Back from La Palma: Part IV

On our final full day in La Palma, each family went their separate ways. Nuria and Luis had some friends that were also on the island, so they spent the day with them, and Arturo and Reyes decided to enjoy a relaxing day at the beach.

Jaime and I wanted to do something we couldn't do anywhere else. We would have liked to visit the brand new observatory, but it was too long of a drive. We thought about several volcano hikes, but it was too hot outside and they would have been too strenuous for the boys. Almost everything we wanted to do was either too long of a drive or too much for the boys. So, we headed up into the El Pilar Refuge area not far from where we were staying.

We drove through some of the area enjoying the view and looking for a trail to the top on one of the volcanoes. After seeing the steep trail that was in full sun, we took another route recommended by a local. He told us that there were nice vistas from the mountain with the ratio and TV antennae and that, not only could we drive a good portion of the way, but that the path was easy. I don't think the driving was super easy, but it was a good recommendation overall.

We parked the car and "hiked" for a bit up to the towers and a little beyond. From the top we could even see the tip of Mt. Teide on Tenerife. We were followed by beautiful dragonflies and butterflies along the way, one of which even landed on Alex's hat. There also happened to be a 90 kilometer horse "race" going on through the area, and the boys got really excited each time they got to see the horses.

The boys walked the entire way out, but then wanted to be carried most of the way back. It was a tiring excursion for them and they fell asleep almost as soon as they were back in the car. We drove back to the main road, found a place to park, and we all napped.

Once everyone was recharged, we headed to the town of Los Llanos de Aridane for a little lunch and then it was back to the "hotel" for some swimming before the boys bed time. All the adults had one last late dinner together to mark the end of our week in La Palma.

Sunday morning we packed up everything and headed to the port to meet our boat. Luckily it was on-time, but it still stopped in La Gomera before taking us to Tenerife. We me some friends for a quick dinner in the South before driving home. As always, it's nice to travel, but it's also nice to get back to familiar surroundings and especially to your own pillow.

Back from La Palma: Part III

Wednesday: Although there were big plans to visit the South of the island to hike around some volcanoes, then head to lunch, and then swim and play at another beach... we all got a late start on the day and spent too much time playing and wandering around the Villas.

We still headed South, but the lead car decided to go straight to the beach and skip the hiking. As luck would have it, the boys fell asleep in the car just as we arrived, so Jaime and I stayed with them while everyone else went down to the beach. I did finally convince Jaime to head down and take a quick swim before the boys woke up and it was time for lunch.

The Beach:

We planned to have lunch at the small bar/cafe on the cliff above the beach, but the wait was too long and it wasn't quite toddler friendly. So...we headed back to a Bodega carved right into the hillside that we passed earlier in the day. There was a small wait there as well, and we didn't eat lunch until nearly 4:30, but it was worth it. After such a late lunch, we all returned back to the apartment for a swim and then the boys were off to bed...

The Bodega:

On Thursday some of the guys were going to go spear fishing in the morning, and then we were suppose to have lunch (the loot from the fishing expedition) with one of Jaime's cousins that lives on La Palma...unfortunately, both Jaime's brother and sister woke up with different ailments, but feeling horrible. So, the plans were called off and each family sort of did their own thing. We didn't do much to speak of except hang around the Villas and then head into the town of El Paso for some groceries (it was our turn to cook dinner) and a little wandering around to look at the beautifully decorated town.

After lots of rest and medication, everyone was ready to go again by Friday. The two other families headed out earlier to fish and visit with cousins, while Jaime and I left a little later hoping the boys might nap on the drive up. The roads were so curvy and there were so many tunnels, that I don't think the boys even considered napping. They LOVED going through all the tunnels, each time asking for more "nunnels."

Part of the beautiful drive of steep mountains and deep ravines:

Eventually we met up with the rest of the group and followed them through amazing amounts of banana trees to the family cave. The yellow arrow points to where the cave is located: (click on it)

The cave is in a sort of "neighborhood" of caves and began many many years ago with Pedro's (Jaime's cousin) grandfather who started using the "cubby" as a fisherman's storage of sorts. Over time, they built it up and it evolved into a one bedroom abode complete with a dining table, a kitchen, electricity and running water (but no bathroom). No one actually lives here full time, it's more of a short term stay kind of place.

We all trekked down to the cave and hung out while mainly Pedro prepared a delicious meal of seafood, potatoes, and wine. The older kids played in the bedroom and closely around the area. Our guys were mostly confined to the dining room and the front porch. The ocean was just a bit too rough and too close for comfort.

Since the Ocean wasn't fit for swimming from the cave on this particular day, Pedro guided us to a grouping of man made ocean pools nearby. Everyone went for a refreshing swim except for the boys and me. I wasn't hot enough to want to swim and I just didn't want to get everyone's swim gear on for such a short visit. The boys enjoyed wandering around and looking at the fish. We only stayed for a little while and then had to head back to get the boys off to bed...with such an interesting day and no nap, they fell asleep almost as soon as we drove away.

Next Up:
Our last full day on La Palma

Back from La Palma: Part II

Monday morning began with breakfast and the boys playing and exploring the apartment and surrounding area. I think they loved being somewhere new and different. They liked throwing rocks off the patio, chasing the villa's cats, and venturing down our walkway all the way to the end, but not technically "out of bounds." They also liked collecting rocks, leaves, sticks and flowers on the way to Uncle "Tu-to's" (Arturo's) apartment next door as well as "nonnie nu-ie-a's" (tante Nuria's) place one more door down.

When Jaime needed to use the computer, we took them to play on the lawn in front of the reception office where they had other "goodies" guests could borrow. The boys especially liked the pool noodles, a basketball, and several cans of tennis balls. They enjoyed rolling the balls down a hill and then running to retrieve them just to head back up and start all over again. It was a great way to tire them out.

Anyhow, once everyone was ready, we headed out to the Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente for a little hiking and sightseeing. The Caldera is a massive depression 8km wide and surrounded by soaring rock walls. It was once thought to be a huge volcanic crater. Even though volcanic activity was key in its creation, scientists now believe that is was a majestically tall volcanic mountain that collapsed on itself and, through the millennia, erosion excavated this tall-walled amphitheater (as always, the pictures don't do it justice).

Access and parking for the trails is limited so we had to stop at the visitors center first to wait our turn for a parking pass. After about 30 minutes, our numbers were called and we headed up the mountain. Everyone geared up and we off we went. About mid way through our 2 mile hike, the boys decided to take a nap right in our carriers! Jaime and I tried to walk a little more carefully and fell behind the noise of our group to let them sleep as long as possible. They woke up about 10 minutes before we arrived back at our cars.

After hiking, it was lunchtime and then we went back to the apartment for a bath and some relaxing before the boys bedtime while the rest of the group headed to another beach.


On Tuesday we drove to the "big city" of Santa Cruz e La Palma. On the way through the mountains (this island has LOADS of tunnels which, by the way, the boys were VERY excited about) the clouds were literally pouring over the mountains. I've seen clouds like this before, but never where you could actually see them spilling over...

Anyhow, back to Santa Cruz the place where Jaime's mom was born and raised. We stopped to look at his grandma's old house (flat) which on the busiest main road and right across from the city Mercado. After a quick stroll through the tiny market, Jaime and I took the boys and wandered around town a bit while the rest of Jaime's family ran some errands. Afterward, it was time for lunch.

After lunch we went to see the virgin de La Nieves which is the patron saint of La Palma and the namesake of Jaime's mom, Nieves. It's a beautiful little hilltop town with a quaint church that houses the virgin. The children played in the small plaza while the adults took turns admiring the inside of the church.

What did we do after visiting the virgin???? Yep, it was off to yet another beach. We played and swam for a bit and then headed back to get the boys in bed somewhat close to a normal time.

Up Next: A bodega and a cave