Gran Canaria

Getting up early I made my way back to the airport and took a bus to the city centre of Las Palmas. The priorities were to find a CSer who'd host me and to find a marina/port. Few minutes wandering about I met this lovely prostitute who, with a big smile, showed me the nearest "ciber cafe". Being unlucky in Portugal and Spain when looking for a place to stay paid off here as I found a host almost immediatelly. Her name's Anna, semi Spanish, semi Swedish girl who has moved to Las Palmas to look for a boat. And she had already found hers. She was leaving with the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) on 24.11.. She provided very good start for me and became a helpful advisor. I improved my advert, but that I knew that was not so important. The main aim is to go around the marina, try to sneak inside a pontoon and talk to people. And that requires a large dose of patience and an everlasting and authentic smile. Though I must say that the majority of people are kind and at least try to give another tip on how to succeed. In Las Palmas' marina there is also a bar called Sailors Bar and it's frequently packed with sailors and boathitchhikers(BH). Apart from good atmosphere one can also find there many grumpy waitresses and not so good pizza. Here in the bar or around the marina I met so many BHs like me willing to cross Atlantic and we can quickly become close friends sharing very similar values in life. And so spirits rise up high and it comes easier to search if we can also share some positive energy.
Few days after my arrival I was wandering around the pontoons where I saw a nice Lagoon 380 catamaran with a Swedish couple on board which seemed to be freshly docked. And so I tried to greet them through the pontoon gate as they were parked first on the left side. The girl greeted me back and said something in Swedish to the guy, who got off the boat and opened the gate for me. He introduced himself as Daniel, his wife Anna and their little dog Vera. They were the first people to invite me on their boat. And so we talked briefly about our missions and concluded that we should meet again. We met few days later at the Sailors', drank beer and shared some crazy stories... I offered my hand to help with whatever needed and so I got myself a carpentering task.
To buy a marine plywood one must travel across the city to the very far end and once there it only opens every now-and-then.The taks itself was pleasant for me as I enjoy working with wood. I also helped Dani with water maker instalment. All succesfull, I could live few nights on board with my captain and captainess.
While on Gran Canaria I met an old friend Chcipo and his girl down in Maspalomas, few days of chillout throughout their busy routine Chcipo gave me an opportunity(for very friendly price) to pass PADI Scuba diver course. I'm sure that it will pay back.
Couple of days spent in the west of the island, Tamadaba National Park was my destination, and its picturesque pine forests with some beautiful crags and bouldery sport climbing. I've met nice locals and two guys from Tenerife, Dani and Gorge, with whom I climbed for 2 days. With couple of 7a problems I indeed surprised myself that I'm still able to push hard enough! Before reaching the climbing spot I spent a night in a little village called Tajegisto where I was well looked after by friendly locals, given beer, food and spanish lesson, then taken home by one of them to sleep in a humble cave apartment. Breakfast made out of fresh eggs and homegrown herb tea got me ready for a 4 hour hike towards Pinar de Tamadaba.
In Las Palmas I also discovered few squats leaving me with mixed feelings. Quite nice places, though some strange evenings/events with unfriendly attitude amongst inhabitants. Still they let me stay there for 3 nights, the roof over my head and warm shower proved luxurious.

Baydreamer makes my dream come!

Hardworker from Slovakia hits the port in Las Palmas

This is me pretending that I'm a carpenter. The job got done (almost completely;). But I got given an opportunity to sail with these lovely people even before starting and that takes courage. I think that was the coolest birthday present ever given to me. I owe a lot to the universe!


More stories from Gran Canaria coming very soon...

