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Tenerife

We arrived in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain harbor November 16, 2022 on our cruise from Lisbon to Cape town on the Voyager Severn Seas. Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is the capital of the island of Tenerife, Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Santa Cruz is located in the northeast quadrant of Tenerife island, 130 miles off the north-western coast of Africa within the Atlantic Ocean and the second largest island in the Canary Islands.

The Armas are ferries, in the harbor, that take you to the neighboring islands' Spain and North Africa. The Santa Cruz harbor is one of the busiest in Spain; three separate docks host regular ferries, fast ferries, cruise ships and merchant ships.

Neighborhoods are built straight up into the hilllsides

Santa Cruz is the second largest city in the Canary Islands and the main city on the island of Tenerife, with nearly half of the island's population living in or around it.

The port is of great importance and is the communications hub between Europe, Africa and Americas, with cruise ships arriving from many nations. The city is the focus for domestic and inter-island communications in the Canary Islands.

Teide, or Mount Teide, is a volcano on Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Spain. Its summit is the highest point in Spain and the highest point above sea level in the islands of the Atlantic.

Looking out at the vistas below and Atlantic Ocean.

Mount Teide Observatory at 7,840 ft, located on Tenerife, Spain. The Teide Observatory with its telescopes is well known around the science world.

Looking in another direction from our stop at the side of the road while driving around the island.

Panoramic view of the city and the high rise buildings.

Map of Telerife Island, a little unfortunately.

Teide Observatory or Observatorio del Teide, is an astronomical observatory on Mount Teide located on Tenerife, Spain. It has been operated by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias since its inauguration in 1964. It became one of the first major international observatories, attracting telescopes from different countries around the world because of the good astronomical seeing conditions.

Rounding a bend in the road we come across a hang glider enjoying the morning lifts of wind.

Mount Teide Cable car ride to the top of Spain's highest volcano Mount Teide. During the ride you can experience flying over geological lava flows, rock formations with the colors and shapes below with spectacular views of the surrounding areas and distance.

We stopped at Roques Garcia or Garcia's Rocks. Below the Volcano Teides.

The views of the landscape are spectacular.

There’s no wonder Roques de Garcia , the Guardians of Mount Teide and Gods of Mount Teide has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007.

This is rock is called Roque Cinchado which translates Gods Finger.

Roques de García are exceptional rock formations located in one of the most beautiful and magical landscapes in Tenerife.

The Garcia Rocks to the left in the photo and the Volcano Mountain Teide to the right.

The area is a photographers delight. No matter which direction you walk and turn the photo is incredibly beautiful.

The scrub brush in the foreground

From the volcano eruptions and lava flows, these unusual rock formations, known as Roques de Garcia, were formed. Over time, the shapes of these rock formations have been carved by wind, rain and changes in temperature. Thanks to erosion, we now have these spectacular rock formations to enjoy.

Every direction is another photo to enjoy. It is difficult to eliminate a number of the photos to share.

The spectacular volcanic rock formations to the left and right in the photo with the Volcano Teide in the center. Nature at its zenith.

After our tour around Tenerife we return to Santa Cruz and the city.

Stop for lunch at the El Monasterio in Santa Cruz

Lunch was excellent sitting outside in a garden area

Walking the beach areas in Santa Cruz and the tourist areas.

Lots of tourists enjoying the sun, beach and pool in an area that is private entrance with fees charged.

Waves form from a jetty and then make a right angle into the beach area. Lots of rocks on this beach area.

Walking the beach areas. People watching those catching a few waves to surf.

A great surf area for those lucky enough to catch a wave.

Tourists relaxing for the afternoon

A great shaded square in the center of Santa Cruz, with a beautiful areas with shops, restaurants, sitting areas in the middle of the square. It's a good place to stop for a short break during your walks through the streets of Tenerife's capital city.

I would say a number of tourists have found this location for a fee to enjoy some food, drinks and sun. Looks good to me.

In the same area of the beaches is this rocky area. Just waiting for some waves to crash on the rocks.

Don't have to wait long at all. Good air splash with waves in the next few photos.

Life guards are seated to the left in the photo. I cannot understand why anyone would go out to the water in that location with rocks and heavy waves.

Bingo.. the right waves crashed ashore just as I predicted. Well worth the few minutes wait for that perfect photo.

Local city Auditorium. Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, it is located on the Avenue of the Constitution in the Canarian capital, and next to the Atlantic Ocean.

Harbor area for private yachts and locals to enjoy the scenery. We return to our Cruise ship and set sail for our next port tomorrow morning in the Cape Verde Islands.

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