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Canary Islands & Iberia
93
The Canary Islands present an array of alliteration;
volcanic vistas, black beaches, warm waters, luscious
landscapes, cosmopolitan cities, traditional towns and
spectacular scenery. Admittedly it’s a tad cliché to
capture the sights in such a way, but there is no denying
that these isles pack a scenic punch. Add to that their
year-round warmth and it’s easy to understand why we
often head south when holiday season strikes.
Peninsular ports
and island resorts
Those that hop aboard a ship to chart their course
for warmer weather can also enjoy Iberia en route.
Featuring France, Portugal, Spain and Andorra
(you’ll forgive us for being unable to get you to the
latter!) this peninsular is perfectly positioned for a
picturesque pit stop. It’s also a brilliant bolt hole for
us Brits. Close enough to feature on a number of our
seven night cruises, it’s far enough away to feel like
you’ve really had the opportunity to enjoy a few
new experiences.
Funchal, Madeira
Football and fennel. An odd combination. But not
in Madeira. Funchal is the capital of this gloriously
colourful ‘Garden Isle’ and its name derives from
‘funcho’ (fennel) as the vegetable grew here in
abundance when Portuguese settlers first arrived.
These days Funchal offers a number of attractions
other than cooking ingredients! Wander the old
centre’s winding streets or stroll the promenade.
Hop on the cable car for a flight up to Monte. Return
via the same route or take the bone shaking, heart
racing toboggan ride back down the hill. There’s
countless cafés and restaurants and brilliant blooms
at every turn. And if you were still wondering what
the football connection is; Cristiano Ronaldo is
Funchal’s most famous export!
Fuerteventura, Spain
If Mother Nature has a favourite Canary Island, this
could well be it. The swathes of sand that form the
dunes of Fuerteventura are a sight to behold; it’s
sandcastle building in epic proportions! And the
sandy beaches are pretty impressive too – Cofete was
chosen as the setting for the original Planet of the
Apes. A watersports haven, the island is actually in
two halves and is separated by, yet again, more sand!
In fact, the whole of the island has been declared a
biosphere reserve due to its favourable environment
for conservation and breeding – the goats are doing
particularly well as these four legged creatures well
outnumber the two legged locals!
Canary Islands & Iberia
