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The island of La Gomera will be, most likely, declared Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO next July. This information has been confirmed today 8th of June by the head of the Worldwide Network of Biosphere Reserves, Miguel Cloüsner-Godott, through a video conference with the UNESCO head office in Paris in the celebration of the 2nd Sustainability in the Canary Islands Workshop celebrated in La Gomera.

“Most likely La Gomera will be declared Biosphere Reserve the dates 9th to 13th of July during the celebration of the International Coordination Board of the MAP programme in the UNESCO headquarters in Paris”, he declared.

After receiving this good news, the island’s president Casimiro Curbelo has declared that “La Gomera is celebrating this announcement. It is a desired prize to place our land where it deserves among international environments”. Other official source added that “after a long work we are one step ahead from reaching this important award by the UNESCO”.

The current workshop is part of the campaign of the Council with educative actions that promote supportive, fair and sustainable habits from citizens and companies. The aim is to increase the consciousness and commitment of the gomerans with the sustainability objetives and the defense of our natural resources.

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Las bicicletas eléctricas

The electric bikes

You don’t know how much I wanted to talk about this activity in the blog. There has been almost a year that in Hermigua there opened a company dedicated exclusively to the rental of mountain and electric bikes. This company, Telemaco Rent a Bike offers also bicycle guided tours in Hermigua and in Garajonay National Park.

Whoever that has visited La Gomera is aware of the impressive slopes that you have to climb either by foot or with the car, let’s not mention a bicycle. And there is where the good news start. Because electric bicycles are from now on my favorite means of transportation around La Gomera. That you have to climb a hill? No worries, just turn the engine on and keep pedalling as relaxed as in a beach stroll. Because of course, the reason I am able to finally write this article is because Nando, the owner, had the kindness of letting me do a little tour with one of his bikes. And let’s be clear, I am not a fan of bicycles at all, in fact, I have made more kilometers in an exercise bicycle than any other kind.

En la ruta de Hermigua

En la ruta de Hermigua

As I was saying, this springtime I put on my sportswoman costume (not fooling anybody) and I reached the Tasca Telemaco to enjoy my private tour stage with trick. The route we made lasted around 1 hour, and took us through many of the most-known spots of Hermigua. The routes are carefully chosen to seen the most interesting spots in the village and the surroundings with low occupancy roads and a fair amount of viewpoints. Of course, we did the short version of the proposed Hermigua tour, that is 3 hours long and reaches both sides of Hermigua Valley.

The pro’s of going around in an electric bike are many. Fist of all, it is basically effortless. The motor takes charge of all the slopes. Second, it is invigorating. Not only do you make some touristic sightseeing, but you are also feeling soo healthy. Third, it is the perfect combination of speed and sightseeing. The bike doesn’t have the limitations of a car, neither does it imply hours of strenuous walk. You can see and photograph panorama that you have ever been able to watch before. Fourth, you are feeling so good that you cannot stop smiling, waving good-bye and chatting. It is a perfect cure for stress and exhaustion. Fifth, no need to be a biking fan. Anybody can enjoy it. So, what are you waiting for?

Telemaco Rent a Bike proposes several routes with electric bike: Hermigua, Agulo and La Caleta Beach. In any case, the end is a day of fun for everyone and a great photo album. You can see the information in:

Telemaco Rent a Bike

Plaza de la Encarnación 2 (en la Tasca Telémaco)
Hermigua, La Gomera
Tel: 922 880 812 / 657 069 111 / 686 613 289
www.tascatelemaco.com
nandinlm@hotmail.com

Más fotos:

Panorámica de Hermigua

En plena ruta de Hermigua

Desde uno de los miradores

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Posted 6 days ago, the new video for Nneka “Shining Star” song has been enjoyed for more than 24.000 viewers. This time, Nneka has visited La Gomera to sing between black sand beaches and the laurel rainforest of Garajonay National Park. It is a beautiful song in a perfect landscape. Check it out!

