Las Palmas
March 2020
At the beginning of the march we flew from Helsinki to Las Palmas to spend a week in Gran Canaria. The trip was considered because of the coronavirus. Back then there was no any restrictions and prohibitions, so we travelled at the information of that time. We travelled before the exceptional circumstances.
After the trip, we did not see people at risk,and did not go to the other places where were people, just for the sake of certainty. Soon after this, exceptional new restrictions came into force, which tightened quite quickly to what they are now.
But back to this day, The journey came true and in this update I will now talk about it.
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| Leaving. |
We see and do a lot of things during our trip, and there was a lot left for next time. I knew before we left for Las Palmas, that lying in the sun was not my plan to do there. I wanted to see everything cool and different on the unfamiliar city where you does not live every day.
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| LunchTime in the air. |
We arrived on Tuesday at three o'clock at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria airport. Our trip was nice. I take lots of pictures there, and Kasmir finally saw the palm trees when he had been waiting for.
Sure, it also involved its own challenges, but that`s okay. Those challenges we learn again. Learning about life and self never ends. This was also ours first trip abroad to a warmer place. From here then just plan more trips. Niki had the first flight of his life and a longer trip to nowhere. He has already visit Kalajoki by bus in summer 2019 and at train in Oulu in autumn. Niki came 11 months just the day before we set off.
The flights went well. On the way, the staff heated the milk in a water bath so that I could give Niki milk from a feeding bottle during the take-off and landing of the plane. It helped that that take-off and landing didn`t feel bad in small ears. On the way to Spain, Niki set up a little screaming concert for the rest of time before landing, but its understandable if you just have to be on one place for 6 hours.
When our flight landed at Gran Canaria Airport and we got off the plane, the male passenger behind us gave feedback that our little passenger was doing really well.
Niki was really fine on the journey back to Finland. There was couple of small crying scenes when it was time for food and he wanted to go to sleep. Otherwise, He was just playing and examined the plane and out of the window. From the very end of the trip Niki fell asleep in my arms. Quite clearly, the evening flight was better than the morning flight for this little man.
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| There is sky. |
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| Las Palmas De Gran Canaria. |
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| Niki in the Spain. |
I took my strollers from Finland and they were allowed to be transported free of charge on the plane.
Our accomodation was in Vegueta. The apartment was not a five-star luxury hotel, but that was not the intention. We need place to sleep and washing up, so i didn`t think to spend a lot of money on it. I was going to make the most of being in Las Palmas and Spain. The idea was to explore the city and tour the island.
Kasmir was also happy about our little temporary home that was full of nice details. Kasmir especially liked the window from which he could see the hallway at the bedroom. He wanted to keep it always open while sleeping. He asked me to take pictures of him peeking out the window.
On our first day at Las Palmas we settled in to our house, and took an afternoon walk to peek into the town, do grocery shopping, and go to bed for the next day. So excited when only a moment ago in our own country were brown trees and snowing, and then suddenly palm trees can be seen everywhere. I especially remember when i hopped in a taxi at Gran Canaria Airport and when i saw palm trees swaying in the wind outside for the first time. Looked awesome.
On our second day we went to an adventure at the town. Little get lost too. Kasmir got to play in the parks, for example at the Parque San Telmo playground, which is right next to the Main Bus Station. On Wednesday, we just explored different landscapes, street corners and cafes. We found a couple of places where I was already shopping for souvenirs. For example, i found a skirt decorated with a coins for an oriental dance classes. The day was warm. One attraction I had wanted to see on our trip was the old town of Vegueta.
The name of the Canary Islands is thought to come from the yellow canary birds, but this is not the case. However, the name Islas Canarias has its roots in animals. The more probable origin of the name is the Latin term Canariae Insulae, which refers to the island of dogs. However, the tourist site Gran Canaria Info recalls that no evidence of dog-referencing has ever been found in the Canary Islands.
