Time in Tenerife

Because Tenerife is the closest developed/European country to West Africa, the Africa Mercy stops at it each year for legality reasons, inspections, restocking, etc. The ship was in Tenerife for just over a month. Sarah (a friend of mine I met previously on Mercy Ships), and I took a week vacation prior to boarding the ship (pictures posted on facebook). We then had a week on the ship prior to sailing which included general ship orientation as well as waxing floors and cleaning the galley (projects that don't get done while in outreach), which ended up being fun and a great way to get to know my future co-workers.

We also did have sometime to get off the ship and go into Santa Cruz, the capital city of Tenerife, to spend some time on the beach, do a bit of shopping, and eating the local Canarian food.

It was cold and rainy but we decided to go for a swim anyways, refreshing but...cold!!!

Then we had a downpour and crowded into the changerooms to eat pringles and wait for the bus.

'Tapas' hop

'Tapas' in Spanish means small meals/appetizers. Our last night in Tenerife we went to different little cafe's to try different Canarian tapas (after supper). Round 1. gelato 2. papas con mojo sauce (potatoes with a local delicious sauce) and grilled cheeses 3. churros con chocolate (pastries dipped in chocolate) and 4. smoothies

Gwen (from New Zealand), myself, & Ruth (from Germany) - the only ones who made it to the smoothies, and they were worth it!