Exporing Grand Canaria and the town of Mogán

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the capital and largest city of the Canary Islands and is the ninth-largest city in Spain.  The island is located about 150 km (93 miles) west of the African coast and features a desert climate offset by the cooler Canary Current with warm temperatures through the year.  The city was founded in 1478 and was visited by Christopher Columbus in 1492 on his first trip to the Americas.  With its key location, the town was attacked by Francis Drake in 1595 and Pieter van der Does in 1599, destroying much of the town.

Approaching Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

We find a busy harbor with freighters, ferries, cruise ships, and oil rigs towed in for repair.

Cruise ships, freighters

Navy ship, Oil rigs

We head out to explore the island of Gran Canaria, visiting the Maspalomas Sand Dunes and then continuing to the town of Puerto de Mogán, known as "Little Venice" for its picturesque canals and vibrant floral displays.

The Maspalomas Sand Dunes are a unique 404-hectare (998-acre) nature reserve featuring vast sand dunes formed from the dried-up marine shelf after the last ice age, blown by the wind to the coast.  We wander through the dunes, enjoying the tranquility and the view.

Maspalomas Sand Dunes

From the dunes, we cross the island to Puerto de Mogán and wander through the former fishing village, now tourist destination, with floral gardens and bridges over channels of sea water.

At the beach

Floral gardens and walks

We wander along the canals and bridges through the different sections of this beautiful town and harbor.

Harbor

Fish in the harbor

City streets and canals

We walk back to the beach and the restaurants, cafes, and shops lining the boardwalk.

Along the beach

After our exploration of the village, we hop on a ferry up the coast to the town of Puerto Rico to meet our ride back to the ship.

Leaving the harbor

Heading up the coast

Arriving in Puerto Rico

Another great day exploring Gran Canaria!

Exploring Areciffe, Lanzarote

We return from our volcanic-park exploration, enjoy lunch on the ship (local fish), and head back out to walk into town of Arrecife in Lanzarote.  We walk from the port toward the town on a path carved out of the volcanic landscape.

Path to town

We pass ships and a monument to sailors who never returned.

Monuments

In town, in the center of a roundabout, we find a sculpture titled Fisherman with Marlin, an ode to Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, which was inspired by a sailor born just a few meters from the statue.

Fisherman with Marlin

We wander along the sea, observing the boats in the harbor and the artwork decorating the seaside promenade, part of a spectacular 26 km (16 mile) coastal path connecting Costa Teguise, Playa Honda, Arrecife, and Puerto del Carmen.

Local craft

Art on the promenade

The Museo de Historia de Arrecife (Arrecife History Museum) is located in a castle on the waterfront that was built in 1593 to create a defense against pirates, with outer walls, dungeons, and sentry boxes added in 1666 and 1667.  We walk out to the museum and then back toward the city.

Museo de Historia de Arrecife

Looking back at the city

Entering the city, we find the Iglesia de San Ginés (Church of San Ginés), honoring the city's patron saint.

Commercial district

The church was build in 1574 and completely rebuilt in 1667, containing images of Saint Peter and Saint Ginés, with the tower inspired by the bell tower of  Iglesia-Parroquia Matriz de Nuestra Señora de La Concepción (Church of the Immaculate Conception) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Iglesia de San Ginés

From the church, we walk back along the sea, finding more great artwork decorating the town.

Art along the sea

Art on a building wall

We return to the ship through the volcanic landscape and soon sail away to our next port.

Returning to the port

Sailing away