April and May are usually the quietest months though. It is the end of the Scandinavian season and not quite the beginning of the British/German season. Several bars, restaurants and hotels have closed down. However there are still tourists about.

The Barakuda Dos fishing boat is closing for the whole of May but we do every year. We need a month off so we might as well take the quietest. If you are coming over this month or in May you might find it a bit quieter than normal but take advantage of not having to queue, not having to wait long to get served and having a bigger bit of beach to yourself!

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Photo By Andrei Dimofte

Another 200,000 people lost their holidays or flights. If they booked a package holiday, most would have been covered for most or all of the price on their insurance but it will take up to six months to process all the claims.

Why is This Happening?

The credit crunch has a lot to do with it and it doesn’t help that 1,700 people who used to work for XL have suddenly lost their jobs. Now the other airlines have increased their prices so steeply that people who have existing hotel reservations will either lose their accommodation booking or be forced to pay the higher flight prices! And a lot of people just can’t afford that so their Canaria Gran tour looks like it’s cancelled.

Photo By Svenwerk

It’s also a shame about the other effects. Tourism is bound to take a nose dive if people can’t even afford to come here or if they lost their holiday and can’t afford a replacement until next year.

There are also those who won’t buy a holiday because they are scared of the same thing happening to them, whichever company they use. Some of the airlines on this page or this page might well go out of business next.

Have you lost your flight to Las Palmas Gran Canaria or do you know someone that has? Did you manage to rebook or did you lose your booking?

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Illegal immigration in Gran Canaria seems to be at an all time high and few of the illegal immigrant boats seem to make it to one of the islands, if they make it at all.

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Here are some of the phrases in the guidebook:

• Driver, to the nearest hotel please!
• This is the promenade
• How is this street called?

Scandinavians made up a large percentage of the population in resort towns such as Arguineguín but the book is in German, English, Spanish and French.

I bet “can I have a complaint sheet”, “slow down you maniac” and “I’m going to the cash machine, I’ll be back in 2 minutes – honest” aren’t in there!!

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Photo By Elesar1

If you are thinking of visiting Gran Canaria, don’t worry because all the fires are out now (phew!) after six days, but a lot of the island has been affected, especially Palmitos Park, which is going to be closed for 8 to 12 months. 60% of the animals and plants died and all the exotic birds had to be released. So far I haven’t spotted any colourful birds in the skies and my cat is still bringing in lizards and mice rather than parrots or eagles (probably just as well).

The fire was started by a disgruntled park warden whose contract was coming to an end. He set the blaze going in the hopes it would be minor and his contract would be extended. He is now in jail and lots of people (especially the 76, including the Mayor, whose houses are burnt to the ground) are hoping he will stay there for some time!

The fires in La Gomera and Tenerife were forest fires and I’ve heard that Greece and Bulgaria have been having similar problems. Things like this happen from time to time but there is always a lot of team spirit and everyone here pulls together in times of crisis (which are thankfully few and far between!)

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