You look great in that cute straw hat. I looked at each picture that had people in it to see how many were wearing hats! While I noticed that there were differant dates on the pictures, I'm wondering if you see all this on ONE walk or if these are from several differant routes? How far do you try to walk each day?

I always enjoy the glimpses of paradise you share with us.

Lovely pictures, thank you.

Lee

I was wondering the same thing, Lee.

The shoe garden was unique. What's the story behind that?

As always, lots of lovely shots from paradise!

Harper

Sharon, La Paz is beautiful. Gorgeous colors, flora, ocean views, architecture, weather, culture ::sigh:: :)

And I think you look terrific! I wear straw hats, too. I've even added netting to an old one so I can spend some time in the garden (May is black fly month in my area and this year they are awful).

Thanks a lot for the lovely tour.

I hope more CFers will post photo tours of their area or the places they visit. Such a nice thing to see... :)

Sharon, as always, your pictures are beautiful. I think it would be easier to take a walk, with such wonderful scenery.

I especially liked the picture of the oleander blossoms and those white flowers that look like they are on a bush, but the leaves look like a cactus? And the building that looks like a castle, I couldn't make my little monitor size it big enough to read the sign. Not that I'd understand it anyway, LOL.

Lovely. Just lovely.

Annie

Wow, lovely.

I especially liked the Olive tree picture. It remains one of my most favorite trees.

The linen clothes are the kinds of things that I wear in our hot summers...along with straw hats ;-)

I always enjoy your photos, Sharon. Thanks for the peek!

Mercedes, here are some pictures from Catalina, which Sharon's pictures always remind me of. To get to Catalina, we rode our mountain bikes to the dock in Marina Del Rey and took them with us on the ferry. The ferry ride takes about an hour or so, and then we had our bikes for riding on the island. Catalina has a much smaller population than Tenerife, but the architecture and climate are similar. There is also a very nice botanical garden near the Wrigley Memorial, but I didn't take pictures there.

Sharon, you might consider getting an African hat, like {{gwi:1469407}} and {{gwi:1469408}}. The hat is from the Ivory Coast and is the best hat I've had for keeping my head cool. Once in Palm Springs someone stopped me on the street and asked me if I knew which tribe made the hat because he had travelled extensively in the Ivory Coast. He was the only person to recognize where the hat was from. I bought it in Ramona, California, on my way back from {{gwi:1469409}}.

We missed going to the desert last winter because we went to Texas instead.

Lars

Lee...
The photos are from three different days when I walked more or less the same route. I try to do a minimum of half an hour per day but also get in two days a week of around 1 1/2 hours each time, doing the route where I take these photos. Not that it takes so long but I love to stand on the seawall overlooking the Atlantic as the breeze is cool and it's hard to tear myself away. I also stop to take the pics and often pop into a supermarket to pick up something for lunch just as I'm finishing the walk. There are people walking by me all the time wearing hats but I don't like to turn around and point my camera in their face LOL. Next time I'll take a few for you though. :-)

Harper...I saw the shoe garden on the edge of a waste ground across the street from some apartments so I imagine some children living there decided to make a play house. I bet their mom is wondering what happened to her white shoes LOL ! I must go back there to check it out.

Annie the white flower bush is an oleander with a spikey cactus plant immediately behind it, so the leaves look as though they're part of the oleander. Sorry - that wasn't the best angle was it, and I didn't notice when I took the pic. :-) The sign on that (atrocious) pink castle gives the name 'Parque Lotos' - seems it's a new block of apartments which they're selling. Nearly all apartments here are self-owned, so these are now open for prospective buyers it seems.

Oh Lars I do love that hat! I have to say I would lack the courage to walk down the street wearing it though. I'm trying to look inconspicuous LOL, not attract attention. Love your travel photos, especially the wide spaces of Anza Borega.

Getting back to your hat Lars ....I think they could also be sold here because there are many young West African men here selling African handicrafts in markets and on the streets. Plenty of wood carvings and trinkets of all sorts are available and the prices are negotiable if you care to bargain for something.

SharonCb

Sharon, I think you look absolutely gorgeous! And you pictures are fabulous, I would love to visit Tenerife someday. I loved the sgoe garden, too, and I did spot the bird in the rooftop photo!LOL

Thanks for sharing a peek at your paradise.

Now Lars, about that hat.....

Linda

Beautiful photos as always, Sharon! The views of the sea are fantastic. I love the olive trees too. And I was surprised that the Spanish lavender in front of the boutique has such bright green leaves.

You both suit the hats.
I would wear both:)
I would visit Tenerife ina heartbeat..and Santa Catalina..
Lars ..your song alone made me want to go..

K..

Sharon..is January a good month in Tenerife?
How does one get there? Pardon the ignorance..I am not atraveler..
And where would you recommend staying?

