VALLE GRAN REY (La Gomera, Canary Islands) - January 2012

Valle Gran Rey - Playa del Inglés

Valle Gran Rey - Playa del Inglés

Valle Gran Rey - Playa del Inglés

In the south west of La Gomera, in the Valley of the Great King or Valle Gran Rey live about 4000 people and 30% are foreigners with 660 Germans as the majority.

You can still feel the hippie spirit although tourism has arrived here too. The "valle" used to be a paradise for escapists and downshifters. 

Widely known German photographer Oliver Weber lives and works here as well as Thomas K. Müller who got well known with his Castillo del Mar north of La Gomera. More about this in another blog post.

La Gomera's most beautiful beach Playa del Inglés is in the north of Valle Gran Rey and an absolute must see. I could not get enough of this phantastic black sand beach!

Valle Gran Rey - Playa del Inglés

Valle Gran Rey - Playa del Inglés

Valle Gran Rey - Leche Asada con miel de Palma

Valle Gran Rey - Casa Maria - We had a wonderful "filete de atun"

Valle Gran Rey

Valle Gran Rey - Enjoy the sunset with a Mojito

Valle Gran Rey

Valle Gran Rey - Statue of Hautacuperche

Valle Gran Rey

Valle Gran Rey - Wave Watching

PUNTA DE TENO (Tenerife, Canary Islands) - January 2012

Coast of Punta de Teno, Lighthouse with "La Gomera" in the background

The drive to Punta de Teno in the FULL HD video is of course a bit "exaggerated" and it does not look as crazy and dangerous on video as it in reality is. The street is most likely still limited to drive or sometimes totally forbidden. Believe me, with a 2,39m wide and 7m long motorhome it was quite a challenge. Watch it fullscreen  ;-)

A nice lighthouse and great place to enjoy sunsets

Scenic plateau to enjoy the view

Not really a green paradise but still some intersting fauna

Zingaro Nature Reserve (Sicily, Italy) - February 2011

After the entrance your adventure starts with a little tunnel 

No roads - You visit on foot of course

During European winter you can see this (February!)

The fauna is incredibly rich all year

Almost 7 km coast

Shelter and picnic area

The Gulf of Castellammare

Cala della Capreria

The first natural reserve that has been set up in Sicily in May 1981. It stretches along about 7 kilometers of unspoilt coastline of the Gulf of Castellammare and its mountain chain which is the setting of little bays and steep cliffs.

The Zingaro has a large variety and abundance of rare and endemic plants it also has a rich fauna. The existence of highly varied ecological niches gives a great diversity which is not easily found in others parts of the island. In the Zingaro at least 39 species of birds that nest and mate. The reserve has a complex network of paths, shelters, water taps, picnic areas, museums, carpark, and other amenities; there are no roads and it can only be visited on foot.

The Zingaro Nature Reserve does not only include the land, but also the sea and beaches, which stretch along the coast for almost 7 km. They are beautiful and almost all sandy and lapped by the clear blue sea, and can be reached along various, rather steep paths.

www.riservazingaro.it

A happy horse being free in this wonderful area 

Cofete (Canary Islands, Fuerteventura) - March 2012

As fas as you can see ... beach only

 

In the middle a cemetory, right at the beach

Nazi Villa - Gustav Winter

Cofete is special and mysterious. Only about 15 people and some goats live there now.

The phantastic landscape will fascinate you. It's pure nature. No tourism in this nature park with the 16 km beach.

The cemetory is right at the beach and a witness of Cofete's special story which you can read on a metal plate at the "entrance".

Nobody really knows what happened during Nazi time when the German Gustav Winter built his villa at the well by 800m mountains protected hillside. All kind of rumours were written about it.

It is very difficult to get there on dirt roads but this has one advantage, there are not many tourists  ;-)

These white and black dots are people taking a selfie

Ideal for loooong and relaxing walks

Cuba (Cofete) Libre