Tenerife - Canary Islands
Traveler Al's "Almost a Last Hurrah' Voyages
 |
| Display at the Pyramids of Guimar Museum, Tenerife, Canary Islands |
I have learned that the blog pages are best viewed using Google's Chrome internet browser...and are a great deal easier to create using Chrome. Blogger.com is part of Google.
Sea
Day - Thanksgiving
November 24, 2011-
Thanksgiving Thursday was a sea day. We went southwest down the coast of Africa
to the Grand Canary
Islands. The Constellation’s
itinerary had been changed away from the Madeira Islands, part of Portugal due to labor unrest all over Portugal. Today would have been that stop, but we
stayed at sea instead.
Every dinner in the Constellation’s San Marco Restaurant, the main dining room. was very
elegant and special. There were some of the traditional American Thanksgiving
dinner items on the dinner menu such as turkey and cranberry items, but all the
meals in the dining room were very special and noteworthy.
 |
| Map of Tenerife Island in the Canary Islands. |
The ship docked early
Friday morning November 25th, 2011. Our tour group was off the ship
and out to the tour bus by 8 AM. There
was a band and local dance group on the
dock to greet us. They were wearing the local folk costumes. We drove through the city to visit the
mountains and to a National Park to view the active volcano, Mt. Teide.
 |
| Greeted by a folk music band and local dancers |
The Canary Islands are
formed from volcanic activity much like Hawaii.
Tenerife had its last eruption in 1906 on one side of Mt. Teide.
Grand Canary Island has had several more recent
eruptions.
There is a theory that
should a major eruption occur like at Mt. St. Helens in Oregon, that might
cause half of one of the Canary Islands to collapse in a massive landslide into
the Atlantic Ocean, the resulting mega-tsunami would cause gigantic waves on
the coasts of North and South America and into the Caribbean that would reach
as far as 16 miles inland from the seashore.
This theory is in dispute and there is no historic or geological
evidence of a mega-tsunami ever occurring in the Atlantic Ocean.
 |
| The location of the Canary Islands (Spain) and Madeira Islands (Portugal) in the Atlantic Ocean |
The Canary Islands are 200
miles east of Morocco, in North Africa. Christopher Columbus and his 3 small ships
stopped on the Canary Island of La Gomera (the next island south of Tenerife)
for provisions and fresh water as he started his voyage east to find the new
trade route to Asia’s spices and other riches.
 |
| Early morning, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands |
The Canary Islands are
named based on the Guanche indigenous people who called the islands – the Dog Islands
due to many packs of large dogs that were said to have been there in
pre-history. The indigenous people were
said to have a religion based on reverence for the Dog God. According to Wikipedia, this may have been
due to ancient contact with Egypt
where there is a Dog God – Anubis. Anubis is
usually represented as a human figure with the head of a black dog like a
Doberman.
The word "dog" in Spanish is
“Cano”, hence the Dog
Islands became “La Islas
de Canos” and eventually as “Las Canarias” or as we call it in English – The
Canary Islands.
 |
| Early morning driving through Santa Cruz de Tenerife |
 |
| Santa Cruz de Tenerife as the tour bus begins to ascend the mountains |
 |
| Graffiti near the university in Tenerife |
The early contacts and
attempts to win the Canary Islands away from the Guanche people to Spain started
in 1409 and were completed by 1469. The future Admiral Lord Nelson lost his
arm after being hit by a cannonball during an unsuccessful British invasion of Tenerife attempted in 1797.
The islanders survived by
marginal agriculture growing sugar cane and malmsey wine as the principal
exports until modern times. Now bananas are the primary export of the
islands. The bananas are grown under
roofs of plastic sheeting on the level and less steep slopes of the mountains.
 |
| Acres of plastic sheeting used to cover bananas growing on Tenerife |
We continued to climb up
the volcanic mountains into the "zone of eucalyptus forests" and then into the
chill damp air of the high, pine forests.
The sun was bright but the air was cold and damp.
 |
| Looking to the east from the volcanic mountains of Tenerife |
The prevailing winds and
the high pine forests are a major source of water for the islands. The trade winds push the moist air up and
over the mountains causing large, moisture laden cumulus clouds. The moisture, even if it does not fall as
rain, condenses on the pine needles and drips down to the forest floor or seeps
along the tree trunk into the volcanic soil.
