25 Days on the Disney Magic to Europe About This Page:

[Zazu]

Here's our long awaited change in schedule. Fortunately, we have a late-departing tour at 9:15, so we don't have to rush our breakfast.

Our tour was the Tenerife North Coast and Pueblochico Tour, covering various sites on the north shore of Tenerife, one of the largest of the Canary Islands. Two busloads of us loaded up and headed out right on schedule.

We left the port and capitol city of Santa Cruz directly on some excellent roads (and impressive tunnels). La Laguna, the old capitol, was seen only from the expressway. Our stops included Icod de Los Vinos, home of the famous "dragon tree" (which looked to me like an ordinary yucca on steroids), Garachico (which had to be almost entirely rebuilt after the last volcanic eruption); and La Orotava.

The prime attraction at La Orotava is a theme park (to use the word broadly) called Pueblochico (or tiny city) <http://www.pueblochico.com>. True to that translation, it's a nicely landscaped garden with a variety of scenes in about 1/2" scale. From the neolithic indigenes busily pounding rocks to scale model aircraft taxiing down runways, it was a remarkable feat of modeling. I've done quite a bit of ourdoor modeling (not counting Disney), and I can assure you that each of the structures there would have won prizes in international competition. To have them installed outside and looking as good as they do is all the more remarkable.

Pity the lunch they served wasn't. Cold roast beef, soggy green beans, mostly melted vanilla ice cream -- if it weren't for the free wine I'd have complained loudly. Well, that and my Spanish vocabulary isn't really up to forming a good complaint.

We walked thru several downtowns (it was Sunday, so no shopping), visited several impressive churches, and generally annoyed the natives (three cruise ships were in port today). I was most impressed by the architecture. Not any one particular building, but more the sense of adventure, bold colors, and creative use of space. These are old cities, like many in Europe, and there was rarely a square inch left undeveloped.

Except for the bananas. The primary cash crop (only tourism and construction beat it), bananas abound in terraces all over the island up to some elevation where they stop thriving. These are not your typical Asian rice terraces made of mud, no, we're talking substantial walls of cut stone topped with cinder blocks to provide a bit of security while not blocking the breeze. The impression is of a people who fully intend to continue growing bananas for a good long time.

Except for the condos. That construction I mentioned? It seems mostly to be condos for vacationing Europeans (Americans form a tiny minority of visitors here). It also seems that they're being built mostly on old banana terraces, as they exist in tightly packed units with erratic boundaries. Close to town they are thick with the occasional banana terrace surviving; farther out the bananas rule. It reminds me of growing up 20 miles from Disneyland and watching Orange County build suburbs over the cow pastures.

Alas, our tour guide had a poor grasp of English (and the microphone), and he ran out of things to say long before the bus returned. Our bus driver, however, amazed me with his skill at negotiating tiny little streets, tight corners, and traffic without a scratch. Ain't sayin' how many tiny Kias and Renaults he scared up on the sidewalks though.

Remember my surprise at hearing Rocky Picture Horror Show music aboard a Disney ship? You'll never believe tonight's live celebrity performers: Boyz II Men! I don't have anything more to say, I really am speechless.

[Zazu]

Looks like it's about time I responded to some of the questions posted here:

SWMBO = She Who Must Be Obeyed

Originally Posted by Dave Marx

I haven't heard any reports that the Internet Cafe on deck 3 was going away. The Wonder did lose its Internet terminals at the Cove Cafe, though. I think they're still present on the Magic, though.

Yup, the ship-wide wi-fi is an addition to the Internet Cafe, which isn't any more or less busy than I remember it. Don't recall if the Cove Cafe still has terminals, I'll look next chance I get.

Originally Posted by Dave Marx

I am definitely jealous of that Transatlantic Menu. Pray tell, what were your selections, and what wine(s) did you enjoy with them?

Appetizers: Double Baked Guyere Cheese Souffle; Crown of Scalops and Caviar Macedonine
Soup & Salad: Duck and Armagnac Consomme, Black Trumpet Mushrooms and Chestnuts Cuenelles (both of us)
Main Course: Grilled "Cote de Boeuf," Madeira and Black Truffle Gravy; Grilled Salmon with Creamy Risotto and a Barolo Wine Sauce
Wine: Oberon 2002. This is a Napa Valley blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Syrah, and Merlot. It's no "Faithful Hound", but it's very nice, and modestly priced.

Oh, and one question I can't answer until I know two things: Who is Miley Cyrus and where is Hannah, Montana?

[iamgrumpy]

Great update sounds like a full day in Tenerife!

Miley Cyrus plays Hannah Montana on the show of the same name on the Disney Channel. Miley is also the daughter of Country Singer and recent Dancing with the star's celebrity Billy Ray Cyrus of "achey breaky heart" fame.

Can't wait to read more!

[VerandahMan]

Originally Posted by Zazu

Oh, and one question I can't answer until I know two things: Who is Miley Cyrus and where is Hannah, Montana?

.:Miley Cyrus - Fansite:. Miley Cyrus is the star of The Disney Channel's show Hannah Montana and she is the real life daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus.


Edited to add: I see iamgrumpy already answered your question as I was typing my reply, LOL!!!

[Colexis Mom]

More fantastic updates Bruce Keep 'em coming

[Cheriemek]

I am enjoying your updates ! Thanks !

[chezp]

I'm guessing that Tenerife has changed beyond recognition since I was last there in 1986 on a family trip, but even then, the development was underway with hotels and apartments being built everywhere. I do however also remember it being a very beautiful country and have many fond memories of the landscape out there. I've been interested to hear what the stops there will be like, so reading this installment of your report has been fascinating.

[Disneynutinlondon]

Glad you've made it to our side of "the pond" Bruce. Thanks for your continued writing it's been lovely reading the daily reports

[jns]

Thanks again for the great up dates
please keep them comimg

[Disneybine]

Great update, Bruce! Can't wait to hear what you have to say about the places in Europe you'll visit.

Oh, one more thing: Better get used to tiny, narrow streets over here

[mickeycrazy]

Great updates! Thanks for sharing with us!

[disneycrazey]

Great Updates! I love how you just are hating the days at sea! LOL, well have a nice two more cruises after this!

[Zazu]

Our first visit to the European continent, and its at the port used by Christopher Columbus. Built on an island in the harbor, connected by a viaduct and a bridge, Cadiz is a lovely setting that has proven hard for attackers to conquer. The dock is literally across the street from the city center, and it's less than a 20 minute walk to any point in town.

So what do we do about it? We board a bus and bug out.

SWMBO selected a tour of "Seville on Your Own", so after a 90-minute ride with some historical commentary from our guide, we find ourselves in front of the cathedral with half a day to kill. Observing a long line for the art exhibit at the palace, we queue up to tour the cathedral.

I've studied architechture a bit, but I'm far from an expert. Even so, I can identify at least four distinctly different styles of construction, and at least two faiths. Originally built as a mosque and minaret in the 12th century, it was consecrated a cathedral in the 13th. The gothic style cathedral was built in the 15th and 16th centuries, coming in ahead of schedule (17 years short of 100) and presumably under budget. Several of the great doors were rotten with ledges for statuary, but only one was filled with same, and one had but a single figure. Looks like there's plenty of room for new saints, so behave!

Construction has continued nearly non-stop ever since. Inside the gothic nave are more chapels than I can remember -- dozens of them -- each rich with stained glass, gilded altar pieces, huge paintings, and the occasional sarcophogas. It was really more than I could take in on a single visit -- sort of like my first to WDW.

Climbing the bell tower -- the original brick minaret -- was by way of thirty sloping ramps... and one flight of stairs. The many windows, much less the balcony at the level of the bells, gave wonderous views of the city and the rest of the cathedral.

One of the proud exhibits in the cathedral is a certificate from the Guiness Book of Records attesting to it being the world's largest church by area at 23,500 square meters (I'll leave the square foot calculations as an exercise for the student). Looking across the roofs I was reminded of a similar view at the Winchester House in San Jose. (Note: Not a comment on the sanity of the Bishop.) Overall, €7.50 well spent.

We lunched at a sidewalk cafe that had been recommended to us by our bus guide as the place he often ate. Four large plates of tapas and two carafes of sangria fed four of us well for about €17 each. Plates included baked goat cheese, pork tenderloins with picón sauce, chicken with orange sauce, and grilled baby squid. Yum!

Another hour or so was enjoyably spent wandering the crooked and narrow streets, dodging small cars and motor scooters, searching out an English language newspaper, and marvelling at how many Starbucks were in town. I was also most interested in the trolley line being constructed through the middle of it all. Looks like it should be in operation in another month or so.

Also remarkable was the generally good condition of all the buildings. Some which looked nearly new were upon more careful study revealed to be over a century old. A few had obviously been rebuilt within an existing façade, but most were just carefully maintained. Serious civic work was also in progress with new pavers, benches, and trash cans nearly as close together as on Main Street USA. If only the public restrooms were as plentiful -- or as well supplied with TP!

Back aboard, we passed on the show, Jim Brinkman's piano performance. Apparently so did many others, as we heard he was disappointed by the low turnout. Ah well, he and Boyz II Men are all off the ship, and we'll pick up more entertainers in Gibraltar tomorrow.

Dinner was one of the new menus designed for the Mediterranean cruises. I had a goat cheese crispy roll, spicy tomato soup (coulda been Gazpatcho if they'd chilled it, but there's that Disneyspeak issue again), and Osso Bucco on saffron polenta. We ordered a "Saracen Sundae" for dessert, but were asked to sample a cherry cheesecake as well. For the first time in her life, SWMBO loved and devoured all but the two bites I managed to grab. Definitely something to remember when we get this menu again next week! (Note: Eat your heart out here.)

A slightly delayed departure (one couple nearly missed the ship and another passenger did miss it), we lit out smartly. It may only be 55 statute miles to Gibraltar by land, but it's 117 nautical miles by sea, and the Captain had an appointment for passage thru the Straights and it seemed he didn't intend to miss it.

Tomorrow is SWMBO's birthday, and we'll see if my preparations for the observation pass muster or not. If I don't write again, it's been nice knowing y'all!

[Colexis Mom]

Another great update Bruce Glad you enjoyed Cadiz Good luck with SWMBO's birthday surprises

[disneyfan4994]

Thanks for the update!