Lanzarote

This arid island is only 330 sq. miles; pretty small for being

home to 300 extinct volcanoes. Its lunar appearance radiates

natural hues of red, copper, gray and black. The lava-rich

soil is used by locals to balance with the lack of rain to grow

garden vegetables and maintain healthy vineyards. Their pristine

beaches are popular with many European visitors (although we found

the water in November is a little to cold for our liking). The centerpiece

of the island is Timanfaya National Park which provides an extensive

look at the "mountains of fire" and offers a tourist favorite,

camel rides around the entrance of the Park.

Photos from Lanzarote


Los Fariones is one of many beach front resorts that cater to the European group tours. Vacationers spend most of the days around the pool or on the beaches, which leaves the island's more interesting sites free of tourist crowds.	Typical landscape for this island which consisted mostly of volcanoes, palm trees, cactus and vegetable gardens.


View of beaches along Puerto del Carmen where we stayed on this island. There were a few brave soles out in the water.	Jardin de los Cactus in Guatiza houses more than 1,400 species artfully displayed in a volcanic crater. The gardens are designed by the island's own Cesar Manrique who masterfully turned nature into works of art.


Doubling up on a dromedary outside the entrance to Parque Nacional de Timanfaya. It is a seesaw of a ride and just watch out for the camel in front of you - there's no holding back.	Would you believe that this is a sunrise taken from our balcony - of course, it was 5 am. We saw the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets on this island.

Taking the "Good" with the "Bad": During our travels to these

islands, we recorded each island's good and bad points. Of course,

these are our observations and opinions to share with you as a quick

overview of the island.

The "Good"	The "Bad"
The efforts of local Cesar Manrique - "Wow!" - what beautifully designed natural landmarks	Toilets with no water tank - where's the natural preservation where it comes to toilets that run for minutes to no end
The resort was conveniently located to the beach and the main promenade of town - and daily tours to any site on the island (or others)	Beating out the early risers in claiming a claise lounge by the pool with the hotel's $2.00 deposit beach towel
Cleanliness of the island - even the buildings are painted in clean white with either blue trim for coastal locations or green for interior	Shopkeepers seemed more interested in stalking customers than helping them
Typical Canarian dishes found "off-the-tourist-circuit" and at Municipalities de Camsepito is superb esp. limpets, octopus, and guelds (fried minnows)	The island's stray cat population likely out- numbers the shopkeepers who feed them at closing time

A SPECIAL THANKS: We were very fortunate to have

Cliff Pulford and Luis Lopez of Viajes Intersol to show us

around this fabulous island. If you plan to visit Lanzarote,

you can contact Cliff Pulford, Manager of Viajes Intersol

via e-mail at lanzarote@intersol.es