Summing up.

The general view of the three Rusters in Las Canarias was that this was a successful trip. Indeed Bob was saying that rather than visit Cape Town next January for the South Africa v England Test – being his 5th trip there – he would be happier to return to Lanzarote and Tenerife.

We had seen very little of Tenerife. We were in the north and organised a taxi to take us to the airport in the south.

Our driver Manuel had been a waiter in Amersham and spoke fluent English. He liked football and supported the local team Tenerife for whom the ex-Chelsea player and ex-Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic once played.

We proceeded through an attractive woody area but the resorts of Los Cristianos and Loa Americanos in the south justified the reputation of mass development with intensive high rise blocks and hotels and a gaudy strip pandering to Brits abroad.

Adeje, between the two, was more elegant but the general view was we had made the right move staying in the quieter north.

Canarian airports tend to be chaotic and confusing with poor signage.

We nearly boarded a Thomson charter to Gatwick instead of our BA flight.

You could see that the younger British tourists, many with babies, head for Tenerife. Indeed I have never been on a flight with more babies, one of which screeched and bawled throughout the four hour journey.

England seemed dark and uninviting but it’s always a pleasure to return home and by 8pm we all were.

If you are looking for winter sunshine without a long haul flight at a sensible price then the Canaries are a sound option.

It’s certainly no cultural desert. Lanzarote – easily mocked as Lanzagrotty – might change its name to Manrique to herald the artist that did so much for its artistic landscape and restrict high rise development.

It’s no grim Southend in the sun.

The Botanico in Puerto de la Cruz Tenerife is one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed in. What’s not to enjoy?