Nature
Visiting the Canary Islands for holidays
Last summer, my family and me decided to travel abroad to pass our holidays. At the beginning, we were looking for amazing places in which we could be interested in. But then, we all settled that we need to choose special spots that captured our attention for more than one reason because you know, when you pay for something like holidays, you undoubtedly will prefer countries you like and where you feel comfortable. Besides, it will be necessary to go to a place where you can do lots of things of interest to you.
A couple of days later, after having seen and appreciated lots of possibilities, we finally took a decision: the perfect place we were looking for was the Canary Islands. Even the time we spent searching information in a variety of online agencies and in general surfing on the Internet was worth it since this archipelago is an unbeatable paradise.
We went to the Canaries in august and we stayed there for fifteen days. We went across all the islands because we thought we had time enough to visited all of them, but the the real fact was that we did not see all the things we would had liked to. There were so many things to do, lots of wonderful areas worthy of admiration and, moreover, delicious food to eat.
We began visiting Gran Canaria, where the Maspalomas Natural Dune Reserve was one of the most incredible landscapes we had seen before. We also went to a tour around some towns and, for example, in Valsequillo we could buy a delightful honey in a specialised shop. The day we did the tour, we accommodated in a country cottage we found on this web. In Fuerteventura, we could relax and sunbathe in the white sand beaches. You should go there! In Lanzarote, we realized of how amazing can be the effect of volcanoes. Then, we went to Tenerife and, as you can imagine, we could not stop going to the Loro Parque and Siam Park, the two most enjoyable parks in the world. In La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, we made the most of their perfect places to walk. We walked lovely paths through which we could see the major townships of them.
We really passed a very good time there and that is why we would like to recommend you the Canary Islands. For my family and me, this archipelago is the best we had visited ever.
FLYING WITH VULTURES
Green Path of the Mountains
Here, among olive trees, QUEJIGOS, holm oaks, LENTISCOS, carob trees, rockrose, rosemary and thyme, the provinces of Seville and Cadiz meet, within sight of the nearby province of Malaga. The train that never ran through the Sierra (which is to the south of Seville and the north of Cadiz) has left space for bicycles, horses, donkeys and hikers whose only wish is to be next to nature. Whether you are walking, riding or cycling, the pace of life falls in with the natural rhythm of the Vía Verde de la Sierra (literally ‘Green Path of the Mountains’). To this green path you need to travel between Olvera and Puerto Serrano, passing through Coripe, Montellano, Pruna and El Coronil.
The Vía is an example of sensible use of our resources. Managed by a public foundation that bears its name, it offers us a complete infrastructure including, as well as viaducts and tunnels which automatically light up as you go through them, four restored stations - one used as a birdwatching centre in Zaframagon and three more as hotels in Coripe, Olvera and Puerto Serrano. These are establishments which allow the traveller to recoup their strength over a visit of several days, spend an enjoyable and active weekend with their partner or family, or savour the flavours of the region in its cosy family restaurants.
FLYING OVER THE RIVERS
The tunnels enable us to cross mountains and the viaducts help us to preserve the ravines and courses of the rivers. There are four viaducts, three of which are to be found in the stretch between Puerto Serrano and Coripe. The one nearest to this small town in the province of Seville is also the longest, measuring 237 metres. The fourth is very near to the crag of Zaframagon and offers beautiful views.
It is also a good idea to pause and listen to the birds singing. Very close to the Coripe viaduct we find one of the most outstanding natural monuments in Andalusia —the Chaparro de la Vega (or ‘Stocky Man of the Plain’), a cork oak of perhaps 700 years old, whose giant shadow still provides a welcome refuge from the sun. A hoary old neighbour in perfect health.
