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

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

Shades of Grey (but not 50!)

If we could only use one word to use to sum up Lanzarote, our choice would probably be rocky. It's not so noticeable on the tourist beaches, where golden sand is predictably on offer, but as you know, we like to get off the beaten track and explore on paw. The going under paw wasn't particularly easy, as it was, quite simply, invariably rocky.

Those rocks get everywhere and are frequently used in preference to bricks for wall building. There are low walls used for constructing salt pans ...

... and some really tall walls, which completely dwarfed us, as you can see...

... just look at those buttresses; we were worn out by the time we'd climbed to the top to see what these towering walls were protecting. Strangely enough it didn't seem to be anything, the view from the top was just of barren wasteland. Still, these volcanic rocks were not exactly in short supply so why not spend an afternoon practising wall building? 

Some stretches of coast path were very rocky, as well as windy, creating some big crashing waves. When the path dropped down to sea level at a beach, it was no surprise to find there were lots more rocks and they were the familiar shade of grey.    

Sitting on rocks in the sun is very pleasant though as you get a nice warm bottom. Talking of warm,  that lovely Spanish sun brought out the lizards - or was it the crumbs from our sandwich lunch which brought them out? 

We thought Chelmer might like a picture for his nature notes collection. 

Lots of love

Pedro, George & Yorkie xxx

After the Snow, the Sun

Some of us, well Yorkie, Pedro and me (George) have browner fur than usual at the moment. This is not because we haven't washed or because we've been out in the mud, but because we've just returned from yet another adventure.

This time of year there's only one place to go (as we don't really do skiing), and that's to the sun.

Sun, pool, lounger - what more do you need? - apart from a cold beer!

As the chapter on the Canaries in the Friendly Planet Guide was a bit thin, we decided to research some more material, by visiting the island of Lanzarote.

It was a great choice, and our timing was impeccable, as we went when there was more snow and sub zero temperatures at home.

We stayed, along with our minders, and their folks, in 2 apartments at the delightful Holiday Bond Complex of Santa Rosa. We'd come to expect something special from a HPB property and we were not disappointed.

Just look at the amazing towel sculptures that greeted us ...

... how romantic! The flowers were real by the way. 

It wasn't only in the bedroom that we were greeted by towel sculptures; they were also in the bathroom and in the kitchen ... 

We did wonder if we were going to see any birds with this interesting colour scheme on the island. 

Some of our readers may not be as familiar with our Bears Unlimited travelling companion, Pedro, as they are with regulars, Yorkie and myself. Pedro was our secret weapon as he's passionately Spanish - speaks the language perfectly (no surprise) and can use his contacts to get us into all sorts of interesting places, both on and off the tourist trail. 

We'll be back soon to share some of our explorations of the island with you. 

Lots of love

George, Pedro and Yorkie xxx 

This Must Be the Place to Be!

It seemed that hardly had I been formally welcomed to Bears Unlimited, than I was taking part in the next ceremony to welcome two even newer members. I didn't mind though as I think that Bears Unlimited is such a great organisation, that I want as many bears as can, to share in it and experience the welcome that was so readily extended to me when I tentatively stepped through the door on our return from Ireland.


So here I am, trying to look like an old hand, welcoming, not one, but two, new members of Bears Unlimited. On my left - the right as you look at the picture - is Giovanni (Gio for short) who you will have already met briefly if you read our Easter Sunday post. Gio's t-shirt reveals that he is a member of the Society of St Francis, and he has come to us straight from Hillfield Friary in Dorset. He left there with a friend of my minders who looks after a neighbouring group of parishes to ours and spent some time at Hillfield as part of his recent sabbatical. Gio is called Giovanni, as Giovanni was the middle name of St. Francis, the founder of the monastical order which bears his name.

While Gio is a very religious bear, he came to join us as he wanted to have a rather more adventurous life than he felt he would have had, had he stayed at Hillfield. We've already told him he's come to just the right place for adventure, especially as he is very keen to see more of the world. Gio's t-shirt also has the Latin words 'Pax and bonum' - peace and goodwill - we think - and that certainly sums up his character. He is, not surprisingly, spending a lot of time with Bris, who is our main church bear.

The other bear, who you will not have met before is Pedro. He has travelled even further than Gio to join us, as he has travelled all the way from Spain. Do you remember Dilly, the very cute dog who stayed with us towards the end of last year and who introduced Gilbert to us as a thank you for looking after her while her minders were on holiday in France? Well Dilly came to stay again recently, while her minders were on holiday in Spain, and Pedro came back with them. Pedro also has a special t-shirt, but his reads 'friends always'. What a great sentiment - it really should be the motto of Bears Unlimited as it sums up all that we are about.

It might seem strange that we only have comings at B.U. and no goings, but if you spent any time with us, you'd soon understand why no-one ever wants to leave.

Lots of love Patrick & all my friends at Bears Unlimited xxx

P.S. I was very pleased to find that the B.U. company colour (the green of the bear flag) matches the emerald green of my homeland (and ribbon & shamrock) so closely.