Hi all,

Having just registered here, and had a quick look around the site: I decided to make my first post. So we have been coming to Fuerteventura mostly for the last 25 years (and twice a year when poss), we originally stayed in Corralejo hotels and apartments; and have tried various ones. Over the years we have chatted to folk on beaches and restaurants and bars, and been given advice and recommendations on various resorts and suchlike; one of those was El Cotillo. We initially used to make a few day trips to Cotillo, as part of our 2 week stay whilst based in Corralejo; and we would often state we should book for there and 'give it a go'. Four years ago we took the plunge and loved it, yes it's quieter and not as bustling; but that's the type of holiday we want. So I have voted for the north of the island.

In fairness had one holiday in Caleta De Fuste years ago, and was very undeveloped at the time; seem to remember a small shopping complex next to the apartments...with a Bar called the 'Drunken Monkey' if my memory serves me correctly. The beach wasn't the best, so we didn't return. As for the south of the isand went on a coach trip late 90s for the day, and was told by rep on the coach...make sure you have the right Money when buying things and always check for a price label on items, as this part of the island was predominantly German in population; and English folk were less popular. We only went to try the beach not the shopping, and thought it was fine, yes it seemed every stone circle had some manner of German national flag erected; so what....good luck to them. I have never found any europeans to be overly rude or impolite, tends to be the complete opposite as long as you try to communicate; and even more so among naturists.

Hope I haven't bored anyone to death with this post, and hope to post more and comment on other threads too; thanks for the contact Sam.

Having driven past the site many times, we finally took the turn-off to visit the caves, about three years ago. Greatly disappointed to find the caves themselves not only closed, but clearly closed-off fir some time. This despite the fact that they were still being advertised as a tourist attraction by the la Oliva Ayuntamiento at that time. I’m surprised to see in the article that they were closed in 1988, because I’m sure there were TA reviews since then? There IS a very good visitor centre, with lots of info on history etc, but making them safe for visitors would be a significant attraction!

The Cave of Villaverde in the Municipality of La Oliva in Fuerteventura is a volcanic tube with important evidence about the prehistorical periods of the island that was discovered in 1979, but was closed again in 1988.

This team of archaeologists first entered the cave in 2018, and used new technologies to disseminate their findings, and the next visit this month will be a new phase of intervention.
After forty years, this project aims to learn more about the artefacts hidden inside this cave with funding from the Directorate General of Cultural Heritage in collaboration with the Island Government of Fuerteventura and the City of Lo Oliva.
This team of archaeologists will focus their research on geology and topography, which is a priority to define the limits of the site, expand the excavation area, specify the state of conservation and plan future explorations.
You can find this and other news stories from the Canary Islands and Spain in the free, online 'News from the Canary Islands':
http://newsfromthecanaryislands.com

As many will know the 'town beach' by Muelle Chica has been closed to bathers for quite some time while the source of polluted water is investigated and remedied. This report was in RTVAguaCabra today:

The City of La Oliva investigates the Muelle Chico full time, locating six black wells and numerous vanishing points.

The institution has hired specialized services that are dedicated exclusively to review the sewer system with cameras, acting so far in 74 connections between buildings and the network

The City Council requests neighbourhood collaboration to locate possible spills and help owners to solve it

The City of La Oliva is investigating the totality of the sanitation in the Muelle Chico de Corralejo and its surroundings, revising so far this year the connections to the network of 74 properties in the area.

The institution has hired specialized services to perform this task, a team of two specialists who, during the last month and a half, have dedicated exclusively and full time to review the sewerage network in the area, in coordination with the sanitation company, Canaragua, and using technology as two sanitary inspection chambers.

Thanks to this work, six black holes have been located among a total of twelve conflicting points that will be closed soon, as well as five other small escape points that have already been repaired.

Between the investigation of last year and this specific service, explained the mayor of La Oliva, Isaí Blanco, "the results obtained are very positive, and every day we are closer to being able to open the beach back to the bathroom. possible to solve this problem that has dragged Corralejo for decades "

Isaí Blanco recently made a follow-up of these works with the councilors of the departments involved, the head of Public Health, Rafael Benítez, and the Councilor for Works and Services, Oliver González.

