Lanzarote: made by the fire

By Luca, Sabrina and Federico

 

We are preparing to face a new journey and we do it with my heart in my throat, after the tragic events that struck just over a month ago, all the way west. Was, in fact, the September 11 when two planes hijacked by terrorists infamous Arabs went to crashed into the twin towers of New York, making them fall sharply with their cargo of human lives. Since then the world is no longer the same and we, fearless, we are preparing to get on an airplane shouting from the rooftops all our love for travel and for the model of life that makes them possible!
We do not want to stop in front of "four terrorists outrageous" that claim to affect the life and, despite a tooth that Sabrina has broken in the afternoon, we leave, though with one day in advance, for the Canary Islands and Lanzarote . Our flight, originally departing from Bologna, has been canceled and will have to leave from Milan. Fortunately we can rely, as usual, on the availability of grandparents, who will accompany us, with the campers, to Malpensa airport, avoiding an uncomfortable levataccia.
Are 21:48 for a Monday evening when we let any house with their faces veiled by a breath of tension, while the only Federico, in his childish naivety, seems really happy ... beato lui!
A Faenza entering Highway and chatting in a short reach Bologna. Are 22:30 and passing close to Marconi, where we will presumably return.
With the capital of Emilia behind us stop for a refill of fuel, then back to miles and travel grind constantly going up endless columns of trucks until at 23:30, close to Parma, it does not encounter an overturned on the roadway. The next move slowly trying to guess the dynamics of the incident and we continue so, half an hour later and beyond the Po, at the same time, the threshold of a new day.

This was the date of departure but we are already on the road by several hours when, a few minutes after midnight, we arrived at the barrier south of Milan motorway and continue along the ring road west towards Malpensa. Then we stop to sleep about an hour later, at 1: 08, a few kilometers from the town of Gallarate.
The alarm will sound at 7:30: we make a quick breakfast and we are accompanied at Terminal 1. The access ramp to the departures area is preceded by a block: inevitable and foreseeable security measure taken to combat the dangerous international situation.
Get your bags, we salute their grandparents, and basket in hand, we put ourselves in search of the bench Alpitour (tour operator) to which we must submit before 8:50. Vague for a while 'inside the airport as long as, requesting information, we do not notice an error in the call: our plane will leave, in fact, from Terminal 2!
We go out, climb on a bus and, shortly thereafter, we arrive finally at the terminal and the right bench. All around us But there's a strange climate, the lack of people swarming busy pushing overflowing carts of luggage, many tourists are missing and there had never happened to see a group like this ... empty: only our ranks is of some significance, perhaps because the destination is among those considered less at risk.
We deliver the tickets, and embark bags are going to check-in: the metal detector (probably calibrated in a different way than usual) playing because of my watch, but apart from that no other problem. We put on hold, with Frederick that run for a while 'in a playground, and exchange chat with a couple on honeymoon.
10:30 opens the door D1, the cross and reach the plane, an Airbus A320 of Volare Airlines (identified as flight 8d 1232), which detaches from the ground shortly after at 11:15, almost in perfect time, with Destination Lanzarote. Four hours of travel separate us from the goal: go up beyond the clouds and appears shortly after the Mediterranean Sea, with the French coast in Nice, which stand out first and then Marseille.
Lunch when there are still almost three hours to landing and the main problem is to pass the time Federico, while below us there is the immense expanse of sea. Reappears when the earth over the Andalusia, with a prominent Sierra Nevada just sprinkle of snow, then go back over the Mediterranean to reach the north African coast.
Flying to Morocco for some time, with the little that keeps asking how long is still not met, then we see the Atlantic Ocean, then we start to descend towards Lanzarote experiencing large Nuvoloni and finally touch the ground: along the journey we have recovered a 'time and time zone are the 14:15 local.
Lanzarote, along with six other so-called major islands belongs to Spain politically and geographically the archipelago of the Canary Islands (located approximately 100 kilometers from the western coast of Africa). Measure 62 kilometers long and 20 wide and has a desert appearance dictated by its volcanic origin clearly. The time we arrive it's quite warm, but pulls a strong wind and this is unfortunately a characteristic of its climate which, I believe, we must get used.
While waiting for the arrival of the luggage to phone home to let people know of our arrival and to reassure everyone, then retrieved the bags, we put ourselves in search of the means which will accompany us to the hotel. All this takes place a little 'slow and let the airport nearly an hour after landing: fortunately the Beatriz Playa, which spend the entire stay is only three miles away and within minutes the reach. It 'a very complex, with hundreds of rooms, but at first we made a good impression. Hurry the ritual practices of the keys and immediately reach the room number fifteen, wear the required beach and we rushed to take some 'time in the pool. Federico can not resist a long time and after a few minutes is already under water with mask and snorkel, while weather conditions are not the best that can be desired: there are several clouds and the wind is annoying, even if the sun, when it comes out, is felt.
Later I am going to agree to hire a car for the next few days and to go back and take a walk on the promenade of Puerto del Carmen: we enjoy a beautiful sunset, but the air is pulling all too fresh and we have covered. At the end is late and we have a coach with no time to miss dinner.
The night that follows is not the best: we are tired after the journey and not leave the hotel, especially since the cold (unexpected) invites us not to do so, then we do not know anyone and do not remain satisfied with today's show set up dall'animazione, so we withdraw in the room to rest, since tomorrow will start the real tour of Lanzarote ... a beautiful and unforgettable visit ... hopefully!

