The Abandoned Leper Colony that Never Was | The Ghost Town of Tenerife
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- Monika and I visit the abandoned leper colony in Abades, Tenerife, otherwise known as the Leper Colony of Arico.
Situated in the warm, dry south of Tenerife, this ghost town was built in the mid 1940s and has a very interesting history. Just after the Spanish civil war, Spain, and Tenerife specifically had a fairly serious leprocy problem and this village was to be the solution.
If you’re travelling by car, you’ll have a 15 minute walk or so. Travelling by motorbike, there are loads of dirt tracks you can take to arrive at the location.
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Timeline:
00:00: Intro
1:30: Ride Down to the Leper Colony
5:20: Exploring the Leper Colony
22:41: The Church
23:38: Wrap Up
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Locations:
Leper Colony Location: Abades (just 20 minutes away from the touristy areas of Adeje and Los Cristianos)
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Filming and editing: @monikameraki (Instagram)
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Music:
Gone Goofy: Sixteen Wheelers
A Hoax: Mary Riddle
Sorry: Alex Kehm
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#lepercolony #abandonedplaces #ghosttown
12:10 the truth is Franco revolted and committed a coup that led a horrible war, and then activated a 40-year period of fascist repression
the repression remains deep in the mindset of many Spanish and Canarians. The fear of the older locals when the Guardia are around is quite palpable. They are intimidating and apparently taught how to stand just to look intimidating at training school...their position in society means they are virtually untouchable. if you get a fine from one even if it's unjust you're told to just go pay it you won't win.
The denouncia system of grass your neighbours divide and conquer reminds me of how East Germany Stasi operated..dark days indeed.
on a lighter note when Franco wasn't murdering miners and anyone who he opposed he was found knocking off his mistress who was a local Tenerife girl. Which is why he liked to visit often : allegedly
@Jim Hale Mr Hale I disagree with you; unfortunately I don't speak English very well; but I can tell you that Franco created a sexual repression in spanish population; there was no freedom of love; wives could only make love with their boring husbands. Do you like that?
@Jim Hale Are you insane? Can't even take seriously what you are saying. Franco was a fascist that murdered anyone he wanted. We had serious economic and social problems when he was in charge. People where dying of hunger becouse he made an awfully bad food rationality system. Modernize Spain? We couldn't even write songs or books if he didn't like them same as reading, we were isolated from the rest of the world, not even foreign music was allowed and police was brutal beating anyone they wanted people where executed for thinking differently. You are a fascist if you think Franco did anything good for us
Thank you for sharing this- fascinating to hear how emotions still run high.
@@FreddieDobbs Hey Freddie, you are right it's still very vivid in our society, Franco died in 1975 so is not that long ago, surprisingly enough there were people back then who supported him and still to this day there are people that liked him and thinks like him. He was basically an ultra right fascist and nationalists. I obviously wasn't alive back then but my grandpas were and they told me it was a hard time to live, luckily tho, since he seemed to like our archipelago life here was a little bit more laid back but still very harsh restrictions to personal life and rights. Like I mentioned above, Spain was suffering a big crisis and extreme poverty in some places, people dying of hunger and such. He obviously was a misoginist, women had barely no rights back then and couldn't even divorce without the husband approval. Only thing he did "good" was improve the industry system but of course since our relations were cut off with other countries we couldn't export barely anything and the only country that Franco was friends with was Hitler's Nazi Germany. So you can guess what type of ideology Franco had. He even went as far as to let German bombers on WWII bomb a Spanish city called Gernika, killing a lot of civilians just to test some new armament the Nazis had invented. Luckily we have move forward since we entered the democratic system in 1978 but the scars of his actions and ideology still remains around part of our society.
Great video. The film quality and editing are top notch. You present yourself well also. It's these tenerife videos that brought me to your channel. 👍
Really appreciated, thanks very much!🙂🙌🏻
Great off road ride on the trusty Bonneville and👍for Monika going along and filming. Interesting story, cheers.
Hello there,we have been watching your vlogs since you left the UK for Tenerife and i would just like to say that we love your passion for things and we love that you are interested in telling the history of the places (and cars and motorbikes !!!)that you visit and see,really enjoyable,all the best to the both of you 👍👍
Thank you so much Paul!
Without a doubt your best video yet. Presenting history in this way will ensure you gain a huge following… Congrats to you both, already looking forward to the next one 🙂
That means a lot, thank you Paul!
Mate your videos are top quality! Editing, music, everything.
