Saturday, March 09, 2013

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

1 comment:

Fred's mum said...

A very dramatic display - reminded Suffolk Branch of the New Year fireworks enjoyed with Norfolk and Midlands Branches.