Lanzarote 2006 Diary
by Kirk Anderson

9th Feb - Today we visited the Cactus Garden, it was huge with cacti of all shapes and sizes, some caused a great deal of amusement among the group!   Afterwards a man showed how cochineal beetles are scraped from the cacti and made into red dye.

We drove to the costal town of Costa Teguise for lunch in a restaurant before returning to our villa to relax by the pool.

10th Feb - Today we went to Timanfaya National Park.   This is a huge volcano and the surrounding dried lava fields.   On the way up we stopped and rode on some camels, then carried on up to the top where a man showed us how the volcano's heat instantly turns water to steam by pouring a bucket of water in a hole!   We stopped to have roast chicken cooked on the volcano's heat for lunch, then toured the landscape on a coach trip and saw right inside some of the craters.

11th Feb - This morning we drove to Jameos Del Agua, an unusual, underground entertainment complex built into a sheet of volcanic rock by local artist César Manrique.   There was an underground theatre, lake, gardens and swimming pool.   We had lunch in the restaurant then went round the volcano centre.

12th Feb - It being Sunday, we spent the day at the Teguise Sunday Market, a huge sprawling market selling all manner of goods set in the beautiful old town of Tequise.   We bought all manner of gifts for the folks back home!

13th Feb - We spent most of the day on Puerto Del Carmen Beach, enjoying the sunshine and paddling in the sea.   We had lunch in a sea side restaurant, then some of use spent a few Euros in an amusement arcade.

14th Feb - This morning we stopped at El Golfo, a spectacular volcanic crater half worn away by the sea.   The rocks and the water were an amazing sight, all different colours appearing as we followed the cliff path to the view point.

After lunch we drove to the César Manrique Foundation, where the artist had built his house above and below the ground.   Many of the rooms are under the lava, with tunnels and steps linking them with tiny underground gardens.   We viewed a lot of his art and explored his amazing house fully.

15th Feb - Finally a lazy day!    We had breakfast around the pool, then spent the day swimming and sunning ourselves, before enjoying a BBQ lunch.

16th Feb - By popular demand we went back to Puerto Del Carmen Beach for the day.

17th Feb - Today we went to the Rancho Texas Park, a cowboy theme park.   We saw the Wild West Show, went on the rides and visited the zoo.   After a Wild West lunch, we saw the falconry display.   Some people want to come back for the evening show!

18th Feb - Best day of the holiday!   Today we we on Jeep Safari on the island of Fuerteventura.   We were collected by our jeeps at first light, then drove to the port where we caught the catamaran to Fuerteventura.   Once there, we drove across the rugged landscape, following old trails and dried up riverbeds.

After lunch we spent an hour at an amazing beach then drove to a massive sand dune and climbed to the top.   Then we had a little more off-roading before catching the catamaran home.

19th Feb - It being Sunday again, we went back to the Teguise Sunday Market, as many of as had remembered things we wanted to buy!   It was a lovely sunny day so we had lunch outside in Puerto Del Carmen.

20th Feb - After a vote, we had a quiet day at the Villa then went out late tonight to the Wild West Show at Rancho Texas Park.

21st Feb - Today we drove through the mountains to the town of Haria, to have lunch in an old fashioned Canarian restaurant.   Afterwards we visited the beach at Famara before going home.

22nd Feb - We fly home today so after breakfast round the pool and a last bit of sunshine we packed our bags and headed for the airport!