FUERTEVENTURA
I love FUERTEVENTURA. I discovered it 14 years ago. A guy at work was going on about how great it was so to shut him up I decided to go. Christmas 1994. my father had just passed away and I was feeling pretty low and needed a break. I am so glad I took that man’s advice.
I have been back every year since then –sometimes twice a year-. I recommended it to friends and family and now they all go every year too. Why? Well you need to take yourself there to really find out but it is such a perfect place for so many reasons.
It’s the second largest of the Canary Islands but the least populated (there are more goats than people) its about 90 miles long and sort of plough shaped. Its volcanic like the other canary islands with dormant volcanoes all over, And enormous dune areas in the north and south.check out the birds eye views here courtesy of GOOGLE MAPS.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=28.444544,-13.996582&spn=0.693105,1.216736&t=h&z=10
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=28.7207,-13.861313&spn=0.086411,0.152092&t=h&z=13
Inland it’s a bit like the moon (not that I have been to the moon but I have seen the pictures)
Going north from the airport towards CORRELEJIO you suddenly become awhere of the sand on either side of the road and “snow ploughs”?? These are used to clear drifting sand from the highway (you are only 60 miles from the African Sahara desert at this point.). Out of the corner of your eye you catch sight of the bluest sea imaginable breaking on near white sand that stretches for about 7 miles right to the outskirts of CORRELEJIO
If you like sun and sand and lets face it who doesn’t, and if you like a climate that only swings from 70 to 85 deg F all year on the same latitude as Florida but without the humidity, 125 miles of beaches some 8 miles in length. Then its for you.
According to some experts surfing here is the best outside HAWAII. Between the island of los lobos off the coast near CORRELEJIO and the main island where the Atlantic is funnelled into the straights to produce some monster waves. Not for the faint hearted. I just watch in awe from the harbour wall.
When I first visited 14 years ago the airport was just a shack, a nice big shack but still a shack.. This has been replaced by an ultra modern marble and chrome palace of an airport. The roads then left a lot to be desired. Nice smooth tarmac would suddenly give way to dirt track then just as suddenly back to tarmac again like they had run out of money and then found some.
Nowadays it’s all very different, as the islands wealth has been put back into the infrastructure,
The island has seen a lot of development in recent years but it is closely controlled and no more than 2 levels are allowed anywhere and there is a freeze on new buildings till 2012.
The towns have not turned into the tourist nightmare that has befallen some other canary islands. CORELEJIO was a small fishing village and has still managed to retain its charm despite the new development around about..
There are lots of bars and many good restaurants and shops. It’s a really laid back place as islands should be. Its Spanish but with its own feel, sort of South American Mixed with island culture..
Anyway as I said at the beginning I love it. in fact I love it so much I have bought a place there up in CORRELEJIO 5 min walk to the beach in tropical gardens overlooking the 2 pools Check out the view from my balcony.
LOCAL BEACH
Due to work I can only spend 2 or 3 weeks a year there so I let family and friends Use it during the year and any other weeks I let it out via an owner’s site. I have a friend on the island that looks after the details for me.
There is a great resource site where you can find out more about FUERTEVENTURA
Also if you would like to come and stay at my apartment check out the availability at
http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/canaries/C1066.htm
Join the laid back FUERTEVENTURA set and chill out.
One day I will fly there and never come back.
ROGER
