Where To Find Me
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I’m a guest writer at the SpainScoop contributing stories like this one about the Canary Islands and occasionally other parts of Spain. I also contributed to the blog of tour operator Tenerife.co.uk as a guest blogger with tidbits like this one.
Interviews
I was interviewed by Craig and Caz of very successful YTravel Blog for their “Things to do in………” City Series. It gave me a lot of pleasure to answer their questions, because so few people appreciate that Tenerife has city life as well as beaches http://www.ytravelblog.com/santa-cruz-de-tenerife/
When I was in Ireland in 2013 I met the lovely Alison from Chino House. She has the most amazing personality and a great blog! A few months later she asked me to do an interview for her blog – I was honored! – this is it.
Posts for Other Blogs
“My Island in the Sun” ….. the way I see Tenerife, the island away from the tourist resorts, for the prestigious Beers & Beans
“The Secret Road to Cheese” …….I love that title! To be honest that part was my friend, Katrina’s idea, the rest was mine. It’s a twist on a story I’d written about here….Katrina’s blog, TourAbsurd puts the emphasis, as she says, “traveling with a light heart,” so that’s the side of this wee adventure I tried to see.
The Mysterious Outer Banks of NC …… for The Quirky Traveller My other favorite islands, hugging the coast of North Carolina, full of history, legends and tall stories – definitely quirky :=)
The Downside of Island Dwelling for Boomer Women Travelers Life is always a trade off, and I explain why I’m glad my kids went off to find life in the big, wide world.
Islandmomma 
September 20, 2014 at 6:27 pm
Hi Linda, I don’t do social media so thought I’d try for an answer this way to a question I have. I am now retired and am looking for a warm but not stifling place with beaches and tourists. My question is this : Is it illegal to metal detect on the beach or in the water in the Canaries at the public beaches? I don’t want to be arrested or have my machines confiscated. Thanks for any info you can provide. I live in Minnesota and don’t want to see another snowflake for the rest of my life……….Bradley Widseth
September 29, 2014 at 12:45 pm
LOL Bradley. Never been to Minnesota, but heard a lot about it! Short answer is I don’t know, but I will make some enquiries and get back to you.
October 19, 2014 at 2:46 pm
Hi again, Bradley. I consulted a friend, who directed me to this http://www.detecnicks.co.uk/spain.htm Sorry. Doesn’t look hopeful. At best looks complicated and at worst illegal. I have to say that the Canarias are a law unto themselves in many respects, but anything concerning beaches and coastline is, actually, a central government area, so almost certainly this applies throughout the country.
October 24, 2014 at 9:08 pm
Linda,
Thanks so much for your blog. I LOVE the Canary Islands. I lived in Tenerife, La Palma and Gran Canaria from age 19 to 21. I was there as a missionary for my church. I would love to move back there in retirement, in about 13 years. In the event that I want to get a part-time job of some sort, what sort of paperwork would be required? I’m a US citizen. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Again, thanks for the blog and pics. THEY’RE WONDERFUL!
brianeboatman@gmail.com
November 4, 2014 at 7:56 pm
Hi Brian. Thanks for reading. My experiences of living & working here would be quite different to yours as I am from an EU country. I would recommend http://sunshineandsiestas.com/ or http://www.thespainscoop.com/ for information for Americans. The Spain Scoop is especially useful, as it covers a huge range of information, whereas the other is a personal blog, but with stories about paperwork etc which the blogger experienced. All that said, things may well change within 13 years, so keep an eye out for updates! Lots of luck with your dreams 🙂
November 6, 2014 at 10:54 pm
Hi linda,
I read your story on-line and I’m itching to take the great leap but don’t know anybody there and was wondering if you could help me with contacts, the first of which is a real estate lawyer, your ex was in the business so i’m guess this is easy enough, right?
I need to get the appropriate information on specific properties. Have you had any “construction” work done? If so was it relatively painless? Ideally i would love to buy some property and then build something. I’m a little worried about government permits and the like being overly restrictive. Any information much appreciated.
Thanks!
