Residents in Calle Guatifay were shocked yesterday when a man attempted to abduct a four year old boy who had been playing outside in Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote.

The boy and his mother were visiting family in the resort when the incident happened, he was playing on the terrace at the front of the house around 18:15 on Sunday, when a man was seen taking him. At first the grandma thought it was just one of the neighbours, but then another child raised the alarm and the mother ran after him.

The man was caught by the car park and after a struggle the boy was released. Neighbours alerted the police and stayed with the man until he could be detained, he was described as average height and build, well dressed and spoke English.

Guardia Civil later identified the arrested man as a foreign tourist with the initials S.R.M. who was due to appear in court today.

Update 18th February: A Guardia Civil spokesperson has confirmed that the man is a 25 year old British tourist, who was staying in a hotel in Puerto del Carmen. He has no previous convictions in Spain, and he declined to be interviewed. He has been handed over to the courts for further questioning. He has been identified as Stephen Raphael Manning.

According to an article published in Europa Press today, the accused has since been released with charges for illegal detention. La Voz de Lanzarote state that his probation requires for him to appear in court on the 1st & 15th of each month.

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We don’t live in a violent society in Lanzarote, we’re lucky to be sheltered from the more dangerous aspects of living in European cities, which is why the town of San Bartolomé was really affected by the news that a son had allegedly killed his 74 year old mother at the weekend.

Nicolás de León confessed to his girlfriend in the early hours of Sunday morning that he had murdered his mother. The girlfriend with who he has a 2 year old child,& raised the alarm by reporting the incident to 112, the authorities then discovered the awful truth that Pilar had indeed been beaten to death by a blunt object in her own home.

Pilar de León was a widower who lived alone in San Bartolomé, she was well known in the community and was a cleaner at the colegio Ajei. Her son Nicolás was arrested and appeared in court on Monday where the judge remanded him in custody and sent him to hospital for a mental health examination.

María Dolores Corujo, mayor of San Bartolomé commented on the tremendous shock felt by everyone, explaining that the family had a normal relationship and that it’s beyond comprehension as to how something like this can happen, when it was completely unexpected.

Nicolás de León was a chef at the Montañas del Fuego visitor centre where he had worked for several years. He was described as an introvert and shy man, who had taken a few days of work as he was a little depressed.

The church was too small to accommodate everyone who wanted to bid a final farewell to Pilar at her funeral, she has now been laid to rest in the cemetery at San Bartolomé.

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The maxi ketch "La Poste" crossed the Atlantic from Lanzarote to Colombia in a record time of 15 days and 10 hours.

She sailed on the 22nd of January from Marina Rubicón in Playa Blanca at 9:30 and arrived at Santa Marta in Colombia on the 6th of February at 19:41 (Spanish times quoted) covering a total distance of distance of 3,567 nautical miles (or 6,606 km for those of us who prefer dry land). 

The yacht was originally built in 1993 by GIE Décission which is part of the Bénéteau group for the French Post Office, hence her name. She was designed by Bruce Farr for the 1993–1994 Whitbread Round the World Race, currently known as the Volvo Ocean Race, finishing in 7th place at the time. 

The current record has been achieved 20 years later, whilst participating in the "Gran Prix del Atlántico" which celebrated it’s 8th edition in 2014. La Poste’s international crew of 13 in this race was lead by Captain Attilio Micciche.

Related Information:

Marina Rubicón

Volvo Ocean Race Training in Lanzarote

Endeavour Sailing in Lanzarote

The #savecanarias campaign currently has just over 50,000 signatures, it needs 100,000 by Monday the 1st of April 2014.

If you haven’t already signed this online petition to stop the oil drilling off the coast of Lanzarote & Fuerteventura, it takes less than a minute to enter your name, email address and country.

The deadline date is an important one, this is the day that the Supreme Court judges will vote in Madrid, for a decision regarding the seven appeals against the approval of the Royal Decree in March 2012 to allow Repsol to conduct oil prospections in the Canary Islands.

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Three students from Marling blagged their way onto a Thomson flight to reach Lanzarote during The Pink Escape on Monday 17th February.

Will Smith, Alastair Bolton and Joe Marshall were one of eleven teams who had just £10 and 36 hours to get as far away from Stroud as possible. The lads donned pink morph suits for their great escape and made a phone call to Thomson Holidays after setting off from Stratford Park.  Once the trio had confirmation of a flight, they hitched to Reading where First Great Western gave them free train tickets to Gatwick.

As their flight was departing the following day, Will, Alastair & Joe managed to get a room for free at the New Hampton Hilton Hotel.

