The Purple Penguin

When we left home the weather forecast was for colder weather with possible frost and that four letter word (snow). So we’ve headed south. Flying out of Gatwick (and I did try to get us an overland route but the one I wanted was our full holiday budget for the next year or two) so we went the day before and stayed at the airport (Premier Inn which is right at North Terminal and serves an excellent gammon steak – good enough that the woman next to us told Joe he’d made a good choice and Joe had to agree). Very early morning flight to Tenerife and of course the people sitting behind us had nasty colds and coughed/sneezed/blew noses the whole flight. Here’s hoping our masks did something because they sure weren’t wearing any! You’d think the pandemic would have taught us something.

Met at the airport by our taxi and off to the hotel. We were actually dropped off a block from the hotel so had a nice walk up. Sunshine and warm! Dropped off our bags and went for a walk along the beach at Los Cristianos, stopping off at one of the bars for a Sangria Cava and watching the people/beach. Dithered about food until everything was closed, so had a drink and some crisps until places opened back up again. We had spotted a nice menu and the place was very close to the hotel so we went to Taberna Cantabra and had a really good tapas meal. Joe had beer and I had more sangria.

Up a little later this morning to get the ferry. We stayed a reasonable walk to the ferry port, even with our rucksacks! Got to the port and even checked into the hotel, then grabbed a coffee while we waited for the ferry. Managed to get our favourite right at the front seats on the ferry and over to La Gomera – takes just under an hour. I had booked another ferry to Playa Santiago, which is where we’re staying, but our ferry was a little late coming in. We asked and as it’s the same line they actually held the ferry for us – even though we were few minutes late due to running around trying to figure out where to go. Joe had pointed it out but there was also a big red sign saying hazard. But you should ignore that apparently and stick to the blue line. Phew. The weather got a bit rough on that ride but it was nice to see the coast.

Got to Playa Santiago and walked along the front to a ice cream shop. Had to stop for ice cream. Joe thought we’d walk to the hotel while I was saying ‘it’s on a cliff, let’s get a taxi to get rid of the bags’. Joe won the first round and we started climbing. Then discovered the ‘shortcut’ he thought he found wasn’t and deadended several times. The postwoman found us and directed us where to go which was the road with no pedestrian pavement and tight corners and steep. She said phone a taxi and even took Joe’s phone and called for us! So I got the second round. The taxi got us here safe and sound. Dropped off the bags and had a walk around to see the pools/gardens/restaurants while waiting for our room. Just as the room was ready it started to rain – so we’ve been relaxing in the room listening to the rain.