When I first heard there was a banana museum in Tazacorte, I laughed. But since about 40% of La Palma’s population works works in the banana industry (growing, packing shipping etc.) it makes sense. Besides, bananas are the 4th most important crop in the world, (after rice, wheat and maize), and this is the only museum about European bananas in the world. The museum contains lots of information panels in…
Los CancajosThey’ll be having yet another attempt to cremate the octopus in Los Cancajos on Friday 12th, starting at 8pm. This was supposed to happen during Carnival, but it’s been postponed twice due to bad weather. The town hall assures everyone that the octopus won’t have gone smelly, because it’s been frozen during the wait.[This is a joke. I’m sure it isn’t a real octopus.]Anyway, the procession will leave at…
The outside of the church of St Michael the Archangel, Tazacorte On Thursday I was in Tazacorte, so I popped into the church. I’m not religious, but most of the churches on La Palma are beautiful, and worth at least a quick look. Even if the building itself isn’t special, there’s often a beautiful renaissance statue. In this case, I’d recently translated a text that said the church “was built…
The Cistercian convent at Buenavista in Breña Alta, La Palma 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 eleven years ago, in search…
We’ve had major roadworks in the north of the island for some time, with some places reduced to one lane, so that you have to wait for traffic lights. Now they’ll be closing the road completely at km 24, just north of Los Sauces, twice a day. The road will be closed Monday – Friday 9:30 am – 12:30 am and 4 pm – 7 pm.
Author and friend in Los Indianos, Santa Cruz de la Palma In Santa Cruz de la Palma, the highlight of Carnival is Powder Night – Los Indianos. This commemorates the people who emigrated from La Palma in the 1940s to 1970s and especially those who came back rich. An Elegant Lady Anyone can join in the parade. You just dress up in white, maybe have a suitcase full of Monopoly…