How often is the Dance of the Dwarves?
sent by Gareth

Observatory visit at Roque de Muchachos
sent by Andreas and Jutta

03.02.2016

The famous La Palma Dance of the Dwarves or La Danza de los Enanos is every five years with the next one being in 2015, then 2020, etc. So we can all look forward to the big show next year. You probably also want to know what is the Dance of Dwarves! Basically, the show begins with 12 people dressed as Cardinals who appear from a temporary 'castle' and walk solemnly to centre stage where they sing a selection of beautiful hymns. They then return to the 'castle' only to reappear moments later as polka-dancing dwarfs. The trick is that the dwarves are actually full-size people - I'll let you figure it out but it is cleverly and convincingly done!
This is one of the biggest festivals on La Palma (part of the La Palma Bajada festival) and despite the fact there are 4 or 5 performances on the same night, it's a sell out months in advance. There are some vantage points though although you won't perhaps get to see the whole stage. Parking is almost non-existent so best take the bus. You might find this link useful which is the Santa Cruz town hall information page on it: http://www.santacruzdelapalma.es/sclapalma/?q=node%2F1058

Is it necessary to book a visit to the observatories on La Palma or can you just go up there?  I'd love to get any information about looking around. 

12.04.2014

Astrocamp

10.03.2016
Jikke

Restaurante Virgin del Pino – near the clock tower, opposite Mar y Monte pension. Varied menu, eating inside or out, really great setting.
Restaurante Naranja - turn on the Avenida, by the clock tower. Take the road on your left, after you have passed the Coop Max on your right. Then drive down and at the end of the road, go to the right, park your car there, Naranja is right on the left side.El Kiosko – Open when the Puntagorda market is on (Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning).The food is very good, the portions are ‘big.'
The Pizzeria is on the big/long Avenida with the white balustrade. The pizzas are really good! Baked on wood, thin and tasty!!
Parilla - on the main road from El Time to the North by the turning for Puntagorda. It’s nice, local food. You can eat sausages by ½, 1, 1½ ….. meters!!!
Restaurante Muralla - between Tinizara and Tijarafe!! A modern building, OK food, great view.    

Caldera Taxi price was 51 EUR for the taxi in March 2014 when we went up but if you find a couple to share, you can share the taxi and the price. So if you are walking the Caldera, the best idea is to get there reasonably early (certainly before 11.00 hrs) to have the best chance of sharing a taxi.

Ann

Very possible although it takes three buses. If you wish, you can use a taxi for the first and/or last journeys which are quite short.
Bus number 500 from Airport to Santa Cruz. Buses run every 30 minutes – for example, 15.10, 15.40, 16.10, 16.40 hrs.  After 15.40 hrs, weekends and fiestas, they only run every hour. Journey time 20 minutes. Get off at the terminus in Santa Cruz (by the sea port and roundabout).
Bus number 300 from Santa Cruz to Los Llanos.  Buses run every 30 minutes – for example, 13.30, 14.00, 14.30, 15.00 hrs. After 15.00 hrs, weekends and fiestas, they only run ever hour on the hour. Journey time 50 minutes.  Get off at the terminus in Los Llanos (bus station).
Bus number 207 from Los Llanos to Tazacorte. Buses run every hour – for example, 14.45, 15.45, 16.45, 17.45 hrs., etc. The timetable does not change for weekends and fiestas. Journey time 15 minutes.  The bus stops at a large white building, ‘Restaurante Casa del Mar.’
Or
Bus number 100 from Los Llanos to Tazacorte.  Bus run every hour – for example, 16.15 (not 17.15), 18.15, 19.15hrs, etc.  Weekends and fiestas, the bus only runs every other hour, on the even hour, past 15 minutes. 
La Palma bus timetable