Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress The poor road network between Raja and Firga in Western Bahr El Ghazal State has prevented delivery of food aid to over 4000 displa The poor road network between Raja and Firga in Western Bahr El Ghazal State has prevented delivery of food aid to over 4000 displaced people and Sudanese refugees in Firga and forced relief officials to consider an emergency airlift of supplies “We have now hundreds of metric tons of food and drugs to deliver to our people but no way,’’ said Peter Nenebubu Raja County Secretary for Relief and Rehabilitation Commission He reported that his office and UN-OCHA have organized for 370 metric tons of different food items and 19 metric tons of drugs to be sent to Firga The officer explained that the delivery is delayed by lack of planes to airlift the aid to Firga He disclosed that they are still trying to get the UN to help them with a plane to airlift the food to Firga The place is currently not accessible by road due to flooding from the River Boro and its tributaries coupled with bad roads “We have made a rough estimated that the aid may need 37 trips of airlifting to Firga,’’ he added The relief official reported that there are no storehouses in Firga and before the food is delivered they need to put up a storehouse where the food will be stored if taken He further added that his county will have to provide security for the food once taken to Firga “Last month when we went to Firga there was hunger and up to now I believe the situation is worse,’’ related Nenebubu UN agencies made an assessment mission to Firga late last month after hearing reports of suffering among the refugees The team which included the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission left behind the already-suffering people without food and no help from anywhere else Firga lies near the eastern boundary of Kafia Kinji a disputed savannah woodland area with mines and a wildlife preserve Information from the area is only available from travelers coming from there since there is no telephone service Photo by Radio Tamazuj: Displaced people show a sick child to a UN Refugee Agency worker in Firga ‘Legendary feats woven into tales are often regarded as plausible history because of the human vulnerability of the heroes,‘ photographer Rich Hendry elucidates ‘and in exploring what makes a ‘Legend’ I have drawn influences from Greek mythology However each of the subjects of my portraits also has their own personal story to tell which I try to immortalise through the camera…’ As he tells us about the impressive portraits which stare majestically at us from the walls of trendy Shoreditch art space The Great Eastern Bear on the exhibition’s opening night he adopts a narrative pose in one of the gallery’s worn leather armchairs With a celebratory glass of champagne in one hand ‘My subjects here are a mixture of real people and unconventional models One of the most interesting was a guy who has severe skin grafts as a result of a horrific car accident In true London fashion it was only when I first started talking to this foreboding looking character that all the stories about his travels the charity work that he does and the art therapy courses he's involved in came out and it became clear what a lovely gentle person he was I shot him to be a beast on the outside but a gentleman within.’ Other stand-out shots include a seemingly Snow White influenced evil queen with a crown of feathers and a powerful yet guilty stare 'the headpiece was made by Art Director John Proctor out of grouse wings dyed red and we chose this model as she was slightly older and had much stronger features than a lot of young girls these days - this really helped in creating the almost 'regal' and authoritative atmosphere this shot has There is a portrait of twins; one depicted as porcelain skinned and perfect and the other scratched and blood-stained which is loosely based on the star sign Gemini - according to the artist he fuses the animalistic with the human: a Medusa-like waif with fox skulls peeping from her hair an albino man shrouded in buffalo hide and a teenager covered in shocking tattoos thrusting a set of antlers as a neck brace The Art Director for the shoot created some incredible floral displays for the Private View which delicately mingle wild blooms with bones and taxidermy VIPs tonight breathe a heady aroma of especially chosen scented candles as they view the portraits Each image has been beautifully finished by retouchers Taylor James and printed as a one-off series of five One of our favourite images in the collection portrays a seventy five year-old lady in punk attire Hendry tells us he was inspired by The Joker for this shot We heard a rumour that one of the Sex and the City cast was on the guestlist tonight and cheekily asked if she’d expressed an interest in this portrait The ‘Legends’ exhibition runs until mid-September at The Great Eastern Bear. For more info about the artist go to www.richhendry.com When people talk about Canarian food and drink they’re not always