Rafael Benítez detailed that both the City of La Oliva as the Department of Public Health of the Ministry of Health continue to perform weekly analytical, obtaining "results of water quality within normal in most cases, although it is true that occasionally appear pollution peaks, which is why we must continue working until we achieve continuity in the results. "

Oliver Gonzalez pointed out that "as the investigation finds a leak, our staff and the sanitation company coordinate to make the necessary repairs.Since the closure of the beach eight months ago, two important dumping sites have been located and closed. In addition to numerous smaller leaks in pipes and manholes, now it is time to close the new spill points that have appeared in collaboration with the owners. "

The mayor and the two councilors called for citizen collaboration. "We asked the neighbors to inform us if they had any information about wells, leaks, or real estate that might not be connected to the sanitation .. From the city we want to help them solve this problem and thus be able to open the beach."

Why is there pollution only at the Muelle Chico?

The continuous analysis of water quality on the beaches of Corralejo has shown that the only point where pollution appears is on the beach of Muelle Chico.

The most probable explanation given by the technicians would be related to the watershed of Corralejo. The configuration of the subsoil would be directing the subterranean waters towards that zone, dragging with them any pollutant element infiltrated from the sanitation.

Another possible factor would be the action of the tide, which when rising would mix with the contamination of the subsoil, and when it descends, it will decant to the beach, affecting the quality of the water.

The City of La Oliva and the sanitation company have found that there is currently no outfall that is spilling directly into the sea.

Have you got or seen a plant that is growing well in our challenging conditions?


Please post pics/info/sizes/preferred conditions etc to help forumers that might like to plant one themselves. Please keep to tried and tested plants/shrubs, not a pot picked up in Lidl last week that may not survive our conditions on the island! It can be in your own garden, a neighbour or friends, or a park. Don't worry if you don't know the name - I'm sure others will help to identify them.

It would also be good to know if you bought it as a mature plant, grew it from seed or cutting, and how old it is - -post as much or little as you know.

I'll start the ball rolling with one of my favourites:

Caesalpinia gilliesii, Desert/Yellow Bird of Paradise

 

I planted this on the southern side of a wall/fence 2 years ago as a 12 inch seedling grown by a friend, but it still gets a lot of wind. It is now about 7 feet tall and 6 feet wide. During the 'winter' I pruned it back by about half as it had grown out over a path - within 2 months it has recovered growth all over the bare area and is blooming like mad. It gets a little water about twice a week through an irrigation system and a nightly feed via the depuradora! It produces masses of seeds and has a fairly good germination rate. Locally it has self sown in cracks in the tarmac at the side of the road - it gets regularly chopped down and rebounds!

This was the shrub after 1 year:
 

Last year the shrub was the subject of terrorist attack by moths or butterflies. The flower buds provided sleeper cells for the eggs that hatched into these pesky caterpillars that ate their way out leaving holes in loads of the buds. I picked the caterpillars off daily, put them in a saucer on the floor and the lizards loved them!

I've finally, after a number of false starts, been able to copy all the posts re butterflies/milkweed etc into this new thread. I've left the originals in place in the Gardening thread to maintain the continuity there. I thought it would be easier to refer to these posts in their own thread.
Please feel free to start using this thread! Thanks, Tamara 29.04.2020

Is it just me who thinks people in swimwear ,bikinis, and the like, for both men and women should be banned in public places such as restaurants and supermarkets.  ? Bad enough that they walk around town but when having a meal out,I think it is most disrespectful.

EDIT: Split from the D3 restaurant review, plus added a poll.

Ever since the Las Rotondas Shopping Centre in Puerto del Rosario opened there has been a legal battle and several court cases because they built it too big!
The southern part of the centre is the part that didn't have permission. 
Today, a court in Las Palmas has ruled that it doesn't have to be demolished.
https://www.ondafuerteventura.es/el-cent...emolicion/

Details of the services and processions for Semana Santa/Holy week, in Puerto del Rosario, attached.

Attached Files

  CartelMisasExtranSemanaSanta2019.pdf (Size: 158.28 KB / Downloads: 564)

No March issue.  Am wondering what has happened.