We had an adventurous day planned in Arrecife, Lanzarote. Lanzarote is one of the seven Canary Islands of Spain. With its subtropical desert climate, it is known as the "Island of Eternal Spring." The island has breathtaking volcanic landscape with vast craters and uniquely shaped rock formations.
We started the tour with a short camel ride in the volcanic lands of Timanfaya, where subsurface bubbling belies the quiet landscape. I have never been on a camel before, and I was a little surprised they did it this way. I would have preferred to sit directly on the camel (with a saddle, of course).
While the camels had muzzles, the owners treated them very well. They were not whipped or kicked at any time. They were only gently pulled or nudged. You can tell they respected one another, and that makes me very happy.
We visited Timanfaya National Park and saw the geographical events of the recent volcanic eruptions in the unearthly landscapes of the beautiful park.
There were hot pockets everywhere in the park. Park employees showed us how hot the pits were by setting bushes on fire with the intense heat beneath; cold water was poured into the ground and shot back up into the surface as steam; and there was a deep pit where geothermal heat was used to cook the meat.
We also made a stop at the Bodega La Geria Winery, where lush vines flourish on barren lava fields. The winery is located in the heart of the wine country. It is also one of the oldest wineries on the island.
When we got back to the port, we stopped for a cappuccino. The harbour area was very walkable. It was small, but lively with old town charm and cobblestone.
Dinner is served late in Spain. We wanted to have dinner in a local restaurant and enjoy their seafood, so we walked around the area until sundown.
The food was delicious, and we were so so satisfied! Unfortunately, our gluttony ended up getting us in trouble.
While the ship looked like it was just around the corner, the path to the gangway was a maze. It took double the time we had expected, there was no shortcut, or direct path to the ship. We ran along the walls of the port, and through the port shops. This was the first time we were in panic mode. Thankfully, we made it back onto the ship. We ended up being the last passengers back on board, just five minutes before the gangway closed. As soon as we stepped onto the ship, they wasted no time in folding up the gangway.
Needless to say, we've learned our lesson!
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