Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of Tenerife in the Canary Islands (Spain), has a rich and fascinating history shaped by its strategic location in the Atlantic Ocean.  Before the Spanish arrived, the island was inhabited by the Guanches, an indigenous people of Berber origin. They lived in small communities and had a tribal society. Tenerife was divided into nine menceyatos (kingdoms), each ruled by a mencey (king). In 1494, the Spanish began their conquest of Tenerife. The Battle of Aguere took place near the site of what is now Santa Cruz. By 1496, the island was fully under Castilian control, and Santa Cruz began to develop as a port. Due to its location, Santa Cruz became a key Atlantic port for Spanish ships heading to the Americas. The city was frequently attacked by pirates and enemy navies. The most famous battle occurred in 1797, when British Admiral Horatio Nelson attempted to take the city but was defeated and lost his right arm. The 19th century saw rapid urban development, including infrastructure like ports, roads, and public buildings. Santa Cruz modernized significantly during the 20th century, especially under the Franco regime and afterward during Spain’s democratic transition. Tourism and trade became dominant economic forces, supported by the Port of Santa Cruz, one of Spain’s busiest. Santa Cruz is a vibrant cultural center known for its Carnival, one of the world’s biggest and most colorful.

No excursion today as we decided to explore the city on our own.   Our ship docked right in the city and it was a short walk to be in the heart of the city.  The original plan was to do a Hop On Hop Off bus but when we found the place where it starts we were told that they went out of business.  So we decided to explore the city on foot.  We found the shopping streets and they were packed with tourists from all parts of Europe including, British, Spanish, German, and Italian.  We stopped at one of the many outdoor cafes and had some baked cheese rolls and some coffee.  We also stopped by the tourist office which was housed in a very old wooden building that has been restored.

Nana wanted to explore the stores and there was a lot to see.  We also found a Catholic Church that was getting ready for Holy Week with special “floats” that we think will be taken around the city.

Two nights ago, Nana and Papa went dancing we found someone with the same exact dress as Nana.   Nana also decided to jam with the band using her Ukalali.

The night before we had a Sock Hop party.  They have a lot of different parties on the Grand World Cruise.  The people that have been on these many times all get dressed up as they bring the appropriate clothes to the ship for the parties.  Papa is keeping track of these parties so the next time, he and Nana will be prepared.

Tomorrow we stop in Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain