La Palma – Isla Bonita, the Pearl of the Atlantic
A Tribute to Doris Schlei
For many years, Doris Schlei was a much-loved guest at Jardín de Aridane. She had a very special affection for La Palma, an island that captivated her heart and drew her back time and time again.
Although Doris is no longer with us, we would like to preserve her words and share her deeply personal and affectionate view of our beautiful Isla Bonita.
An island with many names. And everyone who gets to know it seems to have their own special way of describing it.
Not long ago, I read someone calling it the island of happiness. Others refer to it as the island of my dreams. Its full name, Isla de San Miguel de La Palma, is hardly ever heard these days.
A small island with a very special charm and an astonishing diversity.
It all begins with its wonderfully varied landscapes.
The lush green north, the magnificent Caldera de Taburiente, Roque de los Muchachos rising to 2,426 metres… Up here, above the clouds, the world seems somehow different. And the observatory buildings, silhouetted against the landscape, sometimes create an almost surreal scene.
Further south, the earth is black and warm. You can almost still feel the heat of the Teneguía volcano, which erupted in 1971.
And then, in striking contrast, at the southernmost tip of the island lie the salt pans of Fuencaliente, with their white gold from the sea: little mounds of salt lined up close to the ocean.
The black beaches, where the waves paint their own pictures and patterns in the sand with their foam, like delicate white fingers.
In the evening, you can sometimes watch surfers gliding across the waves.
And afterwards, as darkness begins to fall, enjoy the sunset with a glass of delicious Canarian wine and a lovely meal.
That interplay of colours, shapes and textures… Each one different, unique and beautiful.
The towns and villages, too, are full of colour. Their picturesque houses create wonderful contrasts with the surrounding landscape.
The island's two main towns each have a charm of their own.
Santa Cruz de La Palma, with its historic mansions and beautiful wooden balconies along the Avenida Marítima, wonderful reminders of its history and architectural heritage.
Los Llanos de Aridane, with its Plaza de España and its La Ciudad en el Museo project: magnificent murals created by different artists, and streets where you can wander, explore and marvel almost endlessly.
And we mustn't forget the island's extraordinary flora and fauna…
And so many, many other things!
During my holidays over the past six years, I've tried to capture all this, and much more, through the lens of my camera.
I'm an amateur photographer and have a page on fotocommunity.de, where I share my photographs under the pseudonym nobodyno.
Among my photographs is an extensive album dedicated to La Palma.
An album of the Isla Bonita as I see it, through my own eyes.
Some subjects appear again and again. Perhaps this will help you discover which places are closest to my heart.
Several of these photographs, enlarged and printed in large format, decorate the walls of my apartment.
And sometimes, when I look at them, I begin to dream…
For a brief moment, my thoughts carry me back to the Isla Bonita.
Perhaps some of you would like to dream along with me and are curious to discover La Palma through my eyes.
If so, you can find my photographs here:
La Palma Through the Eyes of Doris Schlei
Doris Schlei
Amateur photographer and devoted lover of La Palma
In loving memory of Doris, we preserve these words and her unique perspective on our island.
Thank you, Doris, for sharing your love of La Palma with us. Your words and photographs remain a cherished part of the memories of Jardín de Aridane.
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