Archive for March, 2025
Volcanic Peaks And Pool Hopping On Amarilla Coast

Chains of volcanic activity link Costa del Silencio to the modern golf course and marina in Amarilla, but in between, there´s a feast of challenges for walkers, swimmers, and rock climbers. Cresting the first gentle rise of an ancient eruption, it was good to see well signed walking choices close to the gentle lapping of the waves. Meandering around the edge of the calm sea, we soon spotted small rock pools, low stone walls, and wild bushes sprouting close to the water.

It´s a walk of many contrasts, small tourist trip boats passed slowly, just out to sea, and a few cyclists pumped their muscles on the undulating tracks. Low stone walls provided changes of tempo, whilst the prickly plants deserved some respect. The sea is the overwhelming star of the walk, , Pools (charcos) of trapped water were tempting several walkers to take a cooling dip, as the trail edged nearer the neat golf course. It was good to see that recent facelifts to the marina provided wooden seating areas, as the distant shape of Montaña Roja (red mountain) loomed large on the horizon.

For the return journey, there were other choices of which track to follow. The walk attracts a diverse range of devotees, a sports cyclist was getting hot under his lycra as a wheel hit a wobble. For walkers, a dip towards the shore line provides a challenging finish. The yellow mountain has been eroded and sculpted by the sea and waves, leaving a short but tricky descent over the polished rock surfaces. There was a mix of ages negotiating the final stage, I slithered down with the grace of a buffalo but emerged dry and in awe of natures handywork. There is another path just above the rocks, that brings walkers back to the starting point.

At a leisurely pace, it took us three hours, including a break at the marina, and brought us back to our starting pòint.

Big Scalp In CD Tenerife Survival Fight

As Santa Cruz shook off its Carnaval hangover, CD Tenerife had their own party, putting SD Eibar to the sword with a 2-0 home win to deny the visitors a chance to top the table. Luismi Cruz lit up the depleted 8,000 lunch time crowd after 9 minutes with a soaring raid down the right before flighting in a perfect hanging cross for Maikel Mesa to apply a bullet header past the goalie. It set the tone for the whole game as Tenerife kept a spark flickering in their relegation survival fight.

Coach Alvaro Cervera has been keeping his pack fresh with well chosen tweaks to the line up each game, Veteran Aitor Sanz stretched his appearance stats with a typical gutsy first half, and with young Rodriguez looking mean at left back, Eibar were made to look very ordinary. A big point of interest was the debut of Anthony Landazuri, a big defensive free agent signed just after the January window closed. “Bam Bam” looked a bit rusty but the 27 year old from Ecuador, has a two year deal with Tenerife and looked like he will beef up the team.

 

It´s a great credit to coach Cervera and his staff, that they are still trying out new formations and moves on the pitch. The squad is far better than at the end of last year. The youth and B team players being fast tracked through the ranks are showing strength and skill. Edgar Badia looks solid in goal, and that confidence spreads out through the line up.

With the game slipping into injury time, there was always a chance of Eibar spoiling the day, but up stepped another hero. Aaron Martin, another nugget from the youth set up drew a clutch of Eibar defenders out of their comfort zone and danced around them for a classy finish to nail the game. Hope is wonderful thing, after a run of defeats, relegation seemed inevitable, but this victory allows the Tenerife fans to hold on tightly to that glimmer of light.