Gran Canaria

Our last stop in Spain's Canary Islands was the island of Gran Canaria.  Like Tenerife, the climate was balmy and the landscape tropical and volcanic.  The town of Maspalomas hosts some spectacular sand dunes, which gave Rose her first taste of Lawrence of Arabia-style adventures.

The Canaries are proud of being the official setting off point of Columbus's voyages, and in Las Palmas we learned more than we ever had about trade winds and cartography.  Rosie also got in touch with her seafaring side at Puerto Mogán ("the Venice of Spain").

Rose celebrated her 9 month birthday (and Grace and Scott their 6-year anniversary) near Agüimes at the caves of Guayadeque.  This ravine features a hillside dotted in natural caves with little houses built into them, which are occupied to this day.  This cave-restaurant made for a memorable meal.

Gran Canaria is not without its own archeological displays, chiefly some neolithic burial structures.  We enjoyed a cheesy good time at Mundo Aborigen, complete with mannequins and piped in music.  (I was disappointed the mannequins were not animatronic, myself.)

All in all, it was a fabulous "Bar trip," and Grace has checked one more of Spain's comunidades autónimas off her list (One more to go!  Murcia here I come!).  Rose made a memorable first trip across the Atlantic, and knowing us, it will not be her last.