The Cunning Canary

My Grand life on Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands!

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About Me

Hi folks!! My name is Victoria and I moved to sunny Gran Canaria almost 10 years ago. Wow, doesn’t time fly!

Victoria

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. I also sell sea fishing trips (so you know who to ask for advice!)

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.

Hope you enjoy the blog! Feel free to ask any questions about Gran Canaria – I’ll move them if they’re in the wrong place :-)

All the best,

Victoria

victoria@cunningcanary.com

13 Comments

13 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Leo (Healthy Tips For A Healthy Lifestyle) // Mar 4, 2009 at 4:22 am

    Wow, what a story! More should do like you did – follow their heart!
    Inspiring!

    Thanks for all the answers your blog has given me about Gran Canaria!:)

  • 2 Victoria // Mar 4, 2009 at 5:16 am

    Thanks Leo! :-D

  • 3 Randi // Mar 5, 2009 at 10:32 am

    Yes, here we are… Everything is OK!

  • 4 Grace @ Sandier Pastures // May 4, 2009 at 5:24 am

    Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog! With that I found a way to visit your blog! I am so thrilled to have found your site! Will be reading for more! (yes, I have a penchant for exclamation points!)

  • 5 Victoria // May 5, 2009 at 5:25 am

    Thanks Grace!!!!!!!!! (Was that enough exlamation points for you?) :-)

  • 6 Anna // Jan 11, 2010 at 3:01 am

    Great blog! I’ll make sure to bookmark it for my future trips. And hey, stay away from my bf. ;)

    Anna

  • 7 Darek // Feb 15, 2010 at 6:30 pm

    Hi, Victoria!
    Your blog is really great, we are going to Gran Canaria in April for 5 days and I am sure I will use a lot of information I have found here.
    I wonder if You know any websites or places with info for backpackers and campers?
    It is a pity that getting permission to camp in most places is quite difficult – since we are coming just for a short time, it is a big problem.
    We would be really thankful for any advice :)
    Take care!
    Darek

  • 8 Victoria // Feb 19, 2010 at 5:26 am

    Hi Darek, you can have a look here:

    http://www.cunningcanary.com/534/camping-in-gran-canaria/

    Apart from that you’ll need to do a Google search since I don’t have any more information about camping. Be glad you’re not there this week though, it hasn’t stopped raining for days!!!

    If I find out anything which might be helpful, I’ll let you know. Have fun! :-)

    Victoria

  • 9 Luke // Mar 1, 2010 at 6:43 pm

    Hi Victoria!

    I was looking for diving jobs here and there and somehow got on your blog. It looks really impressive, you are putting a lot of effort into it. I mean you have covered loads of aspects.
    I was wandering if you know anything about applying for a job at the diving centre. So far I have found websites that you have to pay in order to see address on the job offer. Do you know any websites? Not necessarily Grand Canaria, general.
    And other thing – diving cv, have you ever heard about such thing?

  • 10 Victoria // Mar 2, 2010 at 2:59 am

    Thanks for the comments :-) With diving you have to go around the dive centres asking. You don’t need a CV but you will need to have your licence (are you divemaster or instructor? Both would be fine for teaching here). There are about 5 dive centres I can think of or more in the north of the island if you speak Spanish. A second languages is always preferred because the dive centres get international customers. Try the PADI website if you’re a member. They advertise diving jobs all over the world.

    Victoria

  • 11 Liz // Apr 15, 2010 at 11:36 am

    Hello Victoria!

    I would like to spend some time in Gran Canaria in May (7-10 days). And visit some interested places on the island and maybe take a ferry to Tenerifie. What public transport do you have on Gr.Canaria? Or is it better to rent a car? Please advise. :-)

    KRgds
    Liz

  • 12 Victoria // Apr 15, 2010 at 11:39 am

    Hi Liz, it’s up to you. The bus service is pretty good or you can rent a car when you arrive. The car rental places are cheaper in the resorts than at the airport. Which resort are you staying at? The ferry to Tenerife costs about 80€ more if you take a car so you might want to do an organized trip with that.

    Victoria

  • 13 William // Aug 18, 2010 at 4:02 pm

    Victoria,

    My partner and I are arriving in Gran Canaria March 18th, 2011 and staying for ten days. We are visiting from the USA and it is our 7 year anniversary. I like to dance the night away and sleep on the beach. He likes to go fishing, skydiving and would love the wine exploration. We are staying at the Hotel Neptuno. I understand the Carnival is going on during this time as well. Not much into nudity, but it seems like most of the gay bars and underwear or naked??? Where is the best spot to be to enjoy the Carnival, in fact the entire island??? Thanks for the help!!!

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