A-Z Challenge = CONTRASTS & CARNAVAL

C is for CONTRASTS

If you leave the CANARIAN tourist towns and drive into the COUNTRYSIDE, the CONTRAST is sudden and stark. Los CRISTIANOS is typically touristic – beach, bars, restaurants and shops – but there’s another side to Tenerife that many people don’t see. Just a COACH TRIP into the mountains can be an adventure and give your sunburn a chance to heal. This is the road to Masca - until recently it was only a goat track, and the inhabitants must have thighs like Rugby players!

CARNAVAL in Tenerife is reputed to rival those in Latin America. Almost before one fiesta is over the authorities have announced the theme for next year. This at least give the Carnaval groups time to design their COSTUMES, which can cost thousands of euros and become more elaborate every year. 

 This chap must have trained at the gym all year to be able to carry this one ...

.. whereas some outfits seem to have been made as skimpy as possible...

... and it’s strange how many macho men dress up in drag for Carnaval..

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

COFFEE IN LOS CRISTIANOS - a bit of verse

Sitting quietly with a coffee

Watching people pass

All their lives a mystery

Leaving me to guess.

 That girl with the box of cakes

Celebrates tonight

Some special anniversary?

Or then again, she might

Be having friends round for a meal

And works Canarian hours

So she won’t have the time to cook

As well as take a shower.

And that man looking nonchalant

pretending that his dog

isn't messing on the pavement - 

he'll go in my blog!