Home from Home

 

When I started my love affair with the Canary Islands three decades ago, I was enchanted by what the eight islands had to offer, especially the island I now call home, Tenerife.
Moving 2700 miles was strange, but I believe life should be an adventure, and it certainly was that and still is. 

 When people asked why I moved to Tenerife, I said, strangely enough, although our languages differ, the Scots and Tenerfeños do have things in common. St Andrew is our patron saint, and both our national flags bear a St Andrew’s cross, a white saltire on a blue background. Both have devolved governments, though not independent countries, with powers that grant the inhabitants certain freedoms from their ruling countries. 

 Another thing we have in common is that both countries have breathtaking landscapes.

But, importantly for me, both native populations take pride in their heritage and culture and have warm, welcoming hearts.

 One thing I should say that differs greatly is the weather; the summer temperature in Scotland averages 19 degrees centigrade, while Tenerife averages a warmer 29 degrees centigrade.

So really, you can see that two countries have so much in common that it wasn’t so hard to make the move. 

A Moral Tale to Tell

 

The streets of Puerto de la Cruz in North Tenerife are something not to be missed if you visit the island. Filled with little bars and cafes, a mixture of tourists and friendly locals enjoying their morning coffee or a small glass of local afrutado wine, they animatedly chat or watch the world go by.

 

When their batteries have been recharged, it is time to take a stroll through the streets with its interesting mix of historical and modern buildings. Streets where you can fill your lungs with wonderful, clean, fresh air, immersing yourself in the culture and heritage of the Portuenses.

 

For writers, poets and literary buffs, the grand old house on Calle San Juan and the corner of Calle Iriarte is a must. A typical-looking Canarian building, but it is the history hidden behind four walls that is interesting.

 

Casa Iriarte, yellow in colour with its wooden balconies, is like many others in the city to look at; this house, built in the late 18th century, belonged to the Iriarte family. A family of linguists, scholars and diplomats.

 

Casa Iriarte

One member of the family, Tomás Iriarte, was a prominent poet, playwright, linguist and composer of fables, and is held in reverence in the city, with the local public library bearing his name. His book of 67 fables was published in 1782 and continues to be used as a teaching tool. The tales are dominated by the animal world. One such fable is titled El Burro Flautista, translated as the Flute-playing Donkey, and like the others in the book, it has a moral tale to tell.

 

 

 

The local library is named after the greatly admired Tomás Iriarte, and I believe. Having a library named after you would be a place that any writer would happily be remembered posthumously.

A Name Fitting Of A King

     

     Looking good at the age of 75 is hard work, especially if you are celebrating your birthday in the public eye. Things began to bulge, sag, and deep lines started to appear some years back. Out came the filler, and the bulges and sags were tucked away carefully by the hands of an expert. It is no different if you are a human or a building; we all need a little help sometimes.

    That is what happened to the Hotel Grand Mencey Santa Cruz some years ago: the professionals moved in. Restoring this prestigious hotel to retain its character and originality.
This fabulous hotel has been opening its doors to Kings, queens, musicians and film stars for the last 75 years and will continue to do so. Because its beauty and grandeur are unmistakable and unforgettable.

    Film greats such as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Sophie Loren and Matt Damon have stayed there. The city of Santa Cruz itself is regularly used as a film location, and many undisclosed stars of all nationalities stay there or visit its fabulous restaurants.
A hotel worth the name Mencey, the title given to the Gaunche rulers of the separate kingdoms within the island of Tenerife before the Spanish conquest.

 

    To celebrate its 75th birthday, I wanted to share with you some photos I took on a visit a little while ago.

    I hope you enjoy.

New Year has Dawned

    

 

    A new year has dawned, and I decided it was time to unburden clutter from a cabinet that had been groaning and sighing for a very long time. It is where I keep notebooks, pens, in fact, most of my stationery. 
What I had forgotten about was a file buried under a pile of empty folders, which surprisingly contained multiple pages of A4 pads filled with outlines and chapters from two incomplete manuscripts.

    Now, I find this inspiring, especially when one of the outlines is for a sequel to the book I am writing at present, and another, which is a sequel to another book I finished a long time ago. A book that I submitted to lots of agents with no luck, so I filed it away, promising myself that I would do a rewrite at some point. Hmm, never did. 

    Therefore, once my current project is finished and edited, I will have plenty to get on with in 2026.

    Have a happy one, stay positive and productive in whatever you are doing and wherever you are.

 

 

Her Name is Bella

 

     ‘Her name is Bella, she is a robot,’ for some reason I wanted to sing that line to the tune of Copacabana, by Barry Manilow.

    But Bella is most definitely a showgirl, dressed to impress in Romanian national dress and helping to serve tables in a small, bijou Romanian restaurant in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife. She brings the fabulous food they serve from the kitchen to the table, then the server takes over for the human touch.

    While I was initially sceptical when I read about a robot being used, I changed my mind when I saw her in action.

    The service in this restaurant has always been impeccable, and this time was no exception. Bella certainly enhances the service and keeps the diners amused as she glides among them, going about her work.

    Unfortunately, I won't have Bella to help me with serving Christmas dinner, but as there will only be my partner dining, it is unlikely I will be rushed off my feet.

    Hoping you all have Happy Holidays!

 

 

 

Friendship

  

 

 I had the pleasure of writing a poem for a school poetry reading project in Kenya, and was delighted when I heard the young boy reading it aloud in front of his peers via Facebook.

 I wanted to share the poem with you today. 

 

  

 Friendship

The boy stands in the playground on his own

He is new to the school and feels alone

He watches the other boys and girls having fun

They laugh, they play and even run

One of the boys playing notices him

He is a classmate who loves life to the brim

He asks the solo boy, why he is sad?

Is being here so bad?

He tells him it is because he has no friends

The schoolfellow offers his hand, it is a problem he can easily mend

In this school we have friendship to share

Each and every one of us will always care

 

© Christina Rowell 2025 

A Trip to the Museum and Lord Nelson

Recently, I visited Santa Cruz de Tenerife Museo Militar located in the Almeyda Fort. I particularly wanted to view the exhibit related to Admiral Lord Nelson, who famously lost his arm here in the Canary Islands after being hit by a musket ball in the Battle of Santa Cruz in 1797.

 

The flag captured from Nelson’s forces is proudly displayed in a glass case alongside various paintings, mannequins dressed in a typical British uniform of that time and old notes and journals. Nelson, even after losing his arm, wrote a letter to the Spanish thanking them for his care. Unfortunately, this letter is not available here but is held in a military museum on the Peninsula.

 

I was interested in reading that a note, which was written after his recovery and return to the UK, was sold recently at an auction in London. He wrote down his personal thoughts on the loss of his arm and thanked God that he had recovered and desired to continue in his role as an officer in the Navy.

 

If you are ever in Santa Cruz, the museum is worth a visit, and unlike other museums entrance is free. I have written a post on Nelson before, and if you want a quick read, here is the link. Nelson’s Retreat