Canary Islands

​We were on a vacation in Canary Islands, year 2006,  and decided to split our time between Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Canary Islands belong to Spain and are located at about 100 Km (63 miles) west of Morocco.

​First was Gran Canaria. Our resort had good sand, imported all the way from Caribbean islands; local sand is mostly dark and not good for a beach. 

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​One day we rented a car and visited the village of Fataga, the place has a historical resonance; many of the final battles between the local population, the Guanches, and the Spaniards, in the 16th century, took place around this village.

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​Next island was Tenerife, that is dominated by Mount Teide, right in the middle of it, 3,718-metre (12,198 ft), the summit is the highest point in Spain and the highest point above sea level for all the islands of the Atlantic. The resort where we spent few days was decent, clean, had reasonable good food; many evenings a live band was playing; there was room for dancing too, and we enjoyed it. The resort was in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and the city itself has restaurants where tourists can enjoy good food, music and dancing. 

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The north of the island is mostly cloudy because the clouds coming from the north cannot pass over the mountain. But there are regular busses going up on the Teide plateau, at about 2000-metre (6561 ft), where the sky clears and generally is  good weather. The scenery is very unique, signs of volcano activity is impressing (last volcano eruption in 1908). 

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​The beaches in town have black sand, it is volcano ashes, and when there is sun you cannot stay on it, it is burning, you need to wear shoes.

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