Arrecife, Canary Islands

Today, we docked on the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands are a territory of Spain. Originally named the Islands of the Dogs, because monk seals or sea dogs are abundant. There are seven islands. Lanzarote is the eastern most island only 90 miles from Morocco. It has a population of 180,000. The island is very dry and requires a desalination plant for its water. The island has over 300 volcanoes.

Timanfaya National Park

We went to Timanfaya Nation Park and saw the results of the volcanic eruption that last from 1730 to 1736. We started at the hot spot on top of one of the mountains. They did an amazing job of demonstrating how hot the ground is here. First, we touched the ground to find the soil was at a normal temperature. Then they dug a few feet into the ground and gave us a few pebbles, which were too hot to hold in your hand. Then we sent up a little higher and they threw some weeds into a stone pit and weeds caught fire. Finally, they poured some water down some holes they had dug into the ground and in about 20 seconds, the water exploded into a brief shower of water.

Then we travelled along a road through the park, almost like riding a roller coaster on our bus. Because the wheels of the bus are further back then a car, it felt like we would go over the edge of the road at every turn. First thing we saw was wild goats (a rare sight). We continued to multiple viewpoints of the numerous volcanoes. The road cut into the soil where a lava river had once flowed and then past a moonscape – the Sea of Tranquility.

Wild goats give us the glare

We went onto a local winery. We sampled a very dry white wine and very sweet one. The vines are grown in a depression protected by lava stones from the winds that blow here. The depression collects the rare rain falls beneath the plants. No irrigation is used.

Sheltered vineyard