Tuesday, 4 September 2007

Day Twelve

Tuesday 4th September

After having something to eat down by the sea front for breakfast I went into town to pick some presents up.

I then went into "planet fun" to use the internet there but there was an Irish woman already using the PC. However she had to go and she thought that 2 hours left on the meter was 2 minutes, so she let me use her time ^ ^. So for the next few hours I was surfing the web for free.

Went back to the apartments...played some more FFIV.

went out quite late and ended up at a Little Italy restaurant. Here I ordered the house speciality of Sirloin Steak "Chateau". It was amazing. probably the best meal I have had so far.

Went into the Miners Retreat bar on the way back, had a drink, went back.

Monday, 3 September 2007

Day Eleven - Loro Parque and What happened to day Ten ?!

September 3rd

Today was the trip to Loro Parque, which is one of the Canary Islands biggest attractions and is home to many different species of animals.
We caught the coach around half past nine and it took about 2 hours to reach Puerto De La Cruz, where the park was located.
Once we got off we were straight into the park and one of the first things you see are the Koi Carp in the lake by the entrance.



The next stop was the Gorillas.

We then went to see the Penguins which were housed in the biggest man made Ice burg in the world. It was in darkness (mimicking the conditions in the arctic at the moment) and the atmosphere in there was really nice.



Saw some sea-bass in a big tube....looked a bit packed in there..



After a quick stop for something to eat we then went to the newest and most hyped attraction in the park - the orca ocean.
Shipped from sea world in Florida the Orca show was really something special. After an introduction where the cameras were trained on various people in the audience..the show got under way.



The Orcas were introduced and what they could do and how they interacted with their trainers was shown to the audience. They also splashed the audience at various times during the show, and I happened to have two killer whales splashing me head on. I got quite soaked.








There is something about these creatures that really captures my imagination....perhaps I watched Free Willy too much when I was younger.




All in all it was a really good show. But I wondered if they really knew that they were waving good bye with their tale fins.



The next show was the Dolphin one, but not before a stop at the giant tortoise and the tigers.






The Dolphin show was really good. Even though it wasn't as big and impressive as the Orca one the way the Dolphins were, their intelligence and some of the feats they pulled off really impressed me.






We then went around the park and looked at the underwater aquarium and tunnel which was filled with Sharks amongst other fish.



Saw an Alligator while looking around the rest of the park.



At about quarter to 4 it was time to head back to the coach after a day and trip I really enjoyed.

When we got back it was about 6 and we were all a bit worse for wear so we had a bit of a rest. It wasn't until about 9 that we went out to look for something to eat. Went to where we were going to go last night..it was really nice.

ended up in Cheers bar where we ended up saying goodbye to the two sisters who always said "coming to Cheers Bars later guys?". Apparently they had been saving up for ages to go back to Glasgow to see their family as they were earning next to nothing as bar PRs.

Went to bed....was a bit drunk.

Sunday, 2 September 2007

Day Nine

2nd September 2007

I'm going to fast forward about half a day on this one, because apart from Chris getting ripped off with some earphones at an electrical store and me playing Final Fantasy IV all day nothing much happened.

Tonight was special for Los Christianos as it was the day of its Fiesta, and when the Harbor was blessed by the big statue/float of the Virgin Mary.

We headed out to get a meal but the place we wanted to go was closed (probably because of the fiesta) so we went for (another) Chinese Buffet. I do like Chinese Buffets.
Now at this point I told my dad that all the action was going to be at the other end of town, but he said it was going to be by the harbor. I guess we were both right because the procession with the float of the Virgin Mary was starting off in the harbor and going up towards the other end of town.
However at this point me and Chris were going back to the apartments to get the digital camera and batteries and happened to stumble across the procession while my Mom and Dad were at some bar in the opposite direction.
I kicked myself because I didn't have my camera with me.

Once I got my camera I went down to the beach to watch the Harbor being blessed with the Virgin Mary. It was all very noisy with lots of flares, music and boat horns. Id never seen anything like it.



