The Silver Vixen and Gorse Fox decided to visit (or was it revisit) a town that they weren't sure they had toured before. If they had been it was back in the 80's when they first visited the Island... but memory is hazy and they couldn't be sure. (GF thought they had been there, SV thought not - needless to say, SV was correct).

Heading 50km up the east coast, along TF1 the intrepid tourists dropped down into Candelaria only to find many of the roads through the town were being dug up and re-laid. This was probably due to the exceptionally wet winter the Canaries have had, and this has undermined many of the roads, requiring a lot of work all across the Island to put right. The diversions seemed to direct us away from the advertised parking spot, so we made our way along the coastal strip until we could find somewhere to stop.

Candelaria is a significant town with a small working port and, at the southernmost end, a huge square dominated by the Basilica of the Virgin of Candelaria on one side and nine statues of the indigenous Guanche Kings on the east. This realy was a most charming town. Having spent some time wandering the streets and the square, we entered the Basilica. It was a bright and airy church, with a contemplative stillness about it. It lacked the shock and awe that you sometimes feel entering one of the great gothic Cathedrals with their soaring perpendicular style, but it had a homely and welcoming feel about it... and it was clear that it was well used by the locals, as there was a steady trickle of folk popping in with flowers, or to light a candle, or just to kneel and pray.

Leaving the Basilica, the Silver Vixen was transfixed by the nine statues of the Guanche Kings, and made here way along them taking photos. The GF was similarly transfixed, but by the high tide as it dashed against the rocks, hurling spary across promenade. This was too nice a place to rush away from, so we stopped at a cafe in the square and had a light lunch, whist watching the world go by.

Leaving Candelaria we decided to take the high road. TF28 runs parallel to the Autopista (TF1), but several hundred metres further up the mountain. This road hugs the cliffs, and winds in and out of the gorges and bluffs, knitting together dozens of small villages and towns. This is not a drive for the faint hearted - it is hard work, and added 35 km to journey back - but some of the views that were afforded by the route made the trip well worth the effort.

[File under: Candelaria]