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Apartamentos Los Telares

Apartamentos Los Telares

That hard work brings results is a fact. And in this case, a work of several years of changes for the best and of a goal of sustainability and environmental awareness. First, with the adhesion of our house Los Delfines to the Canary Islands Volcanic Experience initiative. Later, with the commitment to sustainability with our inclusion in the European Charter of Sustainable Tourism of Garajonay National Park last year. And now with the awarding by AENOR (spanish leader Quality Certification Agency) of the Quality UNE-EN ISO 9001 Certification and the Environmental Management ISO 14001 and EMAS certificates. With this triple awarding Los Telares becomes the first rural lodging in La Gomera that has simultaneously these tools for environmental management and quality, a confirmation of our bet of continuous improvement and a firm commitment to reduce environmental impacts.

APARTMENTS LOS TELARES

The apartments Los Telares is a local family owned company with more than 30 years experience in the sector of rural touristic lodging and services in Hermigua Valley. Our aim is to link the visitor with the traditions, culture, landscape and ecological value of La Gomera. Our lodgings in non touristic natural areas guaranteeing a unique experience with a familiar welcome.

Our aim to improve the customer attention and our concern on environmental responsibility brought us to the designing of objectives and work procedures that allow to continuously measure the effectiveness with which all tasks are made and registering the preferences of our guests. The standards certified by AENOR will allow Los Telares to yearly review the settled objectives.

ISO 14001, ISO 9001 & EMAS

UNE-EN ISO 14011 and EMAS III are internationally accepted standards that detail how to introduce an environmental management system that allows to reach a balance between revenues and the reducing of the environmental impact. It’s introduction allows a costs reduction by less residues and an efficient use of natural resources such as electricity, water and gas. On the other hand, UNE-EN ISO 9001 is a group of management standars internationally accepted that allow companies to offer an excellent service to their customers and improve working conditions.

AENOR

AENOR, through the development of technical standards and certifications allows the quality and competitiveness improvement of companies, their products and services. It helps generate on of the most appreciated values in today’s economy: trust.

As an entity legally responsible for the standars in Spain, it includes a portfolio of almost 29.000 standars with efficient solutions. AENOR is also the certification leader, as their certificates are the most valued in Spain. The near to 62.000 certificates issued up to now support the organizations in fields such as Quality management, Environmental Management, I+D+i or Energy Efficiency.

AENOR was founded y 1986 as a private entity. It has 21 offices in Spain and presence in 13 countries.

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As every year, the visitors of Los Telares and Hermigua the 31st of December have the inconvenience of deciding where and who to dine with. In order to help you decide, we have gathered information regarding the restaurants offering dinner and the events.

This year there is a special open-air dance in the Plaza de la Encarnación (main square), so even those who rather enjoy a private dinner can later join the party, either before midnight or afterwards.

If you wish to dine at a restaurant, it is important to make a reservation, as it is a very special night, and the worst thing that can happen is that you try find an available table for the night. Most restaurants are family-run businesses, and therefore they usually close for the night to celebrate.

Restaurante El SilboRestaurante El Silbo:

This restaurant has a special new year’s eve menu to be served between 19:00 and 21:30 h. The price is of 19.50 €/person, drinks not included. The menu is: Pumpkin or Seafood soup for starters, Hake with seafood sauce or vegetables stuffed veal and a local dessert.

Reservations: Our guests can request their reservation through or email info@apartamentosgomera.com with their reservation data and the amount of guests. You can also contact the restaurant dialing +34 922 880304.

Address: Carretera General de Hermigua 102.

Restaurante Las ChácarasRestaurante Las Chácaras:

This restaurant offers their full menu for guests wishing to dine on the 31st. It will be open till late to enjoy a nice company and homely ambience. It’s location, nearby Los Telares, makes it a good option for those wishing to leave the car for the night. It is important to book your table in advance.

