Lanzarote, Canary Islands - Go Karting and Horseback Riding

As with all good things, they must come to an end and with just 2 days left of our vacation we decided to do some things the kids really wanted to do... go-karting and horseback riding. 

Off we went to the go-kart place by the airport.  Aidan was old enough to have his own kart in the younger kids section.  This was the track from toddlers to age 16...the really big kids get the track next to ours where the go-karts go up to 80 kph and they were flying!  We were the only ones on the track and Aidan was ambivilent at first about going on his own but once he was out there he had a BLAST!!  He loved trying to race with Josh and Liam who were in the other car. 

Getting their helmets on

First lap

And here they come!

I wasn't supposed to take any pics because the go-kart place actually takes them - and I have to say, the ones they took (including this one) came out great...

And they took this one of Aidan too...

After the go-karting we took a coastal ride down to Puerto del Carmen, the first tourist area formed on Lanzarote.  This was definitely different than Playa Blanca where we were staying.  I thought we had a lot of tourists in our area, but this place took the price.  Six kilometers of waterfront was filled with stores and restaurants.  The boardwalk was nice but not nearly as nice as Playa Blanca.  We had a quick lunch at an Italian restaurant (I use the term loosely) and an ice cream and we were off to ride the caballos...

The main road of Puerto del Carmen

One of the cottages by the water... very cute!

More of the main drag

The Golden Arches have made it to Lanzarote!!!

You can barely see them but there a bunch of hang gliders above this mountain

All Liam talked about all week from the moment we passed this place on our way to Playa Blanca from the airport was riding a horse.  He wanted to ride a gray one and then a brown one.  Pal, you get what you get and you don't get upset... We arrived at the Caballos y Camellos (camels) place only to hear a camel most definitely in some kind of distress.  Not a great sign.  It took us a bit to hunt down the people with the horses as the place seemed to be a bit desserted which was odd for mid day.  We finally found someone who could help us and she guided Liam to his pony (we told him it was a horse, it HAD to be a horse, not a pony that he wanted to ride).  Aidan decided he didn't want to ride despite the fact that he took lessons for 2 years - his reasoning was that he didn't think they would let him ride on his own and he didn't want anyone to hold on to him.  And so he sat on the sidelines.  Liam however, was ecstatic...

Liam on his pony

Can't beat the view as he rides

A look of pure joy on his face is worth it

The camels I was talking about earlier... not sure what was going on but they were lined up in a row and when we were going back to the car we saw that a crane was hauling them into this truck.  Have no idea why they were doing this nor did we even venture to ask...

And that my friends, was our vacation on Lanzarote.  It had it's ups and downs, beautiful weather, quality family time, amazing vistas and most of all, relaxation!  While we were on Lanzarote we had the one year anniversary of our arrival in Spain... keep an eye out in the next few days for an update recapping our first year and what I hope will be some goals for 2011. 

Happy New Year!!

Julie

Lanzarote, Canary Islands - La Geria (the Vineyards)

Vineyards you say?  But how so when there is so little precipation that we are able to have houses without roofs?  That there is so little vegetation on this island that most of it looks like desert?  How in the world can you possibly grow grapes to turn into wine in these conditions?


Well about a dozen vinters have been doing so, some bodegas for hundreds of years now. The area known as La Geria is unique unlike any vineyard region in the world.  This area is a proected area because of how the landscape has been sculpted by this process.  There are hillside after hillside with zocos - low, crescent shaped dry stone walls made of volcanic rocks.  These zocos each protect ONE vine from the elements.  According to some by summer it looks "like emeralds lying in a black velvet case".  Unfortunately we were there during the off season and so all the vines were without any color.  But the zocos looked very cool going up and down the mountainside.

El Grifo is the oldest vineyard on the island, running continuously since 1775

Some zocos with some off season vines

Cool volcano we saw as we were driving thru La Geria

Zocos running up towards the top of the volcano

Zocos everywhere!!!!!

We bought a few bottles from this bodega as we'd had some of their wine with a few of our meals and really enjoyed it.

In addition to the zocos, the picon (volcanic gravel) traps the little bit of moisture they get on this island which nourishes the vines enough to grow.  There is no insect disease here either which enables them to plant the stalks directly without grafting them (I know nothing about this process). 


And to tell you the truth, it's not half bad. I'm no wine expert but I thought the wine I had here was delicious, smooth and crisp. We were told the reds aren't that great and to stick with the whites and that's what we did even though we aren't usually white wine drinkers.


Julie

Lanzarote, Canary Islands - Fundacion Cesar Manrique

Yes, you read that right, Manrique again.  But this time we're heading to his home... or what was formerly his home.  And I'm a big believer that you hire a landscaper who's yard looks good (ie don't hire the guy that lives behind us in Attleboro) and if you want a great artist or architect, look at where he lives as an example.  This guy's home is stunning...there is truly no words to describe this home and the pictures will not do it justice.

