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Gran Canaria 2022

Day 5: January 26

Dragon Tree - Tejeda

Gran Canaria 2022

Itinerary

There are lots of clouds in the sky in the morning. Wolfy is feeling so-so, with weakness and a headache. By around lunchtime, we finally decide to go for a drive. We head to the center of the island, up into the mountains. There are even more clouds here, and sometimes we drive through downpours. The road is narrow, a real mountain serpentine. We drive slowly. And it feels so nice — just to drive.

We come to see the Dragon Tree, Drago de Pino Santo. Another downpour begins. But while we’re looking for somewhere to park, the rain stops and we set off for a short walk to the tree through a narrow, shallow canyon. There is so much greenery all around here. It takes us about 10 minutes to reach the tree. The information board says the tree is 240 years old and 17 meters tall. It seems to grow right out of the rocks. And the leaves are only at the top, like a green cap.

A path to a tree along the bottom of a shallow canyon among dense thickets

A path to a tree along the bottom of a shallow canyon among dense thickets

Dragon tree. They say it is 240 years old.

Dragon tree. They say it is 240 years old.

We continue on, stopping at the viewpoint near the 5-star hotel. It starts to rain. If it weren’t for the clouds, the hallmark of Gran Canaria, the Roque Nublo rocks, would be clearly visible.

Observation deck with a view of the Roque Nublo rocks (far, far on the horizon). Tomorrow we’ll come back to them again.

Observation deck with a view of the Roque Nublo rocks (far, far on the horizon). Tomorrow we’ll come back to them again.

Not wanting to get wet, we jump into the car and drive on. The rain keeps stopping and starting again with renewed force. We arrive in a beautiful little town surrounded by mountains - Tejeda. Pedestrian streets with no cars, white houses, mandarin trees, views of the valley - all this creates a fairy-tale feeling.

There is a popular old pastry shop here that is already more than 70 years old - Dulceria Nublo. We buy lots of different cookies and pastries there, along with coffee with milk. We drink the coffee at a table outside. And we take the cookies with us to have with tea in the evening.

On the way to Tejeda

On the way to Tejeda

The main street of Tejeda

The main street of Tejeda

View of the valley and the Roque Nublo rocks looming again on the horizon

View of the valley and the Roque Nublo rocks looming again on the horizon

Square in Tejeda

Square in Tejeda

Me (holding a bundle of pastries :) and a tangerine tree

Me (holding a bundle of pastries :) and a tangerine tree

A small park in Tejeda with a variety of cacti

A small park in Tejeda with a variety of cacti

On the way home. Rainbow.

On the way home. Rainbow.

All the pastries turned out to be delicious. But probably the tastiest was the little white round one on the left, delicate and made with almond flour. The semicircular pastry with a tasty filling similar to apple jam. At the top left is a coconut pastry, and the little triangle is chocolate-almond, similar to a potato cake.

All the pastries turned out to be delicious. But probably the tastiest was the little white round one on the left, delicate and made with almond flour. The semicircular pastry with a tasty filling similar to apple jam. At the top left is a coconut pastry, and the little triangle is chocolate-almond, similar to a potato cake.