Time for another blog post - this time, for the trip to the Canary Islands which has occupied most of the intervening period since the last post.
The Canary Islands? Yes, that's right. A group of islands off the coast of North Africa (Morocco, to be exact) which are a territory of Spain. I believe I read they constitute the southern-most part of the EU, as they are politically part of Spain and therefore part of Europe (although geographically, they would be part of Africa). Africa's always a been a bit of a "black hole" in my geographical knowledge as to quite where everything is - if you're the same, "off the coast of Morocco" as a description is meaningless. So here's a map.
So why the Canaries? Its rather simple, really. Prior to Christmas sometime, I was asked by Jeremy and Rachel whether I wanted to go to the Canary Islands with them and David in January, as Rachel and David's mum Glenda had some timeshare/hotel points to use up but couldn't use them herself before they expired so had said Rachel and David could use them up instead - the accommodation would therefore be free, we'd just have to pay to get there and back (flights would be cheap) plus money for food/activities etc. Initially I wasn't sure - the dates clashed with a Swiss trip (for trains) I had in mind. But after looking at the Swiss trip seriously, I realised it was probably going to be too costly; but that trip could arise again next year. The Canaries trip on the other hand, was cheap and was a one off. So I said I'd go.
It was then that I looked into what actually was the Canary Islands and what there was to do there, and where it was that we were going - because literally I had no idea, it was never a place that had registered on my radar before as a place of interest or as somewhere I could, or should, go to. That was kind of part of the appeal - it seemed a completely left-field suggestion to me, somewhere I never would have thought of going. So I looked the Canaries up. I discovered what I mentioned earlier; that the main islands are Gran Canaria, and Tenerife - I'd heard of Tenerife before from all those low-cost UK airline programs on TV plus I knew about the two 747 aircraft which had collided with each other at Tenerife Airport with terrible results in the 1970's (I knew that was in Tenerife - didn't know where Tenerife was or that it was part of the Canary Islands) . The other island that had a familiar name to me was Lanzarote, again somewhere I knew of from those low-cost airline programs. A picture quickly formed of the Canaries as a holiday playground for Brits during summer, a place to lay in the sun on the beach by the sea or on a lounger at your hotel next to the pool. It was more a place to chill out and relax, not a place for lots of adventure or sightseeing although there was some of that. Even in winter, its warm - 20 degree average temperature during that season, so it would be a bit like a meek NZ summer perhaps.
We were staying on none of the above mentioned islands - we were staying on the island of Fuerteventura (which turns out to be the 2nd-largest Island by land size, but definitely not by population), in the town of Corralejo which was right at the northern end of the Island. It seemed to be a bit off the beaten track for the sun-seekers, which probably piqued my interest a bit more as sunbathing or lounging by the pool is not my thing - its not something we ever did when I was growing up, if you wore togs you were swimming in the pool or sea, never just lying around next to the water for hours on end. Personally, I hate sitting around in the direct beat of the sun for large amounts of time - I get too hot, plus I have the unfortunate tendency to burn very easily so achieving a tan is not my thing. I'm more an explore and see the sights type person, but that's not to say I don't mind chilling out. I didn't look too much into what there was to do there - there was a general sense of "we'll figure all that out when we get there". There was an island close to Corralejo which could potentially be visited, which I'm just going to refer to as Lobos (it seems to have lots of different "full' names but Lobos is the only consistent part of it).
As it was part of Spain, they spoke Spanish and used the Euro - but since it was becoming apparent the Canaries were a holiday location for the Brits, English should be fairly prevalent too. I had been learning Spanish prior to coming over to the UK, and by the time I stopped learning felt I had a rudimentary grasp on it, even being able to talk one-line sentences in Spanish to some of the staff at my last job who spoke it. Transport around the Islands is mostly bus or car, and between Islands by ferries or by plane. Tenerife has a tram system, but otherwise completely no trains. Oh and although it would be winter there too (and so the off-season), it would still be very warm - temperatures hovering around the 20 degree mark, which would be a far cry from what we would be expecting in London! That was pretty much the extent of my research - I felt I knew enough, and there was a general feeling that we'd just go along with the flow and decide what to do (if anything) on a day to day basis. Oh I did look up whether it was possible to fly to Morocco for a day trip or something, just so I could say I've been to Africa - didn't look easily possible so forgot that idea.
