A Brief Description of Tenerife
written by local resident
Jim Pierce

"Tenerife is a small island but has a very definite character and two very different climates. Dominated by a huge mountain range the south side is sunny hot and arid. Travel agents send most clients here. It is where the concrete jungle of hotels are situated, where there are large numbers of time-share touts and indeed hucksters of every description. The roads from hotel to beach and the very beach itself is crowded with them.

The north side of the island is very different, here it is mostly sunny, and always warm but it is sometimes cloudy and changeable. The trees and green vegetation flourish and the mountain slopes are clothed with shrubs and wild flowers of many sorts, the very nature of the island is different compared to the south. Only in the two main cities are there massed hotels, the further west one travels the more rural the area becomes, small villages scattered among the valleys seeming to be as they have been for ages. The residents are local families of many generations making a scant living from small plots of land and small banana plantations. These native Tenerifians are the most friendly and genuine people ever to be among, crime is almost unknown due to the earlier difficulty of travel, an entire village is often interrelated and has family connections from street to street.

Of all these villages perhaps Los Silos has most to offer for the holiday maker looking for peace and tranquility, here can be found the natural coast line just as the volcanoes threw it up.

Some of the pleasures are walks in the mountain tracks among the densely wooded slopes, a village square with a few tables and chairs and fully stocked bar where coffee of first rate quality is served and several varieties of sandwich amidst peace and quiet, yet also near by on the coast is a full sized swimming pool with a first rate restaurant and a sun drenched patio sheltered from the trade wind that blew Columbus to the west. Many of the local walks can be found in a publication called "Southern Tenerife, by Sunflower Books (web site www.sunflowerbooks.co.uk ) which can be bought at your local bookstore or Smiths, for around £9.99.

From the village the uncrowded roads lead east or west or up to the mountains where there are really spectacular views, as well as many "off beat" villages with quaint oddly shaped dwellings in all manner of styles and obviously shaped by hand rather by square and spirit level. In each one will be found a little general store where no one will speak English, sign language is all that's needed!

Recently the nearby village of Buena Vista has constructed a superb golf course designed by Seve Ballasterros, and is not only a top rate course but has marvellous views over the coast and a first rate restaurant and Clubhouse. It makes a perfect golf holiday.

Los Silos has a great deal to recommend it as an ideal quiet holiday spot."

The above was written by Jim Pierce, aged 88, and local resident of Los Silos for the past 20 years. Hobbies: making working model steam engines and talking to holidaymakers! You can meet him every morning in the square at 11 am for coffee and he'll be more than happy to talk to you and give you information about Los Silos, local walks and the surrounding area.

I would like to mention another favourite walk of mine, at Teno Alto. To get there by car from Sibora Park Villas take the road at Buenavista to Masca. As you drive through El Palmar there is a little road to your right sign posted to Teno Alto. It is a steep and narrow road. When you reach the village of Teno Alto you can park your car in the car park by the church and there are six government signed walks from there.

The views over the south side of the island from Teno Alto are absolutely magnificent, and you can see across the sea to La Gomera. The "silence of the stillness" have to be experienced to be believed. This place is inhabited by the aboriginals who have been there since the 15C and it is only recently that the road to Teno has been built, making it accessible to us.

You can also buy the local goats cheese and local wines at some of the small farms. This is an experience not to be missed!

Another excellent day out is to go to Mount Tiede, which is the highest mountain from sea level in Europe, being about 12,000 ft high! The road goes up to 6,000 ft and then the cable car takes you up to within 250 ft the top of the mountain, where for most of the year there is snow. The air is quite thin at the top and if you have certain medical conditions you are warned of this, but the views and are exceptional. Incidentally, for the brave, there is a walking path up to the top from the road!