Gara+and+Jonay

 G a r a a n d  J on a y

The Garajonay National Park

Gara, the water, and Jonay, the fire  According to an old legend, girls would go to the Epina jets to know their future lover at Beñesmen celebration. If the reflected image was calm and clear, this meant they would find a mate that year, but if the reflection was cloudy, misfortune lurked.

When the beautiful princes Gara looked at her face in the reflection of the water, her image was clear, but then the reflection became a fiery sun and the water turned dirty. The old man Gerián  saw this and then he said: The shadow of the fire is burning the water. Death lurks. The Menceyes went from Tenerife to La Gomera to take part in the celebration. The Adeje Mencey came with his son, his name was Jonay, he won all the competitions, so Gara saw him and when they looked at each other’s eyes the eyes, they fell completely in love.



They wanted to get married quickly. For this reason they announced their engagement immediately.

But happiness lasted short because the E cheyde, the great volcano of Tenerife was throwing lava and fire with great fury. Then they remembered the omen of the old man Gerian: Gara and Jonay, water and fire.

Gara was the princess of Angulo, the place of the water, and Jonay lived in the land of the Fire. Their love was impossible and the flames coming our of Echeyde's mouth confirmed that. Following this threat their parents prohibited them to meet again. The fury of the volcano calmed down and they could finish their holidays.



The Menceyes and nobles returned to Tenerife, but Jonay couldn’t forget Gara. He needed to be with her. In the middle of the night, he tied two inflated **bladders** to his waist and he swam across the sea.

You can see a bladder in this photo.

Exhausted but guided for his love he reached the coasts of La Gomera. He found Gara and he kisses her passionately.  Coats of La Gomera Both fled through the forests of laurisilva and found shelter in The Cedar, on the top of the island. But when Gara’s father found out, he ordered his army to catch them.



 Feeling cornered, Jonay sharpened the ends of a log of cedar and placed it between his chest and that of his dear Gara. And, looking at the eyes, they pressed against each other in a deadly embrace. Then water and fire were one, and their bodies were united forever.

Cedar

 THE END