The alarm clock rings at 7:30 and I get up to look out the window: the sun is not yet completely built, so I doubt he had the wrong program to the ringtone, but is the reality, so come spend a little more 'time between the sheets. We raise bed almost an hour later and we go to breakfast, the most classic breakfast buffet, which takes time to be consumed, especially if you want (rightly) satisfy all the curiosity of the small. So I get up from the table with a little 'in advance, compared with Sabrina and Richard, to go to reception, where I'm waiting for the official Faycan for delivery of car rental.
It takes time to fill and sign all the forms but finally, around 10:00, we start at the edge of our Clio gray (labeled GC 9840 CF), in the direction of the capital Arrecife, in whose outskirts we pause to make some purchases, then continuing north along the road that runs inland between scenarios distressing beauty in a landscape and rocky desert, until you reach the village of Guatiza first leg of our journey.
The whole island of Lanzarote has a lot a César Manrique, an artist who has contributed in a decisive manner to preserve the natural and cultural heritage. A friend of Picasso and Miro, in the second half of last century, began to the beloved land of his origin and his inspiration genius, disseminating the island works in harmony with the land and avoiding in some way the ruin buildings featuring some of the other Canary Islands.
One of these works is just a Guatiza, and is the Jardin des Cactus, a botanical garden in which you can see over a thousand species of cacti from all over the world, and already the subject of the visit stuzzica our curiosity. But it is setting to enhance the architectural beauty of plants, with scattered among the rocks criterion meticulously arranged in any order, because nothing seems left to chance or out of place in that chaos studied with brilliant lucidity desk. The whole is then inserted into an extraordinary environment, inside a crater and the foot of an old windmill meticulously restored and given a new life.
Vague for the garden watching the plants amazed that, in developing an ideal climate for them, they reach very substantial scale, especially when compared to those that we used to see in Italy, then be content with the little insistence that we have long sought to visit the mill.
After visiting we try to put ourselves in search of a beach: the sun shines, but a strong wind blows that significantly lowers the temperature and will not be easy to find a beautiful place and repaired.
We continue north to arrive almost at the island then, just before the village of Órzola, turn right down to the sea along a dirt road. Thus, we arrive at the beach of Caleton Blanco, a beautiful white sand beach that stands out among the incredible volcanic rock, black as pitch. It 'quite protected and we stop there, though the wind seems to be a constant feature of the place in view of the fact that, near the sea, they are scattered everywhere, a circle of stones built for shelter. So we placed inside one of these because, in the meantime, in the sky have accumulated several clouds.
I go immediately with Federico to feel the ocean water ... freschina! ... just to get wet feet, or slightly more. Lunch within the circle of stones, then when the sun comes out, go out into the open, because it suffered the heat and you end up sweating. Blanco Caleton to remain for the rest of the day: despite some residual tar hidden among the sand that we all soiled feet, and a nuisance of clouds go away, all things considered, you are fine and peace is ensured.
Consumption even in the afternoon, in company with Frederick, a brief bath in the waters of which, perhaps because of an unconscious autoconvincimento seem less cold in the morning, then when the sun finally comes out overbearingly, shortly after the 16 : 00, unfortunately, we collect all our things and return to where Beatriz, at 17:00, we expected the briefing dell'addetta Alpitour. E 'a denunciation, but maybe so we can have some more information to visit the island.
I only remain in the meeting, while Sabrina and Richard are in the pool ... and it was better to go there too: she is inexperienced to say the least, and perhaps could give me some advice! In the end, not at all satisfied, I will go and reach others did the little bathroom and Sabrina took some 'sunshine, but is beginning to climb at night and a room to deposit their backpacks down immediately and make a short walk along the seafront before dinner.
We conclude the evening in the company of a small show put on stage by the cast of animation, then come back in the room to rest: I are growing despite the annoying symptoms of a cold, despite the wind and quell'inutile briefing, after all, was a good day and confidently expect the next one.