referring to fresh fish Several Canarian companies produce mass market products that are well-known to everyone on the islands Arehucas rum is distilled on Gran Canaria and is an essential element of any celebration but Arehucas is the oldest and the best-seller It’s available in dark and white varieties The huge rivalry between these two brands masks the fact that they’re now both owned and brewed by the same company Tropical’s roots are in Gran Canaria There are other Canarian beers: Reina is a dry Pils that occupies third spot in sales while Lanzarote now has three different local craft brewers: Nao in Arrecife Malpeis in Tinajo and Los Aljibes in Tahiche Clipper is the only major Canarian soft drink manufacturer and has been operating since 1956 from Gran Canaria but for some reason it’s the strawberry version that has become a symbol of the islands and a homecoming favourite for young Canarians In an online poll in 2020 the drink beat Fanta Naranja as “best soft drink in the world” These small chocolate wafer bars are regularly voted the favourite sweet snack on the islands beating international contenders such as Kit-Kat One of the reasons for their popularity is the fact that the Canarian airline Binter has given one to every passenger for several years FIRGAS MINERAL WATER No mineral water has been produced on Lanzarote since the desalination plant stopped producing Chafaríz several years ago Firgas is probably the most popular Canarian mineral water bottled in the beautiful Gran Canarian village of Firgas whose natural springs have been famed for over a century For regular updates, pictures and videos of Lanzarote be sure to like and follow our Facebook page “Gazette Life Lanzarote” Jet2 is expanding its winter 25/26 programme with more flights to 13 popular destinations (including Lanzarote & Fuerteventura) from Manchester Airport & London Stansted Fire fighters were called to put out a minibus engine fire yesterday morning Lanzarote Pool & Spa Shop in Playa Blanca are currently looking for an Office Administrator & Customer Service Representative A head-on collision between two vehicles on the LZ-1 near Mala yesterday evening saw three people injured Six local derbies will take place next season as three Lanzarote teams take part in Group 12 of the Third RFEF league We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings Sign-up to the Gazette Newsletter to receive a weekly email including the most important news stories and upcoming events This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly necessary cookies should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again La Traída de Palo is one of the standout events at the Fiestas of San Roque de Firgas the butler of the figure of the Patron Saint spent two and a half silver reales coins on buying a flag to place it at the top of the stick which even today is brought down from the mountain in amongst the bustle of the crowds who come here every month of August this ancient custom that originated in the hills of the island will be taking place on Saturday The farmers’ and craft market which is to be held on Sunday provides an insight into the wealth of treasures the region possesses is the Beauty Queen Contest and the Fiestas of the Elder Male and Female Pilgrim It is a chance to see these popular events that go on in Gran Canaria first hand and to do so shoulder to shoulder with the local residents who are rightly proud of their fiestas and keen to welcome anyone who wants to come along and enjoy them Firgas’ character is defined by its own geography a uniquely beautiful one which provides a setting for some splendid natural countryside and which reaches its full splendour in the Doramas Rural Park and the Azuaje Special Nature Reserve So stopping off at any one of these sites is the perfect prelude to arriving at the historical town centre and to experience the fiestas in honour of San Roque the festivities start at eleven o’clock in the morning with a kids’ fiesta featuring a range of workshops and a foam party Music will once again be taking centre stage from 20.30 onwards with the celebration of the 6th annual Miguel Gil Villa de Firgas Folkloric Gathering at the Plaza de San Roque On Sunday 13th August the scene will be set for the 3rd annual Historical Literary and Musical Tour in the town centre of Firgas Then at five o’clock in the afternoon it will be the turn for the fun chariot race music will reach a crescendo with a performance by Los Sabandeños one of the most important and popular folkloric groups in Spain The pilgrimage of offering will then take place at six o’clock in the evening on 15th August Popular fervour will reverberate all the way round the route together with the sounds of the timple guitar and bandurria mandolin all the way through to nightfall At midnight it will look like daytime will be making an early appearance Once the bright flashes have dimmed and the breezes have blown away the smell of gunpowder it will once again be a perfect August night  here at the heart of the volcanic crater the town of Firgas