the canary islands
Traditional food
Mojo
The cuisine of the Canary Islands combines traditional Spanish recipes with
African and Latin American influences, resulting in an incedible variety of
foods. A very simple and well-known recipe is Papas Arrugadas, potatoes boilt
in salt-water without peeling them and served with Mojo, a hot sauce of oil,
garlic, chili-peppers and paprika. Mojo is the most famous of many Canary sauces.
local info
Already Greeks and Romans reported on this archipelago
of volcanic origins, and called it the Happy Islands, Garden of the Hesperides,
Atlantida, ... Some historians suppose that the legendary continent Atlantis
was located here. The islands' original population, called Guanches, is tall
and of white skin.
In 1496 the islands became part of the Spanish kingdom, a short period of
time later the ships of Christopher Columbus stopped here on their travel
to discover the New World.
What to see
Teguise
Teguise, the former capital, carries the name of the last Guanche-king's daughter.
It is one of the oldest settlements on the archipelago, but little is left
of its original monumental abundance, as it once was destroyed by pirates.
Anyhow, Teguise conserved much of its ambience of a manorial town, with nice
houses and its dominating castle, Castillo de Santa Barbara. A highly demanded
souvenir are the "Timples", traditional instruments similar to guitars,
which are manufactured here.
