TRAVEL
Bienvenido to Tenerife
The Lady of Spain by Rebecca Underwood
Los Cristianos
A local resident!
Mugen
Teide National Park 30 | www.life-mags.com
Tenerife, at 785 square miles, is the largest of the Spanish Canary Islands, and continues to attract hordes of visitors from all over Europe. Those seeking a comfortable snooze on a sandy beach, and yearning to be soothed by a warm, tropical climate, will be richly rewarded. A number of South Tenerife’s golden sand beaches, including Fañabé, Playa del Duque, Torviscas and El Médano have achieved the coveted Blue Flag status (awarded by the Foundation of Environmental Education). For ardent explorers, there are lush forests, arid deserts and the majestic Anaga Mountains, which are located in the northeast of the island, occupying the greenest part of Tenerife and reaching up to 1024 metres. Another popular site is Mount Teide, an active volcano, which forms part of the Teide National Park, covering 47,000 acres. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, Mount Tiede attracts more than 3 million visitors annually. Novice hikers, heading for the Teide National Park, which stretches across the centre of the island, may consider starting off at the El Portillo Visitor’s Centre and embark on the relatively easy 5.3 kilometre trail to Cuesta de La Fortaleza. Take the opportunity to discover some of the most common plants including brooms, laburnums, summit roses, catmint and flixweed. Admire the towering Canarian
pine trees and as you pass by La Fortaleza, pause for a while and admire the stunning scenery. Prior to your expedition, stock up on supplies, and head for the Mercado La Pepa, an indoor food market, located on the top floor of the Passarela Oasis Shopping Centre on Avenida San Francisco in Los Cristianos. Select your food from a large number of food and drinks businesses, including a wide range of vegan options, and then make your way to the open air terrace to sample some goodies. I ordered papas arrugadas, the national dish, which consists of wrinkled potatoes served with mojos (tasty paprika and coriander sauces), and Tenerife’s national speciality coffee, the Barraquito, which is made with condensed milk, espresso coffee, frothy milk, lemon zest and Licor 43, Spain’s most popular liquor. Served in a tall clear glass, to display the layers of ingredients, this blend of flavours is simply scrumptious. I settled in Los Cristianos, one of Tenerife’s most popular holiday resorts, which is located on the south coast. A leisurely stroll along the promenade, beside the bustling harbour, reveals a host of opportunities for beach babes, including scuba-diving, snorkelling, water-skiing, jet-skiing, fishing charters, kayaking and canoeing. continues overleaf...