At the sound of the alarm began to cough and sneeze, and an ode feeling sick rose to pervade the whole body ... I am a human wreck, close to scrapping, but I have a fever, I think, and then shake your teeth and try hard to take. We continue, of course, in a normal visit to Lanzarote and we descend to breakfast, but we gone a little 'too much, so when we put ourselves in the street, directly north again, I am just past 10:00.
We leave behind and come to Arrecife Guatiza, where there is the Jardin des Cactus and where we stop for a little shopping, then we continue to follow the ribbon of asphalt that comes right at the far northern tip and go up, among incredible scenery , the so-called Mirador del Rio, a vantage point located on a hill that dominates this part of the island. It is located almost five hundred meters high and only yesterday was among the clouds today, the sky is completely clear, even if, unfortunately, a light veil of mist envelops everything in the distance somewhat spoil 'the party.
At the end of the road there is a car park and a room, it impeccably designed and built by Manrique, camouflaged among the rocks, overlooking the sea.
From the panoramic terrace you can enjoy a truly breathtaking spectacle, with the view that spans the narrow stretch of sea (the Rio) Lanzarote dividing by the small island of Graciosa, and farther on the volcanic rocks of Montaña Clara and Alegranza.
In the longer we look at trying to fill as much as possible to the eyes of so much wonder and only scalpitare Frederick, who insists to continue the visit, convinces us to leave, unwillingly, the place.
We drive the road that runs along the ridge of the island, between the beautiful views, then descend into a sort of natural hollow in the bottom of which lies Haria: the city of palm trees. It 'a particularly protected from the winds that blow almost constantly throughout the year and perhaps for this reason it is also the most "green" in Lanzarote, as it is disseminated to plant trees, but above all, of palm trees, precisely, that unite all'arido landscape and the white houses of the inhabitants to create an overall very impressive, which makes us feel, rather than geographically, in Saharan Africa.
We also leave behind Haria bends and deal with rising again to the natural watershed of the island. The walk for a long stretch and reach the town of Teguise, the ancient capital, which will visit at another time, then descend to the sea towards the west coast and we arrive at Cala Famara.
The beach is one of the largest of Lanzarote, but it is also, perhaps, more exposed to the fury of the winds. The god Aeolus, however, today, seems to have taken a day's leave and at best could not happen, it is fine: a nice breeze blowing and the place is magnificent, it is surrounded by a beautiful desert landscape and severe mountains, with the beach, sand brown, constantly beaten by the waves. Waves today are probably smaller than usual, since Famara is considered a paradise for surfers. We also do a small bathroom as well, due to its wave spiteful, finish up losing the sunglasses that recklessly carried in my head ... sin, you buy them new, the rest did not have a great value.
In the central hours of the day the sun is felt by expressing all its power, not really joking! Then lunch in the shade of the tent, before the eyes with some guys working to revise the fundamentals of the serf, in view of the calm sea conditions, while in the distance s'intravede the island of Graciosa, and the beach is anything but crowded, so, around us, there is absolute peace and the feeling of freedom you experience is unparalleled and concrete. The time can not help but enjoy and move from Famara only around 18:00, when rearranged our bathing equipment and we prepare to return to Beatriz.
Joints to go up in the room to deposit the backpacks before going on the promenade of Puerto del Carmen in re lost his glasses, then later we go to dinner.
It 'was a beautiful and intense day, however, left their mark, so not long resist the continuation of the evening: we are tired and soon we will withdraw our "apartments" to consume a well-deserved rest.

