Almond Blossom Festival, Santiago del Teide
Bus Routes: 483[Los Cristianos, P Americas Est], 460[Icod]
Return: 460[Costa Adeje], 483[El Medano] or 111[Santa Cruz] get off at Las Chafiras or any bus going to Los Cristianos then 470[Granadilla].
This weekend I had two
trips up to Santiago Del Teide for the 'Almond Blossom Festival'. I
had intended Saturday but my battery ran out and the temperature had
dropped to 11*C in my shorts and polo shirt it became rather cool. I
can’t say that I objected, the route itself is well worth the
effort again catching the 483 to Costa Adeje station then the 460 to
Icod which drops off at our destination which is 1000 metres above
sea level. We have been along this route before to Garachico and,
before too long I'll get back to Icod for a look around there. Masca
is up the road from here, another of 'the' places to visit. I've taken a few more photos from the bus along the route to give a flavour of the area. Santiago Del Teide is the main town for the area which runs down to the coast and is known as 'Costa Santiago Del Teide' consisting of 'Playa La Arena' and 'Los Gigantes', the latter has areas of outstanding natural beauty and trips to see whales and dolphins. Mount Teide, the largest volcano on the Island, is to the north and included in its municipality. It wasn't considered prized land for conquering noblemen so has maintained a strong Guanche bloodline.
It's cottages differ from other hill towns and have been likened to those in Mexico with their whitewashed walls and colour wash door and window frames. These have been made famous by artists. It was nearly destroyed by the last lava flow on Tenerife in 1902. (The volcanoes of Tenerife were formed 12 million years ago and takes its present form from the eruption of 3 volcanoes which joined them together and formed the present island 7 million years ago). The first thing you see when you get off the bus is the Guanche king but, as this area forms half of the Menceyatos of Daute and I think it is Pelenor not Romden, I am not sure why. I was told that the family moved here at some point. There is a beautiful church of San Fernando Rey, square with town hall etc, museum in the original buildings at the back of the hotel and an interesting market at the bottom of the village. I bought some local almonds, which are much softer than the ones we know, and a flower sculpture made from local dried banana leaves. These local markets are very much a family concern selling local produce and wares. Definitely the place to come for fresh veg and more variety too. Back at the museum buildings which is 'La Casa del Patio, originality a stately Canary Island house built between 1665-1668 and belonged to the lord of the valley, the village virgins tramped the grapes in the wine presses and the resulting sludge was pored off into vats, one is stone the other wood in the museum. The sludge was then filtered and fermented in large wooden barrels before being decanted into bottles. I am looking forward to sampling the product shortly. The threshing grounds and barns show that the town was ruled as a feudal manor.
The almond blossom which
we are all here to see by venturing along various goat trails turns
to fruit in March/April and is harvested by hand in July. I look
forward to returning to see this as they use poles and nets and,
again, is very much a family concern. The bars and restaurants all
had special menus reflecting the festival, chicken with almond sauce
and almond cakes were sampled all for your benefit of course and I
can say well worth the visit! There is also a 300€
first prize for the best 'almond blossom' related photo each year in
a competition run by the town. Each of the bars and restaurants was
exhibiting a past entry and there were some magnificent ones too.
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