Scotland, Travel

Elephant House, The ‘Harry Potter’ cafe in Edinburgh

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The Elephant House is a relaxed and friendly cafe in the heart of Edinburgh. It became famous as the place where JK Rowling wrote the Potter books in the back room overlooking Edinburgh Castle over coffee and cake.

We went along as both our kids love Harry Potter, but were very surprised to find that as well as a place of pilgrimage, it is also actually a very nice cafe. The sandwiches we had were tasty and the cakes above average.

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There were a couple of low points, we were almost put off by the £1 fee to ‘look around’ if not eating, and we watched with amazement as the waitress chased someone a significant distance down the street for attempting to take a souvenir menu away.

If you are not a Potter fan then probably best to eat elsewhere, but you could do worse!

Anyone else ate here and enjoyed it?  And has anyone actually been when JK Rowling was there?

 

 

Fuerteventura, Travel

Unexpected Pleasures at the Airport

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Airports don’t usually have a whole lot going for them, but at Fuerteventura, also known as El Matorral Airport we came across a couple of unexpected gems. On the ground floor we found a massive aquarium with all sorts of fish and corals in crystal-clear water that kids loved and is not something often found at airports. The fish were fun to watch, but the line was building up at the check in desk and it was time to check in and head home.
Fish at Fuerteventura Airport, El Matorral Airport
After check in, we ignored all the usual airport offerings of perfume and duty free, and turned right at the escalators walking as far as we could go. To our delight, we found a sunny hideaway with a holiday vibe. As a bonus, the toilets were close by and much nicer than the ones on the floor below as well. We grabbed baguette-style sandwiches in a paper sleeves (the cheese and ham were a hit with the kids while the salami and goats cheese were our favourites) and chilled water from the vending machines. Once settled we enjoyed the sun and great views of the planes taking off and landing. There was just time to send a last text message home, when the flight was called and we made the short hop to the gate.
Fuerteventura Airport, El Matorral Airport
Fuerteventura Airport, El Matorral Airport
We used Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights to Fuerteventura airport and are already planning a return trip!
Fuerteventura, Travel

Fuerteventura Market

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We spent a couple of hours wandering about this African market. From a distance it looks a bit like a car boot sale on a rough patch of land but is actually well organised stalls.

It is a bit repetitive but colourful and entertaining. The stall holders are friendly and we enjoyed the banter.  There are lots of genuine-fake handbags and watches, and some local crafts such as wooded carved animals and textiles and jewellery.

Be prepared to haggle!

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Fuerteventura, Travel

Dragon fruit

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Dragon fruit also known as pitaya or the strawberry pear, is one of the tasty fruits we look forward to on holiday in Fuerteventura. Part of the cactus family, it gets its name from the scaly bright red skin , and tastes a bit like a cross between a kwiw and a pear.

You can cut it in half, and scoop out the flesh with a spoon, or cut it into cubes and it astes best when it’s fully ripe and served chilled from the fridge

It is high in fiber, iron, vitamin C and B vitamins.

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We enjoy ours with a Sunday Morning crossword?  How do you eat yours?

Fuerteventura, Travel

10 Reasons to Visit Fuerteventura

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Fuerteventura is one of the nicest Canary Islands, with year round sun, beautiful beaches and stunning coastlines. Take advantage of the low cost flights and reasonably priced villas to have an affordable and relaxing family holiday.

Here are our top reasons to visit Fuerteventura

The Weather

The weather in Fuerteventura is hot and sunny although it can get a bit windy.  Not surprising for an island whose name comes from fuerte (strong) and viento (wind). The wind is warm and offers a nice breeze and provide some respite from the sun.

Villas

Villa holidays trump hotels every time, once you have a private pool you’ll never want to go back to sharing. In Fuerteventura there are lots of well priced options to choose from. Pool heating is often extra but is well worth it during the winter months. Pick one with a garden and pool lighting for chilling out once the sun goes down.
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Water Sports and Snorkling

The sun and wind make Fuerteventura an ideal place for almost any water sport. There are a wide range on offer with sport schools that cater from compete beginners to seasoned pros and take care of everything for you.  The inflatable obstacle course tethered a short swim from the boardwalk is great fun too, but best tackled without suncream on.

Beaches, Dunes and Coastline

There are over 150 beautiful beaches to explore. With white sands, turquoise waters and lots of space, it is rare that they become busy or crowded so you won’t have to fight for towel space.
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Day Trips

Jeep safaris and Dune buggies provide one of the best ways to see Fuerteventura. There are pick up points and excursions at several points across the island and you will be able to visit some incredible parts of the island not accessible any other way.
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The Bars

Corralejo is lively, and offers a range of discos, pubs and clubs while Caleta de Fuste is more laid back and family friendly.  Piero’s Music Café is great for families, with a British-style pub, a music cafe and a cabaret bar with nightly live shows.

Fish

The shallow coves and protective sea walls in Caleta have created the perfect breeding grounds for fish and there are thousands of fish swimming around tourists on the beach who love to come for food. Dropping in some stale bread will being them over very quickly for a splashing frenzy or you can hand feed them if you snorkle.

