Across Fuerteventura

In which Sid and Doris cross Fuertaventura to reach the justly famous Secrets Bahia (can secrets be famous?) in Corralejo.

Key description of Fuerteventura: “blissfully undisturbed by tourism” and that is because even quite undemanding tourists want something to gorm at, and preferably something a bit famous that their sisters-in-law have not seen. A T shirt with the name on will serve to remind what the thing was and provide clothing for the next family visit.

As ever Sid will exercise his legendary caution before passing any sort of judgement.

How are the canary islands like the UAE? Looks very like Fujairah or Ras Al Kaimah. Sand, rock, accessible terrain for off roading. The Canaries are very hilly and came off the ocean floor in a hot flush while the UAE was just lifted off the floor very gently with all its rotted sea creatures busy becoming oil. There was an Arab invasion of Fuerteventura in1593 and they might have felt quite at home. Although they did destroy Betancuria, Fuertaventura’s capital at the time. But that’s why you go to away games, innit?

This is Monday so the promised museums of the Centro de Interpretacion de los Molinos and the Museo Arqueolgico are shut, leaving Sid and Doris to make sure they maximise all other possible experiences en route. And mark them down for a quick stop on the dash back to the western Canarian Islands. (BTW, if you see the word Canadian in this writing please mentally switch it back. It’s not that big an adventure.)

This is the sign for a Photo Opportunity. And here is a picture of Doris at the Mirador Astronomica de Sicasumbre. This is a great example of making the best of a pile of stones with nothing else for miles around. It is a dark skies observatory, without the light pollution that you would get from, say, an artisanal stall selling pots. This is so far the winner of the Bothy McWeevil Award.  However, we do know there is a Cactus Garden that may have been cribbed from the infamous Thistle Garden.

Anyway, it got Lardy Sid to walk up to the mirador so it gets points for that.

Later, in Pajara, we visit a small church with black a wooden structure for the pan tiled roof though no tower (the bells being set in a gable above the west door). Behind the two altars are masterpieces of village carpentry and painting.  Sid puts in coins to illuminate these and the treasures from afar. There are images from New Spain of Jaguars and Aztec symbols. Despite swallowing Sid’s small change and a top up from a German the lights would not light. Still, you could always come back.

In the churchyard was a top Santon village. Doris writes on these delights separately. While scale here is not taken too seriously there are fewer of the anachronisms we saw in Ecuador where dinosaurs joined the sheep in Bethlehem.

With some sandy winds blowing over from Africa, this is the view back to Betancuria, which was rebuilt after the Arab sacking. We do consider the roads as possible rally roads. These seem too narrow for polite regularities.

The windmill museum was shut so here are some pictures to slake you thirst for windmills. It won’t take long.

The Hotel Secrets Bahia is an adults only, resort hotel. There really is no need to leave.  The food is very good and the drinks very nourishing. There is yoga on the beach and a spa downstairs with boxes of hot, and pools of cold.

Our deal included a slightly mysterious Spanish Teppanyaki dinner, taken at the suggestion of our nice checkin lady. It was all going fairly well – note the Asahi – until Sid unknowingly ordered deep fried Arctic roll. More Glasgow than Tokyo? He’s such a snob.

The hotel is a wonderful choice by Doris, which is great because this is where Sid and Doris are spending Christmas Day. Happy Holidays.