There’s nothing quite like waking up to the blissful sound of the countryside.
I walked through the dark villa, slats of brilliant sunlight lighting up horizontal lines on the red stone floor. My feet slapped quietly on the cold tiles. One by one, I approached the wooden shutters, pulled down the heavy grey iron bolts before pushing them open. At once I had to squint as the vibrant morning light hit me.
The sound of hundreds of forest birds began to reverberate round the villa, backed by the calls of goats and barking of dogs. Somewhere in the distance was the therapeutic tinkle of bells on a wind-chime.
I clicked the kettle on and pulled out two sturdy cast-iron mugs which had been carefully hand-painted with small flowers.
It was the perfect first morning in Tenerife.
