Thursday we went to Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz, about an hour's drive away which was very pleasant in the hot sun with the top down. It started off as a Parrot park, but is now much more than that. Whatever you think about zoos, and I am in two minds, this one is very good. The animals are in huge well, maintained enclosures and are often rescued or in breeding programmes. We especially like the gorillas, a bachelor group of 7 lowland gorillas who are in a huge enclosure with ponds and waterfalls, and I love watching them.
Especially when they come and peer at you, then pointedly turn around and sit with their backs to you. I also love the penguins, on a giant ice floor, with snow dropping on them. When they swim, they look like they're flying through the water.
And while we're talking about my favourite animals, tigers win everytime. I know these amazing animals shouldn't be in zoos, but these two have been rescued from a performing circus I think, and have a lovely enclosure which must be better than where they were before. They amused me because one wanted to play, and one obviously didn't!
We spent most of the day there, either looking at the animals, walking through the gardens, in the aquarium, or walking through the treetops walk looking for parrots. Back to the pool bar for dinner, and a nightcap in the bar, where our singer had learnt the words to Hallelujah for us!
Friday was another pool day, and very hot! Lunch on the balcony of the apartment, more reading, a last swim, and back to quickly pack. Dinner in the resort, and a last drink in the bar.
Saturday we were off by 10am and as we had a latish flight went to Santa Cruz for the day. We started in Plaza d'Espanya which has been completed remodelled since last time were there with a pool, a fountain and some great buildings with green roofs. We had a coffee in the square, and finally found some free wi-fi! Then we walked round the town, via the market, some lovely squares and churches. One of them had a wedding going on, and we just looked through the door, but other tourists were just walking and and looking round as if nothing was happening!
After lunch in the square, a visit to the Natural History Museum and a look at some Guanche mummies, we headed off to the airport. No delay this time, and we actually landed 20 minutes early, at just after midnight. Given how hot it had been in Tenerife, we'd travelled in shorts and t shirts, with some warmer clothes on the top of the cases so we could get them easily. When we landed it was cold (definitely not the 29 degrees it had been when we set off), and raining. All was going well, until while we were waiting for our bags, the fire alarms went off. There was some confusion about what to do, but eventually we were herded out into the cold and wet, where we waited for about half an hour. There were fire engines and everything - would have exciting if it hadn't been so cold! Eventually we were allowed back in, and finally got home about 2am and fell into bed! An interesting end to a great holiday.
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