There's more to Tenerife than a Brits Abroad paradise I found after an unintentional visit to the sunny Canary Islands.
"Sorry folks, doesn't look like we're going to be able to land on Madeira today", the captain informed us as our plane buffeted in turbulence in the storm-ridden skies above Funchal.
As the sick-bags were brought out and medical assistance was given to one poor woman who had reacted badly to the plane's tentative situation, I asked an air stewardess just where it was we were going?
"Tenerife I should think," was the reply, and less than an hour later we landed on the Brits abroad paradise.
For context, I had been planning our trip to Madeira for months. It was a birthday surprise for my other half, and I had arranged for his closest friends to be on the island the same week. We were looking forward to our seven days of big wave surfing (me holding the towels on the beach), visiting a friend in the gorgeous coastal village of Jardim do Mar and generally relaxing in the sunshine.
But the night before we were due to leave we had a call from our friends on the island to say there was a storm brewing, so to expect a rough journey, and perhaps a detour to the nearby island of Porto Santo, where we would have to get a boat the rest of the way. As a nervous flier the thought of this hardly thrilled me, but as long as we got there in one piece that was all that mattered.
Unfortunately our flight was, apparently, the only plane to attempt to fly into Madeira during the Portuguese island's worst storms and flooding for decades. Little did we know as we sat on the runway in Tenerife that friends and relatives at home were desperately trying to get through to us as images of flood-hit streets, giant boulders crushing buildings and reports of 30 people killed in Madeira made their way onto the news back home.
We were informed by the airline, Easyjet, they would be putting us up for the night in a nearby hotel - including meals - and they would be flying our plane back to Funchal the next morning. Overnight the situation became worse on Madeira, and when we were finally able to get through to friends on the island they recommended we didn't go, as their village was completely cut off and at the time almost all of the roads leaving the airport were impassable.
Faced with three options - return to Gatwick, fly to flood-hit Madeira or stay in Tenerife - we opted for the latter, thinking that at least that way we could salvage some sort of a holiday.
I'd been to Tenerife before (my partner hadn't), and I'm ashamed to say the thought of another holiday on the island hardly filled me with joy. My previous trip had been whilst studying at university, when myself and 19 other rowdy members of our college's girl's football team flew to the island for a week-long post-exams all-you-can-drink as-much-sun-as-you-can-get 'footie tour' (I use football tour in the loosest sense of the term as I think we in fact only played football once, and it was on a beach, with a beach ball, for about five minutes).
I distinctly recall sitting sunburnt and hungover and looking out of the plane window as we left Tenerife and thinking 'that's the last time I visit there'. How wrong I was.
With memories of all-day breakfasts, alcopops and clubbing I stood somewhat dazed in the airport wondering what we should do to recover our holiday on this party island. My partner had the brainwave of asking someone local - which we duly did in our best Spanglish - and were told to head as far north as we possibly could - which we duly did.
What we found over the next week was that Tenerife was not at all what we had expected. Away from the brash south - which unashamedly targets the British tourism industry - we discovered Tenerife has some spectacularly beautiful scenery, exquisite local cuisine and wonderfully welcoming people. Here are just a few of the surprises we found during our six days on the island:
Drive through Tenerife to take in the spectacular scenery at the top of the live, snow-topped volcano
Teide national park was covered in a thick cloud as we ventured to its summit. As such we were unable to continue to the top because of poor visibility but the winding drive through the pines and black volcanic rocks were certainly worth the somewhat hair-raising journey (which saw boulders blocking the road at points).
Having just left snow-covered England, we were not as impressed at the sight of the white stuff as the dozens of Spaniards who had made their way to the Teide summit for their first glimpses of snow. Young children wearing their winter warms for the very first time looked on with wide eyes as mums and dads made snowmen with the mere scattering of snow that had befallen Tenerife's volcano.
