Puerto Cruz and NW Coast
Our first stop today was La Ortova, a town about 3 miles up into the hills from Puerto de la Cruz. It had little appeal apart from a section of the old quarter which featured some typical Canarian galleried houses dating from the 17th century.
Casa Ponte Fonte - 1676.
Casa de los Balcones - 1632
Interior courtyard - Casa de los Balcones
Casa de los Balcones - A device to keep insects away from food.
The cones at top and bottom are filled with something to repel insects.
Jardines de los Marqueses de la Quinta Roja.
Then we drove along the north coast as far as Buenevista. A wholly inappropriate name as the town was devoid of any interest whatsoever.
On the way back we stopped at Garachico. This used to be the main port on Tenerife until destroyed by lava flows from a nearby eruption in the 18th century.
Garachico had a certain quiet charm to it. Another spot for a quiet weekend away. Perhaps at this hotel, La Quina Roja.
Central square - Garachico
I had read about the Jardín de Aclimatación de la Orotova in Puerto de la Cruz so we went to have a look. It was quite a small garden featuring mainly tropical trees and shrubs with a lot of palm trees. The highlights were the really big trees.
A huge californian white palm.
The biggest tree in the garden. A Fig from Lord Howe Island.
I had never seen a South African "Anchor" plant.
Puerto de la Cruz is a massive holiday town. There seemed to be little of interest apart from the wonderful beach garden/lido along the shoreline which was designed by César Manrique.
Another Manrique mobile at the entrance to his beach garden in Puerto de la Cruz.
Later in the evening we had dinner, at the exotically named "Bulan Restaurante and Chill Out", with an expat who I had met in La Coruña last year. A very enjoyable evening. Thanks Pilar!
Casa Ponte Fonte - 1676.
Casa de los Balcones - 1632
Interior courtyard - Casa de los Balcones
Casa de los Balcones - A device to keep insects away from food.
The cones at top and bottom are filled with something to repel insects.
Jardines de los Marqueses de la Quinta Roja.
Then we drove along the north coast as far as Buenevista. A wholly inappropriate name as the town was devoid of any interest whatsoever.
On the way back we stopped at Garachico. This used to be the main port on Tenerife until destroyed by lava flows from a nearby eruption in the 18th century.
Garachico had a certain quiet charm to it. Another spot for a quiet weekend away. Perhaps at this hotel, La Quina Roja.
Central square - Garachico
I had read about the Jardín de Aclimatación de la Orotova in Puerto de la Cruz so we went to have a look. It was quite a small garden featuring mainly tropical trees and shrubs with a lot of palm trees. The highlights were the really big trees.
A huge californian white palm.
The biggest tree in the garden. A Fig from Lord Howe Island.
I had never seen a South African "Anchor" plant.
Puerto de la Cruz is a massive holiday town. There seemed to be little of interest apart from the wonderful beach garden/lido along the shoreline which was designed by César Manrique.
Another Manrique mobile at the entrance to his beach garden in Puerto de la Cruz.
Later in the evening we had dinner, at the exotically named "Bulan Restaurante and Chill Out", with an expat who I had met in La Coruña last year. A very enjoyable evening. Thanks Pilar!