After breakfast, we headed downstairs where we were to catch a ride with Paquita, the girls host and President of the South Tenerife club, at 9 am to Peurto Colon for our whale watching expedition. Around 9:30, we were told that Pedro was to take us and Paquita would meet us there with the girls. We arrived just in time to board the boat and found out that Carla had ridden with Alfredo and they had not shown up in the port. Paquita franticly called around to try to find Alfredo cell phone number but had no luck. The captain of the ship told us that we had to leave and we were off without a word from the two. Nonetheless, the trip turned out to be an amazing one. Peter, who we had met earlier last week at the District Conference pirate party…he was a pirate, was the owner of the catamaran that takes tourist out to sea to look for mammals out in the wild. Peter welcomed us on board and told about his business and the things we would see during the trip. 
We sailed out to sea and about 15 minutes out, the boat began to slow down and crept towards to figures in the distance. As we got closer, we could make them out to be some type of animal that look liked a dolphin. The guide told us that it was a pilot whale which is about 8 feet long and has a dorsal fin that makes it look similar to a dolphin. 
We were able to get within a few feet and watch as he/she went up and down in the water. The animal got tired of us watching him and dove deep into the clear blue ocean. The boat sped back up and stopped from time to time as we approached different types of animals including two types of dolphins and three types of whales. After a few hours out in the ocean, the captain informed us that we would be stopping near a cove for a swim before lunch. Chris, Peter and I dove in the water as the ones not willing to give up the opportunity to swim in a beautiful ocean surrounded by volcanic mountains. The view was amazing as we looked up into the hills to see El Tiede rising above the clouds and looked below in the water to see small little fish swimming around our feet. 
The moment was so wonderful and can not be explained in words…so I won’t try. Peter told us that the beach in the distance was a secluded beach that could only be reached by boat or by a two hour hike through the mountain ranges. Amazing!After a little time in the water, we were directed back to the boat where we enjoyed a typical canarian lunch…don’t worry we took Dramamine to calm our stomachs. With our bellies full once again, we headed back upstairs to the top deck where we all took in the sights on our ride back to the port. We all bathed in the sun, some of us covered in sunscreens or towels, and talked with Peter about the tourism on the island. Riding along the shore, we were able to see all of the hotels that are built up along the ocean and learned about the local fish farms that are used to harvest fish for the local restaurants. Around 3 pm, we arrived back at the port and thanked Peter and the captain for a wonderful experience and headed back to get some rest. At some point during the debarkation of the boat, we received a cell phone call that told us that Alfredo and Carla had missed the boat because they went to the wrong port. Alfredo did however take Carla on another boat so that she was able to enjoy a similar experience that we had during the day.
After a quick shower and a change of clothes, we met back a Paquita’s place where we were to begin our first Spanish lesson with Manuel,
a member of the GSE team to Greenville and an English teacher to Spanish students here in Tenerife. We begin the lesson with some fundamental verbs and move to some more complicated verbage that we can use throughout the trip. Manuel is a wonderful teacher and engages the group throughout the lesson. Around the time that the lesson is ending, Alfredo and Paquita show up with refreshments. Small tarts and ice cream are served and the group digs into some of the local cuisine. As we are eating, Paquita reminds us that we will be having a large dinner at the home of some Rotarians around 8 so we need to save room. None of us listens and eat all that is placed in front of us. We have the benefit of some downtime at Paquita’s house before dinner and appreciate a little time to rest before a large dinner. Can’t you just see the pounds piling up as we eat and sit for an hour or so?We are taken by Pedro and Aracili to casa de Enrique and Maribelle Fumero. As we walk up to this enormous house, we are enchanted by the fountain that stands at the top of the walkway and pushes water down the edges of the walkway through a canal.
We are introduced to these two Rotarians and greeted by Peter and Tum, who have been here since 7:30 (when we were supposed to arrive at 7:30…currently 9:30). We are given the grand tour of this old farm house that has been renovated to include three bedrooms, which look more like three small apartments, along one side of the house (used for their children when they visit). And then we are shown the main part of the house where the kitchen, living areas, and bedrooms are located. 
All of the rooms on this side of the house open up to a wonderful patio where we will have dinner tonight. As we marvel at the house, we think that we are done but are corrected by Enrique as he shows off the prize of the house. He leads us down to a cave underneath the house that looks similar to what I imagine the batcave looking like. He shows us around his man area, an antique toilet, a kitchen, a winery and small spiral staircase
that leads back upstairs to the patio. The cave is remarkable and took Enrique five years to complete but as we are wowed by this place, he comments that it was worth every minute just to hear our reaction. He then takes us to the wine cellar, also located in the cave, and invites us all in to enjoy some of the wine and appetizers (amazing collection of wine where most bottles are covered in dust). Enrique seems very proud of the cellar and the amount of dust on the bottles and also seems to care a lot about us as a team even though we only met a couple of hours ago. 
After some wonderful wine and conversation (Peter tells us in his Danish accent during the conversation a funny saying that is worth repeating…”An apple a day, keeps the doctor away…if you can hit him) On that note, we head upstairs where Tum and Maribelle are preparing the food and setting the table. After our glasses are filled back up with some great red wine, the food begins to come. Pedro and Peter offer some great entertainment in the form of jokes in between mouths full of food. And we were treated as if we were royalty in this house. The dinner progresses to the point of two desserts and café. Before we are ready to leave, Pedro promises to show us a magic trick. The trick is too much to explain but the pictures can do it justice. The night ends on that display of the dark arts and we are sent off to our host families for a good nights rest…
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