Mount Teide...

It was still dark when Candace and I walked off the Africa Mercy and headed for the main bus station in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Our mission was to make it to near the top of Mount Teide, Spain's highest mountain and the third highest-standing volcano in the world. I say "near the top" because, unfortunately, we were unable to get the access permit to pass through the gate and hike the last 150 metres to the very top.

We took our bus from Santa Cruz, past La Laguna, and down to Peurto de la Cruz. Here we caught the 09h15 (once-a-day) bus to the lower cable way station halfway up Mount Teide. The lower cable way station is itself located at a lofty 2,356 m (7,730 ft) above sea-level, and the cable car goes up from there to a height of 3,555 m. The summit of Teide is 3,718 m (12,198 ft) above sea-level.  

We caught the cable car to the upper cable way station (a trip of a mere eight minutes) and walked along one of the scenic routes. Unfortunately, the weather was rather hazy and thus the view was not as impressive as it could have been. But it was still pretty amazing to be standing where once hot lava flowed down the mountain! It is really quite a barren landscape up there.

We then caught the cable car back down and had a late lunch at the little cafe at the bottom. Then soon after 16h00 we were clambering back into our bus and heading down through changing scenery as we wound closer and closer to the coast. We arrived back to our ship home after 20h00 in the evening, happy to have accomplished what we had set out to do!

 Candace and I heading to Teide.

 Mount Teide on the horizon!

 The cable car heads up the mountain.

 The shadow of our cable car.

 Approaching the upper cable way station.

 Down goes the cable car.

 Crazy lunar landscape!

 Looking towards the cable way.

 We walked along to this view point that looks out at the 1798 eruption...

 As shown here.

 Candace and I.

 Looking towards the summit of Teide.

 View points near the upper cable station.

 Time to head down the mountain...

 It's a very steep journey!

I love all the different colours.

 Safely at the bottom - looking up at the cable way.

 Driving back we passed some crazy landscapes.

View towards the lower cable station.

Steamer "La Palma"...

There are many interesting sights to see around Santa Cruz's harbour. Candace and I walked over to one of these sights last Friday. (3rd August.) The little steamer La Palma was launched in 1912 and is celebrating its centenary this year. She is one of the oldest surviving vessels of her time.

 Starboard side view.

 The ship now serves as a mooring platform for the pilot boats.

 The port bow of the ship.

 Flag commemorating 100 years flies in the main mast...

As does this flag from the forward flag staff.

 AFM across the bay undergoes lifeboat testing.

Africa Mercy docked in Tenerife.

Nautical images painted on the wall near the La Palma...

Including a painting (appropriately so) of the La Palma...

As well as Captain Edward J. Smith of the Titanic. Scratching my head about this one.

Cute little lighthouse by the ferry terminal in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Evening drive...

Candace and I drove to a lovely little village this past Thursday. (2nd August.) We were meaning to go to the beach for a swim, but the weather was rather cool and so we drove past the beach at Las Teresitas, up a mountain pass, and ended up at Igueste de San Andres. Here are some photos of our drive. The scenery and views towards the beach were quite stunning.

 The beach at Las Teresitas.

 Little boats at anchor behind the breakwater.

 Looking back towards Santa Cruz.

 The view towards Igueste - it is nestled in one of those valleys.

Fish traps in the sea.

 The windy, mountain pass.

 The town of San Andres from the top of the pass.

Coming back down to Las Teresitas.

Moving the AFM...

Up until this past Tuesday (31st July), the Africa Mercy was berthed all the way at the end of the cruise ship terminal in Tenerife. But we have now been moved down the dock and closer to town. The AFM needs to undergo an incline experiment in which the stability of the ship is tested. This cannot occur in a berth space where there is a lot of wave action - like where we were at the end of the dock. Hence the move. Although many of us are grateful for the move because it means a shorter walk into town!

 The two ferry companies that run between the islands - ARMAS and Fred Olsen.

 Pretty little village nestled between the hills.

 Port Authority building.

 Old lifeboats in front of the Port building.

 The Africa Mercy powers away from the dock.

 Small boats compete in a sailing regatta in the harbour.

 We cleared the breakwater...

 Before being pulled back into the harbour...

And shifted into our new position several hundred metres down the dock.

Port Authority flag flying along our dock's sea-facing wall.