Christmas holidays

 
Thursday 20th December we pack the car, drive to London, pick up our daughter Isabel from her flat in Clapham and pronto get on to the Gatwick Express. One thing I absolutely hate in life is being under time pressure and so we left in good time to have a leisurely arrival and browse round the airport - or not, as it happened in the end, as the train (the Gatwich not-so-Express) was delayed by works on the line !! So we arrive amidst some very stressed out travellers ...... but we had ages still (!!!!) and so went for a coffee and then a book n puzzle magazine buying session at the newsagent.

The flight was easy and our views of Tenerife on arriving were brilliant. A good start. An hour in the minibus (why are spanish drivers so manic ?) to the hotel, dump our luggage in our enormous suite (this is a first) and head for the dining rooms. Lots of choice,well, too much really and we tuck in with gusto and down a couple of glasses of lovely rioja too. hmhmhm

This is the first time (outside germany) that we have encountered to so many germans en masse. I was told afterwards that this was probably why the hotel's standards were so high as they will not put up with anything else. Great for us ! Bathrooms, service, grounds , pool etc were immaculate and everything well tended; very teutonic but we actually like that especially when you're paying for it

We stay at so many scruffy, below standard campsites that this felt luxurious - clean towels every day ?! Beds freshly made and room n bathroom tidyed-up and cleaned daily - what's not to like ? I think I could very easily get used to this style of living !! Reckon when I'm an old lady I shall do just that....live in leisure and comfort.

We had our own patio area and once hubby had found out about the 'happy' cocktail hour enjoyed many a glass of bubbly in the warmth of the evenings before heading over to dine. Isabel and I dressed for every evening meal - a chance for us to wear some finery (and I love everything glittery - sequins, beads etc..whatever.) The camping life can be quite grungy - shorts and tee shirts mainly - so a real dressing and glamming up time. Loved it !

The hotel had a beautiful pool, very deep and clear water - probably warmer than I'm used to in the leisure centres in the UK in fact so swimming was a treat. Plenty of loungers and umbarellas tho we didn't use these as we just soaked up all that fantastic sunshine - slathered in factor 30 and 50 so well protected. Two years ago I burnt badly and now am ultra ultra carefull tho 40 years ago if you didn't come back from the beach slightly scorched you felt hard done by ! Times have changed.

 My son, who lives in Australia, has had a whole body skin map of all his moles and markings done and his doctor will monitor them regularly. Skin cancer is a major problem there and as his main hobby is surfing he needs to be careful. Funnily enough he wears a wet suit not to keep him warm, as he used to do in britain, but to protect his skin from the sun's rays!

 We thoroughly enjoyed our two weeks in Tenerife and especially coming from a grim winter here in the UK to an almost tropical environment was heaven.

I could very easily do this every year. Enough said.