November 13, 2014 at 5:46 pm
Hello Marco. Wishing you luck with your move! There is only one estate agent that I have any personal experience with and whom I could recommend and that is http://www.clearbluetenerife.com/about/ Keep in mind that it is many years since I worked in estate agency, but sadly there are still a lot of opportunists around. I haven’t owned property in over ten years now so any information I had about lawyers or workmen is totally out of date. However, there is an excellent website with Tenerife information of all sorts which might help you and that’s http://www.janetanscombe.com/ Janet has a wealth of information on her site about all kind of legalities and so forth, with which I am utterly out of touch these days. Hoping you find that helpful.
February 23, 2015 at 9:49 pm
Hi Linda,
You may remember me, jonno, from the bookcrossing forum Chitchat of a few years ago. I’m still there, but I haven’t seen you there in ages. I’m glad I’ve found you here though. I have a blog too, now that I’ve retired. It’s the Olsen Road at theolsenroad.com. I have fond memories of you from bookcrossing days and I like your blog. I hope you like mine. It’s on hiatus at the moment as I’m not travelling, but I hope to hit the road again within the next few months. Cheers, jonno
February 23, 2015 at 11:29 pm
Hi John,
How lovely to hear from you! Of course I remember you. I have, somewhere, printed out some advice you gave me when I started teaching ESL! I haven’t been doing that of late, but I really enjoyed it, and your advice got me off to a great start, thank you! I got to a point where I was selling or giving away so many books, when I was downsizing a few years back that it stressed me out trying to register them all & so I stopped bookcrossing, although I’ve luckily kept so many friendships formed back then. I am eternally grateful to BC for that …… and now here you are. I just had a quick look at your blog, but it’s almost bedtime, and I will read it more over the weekend. I just love those pictures of the Christmas market! What a gorgeous place you live in. When you said eastern France (for some reason I thought you lived in Paris), I immediately thought, “snow!” I remember skiing in eastern France years ago, but the place names escape me. I have been to Languedoc Roussillon a couple of times in the last few years, since friends moved there. Even seriously considered moving there, but the weather here just begs me to stay! I hope you are enjoying your retirement, and look forward to reading your blog. Thanks so much for contacting me!
Best, Linda
July 18, 2015 at 12:56 am
Esteemed Linda!
What a great delight it is indeed to read your blogs……and you look and sound so genuine,so real, so oh…just GOOD))****
if it is possible would truly appreciate your feedback – have a burning desire to celebrate my 50th BD on El Heirro island….it just looks incredibly pristine and exotic and “far away” from the maddening crowds…..and its environment policies are something else too…
So please could you give me recommendations as to are there good places for swimming and snorkeling? How away is the ferry port from the south and north airports in tenerife?
all the best to your son – awesome pics of his marathon right on el heirro….did he make it?
your answer would be greatly appreciated,
with best
Aliona
July 30, 2015 at 8:14 pm
Hi, Aliona. El Hierro definately is a gem, a one-off, and different and yet the same as other Canary Islands. It seemed to be delightfully unspoiled, and the people so welcoming! I was only there for a few days, so I don’t know it nearly as well as other Canary Islands…..I’ve been hoping to get back before now, but haven’t made it yet. We stayed in the parador, which was excellent, and the food very good too, but, like most of Spain’s paradors, it leaned to the “formal” side. Friends stayed in La Restinga, which takes much longer to get to, but which I loved, and that’s certainly where I will look to base myself when I get back there. The ferry goes from Los Cristianos, which is only 20 minutes from the south airport, and something over an hour from the north. There is a small airport there in El Hierro though. Inter island flights go from Tenerife north. So far as swimming and snorkeling go I can’t be precise, but am sure that there are places! My personal feeling about swimming in the Canary Island other than on the tourist beaches is that you need to be a good swimmer. This is, of course, the Atlantic. El Hierro, however, is not “touristified” very much at all, although I suspect that just now, July/August, a lot of Canarians from other islands go to get away from the crowds! I don’t know how long you intend to stay, but if you have lots of time I’d suggest combining El Hierro and La Gomera, the second smallest of the 7 main islands, which is beautiful, and has quite different landscapes from El Hierro. Hope you make it and enjoy!