The lads only got to stay in Lanzarote for an hour before returning to the UK but they did get to make an impression during their travels. Passengers on the Thomson plane raised a collection of £500 for the charity Breast Cancer Care and one of the airport staff drove them to Playa Honda for a quick photo on the beach before they departed.

Well done guys, it’s all in a good cause and if you’d like to support their chosen charity, you can make a donation through Just Giving The Pink Escape the team target was £7,000 and they’ve raised just over £8,000 with 326 donations so far.

We also discovered Will’s blog during our research for this article Living with Cancer - A Teenage Perspective, Will was diagnosed with  Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in October 2012.  We wish Will all the best with his own personal fight against cancer, keep up the blogging and public speaking, your passion will help others.

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The holiday resort of Costa Teguise has established itself as a sporting destination in Lanzarote, you can’t help but notice the number of lycra clad visitors now enjoying the warm weather training facilities on offer there this winter.

In the future, both residents and tourists will have access to the following sports projects planned as part of the Modernisation Plan for Costa Teguise.

Mayor of Teguise, Oswaldo Betancort announced the creation of  a public & private project for the sports zone in the barranco de los Vientos which will see the creation of a football ground and gymnasium of 400m3 in the area between Los Zocos and Teguisol. The plan also includes a covered pavilion and 50m pool at Sands Beach with an investment of 1.5 million euros.

Colegios Arenas have two sports projects in Costa Teguise, the first of which is due to commence at the bilingual school from next month. General Director of Colegios Arenas, Alberto Rodríguez detailed plans of a two million euro project to create a covered pavilion, a partially covered and heated 20 metre pool, plus a multipurpose room, for which planning permission has already been granted. The school also own the dilapidated Centro de Deportes situated in the centre of the resort, they plan to renovate the tennis and squash courts here as well as creating paddle courts and a leisure / commercial zone. The council have committed to providing the license for this Toca Sport project in the shortest possible time, providing the plans comply with all urban and technical parameters.

Sports tourism predominantly brings visitors to Lanzarote during the quieter winter months, allowing the athletes to continue their outdoor training programmes in our warm climate.

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The recent move of the satellites that transmit TV signals has caused plenty of consternation for people here in Lanzarote. Over the last few years, the size of dish required and the cost of getting regular English Language TV channels has become harder and harder. The best option these days seems to be using internet based services like Ray Allum’s UK TV Service.

If you still want to sit down in an evening and see “What’s on” that’s probably the best way to do so.

But increasingly, people are moving towards “On demand” television. Basically, that means choosing what you want to watch and when to watch it. Got an hour to spare? Sit down and watch a couple of episodes of your favourite series! Want to while the afternoon away on the couch in your PJ’s? Stream a movie!

There are many services available which let you download or stream TV series and films, and Amazon has now joined the fray with their “Instant Video” service.

You’ll find complete TV series and thousands of films there, which you can either buy to watch as often as you want, or rent, so you can access them for a few days. As long as you have a decent broadband internet connection, you can stream them to a laptop or tablet and connect the device to your television!

Here’s where to find out more about the service: Amazon Instant Video

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The water company, Canal Gestión Lanzarote have confirmed that they will be extending their opening hours to strengthen their customer service on the island.

Previously the company only opened to the general public and clients during weekday mornings. The decision to open during the afternoons was a response to meet the needs of their customers.

From March, the Atención al Abonado department will be open from 07:45 to 14:45 and 16:00 to 19:00 from Monday to Friday. Additionally, clients will also be able to pay their bills in person to the cashier at the office in the future, saving the requirement for another trip to the bank or post office.

The customer service offices at Canal Gestión Lanzarote are situated within the Central de Desalación Díaz Rijo at Punta de Los Vientos, on the coast road between Costa Teguise and Arrecife.

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We’re often asked about QROPS – Qualifying recognised overseas pensions scheme. Essentially, it’s a way for people who have left UK to live abroad to access their pensions funds to reinvest in their new countries.

We asked our financial expert Alan Keane, from Keane Pensions and Investments to tell us more:

How can you benefit by a transfer to a QROPS?

Early Retirement at 50 not 55 as in the UK

30% Pension Commencement Lump Sum not 25% as in the UK

No 55% Recovery Tax Charge on Lump Sum death benefits as could apply in UK and remaining funds can be passed onto your loved ones as a Lump Sum

No need to buy an annuity at age 77 or face a tax charge as in the UK

QROPS - Who would benefit?

Those with a UK pension scheme who now live overseas as an expatriate, or are planning to leave the UK.

What is a QROPS?

It is a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pensions Scheme. You should only transfer your pension to QROPS providers that are 100% approved by HM Revenue & Customs.

What should people do to find out more?

