After departing the Madeira Islands we headed for the Canary Islands on our way to the Caribbean.  Next stop - Tenerife.

( The Canary Islands (Islas Canarias) were named for the large dogs roaming the islands when troops from Morocco visited the "Fortunate Islands" in 60 B.C. The name remains today.)

•   Tenerife is the largest of the archipelago's islands, located between La Gomera and Gran Canaria.  Pico del Teide divides the island into two distinct climate zones.  The northwestern part is sheltered by the volcano's crater and is humid and covered with lush vegetation.  The southern part is hot, rocky, arid and covered with banana/tomato plantations and hotels/condominiums.

•    The building of resorts, hotels, condominiums is enormous on this relatively small island.  Here is a view of Los Gigantes ("Giant Cliffs") through Tania's opinion of the national bird ("The Building Crane").  A distant view of "La Gomera" over rooftops of Puerto de Santiago.

• The island did have a very ruggedly beautiful area called Masca.  It was once the hiding area for pirates and accessible only by mule.  Even today it can only be reached by a "VERY" narrow, steep road.  The village itself consists of old, red tiled roof stone buildings clinging to the mountainside.  Unfortunately the entire was burned out only a few months previously by an arsonist.  As a result a few buildings were lost and the whole area still reeked of smoke from the main fire and fires that were still burning as a result of eliminating leftover foliage waste.  A small restaurant did survive and they were able to enjoy a good outdoor lunch.

• Some of the burned out beautiful Canary Palm trees.  The huge old Drago Milenario (Dragon Tree-the symbol of the islands) is reported to be over 1,000 years old is located in Icod de los Vinos ( the heart of the wine region on the island).  The ornately carved wooden balconies throughout the islands are best exampled in La Orotava.  They are a result of the 17th-18th century Spanish influence on the islands.

• The Hijuela del Bontánico was established in 1923 and contains over 3000 species of tropical and subtropical plants.  The 100 year old garden next door at  Liceo de Taoro (where Bob and Tania had a delightful lunch) contained it's own large amount of beautiful Flora.

• Some unusual plants in the garden of Liceo de Taoro.  A view of Taganana from the Anaga Mountains on the northwest side of Tenerife. The humid air in a cooler lush forest in the mountains was spice filled in scent as a result of the juniper and laurel forests there.

• The Guanches (ancient inhabitants of the islands) named their island Tenerife, which meant "white mountain" in their language.  The white mountain of Pico del Teide, depending on the season is enveloped in clouds, sulpher, or a dusting of snow.  It was mostly clouds when Bob and Tania were visiting and as such were not able to visit it properly.  The view of Santa Cruz de Tenerife from my stern.  The banana/tomato plantations were shrouded in brown cloth or plastic all along the southern coast of the island, which would blend in with the arid brown landscape and almost go unnoticed.