Fuerteventura - The Undiscovered Gem Of The Canary Islands
Fuerteventura ? blessed with over 150 beaches - is one of the least spoiled and the least discovered of the Canary Islands. With a dramatic volcanic landscape, little rainfall and all year round warm temperatures, the desert landscape is unique and large areas of the island are protected parks. Visit Fuerteventura and you are stepping back to the way Spain was perhaps 30 years ago ? no high rise buildings and a relaxed and gentle way of life, clean streets and beaches. Unlike its more touristic and built-up neighbours of Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura is a place to come to relax, unwind and step back in time. No dusk-to-dawn open air discos, no Club 18-30 ? The island, the closest of the Canaries to Africa, has an embarrassment of beaches ? some are in deserted coves and little fishing villages, others down little dirt tracks - but the most popular ones can be reached from the main roads.
Not that main roads resemble those found in mainland Spain or the UK. Yes, they are well maintained and mostly straight but the lack of traffic is the first thing you notice. And the lack of traffic lights. So far I've found one on the island - and that has never worked! Travelling is easy ? buses and ferries are cheap, run to time and integrate with each other so you can get from, say, Caleta de Fuste to Corralejo with ease. Caleta de Fuste is very much an up-and-coming resort geared to families.
You can find restaurants of all nationalities to suit all tastes and all pockets. There are shops and bars where you can choose to have a quiet drink and watch the world go by. Entertainment can be found ? everything from live groups and cabarets to karaoke, quizzes and bingo ? but it is not as "in your face" as Benindorm or the Costa del Sol. There are even places open to the early hours ? but you won't be disturbed if you want a quiet night.Even the airport here turns off the runway lights and locks up at night time! Caleta has a golden sandy beach set in a bay shaped like a horse shoe. The gently sloping shore makes for very safe bathing and this beach is the one most holidaymakers head for.
But there is a south beach ? reclaimed from the sea and landscaped into small bays which are dotted with small circular brick structures to provide some privacy. Fuerteventura (Fuerte ? strong: Ventura ? happiness) has been described as "the land that time forgot". It is the second largest of the Canary Islands and coming here really is like stepping back in time! Many people mistakenly believe the name of the island stands for "Strong Wind" and although there is often a steady, pleasing breeze, this is usually a welcome relief that makes the hot temperatures a pleasure. It also makes Fuerteventura a water sport paradise ? windsurfing, surfing and kite surfing take place all over the island. Landing at the airport, the first thing you are struck by is the stark, lunar-like landscape.
But explore beyond that and you find vast sweeping sand dunes, lagoons, little fishing villages and isolated sandy coves. Caleta de Fuste is an ideal base for exploring this island being midway between north and south. Head north to Corralejo where the first few self catering apartments appeared all those years ago. Now, it is a bustling resort and the holiday industry has taken off in a big way. Approaching Corralejo the landscape gives way to miles of immense shimmering sand dunes reminiscent of Saharan Morocco, just 60 miles to the east.
The famous dunes are now a protected national park. Corralejo town itself still retains some of the charm of it's early days especially around the old harbour area. From here you can see spectacular views of Lanzarote and the Isle of Lobos ? well worth a visit if you find even the pace of life on Fuerteventura a little too much! Also in the north of the island is El Cotillo, a paradise for surfers. This lovely relaxed village has some great beaches, interesting lagoons and some good restaurants and bars. As you head into the village you will come across the new harbour.
To the left are vast golden beaches and to the right, lagoons. On the left of the village is the Forteleza del Toston, a round stone fort built in 1790 to defend against pirates. The beaches are made for water sports lovers and many experienced surfers head to the stretches of sand between El Cotillo and Corralejo. The lagoon area is much calmer and peaceful ? white beaches with crystal clear waters. This fishing village is a shrine to the Virgin de Buen Viaje (good travel) and these words can be seen painted on the cliffs overlooking the old harbour.
