Craft fair

La Gomera's annual craft fair opened in San Sebastian de La Gomera on the main square yesterday and continues today. Sixty exhibitors from La Gomera and from other Canary islands show and sell their handmade goods to the general public until later today. The event was well attended yesterday and many passengers from a visiting large cruise ship were also seen buying from a wide range of goods ranging from handmade fountain pens, pottery, jewellery, and textiles to typical Gomeran goatskin drums. Handmade chocolates, local cheeses, wines and other delicacies can also be sampled and bought at the fair.

Road improvements

Road to Valle Gran Rey between the two tunnels

The island's government has allocated 4,2 million Euros for improving La Gomera's roads and to upgrade road safety. 

Among the many projects to be financed is the illumination of the two long tunnels between Arure and Valle Gran Rey, a long overdue measure as the tunnels are used by a lot of cyclists and pretty dangerous for them without lighting. 

Entrance to one of the tunnels

Even sheep stick to the safe paths here

The rescue helicopter was needed once again in the Argaga ravine near Valle Gran Rey yesterday around noon, after a 34 years old female hiker fell several metres in an area of difficult access there. The helicopter had to put down a rescue crew nearby from where they then had to fetch the injured on a stretcher to the pick-up point to be flown to the hospital in the capital San Sebastian de La Gomera. The injuries sustained by the women were said to be minor, so she had a lucky escape.

The area where the incident happened is notorious for bad falls and the the walk up and down that ravine is extremely dangerous and has been officially closed for years, yet many still attempt it. Also, there are still copies of outdated walking guides in circulation which list this walk, even though the gorge has claimed the lives of several walkers.

If you intend to hike in the mountains of La Gomera without a guide, make sure that your information is up-to-date, enquire locally and stick to clearly defined paths. Avoid areas such as Argaga gorge where the paths have eroded or collapsed. Even sheep wouldn't go there.

The beer ship is in

The 'beer ship' rounding the point in La Playa, Valle Gran Rey, La Gomera showing some of her green sails

The three-masted 200ft sail training ship Alexander von Humboldt II, sometimes nicknamed 'the beer ship', came into Vueltas, the harbour of Valle Gran Rey, yesterday. She is sponsored by the brewers of Beck's beer and has featured in advertising for the brand, hence the nickname. She has green sails and a green hull to match the colour of Beck's beer bottles, too, and is a regular visitor here, bringing about 80 passengers and crew.

Alex 2, as she's also known, in Vueltas harbour

Trump's bar is open...

...and I woke up this morning to the news that the blond man of German extraction who owns it is to be the 45th president of the US and at 72 the oldest ever at the time of election. 

Well, I wouldn't have voted for any of the four, yes there were 4 candidates, but to be on the safe side I visited Trump's bar earlier this year where I took the photo and had lunch overlooking the Atlantic. The food was very reasonably priced and went down well with a blond pint. 

Well, the real reason I came there was that when I was at the Doonbeg International Jazz Festival, I ran out of cash and the 'Trump International Golf Links and 5* Hotel Doonbeg Ireland' has the only 'money printer' (ATM) for many miles around and I was hungry when I got the money.

What has all that got to do with La Gomera, you may ask ? Nothing much except that the fabulous band 'Skazz' who played in La Gomera many times, are based in Doonbeg and were playing at the jazz festival, too.

Part of Donald Trump's 5* Hotel near Doonbeg in Co.Clare, Ireland

Video of spectacular rockfall last Saturday

The video above was posted by Ruben Martinez on his facebook page and shows the spectacular 'rock bombardment' of Vueltas harbour in Valle Gran Rey, La Gomera last Saturday. There had been a very heavy shower during the night before, but this rockfall occurred well before the thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon. The video only shows the end of the landslide and rocks had fallen for about the same length of time before. No damage was done as the fishing boats are moored well away from the spot where the rocks hit the water as the spot where the large lumps fell is known for such incidents. It was lucky though that no swimmers were in that part of the water, as sometimes people who're not aware of this danger zone swim out to there and snorkelling is also popular there. Swimming and sunbathing on the larger part of the beach toward the pier is safe, however, and that's where most people go. 

Some rocks also fell onto the track that leads out to Argaga and the 'Finca Argayal' where the meditation centre is situated and many people walk under that cliff every day. See previous post about the dangerous path: Death in Argaga (click). There's an even more spectacular video at the end of that post. 

It is important to bear in mind that during and even long after rainy weather (when the sun heats the rock and soil) the erosion landscape of La Gomera is more 'active' and that being near cliffs then is even more dangerous than normally, but bear in mind that the sign below was put up there for a reason and that the rocky side of the beach is rocky for the same reason:

Warning sign just before the area where the rocks fell last Saturday

Thunderstorm in Valle Gran Rey

Even though it was mostly sunny yesterday, there were dark clouds in the evening for a while and a thunderstorm brought some badly needed rain to Valle Gran Rey. The whole spectacle didn't last very long and there was a beautiful sunset later.
From today the weather is improving and the forecast for the next few days is for mostly sunny and warm weather.

Woman drowns in Valle Gran Rey

Statue of Hautacuperche at La Puntilla

Yesterday morning a 67 years old German woman drowned at La Puntilla beach in Valle Gran Rey, La Gomera. The emergency services were alerted and arrived quickly at the scene but all attempts to revive the woman failed.

The beach at La Puntilla opposite 'Hotel Gran Rey' is generally considered safe for swimming in calm seas and the cause of the drowning is not yet known. 