Day 1 - Gatwick to Fuerteventura
Day 2 - Looking Around and the Buggy Tour
We set off with the tour leader setting the pace, and it quickly became apparent to me that I would have to be careful - the Blue buggy in front of me was travelling much too close to the Yellow buggy in front of them (we were told to keep at least two buggy lengths between us) and their driving was a bit erratic. We drove over a dirt path that also became quite rocky, then down a street where there was concrete edging and gutters as well as in-road manhole covers, but no road seal or gravel base yet, and drove along what was essentially dirt roads through rocky terrain until we came up at the top of a plateau in the Volcanic area where we stopped for a break. After maybe about 10min there, we carried on - the Yellow buggy and the Blue buggy floored their buggies on take-off, obviously wanting to go faster than they were allowed. Part way through the course of the next leg, the Blue buggy in front came to an abrupt stop crossing a small dip in the road. Those of us behind them stayed in formation and didn't try to overtake and carry on. Their buggy had stalled and they couldn't get it started again, and the tour leader came back when he noticed we were missing. He couldn't get it started either, but after a phone call to head office it got started again - the tour leader mentioned to the Blue buggy just be more gentle when accelerating, don't floor it. We drove around and then came to an intersection where we had to cross the main road. The tour leader, Yellow and Blue buggies made it across but I had to stop as there was oncoming traffic. Once it was clear, I went to go but the buggy stalled on the grade I was on and started rolling back towards Jeremy's buggy which was starting to move forward. Quickly stopping the buggy with the foot brake, I started it again and realised it needed a hill start - the buggy was automatic, and we hadn't been shown where a handbrake might be. So using both feet on both the brake and accelerator, once the road was again clear I effected a hill start and the rest of the convoy followed, and we met up with the others who were waiting. Not very long after, in the backstreets of nearby Lajares the Blue buggy stalled again, and couldn't get started. The tour leader, after ringing head office and trying lots of things said that they would get another buggy sent over for them - but managed to get it started once again, so we carried on. It seemed fairly obvious to me that their lack of careful driving was flooding the engine and causing it to stall, and prevented the easy restarting of the engine. We then came out onto the main street of Lajares - and once again, I had to wait for traffic before making the turn and follow the others towards a roundabout. Since they drive on the right hand side of the road, it was a bit of an odd experience. We were on a proper road for the first time during the trip, and my buggy didn't appear to have a speedo - but the car in front was keeping pace with the front of the pack, which were moving at quite a faster pace. So I accelerated to catch up, which probably led us going the fastest we went on the trip - Dave had to hold onto his hat for the stretch to the roundabout. Rounding the roundabout we headed up a sealed road, where in sight of the sea the Blue buggy stalled once again and we all pulled over. This time most people hopped out of the buggies during the wait - it was at this stop Jeremy showed me the buggies have handbrakes after all. After about 10min, the buggy was got going again - but we were all saying that surely its down to the Blue buggy's driving.
After cleaning up a bit, we headed out for dinner - to a place that had been found online as a recommended eating place, which I forget what it was called but it had Rainbow in the name. They did Tapas (tasting dishes) - Italian tapas technically, but it was neat - the idea is you choose from one of the set tapa tasting platters which has 5 set dishes on it - Land Meats, Sea Food, Pasta, Vegetarian - which are accompanied by 5 wines of different types. You can choose to just select separate tapas, get a main meal sized portion instead, swap the 5 wines for a large juice or a single beer. There was a dessert tapa platter and a kids one, both of which came with 5 juices instead of wines. I got the Land Meats platter, and kept the wines - I don't drink much in the way of wine, mostly because I have no idea what wines I like and thought this was a good way of finding out. Turns out I liked all the ones I had, the reds, the whites and the rose - they were all still wines too - I wonder if that's a factor. In all it was very good food, both the mains, the desserts we had (not the platter - not enough room!) and also the orange and green dip sauces that went with the bread they gave us and the batter balls before the mains. They also gave us a small complimentary glass of sangria with the complimentary starters, and when we were finished poured us a shot glass of that same liqueor Nico had given us.
Day 3 - Off to the Zoo
Day 4 - Compulsory Swim and More Corralejo
Day 5 - Football and more wandering around Corralejo
Day 6 - El Cortillo and Corralejo at Night
Day 7 - Ferry to Playa Blanca, Lanzarote
So I got up and set off ahead of Jeremy and Rachel to the ferry terminal - they had to return the car back to the rental place at 9.00am anyway and weren't certain if they'd make the 10am sailing. I got to the ferry terminal about 9amish, and went to the main "everything" counter only to be told that the 10am Armas sailing wasn't running and that I could either catch the 9am Fred Olsen which was about to leave, or the small boat at 10.30am. It wasn't the best of days out there - it was quite windy and overcast, and the water looked a bit choppy so the thought of the little boat didn't appeal. But I was then told that Fred Olsen was substantially more for a ticket, and that to buy at ticket on Fred Olsen I needed my passport for some reason. Which was true - the separate Fred Olsen counter wouldn't sell me a ticket without my passport being shown, which I didn't have with me. The small boat didn't need a passport, but its last return sailing back to Corralejo left Playa Blanca at 4.15pm - too early for any of the afternoon tours on Lanzarote. I then asked what if I bought a one way ticket on the small boat over, and got an Armas ticket for the ride back - but the lady clarified that Armas wasn't running at all that day - not for the next two weeks, as the boat was undergoing its annual survey. The Armas website hadn't said anything like that, said nothing to suggest it wasn't running for the next two weeks! I'd seen it running the day before too. She said I could catch the small boat over and the Fred Olsen back, which would be cheaper than two Fred Olsen crossings but I would still need my passport to buy the return crossing. So now I had a dilemma - to still do an afternoon tour, I needed to to the hotel to get my passport and then get back hopefully in time for the 10.30 small boat, else I was going to be forking out more for the 11am Fred Olsen sailing; but to walk to the hotel and back would be tight for time for the 10.30am. I could catch a taxi in one direction - but the costs of doing so would probably be the difference of price between the small boat and the Fred Olsen. Or, I could just catch the small boat and forego the afternoon tour. I had apprised Jeremy and Rachel of the situation, since they were looking to do to Playa Blanca on Armas too; they offered to bring my passport with them down to the harbour, but I told them not to as by then I had decided I was just going to get the small boat over and back, which turns out to be what Jeremy and Rachel also decided. I figured, with the weather being the way it was, you mightn't get to see as much as you might otherwise on a tour anyway.
