A Walk in the Parque Garcia Sanabria
Bus Routes:
470[Granadilla] to El Medano, 116[Medano, Santa Cruz] to Estación De
Guaguas (Bus station), 920[Intercambiador] to the Parque.
Return: (Any 900 series
to Estación), 116[Medano, Granadilla], 483[Los Cristianos, P
Americas].
Funny how things
develop, I had intended my next blog to be about a Canarian sports
day at El Medano on Sunday 27th May but that turned out to
be a local feast with a group on stage. Finally managed to get a
photo of the football team playing on the sports field built in the
barranco to add to the 'El Medano' photo album and some updates to
Los Abrigos too. Anyway, after my trip to 'Nob Hill' on the 21st
my sister emailed to say that it was nice to see some flowers on the
tree as a lot of the landscape in the south is quite barren. It found
out that it is the Canarian Independence Day Public holiday today so
I thought, “Why not a trip to the parque I mentioned as most things
are closed?”. I went out to catch the 09:40 470 to San Isidro to
connect with the 111 to Santa Cruz but it did not arrive.
Fortunately sitting in
the sun waiting for a bus is a much more pleasant experience out
here. I was pondering going the other way when the 470 sailed past on
it's way to Los Cristianos so I was committed to my original route or
give up! I wandered over to the supermarket, which never seems to
close, for a cooling can of coke and just made it back to the bus
stand as the 470 came down the road at 10:15. It was either very late
or very early. I suspect the latter which is why I had probably
missed it in the first place. I think the absence of workers and
traffic speeds up the run. Never one to waist an opportunity I
decided to go as far as El Medano and see if I could add another
route to my list, namely the 116 Granadilla to Santa Cruz which is
timetabled at El Medano at 10:20 (Warning: this one does not go to
the airport). Could we do the journey in 5 minutes? Arriving in El
Medano at 10:20 I hopped off the bus at the stop opposite the church
hoping I could catch the 116 on the other side of the road as it
completed the loop around the town. This time luck was on my side and
the bus was a couple of minutes late and away we went. I discovered
that the bus goes up to and round the roundabout at San Isidro so I
could have got off the 470 there too. As I travelled up the
autopista I thought about the other end of my journey.
Up till now I have
wandered around Santa Cruz on foot but there are lots of local buses
running around so why not catch one of them to the parque. On
arrival the Titsa enquires office was open so I enquired. Easy, catch
the 920 from the floor below. As I have mentioned in my first blog
and photo album about Santa Cruz (the motor show), the station is on
3 levels, top (2 in the lift ) being 'Island' routes, middle (1)
being 'local' routes and bottom (0) being the entrance hall,
cafeteria and shops where you can buy your bono bus ticket, ferry
trips, newspapers etc. So another first, a departure from level 1
and my bus was waiting too. There was no charge on my 'Bono' ticket
as this was classed as my final destination so three rides for the
price of one, €4.25 (about £3.50) as the prices have just
increased but not bad for nearly 80 miles of travel.
Off we went along the
route I normally walk, up Avda. de Bravo Murillo, on past 'Plaza de
Espana' along Calle La Marina and up Calle San Isidro turning right
onto the Rambla de Santa Cruz, down to the Military Museum then a
U-turn back up towards the Parque. My stop and entrance shown, is at
the opposite end but same side of the parque as the junction I showed
in the 'Nob Hill' blog where the parque was to my right. The parque
itself is some 16 acres of mature trees and tropical and sub tropical
plants reported to be one of the largest and finest in the Canaries.
It also contains numerous fountains, sculptures and recreational
areas. I was impressed by the mixture of surfaces used for walks with
shady groves, little pathways and wide avenues. The wooden surround
of the large rectangular fountain, which I saw from a distance but
had switched off when I got there, provides a skateboard, cycle,
scooter track for youngsters without looking like the concrete
monstrosity we are used to. There is even an area where dog owners
can let there pet(s) run off the lead which is very thoughtful in a
large city. There is an open air cafe at each end of the park and
each entrance has a map of the site. There is even a train to take
you around should you feel so inclined. I spent all day there
wandering around but, equally, you could sit and relax or read a
book.
While I was there the
main avenue through the park was full of marquees sponsored by local
book stores and publishers, it was quite amusing to see English
classics and well known authors all published in Spanish alongside
their own. You could buy anything from philosophy to 'Mr Man'
provided you could read Spanish, I did contemplate buying some of the
childrens' learning to read material. Throughout the day and early
evening there are lectures and talks by authors and scholars along
with musical entertainment. The event is the 14th annual
'Feria del Libro' (book fair) which runs from 23rd May to
3rd June. Whilst wandering around the park I took some
photographs of a young man playing a guitar, accompanied by a young
lady. I thought they were busking and threw a coin. I found them
later on the stage doing a sound check for their performance later in
the evening so I stayed to listen. The theme was 'Americana' and he
sang the blues, very well to with duets along the way. He is going to
email his name and I shall add it here as soon as I get it. He
(they?) is hoping to perform in the UK soon and is well worth a
listen. I have had an email - his name is Dave Santos, some of his tunes can be found at
though he says that he wasn't as good when he recorded them?
It doesn't seem to
matter where I go I fall over some celebration on other so get on out
there if you are visiting Tenerife!
I was now at the other
end of the parque, I am sure that you can hop on any 900 series bus
going past and ask for the 'Estación de Guaguas' if you do not fancy
the walk, however I decided to walk down the Calle El Pilar in the
general direction of the Plaza de Espana passing more interesting
buildings and churches to be viewed on another day. I came to 5 way
junction which had an imposing building to my right, "La Lucha"
Fabrica de Tabacos – either the offices for or makers of cigars in
days gone by but now appeared to be apartments and shops and and
ice-cream palour to my left which was very popular on this hot, sunny
evening. I chose the street opposite to walk down, there are some
very fancy and, I imagine, expensive cloths and jewellers shops along
this route if that takes your fancy. I discovered that I was now at
the Plaza Principe de Asturias then realised at the at the top of
Calle Bethencourt Alfonso was only a few yards away. I returned to
the bus station along the usual route in time to catch the last 116
at 20:00 back to El Medano. The timetable says it is due in El Medano
at 20:50 which is the same time as the last 483 is due out of the
town. I had €5 left in my wallet would that be enough for a taxi if
I missed the last bus, should I play it safe and catch the usual 111
back to Las Chafiras which was also due to depart at 20:00? Nah! Lets
go for it. Onto the 116 and off we went. I managed to take some more
shots of the Auditorio de Tenerife and the refinery on the way out.
As we pulled up the
ramp to the roundabout at San Isidro I could see a bus pull out from
the direction of Granadilla, I bet that is the last 470 I thought.
This was confirmed as we headed down the road and I could see the bus
ahead of us. Arriving in El Medano I could see not one but two buses
ahead of us at the harbour stop. I hopped off the 116 at the stop
opposite the church and crossed the road. As the 116 pulled in behind
the two waiting buses the first moved off closely followed by the
second. I boarded the 483 as the 470 pulled up behind it, do not know
if they wait for the arrival of the 116 or if it was coincidence, I
shall have to investigate. There are 8 scheduled 116s in each
direction so you do not have to leave it till the last one like I
did. An interesting day out and another route on the bedpost of my
journeys.
Comments
Post a Comment