Finally we deal with the preparations with greater care and at 9:30 we are already ready to go. We will venture, for the first time, in the south of the island, not before, however, to be passed in its central part to visit the particular agricultural area which is called The Geria.
In a surreal landscape, volcanic peaks between blacks and land as the ink at the bottom of small pits dug by man methodically and protected by walls of stone dry, vines grow vanished from which are used to produce wine of Lanzarote. And 'nothing short of incredible to be able to get something from a land and a climate so difficult and greedy at the same time, but the methodology applied, after centuries of experience, has the right fruit. The plants grow sheltered from the wind on the bottom of the hole and draw sustenance from the land of lava that has, among other things, the property to retain moisture in the air at night in order nascono those precious grains of grapes that make this place unique. Some farms, which include painted white in the middle of a rural landscape quite unusual, sell the produce of their harvest and would have gladly bought a few bottles of wine, but we have postponed the purchase because there seemed to leave the matter in the hot the car for the day.
So we return to the path you venture south of the island and arrive in the delightful village of Yaiza, all the houses and strictly white, surrounded by palm trees and bougainvillea. We will walk the streets central, quiet, neat and ordinatissime, among which stands out a simple but charming small square overlooked by the most distinctive buildings, in addition to the typical church bell gable.
We take some photos and we continue on our journey to reach the village of Playa Blanca, at the far southern tip of Lanzarote, from where ferries leave the port, which port, after less than an hour of browsing, the island of Fuerteventura dirimpettaia that s'intravede the horizon: they say it is beautiful, but that is a story that, perhaps, tell on another occasion.
Beyond the town, in which, at a glance, you notice a huge building expansion, and we will venture to the south-easterly direction towards the strip of land that stretches into the Atlantic Ocean, where to find the best beaches of Lanzarote. The whole area is a protected area and for this reason, beyond a sort of checkpoint, at which we are asked a small donation, then continue along a dirt path that leads us, in short, to reach a car park near Playa Papagayo.
The beach is known as the most beautiful of the island and it soon goes down, which belongs to a higher category is a perfect crescent of sand wedged between rocks in a landscape so bare and essential as unusually attractive in its raw nakedness on earth, in contrast to the crystalline transparency and the magnificent colors of the sea ... We have no doubt, descend to the beach, place your tent a few meters from us bagnasciuga and placed on duty because of Playa Papagayo spend the rest of the day. With the help of Frederick build a castle, then take a bath together, while Sabrina watches us from the shore: there's that say to you of the water is too cold and most of the feet can not just wet. It means to be "satisfied" to do just sunbathing, of that beautiful sun that shines today more than ever, high in the sky and really hot during the hottest hours of the day.
Spend the afternoon in the relaxing, playing spensieratamente and fed flocks of fish, not at all frightened, they are taking food from bare hands, then capture some of the smaller, so Frederick is a fun world to transform into a hole sand in a small aquarium and improvised. At the end release all victims, while the time flies and the sun disk that "few moments" before it was almost at zenith is now close to the line that demarcates the horizon. The beach was virtually empty and the temperature is optimal: it is well and we enjoy the place in the company of a few intimate friends and a few seagulls, who are taking possession while patiently sift through the sand in search of some food residue.
We're almost sorry to leave Playa Papagayo, but now is the sunset and we must go, because we arrive at Puerto del Carmen with the darkness and move on to post the cards before returning to the hotel and prepare for dinner.
Descend to the restaurant and the usual buffet note cards that use to put next to each dish as making the name of the same, but with the soup continue to make a lot of confusion: throw a couple of days ago called a kind of macaroni noodles, but This evening I managed to exchange for the simple fusilli tortellini! ... unforgivable! ... we are to laugh at all and tasted them angry!
After lunch we spend some 'time sitting at the bar sipping espresso and playing "Force 4", a classic board game that we try to make it even smaller, then, of course, come back in a rest room, dreaming, perhaps, to spend many more beautiful days like that just ended.

If the good days you can see the morning will mean that even that which is to begin will be a splendid day: Do not blow a breath of wind and the sun shines dominating, unchallenged, the sky. For this reason we modify the program, which included a visit to Arrecife, the capital of the island, to go north, where, normally, the god Aeolus ago from the master.
Guatiza past, with its Jardin des Cactus, and we arrive, after a handful of miles, the Cueva de Los Verdes, a volcanic cave formed after the explosion of the volcano near Corona. It takes its name from that of a family who, to escape the fury of its mountains of fire, one day he decided to live in it. In the following years (XVI - XVII century) and then served as shelter against the pirates, who regularly attacked the island.
The cavity is unravels in the bowels of the earth for around seven kilometers, but the tour will allow us to explore less than two. As we descend along a steep staircase and in short we are in a contorted tunnel along which flowed in a geologically recent time, a river of incandescent lava, which, along the way, left imprinted on the walls of the indelible imprints of his pass .
We remain below ground for almost an hour, following a path at times charming and fascinating, which stands along a small lake that surprising, as a result of an optical illusion, appears to be a big hole. The illusion is dissolved then, among the general astonishment, when the guide who runs a rock, moving water, all the reality shows.
Satisfied we return to the open air, and makes a great warm when we follow the short stretch of road that leads us to Jameos del Agua, a cave volcanic part of the same complex. In this case, however, took the hand of a profound change, and as a hand other than dell'onnipresente Manrique!
Go here too long to reach a staircase in a depression of the land, where the so-called tropical swimming pool, shaded by large palm trees and flanked by an original auditorium that sinks in lava rock, in the Agua Jameos the symbiosis nature of art-Manrique, one can say that almost reaches perfection. There is also a small lake fed from the underground, where lives a kind of blind albino crab is unique in the world: there are lots and is said to bring good fortune to see them ... to tell the truth to us not so much, in fact, while we are completing the visit of the premises above the cave, Frederick began to keep an ear and says he badly ... is the usual otitis stramaledetta!
We go out and reach the nearby beach of La Caleta, but we do not even have time to settle: the little continues to complain, then go back on our steps and do the route on Beatriz.
We arrive at the half-hour later, while Frederick fell asleep on the back seat of the car. Bring the weight room and soon after she wakes up, so that administering the antibiotic, as a precaution, we always in a suitcase. Then lunch with our sandwiches, the terrace of the room, while the situation seems to evolve positively, so we think of returning soon to the beach.
Shortly before 15:00 we were again in La Caleta, to resume the program of the day exactly the point where we had left a few hours before. We finally look around the beach, white, stands out among the black rocks that delineate and the sea, blue and transparent, is flat as a billiard. Frederick is definitely better and with a hole dug in the sand, fill it with water, then go hunting for fish in nearby ponds. We also do a bath: the sea is beautiful and never would have imagined that the deep Atlantic Ocean could come to that. Water is even "Caldine" and we also test Sabrina, but does not go beyond the knee.
We are almost on the beach at sunset and try to enjoy as much as possible to the place, since that night back in force in the solar time and tomorrow we have an hour in less than light. The day draws to a close and despite the ear of Frederick, this was a beautiful day, so we return (for the second time) while descending to Beatriz, relentless, the shadows of the evening. One evening slipping street after dinner we sit at the bar for a coffee, do some partitella a "Force 4" and finally, for a change, we will withdraw in the room.