I also made an alien/man out of the sand.



A boat was loaded with the float with the Virgin Mary on and headed off into the Harbor where something along the lines of the Harbor being blessed for good fishing etc. took place.

It came back ashore and then I got the chance to take some pictures of it and the people around it.





Next after a bit of a wait there was a huge fireworks display from both sides of the Harbor. They must have spent the whole budget of a small country on the amount of explosives that they used.





After it was all over I took a trip into the Burger King, it was like a home from home.

Jay

Saturday, 1 September 2007

Day Eight

1st September

Well today's blog isn't going to be as razz-a-matazz as previous ones because my batteries died on my camera. So for today you will have to rely on my amazing writing skills only!

"oh God no ! " *Jumps off bridge*...*scream*..*gets fainter*...*splash*

...


Morning started off much the same, woke up, got kicked out of bed, had some breakfast down at the Cheers Bar..

Now after this I went off in search off an MP3 player to pick up at a reasonable price. But I was well aware off all the fake copies and crappy models that were being flogged off by the various "electrical goods" shops around town so I went with my guard up.

Some bloke tried to sell me something called the"i power"... enough said.

One bloke got quite rude and asked me which one I was going to buy in a kind of "just hurry up and buy something" kind of way so I quickly exited the premises...

Finally went into the most reputable looking place I could find and settled on a Samsung mp3 player. I checked it to make sure it wasn't fake ; )
It was only 50 Euros and its pretty Nifty.

Went back, Chilled by the pool for a few hours and got ready to go out later that night.

Had A Pizza at a Pizzeria and then ended up in the Cheers bar.

Scotch Eddie was up to his usual tricks again (trying to be a compare/singer) but the most bizarre moment was when an old woman who looked about 70 and was dressed up as someone from the Flintstones got up on stage and started singing "Smoke Gets In Your eyes" ...badly...

You can't make this stuff up. I checked to see how many Beers I had actually drank that night.

Friday, 31 August 2007

Day Seven

Friday 31st August

Today's mission : Chillax with some Whales (Ones in the sea not ones in the Pool fool)


Got up and went down to the quayside to find out about the Pilot Whale and Dolphin trips leaving for the Harbor, however had to go to Subway first. Tradition and that.

Booked a Trip for two hours aboard the "Monte Carlo", got some money off. (I know Adam Fox you see).

Dad decided he wasn't going on the boat trip still, Couldn't do with the boat apparently...



Got on the boat, found a seat, Relaxed. Once we got going I really started enjoying the boat, my Dad had tried to scare me about sea sickness but I was having none of it.

Had some nice views of Los Christianos and Playa De Las Americas as we went out on the boat.



Found it really hard to walk around on the boat, felt like an idiot walking around grabbing on to everything for dear life. Still I wasn't fazed by the sea, I love it !




Once we got far out the engine was cut, the radio was turned off and then we started to see some of the Whales! It was really exciting seeing the Whales breaking the surface and spotting them. Even better knowing I was seeing them in their natural environment.




Heard one blowing water at the front of the boat so I went around and there it was. took a picture of course....



The thing about the boat was that it was glass bottom and I was lucky to see the Whales in below the surface in this way. The first one I saw went under the boat from a distance away. If you look clearly on this picture you can make it out.



Next a few went past, but it happened so quickly I only happened to catch the last one going past. It was so awesome seeing them like this. The picture doesn't do it true justice.



We didn't end up seeing Dolphins because apparently it was only a 50/50 chance but I was happy with seeing the Whales all the same.

When we came back into the Harbor I saw my Dad, and told him how stupid he was for missing out on such an experience.

Much didn't happen until we went out later. Saw the Cheers bar lady who says "Guys you coming later?" *in a scotch accent* every single day, when I went to the local Netto. bought a Donut.

Went for a 3 course Meal. Was good.However the entertainment was slightly annoying as it was yet another country act.

