Revisiting the Canary Islands

Vacationing is an entrenched culture here in Europe, most especially with the northern Europeans, where they would travel at least 2x a year outside of their home country to unwind and enjoy life. For the Dutch, it is as anomalous as committing the most corporal sin on earth if you don’t go on holiday. Dutch labor law (I think it’s also with most EU lands) demands employers to give 1 month salary/holiday pay (+ a minimum 26 vacation days) to its employees every year, something like a 13th month pay that we usually receive in the Philippines, but here it is given on May, just right in time for summer.

So after a REALLY BUSY 2003, we decided to take some days off, with great timing, during the meanest time of the year – January 1 (entrance of 2004). Yes I will spell it out for you, during N-E-W-Y-E-A-R! Whilst everyone was busy popping champagnes, lighting firecrackers, and greeting each other to the tune of proost (cheers), we, with our luggage at 2AM, went heading to the airport to take the 5AM flight to Fuerteventura in the Canary islands.

FUERTEVENTURA, the island

Dunas (Dunes) in Corralejo

Fuerteventura is the 2nd largest of the 7 Canary Islands situated in the Canarian Archipelago in the northeast African continent. Geographically it is part of Africa, but technically it is under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Spain. The islands have a subtropical climate ensuring sunshine (23C) all year round. Perfect weather! It is also known to have the finest beaches rich with miles of pure white sugar sand. The inland coast has mounds of dunes, resembling like the chaste Sahara dessert. On the contrary, in other areas of Fuerteventura, the landscape looks like you just landed on the moon.

Dutchman and I stayed in festive Corralejo city, located on the northern tip of the island. From the airport, it takes an hour to get there by bus. It is here where you can find the beautiful white - gold sand dunes. I actually gaped in awe when I saw the mile stretch of smooth golden dunes formed like a menagerie of molehills by the shore. It is said to be the celebrated place for pictorials. I can imagine why! You have to be there to experience the bravura wonders of nature. Our Boracay will hide behind the counters.

A picture of one of the hotel wings with a swimming pool. Foto taken from Oasis Royal Hotel website.

We lodged at the Oasis Royal Hotel in Corralejo, a Mediterranean inspired resort with swimming pools sprawled in every corner. And perhaps with luck, we had the pool right outside our veranda. Dutchman couldn’t wait to disengage from his clothes! But my mind was somewhere else... something was chanting at the back of my head.... EXPLORE THE ISLAND...

The JOURNEY outside Corralejo

First on our list was Puerto Del Rosario, the capital. The city is called the Mecca of wind surfers. But alas, there was a religious holiday that day, jammer (darn), hence nothing in sight was open.

We proceeded to the town, El Castillo, also known as Caleta Del Fuste. There we had our hearty English brunch. I adored the place, exceptionally touristy, inundated with fanciful and colorful shops, attractive bungalows stretched out ubiquitously with palms serenading on each side of the streets, and just the laid back feel and the southern greets from these cheerful people makes you relax and say, “I wish this is everyday”.

After we have seen enough, we drove to Gran Tarajal, and further on to La Lajita and Costa Calma. What’s impressive in these areas are the “nude beaches”. Sipping sangria in the bar along the coastline watching passersby in their naked glory was truly a wild experience... worth telling! Duh, I saw THAT THING lobbed as he walked! What am I going to do? Look? Or look away? Pretend maybe and glance back for a second look? Haha.

Another thing that I noticed… most traffic board signs are no longer in Spanish but in Deutsch. German invasion…

On the road… taken between La Pared and Pajara. This is the only scanned foto so far, so bear with me. We didn’t have a digicam at that time. I will have to post in the future Canary islands pictures in the Travel Flashback section, well, when they are scanned.

The next stop was La Pared and Pajara on the other side of the island. We traveled through terrains of zigzagged roads atop the picturesque mountain ranges which are thousands of meters above sea level. I leered away at the cone shaped mountains, its expanse covering in miles has left me bedazzled. I have never seen so much beauty in brown!

It was getting late when we arrived in Betancuria, another captivating small village right in the midst of nowhere. Ah, it just gets better and better. Here, time literally stops. Old women can be seen walking along the streets getting ready to go to church. The old men were extending their siesta hours sitting in the tiny quaint cafes by the road, munching steadily on their tobaccos.

The charming Betancurian architecture with its mythical windmills, and just the distinct ambience of this sleepy town, has floored me. I wish I had taken photos of this village, but it was sunset, a drab time to take pictures (says the Dutchman).

Lovely Betancuria, where time stands still.... A foto I copied from the internet, hehe.

Trip to LANZAROTE Island

The nearby island, Lanzarote was just a 30 minute ferry ride from Fuerteventura. So what is best to do when stucked in an island? Move to the next island! We took the ride and got off at Lanzarote's Playa Blanca. From there we took the bus to Puerto Del Carmen, a busy touristy place with equal vivacity as Corralejo. Its beach coastline was swarmed with oodles of tanned north European tourists baking themselves like the sun will never shine again.

Puerto Del Carmen beach shore with throngs of beach beds, a typical scene in the beaches of Spain and Greece.

We then journeyed to the capital, Arrecife. I think it was here that we saw a restaurant called “Manila”. Dutchman couldn’t resist flashing the camera away while I stood under the sign!

Reminisce

Leaving the Canaries during the middle of winter is not exactly what any sane person would have in mind. When we arrived at Schiphol airport in -0C Dutch winter weather, I was in chills. My immune system was not strong enough to withstand the drastic change of temperature.

I filed sick leave at work.