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…
the highest point in all of Spain. We pack our bags in the van, negotiate with Merci for some of her artwork, say our goodbye (not really goodbyes because we will see them again on Sunday) and head for the hills. Marcos and Jose take us off into the bright sunlight and before we know it, we are up in the clouds at a lookout point directly in front of the glorious mountain. At this point, we are higher than the highest peak in South Carolina. What an amazing view. We take a few pictures and jump back in the cars. Driving up the road, our ears begin to pop as we are taken to higher and higher elevations. We reach our destination for the next couple of hours in the observatory or it’s more formal name… Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias. We meet Ruyman, Vanessa and Crystal who will be guiding us through the various telescopes up on top of this hill. 
We followed these astronomers around the area and learned many wonderful things about the stars and the planet. For what it is worth, Ruyman says that he doesn’t really care about what the scientist say about Pluto not being a planet…kids are still going to use the same play of words to remember the order of the planets. We learned that they have seven large telescopes in this area and scientists study the stars as well as solar patterns. At this point in the trip, we were higher than the highest peak on the East Coast…and we haven’t even gotten close to the top of El Tiede yet.
we were off to the higher sites and more fun. After a little bit of driving with Jose, who we learned is a mortgage/car loan broker who owns his own business that he took over for his father several years ago, we hear stories of how the area we were driving in is the inside of a large crater where lava bubbles up from the center several thousands years ago. The volcano is dormant at this time but has produced some great structures in its history. We arrive at the visitors center where we read some information about the olden days and how the aborigines used to live. There is a small chapel outside where couples can get married in front of some great views. As we walk a little further, we find the Roques de Garcia which is a beautiful set of rock formations that have formed over the years just for us to see while we are on the GSE trip. They tell us that District Governor Rich Waugh prepared this one just for us on his honeymoon several years ago on the islands. We are glad he planned ahead! The team poses for several group shots in front of the most gorgeous view of the inside of a volcano that I have every seen (in fact, it is the only inside of a volcano that I have ever seen but it is beautiful nonetheless) and then we take off for a walk. 
By the time, we get back to the car everyone has a red neck that would make our friends back in SC proud. We head back down through the valley and bid farewell to the highest peak in Spain and set our sites on highest elevated village in all of Spain. Coincidence? I think not.
A little old lady takes our money and immediately we all agree with Marcos and buy more because we are told they keep their moisture until July…that is if they don’t get eaten before then. After we have sampled our tasty treats, we are driven to Los Cristianos and end up at the house of Luba and Rapheal. These two are hotel magnates in the area that would be hosting for dinner this evening. Rapheal owns five hotels on the beach in the south of Tenereife and Luba, his wife, owns one. So essentially, they own six hotels in the area. Their house is a 19th century house that has recently been renovated including a complete overall of the back yard which is now perfect for entertaining. Luba gives us a tour of this exquisite home and we are all amazed at how she has blended an old style house with modern trends. We meet Hugo, the cutest and most well behaved boxer (except for the lewd act that he performed on Bert’s leg), who is the third member of the family. The Rotarian couple treats us to wonderful conversation and appetizers while we stand under the Pergolas and take in the view of the city below. After some great conversation, we are led to the table and served a magnificent meal prepared by Teresa, one of their former staff members at the hotel who has recently started her own business and does most of their catering at their home. The meal was wonderful and we are thanked for helping with the christening of their new garden. 
We present Luba and Raphael with a few gifts to say thank you and then are off to meet our new host families at midnight.
ULL has about 24,000 students, mostly undergraduate that come mostly from the area. There are some students who come from mainland Europe each year. Pablo and I discussed the programs, the math curriculums and the way to use technology for teaching and learning. After the meeting, I went to observe a Differential Equations class. It was an interesting experience!