We wake up a little 'earlier than usual so as to recover a little' the sun will lose the change of time. E 'Sunday and is also market day in Teguise, the ancient capital of the island, and there we go.
On entering the town follow the directions of a park, which in grand gestures beckoned us to enter into a dirt yard located in the first suburbs. Naive to bite and parked the car and then realize, following the road through the center, there were many other opportunities for parking much easier, but it does not matter, we have fallen into the trap and we should walk. The journey is long and I load on the shoulders Federico, to avoid complaints even before starting the visit.
The way we see in the distance, the two boys in honeymoon that we had known at Malpensa, chasing them to greet them, and once achieved we exchange with them a little 'words and some impression. While we are doing, because of one well at all in proportion, tripping and finish on the floor with me and Federico, who was sitting quietly in the high ball for him just so scared, my knees flayed ( the last time it was touched on Sabrina Lake Orta and now we have balanced the accounts ... 1 ball and 1 center).
Vague for the market through the typical streets of Teguise, teeming with tourists and lined with houses painted in white rigorously, we look at the square, dominated by the characteristic bell tower of the church of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, and do some buying, then, at about 11: 30, we leave the country and take the path of the sea.
We are moving towards the west coast and we reach the beach of La Santa, but they do not satisfy us, as it is disfigured by a hideous building intervention, so we move, remaining in the same area, further north, towards Playa Famara. Balneari speaking this is not the best part of Lanzarote and end up arriving in Playa de San Juan, which is nothing exceptional but it is late and we should stop for lunch.
In the afternoon, however, the tide falls and some pools are formed where the water is calm, clear and inviting ... not bad, plus the landscape is captivating, with severe cliffs of Playa Famara curtain to be natural, with the island of Graciosa at the horizon and with some serfisti to perform in front of us.
The time spent nice: take the sun and walk on bagnasciuga, while Federico played to build dams on streams of water generated by tides, and in men who do not tell you tonight (an hour less is heard).
Just before 18.00 we leave the beach and on the way back we stop on the outskirts of town San Bartolomè to see the Monument to the Campesino, a work of Manrique built in honor of all the farmers of Lanzarote (note the campesinos) for the enterprise and ingenuity with which they managed to make a fertile land for nature so hostile.
Beatriz to arrive and there prepare to spend another night, unfortunately, no different from previous ones. The Italians really are few and we were not able to socialize with anyone inside the hotel, and then, after dinner, the story is always the same: a coffee table, and then some partitella ... then we go in the room and put the word end to another enjoyable day.

We expect an intense morning: at 9:00 in the direction starting from the south and after a couple of stops to refuel with food, pass the village of Yaiza and the road to get to the south-west to El Golfo , where an ancient volcanic crater was shut down in the sea.
Park your car and on foot we will venture along the coast following a path that leads to see the fantastic spectacle of nature. Aware of a cartel and descend into the crater walking on land by incredible reddish hue: it seems to be in an alien landscape, not for nothing that the place was chosen as a natural set girarvi scenes of famous movies, including " Star Wars. "
A black beach, constantly beaten by the waves of the ocean, the sea separates the waters of a small lake, whose shoulders are well defined, the crescent of rocks identified as the original volcanic cone. He had to make a really great hot, where we now we are walking in an area where it was in full swing, and the clash between the elements, probably gave birth to a show early.
Remain for a while 'to observe the outcome of that event, shoot a few photos and then climb back to the edge of the crater to reach the car and continue on the journey. Along the way, however, falls Frederick, and he is flayed one knee, a small outbreak tragedy and fatigue we can convince him to climb in the car, while on its face the tears still flow.
A few kilometers away is another beauty: Los Hervideros, which is a small system of caves and gorges where the sea s'insinua noisily. It was formed as a result of a volcanic eruption and has been shaped over the centuries thanks to the constant erosion of the waves, who s'infrangono with enormous power.
The place you can visit picturesque path along which venture between the volcanic rocks, which, inter alia, have the power to resurrect the little, momentarily away from thinking of the knee injury.
Continuing along the coast is found then the so-called Devil's Bridge, a small arc of the rock through which foamed noisily waves of the ocean.
Before noon we still stop at a small black Playa de Janubio to gather a small but significant sample of sand in memory of this incredible island. Behind him, among other things, there are the old salt pans of Lanzarote that viewed from above, are a fantastic palette of colors on black background surrounding landscape.
We have made full and volcanic landscapes, now halfway through the day, we head towards a beach where relax. We return at the far south-eastern tip of the island, Playa Blanca and beyond reach in the area of the Papagayo beaches, walk along the dirt road and arrive in Playa de Puerto Muelas. It 'the last of the series, located in this stretch of coast overlooking the African continent, and it is very beautiful, almost as its most famous sister.
System is our "camp" and finally have lunch: The day is beautiful and nothing manages to make us go away from this place so long as the sun shines high in the sky.
The sea is calm and the water has a beautiful color, it does not seem to be in the middle of the Atlantic, but perhaps on an island in Greece. Spend the whole afternoon to alternate sunbathing and crystal clear water, while Federico played with a baby probably English or German, or perhaps even American ... no matter, it seems fun and this is important.
At 17:00 we leave the beach and go up, on a hill, the village of Femés, where you see a beautiful sunset, then, with dark, we return to Beatriz.
After dinner, we try to avoid the usual partitelle a "Force 4" and before getting into the room giving us a brief stroll on the promenade of Puerto del Carmen, but there is no life and this, unfortunately, is an epilogue, not too exciting.

