Spanish La Palma, Canary Islands
As if caught in a floating half of the Iberian Peninsula, Europe, South America, Tazacorte Waterfrontand brought off the coast of West Africa, La Palma, there is something in the soul of every continent. The steepest island in the world is only 16 miles wide and 8,000 feet high, La Palma is a huge variety of ecological and historical significance of the 1492.
That was the year that the first Spaniard, Alfonso Fernandez de Lugo landed on the island of La Palma. The island will soon stop ground staff to the west to the New World. Columbus was necessary to stop for rest and supplies. The City of Santa Cruz has established itself as the three most important ports in the world, Hispanic. I also saw the departure of thousands of immigrants in South America, as Cuba, where the Islanders established tobacco plantations.
When we visited the Santa Cruz we found a quiet town. That’s fine and fine old colonial buildings. There are white churches and special accents of dark volcanic stone houses decorated with colorful wooden balconies. I have a copy of the ship Columbus’ Santa Maria at the end of the Plaza de la Alameda, a nice old laurel trees in the shade.
The Island Bay trees that now form the Los Tilos Biosphere Reserve north of Santa Cruz protected. The name derives from Los Tilos, the Spanish word, Santa Cruz Balconiesfor smelly because smelly laurels when he fell.
We joined a guided trek through Los Tilos, horrified and colored green. Our guide to Ilonka-Natour Trekking, said that more than 2000 unique plants and 70 types of vegetation in La Palma. The mountains are tapestry fig tree, orange trees, palms, banana plants, shrubs, trees, laurels and dragon trees, tree, only the central part of the island, and that grow several hundred years.
“Banana is boozers,” said Ilonka way to stop a banana orchard in San Andres y sauces, another colonial village of cobbled streets and narrow alleyways. “Kilo of bananas per 1000 gallons of water.” So, avocados, which are much less demanding on the water supply of the island, instead of slowly banana farming.
At present, a huge stain on the island country of bananas, giant leaves swaying in the wind. Some areas are covered with plastic to prevent bruising large banana leaves, but local restaurateur says that bananas are grown, so they are less palatable.
A taste, as it turned out, special here. We met during a trip to the tastiest treats on the western side of the island, known as the sunny side. As he approached a small almond farm farmer’s wife appeared bag roasted, sugared almonds buy us. Tazacorte, Puritan village clear kitschy street furniture, drinking sugar cane juice to push the old-fashioned hand-mill. This allows us to be another kick to climb the cliff to the skyline.
We saw goats roaming the hills north-east of Coastbest joy is like goat cheese, roasted pine, brush over the top in a typical Canary Islands named Mojo Verde sauce. Crushed coriander and garlic sauce provocatively combines smoky flavor. La Palma is an excellent goat cheese, greens, because a variety of freely grazing goats.
Spoiled the goat is a fantastic view of the island most majestic Caldera de Tarubiente feature. This is the snowy peak of an extinct five km wide crater of the volcano summit and the trail runs along the north-south spine of the island. West winds caused the clouds to pour ridge like milk spilled in slow motion. From there you can see the tips of the other Canary Islands, Tenerife and La Gomera.
After all the hiking and fantastic views of the sea, we were ready for a day at the beach. Los Cancajos at Santa Cruz, the sand is black volcanic eruptions, formation of the island. Lava-rich soil of La Palma is also high quality wines. Glass of Malvasia wine, once remarked of Shakespeare and anise seed bread, we enjoyed the view from Santa Cruz to the miniature skyline in the warm sea.
Very few ships land in Santa Cruz. There are ferries to the Spanish mainland tourists in the afternoon and some other Canary Islands. This means that very quiet place. This rich history, food color and black and white sandy beaches of green peaks provide a unique atmosphere of La Palma.