Our Sunday morning departure to the Canary Islands (Spanish archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa) got off to a bumpy start with trains to CPH cancelled. We quickly got back on track, ordering a taxi which delivered us to Copenhagen with plenty of time to enjoy my favorite airport breakfast, sausage rolls and Skyr with granola and rhubarb compote.
Our flight was especially easy since the plane was quite empty, the weather fine, and fellow passengers in a relaxed holiday mood. Even the babies were happy. All was good except that we could see the sandy haze over Tenerife so we knew that the wind might be an issue. Our arrival during a “Calima” wind storm dampened the mood a bit, but we managed to get a bite to eat and explore our surroundings before having an early night. The blowing sand made for limited visibility and a yellow-brown haze in the sky. It was also rather stuffy in our hotels rooms since we needed to keep the door and windows closed. Seemingly it was the very tail end of the Calima and we went to bed hopeful that it would finish overnight. The next morning was still quite windy and sandy but a vast improvement over the day before, so we made the most of the beach temperatures, ignoring the wind as far as possible. We checked out the beach front and the sand dunes, explored the markets and paused frequently for refreshments.
The hotel HL Playa del Ingles and adjacent beachfront had a very cruise ship vibe. Most of the tourists were Swedish or German with some Eastern Europeans and Spaniards in the mix. We don’t think there were any Americans at all. Maybe a few Brits. Our kids brought down the average age quite dramatically. The hotel buffet and entertainment offerings (Bingo, Water Zumba, Strong Back workshop, etc) were not a hit with the under 50s but the buffet made meals easy. The fresh fruit was especially nice, with a yogurt/waffle bar, fresh breads with olive oil and many other good choices.
Walking the beach front, my activity of choice while the rest enjoyed swimming or sunbathing, led me to admire the dozens of felines that roam the promenade. Some wanted attention and many seemed the have favorite watering holes and sunbathing perches. A few cats watched cautiously from behind fences and shrubs.
The best outing was a trip to Palmitas Park, nestled into the valley not far inland but sheltered from the wind and with a tropical feel, more like a botanical garden with birds and reptiles. The setting was sort of “jurassic park”. It was an adventure using the public buses, but we managed. It was a great way to spend a few hours enjoying tropical weather minus the desert winds!
On the last night the youngest wasn’t feeling well. Then Bryant also developed cough and cold symptoms. They managed to keep symptoms at bay during the flight home and then H started feeling bad, too. So, fingers crossed that I remain well. Nori did OK on her own (with visits from Ani) for the 3 day Whirlwind/ Calima trip to the Canaries.
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