaza Weyler, Méndez Núñez, Pilar, Villalba Hervás, La Marina and ending at Avenida Francisco La Roche. Great Exhibition Pyrotechnics
20:00 h. Contest Festooned floats and cars during the Parade
22:30 h. Dances with major orchestras
Prince Square, Europe and La Candelaria

Saturday February 13
17:30 Projects on the different scenarios
Prince Square, Europe and La Candelaria
20:00 h. Comparsas Competition Rhythm and Harmony.
Avenida Francisco La Roche
20:00 h. Mini Ride
Starting from Plaza de Weyler and walking the streets Castillo, San Francisco, Villalba Hervás, La Marina and ending at Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena
22:30 h. Dances with major orchestras
Prince Square, Europe and La Candelaria

Sunday, February 14
11:00 h. Performance of Ni fú Afilarmónica - Ni fa
Plaza del Príncipe
12:00 h. Performance by the Group Lyrical Musical The Fregolina
Plaza del Príncipe
17:00 h. Rondallas Contest
Auditorio de Tenerife
Then the Rondalla street parade along Avenida Francisco La Roche
17:30 Projects on the different scenarios
Prince Square, Europe and La Candelaria
20:00 h. Mini Ride
Starting from Plaza de Weyler and walking the streets Castillo, San Francisco, Villalba Hervás, La Marina and ending at Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena
22:00 h. Valentine's Day Special
Plaza del Príncipe
22:30 h. Dances with major orchestras
Plaza de La Candelaria

Monday, February 15
17:30 Projects on the different scenarios
Prince Square, Europe and La Candelaria
20:00 h. Mini Ride
Starting from Plaza de Weyler and walking the streets Castillo, San Francisco, Villalba Hervás, La Marina and ending at Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena
22:30 h. Dances with major orchestras
Prince Square, Europe and La Candelaria

Tuesday, February 16
11:00 h. Performance of Ni fú Afilarmónica - Ni fa
Plaza del Príncipe
12:00 h. Performance by the Group Lyrical Musical The Fregolina
Plaza del Príncipe
16:00 h. Coso Apotheosis
Avenues of Francisco La Roche, Jose Antonio and Maritime
20:00 h. Dances with major orchestras
Plaza de La Candelaria
21:00 h. Great Exhibition Pyrotechnics

Wednesday, February 17
21:00 h. Burial of the Sardine
Departing from John Paul II Street, Méndez Núñez, Pilar, Villalba Hervás, La Marina and ending at Avenida Francisco La Roche. Great Exhibition Pyrotechnics
22:30 h. Dances with major orchestras
Plaza de La Candelaria

Thursday, 18 February
20:30 h. Rondalla Festival
Tenerife Auditorium Hall
20:30 h. Lyric Association Festival Circle La Zarzuela Amistad XII de Enero
Auditorio de Tenerife

Friday, February 19
22:30 h. Dances with major orchestras
Prince Square, Europe and La Candelaria

Saturday, February 20
13:00 Day Carnival - Carnival of Color
17:00 h. Drake Saturday
Organized by the Federation of Murgas Tinerfeña
18.00 Coso Infantil
Anaga and Marine Avenues, ending at the height of the Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena
21:30 h. Dances with major orchestras
Prince Square, Europe and La Candelaria

Sunday, February 21
10:00 Quiz XXXIX Automobile Museum
Church Square, Calle La Noria
From 12:00 hours tour starts the following streets: Antonio Dominguez Alfonso, Charco de la Casona, Bravo Murillo, San Sebastian, Puente Serrador, Valentín Sanz, Ángel Guimerá, Plaza de Weyler, Méndez Núñez, Pilar, Plaza del Principe, Villalba Hervás, La Marina, Avenida de Anaga, Rambla del General Franco to the Hotel Mencey.
11:00 h. Performance of Ni fú Afilarmónica - Ni fa
Plaza del Príncipe
12:30 Performance by the Group Lyrical The Friendship Circle Zarzuela January XII
Plaza del Príncipe
17:00 h. Great End Festival Carnival
Circle of Friends XII de Enero
17:30 Projects on the different scenarios
Prince Square, Europe and La Candelaria
22:00 h. Dances with major orchestras
Plaza de La Candelaria
21:30 h. Great Exhibition Pyrotechnics
Avenida Marítima