Monday 23rd February:
More than a few faces missed breakfast (for one reason or another) but the ones that managed to rally for the tour of the north of the island of La Palma gather on the quayside ready for the off. Having boarded the coach people who had been here before found that we had the same guide as previously. If there is anything about this island that Uke does not know, it is not worth knowing!
Our main goal was the northern rim of La Caldera (the cauldron) de Taburiente which is the world's largest volcanic crater (27km in circumference and 763 deep). The views from this point are stunning - the chasm being surrounded by the highest peaks on the island, including Roque de la Muchachos (2422 metres) where we stopped to enjoy the view looking down on the clouds. We then drove back down the winding mountain roads and returned to the ship in port.
A wonderful buffet lunch then and we enjoyed several hours quiet time before returning to the fray.
At 16:00 quite a few of the voyage crew went into town to take part in the flour throwing festival which happens every other year. It is great fun & everyone dresses formally in white costumes; ladies in long gowns, the men in formal suits and panama hats. Everyone is so friendly you get the feeling from the locals that it is a real family day event. The atmosphere was buzzing with live bands and we all eagerly took part in dousing each other liberally with "flour" (talcum powder) and dancing to the samba beat.
Forward Port Watch: Jim (WL), Jess, Angela, Andy, Steve, Taff and Glenda.