Inside The Canary Islands Incredible And Varied Landscape | Hidden Canary Islands

they exist at the threshold of history on the precipice of a dream rising out of the ocean almost without warning endless golden beaches leading to Lush vibrant rainforests and then sliding into another world of almost Barren terrain this almost insane combination of topography melds a continent's worth of Landscapes temperatures culture and experiences and it's all within eight small Islands I came here in search of history of culture and tradition unchanged by travel or Travelers these are the Islands in the Stream separated from the rest of the world and yet accessible to those who know and a destination where you can explore immerse and literally breathe if Mother Nature lets you I'm Peter Green ber and this is hidden Canary [Music] Islands they were formed millions of years ago as the violent volcanic forces of the earth fought their way out of the depths of the ocean and broke free to the surface birthing one by one an archipelago 70 Mi off the northwest coast of Africa an entirely new land untou touched by civilization though the forces of humankind would eventually prove to be just as powerful as nature in shaping these islands Destinies it's believed the first human settlers paddled over from Africa around 2,000 years ago and slowly spread across all of the islands but it was in the 1400s with the bloody arrival of Spanish conquerors that the modern course of the Canary Islands was set by the end of the 15th century they became part of Spain making Spanish the language of the land and it was Christopher Columbus's last port of call before setting out to accidentally discover a new world intrinsically linking the canaries and the Caribbean and eventually making the islands a jumping off point for travel to the Americas but ironically today the Canary Islands are a mystery to most Travelers who are unfamiliar with the location or even the meaning of the name derived not from the bird but from the Latin word for dog [Music] canaries because of its location and year round temperate climate it's a regular vacation destination for many Europeans but as you look closer at these islands past the beaches and Resorts you find Rich cultures shaped by the diverse blend of its residents who think of themselves as having a European mind and a Caribbean soul I started my journey near the middle of the archipelago in Tenerife this is the largest of the Canary Islands and the most populated it exemplifies the Canary's reputation for permanent good weather earning the nickname the island of Eternal spring it's the most visited island and has sometimes been called the Cancun of Europe Travelers hopping on a short flight to head directly for a Beachside hotel and as beautiful as those beaches are some Sandy gold some black from the volcanic soil that's not where you're going to find the sole of tene it's in the land outside of the capital and in Tenerife it's not just what's on the island but what surrounds the island it's the ocean you can wh watch here and there are companies that will do that for visitors but you can find a more private experience one with a purpose with her company wellwise ecotours Mercedes Rees brings travelers to these waters west of Tenerife an area officially accredited as a whale herited site it's a program that recognizes destinations that practice responsible and sustainable whale watching piece of cake literally right there for Mercedes that means powering a boat with as small of a footprint as possible her boat's equipped with a combination of solar panels and low CO2 and Electric engines in addition to cameras and a whole array of state-of-the-art Technology even with all that equipment you never know when you're going to find the whales yeah that for that we need our eyes one3 of all the Wes and dolphies of the species of world can be seen here we are next to a main migration route a main current of the ocean everybody's coming through here everybody's coming we have the nice restaurant in the middle of the the highway oh right here I'm I'm and a baby you can't beat that yeah and today the first animals we spotted were Dolphins right there right there here they come here they come whoa wor hello they came to say hi yeah they're playing with us now as we approach the spot where the whales frequently hunt for squid you just shut the engine down go into electric the silence takes over and then listen for the sound of the water spouting from the whales and you look for the fins breaking the surface that's the only sound you hear Look Peter there they are right St ahead they just came out of the water right there yeah they're resting on the water you see them this is not just a typical tourist photo op you're part of something bigger than that you're an active part of a research operation here we are collecting data for for many projects here for the government and our own project basically there's so much things that we want to do but we're focusing on conservation first as part of the data collection you even