Travel Logs – Page 2 – Travel Destinations

Lights out.

Formula One Theme Tune.

The new Formula One season is almost upon us. After last season’s dramatic end conclusion, things are gearing themselves up to a really explosive year of racing.

We have looked at Formula One destinations previously, but today we are off to Montreal for the Grand Prix du Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve from Friday June 17th till Sunday June 19th.

Originally held in late September the Grand Prix was moved to its regular mid-June slot to take advantage of the warmer weather with an average high temperature of 22.2°C. Due to the design of the circuit, the drivers are always close to the barriers which are unforgiven. Many a world class driver has been caught out by the wall on the exit from the final chicane and it has been given the nickname the “Quebec Wall”. In 1999, Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve all hit the “Welcome to Quebec” sign.

Away from the track, Montreal has a lot to offer the visitor. The number one tourist destination is the Notre Dame Basilica. There has been a church on this site since the 17th century. The modern building has a design brief to accommodate and congregation of up to 10,000 worshippers. The interior of the church is one of the most dramatic in the world. However unusually the stain glass windows do not depict biblical scenes, but seems from the religious history of Montreal. Not too far away you will also find the Chateau Ramezay which was the first building to be designated a Historic Building in Quebec. Built in 1705 it has served as a family residence, a governor’s residence, university buildings and now it’s a museum.

Montreal is very French Canadian and a trip to Toronto by contrast is very English Canadian. The most iconic building in Toronto is the CN tower. For 32 years this was the tallest free standing structure in the world. For those of you seeking a thrill or two, you can try out the edge walk. It is the world’s highest free circle walk, you will be tethered to an overhead rail system for your own safety. You will be walking 356m/1168ft above the ground, not for the feint hearted.

For those of you who want to keep their feet firmly on the ground, head to the St Lawrence Market. There has been a market in this location for over 200 years. The main food market is closed on Sunday and Monday, but on Sundays there is an antiques market to look out for. National Geographic named this as the best food market in the world in 2012 and little has changed since. If you love food, then this should be on your list of places to visit in Toronto.

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Imagine

This posting is unusual in that we are going to focus on just one very small area in the world. Specifically Central Park in New York City. The song was intially composed in the UK but completed in New York where Lennon had lived since 1971 and it was there that John Lennon was fatally shot by Mark David Chapman on 8th December 1980.

https://youtu.be/v27CEFE02Hs

The shooting took place in the archway of the Dakota Buildings which overlook Central Park.

Central Park - New York City - USA — Central Park – New York City – USA

Central Park is the most visited urban park in the USA and reputedly the most filmed location in the world so that’s where we start our visit today. The park itself contains a number of attractions and it is difficult to visualise its size. Its about a third bigger in size than Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. One part of the park is known as Strawberry Fields and is a tribute to the ex-Beatle member John Lennon. The area is desingated as quiet zone and on the anniversary of both his birth and death people come to pay homage to him. The centre piece of the area is the “Imagine” mosiac, which evokes a vision and hope for a world without strife, war and conflict. Over 120 countries made donatations for the the maintenance of the area.

The Imagine Mosiac – Central Park – New York City – USA.

Unlike most sculptures, the Alice In Wonderland Sculpture in Central Park was designed for children to climb on. Over the years so many children and the odd adult have worn the surface smooth. At eleven feet tall, the sculpture’s design is based on the original illustrations in the first published edition of the book. Can you spot all the characters in the image below.

The Alice In Wonderland Sculpture – New York City – USA

The Belvedere Castle does exactly what is in the its name. It gives a good view of the park and the city. At the time of writing only the first level is open to the general public so you might want to check before making a special visit. Built as an Victorian style folly. In the 1980s the Castle was rennovated and became the home of the Henry Luce Nature Observatory. When open it provides a great place to learn about the birds in the park and the second level is a great place to observe them.

Belvedere Castle – Central Park – New York City – USA

One of the most sought after locations in the park is the Ladies Pavillion. Constructed in 1871 and restored in 1972 and 1984 it can be found in a quiet location next to the Lake. It is a sought after venue for wedding ceremonies.

Ladies Pavillion - Central Park - New York City - USA — Ladies Pavillion – Central Park – New York City – USA

The pavillion hasn’t always been located here. It originally was positioned at 59th Street and Eighth Avenue for visitors who needed to wait for trolley home. It originally had benches for passengers to wait but there are none today. It is known as the Ladies Pavillion after this was the location of the Ladies Cottage for women who wished to skate on the lake.