We prepare to leave promptly, we have an appointment with the boat from the village of salperà Órzola in the north of Lanzarote, at 10:00 o'clock, for the island of Graciosa.
Even before the 9:00 we are on the street, but we stop to refuel, then go back to the syrup to give to Frederick and the time begins to tighten. A Guatiza make another stop, in spending, then we run at 120 kilometers per hour along the coastal road and come to Órzola a minute before 10:00. Park your car and travel, we reach the boat that already has the engines on, climb on board and pulling a sigh of relief. In a hurry but I realize that he had left the bag with the photographs in the car: I do another run perdifiato board and go back to where now they are removing their moorings.
We need twenty minutes of browsing to cross El Rio, the narrow stretch of sea that divides Graciosa from Lanzarote and the island, which has an area of just under 28 square kilometers, is one country and there are no paved roads, the biggest dilemma is choosing the most suitable to visit. You could rent a jeep with driver, but would have us take a quick tour and we would also like to stop the sea, then, when landing at Caleta del Sebo, we put ourselves in line to rent two bicycles, one of which, of course, with seat for the small.
Inforchiamo our new media and turn the dirt road that cuts the island to reach the most famous beach (Playa de Las Concas), but uphill, with backpacks and Federico ballast as it is impossible to continue, end up spending the whole day cycling and is not the case.
Go back and decide, following the coastline, to go to Playa Francesa, scenographically perhaps less beautiful, but with the sea calmer, and certainly easier to achieve.
The route is however hard we push and at the bike on the sand, so in the end we are soaked in sweat, but the place we reward the hard work done well. In front of us is a beautiful beach of soft white sand with clear blue sea that laps and farther on the right, the conical shape of Montaña Amarilla, to remind us that we are on a land of volcanic origin.
Just do a bathroom and then eat in the shade of the tent. It is divinely and long stay in basking in the sun in silence and absolute peace: on the beach are only three of us over four other people, all nudists. Sin for some residual tar and, above all, because we will have to leave the place before 15:00, to be able to take the last ferry.
In the afternoon some spiteful clouds cover the sky and so we remove the burden of having to leave the beach with regret. Walk backwards across the bumpy road that divides us from Caleta del Sebo, and when we come back in a bath of sweat, then we stop in a bar trying to drink and drink, waiting time to board we sull'imbarcazione back to Lanzarote.
Puntuale come off the ferry from the pier and take off, while we still remember the magnificent Playa Francesa and the regret of not being able to visit the island. Meanwhile, a gust of wind off the cap from the head of Frederick who flies away and moves to the sea ... who knows where to meet my glasses?
When we come to Órzola the sun is behind a thick blanket of clouds and we should return to calm, to Beatriz and then, with equal calm, prepare for the evening, unfortunately the usual squalid and trivial evening, again in contrast with the beautiful day just ended.

