Our Lunar Journey

We're sorry that part 2 'coming soon', has been rather delayed, but another of our adventures (a rather polar one this time) got in the way.

But back to the warmer climes of Lanzarote, and the even warmer volcanic region of the Timanfaya National Park, where we had just boarded our coach ready to be driven round the park.

Our front row seats gave us a good view and it was a comfortable ride as, although we were passing through the rockiest of surrounds, we had a narrow strip of tarmac to drive along.

It was wide enough for one bus only and strictly one way; it also required an experienced driver as there were places with hairpin bends and big drops. Our driver was very good and bear friendly. Whenever we stopped for photos he would let us step forward and take pictures through his big side window. 

There was lots to see and many stops. The individual volcanoes were joined together by a sea of lava and it was simply amazing to see all the formations lava could cool into. 

Pedro was very excited by this amazing volcanic cone .... 

and lapsed into Spanish so we didn't understand much of what he said, so we concentrated on the taped commentary instead ... 

Some of the craters were best viewed from inside the bus as we wouldn't have wanted to get too close to the edge of this one ... 

... we had visions of it being rather warm in the depths of that crater!

We learnt that this environment, while appearing quite barren and harsh, was very fragile. This is why vehicles, other than the official buses, are not allowed. If  a car drove off the tarmac strip and onto the ash, it would take a long time, months, possibly years, for the tyre tracks to disappear. Camel's feet don't do too much damage though, and there is an option to take a camel ride in one area of the park. We did see the camels, but the bus didn't stop, so we just gave them a cheery wave. 

After the bus tour ended, we made for the visitor's centre. Before we had got all the way round, we got a bit volcanoed out, but we did enjoy one unusual experience ...

... and no, we hadn't fallen into the bowels of that crater we showed you earlier, we were down in the basement for a simulation of a volcano errupting. There were lots of red and orange flashes and some rumbling, but we think it must have been a lot worse at Pompeii. 

As we came out of the visitor's centre we were ready for a bit of sea air, so it was to the coast we headed next. 

Love George, Yorkie and Pedro xxx

It's Devilishly Hot ...

In our last post we reported that a visit to the Teguise Sunday Market is a must. Another must is a visit to the Timanfaya National Park. The Park covers the volcanic area of Lanzarote and includes both volcanoes and miles and miles of martian landscape of pumice and ash.

It is a delicate and fragile landscape, so you can't drive or wander freely round, but your entrance fee includes a great coach tour.

As you wait for your coach there are some great demonstrations to see. The park staff show you just how close to the surface the heat and molten material is ...

... they poke a bundle of dry brushwood into a crack in the grounds and moment later it bursts into flames. They also take you to fissures generating enough heat to barbecue chicken for the visitors' restaurant. We nearly jumped out of our fur when a man poured water from a bucket into a metal tube in the ground and, seconds later, it exploded in geyser like form, with a loud whoosh ...

It was exciting and dramatic stuff but we couldn't help wondering whether another eruption was imminent and whether this really was the safest place to be. We were reassured though when we learnt that there hasn't been an eruption since 1824. If there had been an eruption while we we were there, we would certainly have made history.  

It wasn't long before it was time to board our coach for our tour. Pedro made friends with a fellow Spaniard, our driver, and as a result got us seats right at the front of the coach, with the best possible views ... 

The tour follows in part 2, coming soon.

Lots of love

George, Yorkie and Pedro xxx

Ted the Tatty Makes Our Day

We love to get feedback from our readers and thank everyone who leaves us comments. Normally they are from a select few humans who give us great support, so you can imagine how thrilled we were recently to hear from another bear.

Ted the Tatty left us a lovely message on our New Year's Day post. Naturally we published it, but for the benefit of anyone who is only reading our new posts, and not looking back over old ones, we thought it deserved a post of it's own.

