Homage to the Bajada

The artist Rubén Armiche is creating a huge statue called "Homage to the Bajada", just outside Valverde. It's something he calls "re-use art", because it's made of things like old washing machines covered by chicken wire, sacks, and finally cement. He plans to finish it in time for the big festival in July (the bajada, hence the statue's name), so I hope to see it then.

The bit in the photo is only one end. It will eventually form a giant arc, with an entrance archway which frames Mt. Teide on Tenerife. Actually, there's two archways, side by side, one adult size and one for kids, with a peep-hole between the two. I think the kids are going to love that!

Rubén was born on Gran Canaria in 1973, but his parents were from El Hierro, and he loves the island. Apart from this statue and similar, smaller ones elsewhere on El Hierro, he's painted several murals and written and illustrated two comic books, one about the bajada, and one about the Garoé.

He's also very friendly to wannabe journalists who interrupt his work.

The Yorkshire Dales

There's an area of El Hierro, which looks uncannily like the Yorkshire dales. I do a double take every time I see it. Short grass, pale, drystone walls. Definitely Yorkshire.

Except that the plants hanging over the walls aren't hawthorn trees, they're prickly pears.

And unlike the prickly pears on La Palma, they don't have cochineal beetles on them, so they look much nicer.

La Peña Viewpoint

There's a fantastic lookout at La Peña, with a breathtaking view over the whole of El Golfo.

The restaurant and garden were designed by the artist, Cesar Manrique. I've only had one meal there. It was a little pricy, but the food was delicious, and I definitely felt I got my money's worth.

This splendid dragon, also by Manrique, decorates the wall inside.