get the chance to EAS drop on the whales conversation this is the hydrophone it's going to pick up the sounds of the waves and now we can listen you hear that yeah yeah and those are the juveniles talking yeah and they when they repeat the signal it could be mother cal um coling it's a whale boom box [Music] yes and I think they're even calling my name so we headed back near the shore where it was safer for me and the animals so I could take a closer look at the wildlife in this amazing underwater [Music] world but the truth surprise of Tenerife is actually an unavoidable one just about everywhere you are on the water at the beach in the forest you find yourself looking up at the largest mountain in Spain this is Mount Tada it's soore so high that a sea of clouds forms below it and it's the central feature of T National Park the source of the untouched lava flows hardening and layering together to create the this stunning landscape it is this alien-like terrain that has made taty national park the most visited site in the canaries but the locals know when to go that's when the sun sets and the tourists leave by day it's imposing but by night it hides a bigger secret this is an officially designated Starlight destination in reserve one of the finest places on Earth to view the clear Dark [Music] Skies so quiet yes the end of the day we can discover The Sound of Silence Juan Le Desma a local astronomy teacher brought me to a quiet pocket of the park called the San Jose mines where the terrain transports you to other worlds this is really about as close as you can get to a moonscape or even Mars the landscape of the National Park is so similar to Mars that they feel tested The Rovers here preparing to explore the distant red planet but here the celestial bodies feel very close the day has gone and just we can see Venus and Jupiter two planets overhead with a neged eye NE eye of course and Juan had an array of technology to bring us even closer astronomical binoculars oh my God A specialized astrophotography camera so you can see all the craters yeah and even some of the old Seas right yeah surrounding the craters and dosani and Telescope optimized for viewing faint distant objects tonight we can see a planet Jupiter it's amazing because it's like a bright dot oh yeah yeah in the center of the IES where we are right now is ideal for dark sky viewing yes most of days we have clear skies in this one spot you can see the majority of the 88 constellations both northern and southern hemispheres and mostly everything else in the heavens as well the International Space Station is just rising from the south there it goes he's moving fast he's moving so fast about 15,000 M an hour so so never gets old right no what are the lessons that you learn here when you come out here what has it taught you we are not in the center of the universe we must be humble once you put it in perspective you realize how small you really [Music] are just a short plane ride away is a continent in miniature grand Canaria from the moment you land you can't miss the different differing Landscapes microclimates and yes different cultures you can attend a symphony in the city while just a few miles away residents are living in caves keeping old traditions alive what sets Gran Canary apart is the Cosmopolitan capital of Los Palmas the most populated city in the canaries in one corner of the city is the Oldtown neighborhood theetta here the Spanish influence is so strong it feels feels like you're walking through a European city and who better to be my guide than someone born and raised here like Hermon Lopez who has gone on to become a world-renowned musician and I think to grow up in a place like this is is very special because you have a at at the same time you you live in a small town in a small place but the Canary Islands are very connected with Europe and America so you live in a small place but your influences are huge the templ was born out of the canaries as is the music Hermon plays on it the islands Inspire him as a performer and even though he travels the world he always comes back home I I play the team play a small guitar a local instrument but the music I feel is international music he took me to one of his favorite places Santana Square this is one of the most beautiful places in the city and look at this we Cathedral wow what a building yeah it's wonderful and tucked around the corner is a site of great significance to us here in the Americas this is a very important building in this city because it's the the last place where Christopher Columbus left to the new world this is the last place he was yeah so this is very important for us and it's a very beautiful one it's magnificent yeah but it has a different significance for Hermon this was the location of his first concert and since he takes his instrument everywhere he goes it was only fitting for a Repeat Performance you know that the first time never [Music] forget the music that comes out of the small little string instrument is delicate it's soothing it's enchanting and then you