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Palace Stairs; Beach Brolly-world

Pictures by "dots" @ escape

TENERIFE SEPTEMBER 2001

There were three excursions booked during this stay; one was a Coach trip around the Island. It appeared generally; that there were not that many people on the Island, as it was difficult to tie up a booking… not enough people were listing for a trip to take place. We were told by the Rep to wait at the main Bus Area… We waited over an hour, before I walked up to Ocean Palace to see the Coach waiting there for us, so I directed the Driver down the hill to collect my parents. As I had already been on this trip last year, it was not too much bother for me, but I felt that my parents should benefit from this insight. Normally, the tours would be separated into equal language Coaches, but this time, so stretched, everything was done in three languages… this tested my parents somewhat, but I managed to understand the broken German and French better than the broken English, along with already knowing the places, I became a bit of an interpreter for my parents and close by English tourists. The trip did not follow the exact route as before and missed Candelaria, which was where I was looking forward to returning.

This date also being September 11th 2001, and the Coach stopping for a mid-way tourist view of the Flower Displays, we were alarmed by the Driver returning to the Coach and trying to describe to me that he had just watched a the “twin towers” catastrophe on the Pub TV. On returning from this trip, Ocean Palace was at a standstill and everyone was watching TV wherever you could find them.

The second trip, was to take my parents up to see Teide by stars, so they could witness what I saw last year: watching the sunset from above the clouds, then on to the demonstration of the Stars glittering clearly overhead, then to finish off, a stop off for a meal on the way back down the Mountain. All food etc was inclusive of the excursion price.

For the third trip that was booked, my Father was looking forward to see the Dolphins and Whales and I had booked up the Royal Delfin, unfortunately, I was told, as it didn’t arrive for the pick up, then it was cancelled, probably due to the drop in excursions due to 11th. I found out later that day that the Coach did eventually arrive some 2½ hours later… too late for the Boat! As we were already half way to the Boat area, I did originally ask the Reps if we could make our own way by foot to reach the Boat, but was informed that we must arrive by the booked transport or we would not be allowed onboard, so this was quite a whitewash to the week for excursions… but maybe next time!?!?!

• Note: Reps should advise you, that Bar Prices may seem high on site... This is to avoid being swamped by NON GUESTS, that would otherwise clog up your facilities and destroy the Palatial and Pleasant environment

• As both my Parents had Angina and Mother also with Diabetes, it was reassuring to know that Tenerife is rightly proud to have a top quality Hospital close to Playa de Las Americas centre that is reputed to have specialists in heart disease and on the occasion that I had to take my Mother there for additional medication, we all agree to commend the Staff for their understanding and efficiency to attend the Diabetes issue.