The Silver Vixen and Gorse Fox had been waiting for just such a day to visit the Anaga Mountains. Tenerife if famous for so many things, the lively Playa de las Americas, the hot south-west coast, the volcanic core of the Island, Mount Teide, Las Canadas, La Oratava and so on. What people rarely mention is the Anaga Mountains in the north-easternmost part of the Island. We zipped up the autopista to Santa Cruz and along the road that runs directly by the port. Out the otherside we headed towards La Teresitas, but turned off into the mountains.
The road (TF-112) winds up from sea level to about 920m over the course of some 10km. The switch-back hairpins kept the Gorse Fox on his toes. As much as loves this scenery, he has no wish to become part of it!
As we approached the crest we diverted off to the right towards Taganana. This road tunnelled through the mountain, then plunged doown another set of switchback hairpins to the picturesque village of Taganana (famous for their wines). From there we headed on to Roque de las Bodegas - a little fishing harbour - from whence the wines from Taganana used to be shipped. The Gorse Fox cannot adequately express the sheermajesty of this part of the Island. The knife-edged mountains, the huge tree clad buttresses separating tiny valleys, and small colourful farms punctuating the lush vegetation. Beneath it all, a deep blue sea pounded relentlessly, but cordially against the shore (like a good friend patting it on the back).
We headed back to the top of the knife-like ridge and stopped at El Bailadero. This giving us views down to both side of the island. It was breathtaking.
Following the ridge we headed through the mountains to La Mercedes, stopping at various viewpoints as El Teide hove into view across the plain. Lunch was taken (and paid for) at a small restaurant at Cruz del Carmen. Continuing south-west we crossed the plain towards La Laguna (part of this area had once been a lake - at least during the winter - but but the end of the 17th century it had all but gone... global warming, you see!!!).
Picking up the autopista we continued round the island in a counter-clockwise fashion as we had last week. It was a super tour covering some 240km. GF is glad that the Anaga Mountains are so remote, as that means that most people never get to see them and they remain pretty much unspoilt by foot-fall or rampant commercialism. That's not to say they don't get visitors... but not the hoards that you find at some of the other sights.
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