give it a sense of place as to where you're listening to it in and uh it takes on new meaning that was beautiful thank you very much Herman has been a gifted player since he was a child but you're never too old to start learning yeah I put it on and I know that look to your eyes I know that you are a great musicians try a a duet Let Go wow did I do okay yeah a great student you are a great student my best total [Music] liar on the outskirts of Las palas is an unusual Urban Beach a 2-mile stretch of golden sand lined by a Boardwalk full of cafes and restaurants here's where you'll find the longtime locals mixed in with the newly arrived digital nomads who discovered they can work from anywhere and also play from right here we decided that living in a city and being stuck down to one place when you could be out here on the [Music] beach this a Small Town neighborhood of Las palalas where everybody's connecting to the beach it's connected to the lifestyle it's connected to the surf born and raised steps away from the beach gual Morales Matos knows just about everybody here and he also knows what attracts them this be is unique in the world because you have a reef a barrier when the low tie goes down it's like a massive swimming pool kmo has created the perfect lifestyle for himself to work and play all at the same time running paddle board [Music] classes if you want the best experience on Grand Canaria all you have to do is ask meet the locals meet the culture we have Beach we have the people the people from gr Canary and the whole Canary Island have a really warm heart they will hack you they will kiss you and yeah it's the place to be it's the place to be well it's certainly one of the places to be out here on Elo it feels like you reached the end of the world it's the Western most Canary Island the farthest from Mainland Spain and it feels remote even from its neighboring Islands ELO is quiet more rural but the natural beauty is no less Magnificent the gnarled juniper trees shaped by years of Trade Winds Bonanza Rock rising out of the water the pathways winding through forests here at the world's Edge ELO is working towards creating its own own Brave New World and for all its residents of all sizes the name giant lizards of Elo may make you think of something well Giant and they are relatively speaking roughly 3 lbs bigger than other species in their lizard family but even more remarkable than their size is their comeback [Music] story well roisa was risc discovered in 19 1975 pretty recent yeah but that they near the extinction like a real life Jurassic Park Miguel Rodriguez runs the center for the recovery of the ELO giant lizard the mission to undo Humanity's past destruction the facility is nestled at the base of the mountains that the lizards call home VAP the original inhabitant of the islands F so they used to eat them all yes and now and now the problem are the the fats the principal predator so they're eating them yes they had once thrived all over the island but in addition to over hunting the lizards had their habitat destroyed by the Spanish Invaders they're still endangered yes of course yes in 1985 their rescue began using science to make this nearly extinct species roam the earth once again right now we have an ambitious recovery program where we release the lizards into their former habitats here the lizards are studied and bred in captivity in addition the center is open to the public so visitors can learn about the giant lizards up close and in person okay back at the center I was invited to assist in the lizard intake process starting with measuring and weighing whoa it's one thing to observe an animal it's another thing to participate in its preservation 439 439 okay I'd never handled an animal like that before okay and I certainly had never inserted an electronic chip like that before how far do I go down behind the sking okay right there okay right there okay yeah yeah okay okay perfect that's it we got it yeah okay it was pretty wild ladies and gentlemen lizard GPS in Miguel's 25 years on the island he's seen the population of giant lizards grow from 100 to 800 but the work must continue to make them self sustaining at the moment they depend on us the idea is that in the future they can reproduce on their own and survive without the help of humans this is the ultimate goal to set them free as proof that the population is growing here's one more lizard that's ready for life on the outside who he's gone [Music] the great beauty of Elo is what surrounds it endless rugged rock formations birthed by lava flows and shaped by the Relentless pounding [Music] waves one of the more striking spots along the water is called Charco bazul or blue puddle an untouched natural pool protected by lava barriers from the crashing Waters though there are just a few Travelers who've come to taken the natural beauty today I have my side set on a smaller wonder and at low tide they reveal themselves limpets small sea creatures scraped from the rocks by locals Alejandra Morales has been Gathering limpets here all his