Picking Up Where We Left Off - Touring a Volcanic Island

On the original itinerary, today was to be our embarkation date for our transatlantic passage. Concern about low winds and high waves delayed our departure for another day. We spend the morning continuing to pack and prepare the boat before Captain Jim declared Morpheus ship-shape.

That left us (barely) enough time for a power tour of the island. A few days earlier, while waiting in the airport on the flight to Tenerife, Kim asked a local in line for their recommendations of things to see and do. The answer was succinct - drive to the top of the mountain and go to a black sand beach. After a scramble to find a driver we were on our way. Captain Jim decided to stay with the boat and double check preparations.

It's been a recurring theme on this west bound transatlantic adventure that we are picking up where we left off after making the east bound crossing five years before.  True for assembling the crew, true for eating and drinking, and it was true for touring a volcanic island. In 2013 it was tour of Faial after we landed in the Azores. In 2018 it is tour of Tenerife before we depart. Some pictures from the day.

We drove through the rain and fog into the cold volcanic moonscapes at the top of Mount Teide.

The summit is often shrouded in clouds, but we climbed into sunshine and amazing atmospheric conditions.including an ice rainbow (ice halo? icebow?).

As we cross the summit and descend on the south side of the Island through the Corona Forestal National Park the terrain gets greener, wetter and warmer

The sun sets, and we find the beaches along the promenade of  Puerto de la Cruz in the dark.

Mission accomplished. Island explored. Tomorrow we sail.

BCN => TFN The crew assembles in Tenerife

 The transatlantic crew navigate a small elevator 

Back to the Barcelona airport on Thursday. Kim was enroute and we met at BCN to wait for our flight to Tenerife.  Kim and I pick up where we left off after our Transatlantic Crossing on Morpheus five years before...

 Kim and  I enjoy beer and wine and snacks at BCN Airport in Barcelona in 2018 before sailing across the Atlantic.

Kim and I enjoy beer and wine and snacks at cafes in the Azores in 2013 after sailing across the Atlantic.

Unfortunately, our wait was longer that expected. A hellacious string of thunderstorm cells rolled over the airport shutting down all air traffic for a few hours.

We thought we might be camping overnight in the airport, but eventually they opened the boarding line and we were off to Tenerife.

Jim and Deb arranged for the crew to stay in an AirBNB as we prepared for departure.  We finally managed to find our way to the apartment from TNF after cab took us around the block a few times and we insisted he just drop us off. Of course, Jim stayed on board Morpheus. The next day we rejoined Jim at a Tenerife cafe'and picked up where we left off five years before...

... which is to say, eating and drinking.

Partial Morpheus crew in Tenerife a few days before sailing across the Atlantic in 2018

Partial Morpheus crew in Portugal a few days after sailing across the Atlantic in 2013

And yes, I am wearing the Morpheus swag sling just for continuity of picking up where we left off.  If was a gift from the Captain and First Mate after the last transatlantic passage. It was also the wrong shoulder. But I digress.

Doug flew in a couple days later, and the crew was complete. Which, of course required some more eating and drinking. Tenerife is a good place to eat and drink. El Tenedor was selected as our official first full crew dinner breaking bread together.

Complete Morpheus crew in Tenerife a few days before sailing across the Atlantic in 2018, and
agian picking up where we left off in Lisbon five years before (with a slightly different crew). 

 Loved the seafood. It was great, but not sure it was even the best of the meals we ate in Tenerife.

A Day In Barcelona

Thanks to generous and trusting friends of friends, my one full day in Barcelona was not limited to eating trail mix and husbanding my last seven euros for the metro ride back to the airport (as I thought it might upon my arrival).  Nuff said about yesterday's series of unfortunate events. I had one day to explore Barcelona for the first time and was not going miss the opportunity.

I am staying in the Gothic Quarter, and started the day by by downloading and following Rick Steves Audio Tour of Barcelona, as recommended by my seatmate on the flight over. My intent was to see and do everything there was to see and do in Barcelona. I assumed one day would be enough. Herein a selection of photos on how I did.  You be the judge.

Placa de Calalunya and The Rambles - Wherein I learn that one can sit on a bench on a busy pedestrian boulevard and not bury your nose in your phone.

Catedral de Barcelona - Where I learn the significance of 13

Jewish Quarter - Where I learn that in 1492 Ferdinand & Isabella not only sent Columbus to sail the ocean blue, but also purged all Jews from Barcelona.

Placa de Sant Jaume - Wherein I learn the administrative center of Barcelona and Catalonia is frequently the site of large protests attended primarily by young attractive women and girls.

Sagrada Familia - Wherein I learn you can get almost anything built in 150 years or less, and there are 400 scary steps down from the Passion Tower.

Picasso Museum, Friezes and Watering Hole - Wherein I learn I can make my wife jealous by exploring the art and locations to be found in the location of Picasso's formative years.

Tapas - Wherein I learn that tapas are like... um... uh... Martinis! Three are too many, one is not enough.

I intended to take a siesta after my tapas snack, then head back out for a late seaside Catalonian dinner. But I never quite recovered from the siesta after the frenetic activity of the day. That leaves something left to do when I return, and I certainly will someday.