Monday, 15 April 2024

Sailing from Santa Cruz, Isla La Palma, to San Sebastián de La Gomera

This is our second night on Seabourn Quest, as we head from the island of La Palma to our next port on the island of La Gamora. Last night we sailed from Las Palmas—different spelling—on the island of Gran Canaria to the island of La Palma. Yes, it’s confusing, but you can blame the Spanish. 

The Quest is an absolutely extraordinary small ship, beautifully refurbished in 2019. But she deserves a full blog to herself, which I will create later on our journey. For now I return to last Friday and another full-day tour from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.

Friday, 12 April 2024

Las Palmas

Today’s tour, “The North of Gran Canaria with Wine Tasting," starts at a bus stop right across from our hotel. Part of the tour title is correct--we visit a number of places across the north of the island, from east to west. But the second part of the title is a misnomer. We do not stop for a wine tasting at all, but for a tasting of local cheeses (with one glass of wine), all of which seem to taste the same--a small glitch in an otherwise interesting and scenic tour.

The tour bus drives west from Las Palmas through a series of tunnels carved in the mountains. All of the roads here (and on the other Canary Islands as well), are newly-built and well-maintained, making the journey through and across the mountainous terrain very pleasant.

Our first stop is the historic town of Arucas, where we can admire the Neogothic exterior of the Church of San Juan Bautista, constructed of local lava stone from 1909 to 1977 (arch. Manuel Vega y March).

Church Spire

Chapel Used During the Years of Church Construction

Inner Courtyard of Historic Home

Village Main Street

Side Streets Rise Up Steep Hills 

Another banana plantation is next on the itinerary. Canarian bananas are much smaller than the ones we are used to and serve mostly as pig feed. 

The next stop, Firgas is a small and scenic village whose central square, Plaza de San Roque, is full of plaques and artwork dedicated to representing the various towns and villages across the island. It is also a good place for views of the fertile Aegete valley.

Historic Town Hall

Playa de Agaete, where we stop for lunch, is a beach resort and ferry terminal for reaching other islands.

The Aegete Hills are the site of the only coffee plantation on the island. We have for a brief tour and a taste of the very strong coffee that is grown, roasted and brewed here.

After all the coffee we are sure to stay awake on the ride back to Las Palmas and our hotel.