The Cunning Canary

Puerto Rico has been built into the mountains. There are hotels at rather strange angles (involving lots of steps and hills) and new ones are springing up all the time! Puerto Rico beach is quite small but there is plenty of space except for at the weekends when the Canarians come down from Las Palmas. If that beach is packed, a 15 minute walk along the sea wall takes you to Amadores Beach which is roomier.

Photo By Guayre

There are 2 shopping centres in Puerto Rico - the main shopping centre or “centro comercial” and the Europa Centre. Each of these has bars, restaurants and shops.

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During Semana Santa, you can see pre-Easter processions where religious icons and statues are carried through the streets. The biggest processions take place in Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria, but most towns and villages have their own celebrations and processions. Holy Week is in March or April (depending on the exact date of Easter). Easter in 2008 falls on March 23rd.

Photo By Guijarro85

The festivities start with the Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) and end with Lunes de Pascua (Easter Monday). It is really a celebration of life itself and the whole island comes alive and takes part.

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Well sometimes the sun doesn’t shine here and occasionally (very occasionally!) you might get some rain! June, July, August are pretty much guaranteed to be hot and sunny but in the winter months (December, January and February) it might not be so hot.

When it isn’t sunny in Gran Canaria, there is still plenty to do (unless you like sitting in a pub waiting for the sun to come out!)

If you’re in Las Palmas, you might like to have a look in some of the many museums and galleries. Las Palmas, the capital, is interesting to look around. You can see the real Canarian architecture instead of the hotel complexes in the South.

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Fiesta del Almendro en Flor is a festival to honour the almond blossoming. This event, which takes place in February each year, marks the beginning of spring. Tejeda and Valsequillo are renowned for their almond trees and thousands of locals and tourists come together to celebrate this popular gathering.  Almond trees are beautiful in flower and you know what the Canarians are like… any excuse for a party!

Photo By Alebo

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