Sometimes working out on the streets can be a bit more upmarket than expected. As dream jobs go, high on my list of preferred occupations is travel writer. Do dreams come true? Well, it seems, they do. An e-mail plopped into my in-tray out of the blue and asked me to consider doing some freelance articles on Gran Canaria. Was it a practical joke? No! Sunshine Holidays wanted my opinion on resorts for their new on-line travel web page Grancanaria.co.uk.
Dream Jobs in the Canaries
The doors of journalism have been hard to open while so far away from the civilised world. Even the local English newspaper turned their back on article offers from a novice and that's when they can't even get the spellings right on the front page. But for once, living in Puerto Rico, one of the busiest holiday resorts on the island, had given me the advantage. Newly inspired, I was raring to go at this new chance of kick-starting a travel writing career.
On the Road
By ten in the morning, the car was ready, the camera had new batteries and my picnic packed. This is going to be done on a strict budget as boat ticket sales doesn't pay very much. Factor twenty five's been liberally applied to all exposed parts and it's time to head to Salobre Golf, the first place on my list.
It was only ten minutes from Puerto Rico, which isn't far when you're an enthusiastic travel writer and a bit in the middle of nowhere. I pulled into the huge, deserted car-park, took out my notepad and scribbled, eighteen hole golf course and cringed. I don't do sport, but there were lots of little buggies whizzing around that looked like something fun to try out.
Salobre Golf Resort
One thing which surprised me were the fantastic and uninterrupted views across to Gran Canaria's most famous landmark, Roque Nublo. The pink-painted, wooden hut Spar supermarket also really caught my eye. It wouldn't have looked out of place in Sioux City. Noted as well was the stagnant reservoir at the entrance, but it was too late for insect repellent. Undoubtedly it was used for environmental economy and keeping things green. I got back in the car and shut the window before the mosquitoes got me.
Sheraton Golf Hotel
Trying not to stare, I drove past the Sheraton Hotel, made a mental note which went something like, seriously expanding and very posh, then decided it was time to move on. Time had slipped past so quickly while I was circumnavigating the putting greens in Salobre, hunger struck and I was in need of sustenance. Sure they wouldn't be too happy if I had a picnic on hole fourteen, with only motor way between me and Bahia Feliz, I put my foot down and got out of there.
Picnic in Bahia Feliz
This was more my style. Parked under the palm trees, sitting on my towel and watching the surfers zip across the waves. The small aerodrome was busy with practice lessons and I watched the same pilot go in and out five times until he got it right and I got nervous indigestion. I had to drag myself away... from wondering if he was going to crash or not, San Mateo awaited.
Discovering the real Gran Canaria
I was off to the real Gran Canaria where men wrestle in nappies, goats flock in herds and they make cheese for a pastime, I was starting to feel intrepid.
It was a long drive up to the northern regions. The scenery changed rapidly from the indigenous coastal cacti to mountain shrubbery covering the crags, until stretched out before me were the high zones covered in a scattering of pines as sparse as the patchy stubble on an old man's chin.
Canarian Market Town
San Mateo is a rural mountain town popular for its market. Stepping from the car the air was so fresh and clean I wondered if someone had stuck a no-smoking sign on the chimneys. It was fresh, as in shivering fresh. The locals were walking about with jackets on. Time for a reviving coffee a quick peak around and onward bound, there's still a lot left on my itinerary.
Santa Brigida? By the time I'd looked for somewhere to park, it'd gone and there was no turning back until Tafira. Swearing in Spanish is good for the soul and I tried a bit of it, because I was on the motorway heading into the centre of Las Palmas on a Saturday afternoon. Swearing in English works just as good too.
Las Terrazas Shopping Centre
Following my nose, which can sniff out a McDonalds Big Mac at five kilometres, I turned off into the new centre of Las Terrazas. Well, I nearly got there. Just before the car-park entrance there's a sheltered stretch of sand and what impressed me most, some guys doing kite-surfing. It looked like serious hard work holding on and I wondered if they'd let me have a go, experience counts for a lot when you're writing. The wind was gusting in strong blasts, Fuertaventura was a shadowy mound in the mist on the horizon and photos seemed a much more sensible idea.
Gran Canaria's Inside Expert
It was a windswept, but content travel writer who got back in her car to drive home. Information collected, some good shots on the camera and a feeling of a job well done in her heart.
Exhausted, but happy, there was only one perfect way to end a good day – slipping into Dunes and Tunes, my favourite Irish bar in Playa del Ingles, on the way home for a pint of Guinness and listening to John Fahy singing all my favourite songs. Getting to be Gran Canaria's Inside Expert for Sunshine Holidays didn't come easy and bliss, I thought, could be summed up as decent music and a pint of Guinness after a hard day's travel writing.
Liz Correal - British born, but living in the sun-drenched Canary Islands for more than two decades, LizX is having her Hawaii year. No, she's not ...
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