You speak well and the way you describe everything almost sounds like you are telling a story, it is very entertaining. I can see this channel hitting 100k subs pretty soon.
Subscribed and looking forward to watching more!
Hugely appreciated, thank you!!
Found you when looking for bike reviews on TH-cam, now I really enjoy watching all your videos, and following your journey. Fantastic videography and editing. Great job both of you! Watching your content is a great way to relax. Thank you both
Great vlog again , great to see you take the bike off road , I wouldn't want to get it dirty or scratch it 🙄. The music was brilliant like the start of a movie. Loving seeing a different side to the island .
Thanks very much! I probably have reduced the value of my bike a bit with my off roading!😆
Great video! Really enjoyed coming along with you both.
Another great video Freddie. Really enjoying your adventures in Tenerife.
Awesome video and awesome content can’t wait for the next video Thanks Freddie and Monika
Thanks Jason!🙂
Fantastic video as are all of them
So far. Monika and you are a great team ..very special. Love your unique casual style of presentation. Have subscribed to see more.
I’m so happy you’re enjoying the channel, thanks Christopher!🙂
Another very interesting video, well done Monika, great music too. You’re working very hard producing all these videos, well done..
Great video , editing & your own interesting commentary , thank you.
Fascinating video. I am impressed with the camera work, and enjoy your commentary. I owned a Triumph Scrambler 2010 until spring last year, and seeing your Bonnie rides is a chance for some vicarious pleasure, as my battered knees and back have stopped me riding for now.
And those identical concrete castings in the building are probably mountings for a pair of generators.
Keep it up, and let me know when your heading to Canada!
Really glad you enjoyed it, thanks Steve!
That model Scrambler has just started appreciating in value here in the UK- I’m a big fan🙂👌🏻
Ah that’s interesting- I did wonder what they were.
Thanks Steve and I hope the knees improve for some more riding!🏍🙂👌🏻
Great vid really interesting that first building looked like a wash room with the v shaped troughs it reminded me of the old scrubbing boards my mam used before we had a twin tub washing machine
Ahhhhh interesting! Thanks for sharing Phil🙂
Top notch as usual Freddie. Very interesting and frighting to think that that was only in the 1940's. Thanks for sharing.
Very interesting, good video, thanks see you again soon
Great Video Freddie, unbelievable how relatively recent this all was! I think some of the concrete plinths in some of the rooms would have been generator and motor mountings, it probably had it's own power supply?
Really glad you enjoyed it, Phil! Ahh interesting point- I wouldn’t have considered that they could’ve been motor mountings.
I was thinking just that- there would be some people still alive on the island who were around while it was being built, and while leprosy was on the island!
Fascinating video Freddie, I am learning a lot about Tenerife from your filming, thanks.
Fantastic video and channel .am a big tenerife fan and found your channel fantastic music editing and info on all your videos will be binge watching your channel today
I’m delighted to hear it, thanks Simon!
Another very interesting, captivating video! Thank you for sharing this tour. The footage, editing, and soundtrack once again are top notch! And Freddie, I’d love to hear how improved your riding skills have become over the last year! Following you through all of your videos, your riding skills are quite impressive! And quite the testimony for Triumph motorbikes.
Really glad you enjoyed it Marc! Good question- I honestly don’t think I’m any more than about average for riding skills, it’s more that the Bonneville is so incredibly easy and un intimidating to ride, it just gives you the confidence to take it anywhere without any worry🙂
@@FreddieDobbs Thank you for the reply!
Astonishing place, some very thought provoking scenes there. On another note, you are getting me into some great artists and music, thank you for that too!
Thanks Bernard, really glad you’re enjoying Monika’s music choices too🙂
Another excellent vid you two! Thank you. I wanted to see the drone shots but I guess Monika is saving them for another time? Those stone plinths look like they were for mounting generator sets on?
Wait! I've just read previous comments and it appears Paul Robley had the same idea 👍
Great video and superb presentation Freddie. Thanks for sharing 👍
Really appreciate it, thank you!🙂
Superb, it’s great to see how your production and storytelling continues to improve, so enjoyable to watch Freddie
Really appreciate it Peter!
Great to see you bouncing along the track on the Triumph. The soundtrack was like something from a Tarantino movie. The abandoned village was amazing like a set of a Sergio Leone western. So interesting. Thanks to you both.
I found your channel through the Mutt videos, I love the content and I also love Tenerife. Keep doing your thing, it’s great!
Really appreciate it JS!🙌🏻
Top class video guys allways in joy watching them keep up the good work guys.