There are two power plants on Tenriefe, one old one and one new one. There is no way to connect to power from other islands nearby because the ocean is too deep. I learned there are three ways the new plant produces electricity – steam turbines, diesel engines and gas oil turbines. The new plant has a combined cycle that mixes water from the sea with combustible gases and moves sulfur and then they process the water to a pH of 7 (neutral) so it can be released to the ocean. The old lines deliver 66 kw and the new lines 220 kw. In America, we use 60 cycles, 110 Volts and in Europe the use 50 cycles, 220 Volts. It is cheaper to transport electricity in higher tension. There are 7 windmills that produce 660 w each and 53 that produce 800w each. New legislation was passed to use 2 mw windmills and Juan is working on this. 3.6% of the energy produced comes from wind – would like to be 12%. Met with Antion Lojendio, the manager of the chemical area and he took us on a tour. Juan was the plant manager for 4 years and designed the plant from construction up. The combined cycle is new since he left the plant.
It was explained that the telescope has been created with 36 segments, each specific segment having 6 sensors and 3 actuators. All being run by software which controls how all 36 segments relate to each other when the telescope moves, so the image that is created is very clear. It took programmers 7 years to create the software that is used to operate the segments together. Spain (90%), Mexico (5%) and the University of Florida (5%) have all worked together to have respective time usage of the telescope. The telescope is planned to have the 1st look through in June and all segments will be completely finished by the end of the year.
The lunch was probably one of the best that we have had since we have been on the island and the La Laguna folks took great care of us.
Diego is a special kind of person that we will never forget. 
We have grown very close to the group in the north of the island and have made lots of friends that we will be sad to leave…
The group is very proud of the protections that their army afforded them against the conquerors in early battles. They even have the cannon that blew Nelson’s arm off in a battle for the Canary Islands. The museum is crowded with guns and knives from early times (Gene Fulton could spend days in here) but we don’t have much time to look around and have to head out. 
Our tour guide gives us books and gifts and we are on our way. Next, we drive down to the Museum of Natural History and learn how the islands were formed and what the early settlers were like. This place was very interesting because we were taught about the Guanches people who first settled the islands. Augusto showed us around and told us all about the settlers and some of the different theories of how they ended up here. The final thing they showed us was mummies that had been discovered in the islands and had been preserved in this museum. We all took pictures and will have bad dreams tonight.
After a stop in the gift shop, we met some more Rotarians for drinks on a quaint little street right beside the oldest known true house on the Canary Islands. Rotarians Patricia and Joaquin join us as we enjoy a couple of cool refreshments with olives, peanuts and potato chips. 
After some good conversation and a tour of the old house, we head to the beach area for lunch.
After that, the main course is served and is similar to the fish that we had on our first night on the island. Dessert was served as ice cream frozen inside of a hollowed out lemon and café. We enjoy the company of our new found friends and end up staying at lunch until about 5:30 pm.
The beach was down in a valley and you could stand in the ocean and see the mountains right above you. We sat down near the cabana and admired the beach and all of the people that Patricia referred to as locals. After a little while, she led us up to the bar where we were served fresh watermelon, papaya, bananas, kiwi and lemon (some of the best fruit that I have ever put in my mouth) and met Charley the bartender. Charley told us that we should come back every day to this beach because it is special. We decide to head back because we want to meet up with the others.
After a quick swim, we wander the beach and enjoy the feel of sand between our toes. Catherine approaches a guy with a kayak and asks if she can have her picture taken in the kayak and the guy obliges. We snap the photo and head back up to change back into our presentation clothes for the Rotary Club meeting tonight.
We are introduced and make our presentations flawlessly. Tomas decides that everyone should then go around the room and introduce themselves to us. Most speak in Spanish (while Catherine translates) but a few tried in English. Bert makes the presentation of the gifts to the leaders and we are driven home by Ricardo.
There was Juan Miquel, Ana de Miguel (no relation) and Maria Rosa. Maria and Ana (Juan leaves) joins us for café and we get acquainted for a few minutes. Already late for our first appointment, we walk towards the Parlamento building. 
We arrive and are greeted a Bureaucrat that takes us through the Parliament and explains more of what we learned yesterday from Diego. This building was amazing from the outside as well as the inside. 
Fernando gave us a behind the scenes tour in which we each got to stand behind, in front of and around the seats that the Presidents sit in…even with elections so close for this town, the group took time out of their day to pay great attention to our group. 
Everyone points to me anytime “politica” is mentioned and this part of the morning was filled with plenty of it.
