Surfing,Passion for riding waves in La Cicer´s Spot (Las Canteras beach)

Surfboarders and Bodyboarders surfing the same wave

Surfer riding a wave in La Cicer (Las Canteras Beach)

 

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Surfing and bodyboard in Las Canteras beach (La Cicer)

Las Canteras beach it´s the main beach of the urban city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Nearly 4 kilometers of blond sand and clean transparent water. The name of the beach has always been linked to the barrier called La Barra, a sedimentary rock, of sandstone and limestone depositions that runs parallel to the shore, providing shelter against the north swell and giving it personality. It was formerly known as Reef beach, because the bar emerged from the water as a reef. It´s the favorite beach of most local people and foreigh visitors, who can enjoy it any time of the year due to it´s great weather conditions with an annual average temperature of 22ºC and 3000 hours of sunlight a year.

This passion for the sport makes the Canaries the perfect place for people of all ages to surf, as well as being the best place to learn surfing, boogie-boarding or body-boarding, thanks to the excellent schools available. It is also possible to improve your technique on the board in the various surf camps and surf trips that are held all year round.

 

In the city of Las Palmas there are three official surf spots for all levels, from spots for beginners to  spots for professionals. The best way to learn this sport is the Beach Break at Playa de Las Canteras "La Cicer" here are of course also more surf schools.

La Cicer as it is called it´s a part of Las Canteras beach but locals called it like because before it was separated and it didn´t have an avenue. It is located at the western end of Canteras-beach, right next to the opera Auditorio Alfredo Kraus. The entrance takes place from an artificial built pier or also directly from the Las Canteras avenue. Surfing is a very popular sport in the Canaries, in fact it it´s a life style forms part of the culture of the island thats why for me La Cicer is the beach where I´ve spent most of my childhood, this is beacause my father was one of the first generation of surfers of the island, he tells me with passion that in that time foreigers came from all the world to surf in it´s waters, and they lent their surfboards to locals because there was no where to buy surfboards in Gran Canaria. 

This is the best beach to learn how to surf. You should challenge your self and try to ride them on this beach which has the perfect waves.  

Passion for riding the waves, adrenaline and satisfaction will make want to repeat.

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Tufia beach (Telde)

This beach is located in the town of Telde, in the southeast of the island of Gran Canaria. What stands out of this beach is that it was declared a protected area because it´s located in a place described as a natural reserve in 1987, when they found archaeological remains of the aborigines, called Guanches. 

When you get there you´ll see at the entrance a small parking so you can leave your car. The only thing is that if you want to get there you must rent a car because public transport does not reach this unique place the advantage of this is that the beach preserves the quality of it´s seabed and the peaceful atmosphere.  One of the most beatiful non-touristic places I´ve ever seen.  

Underwater diving and snorkelling in it´s water will make you feel a pleasant sense of peace and freedom due to it´s fascinating colourful seabed. You will see a lot of people fishing in it´s water that´s because of it´s rich flora especially it´s fauna. 

A curious thing you will notice is that the houses of the village are really close to the sea and that there are some houses built inside caves. 

I assure you it´s worth the ride, you will love it.

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The Dance of The Dwarfs (La Palma)

The Dance of The Dwarfs began in 1905, at first it was only a performance in honor to the virgen Nuestra Señora De las Nieves as sample of gratefulness, but now it´s more than that it´s the principal act of the lustral festivities of Santa Cruz De La Palma, it´s an icon of the island. Usually it takes place on the Thursday night of the Big Week.

 

The stage is a small shed and a rug on the floor. In this scene during the whole night up to the dawn 24 men with heights, that overcome in most cases six feet, and displaying the same costume, singing a song with a very catchy lyric, pass through the small shed and when they hear the first notes of a lively traditional polka, get out "magically" transformed into some nice dancing dwarves who interact with children and adults in the audience. The Dance of the Dwarfs is shrouded of mystery. It´s a  secret that all islanders called palmeros are "accomplices" and that we keep with a lot of zeal.

