After an excellent dinner of fish pie followed by the always popular bannofee pie, people started to go ashore to the local bar on the quay which turned out to be shut. However the local blue light taxi service (the Port Police -as there were no taxis around) kindly took folks to another bar a short distance away. Unfortunately the only way home was on foot and next day we heard lots of stories of tunnels, 27 million Euro's and seats.....
After breakfast on Thursday morning saw us boarding mini buses for a tour of El Hierro. We left Puerto de la Estaca at around 09:00 and headed up the island to the capital Valverde. Some of our party elected to visit the 18th century church of La Concepçion which has a beautiful interior with a number of shrines, whilst others wandered around the town. Next stop was a viewing point just above the village of Tinor where we could appreciate the fabulous views of the ocean and the dizzy heights of the island. We stopped at Mirador de Isora from which we could view the unspoilt beach far below. Our tour guide, Connie explained how the volcanic lava formed two different effects on the landscape; one rope-like, the other more granulated. All we had seen was eclipsed by the view from Mirador La Pena, set high up in the hills overlooking the pine forests and sheer cliffs. This was our lunch stop and we enjoyed a sun drenched view straight from a picture postcard. The food was a rich and varied tapas, with tuna, kebabs, dips and other tasty nibbles, accompanied by local wine and beer.
Crew member Jess summed up the entire day in her remark "I'd rather be doing this than hauling ropes!" We had a steady drive back down to shore level, stopping off at the smallest hotel in the world (just two rooms) which is on the edge of the shoreline, surrounded by crashing waves into a bay of a fantastic turquoise colour. All in all a most spectacular trip which left us all wanting to come back and spend more time here.
When we got back to the ship the numbers for dinner were much depleted as most people were still full from the excellent lunch. Taff had his dinner delayed as he was being filmed for the local TV who had heard we were here. For a small Island like this Tenacious (not to mention Taff) being here is big news.
Back to sea tomorrow heading for La Palma Jim w/l Glenda Angela Steven Jess Andy & Taff Fwd Port Watch