tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8752935440640025532011-11-27T23:59:00.224ZMy life in Gran Canaria... the weird, the wacky and the wonderfulVictoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.comBlogger211100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-11259671539176705942009-04-04T13:47:00.003+01:002009-04-04T14:05:24.928+01:00

I'm not sure if I've spelt that right but on my way to Netto a man just gave me a free ticket for the thalassatherapy (alternative spelling!) in Gloria Palace Amadores which was very nice of him! He got it free for sitting through a timeshare presentation and he is going home on Monday and isn't going to use it so his wife sent him out to give it to someone. My mum is coming over next month so

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-8535612353398548482009-04-03T07:59:00.002+01:002009-04-03T08:01:33.953+01:00

Grr, first a customer wakes me up at 06:50 to ask what time the fishing starts (it does say on the flyer), then I can't get back to sleep and now the coffee machine won't work. Hmmmph.PS I didn't win the lottery this week either.

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-73631763638760744022009-04-02T21:44:00.003+01:002009-04-02T21:52:53.494+01:00

Alcohol is a big thing over here. A lot of people drink a lot more than they should. Bear in mind when you go out that a spirit and mixer (vodka and coke, gin and tonic etc) is about half alcohol and half mixer, so if you are not used to drinking you will be under the table after a couple of drinks!Canarians often have "carajillo" for breakfast which is half brandy and half black coffee with

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-67839142025360879252009-04-02T10:23:00.005+01:002009-04-02T21:59:09.701+01:00

I was lucky again last week. I won 104€ on La Primitiva. I won 96€ on it a few weeks back. I think I've spent about the same as I've won if you take it all into account but it gives me a bit of excitement for 5 minutes while I check the results. (And normally a bit of disappointment immediately afterwards).How to Play the Spanish LotteryThere are 2 choices if you want to play the lottery in Gran

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-2212211692642379432009-04-01T22:15:00.012+01:002009-04-01T22:45:59.917+01:00

If you want to know how to find jobs in Gran Canaria it is a bit harder than it was 10 years ago when I came over. I found my first job online. It was in Eddie Rockets (Empty Pockets) in Playa del Inglés (it's not there any more). I applied online then came over and had to wait a couple of weeks until it got busy enough for me to start.Photo by PieterjanviaeneI'd never waitressed before so it was

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-3268438067043182642009-04-01T12:53:00.002+01:002009-04-01T12:56:17.300+01:00

It's roasting hot outside today and the skies are blue. That's what I like to see and you can remind me in a few months when I'm complaining that it's too hot. I love it in the summertime when the laundry dries within 15 minutes and I don't shiver getting from bed to the shower. But I suppose I prefer late spring and early autumn here when it's nice and warm but I'm not drenched in sweat. They do

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-1552782689431969212009-03-31T22:42:00.003+01:002009-04-01T12:53:02.126+01:00

This is the closest beach to where I work (and live). I can actually see where I work from the beach so it takes away a little bit from the relaxing element. Puerto Rico beach was pretty quiet today but it's busy at the weekends when the Canarians descend in their hundreds from Las Palmas with their camper vans and tents.You can walk to Amadores beach in about 20 minutes which is slightly bigger

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-65715998221155666752009-03-31T22:36:00.002+01:002009-03-31T22:41:08.040+01:00

Whether they are lizards or iguanas (I'm sure somebody is going to correct me) we have them in spades in Gran Canaria. My cat is especially delighted about this since she likes to bring them into the apartment and "play with" them. The lizards (or iguanas) are not quite so delighted.One word of warning - if you have a washing machine don't let your cat bring any lizards (or iguanas) into the

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-48673917048949232582009-03-31T22:34:00.001+01:002009-03-31T22:36:00.152+01:00

Hot enough for ice cream....

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-74090172133214437402009-03-31T22:32:00.001+01:002009-03-31T22:34:01.016+01:00

No.

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-24277815630208630572009-03-31T22:25:00.007+01:002009-04-02T21:58:00.542+01:00

I live by the Europa Centre and I work in the harbour next to Puerto Rico beach so I spend about 25 minutes walking to work each day. I have to go down about 800 steps (which is why on the way back up I tend to be in a taxi).It's quite a nice walk although someone should really clear up the litter on the way down the hill. Somebody dropped a cigarette end there last summer and half the hill was

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-32057088042196866802009-03-31T22:19:00.003+01:002009-03-31T22:21:43.911+01:00

Right now the exchange rate is still pretty poor. I remember a couple of years ago you would get 60€ for 40 pounds. Now it's pretty much 1:1.I took that photo today in the Europa Centre. No wonder so many people are booking all inclusive holidays to Gran Canaria so they don't have to spend much when they are here.

