Canary Islands

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#9999FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03876ba3.gif"> <bR> <div> <B>Canary Islands</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Belize"><U>Belize</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="South Pacific"><U>South Pacific</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Baltic Region"><U>Baltic Region</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="South Africa"><U>South Africa</U></A></div> <div>  <A NAME="gc"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><IMG SRC="1366c930.jpg" border=0 width="108" height="147" ALT="Tejeda" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>The Canary Islands are a chained archipelago like the Hawaiian islands.  Similarly, seven islands are richly inhabited, yet each unique in culture, landscape and experiences.</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03976bc1egdyqn.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#990000" FACE="Brush Script MT" ><B>EL Travel Bugs ~ Travel Tales & Photos</B></FONT><B>   |   </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EL Travel Bugs Travel Tales Photos"><U><B>HOME</B></U></A><B>   </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#6600FF" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B></FONT><A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><IMG SRC="6b41e1e0.gif" border=0 width="30" height="30" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> back to <B> </B><A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Travel Adventures"><U><B>Travel Adventures</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03976ba3.gif"> <div> <B>Canary Islands</B></div> <div> <B>The first thing we are always asked when we mention our visit to these</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#66334C" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>islands is . . .</B></FONT><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#9900CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>"Where are the Canary Islands?"</B></FONT><B> </B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#990099" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>They are located 60</B></FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#990099" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>miles from the coast of Morocco, Africa in the Atlantic Ocean.</B></FONT><B> </B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>(Europe's</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>own Hawaii)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Then the next remark is . . .</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#9900CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>"Wow, it must have taken days to get there!"</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Well, no, just 10.5 hours of flight time</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>(about the same travel distance </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>from Florida to Hawaii)</B><B>!</B><B> </B></div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="map"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><IMG SRC="3a4dc270.gif" border=0 width="476" height="295" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>                               </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lanzarote"><U><B>Lanzarote</B></U></A></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" > </FONT>      <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lanzarote"><U><IMG SRC="14196560.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="86" ALT="Lanzarote camel train" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial Narrow" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>This arid island is only 330 sq. miles, small for being home to 300 extinct</B></div> <div> <B>volcanoes.  Its lunar appearance radiates hues of red, copper, gray and black.</B></div> <div> <B>The lava-rich soil is used to balance the lack of rain to grow abundant garden</B></div> <div> <B>vegetables and maintain healthy vineyards.  Not only does the island offer a</B></div> <div> <B>spectacular views of their own volcano valley, it provides a wealth of pristine</B></div> <div> <B>beaches. </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#CC00CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fuerteventura"><U><B>Fuerteventura</B></U></A></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>   </B></FONT><B> </B><A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fuerteventura"><U><IMG SRC="143864f0.jpg" border=0 width="134" height="79" ALT="Sands of Fuerteventura" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A> </div> <div> <B>If resplendent beaches providing ideal conditions for windsurfing and big game</B></div> <div> <B>fishing is a dream vacation, then this island can be claimed as an adventurer's</B></div> <div> <B>paradise.  Just 50 minutes from Lanzarote by ferry, its wind-swept sand dunes</B></div> <div> <B>resemble the Sahara, but its quiet villages and surrounding aqua blue sea are</B></div> <div> <B>the main attractions for this "off-the-beaten-path" island.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tenerife"><U><B>Tenerife</B></U></A></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" >       </FONT><B>  </B><A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tenerife"><U><IMG SRC="14581540.jpg" border=0 width="129" height="84" ALT="Beaches of Tenerife" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A> </div> <div> <B>As the most familiar of all the Canary Islands, this island provides a diverse</B></div> <div> <B>landscape from a snowcapped mountain (noted as Spain's highest) to mile-long</B></div> <div> <B>beaches (colored from golden to black).  It can take a day to drive around this</B></div> <div> <B>island, but it will require many days to see all its treasures.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="La Gomera"><U><B>La Gomera</B></U></A></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" > </FONT>     <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B></FONT><A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="La Gomera"><U><IMG SRC="147965b0.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="91" ALT="Alto de Garajonay" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A> </div> <div> <B>Just southwest of Tenerife and less than 80 minutes by ferry, this petite</B></div> <div> <B>rocky island has an all-nature charm.  Unique basalt rock formations and a</B></div> <div> <B>mystical cloud forest dating back to the Ice Age provides an extensive and</B></div> <div> <B>beautiful trail system for bikers and hikers alike.  The lush terrain of this</B></div> <div> <B>island demonstrates it appeal to sea voyagers such as Christopher Columbus,</B></div> <div> <B>who many centuries ago stopped at this tiny island before charting out for</B></div> <div> <B>the Americas.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="La Palma"><U><B>La Palma</B></U></A></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>      </B></FONT><A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="La Palma"><U><IMG SRC="149965b0.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="91" ALT="Parador on La Palma" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A> </div> <div> <B>Known as the green island from its abundant rainfall, it provides an example</B></div> <div> <B>of most indigenous Canarian vegetation, which cannot be found anywhere</B></div> <div> <B>else in the world.  It is also home to the world's largest crater (over 5 miles</B></div> <div> <B>wide), which provides even the experienced hikers a hearty trail system</B></div> <div> <B>along the crater's rim and down the route of volcanoes.  The life inside this</B></div> <div> <B>island is still very much alive as its last eruption occurred in 1971. </B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gran Canaria"><U><B>Gran Canaria</B></U></A></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>     </B></FONT><A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gran Canaria"><U><IMG SRC="14b6b960.jpg" border=0 width="107" height="150" ALT="Cruz de Tejeda" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><B> </B></div> <div> <B>As the third largest island, it is home to more than half of the archipelago's</B></div> <div> <B>total population.  Nicknamed the "miniature continent" for its varied</B></div> <div> <B>landscapes, this capital is popular with many Europeans for their tropical</B></div> <div> <B>settings.  Though the beaches are full of sunbathers and sports enthusiasts,</B></div> <div> <B>the mountains hold most of this island's treasures. </B><B> At the island's center lies</B></div> <div> <B>the 'Cross of Tejeda', where all roads come together for a spectacular views</B></div> <div> <B>such as the one to the left. </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#9900FF" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><A HREF="id9_l.htm#gc" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Canary Islands"><U><B><IMG SRC="03c0e0e0.gif" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="previous" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></FONT><B> Many of the interior inhabitants still live in</B></div> <div> <B>cave-like homes built by their rock-dwelling ancestors.</B><B>  </B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="405" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 57 WIDTH="284"><div> <B>Be sure to check out each islands' unique qualities...from sand dune deserts to tropical rain forests</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><bR> <div> <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lanzarote"><U><B><IMG SRC="6d45f180.jpg" border=0 width="95" height="24" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lanzarote"><U><B><IMG SRC="3b456450.jpg" border=0 width="86" height="69" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>      </B><A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Travel Adventures"><U><B><IMG SRC="6da5d350.gif" border=0 width="93" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>      </B><A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><IMG SRC="04e23230.gif" border=0 width="35" height="35" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></FONT></div> </td> </tr></table></body>