Is it me being over sensitive or are people complaining about not having things put on their door step. There is plenty of culture on the small ISLAND which is in the ATLANTIC ocean just off the coast of AFRICA. Sure there is a lack of museums and art galleries and yes they are in the north, where the CAPITAL city is. Bit like the UK really everything is in LONDON!
If you want to see a film in English then go to England or rent or buy the DVD.
My in laws regularly go to Madrid to see a show, so it's the same for the locals
who are SPANISH on this SPANISH speaking part of SPAIN. Thats why residents have reduced air fare. Would you get reduced air fair to fly to London from, say Glasgow to see a show..... not bl--dy likely. But you do here in SPAIN.
I live in a small village Arafo and most weekends there is something going on.
Which is more than I can say for ANY small village in the UK.
To find the culture here one has to get off one's back side and find it.
Getting off my soap box now Sorry for any offence non was intended

Black flag :

I dont think im being condescending, im just stating the fact that the tourists get what the tourists seem to want (british people themselves are the very ones that set up the british restaurants and pubs, and theyre obviously catering for someone). Im sure there are some that want more, but surely most of them dont, otherwise PDLA / LC would be quite different. I never said that youre a tourist, but what tourists want affects what the spanish (and british people living there) provide, and then that affects everyone living there. When i lived in PDLA i knew very well that i was living in a tourist town run by spanish and british people catering for a need.

Yes there should be more authentic cultural things going on in that area, but theres a good reason why there arent. Maybe the spanish people (who could make it happen) are concerned that there wouldnt be a market for it (after all they seem to be quite happy with what they have down there in the south), and perhaps they have a view of english people as being hooligans and therefore its not worth it. Now im not saying that you are all hooligans, but the british do have a bad image abroad. Its not a fair view as most of you are ok, but it is understandable, you must admit. Maybe its down to british people to go out of their way to let the locals know that theres more to them than beer cans and bacon and eggs. I certainly know there is.

Another issue : there seem to be a lot of people in the canary islands that have a problem with being part of Spain, and so maybe theyre more concerned with emphasising their culture among themselves, which would make promoting it to foreigners not a priority. Maybe that attitude is common. Thats just a theory though.


Janet :

Everything youve just said is based on the idea that im talking about the people on this forum. In case you feel offended, remember that ive read enough on this forum to know that most of you live and work there and arent tourists and that you do know what youre talking about (and actually this isnt the only forum which ive come across but its the only one that im interested in, because of that very reason), in fact im not even thinking of you lot at all when i make certain references, and secondly i have been there enough times (and lived there) to know enough about what most british people (tourists, that is) seem to want.

Dont feel patronised by what i say, just because im from Tenerife and you are british. Put that aside, because as far as im concerned, anyone who speaks spanish or lives there might aswell be spanish (as long as theyre respectful, and all of you are). Maybe if i was english and i talked of bacon and eggs i wouldnt get these responses.

And considering that this line of discussion started when someone said something that i (incorrectly, now i see that) interpreted as meaning "theres no culture in Tenerife", i think i kept my cool pretty well rather than overreacting.

If i talk about tourists, then my references apply to them. Most british people on holiday do want (most of the time) the type of things that they get in the south, but you arent tourists so that doesnt apply to you necessarily. You live there, so of course you want theatres and everything else that was available when you lived in england. And if you say that theres very little of it in the south, then im in no position to contradict that as i dont live there.

Briz :

My beliefs :

- Credit is due to those who organise all carnivals
- Everyone has a right to an opinion about everything
- The notting hill carnival is very poor indeed compared to others in my opinion


As for the rest of my post, heres pretty much what i said :


The canary islands have a lot of culture

When lots of people from a particular country go on holiday to 1 spot, that place tends to become a very touristy area, lacking the authenticity of most of the rest of the country

Many english people do not go on holiday to Tenerife for the authentic culture

They are therefore catered to appropriately, often by their compatriots

There are many ways to enjoy local culture, both for people on holiday and those who decide to live there

It would be nice if they did



Unless theres a problem with the fact that i said that, or the way that it came across, i dont see a problem at all with any of that. Lets see if we can stop being defensive. I myself found it easy to keep my cool when my country was (in my opinion at the time, i realise now that i got it wrong) said to have no culture.

You need to sort out how you're going to survive before you come, first and foremost. Too many people move out and try to work it out as they go along ... and it often doesn't work. It's hard here, often, and people struggle. Whether it would be different for you, I don't know, but I doubt it ... you've been in the UK a very long time, so in most respects, you're just like a Brit who's emigrating.

People often work two jobs just to survive because pay is low, as we've said before. You are thinking of working part-time, I think ... what plans do you have for financial survival?

