After 20 odd years working in the public and quasi-private sector in the UK, I had everything…great job, great man, lovely cottage, fab clothes, fast car and twice yearly vacations in exotic locations. Then I packed it all in (well not the great man) and moved to Tenerife where I live on very little money, in nearly perpetual sunshine and drive a Fiat Punto. But am I happy?
You bet your ass I am!
Working as a freelance feature writer gets me all over the island on a regular basis and I’m constantly surprised by the culture and beauty of this little known island. Not ‘little known’ in the sense that few people know about it; over 9 million visitors a year come here, but in the sense that most of those 9 million never leave their resort unless it’s on an organized whistle-stop tour to Mount Teide or Masca.
It’s so frustrating to read reports of Tenerife that dismiss it as ‘just a resort’, knowing how much beauty and diversity is out there if only people would look! That’s why we wrote ‘Island Drives’; to encourage people to get to know the ‘real Tenerife’.
Dear Andy, I’m about to move to La Gomera from Finland and find myself constantly browsing for information about Canary Islands. I was delighted to find your blog with well-written stories in not-german (which is mostly the case when it comes to Gomera). I can’t wait to get there…
I wish you all the best!
Lea
Wow, I can’t wait to read more of your blog after an introduction like this! Tenerife looks and sounds amazing, congrats on your new life.
Hi Lea,
You’ll love La Gomera, it’s a really beautiful island. It may not have the drama of Mount Teide but you can get the best views of the mountain from there (or so the Gomeros claim!). I have a friend who lives in Los Acevinos which is a stunningly beautiful valley and I’m looking forward to going back there myself which I’m planning to do in the next few weeks.
I wish you every happiness in your move and I look forward to reading your blog about your experiences!
Andy
Andy ..!
Maybe we could meet up one day … I’m in Playa de la Arena, Puerto de Santiago, just south of Los Gigantes.
Cheers from
Tony
Hi Tony!
I know Playa de la Arena well, my stepmother has an apartment there. We’d be happy to meet up one day, we go over there on a semi-regular basis.
I’ll let you know when we’re planning our next visit and if you’re around we could arrange to meet.
I look forward to it!
Andy
I hate to say this in Andy but I was not surprised to find out that you were a girl (rather than a man called Andy!) hate to be sexist but your observations and descriptions come straight from the heart and are obvious in print. Luckily I first read the ‘about Andy’ so now is more clear. It makes little difference what you write is good, it is like hearing it in real time and as if it is chat from a friend. I guess you have achieved what you intended. Keep going I will be listening in.
Hi Penedawn,
Muchas gracias for your encouraging words which I happily took to heart! If you keep listening, I’ll keep talking!
Do you have a blogsite I can find you on?
Nice to discover your blog….
I’m not 20… but I’ve got quite the same history… I left Paris and a good situation to be on the roads of the island with my PUNTO !
Nice to read you
Hi Sol en Tenerife,
Unfortunately, I haven’t seen 20 for a very long time!!
But it’s great to hear from you.