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Gran Canaria: gorge Guayadeque |
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Written by Administrator
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Saturday, 26 December 2009 |
Barranco de Guayadeque is in Guanche, the original inhabitants of the Canary Islands, "a place where water flows". Indeed, in the ravine was once a wild river. Flowed from the mountains in the heart of the island to the ocean. On the banks of the Guanches established a settlement (the excavations at the Museo Canario in Las Palmas).
They lived in caves carved in the rocks on the sunny, eastern side of the river, and hid the dead after dark - west. To this day, retains a few original homes in the steep slope high above the ground.
Gorge starts at Agüimes. His bottom asphalt road leads. Fantastic views - the steep, jagged rocks, plenty of trees, bushes, lichens and flowers. The nature reserve is growing about 80 endemic species, including high pine trees Canaries and Canary spurge. First stop - Cuevas Barmejas, Scarlet Caves. In this village all the houses, the model of their ancestors, dug in the steep volcanic slopes.
At the beginning of the rock church. A narrow entrance leads to a cool room, in the altar, over the three statues of saints. Wet, the rough walls know the chisel marks. In addition to the bench like a normal chapel. Narrow path (or street?) Leads uphill. I pass a closed solid castle, set in solid rock door. Then cut in the cliff-like yard, walk to the chickens and geese. Next flowery porch, door, corridor ... When a curious peek inside, suddenly there is a woman with money. In response to my smile, recalls her husband. Cazolla Antonio Lopez was born in this house, and his mother lives in him 42 years. Three rooms look perfectly normal, but the ceiling is fairly low. The large double bedroom corner, next to a wooden cradle, and family photographs on the walls. The host explains that the five siblings, only he was here with his wife, sister and mother, the rest living in the city. In Cuevas Barmejas live well (living in the heat cools, and when cold, warm), but far from everywhere. Sometimes it looked tourists - even many in the season. Above the door a few more similar in the rock. On the steps of one of the homes my grandfather sees playing in the flourishing bush bougainvilleas granddaughter. From the highest place you can see other houses caves - more luxurious, with solar, multiple antennas and porches painted in pink. On the way back I pass a rock shop. Drive by almond groves, picturesque spread on the slopes and higher rocks. The road climbs a bit up the hill and behind a restaurant Tagoror ends, changing the path to the next village of caves. It is a sign that time snack. In Tagoror rocky corridors lead to smaller rooms round. I choose a shady terrace overlooking the green ravine.
In the menu, including delicious smoked ham jambon serrano (3.45 euros) and fresh sheep cheese queso tierno (half portion 2.45 million). On Sundays and holidays, give here the local specialty - sancocho canario, or fish soup (7 euros). Guanche I find traces of it in a picturesque ravine Barranco de Fataga. The road does not bottom of the valley, only along the steep cliff. However, it beat all the corners (some make you feel dizzy). At the very beginning aborigen Mundo, which is reconstructed Guanche settlement - just in time for the kids (working hours. 9-18). More and more winding road leads to Fatagi. In this quaint village, the streets are narrow and steep, the houses look like Dalmatians - white with patches of stone. Steep, green slopes, the bottom of the palm groves, flowers everywhere. Well, almost no tourists at all.
In a nearby village, you can even ride a camel, but I have to hurry to catch the sunset. Best to watch it from the vantage point at the entrance to the ravine. Barranco de Fataga looks from here like a little Canyon.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 04 February 2010 )
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