life and I wanted to join him I mean I really wanted to join him because it was quite the journey to get to meet him a man of few words but years of wisdom and experience Alejandra led me down to an even more challenging route towards the Rocks where we'll finally find those limpets so it's that like a clam or a muscle it's the muscle is is is the in is the [Music] delicacy oh just like that he's like he's like this yes wow so you can eat these raw yes it's very very sweet it's okay it's okay not bad yes on the half shell you've heard of farm the table how about rock to table Alejandra prepared a moo sauce for an outdoor grilling experience starting with some garlic then parsley adding some olive oil then grinding it to a paste filling the grill with limpets and adding the moho and now light it up the wood's right from a key a key yeah yes recol with already sizzling yeah very very fast that was good not too hot yeah wow delicious delicious a scallop it's a muscle it's a clam and it's right here in Elo it's the the life it is the light for my next Island I chose to go by ferry to laama tucked in the northwest corner of the archipelago as you approach from the East the island looks beautiful and Serene but hidden behind the Mountain Ridge on the Island's Western half the scene is anything but peaceful [Music] back in 2021 the initial news reports were both Vivid and shocking the first volcanic eruption in the canaries in 50 years it's awe inspiring and it's frightening but how do you understand this put it in context I connected with local volcanologist ner Sanchez Jimenez she's been studying volcanoes like this for years in fact this is her life it's one thing to know that you are living in a volcanic island it's another thing is to realize that you have a volcano under your feet and that volcano is expanding the size of the island foot by foot it's a Marvel of Nature's power that also brings great destruction yes the volcano erupted in one place where there are lot of houses more than 1,000 houses has been destroyed but also I think there are more than 8,000 people that has been evacuated my God it's one thing to watch something erupt it's another thing to hear it people are really surprised for the sound of the volcano some days ago the volcano was doing like a noise like boom boom boom boom all the time it is uh so surprising and some sometimes it's Bing yeah we don't know when it is finishing but I would like that people realize that the the destruction of the volcano the consequences and maybe the opportunity for the future and for NZ in addition to learning about the volcano she's also found Insight on the people of La Palama when people have lost everything H you talk with them and they still say that well this is uh things happen and we have to to to stand up again and go on so I think this is the most important thing the ash blanketing the ground has temporarily dulled some of La Palma's natural beauty some of the greenest luscious areas of the canaries the sloping Hills the pine trees clinging to the mountain sides that contrast with the baron VES on the southern half of the island at top the mountain ridges a series of telescopes take advantage of La Palma's minimal light pollution to scan the heavens including the largest optical telescope in the world down by the water much of the coastline is Rocky attracting only scattered beachgoers and overall laama is one of the least visited of the Canary Islands relying heavily on agriculture for its economy and Industry heavily impacted by the recent volcano this is amazing this is all Ash yes we stay near more than 6 kilomet from the volcano all the days have something like this over the cars over the plantation the Volcan affect all the island but still you're growing bananas yeah Fran garas is a farmer at one of La Palma's 5,000 banana plantations which account for nearly 30% of the Island's economy and if you ask the right person they're all too happy to share what makes Canary and bananas different from any others in the world so this is all the bananas yes this is the banana under the banana leaves one of the biggest leaves in the earth these plants needs a lot of water about 20 L per day is a big plant and grows so quick but why do they grow so well here good sunand good water and good minerals for nutritional plants these bananas are so sweet so nutritive bananas and so tasty on top of the great growing conditions the banana require a little personal care and you just might get enlisted to help we need cat with a little knife all these flowers one by one by H one by one one by one every banana gets this personal touch and maybe that's why the people on this island insist they're the tastiest bananas in the world though it may also be because this trrain of banana has a much higher percentage of sugar but these bananas are also challenged all that sweetness disappears if the Banana's skin is damaged by volcanic ash we can see the ashes we move the plants oh my goodness to fool down does it hurt the bananas yeah destroy the skin normally in this