Searching for sunshine. Friday skywatch.

We've been away for a few days with the Young and Fit, searching for some warmth and sunshine. We rented an apartment looking out to sea and hoped to do little more than lie back and absorb some vitamin D.

But what we had to contend with was cloud - thick cloud! Time to go exploring instead. This was the coastal path from our apartment in the former fishing village of Puertito del Guimar on the N.E. of the island.

One of several very basic fishermen's dwellings.

It was hard work walking on the cinder path.

And the local beach was black!

Half a day of sunshine. Hurray!

But mostly it was cloud.

We went on a narrow, winding, ear-popping road 

along the Monte de las Mercedes,

where the light changed moment by moment.

There was plenty of sky for Skywatch Friday!

Sand on the beach (imported?) at Las Teresitas.

But the clouds were forming

so we went to wander around Santa Cruz.

A section of the huge 'living wall' outside the tourist office.

We found this lovely area for lunch.

What's this! A statue to great-grandfather Patrick Murphy?

And yet another Murphy statue. 

Those Murphy's get everywhere!

We thought Santa Cruz a pleasant place to stroll,

that is, until Himself had his pocket picked,

then we felt rather differently!

The modern library and art gallery building was really impressive, very uplifting to see that level of investment in the city.

There were charming displays in the library showing prints of the early botanical explorers.

The Oscar Dominguez exhibition was well hung, but it was all very sub-Picasso. I find it disconcerting when an artist takes over the iconography that belongs so completely to another.

Some delicate 'drawings' produced by means of pinholes.

And I wandered into an installation piece. Babe in the wood?

The Christmas lights came on at dusk

and became more delightful as darkness fell.

On another cloudy day we went to Candelaria, a former fishing village that is now a small town with a basilica which houses the statue of Our Lady Candelabra, the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands.

Overlooking the Basilica square stand large statues of the Guanches, the ancient inhabitants of the island. Every summer there is a fiesta here to celebrate the appearance of Our Lady to the Guanches. The moment is re-enacted by the residents of the town.

The statue of the Our Lady is taken from the Basilica and displayed in the square, with it's backdrop of the sea.

It was an interesting few days. But sunshine, how we longed to see you!