Puerto de la Cruz with Lido Martianez from the eastern end of town – La Paz – I hope you appreciate my walk up the hill!

The coast by the Playa Jardin – people seem to like making cairns with the pebbles

others like taking photos of the cairns that people make

Near the west end of town is the Cementario Catalico San Carl

A plant at last – Asteriscus maritimus – suitably by the sea

On the trip we had to visit Loro Parque of course. It is a bit irrelevant to say it but it is worth seeing. I don’t like performing animals so didn’t watch the shows but the animals and plants are good

A relatively new attraction is the Katandra treetops where you traverse a walkway and get close to the birds

really close

some animals are tricky to photograph but you don’t need a fast shutter speed to catch a sloth

Though otters move quicker

The Risco Bello is a private garden at the top of the Casino Taoro hill – its a steep climb up but we made it and the garden is a water garden, set on the side of a hill with views over the town

It is a garden with many different themes

– all attractive

My favourite garden is the Sitio Litro – seen here with the group

and my favourite spot is the cafe terrace there

Of course we had to go up Teide but the recent heavy snow meant the road was closed until the day we went – and then it was very busy because of the locals all wanting to play in the snow. The roads to and from Teide in the caldera were one-way only and it was a long and slow drive

but the views were worth it – especially because of the snow. Here is snow, teide low hills and the clouds beyond

it was all quite remarkable

and more beautiful than usual

and the perfect place to eat a banana stolen from the restaurant at breakfast!

and the rocks all around are magnificent – here is the group in front of God’s finger and behind our guide

oh – and the Drago Millenario – the thousand year old (maybe) dragon tree (Dracaena draco) at Icod de los Vinos