Chipmunks

They are very cute and very photogenic. They are used to tourists feeding them and will often take food out of your hand.
white and brown animal at the cliff
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Fuerteventura, Travel

Public Toilets in Fuerteventura

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Public toilets are not very common and once found they are rarely inviting or luxurious places. The best option is to head into a bar or cafe and use the facilities. While it is polite to have a coffee or small snack, you’re unlikely to upset anyone if you don’t. Some of the beaches also have toilets and showers.

Smaller places may have a bin beside the toilet because the local sewage system has trouble coping.  This is for you to put paper in it and can sometimes become a bit fragrant towards the end of the day so you may want to keep your visit brief.

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Fuerteventura, Travel

Our Favourite Places to Eat in Fuerteventura

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Ciao Mare, pizza cooked in a traditional stone oven using specialty ingredients sourced from Italy.  Our pizza came with the Mozzarella Cheese in the middle and was great for sharing.

Nestor’s Restaurant & Steakhouse, huge portions and great entertainment.

Chiringuito Restaurante, set out on a pier with fantastic views and very relaxing.  Best for lunch and cold drinks.  Club sandwiches and toasties with a view of the sea.  We also had dinner but found it a bit cold and the fish wasn’t as good as elesewhere.

Mi Casa, fish served as it should be simply grilled with a squeeze of lemon and a view of the sea.  It’s a local favourite because of the quality of the fish dishes

Fado Rock Steakhouse, best steak we have ever eaten. The service and food are fantastic.

The Great Wall, if you fancy a Chinese while on holiday this would make a good choice.  Vegetable spring rolls are crispy and yummy.

The Slowboat, the cheap and cheerful Chinese option. Visit on a Wednesday night for buy-one-get-one-free drinks and a set buffet.

El Patio, good selection of drinks and the food was lovely. They have a live band on every night from 9pm

Shivam Indian Restaurant. Lovely curries dishes and nicely served in dishes over a mini burner. The Goan fish curry and naan was to die for.  Complimentary starters and honey rum digestives made the meal very good value for money.  The location is great if you have kids, with a play park, bouncy castle and trampolines within view.

The Chocolate Shop, homemade chocolates and cakes, nice coffee and scones too.

 

 

 

 

 

Uncategorized

Fuerteventura Health Advice

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Fuerteventura health problems can usually be dealt with by going to the Farmacia.

There are several in each of the main resorts and they offer very good advice and we well used to dealing with tourists and speak very good English.  We got great advice on our youngest daughters prickly heat. They are usually open in the evenings, but some also have handy vending machines outside that can be useful out of hours or for emergencies.

For more serious problems, there are private doctor’s clinics and dentists, often with a 24 hour out of hours service. Take your  passport and European Health Insurance Card if you have one, and ask for a receipt if you want to claim the money back when you return home. The European Health Insurance Card is issued free of charge and allows anyone who is insured by or covered by a statutory social security scheme of the EEA countries.

If there is an emergency then the number for the Emergency Services is 112.

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Fuerteventura, Travel, Uncategorized

Resorts in Fuerteventura

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Caleta de Fuste

Caleta is a lovely family resort about 20 minutes from the airport, with a sheltered beach, playgrounds, shops, restaurants and bars all within easy walking distance. A selection of water-based activities are offered in the harbour, including jet ski rentals, submarine excursions and scuba diving classes. It is also known for its golf courses, Fuerteventura Golf Club and Golf Club Salinas de Antigua where it is possible to hire clubs or get lessons. There are lots of nice restaurants to choose from and a long flat promenade to walk along. While there are a few lively bars to visit in the evening, most close at midnight and it might not suit anyone looking for nightlife.

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Puerto del Rosario

Puerto del Rosario is a busy port close to the airport and the capital of Fuerteventura. Take a trip to look at the pretty whitewashed houses and open-air artworks, including giant snail sculptures along the harbor promenade. The old town has majority of the shops, bars and restaurants and there is also a modern shopping mall. If you use the buses to travel around the island, you may find yourself passing through.  Don’t miss the amazing self service drinks machine at the bus depot that serves the biggest range of coffees and hot chocolates we have ever seen for just a few Euros.

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Jandia peninsula & Morro Jable

Jandia peninsula is in the southwestern part of the island, where many of the best beaches can be found along the stretch in between Morro Jable and Costa Calma.  Jandia is more quiet that some of the other resorts, with a few shops, bars etc and restaurants, the best of which are found in the old town area.

Sotavento

Sotavento is made up of five beaches La Barca, Risco del Paso, Mirador, Los Canarios and Malnombre. A sand barrier creates a lagoon  and is perfect for family swims of for beginners learning to windsurf or kitesurf. Check the tide timetables before you go.

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Corralejo

Corralejo is a former fishing village, and the biggest resort in the north of the island. It tends to suits families and couples who want a more lively resort and tends to be the busiest of the resorts.  To reach it, travel North from the airport and takes the coast road through Corralejo Natural Park to find miles of stunning coastline and sand dunes , reminding you that the Saharan Morocco is just 60 miles to the east. The cafes, resturants and bars range from could-be-anywhere type of bars and cafes with photo menus, to more traditional Spanish tapas bars and seafood restaurants, some right by the beach.  You can also take a day trip to the nearby Lobos Island, a nature preserve with rare birds or across to Lanzarote.  The ferry crossing too Playa Blanca operates daily and takes about 25 minutes.

 

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