DAY 7 LANZAROTE

What a fantastic day today was; weather and sightseeing. We were on a private tour arranged by a lovely lady named Bev and she did an unbelievable job putting this package together. Joy, you have some competition here. The ship docked a little early but we got off a little after 12 as planned and boarded our bus to take us to the National Park of the famous Fire Mountains created between 1730 and 1736 when more than 100 volcanoes devastated this part of the island. The last eruptions were in 1824, however due to the low rainfall (and therefore lack of erosion) this area appears much the same as it did just after the eruptions, somewhat like a moon or martian landscape. We actually saw a few different demonstrations of how how the area is. While we were standing in a circle on small red pebbles a worker dug some of the pebbles up and placed some in everyones hand and we dropped them very fast. We were told they were up to 180 degrees. Then there was a deep hole and they put dry brush on the top of the hole and it caught on fire from the heat below. Next they poured water into a bore hole and in seconds steam came out like a mini geyser.

Driving around the island seeing all the different formations of the lava for miles and miles and miles was absolutely amazing. It was even better than Hawaii. I couldn't get enough.

Next, hold on to your hats, Enid and I took a camel ride. We went on a double seated camel. It had a seat on either side of the hump and you're probably wondering how the heck it even get off the ground with the 2 of us on it. Well it did, so there. It didn't complain once; at least not in English. His name was Manuel and the other 6 camels in the caravan were his girlfriends but we know he was going to be too tired to service them tonight. The ride lasted 20 minutes and if you are doubting that this happened we even have pictures to prove that this really took place. By the way you are lucky the pictures don't smell like the camels did.

From there we went to a wine tasting in a gorgeous fairly new wine vineyard called Bodega Stratus and there was a white wine I liked called Diego. Enid actually liked the same one too. The place was gorgeous. One of these days I'm going to learn how to add pictures to this blog and then I'm going to bore ya'll to death.

From there (we were ready to cry uncle--but no, there was more) we went to Jameos del Agua, a cave resulting from volcanic activity. It's a salt water lagoon and home to tiny blind albini crabs which are only found here. It is also a museum and has a swimming pool which is no longer used but is something not to be missed. Of course Enid can't miss a bathroom and came out and told me I have to go in and see it because it was beautiful. She was right so we both took pictures. You have to be out of your mind to take bathroom pictures so here we are.

Got back to the ship a little before 7 so we missed dinner and went to the buffet and went to the show to see Jamie Allen and David Copperfield perform for the last time before they get off the ship tomorrow.