Reservations: Our guests can request their reservation through or email info@apartamentosgomera.com with their reservation data and the amount of guests. You can also contact the restaurant dialing +34 922 881 039.

Address: Lomo San Pedro 5, Hermigua (300 meters away from our apartments Los Telares).

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Spanish might seem like a very difficult language to speak or understand, specially if your native tongue is English or German. But part of the joy of international travelling is trying to communicate in the local language. That effort is very appreciated, and you will find that locals will very willingly try to understand your clumpsy first words.
Here are some pronunciation tips:
Spanish spelling is literal, phonetically consistent. Each letter has to be spelled apart.
The Canary Islands accent is unlike the one in the rest of Spain. It seems more like latin american. “C” and “z” are smoothed to a soft “S” sound, and S’s are even slightly softer.
Vowels: “A” as in “father”, “e” as in “met”, “i” as in “marine”, “o” as in “or”, “u” as in “rule” and “y” at the end of words or alone, is pronounced as “i”.
Basic conversation:
Hello = hola (o-la)
Good morning = buenos días (bwe-nos dee-as)
Good afternoon = Buenas tardes (bwe-nas tar-des)
Good evening / night = Buenas noches (bwe-nas noches)
Good bye = Adios (a-dyos)
Bye / See you soon = Hasta luego (as-ta lwe-go)
Yes = Sí (see)
No = no
Please = por favor (por fa-vor)
Thank you = gracias (gra-syas)
Many thanks = Muchas gracias (moo-chas gra-syas)
You’re welcome = De nada (de na-da)
Pardon me (before requesting information) = Perdón (per-don)
Sorry (apologising) = Perdón / Lo siento (lo see-en-to)
How are things? = ¿Qué tal? (ke tal)
What’s your name? = ¿Cómo te llamas? (ko-mo te ya-mas)
My name is… = Me llamo… (me ya-mo)…
Where are you from? = ¿De dónde eres? (de don-de e-res)
I’m from… = Soy de… (soy de…)
Where is the… ? = ¿Dónde hay un …?
ATM = Cajero
Bank = Banco
Market = Mercado
Shop = Tienda
Café = Cafetería
Bar = bar
Restaurant = Restaurante
Beach = Playa
Post office = Correos
Tourist office = Oficina de Turismo
Here = aquí (a-kee)
There = allí (a-yee)
Street = calle (ca-yee)
Road = carretera
Right = derecha
Left = izquierda (iz-keer-da)
Do you speak English? = ¿Habla inglés?
I (don’t) understand = (No) entiendo
How much is it? = ¿Cuánto cuesta?
So do you want to learn some more? You can check simple spanish conversation lessons for travelling here: http://spanish.about.com/od/spanishfortravelers/Spanish_for_Travel.htm

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Los Telares is one of the 20 touristic companies that have adhered to the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism of Garajonay National Park. The credentials presentation ceremony was held last Thursday 21st of July 2011 in the National Park Visitor’s Centre, Juego de Bolas.

The ECST is an innitiative of Europarc, the European National Parks network, to promote a sustainable and eco-friendly tourism in protected areas. This innitiative, which several european parks have embraced, has many Spanish National Parks in it’s ranks. This commitment implies in it’s first stage the public organisations of the National Park and it’s regional government. It includes in it’s second phase, with a more ambitious aim, a wider range of agents. Therefore, Garajonay National Park, the only park in the Canary Islands nowadays in the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism is also one of the few that have begun this second phase with the adhesion of 20 local companies that, with a joint effort, will participate an collaborate in the goal of a touristic sector that is sustainable in La Gomera.

