Canary Islands - Graciosa
Bondi Tram
Peter Colquhoun and Sandra Colquhoun
Mon 22 Nov 2010 21:09
After a 3 and a half day passage from Morocco, we sighted our first Canary
Island, Graciosa. Our
passage down was not one of our best...6 miles out of Rabat, we hooked a
fish which promptly broke
our line and disappeared with our lure. Then we picked up a broken
fishing net floating on the surface
which wrapped around our keel and propellor. The seas were too rough
to venture under the boat so
we had to drag it along for 2 days until things calmed down. It took
Peter more than 10 minutes to cut
it all off, and we gave thanks for the hooker breathing equipment without
which it would have been
very difficult.
lThe village of Graciosa, a low key tourist destination.
The volcano behind our anchorage.
Sandra on top of the volcano with the anchorage of Playa Francesca below
and the 1000 foot cliffs
of Lanzarote, the next island south, in the background.
Looking north west from the summit.
Beach level view of the anchorage, with cruisers killing time before the
Atlantic crossing. Some boats
spent more than a month here. We spent six days, a large proportion
spend scrubbing the bottom of
the boat to get rid of the weed accumulated in Rabat.
Hallowe'en gave the kids a chance to dress up and trick or treat around the
fleet.
Some of the adults got into the spirit(s) as well at the beach party.
Sundowners on the beach at 5 was
an everyday event.
Walking to town to do some shopping.
Graciosa has a permanent population of about 600, and a very Mexican feel
with white cube buildings,
cactus and sand streets.
The church....
....which illustrates Graciosa's past as a fishing village, before
holidaymakers became the main
industry.
Town square with cactus feature. Hardly a tree or bush to be found on
the island.
The wharf where the day trip boats from Lanzarote disembark their
passengers.
Although there were several cafes, this was the cruisers favourite.
Typical streets in Graciosa.
