The Palmeros, spot on for Slow Life

About 80.000 people live on the island La Palma (2005), of which about 10% has a different nationality than the Spanish. Most inhabitants live around the larger cities Santa Cruz and Los Llanos. Like in all Canary islands South America has a large impact on language and culture of La Palma. Slow Life is what the Palmeros live. They are conscious of the high quality of life the have due to the beautiful nature and the lovely climate of their beloved island. Most of the time they enjoy their peaceful life. Social events always have priority on anything else. In the country everybody greets each other, including tourists. When, on their way, jumping into an acquaintances they would always stop for a talk. When unexpectedly visit arrive, everything is paused to drink a glass of wine (of ones own vineyard) together. On the very often organised fiestas (see Festivities), younger and older people join each other on the dance floor.

Trade
Palmeros often help each other with some job that has to be done. The old-fashioned but non-explicit trade system (trueque) is used: José helps Juan to renovate the roof of his house, and Juan will help José in the vineyard. A system that works without any problem and which makes, together with the own grown vegetables, that the Palmeros can live with little money. When a large job has to be done, people start working early in the morning and after the job has been done a nutritious meal with abundant wine is served. And in this way the useful things are nicely combined with the pleasant ones.

Also see :
The Caldera
The Roque de los Muchachos
Flora and Fauna
Opening hours and Festivities
The Canary Archipelago
Los Tilos
Volcanoes