Steep serpentines broken with hairpin bands lean up to the nearly 2000 meter high peak of the island. We have to clamber to heights of 600 to 800 meters even near the coast. The view compensates us for the fatigue. Even a resting place for divers has been built at the most beautiful points. This scene is amazing. The mountain air is sharp and clear and the sky is sparkling blue. The steep rocks play in the different shades of yellow, brown, gray, red and black. In the cracks, the rocks, bushes with yellow flowers are in full bloom. Wild flowers and little palm trees grow in the lower part. Upper and the mountains, pine trees and evergreen bushes take over the power. However, several kinds of cactuses can also live here. We pass over little mountain villages and we can soon take a glimpse of the most interesting member of the fancifully scalloped rocks, the Bentaiga Monolith.
Santa Lucia, the little friendly mountain town is remarkable for the fact that this was the place where the Guanches and the Spanish joined battle with each other. The popular restaurant the Howe was born in the style of the local architecture. Everything which has been found of the personal belongings of the aborigines was exhibited here. Artificial lakes have been created in the valleys for storing valuable fresh water. Roque Nublo, the black monolith balancing above the precipice can easily be seen from the rest area and lookout tower next to the road. If we wound further along the road, we would reach the peak, Pico de las Nieves very soon.
It’s not worth going on through, the most beautiful view waits for us in Crusta Tejera. The village was given its name after the old stone cross erected here. Teide, the peak of Tenerife, the highest mountain of spain which is snow covered all year long can also be seen in clear weather from the terrace of the restaurant.