Gran Canaria Island | On one side is the sea, on the other is the desert

German holidays are quite scattered. Today, my child mentioned the scene of playing in the desert by the sea on a volcanic island during Christmas, and I am also late to share some travel photos and an irregular travelogue. Although the Gran Canaria archipelago belongs to Spain, it is located to the west of the Sahara Desert in Africa. With its warm winters and cool summers, it is a favorite holiday destination for Europeans. Looking back, I have spent the last few winters on the three main islands of this archipelago. Each island has its own characteristics, each unique, and I will start a thread to introduce them later. Gran Canaria Island is the most regularly shaped island among them, round in shape, with a mountainous center that is also a volcanic crater. We drove around the rugged mountain roads to hike there, and the island's central landmark, Roque Nublo, is recommended as a great place for hiking. The northern part of the island is the capital, with museums, aquariums, cruise ports, and commercial areas, but there is also a very long beach. The southernmost part of the island has the famous Maspalomas Desert (Dunas de Maspalomas), where on one side is the desert and on the other is the sea. You can hike from the desert to the seaside, where the water is very clear. Every evening, tourists gather at the edge of the desert to watch the sunset together. Nearby are many holiday hotels, and this time we stayed right by the desert, which I recommend. You can go for a walk at any time, and the kids can play in the sand. Walking barefoot on the sand warmed by the sunlight feels especially wonderful.