Jardin Botanique Puerto De La Cruz

Bonjour, mes amis! Let's talk about something green, glorious, and maybe, just maybe, a little... overrated? Oui, oui, I'm talking about the Jardin Botanique in Puerto de la Cruz. Hold on, don't throw your croissants at me yet!

Now, I know what you're thinking. "But it's a botanical garden! It's full of plants! Plants are good!" And you're right. Plants are good. We need them. They give us air (mostly) and look pretty (sometimes). But, mon Dieu, all botanical gardens start to look the same after a while, non?

The Palm Tree Paradox

Okay, picture this: You walk into the Jardin Botanique. What's the first thing you see? Palm trees. Lots of palm trees. Tall ones, short ones, fat ones, skinny ones. Palm trees that make you think of tropical paradise and also make you wonder if you accidentally wandered into a palm tree convention. I mean, how many different kinds of palm tree really exist? Is there even a difference between Palm A and Palm B? Or is it just clever marketing by the palm tree industry?

And let's be honest, who actually knows the difference between a Phoenix canariensis and a Washingtonia robusta? (Don't Google it. Nobody cares. Except maybe botanical garden employees, and good for them!). I appreciate the variety, I really do. But after the tenth palm tree, my brain starts to wander. I begin wondering about lunch, or the existential dread of being surrounded by so many towering, silent, photosynthetic giants. Is that just me?

A Jungle of... Sameness?

Then you venture deeper. Suddenly you're in a jungle. Or what's supposed to be a jungle. It's all very lush and green, with leaves bigger than your head. Impressive! But also... kind of generic? I swear, every "jungle" in every botanical garden looks exactly the same. It's like they all get their plants from the same "Jungle-in-a-Box" kit.

You might spot a pretty flower here and there. Maybe a brightly coloured bird if you're lucky. But mostly, it's just green. And more green. And even more green. It’s a chlorophyll overdose, I tell you! I start craving beige. Or maybe a nice, relaxing grey.

“The problem with botanical gardens isn't that they're bad, it's that they're... consistently... the same.”

Unpopular Opinion Time!

Look, I'm not saying the Jardin Botanique in Puerto de la Cruz is terrible. It's a perfectly pleasant place to spend an afternoon. It's got nice benches, interesting plants (if you're into that sort of thing), and a generally tranquil atmosphere. But is it life-changing? Is it unforgettable? Non! Let’s be real, it’s plants!

And here's my unpopular opinion: I think people mostly go to botanical gardens to take pictures for Instagram. Let's see those #tropicalvibes and #jardinbotanique hashtags fly! There's nothing wrong with that, of course. We all love a good photo op. But are we really connecting with nature, or are we just curating our online persona?

So, next time you're in Puerto de la Cruz, and you're debating whether to visit the Jardin Botanique, ask yourself this: Do I really want to see another palm tree? Or would I rather spend my time eating tapas and enjoying the sunshine? The choice, mon ami, is yours. Bon appétit!