The Great Escape - Gran Canaria 10 - 17 January 2010

Cheryl and I were lucky enough to choose the last, and perhaps the worst, week of the bad weather to escape to Gran Canaria. No complaints about Ryanair whatsoever and we headed straight for Puerto de Mogan and our apartment Balcon del Sol. Old fashioned, but clean and spacious and with a wonderful view from beneath its yellow blinds. We had 3 days here with plenty of time on the beach and early morning exercises. The weather was glorious the whole week and a second layer was never necessary – I even attempted swimming in the sea! The harbour is very attractive and we enjoyed lovely sunsets.

One day we drove inland past Mogan and stopped at a Café/Museum and had a splendid lunch. Being served 7 lamb chops is NOT excessive!
We moved on to spend 2 nights at Molino de Agua just outside the picturesque village of Fataga. The drive there was exciting with wonderful mountains and gorges; it is one of the great drives on the island. Molino was very rural but served our purposes well as we went on a splendid 5 hour walk, which involved some scrambling, and great views down into the valleys we had slowly climbed out of. In Fataga itself we came across an art gallery with a Geordie lass in charge and eventually made purchases.
Moving on again we stopped at the Parador de Cruz de Tejeda. 5 star luxury but only 60 euros for the room! We thoroughly enjoyed walking up to Roque Nublo and standing at the base of this column of rock, maybe 50m high, set against a glorious blue sky with amazing views all round. The almond and cherry blossom was spectacular.
The next morning, before indulging in an enormous and varied Parador breakfast (not included in the room price) we walked up above the hotel and looked down on the fluffy duvet of cloud that covered the coast.
Finally a night in the quaint, quiet town of Aguimes, so we could get a good night’s sleep before the flight home. I guess nobody told the band about our plans. They started up about 11pm and the last of the head banging music stopped at 4.32am!
Anyway we caught the flight and it was just the holiday we wanted.

Guernsey 30 Oct - 2 Nov 2009

Guernsey is a splendid place - why had I not realised that many years ago! Very relaxed, 30mph speed limit, no parking charges, just a time limit, beautiful beaches and wonderful coastline. Cheryl and I enjoyed a day of walking exploring some of the coast line - warm enough for just one layer. Bittersweet memories for Cheryl as her last visit to this Island was with her late Mother.

Cheryl knows the island well and we explored some of its history. It was of strategic importance and there are bunkers built by Napoleon as well as many by the Germans who occupied it throughout the 2nd World War. One bunker that we wandereed into had been inherited by the local bikers and we enjoyed a great welcome, a tour of the bunker and a history lesson - perhaps the highlight, certainly the most unusual aspect, of the trip.

Excellent hotel (Le Friquet) with good food and wine.

I want to visit again.