66 ~ Street Walking

African Tulip Tree (Spathodea Campanulata)

I'm taking you for a little walk around part of Puerto de la Cruz in North Tenerife and if you don't mind I have to stop and take photos of the African Tulip trees which are blooming in rows along some streets. Here's a closeup of one flower cluster:

The tulip tree is native to tropical Africa and blooms profusely in the sub-tropical climate of the Canary Islands.

Another African tree which grows well here is the Flamboyant, (Delonix Regia) native to Madagascar and also known as Royal Poinciana. Its beautiful red flowers bloom here usually in June. This one has such an unusual whimsical curved trunk. The flamboyant trees are popular for planting along avenues to provide shade with their wide spreading branches.

Here's a row of street dummies, offering their Indian cotton garments to passing tourists:

Shall we look at shop windows? I rather like that top necklace with the turquoise beads.

I think any of these would complement the appropriate matching outfit:

Would these costume jewellery items be considered retro? I know rhinestone brooches were worn in bygone years.
I don't wear one now.

That's a pretty vest. It's typical of what is worn here in winter by the female 'swallows' who come down from Europe for a few weeks to escape the cold. That is when they aren't by a pool or on the beach.

What about some 18 carat gold and opal jewellery. Opal is one of my favourite stones. Many shops here are designed to appeal to the German tourists, so shop signs and menus will always include the German language along with English and Spanish. Russian tourism is also gaining in popularity but more in the south of the island.

Would you like to look in the art gallery or an exclusive boutique?

If you're hungry for a tapa we could stop here at the German deli where they're now serving snacks of wurst sausages, and German salads:

Or how about this other place a few steps away where we can sniff the roses and watch the passers by while we have a nice strong espresso:



Mmm a nice strong cafe cortado. Just right after our little walk. Next time we'll have to go a bit farther and see more.
Thanks for your company! Hasta la Vista.

62 ~ Sunday Flea Market

South American pan pipe player

Every Sunday there is a flea market held in the parking lot of one of the local supermarkets.


So far I have seen only one stall that sells what could be called 'flea worthy' since it's the only one that sells second hand goods.


The rest sell inexpensive tourist oriented souvenirs and clothing, handcrafted and new costume jewellery, and inexpensive handbags.


However it is interesting to drop by there on my way to pick up a loaf of bread at the bakery to see if anything new has been added.

South American wooden dolls and artifacts


Some of the silver and mother of pearl shell jewelery is quite attractive.

I've read about Argan Oil from Morocco. It's one of the world's rarest oils and its production is labour intensive, extracted by hand by Berber women. I wondered though how authentic this bottle of oil could be seeing as it was being sold in a flea market. Hmmmm.

There's never a shortage of T-shirts to buy in Tenerife!

Nor is there a shortage of handbags made in all materials.





Here below a local Canary woman demonstrates the typical open-stitch embroidery of the island.



This girl is selling jewellery.
Notice her beautiful long hair.



As I leave I stop to take a photo of one of the beautiful little Flamboyant trees (Delonix Regia) with their wide, horizontal spreading branches.

Well time to get that bread and return home to start on our Sunday dinner. Hasta la Vista!