snuggles into.  16th August signals the great day of the fiestas with the celebration at midday of the solemn religious mass followed by the procession of the figures of San Roque and the Virgin of El Rosario The day will draw to a close with the Regional Gathering of Soloists from the 8 Islands from nine o’clock in the evening onwards with their deep roots shooting out under the fertile lands of Firgas Them Guns – fronted by Priscilla Presley’s son Navarone Garibaldi – might have arrived at Heathrow on Easter Monday but rabbits and chocolate eggs are the last things on their minds ‘I’ve never been East of Colorado,’ explains keyboard player Kyle ‘ but I’ve been walking ‘round London virtually on Googlemaps since we heard we were coming…’ We caught up with the band in a North London pub a few days before their showcase gig Settled on black leather sofas and tentatively sipping Real Ale Chris and Chuck) look every inch a rock band that they have already been approached for autographs ‘We want to eat haggis,’ Drummer Chris dives in‘ it’s illegal in California because it contains lung And we want to see Big Ben and try fish and chips…’ ‘And I want to get a zipper tattooed on my butt!’ adds Bassist Chuck – clearly the joker of the pack Them Guns have built up a huge following in the States and sold out prestigious venues such as the Viper Rooms and Hollywood Troubadour With this success do they embrace the rock and roll lifestyle ‘I have eight snakes at home,’ quips Navarone I actually met her the week I got the snake I have a girl at home whom I’m kind of dating who is currently looking after them They just need water and then once a week you feed ‘em live rats…’ Equally grisly is Nav’s choice of London tourist attraction ‘I want to go to the Five Bells – the Jack the Ripper pub There’s a walk you can do ‘round East London But you stop off in pubs along the way and probably end up seeing ghosts anyway after having a few too many…’ Their gig is not only their debut in the UK but also the first time the venue – The King’s Head Club - has hosted a live band this members’ club set in the heart of Hoxton is decorated exquisitely with taxidermy birds of paradise has a machine gun wielding monkey on it and sits within a lit dancefloor inspired by legendary nightclub Studio 54 The room in which the band will be giving media interviews is intricately panelled with thousands of dead butterflies – a fitting metaphor for this band whose stage outfits are augmented with sequins and who dress their crew as skeletons 'We have always wanted to do a gig in England and when the opportunity appeared we had to take it.’ Stefano Noferini is undoubtedly one of the most prolific names in the tech house genre with a plethora of recent releases – both on his own Deeperfect label and for the likes of Toolroom The DJ/Producer has been described as ‘the man with the golden touch’ when it comes to destroying the dancefloor and you’ll find his tracks as staples in the record bags of Paul Van Dyk he tells us he’s hard at work in his studio on a new EP where (at the Winter Music Conference; the dance music industry’s answer to Cannes Film Festival) he has been hard at work promoting his label A lot of work with people I love to work with and only a bit of fun…’ Home for him – he adds wistfully – is in ‘ I think when I am away I miss mostly the beautiful views of Florence and of Italy in general… but if I have to say I miss one thing the most it is breakfast at the bar of a friend of mine which will take him and his music all over the globe I’m looking forward to performing in so many good clubs during my next tour in USA and Mexico I’m really happy to be in the line-up of Sun Kissed Summer Festival Two important shows are also our Deeperfect event at Sonar Barcelona and my DJ set at Carl Cox Revolution party at Space Ibiza which currently goes out to fifteen countries celebrates its first anniversary this Summer and Stefano is marking this by signing a track created by one of his fans to his Deeperfect label via a worldwide competition hosted by DJ Magazine So the best gift for one talented Producer would be a track released on one of the labels he loves Stefano himself will be judging this competition I trust my team in many aspects of my activity but music is always my responsibility.’ Last year Stefano collaborated with Mark Knight on what became a huge release (‘The Sound’ I love collaborations and I work not only with superstars like Mark Knight; I love working with young talent too I’m making music with two rising producers from Spain: Charles Ramirez and Paco Marroto I think that Spain and Italy is full of young talent in the Tech House scene we ask if he prefers making music or playing gigs producing music and DJing are quite different and they both provide different emotions…’ It is a sad but sorry truth that for most Londoners the only acknowledgement they have of the river that runs through the capital is shrieking for The Blues from its banks on Boat Race day or arguing with a cabbie over which is the quickest bridge to take whose film