Dan Will Travel

This relatively small island is heavily populated with over 800,000 residents and who knows how many tourists crammed onto it.  The cramming is due to the fact that it is about 95% steep mountains so the flat land that exists is quite well used for sure!  Day trips into the rugged interior are quite easy and the wild driving starts within minutes of departing the beach scene.  If you fear winding narrow roads, this is not for you!  Fortunately I got over that long ago so it was fun  (sort of) sharing a quasi-two lane road with others.  And that includes busses and trucks.  Now when I say quasi, well they never attempt a center stripe.  You just sort of work the passing out on the fly.  Most times there are guard rails, but not always.  Periodically you have to back up to find a space for passing.  Doing that with precipitous drop offs is also not for the faint of heart.  But, the  reward is amazing mountain scenery everywhere.

Termo, the first hill town I got into.

I loved this Canarian chimney. Village of Fataga.

A shop in Fataga, well up into the mountains.

On a lonely back road in very rugged countryside.

Please understand, this is a main Canarian two lane highway.  Snaking up yet another mountainside.  Lots of bikers.  Crazy people in my opinion. These are 10%+ grades and no room to spare if cars were to approach from each way.

This is Roque Bentayga one of 2 key peaks on Gran Canaria. 4,632′   Very recent fire damage (September)

The most famous Gran Canarian peak, Roque Nubio, (5,578′) Nubio refers to in clouds, but today it was clearly visible.

Looking down on San Bartolome de Tiajana.

First of a series of Canarian road shots.

You can see the road in 3 places here. Again, very rugged country.

The favorite encounter. The bus.  Clearly a  two lane road, huh?

How a bus does a hairpin curve.  You want to be peacefully watching as I was not approaching from the other side.

Next, La Palma, the beautiful island as it is known here. As if Gran Canaria was not?

Greetings from Gran Canaria, one of seven major islands in the Canary Island archipelago. The Canaries are politically a part of Spain and seem very European, but are just off the coast of Africa. Western Sahara is really the closest other country and is only 90 miles away. This all makes for a scenic look that is hard to categorize. Nicely unique.

I arrived here on a rainy day which seemed to not be a big deal until I was told that it was the first rain of the 2017 year. After one more overcast day, today was glorious, sunny and warm. No wonder so many Europeans come here in the winter! And do they ever come here. I am in Playa del Ingles, one of the main areas for beaches and such. The town is totally about tourism, sort of a cross between Miami and Honolulu.     And very gay, so I guess you could throw Palm Springs into the mix as well. But, it seems to work just fine. Everyone goes to the Yumbo Center, a weird 1980’s style outdoor shopping area. About 1/3 retail, 1/3 restaurants, and 1/3 gay bars. You can do anything from play miniature golf to dine in at least 50 different establishments, to hang out in one of the many bars of all sorts.

My next post will be about my first trip into the rugged interior of the island.

Sunset view from my room.  Looking out to the dunes area.  The next two shots are with my IPhone crossing  the dunes to the gay beach. Believe me, the route to and from was also quite gay.  I just cropped accordingly…..

Sort of a weird family-like sign for entry into what is mostly a very adult play area.

Yes, on the top level, that is a miniature golf place. I did not think that even existed any more, but it was popular here.   Right below are two levels of drag show bars, and cruising bars. This has to be one of the weirdest places I have ever seen.  But, if I were to look to the right there are shops, restaurants, and all sorts of normal places for tourists.