The Myth of the Canaries

"Oh, if I could sell (books, oranges, computers, wigs, corners, and other junk) by the truckload, I'd be living in the Canary Islands long ago... [wistfully]." I've heard this phrase from my compatriots more than once or twice. It's hard to say why, but the Canary Islands have developed a strong reputation in Russia as a "rich man's paradise." A kind of "iconic place" on the planet. It's even a bit awkward to admit to your neighbors that you're going on vacation to the Canary Islands. They'll immediately look at you with understanding and ask you for a loan.

Meanwhile, this is a myth. Canary Islands – the southernmost and perhaps the cheapest place in the eurozone. These seven large and several small volcanic islands are part of SpainAccommodation and food prices here are more than reasonable. Suffice it to say, a five-liter bottle of red table wine can be purchased for just over four euros. And a double apartment can be rented for around 100 euros a week. Where else in the Eurozone have you seen prices like these? Car rental and gas are also significantly cheaper here than on the mainland.

History of the Canary Islands. The Mysterious Guanches.

This archipelago has been known to Europeans since ancient times. References to the islands can be found as far back as Pliny the Elder. Before the Spanish conquest of the Canary Islands, they were inhabited by the Guanches: tall, white, fair-haired people who knew nothing of iron or navigation. Today, tourists are told countless legends about these tribes, but distinguishing fact from fiction is practically impossible. After all, the Guanches themselves are no longer alive: they were partly exterminated, partly assimilated. The main surviving documentary source, "The Canarian, or the Book of the Conquest of the Canary Islands...," has very little written about the natives. The Guanches are considered one of the most enigmatic peoples on the planet. It's unclear where they came from in the Canary Islands, why they weren't able to navigate, or why they had anything resembling a written language (the little that survives has yet to be deciphered), but their weapons and tools were made of stone, suggesting that otherwise their development corresponded to the Stone Age. Legends circulate that Guanches of various tribes easily swam the distances between islands (tens of miles) and that they communicated in a special whistling language audible from several kilometers away. Conversely, some tribes had a silent language, where interlocutors understood each other solely by lip movements. You'll probably also be told of a strange custom: fattening girls up to a weight of over a hundred kilograms before marriage: thin brides were supposedly not valued here. Believe it or not, such stories have a right to exist, if only because they arouse the interest of tourists. And, as usual, there's no smoke without fire.

America was baptized with the waters of the Canary Islands

After the conquest of the archipelago, it became a natural staging ground for even more distant sea voyages and conquests, a bridge between the Old and New Worlds. It was here, "at the ends of the earth," that Columbus's ships made their final stop before their long voyage. Back then, it truly was the ends of the earth: since the time of Ptolemy, the prime meridian has passed precisely here on many maps. On the island La Gomera a well with the inscription "With this water America was baptized" has been preserved. And in the opposite direction: it was in the Canaries that potato, before reaching Europe. It's still considered a national dish there. And Mexican cacti grow everywhere in the Canary Islands.

Economy of the Canary Islands

What do people do here? The Canary Islands are fairly densely populated. Their economy has gone through several "eras." The Age of Sugar. Unfortunately, in the 16th century, forests were cleared to make way for sugarcane plantations, which was not at all beneficial to the local ecosystem. The crisis in this industry was linked to the colonization of America, where sugar production proved cheaper. The Age of Wine. Canary wines were prized in Europe, but a locust plague and increased competition in the industry led to a decline in exports. The Age of Cochineal. These insects were used to make an expensive dye called carmine. Advances in chemistry and the advent of synthetic dyes led to the decline of the industry. The Age of Bananas. A variety of small but sweet bananas was brought here from China; today, it is the most important branch of the archipelago's economy. Finally, the Age of Tourism. But each successive era did not completely negate the previous one. And today, both carmine and wine are produced in the Canaries. The local population here is not only occupied with serving tourists, as is often the case in resort areas.

The unique climate of the Canary Islands

Perhaps the most amazing thing about the Canary Islands is their climate, said to be the best on Earth. They're called the islands of eternal spring. On the one hand, they're close to the equator, just a few degrees from the Tropic of Eternal Spring. To the east lies the scorching Sahara, but all around lies the cool Atlantic Ocean, with temperatures of 20-22°C and a constant, fresh breeze. As a result, it's hot in the sun, but cool in the shade and at night. And the change of seasons is barely noticeable here. Winter, of course, brings more rain, and the summit of Mount Teide... Tenerife (the highest point in Spain) is usually painted white. But you can come here for a holiday at any time of year, even on New Year's.

Endemic to the Canary Islands

The unique climate creates a unique flora. Of course, colonizers brought plants here from all over the world and cleared the forests. But still, about half of the nearly two thousand species of flora are entirely indigenous. Plants such as the dragon tree, Canary Island pine, and Teide echium are widely known symbols of the Canary Islands. The ancient laurel-heather forest on the island of La Gomera has been designated a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Furthermore, the Canary Islands are completely free of animals dangerous to humans. Snakes, for example. Harmless lizards are everywhere, but snakes and predators are absent. It is said that feral cats have now taken over the predatory niche on some islands. But who's afraid of a cat? Perhaps the Guanches abandoned navigation because the sea was the only source of danger here? Why go to sea when food is plentiful and there are no other risks? True, in those days pirates sometimes sailed here for slaves, but they also sailed from the sea.

We are looking for a plane to the Canary Islands

The unique climate, flora, diverse landscape, volcanoes, history, sports, and beach holidays attract tourists from all over the world to the Canary Islands. The diversity of the islands allows you to visit them repeatedly without fear of a boring vacation. Add to this a high standard of living, European culture, and currency, and… go search online for convenient and cheap flights. Unfortunately, this is where things can get tricky in our country.