There’s something special about the Canary Islands. These ‘drops of volcanic-mass’ bubbled up from the Earth’s inner regions millions of years ago.

Quite fertile now – though there are still volcanic fissures active in certain parts – “Fire Mountain”, on Lanzarote, for example – the island chain offers a variety of landscapes not seen elsewhere.

I’m attempting to learn Spanish, and this hospitable place offers a gentle playground to practice. The on-phone ‘Duo-Lingo’ App offers a useful and well-structured method of self-paced absorption.

The hotel provides a few ‘Spanish for beginners’ sessions, and a year’s self tuition allowed me to briefly impress our lady tutor – on first meeting. Offsetting that was my getting the last chair around the outdoor table; resulting in my needing to respond – a little like an Alice in Wonderland – from what felt like two feet below everyone else.

If you’re a language teacher, I can recommend this for discouraging lateness…

The islands are gentle, cultural and friendly. We have been to others in the group, before. The island of Fuerteventura is new to us and we can recommend it.

Our ten days is passing quickly. We’ll miss this wonderful place. I’m told it’s a little too warm back home!

©️Stephen Tanham 2026. All photos by the author.