Got to los Gigantes at about 7.30 to collect our friends and head off for Mount Teide. We have never driven the road from here, so have no idea what it will be like. Although it was, like most of the roads in Tenerife, bendy and windy, the journey this morning was a good one. We got a view of the volcanic mountain that we have not had before. Driving in this area is like a lunar landscape. There are many many banana plantations on the Island which you regularly drive past. Stopped in a small village on route for breakfast and coffee in a typical Spanish café. We took the cable car nearly to the top of the mountain. Luckily, we had our NIE forms with us this time so we able to take advantage ... read more

We were supposed to be going up to Mount Teide today, but we both had bad nights and woke up tired. As it is quite a complicated drive there, we have decided to cancel until tomorrow. Went to Los Gigantes and met our friends as planned, but spent the day in the quiet town relaxing. In the afternoon, we took a boat out Whale watching. There were only seven of us on the boat for an hour and a half. We would definitely do this trip again. At only 10 Euros it was perfect. They also do an afternoon dolphin watching but we decided that we would try that another time. This was a rather private and exclusive trip without the normal volume of tourists on a bigger boat. Just brilliant. Had a relaxing lunch then ... read more

Decided that it was safer to drive today after yesterdays experience on the bus. Got to Los Gigantes at about 8am this morning and joined our friends for breakfast in their hotel. Then we drove back to Los Cristianos to the market there. Our friends brought many items that they could easily take back to Dallas with them. Whilst there, we also managed to negotiate a good price for George the Giant wood carved Giraffe. We have been waiting for an opportunity like this to purchase the 4 foot high model and had already named it before getting it home. Bartering provided a handsome discount. Went for lunch in our local Chinese restaurant in Costa del Silencio then drove back to Los Gigantes to drop off our friends. Had a little confusion with the landlord of ... read more

We got a Call on Sunday to say our good friends, Yvonne and Brian, were currently in the UK and were coming over to see us on Friday. This is a lovely surprise. Their flight arrived at the local airport at about 12.30 so we were there to meet them. To get a good deal on their last minute flight, they are booked into a hotel in Los Gigantes. This is about 45 miles away from us. As they had a very early start to their day, we left them to their own devises for the rest of the day, but it was lovely to see them again. We last saw them in January 2011 when we visited them in Dallas. ... read more

We went to our local Sunday market at Los Cristianos today. As normal, we did not buy much, but we both enjoy just wandering around the many stalls. From the market we wandered along to Los Cristianos port. For many weeks, we have watched the boats coming in and out, but only from a distance. We knew there was a boat coming in about 11.00 that goes out again about 12.00 midday to La Gomera. There is a small café in the head of the port, so we went there for a coffee. Got a bird’s eye view of the boat docking and leaving. Some quality sun catching and relaxation time for us. From here we walked to Surfers restaurant for lunch then back to Los Cristianos station to catch the bus home. ... read more

Our next travelling expedition in October is shaping up nicely now. We have just the flights and possibly island ferries remaining to book. We always make our own direct travelling arrangements. Our vacation will take us for one week to Deerfield Beech just north of Miami, Florida close to the Everglades. Then a week in Freeport in the Bahamas and then onto Charlotte Amalie Island in the Virgin Islands. We are looking at making the connections from the Bahamas to the Virgin Islands by boat as we have been unable to book a direct flight. ... read more

We went to Torviscas market today. We had planned that today was to be a beach day, but the day was a bit overcast, so we had a walking day instead. We stopped on way for a light breakfast and then later an ice cream. We calculate that the route we walked was about 8 miles, plus up and down our local hill. The weather is about 24 degrees today but is a bit overcast and windy. There is a good artist in Tenerife who keeps making creations in the sand at Los Cristianos. Today there was an aligator in the sand. Just before we arrived at Los Cristianos station for the bus home, we walked past the shop where the recent British murder happened. It was a very eary location. Some people have left flowers, ... read more