As usual, I’m getting impressively behind. As this is being written, I’m watching the African coast glide by some 8-10 miles off the starboard side. And although there is a bit of a swell, we are heading more or less straight into it. So the floor (and the walls and ceiling) are all behaving properly!
Anyway, back to the “present”, and Tenerife! Another massive steep-sided ex-volcano. And the main volcanic mountain, Mount Teide, is basically where we are going on our excursion. Arriving at the island in the early morning, we were greeted by a quite forbidding looking landscape. Severe rocky cliffs rising straight out of the sea. Not a road, track or house in sight.
As we approached the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, we started to see little settlements clinging to the hillsides.
Today was going to be another long day on a coach. We were heading for the Mt. Teide National park, close to the South-west end of the island. Our boat is at the North-eastern end of the island – for everyone’s convenience!
We were told about the different vegetation zones. Basically, bananas below 300 m altitude, then grapes and sugar up to the tree line. Then the trees and, above that – not a lot of anything at all.
There was a lot of evidence of the extensive forest fires which hit the island last summer. But also a lot of evidence of the rejuvenation of the native pines which are adapted to withstand fires. Unlike the introduced (fast growing) pines which were not going to come back to life.
After a rain shower in the woods, we rose above the clouds, and got our first clear view of Mt Teide…
A quick photo stop to show we were really there …
… and we were off over a lunar landscape. Jumbled lava blocks and tubes.
And at the visitor station (approximately 2,500 m altitude) we were able to walk among the rocks, the weird intrusions and the minimalistic vegetation. However, the peak of the volcano is still over 1200 m above us. An enthusiastic six hour hike – which we plan to leave for another day!
There were calderas, lava plains and “recent” vents all over the place.
Pretty phantasmogorical!
Some facts about Mt Teide…
Its summit, at 3,715 m (12,188 ft) is the highest point in Spain and the highest point above sea level in the islands of the Atlantic. If measured from the ocean floor, its height of 7,500 m (24,600 ft) makes Teide the third-highest volcano in the world. Teide’s elevation above sea level makes Tenerife the tenth highest island in the world.
Well, that’s enough mountain stuff. Time for lunch! At El Monasterio de San Pedro.
…and then, just to prove they have a sunny promenade and big waves on Tenerife too, we stopped at Puerto de la Cruz for a stretch of legs on the way home.
Theres a quaint little (locked up tight) 18th century chapel, the Ermito San Telmo. (San Telmo is also known as St Elmo, of St Elmo’s Fire fame.) This chapel was founded in 1780 and it is located next to the sea on the promenade of San Telmo. Devoted to the patron saint of (Spanish) sailors. I always thought St Nicholas was in charge of fishermen’s fate!
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After 90 coach miles we were ready for “tea and biscuits! The ship has two bookable restaurants. The French “Chartreuse” and the steakhouse, “Prime 7”. The main dining is in the “Compass Rose” or La Veranda (breakfast). With smaller options at the “Pool Grill”. Part of “La Veranda” transmogrifies into an Italian restaurant, “Sette Mari”, in the evening. There is also a coffee cafe and an afternoon tea lounge, plus an icecream bar at least one self-serve coffee and cookies station. Then there’s 24 hour room service. So it’s quite possible to be eating 24 hours a day. Possible, but not healthy!
I mention all that for my own reference when I read back over these messages! And to remind ourselves of why we are in severe need of a diet when we get home.
Tomorrow, it’s Gran Canaria…
… but we have just heard that Spain will, on Thursday, deport more than 60 travellers who arrived last week by cruise ship in the port of Barcelona with dodgy visas!
I just hope all our paperwork is in order!
Good to see your travels again. For your info it is Lava not Larva. Said the geologist to the biologist 😂😂
We agree with your description phantasmogorical and imagine walking among the evidence of past and current volcanic activity would seem quite eerie.
We wasn’t aware of the history of Teneriffe.
The culinary aspects of a cruise ship are an extremely significant part of a holiday cruise.
pardon the grammatical error. Haven’t had breakfast yet !!
Ha ha…..a 6 hour hike “which we plan to leave for another day”??????
XxxxxxX 🤣🤣
The pictures are great and the stories are enjoyable. We’re so happy you’re back into the swing of things.
Tenerife is I imagined, as a mate of mine (English) has an apartment there somewhere, and he has sent photos. He was a brickie from Widnes, who made money in the antiques trade in the Cotswolds. Go figure.