A small rock in the Atlantic

All about the island of La Palma, in the Canaries.

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Friday 18 September 2009

The Scenic route over the ridge

Llanos del Jable, with El Paso behind, La Palma
Los Llanos del Jable, with El Paso behind

The main roads on La Palma form a rough figure 8, with the main east-west road being the LP2 from Santa Cruz to Los Llanos, through the tunnel. But whenever I've got time, I like to take the scenic route, the LP203. This winds up through the heather and bayberry forest, then pine forest, past the barbecue and picnic areas at Pared Vieja and El Pilar. Just west of the top, you pop out of the forest at the Los Llanos del Jable viewpoint. From there you get a great view of El Paso and Los Llanos, the south wall of the Caldera, and Montaña Quemada.

Montaña Quemada means "burnt mountain," and it's easy to see where the name comes from. The only recorded eruption here was in the 15th century, but it looks much more recent than that. The ground is covered in volcanic gravel called lapilli. Don't try to walk in sandles because the darn things get between the sole of your foot and the sole of the sandal, and they're very uncomfortable.

Going west from Los Llanos del Jable, the road winds down through pine forests until it rejoins the main road.

Montaña Quemada, El Paso, La Palma
Montaña Quemada

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Tuesday 15 September 2009

La Glorieta Square

La Glorieta square: Looking north, towards the stage
Looking north, towards the stage

There's a lovely little square at La Glorieta. The whole floor is covered in mosaics, as are the benches. The plants are all local ones.

La Glorieta square: One of the benches
One of the benches.

Most of the vertical walls are made from the local volcanic stone, as is the back of the little fountain of a mosaic chameleon.

La Glorieta square: The chameleon fountain.
The chameleon fountain.

The whole lot was designed and made by a local artists, Luis Morerea . To get there take the road from El Paso, south towards Las Manchas. The turn off is on your right at km 40.

La Glorieta square: Detail from the central design.
Detail from the central design.

Just uphill from the square you can find a village shop (good for picnic supplies) and a small wine museum. (More on the wine museum on Friday)

La Glorieta square: Looking south, from the stage.
Looking south, from the stage.

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