Heading from Caleta de Fuste to the south of the island are the beaches of the Jandia Peninsula, almost 20kms of vast white beaches some over 1kms wide. This huge area includes golden white shores which vary from pretty coves backed by low cliffs at the Costa Calma end to huge dunes, vast desert-like areas and lagoons. It also includes the beach immortalised on thousands of postcards. The Playa de Sotavento is probably one of the most photographed beaches in Europe. It is also a spot where surfers flock to.
The PWA world windsurfing speed and slalom event draws the best windsurfers every year and the world kite surfing championship was held in 2005. At the southern end of the Jandia Peninsula is Morro Jable, another well developed resort with golden beaches and one which is well loved by German package tour operators. So loved, in fact, that even many road signs here are in Spanish and German. With so many beaches, not surprising naturists also love the island. It would be impossible here to list them all but there is a very good guide to the best beaches ? and to the best naturist beaches ? at the Holiday Fuerteventura island guide web site at http://www.geocities.com/holiday_fuerteventura/ But Fuerteventura is not just about beaches.
It is also about sightseeing. One of the most awesome sights on the island is the shipwreck of The American Star ? a huge ocean-going liner which ran aground in a deserted cove several years ago under mysterious circumstances. How this huge ship ? once the biggest of its class in the world ? came to rest there is another story and a controversial one but the sight of this towering wreck lying just yards off shore in a deserted cove just outside Ajuy is a very eerie and haunting sight. It is not easy to find but again, the Holiday_Fuerteventura site has instructions. From here, take the mountain road to Betancuria ? former capital of the island ? and you will be rewarded with some truly spectacular views and the town itself is well worth spending a couple of hours in.
Or try visiting Cofete - hard to reach but the beach runs for about 5kms, is white and sandy and has plenty of room and at the southern tip lies Cofete village ? isolated and used mostly as a weekend retreat. Giniginamar is ideal if you are seeking peace and quiet. The beach, bordered by palm trees, is of black volcanic sand and in the village itself you can find local tapas and on the outskirts, some rather exclusive properties. Arts and crafts are well catered for ? Fuerteventura is not known as the "island of sculptures" for nothing! On almost every roundabout on the island, you will find a sculpture of some form! There are a number of museums ? the craft centre at Antigua whcih is based around a converted windmill and the arts centre at La Olivia which has beautifully landscaped gardens and which features many works by the Canarian artist Alberto Manrique. Or La Alcogida, a living museum based around a village which shows you the way Canarians lived years ago.
There are many other parts of Fuerteventura that lie hidden from the mass tourism market ? long may it remain that way!.
Alan Hayes is a businessman who discovered Fuerteventura ? and stayed there! He set up Fuerteventura Holidays and Homes, a property management and holiday rental company which lets villas, apartments and houses to holidaymakers. Visit http://www.geocities.com/fuerteventuraholidayhomes/.fuerteventuraholidayhomes@yahoo.co.ukNew Satellite Phone/Fax Service For DIRECWAY Satellite Internet
Virginia Beach, VA (ContentDesk) October 9, 2003 -? Skycasters LLC, the nations largest value added reseller of the Hughes Direcway satellite internet service, today announced public availability of its new IP phone/fax service, SatVox. SatVox allows satellite users to make outbound calls, as well as receive incoming calls using a standard 10-digit telephone number assigned to the Direcway satellite internet site. SatVox also enables users to send and receive FAX transmissions over a Direcway satellite internet connection. The Skycasters SatVox connects directly to the public telephone network just like a regular telephone, or can be connected to a corporate PBX system allowing the remote satellite user to access other extensions, outside lines, voice mail and other PBX features. Skycasters does not charge any monthly or per-minute charges for a Skycasters customer to connect to either a PBX or to the public telephone network using SatVox.
For long distance calling, the customer...