Please call me today on 626 184 724 to discuss if a QROPS is right for your situation without obligation

Alan Keane

Independent Financial Adviser

www.keanepensionsandinvestments.es

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Remember the book signing Blind Truth that I wrote about last year?

Well, I attended it and met the author Margaret Sherlock and her husband Bryan. What a lovely couple! I must admit I was a bit intimated by meeting an actual writer. But they are very down-to-earth, "normal" people. It's clear they love Lanzarote and all it has to offer. They specially enjoy trying new restaurants, revisiting their favourites when they visit and also exploring the island hiking.

I caught up with them again recently at Picnic in Puerto del Carmen - where we first met! - before they headed back to the UK where Margaret is about to release the third and final book of the Lyn Porter trilogy.

This is a brief synopsis of "Hounded":

"On a week's holiday to the sunny island of Lanzarote Lyn Porter discovers there's more to this sub-tropical paradise than sun and sangria. Venturing alone in this rugged terrain, she becomes trapped in a darker more sinister dimension. Can she survive the most terrifying night of her life?

Meanwhile in the chill and damp of Devon, the incorrigible Vinny Conway, unable to resist the lure of buried gold, lays himself open to an unfathomable perilous assault.

Interlinking motives, schemes, unfulfilled desires and promises, keeps the reader riveted to the very end. Madness and badness, deaths both natural and unnatural, conclude this thrilling, chilling, tree-book saga..."

So as promised, part of the book is set in our island! I can't wait to read it to see if I recognise any places!

I must say, I have read the first installment "Against All Odds" and I was immediately grabbed by the unexpected things that happen to the lovable but brave Lyn Porter. "Blind Truth" is on my list of books to read and I hope to have done so before the new book is available in Lanzarote around springtime when Margaret and her husband intend to be back on our shores.

We will keep you posted!

For more information please visit the author’s website www.margaretsherlock.net.

In 2013 the Cabildo of Lanzarote and Sociedad de Cazadores planted 6,000 kilograms of cereal crops across 75 fincas in Lanzarote.

The aim of the campaign to plant wheat, barley and other cereals in different areas of Lanzarote was to create an environment and food source for species of game, thus avoiding damage to other cultivated crops. 

Councillor Juan Antonio de la Hoz from the Área de Caza explained that the project had taken place over several years in collaboration with the Society of Hunters in Lanzarote “to ensure food for wildlife, especially intended for the game species, in specified zones to prevent game species such as rabbits and partridges, from damaging other zones and protected crops of the island”.

A total of 75 plots were sown with 6,080 kilograms of seeds during the 2013 campaign which were distributed along the coast of Tías & Playa Quemada,  Las Casitas in Femés, Montaña Cinta, La Degollada, the area of Tanque in Uga, Teguise, Tahíche, Guatiza, Las Nieves, Montaña Timbayba, El Cuchillo, Montaña de Tenesera, Las Malvas, Tinache and between Montaña Blanca & Los Dolores.

Many visitors to Lanzarote are surprised to hear that Lanzarote has a hunting season, it can be difficult to believe that the barren, volcanic landscape witnessed during the hot summer months is home to rabbits and partridges. Lanzaroteños are known as Los Conejeros, which translates to the rabbiters. Our hunting season normally starts in August and continues until November. There was an exception recently, the hunting season was cancelled in 2012 to give the wildlife a chance to recover after drought conditions during the previous winter. Walkers can expect to find groups of hunters with shotguns or ferrets and dogs out and about in the countryside during these months on specified days, typically Thursdays & Sundays, we’ll confirm the hunting calendar later in the year for 2014.

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The Cabildo have signed an agreement to commence work reconditioning the Paseo marítimo in La Concha.

The Vice President of the Cabildo, Joaquín Caraballo and councillor for Roads & Works signed the agreement to recondition the paseo marítimo of La Concha this morning. The contract was awarded to Construcción y Obra Civil S.L., who have a period of 50 days to complete the work. This project is part of the Plan de Movilidad Sostenible de Lanzarote (Sustainable Mobility Plan for Lanzarote), one of the necessary actions outlined within the plan is to provide a coastal corridor linking the resorts of Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen including Arrecife and Playa Honda for pedestrians and cyclists.

The 'Acondicionamiento del Paseo Marítimo La Concha' project had an initial budget of 214,931.67 euros including IGIC, but was awarded to this contractor for the final amount of 159,307.36 euros, following a procurement procedure involving a total of 18 companies.

It’s expected that the refurbishment work on this section of the promenade in La Concha will be completed by the end of April / early May. The new promenade will remove architectural barriers and include paving, lighting and signage to improve this recreational space shared by hundreds of pedestrians and cyclists each day.

