Travel Located at the same latitude as Florida, Spain’s Canary Islands are closer to Morocco than they are to Madrid. The archipelago boasts an average temperature of 22 degrees Celsius. Lanzarote’s volcanic landscapes, La Gomera’s verdant cloud forests, Fuerteventura’s golden beaches, Tenerife’s yacht-filled marinas and Gran Canaria’s multi-hued buildings with Moorish-style balconies exemplify its diversity. Because no two islands are alike, we wanted to explore as many as possible. We didn’t want to move luggage from one hotel to another, nor did we want to wait for flights and ferries among the sevenmajor islands. We also looked for alternatives to renting cars on each island. Canary Islands cruises vary substantially. Many ships depart from Britain, Spain or Portugal, stopping at several European ports before reaching one, two or three islands in the Canaries. While searching for an exclusive Canary Islands cruise, we found one on the website of GLP Worldwide. This Markham, Ontario tour operator represents Variety Cruises, a Greek line. In 2016, USA Today readers voted Variety as the best boutique cruise line in the world. Our eight-day round trip on Variety Cruises’ Harmony V embarked in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The 25-cabin ship looks like a private yacht. At each port of call, we had three options. We could stay on board, sunbathe or read books on the deck, chat with other passengers in the bar or enjoy the mini-spa. Alternatively, we could go for walks, arrange our own tours with a taxi or take Harmony V’s optional shore excursions. We did all three. Find year-round warmth and a captivating culture in subtropical Europe The Canary Islands Story and Photos by Barb and Ron Kroll 18 | www.snowbirds.org
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