CANARY ISLANDS NATURE TOUR, Part 3: Guest Post by Susan Kean

 

Gran Canaria. View down the ravine with sow thistle.

My friend Susan Kean and her partner George recently visited the Canary Islands on a nature tour. I thank her for sharing her impressions and terrific photos with The Intrepid Tourist.

There is so much to say about the next three days here in Gran Canaria. The island is almost entirely volcanic, rising to about 6000 feet around the edge of its Central Valley or caldera. From the high points there are a number of canyons that were formed millions of years ago by rain. They go down to the ocean from the high point. 

View from the coach as we drive along the narrow roads on the western side of the island.

The roads are narrow with spectacular views, as they wind their way up the canyons. We pass through various ecological zones as we go higher.

Local variety of aeonium.

On Tuesday we drove along the spectacular west coast to a small port, Puerto Rico, and took a boat trip. It was very rough and I spent most of the time watching the horizon to control my queasy stomach! We saw dolphins and small bottlenose whales. Later in the day on dry land saw many birds.

Spoonbills.

Next day we visited the pine forest area and caught a glimpse of the rare Gran Canaria blue chaffinch and enjoyed sunset from the balcony of the Parador Hotel

The following day we ventured into the lower regions of the volcanic caldera to the town of Moya. This time our primary goal was to see the Laurel pigeon. A nearly extinct species with which that they have been able to repopulate their area of the island.

Orchid.

On our last day in Gran Canaria we went to the capital, Las Palmas. We started with church at the English language Episcopal church, Holy Trinity.

Plaque outside the Anglican Church, established 1891.

We were a bit early so we walked around the neighborhood. This area was established by the British Traders in the 18th Century.

Inside Catholic Church.

After worship we headed for the old town area where we saw the Catholic Cathedral of Saint Ann. 

House where Columbus stayed in 1492, 1493 and 1502.

The most interesting place we saw was the house where Christopher Columbus stayed on three of his four trips to America--1492, 1493, and the fourth trip in 1502. I didn’t realize he had made four trips to America. The Columbus house is now a museum.

Small Mardi Gras Parade in Las Palmas. A big one happens on the island of Tenerife.

Look for Susan's previous posts about her trip to the Canary Islands. Part 1 posted on May 26, 2025, and Part 2 posted on June 2, 2025.

Fourth of July Parade, Alameda, California

What could be a better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than going to a parade?  We spent the holiday this year in the San Francisco Bay area and joined friends in Alameda, California, an island community near Oakland, to watch the city’s famous parade, the second largest and longest Independence Day parade in the nation. Featuring 2,500 participants and 130 floats, the Alameda parade is truly a community celebration.  People line the 3.3 mile parade route, setting up lawn chairs and sitting on the curb to watch the spectacle, which includes patriotic floats (ranging from decorated pick-up trucks to huge flat-bed vehicles with whole orchestras on the back), horses, dogs, dancers, classic cars, old-fashioned high-wheel bicycles, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, swim and soccer teams, stilt walkers, marching bands, and many more.  For winners and a gallery of photos, click here.

Rhythmix Cultural Works, Winner of the Mayor's Trophy

My granddaughter’s favorites were the prancing horses and the people handing out candy and tiny flags.  Earlier in the day the Alameda parade route was used for a charity 5K run.  After the parade, people continued the celebration in a local park with music, games and more.  We headed home for a picnic in the park.  Altogether, it was a glorious Fourth!