On finally to finish off our post today, why not treat yourself to a horse-drawn carriage ride to see the attractions they we have mentioned as well as many others. Trips can be customised for weddings, proposals, birthdays etc.

Horse Carriage Ride, Central Park, New York City, USA

Whilst is it slightly more expensive to book these in advance, it will save you disappointment in peak season and weekends. Remember that for the sake of the animals’ welfare the rides do not operate when its too hot or too cold!

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Aruba

No apologies for using the music of The Beach Boys or the song Kokomo, but when it comes to islands in the Caribbean its list a number of the main destinations.

Beach Boys – Kokomo

Aruba is not on the majority of UK tourists list of islands to visit because it was a former UK colony, if fact is was and still is Dutch. Technically is one of the four countries that make up the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Unlike most of the Caribbean, due to the fact it lies a bit further south than most of the islands, it is drier and out of the main hurricane path. The result is that that tourists can expect to see cloudless clear skies all year round. It only gets 43 cms (18 inches) of rain a year and temperatures are between 21C and 26C (80F and 90F) all year.

Aruba - Beach - Blue Skies — Aruba – Beach – Blue Skies

The beaches are considered to be amongst the most beautiful in the region. Eagle Beach and Palm Beach are hailed as amongst the best in the world. In fact Tripadvisor rates Eagle Beach as the third best in the world.

Eagle Beach - Aruba - Copyright Aruba.com — Eagle Beach – Aruba

Due to the Dutch control of the islands, this is reflected in the architecture. This can be clearly seen in many of the buildings in the capital Oranjestad, especially aroundthe harbour. The building below is a great example of this influence. The house was first built in 1922 by Dr. Eloy Arends, a prominent Aruban physician. In the 1980s it was purchased by the state, restored and combined with the Hotel Colombia building to become a city hall and function spaces. You can opt to get married here.

Some of the sites that you will see whilst diving will take your breath away. Diving is especially popular on the southwestern coastline which is fairly sheltered. There a a number of reefs inhabited by a wide variety of tropical fish. All the other usual watersports including snorkeling and sailing are also available too. One sport or at least activity that we noticed was available was yoga on a paddle board!

Underwater - Aruba Copyright Aruba.com — Underwater – ArubaA

Just of the coast of Aruba lies the largest wreck in the South Carribean. It is a very popular dive site, both night and day. The German frigate was confiscated at the start of World War Two, but rather than hand it over the crew opened its values and let it sink.

Although Aruba in now part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, various other Europeans have also put their mark on the island. The Spanish were the first Europeans to settle and colonise the islands, but the Dutch took over control in 1636. The British even took control of the island for a decade but handed it back to the Dutch in 1816.

Alto Vista Chapel - Aruba — Alto Vista Chapel – Aruba

If history is your thing then you must visit the Alto Vista Chapel, the oldest church on the island that dates back to the 1750s.brief period but returned them to the Dutch. Situated on high ground in the north of the country it offers great views. The church is a good starting point for walkers or mountain bikers.

In 1872 a large smelting works at Bushiribana on the North coast was built to process the gold that was being mined at Seroe Plat and its environs.The works were built to look like a fortress to deter pirates and although the smelting works were only operational for 10 years, The construction was so strong that the ruins still be seen today.

California Lighthouse - Aruba Copyright Aruba.com — California Lighthouse – Aruba

An impressive landmark on the island is the California Lighthouse that was built to a French design between 1914 and 1916. It was named after the steamship California that was wrecked nearby in 1891. The lighthouse stands approximately 30m (90 ft) high. Its location give superb views of the north coast and the sand dunes area in which it stands.

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Halidiki

This week’s musical inspiration is the work of two of Europe’s best known DJs, brothers, Dimitri and Micheal Thivalos aka Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike. Although of Greek origin the brothers were born and grew up in Belgium. Over the years they lived in Ibiza, Mallorca and today’s destination Halidiki as they honed their skills on the turntable. Be warned some people may be offened by the language used in the video. Can you spot the cameos, by Martin Sheen and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike vs Ummet Ozcan – The Hum

Halidiki is a region situated in the the central part of Greece known as Northern Macedonia and is the second most populous region in Greece. Halidiki is a very popular tourist destination. It is not difficult to see why when you look at the magnificent beaches.

