Gran Canaria 2015, admittedly was not our first choice of Holiday. We were supposed to go to Tunisia that year, but due to the tragic terrorist beach shooting, we were forced by Thomas Cook to switch holidays at no extra cost of course! Our choices were Egypt, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. We did a bit of research to see what excursions were available and what was best suited to us. Gran Canaria seemed the most appealing, and it did not disappoint! I would actually say it was our best holiday to date .. here are the reasons why;
1) Sand Dunes - traveling the desert
Who knew that literally 5 minutes away from our Complex that there was Desert to be explored? After a romantic stroll on the public Beach and blinded sprint through the nudist area, we had arrived! The Dunes that seemingly lay friendly from afar - like the pillows of the desert - would prove daunting in an up close and personal experience! Choosing not to go in was no choice at all, but aren't all quests like that? We now had a mission ahead of us.
Picture Jesus when he lead the 5000 through the Sahara, the only difference was substituting fish and bread for snapbacks and flip flops; in our own interpretation! We knew roughly where we were, and we used our limited navigation skills to make our way through the scorching 35oC heat! 10 minutes and 5 hallucinations later, we realised that flip flops weren't the most practical of footwear, so we decided to leave them behind. An hour into our trekking we could see (actually see) an Oasis type place where we could stop and re-hydrate, and assess our journey to this point.
We would take the time to look and listen for signs of life, but there came none. What had we got ourselves into? Back home such a silence would be tranquil, but out here it is more like the quiet of the graveyard. Here was a place where you panic when your partner steps across the borderline of seen and unseen, so we both stuck together and continued with no destination in mind. Nowhere is somewhere, but somewhere is nowhere. Thoughts were everywhere at this point! A complete pandemonium of confusion in the search for civilisation. We were still happy enough to take a quick selfie, however;
Fortunately, it didn't take us too long before we could see signs of life again! I can honestly say that it was the first and only time I was glad to have a nudist pensioner in full view. For entertainment purposes and to help pass the time we named him 'Tom Thumb', it was the first name to spring to mind!
After all hope had seemed to be lost and we had finally completed our quest and made it through in one piece. It was our second day of the holiday and our first real sense of achievement, so we rewarded ourselves with an Ice cold beer and a Cocktail. What a perfect start to the holiday!
2) Astro Gran Canaria
From Daytime to Night now ... 'Astro GC' was tipped to be our best night out of the holiday, and not for the usual reasons. We decided on Excursions over the 'Gran Canarian nightlife', and tonight would be another new experience for us; Star Gazing at 1500 Meters.
As amazing as this looked, we weren't to get our hopes up that we would be guaranteed a place. First of all, this is listed as one of the more popular excursions on Trip Advisor - getting tickets were would be like gold dust! Most importantly, places on this trip are allocated on a "weather- permitting" basis, thanks to the ever-changing climate off the African coast. Miraculously, we were chosen for this trip, two days before we were due back on the Isle of Man!
We did think our luck ran its course though when just half an hour after our pick up, it was obvious that clouds had dominated the night sky. Our Tour Leader, Gautier, was fantastic and made it clear to everyone that if they were not 100% satisfied they would not be expected to pay a Cent! So we made our way up the winding hills of Gran Canaria, and after about an hour we finally reached our destination.
As you can see in the picture above the cloud had still not passed overhead, but not to worry because this was only the educational introduction. It was clear that Gautier was passionate and very knowledgeable about the night sky and beyond. Most interestingly for me we learned why the North Star appears to be in the same position in the sky, wherever you are on Earth! (if you are that interested too, I would suggest Googling it :D). Also, did you know that there are 10 time times more stars in the visible universe as there are grains of sand on all the world’s beaches, sand dunes and deserts? Incredible when you think about it! Education was ticked off the agenda, but unfortunately for us there was still too much cloud to do any real star gazing, and we were told that sunrise was only an hour or so away ...
Desperate times call for desperate measures and at this point, Gautier gave everyone the offer of calling it a night. Some people took him up on this and were taken back to their Hotels. In all honesty, we still would have regarded this night as a success even if we turned back now. Natasha and I, however, were not going to give up so easily! All of us optimists dressed up in warmer clothing then got back onto the bus to be taken to higher ground. In the lead up to our next destination, we were told that there was a slight chance at 100ft higher that we could be treated to clearer skies. After a night of rain, blustery winds and cloudy skies, our patience was finally rewarded. There it was; the eerie darkness of the night that would never escape our memory.
The millions of stars seemed within touching distance, each of them having its own unique shape, level of brightness and size. I would call them majestic, but even that would do no justice. This is something you can’t describe or tell anyone about, not even something you can capture in a photo. You can only know by experience, only by seeing them through your own eyes will you be able to know how it makes you feel. It was as though everything had paused for that one moment, and any fear, concern or past failure now lingered in the distance.
This is something Natasha and I had only dreamed of and we feel blessed that we have each other to share it with. This was without any doubt, the most incredible night of our lives.
3) Paratriking with Sky Rebels
Back to Daytime adventures again now! If you have read my Cancun, Mexico section in Previous Holidays you would have seen that we were fortunate enough to do some Paragliding. Paratriking is similar but a more extreme version, as it combines the versatility of paragliding with the comfort and safety of an aeroplane flight. The only other inclusions are the giant motored propeller located at the rear and the three wheels (trike) for taking off and landing.
All credit for this memory has to go to Natasha, as this was already pre-booked for both of us before we went on holiday, and remains as one of my favourite birthday presents! This is something I brought up jokingly when looking through Trip Advisor way before the holiday, never did I expect for this to be included in our holiday itinerary for Gran Canaria!