The entire experience was a great one and it was only 9 am. We tried to stay on schedule and headed to the Camara de Comercio (loosely translated it means Chamber of Commerce). 
We met Jose Tort, who we later found out owns three businesses: An import/export business that operates out of the Africa, a banana plantation that operates out of Africa and something else that his daughter runs between the three islands…Catherine wrote it all down…we will get her notes and update the blog tomorrow. He is a Rotarian and a dang good one. We hear a wonderful presentation on the importance of the two major exports from the Canaries, tomatoes and bananas, and also the importance of the relationship with part of North Africa. The guide also taught us that in their Chamber of Commerce it is mandatory for businesses to be members and much more is provided than what the American chambers provide. Jose (or Pepe…apparently anyone named Jose can be referred to as Pepe…similar to Richard and Dick in the US…I guess) has a wealth of knowledge about commerce in the islands and the advantages and disadvantages of the industries. I would have loved to hear more but we were rushed out as we had to meet the director of one of the sections of the Chamber. We were presented with gifts and then had to leave to make it to Casa Elder and the newspaper/radio station before lunch.
This building is one of the most important in the history of the island (or so we are told) by our tour guide. Casa Elder was home to the offices/residence of the Dempster shipping line/many other businesses that the Dempster and Elder family ran. We walked around the building which has now been transformed into a workers compensation insurance company office space as well as an open area designed for meetings and cultural events. 
The majority of the original building has remained in place but the inside has been modernized to adapt to today’s business world. We are served café in the conference room and I stand around and talk with the officials about workers compensation for a few minutes as our group looks around the building a little. Ana and Maria rush us out of this building onto the Ayunmiento where we are supposed to meet with the mayor’s right hand man and see the government office building. We walk up the street and are met by another Rotarian, Almudena, who works at the Bank of Spain which is nearby, and head inside. An older gentleman that speaks English very well comes in to greet us and talk to us about the history of the island and why Santa Cruz is so important to Teneriefe. He is a great guy and explains that the Santa Cruz is a sister city to San Antonio because of the relationship with Canary Islands citizens and the Alamo. He presents us with a gift from the mayor and again we are hurried out the door. On to El Dia, the newspaper/radio station in town that supplies the news to the entire islands. We arrive and have no one to meet us, so Ana and Maria decide we should take a break at the restaurant in front of the building. All of us tired from the meters that we have walked this morning agree and dropped ourselves in the chairs. Coca-colas are ordered and served with olives (again, I have never liked olives until now) and peanuts. Joaquin, the president of the Santa Cruz Rotary Club and the guy with tons of yokes (no one over here pronounces the J in words and any time they speak English they call jokes yokes…hilarious), leads us into El Dia where we are met by a wonderful tour guide who shows us the printing press that is used for the newspaper (Joaquin makes a yoke about the press in Spanish…He said “one must pay attencion a la tension” when describing the careful eye that the operators must have when working with the press). 
We saw the huge rolls of paper that is kept in storage to make the newspapers every day and then the group was led upstairs to see how the workers prepare the layouts for the papers each day. 
After that, our guide led us further upstairs to see the radio portion of the building where we were allowed to view the local radio host conduct her show. Apparently, the topic being discussed was a crime that was committed during Carnivale in which someone was dressed up like Fidel Castro in the streets and a man came from the crowd and stabbed him with a knife in the back…the man was being sentenced today and the host was taking calls to hear the opinion of the community. 
It was fun to watch. Throughout the whole tour, we were followed by a camera man who was snapping photos after every step we took. An article is supposed to be published in the newspaper tomorrow about our team. 
After our tour, we were presented with two large books about Teneriefe and a copy of El Dia for today…I think I know what everyone is getting for Christmas…Seriously, we have gotten a ton of books and if anyone wants them, the team would be glad to donate them if you are willing to pay shipping and handling back to the states.
The presentation goes off without a hitch and the group claps for us as we finish speaking about a various topics. Bert is presented with a banner from the Santa Cruz Rotary Club for Rich Waugh and Joaguin also gives us each for our personal collection. 
The group is separated for our trip home after some refreshments and we are taken back to our homes by the Rotarians that live close to our host families.