I spent 10 weeks in Mauritania so I have a soft spot for West Africa. The geographic closeness to Africa I thought might make for some interesting spin on Spanish culture. Goat croquetas or something far more exotic! I’m amazed that there isn’t more of an influence but those primitive boats that West Africans are STILL using to try to reach the islands might have something to do with it. Very interesting, appreciate this.

The Canary Islands are at the crossroads of three continents : Europe (as it is Spain, it is part of the EU), Africa (where it geografically belongs : Fuerteventura is just 60 miles off the coast of west Africa) and the Americas (the archipelago was colonized by the conquistadors at the same time and in similar fashion that the former American colonies. Later trading and immigration both ways was very strong and relevant between the Canaries and the Americas.

Africa is the least influential of the three continents that shape the Canaries despite geografic closeness. When Spain possesed colonies and territories in northwest Africa (i.e. West Sahara up untill the mid 1970’s) trading and common administrative and militar structure between the Canaries and Spanish-territories in Africa was relevant, as the Canaries was the closest Spanish soil near West Sahara. In fact many of the Spanish settlers who established themselves in West Sahara came from the Canaries.

Nowadays the main influence of Africa is the climate (we have a few yearly desert winds coming from the east) and the heavy immigration of recent years. The Canaries are Europe’s gate for thousands of desperate west Africans who often embark in primitive rafts from Senegal, Mauritania, Gambia and Morocco in a journey towards the shores of the Canaries that sometimes ends in tragedy.

I’m curious what influence if any does West Africa have on the Canary Islands? The islands are closer geographically to Africa than they are to Spain; whenever I see Iberia flights in Madrid to Gran Canaria and Tenerife, I always wonder about that?

P.S. That is such a great correlation re: view and food. Es tan cierto!

I was surprised to see that you considered Arinaga as a place to vacation, although it is really good for scuba diving (I’ve done ‘El Cabrón’ too) and windsurfing.

The interior of the island is really magnificent too. You wouldn´t except such wild mountains and scenery if you only travel from Las Palmas to the south (Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, Mogán…) along the coast motorway (which is what most visitors only get to know).

I just took my own vacation to Gran Canaria not too long ago. It was amazing! I have to say though that I really enjoyed the north of the island much more than the south. Las Palmas was fantastic. If anyone is interested, the whole trip is documented with photos on my blog.