Beach - Halidiki - Greece — Beach – Halidiki – Greece

Google things to do in Halidiki and the beaches will come top of the list. There are posting of the top five beaches, top ten beaches and even the top 62 beaches. Many people would recommend heading for the beaches on Ammouliani Island or Kalamitsi Beach with its soft golden sands. Kalamitsi Beach is rated number one by tripadvior. The Halidiki Tourism organisation describes it as “an astonishing, well-organized beach with soft, white sand and remarkably emerald, clear waters which is surrounded by huge rocks.” Many of the beaches have bars and restaurants nearby and one or two have nightclubs as well. Most of the nightclubs are situated in Kasssandra, but you will find good ones elsewhere too. Ahoy situated in Kallithea is one of the largest outdoor clubs of its kind in Greece and has a capacity of around 3000 visitors.

To get completley away from the beach and hedonism, then you should head off on a trip to Mount Athos or Agion Oros which translates as Holy Mountain. Mount Athos is a self governming region of Greece and whilst it is technically within the European Union it is allowed to regulate the freedom of movement of people and goods through its territory (maybe there was an alternative to Brexit). What this means for you and me is that only males are allowed to enter the territory. So women can only observe Mount Athos from afar and the best way to do this is on a boat trip. The only females allowed on the island are cats for their ability catch mice! There are no female domestic animals.

Monastries of Athos - Greece — Monastries of Athos – Greece

Over 2,000 monks not only from Greece but from other countries which follow the Easter Orthodox religion live a life of praying, fasting and manual labour, isolated from the rest of the world. Within the twenty monastries located in Mount Athos, there are a collection of artifacts of immense historical value. In 1988 Mouth Athos was listed as a World Heritage Site. Just 10 permits for non-orthodox visitors are issued daily and you will need to apply for one of these well in advance of you planned visit. For a good description of the monastries and how to visit Mount Athos click here.

We have given you a very brief insight to this beautiful region of Greece, watch this video below for more inspiration.

Halidiki – Greece

Florida Sun

This song reminds us, why Florida is such a great all year round tourist destination. Many of us have been coped up by snow, rain and grey skies and are looking forward to some sun, There is no better place to head for than Florida at just about any time of year.

A Florida Christmas – Mark Forcier

Many of us, will be heading for Orlando this year as we learn to deal with Covid, now that the US has opened up its borders to international visitors. Orlando is waiting for us with it warm temperatures and theme park temptations. Orlando has even trademarked the term “Theme Park Capital of the World”.

Walt Disney World Resort - Orlando - USA. — Walt Disney World Resort – Orlando – Florida – USA.

The Walt Disney World Resort is the most visited holiday resort in the world and comprises of four theme parks Magic Kingdom ^® Park, EPCOT^®, Disney’s Hollywood Studios^® and Disney’s Animal Kingdom ^® Theme Park, two water parks Disney’s Blizzard Beach ^® and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon ^® water parks, 31 themed resort hotels, nine non-Disney hotels, several golf courses, a camping resort and an outdoor shopping center Disney Springs. September is the month to avoid visiting, as its the month of the year when the resort is most likely to have an unexpected closure, typically for hurricanes.

Universal Studios - Orlando - Florida - USA — Universal Studios – Orlando – Florida – USA

15 miles away from the Walt Disney World Resort you will find Universal Orlando which consists of two theme parks, Universal Studios Florida (where you will find The Wizarding World of Harry Potter ™ and Universal’s Island of Adventure, plus a water park – Volcano Bay. The resort like Disney has an entertainement area called Univeral CityWalk and has a number of hotels to stay in. A new theme park called Epic Universe is underconstruction but due to the pandemic it will not open until at least 2024.

Manatees - SeaWorld - Orlando - Florida - USA — Manatees – SeaWorld – Orlando – Florida – USA

SeaWorld has grown over the year’s from a show based attraction to a rides based attraction. You will find these at the main SeaWorld resort. Not far away they have added Aquatica Orlando, a South Pacific themed water park. Discovery Cove ^® is a must reserve in advance destination but it is here that you can swim with dolphins, there is a limit of the number of visitors per day.

Elephant - Legoland - Orlando - Florida - USA — Elephant – Legoland – Orlando – Florida – USA

Built of the site of the old Cyrpress Gardens theme park, you will find the LEGOLAND ^® Florida Resort, which comprises of LEGOLAND ^® Florida Theme Park and a water park. There are now three LEGOLAND ^® themed accomodations to choose from. But the thing that we are getting most excited about is Peppa Pig Theme Park ^® which is due to open 24th February 2022.

