Leisure day today! Which was very nice after yesterday’s long day. Went for a big walk, stopped and had coffee in a street cafe, with friends. This afternoon, we spent near the pool, and Dad actually went swimming! Then we played a Dutch game, can’t pronounce it— but it’s Dutch shuffle board— for us English speaking people. Played a great game of ‘Up and down the river’, or as we know it from playing in Texas— 3 to 13. Beautiful sunny day!
Wake up call at 530am, quick breakfast, on to the bus at 645, 2 hour bus ride to the very south of the island. Then onto the ferry for a one hour trip to the Island of Gomera. Back on the bus, to tour Garajonay national park, another unesco world heritage park. We saw the imposing Roque de Agando, a steep volcanic lava formation. Like Tenerife the island is totally made up of lava, but unlike Tenerife , it is much more into agriculture. You will see in the pics, nearly every hill, and mountain had terraces build down the slopes. Then we headed for lunch at what they called a traditional restaurant. I was thinking it would be different food— but we started out with a blended vegetable soup, then beef stew( hardly ever saw a cow on either island). And dessert was a milk pudding. The beef was delicious, nice and tender, a treat as we are never served beef at the hotel. We ended up back by the docks, in San Sebastián— the site of the final strongholds of Christopher Columbus, before sailing to North America. The book said we would visit Laguna Grande where it is said the witches of the island gathered, but our travel guide never mentioned where it was. A bit disappointing, I thought I would feel quite welcome there!
This was a ’leisure’ day. So after breakfast we walked, and walked some more! It really is a pretty place, there are no streets, sidewalks, without trees and flower. And very clean! We finally found the Agatha Christie staircase. They are very proud of this writer here. A few of her mystery novels were written here— just don’t know which ones. In the afternoon, we walked again, our tour guide took us to an ice cream shop for cones- her treat. I think I’m putting back some of the weight I lost!
What a day! I thought the road up to Mount Teide was bad, — well, this one to the little town of Masca, way up in the mountains, was extremely scary. One way, with small turnoffs to let a car pass by, coming the other direction. About 5 times the bends were so sharp, the driver would have to almost hit the rock wall, then back up, then forward, then back up again before he could get around the corner. A couple of times he stalled the bus during one of these manoeuvres! We all held our breath! The little town was really neat. Industry mostly tourists, but some goats, goat cheese etc. Going up we went by acres of banana plantations, a big export product, some to Spain and to England. The map below shows a black route, that’s what we took today, along the ocean, thru multiple tunnels, where the moutains came right down to the sea.
More of the group. They are lots of fun! 
Just found out today, we are only 4 hours earlier than you, not 5! Ontario had a time change! This was a leisure day, so spent a lot of time wandering around. This whole island is nothing but volcanic matter! Our tour guide said that there are 400 volcanoes on the island, most have already done their thing. The mountain I saw yesterday, Mount Teide, last erupted in 1909, and they expect it will do it again in another 50 years. So here goes rock pictures, and scenes around town.