Sum up up to Canarias

In short: I left UK in early September hitchhiking through Lille, where I had good times with Sarah, Bruno and kids - skateboarding and antique hunting experience. From there, after leaving my phone at their home and jumping my way back to the city, I took a bus to Berlin. A half a day visit including a climbing break at Der Kegel and a night spent with Mrs Gepardine. Surprisingly uneasy hitch from Berlin after almost 5 hours a ride to Dresden, managed to get to Brno just before midnight meeting another bunch of beloved friends, drinking lots of lovely Czech micro beer. Next day I decided to chill in Brno, meeting a strong climber Tomas(super dinner at U Karla). I stayed so I could join Ondrik and Brigitka on their way to Heroin's and Lujza's wedding in Valasska, party on! And finally reaching home. There Ado was waiting for my hands to help him with a foundation for their tiny bungalow. I've never thought I could have so much fun laying them foundation (20kg) bricks… Thank you Adrian. Apart from visiting my own blood family I also managed to celebrate Brainscan's second release called Reflections at the 77 Music Club in Banska Bystrica(with my little sister and many other siblings). That was a great opportunity to kill my neck after a while, mighty 'eadbangin' is such a stress releaser, and yes, it took me a whole week to recover the overstretched trapezius. Shouldn't I forget to self praise, I also built a future home for Veronika's hens at her new home in Horne Mladonice. A masterpiece! And so I was ready to leave, kissed my fellow men and got back on the road. First night spent in Bratislava with Petko and Monika, after a potent session at a local climbing centre. Easy lift from Zlate Piesky, 300km southwards brought my hopes up high. The same day I got a little further, then pitched my bivi. Next day, next petrol station and a new record, 21 hours at the spot (including 7 hours sleep) fixing my patience well. Mercedes S500 was an answer to my struggle, taking me across the boarder to Italy, where I spent a night in a small village. Next day I reached a petrol station just ouside Milano, it seemed to take a long time to follow on an appropriate highway south towards Genova therefore I accepted a ride to the centre of Milan where, what else, I visited another climbing centre. It was a nice one too but the staff wanted to charge me 27e for a single session because I needed to register and get a member's card??? 15 minutes it took me to convince them and pay as little as 10e, still not very cheap. There must be something about the karma of this up-tight city... Anyway another spot proved efficient taking me to a small village near Genova where I tried some exotic bears, ate freshly stonebaked and gifted pizza-base and later I tested my bivi(thank you Cheerko) during a rainy night. It's waterproof but it seems uneasy task to keep the water from streaming in. I survived. Little wet. I took a train(I had to argue about a fine of 5e for not validating my ticket(I didn't know about this obligation) after being threatened by a train-lady that she would call police? I didn't pay it of course) to nice little town near ITA/FRA boarder called Ventimiglia, few tourist but still very nice place, I can recommend. Further I took another train towards Nice and then Marseille. There I tried to find a climbing spot, which I failed but the sight was worth all the blisters. I will come back to you, Marseille! Hitching to Barca, day and 1/2, overnight sleeper train to Madrid - indoor Salamandra Boulder Cafe - cool place to chill and climb, nice people and atmosphere. From there I continued with an overnight train to Lisbon, next day afternoon reaching south of Portugal and meeting Anicka. There we spent few days lazying around the beautiful beaches, eating great local cuisine - fish, oh grilled fish everywhere, very hard to resist its aroma. Little efforts to find a boat, but visited a few marinas, Portimao and Lagos mainly but now I know that I could have tried harder. Tasty Pakistani chocolate made our few days more interesting. And people in Portugal, so very chilled-out and friendly and helpful, I'm in love with Portugal. After Anicka left me, I kept searching but no luck in either finding boat or CouchSurfing host. After it started to rain and forecast didn't seem to predict anything else for following days, I decided to leave to Sevilla where I booked a flight to Las Palmas. So couple of days freestyle, I experienced homelessness in a streets of large Spanish city, which was good fun also thanks to Mattias and his dog and other interesting people I met. I had few more days before flying so I went down to El Chorro, oh El Chorro I love you so! Great place, where I met the craziest guy in the village, Cmoud(read ch(e)moud), a Czech guy who lives with his employees and help them run a little tourist accommodation business. He lives with a very little but has a lot to give, definitely a positive energy. 2 days, flashed a 6c+ and happily waited for a train, which never came. Transportation may get obstaculous if Spanish people decide to strike... But kind people still exist and so are Cmoud's hosts who drove me 40km from where I could catch a bus instead. By midnight I found a humble shelter in a garage ruins not very far from Las Palmas Aeropuerto...