Travelfood

The Canary Islands are usually viewed as a destination that has sold its soul to tourism. A tourism paradise where locals serve foreign visitors who are not the slightest interested in anything else than sun, warmth, entertainment and international food. I myself used to loathe the thought of that and my first visit to the islands was at a quite late stage of my life. And indeed I did find lots of other things in Gran Canaria than tourism services!

Already on route from Las Palmas airport to my destination I was surprised by the dramatic, harsh nature filled with soft volcanic rock, small bushes and fat cactuses. The ravines actually resemble of Grand Canyon! They used to dig caves into the soft rock and live in ancient times. The sand dunes of Playa del Ingles are truly unique on the islands and not even in Egypt have I felt myself so embraced by the Sahara desert feeling as in all that sand. The capital Las Palmas is quite boring and it is spread over a peninsula with very confusing blocks and directions. The Mogan fishing village is charming and perfect for a quick excursion.

There is something for everyone in the tourist centers: for travellers with children, for gays, and there are own areas and favourite restaurants for different nationalities. There are pensioners and elderly people everywhere. Friendly locals serve everyone and make us feel welcome which is remarkable since there are so many tourists everywhere and they have been part of the islands for such a long time. It is easy to be a tourist in the Canary Islands, and that is a refreshing experience after many challenging destinations elsewhere in the world.

There are international restaurants for every taste in the Canary Islands. Octopus, lamb dishes and grilled fish are among the local Spanish specialities. The most famous speciality is probably Canarian potatoes in ”spicy” orange-coloured mojo-sauce. I personally would like to point out a local drink, honey rum, which heat us up long after we have left the warmth of the Canary Islands behind us.

Canary Islands, Europe, food, Spain, travel experiences