The storm before the storm

 Stumbling along the track, across the blasted heath it becomes clear, from the photo at the other end, they no longer want you to go down this way.




I think you are old enough for this. Let’s talk about Calima. No one told us and we didn’t look it up.  We had gone to Tenerife for the first time on a ‘we are exhausted and it is winter and we need to do nothing’ holiday in February 2020.  The hotel, as you will see soon, was by the sea and below the surrounding landscape.  We had an afternoon pick up for the airport so planned to swim, change, lunch and go.  The lifeguard was wearing a face mask.  This was February 2020 so that was a bit unusual.  It was only when we went to the entrance of the hotel, some significant metres above ground level, that we noticed the world had gone yellow. [see photo]




The Calima is a dust filled cloud which blows in from the Sahara.  It can last a day, it can last a week.  It is most common from February to April.  It makes planes stop flying. It made ours stop. Instead of flying out and home to deal with the second half of Spring half term happen we were stuck in an airport.  Then Covid happened.  But that is for another day.





I looked up the Calima we were caught in and apparently it was notable.  Wiki said ‘In 2020 the wind spread three wildfires, forcing about 2,000 residents to evacuate in Tenerife and Gran Canaria.[7] Gran Canaria had the worst air quality in the world that weekend due to the dust, with about 40 times the particle density considered safe by the World Health Organization.[8] This resulted in 745 flights being canceled and 84 others diverting to different airports.[8]’



We are heading down towards the sea, through neat and well ordered villas. It has all that you could hope of such a place, nail bars and cafes. I was so taken with the name Restaurant Fish-Art that we had to call in.  600 people give it 4.7 stars and paella tops the word search. 13 hours ago Agnieska said ‘ Delicious food, fantastic people! I've had several meals there, and they've all been delicious. When I return to Tenerife, I'll definitely be dining there again. Thank you for the wonderful service :)’



We will end on the Calle Zeus, looking out across the ocean.


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