Just like our Astro GC trip, we would only be able to Paratrike if the weather was appropriate for flying, and it just so happens that the previous two days before our turn had resulted in cancellation! I was still in the dark at this point and Natasha had to 'fess up', and told me not to be too hopeful. We really needed a miracle here!
Either we were having the best of luck on this holiday or it was just meant to be? We will let you come to your own conclusion ... as again we got a last minute call giving the 'thumbs up'! It was at this point where I could start to get excited! I always knew we'd hit upon the next great adventure idea when I got that tingly feeling, you know, the feeling that spreads from your brain right down through your body. I need the buzz of the new, the thrill of the unknown, the opportunity to broaden the horizon and push beyond my limits. This was the best feeling of all, I remember tingling so bad I had to take myself to a quiet room just to tame it!
Natasha was up first to help settle the nerves, fortunately for us, Sky Rebels put this incredible video together! Here is Natasha in action;
It was my turn now, and I was given the choice of two versions; the "Sunday Drive" or the "Roller Coaster Edition". I was feeling brave at this point seeing how much Natasha enjoyed herself, so surely I had to go all in here?!
The accelerator was pushed to the floor and behind us the parachute inflated, now traveling at a breakneck speed it was time to take off. The nerves and the adrenaline worked hand-in-hand and made the experience all the more satisfying when we took to the air. As we climbed altitude, the Ariel view only got better as Gran Canaria spread beneath us, it was like flying over a toy town that had come to life! To see the world as a bird does, to fly in the sky, it was truly an exhilarating experience.
We were the centre of attention wherever we flew, with all the tiny people taking a break from their daily routine to give us a wave and show their support. We flew through the mountains, along the coast, and over the Macaronesian Sea. We had the perfect birds-eye view of the whole island, there was also a great opportunity to measure up the distance traveled on the Sand Dunes at the start of the holiday. No time for that, however, as this was where the full experience kicked in, and with no words of warning the engine was suddenly switched off. We were free falling nose down, as each second passed we hurtled closer towards the unforgiving ground. I wasn't fooled for a second though, as I knew this is what I signed up for! A few moments later, and admittedly to my relief, the engine could be heard and we resumed level ground again!
We were nearing the end of our flight, which was signaled and perfectly timed by the clouds coming in behind us, so we made our way back to base. We then started our descent and touched back down in a leisurely decline, to cap off the best possible introduction to extreme sports! As we touched the ground, I felt a rush of emotion I couldn't even begin to describe.
For me, Paratriking was absolutely out of this world and lived up to all of the hype and more! The overall experience was so surreal and unrivalled by anything I had done before. I would honestly recommend this to anyone who wants to try something different. I would also like to add to never be afraid to try something out of your comfort zone, with something like traveling for example, even if you don't like it you have at least been bold enough to give it a go!
Here is the best of the action from my turn, accompanied by one of my most favourite and memorable songs too;
4) Moonlight Cinema Gran Canaria
The game of bloggers ping pong continues as we go to Night time again, there was absolutely no chance of this being left out!
Very conveniently Europe's only permanent Open Air Cinema was right on the doorstep of our Hotel! The Moonlight Cinema was made for people like us - large cinema screen, cozy sofas with blankets, waitress service, freshly prepared pizza served with Beer and Fizz, and all you can eat brownie and Ice Cream. To cap it all off, we were able to enjoy all these luxuries under the magic of the stars.
It was so good we went twice; first to watch Jurassic World and then Inside Out. We could not have asked for a better Cinematic experience and a perfect end to the Holiday!
5) Scuba Diving
In my final Gran Canaria installment, I would like to end with my favourite holidaying hobby; Scuba Diving. I have been interested in Scuba Diving from age 14; the Swimming Pool days in Menorca with flippers and breathing apparatus. I then took the opportunity to continue to the next stage of PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) the following year in the Caribbean. It was a three-day course, in which we took to the Sea for the first time and also had to pass a written exam. It was six years since my last Scuba sessions and although I was still PADI qualified in waters as deep as 12 meters, my confidence was a little shaky. I was very much in need of a refresher and this was to be the perfect opportunity!
I thought also that this would be the best time to introduce Natasha to Scuba Diving, as I knew already that she was an amazing swimmer from when she used to compete in the Island Team. It was a big step for us both, as this would determine whether we were able to do these types of activities as a Couple on future holidays, and especially for when we eventually go traveling even further afield! (To be continued in Fiji ...)
Admittedly I didn't think we would find Scuba Diving too much of an issue. Though I did forget how hard it was to walk in flippers while carrying 20 kilos of weight, but you can't practice for that I suppose! Scuba gear on. Air in the tanks. It was time to go!
As our Instructor walked us both towards the water, I remember us both being quite nervous at the thought of 12 meters. Nerves would soon be soothed by the cold yet refreshing sea, which provided a welcome reward for our patience in the Gran Canarian heat. Around our feet we could already see the starfish, the crabs that scuttled and the shoals of fish that darted this way and that. Respirator in and one big deep breath, we plunged ourselves into the water. It wasn't long before I felt in familiar territory again, kicking my feet and observing the sea life around me, it was just as I remembered it. Like being in a different world! A quick glance over to Natasha who acknowledged me with a cool and composed "okay" hand gesture. As expected she was very much in her element and was swimming with the prowess of a dolphin! We stayed on course along the seabed, with the shore having now moved out of our peripheral vision. Before we knew it, we were swimming at 12 meters in a coral alive with tropical fish and octopi. No Virtual Reality Console could come close to this!
Yet again another fantastic sense of achievement from a more than productive holiday together!
