GR130 Camino Real Puntagorda to Tijarafe

With a quiet Sunday looming ahead and most jobs being of the non-urgent nature, we decided to treat ourselves to a walk - for part of the day at least. However, with so many walking trails straight from the door and even more a short drive away, it can be hard to decide. But there was one section of the GR130 Camino Real in particular that was calling me.

It is sometime since we walked the GR130 Puntagorda to Tijarafe section and on that occasion, we got a bit lost right at the end, in among the numerous concrete farm tracks and with no help from signs. In fact, that time, we ended the walk by climbing up a hill in someone's field and then shinnying over the crash barrier onto the road just before Tijarafe. Definitely some room for improvement there!

GR130 Blaze - a bit like buses, sometimes none and then they pop up everywhere

However, in general the route is very well signposted and it's a fun, simple walk.
To begin the walk, you can start at the clock tower in Puntagorda and from there head uphill towards the main road. A couple of minutes later, you'll pick up the signs and you're on your way!

 Now you're on the route proper and can start enjoying the cobbled paths that pass by an interesting selection of old traditional houses, a windmill and the beauty of La Palma's countryside.

Día de Todos los Santos - All Saints Day

I will be the first to admit that La Palma likes nothing better than a jolly good fiesta. In fact almost anything, noteworthy or not, can have its own special day. For example, La Fiesta del Entierro de la Sardina, the Fiesta of the Funeral of the Sardine. However, fiestas are not to be confused with  religious days, which are often Public Holidays. 
And one of these very special religious days is the  Día de Todos los Santos - All Saints Day - which is held on 1st November. Here on La Palma it is normally called El Dia de los Difuntos, the Day of the Deceased. 

This is a day which is dedicated to remembering, not just the saints, but also those who have gone on before such as relatives, friends and neighbours. There is a saying, 'Nadie más muerto que el olvidado' - Nobody is more dead than the forgotten. And in Spain, they say it with flowers thus making sure nobody is forgotten.

Prior to the day, cemeteries are given a spruce up and flower shops begin the task of trying to make sure there are enough flowers. In the larger towns and cities, people are literally queuing up to buy flowers. But even in smaller places, if you leave buying your flowers until the last moment, they will have run out. 

A rather improbable venue for a celebration, the cemetery, becomes a hive of activity on 01 November, with swathes of people turning up every few minutes with arms full of flowers. At our village in the north of La Palma, groups of cheerful local ladies trim, tweak and tidy the blooms into beautiful arrangements, sprays and posies with which they decorate not just tiered vaults but also the ancient graves. In a jamboree of festive colour, a celebration of life gradually blossoms.

And so, one of the lovely things about the Day of the Deceased is that the cemeteries are not just a place for sadness, but also for happiness and laughter when recalling the good times. There may be sobbing or singing but always there is an over-riding sense of support for each other. It is certainly a bitter-sweet experience of remembering and celebrating all rolled into one.

It really is a question of flower and glory, for ever and ever.
I think we can say Amen to that.

San Andres and Marine Walk to Charco Azul and Puerto Espíndola - Part II

On our way now from the beautiful little village of San Andres to the Puerto de Espíndola, this the second part of our blog post - you can see the first part here: http://holiday-lapalma.blogspot.com.es/2017/03/san-andres-and-marine-walk-to-charco.html

Although the walk is very easy and quite short, there are many things to see along the way and of course even a bit to learn. For example, you'll be able to read from one of the information boards about how the settlement of San Andres was the most important trading centre in the north-east of La Palma, especially in the 16th and 17th century. It's hard to imagine what it was like that far back!

But the tiny port of 'La Cuevita' that is passed along way was doubtless key and you can still see the winch that was used in more recent times to get boats in and out of the water. Before the advent of the fantastic roads we have now, it was

Dolphin Spotting from Tazacorte

Our latest adventure was the very much awaited for boat trip from the Puerto de Tazacorte.

This was the big one on my List of Things to do on La Palma and I can't tell you how long I've waited for this! Well, if pressed, probably 15 years but with a whole lot of other things clamouring for attention, it's only in the last few years that it is has doggedly moved up to pole position. But still held held back by the self-closing doors of time and opportunity.

Until as luck would have it (and with David's family over on holiday) we found ourselves staying at one of the