West Africa Cruise: Las Palmas, Canary Islands (11.18.24)

Our guide in Las Palmas, Canary Islands, told us, "We're a little bit Spanish, but mostly South American."  As Dave and I toured Gran Canaria, the largest of the Canary Islands, on November 18, 2024,we could feel the tropical vibe of Brazil or Colombia, with banana trees and cactus, beaches, and a relaxed, "manana" attitude. "People do a little bit of work so they can spend the rest of the day at the beach," our guide explained.

 

The beaches of Las Palmas were beautiful--worth skipping work for.

Our ship docked in Las Palmas, on the north end of the island.  Our tour took us on a counterclockwise circle to Arucas, a cathedral town west of Las Palmas, up into the mountains to the market town of Teror, and down a canyon south of Teror, back to Las Palmas.

Spanish colonists left Catholic churches and cathedrals wherever they settled. The San Juan Baptista (St. John the Baptist) church in Arucas is the most beautiful church in the Canary Islands.

The church was Baroque, with heavy ornamentation, on the outside, but it was simple and elegant inside.  Dave and I sat for a while on a pew, drinking in the peace, beauty, and silence.

The church dated back to the 1500s, but had been rebuilt in the 1900s, after a fire.  This statute of Christ was a remnant from the early church, showing all the passion of Baroque art.

We wandered through narrow, cobblestone streets lined with cafes to the central park and square.  Gran Canaria is a holiday island, with lots of tourists and lots of things for tourists to do.

We climbed higher and higher into the mountains at the center of the island, as the landscape filled with both pines and ferns.

There were large hotels and villas behind closed gates.

The town of Teror is noted for its picturesque homes with balconies hanging over the street, and for its fairs in the town plaza, shaded by pine trees and a ballooning deciduous tree.

As we drove back to Las Palmas, we could appreciate its beauty--the ocean, the low pastel buildings, the dense, unusual tropical plants.