Saturday, 7 January 2012
Friday, 6 January 2012
Banana plantations at the Malpais de Rasca
Bunches of bananas
Faro (lighthouse) on the Malpais de Rasca
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Book reading
Nothing much to report.
Margaret called round during the morning to borrow guidebooks and regale us with tales of how awful her villa was.
In the early afternoon we did a little shopping and then spent the rest of the day reading. Such a luxury.
Early evening, Kevin lit a barbeque but it wasn't that hot and we had raw veggie kebabs!
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
El Teide
Yesterday we went up Mount Teide with Margaret and Nigel. They did not want an early start so we picked them up at midday and headed down the Autopista Sur to Guia de Isora, which is the easier way up.
On the way, Margaret marveled at the pine trees growing up in the lava fields
Parking near the cable car looked bad but in fact we found a spot near the kiosk. The queue was longer than expected, and it took about an hour to get to the front. It was 25 Euros, which is rather expensive, and extortionate in Margaret's eyes. The ride to the top rises 1500m to just short of the summit cone at 3717m.
It is cold at the top but Kevin had brought extra hats and scarves which Margaret availed herself of. Apart from the previously mentioned ascent to the summit, there are two walks. We took the one to the viewpoint that overlooks the north of the island. It was fairly easy going, but Nigel was finding the change in temperature hard and went back. By the side of the path there were a couple of fumaroles which were nice to put your hands in for a warm. We took the obligatory photos.
Given Nigel was feeling uncomfortable, we thought it best to go straight back down when we returned but Margaret wanted to see the other path. In truth there wasn't time to do it all, though if we had had more time, we would have liked to have done. This path goes to a viewpoint of the old crater, Pico Viejo, and Margaret was insistent that she wanted to do some of it. Her and Joan went off and not too far down the path came across some more fumaroles and a sulphurous geothermal field. Mindfulof the last cablecar, Joan drragged Margaret back. On the way back and she came across a ticket for the journey down the cablecar. Margaret picked it up. It turned out to be the ticket of the lad in the queue in front off us. He was grateful for its return!
They pack you into the cable car and we became separated. During the drop Kevin became light headed and afterwards had to rest in the cafe with a hot chocolate. The oversugared drink soon perked him up and we drove down from the mountain to views of a sunset over La Gomera and El Hierro. Margaret and Nigel were so unperturbed by the zigzags, they both fell asleep.
Having dropped them off at their villa, we returned home to a dinner of bean casserole and rice.
Looking down to the coast where we are staying.
At the cable car station.
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Montana Amarilla & Costa del Silencio
Today we went for a walk along the Costa del Silencio.
Rather than hotels, there seemed to be a lot of flats there, set out in estate rows. It was all a little over disciplined and impersonal. We nboticed quite a few up for sale.
We passed a bar, which had only English signs which seemed to be populated by English ex-pats. They were playing bowls outside.
The start of the route was across a pebbled beach, each pebble about the size of a football. Then the route skirted under the Montana Amarilla, or yellow mountain, named, of course, for its colour.
Around a corner we came across a sunny bay, populated it seemed by naked Germans. We averted our eyes and carried on up to the cliffs where there were great views of the coast and El Teide.
The walk was pleasant, above rock pools where the waves crashed. Out to sea there were a number of yachts, struggling with the high winds. Just before reaching the marina at Los Abrigos, we turned around and retraced our steps. The Brits were still playing bowls.
Back at home, we ate fajitas on the veranda as darkness fell.
Rather than hotels, there seemed to be a lot of flats there, set out in estate rows. It was all a little over disciplined and impersonal. We nboticed quite a few up for sale.
We passed a bar, which had only English signs which seemed to be populated by English ex-pats. They were playing bowls outside.
The start of the route was across a pebbled beach, each pebble about the size of a football. Then the route skirted under the Montana Amarilla, or yellow mountain, named, of course, for its colour.
