Once the New Empire was being established in South-America many new agricultural products began to flow back to Europe. One of these was the tomato. "Tomatl" means plump fruit in the Aztec language and, indeed, it is a fruit. It was possibly brought back by Cortez in 1519. It was much smaller and yellow, and initially named by the Italians the "pomo d’oro" or golden apple.

The Orchilla or roccella canariensis is a black lichen with white spots which grows around the rocky coast because of the presence of marine humidity and the salty environment. The plant has been used for colouring textile since the beginning of ancient times. The Orchilla is a product of symbiosis between a fungus and an algae. It takes the plant about 6 years to mature. The value of the plant is in the purple colour that can be extracted from its branches.

It is not unusual on Fuerteventura to find stones with strange shapes, gouges and lines clearly seen on them. Legend has it that these were forms of art from the stone age when the island was inhabited by the original settlers – the guanches . There are many relics on all of the Canary Islands of their existence but as of now the legend of the mysterious stones is still unsolved.

This picture of a farming group from the late 1950s appear as a rural scene and when you look behind them you will see a grand marble angel. This statue can be seen as you go past the cemetery at La Oliva, in the North of the island. The farming group is standing in what is now the cactus garden, opposite the petrol-service station in La Oliva. This cemetery is less than inspiring with very little info. Nowadays the coffin is placed in a wall and bricked up but there are many traditional graves. One of the most interesting and the most ancient ones lies

beneath that very same angel.

Situated in the village of Tindaya with panoramic view of the famous Mountain Tindaya.

We have a large collection of curiosities from all around the world and many exhibits of local artefacts.

On display are farm implements and items of everyday life from the past.

Bernie, who runs the bar with his wife Karen gives a very informative talk on the history of the island. And...

Absolutely Free.

Each time he will present a different portion of this fascinating story. From the first invasion in 1402 through the centuries to the present day. You can ask questions whenever you like and even pick the subject!

Every Wednesday and Friday afternoon at 2.00pm at the bar.

Contact us, especially if you are a party or require Spanish translation, at:

Phone: 928-865-595

www.tindayaarms.com

This is also where you will find details of all our events.

Pájara is one of the oldest towns in Fuerteventura and was a very early settlement from Betancuria. It survived complete destruction during the Arab invasion of 1593 when all of Betancuria was reduced to dust. The town takes its name from the hen pheasant, as the coat of arms shows. Look carefully and you will see a very ancient symbol, the 2 serpents. These have been slightly adapted but are named Oroborus or tale devourer. It shows a snake eating its own tale, which has a mystic meaning of “the circle of death and re-birth”, which is thousands of years old.

From the earliest settlers to very recent times agriculture has been a primary industry in Fuerteventura. The various tools of this activity are still to be found on the island. Donkeys are abundant and there are more camels, even these days. They were always very crucial to any farm, to pull the ploughs and to grind the corn. The Museo del Grano (the grain museum) in La Oliva, close to the church, has a large collection of farm implements. The tools of the pre-conquest Majos would have been stone or bone with wooden handles as metal of any kind was unknown on the island. These tools would have a double use: in agriculture and as weapons.

The estimated age of Fuerteventura as an island is some 18-20 million years. The earliest formation is thought to be Tindaya, reckoned by its material which differs significantly from that of the rest of the island. The mountain Tindaya is a large lump of Trachite, whereas the Betancuria massif is Basalt based. One million years is along time and although not populated by humans, Fuerteventura was the home to many species of plants and animals that we will never guess how they looked or grew. However, there is one instant that has left its traces.

The Canary Islands had been known for many centuries and have been visited by the Phoenicians, Romans, Carthaginians, and Egyptians and very much later by the Portuguese. The original inhabitants of Fuerteventura remained in between isolated from Europe and the rest of the world for almost 1500 years.

20 Dec 1978. Tourist Boat sinks close to Fuerteventura.

The tourist boat “Poseidon” sunk on its way back to Lanzarote, overwhelmed by high waves due to stormy conditions. The boat carried 30 passengers and 2 crew members; only 21 survived.

The tourists were returning from a one-day visit on Fuerteventura. Weather conditions were bad and wind gusts of 7 Beaufort were hitting the sea. Upon their way back the rudder broke due to an overload of high waves and shortly after that a stern wave capsized the 15ton vessel (see picture). As the security measures failed, all passengers had to swim for about 3 km to the shore. Many of the survivors suffered injuries.