El Teide dominates the island. It is the peak that we see beyond the vineyards from our patio. At 3,718 meters this active volcano is the highest point in Spain.
We entered the National park that surrounds El Teide from the northeast and exited to the southwest. Driving through this barren and lava strewn landscape is otherworldly. We had a booking for the cable car to the crater, but operations were cancelled due to wind.
The first inhabitants of Tenerife, the Guanches, considered El Teide a holy mountain, their “Axis Munda” or place that holds up the sky. These nomadic people moved their herds to higher pastures in the summertime and used dogs to guard their flocks. Their dogs were considered so faithful and honorable that they were buried with their masters.