Tenerife: Here comes the sun
Initially it was supposed to be a sex & the city trip for 4 best friends. A coupon for 123 lats (+/- 200 eur) which includes a hotel for 7 nights for 4 people was found! A perfect plan! But then came the kids, the university, work... and we were only 2 who decided to go. But there is no doubt, we had lots of fun!
4.5 h in the plane from Brussels and we are ready to get a dose of D vitamin in December. It's warm +23°C! Jackets are put quickly in the suitcase and off we go.
We are staying in Park Albatros - very close to the airport which is very convenient, we are also surprised to see that the place is actually good. Ok, we don't have a view on the Ocean but everything is clean and happy hour for sangrias (1,50 eur for two!!!) makes us even happier.
So - who elseis there? Mainly British (oh, they are everywhere, they own the island!), families or couples, thanks god no bachelor party candidates, mostly entertainment for pensioners. And we are fine with that.
Golf del sur, los Abrigos, el Medano
Next morning we spend walking on the beach path, sunny, warm, lovely. Almost nobody around. Couple of fishermen hunt the fish with some kind of harpoons.
We manage to catch a bus to el Medano (really catch as they go once in every hour - 470 un 483) It's a beautiful village, very charming, lots of surfers, cafes, bars, fish, fish, fish. We taste papas arrogadas – potatoes cooked in sea water served with mojo sauce. Mmm.
Trip to los Gigantes
As the weather is perfect, we have arranged a catamaran trip. We are lucky not to get on a crowded one and can enjoy the ride - I'm impressed by the tomato plantations, posh hotels on the banks and of course los Gigantes. We also manage to see dolphins (chance of 60%) and whales (chance os 95%). Beautiful. I'm happy that the captain is not chasing the animals, just letting them decide when to come closer and how to play. We see that the fellow tourists are not feeling that well on the boat. Seems like we are the only ones who are happy (and it's not because of the open bar ;-)
In the evening we decide to stay in las playas Americas to check out the place. Nothing special at all and we decide to leave. We try to figure out the busses and our desperate look attracts Rufus - a guy who helps us to figure out the time table of the busses. Turns out that Rufus has been in Tenerife for a week and is looking for a job. We agree to take his CV to our hotel. Why not. On the way we read Rufuse's CV - a real happiness seeker, one year there, one there... hope Tenerife is the right place for him. We would definitely hire him, kind of cute ;-)
Teide and the north
Next day we have arranged a trip with a private Latvian guide. Our guide is totally useless and has messed up everything from the beginning - was completely late because he went to a wrong hotel, has no GPS and takes a street where it's forbidden to drive! WTF!!! W are really mad because we had pre-booked a walk (you need a special permit) to the precipice of Teide and the time is limited there. We are luckily that there is no queue and get to 3718 m above the sea level, it's - 3°C, so feels like home. The walk itself is 30 - 40 minutes, not easy but what what a view when you get there! The last eruption was in 1909, the volcano is still active, you can feel it.
We aslo see Ortava and the dragon tree which is supposed to be one the word's oldest tress... and then get to Garachico – no swimming today, looks like a boiling kettle!
One more stop in Punta Teno – an oasis of calmness.
Las playas Americas
Although we decide not to do anything the next day, just relax, swim and sit in the jacuzzi, in the evening we decided to go las playas Americas again. It did not really impress us the first time but now we are completely disappointed. We see couple of cockroaches running into the restaurants, everybody is very pushy to invite you to their restaurant and we are fed up with this and just head back to the hotel.
Playa Tejita and el Medano
On Sunday we decide to spend our day at the ocean, judging from the map playa Tejita next to Monte Rojo would be a good place. Indeed it looks very nice! Just that it turns out that it's a nudist beach...
After a while we decide to walk to el Medano, it becomes a dangerous task because of kite surfers who cannot rally master their kites... But ok, we manage to get to a lovely bar at the end of the beach and it's perfect spot for observing the local life.
Some observations:
· There are so many cats there! All homeless... All castrated though but all were looking good, it's the weather I guess...
·The island is a mecca of happiness seekers - all possible nationalities and languages around.
·The honey rum is very delicious - a great gift for friends and family.
· Did not manage to get to the pearl shop, but looked really nice http://tenerifepearl.com
·In the small villages you can rent a flat for 250 eur a month - not bad!
·The prices! They were amazing. Pasta, salad, burgers for 6 - 7 eur.
·Lots of food for British, I still find it weird when food is served with crisps (not chips...).
·If I had to go again, I would definitely book a trip with the Observaory of Teide.
·Russians even have their own radio station in Tenerife.
Jon