Portrait of a River is a poetic vision of London though the eyes of the people who have lived and worked on the Thames The film is shown as a series of what Nikolaj describes as ‘music video length vignettes’ in random order to mimic the twists and turns of its unpredictable subject ‘Everyone’s experience of the film will be different,’ explains Nikolaj ‘,just as everyone has an individual way of interpreting the river…’ Prolific in the film are the watermen and lightermen and their families; whose history and traditions predate London’s tubes and buses and their intimate knowledge of the water and its foibles was essential to bygone trade and transport ‘Some of the characters we were led to by others some we bumped into by chance,’ Nikolaj recounts One instrumental subject was senior waterman Capt John Potter ‘ he was really into telling his story and introduced us to many of the younger generation The people who live on the river in general are very proud and want to spread the word Capt Potter said to us ‘it is the river that runs through our veins…’’ Having been released in three stages since March 2013 described Portrait of a River as ‘a special film’ and added ‘ this great river continues to inspire a multitude of stories…’ Nikolaj tells us he has some favourite characters within his work ‘Tom Cook is a young skipper but he has a soul from the last century,’ he laughs ‘ he speaks as though he has been working the trade for years…’ One of Tom’s insights was that despite the fact that the river is constantly evolving and progressing people have always been romanticising about its past ‘100 years ago people would speak nostalgically about 200 years ago,’ quips Nikolaj He tells us that another high point was filming a community boating project in Deptford who help the disabled to enjoy the river Having studied the ebb and flow and filmed his subject from the air we were curious to hear what the experience had meant to Nikolaj ‘I learned a lot,’ he says with earnest ‘,about the river’s history but also its future the old ports that are dying out… but also the exciting things the future holds like the new the windfarm and of course the hugely successful Canary Wharf and Dockands area….’ Does he have a favourite part of the river itself When it opens up at Southend and becomes the sea it’s something special - an incredibly powerful image.’ And finally does he have any sage words for those who may have previously overlooked the Thames ‘When tourists come to London and take a 45 minute river cruise they learn a few facts and they think they know the river’ says Nikolaj ‘But what I know about it is a different insight The Museum of London Docklands is a branch of the main Museum of London Mark Thomasson is a photographer obsessed with the changes to the magnificent London skyline In 1993 his dad saw the first image taken of the Tower of London from the top of Tower Bridge in 1993 National Geographic magazine shot by Jonathan Blair and since then he has created a personal project consisting of photographs taken over the course of two decades (1994 to 2014) by himself and his father highlighting the skyline view around Tower Bridge and the gradual peppering of the riverbank with architectural landmarks such as 20 Fenchurch St (more commonly known as ‘The Cheesegrater’) 30 St Mary’s Axe (The Gherkin) and of course The Shard DJ Kayper is currently one of the hottest female DJs in London; with her own radio show on BBC Asian and residencies at clubs du jour The Box and The Rose Club She’s made her name with her eclectic music collection and her slick DJing style - which recently caught the attention of Jay Z who invited her to provide the soundtrack at his private London party Kayper (whose real name is Kaajal) began mixing in her brother’s bedroom aged 12 and her ability to play the drums led to a flair for mashing up tunes The name comes from her childhood nickname ‘Caper’ as she was always getting into pranks Early club sets in her late teens got her recognised and by the age of 17 she had a regular slot at Ministry of Sound and was promoting hip hop nights in Cambridge (where she was at University) Kayper tells of her life ‘,I got into music from a very early age I grew up during the time that UK Garage was popular and dominated the charts so I had a lot of different musical influences growing up In 2004 I decided to become a promoter and started a club night called Ebonics I got to book all of my favourite DJ's like Jazzy Jeff I joined The BBC Asian Network in 2006 and have been doing my radio show ever since…’ Kayper DJs Stateside regularly also – you’ll find her at The Box in NYC and April saw her touring coast to coast I’ve done Coachella two years in a row and this year was definitely the best for me I was asked to play at Neon Carnival which is an outdoor party in an airport hanger next door to the festival grounds Even though it was freezing cold and my hands were cramping up Half way through my set a bunch of people jumped on stage including Paris Hilton who was raving next to me Kayper tries to get the crowd hyped up before the shows ‘I'm constantly watching the crowd and seeing what they react to Dubstep to Rock and avoid playing top 40 hits.’ Of The Rose Club – with its jewellery box décor and celebrity crowd - Kayper enthuses ‘ They have ballerina dancers that come out and dance on podiums throughout the night; it looks amazing and helps to create atmosphere I play a lot more house music at The Rose but I try to mix it up with mashups too.’ DJ Jazzy Jeff said of her ‘Kayper is the best female DJ I have seen in my whole life’ Kayper smiles ‘,I often get people coming up to the DJ booth to tell me that they have never seen a girl play like me before which is nice to hear because it means I'm doing something right and obviously it's nice to be appreciated I think the first thing that people are shocked about when they see me play is the fact that I don't really look like a DJ so when I get on the decks they are even more impressed People obviously notice that I'm not an ipod DJ either I put a lot into my sets even when I don't have to and I think people appreciate that.’ Kayper is also producing and writing her own tracks at the moment Find out more at http://www.kayper.co.uk/ formerly of BRIT Award winning band The Streets undertook the challenge of performing 24 live shows in 24 hours across his hometown of London in order to raise money for the Prince’s Trust His ‘tour’ began spectacularly in a pod on the London Eye bloggers and VIP guests against a sunset backdrop ‘The London Eye was a great gig,’ Leo enthuses ‘ I also enjoyed the London dungeon show - that was fun but they have so many horrible things in there and nobody told me there were real live RATS.. Those guys can seriously move and they are extremely strong Zalon Thompson was a backing singer for the late Amy Winehouse and she signed him as an artist in his own right to her Lioness label as well as encouraging him to perform his solo work during her live sets Zalon now releases a tribute single in memory of Amy – titled ‘You Let Me Breathe’ - the profits of which will go to the Amy Winehouse Foundation which contains behind the scenes footage never seen before by Amy’s fans I caught up with Zalon to find out the full story behind this project To download the single 'You Let Me Breathe' by Zalon Thompson and donate to the Amy Winehouse Foundation go to: www.7digital.com/artist/zalon/release/you-let-me-breathe We asked three London photographers to share an image which for them sums up Winter 2013 Winner of the Elle Commission and finalist of the prestigious Taylor Wessing National Photographic Portrait Prize in 2011 Jasper Clarke tells us 2013 has been a great year for him Paul Smith and Umbro amongst his accolades and regularly contributing editorial images for AnOther Dazed and Elle Décor he considers his career has been boosted by signing to an agency ‘Getting an agent has been a big step for me this year I am now represented by David Birkitt at DMB Presents,’ he enthuses which is of a female surfer on a chilly beach Clarke explains ‘I took this image as part of a group of portraits of surfers one freezing day in March this year and although its maybe not summing up Winter for me its motivating me this Winter to get down to the coast ignore the weather and use my nice new wetsuit when the surf isn't totally heaving with everybody else It is inspiring me to get in there no matter what Australian born Nick Delaney – who now passionately calls London his home – has been developing complex series he calls ‘flexile geometry’ using digital imaging techniques and fractal patterns to create the illusion of a crystalline form from a gracefully contorted female model ‘,This image sums up Winter 2013 as I've been working on this project all year and it's great to end the year with a snow flake…’ Delaney adds that defining moments of his year have included the auction of twenty five of his prints in Sweden and working on the film Mortdecai where he photographed actors Johnny Depp Rich Hendry’s stag image came about by chance ‘I was recently shooting up at Woburn Abbey and was driving home through the deer park when I saw this stag and I was drawn to how confident and proud it looked It looked like it had a story to tell - which is one of the most important aspects of photography - so I returned the next week to track it down for this shot…’ Hendry continues ‘,The image is made up of 2 shots and the other is an old bomb site in Clerkenwell I originally shot the background as part of a fashion piece but overlooked it at the time It sums up 2013 for me as a lot of my portraiture work has started moving in this direction and despite being non human it could happily sit with a lot of the series I've been working on this year.’ ‘I've been really lucky I've been able to travel all over the world with work too Two that stick out this year were working with Xaviant to produce a set of imaginary and fantastical characters which would essentially become their company’s branding - a really fun job with lovely people and full creative control The other highlight has to be getting Graceland shut down to shoot Priscilla Presley for Harpers Bazaar one of the hardest shoots of my life but great fun - I even got to do Johnny Cash Karaoke at Sun Studios!’ jewellery and art – the event is an invitation for a privileged few to preview the latest in engineering Jewellers Sally Agarwal and D’Joya have drawn crowds to their cases of sparkling one-off pieces and some striking menswear courtesy of tailors Morts & More and Italian leather craftsman Mark Giusti is also creating a furore The London Saddlery Company flash the bright hues of their attaché cases – inspired by the box carried by Gladstone to present the budget – and their enthusiasm seems as upbeat as their colour palettes ‘We’ve been amazed by the business connections we’ve made at this event not just the consumer interest,’ the design duo inform us The Elite London is the brainchild of Alex Ayling and Graham Davies of Exclusively Events – partners with differing backgrounds but shared intimate knowledge of wealth brands Growing year by year and attracting a specific clientele clearly Ayling and Davies know their audience and what engages them ‘,The Elite London managed to showcase a wider range of exhibits this year and more importantly host a vast amount of exceptional calibre guests which truly represents the stature the event we are building,’ stated Ayling when we caught up with him after the 2015 event ‘,we are already aware of a Jet and Turboprop Aircraft sale from Cirrus Aircraft at the event and also multiple sales recorded from Deranged.’ Find out more at www.theeliteevents.com In the second episode of her latest Channel 5 series Jane continues on her island-hopping odyssey sailing across the Atlantic to Gran Canaria Jane drops her bags at her all-inclusive hotel spies her beautiful view of the sea and sand and is inspired to head straight out to explore the magnificent Maspalomas sand dunes she sets off to explore the pretty village of Firgas in the quieter north of the island spring water and waterfall running through the centre of the village Jane wanders the streets and enjoys local tapas before cooling off with a swim in a natural sea water swimming pool at the edge of the Atlantic Jane hires a jet ski and has a brilliant time exploring the coast from the sea before going to view the incredible works of some of the local sand artists – and is surprised to find herself sculpted in sand no visit to Gran Canaria would be complete without a big night out and Jane is far from disappointed when she’s entertained at one of the island’s famous drag queen bars before finishing this leg of her travels with a round of golf – if she’s ever able to get out of the bunker 5’s seventies specials continue… The early 1970s saw how we paid for items change… ITN Productions’ have produced a 90-mintue documentary for 5 featuring families of children murdered by their peers… lateral thinking and problem-solving… The seventies season on 5 continues with royal celebrations… Copyright © ATV Network Limited / ATV Today UK The town of Firgas is located in the municipality with the same name in the north of Gran Canaria and relatively close to the capital Las Palmas Although Firgas is well-known for its water as the brand of water Firgas is one of the most popular that you'll find in the archipelago nor the municipality has any access to the ocean But what Firgas does have is a breathtaking view over the coast which is why it's also known as the "balcony of the Atlantic" If you're in Las Palmas, you can visit Firgas using public transport, as bus line no 204 has a direct route between Las Palmas and Firgas as there are 44 stations in between.  Another option would be to drive to Firgas yourself There is a free municipal parking close to the main attractions in Firgas If you're visiting Gran Canaria and you want to discover a bit more places around the island a charming small town with a few iconic places to see which you've probably seen on some brochures or guides although you may not have even known where they're from Firgas is actually the smallest municipality in Gran Canaria and its neighbors are Moya, Valleseco, Teror and Arucas Firgas sits 465 m above sea level and it's known for the brand of water Firgas which you will probably see in all supermarkets and restaurants in Gran Canaria Firgas is recognized by tourists based on two places in town both places being quite photogenic and attractive for tourists: Paseo de Canarias and Paseo de Gran Canaria you can admire the 21 heraldic coats of arms representing all the municipalities of Gran Canaria you can continue on your way up strolling through Paseo de Canarias where each island in the Canaries has been sculpted and there are also heraldic shields and a representative landscape for each one of them Plaza de San Roque is probably the most important square in Firgas and from here you can admire some of the most stunning views over the north of Gran Canaria you can even see the islands of Fuerteventura and Tenerife so it's a nice spot to relax and admire the surrounding landscapes From the square next to the