E 'una giornata "mui gray and windy" when we get up and look out the window. Optimistically wear costumes and we spread the sunscreen, but I doubt that we need.
We go to Tahiche, inside the island, to visit the Cesar Manrique Foundacion: the original home of architect lanzarotegno who devised the whole of the development plan. Since his death, following a tragic car accident, which occurred in 1992, his house, built on a lava flow, has been transformed into a real museum, where you can visit the various spaces at different levels and implemented by exploiting the natural depressions of the land. There are also paintings and his famous artists of the time, in addition to the original sketches of the work done during his long career.
The whole thing was very interesting and when we leave the parking lot adjacent to Foundacion is full of cars, with all the tourists apparently involved in alternative visits to the beach. We move a few kilometers before arriving at the town of Teguise on board the small and scenic Castillo de Guanapay, built in the sixteenth century to the summit of an extinct volcano and the domain of the surrounding landscape.
A strong wind blows and we seek refuge inside the castle to visit the museum of emigration which is canaria inside. Frederick is pleased to be able to run up the stairs and the rooms of the castle, so we spend a little 'time away from the weather, then come back in the car and we head towards the north of the island.
We reach the village of Guine where, nearby, is the Guine Tropical Park, a kind of zoo. Lunch in the car then we enter the park, while the sky is growing gray and the wind up large amounts of dust. We observe (unfortunately in a cage) many exotic animals (monkeys and birds only, but particularly parrots), then let's see, for the happiness of small, a nice show of parrots taught and, while falling a few drops of rain, we conclude that the visit after all, was nice, but it served mainly to pass the time.
Are 15:00 and take the road of Beatriz, not disdaining a stop to Arrecife to make four steps within a shopping center, then when you get to the hotel, we conclude the day by playing a mini-golf, again for the joy of Frederick that probably today was what we enjoyed most of all.
Before returning to the room asking to data with the time of car that will make tomorrow a little storch 'the nose and says it is the Calima, the wind from Africa, and that will last at least three or four days ... is only a personal opinion and hope you are wrong, but just so much to depress Sabrina who becomes intractable.
After dinner, however, finally manage to exchange some words with two Italian girls, then we can see a nice show of clowns, which appear on our face a healthy smile.

Sounds the alarm, I get up and away the tents: it seems a gray and windy day, with the Calima it from a master, then I go back between the sheets and try to resume sleep. Later, indolent, we have breakfast and when we leave the hotel, among the general drabness, the glare of the sun seems to want to head in the clouds.
Bravely decided to go to sea to the south of the island. Thus, we arrive at Playa Papagayo, while a cloudy sky filter leaves some timid ray of sun: the beach is sheltered and there, perhaps we will stay for the whole day. All in all, given the circumstances, you are well, we must struggle with a myriad of flies inferocite, but at least the baby can play with the sand and only Sabrina, a 'cool, is completely in tune with the weather.
Exchange chat with a family valdostana resident in Luxembourg, to which two children playing all the time with Federico, until, in the early afternoon, do not go away and leave us alone again, to fight with the flies and catch a few rays of sunshine that occasionally manage to filter.
At 17:00 and leave the beach before returning to go from The Geria to buy a few bottles of wine.
After dinner we see a show and is an incredible journey to spend beautiful days and evenings bleak now, however, is almost the opposite happening ... Meanwhile, re-appeared in the sky and the stars for tomorrow you turn a light of hope.

There are still clouds in the sky, but the majority are blue flashes and this leaves us much hope. Instead we have breakfast, and in the meantime, the clouds take over. We decided then to go to Arrecife to visit a couple of castles.
The island's capital is a modern city, consisting of a collection of anonymous residential buildings, but on the waterfront, built in 1574 in defense of the old port, is the characteristic Castillo de San Gabriel, faced two big guns, on which Frederick can not do less than a rise. Inside there is also a small archaeological museum, but we should not go there. Later, along the coast and near the outskirts of the city, then there is the Castillo de San José, built in 1771 in a style very similar to the previous year. It houses a museum of modern art, too modern for our tastes, and we will complete the visit.
At this point of the day we leave to the desperate search for a po 'di sole. Does not seem to pull all the wind and try to go in the north of the island, but we realize, along the way, which blows, tense and increasingly strong. Invert the route and go south, while the sky is more and more gray as the face of Sabrina, and close to Puerto del Carmen falls even a few drops of rain.
We arrive in Playa Papagayo: the weather is very bad, but it does not rain and the creek is protected from the wind, so we go on the beach, at least Richard can play with the sand. Lunch and stand in Playa Papagayo until 16:00 pm without seeing a single ray of sunshine, and then, disconsolate, we collect all our things and return to Beatriz, partitella to do some mini-golf and then we go to dinner.
Later, as usual a couple of evenings now, we rely animation staff: there is the mini disc and the second attempt we can convince Frederick to take the train, then we can see a game that challenged competition for men and women (clearly won by the latter) and chatted with two Italian girls (Carla and Enrica), a country just above Aosta (it's incredible, we have never met valdostani around the world and this trip has already the second time!). Finally we are in the room with the hope tomorrow to review the sun, at least on the last day of holiday in Lanzarote.

