Monday 31 December 2012

Gran Canaria December 2012

Gran Canaria December 2012

Chris and Lyn arrive with a box of spares and goodies! - Thanks guys!


We have been here for nearly a month and it has been quite eventful . Las Palmas is a big town with  everything you could want so reprovisioning is easy. The marina is huge with lots of live aboards and many boats here for refits etc. We have met lots of interesting people and found others we have met before so it has been rather nice.

Along the quay there are several bars and restaurants, several chandlers so almost anything is available as well as a dive shop and a laundry. There is a small general store with all the essentials and lovely bread baked on the premises, so hot bread is often on the menu for breakfast.


As soon as we arrived we explored all the shops to find the best places to buy all our provisions.On my birthday we had a day off and went to yet another Columbus house museum. A beautiful building with very interseting displays and artefacts and two live parrots wandering around at will! Afterwards we had an excellent lunch at a pavement cafe and on the way back walked through downtown to see where the Marks and Spencer was! Being Sunday it was closed!

Another Columbus house


On the 10th I flew to Swizerland for the birth of my little granddaughter, Elise Isabella and had a lovely few days. The cold was a bit of a shock, but I enjoyed it, knowing it was the last cold I will see for some time!

Elise


Richard, meanwhile, was working hard on Galene, lots of maintainance and checking that she is ready for her big adventure. She is really ship shape now and looking good. A new addition were the Christmas lights which made her look really festive. We have taken them down today in preparation for our departure tomorrow!



Christmas day was great. There were eight of us on Galene with everyone bringing parts of the meal so we has a feast with not much effort, sitting in the cockpit in T shirts, just like Chritmas should be!

Our Xmas tree

The Xmas day crowd!


Boxing day we were off to the market to order fresh fruit and veg, and vacuum packed frozen meat which should keep for a few weeks in the fridge. These were all to be delivered on Saturday. Then it was off to Hipodino for the dry goods. They deliver free to the marina which is great. Then, of course, we had the problem of stowing everything!



The Veg arrives







Don't sit there - eat something!

 

Cliff arrived on 28th which really brought it home that THIS IS IT! We are really going.

 Anyway, now the provisions are all away, the boat is back in sailing mode, tonight an excursion ashore to the Sailors Bar to see in the New Year, then to bed not too late and tomorrow - the Cape Verdes!  The forecast looks good North Easterlies F4 - 5 so with the wind behind us it should be a good run down - 870 miles.

New Year's Eve


Pictures to follow, soon we hope!

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