08:02 Those things are the washing machines from that time, here in Tenerife are called "pilas de lavar" and some old houses already have it.
Good video!!🤘🏼
Gracias Daniel- that’s so interesting!!
Spot on mate! eso es! they were devices for washing, doing the laundry by hand. I couldn't find the exact English term for that.
Freddie
Sorry if this hurts but watching this Monika is the star with her filming skills. Brilliant.
Also wondering if she does the music edits
I completely agree, I’ve shown this to Monika. Thanks Denis!🙂
Great video Freddie and Monica. Such a distinctive voice.(let's hope it makes you your fortune) Great steady filming Monica.👍
Thank you Stephen!🙂🙌🏻
Great history lesson, thanks Freddie. Always good vids from you both.
I reckon the Bonneville will need another service after all that off roading.
Ahhhh I know- I was thinking that as it was taking a battering!😆🏍
We love a good adventure but make a point to break away from the tourist trail and check out some local history in lesser known locations , brilliant and informative as always .
Well done Freddie, another great video!
Stumbled into this series at the start, love the concept of driving to the islands with the bike, the formula works a treat and Monika is a bit of a natural with the camera. Is this now the day job ?
Really appreciate it!🙂 I couldn’t call it a job (it’s too fun), but it’s part of it👌🏻👌🏻
Another top rate video Freddie and Monika. The choice of music was, as usual, really appropriate. That is going on ‘ze lyst’ for our visit. A little bit sad but happily never used.
Freddie, if Tenerife Tourist Board are not paying you they damn well should be 😂 great ambassadors. Best wishes 👍
That means a lot, thank you!🙂🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Hey Freddie & Monica, Look forward to your weekly videos. This one was interesting for 10 minutes, but I look forward to your update on the Harley Pan-American trial. I ride a Yamaha Tracer GT (same category) so interested in your experience. Cheers
Glad you enjoyed it! The second Harley video was also my final thoughts video. I loved it, but Monika finds cruisers and the Bonneville more comfortable because of the flat seats.
Modern classics and cruisers are still my preferred category (purely personal taste), but the Pan America is the most accomplished bike I’ve ridden!🙂👌🏻👌🏻
Thanks for the response.
I agree the motorcycling experience is different for every individual, it doesn't matter what your preference is, you become part of the fraternity.
What I really like about your channel is that it represents a motorcycle "cafe culture" focusing on exploring, having fun and being safe.
I think you have nailed it.
@@motorcyclingkiwi7939 Hugely appreciated, thanks you:)
Fantastic video guys. Great to see somebody put a positive spin on the outcome of the area.
You’re a brave man taking the bike up there. Hope Monica walked most of that road 🙈😁
Thanks Paul!
Monika jumped on the Bonneville a couple of minutes after that😆
Another great video 👍👍👍 youve taken over baldandbankrupt and harold now my go to youtuber! Very informative and interesting.
I’m so happy to gear it, thanks so much Janes!🙌🏻🙌🏻
Brilliant well worth the off-road trip.
Brilliant vid, history kind of repeats with the Nightingale Hospital (excel). That bonneville can take a beating 👍
Thanks very much- doesn’t it!🏥
The Bonneville is surprisingly tough💪🏼
Interesting stuff. A long time ago i spent a year in Oz with a VW type 2. I learned water checks every trip. Please keep a bottle of water in your saddle bags at all times no matter where you go. Dehydration is a real issue in warmer countries. Doesn't matter if its in there days before you need it! And an update CBT done! Theory next ASAP. then DAS, hopefully in Jan. Keep the fab videos coming. Really enjoying them :)
Very good point- I’ll definitely be carrying water with me from now on.
That’s great news, good luck with the test!!🙂🏍
Rule no. #1. Bring water.
Love the filming. Continue the journey.Thumbs up.
Very stupid of me to not bring any!💦
Glad you enjoyed it!🙂
Great video again.
That Harley would have been great for that ride out mate.
Ahhhhh I know!🏍
another interesting and well produced video, thanks. i once saw two Lepers playing Poker, it didnt end well though, one threw his hand in and the other one laughed his head off!! lol.