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Work wise i do want to only work part time because i want to focus on my music. Id go crazy otherwise. As long as :

- I have a part time job that pays enough to survive (and preferably slightly more but im not too bothered)

- I can make some money from music (im not expecting much, but whatever i can get)

- I can enjoy life, with the music and in other ways. Even busking with someone would be fun

I think ill be fine.


Maybe that will change, but thats what i picture for now.


In terms of what kind of work, i dont mind working in a bar, restaurant (i have experience in both) or hotel, something like that. But the main thing for me is to survive without any problems, and be as active in music as possible (thats why i keep asking what the live music scene is like there), and obviously make whatever money i can out of that.

Long term, i would want to make music the source of my main income, and who knows what else might change, but i think i should take it one step at a time, as i think i know what i want for now. Everything else (getting back into the country that i shouldnt have left, etc) is icing on the cake, but there certainly are a lot of nice things about going back.

...which would sweeten the deal. I really miss what ive missed out on, if that makes sense. Im actually very obsessed with Tenerife. I could stare at a map of it forever, and i often go to google earth just to take little tours and look at where i was born etc.

leafar, i think you're being somewhat unrealistic in your hopes and dreams about working and living in tenerife. a part-time job (if you can get one because trust me, the job market is not good this year) will earn you, if you're lucky, enough to cover for your rent. you'll need a car&fuel or be dependent on public transport, food, etc. on a part-time job i'd doubt you'd survive.
you keep pointing out that you want to work as a musicians. i don't want to be negative but you might have much better chances doing that in the UK than here. there are so many people who want the "easy" life - i am not saying that being a musician is easy but to find a job in this sector here is not that easy because the competition is very big. the style you play is not something that you'll easily be able to play in a hotel bar or a show bar where you could get a full-time contract (if you're lucky)... you might have more luck with that in the north, in santa cruz or la laguna, but don't forget that most canarios are into their spanish-spoken music, salsa, merengue etc. (even young people).

as i say, i don't mean to be negative but your ideas sound a bit immature to me. please don't be offended.

Hi Leafar

I think in your early thirties that you do not need to bother too much about your initial prospects or missed opportunities if you are serious in moving too Tenerife. Having a money buffer to survive for 3-6 months will be adequate.

But you have too remember that the major source of income for the Canaries is Tourism and if you are hoping to earn a living from music which is based and expressed in Tenerife then you will have to suppress the dislike of “beer swilling hooligans” (my words) and smile whilst you take their money, just like the rest of us have too.

It is also worth remembering that a high proportion of expats are of retirement age very reticent and loath to spending their euros.

I’m sure you will eventually earn a living in Tenerife if you are happy with the activities in which you are engaged

Leafer I to do no wish to be negative but I have to say it as it is. If you have not got enough money to be completely self sufficient for at least 6 months without work don't come. It's as simple as that. It's hard enough for the locals here, wages are, to say the least crap and an ex-pat has to work even harder for less.
If you haven't made "it" in the UK in the music scene you definitely will not make "it" here. Trust me I know I have been subsidizing my son in Barcelona for the last 3 years. Now he did make 'it' in the UK in the music scene. World tour, recording contracts, MTV the whole 9 yards. The band disbanded so he took his fortunes else where. Madrid and Barcelona. And found it very very difficult. And thats on the mainland. Remember we live in an island and the main local music is 'salsa' Mexican, south American and local folk.
Right now the only thing going for you on the island is the climate. Have you searched the web in the island for music work, recording companies, studios, agents. Anything like that. It may give you better insight
Sorry but please don't take offence

Yes please! With a bit of chunky bread to dip!


Leafar... Life is a bit like a swimming pool. You can sit on the edge and dangle your tootsies in and watch the others swim (or attempt to) past you. Or you dip your toes and the rest of you in, swim and try and make it to the other side.

Life is precious... and it is over all too quickly. You can make lists of advantages and disadvantages, pros, cons, til the cows come home. Procrastination is a terrible affliction.

Look on it as adventure... try it, if you like it great! If not, try something else.

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Whats good about living in tenerife????
I dont but if I did the good things would be...
A. The all year round weather
B. The friends you meet
C. The feeling of having the bottle to move abroad and make some changes for the better in your life and being proud when and if you achieve it
D. Having your family and friends visit and showing that gloomy Uk isnt all there is to life
E. The chance to live and learn another culture, language and lifestyle
F. Having the oppurtunity to meet people like me and Carol in september

Whats bad about living in tenerife????
Again I dont but have some thoughts that would wind me up. These are thoughts inspred by the forums other threads and posts....
A. People that gossip and are jealous of other peoples success
B. Well other than than A I think thats about it, just wish I could get enough cash to move