Tenerife

Aaaand we’re back!

Did you miss me? Did you? Did you? Actually, on second thoughts, don’t answer that…

So, we got back late last night after a three hour delay in an airport in which every second flight seemed to have been either cancelled or diverted somewhere else. The place was just one seething mass of humanity, with people crammed into every available space, tucked under chairs and swinging from the ceilings like monkeys. Somehow, though, we survived, and have returned from our holiday to a towering pile of junk mail and an even bigger one of laundry, yay!

Some holiday highlights that I may or may not bore you all with later:

1. How the flu followed me from the UK to Tenerife, forcing me to spend the first three days of my holiday shivering under a pile of blankets, beach towels and assorted items of clothing, convinced that I was doomed to die far from home, in some Spanish hospital where I did not speak the language and therefore would be powerless to prevent the battery of hellish, experimental tests and procedures they would no doubt subject me to.

2. How, instead, I made a full recovery, and felt a bit stupid for having made Terry hire a heater for our hotel room, because, hello, it wasn’t THAT cold!

3. How it WAS quite cold, though: overcast most days, requiring sweaters and jeans/trousers to be worn most of the time, sometimes in multiple layers.

4. How I hadn’t actually packed many of the aforementioned items, having allowed myself to believe that it would, in fact, be blisteringly hot at all times, and no warm clothing would be required. (A particularly stupid move on my part because I’ve been to the Canary Islands out of season before, and I KNOW the weather can be chilly).

5. How this horrendous packing job of mine (look, I had the flu at the time, I obviously wasn’t thinking straight, OK?) “forced” me to visit the Zara near our apartment no less than seven times.

6. How I also visited the Mango close to our apartment often enough that I could probably draw you a map of that store, and everything in it, in my sleep.

7. How we managed to get our hire car impounded, and had to pay 119 euros to get it back.

8. How our apartment was located directly above a KARAOKE BAR. That was LOUD. Every night. Have I ever mentioned how much I HATE noise?

9. How, on our first Saturday night there, we were woken at 5.30am by an open air rave which we at first thought was happening in our bathroom, so loud was the music, but which actually turned out to be coming from the car park opposite the apartment. And which went on until 8am, even after 10 police cars showed up and made them turn the music down slightly.

10. How we insisted on being moved to another apartment after that.

11. How the new apartment was located next to the pool, which had a bar which played loud music all the livelong day. And into the night.

12. How it also had a double bed which was dressed with sheets belonging to a single bed. If you’ve never tried that particular combination, all I can say to you is: don’t.

13. How, actually, none of these events prevented us from having a fantastic time. No, really.

14. How we went to visit MONKEYS. And the monkeys came and sat on us, and put their little hands into ours, and tried to undo the knot in my halter neck top.

15. How I enjoyed this so much that I insisted we go back to visit the monkeys a second time.

16. How I then talked obsessively about monkeys for the rest of the holiday, and am still talking about them now. God, I want a monkey.

17. How we saw dolphins in the wild, from a speedboat which we got completely to ourselves, to sail close to the biggest cliffs we’ve ever seen. Amazing.

18. How an American bald eagle flew over our heads and touched me with his feet.

19. How we went to a water park on a sunny day and were flushed down a giant plughole.

20. How we drove up Mount Teide, on a road where we were above the clouds almost the whole time.

21. How we ate a LOT.

22. How, even although I’ve made it sound like a complete catalogue of disasters, we had a truly fantastic time. And I wish I was still there. Good job Christmas is coming up to distract me…

Not photoshopped. Just looks like it.

Not photoshopped. Just looks like it.

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books by Amber Eve
COMMENTS
  • Emma

    REPLY

    it sounds like you had a wonderful time.

    and you made me realise just how much I need a holiday! you will have to send me details of this hol, sounds perfect for me and hubby

    December 22, 2008
    • Well, I wouldn't recommend the hotel we stayed in, to be honest, because as well as the noise, the housekeeping wasn't up to much either, but the general area (Costa Adeje) is really nice and there's LOADS to do, especially if the weather is nice!