The islanders have created a network of canals and water tunnels that to collect and bring the water down from the mountains for use. The islanders call the clouds, “The Cumulus
Farms”.
 |
| Looking to the west from the view point near Mt. Teide, an active volcano |
Another unique feature of
the Canary Island pine forest is that after a fire
sweeps through, the trees will regenerate. Fire does not kill this species of
pine or, skilled forestry practices may allow low undergrowth on the forest floor to be burned off periodically. Evidently, conditions for forest fires in the
Canary Islands do not promote fires that burn
up and through the pine tree tops as happens in American forests.
Editorial
Our advertising campaigns against forest fires and forest
management practices have allowed 40 year, 50 year and
longer accumulations of undergrowth and scrub wood in our forests. These fuels create conditions
for the flames of a fire to to reach into the tree tops, creating extremely hot firestorms that push through the forest by the strong drafts created by the firestorms.
End of Editorial
 |
| Looking south towards Mt. Teide and its slopes. The last eruption was in the early 1900's |
We stopped at a view point
to see 12,200 foot high Mt. Teide and to look down to see the west
side of the island. I was surprised to see how quickly we had climbed and returned to almost the 10,000 foot level after being at sea level. It was cold and damp
outside even though the sun was bright.
I was sent a link to some spectacular photographs of the Milky Way Galaxy taken from Tenerife - some with Mt. Teide in the series of photos. These are well worth a look. My hat is off to the Norwegian photographer, Terje Sorgjerd who created these magnificent time lapsed photos.
The Milky Way from near Mt. Teide in the Canary Islands
Our tour bus twisted and turned back down through the forest on our way to see the
Pyramids of Guimar.
 |
| A closer look at Mt. Teide, an active volcano on Tenerife, Canary Islands |
We arrived at the site of
the pyramids in the town of Guimar.
The museum and park around the pyramids is rather unique in that it is owned by
a private company, Fred Olsen Company of Britain. Fred Olsen started in the
early 1900’s shipping bananas from the Canary Islands to the UK by wooden
ships and in time, modern steamships.
The company now is involved in cruise ships and cargo shipping.
 |
| The Fred Olsen - Pyramids of Guimar Museum |
Mr. Olsen had a great
interest and passion for finding out why certain ideas and methods of doing
things spread through the world in pre-historic times. He asked questions like:
”Why do the
Pre-Columbian Mexicans and Peruvians make effigies and carvings of men with
facial hair (mustaches and beards) – when they do not grow facial hair
themselves? Why are there large mounds
and step pyramids found all over the world – all built before there is any
record of contact between widely disbursed people? Did the Egyptians influence the Guanche
people before any Europeans arrived? Did
the Ancient Egyptians build large, ocean going, papyrus reed boats capable of
reaching the Atlantic Islands and North and South America?”
 |
| One of several step Pyramids at Guimar on Tenerife, Canary Islands |
 |
| Step Pyramid and ceremonial grounds, Guimar on Tenerife, Canary Islands |
 |
| Pyramids at Guimar, Tenerife, Canary Islands |
 |
| The Summer Solstice and the pyramids all align with the "L" shaped notch in the mountain ridge above Guimar. See detail photo below. |
 |
| Detail of the "L" shaped notch where the double setting of sun occurs in alignment with the Pyramids of Guimar on the eve of the Summer Solstice |
The tour group had
adequate time to wander the grounds of the museum and the exhibits as well as a
complementary glass of wine. I kept to
my diet cola with ice though.
 |
| Our tour bus passed the municipal auditorium in Santa Cruz de Tenerife as we returned to the ship. |
We returned to the city
and the Constellation. There was time for those passengers who
wanted to go back into the city for shopping or sight seeing on their own to do
so. The ship was late leaving port that
afternoon due to the late arrival of one of the tour groups back at the
dock.
And so began our full week
of sea days as the ship headed back to the New World crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The distance from Tenerife to Ft.
