Friday, Dec. 15, 2006
Arrived at the airport at 16:00 and rented a car from CICAR for 130 euros per week (including insurance!) and drove to the hotel. Relaxed for a little while, walked around the place, then went to a market to get food for dinner. Things are a bit expensive here so we’ll go to the larger market on the main road for a big shop.
Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006
Long lie in (until 2:30 p.m.!) and did absolutely nothing. It was everything I hoped it would be. Went for our big shop and then drank and ate and passed out. We did go out to the local Irish pub called Grandee O’Donnells, then for a short stargazing walk along the ocean. Afterwards we walked past a karaoke bar with some Canarian doing a horrible rendition of “Don’t Be Cruel”.
Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006
Slept in again and then went to a very windy beach at Los Cristanos and swam. It was near a marina but there wasn't any oil in the water. Theresa went in the ocean for the first time ever and enjoyed it a little. Met Matt Pety at the beach at Las Americas and saw his hotel, the Hotel Zentrum. Had dinner and drinks at our place (I cooked pasta with red pepper sauce). It was a crazy night, as all nights with Matt are.
Monday, Dec. 18, 2006
Rude awakening at 9:00 a.m. for a 10:00 tour of the grounds/hard sell on timeshare. We skipped it. The guy came knocking though and threatened us with a 600 pound fine for not attending our obligated sales thingy. We showed up at 11:00 and boy did we look bad! We out-witted him though since he tried every trick in the book to get us to agree. We were determined to say no.
It was fun for us and taught us a lot about high-pressure sales, but it was tiring. They didn't know the meaning of 'no' and we just kept getting blunter and meaner each round.
Drove to the top of Mt. Teide with Theresa and Matt, but missed the last cable-car to the very summit. We did get lots of great pictures. Had a lazy rest of the day!!
Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006
Taught Theresa how to swim again in the complex pool. Worked on treading water and different swimming strokes. We sunned ourselves in 24 degree heat until 16:30 and secretly laughed at people in Dundee and Michigan :) Ate fresh seafood at a restaurant called La Perla in Los Abrigos which was 5 miles from our condo. Walked along the shore and shopped at late-night markets. Returned back to near our condo to have dessert, but no place was open. It was really dire. Caught the tail-end of a nice music act at another Irish pub. I had Kilkenny beer for the first time since Rome. The singer's name was John Cusack but it wasn't that actor guy.
Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006
Went to the beach near the cliffs of Los Gigantes and swam in the sea. Drove to Puerta de la Cruz and walked around for 3 hours. The road there was dangerously steep and windy. It made Theresa a little ill but I think I drove safely! I was cool as a cucumber! Drove completely around the island and had a late return. Heard about the foggy airports in the UK.
Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006
Some sun by the pool and meals to try and use up all of our food. We didn't leave the place!
Friday, Dec. 22, 2006
Checked out and then went to the Monkey Park near Los Cristanos www.monkeypark.com and played with the greatest little monkeys and lemurs!! Got lots of great pictures and videos. Also saw some chimps, jaguars and a gibbon. Returned the rental car and flew back to Glasgow.