July 30, 2015 at 9:11 pm
By happy coincidence, I just logged onto Twitter and found this. thought of you right away!
http://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/viajarahora/vuelta-Isla-Hierro-playas-gustos_6_242235805.html
February 3, 2016 at 5:26 pm
Hi Linda, we will be in Santa Cruz on April 2/16 & would like to join a walking tour. Do you know of ant tours that operate on a Saturday? Thanks, Lynda
May 26, 2016 at 11:41 am
I do apologize for not replying in good time. I have been ill, and not blogging for some months now. I do hope that you found a walking tour and enjoyed your stay.
July 3, 2016 at 12:17 pm
Hi Linda, I am a 64 years old Italian single lady who retired from job last October willing to move (don’t know to which of the Canary islands, if forever or for some time yet) to an easiest way of living and healthy wether country. By chance last November I had the opportunity to stay two weeks in Tenerife (costa Adeje) by a friend who has been living and working there for years and despite the location did not exactly meet my desires (too much touristic) I appreciated so much the wether and the variety of landscape besides other locations I visited, (beautiful La Gomera island, Icod de los Vinos, La Orotava, etc….). Now I am seriously thinking to go back for a longer stay just to find out how it could be living there, if it would be affordable to me and after this experience considering to move from Italy. I know I live in a beautiful country and believe me when I say I am very sad thinking to leave it, but my sons have gone their ways and life has become very hard here, not only under an economic point of view. This is not an easy decision especially because I am alone and my very few friends could only join me few times during the year. I will have to make new friends there, will have to learn Spanish language, improve my english and french, will have to find a not too expensive apartment in a non isolated location where cinemas and theatres are close, or better at a walking distance, In conclusion understand whether everydays life there would be satisfactory and affordable to me.
Hope this short story of myself outlined to you the main requirements and expectations to suggest me a reliable site where I can address to get in touch with people who could help me to find out all the information I need and on the basis of which I can presume to base my choice.
Meanwhile I read with much pleasure your site and thank you in advance for your reply.
Elisabetta
June 26, 2018 at 4:49 pm
My apologies for not replying. As you may know, I had some problems and took a hiatus from blogging. I hope that you found the information that you needed in the end, and that things worked out well.
August 30, 2016 at 11:49 am
Hi there,
I really enjoyed reading your travel blog..!!
Great blog. I enjoyed your article.
I was hoping I could publish something on your site.
If you are interested in working with me, please contact
me as quickly as possible as our content is picked up
rather quickly.
I hope you can let me know if you think a guest post from
us could be interesting to you?
Your time is greatly appreciated. I look forward to building a
mutually beneficial partnership with you!
Sincerely,
Carmela
June 26, 2018 at 4:35 pm
Hi. I must apologise for the lateness of my reply. I had to take a hiatus from blogging for a while. No intention of being rude. However, my blog is just a personal one, so I don’t take guest posts, but do wish you every success.
September 13, 2016 at 11:47 pm
Hi linda, just found you and will read you soon.
March 27, 2017 at 11:29 am
Hello Linda
Thank you for your lovely blog.
I would be very interested to hear more about your sons and heir experience growing up in Tenerife.
My husband and family think I am crazy considering a move to Tenerife because of my children (6 and 9) and their future. They are worried about their education and lack of future prospects.
As I see it if we were to move to Tenerife the children could go to an international school and so continue with their education but at the same time life an outdoor life. I have researched the university in Tenerife and it seems very good. After which it would be the children’s own choice where they decided to live and work.
I would be really interested to know if you are happy to discuss it how your own children found growing up in Tenerife and what they have gone on to do now as adults.
Many thanks for your time
Best wishes
Claire
June 26, 2018 at 4:47 pm
I am relieved to know that you were able to contact me via Facebook, Claire! I neglected the blog for a long time, for reasons you may know, I don’t remember. However, hope the information was all of use, and that whatever you decided it was a successful and happy move. Best.