Las Playas Americas

I am doing this blog quickly. I have only fifteen minutes before I have to close my bag and leave. So I want to get the pictures of the sea at Las Playas Americas on the blog.  If you look out into the ocean the sea looks placid, mirror like. But when it comes into shore and hits the rocks, it is like a ferocious bulldog. I was quite impressed. 

Flowing into an underground cave

El Madano

Today we had to fix my flight to Bilbao. That means going online and get the ticket with the bar code, but the bloody computer wouldn't let me and so there you are. I was able to print out the reservation sheet, but not the ticket. Anyway if they don't let me on, I will call the bank and cut off the funds.


We ran into a German couple and had quite a conversation. They travel with a caravan nine months out of the year and stay in cheap apartments all over Europe and Africa. It was fun talking to them.  She was a tiny woman, light on her feet despite her age, perhaps in her mid sixties. She made me feel about a hundred years old. He was full of jokes and lots of great stories. They come from East Germany and experienced the fall of the wall.

We went to El Madano and wandered around awhile. Then we had lunch. The lunch was very good, as has all the food been. Not gourmet, mind you, just good honest food. We ate a paelle with tons of seafood. It was too much for the two of us.  Tonight we  made sangria, with tons of fruit and good wine. This will go with our steak and salad. MMMM. 

This is the beach we can see from the board walk above. I don't know how anyone sits out there and sunbathes. It is cold and windy, though the sun does shine.  I have been suffering from a cold for a month now. Maybe that is why I feel cold all the time. The doc supplied me with antibiotics to make sure I don't get pneumonia. I started them last night. In the meantime I try to get a little sun by sitting somewhere where the wind doesn't catch you.

Yesterday, Jette and I tried a new therapy called Ictioteraphy.  Fish nibble away at your feet and legs, cleaning the dead cells and vitalizing new ones. According to the brochure, it helps increase blood flow as well. The fish are called Garra rufa and Cyprinion macrostomus, which you can look up yourselves in Wikepedia. 

Like Pira'nhas they eat flesh, well dead flesh. So when you're finished, your feet and legs feel like a new born baby's bottom.

Our Lady of Candelaria

We saw the Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria, which was built in 1526 and the Black Madonna is worshiped there. There is a story behind this Madonna. Before the Spanish arrived the original inhabitants, the Guanche, lived in Tenerife. The Madonna washed up on the shores and when the Guanche tried to destroy it, they were paralyzed. Eventually the Madonna was placed in a cave and was considered the protector of the island, healing and helping the helpless. When the Spanish conquered the island, the Guanche were considered Christians, because they worshiped this black lady.  So the Basilica was built and many make a pilgrimage to the church.

The Madonna, which is very hard to see.

When the statue washed up on the shore, the Madonna was holding a baby in one hand and a candle in the other. Thus the name Candelaria. 

This is a picture of the Madonna, not much better really

It is not like any church I have seen in Europe. But it is quite pretty. And it is very modern looking. 

The weather has been cold and windy. Occasionally the sun comes out and warms things up. 

To the North near the Volcano, Teide.

Teide, the Volcano

Today we took a trip to the north of the island. We have to pass over mountains which reach 10,000 feet and is covered with clouds. The ride was a bit treacherous, but it was well worth it.

 The view was astounding and the rock outcroppings were fascinating. I don't know when Teida, the volcano, last time erupted, but it was smoking when Christopher Columbus sailed, by. According to legend he thought it was a good omen, but his sailors thought it was a bad omen. 

Those people who don't believe we landed on the moon, said that the photos were taken here, because it is a bit like the moon. But many plants grow here despite the arid conditions.

Chasing the Sun in Tenerife

The Light wasn't good, but you get the idea. This is a resort.

It was cold today with a wind and Jette and Kjeld spent the morning chasing the sun. I have heard of tornado chasers, but this is the first time I have experienced a sun chaser. So we moved from place to place in hopes that the sun would escape the clouds. It would for awhile but then the clouds would come and the sun would disappear. Without the sun the temperature would drop many degrees and I would shiver. But still, it isn't below zero and there is no snow.

The Promenade

This part of the island is not what one could call beautiful. It is desert with a lot of cacti. Cute little houses in many primary colors are scattered around the island. It is designed for tourists who want to swim in the sea or walk the pathways around the island.  There are restaurants and bars as far as the eye can see. There are many hotels and apartments for holiday rentals.  


However there is the northside of the island, which is supposed to be lush and exotic. We may go there tomorrow.


Jette found an apartment with two bedrooms and two baths, a kitchen and living room. Two balconies surround the apartment. It is furnished with a stove, dishwasher, washing machine and a vacuum, that doesn't work at present, but will be fixed soon. There is a swimming pool, which looks quite inviting, but is not heated. So no way I will use it. The temperature ranges between 18-20 degrees Centigrade or 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit. It is warm enough to escape the cold of the north, but certainly not to swim or do other water sports. Though some do.