Usually there are 4 or 5 actions performed in an enclosed area especially prepared for the main events of the lustral festivities, starting around 19h. To have access you must buy tickets (you can also buy them by internet). Once they finish the performance in the enclosure,"The Dwarfs" go out to the streets starting in the main street called Calle Real, and continue dancing down the street to Anselmo Pérez de Brito until La Alameda, where they performe another 4 or 5 more times, free for those who have not seen them yet.


These "dwarfs" are not professional dancers they are ordinary people with a nice voice which like to sing, they keep the secret that their parents told them once and they will tell to their children in the future. They are very altruistic spending their time and effort to keep alive a tradition. They train very hard, but still, after so much dancing, with the first light of the dawn, the forces begin to waver, and they almost can not even walk. It is at that moment, when they hear the voice of a child who encourages and says something like "Dance little man, dance ...." That's when they seem to get strength from where they did have and continue dancing and jumping, sometimes even harder than before, as if "by magic", the fatigue was gone just because they don´t what to disappoint the children and adults that stay awake all night, waiting to see them dance.

 

 

For us the "palmeros", is more than a dance. It is an emotion you breathe in the air and you perceive in the people on the streets. It is the smile that it´s drawn in your face a few months before the festivities, when walking the main street you hear a cellphone ringing with the melody of "Polka Dwarfs"... It´s also that emotion you feel  in your stomach when someone tells you the tickets are already for sale ... It's the thrill you feel when you try to tell someone what you felt the first time you saw a performance of The Dwarves and why every 5 years, you wait in a queue for hours so you can buy the tickets. Believe me, there is nothing like seeing it in person. If you see it once, you'll want to repeat... 

That´s why I recommend this experience to everyone. 
It is a magical and unforgettable night especially for children. 

Don´t forget that the capacity of the place is limited and tickets get sold out really quickly but there is always the chance to see them on the street where they interact much more with the audience.

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LORO PARQUE

The park combines an exquisite biodiversity of species with modern instalations and educational spaces. All in the context of a great botanical garden, which amazes and excites the visitor. A friendly place where man connects with nature. An international refference both for its beauty as for their environmental commitment.

Since it was opened in 1972, more than 40 million visitors have passed through its doors and shared the beauty and intelligence of their animals. They have contributed to the preservation of species, especially birds.

From an original 35.000m2, the park now occupies an impressive 135.000m2. The founder and owner of Loro Parque, Mr. Wolfgang Kiessling is now an international figure with his unique collection of over 3.000 parrots which include 300 species and sub-species.

About 700 are in the park, and the rest are housed in the breeding station. 

In 1994 the whole collection was donated to Loro Parque Foundation whose aim is to preserve endangered species of parrots and their habitats, raise funds for field studies, research and conservation projects and to organise the breeding programmes aimed at reintroducing these rare parrots back into the wild.

The Foundation takes part in 18 captive breeding programmes and is directly involved in co-ordinating the Spix´s Macaw Recovery Project, the Blue-throated Macaw and the Red-browed Amazon.

It´s located in Tenerife in the north of the island in Puerto de la Cruz, It opens 365 days from 8:30 until 18:45 among its most spectacular attractions are the Orca ocean, Delphinarium, Sea lions, Planet penguin, Naturevision, Parrot show, Aquarium and much more.

The dolphins are the probably the favorite of children an adults thats why its one of the most popular shows of Loro Parque. The dolphins pool was inaugurated in 1987 and is the biggest in Europe, containing a total of 7 million litres of sea water, it´s one of the most modern in the world. The habitat created for them reproduces a Caribbean lagoon. You will be amazed by the incredible acrobatics and loops they make with jumps reaching a height of more than 6 metres. As you can see in one of the pictures in the middle of the show pick up a child so the dolphins can give him a ride around the pool. I think they will conquer your heart.

Planet penguin is the biggets replica of the Antartic continent ever constructed which is home to dozens of cute creatures who jump off ice blocks and dive into freezing water, in conditions which mimic their natural habitat there is snow, ice and it´s just as cold as you can imagine it would be in the Antartic. In these area you can see four different species of penguins: The kings, Gentoos, Chinstraps and the Rockhopper penguins. For me its one of the best atrattions of the park because you don´t always get to see a penguin, do you? Specially in the Canary Islands. I just loved it.