Weaving thru nature in so many different ways, he has incorporated his natural landscape like no one else I've ever seen, not even Gaudi (gasp!).  However, as I mentioned before, his work definitely reminds me a bit of Gaudi and how he does incorporate nature into his work. 

Manrique lived in this home from the 60s to the 80s and then he moved to his second home in more rural Haria where he was able to live with more privacy.  The home is located at the edge of a lava field and upon first glipse is only one floor but is in fact two levels - an upper level and a subterranean level.  The home is now a museum that showcases much of his art which quite honestly, I was less interested in... mainly because the kids were with us and I had time to focus on the structure more than the artwork. 

However for a little background on this amazing man let's start with the fact that he was born and raised on Lanzarote.  He attended college in Tenerife and Madrid and then continued on to New York.  Eventually he returned to Lanzarote and was dismayed to see how the tourism industry was affecting his beloved island.  And so he became involved with urban development and and sustainable and responsible tourism.  And so he campagined for conrolled, sympathetic development which meant traditional architectural styles, white washed buildings and that all buildings would be low rise.  Because he know that visitors would want to see more than just the beach and enjoy the sun, he began designing visitor attractions - 7 of them:  Jameos del Agua; the Casa-Museo del Campesino (we did not see this); El Diablo; the Mirador del Rio; MIAC (did not see this either); Cueva de los Verdes and Jardin del Cactus (didn't see this one too).  The year after he died in 1992, Lanzarote was designated a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in recognition for the islanders' respect for their unique environment and the preservation of the landscape which was much in thanks to Manrique. 

As you walk in, you are greeted with color of flowers all around you.  This is something that I have not seen much of on this island.  You also see trees that look like they are coming out of the ground but are, in fact, coming from the subterranean level of the home.  There are many parts of his home that are open to the elements, something that is not much of an issue in this climate where there is very little rain and the temperatures rarely dip below 70 during the daytime even in the winter. 

The boys in the hotel lobby waiting to go on another adventure

Vineyards in the front of Manrique's home

Liam

Entrance to the home - love the flowers!

Josh and Liam inspecting some flowers

That white crescent on the lower right side is actually a light from the lower floor - this tree is growing from inside the house

Another tree that is growing thru the house

Water feature with lava bridge

Huge panoramic window - would love that in my living room!

Have to go outside to go downstairs...there was another stairway inside but it was closed to the public

Yes, this is all a part of his downstairs level - incorporating nature, remember?

The hallway... there were several like this which was very cool

A living space downstairs with the open ceiling for the tree

Another living space with another tree

Outdoor area - sweet grill and next to it is an outdoor dining area

Outdoor dining area

Lava bridge

Water feature

One of the more famous parts of his house is how he literally built the wall around the lava so that lava "flows" into the house.  I expected this to be an open window with no glass but there is actually glass that goes right into the top of the lava rock.

Aidan said this area reminded him of Gaudi... I think we have a budding architect/artist on our hands.  He's very into both Gaudi and now Manrique.

My boys...

Josh took some scenic flower pics...perhaps an artist here as well? 

A late bloomer?  Sorry, had to do it :)

Manrique's logo

Another flower

Manrique designed many of these wind "chimes" throughout the island each one uniquely different from the rest

Julie

Lanzarote, Canary Islands - Teguise Sunday Market

Europe is still the home of the open market.  Many small towns and villages throughout Europe still have weekend markets where vendors ply their goods to willing buyers - both locals and tourists.  I love these markets.  My favorite so far was in Arles (Provence), France where there was so much fresh food and spices that it made my mouth water! 

Well, when the guidebook said that the biggest market on Lanzarote was in Teguise on Sundays I was all for us going.  So guidebook in hand and using the map to get us there, off we went to Teguise, which was the former capital of Lanzarote.

We had passed thru Teguise the day before on our way back from Mirador del Rio and it was a cute village - more upscale than many we had passed.  There was ample parking and for 1.50 euro, you can't beat the price!  Find that in Boston or even in Barcelona!  The market itself, however, was a bit of a disappointment.  There was very little food to be found and most of the items were cheap tschotckies... touristy tee shirts, candles, scarves and toys filled most of the booths.  However, we did find a few gems - the boys found cool frogs that you rub their backs with a stick and they make a ribbit sound.  They also found (cheap) finger puppets which Liam especially enjoyed (because you can never have enough finger puppets).  Josh found some aloe which is apparently a big export of Lanzarote (who knew?) and I found some great handmade soap.  So all was not lost.

To top off the afternoon we had lunch in the oldest restaurant on the island - Acetife.  The food was decent although they forgot to bring my soup that had requested before my salad.  The kids both had enjoyable meals as did Josh with his rabbit (ugh!), a specialty on the island where there is so little game to be caught.

All in all, worth the trip just for the scenery along the way and an opportunity to get out of the hotel for the afternoon!

Julie