Here is our message from Ted the Tatty:

Erm, Hello my name is Ted and i'm a Tatty Ted. and i was just reading your blogs that my dad found for me.
I myself have never traveled much ( apart from a couple of times when dad packed me in a suitcase as he was too ashamed to carry me into the B & B.)
Anyway to get back to the point, Although i love my mum and dad i do not have any other bear friend's so i was wondering if i could join Bears Unlimited.
I do have a career though, My mum has a baby stall on a market in Burton on Trent and whenever she buys new stock say like a new pram or toy i have to check it is suitable for babies and test it out. I have been a fire engine driver, a digger driver, tested the prams etc so i would love it if i am qualified enough to join- I eagerly await your response and have asked mum to tell me as soon as i have revieved a response, I have lots of pictures i could share with you. Thank you from Ted the Tatty.  

Well, what can we say except that Ted sounds like just our type of bear and is clearly hard working enough to be a member of Bears Unlimited. It will be great to have a new branch on the map. We're sure he's only Tatty because he's so well loved, just like many of our older and founder, members.

Ted, we hope you will write to us again and send us some pictures so we can publish them for you. We're really looking forward to hearing more from you and seeing you in the fur. If you have any trig points near you and you can take a picture for our sister blog http://www.bearsontrigpoints.blogspot.co.uk we would be thrilled (sadly it's been a bit neglected of late). If you'd like to, you can email us direct at blogging.bears@googlemail.com.

Love from us all xxx

In the Pink at Teguise

If you find yourself in Lanzarote - and hopefully our blog might inspire you to go (Pedro is available for guiding) - be sure to visit the Teguise Sunday market. It is simply huge and, unlike most markets that we tend to go to - it actually sells things that we and our minders wanted to buy. We were simply spoiled for choice, and the prices were very reasonable. We spent a lot of money, but that was simply because we bought so much - wooly lambs skin slippers, earrings, scarves, lizard mugs, necklaces, hand made soaps, spices and more - not all for us though, we were present shopping as well.

There are too many stalls to visit them all without a break, so we stopped off in a lovely courtyard cafe for a refreshing cafe con leche grande.

Our only complaint was that it was a bit pink (the cafe not the coffee) - after all we are all boy bears. However, it was a lovely peaceful spot, even though just a few steps away from the bustling market. What's more, as you will see behind us, we had live music, from a talented Spanish guitarist. Pedro even recognised the songs he was playing and was able to put a suitable request in.

From the market we travelled north to do a walk which would take in a town, which the guide books said was rather charming - that of Haria. We shall report in the Friendly Planet Guide that the town was o.k. but not unmissable. As for our walk, this was quite exciting and not for the faint hearted or those who suffer from vertigo.

We did fail to recognise 'a breeze-block walled enclosure' which our walking guide told us to look out for, so there may have been an easier path, but the path we took was almost vertical and rather close to the edge of a very high cliff - plus it was very windy.  We therefore had rather more of an adventurous walk than we were expecting.

The descent, which you see in our next picture, was not quite so steep, but still steep enough for our female minder and her folks, who didn't look too much in their element as they teetered their way down.

We are very sure pawed and can bound down a steep hill just like mountain goats, so we gave the others a good head start and took in the terrific view that we got from being so high up.

We wanted to see as much of Lanzarote as we could in our week, so from Haria, we drove on to the view point at the northerly tip of the island, the Mirador del Rio. Sadly we can't show you much more than the car park, and this great piece of iron work which Pedro is climbing ...

... as it cost several euros to get in, which put us off, especially as it was quite late in the day and not good weather for lingering. We did walk back down the road for some good - and free - views of the island of Graciosa.  We did speak to someone later in the week who said that the entrance fee was worth it, so don't let our stinginess put you off, if you do visit, after reading this blog.

This really was a cracking day and finished off beautifully with good food and wine in the evening. The only downside was our male minder suffering from a nasty bug.

Lots of love

George, Yorkie and Pedro xxx