TENERIFE

We arrived in Santa Cruz de Tenerife after two days sailing from Funchal, Madeira. Santa Cruz is the capital of Tenerife which is the largest of Spain’s seven Canary Islands. We spent the first four days getting to know Santa Cruz and also relaxing to get our health back in shape as the Captain also had a fever. On our 5th day we rented a Fiat 500 Dolcevita to get to know the island (see travel map below). Availability and price conquered practicality and it was a tight squeeze to get comfortable. Our first stop was Icod de Los Vinos where we saw Drago Milenario, the oldest and largest living specimen of dragon tree (Dracaena draco) in Parque del Drago. From there we headed to Garachico and further on past Masca. After a couple of hours driving, mostly on TF5, we headed to Tenerife South Airport to pick up our good friend, Eli F. We had arranged to meet her at the marina so coming out of the terminal she was desperately checking her mobile for a taxi to take her to us. SURPRISE! Now we were three in the micro car. You can only imagine.

From the airport we headed north to Teide National park to see Mount Teide (3.715 m.), a dormant volcano and the highest point in Spain and the highest point above sea level in the islands of the Atlantic. Here you will also find Chapel of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, the highest altitude catholic church in all of Spain

With a bottle of cava and the Norwegian flag we celebrated the 114th birthday of Heidi´s grandfather before heading back to the marina for the night.