🤣🤣🤣
Thought I was listening to a Tarantino film 😂seriously though another great video with the usual mix of content, bike, scenery and history 👏🏻👏🏻
As a Tarantino fan, I like this a lot!😆
Wow very cool another nice vlog , couldn't help but notice the chain looked a tad tight best to check with you and Monica sat on the bike just feel if there's just a tad of slack while both sat on it if its tight then best to slack of a tad for the chains sake and the main sprocket shaft bearing ..... if there's a tad of slack no worries * )
Interesting, I’ll go down and check now. Thanks Vince🙌🏻🙌🏻
Thanks for the introduction to Sixteen Wheelers I love Gone Goofy like from an old cowboy movie. I have renamed the music :- Monica’s Tune
Hello you 2, what a very sad place and why has nobody redeveloped it, superb location near the beach and the tourists, perhaps there is a project for you, just need the odd million in the bank!
Nice to see the Bonnie back and dirt riding, I don’t blame Monika for walking the way the bike was handling.
No coffee or lunch venue and who forgot the water? Super music.
Totally agree- with that beach, I’m sure in a few years it’ll be a tourist complex or apartments.
The lack of water was my fault unfortunately!😆
Cracked me up seeing you walking slowmo round the ghost town like a gunslinger looking for a Bandido to fill with lead!
I love this!!😆😆🔫🐴
What a fantastic video, a great look at the history of Tenerife!!
Video quality and sound very good.
I love the fact your trusty truimph takes you just anywhere!!🤣🤣
Really glad you enjoyed it Darren! The Bonneville does take a beating!😆
Great to see the Bonneville back at it...hard! There are advantages to owning a bike that’s a little older and less shiny! I’d be reluctant to take my GSA up that track... I spend way too much time keeping it shiny! Time for you to be an owner of two bikes 😄
Thanks Christopher!
It is a big part of why I love riding the Bonneville- not too valuable for me to worry too much!😆
Great vid Freddie and Monika, you've outdid yourselves yet again. My 6 year old daughter, who has some motorcycle awareness, watched with me and started giggling at 2:25, asking "why??" I may have joined her giggling for a bit. 😅
Delighted you both enjoyed it, and liked my off roading attempt!😆
Great video Freddie and Monika! #historyteacher 😊🤣
Thank you Runsaio!😆
Great video once again Freddie top marks to Monica for filming, maybe we could see a little more of her in some shots or is she a little camera shy ?
Thanks!🙂. I promise you I always try to get Monika in shot, but she’s shy! Next video she does make a larger than usual appearance!
Wait, how did you even find out about this? I'm from Tenerife, born and raised, and i had never once heard about this place in my life
really? whereabouts do you live because everyone living here in the south knows about it ?
@@richardbartlett6932 I’m from La Laguna and rarely go to the south tbh, I asked my family and they all knew it existed but i had never heard about it or even seen a picture before
Como no conocías esto? Todo el mundo en la isla lo conoce jajajajajsjsj
That’s so interesting, I honestly don’t know how I found out about it, but you can see the church from the motorway, so if you’re driving down to the south one day, keep an eye out when you drive past Abades and you’ll see it🙂
@@adrianramos9644 bueno supongo que no todos jajajaja
When I visited the village a few years ago, it was introduced as a police/military training ground and some of buildings very only some kind of mock-ups to have different kind of typical buildings you would also find in a real town or village.
That’s so interesting- I thought that may be the case as it did have the feel of a genuine live-able village
Great video Freddie, the scrambler XE would make easy work of those trails….just saying 😉.
I won’t argue with that- it’s the perfect terrain for it!👌🏻👌🏻
6:00 This terrain looks like Sagres, southwest Portugal. It's the barren ruggedness. I keep pushing the west Algarve, but I'm sure you'd like it.
Nice shirt.
Whist, I may possibly envy your, lifestyle, you make me laugh , when you begin.....I have no idea, it makes me giggle lots , take care you chaps x
Buenos Dias Freddie y Monika.
I think if your next travelogue is from the sub Saharan region of Africa, you will actually come across
a live colony of Leopards.
Nothing to do with Franco and pretty easy to find according to Mr Attenborough.
Sir Gary De La Toon
That’s our next adventure sorted!🤣🤣
I like the Clint Eastwood feel to the beginning of the video mate.
Thanks!😆
Very interesting
I'd buy your Guide to Tenerife dvd. If you don't stay hydrated we may never see it, however...Cool!
Thank you!🙂
‘Hey Monika, if you’re very good I’ll take you to a leper colony for the day!’ ‘Oh Freddie, you do spoil me so!’
8:05 It looks like a wash house. I imagine they would be sinks full of water and you would scrub the clothes on the sloping wash boards.
8:10 That is for cleaning clothing handly, probably all the colony clothing.
Thanks!🙂
Lucky you didn't get a puncture, in such a remote spot in all that heat.
