Wheres the Culture!

Even in times of recession it seems the streets of Puerto de la Cruz are still bustling with life. After a few days holiday in the north I discovered it to be as enchanting as ever. We watched as the virgin Mary was paraded around the streets, as street performers uncovered their arts and children played in the warm sunlight. The streets were constantly full of people, and reminded me of Los Cristianos 10 years ago. When herds of tourists wondered adventitiously around the streets, simply enjoying the picturesque scenes. It doesn't take long to comprehend what is so different, once you begin to stroll around and take in the culture and passion for the North of Tenerife. It has history and its buildings are full of Spanish architect that walk you through generations of time. You can feel the influences of different cultures, in both the location, and the types of constructions and design. The south is built purely for lager louts and nightclubbers, unless you´re looking for a cheap camera, you can always find plenty of out of date electronic stores. The tourist for the island has changed, but the south´s mentality hasn´t. Stores, bars and restaurants still treat people with a lack of respect and customer service is non existent, as people continue to treat people like intoxicated 18 years olds. There is no culture in this area once brimming with tourism. The cheap fags are out of date, and the booze isn´t so cheap anymore. Unless you want to stand in a down and out bar for 1 Euro a pint. The problem is, the 1 Euro a pint tourist isn't here, hes in Bulgaria, and other eastern European countries, that are able to sell the beer for 50 cents. That tourist has gone, and judging by the droves in the North, we now have people looking for culture, wanting to experience the islands way of life, and see how Canarians live. The walkers we once laughed at branding their ski style walking sticks are the people we now need to learn more about. The south has fallen behind because it has little to offer now the Euro is strong. The cheap tourism has moved on, the young found new islands, and the genuine tourist opting for education, history and something new.

To attract the tourist back, we need to rebrand the south, move it away from the cheap Tenerife holiday, and bring back cultre and passion. Not a passion for larger, a passion for the beautifull place it really is. Under the nightclubs, the cheap restaurants, the fags, the booze is a beautifull undiscovered island. Masca, Fiestas around the small villiges, street parades, the culture is here, it just needs talking about.