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Hi from Las Palmas!
You might think winter in Gran Canaria is all bikinis and sunshine, but the weather can still be unpredictable.
My morning runs on Playa del Inglés beach have recently been disrupted by strong winds, which blow sand from the famous dunes right into my mouth. Grinding grains in between your teeth while jogging is not so fun, but I did find my cotton COVID-era mask handy for the purpose. Passers-by, hiding their mouths behind scarves and shirts, watched me with what I interpreted as an “oh, what a genius idea!” look.
Well, besides general weather forecasts, I started consulting specialized wind and tide apps for my activities on the island. The good news is that one always seems to be able to find a shelter somewhere.
Just after the New Year, the capital of the Canary Islands was calling with sunshine, so off we went. People enjoyed the main beach of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria despite the quite big waves hitting over La Barra reef. You can check out the atmosphere in this short video.
Okay, waves were not as rogue as that one that hit a megaship in early December, swallowing 50 containers!
Still, climate change is real – a recent study has shown that sea levels around the archipelago have risen 10 centimeters over the past three decades. Scientists believe that, by 2050, the shoreline in Las Palmas will rise 36 centimeters in comparison to mid-2000 levels.
The change might affect even things we nowadays take for granted. For instance, from December to January, Playa de las Canteras hosts Belén de Arena, the world’s largest nativity scene sculpted from sand. Follow the link if you want to see what Bethlehem looks like in the interpretation of sand artists.
I’ve already written about Gáldar‘s nativity routes, where the Christmas miracle can be presented in anything from clay to beach stones. Gran Canaria loves to do holidays differently, so visiting the sand-made manger with baby Jesus just after some suntanning on the beach is not just normal, but also practical.
Well, even Pope Leo XIV announced the other day that he would be visiting the archipelago later this year. His visit won’t be a tourist one (do popes even have swimsuits?), but to show his support for migrants.
The Atlantic route to the Canary Islands is one of the most dangerous in the whole world – in 2025, 1,906 people lost their lives while trying to reach these shores in inflatable boats or wooden rafts, searching for a haven, similar to what the Holy Family was doing two millennia ago.
Not everyone looking at the Spanish beach sees a promised holiday land, where one is bothered by days being too sunny, or too windy, or too… Some travelers to Gran Canaria only seek a better life, so desperately that they are prepared to risk it.
Sadly, just like in the case of Belén de Arena’s artworks, some of us don’t get to witness the miracle. One day, a promised salvation, the other – just grains of sand sipping through our hands.
Have a safe week,
Ivan Kralj
Pipeaway.com
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