Christopher Columbus and The Canary Islands

 

Who was Christopher Columbus?

Christopher Columbus [Cristobal Colon in Spanish], explorer and navigator, was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy and by the age of 25 made his first voyage into the Atlantic when his fleet was attacked by the French, his vessel set alight, and he had to swim to the nearby Portuguese shore to save his life.

Here he settled, married and had a son. But following the death of his wife, he moved to Spain and took part in several other expeditions to Africa and learned about the currents around the Canary Islands.

Paradores in The Canary Islands

For a complete change, why not consider staying at a one of the Canary Islands' Paradores for a chance to experience another side of Spain other than sun, sand and sangria.

With more than 90 hotels across Spain and the Canary Islands, many of the Paradores [sometimes seen as Paradors] are restored castles, palaces and country houses, or even converted monasteries and convents. Others are more modern and can be found in remote areas of coastline or in national parks.   The Paradores are government owned and due to the current economic crisis being experienced by Spain, this may mean that some or all of the hotels might be sold.

Jardin Tecina Hotel in La Gomera

People who are going on their La Gomera holidays and are booked to stay at the Jardin Tecina Hotel may be concerned regarding the recent forest fire in La Gomera.

We have received a press release as follows:

"Please be aware that Hotel Jardin Tecina and Tecina Golf and Playa de Santiago are fully accessible and the area has not been affected."

The press release also advises that La Gomer has an extensive network of paths [approximately 100] of which 60 are recommended by Tourism of La Gomera and only 25% of these 60 paths have been affected by the fire.  

The La Gomera Tourist Board have said "Both La Gomera and its inhabitants are performing exemplary behaviour in these hard times, showing great strength and working together to recover the unique beauty of the island".

Paradors in the Canary Islands

Did you know that 5 of the Canary Islands are home to a Parador?  Paradors are famous throughout Spain and other countries for their distinctive brand of luxury accommodation and are often converted castles, palaces, fortresses, convents, monasteries and other historic buildings.  Some Paradors are modern, although they are built in traditional styles. Corona Holidays can offer you accommodation in each Parador in Tenerife, La Gomera, El Hierro, La Palma and Gran Canaria.

We will start with the Parador de Canades del Teide in Tenerife.  Located inside the crater of a volcano with views of the summit of nearby Mount Teide, this Parador is located 7,200 ft above sea level and is the only building in the Teide National Park.  Take advantage of its location and beat the queues to the funicular that ferries passengers to the top of Mount Teide.  The Parador also has its own telescope, and holds regular nights for guests to star-gaze.

The Parador de La Gomera can't be matched for its elegance and luxury.  Converted from an old manor house with an interior courtyard and fountain, the wood-panelled walls are hung with colonial paintings.  The interior is packed with maritime references and has navigational instrumentation from the Columbus era [La Gomera was Columbus' last port of call before heading for the New World].  The bedrooms, swimming pool and garden all have fantastic views towards Mount Teide.

El Hierro has a Parador [the Parador de El Hierro] which is next to the sea and is backed by spectacular cliffs and the Roque de la Bonanza.  Many of the rooms have elegant balconies with sea views and the interior has been designed to represent the early history of the island.  In the gardens, you will find dragon trees, coconut palms and a swimming pool.

The Parador de La Palma is a more modern hotel, but designed in accordance with the traditional Canary Islands architectural principles   It is located on a hillside overlooking the sea and has tropical gardens with native plants, fruit trees and walkways.  There are wonderful views of the Atlantic and towards Mount Teide on nearby Tenerife.  Request a room in the east wing to benefit from the sunrise. 

Lastly, there is the Parador Cruz de Tejeda in Gran Canaria.  This is a traditional Canarian building situated in the mountains in central Gran Canaria.  The name comes from the huge stone cross which stands at the entrance to the Parador.  The Parador is famous for its views over the island and benefits from a terrace perfectly placed to watch the sun go down over the Roque Nublo.

So, if you would like to spend part of your Canary Island holiday at one of the Paradors, just give us a call on 0800 5 677688 or send an enquiry and Corona Holidays will be able to help.

Dinner on us at the Jardin Tecina Hotel

Don't forget that if you book to stay at the Jardin Tecina Hotel in La Gomera during June 2010, Corona Holidays are offering you complimentary half board for your stay.

