2019 Gran Canaria Trip Summary

So after almost 10 years of living in Euroland I finally went to the Canary Islands.  What the hell had I been thinking?  Gran Canaria was awesome!  I definitely need to come back sometime soon.  I just don't know if I should do Maspalomas again or if maybe next time I check out Tenerife or Fuerteventura or Lanzarote.  Decisions, decisions...I know...first world problems.

I enjoyed getting a break from the Brno cold.  I loved the 29℃ (84℉) weather.

My Spanglish worked fine here but I really didn't need to worry about it, like I do in Spain,  because there are so many British and German tourists here that English and German would have been enough to get by.

The day trip to Las Palmas was fun.  But I really enjoyed the day tour around the island, especially the chance to do a bit of hiking to see Roque Nublo.

I honestly had no idea of just how gay friendly it would be. There's quite a number of gay bars and clubs.  I even got to see my first European drag show.  I hadn't seen a cabaret act since I left the U.S.  

Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain

Maspalomas is on the south of side of Gran Canaria, about 57 km (35 miles) from Las Palmas.  It is home to over 35,000 people.  It is the largest tourist destination in the Canary Islands.




It is especially popular as a winter destination for people wanting to trade in the snow for some beach time.





The Maspalomas Dunes are sand dunes that cover 404 hectares (1000 acres).  The dunes are a protected nature reserve.





It's pretty cool to walk through the desert to get to the beach.




Next to Maspalomas is Playa del Inglés that has a local population of around 7.500 people.






In the 1960s massive hotels were built to accommodate all of the tourists.

Spain is primarily a Catholic country but that hasn't kept the local from embracing gay tourism.  For the last 25 years this has been very popular with gay travellers.  During the second week of May, the area is home to one of the largest gay pride events in Europe.

Discover Gran Canaria Tour, Spain

On Friday we took a "Discover Gran Canaria" tour to see some of the island.  It was a small group tour designed for up to a maximum of six people which was great.  Highly recommended!  
We started off from Maspalomas and made our way by minivan towards San Bartolomé de Tirajana.

We stopped at Mirador Degollada de la Yegua for about 10 minutes for views of Maspalomas and Fataga Valley which is also known as the Valley of the Thousand Palms.

In 2005, UNESCO confirmed the area as the World Biosphere Reserve of Gran Canaria.

Then it was on to Nublo Rural Park, in the centre of the island, to check out Roque Nublo (Rock in the Clouds).  At 67 metres (220 feet) tall it is the third highest point on Gran Canaria.  The rock was formed from a volcanic eruption about 4,5 million years ago.  The 1,5 km hike up the hill took about 30 minutes.

After working up an appetite we headed to Llanos de la Pez which is a popular picnic area amidst tall pine groves.  For lunch we got to taste several home made local specialties.  Super tasty!




Then it was on to Pico de las Nieves which is the island's highest point.

Most of the highest plateau is home to a Spanish military base with a prominent ball-shaped radar.  Surprisingly, tourists are allowed in the area for some great views of the island.



At Mirador Caldera de los Marteles there's a lookout and a view of a volcanic crater.  It is about 80 metres (262 feet) deep and 550 metres (1805 feet) wide.



Opposite the crater is another view of the island.
Although I don't remember the name of this city.





Then it was on to Agüimes which is on the eastern part of Gran Canaria; about 26 km south of Las Palmas.
Agüimes is home to just over 30,000 people.  It was founded in 1487 and is one of the oldest cities on the island.



The Iglesia de San Sebastián is just off the main square.  Construction began in 1796 but it wasn't completed until 1940.



The local history centre is a free museum showing the development of the city.

The Punta de Arinaga Lighthouse is a working lighthouse.  The current tower is the third to be built here.

Our final stop of the day was at the Reserva Natural Especial de Las Dunas de Maspalomas.  The sand dunes occupy a 404 hectare (1000 acre) area and have been a protected nature reserve since 1987.

This was a great tour!  We got to see mountains, a pine forest, the ocean, and desert all in one day.  Who knew you could do this in Spain?  California is the only other place in the world where I know where this is possible.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is located on the northeastern part of Gran Canaria.  At about 150 km (93 miles) off the coast of Morocco, the city is actually closer to Africa than it is to Europe.  Along with Santa Cruz on Tenerife, Las Palmas is the co-capital of the Canary Islands.

With +383,000 people, it is the largest city in the Canary Islands and the 10th largest metro area in Spain.  Almost half of everyone on Gran Canaria, and about 18% of everyone on the Canary Islands live in Las Palmas.

Las Palmas was founded in 1478.  It was the de facto capital of the Canary Islands until the 17th century when it was made official.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus spent time here at the beginning of his first trip to the Americas.

The city centre is on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The Pérez Galdós Theatre is one of the most modern theatres in Spain.  It reopened in 2007 following extensive renovation.

The Guiniguada Theatre closed in 2000.  It reopened in 2011 following renovations.

The Vegueta Market opened in 1863.  It's the place to go for fresh seafood, meat, fruit and cheese.



The Santa Ana Cathedral was built in the 1500s.  Until 1819 it was the only Roman Catholic cathedral on the Canary Islands.




From the top of the cathedral you can get a view of the entire city.






The 19th century building across from the cathedral is the town hall.





El Museo Canario was established in 1879.  The museum is dedicated to the island's pre-colonial history.





In the centre of the 16th century Plaza del Espíritu Santo is a fountain that was designed by Manuel Ponce de León in 1869.

The Ermita del Espíritu Santo chapel dates back to 1615.

The Santo Domingo de Guzmán church was established in 1841.  It is connected to a Dominican convent founded back in 1522.

There is an interesting museum about Juan Negrín López.  He was a local who led the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and served as the last Loyalist premier of Spain from 1937 to 1939.  He died in exile in 1956.

St. Augustine Church was built in 1786 and is one of the city's oldest churches.

José de Viera y Clavijo was a Spanish historian and professor who was best known for his History of the Canary Islands.  He was born on Tenerife but hied in Las Palmas in 1813.


The Church of Santa Maria del Pino was consecrated in 1917.

The Gabinete Literario focuses on the literary, cultural and scientific development of the city and the Canary Islands.

San Telmo Park is in the north part of the city near the city's first harbour.

The park's art-deco cafe dates back to 1923.

The Government of the Canary Islands holds executive power and is shared with Santa Cruz.

The Gate by Máximo Rial Dimas was unveiled in 2001.  It honours St. Antonia Maria Claret, the Apostle of the Canaries.

Playa del las Alcaravaneras is a sandy beach in the middle of the port by the marina.  The beach is around 800 metres (½ mile) long.  It just seems odd to me to swim in one of Europe's biggest ports but it's a popular spot.

The Royal Gran Canaria Yacht Club is a private club that was established in 1908.  The club has produced 18 olympic sailors and six gold medals.





The Elder Museum of Science and Technology opened in 1999.