Gran Canaria 29 Jan to 5 Feb 2011

Easyjet arrived on time 29 January bringing our friends Colin and Jocelyn. The next day we had a trip into the hills to the old town of Teror. Unfortunately, the weather decided to deliver the most rain we have ever seen here - the roads were like rivers in many places.

Jocelyn suggested the rain may be something to do with her presence and later posed for this shot

The next day the sun returned and we explored the old part of Las Palmas
Old kiosk
after which we could not resist our favourite ice cream parlour
We then planned a hike in the mountains. However, as we drove higher and higher, the visibility dropped lower and lower as we entered the cloud and, on arrival at the start of the hike, the car outside thermometer was indicating 3 degrees centigrade. With the wind howling around us, it did not take long to decide to abort plan A and proceed as quickly as possible with plan B - a hasty retreat to the warm, sunny south of the island.
As with most of the Atlantic Islands, Gran Canaria has many microclimates so on any day one can experience a range of climates depending on where one is.

After a couple of hours driving along the winding mountain roads, we found the promised sun and started to warm up

Amongst other places we visited the sand dunes of Maspalomas

and enjoyed a drink while viewing them
Back in Las Palmas, Colin took us on an interesting tour of the very extensive commercial port

As well as docked alongside, there were several ships on the hard for repair including one from Greenpeace
Las Palmas has a very large synchronised lift for lifting these huge ships out of the water. Using two series of rails at right angles to each other, the ship, which has bogey wheels placed under its keel, can, once lifted out of the water, be placed anywhere in the yard


The Lascaux was, amongst other things, having one of its two massive prop shafts replaced.
Another day we visited the archeological site of the Guanche village at Galdar with its famous painted cave
We also visited the Barranco de Guayadeque which has many caves in the cliffs. Some were lived in by the Guanches for thousands of years before the conquest by the Spanish in the 15th century, some used for grain and other food storage, and others for burying their dead.
And some are still lived in today - complete with electricity and TV.

There is a cave church
and, with the advent of tourism, cave restuarants and bars
The valley has many Almond trees which are at the moment in blossom
General view of the valley
Picnic time under the Eucalyptus trees
Back in Las Palmas, a relaxing stroll along the Playa de las Canteras

and of course ice creams whilst watching the hard preparations for a sand sculpture

Jeannette cannot resist joining a Yoga group on the beach
as the sun sets
5 February came unfortunately all too quickly and Easyjet whisked our friends back to the cold grey north.

A couple of days later we checked on the progress of the sand sculpture