Las Palmas, Spain
When people talk about the Canary Islands, they're referring to seven main volcanic islands and several islets that form a chain extending for ~ 500 km across the Atlantic, with its eastern edge only 100 km from the NW African coast. Everyone knows these islands were formed by volcanic eruptions, caused mostly by hotspots in the oceanic crust; but no one knows for certain why the lava erupted in this particular area of the Atlantic Ocean and when it happened to form the land masses. The actual origin of the magmatism in the Canaries and its complicated space-time relationships have been a subject of debate for many years. Here is a link to some fine pictures of volcanic formations throughout the archipelago. Calderas and fissure vents (linear openings through which lava erupts) are abundant. If you want some interesting historical data, present day statistics and/or tourism info, follow this link to Wikipedia. 
Personally, I'm interested in the food aspect, and Wikipedia doesn't say much about what's to eat. After carefully combing the internet, I've found something that looks mighty tasty: Canary Islands' cuisine, I'm told, combines traditional Spanish recipes with African and Latin American influences. A very simple and well-known Canary Island recipe, for example, is papas arrugadas: potatoes boiled in salt-water with their peelings on, then served with mojo picon,a hot sauce of oil, garlic, chili-peppers and paprika. Yum, yum yum. Click the above links for tried and true authentic recipes. The local Canarian wine, a mellow flavored and not too sweet concoction from the Malvasia grape (above), compliments the hot spiciness.
In addition to the divinely natural architecture, humans have created some fine masterpieces in the larger cities. There is everything from Moorish to Modern, the latter of which can be seen in the picture. Wikipedia doesn't tell you this, either, but Las Palmas is famous for its miracle cures. Tourists have been frequenting the Canary islands for centuries in search of alternative health cures. The natural beauty of this area, along with the temperate climate, make for a friendly, open thinking environment–one that is good for letting go of conventional ideas.(Hint Hint) 
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Me parece muy amena la definición y muy simpática, falto hblar del gofio de Valleseco
Miguel, dinos entonces del golfo de Valleseco.
FROM DEEP IN THE NORTHEN CALIFORNIA WOODS:
Thank you very much for your wonderful posting. I have always been fascinated by many aspects of the Canary islands not the least of which being the whistling. I will visit there some day and spend at least a month and thanks to your beautiful work I have all the more reason to go.
Who actually wrote and posted this?
hola! estoy mirando para ir a las Palmas para el curso de noviembre….sabe alguien de algun sitio barato o alguien que alquile una habitacion por unos 10 dias? muchas gracias
Thank you so much, this was very interesting. I was actually born in Spain (I’m not telling what year though!) but was moved around various parts of europe and finally settled in the UK when I was 6. I dont remember an awful lot of the few years I was in spain, but the smell of spanish food always seems to get me going or something. It’s weird how I dont remember anything except the smells,isn’t it! I even found a whole website dedicated to spanish recipes, which gave me great delight and thought I really should to share with your readers. Anyway, thank you again. I’ll get my husband to add your website to my rss thing…
Happy Christmas. Let all your desires may well come real for yourself as well as your family members in addition to lets wish the next year or so possibly be profitable for all those all of us. Merry Christmas