The Road and the Miles to Dundee

Why the young lassie (girl) was out on the moor alone and needed directions to Dundee is not made clear. Maybe she didn’t have access to Google Maps. Fortunately a gallant gentlemen shows her the way. This traditional song has been performed by many singers over the years. This version is by Alistair Hulett. He sadly passed away not long after this performance in January 2010.

The Road and Miles to Dundee – Alistair Hulett with The Wheelers and Dealers.

Dundee sits on the north shore of the Firth of Tay and has a long history as the key entry point to Scotland for shipping from northern Europe. Since 2001 there has been a plan to redevelop the city over a 30 year period. £1 million was set aside to develop for Dundee City waterfront. The jewel in the crown of this development is the V and A Museum.

V&A Dundee_Scotland_©HuftonCrow — V&A Dundee – Scotland_©HuftonCrow

In January 2010 an international architectural competition was announced to present design concepts for the new museum. 120 designs were submitted, 6 were shortlisted and in November 2010, the Japanese architectural practice Kengo Kuma & Associates was unanimously named the winner of the competition.

The building is positioned on the site of the demolished Earl Grey Dock. To my mind the building looks like a giant ship but in reality it consists of two buildings connected on the upper level. Nearby is the RRS Discovery, the exploration ship which was built in Dundee and sailed to Antarctica from 1901-1904 by Scott and Shackleton. The Discovery was the first ship to be built specifically for scientific research and was built in Dundee because of the shipbuilders expertise in building whalers they were used to navigate the Arctic ice packs.

Mayfield Tram Depot - Dundee - Scotland — Mayfield Tram Depot – Dundee – Scotland

In our travels we have a soft spot for transport museums. So it would be amiss to miss out the Dundee Transport Museum if you are visiting the city. The collection is a permanent one as such, the majority of vehicles are on loaned to the museum so they can change. The museum purchased the Mayfield Tram Depot in 2015 and it currently fundraising £4 million to restore the orginal 1901 section of the tram depot to its original position.

Contact Maggie today to book your city break to the 2014 UNESCO city of design. The title recognised the design innovations Dundee has contributed to the world, including aspirin, biomedical research which has led to hundreds of new cancer drugs, comics including the Beano and Dandy, orange marmalade, video games including Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto and of course the V & A Museum. At the time of writing it still remains the only UK city to have been awarded this title.

Check out our other posts on Scotland.

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It Always Rains in Wuppertal

No words or video in today’s track. Everything is in the title. Pyrolater aka is a German musician and record producer. .

Wuppertal is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany located in the Wupper Valley. east of Dusseldorf. It is best known these days for its suspension railway or Schwebebahn as it is known locally, and as the greenest city in Germany, with two-thirds of the municipal space, green spaces made up of parks and wooded areas.

During the industrial revolution era, the Wupper vally was one of the largest industrial regions of continental Europe. It is still a major industrial area but it is its suspension railway that draws us here.

Wuppertal Suspended Monorail – Germany

The first section of track opened in 1901. The railway line was in part responsible for the growth of the area and the emergence of Wuppertal as an important city in this region of Germany. Over 80,000 passengers a day ride the monorail. A trip along the full 8.3 mile route serving all 20 stations takes about 30 minutes and for 6 miles of those it travels about 40 feet above the River Wupper.

Schwebebahn – Monorail – Wuppertal – Germany

Other than the monorail, why else would you visit Wuppertal. For art lovers there is the Von der Heydt-Museum. It is named after the Von der Heydt who were patrons of the museum and donated several paintings from the 19th century and Impressionist paintings in particular. It houses works byby Cézanne, Gauguin, Monet, Munch, Picasso, Rousseau and other famous artists, thereby making it one of the most important and internationally famed art galleries in Germany.

Von der Heydt-Museum, Innenansicht mit Gemälden, © Von der Heydt-Museum – Wuppertal – Germany

The British born Sculptor Tony Cragg, lives and works in Wuppertal. Having moved there in 1977, withing, his work was displayed at the Von der Heydt-Museum. His work and that of other famous sculptures can be found in the Sculpture Park Waldfrieden. Tony Cragg bought the estate that houses the park in 2006 and it opened the Sculpture Park to the public in 2008. Besides permanent displays of his work, there are changing displays of international artists. In 2014 hhe was made an honary citizen of the Wupertal and in 2016 he became a Knight Bachelor for services to visual arts and UK-German relations.

