Some island cruising - The Canaries and Sicily, then Milan

[RooFlyer]

In the cathedral, you can take an elevator up the tower for 4 euro - bargain! You get views over the town and offshore.









The cathedral has had a long history:

Construction began around 1497 by order of the Catholic Monarchs; however, due to a lack of funds, work had to be halted in 1570. The church's long history has resulted in a combination of styles as distinct as the late Gothic of its interior and the Neoclassical of its exterior. Its façade is its most distinctive feature. The 17th century and the first half of the 18th represent a long hiatus, until the arrival in Gran Canaria of Diego Nicolás Eduardo , a canon from Tenerife , who had learned the rudiments of architecture during his time in Granada and Segovia . This clergyman then decided to continue the building. Instead of following the prevailing Neoclassical style, he extended it to the current apse using Gothic structures, thus maintaining the uniformity of the work.

The cathedral had two major construction phases, one from 1497 to 1570 and the other from 1781 to the present day.

 

[Pushka]

That Sahara dust storm wrecked havoc in Greece, Athens in particular. This week on the news they showed areas of red lakes and it closed the airports for a couple of days. Not a usual one it seems.

And that hotel looks amazing. A random piece of luck.

 

[RooFlyer]

Close to the Cathedra is Casa Colon - Columbus House.

The current configuration of the building stems from the integration of several dwellings, one of which is part of the supposed former Governor's House, which Christopher Columbus is believed to have visited during his first voyage in 1492 to request assistance in repairing the Pinta .

The back of the Cathedral, apparently the oldest part



Then wandered the old town. Many solid, functional buildings, built of basalt blocks and rendered, beautifully preserved.









I fell in love with this row of buildings. I couldn't see that they were anything special, except for the busts of several notables, but I thought it would be wonderful to live in (for a short time)

 

[RooFlyer]

Back to the hotel, check-out at 1pm, and then three hours in and around the pools until a taxi to the cruise port (there being no Uber on the island). It was only about 25-28 degrees. Perfect.,



Staying hydrated (sort of). Costs within the hotel not as high as you'd think. 10 euro for a G&T.



Lunch of avocado toast. I think it was 12 euro.



Up to the rooftop pool.





Le Bougainville there in the blue.