Three hundred years ago, Santa Cruz de la Palma was the third biggest port in the Spanish Empire. Almost every ship traveling from Spain to the Americas stopped here. In the 19th century, it was still a major port, and many of the inhabitants waited anxiously for a ship bringing their merchandise, letters from family members who’d emigrated to Cuba or Venezuela, or the loved ones themselves, as passengers or…
An hono(u)rable mention
I’ve just won an hono(u)rable mention in On The Premises’ Mini-Contest #22 for micro-fiction.I have to admit that the winning entry is much better than mine! But it’s a nice start to the year.
A new moon for the New Year
Happy new year. We started 2014 with a new moon. Here it is setting on January 2nd from La Palma.
Snow and ice
People associate the Canary Islands with sunshine for good reason. But the Canary Islands at beach level is one thing, and the Canary Islands at 8,000 ft (2,400 m) is another. In the middle of winter, Mt Teide often has snow, and the top of La Palma can have snow and ice too.
Happy 2014
I hope you had a good time last night, and I hope 2014 brings you whatever you most hope for. New year is a big thing in Spain. Many people dress up – I mean really dress up, as though they were going to the opera at Covent Garden. Traditionally, lots of people eat out, although I suspect there’ll be less of that this year. At midnight, people traditionally eat…
Earthquake felt on La Palma
Did the earth move for you? We had an earthquake at 5:45 pm. The whole family felt it, which is unusual. (Normally I say, “What was that?” and the rest of the family reply, “What was what?” and nobody believes me until the evening news mentions it.) But this time was different. Most people on La Palma seem to have felt it, and my husband thinks it was bigger than…