Society we eat by the ice the banana skin half a lot of damage is not useful for the market and the ash isn't the only problem the lava has burned through hundreds of Acres of plantations and cut off essential irrigation systems the lava destroy the pipes destroy and we haven't got water in the other side then the bananas are so dry between destroyed land and ruined crops the volcano has caused an estimated $16 million in damage to Lama's banana industry affecting one out of every three plant be careful with the ashes oh this is the volcanic problems if you're picking bananas you're picking ashes too wow yeah 60 kilog so and so about no kidding for those who depend on bananas for their livelihood they persevere with their backbreaking work even in the face of a volcano thanks Peter whoa love oh the first one [Music] okay that was one yeah it went of then and that is a shower so the hope is that the ash won't be falling as you're watching this there's a good chance the eruptions may have ended but beneath these natural wonders of La Palma there remains a volcano just waiting to erupt [Music] again it has always been difficult to reach the island of Lera the Steep hillsides that greet you upon arrival look inhospitable and indeed Lera was mostly cut off from the other islands and the World At Large until the 1950s when the construction of a pier opened the door to Travelers but the true cultural distinction of Lera was born out of its isolation and distinctly challenging terrain the rugged soaring Cliffs and deep valleys may make for beautiful photo ops but imagine what it must have been like before cell phones or even landlines for that matter to communicate over distances as far as 3 miles away Village to [Music] Village well that's where the ancient language of siloa comes in there are a handful of other whistling languages in the world but none as developed as [Music] this the whistle translat spoken words into the whistled language we are not whistling a code but we are whistling in Spanish it was very important to the people in the islands because it prevented them from walking long distances things that would take a 2-hour road trip could now be done in a matter of seconds Juan Manuel teaches this old traditional communication art form to school kids all over the island thein whistle is mandatory in all schools on the island from the first grade of elementary school to the fourth grade of high school thanks to that we have a high level of whistling among the students and a high percentage of whistlers I came in just in time to catch a whistling class in [Music] progress what is this and what looks easy trust me it's not for your finger like this okay yes the know my grandfather but you need to put the the points more into like this yeah stop that laughing today those born before 1950 were taught by the elders at home but due to the advancement of modern conveniences the language almost died out is important to preserve the whistle if we do not teach it to the younger people today the older people the ones who still know the whistle will eventually disappear and so will the Whistle the idea is that these new generations will continue to pass the knowledge on to the Future generations and thus preserve this almost hidden language would you like to say something my oh sure you have a very beautiful island it's one thing to make a sound it's another thing to understand what they're saying I failed at both I am a bad [Music] Whistler if you want to try your hand and mouth learning silbo there are a few oldtimers left that are all too happy to show you how it's done to learn it and respect it which means you like the gomea do I like gomea I love go all [Music] right the main activity on Lera is hiking and people travel from all over the world to explore Gan National Park a lush Forest blossoming out of the volcanic soil and nurtured by the Flowing Springs and streams laera is pure nature it's so clean there's no pollution and not that many people know about it no no which is a good thing so this is your special place yes it's my magic Enchanted Forest there are very very few American expats on this island Karen Summers is one of them she's found her own very special separate piece here and she's happy to share it of how a woman from Detroit shows up as an acupuncturist in the middle of this island about 25 years ago I came to visit my mother on holiday cuz my mother's English and she was living in tener I got to the island and they're just you've seen the air the light it's they're magicals I just had to come back and stay and you've been here ever since yes even when I thought okay I'm leaving I'm going somewhere else I always come back within minutes of talking to her you understand completely why she fell in love here and even more importantly why she stays here you're always in contact with nature where I live right now it's like 5 minutes I'm on the beach 20 minutes I'm up in the mountains I'm not here for the night life for the discotex there isn't any I'm here for this the nature to be able to walk in the [Music] forest and what gets me is the quiet there's no sound other than the stream yeah exactly exactly I mean stop a [Music] second that's it for Karen Lera became her Destiny simple as that so do you know when I was studying in San Francisco I used to Doodle all day on my notes palm trees and beaches and I wanted to go live on an island where I could go snorkling in the morning and hiking in the afternoon and a friend phoned me the other day I hadn't seen in years and she said Karen you did it you know what I think you did I think I did I know you did Sitting the closest to Africa Shore is ferto Ventura the second largest of the island the locals here will argue that it's got the finest beaches in the canaries and if you don't like the beach then you better love the desert because it's everywhere the name for Ventura has two accepted translations strong Adventure fitting for those who dare to explore the aid Island interior or strong wind and that wind is used to drive technology both new and old at the end of this dusty road resides a still functioning windmill L Molina Amada the blades turning a giant Millstone are used to produce goio a grain roasted and ground into a toasty flow that has nourished canarians for thousands of years the man who owns it is Francisco Cabrera oras about the last of his kind being the last and only goio windmill owner in the world I am the last one who still maintains his tradition and Legacy Francisco has mastered this centuries old technology and assisted by Andre yanu he's able to respond perfectly to the everchanging winds and Francisco does what he can to bring that wind every time I get the windmill started I pray to God I feel there's someone helping me move forward and even giving me good wind today MOS goio is made in factories but Francisco is dedicated to preserving the old ways I want to share this Legacy that our ancestors shared with me to ensure that it is not lost goo can be made with wheat but today we're using locally grown corn and before it can be ground it first has to be toasted but remember this is old school using very old school equipment all done by hand to help heat up the toasting pan and he adds a thin layer of sand the sand absorbs humidity from the cereals that's why it's so important more more more okay A stir okay a thing of feeling because not you you burn everything W and this is the last part of course we don't want to eat the sand we want to cook the sand but not to eat the sand a shake this is ancient popcorn smells like popcorn and a po ah okay I got two thumbs up now okay there's a lot to be said for old school this is old school on parade this is the way they've been doing it for hundreds of years and it's nice to see they still are when the wind is good for grinding I load the hopper with grain and open the shuttle and the grain starts feeding down slowly and falling onto the stone and when it is grinding I need to touch the GOI so that I ensure it has the ideal texture it's something that I share with anyone who comes nearby and if you time it right you might just get dessert it's called P Theo can put a little bit go inside oh M M M add a little water that's called shaking the stomach I got you exactly a little oil shaking shaking shaking some sugar and here comes the surprise move and this you know you have to put it on your leg you mix it on your leg and the heat of your leg and so you mix it on your leg exactly oh my leg is feeling good it's like plusted in like yeah what is the result of all this hard work my first pay of the goio and with a few Cuts sweet it's good it's sweet toast it's it is [Music] Toasty it doesn't get more artisanal and authentic than this the same wind that powers this Mill also endlessly sculpts the park in natural deas dunis de Coro the largest sand dunes in the canaries coming in at more than 6 miles long and more than a mile and a half wide rumor has it that the sand was blown here from Africa and the Sahara desert but that story Still Remains an island myth another rumor that there's so much sand here they invented another way to use it welcome to Lucha Canaria a form of folk wrestling that exists only in and among the Canary Islands the earliest natives started it and the first written record of it was around Columbus's time today it remains a major draw amongst the locals right now it's a big boom it's like like went through years here in FL most you like see yeah 200 300 400 people in a match and now you can get up to 3 4,000 people in an entire Stadium it's it's crazy it's crazy Jake Fuller is one of those upand cominging Stars interestingly enough not a native Canarian my parents moved here from England when I was 6 years old they used to go to the schools and they used to do like little exhibitions of showing the kids what Lucha are is I tried it there and I liked it and from there I'm still doing it today he proudly wrestles for the feder de Lucha for the Ventura where I stopped by at a wrestling practice I've seen my share of wrestling both professional and fixed this is a whole different [Music] approach