New Satellite Phone/Fax Service For DIRECWAY Satellite Internet
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Couples Heat Up and Chill Out with the Winter Warm & Fuzzy Getaway at Bucuti Beach Resort
(ContentDesk) October 13, 2005 -- While the thermostat outside drops across most of the world, temperatures will rise at Bucuti Beach Resort with the Winter Warm & Fuzzy Getaway. Designed specifically for romantic travelers, the Winter Warm & Fuzzy allows couples to heat up and chill out in this intimate and idyllic island paradise.The Winter Warm & Fuzzy Getaway includes hotel accommodations with balcony or terrace, a bottle of champagne, continental breakfast buffet, candlelight dinner for two on the beach, daytime snorkel or sunset sailing cruise, a gift basket with goodies to warm the heart and all tax and service charges. Rates for the five day/four-night package start at $1399 for a superior gardenview room, December 23, 2005 until April 16, 2006.
Rates for the eight-day/seven-night package start at $2,274 for a superior gardenview room, December 23, 2005 until April 16, 2006. Rates for other room categories, including the Tara Beach Suites and Penthouses are also available....
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Curtis Bannister and Cutlass Bay, Cat Island, Bahamas Beach Houses prosper; Curtis Banister Aids Bahamian People
(ContentDesk) December 12, 2005 -- Dr. Curtis Bannister owns the Spectacular Oceanfront and the Sunset Beach Houses, Cat Island which are in high demand. Curtis Bannister when visiting his rental properties at Cat Island, visits the locals and often helps them out by orchestrating the shipment of a necessity for their community. Mrs. Curtis Bannister, or Dr.
Bannister as she is sometimes called, also a chiropractor supplies chiropractic care at Cutlass Bay and much of the Cat Island locality.Dr. Curtis Bannister , a small plane pilot, admittedly loves Cat Island and its people. His Spectacular Oceanfront Home and Sunset Beach House with its white sand beach draw vacationers from all over the globe. Curt Bannister states "Our goal is to make our guests happy".Cutlass Bay is a reef protected cove where curt bannisters rental homes are situated approximately a quarter mile apart. The driveway to the home is a mile long and passes the private cutlass bay airport.
Guests at...
Curtis Bannister and Cutlass Bay, Cat Island, Bahamas Beach Houses prosper; Curtis Banister Aids Bahamian People
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Boutique Announces Official Advisory Committee
Newport Beach, CA (ContentDesk) September 26, 2005 -- Boutique, a Preferred Hotel Group Partner, is honored to announce the formation of an Official Advisory Committee. The four inaugural members, Brendan Carlin, General Manager of The Mosaic in Beverly Hills, Micarl Hill, General Manager of Clayton-on-the-Park in St. Louis, Ali Khoja, General Manager of the SoHo Metropolitan in Toronto, and Jeff Lehman, General Manager of The National in Miami, bring extensive hospitality experience to the Boutique organization. All four properties are members of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Lindsey Ueberroth, Managing Director of Boutique, says, "As a new brand within Preferred Hotel Group, we felt there was a tremendous opportunity for us to tap into our hoteliers' great wealth of knowledge.
We feel these four gentlemen bring something truly special to Boutique, especially in the areas of marketing strategy and member development." The current members bring invaluable skills and acclaimed experience...
Boutique Announces Official Advisory Committee
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Dreaming About a New Home in New Jersey?
Kara Homes, a home builder based in East Brunswick, has constructed "Millionaire's Row," said the company's president, Mr.Zudi Karagjozi. He has promoted the development as a first: very-high-end homes, actually on New Jersey's oceanfront, only a 45-minute ferry ride from Manhattan. Mr.Karagjozi said he likes to think of the project as a renaissance for Sea Bright, a "restoration" of its period of highest elegance in the late 1800's when big names of the day -- Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, William Nelson Cromwell, Sir Thomas Lipton of World Cup racing fame -- summered there, engaging in chic festivites like an annual horse-drawn carriage race between Sea Bright and Long Branch.By 1870, the railroad had come through the little town, which is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Shrewsbury River on the other. Sea Bright's barrier beach, which is the southern half of the Sandy Hook peninsula, had been purchased by its first developers, who brought in topsoil from Rumson Long...
