21-12-20

Last day on the trail! Time has run so fast…

Starting out from my hotel in Vilaflor, I first check out the local churches. Make sure their Nativity scenes are up to standard.

The other church just next to it, Santuario del Santo Hermano Pedro, is a boring baroque thing. But the Casa de los Solero dating back to the 17th century, is more interesting – a magnificent example of traditional Canaria architecture (according to the sign). Sadly there seems to be no money to keep it up…

Then I make my way out of town, past a viewpoint with Ermita de San Roque, floating on a bed of clouds.

Past some modern houses and a spa hotel, and then it’s back to the typical path and light, dry pine forest.

But it’s not boring for long. There is a whole sience to the watering system; all ages of pipes crisscrossing without apparent direction in the landscape… and then this:

Then it’s down into a deep gorge to cross the barranco on a high stone bridge.

There is a beautiful open water tank.

And then the path is crossing another barranco. There is a warning sign that it might not be possible to cross…

So I carefully check the water level and speed of flow, and then make the decision that it should be save to cross today.

Then it’s steeply down along a ridge line in the pine forest, with views of the rocky canyons on both sides.

Save down the steep stretch, it flattens out, I pass some agricultural areas and then pass the hamlet of Ifonche.

And finally I get to see – and also take a picture of – one of the lizards that I just heard in many places; but only because it’s already dead… roadkill unfortunately. It has a lovely silver underside; otherwise I probably would not have spotted it…

After it, even more spectacular views down to the deep blue sea open up; and it’s Christmas here as well!

The path again snakes along a steep mountainside.

After a second (or third?) lunchbreak in the sun I continue through the rugged landscape. Partially it has been used for agriculture at some point – the terraces are still visible, but not in use anymore it seems.

I’m starting to approach Arona, and the end of the trail; but there is two more highlights that I get surprised by.

Firstly some really beautiful caves.

And then the path crosses a last barranco, which is dug deeply into the landscape.

But then I arrive at the historic centre of Arona, by the Iglesia de San Antonio Abad – the end of the trail.

From there I take the bus to Los Christianos; a tourist heaven/hell… but nice sunset over the harbour visible from my hotel terrace!

Today a final 18 or so kilometers, with 1200m descent, and the full heavy backback. Funnily my legs seem to have got used to this – no complaints 😉

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