True!
I do also off roads with my Road King Harley Davidson. Then I washed up, any way great video!
Oooooo that’s a big beast for off roading- fantastic!😀💪🏼🏍
Next episode: My suspension collapsed and fork seals leaking’…😅
🤣🤣🤣
Cheers Freddie
OK....I've got the plan for your new channel....we're calling it "3-D"...."Dobbs Does Desserts"...you go round Tenerife on differing bikes trying and judging a range of cakes, pastries and puddings (we can put in a few shots too of you riding through sand dunes to get in the dessert/desert pun too). We also have an interlude called "Monika Makes" where she's in the kitchen or al fresco knocking up an easy quick dish with few enough ingredients to fit in a tank bag or satchel...or "Monika's Mechanics" where she strips down and rebuilds a chopper. (Tenerife looks great btw)
I LOVE the sound of this!!😆👌🏻👌🏻
That's nice ! :)
Well done sir fredd and princess monika shall we go this way monica i think we're going this way no this way ha ha monica sat nav in charge stay happy and next time bring water 🙏
🤣🤣🤣
Hi Freddie dont know if you ever review old stuff ? Whatever ...found ourselves in El Poris de Abona, small resort next door to Abades.
We walked to the Leper Colony from the seaward side and had a security chap looking interested but he was 3-400 metres away and we blanked him. 10 mins later he appeared in pick-up saying this was a private area and we were to "Vamos". Obviously filming main building has a lookout post and machine gun nests with San Juan Penal Colony written where the School sign was in yr film
Still well worth sneaking in from the Abades resort side & heading for church might make that without being spotted. Oh exciting stuff an do he did have gun
Woohoo Evs & Ali Nov 23
I’d love to go here! Is it possible by bus?
Another great video, thank you, did you get a reply from Abarth Autobiaci owner?
Ahhhhh never heard a word back!
Oh shame ☹️
I enjoy your vids very much, shame you could not see the Spanish Bankseys on the walls. in this insight, but its all in the eye of the beholders i suppose. keep up the good work to you both.
That’s a good point- there was some brilliant grafitti👌🏻👌🏻
Yaaaay you went 😀💪
Love it😎is that the shadows (soundtrack)?
Thanks Tam! Ooooo sorry- I have no idea!
Excellent vid as always. What is the background music and by whom? It would be great if you put that in the vid comments. Thx!
Hi Simonn, I always put every track name in the written video description🙂👌🏻
@@FreddieDobbs Thanks, I just couldn’t see it, down to no doubt my poor technical ability! Keep up the great content and also fantastic editing and camera skills!
@@simonnlaroche5438 Pleasure, just in case you didn't find the songs, these are them:
Gone Goofy: Sixteen Wheelers
A Hoax: Mary Riddle
Sorry: Alex Kehm
Thanks Simonn!
Love from India 🇮🇳 ♥
Thank you!🙂🙌🏻
Wow!
Interesting. I wonder if the shower window was to let in natural light to the next stall?
I think so too
During the 90's it was used as a military training ground as well. Freddie you must buy a scrambler🤔
Ahhhh I know- so many dirt tracks for off roading here!
Amazing place we enjoyed to visit. We have make too a video about this on our channel.
Clearly we know who the boss is of the dynamic duo. Hint; starts with the capital letter M. As Freddie spins the rear wheel and kicks up dirt towards M’s steady camera hand. Hope she is wearing goggles.
🤣🤣🤣
I lived in a leper colony for quite a few years. It was called Grimsby.
🤣🤣🤣
Glad to see you and Monica on the Triumph, not a fan of Harley's.
This scenery could have been great for the Pan America ;)
Cheers from Algiers!
Ahhhh I know! Hi over in Algiers👋🏻👋🏻
not a bad bit of off roading for a cafe to cafe boy ;;;
@8:04 Obviously a laundry room with built in washboards 😉
Soundtrack and location reminded me of a "spaghetti western".
Eerie ghost town.
Off roading a Bonneville? You have more intestinal fortitude than I would have to muscle a heavy bike in the dirt! Overall the video did cause me to run to the kitchen for a large glass of ice water!
I think because I don’t mind if I drop it, if actually makes off roading incredibly fun!😆
Who needs pan america when yu have 4x4 bonneville 🤣🤣very interesting tenerife history
EXACTLY!😆🏍👌🏻💪🏼
Solid off roader that Bonnie :) Where is the Pan America when you need it.
A+++.
The music sounds great, the shadows sort ov check out the bike 😉