Leaving the bustle of the city and the hectic roads, and delving deep into the little streets of El Roque, we can just let go and leave the superfluous behind. A short walk around these narrow back streets and we are looking right out to sea.

This is one of those hidden corners of the island where you can really feel the power of the ocean, just by listening in, with no distractions. Words simply cannot describe the sheer beauty of a sunset at El Roque, with the white spray crashing onto the rock and the silent lull of the tide.

El Roque bears witness to a time when every single inch of fertile land was put to use, and where houses were built in all sorts of impossible places, places where even cultivation was impossible. Climbing up its steep slopes today is like jumping back in time, on your favourite adventure, to a place jutting 320 metres out to sea.

For the faint hearted, there is no danger, as El Roque does not move away from the basalt headland you are standing on. You simply need to imagine that you are walking along the deck of an old brigantine moored at port. This way, without setting sail, the only thing to frighten you might be the sudden interruption of the restaurant waiter who taps you on the shoulder holding a menu, as you sit contemplating a magical picture from your front row seat.

Time passes, things change, nothing remains forever, the sun comes up and goes down every day. But here at this secluded corner of Gran Canaria there will always be someone who is able to enjoy, almost secretly, the pleasures of a simple life.