And whilst the revelry may not be as raucous as Rio, Carnival is still a big noise on islands such as Lanzarote. Spanning weeks of serious partying and effectively closing many businesses and local government offices down. As workers swap their desks for costumes and masks.

Carnival was first introduced to the Canary Islands by the Spanish conquistadors in the 15th Century. As they swept west from Lanzarote to subdue the indigenous Guanche population of the seven islands. And was a tradition that had in turn been inherited from the last days of the Roman Empire.

The purpose of Carnival was to allow people to blow off steam and let down their hair before the onset of Lent. Which spelled 40 days of sacrifice and deprivation. And as such can in fact be viewed retrospectively as a form of social safety valve. Not least as the fiesta also cut across social divisions – allowing all classes to mix on an equal footing behind the cover of costumes.

Today, Carnival in the Canaries retains a strong Latin American influence. Thanks to the fact that the islands were once an important staging post on the trade routes between the Old World and the New. Acting as a place where Spanish galleons transporting Inca gold and silver could off load and refuel. Before transporting African slaves back to South America in the opposite direction. Making the Canaries a melting pot of cultural influences.

Carnival has also retained a strongly anti-authoritarian bent over the centuries – providing people with the chance to deflate and poke fun at both local and international figures. Most usually politicians. Via the medium of intricate costumes that are planned months ahead by hardcore Carnival-goers. Indeed such is the importance of costume that there are numerous shops on each island dedicated solely to the creation of outré outfits for the event.

Excess is the other central pillar of Carnival. And the Coñejeros really leave social reserve at home when it comes to this event. With the streets packed with drunken revellers throughout the night. And such is the scale of the event that many tourists plan their holidays around Carnival. Booking up apartments and hotels in Lanzarote  months in advance.

The central focus of every Carnival in the Canaries is the main procession. Which typically features brightly decorated and cleverly themed floats – backed up with the massed ranks of batacuda drum bands. Which together beat a loud and syncopated path through the throngs of revellers.

These batacuda drum bands practice their rhythms and routines all year round – and once all dressed identically in their carnival costumes create something of a spectacle.

On the eastern most Canary Island of Lanzarote Carnival goes on for weeks. Rolling from one town to the next. The event kicks off in the island capital of Arrecife and runs through until February 25th. Before moving on to the islands main holiday resort of Puerto de Carmen. Where the whole party starts over again from February 26th.

Whilst on Gran Canaria the action starts in the capital of Las Palmas from February 13th through until the 28th. And then in Maspalomas from March 13th.

Add in over ninety great beaches, a unique set of tourist attractions and bearable four hour flights to Lanzarote from both the UK and Ireland and it’s no wonder that the island has become a year round favourite with sun starved Northern Europeans. 

Lanzarote was first conquered by the Spanish crown back in the 1400´s – under the aegis of as Norman noble called Jean de Bethencourt.  For centuries the island was an important staging post between the New World and Spain – with galleons regularly transporting Inca gold and silver via the Canary Island.  Leading to endless incursions from English privateers such as Raleigh and Drake. 

This state of affairs forced the Spanish crown to militarise and reinforce the island during the 1600 and 1700´s – which helped to consolidate Lanzarote´s position as an important outpost of the Empire and further cement the island to Spanish rule. 

During the 1730´s Lanzarote was subjected to the modern worlds longest ever volcanic eruption.  Which lasted for over six years and which buried around one quarter of the island in a sea of lava. 

At the time this cataclysmic event obviously caused widespread devastation and forced many Lanzaroteños to leave their home in search of a new life abroad.  With many thousands emigrating to Latin America and Cuba. 

But today, somewhat ironically, the volcanic region of the island has become Lanzarote´s best known and most popular tourist attraction.  Drawing in close to a million visitors every year.  Who are transfixed by the eerie lunar like landscape created by these eruptions.   

Lanzarote is also an island of contrasts – as heading north from the arid lava fields in the south visitors eventually encounter lush green valleys – such as the Valley of 1000 Palms.  Where villagers once planted one new palm tree for every new born girl and two for a boy. 

Unlike many other parts of Spain that ran headlong into the arms of tourist development Lanzarote remains largely unspoiled.  With no high rise buildings or advertising hoardings scarring the landscape.  And with the island’s three main tourist resorts all well contained. 

This controlled evolution can be attributed to the campaigning efforts of one man – Cesar Manrique.  A well known island born artist and architect who fought against over development on Lanzarote and who also sought to create a unique range of tourist attractions as an alternative to the water parks and golf courses springing up elsewhere in Spain. 

