Lazarote, Canary Islands – Nov 11, 2009

Since we changed the time last night, we were up at 6 AM.  Checked email and posted yesterday’s blog message and enjoyed the notion of a 25 hour day.  Leisurely breakfast with weather prediction for clear skies and temperatures in the 70s.  Today is ‘Camel Riding Day’ – what were we thinking when we decided to do this excursion? Truthfully, thought it would be a photo op with fun pictures to share with our grandchildren when we get home.  Now we’re unsure.  We get into Lazarote, our first of two stops in the Canaries at noon today and begun our adventure at 1:30 PM.  So another quiet morning onboard the ship.

The Equinox is the nicest ship we have ever sailed on.  Well laid out, beautiful decor, and easy to get around.  Our cabin has a large bathroom with adequate storage, a vessel sink and sliding curved doors to the shower – no shower curtain to wrap around our legs like on many other ships.  The only thing we don’t like about the cabin is the hard, leatherette sofa which is not conducive to curling up with a book (or in my case the Kindle).  We had heard that storage space was limited but we’ve had room for all of our things with luggage stored under the bed.  The closet is a bit narrow from front to back and we do wish they had put drawers in the base of the sofa for additional space. Our balcony is roomy and the chairs are comfortable (but without foot rests) – love sitting there watching the ocean and relaxing.  Since our cabin is on the hump (where the ship curves out) the wind is blocked and we will be able to enjoy it as we cross the Atlantic.  In fact, we enjoyed it this morning, reading, taking pictures and relaxing.

Went to a Veterans’ Day rememberance service this morning which was done very well followed by a meeting of veterans of all wars from all countries represented on the ship.  Then an early lunch and off to catch our bus for a tour called Camel Ride and Fire.  We were prepared for the camel ride but not for the magnificent scenery and other stops of the tour.  Our guide was terrific sharing the history of Lazarote as well as lots of information about the volcanic nature of the island and the research about volcanos that is done here.  Our first stop was a wine tasting of the typical wine produced here – the grape vines are grown  laying down on the volcanic soil to protect them from the frequent trade winds (strong enough to produce high surf on which the European Wind Surfing championship was held this year).  There is very little rain here so the roots have to penetrate deep in the soil and any nighttime humidity is collected in the depressions in which the vines are grown. 

Next we drove to the Camel Riding area.  Each camel carried two people with the heavier one on the left side and sand bags added to the right side to create a balance for the camel (who can carry 500 Kilos – I’ll leave the math to the reader).  We had a fun 30 minute ride up a trail to the top of a hill with spectacular volcano views and a scary downhill back with the surefooted camel walking on the edge of the hill.  Very bumpy when he stood up after we were seated and when he knelt down when the ride was over.  Lots of Kodak moments.

Then we were off to the National Park for some thermal exhibitions and an amazing drive on winding narrow roads through the 300 volcano park (there is some earthquake and thermal activity every day recorded by seizmographs but not felt by humans). Some of the most amazing scenery that we have ever seem – somewhat reminiscent of the Galapagos but more extreme.   Next we visited the caves made by lava flows at the coast which really reminded us of the Galapagos.  This was one of the best port excursions we have ever experienced despite our earlier trepidations about doing the camel ride.

Returned to the ship almost late for dinner, so a quick change of clothes and off  we went, then another comedy/magician show and we were ready for bed.