We've got photos of the Maspalomas Gay Parade 2012 over at our Facebook page. They were made by Alex Bramwell. 

Have a look:

Gay Parade photos at the Gran Canaria Facebook page

With temperatures around the 40ºC yesterday because of the Calima, two elderly British tourists died while hiking in the mountains of Gran Canaria. 

One woman, 78, died of heart problems while suffering from a heat stroke in the valley of Andrés (Mogán), and another woman, in the valley of Azuaje, as well died from results of a heat stroke. She was walking up to Fontanales with her husband. As their location was unclear, it took a while for the recue time to find them. Finally, a helicopter from Tenerife managed to get them both on board.

Global, the public transport company of Gran Canaria, has released a PDF with the adjusted timetable for tomorrow, the day of the general strike (29 march 2012).

The unions and the state have agreed on certain 'minimum services' for Spain, to not bring the country to its knees.

You can download the PDF right here:

http://www.gran-canaria-info.com/downloads/category/8-forms

Pick the "horarios huelga 2012.pdf".

We can't predict how much the strike will disrupt services on Gran Canaria, but we will try to update you via our facebook page. Please check often if you're worried. Thank you, and good luck!

Here it is, Gran Canaria through the eyes of the Tourist Board of Gran Canaria:

The following text is from a blog post of Alex Bramwell's Sunshine Guide.

The Spanish Government has approved oil giant REPSOL's plans to prospect for oil 70km off the east coast of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. The move is deeply unpopular in the Canary Islands. Locals are concerned that any money made from oil will head back to the mainland, while any oil spills will destroy our tourist trade.

An oil strike off the Canary Islands is a decidely mixed blessing. It would make the islands one of the luckiest places on Earth: Where else has perfect weather all year round and untold riches underground? It could also turn into a disaster scenario with oil slicks coating the island beaches, and destroying the tourism and fishing industries.

With the oil fields being far offshore, most of the prospecting work will be done by Peninsular companies from Spain, employing Spanish, and not Canarian, workers. Jobs on the islands will come from oil rig repairs and maintenance, and in any storage or refining plants set up to deal with the oil. REPSOL estimates that a significant oil strike will create up to 5000 sorely needed jobs in the islands over the next 30 years. It has also estimated that up to 10,000 million euros would be invested in the islands. Serious money!

(Click Read more... down below to read the rest of the article.)