Sculpture - Villa Waldfrieden- © Skulpturenpark-waldfrieden. - Wuppertal - Germany — Sculpture – Villa Waldfrieden- © Skulpturenpark-waldfrieden. – Wuppertal – Germany

Does it always rain in Wuppertal? No, but it does rain on average every three days or so. November to January being the wetest months with rain almost every other day. But when its raining you can go to the museum when its not then its off to the Sculpture Park.

There is plenty more to visit not just in Wuppertal, including a world renowned zoo and the Museum für Frühindustrialisierung as well as the surrounding area. It is about 30 minutes drive from Dusseldorf and Cologne airports.

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The White Rose of Athens

The song “The White Rose of Athens” was based on a traditional Greek song which translated as “When you whistle three times”. The song was originally adapted into German as “Weiße Rosen aus Athen” for Nana Mouskouri to sing for a soundtrack on a German documentary called “Greece, land of dreams”.

Nana Mouskouri – The White Rose of Athens

For most people that first thing that spring to mind when you mention Athens, is the Acropolis. The word acropolis basically means the highest point of the city. It is known that the area was inhabitated as far back as 3000BC but the buildings that stand on the site have been there since the 5th century BC.

The Acropolis is not one building but a collection of buildings including the including the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechteion and the Temple of Athena Nike. Unfortunately for us the Parthenon and many surrounding buildings were severely damaged in 1687 during the seige of Athens by the Venetians. Gunpowder being stored by the Ottomans was hit by a cannonball and exploded. See our post on Monte Cassino here.

The Parthenon is the most instantly recognisable building and was built as a temple dedicated to the Goddess Athena. It is considered to be the most important surviving building of classical Greece. In its time, it has served as both a Christian Church and a Muslim Mosque. Since 1975 there has been a concerted effort to restore the Parthenon including financial support from the European Union. Whilst the efforts have been highly praised, in 2021 the use of concrete for footpaths has been criticised.

Between 1801 and 1812 under the direction of the Earl of Elgin, many classical Greek sculptures from the Parthenon and other buildings were removed and are now on display in the British Museum. The Greek government has sought to have these so called “Elgin Marbles” returned. Elgin claimed that he was given permission to remove them by the then ruler of Greece, the Ottoman Empire though no paperwork has ever been discovered. Approximately half of the marbles remain in Athens today.

A worthwhile day trip from Athens is one that will take you to the temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. When the Athenian defeated the Persians in 480 BC they had a captured Persian naval vessel displayed at Sounion as a dedication to the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon. The temple itself was built during 444–440 BC and stands on the edge of the cape at a height of 60m, so that it is clearly visible to passing vessels as a reminder of the power of Athens. The temple was constructed of white marble and originally there were 38 columns of which 16 are standing today. 4 of these were rebuilt in the 1990s.

Of course there is so much more to Athens and Greece that ancient monuments so we will be back before too long to discover more.

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Kentucky Rain

“In the cold Kentucky Rain” is probably not the best way to entice visitors to visit the state of Kentucky. Recorded in 1969 and released 11 months later in 1970, for many, this is their favourite Elvis song, so much so that it earned a place on the CD “Elvis with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: The Wonder of You“. Enjoy this version with images of Kentucky.

Visitors to Kentucky are typically drawn to the state for one of three reasons: sports, cars and whisky. Not necessarily in that order. For horse racing fans all around the world.

Most people will have heard of the Kentucky Derby even if they haven’t actually seen the race. The race itself is the oldest continuously held sporting event in the USA, first taking place in 1975. The race typically takes place on the 1st Saturday in May. Held at the Churchill Downs racetrack is only 10 minutes from downtown Louisville, the race itself last approximately 2 minutes. Horses are competing for a prize of US$2 million,

Racing typically takes place from Thursday through Sundays. However you can take a range of guided tours of the track and its facilites everyday of the week. Right next door you can also visit the Kentucky Derby Museum. Your admission ticket to the museum includes a walking tour of the racetrack. So make sure if you book a guided tour ticket you can getting to see other parts of the track! One racetrack not enough then head off to Keeneland in Lexington for a further equine fix. A visit here at the time of writing was listed as the No.2 thing to do in Kentucky on Tripadvisor.

