The first port of call for the Norwegian Epic following our departure from Barcelona was Santa Cruz on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. As many of my blog followers may already know, I’m a former air traffic controller, and I still teach air traffic control at the local FAA Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT)/Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON). When you mention Tenerife to a controller of my generation, the worst aviation disaster in history comes to mind. Fortunately, we were here for other reasons than to relive that horrible experience.
Ursula and I wouldn’t be spending much time in Santa Cruz this trip, however. We had a tour planned, a tour that would take us to a national park (more this Wednesday). But on the return back to Santa Cruz our tour made a stop at the charming and picturesque town of La Orotava. Among the many sights here is the domed Baroque-style Church of Our Lady of the Conception (Nuestra Señora de la Concepción):
Another stop is the House of the Balconies (Casa de los Balcones):
Some other interesting photos to take here: