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An island life - on Gran Canaria




What about the island, you say?

The island is interesting. It is different from one end to the other, inside and out. There is the good, the bad and the ugly, as with anywhere. The temperature has been between 19 - 21 degrees everyday in the city since we have been here. A bit cold for my liking, but pretty good for winter.... I suppose. Or so Brad keeps reminding me. 


The beach in the city, Las Canteras, is quite beautiful for a city beach. The city literally meets the beach right at its shores. There are waves, rock pools and (so I've been told) the white sand is completely natural! What more could you ask for?
Las Canteras city beach
Down south there are some great beaches too and this is where all the tourists flock during European winter. Some are artificial and some with the natural volcanic grey sand. Usually, it is about four degrees warmer down there too, which is probably what I love about it most.

Puerto de Mogán has been my favourite beach town down south so far, it is the "little Venice" of Gran Canaria. We have many beaches yet to visit on the island, and there are some that you can only hike or catch a boat to, which we were very excited to hear!



Puerto de Mogán beach in the south

"Little Venice"


I was really intrigued with one of the biggest tourist destinations down south, Playa del Ingles. As the name suggests, the town is not very 'Spanish', considering it is in Spain. Everyone speaks English and it is CHOC-A-BLOCK full of sun burnt/leathery tan sporting Europeans (usually naked and above 70). The streets are lined with old dilapidated high rises and buffet restaurants. I left that town feeling bemused, wondering why would anyone ever want to holiday there?! Each to their own I guess, maybe I am yet to discover its charm! 




A typical high rise hotel in Playa del Ingles - always with buffets!


I was especially disappointed when I saw the most beautiful looking stretch of sand dunes at the neighbouring beach. I was happily imagining myself frolicking through them, when someone told me I should never go in there, unless I want to see a fore mentioned naked tourists partaking in extra curricular activities. I might have to leave the sand dune frolicking for Morocco.



The glorious sand dunes down South at Maspalomas beach
The view of the dunes and beach from the mountains 

The whole west of the island is essentially cut off by difficult mountainous terrain and there are no main highways in the west. The island is quite small already, so when you take out the inaccessible parts, it's even smaller! There is a mini "camino" that runs from one side of the island to the other, and plenty of other hikes around to keep us occupied.


Degollada de la Yegua lookout
The Saturday market in San Mateo

The interior of the island is absolutely stunning, it is green and has lots of beautiful little towns complete with narrow European streets winding their way through the mountains. There are vineyards, old volcanic craters, big weekend markets, golf courses, hikes galore and even camping up there (yayyyyy)!



Our best photo from the highest point of the island (Pico de Las Nieves 1900masl)... too bad about the fog!

Fataga, near the centre of the island (on the same day as the above photo)
Local vino and cheese at a winery in the interior of the island - only a 30 minute bus ride away.
At the Botanic Gardens

So much yet to discover and that's only on our island! There are more islands in the region that we have to visit, too. Bring on summer!
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Comments

  1. Judy C12 February 2015 at 17:49

    Mmmmm "Everyone speaks English and it is CHOC-A-BLOCK full of sun burnt/leathery tan sporting Europeans (usually naked and above 70)." Can't see what is wrong with that Kath. I could fit in quite well there.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kathryn Wilkin16 February 2015 at 10:50

    Hahaha. No, never Judy! It's your worst nightmare! You'll be too busy visiting the winery in the hills with me...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anna Beaton15 April 2015 at 21:49

    Love it Kath!! Miss you x

    ReplyDelete

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