ExploGC

Las Palmas in December always feels like stepping into a living Christmas card, but this year… this year it was pure magic. Millions of lights draped the streets, shimmering across shop windows, palm trees, and balconies as if the entire city had decided to sparkle for us. The evening air was soft, a gentle hint of the ocean in every breath, and from the moment we arrived, the festive atmosphere wrapped around us like a warm hug. 🌆 Walking Through a City of Lights We started our walk in the early evening, just when the sky was turning that deep, velvety blue that makes every light shine even brighter. The streets of Las Palmas were alive. People drifted from one shop to another, families were laughing, and Christmas music floated through open doors. Every corner revealed something new: glowing stars above us, illuminated arches, and trees covered with twinkling fairy lights. As we strolled, we passed display after display—colourful toys, holiday decorations, shining jewell...

There’s a moment every year when Gran Canaria begins to change. When the warm ocean breeze mixes with the scent of roasted chestnuts, when the evenings suddenly sparkle a little brighter, and when the island—already full of colour—adds an entirely new palette of Christmas lights and festive decorations. And every year, that moment seems to come earlier. Christmas on Gran Canaria is getting more visible, more vibrant, and more full of life. This year, it’s everywhere. Truly everywhere. Parque Sur: From Quiet Park to Christmas Wonderland We started the week in Parque Sur in Maspalomas, usually a peaceful place for morning walks, relaxed picnics, or just sitting under the palm trees watching the koi ponds shimmer beneath the sun. But not now. Not in December. The moment we walked in, it felt like stepping into a glowing storybook. Lights wrapped themselves around every tree and lamppost. Gigantic Christmas figures stood proudly on the paths—snowmen, reindeer, angels, and huge ...

Today was Auke Day — a solo adventure across Gran Canaria while Miranda is in the Netherlands. Since I don’t have a driver’s license, the only way to travel was by guagua, and that turned out to be the perfect choice. The buses became my guide, carrying me from the warm south to the cool mountain peaks and all the way into the Christmas lights of Las Palmas. What started as a simple bus ride turned into a full island journey. There are days when Gran Canaria feels small, and there are days when it feels like a whole continent. Today was the second kind — a journey from dunes to mountains, from misty peaks to glowing Christmas streets, all by one of the island’s most iconic companions: the guagua. Leaving the South – The Start of a Long Adventure The day began quietly in Maspalomas, with the morning light still soft over the dunes. I boarded the bus at 9 heading northward, the same old familiar blue-and-yellow guagua that carries stories, locals, tourists, and now — me — on ...