Manrique’s philosophy was to fuse art with nature – which he achieved to stunning effect at sites such as the Jameos del Agua.  Where he converted a 6km long collapsed lava tube into an underground auditorium and concert venue. As a result of his efforts Lanzarote was declared a UNESCO protected biosphere in 1994, the first island in the world to achieve such status.  And has much more to offer visitors than just bucket and spade beach holidays alone.

Being of volcanic origin, Gran Canaria´s 1,560 square kilometres of surface area and 236 kilometres of coastline encompass a great many of the varied landscapes that are found in the archipelago. It is this characteristic, as well as its diverse climatic conditions, which have earned the island its epithet of “miniature continent”. The most unique geographical characteristic of the island is its round shape. The only irregularity in the roundness of the island is a small peninsula in the North-East (known as La Isleta), which is approximately 12 square kilometres in extent and which is joined to the island by a sandy isthmus. The highest point of the island is the peak of Pozo de Las Nieves (1,949 metres above sea level), which is situated right in the centre of the island. The entire island is gouged by deep ravines that radiate from the highest point in the centre right down to the coast line, these ravines being host to a completely different landscape.

Gran Canaria islanders

Being accustomed to the continuous passage of people and cultures that has occurred as a result of the island´s strategic position between three continents, the people of Gran Canaria are known for their hospitality to visitors and their peaceful and kind natures. The island´s famed spring weather throughout the year and its natural resources provide the inhabitants of Gran Canaria with a very high quality of life.

Gran Canaria has the biggest population of the islands in the Canarian archipelago (741,161 inhabitants in the year 2000), while also boasting the most important city in terms of population size and economic activity, namely Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. This is also the most cosmopolitan of the islands (especially the capital, being home to almost half of the population), which is what lends so many special traits to the island, finding expression in its open nature and cultural diversity.

The population of Gran Canaria is young in comparison with that of the rest of the country and Europe, given the fact that the largest part of the population is between the ages of 15 and 45 years, the growth rate of the population being 3.71%, compared with the national average of 0.27%. 

The educational profile of the population is characterized by being on a par with the educational level in any other European country.

A facet of the inhabitants that always intrigues the visitor is their manner of speech, which, despite the fact that it falls within the confines of perfectly understandable Spanish, has also been influenced by the linguistic diversity that was brought to the islands by the continuous passage of foreign visitors through the course of time. For many people, the speech of the people of Gran Canaria is reminiscent of the Latin American dialects, in the sense that both have a sweetness of intonation, while it is also replete with curious practices, such as the use of the affectionate diminutive (Antoñito instead of Antonio) and the substitution of the “c” and “z” by the “s”. In any event, the people of Gran Canaria are very accustomed to foreign languages and one can easily find local inhabitants who have taught themselves to speak and understand many foreign languages.

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Map of Gran Canaria (include informations and map) and the second one is:

Weather in Gran Canaria  (include weather forecasts and weather news)

We will edit that 2 pages and we will add more detailed informations  like maps, satellite views.

http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/69892/gran_canaria_007a.jpg

Every year, on the 8^th of September, the Fiesta de la Virgen del Pino (Feast of Our Lady of the Pines) is celebrated and numerous pilgrims from all over the island come to Teror to pay reverence to the saint. This feast is not only the biggest event in the region – it is also the most important religious festival on the island’s calendar and the celebrations usually go on for one week. The main square Plaza de Nuestra Señora del Pino and the Calle Real de la Plaza Street are lined with splendid historic houses, some of them date from the 16^th century, with lavishly carved wooden and stone balconies. Because of its architectural wealth, in 1979 the entire centre of Teror was declared national monument.Nearby the Basilica you will find the square Plaza Doña Maria Teresa de Bolivar, which was named after the wife of Simón Bolívar – South America’s hero in the fight for independence – whose great-grandfather was born in Teror. To the right of the church is the Casa Museo de los Patrones de la Virgen, a charming building set around a courtyard and furnished in a noble 17^th-century style, displaying paintings, weapons, old photographs and antique furniture representing the lifestyle of the nobles of that time.

Our special recommendation for visiting Teror is on a Sunday morning as there is always a bustling local market going on, where local specialities like chorizo (a soft, spicy pork sausage) and sweets made by the nuns of the Cistercian Order can be purchased.