Related Information:

Walk / Cycle from Arrecife to Matagorda
Bike hire in Puerto del Carmen
Mobility aids hire in Lanzarote

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We spotted some unusual photos of Lanzarote recently and contacted Hugh Cartmell, the Creative Director of Energise Media to find out more.

This project is a closely guarded secret, these images which have been released to us were taken during the filming of the teaser for a new TV show called the Next World. Hugh kindly agreed to let us know a little bit more about the background to the project and how the crew ended up here in Lanzarote.

Next World is the name of a virtual reality games console, where the games feel totally real and the teaser takes place during a sci-fi adventure game. It’s an idea that Hugh came up with about 6 years ago and he’s been dying to get it made ever since!

Filming was scheduled to take place at a great location they’d found in the Lake District. Delays in getting some of the props made, meant that the wet and cold weather had already set in for the winter in the UK. Hugh decided to fly over to Lanzarote as he’d remembered a prop maker at Pinewood Studios telling him that the island was a good place for an alien-looking landscape and had great weather. After two days location scouting around Lanzarote and discovering some wonderful landscapes, the new location was confirmed as the Volcán del Cuervo or Raven’s Volcano in La Geria.

Not only was Cuervo the perfect backdrop for the teaser, the filming permit was quite easy to obtain compared with the Timanfaya National Park.

Hugh hired Ben Roper Films, a film production company from the UK who he’d been very impressed by their Steadicam work and equipment. A seven man crew completed the filming over two days on the 25th & 26th February, capturing some incredible shots. Creative Director, Hugh confirmed that filming in Lanzarote was definitely a good choice and he thinks the teaser is going to look pretty epic!

So sci-fi & Lanzarote fans, watch out for the New World teaser which will be entered into film festivals in the near future. In the meantime you can connect with them on Facebook Next World TV Show& Twitter Next World TV Show.

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We were contacted by reader David Barwick who lives in Costa Teguise and who runs an AIS Station there which monitors marine traffic and sends the data to Marinetraffic.com

Every vessel over 300 tons must carry a transponder, which means their location, heading and speed can be recorded by stations all over the world. David’s station, which is known as Arrecife 752 BAZZAB can cover a range as much as 500 miles, although more typically it “sees” about 30 miles. There are two other stations in Lanzarote, one in Playa Honda and another in Macher.

It’s a great way to identify the shipping we all see around the coasts here on a daily basis, and can also give you a heads up when another cruise ship is heading into port.  read more »

LADS have announced their next production, which is called “Another one bites the dust.” And they are inviting anyone who wants to take part to contact them now.

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Club La Santa is synonymous with sport in Lanzarote. For many years it has provided a fantastic base for amateur and top professional sports people to come to the island and benefit from our fantastic weather conditions. And CLS also hosts some of the island’s best races, including the iconic Ironman event.

Originally built just outside the village of La Santa, the complex houses the island’s best sports facilities and a large accommodation block. Over the last year or so, a massive new build has been taking place there, as they effectively double their “footprint” to provide yet more sports facilities and a whole host of luxurious new accommodation.  read more »

Steve Hall has been a friend of this website for many years – he runs www.thisisspain.info and he’s spending some time on the island over the next few months.

Steve is a keen cyclist and has an epic trip planned riding across Norway later this year. But while he’s here, he’s decided to take a few days to ride around the island, dropping in on local businesses, sharing his trip and pictures on social media, and doing it all to raise some money for the Kennel Klub.

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Our friend Borge has produced another excellent video, this time showing stills from the 1980’s, along with video from now to compare how things have changed in Lanzarote’s main resort.

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Promotur recently held Turismo Lanzarote conferences in four UK cities which were attended by almost 200 travel agents and industry professionals.

The promoter of Lanzarote Tourism presented the professional workshops in the UK, which was also attended by representatives from the Hotel Costa Calero, Hotel Princesa Yaiza, Arrecife Gran Hotel, Vik Hotels, Sandos Papagayo and the Total Hotel Experience.

The island’s cuisine, landscapes, sunshine, sandy beaches, nightlife, outdoor sports and charms of our rich and varied leisure facilities were the focus of the presentation to the 195 British travel agents that attended the conferences held in  read more »

The Ayuntamiento of Yaiza have started work to improve the road access to Papagayo.

The project to improve the 6 kilometres of dirt roads and parking areas of the Monumento Natural de Los Ajaches is also supported by the Cabildo of Lanzarote.

Yaiza council using construction machinery from the Cabildo of Lanzarote have commenced work this week to improve the dirt tracks used by hundreds of vehicles each day to access the beaches at Papagayo, situated in the protected area and national park of Los Ajaches in the south of the island.

The work will be undertaken by  read more »