Body discovered in Tuesday's fire outbreak

The scene of the fire near Playa del Ingles (Image: Bomberos Valle Gran Rey)

A fire broke out in Valle Gran Rey on Tuesday afternoon around 4pm. The small area of scrubland affected is close to the minor road between La Playa and Playa del Ingles, near art gallery Oasis. The local voluntary fire brigade arrived quickly on the scene and the fire was subsequently brought under control. However, when the area was checked more thoroughly a male body was discovered. Rumour has it that the fatality is a Swiss citizen and that a small gas container had exploded. Another person is said to have narrowly escaped the flames uninjured. The Guardia Civil police continue to investigate the incident.

Two bands for beach party

Tonight the 'noche en blanco' promotion is taking place in the La Playa area of Valle Gran Rey and a short walk further out at the uninhabited western end of the valley at the Playa del Ingles beach just beyond the sports grounds two bands will be performing after sunset - see flyer above. This gig is the rocking alternative to the X-mas shopping promotion in La Playa and not part of the official programme below:

Another drowning at Playa del Ingles

News just in: A 45 year old man has drowned at the notoriously dangerous Playa del Ingles beach in western Valle Gran Rey on La Gomera this afternoon. Police and an ambulance were at the scene.
I always advise people not to swim at this idyllic beach even in calm conditions as there can be dangerous currents anytime. The exact circumstances of this latest drowning there are not yet known, but there is a fairly strong swell today, which further increases the risks there even if you only go in knee-deep. Many people have died at this beach over the years, including trained rescue personnel. 

News update summer 2014

So now the kids have gone back to school and with the arrival of September the summer is slowly ending. I'm still in Ireland and enjoying an unusually excellent summer. Yesterday I  enjoyed myself on a huge golden beach and the temperature was a balmy 23 degrees in perfect weather conditions. 

While away I was in constant contact with La Gomera and followed all the news from there. So what has happened on La Gomera during my absence ?

Not all that much, really, and this summer was as quiet if not more quiet than previous years and I didn't miss much, I think.

News summary:

The good news is that there were no major fires during the past two months. There were a few minor fires that were put out by the emergency services very quickly. The latest and largest fire was fought successfully in Alajero last Sunday, but 18 hectares of scrub and some palms fell victim to the flames. The Air Tractor hydro-plane which was stationed on La Gomera's small airport in early July helped to extinguish the fires and it will remain on stand-by until the end of October.

The annual highest tides of August coupled with a strong Atlantic swell brought some very big waves which forced the closure of the promenade along the beach of Playa de Santiago for a time.

Vueltas, the harbour village of Valle Gran Grey is yet another step closer to the beginning of the eight month of works that will pedestrianise and improve the shopping streets there as the tenders for the work have been adjudicated now. Vueltas is well-known for its quirky little shops and boutiques and also boasts many restaurants that offer fresh fish from its harbour and much more.

Two councillors in Valle Gran Rey have resigned their posts in the local government due to 'differences with the mayor'.

Mobile phones in most parts of Valle Gran Rey seem to be working again after the main mast was sabotaged during bonfire night. A provisional mast was erected near the bus station by the Movistar phone operator until a permanent solution can be found.

The one-night rock festival in San Sebastian was a great success.

The access road to Valle Gran Rey's black-sand beach Playa del Ingles is to get street lights powered by photovoltaics.

Finally the improvement works in the harbour of San Sebastian are making good progress and the extension of the pier will be ready to welcome even larger cruise ships when the season begins in late autumn.

IF anything exciting or important happens on La Gomera, I promise to report it here on this blog immediately... but, as they say: NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS !

Teneriffe's Mount Teide seen from La Gomera (Photo taken in June 2014)