Tamaimo to Montana de Guama

Today we decided to take a walk from Tamaimo to the Montana Guamo, up the souththwest part of the coast near the Los Gigantes cliffs. In the German guidebook we are using it was described as a "comfortable circular walk onto the ridge above Tamaimo [that] opens up wonderful views of the valleys and gorges on the southwest coast."

The first part of the walk was welsignposted up to a peak called the Cruz de Misioneros, a route used by pilgrims allegedly. Looking up at the cross we were to reach, Kevin said "Do you want to do this?" It looked steep but we assumed from both the description on the book and fron having done other routes with, for example, Stations of the Cross, on them, that the way would be easy. Wrong!

Immediately the path was rugged and steep. For ther less sure-footed it involved a bit of scrambling, though inially this was just not that relaxing. The description of the walk suggested that once one made the cross, the walk evened out a lot so it seemed worth it. As we rose higher and higher the path became more open and steep. We followeed the yellow and white marks which led us up to the mission cross. The last part was exposed and vertiginous. The view at the top was awesome but a way ahead was not obvious. The only path we could find skirted the edge of a perilously steep slope across the mountain's side. Reluctantly we decided to call it a day and tiptoed back down - and as any one who has done walking knows, coming down steep bits is harder than ascending!

Towards the foot of the climb we met a couple about the start the ascent, but they must have thought the better of it as they were soon following us back to Tamaimo.

We drove home along the lowere main road which took us through miles of banana plantations, with the bunches protected by blue plastic bags. It had been raining in El Salto as the patio was puddled and the owners of the villa had covered up the outside furnture.

For the first time on holiday we ate inside - a vegetarian lasagna made by Joan. Kevin flicked through our odd collection of TV channels (no BBC, ITV or news channels) and came across Nigerian Pop Idol, complete with its own version of Simon Cowell.