Watched Big brother live Final ! (I'm so sad) Brian Won, I was quietly pleased about that over a pint.

Went to a pub called the Big Ben, talked about how I had been in front of the Big Ben not long ago over a pint.

Went back and drank some sweet San Miguel.

Jay

Thursday, 30 August 2007

Day Six

Thursday 30th August

I woke up at 6am this morning, and my head was feeling a bit fuzzy from the cocktails last night. So naturally I put on Final Fantasy IV. However, when I stopped playing it I realised it was 12 o'clock ! Time fly's when your saving the planet from the evil Warrior Golbeleze.....

Saw a Cockroach crawling by Chris when he was asleep (his bed is on the floor). Had a giggle to myself ^ ^

Had a walk down by the sea front, went into "planet fun", played some Star Wars Racing and Pool. Went back to the apartment and slept for ages, catching up on some sleep.

After I woke up and got ready to go out we decided to go to a Chinese all you can eat Buffet down by the sea front. Saw some really friendly cats again who even posed for a few photo's for me.



At the Chinese Restaurant all seemed normal. Meal was nice. Drinks were nice. Service was nice....



But when the Bill and the complimentary shots came I couldn't help but bursting out with laughter. For when I looked into the bottom of my shot glass I saw what appeared to be a naked women fondling herself!? (I looked away when I saw it honest Megan), my mom had the male version !

How odd. I never had that at the Big Wok in Birmingham....

Went into a bar Called the "Sunshine Bar". Terrible DJ/karaoke bloke. went soon after.

As it is Fiesta week in Los Christianos there have been events being held around town all week and today there was something going on down by the Harbor. I couldn't tell what was being said but women after women were coming on stage dancing and miming to various tracks. It was all good fun.



However I didn't work out until later that it was actually a glamorous Granny competition. Good on them !

Ended the night in a Miner themed bar (that's the Coal one not the Wacko Jacko One) and Dad decided he wasn't going on the Whale watching trip tomorrow. Apparently he had a bad experience with his Dad and brother deep sea fishing....I told him to go lay an egg because he was a chicken. We shall see tomorrow !!

Jay

Wednesday, 29 August 2007

Day Five

29th August 2007

You could compare today's Blog entry to Superman Returns, Star Wars episode I or any other bad sequel/prequel. I'm not saying that its a bad blog entry (However I am saying those films SuX) its just It can'y compete with the action packed meaty feast that was yesterdays.

I woke up at 11.

I sat by the pool for a bit (trying) to get a tan.

I had a walk down to a beach I hadn't been before, it was allot more secluded than the others. It was really nice but I was horrified when I found I had forgotten my camera ! But I will probably go back to take some more shots tomorrow for those of you reading this (all two of you).

I found a Spar ! and yes it was still a rip off even in Spain! and I felt kind of warm inside knowing some things never change wherever you are.

Cleaned the apartment.

Played some more Final Fantasy IV. Cecil is now a Paladin !

Went to a restaurant where the waiters got everything wrong ! Does "Garlic Mushrooms" sound like "Prawn Cocktail" ???!!" the Spanish omelet was nice tho : P

Saw the Ferry coming in again, looked a lot nicer when the sun was setting.

Had a walk down by the sea front again, tide was a lot further away this time so I took some pictures across the bay. Also saw some cats that seem to all live on this little area by the beach.



Spoke to Adam/Mike in some Internet Cafe/bar. Can't wait to move to Stafford. In here I saw an arcade machine that made me laugh...



Had a Crepe/Pan-cake down by the sea-front with lots of chocolate sauce, ahh sweet calories.

Spent the rest of the night in a bar drinking Cocktails, Sex on the Beach and a "Canary Island", while listening to a Spanish Country Singer.



Now after a few Cocktails I think I got carried away with some of my pictures so I tried to make a bin look arty. Decide for yourselves about the results...



Went home. Played FF IV ^ ^. Went to Sleep (as you do)