church you can admire the view towards Barranco de Azuaje There are actually several viewing points around Firgas from where you can admire the views like Mirador de las Pellas on the road between Firgas and Teror and Mirador de Las Madres which is 300 m from the Historic Center of Firgas This water canal was inaugurated in Firgas in 2009 as a testimony of the past back when it was used by women to launder clothes which is why you will see some women's hands washing clothes The canal continues until it reaches Arucas This sculpture was inaugurated in 1998 and it is the work of sculptor D The sculpture is located behind La Casa de la Cultura This sculpture acts as a tribute to farmers and ranchers in the area Firgas is partially located in an area known as Selva de Doramas so agriculture and animal farming used to be very popular occupations.  Firgas is well known in Gran Canaria as one of the best places for growing watercress When walking along Paseo de Canarias you may even notice there's a big mural on the side of a building dedicated to watercress and there are also many restaurants in Firgas serving various dished based on watercress El Rincon de Marcos in Firgas is one of those restaurants that specialize in having a menu based mainly on watercress which is the local specialty and it's probably the best place in Gran Canaria to try it.  Gran Canaria is the second most visited island of the Canary Islands (after Tenerife) and it's often referred to as a Mini Continent due to its diversity in landscapes. From amazing beaches to mountain trails and volcanic landscapes Visitors come here for the beautiful and warm weather even during the winter months when the rest of Europe is suffering from low temperatures and snowfalls But the island is much more than beautiful beaches there are so many breathtaking landscapes and beautiful places to visit in Gran Canaria from charming small towns to mountain trails with unique views so everyone can find something they'd like to see.  If you're planning a holiday to this beautiful island and you're wondering what to do in Gran Canaria besides relaxing by the pool read our article to get an idea of how diverse and amazing this place really is The Maspalomas Dunes are one of the island's symbols - walking along these dunes will make you feel like you're visiting one of the world's great desserts although you have some hotels still in sight (depending on where you are) Walking along the dunes is a MUST and afterward you can spend the day at the beach Playa Maspalomas followed by a romantic walk at sunset towards the Maspalomas Lighthouse Playa del Ingles is probably the liveliest place in Gran Canaria and the place to be if you're looking for nightlife and party atmosphere Playa del Ingles is famous as a destination for gay tourism in Europe a great idea for a day out would be to go on a boat trip: see the coast and also dolphins in their natural habitat Most excursions will also include soft drinks and pick-up from your hotel so all you have to do is to enjoy the experience Even if you're staying in another part of the island, Puerto de Mogan is worth a visit during your explorations with a charming marina and a nice and quiet beach (compared to other resorts) On Fridays this place is buzzing with tourists from all over the island coming to the popular market in Puerto de Mogan to buy souvenirs and all sorts of other objects Get into this submarine and discover all the charms of the seabed of Puerto de Mogán for 40 minutes You will be able to see some shipwrecks and the wonderful marine fauna from its big windows.  this can be a really fun activity and it's a great way to spend the morning during your family holiday to Gran Canaria Roque Nublo is yet another symbol of Gran Canaria seen on many postcards and souvenirs sold on the island Trekking to see Roque Nuble is easy and the route starts from the main road From here you have around 1.5 km to walk until you reach the famous rock and also its "brother" Roque de la Rana.  The entire route is circular and it measures a total of about 5 km along which you can also see the views from Caldera de Tejeda Day trip from Las Palmas: Bandama, High Peaks, and Roque Nublo Tour Admission tickets to Palmitos Park If you like visiting ZOOs this is the place to see in Gran Canaria For a holiday in Gran Canaria with the kids this is a great day out and it's better to choose a cloudy day for your visit Walk on the streets of the old town Vegueta admire the architecture and take a coffee break or lunch at one of the many terraces along the way If you only have one day to visit Las Palmas (maybe you're in Gran Canaria just for a day stop on your cruise around the Canaries) you also have the option to get the 24 hours hop-on hop-off bus tour that takes you around the city so you can visit both the old town and the area of Las Canteras on the same day You can also read our review and impressions about the Hop-on Hop-off bus in Las Palmas. Another place that is great for kids, but for adults as well. Poema del Mar is one of the most popular places