No Golf at El Golfo

In our bearish and versatile fashion, we're going back to Lanzarote, as we like talking about hot places when it's cold at home.

Upon leaving the Timanfaya Visitors' Centre, we drove to the coast at El Golfo and ate our packed lunch looking at the sea. This resort is still in the National Park  and here huge swathes of lava run into the sea and disappear beneath the waves. The coast path is an exception to the rule that you can't walk on the lava; you are free to do so as long as you keep to the coast path. As we like walking and we wanted to see the lava up close, we were pleased when we found a circular walk in our walking guide, and out we set.

It was slow going, as lava isn't the easiest of materials to walk on. We had to watch where we were putting our paws, and we all wore boots, as the edges of the lava could be quite sharp.

Our return to our hire bearmobile was via a rather off-road, road. A flat surface had been cleared but we were never more than a stride away from the lava rocks. While walkers are welcome on the path, unauthorised vehicles aren't, which is good, we thought, to preserve the fragile environment. We thought using the Timanfaya devil to advise of the traffic restriction was great, even if it was a bit battered.

On our return to our apartment it was still warn enough to use the pool ...

... which was nicely deserted and very inviting. We sat on the side first and chatted about our exciting day, while we anticipated our swim.

After our swim we decided on a game of giant poolside chess ...

... it wasn't the fastest game, as the pieces were so big relative to us, that we couldn't pick them up. We had to push them across the board to the required spot. You'd never have though that playing chess could provide such strenuous exercise. 

Lots of love, George, Yorkie and Pedro xxx

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