Roberto's Wall

Once upon a very long time ago ... so the legend begins  ...
I love those stories, don't you?  And La Palma has quite a few legends as you would of course expect of an island 'cast adrift from mainland life.'  The legend of Robert's Wall (El Pared de Roberto) does not disappoint as, in the best of traditions, it involves a young couple deeply in love.
Now as we all know, young couples in love will stop at nothing to be together.  Which is just as well because Roberto and his young lady rather inconveniently lived on opposite sides of the island.  Not to be thwarted however, the two would make the long and arduous journey to the top of the island where they met in a secret lover's tryst.
The course of true love never runs smoothly though and imagine poor Roberto's anguish when, arriving at their rendezvous point, he discovered an impenetrable wall blocking his path.

In desperation, poor Roberto called out that he would give his soul if he could reach the other side.  Only silence followed.
At this, Roberto rather rashly bettered his offer with a promise of both his body and soul if he could pass (he was after all very in love).   At that, the devil heard him and Roberto was immediately engulfed in a ball of flames and burst through the wall, disappearing to his death.
The next morning, his young lady was found laid dead.  Her body was taken to the Roque de Muchachos and laid to rest.  And to this day, the gap in the wall remains.

If you would like to walk through Roberto's Wall, you can find it by walking between the Roque de Muchachos and the Mirador Andenes.  If you don't want the sort of long walk that takes body and soul, then approach it from the mirador end from where it will only take you about ten or fifteen minutes to reach.  Although there are several smaller walls in the area (must have been a busy spot in the old days), Roberto's wall is the most impressive and just to make it crystal clear, it is marked with the sign, 'Pared de Roberto.'

Not only will you be able to appreciate the size of the wall which even today springs up abruptly as if from nowhere but the views on a clear day are beyond awesome.

Sea of Clouds

The weather on La Palma can be many things - and often at the same time around different parts of the island. In fact, when guests arrive here at the finca either at the cottage accommodation or bed and breakfast, they often ask, 'Is it always like this?' And that is no matter what the weather is doing. The answer to the question is, 'It's never always like anything'. (Incidentally though, if I may take the opportunity to mention it, that is the title of our book out on Kindle later this year - Is it Always Like This? And you might be relieved to hear, it's not just about the weather on La Palma but about our journey which led us to come and live on a finca in the most rural part of one of the smaller and less well-known islands in the Canaries and, yes, fun on the finca.)
But talking of weather, last week we enjoyed a particularly hot spell even at daybreak with the air like a pleasantly warm bath.
And this early morning warm air induced a phenomena known in the Canary Islands as El Mar de Nubes, The Sea of Clouds.

The photo above was taken from our car park area right here on the finca in Franceses, looking westward towards Santo Domingo de Garafia. The time was 07.25 in the morning - what an amazing spectacle to wake up to.

And this photo was taken a couple of minutes later looking eastwards towards Barlovento.
La Palma never ceases to amaze me.

Bus stops

A few years back, when we had family staying with us, a certain member of said family (mention no names) was rather taken with the bus stops on La Palma.  And ever since I have been receiving emails from said family member asking when on earth they can become a subject for a blog post. Patience is eventually rewarded - just like waiting for buses - and so, eventually, some three years later, here it is!
The area of Garafia, where our holiday accommodation is located, and Barlovento is lucky enough to have some lovely bus stops, generally painted in pastel colours and with the logo of the area.

However, all around the island they are of a similar building design, being of a solid construction with three walls, a built-in bench, a lovely layered wooden ceiling and a tile roof.  In fact, a miniature house!
Puntagorda though, in the north west of La Palma, I have to admit easily takes the prize for the best decorated bus stops with the most amazing interior murals.

They are of local scenes such as a market stall packed with fresh fruit and vegetables, ladies preparing the almonds or the church, complete with little balcony.  

Have a look for yourself - and I think you too will wonder why it has taken so long to dedicate a blog post to the bus stops of La Palma.

Oh and by the way, you will find that buses on la Palma generally run on time so better make sure you arrive early enough to enjoy being at the bus stop.

Tazacorte Banana Museum - Plaza Museo del Platano

You're probably wondering what a Banana Museum is. I must confess, I was wondering that myself (scratches head in a thoughtful way). Maybe it's all about old bananas past their sell-by date or a display of bananas through the ages or the historical importance of bananas or .. what? It was definitely time to check out the 'Plaza Museo del Platano' in Tazacorte - billed as 'probably the only banana museum in the world.'

The banana museum you will not be surprised to hear is located at what you might legitimately call the banana capital of La Palma. In fact, 85% of the municipality of Tazacorte is agricultural and most of that is given over to the production of bananas. What better place then for a banana museum than Tazacorte!

The museum is located below the main road which runs from the town towards the beach resort of Tazacorte down a narrow and steep road opposite the church. Incidentally, this road also takes you past the Hotel Hacienda de Abajo which is relatively newly refurbished bijou hotel which once was a historic mansion. However, the museum is also an attractive building in its own quiet way and is surrounded by attractive gardens in which to stroll.

Inside is a downstairs reception where the teeny entrance fee is paid in exchange for a free banana each and an edifying stroll around the museum. Upstairs is where the main exhibits are with two rooms of large and attractive information boards – who’d have thought that the banana plant isn't in fact a tree but a herb and that Fyffe were responsible from the outset for the success of the banana industry in La Palma! Interspersed with plenty of facts, figures and photos are banana-related relics such as wooden-handled shears for cutting straw which was used in packing, a 1950 machine which was used for washing the crops, old-fashioned scales and rough wooden supports for the bananas.

 

Lovin' the old Fyffes sign

At one end is a lovely open area which overlooks the banana plantations of Tazacorte and also right down to the sea. A great place to sit and enjoy the complimentary banana.

 

My opinion? (for what it’s worth). Yes, do go. You won’t be blown away by a mass of exhibits but you might well be surprised at the facts and figures. Plus your support is always appreciated for initiatives such as this.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10am till 1pm and from 4pm till 7pm. Saturday and Sunday only for previously booked visits. For more information on Tazacorte, check out our webpage here: http://www.holiday-lapalma.com/abouttazacorte.html