Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote, Spain

Timanfaya National Park (Parque Nacional de Timanfaya) is entirely made up of volcanic soil - the greatest recorded eruptions occurred between 1730 and 1736. The volcanic activity continues as the surface temperature in the core ranges from 100 to 600 °C at the depth of 13 metres, which is demonstrated by pouring water into the ground, resulting in a geyser of steam.

This landscape looks otherworldly, alas couldn't be visited as at this point of the job we were pretty much restricted to the port areas. Xmas was behind us (spent at sea), the day after the port of Fuerteventura was unreachable because of the strong winds so we spent an extra day at sea. Lanzarote was sunny and I had a fish sandwich for lunch, in a place teeming with locals so I thought it must be good! And it was. My colleague ate half of it with words 'I'll treat you when we get first pay' which of course she didn't lol, I've learnt the hard way she was a taker and none a giver, and that lasted for months. Now thats a special story! Perhaps not to be dwelt upon on a postcard blog heh.

Gata De Las Islas Canarias

Looking at the dates I realised that I was in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria the day before Xmas (the day after La Gomera) but I have nothing to show for it except a few mobile phone photos and a proof of using wi-fi in (what I believe to be) a snack bar..! That said, I am sure many more memory holes like this will ensue. I do remember it being really windy...then I have some images flashing in front of my eyes and I ask myself, did this really happen so early in the time spent on the ship? Everything is like a big muddy mess inside this head of mine. In retrospective I do regret not keeping a proper diary. Anyways! As I was saying, I really missed not seeing any animals for longer periods of time, and thats probably why I succumbed to this gorgeous little face :)

And Then There Were Lizards

As I was saying..:) However, the one with the banana I find quite bizarre; whoever thought of making this a postcard I wonder...I think the little gecko might prefer hunting for bugs than posing on a banana :) (I suppose the same would be for the one peeking out of a glass bottle. Ah, those humans...)

Burro Grazing

And another burro :D The Christmas stamp is quite interesting as one could send it as a square whole (like on the previous postcard) or separating the shaped centre (like here). A bit of a let-down that the posties don't have a local cancellation but were sent from the 'neighbouring' Tenerife. Nevermind, the donkey is here!

Views Of La Gomera

Next stop: La Gomera. I have posted a little bit about this island before, as my sister visited and sent a postcard from there. The ship docked in the port of San Sebastián de La Gomera, which can be seen here top-left - I best remember the black sand beach, and seeing a first cat since on board :) Went for a walk, then looked for a decent wi-fi (which will become one of the major sports to do in ports!) and that was pretty much it. The choice of postcards was again tempting; whole of the Macaronesia seems to be like that, donkeys and lizards aplenty..!

Feurteventura Long-Ears

Is there a better feeling than receiving a surprise card for your collection?! I got this WONDERFUL card of a jenny and her foal from the Canary island Fuerteventura, thanks so much Eileen for thinking of me :)))

Las Palmas Cathedral, Gran Canaria

This fantastic view is of the Cathedral of Santa Ana, the seat of the Diocese of the Canaries in the Roman Catholic Church. The structure was finished, and the first offices celebrated, on the eve of Corpus Christi, 1570, in the time of the fourteenth Bishop, Fr. Juan de Alzolares.

Love the colours, thank you Tina it is good to hear you had a great time there :D

 

Maspalomas, The Canary Islands

Maspalomas is located on the southernmost tip of the Canary Islands' 3rd largest island Gran Canaria, and is the largest tourist town of the archipelago. The area includes the Natural Reserve of the Dunes of Maspalomas, which constitutes the main landmark of Gran Canaria. There is a 68 m tall lighthouse, named El Faro de Maspalomas, at the southern point from where the 12 km long beach and dunes lead to Playa del Inglés.

This is the only image I had of Canary Islands for years, as I received this postcard many years ago from a friend who worked there for his university practice programme (lucky bee!). I didnt' like the image of a resort place, though the sand dunes look pretty amazing...And now, after reading more about the islands, i am like 'ahh now I have to put this on my travelling wishlist too..!' The list is getting too darn long heh.

Daybreak In National Park Garajonay, La Gomera, Spain

I had a chuckle just now as I was figuring out what this photo shows - I read on the back the name of the national park, and as I was 'wikipediing' it i was saying to myself 'surely not Unesco...' and hey it is! Garajonay National Park on La Gomera (Canary Islands) occupies 40 km² and provides the best example of laurisilva, a humid subtropical forest that in the Tertiary covered almost all of Europe. Other attractions of the National Park are the massive rocks that are found along the island. These are former volcanoes whose shapes have been carved by erosion. Many of the island's species are endemic - a rich biota of understory plants, invertebrates, and birds and bats.

My sister's photos of sunsets on La Gomera are the most fascinating ones I've ever seen, such rich colours! Now, I'm inclined not to include this in the Unesco collection as you can't see the main sites...am I too harsh? :)