2017 - Spain and Transatlantic - Day 7

Day 7 – December 9, 2017 – La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain

We’re up early again for our last tour of the cruise, enjoying the north island sites of the Canary Island of …

La Palma … This island differed from Tenerife because the entire island (at least the portion that we

Typical carved wooden balconies
around La Palma

saw) is lush green. It is the same, however, in its extremely rugged mountainous terrain. If I thought yesterday’s drive was windy, today’s roads won in that category hands down!   The City of Santa Cruz de la Palma where the ship is docked was also an important port for the trades between Europe and the colonies in the Americas beginning in 1493. As a matter of fact, it became the third largest port in Europe in the 16^th century. One of the unique features on buildings both in Santa Cruz and other cities on the island are its unique carved wooded balconies made from local

La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain

trees that are very hard and impenetrable, so it lasts forever. Because of the trade and immigration with the Caribbean islands, all of the Canaries have a distinct Caribbean feel. As with Tenerife, tourism plays a very important role in the island’s economy with over 130 cruise ships docking here every year. The major export is bananas, followed by avocados. Tobacco and sugar cane is also grown but used locally. Overall the island is very fertile and is blessed to have enough fresh water, both subterranean and rain, to provide for all their needs; This is the only Canary Island on which desalinization is not necessary. The island also boasts of many giant telescopes, built by 30 different countries. Conditions here are perfect for viewing the heavens on the Canaries because there is good visibility, a clear atmosphere and the nights are very dark because there is almost no light pollution.

The narrow bridge with the
broken guard rail

The path in Los Tilos

Canarian Bellflower

Los Tilos … As we continue through beautiful vegetation along the narrow, windy, hair-pin curved road, we see sheer cliffs and deep ravines with houses dotted along the way and many, many, many terraced plots, most with bananas plants. The volcanic island has 774 species of wild growing plants, 70 of which are endemic only to La Palma, and 104 of them found only in the Canary Islands. Many other species have been imported here such as eucalyptus, fig trees, various types of cactus that can withstand the cooler winter temperatures, chestnut trees, poinsettia trees, etc.  Most of the island is very temperate, that is neither too not, nor too cold, so heaters and air conditioners are not needed!  One rather exciting portion of the drive to Los Tilos is the one-lane, old bridge with a broken guard rail on one side that our very excellent driver had to negotiate.  A wide swing onto the bridge … I cannot see the guard rail as we go over the bridge, we are that close to the edge!  Whew! Los Tilos is a UNESCO biosphere covered by the largest, most pristine laurel forest in the Canary Islands. It is heavily forested, and we see the beautiful Canarian Bellflower, a Strawberry Tree and the tree that produces bay leaves! I enjoyed the sounds of the various song birds that fritted about. There is a nice visitor’s center that provides a nice explanation of the types of plants, birds and other critters that are found in this protected area. Very interesting.

Bananas, bananas, bananas everywhere in La Palma

Aldea Destilerias … We backtrack down to the coast (yes, over that same narrow bridge1), and we see acres and acres and acres of banana trees, the economic driving force of the island.  All work is done by hand. Each tree produces one bunch of bananas. Once the banana bunch is cut off, the plant is cut at about 5-6 feet and another plant starts to grow from its root. It takes about 18 months for a plant to flower and produce a bunch of 70-80 lbs of bananas. It’s hard to imagine all the man hours spent in these fields planting, cutting, propping up the banana bunches so the tree doesn’t drop to the

Rum tasting at Aldea Distilerias

ground from its weight, then cutting the bunches at just the right time when they are still green, hauling them for export, then starting the growing process all over again. There are banana plants on every single square inch of land that is not a building … along the terraced hill sides, along the streets, adjacent to buildings. Bananas cover 30 percent of the fertile land on the island. But we stop at the Aldea Distillery that produces rum from the sugar cane grown on the island. It must be grown elsewhere because we saw very little grown here.  The rum tasting was nice. I especially enjoyed the caramel rum and honey rum. The aged 10-year-old rum was good, but the 25-year-old aged rum was s-m-o-o-o-o-t-h !!

More bananas ... everywhere!

Enjoying that
barraquitos!

San Andres … We had one more stop for taking in more beautiful vistas of the ocean and mountains in San Andres; and across the street was another typical bar and restaurant that served barraquitos. This specialty coffee drink unique to the Canary Islands is made with coffee, sweetened condensed milk, some rum and nutmeg on top. I’m not a coffee drinker, but I did enjoy this drink!

Once back on board the Marina, we had a little lunch and met up with Skip and Cheryl and Jerry and Michelle … they too had a great tour of the island, enjoying stops at the volcano caldera, a winery and a pottery shop.  The ship has a “Bon Voyage to Europe” band playing pool side at 3:45, where we met Steve and Barb. And at 4 o’clock, the ship sails west for six days at sea across the Atlantic. Bob and I have reservations at Jacques again for dinner this evening … more of the most exquisite food and where we sat with another fun couple from southern Arizona. How good is this!!!

Bon Voyage to Europe!