Hi folks!! My name is Victoria and I moved to sunny Gran Canaria just over 6 years ago.
I started off writing some tips about moving here for a friend that was thinking along the same lines and thought… why not make a website about my experiences to help others who want to visit? So… here it is!
Before moving over, I had been working in an office in London but I really fancied a change. I had no ties and thought… why not go for it? I had always wanted to live somewhere sunny so I took a risk. I handed my notice in at work, sold most of my possessions, said tearful goodbyes to my friends (whom I suspected would be out to visit me soon!) and boarded the plane.
I can honestly say I have never looked back. Gran Canaria is an awesome place to either live or visit. I started out being a waitress and it was a disaster! I had never waitressed in my life and can hardly carry a tray! I went through about 20 waitressing and bar jobs in a couple of months then decided to try my luck elsewhere. I made CDs for DJs in the bars and big clubs and after a while I thought… well, if I know what they want to play, why am I not DJing myself?
The fact that I would be one of the first female DJs on the islands was not off-putting. I just saw it as a challenge. I taught myself to DJ by offering my services for free in one of the big disco bars. I was pretty useless to start and it took a week to summon up the courage to say “er… h-hello” on the microphone but after 2 weeks I was more comfortable. My DJing career lasted a couple of years before I got fed up with spinning the decks until 7am, then sleeping all day and missing out on all the glorious sun!
I now work as a freelance writer and my life is great. In my spare time, I scuba dive, go sea fishing, lie on the beach and explore the island.
Gran Canaria is known as ‘the miniature continent’ because you can find plenty here – lakes, mountains, beaches and even a pine forest. The weather is generally warm and sunny with clear blue, cloudless skies. There are hundreds of great places to visit, regardless of your age and interests, and many people return to Gran Canaria year after year because they fell in love with it on their first visit.
Whether your idea of a good holiday is visiting the country vineyards and sampling homemade wine, horse riding and parascending, dancing the night away in the discos or just relaxing and enjoying the many beaches and sights, Gran Canaria has something for everyone.