In various places in Tenerife, I noticed Scottish flags (blue background with a white X). I knew a lot of Britons visited and retired here, but this explanation seemed inadequate for the number of flags I saw. At the ferry terminal, in an official-looking position, the Scottish flag was flying together with the national and provincial colors. I double checked: the Scottish and Tenerife flags are the same (1).
The Ferry to the neighboring Island if Gran Canaria had a small outside deck on the back, where I enjoyed the view and fresh air and sea spray. The ferry was almost empty; it is low season here. There were a total of only 11 foot passengers (although more were travelling with their cars). The seas were moderate, as our destination was to leeward. The seas and winds increased as we rounded the headland near Las Palmas, and the waves were breaking vigorously on the headland rocks.
The bustling port at Las Palmas is enormous, with cargo ships and fuel tankers coming and going. The port also seems to be a place for refitting: I noticed an Arctic exploration ship from Halifax hauled out of the water (on the hard), but still flying the Canadian ensign, with a Spanish courtesy flight fluttering from the starboard shrouds. The port area is so large that the bus took almost 15 minutes to make its way to the exit.
Gran Canaria's shape is like an orange, with the stem at Las Palmas (pivoted about 45 degrees east of true north) and a leaf at the end at PĂ©ninsula de de Isleta. I lingered in the afternoon on the 3 km long Playa (Beach) de Las Canteras. One particularly large wave nearly swept my shoes into the sea (2)
Sitting at a seaside café at sunset, I noticed Mt. Teide on Tenerife (3) looming above the mist in the gloaming. Before sunset, there was too much light, soon there would be too little. I enjoyed the Teide view during the brief interval.
During a long walk along the beachside promenade, the lighthouse on the headland was visible. Judging by its brightness and location, it is a major landfall light with a distinct flashing pattern: 1 flash, 8 seconds dark, 3 flashes, 8 seconds dark, 1 flash etc.
(1) There are different theories for why the flags ate the sane: (a) Scotland and Tenerife share the same patron saint (St. Andrew); (b) the islanders flew the flag in defiance of a failed attempt by Lord Nelson to capture the Island during the Napoleonic Wars; (c) they are not the same flags: they are slightly different shades of blue.
(2) Fortuitously, there was a running shoe store about 50 yards from where I was; thankfully it was unnecessary.
(3) About 75 miles away, as the crow flies.
Leaving Tenerife
La Playa de Las Canteras at Las Palmas
Close call with my shoes
View to the southwest
Mt. Teide on Tenerife looming above the mist. (I was pleasantly surprised my mobile phone camera could sort-of capture the image.)
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