Few days in Puerto de la Cruz

[Janet]

We don't often have a break, but we've had one over the past few days ... in the Hotel Monopol in Puerto de la Cruz. What a lovely town it is, and how different it feels from the south!

Before I post a very few pictures, two things spring to mind. The first is the "upmarket push", which has seen the PdlC Ayuntamiento pass new rules to outlaw plastic furniture and to colour brand in natural colour or burgundy. It seems to me that many establishments (though not the Monopol!) have already complied, and it looks so good! The town is clean, the taxis are new and sparkling, not a single cockroach in sight - not one!, and street entertainment wherever you look.

There were musicians, groups, jugglers, dancers, and particularly human statues, some of whom were superb! We were amused, though, by one "robocop" who made an entertainment out of his display rather than becoming a statue ... and he had the robotic movements off pat, very good, and a mechanised voice which responded to the occasional 50 cents thrown into his cup with "hasta la vista baby". I didn't have the heart to tell him that that came from Terminator, not Robocop ...

Where the town needs still to act is against the lookylooky men ... not as bad by far as Los Cristianos or the like, but still there and quite evident ... and in organized begging. Our room's balcony was superbly placed, just above and one across from the main front door to the hotel and so overlooking the main access door to the church. There was a constant begging presence there, in the very doorway, making people squeeze through (and it's a well used church, by the religious as well as tourists), and evaporating when the whine of a police scooter was heard ...

Another point for improvement, I have to say, is this San Telmo wall that there's been such a furore about. It is an old-fashioned promenade between the fishermen's quarter and the Lago Martiánez, and it's absolutely fine as it is ... but there is no denying that it would be improved by the council's plans to replace the wall with a steel and glass upgrade. I have a revelation to report too in the form of a shop on that promenade - Smöoy (I think) - selling Swedish frozen yoghurt. I highly recommend the raspberry flavour with wild strawberry sauce .....

As far as eating is concerned, we were really spoilt for choice. On the first night a Canarian PR effectively kidnapped us, but since we'd virtually decided on eating there anyway it wasn't a hardship. It became obvious later why he needed to grab people though because the food was really no better than "average". That, though, was the only time we ate something less than "good", and some were superb. There is something there for absolutely everyone, including vegetarians (which in Tenerife is no mean feat), and we had Mexican, Lebanese, and Chinese in addition to the average Canarian, as well as a simply superb fish restaurant called "El Pescador". I'd recommend it to anyone because it could hold its own anywhere.

So, here are just a very few photos from the balcony of our room overlooking the church and the Bethencourt plaza immediately to its right, and then the walkway in front of the hotel ... to the left leading within a few paces to the sea front between the San Telmo promenade and the fishermen's quarter, and to the right leading down to the town's main Plaza de Charco, lined with restaurants and the main place for fiestas and entertainments.

[NAH]

Smöoy (I think) - selling Swedish frozen yoghurt. I highly recommend the raspberry flavour with wild strawberry sauce .....

Glad you had a lovely time and good to have you back.

NAHOH had a Smöoy in September when we were over and I only got offered a very small taste    She had the natural flavoured one and it was delightful but you probably have to like the flavour of natural yoghurt to appreciate it. Another one is definitely on the list for our next visit and I might even treat myself next time.

[Perikles]

I was troubled during our stay in Puerto de la Cruz, only mildly, by the number of human statues on view. I've done some pretty pointless things in my time**, but it never occurred to me to spray myself with silver paint and spend several hours just standing there doing absolutely bugger all and not moving a millimetre. I was watching one bloke from our balcony (not all the time) who was standing motionless for several hours at a stretch, with a tin can in front of him. From my bird's eye view I could see that there was not a single coin in his can, yet he had stood there motionless in the blazing sunshine for four hours, covered in silver paint. And he was there the next day as well. I can't say why this bothers me, but it does.


**everything in fact.

[Janet]

We didn't take photos, but I've just found this video of (in the main) the Botanical Gardens, which was one of only a few things on my list not to miss while we were in Puerto de la Cruz.

In particular note the tree which starts around 56 seconds or so into the video ... one tree! Lord Howe's Fig, it's called, and it is like the skeleton of a cathedral. It is enormous!!

I'm really glad we did go to the Botanical Gardens, because they're quite stunning.