THE JOURNAL

Notes from "El Libre".

Stories, tips and honest guides from Puerto Rico and the rest of Gran Canaria. Written by your host, mostly from the terrace.

Stories, tips and honest guides from Puerto Rico and the rest of Gran Canaria. Written by your host, mostly from the terrace.

Typographic illustration of twelve Canarian Spanish words, with “guagua” in large blue letters at the centre, surrounded by chacho, mi niño, papas, mojo and other everyday island words.

Nov 10, 2026

You’re not ready for Gran Canaria until you learn these 12 words

Nobody here says autobús, and everyone will call you ‘mi niño’. Here’s your field guide to the twelve words you’ll hear before your suitcase is even open.

Typographic illustration of twelve Canarian Spanish words, with “guagua” in large blue letters at the centre, surrounded by chacho, mi niño, papas, mojo and other everyday island words.

Nov 10, 2026

You’re not ready for Gran Canaria until you learn these 12 words

Nobody here says autobús, and everyone will call you ‘mi niño’. Here’s your field guide to the twelve words you’ll hear before your suitcase is even open.

Typographic illustration of twelve Canarian Spanish words, with “guagua” in large blue letters at the centre, surrounded by chacho, mi niño, papas, mojo and other everyday island words.

Nov 10, 2026

You’re not ready for Gran Canaria until you learn these 12 words

Nobody here says autobús, and everyone will call you ‘mi niño’. Here’s your field guide to the twelve words you’ll hear before your suitcase is even open.

Nov 10, 2026

A slow day in Puerto de Mogán: from dawn to dusk

A slow day in Puerto de Mogán, from the morning boat to home in time for dinner, and everything in between.

Nov 10, 2026

A slow day in Puerto de Mogán: from dawn to dusk

A slow day in Puerto de Mogán, from the morning boat to home in time for dinner, and everything in between.

Nov 10, 2026

A slow day in Puerto de Mogán: from dawn to dusk

A slow day in Puerto de Mogán, from the morning boat to home in time for dinner, and everything in between.

Aerial view of Playa de Amadores at sunset, a curved bay of calm turquoise water and golden sand, with the sun setting over the Atlantic.

Nov 10, 2026

I Walked to Playa de Amadores. Here’s Why You Should Too

Skip the parking battle and take the 20-minute clifftop promenade from Puerto Rico just before sunset. Here is what the postcards leave out.

Aerial view of Playa de Amadores at sunset, a curved bay of calm turquoise water and golden sand, with the sun setting over the Atlantic.

Nov 10, 2026

I Walked to Playa de Amadores. Here’s Why You Should Too

Skip the parking battle and take the 20-minute clifftop promenade from Puerto Rico just before sunset. Here is what the postcards leave out.

Aerial view of Playa de Amadores at sunset, a curved bay of calm turquoise water and golden sand, with the sun setting over the Atlantic.

Nov 10, 2026

I Walked to Playa de Amadores. Here’s Why You Should Too

Skip the parking battle and take the 20-minute clifftop promenade from Puerto Rico just before sunset. Here is what the postcards leave out.

A small turquoise suitcase on sand with a sun hat, sunglasses and a beach towel.

Nov 10, 2026

What to pack for Gran Canaria (it’s less than you think)

Your suitcase can be half the size you think. Here’s our short list of what’s worth bringing with you.

A small turquoise suitcase on sand with a sun hat, sunglasses and a beach towel.

Nov 10, 2026

What to pack for Gran Canaria (it’s less than you think)

Your suitcase can be half the size you think. Here’s our short list of what’s worth bringing with you.

A small turquoise suitcase on sand with a sun hat, sunglasses and a beach towel.

Nov 10, 2026

What to pack for Gran Canaria (it’s less than you think)

Your suitcase can be half the size you think. Here’s our short list of what’s worth bringing with you.

Palm trees and pink bougainvillea fading into a thick orange haze of Saharan dust during a calima.

Nov 9, 2026

Calima: what to do when the Sahara pays a visit

Don’t panic, you haven’t landed on Mars. Here’s what’s happening and why it might turn into one of the laziest, loveliest days of your holiday.

Palm trees and pink bougainvillea fading into a thick orange haze of Saharan dust during a calima.

Nov 9, 2026

Calima: what to do when the Sahara pays a visit

Don’t panic, you haven’t landed on Mars. Here’s what’s happening and why it might turn into one of the laziest, loveliest days of your holiday.

Palm trees and pink bougainvillea fading into a thick orange haze of Saharan dust during a calima.

Nov 9, 2026

Calima: what to do when the Sahara pays a visit

Don’t panic, you haven’t landed on Mars. Here’s what’s happening and why it might turn into one of the laziest, loveliest days of your holiday.

The terrace of OceanView Gateway at sunset facing the bay of Puerto Rico.

Nov 9, 2026

We tested every way to spend a day on our terrace

We spent a whole day testing whether our terrace was up to the fine art of doing nothing. Here’s how it got on.

The terrace of OceanView Gateway at sunset facing the bay of Puerto Rico.

Nov 9, 2026

We tested every way to spend a day on our terrace

We spent a whole day testing whether our terrace was up to the fine art of doing nothing. Here’s how it got on.

The terrace of OceanView Gateway at sunset facing the bay of Puerto Rico.

Nov 9, 2026

We tested every way to spend a day on our terrace

We spent a whole day testing whether our terrace was up to the fine art of doing nothing. Here’s how it got on.