The mayor of Tías, Pancho Hernández, invited everyone to enjoy these intense maritime festivities in honor of the Virgen del Carmen, which maintain their original charm and traditions.
Manuela Eugenio Rodríguez, better known as 'Memela', was in charge this Thursday of reading the proclamation of the Carmen festivities this year at the El Fondadero Civic Center. Many neighbors came there, who were able to listen to the memories and experiences that this neighbor of La Tiñosa shared in her proclamation.
"With great enthusiasm and from the heart", Memela began her proclamation recalling her family life back in the 50s when as a child she "helped her grandmother Flora with the harvest, planting in the fields, collecting grass for the goats", while her father Miguel "embarked for six months to Cabo Blanco and her mother Mercedes, together with her grandfather, fished with the seine nets".
During her proclamation, Memela recalled those times when there was no health center in the town, no public transport, and when the priest, Don José Quintero, showed films in the church, which on many occasions they could not finish watching "because either the gasoline ran out or the engine broke down". The dances in the Society and the old festivals were also remembered by the town crier, who won her first gold ring after being chosen Miss of the La Tiñosa Festivals in 1968. Currently Memela is still very involved with the patron saint festivities of her town, as she is one of the twenty members of the Puerto del Carmen Marine Choir, who participate every year in the Coral Meeting to sing habaneras.
The town crier of these festivities told numerous anecdotes that provoked continuous laughter from the public and said goodbye encouraging everyone to enjoy and have fun during these days and asking the Virgen del Carmen to "be generous with our dreams and our hopes".
For his part, Pancho Hernández, mayor of Tías, congratulated Memela for her endearing proclamation and invited all residents and visitors "to participate in the numerous events programmed in these La Tiñosa festivities that, like the town itself, have evolved, but that maintain their original charm with their traditions and their authentic maritime flavor".
A weekend full of events
After the reading of the proclamation, the first festive weekend in Puerto del Carmen begins with different events, among which the inauguration of the 'Fine Thread' Exhibition this Friday at 8:30 p.m. and at 9:30 p.m. the X Habaneras Coral Meeting at the El Fondeadero Civic Center stand out.
On Saturday at 10 in the morning, the fourth Barranco del Quíquire popular race begins, which this year has far exceeded the number of registered participants, surpassing 250 participants. At 10:30 a.m., the Simultaneous Chess event open to all audiences will be held in the Plaza del Varadero and will be attended by this year's island champion Antonio Vera Martín.
In addition to the traditional chalana races in El Poril from 12 noon, the Batucadas Meeting is also held on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and at 9:30 p.m. the audiovisual show "Amar Canarias" will take place, which, according to the City Council, "invites us, through giant screens, to immerse ourselves in the exciting underwater world and highlight the natural wealth of our archipelago". Throughout Sunday morning there will be numerous activities in El Varadero, such as a parade, fishing contest, inflatables, jolateros races, the Women's Meeting with a boat trip to Papagayo, as well as the presentation of the book "New Letters to the Wind" by the former parish priest of Tías, Jesús Vega at 8:30 p.m. and at 9:30 p.m. the Daniel Moisés concert "Tenth Anniversary" will be held in the Plaza del Varadero.