Lauderdale Florida is
3,443 nautical miles.
Sea Days
and Photos of the Interior of the Constellation
I will just copy my notes
from each of the seven sea days as we crossed the Atlantic
interspersed with my photos and comments about them.
Saturday, November 26th, 2011 – Sea Day. Clocks turned back one hour during the night. Partly cloudy with rain squalls at times.
Following wind and temperatures in the 80’s F.
 |
| The builders of Constellation - Alstom a French company |
The Constellation was designed and built in France. The ship has elegant, clean and a very sophisticated beauty every where your eye looks.
 |
| My very comfortable stateroom. There is a small refrigerator next to the desk at the left. My breathing machine is on the side table at the head of the bed to the left in this photo. |
 |
| The other side of my stateroom - bathroom entry at the left, two closets to the right. |
 |
| I decorated my cabin door with a Turkish flag I picked up in Istanbul. Decorating your door to easily find your stateroom is a custom many cruise passengers follow. View is to the stern of the ship. |
Sunday, November 27th, 2011 – Sea Day.
The clocks were set back 1 hour during the night. I slept in until Noon! Weather in the afternoon was warm and
perfect. There was very little ship
movement. Beautiful clouds in view. I
watched 3 hours of TV in the stateroom.
I won $10 on the video poker machine after dinner.
 |
| The Customer Service area on the Promenade Deck |
 |
| Promenade Deck next to the Grand Staircase made of translucent alabaster stone sheets. |
 |
| Looking up the Grand Staircase from Promenade Deck |
 |
| Looking down the Grand Staircase from the Plaza Deck - Note meeting rooms, bars and lounges on this level. |
 |
| A small meeting or card room |
Monday, November 28th, 2011 – Sea Day. Sea is very smooth and warm weather, no wind. I read and watched TV most of the day. No luck in the casino after dinner.
 |
| One of the ever present hand sanitizer stations. |
 |
| The Internet Cafe and classroom. |
 |
| Buffet dining area on Deck 9 - The ship is docked in Haifa, Israel I believe |
 |
| A small lounge area near the Future Cruise Desk - Promenade Deck |
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011 – Sea Day Rain
on and off today with the sea moderately rough.
Temperature outside is warm. I took a nap from 1 PM until 6 PM I missed dinner in the San Marco Restaurant dining room and
had a late dinner in the Seaside Buffet on Deck 9.
Sea is calmer now. I lost $20 in
the casino tonight.
 |
| Art work is everywhere on a large ocean liner. A statue near the Celebrity Theater |
 |
| A sculpture in the public area. |
 |
| A sculpture in the public area.
|
 |
| A sculpture in the public area. This is near the Seaside Grill on Deck 9 |
 |
| A metal wall sculpture on Deck 2 - my stateroom was down the passageway to the right. |
 |
| It is easy to get lost inside a large ocean liner - these plaques near each elevator bank help. |
Thursday, December 1st, 2011 – Sea Day
Friday, December 2nd, 2011 – Final Sea
Day Strong winds from the northeast. Warm, temperature is in the 80’s,
partly cloudy. I packed my large piece
of luggage to put out in the hallway tonight at 8 PM. I passed out my envelopes with extra gratuities
to various staff members. I will truly
miss Elston, my dinner waiter, who has given me attentive, excellent service for the past 28 days.
Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 – Arrival
at Fort Lauderdale, Florida cruise
port. I got up at 5 AM, packed my
small carry-on bag with my breathing machine and medications and one change of
clothing. I had breakfast on Deck 9 and waited until my group was called and
disembarked the Constellation at 7:15
AM.
I took a shuttle van to
the Ft. Lauderdale
Airport at a cost of $11 and a tip for the
driver. I needed to catch my short, 9:30 AM Southwest Airlines flight to Tampa, Florida
where I will board my next cruise on the Carnival Inspiration.
Next –
Boarding Carnival Inspiration, Culture Shock and Grand Cayman Island
Wonderful photos, I just looked quickly but have saved your page on favourites to come back again! Happy travels!
ReplyDeleteI shared your pyramid photos ;-) Thanks for your interesting blog.
ReplyDelete