A quick look on one of the many websites will reveal some short notice bargains to be had. And since we had heard that the best group on La Palma – Manifold – were playing at Los Cancajos, we took little persuasion to head south, bags packed.
Not long after we had checked in to the aparthotel Costa Salinas, we were down at the sea for a spot of snorkeling across the bays of Los Cancajos. The water, particularly around the breakwaters, is azure blue and stunningly clear and there are always plenty of fish to be seen - dorada, parrot fish, trumpet fish, barracuda, etc – plus you can dive down for the empty urchin shells. If you go around the far side of the breakwater, it can be quite exhilarating as there is quite an impressive drop-off to the sea bed.
Although we could have utilized the very good self-catering facilities provided, one treat leads to another and so for dinner we headed along to Las Olas and enjoyed an excellent buffet there. At 10 euros per person it really is excellent value.
And we still had the group to go! If you ever get the chance to see Manifold, then you really shouldn't miss it. After two hours of rock and roll hits with a few ballads thrown in, all filled with energy and fun, we felt we had just been to some London extravaganza (and in a way we had since, in a multi-national line-up, two of the lads are east Londoners...) . Unfortunately, I don't have a single photo but you can look them up on here http://www.millseyspages.com/music_pages/manifold/manifold.html
The next day, was a good opportunity for us to go walking (write-up to follow next week on www.GR130-lapalma.blogspot.com) and, after a rather late start, headed off from Santa Cruz up past Puntagorda, eventually surfacing on the main road at El Granel. It was fifteen kilometres of almost every conceivable type of terrain including some mountain scrambling and cactus dodging. Although we didn't quite reach our goal, it was still a good feeling of achievement.
And this was all on the big day of the 'Little Week' when the throne of the Virgin Mary is carried down from the church of Las Nieves to the square in Santa Cruz with a mile long procession of Palmerans in traditional costume.
What amazes me is how you get such a large percentage of the population to dress up, from children to grandma and all points in between, 'youths' included. But of course it's the children that steal the show.
(Next week is the 'Big Week' when the dwarves who have been living in the mountains all year get a chance to come out and entertain by dancing the polka through the streets. You just never can tell with these dwarves.)
As it happened, we finished our walk a little before the procession was due to arrive – well, a couple of hours. We hung around for a bit – definitely looking out of place in shorts and with walking poles – and decided that maybe it was time to be responsible parents and head for the hills were the cat and chickens would appreciate a little attention.
Yep, La Palma can be so boring sometimes .... must be why I'm yawning.
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