While our plans for a photo opportunity and picnic at the top were somewhat scuppered by the cloud, a trip to Spain's highest point was still spectacular.
Descending the mountain, and heading north, we gave other motorists a wide birth - as many had taken to building snowmen on the bonnet of their cars!
Head to the north-eastern city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife to the golden sands of its Playa de Las Teresitas
Unlike the south of the island, most of the beaches on the northern coast of Tenerife are natural; and as a consequence have the black sands of volcanic rock.
But near to the island's capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife a man-made beach has been developed with golden sands, and cornered off by a breakwater, making the water perfect for swimming.
Playa de Las Teresitas was recommended to us by the receptionist at our hotel in Puerto de la Cruz. Nestled at the foot of mountains, the beach is perfectly sheltered, and complete with all the necessary amenities for a relaxing day in the sunshine (bars, showers, toilets etc). There's plenty of nearby parking and the clean shallow waters are perfect for families with young children.
If you're a surf hound then you'll find the coast on the north and north-west of the island has some good waves, though be warned that many have hidden rocks close to the surface so check with a local before donning your wetsuit.
Sample some of the fantastic local foods, including seafood and local Spanish dishes
Tenerife is fishing crazy, and wherever we ate there was plenty of delicious fresh fish and seafood on the menu.
The 'Canary Island' potatoes - roast new potatoes covered in salt - are served with a lot of dishes, as is mojo sauce which is great for chilli lovers.
As we stayed in Puerto de la Cruz we sampled a number of the restaurants in the town, and I can personally recommend La Clave. This tiny eatery is situated down a cobbled street, with most of the dining outside. The staff were extremely welcoming, and the Madridlenos chef presented us with a tapas selection which would have rivalled any you could find in the mainland city. A well chosen Rioja and chocolate fondant puddings rounded off our meal nicely, and at 18 Euros for the taster platter La Clave is very reasonable.
On the front at Puerto de la Cruz is a wealth of restaurants catering for all tastes and palates. But if it's real atmosphere you're looking for the Restaurant Rustico is something very special. Built into the side of the coastline, the restaurant has lovely views down to the crashing waves below, a particularly exciting scene to watch over dinner if you're lucky enough to go on a night when the sea is a little rough!
We ate fresh sardines with Canary potatoes, and the starter of goat's cheese, griddled and topped with red and green mojo sauces and honey was delicious.
Swim in the clear waters of the Lago Martianez on the front at Puerto de la Cruz
If swimming and lazing on the beach is your idea of holiday bliss then you may well be disappointed by the northern shores of Tenerife which, when we went in late February, were often cut off due to landslides or lacked any sands to laze on.
But Puerto de la Cruz has come up with the ideal solution in the form of Lago Martianez, a manmade lido on the front of the city, filled with salt water and with plenty of room for sun loungers, bars, restaurants and children's play areas. You have to pay to enter (3 Euros each when we visited), and despite being a beach lover I found this was very reasonable for the service offered. The waters were cool and clean, all the pools were manned by lifeguards - so perfect for families - and the facilities were well kept and tidy. What's more, as the lido has been made right next to the coast, it gives the illusion you could actually be on a real beach.
Take a drive to the most north-western tip of Tenerife - just make sure you go at sunset
A visit to Faro de Teno is a must on any trip to the north of Tenerife. The most north-western tip of the island is home to some spectacular views at the lighthouse lookout - though be warned that the drive to it travels along some roads prone to landslides, so if you plan you're trip during bad weather you may be unable to reach it.
We visited during early evening to make the most of the sunset, and found the El Burgado restaurant near to Buenavista del Norte was the perfect lookout point. The restaurant - complete with stream running through the centre of it - serves a range of local foods, and has a comprehensive wine list. Even if you have dinner plans, this is the perfect place to stop in for an early evening drink, as the vista is incomparable.
For more information about Tenerife, visit the tourist office.
(Article published on Travelbite.co.uk in 2010)