and Jake was all too happy to share with me the finer points of Canarian wrestling how are J hey perfect yeah this is uh quite a sport yes and why is this different from other kinds of wrestling if you compare it to the American one saying where is here you're always in contact if you can see you're only touching the sand with your bottom of your feet once your knees your hand something touches the sand you're the minute you hit the sand you're done you're done so at the end of the day if you're removing sand from orifices of your body you're you're a loser yeah one thing's watching it one thing's trying it so why don't you go and get suit up I'll wait for you in the center you want me to do this I want you to be in the center with [Music] me nice all right I've been challenged and I guess I couldn't refuse but I had no idea what I was in for do not kill me no don't V me all right so what are we doing okay now left arm to always on the on the track on yours right there on this one now you come down but this arm you can either get the other side or you can come up to the to my back if you want however you you can do that anything but you always got to be stick your shoulder to my shoulder let me go Jake gently walked me through the uh the basic technique of this kind of wrestling oh oh I didn't know about that yeah you can but it didn't prepare me for how fast it was going to be before I was eating sand oh but this is the the thing you got up this is a perfect example of trying something out of your comfort zone although I've got to warn you you're also going to immerse yourself in the sand I think I have to thank Jake for being a really good sport and not putting me in orthopedic surgery I'm going to quit Ling to the north of Fort de Ventura sits Lanzarote the easternmost island in the canaries in the 1700s the island was rocked by devastating eruptions and the carved severe landscape still reflects its volcanic past at the coast water splashes over lanzer's distinctive black Pebble beaches but there is also life that Springs from this blackened soil in the laeda valley of lanzot you'll see these bizarre semicircle structures these are wind barriers to protect the in Vineyards unlike any other in the world but even after the annual harvest the work never stops Daniel Martin at Los BOS Winery has the labor intensive job of kickstarting the next Harvest this is the first grave look at that it's really amazing that Anything Grows From the Ashes we are in the middle of the volcano of larot in 1730 to 1736 all of these volcanoes are up and cover all of this part with the volcanic Aces prior to those eruptions Lanzarote had green fertile Fields but this new darkened terrain turned out to be nutrient-rich and that's not all the soil here is actually deceptive with no apparent irrigation but then you grab a shovel and you dig less than a foot down the water is here that's wet yeah you didn't have to dig down that's just right there yeah the AES retain the humidity of the night and the precipitation of 6 months ago after the eruptions the farmers found that the grapes not only survived they thrived with the primary Vine grown here named appropriately enough volcanic malvy this is the only H place in the world that grown this type of so no Cabernet no Mero no only volcanic Mal the vine is planted at the bottom of a hole providing additional protection from the trade winds and today Daniel put meta work pruning Vines and repairing walls built of an endless supply of lava stone rocks how you like that all right so we fixed one how many more to go out there thousands of yeah these fields require a lot of Labor so the yield is lower than traditional wineries but once the grapes are harvested processed and then aged in French Oak barrels The Taste is distinctly Canary all right salute it's sweet yes really sweet like a cherry like a Sherry yeah the bouquet of Ash this is for you wow okay nice bottle and you know what I know exactly where I'm taking this yeah I took his gift and headed west all of the Canary Islands have a volcanic history but nowhere is it more pronounced than here in Tim Andia National Park during that 6-year eruption in the 1730s rivers of lava sculpted the terrain it is indeed a long and Winding Road through a lunar landscape that once you see it you never forget it you could take a guided bus tour up here which also stops at a restaurant called El Diablo where the tourists get a demonstration of the heat that still simmers below the surface but if you know someone who knows someone who knows someone else you can avoid the crowds and see the desert and feel the heat a whole different way hey man how are you hey Peter long time not see nice to see you well I brought the wine I caught the fish Christopher I Rosal originally from California now lives full-time here on this island a committed expat we're not eating at the restaurant NOP I got a better idea over here you wait and see what is that that's a barbecue oh that's very very hot that's geothermal heat coming up from the ground and you can ask and