Day 8 - Puerto Del Rosario and Back to London
The flight back was good, although interesting in its own ways - I had an aisle seat, again across from Jeremy and Rachel and Dave's unused seat which had originally been booked (and not cancelled) was next to them so between them, they had 3 seats. The two seats next to me were empty, but given the amount of people hopping on the plane I didn't expect them to stay that way. This rather large couple hopped on, and I hoped like crazy they weren't sitting next to me else I'd get squished - they weren't, but they were in the row behind Jeremy and Rachel, and I felt sorry for the poor lady they were pinning against the window. They were very large. A older couple did claim the two seats next to me - the gentleman wasn't as nimble as he once was and struggled to squeeze himself into the seats, but got there. Before take-off, the large couple got moved to the row behind them which was free - I wondered if I should move to the aisle seat now free where they had been, but decided against it. During the flight I had to get up twice (well, four times) - once for the lady to get out to go to the bathroom, at a time when her husband was telling her she wouldn't get far because both directions had trolleys and attendants in the way (and then again to let her back in); and a second time so the gentleman himself could get to the bathroom (and then again to let him back in too). There was more seats free much further back - there was fewer people on board than I had thought, but still I decided to stay where I was. As we started getting into the descent for Gatwick, the ride started getting a minor bit bumpy every so often - a bit like a typical landing into Wellington. In fact that's exactly what it was like, an average, run of the mill Wellington landing where there's a few bumps but nothing major. Others on the plane though, weren't as calm - every small dip and people would exclaim. As we started getting close to the runway, the plane did make a couple of dips to the side - something that did have me wondering for a little bit. But after a bit you could tell the pilots had plane under control and stopped the sideways dips, bar one about 10 seconds before we touched down. The landing was smooth - but the cabin erupted in applause, people seemed glad it was over; and I was wondering why everyone was making such a fuss, till I realised I was probably a bit more seasoned than them with those sorts of landings! I heard the large man say that he wanted off the plane as soon as possible; I didn't think anything of it until the plane came to a stop at the end of the runway and turned into the taxi way, when he hopped out of his seat and ran down the aisle for the front of the plane! The hostess yelled at him angrily to sit down, which he did in the nearest empty seat where he was - but he must really have wanted off the plane! Another lady was talking to someone else in a very relieved, shrill voice and sounded like she actually thought we might crash and was feeling very lucky to be alive. Like I said before - it was a typical Wellington landing when it gets a minor bit bumpy; I've had much, much worse.
Summing Up
Would I go back? Maybe. Its a maybe not because there's anything wrong with the Canaries or that I didn't like it there - it's more I feel like I've done it all already and there wouldn't be much left for me to see or do that I haven't done already if I went back (unless I was just seeking the sun, but in general that's not me). So for those reasons it's not high in my list of places to revisit, and I think I very much doubt I'd visit Fuerteventura again as a destination itself - if I visited the Canaries again I would be interested in seeing some of the other main islands to see how they compare, as they're supposed to be a bit different - maybe even visit multiple islands throughout the course of a trip. The whole trip though has brought to my attention that there are some destinations which are within a reasonable distance of the UK which it would be possible to visit and are outside of Europe, something to consider anyway. I really did enjoy the trip and am glad I had the opportunity - and for that, the biggest thanks must go to Rachel & Dave's mum Glenda for supplying us with the accommodation for a week, it was very much appreciated! But also to Rachel, Jeremy and Dave for letting me tag along.
So where might I travel to next? I really don't know. It won't be Switzerland - in the last couple of days the Swiss Franc has risen astronomically in value after being de-pegged against the Euro, making it much more expensive to visit there right now. Had I done my Swiss trip, I might well have been able to sell any Swiss Francs I had left over at the end for a lot more than I bought them for - in that respect, it was probably the best time to go! Nevertheless I don't regret not going there, and the currency's value will settle in the coming months anyway no doubt. I suspect my next travels might have to wait a little bit, and that if I do go anywhere in the next wee while, it will be internal/domestic travel within the UK. Might be train related. We'll see.