British Summer time begins in La Palma

Goodbye winter, Hello summer.  And as if to order our very late snowfall is melting on the mountains.  Most winters there is snow up at Roque de Muchachos, the top of the island at 2426m above sea level, but this year it came as low as 1000m which was especially amazing as it was near the end of March.  We can actually see the ridge of the Caldera right from the finca and the photo below was taken from our car park area today, looking inland.

 This photo was taken from the same place a couple of days ago on zoom and you can still see the snow.  Brrr, a bit chilly up there I think!   

We have never been 'treated' to snow here as the finca is much lower down at 500m above sea level and so whilst it is still a little snowy at the top, we are basking in glorious sunshine and surrounded by spring flowers.

 I'm starting to think I like this British Summer time ...

Looking good

I am in awe of people who can take a 'proper' photograph. And La Palma is certainly chocablock full of opportunities for the keen photographer.
But since I am firmly encamped in the 'point, shoot and hope for the best' brigade, I can hardly complain if the results are not quite as awesome as this photo.


You are looking here at one of the seating areas on the finca - and the view of course. We call it the mirador, meaning lookout point, since it was called this by a walking guide who stayed here. The mirador itself faces due west but the whole of the north coast can be seen from the finca, right from Juan Adalid in the north west and the Mirador de Molino of Barlovento in the north east. Apart from overlooking the sea, it also overlooks the next village of El Tablado and, if the conditions are right, you can even hear people talking in the village despite the fact that it is around 1.4 km away as the crow flies. And of course you can see the goats and hear the tinkling of their bells as they gamble down the sig-zag path from El Tablado, part of the GR130, to the caves where they live in the barranco.
To the south, the ridge of the Caldera can also be seen high above us. It looks like a rather understated onlooker, peering over the shoulders of the green-covered ridges in front of it. On clear days it is backed by an intense blue sky and in winter has the occasional covering of snow.

It's probably a good thing that I'm not SLR competent otherwise the camera would hardly ever be out of my hand.