I bought a “Techniks” CD player in my first week in the island and it worked find but not everyone is so lucky and once you are back home it is usually too late to do anything about the problem.

The Indian shops in the Pasarella Centre by Puerto Rico beach are some of the worst ones. Saying that, there are one or two reputable ones but it’s better not to buy electronics or anything expensive from these shops. Why risk it?

Photo by Alexkerhead

If you want to buy electronics check the prices in your local shops before you leave home. Some electronics are the same price or more expensive than what you could get at home. If you do want to buy something in Gran Canaria, Visanta is a reputable electronics chain – there is one in the Yumbo Centre and another in the Meloneras area.

Perhaps you are buying a mobile phone, in which case check it is unlocked and works with your sim card. If you plan to spend a lot of time in the Canaries, you might want to get a Spanish sim card to save money on calls.

The saying “caveat emptor”, which means “buyer beware”, is an important one to bear in mind. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is!

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Of course shopping in Gran Canaria is possible and there is a wide range of shops but you do tend to get sick of Zara, Springfield, Punta Roma, Stradivarius and Pimkie if you live in the Canaries. I miss River Island, Dorothy Perkins, Primark and Top Shop!

We’ve had some new shops opening recently though, which is great news. El Corte Inglés might be a Spanish chain but we had to go to Las Palmas for it before. Now there is a Corte Inglés coming to Telde in June. There is also a new Ikea being built nearby which is going to replace the current small one.

Lidl has also finally reached Gran Canaria after 10 long years of negotiations! There is one in Aguimes and another in Telde. There are also Lidls coming to Ingenio and Vecindario. This is, of course, good news for the residents of the island who like the extra choice.

So all we need now is a River Island and perhaps a Primark!!

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The Canarians give their gifts on Kings Day, which is January 6th, so the Sunday just before then will be really busy. There are shops open in Vecindario and Las Palmas late the evening before if you fancy some late night shopping on January 5th. The Las Arenas shopping centre in Las Palmas is good and there is an outdoor ice rink there

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A lot of the bars and restaurants are German but don’t let that put you off if you’re not from Germany because it’s a lively centre and there are plenty of places to eat and drink. The shops are open late too.

Cita Centre

The Cita Centre is right opposite Sakura III, one of my favourite restaurants on the island. If you like Japanese food, you’ll love it! It’s much better than the Chinese buffet restaurants if you want something special but not necessarily Canarian cooking.

There is more information about the Cita Centre here: http://www.cc-cita.com/cccita/en/index.php

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Markets are great for tourists and also for the local Canarian communities who are feeling the credit crisis pinch this year.

Photo by Sandra

This market, which is on Mondays, is an artisan market and you can buy Canarian art and food for your Canarian cooking. There are seventy market stalls there and plans for another eighty when it gets busier.

Whereabouts is it?

The Mogan Monday market is on top of the big car park where some of the Friday market stalls are.

Other Markets in Gran Canaria

There is also a farmers’ market in San Fernando on Wednesday and Saturday and a market in Arguineguín on Tuesdays. The main Mogan market is on a Friday.

Photo by Pcesarperez

You can get to the Aruigeguín and Mogan market by ferry (10€ return) from Puerto Rico harbour or by bus or taxi. The markets start early and usually finish about 2pm.

Even though markets are good for tourism I have one small gripe about it… how come Mogan gets two markets and Puerto Rico doesn’t even get one!

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The shopping centre itself has plenty of shops, including Springfield (clothes), Navarro (shoes), Stradivarius (clothes), Carrefour (huge supermarket with food, clothes, electronics and more) and a pet shop (with tiny puppies and kittens!) on the top floor.

The other reason that Vecindario is great is that there is a High Street behind the shopping centre and you can pick up some real bargains, including clothing, jewellery, cosmetics, electronics and more. The locals shop in Vecindario because, compared to the resort shops in the south, it is cheap.

The shopping centre is open every day except Sunday, from 10am until 10.30pm (no siesta). A lot of the shops on the High Street close from about 1pm until around 4pm for a siesta so bear this in mind and do the High Street in the morning and the shopping centre in the afternoon perhaps. The buses run every 30 minutes or so.

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