Corralejo

[peggy]

We arrived in Corrie on Saturuday for our usual 3 month winter stay. What has happened to the place? The town is empty,  as is the shops and bars. Lots of the shops have closed down and the main street is still all dug up and does'nt seem to have gone any further since we went home last March. It makes us very sad to see it now compared to a few years ago. The BUZZ seems to be missing now.

[Charlie99]

Is it that bad Peggy

[Charlie99]

I just don't get it?
I have asked the question before (Is Fuerteventura Finished).

Oh no I hear people saying...new bars are opening , the shops a restaurants are doing okay ,visitor numbers are not what they used to be but hey, everywhere is a bit slow just now and things are looking up?.

So are you getting it wrong Peggy? Did you arrive in the middle of the night or is it that most people simply talk a load of number two because they have nothing better to do.

Is it a simple case of people want to talk about the best way to join the library?  Or will the sand stick to my feet when I leave the beach.

After speaking with a friend who is actually a resident in corralejo today she did indeed confirm that it was dead and the bars and shops where struggling to say the least.

I may sound angry at the true facts and feel that I have been wasting my time by asking the above question.

I left corralejo about a year ago with diversifying my then business in mind and returning with a new business venture.

I have worked on that venture for the past year and to make the numbers work would need at least a winter population to survive and to be able to invest in Fuerteventura again.
   
Now I'm not so sure.

[Ivemovedon]

Perhaps if they returned to increasing their efforts to attract the more traditional northern european visitors instead of banging on about east europeans and gays and being champions of diversity they might have a little more success. Brits Germans and Irish have always been the mainstay of the economy and the biggest spenders. Corralejo was dead as a door nail a week or so ago. If local businesses are banking on the pink rouble to turn it around times are going to be extremely lean indeed. 

[Tamkid]

One reason for it being quite (maybe) I was told a lot of the flights from London were cancelled yesterday due to bad weather. I am in town tonight and the main street is quite busy, not crowded, but busy.

The weather has been glorious these past two days, light breeze, warm, just brilliant.Loads of good flight deals, would be mad to miss a chance to get out of freezing blighty.

[Ivemovedon]

Run up to Xmas should see an improvement. By the way anyone know what the cartoon character thingy is doing splat in the middle of the old cobbled street by rock island. Its more in keeping with Disneyland and looks totally out of place. They've ruined it around the music square in my opinion.

[SheilaW]

Run up to Xmas should see an improvement. By the way anyone know what the cartoon character thingy is doing splat in the middle of the old cobbled street by rock island. Its more in keeping with Disneyland and looks totally out of place. They've ruined it around the music square in my opinion.

Cartoon character thingy? I haven't been down there for a week or two so please enlighten me - certainly doesn't seem a good idea. What is it you don't like about Music Square? The first time we saw it was January this year, and to us it's great, but people keep saying things have been ruined so I'd love to know how they used to be.

[gymackem]

Run up to Xmas should see an improvement. By the way anyone know what the cartoon character thingy is doing splat in the middle of the old cobbled street by rock island. Its more in keeping with Disneyland and looks totally out of place. They've ruined it around the music square in my opinion.

I like it down that street, spend many an hour there eating and drinking and have to agree that it does look totally out of place. (Presume you mean by Blue Rock Stedge and not Rock Island  )

[tamara_k]

that strange cactus (?) is EcoFuerte mascot apparently. There is one (at least) in Puerto del Rosario. I don't like it either.

[Ivemovedon]

Is that what it is?. Yes i was wrong gymakem i meant blue rock. I used to like the music square and that street of restaurants and bars but it seems to have lost its soul from 9 or 10 years ago. Just a personal thing so if it does it for you then rock on. I personally think cartoon statues are best left to macdonalds and burger king not the centre of an old fishing village.

[SheilaW]

I personally think cartoon statues are best left to macdonalds and burger king not the centre of an old fishing village.

Oh, THAT statue! Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. It's particularly unsuitable if it's an Eco-mascot - as you say, it looks like a burger ad and there's nothing whatsoever eco about them.

Mind you, I think it's time to forget Corralejo as "an old fishing village", nothing more nor less. Time moves on; things change - not necessarily for the worse. Let's face it, we've practically farmed out the sea so commercial fishing is an endangered activity now. You may not like it but that's the way it is. And it IS still a fishing village on a smaller scale - that's where all the fish for the tourist restaurants comes from.

Whatever it used to be, I think Corralejo has a marvellously cosmopolitan atmosphere - a real melting pot of Europeans, Asians and whoever else (not many Americans as far as I've heard). Most people are willing to try out more than just one language and I've had fascinating chats using bits and pieces of various languages - if you've got a few words you can throw them in and make yourself understood as everyone is making an effort. That's what global communication is all about, and that's how global friendships are formed and, just maybe, wars averted. I'm not saying Corralejo is going to prevent WW3 , but it's something to foster, IMHO. Sorry, I'm sure I'm losing you all, but I work as a translator and I've lived in 4 countries, and to me this sort of atmosphere is all-important.

I know it's a dump in some ways, with those awful wrecks of building/demolition sites; dog pooh all over the place and shuttered business premises everywhere. But more importantly, everyone's managing as best they can together; there's very little vandalism; few people are ripping the rest of us off. Isn't that what the hippy era (of which my husband was a part ) was all about? Peace, love, sharing, music, sun... It's all here, just below the tatty surface. Maybe those who come here on holiday don't see it; but if you look, I guarantee you'll find it.

The only thing we need to do is reform the Spanish government - then we'll be in heaven.

[Ivemovedon]

Theres quite a few people are not keen on Corralejo but i always thought it had something. And in all honesty there have been a number of improvements like the new shopping centre. They can do what they like to the high street and surrounding areas and 9 times out of 10 it will be for the better. But the small area of the old town which was the heart of the original village could have been given a far more sympathetic makeover. On the same theme regarding another post i think the local planning official who gave the ok to some of the more recent builds i El Cotillo should be put against a wall and shot.( For gross stupidity)

[gymackem]

Is that what it is?. Yes i was wrong gymakem i meant blue rock. I used to like the music square and that street of restaurants and bars but it seems to have lost its soul from 9 or 10 years ago. Just a personal thing so if it does it for you then rock on. I personally think cartoon statues are best left to macdonalds and burger king not the centre of an old fishing village.

Wouldn't disagree with that. It was the old harbour area which made us fall in love with Corralejo. There are some more bars/restaurants opening down that street, Ali's (irish/italian) has just opened next to Casbah and I understand that La Sharma tapas bar is also moving down there on the opposite side of the road.

[peggy]

As you say gymacken, it's the old harbour area we all fell in love with and we still have some lovely walks around the area stopping in one of the bars for an afternoon tipple and then returning for our evening meal. it's sad to see so few people around and, as i said before,  the buzz seems to be missing now. As for the eco thingy UGH!!!