14.1.21 to 13.02.21
Compared to other anthropomorphic inhabitants of the earth, we are doing very well on the island. In our basically relaxed life, however, we always manage to produce some stress!
PCR-test
Our head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs has decided that everyone entering Switzerland must present a negative PCR test before boarding the plane. One of the few decisions from this department we totally understand. Unfortunately, neither the local Swiss consulate nor the airline can explain us where we can have such a test carried out. Our Spanish teacher, Elena, gives us the tip to ask at the Hospitale San Roque in Las Palmas. In fact, this is the only place foreigners can get such a test. After a somewhat complicated registration process, we got an appointment at 08:15 in the center of Las Palmas, in Vegueta. It normally takes about thirty minutes to get to Las Palmas. But we plan a whole hour for this trip, because we are on the road during rush hour and have no idea whether the parking lot, we have chosen has space. We get stuck in a traffic jam even before entering the motorway. The nervousness in the passenger seat cannot be overlooked! If we miss the appointment, we won’t get a test in time and if we don’t have a test, we won’t be able to fly. On the motorway, however, things are moving quickly, and the situation is calming down again. But nothing moves at the entrance of the city, all lines are fully blocked. The situation in the car becomes uncomfortably stressful, the unfortunate driver has to take all responsibility because he didn’t want to allow at least two hours for the short trip. Thanks to an extremely clever and locally adapted single lane optimization, however, he can bypass the many stationary vehicles and we reach the parking garage chosen by Gabi just after eight o’clock. It even has a few spare places. We found the right door for the test at the second attempt and were actually at the registration desk at 8:14 am on the dot. Absolutely perfect timing. In Gran Canaria they obviously had long cotton rods constructed for themselves, I was afraid that the otherwise nice nurse would someday come out at the back of my head with her cotton rod that she inserted through my nose. And because it was so beautiful, the test was carried out through both nostrils to be on the safe side, so twice the fun! The good thing about the hospital, however, was that we were able to download our test from the San Roque website at 4:00 pm and of course that it was negative.
Happy moment
We usually hike circular trails so that we don’t have to walk the same trail twice. Today we decide to climb a peak, the Altavista. The name alone makes a lot of promise. Gabi doesn’t usually climb mountain peaks, but this time we decided to give it a try because of the name. When we reached the summit, we experienced the classic summit feeling, a small platform about two-by-two meters and several hundred meters of steeply sloping rock all around and a view – sensational. The summit feeling is always something special, the mountain has made it possible to reach its absolute highest point, a grateful, intense feeling of happiness. For Gabi it was even a step more intense. It is just wonderful that we are allowed to and able to experience that.
Encounters
We were able to report on Gabi’s tomcat last time already. He woos Gabi with his opportunism, which of course also means that he tries to give something back to Gabi for the many gifts every day. What can a tomcat do better than Gabi, he can catch big rats. As a thank you, he fetched a still warm rat to Gabi one morning. He bites off the head and serves it Gabi absolutely fresh. All intestines are still warm and ready to be eaten with relish. Unfortunately, the poor tomcat cannot really show his presumably excessive disappointment when he realizes that Gabi does not know how to appreciate his great gift and simply discards the rat ruthlessly and immediately.
Technology pitfalls
A week after we got the rental car have received, the vehicle computer reports a loss of pressure on the left front wheel. No problem, we pump up again, but we can’t get rid of the error message. The pressure loss keeps coming and we just keep pumping, maybe a little hole, what the heck. However, when we come back from a hike, the tire is really completely flat. The big question is, does the rental car have the necessary equipment to change a wheel and is there a spare wheel at all? Yes, everything is in place. Compared to Globi, changing the wheel on this rental car is literally child’s play. We can do it easily and very quickly. 😉
For a smile
One of the most beautiful hikes that we have undertaken in the three months is definitely the hike at the Aserrador. At the beginning the path is not really spectacular, but after the ascent on a driveway, the hiking trail branches off onto a sensational path. The views and the surroundings are really breathtaking. However, the hike is longer than we thought, and the weather is warmer than we expected. The combination of these facts results in us taking an insufficient amount of water with us and feeling a little exhausted. Gabi complains of heart problems, weakness and dizziness. I wasn’t feeling better too. Due to the wrinkled skin on her fingers, Gabi analyzes her condition as dehydration. We still have about a deciliter of water and five kilometers of the most beautiful mountain trail ahead of us. Gabi tries to use our water well planned in order to persevere. I couldn’t possibly carry her to our vehicle. Since I am obviously writing this text, it is clear that we made it unscathed. It is, however, embarrassing that we in our high age and with plenty of hiking experience in hot areas carried so little water with us.
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