cwstravelnotes2014: Day 14, 13 Nov. Lanzarote and Arriciffe, Canaries

visit: http://www.turismolanzarote.com/en/centros-turisticos/the-fire-mountains-timanfaya/5464

After a night of light pitching dawn came up revealing Lanzarote ahead. We slowly pulled in to a pier starboard side to the pier and sea, port side (the side our cabin is on) to land. Now this was a view; small clusters of white washed low buildings, several pointy top volcanic mountains, a half sunken freighter, an old stone fort and a few of the usual containers on a pier.

At 0830 we hit the road again in a bus and with a very fine guide. The small city is new and building heights are limited to under 6 stories. New streets and highways are under construction. Low whitewashed homes and apartments are clean looking. There was a shopping mall and a few small businesses along the way and all were well maintained. With the leadership of a local artist the island is well planned and maintained. No billboards here. No people either, it seemed. There was very little

traffic on the roads and going through the small communities it was rare to see anyone outside. Everyone must be indoors whether at work or at home. Many homes have an inside courtyard but still it was erie to see so few people.

In 1730 a part of the island erupted and the volcano lasted until 1736. Because of the volcanic nature of the surface there is little to be grown and what is cultivated needs great attention. So, 97% of the economy depends on tourism. The main attractions are the 106 volcanoes and the Timanfaya National Park. Being only 80 some km from Africa the climate is mostly pleasant but can experience the desert winds from the continent. Water is precious.

Off we rode up to Timanfaya National Park, climbed down from the coach and witnesses a couple of demonstrations by park employees of the heat in the ground. We then got back into the bus and were driven slowly through the park and given an excellent description of the volcanoes, flows, ash layers, winds and so on. (One cannot get out of a vehicle in the park without special permission.)

After the park experience we stopped just outside the park and took a camel ride up and down a volcanic slope. Paloma was our mount and Maria, the camel behind us in our caravan, took a fancy to Julie. I think she wanted to eat Julie's hat.


Maria and I reach an agreement.

Maria and Julie enjoy the view

Maria (left), Julie and Craig with Paloma

Back to the bus after cleaning my shoes and we stopped a a small crossroads village for lunch in a restaurant followed by a walk through of the tiny church of the Virgin of Arcerro. Following that was a quick stop at La Geria for a wine sampling and stretch. Passed through the Valley of the Thousand Palms and then made a photo stop at Aria. Another stop at Mirador de Irio on a mountain top for a spectacular panoramic view of the the peninsula and island far below the 400+ meter cliff we were perched upon. It was here we decided this could be our future home. Continuing the trip we stopped at Jameos del Agua cave, along with a few hundred other tourists, to see the underground bar, pool with blind crabs, auditorium, nightclub and man made pool. All this was created in a huge volcanic vent.