Airport
Llegadas Comunitarias - Puerta A. Aeropuerto de Gran Canaria
+34 928 574 117 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Calle León y Castillo 17 
+34 928 219 600Agaete
Calle Nuestra Señora de las Nieves 1
+34 928 554 382

Artenara
Camino de la Silla
+34 928 666 102

Arucas
Plaza de la Constitución 2
+34 928 623 136

Firgas
Plaza de San Roque (Casa de la Cultura) 3 
+34 928 616 120

Gáldar
Calle Tagoror 2
+34 928 895 855

Ingenio
Calle Ramón y Cajal (Biblioteca Municipal) 1
+34 928 780 076

Maspalomas Costa Canaria – Mirador
Plazoleta de Jandía - Avda. de Gran Canaria esq. Avda. TTOO TUI
+34 928 769 585

Mogán
Avenida de Mogán
+34 928 560 029

Moya
Calle General Franco 10
+34 928 612 348

San Mateo
Calle Del Agua
+34 928 660 358

Santa Brígida
Calle 18 de Julio 5
+34 928 641 059

Santa Lucía de Tirajana
Avenida de Canarias - Plaza de la Era
+34 928 125 260

Santa María de Guía
Calle Pérez Galdós (Casa de las Artesanías) 24 
+34 928 895 077

Tejeda
Calle Leocadio Cabrera
+34 928 666 189

Telde
Calle León y Castillo 2
+34 928 013 331

Teror
Plaza de Nuestra Señora del Pino 6
+34 928 632 054

Valleseco
Calle León y Castillo 27
+34 928 618 740

Valsequillo
Calle León y Castillo 1
+34 928 570 795

Ayuntamiento de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

• Centralita.- 928 446 000

Gabinete de Alcaldía.-

• Alcaldía.- 928 446 100
• Gabinete de Prensa y Comunicación.- 928 446 110
• Protocolo.- 928 446 107

Grupos políticos

• PSOE.- 928 446 394 / 5
• PP.- 928 446 715 / 446 141
• CLP.- 928 446 392

Áreas de Gobierno

• Presidencia 928 44 6126/6072
• Hacienda y Economía 928 44 6120/6118
• Ordenación del Territorio, Urbanismo y Vivienda 928 44 6201/02
• Organización, Recursos Humanos y Participación Ciudadana 928 43 1690
• Seguridad y Movilidad Ciudadana.- 928 44 6074
• Educación, Servicios Sociales, Deportes y Turismo 928 446 035
• Empleo, Juventud e Igualdad.- 928 446 609/900 713 571 (Igualdad-teléfono gratuito)
• Fomento y Servicios Públicos 928 44 6392
• Desarrollo Sostenible 928 483 980/81/82

Concejalías delegadas

• Agricultura y Ganadería.- 928 673 453
• Vivienda.- 928 446 003
• Participación Ciudadana.- 928 431 690
• Deportes y Carnaval.- 928 446 620 / 928 446 619
• Turismo.- 928 446 619
• Cooperación para el Desarrollo.- 928 289 015
• Empleo e IMEF.- 928 446 609
• Playas.- 928 474 523

Concejalías de Distrito

• Vegueta-Cono Sur-Tafira.- 928 339 588 / 928 339 049
• Centro.- 928 431 690
• Puerto-Canteras.- 928 474 102 / 8
• Ciudad Alta.- 928 289 015
• Tamaraceite-San Lorenzo.- 928 673 453

Institutos municipales

• Instituto Municipal de Deportes (IMD).- 928 446 620
• Instituto Municipal de Empleo y Formación (IMEF).- 928 446 609
• Instituto Municipal de la Vivienda (IMV).- 928 446 003

Consorcios, empresas municipales y fundaciones

• Museo de Néstor.- 928 245 135
• ERELPA, S.A.- 928 446 307 / 9 / 12 13/ 15
• Guaguas Municipales.- 928 305 800
• Hotel Santa Catalina.- 928 295 445
• SAGULPA, S.A.- 928 446 596 / 80
• Sociedad Municipal de Gestión Urbanística de Las Palmas de GC, S.A.- 928 446 600
• Mercalaspalmas, S.A.- 928 717 860
• Sociedad de Promoción de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, S.A.- 928 446 623 / 619
• Gran Canaria Convention Bureau.- 928 261 570
• Auditorio Alfredo Kraus- 928 491 770

Servicios Básicos

• Policía.- 928 446 400
• Bomberos.- 928 446 444 / 928 446 587
• Cementerios.- 928 446 606
• OMIC.- 928 231 422 / 928 231 566
• Alumbrado.- 928 446 936

Centros de Asistencia Social

• Centro de Acogida Gánigo.- 928 264 744
• Centro de Inserción Social La Isleta.- 928 464 297