Tchaikovsky on Tenerife

We are just coming to the end of our usual two weeks in Los Gigantes on Tenerife.  We do not take many photos as we have been here so many times before. So just one picture of me outside our villa having lunch in the sun.  As usual Alistair spent a lot of time playing tennis in the wall to wall sunshine and in the shade I read several books and brought this blog up to date.

lunch on the terrace

It was Carnival during our stay so we went to watch the parade which starts off near our complex.  It had a tropical theme this year.  Lots of ladies with skimpy but highly ornate costumes danced their through the streets.

 

But we did do something different this year.....added a bit of culture.  We had not seen the spectacular Auditorio of Tenerife that has been built next to the sea in Santa Cruz, the capital.  The building was completed in 2003 but we had never been to see it.   Alistair got tickets for a concert of Tchaikovsky music played by the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra whilst we here, so we went up early to look round.

As we were walking towards the building a taxi driver was dropping a couple off and she got out to take a photo for them.  Then she kindly offered to take ours in front of the building as well, so for once here are the two of us together.

Auditorio de Tenerife

Before she got back in her taxi she pointed out the sleeping giant to the north of the city. ..... if you look at the shape of the mountain outline you can clearly see a head shape.  I think it looks as if he is snoring.

sleeping giant

You are not supposed to take photos inside the auditorio but I snatched two quick shots as we were waiting for the concert to begin.  It is as striking inside as it is outside.  The seats are very comfortable although I found the metal armrests cold on bare arms.  You get an excellent view wherever you sit.  I did feel underdressed though in my linen shirt and crops as the locals were wearing formal clothes and lots of fur coats were in evidence.  You think of Tenerife as always warm but the Auditorio is next to the Atlantic and walking outside in the interval with a cold wind blowing in from the sea made us beat hasty retreat back inside.

side view

looking up

orchestra