Another belief in the origin of the name would refer to sea lions, whose Spanish-language name, commonly used in South America, Lobo del mar, or Lobo Marino, literally turned into a sea wolf. So the sea lions would have been these "big dogs" Today, the species no longer occurs in the Canary Islands. The third option is considered to be the Canary Lizards. A few thousand years ago, lizards could stretch up to 150 cents in length. So could giant lizards be meant when talking about "big dogs"?
Vegueta was beautiful. Lovely old-fashioned atmosphere from somewhere very long ago. Colorful houses next to each other and the nice painted walls. On Thursday we went to eat some food from the island at a local restaurant. I wanted something that wasn’t what I had eaten before. I took something stuffed bread from the list. It was bread with stuffed with vegetables inside. :D At least that's what it looked like to me.
The day was clearly cooler because of the wind. But it was still 18 degrees. I think Las Palmas is very pleasant and colourful city. It was a nice to turn from one corner of the street to the other when all the buildings were built on each other.
On Friday and the fourth day of the trip, an excursion was made to the sand dunes of Maspalomas. Maspalomas is located about 55 kilometers from Las Palmas. Niksu went all day in the backpack. The bus took us from a short walk from our accommodation and the drive took just an half hour. Niki cried little on the bus but quite tolerably the trip went anyway. When we got back, the fatigue of the day took over and Niksu fall asleep at the bus.
In the destination we eaten in the Chinese restaurant before walking on the sand dunes. We done some small shopping before. The day was so hot.🧡🌴 29 degrees. We got to walk a little before we got there. Niki slept in the backpack. Sand dunes was a quite impressive view when the desert opened up in front. Kasmir went lying on the smooth sand :D .
Saturday we went to beach of Play De Las Canteras. The day was windy and cold. We didn`t swim but we went into the water for a moment.
Sunday we take everything out of the city and its corners. We had walked a lot on weekend, so we calm down a little today. In the morning there was a market in Vegueta, and I found beautiful orange necklace there. Kasmir throw good-luck coin in the fountain, and make a wish. He of course didn`t tell it out loud, because those are the rules. The wish didn`t come true if you say it out loud. The day was warm and we enjoyed last sunbaths until we get back to Finland. Its long time until its summer there.
I wanted to taste some Gran Canarian own dishes. We tried Papa Arrugadas the Canary Islands potatoes. They were super salty but so delicious.
At monday we had museum day. We visited El Museo Canario. I was a little disappointed because the upstairs of the museum was closed. I read somewhere that there were mummies and i was deffinately wanted to see those. But maybe next time. ;)
On Monday i bought souvenirs and did the last time shoppings before next morning we got back to Finland. Triana is a great shopping street to make discoveries. Also, many places i found by chance, and found many treasures. We ate on that day at Burger King. Niki had his own food at Finland, i didn`t want him to eat any food on Spain. And i was not sure where to buy babies food, so it could have been difficult to search. It was not a big efford to bring food for Niki with me.
On Tuesday we flew back at Finland. The corona situation changed couple of days before we got back home. I was pretty amazed how the situation changed so suddenly, that first there was nothing and then really big measures.
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| My loves. |
On our first day at Las Palmas we settled in to our house, and took an afternoon walk to peek into the town, do grocery shopping, and go to bed for the next day. So excited when only a moment ago in our own country were brown trees and snowing, and then suddenly palm trees can be seen everywhere. I especially remember when i hopped in a taxi at Gran Canaria Airport and when i saw palm trees swaying in the wind outside for the first time. Looked awesome.
On our second day we went to an adventure at the town. Little get lost too. Kasmir got to play in the parks, for example at the Parque San Telmo playground, which is right next to the Main Bus Station. On Wednesday, we just explored different landscapes, street corners and cafes. We found a couple of places where I was already shopping for souvenirs. For example, i found a skirt decorated with a coins for an oriental dance classes. The day was warm. One attraction I had wanted to see on our trip was the old town of Vegueta.
Islas Canarias
The name of the Canary Islands is thought to come from the yellow canary birds, but this is not the case. However, the name Islas Canarias has its roots in animals. The more probable origin of the name is the Latin term Canariae Insulae, which refers to the island of dogs. However, the tourist site Gran Canaria Info recalls that no evidence of dog-referencing has ever been found in the Canary Islands.
