If you decide to aim your holiday in the direction of the Canaries, walking through the stunning landscape may well be one of the activities that you plan to indulge in. The islands, far out in the Atlantic, and far from the coast of Africa, have developed a culture and a climate all their own. Their isolation has seen many practices and customs simmer away with only occasional interference from the Spanish mainland. Before the Spanish arrived, the islands were home to a Berber population known as the Guanches. The political, cultural and genetic influence of the Castilians has removed almost all trace of the original inhabitants; however, one very unique remnant of the Guanche culture remains to this day.
Silbo Gomero
If you find yourself in the western Canaries, walking on the island of La Gomera, you might hear something that sounds a little like birdsong carrying over the hills. Listen a little more carefully and it may sound like the birds are talking to each other. If you speak Spanish, you might really begin to think that the birds are speaking fluent Spanish to each other! This is due to the Gomeran phenomenon known as Silbo Gomero - the Gomeran whistle.
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