Dictatorship to Democracy... and Politics!

The young king Juan Carlos I became king and was intrumental in forming the new democracy of Spain, which was based on the 1978 Constitution.  Political power alternated between the Conservative Partido Popular and the PSOE.

Expat News

There is no shortage of excellent news sources in Tenerife.  The media and internet resources available cover much of the news in Tenerife, if you speak English.  So there really is no point in repeating the day to day humdrum events that tick over.  The news we bring is aimed at expats, aspiring expats and anyone else with a general interest in Tenerife.

Finding a home in Tenerife

Most British and Irish choose the south to make their home, although this was not always the case.  There was a time when the north was the sought after end of the island.  Choosing where to live in Tenerife is one of the most crucial decisions you will make.  Weigh up the pros and cons of north and south and choose an area in Tenerife that meets your needs. 

History of Tenerife: From Gofio to Bananas

From ancient history to the early twentieth centure; take a short tour of Tenerife’s past.  From invasion to market crashes, Tenerife's destiny has always been shaped by the outside world.

Hola Tenerife!

Before making the move to Tenerife, get to know some basic background information about the island.  History, politics, immigration and the economy have all had a large part to play in forming the character of the island we see today.  Statistics can also help to build up a picture of a place.  Population, industry, crime and even the weather form part of the statistical basis for understanding the island.

How is the recession affecting Tenerife?

As Spain’s unemployment figure are about to soar through the 3 million mark, many expats wonder how the recession is going to affect Tenerife.  Already the evidence is easy to see as shops and businesses have been closing all around the island. 

Life in Tenerife

The biggest contrast between life in Tenerife and the UK is the amount of time we spend outdoors.  In Tenerife spare time becomes quality time and this is essentially the main ingredient of living a successful life anywhere in the world.  The only difference in Tenerife is that there are no barriers to doing so. It is an island of great diversity with a huge range of leisure opportunities to divert us and those who make the fullest use of them lead the fullest lives. 

Marketing in Tenerife

If you run a local business theres a great new resource to help you improve your marketing in Tenerife and the Canary Islands.  Leslie Beeson, the author of Tenerife Lifeline has started a new blog based on his professional marketing experiences so expect a constant stream of valuable content.

Meet the Neighbours

The population of Tenerife is a mixture of many diverse cultures.  Emigration to South America was later followed by immigration back again.  The more recent influx of northern Europeans contributes further to the cosmopolitan mix.  Understanding just how this melting pot came about is not only interesting, but a vital part of an expat's learning curve.

Moving to Tenerife

Should you use airfreight, ship or even drive a van to move your belongings to Tenerife?  Should you use a removals company or storage? How do you move your pets to Tenerife? Useful links to help with your Tenerife removals.

Government and Politics: Presidents Galore!

From the monarch right down to your local mayor, Spain has a complicated system of government and much power is devolved to autonomous communities such as the Canary Islands.  If the structure of power has confused you, then this short summary will give you a good basic grounding.  As a resident of Tenerife, you have the right to vote, so its worth finding out how the political structure fits together.

Putting Tenerife Recession into perspective

"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs ... " - Rudyard Kipling

A voice of reason speaks out about recession in Tenerife

There are so many people who are now feeling so depressed about the global economic situation that not only have they become resigned to the fact that they are in deep trouble, they have also told everybody else that they are soon to be in deep trouble.

Tenerife under Franco

Tenerife is often considered to be the launching pad for Franco's violent struggle for supremacy of Spain.  His dictatorship had a huge effect on the country, and of course Tenerife did not go unscathed.

Tenerife's Economy: an expat perspective

The local economy has to be an important factor for anyone considering a move, or living in Tenerife.  Find out more about Tenerife's economy from the point of view of an expat.