Nothing to do, even for the last day: clouds, clouds and more clouds. Away the curtains and look out: it's all gray ... the close and go back to bed ... but check out the cancellation, had been such a great vacation until a few days ago!
Almost 10:00 when we go to breakfast, then later we leave disheartened in a southerly direction, and falls a few drops of rain. We have postponed until you get to the last day, but if we want to visit the national park of Timanfaya, we must do so by force today!
Yaiza to arrive and take the road that rises towards the Montañas del Fuego, an area of about two hundred square kilometers, which was the scene in the eighteenth century, one of the most important and spectacular eruptions that history of volcanology worldwide memories. The event was extraordinary not only for the enormous amount of material erupted, but especially for his long life: started in September 1730 and ended, according to documentary sources, on 16 April 1736. There are about thirty volcanic cones remained to witness the phenomenon quell'impensabile scattered in a sea of solidified lava that reaches the ocean.
Fortunately the rain stopped but the sky is still dark when we stop at the entrance to the park for a short walk to the back of a camel in the impressive scenery, among the hills of volcanic land with a thousand shades between red and black, and is a pity that there is not the only ones to revive. Then go up all'Islote de Hilario, the visitor center of the park, from where we start to board a bus for a hike along the Ruta de los Volcanes, a road to visit the most impressive among scenarios danteschi and beautifully hell. It is through science fiction landscape of rocks, lava expanses, dark ash and craters surrounded by a ghostly silence (the Valley of Peace looks like a piece of the moon fell from the sky). Here and there are identified tentative signs of life as some tufts of grass and colors of lichens, while in absolute peace is heard the echoes of countries removed from the fury of nature: Santa Catalina, Rodeo, Timanfaya, Chupadero ... Sorry only that he can not ever get off the bus to take some photos, since there is no light and dark glasses are almost as the sky.
In the end we return to Islote de Hilario, where the ground temperature at a depth of thirteen meter reaches 610 degrees and 120 to the surface. Here are the guardians demonstrations throwing water in tubes driven into the ground (in three seconds they get up high fountains of steam) and inserting twigs into a hole (turn into balls of fire at once) ... these visions have been staggering.
E 'already past noon and we stop for lunch at the restaurant "El Volcano", created by Manrique, where the dishes are cooked using a real grill heated by the natural warmth that comes from underground (including the floor of the enclosure is hot! ) ... eat well enough and they are wrong to make us the bill ... a affarone!
We leave the park at 15:30 and we go to the north of the island to the village of Haria, where every Saturday, from time to time, held a flea market but it ended at 14:00, then go back to the hotel, while a slight fall drizzle, and go up in the room to prepare the bags.
Shortly after 19:00 we find a ticket under the door is a message dell'Alpitour. The flight to Bologna was canceled and will arrive tomorrow evening in Verona! I can not escape some imprecation, then put hands on the phone and call my grandparents (who I had not heard more than an hour ago) to make aware of the change, since it will come from.
Later, after dinner, we conclude last night saw an exciting spectacle of jugglers, for the happiness of Frederick who watches them fixed and does not detract from the look off for a moment, then we stand: we would expect the journey return and a hard day.

Also in the piece of the day there's the sun we will have to stay at the hotel until noon and we would have liked. So, like every morning, for some 'time now, I look out the window and go back between the sheets: indeed, given the situation, there is such a hurry!
10:00 descend to breakfast, then settle the bill and we go on the promenade of Puerto del Carmen to take the last picture. In short it is time to go: let's go back in the room to take the bag and along the road we meet Carla Enrica and salute that, while Richard, sorry for departure is reached in a short cry.
We put on hold the bus in front of Beatriz is a little 'late but no matter, provided that the plane on time. Instead, when we arrive at the airport on a flight Vle screens in 1401 is just late, but it is a mistake, in fact, at 14:06, the Airbus A320 airline Volare Airlines detaches from the ground directly in Tenerife, a ' other island in the Canaries. Half an hour later landed: drop all the passengers on the island and we go down (in the company of other twenty people around), so as to allow the refueling and cleaning of the aircraft.
Shortly before 16:00 and come back on board is incredible, because we are the same handful of people who had fallen in a plane that can hold more than one hundred passengers (making a quick calculation will be available, if you wish, about five seats in the head! ), and is undoubtedly a consequence of the tragic events of 11 September.
Detached from the earth, in a few intimate friends, at 16:01, this time headed for Italy: many of us in the clouds, those clouds that we have ruined the last four days of vacation. Flying over the Atlantic Ocean and Morocco, but we do not see anything and the land reappears only when we are on to Spain, with the night that now has the upper hand, and clearly distinguish the first lights of Valencia and Barcelona then. Crossing the Gulf of Lions, Nice flying, then over to Genoa, we begin to descend toward Verona, where landed at 20:42 Italian time, having lost an hour of road time zone.
At the grandparents are to expect, salute them and immediately depart towards Forlì.
Along the way tell all the adventures of what has been a wonderful journey, at least until the weather conditions there were favorable to the face of terrorists, Bin Laden (their leader) and the Taliban (the regime that supports them) . The volcanic landscapes of Lanzarote have fascinated us and the sea has surprised us more than any rosy forecast, we are tired but happy, while there is no fog in the street line and everything smooth. Federico soon falls asleep, so when we arrive home at 23:27, the bear in his bed, and even if they notice ... little sleep and dreams, dreams of the next trip because, although they are certain, sooner than you can imagine, if the international situation does not deteriorate further, volerai again to other beautiful destinations.