More lunacy

[Paddster]

Scary innit 

[austin7]

Waikiki is the only place in town with a 6am licence, and is located in a residential area where every other bar has to stop music etc at midnight, but then as the owners of Waikiki also own a very large chunk of the town, and no doubt are related to/went to school with/are married to etc the Mayor or other councellors they will get away with what they want...

[SheilaW]

The lawyers must be loving this.

That's the one thing that shines through, crystal clear. Seriously, something must be done about this or else the entire atmosphere of the place will be lost, with all bar owners looking over their shoulders and saying to their clients "Shhh... stop enjoying yourself! Someone will sue us and you'll cost us our livelihood!"

[Ole Man River]

 
Has anyone heard what happened on Friday? Have the Bars opened again? 

[woe10]

Waikiki is the only place in town with a 6am licence, and is located in a residential area where every other bar has to stop music etc at midnight, but then as the owners of Waikiki also own a very large chunk of the town, and no doubt are related to/went to school with/are married to etc the Mayor or other councellors they will get away with what they want...

That goes without saying    A handfull of greedy people are screwing up the whole Island 

[SheilaW]

Has anyone heard what happened on Friday? Have the Bars opened again? 

They have re-opened, yes, at least most of them have - can't be sure if it's all. But they are all having to keep the volume down. Quite what the atmosphere in Flicks etc must be like, I don't know. I have to say that they do normally make a frightful noise, but maybe that's just because it isn't my style of music. Maybe that's the crux of the problem: if they all played flamenco etc there might be no limit on volume.

[Ivemovedon]

No Waikiki or late bars in the Alantico and i doubt my youngsters in their early twenties will want to come over any more. You don't want a Magaluf or Benidorm but there has to be some outlet for the kids. I always thought Corralejo had just that... a good balance, I take it its the Corralejo beach hotel thats got a problem with the noise.

[Florence]

The sea makes a roaring sound everywhere you go - when are the council going to be doing something about that?  And they should also denounce those noisy cedadas.

[Paddster]

LOL Florence 

[KWC]

If its the hotel that complained.  What about the heavy breathers and screamers during the night then 

[Voldermort]

If its the hotel that complained.  What about the heavy breathers and screamers during the night then 

But that`s classed as `in-house` entertainment   

[PeterHeirman]

Turning Fuerte into a Five Star Luxury destination is a wet dream.
There are not enough rich people left over in Europe for all the already existing Five Star Hotel destinations. Moreover the rich won't go to Fuerte as there are plenty of alternatives without cold north wind - without clouds hanging over the north shore - without cold swimming pools due to the winds - without waves that make bathing a challenge.
Dubai, North-East-Brazil, Sri Lanka, Bali, Dominican Rep, Mexico, Maldives, ... too much alternatives all within reach and affordable.

Fuerte started as a surfers' destination and that's the perception which can't be changed easily.
One day Fuerte will return to become mainly a surfers' destination and surfers don't fit into five star hotels.

[Voldermort]

Your right Peter, I know people who would previously have gone to the Canaries for a week in winter, are now going to Dubai for 5 days. Price wise about the same. Drinky poos much dearer but they have thought of that. They buy 3L wine boxes,as well as spirits, at duty free and have a drink in the hotel room on the balcony.

     No cops trying to catch you out dumping rubbish with the elevenses etc and no cloud over the north coast!!

[Ivemovedon]

Dubai? Anyone who goes to arab countries these days deserves all they get. And get it they probably will one way or another.

better a 30 euro fine for dumping your rubbish than 25 lashes or 6 months banged up in a stinking hell hole for having a beer in the wrong place.

[peejay]

To be fair, I don't think it's the authorities in Fuerte that are hell bent on turning it into a 5 star 'luxury' destination - it's the Canarian Government in Tenerife, who seem to think that just saying 5 star and luxury over and over and over is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Clearly a reality check is in order. Fuerte is busy trying to invent itself as an eco-tourist destination, with the cheese and the goats and the walkers and the birdwatchers and the stargazers, as well as the more traditional sun, sea and surf tourists. Certainly rural tourism on the island is massively under-exploited, so there are plenty of opportunities for diversification, whilst retaining the core tourist base and filling the existing 5 star hotels. In times of global recession, with visitors to the island 12 percent down compared to the same time last year, the last thing you want to do is alienate the people who are still coming here!

[FRY]

It was unscrupulous Entrepreneurs from Las Palmas that came over to take advantage of the simple
Majorero Farmers that ran the Island, and were treated as easy pickings.

When I had a Bar in the harbour 16 years ago, the place was buzzing. Dozens of yachts would come and
go every day on their travels around the Islands, or on their way to the Caribbean. They would stay
for 2 or 3 days, some longer, and make repairs, buy supplies. The Bars and Restaurants would fill
with Yachting people. When 200 yachts entered the annual ARC Yacht Race, from the Canaries to St. Lucia, Caleta was chocka.  http://www.worldcruising.com/arc/arcitinerary.aspx

Then some bright spark (no offence BS) came along from Gran Canaria and decided that he would make it
the next Monte Carlo, (seriously) and have Arab Princes, Royalty and Filmstars bringing their yachts here. Plans were big, with a new Harbour extending over the Divers Reef. It was a big joke.

They increased the overnight berthing fee to over 70 euros to keep the riff raff out, when it was
only 12 euros in Mogan GC. Slowly but surely the yachts stopped coming, by-passing Fuerteventura
altogether. They never came back.

When the plans fell through (everybody knew they would) they decided to make an Oceanarium instead. Nightlife in the Harbour died, the best Restaurant in Caleta (The Lighthouse) closed too.

Now, "The Americans Are Coming" fantasy has raised it's ugly head again. When will they ever learn.

My Dad always said, "if it's not broken, don't fix it"

[Paddster]

Brilliant post FRY - absolutely spot on and i thank you 

[peejay]

Yep, they are still dreaming about the Marina in Antigua town hall I'm afraid. For some strange reason they think it is the answer to everything. Bit like Field of Dreams - if we build it, they will come.

Unfortunately wishful thinking seems to become legal statute in the Canaries - talk about building foundations on sand!

[FRY]

The thing is, they won't listen to you. Even though you have over 40 years experience in Tourism and Entertainment, they know best