The Jardin Tecina is a lovely 4 Star hotel located in Playa de Santiago, La Gomera.   Located only 50m from the sea on a clifftop, this hotel offers guests tranquility but with all the facilities you would expect from a 4 star hotel. Enjoy spending time in the indoor pool, the two pools with a children's paddling area and making use of the snack bar, sun loungers, parasols, the jacuzzi, sun terrace and sauna. Various sports are on offer including a gym, tennis, table tennis, aerobics, basketball, volleyball, billiards (charges apply), bocce, minigolf (charges apply), diving courses (also for a fee) and squash. The hotel also features a golf course which is only 5 minutes away, while a walk through the hotel gardens also comes recommended.

A 7 night stay from 15 June 2010 in a double/twin superior sea view room is from £295 per person per week with complimentary half board.  Flights are available at a supplement.  If you are interested in this excellent offer, just give us a call on freephone 0800 5 677688 or send us an enquiry.

Brit pair set sail naked from La Gomera

A pair of British girls - Annie Januszewski [aged 40] and Mel King [aged 37] set sail on a 3,000 mile journey from La Gomera to Antigua - completely naked.   They are hoping to beat the current world record of 75 days by completing the journey in just 70 days, arriving in Antigua in February and also they hope to raise £50,000 for MacMillan Cancer Support by the end of the trip.

They originally planned to complete the race in their underwear but then took the decision to strip down the full way. 

The two girls are from Bristol and normally participate in a mixed four team and have been rowing together for 15 years.

Tecina Golf in La Gomera

120 golfers from 24 countries took part in the most important men's golfing tournament in the Canary Islands at Tecina Golf in La Gomera.

The course record was broken on 2 occasions and after 4 days of playing, a Welshman - Rhys Davies - came out on top.  This challenge trophy series is the last stage before entry into the European Tour.  Rhys took away 24,000 euros in prize money.

Tecina Golf is a 6,340 metre long, 18 hole, par 71 golf course, situated on a cliff overlooking Playa de Santiago in the south of La Gomera and the Atlantic Ocean [with magnificent views of Mount Teide in Tenerife].  Designed by Donal Steel, one of the most singular aspects of this course is that it is played down a hillside with a steep incline, providing golfers with a round that is amost continuously downhill.  This means that at every hold, players will find splendind ovean views.

Tecina Golf is only a short walk from the lovely 4 star Jardin Tecina Hotel which is organised in bungalows in the typical style of the Canary Islands.    We have some fantastic offers available at the Jardin Tecina Hotel and if you wish to have a round of Golf at Tecina Golf, this can also be arranged for you.  

Offer at the Jardin Tecina Hotel, La Gomera

The Jardin Tecina Hotel is located in Playa de Santiago, La Gomera in the Canary Islands. Just 50m from the beach and with spectacular view of the ocean and mountains.


We are currently able to offer all customers a complimentary upgrade from bed and breakfast to half board if you book with us for a minumum stay of 7 nights and complete your stay by the 31 October 2009.

From November 2009 we have an additional offer available for customers : It is called "Full Board Plus" and includes:

• Buffet breakfast
• Lunch in Barbacoas Piscina restaurant
• Snacks and ice creams [from 11am to 5pm at the pool bar]
• Selected local and international drinks in all bars and restaraunts [from 10am to midnight] with 30% discount on any drinks not included in "Full Board Plus"
• Pastries, cakes, tea and coffee in pool bar and bar Kristina
• Buffet dinner
• One themed dinner in Restaurant Internacional and one themed dinner in BBQ Club Laurel per guest per stay
• Minibar: complimentary daily replensihment on non-alcoholic beverages
• Sports: tennis, paddle and squash [from 10am to 7pm]

So as you can see, the "Full Board Plus" operates similar to an All Inclusive holiday at the Jardin Tecina [you will be required to wear a bracelet for identification purposes]. If you are interested in taking advantage of this option, please telephone us on freephone 0800 5 677688 or send us an enquiry.

Flights are available from the majority of UK airport to Tenerife and we can arrange your onward journey via ferry over to La Gomera and then direct to the 4 star hotel. If you would like further details just give us a call or send an enquiry. The Jardin Tecina Hotel is one our most popular hotels with our customers - take a look at our hotel description and full offer details.
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