The Badlands

We had planned on a beach exploration in the South, but the clouds gathered and we headed North.

This is Maipés, near Agaete, a huge cemetery of 700 tombs hidden in the rough volcanic rubble. Treacherous to walk on, so the graves were protected from plundering.

Then we clambered up to the grain store caves (probably not a religious enclave as once thought), Cenobio de Valerón.

The whole area is a bit dismal in some ways, unless you get a good view like this of the incredible mountains behind or the sparkling Atlantic beyond. A dusty volcanic mound dominates the landscape , with brightly colored box shaped housing crawling up its slopes as far as they can hang on. This northwest corner between Agaete and Gáldar is home presumably to workers in the banana and tomato gardens that shelter under tarpaulins all across the coast.

We stopped for a breather in the quirky Playa de Sardina, charming and quiet, with black sand and breaking waves.

Back home on the winding mountain roads through eucalyptus and Canary pines.