Silvia Morales had not even been able to get up for breakfast at the Tourist Information Office in the historic center of Santiago del Teide when the clock approached 1:00 p.m. and the sky began to cloud over. all for the continuous arrival of Tenerife residents and tourists who came to the municipality of Santiago to enjoy the first of four weekends of activities on the flowering of the almond trees. Located in the church square, the office never stopped receiving visitors who wanted to know where the paths of the almond trees in bloom are or where the market of local products is located. “Unfortunately we have not been able to open the market as Tenerife is at level 4 of the pandemic, but there is a lot to do these days in Santiago del Teide,” says this municipal worker, surprised by “the number of people” who have come to the call of the almond trees
The path, which starts from the same church square, is a coming and going of hikers from early in the morning, most of them in large groups. In one of them is Cristina Violán, from Tenerife, who was runner-up in the synchronized swimming world with the Spanish team in the middle of the last decade. Now retired from elite sport, Violán, who was in the Cirque du Soleil, studied architecture but is dedicated to art, claims to be “amazed” by the white and pink petals of the almond trees. “Taking advantage of shows like this is an unbeatable way to connect with nature. And the truth is that walking through these places is wonderful », he says in full slope of the path, with the snow-capped peak of Teide shining on the horizon. “It is now, after leaving the competition, when I enjoy my island and I can get to know it better,” admits the winner of many titles in synchronized swimming.
In Violán’s group, most of whose members come from Puerto de la Cruz, is Luisa Espinosa, one of those responsible for the family having opted for the flowering of Santiago del Teide to spend Sunday. A hiking enthusiast, she has come many times to these “amazing” places in Santiago to enjoy their “beauty”. “This is amazing, from the historic center of Santiago del Teide to these paths colored by flowers,” says a woman whose passion for pateos comes from a well-known relative on the island: the Puerto Rican doctor Luis Espinosa, a great connoisseur of the island trails to which he even dedicated a book, Trails, paths and sidewalks.
For the second consecutive year, the flowering of the almond trees was brought forward a couple of weeks –usually between the end of January and the beginning of February– due to a warmer-than-normal start to the year. But the southern municipality began this weekend to develop the program of activities based on these five-petaled flowers whose intense color contrasts with the ocher tones of the volcanic landscapes and the greens of the pine forests. There are thousands of small flowers that stand out in the surroundings of the historic quarter and the paths that lead to the Chinyero Nature Reserve and the Corona Forestal Natural Park.
Entire families enjoy a flowering that highlights its “great beauty”
Gentle and demanding pateos -even for pets-, gastronomic workshops, cocktail exhibition, restaurants and bars with special menus… From last Saturday until February 20, a multitude of activities will revolve in Santiago del Teide around flowers of the almond trees and the products made from their fruit, which will bring thousands of people to the town, as has been the case for more than a decade since the City Council has made a strong commitment to the color that these trees adopt, many of which grow in a wild.
The arrival of tourists is concentrated between Monday and Friday, but some groups also appear on the weekend. This is the case of Erik, a Belgian who fell in love with Tenerife, where he has lived for 11 months. «I love Tenerife for its warm climate, its beaches and its landscapes. But this almond blossom thing is different. This area is very beautiful at this time,” says Erik, who is walking with some friends while another group of tourists follows, in this case from Russia. No one misses the opportunity to leave the sidewalk to be photographed in front of one of the most leafy fruit trees, with the buzz of the numerous bees attracted by the flowers in the background.
Sheila Hernández comes from Icod de los Vinos. Last year he was left with the desire to see this show in all its dimensions because he went at the end of February, when many of the petals had already disappeared. “This year we have come for the first weekend of activities and it has been a success, because the trees are beautiful,” he comments, while acknowledging that given the restrictions imposed by the covid pandemic, “outdoor activities like these They are ideal to enjoy with the family. “This must be taken care of, like all our privileged nature,” he wants to make clear.
Sheila’s mother, Lola Chávez, is responsible for a large part of the family being encouraged to join this pilgrimage of paths in bloom. «I have come about six times and always enjoy the same. We take the opportunity to spend the day in Santiago del Teide for everything it offers around the almond trees,” he says, while one of the members of the expedition assures that the landscape “looks like Japan” when the cherry trees bloom there between March and April.
After noon, there is hardly any parking in the historic center of Santiago or chairs on the terraces of bars and restaurants, which serve special dishes such as chicken strips and fish loin in almond sauce, cod sandwich with almonds or almond flower crepe . Even Luis’s mechanical workshop has joined with the Pre-ITV Special Flowering.
