Well... we said goodbye to the Canary Islands on Sunday. Overall, we couldn't be more pleased with our choice for a first destination. We spent the month of February in Gran Canaria and only scratched the surface. The diversity is staggering—you can experience a completely different climate, atmosphere, and geography just by driving thirty minutes in any direction. Would we go back? Absolutely. As I write this from our new 'home' in Javea on the Spanish mainland, it’s raining

I admit it: I was a bit harsh on the culinary wonders of the Canary Islands in our first "Eat" post. But seriously, what did I expect? If you eat in the tourist zones, you eat tourist food. In hindsight, my initial grumbling was probably more of a nervous commentary on what to expect in Northern Europe later this summer than an actual review of true Canarian fare. As we branched out from the beach strips of Gran Canaria to the rugged landscapes of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote,

Lanzarote's cultural identity is inextricably linked to one visionary artist: César Manrique . A native son, Manrique was a painter, sculptor, architect, and environmentalist whose profound love for his island led him to champion a unique vision: integrating art and architecture with Lanzarote's natural volcanic landscape, rather than imposing upon it. His work is characterized by organic forms, stark white walls, volcanic rock, and vibrant splashes of color, all in harmony w

Stepping onto Lanzarote from Fuerteventura immediately transports you to a dramatically different world—an island shaped by its raw, recent volcanic past. This is an island defined by colossal lava flows, creating surreal landscapes of black rock, dramatic coastal cliffs, and surprisingly inviting black sand beaches. It’s an absolute dream for cyclists , with smooth roads winding through lunar-like terrain and breathtaking coastal views at every turn. Our first two days on La

Our journey through the Canary Islands began with a fleeting but impactful traverse of Fuerteventura. While our schedule only allowed us to drive from the southern port of Morro Jable to the northern ferry terminal in Corralejo on our way to Lanzarote (and then back again at the end of our trip), this brief encounter left an undeniable impression. Fuerteventura is often described as essentially one giant sand dune, and from the car window, we certainly saw vast stretches of w

Monica and I jumped on another intercity bus (Guaguas) and headed south for another day trip. Our destination was Puerto de Mogán , located about three-quarters of the way around the island from Las Palmas. The journey itself was half the experience; we passed through a number of resort towns along a winding, narrow road that hugged the cliffs overlooking the ocean. We put our lives in the hands of a "Global" bus driver who clearly viewed the sheer cliffside drop-offs as a me

We’ve had a lot of people ask us about the food here. The questions usually ask more generally about “Spanish Food” but given we haven’t had any time on the mainland, we’ll stick to Gran Canaria island. Let’s start by saying that the food here is good. We’ve eaten mostly at home, but try to experience what my sister-in-law Kimberly phrased “Civilized Lunch” as often as we can. As you may know the Spanish usually start their dinner hour around 9pm and frankly we are ready for

For a day trip we took the intercity bus to the other side of the island which boasts a climate that’s dryer, warmer, and definitely more desert like than our base in Las Palmas. We were dropped off near the landmark Rui hotel ( link ) and walked through the arch to get our first view of the famous Maspalomas dunes. Similar to what you’d find at California’s central coasts Montana de Oro, the view was from another world. Huge sand dunes leading to the bright blue ocean in the

For our first excursion out of town, we chose to take the intercity bus to visit Arucas and Firgas. The bus system in this island is well developed and easy to use. All that is required is a destination (and a bus route map) and Apple Pay. Simply tell the driver where you’re going and tap the pad. Couldn’t be easier. This trip provided great insights into the life outside of this major city and the coastal tourist focused towns. The ride took us inland on well maintained but

Well, folks, we did it. After months of packing, planning, panic attacks, and selling off everything but the cat (who, surprisingly, didn’t fit in the carry-on), we’re officially Unemployed and Abroad . Our first stop on this grand, slightly terrifying adventure? Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands. And let us tell you, it's an adjustment. Like, "waking up and not immediately checking work emails" weird. "Having a beach one block away on a Tuesday morning" weird

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