Days, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10th, and finally today Monday, march 11th.

 We’ve had a few very rough days, the group has been plagued with the Norovirus  a very nasty stomach flu, first I got it, then 2 1/2 days later Neil had it, and he is still in bed, still can’t eat.  Neil could have gone on an excursion on the 7th, but refused to leave me— I was very sick.  Today I did leave him, as he was just tired, but OK.  (Bad wife).  So today is the 11 of March,   We are bused  through tropical scenery to Las Canadas national park, one of the worlds largest craters.  We enjoyed spectacular views of volcanic Mount Teide and the “Roque Garcia” rock formation.  We drove an hour by bus,  switch backing up the mountain side.  You will see a pic of the guardrails.  It was a bit unnerving to say the least, but the rock formations were great.  

Darn, I was hoping I had loaded these right— but this our trip back down off the mountain, thru the fog and clouds

There she is in all her glory, volcanic Mount Teide.  You can see the lava strips coming down, years ago! 

A better view of the lava slides

Not sure what this is, but it looked pretty 

This is the crater that we expected to see— which we did in a theatre at the visitor Center.  When we asked the tour guide “when are we going to see the crater? “. Her response was “ you’re in it”. Could have fooled us! 

The colours were amazing

Guess I got two pics of the crater that we didn’t see! 

Walking around the top, ears popping!

This is Jake from Sarina, holding up that big rock!  

Walking around the formations 

Another pic of the mountain

And more

I started up, but didn’t get far, my legs are still rubbery! 

Blues waiting 

This should have been my first pic— we are heading up ! 

There was a nasty fire last year all up the mountain side, but it’s amazing to see new growth trying to start. 

These are the guardrails, wood posts with wood railings. As I said, a little scary! 

Day 3–in Tenerife

 Sun is shining! Lovely, but an incredible wind.  The waves crash up over the rocks, and even when we were 25ft above the sea, we were in the sea mist.  Lovely to watch! This morning we walked to the Botanical Gardens.  Trees, shrubs, plants, from all over the sub tropical world , India, Africa, Brazil, China, Australia, and Japan, etc.  — didn’t see anything from Canada!  Wonder why?  The city is so busy, houses stacked above each other, so many!  And of course we are in the tourist area, so that makes it even busier. It amazes us to see how the bus drivers get around!  

Didn’t look like much of a tree, but you could see the coffee beans in the branches

This one is from Brazil, although Renata says she has never seen one! 

Orchids

Ficus tree roots

These big ‘things’ hang down from tree branches, and if allowed to touch the ground they become another tree

Another grouping of the ficus tree.  

Unfortunately nothing was in English, but this was pretty

Day 2 in the canaries

 By the way, the islands are not named after birds, but rather the Latin name for dogs— which is canaria and was given by the first European to arrive here.   Insula Canaria— island of the dogs! 

Today we did a-bus tour of the city, and its many ports.  From ocean side to ‘not quite the top of a mountain’, but we were way up there.  Lots of walking and stairs up. Great day, lovely sunshine. 

In one of the town squares they make carpets of sand and small stones— would have loved to see one, but this is the best I could do. 

Finally back to the hotel, to put our feet up!  

We climbed up here, it’s a ‘free Mason’ church.  Not well tolerated by the locals at the time. 

Views from the top

More views

And more views from the Free Mason temple.

So many houses!  

Walked thru beautiful green garden areas.  The whole city is very green.

One of the ports 

Visited a church, grossly ornate!  

This is not a tree, they tell us, it’s a plant! 

Large fountain in the background 

So we started out by the sea— these are salt water pools for swimming 

Tenerife— day one

 Oh my goodness, it is so beautiful here.  From our hotel room balcony, we have a wonderful view of the sea, with the waves crashing on the rocks.  Walked and walked , the beaches as you can see are black sand, from the volcanic rock.   Sun shone, lovely temperature.  After rainy cold Dublin, this is a treat.  

Walking about uptown 

Our hotel

Black sand beach

Volcanic rock

Wonderful cliffs, with houses right up the mountain side

Our hotel— we are on the 6th floor 

View from our balcony 

View from our balcony.