Lars.Since Jain and my Gardenfriends in Ca..I have often thought of Ca.. never has anyone mentioned SC..I had to look to see where it was..Now I would love to go even more.
I never have wanderlust.
I love my quiet.. little life.. exactly where I live...but those 2 areas are now of such interest to me..
Thank you both for sharing your Paradisios with us.
I loved both of your photos..all the way..
And the shoe garden is dear..

Lars, you too live in Paradise and Catalina is such a pretty place. Oh, that harbor! Lovely pix, thanks for sharing them. BTW, the photo "Lars464.jpg" could've been taken anywhere in southern Spain.

Whoo Hoo Lars!

Monique....sorry I didn't get to answer you until now.
I was checking out how to get here from Montreal. We once flew with Iberia Airlines scheduled flight from Montreal to Madrid and then from Madrid we connected with a flight to Tenerife. But as we go to the west coast of Canada when we come over there, we fly first up to London and then next day fly the over-the-pole route down to Vancouver. You would fly the trans-Atlantic route as you're over on the east side.

Best would be checking out with your local newspapers or travel agents as I have seen charter flights to the Canary Islands advertised in Canadian papers and the prices would include hotel and transfers. I think British Airways also has scheduled flights from Montreal to Madrid for a non-charter trip. There are also flights from Seville and Barcelona to the Canary Islands but Madrid is a main flight centre with flights coming in from all the world and many daily flights to any of the Canary Islands.

There are seven islands and most are geared to accomodate tourism. Largest island is Tenerife which has two different climate zones - the south is hot and dry - many beaches and the north (where we live) is cooler and greener, also with beaches but possibility of some rain in January. High holiday season here is from late October to end of the carnival season usually mid February. The south of this island is now heavily developed with golf courses and extravagant hotels that rival Las Vegas in their usage of marble and Roman statues LOL. But there are hotels and holiday apartments of every type and price.

The island of Gran Canaria (capital Las Palmas) is also very popular. More exotic is Lanzarote, with its sand dunes (rides on camels), fire mountain and stark barren landscape. This is the island closest to the African coast. Then there's also close to the African coast, with long white sandy beaches. La Gomera is one of the beautiful smaller islands, as is La Palma another smaller island where world class astrophysical observatories have been built to study the sun and stars.

I imagine if you are in Montreal in January, you'd be craving warm sun and beaches ! Pick up some brochures from your travel agent and browse through them a bit, or do a Google images search and you'll find some beautiful suggestions. I'm happy to answer any questions :-).

SharonCb

The hat is perfect for you, I enjoy all of your pictures and I would love to go to the Canary Islands. It is beautiful, maybe someday,,

Lars, your hat,,,,,if it is comfortable and you like it, that is what matters. LOL

I'm not sure what the "LOL" is for Trixie, but the hat is very comfortable and practical. I've seen a few other people wearing similar hats here, and so it's not that unusual, I think - well, not for Venice Beach anyway. I lent it to my BIL when I took him to Crystal Cove (along with my leopard print swimming trunks and matching tank top), and he seemed a bit surprised that he didn't get looks from anyone here, but then he lives in Temple, Texas, where he might get looks in such an outfit. I don't wear that hat in Texas, but it's very appropriate for California! I probably would wear it in Texas, if I ever went there in summer, but I really can't handle the heat that well. I only go to Death Valley in winter, although I will go to Palm Springs as late as May.

Lars

Thank you Sharon..I am close to MTL..I will look into your info:)

it just looks like how I like to be on holiday:)
Ralaxed.. terrasses.. hats:)

Lars, I did not intend that to be offensive.

About ten years ago DH looked for a panama hat when we were in Mexico to wear in this hot Texas sun, he bought one that you could fold, do anything to and it would retain its shape. Well, after the plane ride home, he was definately taken.

But, you should see me, mowing the lawn or taking care of the garden, I have a refrigerated "sweat band," it is wonderful. I love it.

That is why I say if it is comfortable and you like it, go for it, I do.

My apologies if I offended you, it was not my intent.

Trixie I was not in any way offended! BTW, I would not wear that hat in Waco either, and when I first moved to Austin from San Francisco in 1985, people there were not quite ready for some of my outfits, and especially not my sunglasses. I was a fashion designer when I lived in SF (mostly ladies' evening wear), and so I had a tendency to be a bit extreme - something that was not really appreciated in Texas. Most of my business was in New York and L.A., which is one of the reasons I left S.F.

DB likes Panama hats. Because he is redheaded, he has to be careful with the sun. When we were in San Antonio one March, my sister bought me a nice hat at the Mercado. It was almost like a cowboy hat, but I wore it because it was extremely sunny, and I burn easily too. DS also has red hair.

Lars