they'll let you have a barbecue here in the national park so that's exactly what we did all right Christopher prepared a rooster fish typical of the island in the geothermal heat and how hot is that probably about 400 F uh that would be hot yeah that'll cook that in no time but there's a restaurant up there yeah they have a grill up there as well and that was all designed by mque say manrique manrique is inescapable in Lanzarote this statue is the official symbol of Tim Andia one of many creations of this native born Artisan architect who worked throughout his life to give the island a unified architectural aesthetic very cool that's done you hungry I am the fish gets plated and the wine gets poured well we got the volcanic wine we got the volcanic fish pretty good pairing what a great way to spend the day ah Peter we're just getting started you cannot talk about lote without talking about Su MRI Inseparable a man with a vision he transformed this island in all these different places that was because of manrique and manrique's in influence even extended below ground this is a wow and how HH welcome to ham this is a masterpiece of Art and nature it's like a Japanese Grotto it used to be just a volcanic tube it was like a bubble and the roof caved in where they took advantage of the natural structure and completely blended it in so that you can't tell what's man-made and what's natural and one guy did this one guy incredible vision at night this space is often used to host live music but early in the morning it's so quiet here oh yeah it's incredible Solitude all you can hear is just the bird sing it's my favorite place on the whole island jameo staga is one of manrique's most celebrated efforts to turn the island itself into a work of art I mean his whole thing was about art nature nature art giving back to each other and I think that he was able to bring it all together and one thing in his art here well I got to tell you that's pretty incredible yeah but we're not done yet here huh I've got one last surprise for you you do yeah wait until you see this we walked out of the Lagoon through another natural beauty work of manrique only to be totally blown away by this well this is another wow yes this is the crown jewel of cameos the auditorium it may have the best natural Acoustics in the world and with all these nooks and crannies the sound is absorbed so you can hear a pin drop in here and there's no Echo nothing at all no hello nothing no and I brought some friends and we're going to play some music for you very cool so go pick a seat any seat yeah you're not kidding literally all right okay I'll see you later you got [Music] it Christopher often performs with his band made up of some of the finest musicians in the canaries it's one thing to admire the unbelievable architecture and design of this natural acoustic Wonder it's another when they start playing this is unplugged at its best it's a unique blend of Spanish and African sounds some Arabic thrown in otherwise known as volcanic Fusion it's perhaps the perfect way to experience this amazing space and [Music] sound what is this my final stop is just a short fairy R away to L graciosa just off the northern tip of Lanzarote [Music] it's only 5 m long the smallest of the islands it was actually part of lanzot until 2018 when it officially became the eth Canary Island it's the least populated island with only 700 residents and you won't find any paved roads so grabbing a bike is the way I like to explore the island the real beauty of lariosa is nothing that's right nothing it's untouched maybe that's why I saved the least for last it gave me time to think about what a remarkable Journey this had been to eight separate islands where the culture and history have been kept very much alive I was given this window into the ocean World confronted the Island's raw destructive power and then witnessed its surprising natural potential immersed myself in its native music Embrace local Delicacies and then embrace the locals themselves played a part in restoring an indigenous species and preserving an ancient language and the time to catch up on my own I brought along some us newspapers to read but seeing those stories about the state of the rest of the world convinced me that it might just be a better idea to stick around just a little while longer in L graciosa surrounded by the silence as well as being embraced by the hidden Majesty of the Canary Islands [Music]

Channel: TRACKS - Travel Documentaries

Views: 14,800

Keywords: Canary Islands adventure, Canary Islands beaches, Canary Islands coastlines, Canary Islands scenery, Canary Islands tourism board, Canary Islands volcanoes, Mediterranean islands, TRACKS - Travel Documentaries, diverse landscapes, diverse topography, dramatic landscapes, extreme landscapes, geological wonders, hidden travel destinations, island lifestyle, magical landscapes, outdoor adventures, sandy beaches, subtropical paradise, traditional villages, vibrant scenery

Id: yrtZeuwf6mE

Length: 53min 22sec (3202 seconds)

Published: Tue May 21 2024