Enchanting islands of the Grand Canary.


Who would have given a thought to the Canary Islands? Apart from European sun worshippers who make this place their yearly ( sometimes bi-annually ) pilgrimage. The rest of us Asians who hide from the sun religiously, hardly venture this far.

We flew some three hours from Alicante to Tenerife with Vueling Air, which I had vowed to boycott. Someone must have heard me because on this sector the seat pitch was a lot more generous. We didn't  have to fold our knees anymore like we did on the Barcelona to Alicante flight.

My first impressions of Tenerife was one of black volcanic sand beaches, rocky perches, dry canyons and a drought prone place. There are two airports on Tenerife: north and south.The southern part of Tenerife is where the tourists flock to. The northern part of Tenerife is less frequented by tourists and generally quieter with much less sunshine days than the south. But that did not bother me as i am not a fan of rocky beaches and black sand.

Iberostar Grand Mencey's lobby 
Terrace at Grand Mencey
The biggest surprise is the beautifully appointed Iberostar Grand Mencey hotel, located in the leafy residential suburb and next to a botanical garden. The open terrace of the hotel looked into green hills with bird songs in the distance. It reminded me of the Cape area of South Africa. 
We were upgraded to a suite which made our stay even more comfortable.  The breakfast spread was the best among all the hotels we've stayed in Spain. I could just retreat here.

Breakfast beckons



Hi from Space!

I was continually surprised by the changing microclimates. It went from dessert conditions with cacti to deciduous forest and eventually pine trees. This is La Tiede national Park, a UNESCO World heritage centre and a must-see, must-hike activity. Another worth visiting is the Observatory on Mt. Tiede.

San Cristobel de La Laguna, another UNESCO Heritage site is well worth a tram ride from Santa Cruz. The town's colonial history is marked by several of the island's major religious buildings, including the Cathedral, as well as a multitude of ancestral homes from the 17th and 18th centuries. 


We stopped at the picturesque village of La Orotava for a 4 course lunch at a vineyard restaurant. 

Back at Santa Cruz, a cruise liner had just pulled in and the Brit tourists were lounging around the town centre. Close to shore, two offshore oil rig platforms dotted the seascape. As if a miracle, the Auditorio de Tenerife - an architectural marvel designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, rose from the sea in the shape of a ear drum. 

Auditorio de Tenerife


"Si, Spanish designs always catch me by surprise!" 

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