Gran Canaria
The Best of Rural Accommodation on Gran Canaria
When we visited Gran Canaria we were fortunate to get to stay and eat at some fabulous rural houses and hotels that were right up our quaint and quirky little street. […]
The Canary Islands
Europe
The Height of Flower Power at Corpus Christi in Mazo, La Palma
The laying of flower carpets for Corpus Christi is a widespread tradition but there’s only one place in the world where the flowers are laid vertically instead of horizontally, and that’s in Mazo on La Palma. […]
Hiking
Walking on Volcanoes and a Landscape Younger Than Me
The route starts at the San Antonio Volcano near Fuencaliente (or Los Canarios as it’s also confusingly known) where there’s a decent little Visitor Centre and… […]
La Palma
Getting Lost & Found on La Palma
His accent was thick as tajinaste honey and I struggled to understand his campesino Canarian Spanish which often has little time for the luxury of consonants… […]
Food & drink
A Visit to the Aldea Rum Distillery on La Palma
Don Manuel removes the cap from a bottle of Reserva 10 Años (10 Years Reserve) and pours two shots. I’m expecting to judder but the rum slips smoothly down my throat, warming and comforting. […]
Being Uncool
Highway to Hell, Me a Scooter and Lanzarote
My second attempt in a zillion years at mastering a two-wheeled mean machine (i.e. scooter) resulted in as much humiliation as my first did when I was eighteen. […]
Food & drink
Review of La Placeta, Santa Cruz de la Palma’s Jazzy Traditional Restaurant
On the seafront side, La Placeta’s 18the century façade forms part of one of the biggest attractions of La Palma’s capital, Los Balcones… […]
Europe
A Life Of Wine At Matías i Torres on La Palma
“The vines represent a connection to everything about our home and our history,” says Victoria. “Through them we are connected to the soil, the sea, the volcanic slopes and to our ancestors. The wine is a living embodiment of that bond.” […]
Hotels
Review of Hotel Las Olas, La Palma
The pastel coloured apartments that make up Las Olas are pleasing to the eye and the low-rise complex allows views to the verdant hills behind… […]
La Palma
Cigar Rolling in La Palma, the Cuba of the Canary Islands
This is exactly how I imagined a cigar rolling factory might look. It’s downtown Havana in rural La Palma. […]
Hiking
Lucky 13, The Marcos y Cordero Tunnels on La Palma
The previous day we’d trekked the hot and steamy Caldera de Taburiente; this route to the Marcos Y Cordero springs was a different animal altogether… […]
La Palma
An Open Air Art Gallery for the People in Los Llanos de Aridane
On one street alone I’ve spotted naked people, cockerel carrying men, a mermaid, a mythical island and Jean Paul Gautier type sailors. […]
Food & drink
Eat, Drink & Be Very Merry at La Casa del Volcán, Fuencaliente
Like a tantalising mirage, the vision drew us closer; a sturdy old Roman wine press (lagar) sitting on dark volcanic lands. There were people standing beside… […]
La Palma
Discover La Palma in Photos
Considering it is known as La Isla Bonita, you’d think the Canary Island of La Palma would attract visitors by the Airbus load. But, despite boasting an… […]
Hiking
After the Forest Fires on La Gomera
As we turn east towards San Sebastián the landscape beside the road transforms from simply being arid to apocalyptic, with a sea of twisted black… […]