Stingray still meets kids despite nasty injury

This large stingray, locally given the pet name 'Sebastian' or 'Chano' (the latter being a diminutive of the former) has been a regular visitor to the steps in the fishing port of Vueltas in Valle Gran Rey, La Gomera for several years now. He turns up to be fed and fondled by the kids who sometimes turn up in great numbers and feed him fish supplied by the local fishermen returning to harbour. It is an amazing spectacle to watch huge 'Chano', who's said to weigh about 300 pounds, and sometimes brings smaller but much more shy relations with him. At times he almost 'climbs' up a couple of steps out of the water to be fed and fondled. 

Some time ago he sustained severe injuries in the harbour, and a deep gash remains in his front, clearly seen in this very recent video, even though the wounds have healed very well (Click to see videos taken before the injuries). 
Despite all that he seems to come even more often, and despite the fact that agents for the department for the environment came and prohibited the feeding of stingrays, the kids still gather and slip him a few tasty fresh mackerel. 
He now even comes some evenings and when he's not hungry just to be petted by the kids who call him by striking the water surface with their hands, as happened in this video.

Halloween is everywhere...

...at a beach party in La Gomera last night

...and at home in Ireland  (this image © Kenmare News)

A beautiful morning

This morning in Valle Gran Rey, La Gomera: Blue skies, calm seas and sunshine

Rainbow

There was just one light short shower in Valle Gran Rey yesterday evening which brought this rainbow. The weather generally is settling and even though there still could be the odd shower today it will be mostly sunny and warm.

First rain after the long dry summer

Image taken around 9am this morning after a heavy shower

This morning Valle Gran Rey had the first good showers of rain after the long dry summer season. During the last couple of days the present weather situation (see 'Weathe News on top left of home page) had only brought a few lighter showers here. Now as I write a band of heavy thunderstorms is approaching from the south, thunder can be heard in the distance and the sky is very grey, promising more badly needed rain. Of course, if you're holidaying in the Canaries you don't want rain, but you can have your morning shower now without feeling guilty.

The outlook is for the weather to improve gradually and by the weekend it should be mostly fine.

A note of caution: As always after rain there is an increased risk of rockfalls and minor landslides, especially after a long dry spell. If you must drive please be very cautious on the roads in mountainous areas. Anyway, walking and hiking is not recommended today.

Even when the sun is shining again after the rain the risk is still there as the sun will heat any wet and unstable rocks and soil which then will expand and could come tumbling down.

Rockfall in Valle Gran Rey

Short video of dust plumes taken at the end of a rockfall in Valle Gran Rey between Lomo del Riego and Borbalan (see images of another nearby: A spectacular landslide and rockfall ). These rockfalls and landslides happen every now and then as a result of loosening material due to temperature changes, erosion and especially after rain. In most cases, as in this one which happened about three weeks ago, no harm is done as houses are usually built well away from areas where rocks may fall, preferably on the top of ridges, called 'lomos'.

Ferry problems

The damaged ramp in the bow of the ferry 'Volcan de Taburiente'  (Image: Felipe San Luis )

The ferry 'Volcan de Taburiente' which is owned and operated by the Canarian ferry company Naviera Armas and presently serves the islands of La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma from Tenererife's Los Cristianos port sustained damage to the bow ramp last night. It had arrived fro the island of El Hierro last night when during the berthing in Los Cristianos one of the hydraulic arms lowering the ramp collapsed leaving the cars and trucks trapped aboard until the roll-on/roll-off ferry was allowed to turn around and to allow the vehicles to disembark through the stern ramp.

If you intend to travel to La Gomera or the other two western Canary islands on this service you should check with the Armas ferry company as there's bound to be disruption until the vessel has been repaired, bearing in mind that another of the company's vessel which serves these islands is currently out of service due to annual maintenance.

New music festival

A welcome new music festival is being held for the first time in La Gomera's capital San Sebastian this Saturday, September 10th 2015, from 9pm. There will be six bands performing music from from around the world including Reggae, Roots and Rumba (see poster above). The new event called 'Gomera Sound Fest' will be held in the town's main square (Plaza de las Americas) and is free of charge.

Passenger terminal nearing completion

Image taken a couple of weeks ago by H.P.

The new passenger terminal in the port of Vueltas in Valle Gran Rey is nearing completion and the facility should be officially opened just in time for the busy winter season. 
All that's missing now is some solid news regarding the reopening of the sorely missed ferry connection...

Movie shot in La Gomera showing in Playa de Santiago

Filming a beach scene in 2013

The movie 'In the Heart of the Sea' directed by Ron Howard which was partially filmed in La Gomera's south will finally be screened for the first time on the island in the main film location in late 2015, the town of Playa de Santiago. The open-air screening will take place in the town's square on Sunday, August 28th 1015, at 9pm and the event is free of charge. Don't miss to see it exactly where lot's of 'Hollywood action' took place now almost three years ago. However, this screening will be of the Spanish language version called 'En el Corazon del Mar'.

Summer rock festival

A rock festival will take place in 'La Villa', as islanders call La Gomera's capital San Sebastian de La Gomera, this Saturday, August 27th 2016, from 8pm. The annual event will feature six bands headed by local rockers 'Tonelada' and the other bands are 'Doctor Yao' from Tenerife, 'Metalmorfosis' (Lanzarote), 'Leche Frita'  (Fuerteventura), 'The Last Drop' and 'Represion 24 Horas', both from Gran Canaria. The 'Villa Rock' festival is held near the 'Avenida Maritima' this year and entry is free of charge.

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