The English Library, Tenerife

A British institution in Puerto de la Cruz for over 100 years.

The English Library
Calle Irlanda 5, Parque Taoro
Puerto de la Cruz 38400
+34 922 383098

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Meet the Adventurers who set out to conquer Tenerife

18th August 2021 by Graham Taylor

KEN FISHER, Library President and leader of the popular Tenerife History Group has produced a series of articles on some of the extraordinary 19th century figures who set out to explore Tenerife and, in some cases, to scale the heights of Mount Teide when the island’s upper reaches were still wild and untamed.

They were variously scientists, explorers, botanists or just plain and simple adventurers, though they all shared the same passion and thirst for unlocking the mysteries of the world around them.

Find the articles at https://englishlibrarytenerife.org/category/tenerife-adventurers/

Under normal circumstances, the Tenerife History Group meets on Thursdays mornings between 11am and 12.30pm.

Filed Under: Tenerife Adventurers

James Holman – The Blind Traveller

18th August 2021 by Graham

James Holman 1786-1857 (by George Chinnery 1830)

Completely blind and suffering from debilitating pain and limited mobility, James Holman, undertook a series of solo journeys. In 1832 he became the first blind person to circumnavigate the globe and, by 1846, he had visited every inhabited continent.

I decided to investigate, and yes, he did visit Tenerife, if only for a few days, in 1827. Luckily, for us, he left a wealth of information that he had gathered. He hadn’t climbed Mount Teide because he didn’t have the time. What a man! What is more, I found his book on the internet.

His first impression of Tenerife was promising, – “My friends were very much pleased with the town (Santa Cruz) and good pavement affording a striking contrast to Funchal (Madeira) which, like most Portuguese towns, was dirty and badly paved. There was another agreeable sight, the Spanish women, with an interesting character of expression in their faces, which is much heightened by their beautiful dark eyes and jet black hair. The dresses are remarkable for their neatness.

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Filed Under: Tenerife Adventurers

The Daredevil of La Gordejuela at Los Realejos

28th September 2016 by Ken Fisher

OUR CONTINUING history series uses a modern-day daredevil adventurer and a 1903 walking guide to tell the story of one of the most ambitious 19th century civil engineering projects undertaken on the island.

Daredevil Rubén Alonzo Bizarro atop the ruined pumping house in a still from his dramatic online video.
Daredevil Rubén Alonzo Bizarro atop the ruined pumping house in a still from his dramatic online video.

A VIDEO Rubén Alonzo Bizarro posted on Instagram of himself walking along the ruins of the old pumping station of La Gordejuela in Los Realejos went viral and was seen all around the world. It was, indeed, the ultimate in daredevil adventure, bordering on lunacy.

The video was not for the faint hearted but it was impossible to switch off. We were rabbits caught in the headlights muttering about the stupid fool – and worse in the Fisher household.

[Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Tenerife Adventurers

British scientist brought modern-day astronomy to Tenerife

28th August 2016 by Ken Fisher

KEN FISHER examines THE TEIDE ADVENTURERS, those larger-than-life figures for whom the magnetic draw of climbing to the top of Teide proved irresistible. This time he turns his attentions to CHARLES PIAZZI SMYTH (1819-1900), the Astronomer Royal for Scotland and an Egyptologist

Charles Piazzi Smyth
Charles Piazzi Smyth

CHARLES PIAZZI SMYTH was born in Naples. His father was then a Captain and later an Admiral in the British Navy and also a keen amateur Astronomer. Charles’s godfather was Giuseppe Piazzi, a famous Italian astronomer, and therefore Charles’s future was most decidedly written in the stars.

Due to hard work and good connections Smyth had a meteoric rise and, at the age of 27 was appointed Astronomer Royal for Scotland.

In 1704, Isaac Newton had written in his book Opticks that telescopes cannot be so formed as to take away that confusion of the Rays which arises from the Tremors of the Atmosphere. The only Remedy is a most serene and quiet Air, such as may perhaps be found on the tops of the highest Mountains above the grosser Clouds.

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Filed Under: Tenerife Adventurers

Richard Burton – explorer, translator, soldier and spy…

11th August 2016 by Ken Fisher

KEN FISHER examines THE TEIDE ADVENTURERS, those larger-than-life figures for whom the magnetic draw of climbing to the top of Teide proved irresistible. Under the spotlight this time is SIR RICHARD FRANCIS BURTON (1821-1890)

Sir Richard Burton, pictured in 1864.
Sir Richard Burton, pictured in 1864.

BY THE TIME he was 40 years old, Richard Francis Burton had become famous for his travels in Africa and Asia. His best known exploit was undertaking, in disguise, the long journey with Muslim pilgrims to the sacred city of Mecca knowing that, if detected, he would have been torn to pieces by the mob, irrespective of the teachings of the Koran.

To fully adhere to his Muslim disguise, in case of capture, Burton became circumcised – just a little snippet of information showing his attention to detail.

Burton’s command of various languages enabled him to translate the Kama Sutra and the Arabian Nights into English. On his travels he was seriously wounded, dangerously ill, sometimes failing in his quest but always active. His life story is fascinating but it is my mission to get him to the top of the peak of Mount Teide.

[Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Tenerife Adventurers

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PARA NUESTROS AMIGOS CANARIOS

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LA BIBLIOTECA Inglesa del Puerto de la Cruz se construyó en 1903 y desde entonces ha sido punto de reunión para la comunidad británica.
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