Postcards from Gran Canaria
A creative moment on holiday with kids.
A pause. That is why we book a holiday isn’t it? Of course we go to explore a new location, create memories with our children and to play at a different way of life. But essentially, we go for a pause. To press the reset button on our lives. Away from the distractions of home life.
Regrettably, it always takes me a good few days until I find myself in holiday mode. The kids and my husband are already there waiting for me to catch up. They slip into holidays as soon as the passport has been checked and the plane’s wheels have been lifted. Perhaps even sooner. It must be a mother thing? We are still worrying about the packing even as we are unpacking at the other end - what have we forgotten? Is everyone enjoying themselves?
The only person not enjoy themselves in this scenario is you (me - the mother).
Time to take a deep breath, lift my face to the sun and make the most of the next seven (now five) days.
Gran Canaria.
I wanted to write a bit about Gran Canaria itself and where we stayed. Since we have returned home I have already recommended the hotel to three different families.
“Is Gran Canaria worth a visit?” one person asked.
Hmmm, I replied. Absolutely if you are travelling in the winter and chasing the sun. It was a short(ish) flight from Newcastle, England, coming in just under four hours on the way out and five hours on the return. It didn’t *completely* break the bank and didn’t involve a long haul flight for a completely different change of scene. The language is Spanish which is a fun one for the kids to learn and practise (Lily kept proudly shouting Bonjour! to every passerby, much to our amusement. Now we are home she has finally mastered a Hola!) However it is an island that relies heavily on tourism and most people you meet speak very good English.
The beaches are clean (much nicer than the south of France!) and there are a few pretty pockets.
However, I don’t think I would choose to visit here at any other time of the year. There are more interesting and exciting places to visit in an even shorter flight/train/boat ride. The Canary Islands are rocks, volcanoes, in the middle of the Atlantic, with some brilliant walking and cycling routes which I think I would re-visit when the kids are much older or even left home. Can’t imagine them wanting to go on a hiking holiday just yet.
We stayed at the Servatur Puerto Azul - super family friendly and sits in the equally family friendly resort of Puerto Rico, round the corner from Puerto Mogan (a must visit spot).
The hotel sits high on a hill, providing gorgeous views across the ocean and over to the hills. There are 709 steps down to the beach - we didn’t count these, there is a handy plaque telling you so. I sweated off my ice cream, wine and all-inclusive meals by carrying the pushchair up and down these steps.
We enjoyed dips in the sea, dips in the pool and unlimited dips with tea. Perfect. A short boat journey around the bay took us to Puerto Mogan, nicknamed a “little Venice” with it’s small narrow streets with pretty doors and window frames. We sailed on the choppiest day and girls were a bit green by the time we got back. They don’t have sea legs unfortunately.
A few photos from our family holiday.
Stepping away from the 9-5…
I love breaks like this and find I often book them when I feel stuck in a rut. I was feeling this way about work and my ‘big dreams’. The holiday, I knew, would be the step back that I needed to reaffirm my goals and give me space to see the bigger picture. I know what my big goals are and why. A lot of them involve the freedom to travel more while the children are still young enough to enjoy all this time with mum and dad. The teenage years always felt so far away when Charlie was little but this year he turns 11 and scarily in six short years he will be learning to drive. I say six short years because I know how fast time flies when you are chasing around after little ones. Terrifying!
After the first few days of the holiday, I started to melt into the routine of eat, pool, suncream, repeat. I started and finished a book during the times the youngest one napped and Steve was playing with the older two in the pool. I edited a children’s book I am submitting in a few weeks and felt that flutter of butterflies surrounding possibility. It felt good.
When we arrived home, I was straight back to work and washing clothes the next morning. That was tough. But I am so grateful we had that week off together as a family. Steve and I spent very little time together, as I suppose happens when you have children ranging in ages and all wanting different things, but we laughed about it and supportively held hands when we could.
Now time to plan and save for the next one…
Any recommendations for family friendly countries to visit? I’m all ears!