21-12-16

Lovely morning in my lonely campsite.

As usual, I have no plan – so I start out by stopping at the nearby Area Recreativa de La Caldera to use the sanitary facilities, and then stroll a 100m along the road where there finally is mobile phone coverage – so I can do some research.

Conclusion is, I’ve been up too late – again. Won’t make it with the next stage into the Teide national park to catch the bus back. Also, I’m running low on water, and need to stock up on other things, so take the bus down to La Orotava.

I find a hotel in the historical part of town, where I can already check into my room to freshen up; and also have lunch in the courtyard restaurant. Then a stroll around town.

Then what? I decide to ‘drop by’ Puerto de la Cruz – because I can. Anything interesting to see there? Don’t know – I’ll find out. I love this freedom!

From the bus I see that it might be the same weather up on the path as yesterday… clouds hugging the mountainside. I really hope it clears up tomorrow, when I plan to continue to hike there!

First impression of Puerto de la Cruz: yes, this might be another tourist town.

But it also has some lovely old churches,

banana trees in the city parks,

a seaside pools area that is -at least inspired by- Cesar Manrique,

fancy, humouristic zebra crossings,

and a really nice street-art area by the old port.

I watch the sunset, as well as the moonrise, and two paragliders from a large cross (maybe ‘the’ Cruz?!), before having some spanish omlette for dinner and then calling it a day.

My phone thinks I have walked 11,5km today… but I can’t really believe that. Anyway, they’re not counting towards the trail; but I still had an eventful day.

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