The micro

One of the things that I love most about Los Machines in Franceses is the width of the street because it is definitely of the single track variety.  If you time it right, you will spot the bus squeezing through.  The locals don't call it the 'bus' though, nor the 'guagua' but the 'micro.'  Of course, it was all built long before cars - and heaven forbid, buses - were even considered as a mode of transport in the north.  If a couple of fully-laden donkeys could pass each other, then there was enough room.

But the bus service here is surprisingly good with a two-hourly service throughout the day beginning at 6 am and finishing at 8.30 pm (weekdays).  This is vastly improved from the previous service of only three buses a day.   Nowadays, we use the bus service quite frequently to either take us to a start point for a walk or to take us back to the car or home.  

And whilst there are bus stops across the north, the micro will happily stop for you anywhere providing that you are standing in a place safe for it to stop and that he sees you.  Make sure you raise your hand and, if in doubt, jump up and down too!

Village of the Little Cross

This is a lovely little hamlet called La Crucita - the Little Cross. It is in the north just to the east of Gallegos - which is the village next to us in Franceses. For reasons you can probably guess, it is often overlooked. But it is one of our favourites.
It is one of those places that looks - to me - as if it has been put it there for a bit of a dare.
If you are thinking of visiting, then I suggest (unless you want a longer walk) you drive down to Gallegos, a village which is an education in itself, and walk across. That way you won't miss the most amazing collection of caves on the way. There are more there than I have seen anywhere else on the island, practically multi-storey.
And by the way, if you are lucky enough, you will meet some wonderful people in La Crucita. It seems they are always pleased to see you, smiling and nodding as if it is you doing them a favour instead of the other way around.
One time in particular, I paused to admire a front garden filled with all sorts of vegetables.
'Would we take some beans?' an old man working the land wanted to know.
Of course we would, we replied. He then invited us into his house - he had something to show us. It turned out to be a large calabaza - a pumpkin - and he insisted that we should take this too.
But that's La Palma for you, people give.