Around a corner we came across a sunny bay, populated it seemed by naked Germans. We averted our eyes and carried on up to the cliffs where there were great views of the coast and El Teide.
The walk was pleasant, above rock pools where the waves crashed. Out to sea there were a number of yachts, struggling with the high winds. Just before reaching the marina at Los Abrigos, we turned around and retraced our steps. The Brits were still playing bowls.
Back at home, we ate fajitas on the veranda as darkness fell.
Monday, 2 January 2012
New Year's Day 2012
Not much to say today. Margaret et al. were coming round for lunch. As there was not enough crocery and cutlery in our villa, Joan had to bright idea of using plastic forks and knives, paper plates and plastic glasses. These were Christmas themed.
Lunch was a starter of vegetable pate with crostini, followed by a quince and goat's cheese pie, with Canarian potatoes, mojo (sauces) and french beans. Pudding was a traditional Spanish cake, Roscon de Reyes, followed by a Canarian cheese board.
Margaret was late. Despite showing her the way the day previous - a way which involved one right turn and one left turn - she got lost with Nigel. Steph, with Sam and Lewis on board, did find it though!
It was a sunny, warm day, but with a gusty breeze. Suddenly the plastic glasses and paper plates weren't the best idea. Nigel's juice ended up in his lap as did Kevin's pate. BUt it was all handled with laughter and high spirits.
When the roscon was cut, Joan ended up with the hidden statue of a magi, and so has to cook next year's New Y^ear meal - something that Margearet was particularly gleeful about.
Martin, who had a bit of a cold, turned up later. Some of the party went in the pool, with Kevin threatening to throw Sam in (he didn't).
All in all a pleasant day.
The villa were are staying in is up for sale. If you're interested !
www.fincapaloma.com
Lunch was a starter of vegetable pate with crostini, followed by a quince and goat's cheese pie, with Canarian potatoes, mojo (sauces) and french beans. Pudding was a traditional Spanish cake, Roscon de Reyes, followed by a Canarian cheese board.
Margaret was late. Despite showing her the way the day previous - a way which involved one right turn and one left turn - she got lost with Nigel. Steph, with Sam and Lewis on board, did find it though!
It was a sunny, warm day, but with a gusty breeze. Suddenly the plastic glasses and paper plates weren't the best idea. Nigel's juice ended up in his lap as did Kevin's pate. BUt it was all handled with laughter and high spirits.
When the roscon was cut, Joan ended up with the hidden statue of a magi, and so has to cook next year's New Y^ear meal - something that Margearet was particularly gleeful about.
Martin, who had a bit of a cold, turned up later. Some of the party went in the pool, with Kevin threatening to throw Sam in (he didn't).
All in all a pleasant day.
The villa were are staying in is up for sale. If you're interested !
www.fincapaloma.com
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Chasing wild geese in San Isidro
Today Margaret and Nigel have arrived. By some strange synchronicity, they managed to be out in Tenerife for our final week and what is weirder, have booked a villa in the same small village.
In the morning we went out to the shops, which were a bit frenzied with people buying up the store. After that we tried to locate Margaret's villa but ended up a one way path to nowhere.
As we were about to have lunch, the mobile rang and it was Margaret. Hewr directions to the villa were useless - "It's near a broken fence and some netting." This could be anywhere! We told her to stand on the road and in a couple of minutues we were there.
Margaret is not impressed with her villa as she thought it had six bedrooms all available to them. It turns out that three of the bedrooms are in an annexe. There are six in Margaret's party: husnband and wife, Nigel & Margaret, their son Lewis and his fiancee Steph, their other son Martyn, and a family friend, Sam. This requires four bedrooms, but the owner took a booking for six people and assumed two to a bedroom. He then let out the annexe to a German couple. Luckily one of the bedrooms has a small sitting room attached to it, and Sam had a bed moved in there.
Maragret was not impressed with the set up at all. There was no central heating and it was cold at night. There was a huge dog guarding the house and Martyn is allergic to fur. The pool wasn't heated, the TV was all in Spanish, there was not a kettle and worst of all, she couldn't find a corkscrew.
