Canary Islands - Lanzarote

Bondi Tram
Peter Colquhoun and Sandra Colquhoun
Tue 23 Nov 2010 09:22
 From Graciosa we moved 20 NM south to Arricife, the main town on the island of Lanzrote.
 
 
Looking down Port Naos, with a modern art gallery and restaurant in the old fort on the right.
 
 
We did a lot of provisioning in Arricife but didn't stay long as it is a very ordinary town.  We sailed
down to the south end of Arricife in company with our friends Phil and Karel (from Brisbane) on Tehani-Li.
 
 
We spent a night on off the beaches here before going into Marina Rubicon for a couple of nights.
 
Lots of holidaymakers still swimming and sunbaking.  All these beaches  are "clothing optional" as
it seems are all the beaches in the Canary Islands so far.   Possibly why it is such a popular destination
for Germans and Austrians!
 
 
We rented a car for a tour of the island, first stop the Cactus Gardens.  This large example at the
entrance was, in the spirit of the giant oyster, prawn, merino, banana, made of metal.
 
 
The cactus garden itself was a very worth while visit.  Beautifully laid out with extraordinary examples
of cacti from all over the world.  Lanzarote has a big Aloe Vera industry.
 
 
Thorny perch for pigeon.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Big surf on the beaches, but no surfers.  Possibly because of the razor sharp lava rocks!
 
 
 
 
The view over Graciosa from the top end of Lanzarote, underlining the height of the sheer cliffs.
 
 
Our earlier anchorage to the left, and behind it the volcano Sandra climbed.
 
 
 
 
 
A small bodega or vineyard bottle shop.  This was one of the non-touristy ones and very quaint.  Apart
from wines and goat cheese, they had cactus wines, quite sweet, in a choice of green or yellow.  They
were generous with their tastings and we bought a bottle of pale pink rose.
 
 
 
 
 
Town square in Haria, once the heart of the main agricultural district.
 
 
Having lunch in the square.
 
 
 
A view over Haria on the road south.
 
 
You can see the remains of the old terraces to the right.  No  wonder they prefer tourists to working
the terraces!
 
 
This is the main wine growing area.  Eat your heart out Barossa, no trellisses to maintain here!  This
proves you could probably grow vines on the moon!
 
 
 
 
Lanarote is certainly a unique and beatiful island, and we really enjoyed our stay here.