      Can give you any details you want though, and lots of recommendations for things to do if you do go!

      <abbr>Amber´s last blog post..Gone, going</abbr>

      December 23, 2008
  • Glad you had a good time, even with all the missteps!

    That photo is amazing!

    <abbr>Kristabella´s last blog post..Sometimes I Hate Myself</abbr>

    December 22, 2008
    • We did indeed. And hey, we laugh at the missteps now. Well, almost 🙂

      <abbr>Amber´s last blog post..Gone, going</abbr>

      December 23, 2008
  • Yay! Vacation = success!

    <abbr>Amanda Nicole´s last blog post..christmas cogs</abbr>

    December 22, 2008
    • Yay indeed! I need another one now!

      <abbr>Amber´s last blog post..Gone, going</abbr>

      December 23, 2008
  • Stephanie

    REPLY

    WOW! Those are some amazing experiences!!! And the photo is spectacular!

    December 22, 2008
    • We did do some really cool stuff, and the views were amazing! The whole place is so hilly that almost everywhere has amazing views of mountains and ocean – gorgeous!

      <abbr>Amber´s last blog post..Gone, going</abbr>

      December 23, 2008
  • Stephen

    REPLY

    Wow.

    Lucky, lucky you! (Well, apart from the car.)

    Glad you're back!

    December 22, 2008
    • Yeah, the car thing wasn't much fun, it has to be said 🙂

      <abbr>Amber´s last blog post..Gone, going</abbr>

      December 23, 2008
  • Welcome back! And I did miss you. Looking forward to hearing MORE detail about those stories…

    <abbr>Tracey´s last blog post..100 things about me</abbr>

    December 23, 2008
    • Ah, that's all the encouragement I need – stories coming up soon!

      <abbr>Amber´s last blog post..Gone, going</abbr>

      December 23, 2008
  • Steph

    REPLY

    Glad to hear you had a good time! I want a monkey now, as well…

    December 23, 2008
    • I would totally recommend getting a monkey, they were the highlight of the trip for me – they were SO tame, they would come and sit on your shoulder and take food from you. I miss them.

      <abbr>Amber´s last blog post..Gone, going</abbr>

      December 23, 2008
  • wow, all those tiny little houses! Glad to here you have a most fantastic time, despite the afore mentioned 'issues'

    <abbr>Louise´s last blog post..The world has gone a funny color</abbr>

    December 23, 2008
    • Those are mostly holiday apartments – the place is full of them, but they're mostly all painted white and quite picturesque looking!

      <abbr>Amber´s last blog post..Gone, going</abbr>

      December 23, 2008
  • Erik (Sorrento)

    REPLY

    A rave that goes from 5:30am to 8am? That's just weird. Other than the adversities, it sounds you have a blast. That's really cool about being so close to the monkeys. How did an American Bald Eagle get to the Canary Islands? Maybe it's a sign you will be going to the US again?

    December 23, 2008
    • Tell me about it – the clubs in town would close at about 5am, and that's when the party would continue in our car park. My guess is that a fair amount of alcohol and other substances were involved there! As for the eagle, he was part of a show at a bird park, but yes, I am totally going to take it as a sign that I'll be going to the US soon!

      <abbr>Amber´s last blog post..Gone, going</abbr>

      December 23, 2008
  • "And the monkeys came and sat on us, and put their little hands into ours, and tried to undo the knot in my halter neck top. How I enjoyed this so much that I insisted we go back to visit the monkeys a second time."

    While you separated these phrases with number-points, my brain read it as:

    Ok, so um… you *enjoyed* being undressed by a monkey??? Poor Terry! Whatever will he do?!?!

    ROFL! 😀

    (Yes, totally and utterly missed you!)

    <abbr>Erin´s last blog post..Deja Nano?</abbr>

    December 23, 2008
  • Hoorah! You're back! Just too late to entertain me on my utterly dull last few days of work… honestly, some people are so selfish! ;D

    Glad you both had a lovely time! And I hope you have a really lovely Christmas and New Year. Cx

    <abbr>Caroline´s last blog post..Monday Rush</abbr>

    December 23, 2008
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