Flowers at Playa de Jardin

Those who know me know that I long to be in north Tenerife "Costa del Norte" where I have been holidaying since 1995!

The first time I went was by winning the holiday on an online auction and it was a case of allocation on arrival and I am never going to be able to believe my luck that I was not herded with all the other Brits to Playa De Las Americas or Los Cristianos but instead put into a German hotel in Puerto De la Cruz.

A very pretty and green part of the island with an abundance of flowers everywhere and the home of the Canarians. There are incomers living there but they are mainly German and Irish and they far outnumber the small amount of Scots, English and Welsh in the area.

Over the years I have made some lovely friends there and through them made new friends. The pace of life is much slower and nothing changes too much meaning that the same staff are present in the hotels, bars, cafes and shops year in and year out and I can even boast some friends amongst these.

A friend I made in September 2007 introduced me to a German friend of his (Frank) who has lived on the Island for 14 years having left his native Berlin following a holiday in the Canaries which inspired him to find a job there and settle which he did 2 years after his first visit.

At Christmas 2007 I was fortunate enough that my daughter got some leave and was able to join me on holiday for the second week. I took her and some friends to meet Frank one day and he said to her "I am going to be your new daddy" at which we all laughed heartily.

to be continued...........