The Canaries are a marvellous retreat set in a wonderful sunny location just off the West Coast of Africa.

During the winter in Europe when we are shivering in the snow the Canaries have the most idyllic 70 degrees back to back sunshine climate.  The air is like champagne neither too hot nor too cold in the months especially of November, December and January as day after day of sunkissed weather warms their shores.

Where to visit? Tenerife, the capital of one of the two provinces, the other being of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, has many wonderful places worth a visit.

Santa Cruz, the capital, is all a southern continental city should be, a bustling port and its modern shops, boutiques and restaurants jostle side by side with wonderful open air street cafes where you feel the buzz of being in a big city. The Parque Garcia Sanabria is a lovely place where mothers and children and couples stroll in the cool of the evening, down the city Ramblas or long palm tree avenues that form the backbone of the city.  There are several old colonial style hotels to stay in and many self catering holiday homes and apartments to rent.

La Laguna, the next big city is a University city. There is the old white catholic cathedral surrounded by palms and streets leading off it frequented by students from the University. There are many old houses, buildings with courtyards and bars in this town and you feel the real heart of Tenerife and its people without too much tourism.

To the back of La Laguna there are mountains where it is possible to motor to some of the remotest villages of he island, like Carbonara, nestling between spectacular valleys where tourism is unheard of. And where the scenery is of immense greenery with a backdrop of vivid blue sky and beautiful colourful geraniums.

Finally Puerto de la Cruz is the main town on  the northern side, bustling, bright and cheery, this little tourist haven boasts many modern hotels, a beautiful mile long Lido on the sea front and wonderful secret sea coves either side of it. It also has a Botanical Gardens and a British Library.