I have a certain mental lethargy at the moment. Recent days have been full, and dictated by events and necessities other than exploring or writing or photography. My son, Austin, has been in hospital (successfully and he’s now recuperating at home), and boring stuff like dental appointments and car checks are driving my life, so for now here are just a few glimpses of the island I’ve had in recent weeks, things I want to know more about, places I want to revisit and some food for thought.
Las Teresitas. Probably the most photographed beach on the island, because of its beautiful, golden sand, imported many moons ago from Western Sahara. Something which is now forbidden, I understand. Often overlooked by the run-of-the-mill tourists who favor the more predictable weather of the south of the island. Las Teresitas lies about ten minutes from Santa Cruz, and was quite breezy on the day we passed by, killing time between appointments.
From the same vantage point, overlooking the coast on the other side from Las Teresitas, where you can see almost to the tip of the island.
Las Teresitas lies just a heartbeat outside of the village of San Andres, and this, so far as I can make out, is the local graveyard. It’s quite a contrast with the one in Santiago del Teide which I photographed last month, which was colorful and pristine, but it looks as if it has a multitude of stories it might tell. Many of the graves were unkempt, even tumbledown, and some were unmarked. I’ve asked some questions about it, but not as many as if I were going to write something in detail about it, so it remains a bit of an unsolved mystery for me, although one fact which has emerged is that it was used by U2 on an album cover. A quick search didn’t find it, but maybe someone who’s more of a U2 fan than I can tell me more?
I often remark on what a fascinating little city Santa Cruz is. Of late the city part has seemed more “real” to me, being there for business or appointments I’ve felt something of that city vibe one gets in London or Madrid, but having an hour to spare on day I strolled a bit in Parque García Sanabria in the heart of the mini-metropolis, and found that same sense of peace one finds in pretty city parks the world over. This one is especially tranquil, and, of course, in this climate, always green and shady.
Finally, just to prove two things: (1) That even a pretty city has its ugly side, and (2) that there is some drama and beauty even in that ugliness, I snapped this picture from the roof of a shopping mall the other day. Over the top of the smelly Cepsa refinery on the very edge of the city, the sun, almost ready to bid goodnight to the earth, breaks through the clouds a last time.
Islandmomma 