Gran Canaria

It is hard to believe we have been here in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria for 2 weeks already.  I have shared driving a rental car with another crew member to do some sightseeing on my days off and that has been quite an adventure.  The car is a stick shift (thank you for all those years on the farm) and many here do not drive a stick shift or on the right side of the road so I got elected to drive by default.  One can drive around the island in an entire day and see beaches, sand dunes, and mountains as well as many delightful villages.  The mountainous roads are one lane with unbelievable switchbacks that never allow you to get out of 1st gear.  You honk the horn when you go around a bend to let anyone coming the other way know to wait.  At the worst, you have to back up to a space wide enough for 2 cars to pass.  At the best, you try to not be annoyed at the local drivers who come flying around the bend (in the middle of the road.) Ah, the excitement!  It is absolutely beautiful here.

                                           There are sand dunes at the south end of the island

                                          One of many quaint villages with beautiful villas

yes, this is indeed the road 

 View from the road on the northwest side of the island

 Flowers abound

 Got any lunch to share?

A cactus garden

 look closely, there are multiple caves

 The outside of the cathedral in  the "old town"

 The inside of the same cathedral

 A second story flower garden 

 We were above the clouds!

 "The mountains are calling and I must go" said John Muir

The water is so blue. . .