AS shops are shut on New Year's Day she wanted to get some shopping in and also buy a dressing gown for Martyn who feels the cold. In order to help out, as we know where the shops are, Kevin and I took Margaret in to San Isidro.
Unfortunately, Margaret does not like parting with her money, and spent an age looking at different cleaning cloths, gherkins and tissues trying to get the best deal, even asking Kevin to ask the till girl the different prices. Then we went to look for a dressing gown. Being siesta time, most of the shops were shut, and indeed some had shut up early for the next day's holiday. After searching round several shops, including sport shops, as Margaret thought they might just sell dressing gowns there, we found a Chinese store that sold said item.
There were towelling dressing gowns, colourful ones and kimonos. Margaret didnot know which one to buy so a frenzied phone conversation ensued describing all the different styles, sizes and colours. Eventually she emerged with a mock silk kimono in black and gold, size XXL which mjeant the sleeves would be longer and would be better value for money as there was more fabric. All for 15 Euros!
Margaret was also keen to know all the take aways in town and then marched us around in search of menus, which there were none of.
Eventually, some four and a bit hours later, we returned her to the safety of her family, and escaped. But not before the villa's dog decided to stop Kevin leaving by grabbing his ankle as he got in the car.
Back home, we had pesto and goat's cheese tart with fried potatoes on the verandah.
Martyn in his black and gold kimono.
In the morning we went out to the shops, which were a bit frenzied with people buying up the store. After that we tried to locate Margaret's villa but ended up a one way path to nowhere.
As we were about to have lunch, the mobile rang and it was Margaret. Hewr directions to the villa were useless - "It's near a broken fence and some netting." This could be anywhere! We told her to stand on the road and in a couple of minutues we were there.
Margaret is not impressed with her villa as she thought it had six bedrooms all available to them. It turns out that three of the bedrooms are in an annexe. There are six in Margaret's party: husnband and wife, Nigel & Margaret, their son Lewis and his fiancee Steph, their other son Martyn, and a family friend, Sam. This requires four bedrooms, but the owner took a booking for six people and assumed two to a bedroom. He then let out the annexe to a German couple. Luckily one of the bedrooms has a small sitting room attached to it, and Sam had a bed moved in there.
Maragret was not impressed with the set up at all. There was no central heating and it was cold at night. There was a huge dog guarding the house and Martyn is allergic to fur. The pool wasn't heated, the TV was all in Spanish, there was not a kettle and worst of all, she couldn't find a corkscrew.
AS shops are shut on New Year's Day she wanted to get some shopping in and also buy a dressing gown for Martyn who feels the cold. In order to help out, as we know where the shops are, Kevin and I took Margaret in to San Isidro.
Unfortunately, Margaret does not like parting with her money, and spent an age looking at different cleaning cloths, gherkins and tissues trying to get the best deal, even asking Kevin to ask the till girl the different prices. Then we went to look for a dressing gown. Being siesta time, most of the shops were shut, and indeed some had shut up early for the next day's holiday. After searching round several shops, including sport shops, as Margaret thought they might just sell dressing gowns there, we found a Chinese store that sold said item.
There were towelling dressing gowns, colourful ones and kimonos. Margaret didnot know which one to buy so a frenzied phone conversation ensued describing all the different styles, sizes and colours. Eventually she emerged with a mock silk kimono in black and gold, size XXL which mjeant the sleeves would be longer and would be better value for money as there was more fabric. All for 15 Euros!
Margaret was also keen to know all the take aways in town and then marched us around in search of menus, which there were none of.
Eventually, some four and a bit hours later, we returned her to the safety of her family, and escaped. But not before the villa's dog decided to stop Kevin leaving by grabbing his ankle as he got in the car.
Back home, we had pesto and goat's cheese tart with fried potatoes on the verandah.
Martyn in his black and gold kimono.
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