Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Tenerife Day 4

Today is our free day and we could not ask for better weather. Perhaps inland and up high it is cloudy and damp again (like yesterday was with mists shrouding our hike around Mount Negras and her lava fields) but down on the coast at Puerto de la Cruz it is clear, sunny, and warm.

We have spent the day strolling through the bustling streets of Puerto de la Cruz. This is a substantial town and it seems prosperous. The streets are clean, there are numerous shops of all types, and overall things seem very well put together. Leaving our hotel we walked once again through Taoro park (not the official name but the name I am using) and down the 186 steps past the falling water feature (see the photo with Mom and Dad) and from there down into the heart of the town. The highlight of the town has to be the sea wall that restrains the frothing surf of the aquamarine Atlantic ocean. Today as we walked along the seawall we saw a couple people swimming in the clear, probably chilly, water. We also saw some people practicing with their paragliders in a parking lot. I suppose they were learning how to control them in a somewhat controlled environment (i.e., on the ground). When we left the seaside for the streets we found them full of shops of al types, cafes and other eateries, and plenty of people that seemed, overall, well off. It is clearly a thriving town.

The photo with the small town in the distance was taken yesterday on our way to what would turn out to be our mist shrouded walk through forest and lava fields. The town is Garachico which was destroyed back in 1706 by volcanic eruption. Today the town is much smaller but it certainly looks cute enough seem from on high (about 500 meters).

** Ken **

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1 comment:

Northern Walker said...

Looks great Ken. Went to La Gomera last year walking and had a great time. Teide looked amazing...