Loro Parque´s Aquarium was inaugurated in 1992. You can contemplate seven different themed exhibits even recreating the ecosystem of different parts of the world. One of this is a natural living coral built from original volcanic rock brought from the south of Tenerife, which was covered with living coral, both hard and soft, from Indonesia. In this incredible variety of aquatic life, you can observe all kind of colourful fishes. What you see in the video its the Shark tunnel, 18 meters long, were you can see the biggest predators on the edges of the reef. Children will love it and will be amazed.

The Orca´s ocean were incorporated into Loro Parque´s family in 2006.You will see a whole family of orca whales soar and dive in the water. It´s a wonderful show were you can see the extraordinary bond and strong relationship the trainers have with them. If you want some emotion you can sit in the first row where the orca whales will splash water on top of you. You will feel like a child, it´s an amazing show and you will love it as much as I did.

 

And that’s not all this amazing park has to offer! Mischievous sea lions show off their talents, cheeky parrots will have you in fits of giggles, beautiful birds fly freely in Katandra Treetops, a jungle reconstruction where you can traverse swinging bridges and explore walkways in search of cockatoos, emus and laughing kookaburras. And don´t forget to take your children to Kinderlandia it´s like an African village of huts in the trees where children can climb and enjoy the jungle, balancing on the hanging bridges and slithering down the snake slide. And you should try the Orca´s roller coaster it´s for the whole family!

There are more than 300 species of birds, gorillas, chimpanzees, tigers, sloths, jaguars, meerkats, giant tortoises and much more. The wonderful animals of Loro Parque will make you smile, laugh, cheer and shout. Regardless of your age you will be fascinated by this animal adventure. Are you gonna miss it?   

This really is a place to spent a special day out for every member of the family where both kids and parents can enjoy themselves.

For more information: http://www.loroparque.com/


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Romeria de Tegueste

Popular festivities are called "romerias" in the Canary Islands they are held to the exaltation of folklore and tradition of our islands. The romeria of Tegueste its a celebration held in honor of San Marcos in the village of Tegueste on the closest Sunday to April 25. It´s one of the biggest of the Island this is also because it´s opens the season of festivities in Tenerife.

The teguesteros (as local people are called) come to show their devotion to San Marcos, in trusting to protect the harvest each year. The most attractive thing of the romeria of Tegueste is the elaborate construction of the carts, which are carefully decorated with seeds and other natural products. Also outstanding is the use of boats on carts in the which they carry the offering. 

Men an women are dressed in traditional clothes called "traje de mago" and offering to the people all sorts off typical products like bananas, gofio, meat, good wine of the country and much more. People of almost the entire island and from other islands come all the way to these beautiful village to enjoy these festivity that is an explosion of colour and joy. It lasts almost a week in which the entire family including the children participate and enjoy it.
 
We enjoy sharing our joy with everyone that visit us making them feel as if they were local people. Unfortunately, when most tourists plan their trip to the Canary Islands, just think in our shores without stopping to look at our calendar of festivals and find out about our traditions, missing the opportunity to  discover an important part of our culture. 

I recommend you to come and visit us so you can enjoy this festivity, you will be surprised with the kindess and hospitality of the local people and of course you will have a great time singing, dancing, eating and driking typical products getting to know the most important part of our culture.

  

 Don´t you miss it, this party is for the whole family!

 


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Nogales beach, La Palma

 Nogalesbeach is one of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches of La Palma.A black sand beach in the northeast of the island, in  Puntallana. 


    The beach is accessed by stairs that run along the cliff, it takes almost 15 minutes  walking to arrive. Once you get there you will find a little beach, about 500 meters long. 

It´s a beautiful and peaceful beach. It is ideal for surfers but you must be careful, it is quite dangerous because of underwater currents. The beach is fully equipped, with showers and lifeguard.

   
The beach will make you feel relaxed due to it´s peaceful enviroment. It is not very busy for access and remoteness of the touristic places but worth the experience. Personally, it is my favorite beach but remember not to confide in the water.

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