The Cistercian Convent in Breña Alta

The Cistercian convent of the Holy Trinity at Buenavista in Breña Alta is surprisingly new. It was founded in 1946, and it’s the only closed order on the island. I was surprised to find out that there are only ten nuns who live there. The convent has a small shop. I first went there about ten years ago, in search of a rosary made of dragon-tree seeds, for a Catholic…

February 18, 2011
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Free Live Music in Santa Cruz de la Palma

La Palma’s first winter mini-festival will be sponsored by Ruido fanzine (to present issue 15 of Ruido) and the cultural association Mareando (to present the association’s activities.) It will take place in the Plaza de España de S/C de La Palma on Saturday 8th January starting at 10 pm. The local groups, Soulamente Soulo and Mojo Blues will perform, and they’ll be various cultural stands, tapas, activities for children and…

January 7, 2011
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The Kings in Los Cancajos

Although Father Christmas does visit Spanish children, he’s a new arrival. Traditionally the presents arrive on the morning of January 6th, when the three kings visit baby Jesus. This is why the sales haven’t really started yet – Christmas isn’t over here. And on the evening of the 5th, they ride in procession through most of the major towns and villages in Spain. In previous years we’ve usually gone to…

January 5, 2011
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Taxis on La Palma island

The taxis on La Palma have their own website in English and Spanish (with German coming shortly).  It lists all their various services.  Obviously you can call a normal taxi for a single trip, but they also have 8-seater taxis for bigger groups, and at least one taxi which can take a wheelchair. They have a series of standard tours, which are great if you want to see more than…

January 3, 2011
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A quick visit to Santa Cruz

The famous balconies in Santa Cruz de La Palma
November 27, 2010

Cruise ships regularly call into Santa Cruz de La Palma, and I thought people might like suggestions on what to see while they’re here. Of course it might be useful to people staying elsewhere on the island, too. The Tourist Information Office is a distinctive glass building, right outside the entrance to the port, and the staff are very good. But it does tend to attract longish queues when a…

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The Devil in Tijarafe

Drat! I missed the fiesta del diabolo in Tijarafe. Every year, right in the middle of the annual village fiesta, the devil turns up at Tijarafe in the early hours of September 8th. It starts off like most fiestas. The village centre is off the main road, and on the way in, you pass the usual mobile bars, blasting out music at full volume. In the main square, higher up,…

September 8, 2010
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