Here a “tunera” (#pricklypearcactus in Spanish of the #CanaryIslands) from #BoxingDay’s #Walk in #tilosdemoya. I took this picture to show my husband the #cochineal parasitising the pads of the cactus. Once an important part of the #CanarianEconomy, cochineal was collected to extract the red dye #carmine which is used in cosmetics, drugs or foods. It is for example used to colour the #Cubanitos, a biscuit produced in Gran Canaria by Galletas Bandama https://www.galletasbandama.com/productos/cubanitos/ #history

I am visiting my home island after 5 years and I’m just astonished by the little jewels that this place hides and that before I gave for granted. Feeling half humbled by it, half confused about who I am. #specialnaturalreserve #naturalreserve #laurelforest #tertiaryeralivingfossil #tilosdemoya #grancanaria #hiking #shorttrail #circulartrail