I went to the beach at Salemera with my friend and her grandchildren. We went swimming in a big rock pool – well, sort-of swimming because even the deepest bits were only about half a metre, but it was great fun. Then I noticed something moving on the rocks at the edge of the pool. I pointed at it and told the six-year-old, “Oh look, there’s a red crab over…
Santa Cruz has been building a new beach for ages. This morning it was finally opened. I got to hear at lunchtime, and immediately went for a paddle. Of course a big wave came along and now I have damp trousers, but it was well worth it. I’d forgotten how much fun it is to be eight years old for a while.
If a beach is all you want for your holiday, then frankly you’re better off in Tenerife. But if a beach is part of the mix, then we have two main beach resorts, Los Cancajos and Puerto Naos. Our sand is like the Model T Ford – “Any colour you like, as long as it’s black”. When the sea mashes up black, volcanic rock, that’s what you get. However,…
La Palma has lots of little beaches tucked away here and there, like Salemera. You take the main road from the airport to Fuencaliente, and just south of Mazo, follow the marked turning off. After four twisty kilometres, you wind up at the little village. It’s easy to park. The beach itself is tiny, but very sheltered. You don’t have to worry that a big wave will come along and…
A Portuguese Man O’ War (Physalia physalis), isn’t a jellyfish, but it looks a lot like one. It’s actually something called a siphonophore,and it’s a collection of tiny animals living together. Another difference from jellyfish is that it’s got a gas-filled bag so that it floats. You occasionally see lots of the washed up on the beach after a storm. They can be blue, purple, pink or mauve, and they…
Salermera from the road above: the beach is in the inlet at the right. La Palma has lots of little beaches tucked away here and there, like Salemera. You take the main road from the airport to Fuencaliente, and just south of Mazo, follow the marked turning off. After four twisty kilometres, you wind up at the little village. It’s easy to park. The beach itself is tiny, but very…