We’re on holiday in Tenerife. After the morning struggle of reserving seats at the pool, we go for breakfast and right after that, I have my little moment of zen.
The island has a climate unlike the one I’m used to. The morning has an amazing chill and the day turns hot quickly only to bring out everyone on the streets when it cools down again. Which it does, but it never gets really cold, just that awesome sweet spot of around 25 degrees, which is perfect for someone coming from Belgium.
Right after breakfast the streets are still empty, except for runners and other people having the same ritual as I do: go and fetch a newspaper. It’s something my father also did and truth be told, the newspaper isn’t what’s driving me out there. It’s those 15 minutes of me-time. It’s wandering those empty streets that are so alive at night. It’s looking at the mountains that form the background.
Mountains didn’t have that effect on me when I was younger. Huge piles of rock, so what. I don’t know what changed or when, but looking at them now gives me some sort of peace. It makes me feel tiny, but in a good way.
Monday we’re going up the biggest one here, the vulcano Teide. When we get there it’ll be turning dark and we’ll be in the second best spot in the world to watch the stars. I can’t wait to sit down with Evelyne and the kids for that one. I just hope it doesn’t ruin my Moment of Zen the next day.