Hiking at Mirador de Samara and another visit to the south coast - Tenerife, the diverse island - 12

TravelogueSpain

9 Mar

Thur, 16th Sept. - Hiking at Mirador de Samara and another visit to the south coast

Today it's raining. At least that was the weather forecast for Puerto de la Cruz. And indeed, while we're having breakfast, it starts to drizzle. After breakfast I have to wait a few minutes before I can start, as I want to get the information on the pick-up on Sunday and the office of the local agency is still closed.

As I walk to the car, it starts to rain again. But I want to go to the Teide NP and there the sun shines anyway, right? At least it was always like that. If there are clouds, then they are on the coast or more often at medium altitude and the Teide was above the clouds. But today it seems to be different. Clouds and fog remain as I drive through the forest and even in El Portillo it rains. Not really much, but 9 degrees Celsius and rain is not what I am prepared for.

I start to think about alternatives, but then someone took a knife and made a clean cut. From one moment to the next I leave the clouds and the sun shines from a crystal clear blue sky. The temperature rises to 15 degrees, colder than the days before, but pleasant for a hike.

As I don't expect to make the trail around the Roques de García in the next few days, I stop at the visitor center and go to the area where all the other tourists go and take a few photos. Again today it is very crowded, a few big buses and even a jeep safari are waiting in the parking lot for their people to return.

I continue to the Mirador de Samara. The parking lot is not huge especially as hikers and people who just want to take a snapshot have to share it.

Today, for the first time, I miss the path I wanted to go [↗], and to this day I don't know why. Instead, I follow the official and marked hiking trail 13. Unfortunately, I have no idea how long it is and if it is even a circular trail. So I walk uphill for 45 minutes and when the trail starts to descend, I follow it briefly to find out if it turns in the direction I want. But no, not really. O.k., then I go back the way I already know.

It's my favorite trail here in the Teide NP so far. Maybe because it reminds me of the trails in Lassen Volcanic NP in the USA. Green trees, blue sky, and a black background. Very nice!

As I'm here in this area, I decide to take a look at Los Gigantes. Originally, I didn't have this place on my agenda at all. But it's only a few kilometers to drive, so why not. In the end, I don't even drive to the official viewpoint, but find a parking spot near a restaurant where I have a good view right from the street - nothing special, but still nice.

A week ago I wanted to have a look at the Magma Art & Congress Center, but I couldn't find it - or more precisely: I finally saw it when I drove by on the highway. So this is a good opportunity to make up for that visit.

Right now, there are no events going on there, but it is being used as a Covid 19 vaccination center. There aren't many cars parked there, so it doesn't seem busy. But I still don't want to go in. I park the car away from the entrance, grab my camera bag and walk around the base of the building. Very graphic and abstract, so the bright sun is not a problem, the shadows add extra elements to the image.

I'm not staying too long as there is nothing else to see here. The drive back to the hotel is a little bit annoying, as the traffic is heavy today. Back at the hotel, the sun is shining - and has been for most of the day.

For dinner, we drive down to town, as we want to go to our favorite restaurant, La Tasquita de Berna, and have another good fish of the day. Regrettably, we have to stick to water as I have to drive (climbing stairs is still not a good idea for Freya), but back at the hotel, we share a bottle of wine.

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