Copyright: National Corvette Museum — National Corvette Museum – Bowling Green – Kentucky – USA

No self-confessed car enthusiast could visit Kentucky and not visit the National Corvette Museum. Within the museum there are a number areas which focus on various aspects of Corvette History. One of the favourite areas for visitors is the Nostalgia Area where you can walk down Main Street and see a mid-20th century barbershop. Visit a 1960s Chevrolet dealer or the St Louis production line. There are a variety of events and car shows throughout the year so check before you visit.

Of course you can’t visit Kentucky without stopping off at one of the many bourbon distilleries. Bourbon is a way of life here. The distilleries are numerous and almost all are open for visits. The Kentucky tourism website lists 62 of them. You can find a number of tours including some that will take you to 20 of them. You start off on a walking tour, whether you are still able to walk at the end of the day is up to you.

We started off with music and this where we will finish our short trip to Kentucky, many of the bars where you will experiencing your bourbon or whiskey will have local live music, so check out the local schedules when you arrive.

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It’s a trip around the Sun in Gran Canaria

If there is one song, that will entice you to get on a plane to Gran Canaria, it has to be this one by Edward Fox and the Animal Kingdom. Information on the band is a bit sketchy but they are based in Gran Canaria with links to Poland, Italy and Denmark. They say the song was written because “This place made us believe in ourselves and made us resurrect, it seemed natural to start from there”.

Gran Canaria – Edward Fox and the Animal Kingdom

Take time to listen to the lyrics. Soon you will be booking your tickets.

“I’ve seen dunes, jungles, volcanos and hills. Beaches and mountains that give you the chills. Those microcomos appear disappear. Product of Africa since million years. From Las Palmas to Mogán. It’s a trip around the Sun in Gran Canaria.” At the end of the song, you’ll how to correctly pronounce all the popular destinations on the island.

Gran Canaria is the second most visited Canary Island after Tenerife which we visited in May. In terms of landscape, it provides everything from beautiful beaches to mountains.

Dunes – Maspalomas – Canary Islands – Spain

Since 1987 the Maspalomas Dunes have been designated as a nature reserve. Many tourists will be heading to the hotels close by but if you venture far enough into this desert like environment you will feel like you are miles from humanity. The beach here is over 7 miles long so you can usually find a place to lay down your towels and soak up the sun.

El Faro de Maspalomas – Gran Canaria – Spain

The Maspalomas Lighthouse was built in 1890 and the dunes are located to the east of here. The represents the importance of the islands in helping to guide vessels on their journeys between Spain and Latin America. It can be seen 19 nautical miles out to sea. The lighthouse reopened to the public in 2019 after being closed for 10 years.

Roque Nublo – Gran Canaria – Canary Islands – Spain

Visting the Nublo Rural Park is a great way to spend a day out. Here you will find the third highest point on the island, the Roque Nublo. Located almost in the centre of the island, at a height of almost 6000 ft you can touch the past (the rock is over 4 and half million years old) and see fantastic views of island or the cloud base depending on the day. There is a circular route of about 3 miles (5km) from the main road that will also take in other prominent sites.

Las Palmas – Gran Canaria – Canary Islands – Spain

Not on many people’s list for a city break is the capital of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas. You can also visit on a day trip from the popular beach destinations such as Maspalomas in the south. Christopher Columbus once lived here for a period of time in 1492 when his ship anchored in the port for repairs. The house where he lived is now a museum, the “Casa de Colón”. The Casa de Colón can be found in the old district known as Veguetta. This was the first part of the island conquered by the Castillians in 1478.

For followers of the arts you might be interested visiting the birthplace of the writer Perez Galdos or the Museo Mestor which is dedicated to the modernist painter Nestor Martin-Fernandez de la Torre.

Playa de Las Canteras – Las Palmas – Gran Canaria – Spain

For a city Las Palmas has a number of very accessible beaches. The most popular is the Playa de Las Canteras. It is almost 2 miles (3km) long and is one of only three beaches in Spain that has received ISO 14001 certification. If laying on the beach is not your thing, then take in the atmosphere by strolling along the Paseo de Las Canteras that runs alongside. The average temperature all year round is over 20^oC even in January. So there is not excuse to visit anytime.

Puerto de Mogán – Gran Canaria – Canary Islands – Spain

Finally as the song says ” From Las Palmas to Mogán ” before we go, we should mention the later. The town of Mogán is 5 miles from the coast, not far away from Puerto De Mogán. It has a beautiful sheltered bay which is great for kids and right next door is a lovely harbour which is a great base for a sailing holiday.

There is plenty more to visit not just in Las Palmas but throughout the whole island so we will be back.

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