Monday, 16 November 2009
Monday, 9 November 2009
The Island Through The Decades...
In the 1920s and ´30s the “Jet Set” society came to Gran Canaria by sea!
The journey by cruise ship or sea plane would have taken a lot longer than the four or so hours a flight from most places in Europe takes today.
These early holidaymakers´ destination would have been Las Palmas, the capital in the north of the island. Fashionable new hotels were opening in the district of Santa Catalina...
The most elegant cruise ships of the day would dock at Santa Catalina harbour, including the Queen Mary and the Canberra.
The 1960s and ´70s marked the beginning of the affordable package holiday. Anyone could now fly abroad to seek the sun for a week or two – and a great many did.
Spain was the most popular destination for British holidaymakers.
In those early days of tourism the south of Gran Canaria was an almost untouched rural backwater: a few fincas and tomato or banana plantations, accessible only via dirt tracks or treacherous mountain roads.
But soon the airport at Gando was modernized and development of tourist amenities began at Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas...
... and development moved swiftly along the south coast, transforming the area around Arguineguin and Puerto Rico into a holiday world fit for a king.
Development started in Puerto Mogán in the late 1970s...
...ultimately transforming that tiny fishing settlement clinging to a sheer rock face...
... into what is now known as “Little Venice”, one of the prettiest ports around.
It is immensely popular with tourists, thanks to its tropical good looks and buzzing local life: weekly markets, great restaurants, cozy bars along the seafront, stylish boutiques, a large marina and lively fishing port, the sheltered beach – and of course the fantastic climate, often said to be the best in the world.
Between October and April the temperatures hover around a steady 25°, and you can hardly find room at the inn!
Discerning Scandinavian, German and British holidaymakers have most definitely discovered the charms of Mogán. Sun, sea and magnificent mountains coupled with quality hospitality make it hard to see the point of spending dark frozen winters at home!
The journey by cruise ship or sea plane would have taken a lot longer than the four or so hours a flight from most places in Europe takes today.These early holidaymakers´ destination would have been Las Palmas, the capital in the north of the island. Fashionable new hotels were opening in the district of Santa Catalina...
... and along the famous sandy beach of Las Canteras.
The most elegant cruise ships of the day would dock at Santa Catalina harbour, including the Queen Mary and the Canberra.
The 1960s and ´70s marked the beginning of the affordable package holiday. Anyone could now fly abroad to seek the sun for a week or two – and a great many did.
Spain was the most popular destination for British holidaymakers.
In those early days of tourism the south of Gran Canaria was an almost untouched rural backwater: a few fincas and tomato or banana plantations, accessible only via dirt tracks or treacherous mountain roads.
But soon the airport at Gando was modernized and development of tourist amenities began at Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas...
... and development moved swiftly along the south coast, transforming the area around Arguineguin and Puerto Rico into a holiday world fit for a king.
This being the ´60s and ´70s, the buzz on Gran Canaria was terrific.
The island was a paradise waiting to be discovered: tapas bars and restaurants dishing up the abundant local produce, fresh fish by the boat load…
Of course that whacked-out hippie from ´65 is now your average pillar of society. (Spotted anyone you know in those photos?)
The island was a paradise waiting to be discovered: tapas bars and restaurants dishing up the abundant local produce, fresh fish by the boat load…
There were still areas waiting to be developed back then, like Meloneras, Tauro and Mogán. For now these were the stomping ground of the many hippies who found their way to Gran Canaria, attracted by the sun, the cheap food and drink, and of course a plentiful supply of other commodities from just across the sea in Morrocco.
Of course that whacked-out hippie from ´65 is now your average pillar of society. (Spotted anyone you know in those photos?)Development started in Puerto Mogán in the late 1970s...
...ultimately transforming that tiny fishing settlement clinging to a sheer rock face...
... into what is now known as “Little Venice”, one of the prettiest ports around.
It is immensely popular with tourists, thanks to its tropical good looks and buzzing local life: weekly markets, great restaurants, cozy bars along the seafront, stylish boutiques, a large marina and lively fishing port, the sheltered beach – and of course the fantastic climate, often said to be the best in the world.
Between October and April the temperatures hover around a steady 25°, and you can hardly find room at the inn!
Discerning Scandinavian, German and British holidaymakers have most definitely discovered the charms of Mogán. Sun, sea and magnificent mountains coupled with quality hospitality make it hard to see the point of spending dark frozen winters at home!
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