Restinga, El Hierro

Restinga seemed a bit of a strange place at first, a sleepy seaside village with a lot of unfinished buildings and assorted abandoned machinery which reminded us of an American Indian Reservation. Then you can see the wood for the trees, a nicely developed shoreline around the marina with beach, very interesting lava formations, a well stocked supermarket, friendly locals and a marina community like no other.

Unusual lava formations

We explored the island with our amigos, Philippe & Imelda, visiting Valverde, Punta Grande etc...and the end of the known world until the 15th century, Punta Orchilla, where we walked through a volcanic cave.

Punta Grande

Volcanic Cave

La Frontera

Restinga Marina was very reasonably priced and we stayed longer than expected due to the weather between El Hierro and Cape Verde being unfavorable, so the Christmas sail was postponed to New Year.

For Christmas, all the sailing community got together ( mainly French, but also Swedish, Russian, Danish etc). We purchased a sheep and spit roasted it. Everyone contributed by baking bread, making cakes, salads.....you name it! This made for a very memorable Christmas Eve get together. Miles baked a traditional British Christmas Cake - once tasted, disappeared in a flash!

Miles taking his turn on the spit