We left Furete on 6th November - bound for Gran Canaria on a cheap residents' air ticket. The plan was to stay on the island for two weeks before going back to UK for Ruth's Mum's 80th birthday party. With clients in the Corralejo apartment and a bargain accommodation deal for us this was virtually a free holiday!We spent 11 days in what has become a regular haunt in Maspalomas. The weather was very good indeed. We swam in the pool at the complex and had two beautiful days down on the dunes including dips in the sea. Our little bungalow was basic but comfortable - so much so that we had daily visits from a very affectionate local cat! In general GC seemed less adversely affected by a drop in tourism. Cert
ainly the main beach was heaving when we were there, with no spare sunbeds and busy beach bars. On a couple of days it was too windy to be pleasant on the beach, but we "did" the Maspalomas market with bratwurst lunch, and Bob hired a bike for assorted rides.We think, however, that the dreaded All-Inclusive deals are as devastating to small businesses as in Corralejo. Over in the tourist mall near us there was desperation to drag in diners, and even more empty premises than last time we visited.
In "Holiday World" - a fairground and amusement arcade nearby they lit the lights and ran the rides, but punters rattled around.
On the second Sunday we took a northbound bus to Bahia Feliz, so that Bob could take out a sea kayak. He had done so in Corralejo harbour in October
- complete with falling in the water when trying to get out! The resort itself is totally forgetable:- minimal beach, uninteresting restaurants and no Spanish visitors or residents! Bob a had a good ride out though in both directions. We gave up on finding a "charming little Spanish spot for something tasty for lunch", and walked back down the coast to a better spot before taking the bus back to Playa del Ingles.By the next day all the talk was of the looming storm! Tenerife took the brunt on the Monday itself. GC had cloud and wind. As we checked out of the complex next day the receptionist said that Las Palmas was suffering badly. There was evidently some disruption to transport as we had to wait a long time for a bus, and when we eventually arrived there was a lot of standing water. It seems we missed the flooding of one of the Las Palmas bus stations by a matter of hours.
We stayed three nights in our "usual" hotel just off of Carateras beach. The weather was absurdly changeable;- at times around 32 deg C, and then suddenly heavy cloud cover with the threat of rain, which barely happened. Sun umbrellas went up and down, whist chair cushions went in and out! Out on the delightful promenade we encountered again the fisherman cleaning his catch. He could easily have been one of the "live statues", but is in fact a very convincing inert one. The plaque speaks of the need to be always living near the sea:- a sentiment we share!We spent time up on the hotel's top floor following weather developments on the laptop, and researching Fiat dealers in the city. We will soon have to decide whether to buy a new car in UK or GC. The ins-and-outs of this are tortuous, but we thought we might make some progress if we visited a showroom and discussed prices and procedures. (It is said to be more complicated to buy a car than a property in Spain!) We looked up where to go and which urban bus (guagua - pronounced wahwah!) we needed. We waited a long time at a bus stop where it was stated one would stop, but
then we decided to check on this by looking at the network map pasted in the bus-shelter :- completely different from the one we had picked up from the bus station the day before! Grrrrr! - especially as we could not find a stop for the alleged service.We walked and walked in hot sun and as the 1pm watershed loomed. At a bus interchange we asked and found out that our map was right and the one on the shelter wrong. He recommended carrying on walking! As time was no getting critical we abandonned for the day! Next day we got to the premises (on a tiny bus that first did a circuitous route round the residential heights). The bus driver said it was a SEAT place, but there was a also a large FIAT sign to lead us there. Rejoice! Except that it didn't sell Fiats - just repairs and service! The salesman showed us a map of the city and pointed out another place at the other end of the city. (Las Palmas is the 5th largest in Spain apparently) Off we go on more buses - thankfully at only 68 centimos per ride. The traffic was so bad as lunchtime approached that in the end we got off and abandoned our plans! We went for a walk in the San Telmo area and saw an exhibition promoting Gran Canaria's plans for a high speed train. One can only hope that the information on its services is more effici
ent than for the guaguas.
then we decided to check on this by looking at the network map pasted in the bus-shelter :- completely different from the one we had picked up from the bus station the day before! Grrrrr! - especially as we could not find a stop for the alleged service.We walked and walked in hot sun and as the 1pm watershed loomed. At a bus interchange we asked and found out that our map was right and the one on the shelter wrong. He recommended carrying on walking! As time was no getting critical we abandonned for the day! Next day we got to the premises (on a tiny bus that first did a circuitous route round the residential heights). The bus driver said it was a SEAT place, but there was a also a large FIAT sign to lead us there. Rejoice! Except that it didn't sell Fiats - just repairs and service! The salesman showed us a map of the city and pointed out another place at the other end of the city. (Las Palmas is the 5th largest in Spain apparently) Off we go on more buses - thankfully at only 68 centimos per ride. The traffic was so bad as lunchtime approached that in the end we got off and abandoned our plans! We went for a walk in the San Telmo area and saw an exhibition promoting Gran Canaria's plans for a high speed train. One can only hope that the information on its services is more effici
ent than for the guaguas. After a pleasant three days including dinner at Galia - the magnificent French restaurant - but the discovery that the Brasilian rodizio we also wanted to visit was gone without trace, we set off on an evening Easyjet flight to Gatwick. The fear had been of the cold:- we don't have many winter clothes in Fuerte! In fact it was quite mild for the five days we were in UK. It was just very, very wet and windy!
We stayed four nights on the 10th floor of the Croydon Travelodge. From there we visited the properties in Morden and Balham, consumed plenty of real ale (one of only about three things we really miss about England!) and stocked up on teabags and sauces. On the Sunday we went by train to Hampshire, with Chloe hopping on the train at Hove. There were 13 people from four generations at the restaurant for Viv's 80th birthday celebration - including four boys under six. This was a total attendance of all offspring and partners, and worth the journey! (House policy means no family photos posted :- if you know our e-mail, ask and ye shall be given!)