to visit while in Las Palmas and it's owned by the same company that owns Loro Parque and Siam Park in Tenerife At Poema del Mar you can see a giant Aquarium with many species of marine life along with many other exhibits which will keep you occupied for a few hours For many people, Playa de Amadores is the perfect holiday beach - clear water umbrellas and all the facilities you may think of It does get crowded especially during the school holidays as it is a great place for a family holiday in Gran Canaria Even if you don't stay in this area it is still worth a visit for the day If you are visiting Gran Canaria in September and you want to experience a local event, then you must go to La Aldea de San Nicolas for the Fiesta del Charco Participants gather around a pond and when the signal is given everyone rushes into the pond to catch the fishes who start to jump out of the water due to the fact that it gets crazily crowded with people so if you want to immerse yourself in the local culture this is one of the best things to do and experience while in Gran Canaria And if you're visiting Gran Canaria at another time of the year, La Aldea is still a beautiful place to visit, so relaxed and unique, a perfect spot to watch one of the most beautiful sunsets in Gran Canaria Arucas is famous mostly for its magnificent San Juan Bautista church also referred to as the Arucas Cathedral by most people Arucas is also home to the Arehucas rum distillery which you can visit and participate in a tasting Arucas can be visited during the same excursion as Firgas as the two towns are located near each other and they are usually visited on the same day Firgas is a small town located in the mountains a region that is enriched with mineral water (do you know the popular brand Aguas de Firgas?).  and in need of some scrambled eggs then make a beeline for one of these fantastic brunch choices Timber Lodge Café With its wood-panelled walls and Scandinavian-style furniture Timber Lodge Café feels more like a hub for creatives than a café the café produces its own green energy from solar panels The menu is equally healthy and sustainable with fruit and vegetables sourced locally and chopped into fresh salads or blended into smoothies Try one of the delicious homemade pastries or giant cookies and then work off some calories on the adventure playground outside Timber Lodge Café, 1A Honour Lea Avenue, London, UK, +44 20 7241 9076 Chef Alberto cooks with love and it shows. Relax in his recently opened Stratford café and enjoy the signature artisan sourdough bread, topped with salmon and cream cheese or scrambled eggs on toast with zesty avocado. The eggs are free range, and most of the produce comes from nearby markets. Enjoy a hot chocolate and flick through a copy of one of the chic interior design books placed artfully on shelves Signorelli, 7 Victory Parade, East Village, London, UK, +44 20 8534 4972 Forman’s Fish Island | © Gordon Joly/Flickr served with poached eggs as ‘Eggs Forman.’ Pair this dish with a glass of award-winning Chapel Down Brut English sparkling wine Forman’s Fish Island, Stour Road, London, UK, +44 20 8525 2365 Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Warm doughnuts at Balans | Courtesy of We Rock PR Balans Part of the hedonistic Balans Soho Society (whose philosophy is ‘too much of a good thing is a good thing’), this chain of restaurants is famous for its all-day breakfasts including super indulgent kedgeree or pancakes Whether you want to dine inside or sit amid privet hedges in the garden area you can accompany your brunch with one of the bespoke cocktails (try Captain Redleg’s Afternoon Tea); or if you are a bit more adventurous try one of the puddings such as pineapple and chilli tart tartin with sweet tobacco Balans, 123 The Street, Westfield, London, UK, +44 20 8555 5478 Gerry’s Kitchen Newly opened Gerry’s Kitchen is named after Gerry Raffles late manager of the adjacent Theatre Royal Stratford East plus the tables are large enough to spread out the Sunday papers; or there are some comfy sofas to curl up in Gerry’s boasts a studio space at the back of the restaurant where you’ll regularly see actors rehearsing their lines plus the venue often hosts expert talks or local group meetups Gerry’s Kitchen, Gerry Raffles Square, London, UK Looking for somewhere to stay in Stratford? Book one of the best hotels around the London Olympic Park now through Culture Trip Firgas is a writer and blogger who lives in up-and-coming Forest Gate She loves London for it's random bits of wilderness Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip See & Do The Ultimate Guide to Walthamstow See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July Guides & Tips The 8 Most Beautiful Places to Enjoy Spring in London See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September Bars & Cafes The 25 Best Bars In London For Stylish Nights Out See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October Bars & Cafes The Best Outdoor Venues in London This Summer US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd