The Gay Canary Islands

One reason I wish I lived in Europe is the easy access to..well, everywhere. From London, it's only a 2 hours to Austria and Italy, 3 hours to Morocco and Russia, 5 hours to Israel.  From New York, add 6 hours to that total.

So my European friends are always talking about their marvelous holidays in Athens or Sardinia or Marrakesh, places I've never visited, but which apparently have a profusion of male nudity in public art plus ample opportunities to add hot guys to their respective Sausage Lists.

Last February, for instance, my friend Doc took his holiday at Carnival in the Canary Islands.



It's a Spanish colony off the coast of Morocco, nearly as famous as Mykonos as a gay resort.

The original inhabitants, the Guanches, were a Berber people from North Africa (most Moroccans speak Berber languages).  They were absorbed into the population of Spanish colonists during the 15th century, but traces of their language and culture remain.

Like the Whistling Language Silbo Gomero, used to communicate across the mountain peaks.



A festival where people celebrate their Guanche heritage.

And lots of statues of muscular Guanches wearing pouches that leave little to the imagination.















There is a lot more beefcake art, too, like this monument in Parque Garcia Sanabria.


















And this stern fountain figure in La Esplanada.

















Like the Carnivals in Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans, the Carnival of Tenerife begins with a parade with various groups competing to see who has the best costume.  Drag and near-nudity are common.  The rest of the week involves more contests, general revelry, and the election of the Carnival Queen.

See also: The Top 12 Public Penises of Spain