Bar Maria to become fast food outlet

Above is the architect's proposal for Casa Maria in La Playa (Image: Martin Hartmann)

Legendary Bar Maria, which has been a popular meeting point at the beach in La Playa in Valle Gran Rey since the 1960's, has finally been sold for an undisclosed sum. The bar and restaurant has been closed since Maria herself died two years ago and was put up for sale subsequently. It has now been revealed that it was acquired by the McDonald's chain of fast food restaurants, who spotted the obvious commercial potential of this landmark building. 

Maximiliano Carne-Deres, the spokesperson for McDonald's in the Canary Islands, has stated that his company was particularly impressed with the large number of revellers gathering at Casa Maria around sunset time and the large amount of hungry and thirsty hillwalkers and hikers arriving in the area every day from the mountains. Mr. Carne-Deres stressed that the proposed refurbishment will blend in well with the already existing  infrastructure across the road, which includes a steak-house. He added that the McDonald's colours of yellow and red would go well with the sunset at the beach in front of the building, which is known as 'Playa Maria'. Ronald McDonald, the chain's emblematic happy clown, once erected at the premises would also ''form a harmonious combination with the many drummers and fire-jugglers who perform there at sunset, whom we intend to support and sustain with food vouchers''.

However, the island's government have attached certain conditions to the new licence and planning permission, namely that the former small front bar at the premises shall be retained  and must continue to serve alcoholic beverages ''to maintain the jovial ambience for which the location has established a tradition'', and that the fast food outlet will have to include some local produce in the menu. 

In response to these conditions Mr. Carne-Deres has revealed that the bar will remain separate from the restaurant to be run as a joint venture with the Tenerife-based Dorada beer company and that this will form the first 'McBar' in the world. For the menu a new burger called 'McCabra' (sic) with goat (=cabra) meat and smoked goat's cheese will be available as a new up-market option of fresh local produce on the menu when the fast food restaurant opens its doors at the former Bar Maria on April 1st 2018. Aren't you just ''lovin' it'' ?

This is a link to a video showing some peoples' first reaction to the proposal (click).

One man drowns, another rescued

Playa de La Calera on a calm day

A swimmer has drowned in the sea at Playa de La Calera, better known as Playa Maria, in Valle Gran Rey on New Year's Eve in the afternoon. The victim was 64 years old and of German nationality. He had been spotted by other swimmers in the sea and been brought ashore where attempts were made to resuscitate the man and an ambulance with a doctor arrived on the scene, but the victim was pronounced dead a short time later.

While this beach is generally considered to be a safe one, the sea conditions were rough at the time with very choppy waters and a strong south-easterly wind with gale gusts.

In a separate incident some time later another swimmer got into difficulties at the same beach. He too was spotted by other people on the beach who called the emergency services on 112 and brought the drowning man ashore while the ambulance with a doctor was on its way. The 49 years old man had a lucky escape as this time resuscitation was successful and he was said to be recovering well in the local health centre.

Coast road being eroded further by waves

Council finishing the clean-up yesterday. Note the rough state of beach

The big waves over the past few days that forced the temporary closure of the coast road between La Puntilla and La Playa in Valle Gran Rey at one stage even endangered the carnival proceedings in the Plaza San Pedro, where crews from the town hall had to clear sand, gravel and other debris that were swept onto the plaza by the waves that had been flooding part of the area at high tide before.

Yesterday's parade and the following party went ahead with only minor disruption by the heavy seas. However the situation regarding the above mentioned road is further deteriorating and the holes in the road are gradually getting larger while the old protective wall is further slipping into the sea and breaking up. This stretch of the road was built many years ago onto the beach across the lowest part of the land where the sea and beach had once been a good bit further inland. Now it seems the waves are claiming back their former territory. Several times in the past the road had been undermined

Collapsing defences yesterday

there, but every time the holes were quickly filled with large boulders and concrete, keeping the defences up. Now due to the wrangling over responsibilities the road was left to itself. The dangerous part was simply fenced off and traffic diverted via a short stretch of the old track inland below the coast road. For many years plans have existed to build a new promenade there plus there are plans for a new main road further up. It would also make sense to build simple breakwaters at both ends of the bay which would protect it, make it safer for swimming and keep the sand and gravel on the beach where it is wanted as an amenity and will protect the coastline.

It is a bit absurd to see the state the coastline is in now, and then turn your head inland to see the large building site in the barranco a few yards away where countless tons of stones and concrete are being used in the channelling of the barranco that no one wanted done, but which will cost in excess of seven million Euros, while just behind you the road has been left to crumble away for nearly a year.

Soon the sea may breach the road completely. Image taken around half tide yesterday.

Steel waste bin wave-beaten to a sculpture

Coast road closed due to high waves

High waves again affecting the partially collapsed coast road (Image: Archive lagomera1.blogspot.com)

The coast road connecting the districts of La Puntilla and La Playa in Valle Gran Rey has been closed to all traffic this afternoon as a precautionary measure due to the high waves battering coasts in the Canaries. Traffic is being diverted from Hotel Gran Rey and Bar Maria (respectively). The road had been partially undermined and sea defences had collapsed some time ago (see post of April last). No repairs were carried out since, allowing further erosion over the past ten months.

It is hoped that the carnival activities in La Playa tonight and over the coming days can take place on the beach there as planned, but some food and drinks stalls already had to be moved further away from the seas as they were threatened by the waves.
Weather conditions are predicted to improve from tomorrow night, however.

Condition the road was in two weeks ago. It has become worse in present weather situation.