The Canary Islands have never had the glamourous celebrity visitors of Ibiza or the Cote d'Azur. Nor have they suffered from the horde of reality TV celebs that plague the Costas. However, the celebrities that have dropped in over the years have left some fascinating myths and mysteries behind. Here are the juciest.
These are the posts that got most attention last week on our Facebook page. Posts that were shared & liked most. If you're not a fan yet, please consider hitting the "Like" button on our page. Thanks!
Here's the very best post first:
La Fiesta del Charco, today in La Aldea, at 17:00.Fun fun fun. Don't miss it! ;)
Posted by Gran Canaria on Friday, 11 September 2015
Good morning :-)
Posted by Gran Canaria on Sunday, 13 September 2015
Mondays are better in Gran Canaria :-)
Posted by Gran Canaria on Sunday, 13 September 2015
Good morning :-)
Posted by Gran Canaria on Wednesday, 9 September 2015
Photos of Gran Canaria posted in the GCI Facebook Group :-)
Posted by Gran Canaria on Sunday, 6 September 2015
The vast Parque del Sur urban park in Maspalomas Campo Internacional is a huge green space perfect for walking and jogging.
Bananas don't grow on trees and won't exist in 20 years. The plants hate growing alone and wander about in their fields. Here are ten surprising facts about the happy yellow fruit that you never knew. Watch the video right to the end for the talking banana.
Canary Islands wines have the intensity and fruit to stand up to a good curry so if you feel like a takeaway, then look out for these bottles in the shops.
Anfi beach is a strange blend of cheap and expensive; The beach is free and the sun loungers and beds are reasonable (Most shops and services are priced for the resort’s timeshare guests (who have already proved that they don’t mind paying top dollar for things), but some are great value.
The 2.5 kilometre coastal path that connects Las Marañuelas beach in Arguineguín and Anfi beach to the west is due a revamp and it looks like it may finally get one.
How many of these quirky rules of bungalow holiday life have you noticed? Are they only true in Gran Canaria or do they apply the world over?
Gran Canaria's plan to use its reservoirs as a giant battery to store wind energy is expected to generate 60% of the island's electricity needs within five years.
There's no shortage of local events in Gran Canaria with a village romeria (fiesta) or six every weekend but what about international events? Well, here's our pick of the top Gran Canaria events that tourists and visitors have to attend.
Save money and avoid rip-off bank charges while in Gran Canaria by paying in euros when using your credit or debit card.
Many bars and restaurants in Gran Canaria, and in almost all European holiday destinations, give you the option of paying in euros or in your home currency. Opting for your own currency, while it may seem like the safer option, can add as much as 5% to the bill as it triggers dynamic currency conversion.
DCC basically means that the exchange rate is calculated at point of sale rather than by your bank. It allows you to see the total cost of the transaction in your own currency but adds up to 5% to the total because it uses a terrible exchange rate.
Since the extra money is shared between your bank and the merchant, some places will automatically bill you in your own currency and hope you don't notice. You have the legal right to refuse and void the transaction should this happen.
The same applies when taking money out of ATM machines in Gran Canaria (and anywhere in Europe); Always choose the local currency option to avoid losing money to poor exchange rates.
If you opt for the local currency option, using bank ATMs is often the cheapest and safest way of getting euros in Gran Canaria. It's far safer than having a big pile of euros hidden in your room or tucked into your shorts.
More details in this Daily Telegraph article.
The Catholic church rather than the local tourist authorities still decides when to open church doors in Gran Canaria. This means that some of the island's prettiest churches, such as the Puerto de las Nieves hermitage, are often closed during the day.
Gran Canaria's east coast beaches are a mixed bag with everything from windswept pebble beaches to sheltered coves with golden sand. Salinetas beach is the prettiest and most accessible of the east beaches.
A recent draft law released by the San Bartolomé de Tirajana town hall (Ayuntamiento) has generated widespread confusion and worry in Gran Canaria. However, there is little to be concerned about as the situation is being hyped up for political reasons. Here's a concise summary of what's going on and what it means.
We have updated this article to take into account the important effects of the 1995 Ordenación del Turismo de Canarias law.
Taxis in Gran Canaria's capital city Las Palmas are amongst the cheapest in Spain, according to a recent survey.
The trouble with ordering big beers in Gran Canaria is that they often warm up before you get to the end.
With Gran Canaria car rental you get what you pay for and if you pay the absolute minimum, what you get is a headache and a ruined holiday.
While papas con mojo and seafood get all the attention, Gran Canaria's delicious doughnuts are a daily treat that you have to try.
Arriving late in Gran Canaria and want to stock up on a few things for the morning? Now you can do it at the airport.
The freak weather in the Canary Islands for the last week is fading away, according to the Spanish weather authorities.