The current Iglesia de la Virgen de la Ascuncion, the town centre church of San Sebastian which has been rebuilt and renovated a few times.

It was in Gomera at the start of our first Atlantic crossing that we felt we were following in the steps of Chrisopher Columbus albeit with a different Christopher on board our little 27 foot Albin Vega, the first Jobiska. We have been with the children since then by ferry, back in the days when the shepherds still communicated by whistling from hillside to hillside. It is a special place for us since it was from San Sebastian, the capital of Gomera, that we set off in 1981 to the Cape Verde Islands and Barbados,

History has it that Columbus came here to fill the water casks of his small ships, take on some provisions and to have his voyage to the Americas blessed in the town's church, Iglesia de la Virgen de la Ascuncion, where he and his crew prayed together before they set off. Always open for everyone we went inside and although we didn't pray or ask for blessings it felt calm and peaceful being there.

Whilst I was busy with previous blogs Chris walked up to the Parador which looks out over the town. This is a very beautiful historic building that has been converted into a luxury hotel and is managed as are other Spanish Paradors by a state run company that was established in the early 20th century to encourage tourism in Spain. Going there was a bit of a trip down memory lane as it was here in 1981 that we met a lovely man called Earnest from Martinique who spoke with enthusiasm about the French Caribbean islands but also gave us both a mango, the first either of us had ever tasted. He described it as, 'cream in the neck', as indeed it was and it is a phrase we always use if we have a particularly delicious mango to eat. The Parador was as beautiful as ever with its silk sheen marble floors and airy balconies giving wonderful views of the town and its surrounds.

The town square is lovely with its ring of very mature trees, smooth stone pavings and old fashioned black lamp standards that give an old world feel to the surrounding cafes and restaurants. Then himself, Christopher Columbus, one of the fathers of navigation sculpted in stone.

Further on is the semi tropical park with the Torre del Conde - Count's Tower, the remains of a 15th Century fort built to aid in the defence of the island against various invaders and an important example of military architecture in the Canaries.

Like Christopher C we took on water, filled our boat with fresh stores which took some time sourcing and enjoyed the local cuisine whilst we could. It would be nice to come back here some day but there are so many places we say that about. Perhaps we will but not in the same way.