Another belief in the origin of the name would refer to sea lions, whose Spanish-language name, commonly used in South America, Lobo del mar, or Lobo Marino, literally turned into a sea wolf. So the sea lions would have been these "big dogs" Today, the species no longer occurs in the Canary Islands. The third option is considered to be the Canary Lizards. A few thousand years ago, lizards could stretch up to 150 cents in length. So could giant lizards be meant when talking about "big dogs"?
In Plaza de Santa Ana, Vegueta’s old town, is home to Santa Ana Cathedral, guarded by bronze dog statues. The statues depict a legendary canine animal that has been said to rise from the heights of the city since 1506. The square also has impressive historic buildings, many of which have retained their original status to this day.
finnish reference:
www.spain-grancanaria.com
www.rantapallo.fi
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| Coke truck =) |
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| Santa Ana Catedral. |
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| Niki the Tourist. |
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| Bizarre bug on the wall. |
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| Parque San Telmo. |
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| warm evening for a walk. |
Vegueta was beautiful. Lovely old-fashioned atmosphere from somewhere very long ago. Colorful houses next to each other and the nice painted walls. On Thursday we went to eat some food from the island at a local restaurant. I wanted something that wasn’t what I had eaten before. I took something stuffed bread from the list. It was bread with stuffed with vegetables inside. :D At least that's what it looked like to me.
The day was clearly cooler because of the wind. But it was still 18 degrees. I think Las Palmas is very pleasant and colourful city. It was a nice to turn from one corner of the street to the other when all the buildings were built on each other.
On Friday and the fourth day of the trip, an excursion was made to the sand dunes of Maspalomas. Maspalomas is located about 55 kilometers from Las Palmas. Niksu went all day in the backpack. The bus took us from a short walk from our accommodation and the drive took just an half hour. Niki cried little on the bus but quite tolerably the trip went anyway. When we got back, the fatigue of the day took over and Niksu fall asleep at the bus.
In the destination we eaten in the Chinese restaurant before walking on the sand dunes. We done some small shopping before. The day was so hot.🧡🌴 29 degrees. We got to walk a little before we got there. Niki slept in the backpack. Sand dunes was a quite impressive view when the desert opened up in front. Kasmir went lying on the smooth sand :D .
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| Niki at the Chinese restaurant in Maspalomas. |
Saturday we went to beach of Play De Las Canteras. The day was windy and cold. We didn`t swim but we went into the water for a moment.
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| Picture taken on our way to the beach. |
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| Windy and cold day at Playa De Las Canteras. |
Sunday we take everything out of the city and its corners. We had walked a lot on weekend, so we calm down a little today. In the morning there was a market in Vegueta, and I found beautiful orange necklace there. Kasmir throw good-luck coin in the fountain, and make a wish. He of course didn`t tell it out loud, because those are the rules. The wish didn`t come true if you say it out loud. The day was warm and we enjoyed last sunbaths until we get back to Finland. Its long time until its summer there.
I wanted to taste some Gran Canarian own dishes. We tried Papa Arrugadas the Canary Islands potatoes. They were super salty but so delicious.
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| Papa Arrugadas -Gran Canarian Salty Potatoes |
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| Museum of the Canary Islands. |
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| At the museum in Las Palmas. |
On Tuesday we flew back at Finland. The corona situation changed couple of days before we got back home. I was pretty amazed how the situation changed so suddenly, that first there was nothing and then really big measures.
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| Aeropuerto de Gran Canaria.
After this trip im going to plan lots of new adventures. But first we have to wait that our broken world fixed. Im so disappointed that everything nice things are cancelled at this spring. Baby swimming classes, events and my own dance classes.
But the adventure don`t have to be everytime something amazing, unbelievable and expensive. It could be a picnic at your own yard. Im waiting for better weathers, summer and sunshine There is spring vibes even though we live exceptional circumstances.
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| Picture from Internet.
Links:
Flan
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