La Palma

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#9999FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03876ba3.gif"> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lanzarote"><U>Lanzarote</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fuerteventura"><U>Fuerteventura</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tenerife"><U>Tenerife</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="La Gomera"><U>La Gomera</U></A></div> <div> <B>La Palma</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gran Canaria"><U>Gran Canaria</U></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="1ba699c0.jpg" border=0 width="105" height="156" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Copyright (c) <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Brush Script MT" >EL Travel Bugs</FONT></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03976bc1egdyqn.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#990000" FACE="Brush Script MT" ><B>EL Travel Bugs ~ Travel Tales & Photos</B></FONT><B>   |   </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EL Travel Bugs Travel Tales Photos"><U><B>HOME</B></U></A><B>   </B><A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><IMG SRC="6b41e1e0.gif" border=0 width="30" height="30" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> back to <B> </B><A HREF="id9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Canary Islands"><U><B>Canary Islands</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03976ba3.gif"> <div> <B>La Palma</B></div> <div> <B>Known as the 'Green Island', it receives the most rainfall of</B></div> <div> <B>all the islands providing for lush vegetation, natural springs</B></div> <div> <B>and small rivers and waterfalls. It is also home to the world's</B></div> <div> <B>largest crater (over 5 miles wide), which offers even the</B></div> <div> <B>experienced hikers a hearty trail system along it's rim and</B></div> <div> <B>down the 'Route of Volcanoes.'  The volcanic fires that lie</B></div> <div> <B>beneath this tiny island are still very much alive as the last</B></div> <div> <B>eruption occurred in 1971.</B> </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Photos from La Palma</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="485" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 182 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="1c39eaf0.jpg" border=0 width="158" height="175" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="1c705a60.jpg" border=0 width="261" height="166" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 101 WIDTH="200"><div> <B>These majestic Canary Pines line the rim of this island's massive crater in Taburiente's National Park.  These pines are extremely fire hearty but do not grow anywhere else in the world.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="262"><div> <B>Keeping up with its rainfall reputation, a wall of moisture approaches the island as we watched the show from our hotel's balcony.</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="481" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 157 WIDTH="212"><div> <IMG SRC="1c18d960.jpg" border=0 width="141" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="1c9f38a0.jpg" border=0 width="243" height="138" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 85 WIDTH="212"><div> <B>An example of rock engravings left behind by the Guanches (original island inhabitants) outside their cave dwelling to mark their territory.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="246"><div> <B>This rainbow appeared over this lush vineyard as a warning that rain was on its way.</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="475" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 182 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="1cb8eaf0.jpg" border=0 width="142" height="175" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="1cdf29d0.jpg" border=0 width="242" height="157" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 52 WIDTH="206"><div> <B>"Wow!"  Have you ever seen a flower this big - you could almost swing from it.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="246"><div> <B>Louisa with the wait staff at Parador de la Isla de la Palma - "Muchas gracias!"</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>Taking the</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>"Good"</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#333300" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B></FONT><B>with the</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> "Bad"</B></FONT><B>:</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#663300" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B><I><B>During our travels to these</B></I></FONT></div> <div> <I><B>islands, we recorded each island's good and bad points.  Of course,</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>these are </B></I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><I><B>our</B></I></FONT><I><B> observations and opinions to share with you as a quick</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>overview of the island.</B></I></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="432" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 27 WIDTH="210"><div> <B><U>The "Good"</U></B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="199"><div> <B><U>The "Bad"</U></B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 68 WIDTH="210"><div> <B>Green never looked so good - with its lush mountain trails, beautiful Canary pines and an unresistible pitcher of awesome Sangria</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="199"><div> <B>Please turn off the "water faucet" for at least one day - with so much rain, we barely got a view of the crater</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 85 WIDTH="210"><div> <B>Unlike the Parador on La Gomera, the staff and accommodations at La Palma are excellent</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="199"><div> <B>The thick clouds insisted on hanging over the island's massive crater every time we attempted to view its magnificent natural structure</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 52 WIDTH="210"><div> <B>Shopping and browsing around Santa Cruz provided some of the best of all the islands</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="199"><div> <B>Rain aside, the winds could blow you right off the top of the island</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 68 WIDTH="210"><div> <B>Walking the rim of Volcano San Antonio - just one of many  on the island</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="199"><div> <B>Not much bad to say about this island, we loved it even with its rain, high winds and persistent clouds</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>A SPECIAL THANKS:</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>  We appreciate the "tourist</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>assistance" of Guillermo Martinez of Isla de la Palma</B></div> <div> <B>Parador, who can be contacted via e-mail</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>at</B></FONT><B> </B><A HREF="mailto:lapalma@parador.es" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:lapalma@parador.es"><U><B>lapalma@parador.es</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#663300" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gran Canaria"><U><B><IMG SRC="6d45f180.jpg" border=0 width="95" height="24" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></FONT><B>       </B><A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Travel Adventures"><U><B><IMG SRC="6df5d350.gif" border=0 width="93" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>