As we mentioned to many before we embarked on our winter break, this year we decided to take both mums away with us for the now-traditional dose of Christmas sun.
The solution came with a recommendation to visit north Tenerife - and so the adventure began!
The solution came with a recommendation to visit north Tenerife - and so the adventure began!
We were immediately taken by the landscape - wild Atlantic, fertile farmland and lots of rocks - punctuated by blissfully sleepy villages of white and terracotta.
Our home for the week is the whiter of the cottages tucked under terraces overlooking the coast.
Our home for the week is the whiter of the cottages tucked under terraces overlooking the coast.
Stuart was quick to slip into hunter-gatherer mode, as our back garden contained plenty of produce. Papaya for Christmas breakfast.
I managed to indulge in a little light painting - mainly of the abundant flora in the neighbourhood. Mum also paints, but the morning tea comes first.
The back garden
Surely one of my more memorable Christmas mornings! A stunning blush over the rooftops looking east melted into a glorious day.
Our cottage was located 100m (of steep rocky path..) away from Las Aguas, a part of the village of San Juan de la Rambla.
The Rambla in question - one of my favourite finds of the trip - is a centuries-old cart track around the north coast, winding between terraces and tiny villages, clinging to the cliffs above the Atlantic.
I can still hear the surf pounding the rocks....such a wonderful sound to fall asleep to.
I can still hear the surf pounding the rocks....such a wonderful sound to fall asleep to.
The hustle and bustle of San Juan de la Rambla. Just like Princes Street really.
Punta del Hidalgo, up on the north-east coast, where the crazy volcanic valleys tumble into the sea.
Calling all tree huggers! This island is a tree paradise, and we had to visit the big daddy of them all - El Drago. This dragon tree is aged at over a thousand years, and is a truly spectacular sight.
Plant geek that I am, it was a great moment when I realised that the things up the aloe spikes were... baby aloes! Hundreds of the tiny wee things just waiting to drop off and start life in the warm volcanic soil.
And for the bird geeks... barbary partridge - one of a truly amazing variety of birds (and reptiles, and butterflies, and a very leggy centipede) to be viewed from our back garden.
The island is not all coast, however, and just a few dozen hairpin bends up the road we found the Corona forest - a band of Canarian pine stretching around the treezone of the volcano. A huge flock of canaries was serenading us as we had our picnic.
Ah yes, the volcano. It is not often I have had the thought 'bit cloudy today, better head up the volcano'; but that is exactly what happened here. Misty on the coast? Head up to the clean, thin air of the monumental El Teide; a unique landscape which changes minute by minute with the light.
Top of the world; the 'lunar landscape' of El Teide
We hope you all had a great festive season wherever you were; we shall almost certainly be back to sample more of the trees, wildlife, paths, food, hospitality and sun of this really rather wonderful island.
But for now.... Bon Papillon reopens on Wednesday 8th January!
But for now.... Bon Papillon reopens on Wednesday 8th January!
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