porting Summer
S
A sporting summer started with an
Ironman that proved tough for all
competitors due to strong winds. The
eventual male winner was 26-year-old French
athlete Romaine Guillaume, a newcomer to the
Lanzarote ironman. Brit Lucy Gossage executed a
perfectly planned race, taking the lead with just 10
kilometres to go, to take pride of place on the
women’s podium.
In Brazil, there was a footballing shock in store for
World Cup champions Spain, who were dumped
out of the competition after just two games. Less
surprising was England´s departure – bottom of their
group with just one point, while outsiders Costa
Rica went to the quarter finals.
A humiliating 7-1 semi final defeat for hosts Brazil
saw Germany go into the final with Argentina and
become the first European team to win the World
Cup in South America. The victory was well received
by the German population on Lanzarote.
Lanzarote´s good tourist figures kept on
improving, with new commitments from Ryanair
and connections with new markets bolstering a
rudely healthy trade with the most important
market, the UK.
By the end of summer, figures were 15 per cent
better than in 2013 and Lanzarote was the bestperforming of all the Canary Islands. France, Finland
German Joy
in Brazil
ings & Corruption
K
Spain said “Adios” to King Juan Carlos
Iafter ill health and recent scandals
forced the man who had been King
for 39 years to hand his crown to his son.
Increasingly frail, Juan Carlos was also the
symbol of a monarchy that has become less
popular over recent years, with a majority of
Spaniards supporting his abdication in a poll.
The new King, Felipe VI, has brought a
younger, more dynamic image to the royal
family. Notably absent from the coronation was
Felipe´s sister – accused in a corruption trial.
Corruption continued to hog the headlines
in Spain, as a seemingly endless procession
of politicians, businessmen and union leaders
were revealed to have been on the take.
Lanzarote is, of course, no exception, and
was called “Island of the accused” in a
and Poland are among the newer markets that are
rushing to Lanzarote, while the year ended with
some cautiously positive figures for the recovery of
the domestic Spanish market. Nevertheless, the
good news for tourism was not reflected in new
jobs. While unemployment figures fell slightly,
Lanzarote remains with a rate of unemployment that
is over 30 per cent.
H
eavy Weather
The year started with severe storms
throughout Europe, with only the
sheltered eastern coast of Lanzarote
escaping from weather that flooded Europe from
Scotland to Portugal and caused power cuts in
Tenerife. There would be worse storms to come on
Lanzarote in November, in a year that was,
nevertheless generally hot and dry.
Juan Carlos I
documentary early in 2014.
To date, no serious efforts have been made
to combat corruption either at a national or
local level. Parties may well pay the price at
the elections next year.
2014
2013
Agrocanarias
Special Gold Medal for Moscatel Dulce
Los Perdomos 2012
National Competition “Baco”
Gold Medal for Malvasia-Moscatel
Semiseco Los Perdomos 2012
Atlántico
Silver Medal for Moscatel Dulce
Los Perdomos 2012
Alhóndiga Award 2013
Bronze Medal for
Malvasia-Moscatel Semiseco
Los Perdomos
2014
Manuel Grillo Oliva
1st Award for
Malvasia-Moscatel
Semiseco Los Perdomos
2nd Award for Moscatel
Dulce Los Perdomos 2012
Agrocanarias
Gold Medal for Moscatel Dulce
Los Perdomos
Alhóndiga Award 2013
Bronze Medal for
Malvasia Seco Los Perdomos
… and much more prizes
Plaza Virgen de Dolores, nº 19 • Mancha Blanca, Tinajo, Lanzarote 35560 • Fax: 928 840 737 • Mobile: 649 993 096 • [email protected]
The Gazette | January 2015 | 17