Sunday, 6 November 2011

Las Palmas, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote


Las Palmas

Another fine and sunny morning as we sailed into Las Palmas on Grand Canaria. Watched ship arrive from observation deck below ship's bridge and after breakfast ventured ashore. As we left local TV reporters were doing news reports and interviewing passengers. Nice little holiday town with a long and sandy beach. Alan wanted to swim but was persuaded not to as it was pretty windy and rough.


 

On Playa Las Canteras, Las Palmas

Back to ship for lunch and our usual lazy afternoon by pool and walking around the ship: we just about know our way around now.

There was a classic car line-up by the ship with some impressive old motors.


Cars lined up on Quayside.
As we sailed off in the evening it seemed that half the island came to wave us off and a drum band and car horns added to the atmosphere. It made us late for dinner!


 
Drum band plays us off from Las Palmas


Show was good with the QM2 singers and both of the ships show bands: stayed to the end! Jack enjoyed the medley of Osmond hits although not sure about the rest of the audience!

Lanzarote

Sunrise was just early enough to see as we arrived and docked. Much less developed than the other Canary Islands we have visited with only one high rise building ( a hotel). After that they decided they did not like high rise and they are banned!

Early breakfast as we are the first tour away so we can beat the crowds in the Timanfayaya National Park. Success, as we are the first coach to arrive in the volcanic wilderness where we see bush burning in a hole, water boiling and forming a geyser before a ride through the lava fields with many volcanic eruption craters



One of the many craters we saw

Then off to a vineyard where we sampled the wine and saw how they managed to grow grapes in the volcanic ash and only 8 inches of rain a year!



Each vine is surrounded by a dry volcanic stone wall to try to gather atmospheric water.

Then back to the ship past the holiday resorts and the capital town of Arrecife. Seeing the small town we decided not to visit in the afternoon so after lunch we had yet another lazy time by the pool before afternoon tea in the ballroom, dinner and the variety show with David Copperfield and the two pianists.

Tea was interesting as we shared a table with a couple ( mum and daughter we think) from Malvern. It turned out that Mum worked with Bro Nic at, as she said 'the Ministry'. She said Nic would know her as June from computing!

Looking forward to a quiet day at sea on Sunday before Lisbon on Monday and Vigo on Tuesday. Hope to get a chance to see the planetarium show on Sunday.

We are told by the Captain that the Noro Virus outbreak is under control whatever that means. We still are having all our food and drinks served for us which is a pain especially to get tea and coffee exactly as we like. All board games and magazines have disappeared and we are told all library books had to be sanitised! Our dinner companions were not struck down: it was fortunately a false alarm..Everyone is neurotic and we all try not to touch handrails and lift buttons (use of elbow or key card recommended): public loos are definitely a no go area.

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