Day 12, Nov. 11.

Tenerife in the Canaries

The original itinerary showed we would be arriving late morning and going ashore at 1230. The dining room crew last night told us we would be arriving early. I believe the guy that brings me the caramelized banana pie. Wouldn't you?

At dawn we were off Santa Cruz Tenerife in the Canaries. About 180 miles off the coast of the African Continent. We approached with the island off the starboard side and with our cabin on the port side, I saw nothing but sea and clouds until I took a turn on the upper deck and saw the beauty of the island, complete with welcoming rainbow. By 0830 we were tied up at the cruise ship pier and very shortly thereafter cleared for shore. It got busy down here with the MV Aida coming in also. That's the cruise ship with big lips painted on the bow. Then the 4 masted sailing vessel, missed the name, came in and then the MV Astor.

MS Maasdam center

Noon report:28º 28.45'N and 016º 14.40'W. At pier. Distance covered: 3,785 nm. Noon to Noon run 320 nm. Sunrise 0723. Sunset 1813. 108 nm from African Continent.

A shuttle bus was running passengers from these vessels a few blocks to a drop off point where folks could catch a cab or walk up steps, cross a bridge and walk into city center. All we did was go to the drop off point, bought and mailed some postcards then returned to the ship. A quick lunch and we joined our tour group, boarded a bus and headed through the city and up the mountain to San Cristolól, La Laguna, which is a World Heritage site. This is city all the way with apartments and commercial buildings packed together. The view down the mountain to the sea was quite nice, though.

Once up in La Laguna we left the bus at the Plaza del Adelantado in this old part of the city and were treated to a guided tour of several blocks of narrow streets and beautiful old buildings, clean and colorful in pastels. 

We visited a winery being Bodega Alvaro and the wine museum of Casa de Vino for tastings and introduction to the wine making process here. The tour is named “Tacoronte Wine and Laguna.” 

We were back aboard by 1730 pm and fell back into shipboard routine. Departure was about 2230 which was so quiet and motionless I didn't wake up.