Dreaming About a New Home in New Jersey?
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Craig Technical Consulting, Inc. Receives Hubzone Certification BY U.S. SBA
Craig Technical Consulting, Inc. of Virginia Beach, Virginia is pleased to announce that as of February 3, 2004, the U.S. Small Business Administration has certified our corporation as a qualified HUBZone small business concern (SBC).Founded by Carol Craig in 1999, Craig Technical Consulting, Inc. is an 8(a) approved Minority Vendor.
Further, by being a Disabled Veteran, Woman Owned Corporation,
it is unique in its areas of specialization which are:
avionics software development,
legacy data migration and data warehousing solutions, healthcare data warehousing solutions, project management, software engineering and mission planning system support.
Information regarding Craig Technical Consulting can be obtained from their corporate website www.craig-consulting.net.
You can reach Craig Technical Consulting at 757-491-6903..
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New Vibes Music Signs Up Gulan for Oncoming New Age Album Compilation
Pompano Beach, FL (ContentDesk) December 30, 2005 -- New Vibes Music announced today that has signed New Age artist Gulan for the next New Age Compilation titled Echoes of Tuvalu due next year. We are very excited to include Gulans music in our next release said David Moreno, Executive Producer & CEO of New Vibes Music. Gulan is a Latvian composer which style hovers between a crossover of new age and space music, truly unique and beautiful. His songs are very rich and delightful, very enigmatic. We are confident that people will love our next new age compilation David Moreno added.
I think that the best way to tell about my music is: listen to it and feeling it , enthuses Gulan when expressing himself about his music.Echoes of Tuvalu will be released next year and will include unreleased original compositions from other known artist such as Amilcar, and the fiddle player Gabriel Garcia among other artists. About New Vibes Music, Inc.New Vibes Music is a record label based...
New Vibes Music Signs Up Gulan for Oncoming New Age Album Compilation
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First Kitesurf School on Isla Coche, Venezuela Opens
Coche Kite Sport Center, the first kitesurf school on the island of Coche in Venezuela is open for winter 2004/2005 in Playa Punta.
Situated 12km off the coast off Margarita, Venezuela this small island of 165km2 has an amazing bay at the base of the island which has a 3km long beach with white sand, clean waters and fantastic, year round, wind conditions for kiting.
Kiting is possible all day on the super flat waters as there is a consistent offshore wind - making Coche one of the most idyllic and tranquil places in the world to kite.The Center offers lessons for at all levels for groups, private customized tuition and the Center holds regular intermediate and advance personalized clinics.
In 2005 the clinics will run for one or two weeks and include individual tuition to improve technique and tricks, video and DVD feedback, along with excursions to other hot spots on the islands.
As safety is a priorty, there is a dedicated safety boat for kiters...
Beach > First Kitesurf School on Isla Coche, Venezuela Opens
Beach Fuerteventura - The Undiscovered Gem Of The Canary Islands
Beach Fuerteventura - The Undiscovered Gem Of The Canary Islands jewelry
Push Button Health is Offering Some of the Best Health and Fitness Products on the Internet
(ContentDesk) November 18, 2004 -- Push Button Health is offering the opportunity for people wanting to start a home business online, or those who want to give their online business a boost with unlimited resources needed to promote free affiliate programs, sell products with full resale rights, learn how to apply ecommerce on their websites and sell their own products, marketing tips and free tools, unlimited access to forums, learn how to start your own newsletter with access to some of the...
Beach Push Button Health is Offering Some of the Best Health and Fitness Products on the Internet Fuerteventura - The Undiscovered Gem Of The Canary Islands
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