Fuerteventura
Tourism instead of goat breeding
Fuerteventura? An island like a goose leg that was in the oven for too long - almost parched, skin folds of gray lava and white limestone, dotted with long-extinct volcanoes. A desert island, dromedaries included. Until about 30 years ago, a poorhouse, almost without electricity and water, many residents illiterate, caught fish or goats, deliberately forgotten by the Franco regime. Statistically, 42 goats now share each of the 1700 square kilometers of Fuerteventura with 30 majoreros. The word for the islanders is borrowed from the language of the natives, who called themselves Majos and were already partly exterminated by the European conquerors in the 15th century and partly assimilated.
Only a few Majoreros are still fishermen or farmers today. The majority of them deserve some form of the more than 60,000 hotel beds that have been built on Fuerteventura since the mid-sixties and are occupied by over 850,000 tourists a year, including 550,000 Germans: many young people, many families with children, no culture hungry. In terms of culture and history, the island has rather little to offer. At least not as much as that would make it so easy to fill an annual leave.
Eldorado for surfers and divers
"Actually, I just wanted to do a surf vacation." Carmen Herbold sits at a cola at the counter in the "Pro Center" on the Playa de Sotavento, the largest windsurfing school in the Canary Islands. "But then I suddenly fell in love with this island." In Germany, Carmen Herbold was a master in speed surfing years ago. Now she lives here and works at a tour operator.
A sea in the color of polished turquoise, a total of 55 kilometers of white beaches (of which alone in the south, on the peninsula Jandía, a good 27 kilometers at a stretch), the persistently blowing trade winds - only the name Fuerteventura leads to tingling in the belly surfing fans , And they come for the same reason as catamaran freaks or diving fanatics: because the island does not keep them waiting. There is always a beach somewhere, where they can quietly surrender to their addiction. And when in July at the Sotavento the finals take place in the windsurfing World Cup, there is the Eldorado.
travel service
flat-rate: "Risco del Gato" (Costa Calma / Jandía), first-class bungalow hotel, idiosyncratic architecture, quiet location by the sea; Tennis court, pool, spacious garden, gourmet kitchen, German management.
"Robinson Club Esquinzo Playa" (TUI), attractive resort with private beach access, especially child and family friendly, special wellness and fitness programs.
to eat and drink
"Restaurante el Artesano", Corralejo, Calle Juan Sebastián El Cano 2, Tel./Fax 0034-28-86 73 24: imaginative, not very cheap kitchen of the finer kind.
"Bar de Maria Dumpierrez", Betancuria, behind the church of Iglesia Santa Maria, Tel. 0034-28-87 82 09: Maria Dumpiérrez prepares traditional Spanish and Canarian dishes in the oldest kitchen in the Canary Islands (on request, with nice visitors). is eaten between flowering geraniums in the quaint patio of their 500 year old house.
"Avellno", C. General Franco 21, Corralejo, Tel. 0034-28-53 51 95: cozy restaurant in the northern tourist center; Specialty: Tapas - the small fine dishes that can replace a large menu very well.
"La Casa del Jamon", La Asomada s / n, 35613 Puerto del Rosario, Tel. 0034-28-53 00 64: This restaurant, located near the church of the port and capital, specializes in Basque cuisine and ham dishes.
hike
Hannelore of the Tver (Villa Volcana en Monte Arena, 35640 Villa Verde, Tel. 0034-28-53 50 10 between 18 and 21 o'clock or mobile phone 0034-28-908 92 83 80, from Germany 003428/92 83 80) offers organized hiking tours. Price between 18 and 30 euros per person.
