Home » Spain » La Gomera

The last time I can remember lying down under a tree enjoying a bit of sunshine was last year in Norway.

La Gomera

Gaby
2004-01-25 13:00:57

Displayed times (last time: )

off with the Alexandra. This is fascinating stuff.

Fashion show now. Two skinny girls model a collection of beach outfits which they drape and knot over their black bikinis at an amazing speed and with great coordination. They take on average half a minute to put on and take off again any of their beach skirts, tops or trouser suits.

Then, finally, the show we have all been waiting for: Maider and Kiko will play the sketch "Dinner for One".

"Dinner for One" shows Miss Sophie on her ninetieth birthday, alone at a table dressed for herself and four friends, who have all long passed away. James, the butler, still has to serve the four friends a load of drinks, and play the roles of all four guests, and down their drinks. The sketch is hugely popular in Germany where it is shown every New Year's Eve.

Back in habitacion 31, the Cucaracha is waiting for us in the bathroom. This time Jack is wearing his shoes. Two minutes later la Cucaracha is no more. Viva el matador.

Half an hour later, I say to Jack that I thought the bug looked bigger the day before. He says he thought so too...

On Thursday it is cloudy. After a champagne breakfast, we decide to walk the inland route today. There are many construction works going on. The bits of the area that belong to Fred Olsen are watered daily, most of the area is scorched. There is a huge house on one of the hills, which we imagine might be the Olsen HQ.

There is an airport slightly west of Jardin Tecina, but only two planes a day land there. Fred Olsen will not have it otherwise. It would mean competition for his ferry and planes flying over the hotel are not very interesting either. It is hard to tell if Olsen is a curse or a blessing for the island. On the one hand, his businesses will provide some employment, on the other he seems to own everything in sight. Still the mere idea that without this tropical tycoon La Gomera might be a second Tenerife is enough for me to have a certain sympathy for the man.

We have our lunch at BBQ Laurel. The waiter is called Amundsen, another Norwegian.

At 4:30 Jack gets his half hour of massage with Graziella. He is very apprehensive about it, but looks really pleased when he comes back.

Friday is our last day. The weather is getting distinctly fresher. We spend the morning packing and checking out. We will have our last lunch in a pizzeria outside Olsen territory, near the sea.

A bus takes us back to the harbour, where we take the ferry. Fourty minutes later we see the coast of Los Christianos in all its ugliness.

A small bus takes us to the airport. To our amazement, our plane is announced as leaving at 10.05 p.m. instead of 9.05 p.m. We stand in line at check in for more than half an hour. On the boarding card, the departure time is 9:05 and the boarding gate is not indicated. We go back to check in and ask for explanations. The nitwit at the desk says that the plane does not leave at 10:05 but has only been delayed for half an hour but that they have no idea yet of where we have to board. Well, there is service for you.

It is 10:10 when the monster plane with 510 passengers finally takes off. At least four small children start crying in succession, and then join forces in a chorale. One little boy will not stop wailing "mama kaka" for the whole four hour journey. At least the television sets displaying outside temperature, speed and height bring some distraction. It is three o'clock at night as we arrive in Brussels airport. It is 3 degrees outside.