The ceremony made clear the importance of the companies as the agents that have a direct contact with the tourist and are the main link between the tourist and the island’s environment. The charter implies the commitment of the companies to an improvement in their environmental behaviour, collaborative work, promotion and an additional effort to communicate to the tourist the importance of an adequate environmental attitude in the park and the island. In the following like you can download the speek offered by the representative of Los Telares (spanish): http://www.apartamentosgomera.com/images/stories/discurso%20cets.pdf

The success of participation in this second phase indicates that the touristic companies of La Gomera are specially conscious of the ecological value of their environment, not only the National Park, but also the rest of the landscapes and environments that are in the island and it’s waters. This value has been recently highlighted by the UNESCO awarding the Gomeran Wistle as an Humankind Inmaterial Heritage. Los Telares, in a programme designed with the assessment of the National Park, has commited itself in a series of performances in the next 3 years that imply the usage of local and ecological intakes, recycling, improvement of the public information regarding the National Park and energy saving improvements. That way, we wish to add our best effort to our aim to keep La Gomera as an ecological jewel of unique landscapes with Garajonay National Park as the frosting of the cake.

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Arure festival

Arure festival

Arure is a village belonging to the town of Valle Gran Rey. This week it is celebrating a festival to the Saint Buenaventura and Our Lady of La Salud. The events are being held this weekend, from the 14th to the 15th of July. Of special interest is the making and procession of a bouquet accompanied with a “chacaras” and drums dance (traditional local dance) as well as two open-air dances later in the afternoon.

Events programme:

14th of July:

18:00 hours: Holy Mass in honour of Saint Buenaventura and our Lady of La Salud. After mass, the procession with the figures of the saint and the virgin accompanied by “chácaras y tambor”. In the night, a dance with the orchestras “Atlantic” and “Ritmo Gomero”.

15th of July:

9:00 h: Making of the bouquet.

12:00 h: Pilgrimage of the bouquet with “chácaras y tambor”.

13:00 h: Holy Mass in honour of Our Lady de la Salud. Later, a procession.

20:00 h: Open-air dance with the bands “Atlantic” and “Caribe”.

Vuelta aerea a España

Cartel de la Vuelta Aérea a España

This thursday 14th of July will reach La Gomera Airport more than 20 planes participating in the 45th Spain Flight Tour, part as well of the 28th King’s Trophy, celebrated this month from the 11th to the 17th of July. This year this renowned competition organised by the Real Aeroclub of Spain will visit the Canary Islands after this monday’s start in Armilla, Granada. On Tuesday 12th of July will start the second stage with destination Jerez, Casablanca and Agadir. The following day they will leave Marocco to the island of Lanzarote and Gran Canaria. From that island, this thursday they will reach Tenerife and La Gomera, to reach Gran Canaria once more in the afternoon.

In each stage of the competition the pilots must stay in the planned route without leaving the virtual lane with exactly 740 meters wide and maintaining the flight exact time on each point of the route. The airport of La Gomera, located in Playa Santiago will host from the morning the 20 planes arriving from Gran Canaria. They will stay in La Gomera for several hours before heading to Tenerife.

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Such an easy dish to make, but still few persons are able to reproduce the original recipe of the traditional canarian “papas arrugás”. This potatoes are usually taken with green or red “mojo” sauce, that are available at shops anywhere in the canary islands or even in spain (at El Corte Ingles supermarket).

For the “papas arrugás” you shall use potatoes, but try using small sized potatoes, ideally so that you can eat them whole in one bite or two. The most tasty variety, available only in the Canary Islands, is the “papa negra” (black potato). The second best is the “papa bonita” (beautiful potato). Both are quite expensive.

First step: clean the potatoes. You will cook them with the skin, so make sure that they are well washed.

Second step: In a pot, put the cleaned potatoes with water (barely covering the potatoes) and a bit of fine salt.

Final step: after boiling the potatoes long enough for them to be tender, take out the water, pour fine salt (a handful) and shake the pot so that the skin of the potatoes dries enough and the salt gets sticked to the skin. Do not put over the fire for long, as you can burn both the potatoes and the pot.

Et voila! There are your potatoes. Please, do not remove the skin when eating!

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