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-7423788067849443752009-03-31T12:25:00.005+01:002009-03-31T20:08:07.274+01:00

The pet shops in Gran Canaria are a bit different from those back home. You can get tiny puppies and kittens in the pet shops here, unlike in the UK where I think it's banned (correct me if I'm wrong) and it's fish, fish or... mice. Or Siberian hamsters.The dogs and cats from pet shops here are pretty expensive because they're pedigree. Expect to pay 500€ for a kitten (usually Persian or Siamese)

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-71213037942845239472009-03-31T12:14:00.002+01:002009-03-31T20:08:20.062+01:00

Since I work on a fishing desk I get to do lots of freebies, including parascending. I still think it's overpriced at 50€ (or something like that) considering you get 8 minutes in the air but I'm not going to complain about a freebie!It was quite relaxing up there (apart from when the captain unceremoniously dunked me into the freezing cold sea). I've also done the Big Red jet boat, fishing,

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-24715957537160649322009-03-30T22:30:00.005+01:002009-03-30T22:40:30.751+01:00

This is a really refreshing chilled soup. Gazpacho is quite expensive in the supermarkets here, considering it's mainly made from tomatoes (Gran Canaria used to be one big tomato plantation) so why not make your own at home?Photo by Maria GonzálesYou can fiddle with the amounts. I like to use plenty of garlic in mine. You can serve this healthy gazpacho recipe with bread and alioli or just have a

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-86789957285314267922009-03-30T20:54:00.005+01:002009-03-31T20:08:47.306+01:00

If there is one thing that everyone on holiday in Gran Canaria complains about it's the touts. You can't walk down some streets without getting hassled to buy cameras, flashing Chinese junk, roses or timeshares. Of course the touts don't say "excuse me, would you like to buy a 25,000€ timeshare sir?" You are more likely to hear, "oi mate, you bin to the new shoppin' centre yet?" or "where you

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-7589279836230066072009-03-30T20:21:00.007+01:002009-03-31T20:14:09.730+01:00

If you have been to Gran Canaria you might have noticed the weighing scales on every street (well, not every street but you know what I mean). Nobody seems to be completely sure why we need so many (I pass several every day on my 20 minute walk to work!) but theories include:So that you can check your suitcases aren't overweight and thereby avoid excess baggage charges.So that you can see how

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-7428446602073987002009-03-30T12:58:00.005+01:002009-03-31T20:08:47.306+01:00

I work on a sea fishing sales desk in Puerto Escala, one of the harbours in Puerto Rico. These are the top 5 questions I hear every day:Are you from Gran Canaria then? (Do I look or sound like it?)Do you live here? (No, I fly in from England every morning)Do you like it? (No, I hate it, that's why I've been here 10 years)Don't you get sick of the warm weather? (Er, no).Don't you ever go home? (I

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-79939375038595321802009-03-30T12:40:00.008+01:002009-03-30T20:47:30.233+01:00

I was unlucky enough to have a backache and it lasted for the better part of a week so off I went to the clinic in Arguineguín (pronounced Arr-ginna-gin with hard Gs).Anyway, I got there and there was a big sign saying it had moved. Not the building but the innards - you know, the doctors, nurses, machinary and stuff. So off I hobbled in search of the new clinic. In I went and there was a

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-86690709161623056222009-03-30T12:34:00.006+01:002009-03-30T20:47:41.731+01:00

When my parents were over, my ex and I decided to take them to a restaurant in the mountains. Now, this restaurant was actually carved into a mountain and it was like being on another planet! Everything was carved out of the stone - the tables, bench seats, everything.The staff didn't seem to speak Spanish, English or any other language I could think of so I thought I'd give sign language a go.My

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-875293544064002553.post-45797673175438462882009-03-30T12:24:00.006+01:002009-03-31T20:09:02.478+01:00

Welcome to my humble little blog (soon to become massive and famous...possibly). I am going to write about my life on Gran Canaria, the day to day strangeness which has somehow become the norm for us ex pats and perhaps a few little tips that you might want to bear in mind if you are going to come and visit our little island.

Victoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848152484604121409noreply@blogger.com0