My flight from Madrid landed at 08:55, only just for staying in a hotel overnight in Tenerife. I found it quite interesting that I flew over La Palma on the way, which was a magnificent sight. Furthermore, the view of the island’s impressive volcano during my descent looked truly superb.
I did not immediately feel the warmth when I stepped outside because I still wore my winter jacket and scarf. I felt quite cold because of the air conditioning on the plane. I only felt a comfortable warmth once I boarded the bus. The temperature outside was 20°C, while it was 23°C on the bus. My journey to the bus station in Santa Cruz de Tenerife took about 40 minutes. Navigating the station felt like I was walking through a bit of a labyrinth, however. I decided to walk to my hotel, and I passed a local market during what turned out to be a pleasant stroll.
I felt impressed by the interior of Hotel Atlantico when I arrived. In addition, the receptionist was incredibly helpful and polite. I had to change my room, nonetheless, because the power went out as soon as I plugged my phone in to charge, which tripped a fuse. I managed to reset the fuse initially to get the lights working, but it eventually stopped working altogether. Fortunately, the hotel staff moved me to an even better room that featured a double bed, a television, a private shower and toilet, and even towels. I felt like I lived in luxury compared to my stay in Madrid.
I washed up and walked around the city. The sun felt warm and pleasant, although the breeze from the ocean made the shade feel a little cooler. I searched for somewhere to eat and eventually chose Burger King again, as I find their steakhouse burger the best. Subsequently, I found a gelateria nearby where I enjoyed pistachio and coconut ice cream, which tasted almost as good as what I ate in Italy.
I felt truly amazed when I saw a black sand beach for the very first time in my life. Moreover, the brilliant white Auditorio de Tenerife, which stood in the distance, provided a striking contrast against that dark, volcanic sand.
The building itself is a masterpiece of late modern architecture designed by the renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. It officially opened in 2003 and has since become one of the most iconic symbols of the Canary Islands. In addition, its unique, sweeping curved roof is constructed from white concrete, which makes it look almost like a giant sail or wave rising from the shore.
I saw an imposing statue of the Guanche Guardian during my walk through the city. The sculpture appeared remarkably powerful as it stood there, serving as a silent sentinel over the urban landscape with a set setting behind it. Moreover, the contrast between the historic, bronze-like figure and the modern buildings in the background created an intriguing atmosphere. The way the sunlight caught the details of the statue made the entire experience feel quite memorable.
I returned to the hotel and slept for three hours. I woke up hungry again, so I decided to ignore the costs and enjoyed a medium-rare pepper steak at a restaurant. The meal was delicious, even though the total, including a pint of beer, cost me €18. I felt that such an indulgence was acceptable once in a while, especially because a good steak in Lithuania cost me around 10 to 12 euros.
I went to sleep around 22:00 after I finished eating. I woke up at 09:00 and felt I had slept fantastically. I had breakfast on the eighth-floor terrace in the morning sunlight, which was a wonderful experience.
I wrote this blog entry while I sat on that same terrace. I met a lady there who needed help with her camera settings. I noticed her menu was in Swedish, so I asked if she was from Sweden, to which she replied that she was. I told her, “Jag kan prata lite Svenska,” and we had a short conversation in Swedish. It felt lovely to hear the language again, and I thought that perhaps I should study it more. Nevertheless, I did not feel that I wanted to live in Sweden again after I experienced the warmth of Spain, as I remembered the cold and gloomy weather there. I recalled how I used to wake up at 05:00 in Linköping to travel five kilometres through rain or snow to the train station, followed by a half-hour train ride and a bus, all to reach the Ericsson laboratory. I repeated that journey in reverse for two months. Life here felt much warmer and more pleasant, and I thought that cycling around this island would be wonderful.