Planet Penguin and farewell to Tenerife

Yes, the penguinarium (if that is a real word) is quite stunning. The Loro Parque website says it is the biggest penguin habitat in the world - funny, the antarctic looks a lot bigger on maps.

Still, the huge freezer that they live in, with real falling snow and ice is most impressive. As is the moving walkway that you stand on to slowly move around the display area. Had to do this twice.....

Patrick's cousins were in good form:

Although the chicks looked a little grumbly in their incubator:

Their life is just like Patrick's - lots of standing around looking bemused with a rather large tummy:

Again, like Patrick they are good at giving each other the cold shoulder from time to time. Patrick usually reserves this treatment for us after we've been away for a couple of weeks....

One trait that Patrick isn't keen on seems to be swimming. He obviously takes after his male guardian. However, his Planet Penguin brethren seem happy in the water:

Before returning to the chilly UK, we made a trip to San Juan, one of our favourite little towns on the island. We had been introduced to it many years ago by Barrie and Veronica, our ex-neighbours in Hythe Marina. They owned an apartment in Tenerife and foolishly invited us to stay with them for a few days. The place has a proper working air about it, not just tourist trap stuff:

The harbour is a working fishing port and even has a big boat lift. We like watching other folks' boats hanging precariously:

Somehow seeing your own in slings is less restful, we have that to look forward to shortly of course.

Returning to the UK was the expected temperature shock. Patrick gave us the expected cold shoulder and the boat had the expected black streaks on it from the rain. Welcome home. Having shared the Tenerife "no dog fouling" sign with you in an earlier post, we felt obliged to share the Canal and River Trust's version. We think this one is way better:

We tried it out on Bronwen the spaniel. She looked bemused and then went for a swim in Cardiff Bay. Perhaps she needed it in Welsh not English?