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Wednesday 2 July 2008

Secret coves, special times


When you are driving around in the car on a sizzling summer day, you have to wonder why on earth you are not outside enjoying the sun.
At least though, with the car, you have a chance to explore one of the many hidden coves around the island.
It happened on such a day while between Puntagorda and Santo Domingo that we got the map out. We noticed a couple of places where it looked like you could get down to the sea, first on a rough track and then by foot.
We found what we thought was the track leading off the main road although it wasn’t signposted in any way. We bumped our way along the track for 10 minutes until it opened out into a parking space big enough for a couple of cars. It was no surprise to see that there were no other cars.

The sea, still some 200 metres below us, looked enticing and we tried to decide how much we were prepared to carry down the narrow path. Swimsuits, mask and snorkel was a given.

It seems to us that really, no matter where you go on La Palma, no matter how difficult the access, no matter how remote, people will have been there before doing the seemingly impossible. After a shaky start trying to locate the exact route of the path, it narrowing and becoming increasingly difficult as limbs were forced to dangle over the edge, we came to a part with ‘proper’ concrete steps and a rail. To imagine the workers carrying the materials down did not bear thinking about.

After a good 20 minutes we arrived at the little rocky beach at the bottom. We were pretty pleased with our discovery of this seemingly deserted cove – even if there were 3 dwellings there. We can only think that the materials were brought in by boat. It really does defy belief.

Ready to get in the water now, we climbed over a huge rock, then a smaller one and then a smaller again until we could slide into the sea.

Ah, bliss!

The sun, glittering on the water like a million stars, the cool and refreshing sea, the sound of the water slapping against the rocks and …. just us.

It really is quite special. Why don't you try it sometime?

Going Chinese


Whilst La Palma is sometimes a surprising island, I have to admit this photo was not taken here. It was taken on Lantau Island, Hong Kong. Why a picture of it on this blog I hear you say. Because that is where we were May/July.

If you have any questions re Hong Kong or indeed mainland China itself, please feel free to ask!