A Day in Orotava

La Orotava is located midway up the valley, overlooking the coastal town of Puerto de la Cruz. Because it's not right on the ocean, it manages to largely avoid tourism -- Europeans visit Tenerife for the beach, and not much else. The elevated position also provides the town with an amazing view, and abundant access to water. There are gardens everywhere in Orotava; in yards, parks, plazas… even the weeds blossom with exuberance.

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Tenerife Food Journal #1

Despite all the hiking we were doing, we definitely weren't losing any weight here in Tenerife. And that didn't surprise me, considering the hearty food, and the outsized portions in which they serve it. But we loved the island's cuisine, which is quite distinct from that of the Spanish mainland.

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