Michael and I stayed at Marina Rubicon until October 24th. I worked quite a bit on this blog (I am always behind, it seems!), we went for walks, and pretty much chilled.
We sailed overnight to Tenerife on October 24-25. We took a few days to plan our road trip then left on November 1st. Little did we know just how beautiful Tenerife would be!
We took two beautiful hikes today. The first one was Sendero de los Sentidos.
The Sendero de los Sentidos is a natural treasure that runs through a laurel forest and will delight walkers thanks to its biodiversity, unique in Europe. At one point the path descends to the Mirador del Llano de los Loros (an observation deck), where you can enjoy views of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the Barranco y Presa de Tahodio (Tahodio dam ravine). The Path of the Senses is conceived as a sensory journey in which you can enjoy nature in all its fullness not only with sight, but also with smell, touch and, why not, hearing. . .
Stats:
Distance: 1.4 km
Duration: 32 minutes
Elevation: 79m rise
Route: Circular
Map:
I was reminded somewhat of the UK with all of the green!
Our next visit was to San Cristóbal de La Laguna (aka La Laguna). The former capital of the Canary Islands, La Laguna is the third-most populous city of the archipelago and the second-most populous city of the island. La Laguna is considered to be the cultural capital of the Canary Islands. It is one of the most beautiful villages, recognized as World Heritage.
It was time for another hike: Ruta de los Guardianes Centenarios: a magical trip through Tacoronte
Description: The Ruta de los Guardianes Centenarios (Centenary Guardians Route) in Tacoronte takes you on a magical journey through an enchanted forest. You’ll be utterly captivated by the charms of the majestic, centuries-old ‘viñátigo’ trees; a species native to the Canary Islands dating back 800 years that will take you back in time. This route is also part of Anaga Rural Park. You’ll discover a host of ancient tree and shrub species, including heather, lime, Ilex canariensis, fire trees and laurels. You’ll cross bridges and caves including the Cuevas de Toledo where materials for glass were extracted in the olden days, giving you a tangible connection to the island’s past.
Stats:
Distance: 5 km
Duration: 3 hours
Elevation: 290 meters
Route: circular
Map:
The first thing I spotted was a Hobbit’s home. I am certain of it. 😉 I am also certain that I was in a magical place. It was such a lovely hike. It was peaceful and I expected to see a fairy at any moment. (I think they were hiding.)
These were bigger, so probably not for Hobbits:
What a beautiful day we were having! The hikes were both spectacular! It was time to visit a town and a couple of gardens.
We went to La Orotava, one of the most authentic villages of the island. I really enjoyed the gardens. The Hijuela del Botánico (“botanist’s plot,” according to Google Translate) is home to a diverse variety of plants from Tenerife, a tranquil space which is free to explore with a wonderful example of a dragon tree.
The Church of La Concepción
This is the municipality’s main parish church and is considered the best piece of Baroque architecture in the Canary Islands. Construction began in 1498 and was later extended. The structure suffered considerable damage due to the seismic shifts caused by the eruption in 1706 and was therefore rebuilt in 1767 exactly as we see it today, largely thanks to the contributions made by the wealthier echelons of society and even the Spanish Crown. It was declared a National Historic Monument in 1948.
The Baroque façade features elaborate stonework, whilst the inside of the building preserves its Neoclassical style with a structure divided into three naves. The main chapel is presided over by a Genoese tabernacle made of marble and jasper, which was designed by Giuseppe Gaggini in 1823. Other works of art include religious statues by the local sculptor Fernando Estévez and a significant array of Sacred Art.
It was difficult to get a great picture because it is so big. There is a dome you can just barely see in two of the pictures. We didn’t go inside.
More views of the village:
I strolled through the Plaza de la Constitución. There actually isn’t really much to see, but I was entertained by the signs featuring Hollywood stars that lined the walkway. Can you name the movies?
My last stop (Michael was done walking) was Jardín Victoria. These gardens are known for their French-influenced style and terraces that cascade down a hillside. The Victoria Gardens were originally built as a mausoleum for Diego de Pinte, the Marquise of Quinta Roja, because the bishopric had denied him the right to a Christian burial. However, he was eventually granted that right and was never buried in the Gardens.
The gardens were part of the Marquis of Quinta Roja’s mansion until the early 20th century. The mansion was later converted into the Victoria Hotel and then became municipal property.
Let’s focus on the mausoleum for a bit. It is quite ornate and full of symbolism.
Classic columns: Like the entrance to a Masonic temple, the front of the mausoleum is guarded by two classic terraced columns decorated with ribbons of flowers and fruits, with the pineapple and the open pods protruding with their seeds as a symbol of fertility, life and immortality.
Celtic cross: The mausoleum was originally crowned by a Romanesque temple on which an Irish cross was erected, an attribute from the Celtic revival of the 19th century, which was used as a symbolic resource of the basic premise that the intellect, as a servant of the spirit, endures about the rest.
The tree of life: The upper part of the access door is decorated with floral motifs reminiscent of the representation of the Tree of Life, symbol of earthly existence. In turn, it is topped with the fleur de lis and the crown of the Marquis, both defining elements, next to the coat of arms that ends the cover, of the nobility of the deceased.
The sun and the moon: Keeping the entrance door to the mausoleum, there are two small walls that visually indicate the access and are triangularly topped longitudinally. On the front of each of them the sun and the moon are represented respectively, elements of the universal and Christian cosmogony that exemplify the beginning and the end.
The omega letter: At the bottom of the door, the Greek letter omega stands out in relief and in white on black. This symbol is the representation of the end of life, while it is the last letter of the Greek alphabet. Likewise, it is also associated with a representation of perfection.
Poppies: The representation of the opium poppy is frequently used in the iconography of the ancient Mediterranean civilizations, for its symbolic and ritual value. It is the pagan symbol of the eternal dream. In addition, they are related as a mechanism to obtain altered states of consciousness.
An inscription from his mother: One of the three empty niches has a Latin inscription that explains the reasons for the monument: “His mother, Mrs. Sebastiana del Castillo, dedicates this monument as a consolation given to the nostalgia of a person so dear and as compensation for the insult that religious intolerance tried to infer a kindly Christian gifted and noble and already dead.”
The grenade: The solitary image of a grenade, one of the most widespread symbols of Freemasonry, is also represented on the cenotaph door. According to this, the pomegranate, with its solid cover, would represent Masonry in its perfection, while its inner fruits would represent the imperfection of the masons that compose it.
We stayed at Apartamentos Estrella del Norte that night. It was lovely!!
