Post
by Antifreeze » Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:12 pm
> Tall mountains, deep valleys, mystic ruins, the majestic larch ...
> So, is it all that then?
The tourist areas are a nightmare in every way imaginable.
The city is a badly-designed, concrete eyesore.
Most of the beaches are black, volcanic sand (except the main tourist beaches).
The locals definitely lean towards 'uneducated, fishing-village' mentality rather than 'sophisticated, cosmopolitan and cultured'.
But the mountains and countryside are beautiful, especially in late summer after a spot of rain. Very good for hillwalking, rock climbing, botany, and geology. Nothing bigger than a rabbit here though, and only a small selection of exotic birds and buzzards. There are some nice, small forests.
Tiny villages up in the mountains provide excellent, very cheap food and drink, and they tend to be more friendly than in the tourist locations. The mountains are steep and over 6000ft high (2000m). The landscape is fairly awesome; lots of volcanic layers, craters, aretes, cliffs, etc.
Nice place for a holiday if you can get away from all the brain-dead 'consumer' tourists. Try to book a hotel or villa away from Puerto Rico (Ugg!) or Playa del Ingles, and definitely rent a car so you don't get stuck in a hell-hole for the whole week by accident.