A tale about Tenerife

Long time no blog post. Why that is you may or may not ask. Lack of inspiration, too much going on, no creative input, you can continue the list. Since the last posts were quite political and not the most positive I decided to write about my recent travels this time.

In November I visited Tenerife for the second time in a year. Tenerife, a place I associate mainly with British and German tourists, families and pensioners, who just want to enjoy the sun. And these expectations were not that far off. Especially in November we lowered the average age of 75 quite a bit.

Tenerife, an underestimated island from my point of view. While the sunny South consists of beach resorts and artificial villages with low quality restaurants and bars that host live singers to cater for the general music taste (which could be considered as the German Schlager type), the north is quite different. Not only is it much greener due to the unpredictable weather, it also feels a bit more real. People actually live there, not just temporary visitors. The architecture is much more authentic and the landscape is left more to itself, instead of building one apartment block after another. Impressive cliffs, quiet beaches and mountain villages are dotted around the north part of the island. Santa Cruz, the capital, is a nice small town and has an industrial feel about it.

At this point I should probably mention El Teide, the volcano that separates the island. However, I’ve got to admit I haven’t yet made it at 5am up to 4000 metres to watch the sunrise (while freezing and possibly falling asleep). But I am sure if you enjoy hiking and watching the sunrise while snuggling up in your winter clothes (while the rest of us walks around in shorts at sea level), El Teide is the place for you.

I really enjoyed the trip to the north. Particularly one village has caught my attention. Garachico, a small town on the West side of Tenerife, built on volcanic material. This little picturesque village will be my residence when I retire. Visitors are most welcome but please not all at once.

Tenerife, a lovely place to visit but choose your accommodation well. If possible find something away from the tourists and live music, unless you enjoy a bit of the old Schlager hits. But most of all visit the North while you’re there, you won’t regret it.