A day of rest … relatively

Siam Shopping Mall

We awoke this morning to discover that Captain Clarke had a distinctly sore throat. This didn’t come as a great surprise as during the night he had been coughing badly. Whilst I took to my laptop to deal with some other matters, Captain Clarke dispatched himself to the nearest pharmacy, (which didn’t turn out to be that near!), to obtain medication. He returned some while later armed with throat spray, lozenges and happily no worsened symptoms. Whilst he wasn’t 100%, the concern was that this may turn into a full blown man flu, (the worst kind of flu that has ever been known!). We decided that, on this basis, we would have a quiet day. Not

There is clearly some Thai influence here!

too much walking and taking things relatively easy. We had seen, although only from afar, a shopping mall called ‘Siam Shopping Mall’. We thought it might be worth a visit as everywhere you go in Tenerife at the moment there are ‘rebajas’, (sales in English).

Now, the first thing I should say at this juncture is that the Siam Shopping Mall is not a lot different from every other shopping mall. But it is bigger and has a greater array of high street names such as Zara, Mango, Pull & Bear, etc., etc. We enjoyed a gentle stroll around the shopping centre, but and I made a small purchase of a shirt. Captain Clarke didn’t want anything, so he only came away with some aftershave and a shirt!

This car thinks it’s in Gran Canaria!

Outside in the carpark I made a discovery that I think I should mention. There are lots of lost vehicles in Tenerife. Yesterday, I had noted a coach in Porto Colon which said ‘Lanzarote’ on the side. Now, my geography of the Canary Islands isn’t great, but I am pretty sure that Lanzarote is separated from Tenerife by some water! Today, in the car park of the Siam Shopping Mall I discovered a car that was from Gran Canaria – again, I am fairly sure there is some water between Tenerife and Gran Canaria. There was, in fact, another that I saw from La Gomera – these vehicles just don’t know where they are.

Not a lot home made here!

Having returned from our trip to the Siam Shopping Centre, we through a little lunch might be in order. We were, however, not desperately hungry and didn’t want a meal. We decided to go in search of some tapas. Now I must say at this point that good looking tapas bars are not as abundant in the south as they are in the north … in fact, they are near impossible to find! Having said that, we happened across a rather basic looking bar that claimed to serve tapas and decided to take a chance. One thing that we have learned over our years of living in, and visiting, Spain is that if a bar advertises its food using pictures, it is going to be bad news! For that reason, we decided to avoid all things on the menu. All of the staff, however, were Spanish, so we followed our own advice – when in a Spanish bar, eat what the Spanish eat.

A brandy you could swim in!

We ordered some tapas and when it arrived it was actually very good indeed. Everything was well cooked and very palatable. The only thing that I wasn’t quite so keen on, (but then mine takes some beating, I’m told!), was the Tortilla, (Spanish Omlette). I made this remark to Captain Clarke who replied, “Hmm, I think it is the only thing here that is home made!”. He was almost certainly right!! That said, we ate well and had a good rapport with the Spanish staff who rewarded Captain Clarke with a ‘Veterano’ brandy that, frankly, you could swim in!

Now, just before I leave the topic of the tapas bar, I did mention earlier that Captain Clarke is in need of an ear trumpet. He took great offence to this and castigated with me that it was nothing more than I speak too quietly and not in his direction. Whilst we were sat in the bar, two Spanish Reps came in and were chatting with the waiter. He was explaining to them that at this time of year most of the tourists are German or English, but as the year goes on the tourists change to more Italians and that during the months of July and August, and at Easter, the tourists are largely Spanish. It was all very interesting, but know Captain Clarke as I do, I knew he hadn’t bee listening. I leant across to him and said, “those two Spanish Reps have just been asking about the tourists here”, to which he replied, “Harry Ramsdens?”. I think that ear trumpet is coming sooner than he thinks!!

A ‘Madgemobile’!

I promised you a picture of what I now call a ‘Madgemobile’. I think that basically some clever entrepreneur came up with the idea that a mobility scooter could be used much more widely. It seems to me that this is what they are! Being somewhat unkind, they do seem to attract a certain type of person. However, there are a lot of people making a lot of money out of them at €20 per hour or more! I don’t like to stereotype, but we did see four of them all travelling in convoy and not one of the eight people on them looked like they were any stranger to the sweet trolley! Or, as one of our favourite taxi drivers in Norwich once said on seeing a slightly rotund girl walking down the street, “I’ll bet she works in Burger King!” Oh dear, I fear I have turned into a snob! Although since I am fully aware of my own pot belly, I am not really in any position to talk!

Having returned from lunch, Captain Clarke having suitably been comforted by beer, coffee and brandy, decided to take to his bed for a siesta. Actually, in all fairness, he still wasn’t feeling all that great what with his cough, sore throat and fast approaching bout of man flu, so a little sleep was not undeserved. I rested too, although not finding it easy to sleep during the day, decided to do the company expenses and pay them. Amazing what you can do from 2,000 miles away on a hotel balcony! (Although if Mr Kimber is reading this, I haven’t posted them to the ledgers yet!!)

Our hotel is directly in the distance!

In the evening we decided to take a wander along the sea front. Neither of us were particularly hungry, having been fully sated by the tapas, but we thought a stroll might do us good. Having strolled up a side street, we once again found ourselves standing outside Zena and Simon’s hotel. It really is a very nice hotel!! Looking directly down the street, what did we see? Our hotel! Sitting here now on our balcony, I can see their hotel at the other end of the street! It is no more than 5 minutes walk and the rear of their hotel is directly opposite our balcony. Having really not mustered up much hunger, I have to confess that we had a quick burger before retiring to the hotel for one drink at the bar and then to bed. Having a bout of man flu isn’t much fun at any time, and particularly not when on holiday. I am sure though, that the beer, brandy and whiskey consumed today will have a restorative effect on Captain Clarke. It is, after all, RudyMenTerry!