15 Days Till Spring Monday PWYC

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Sunday found us on our third Canary Island, Lanzarote, Fire Island.

Lanzarote is the oldest of the Canary Islands and is the closest to Africa. It is under 150km to the Sahara.

It is very arid. And there is little moisture on the island but there is a lot of agriculture because the farmers have developed a unique method of farming, by planting their crop in the volcanic stone and using the condensation that forms at night and runs down to the roots of the plant. Plants are sheltered from the drying winds with low walls and they grow a large selection of crops despite the barren landscape.

And barren it is. Once again we had an other-worldly views since the island had a major volcanic eruption from 1730-1736 which buried 11 villages under lava. At that time 25 different volcanoes were formed. Today the vast area covered in volcanic ash and lava flow is a national park, one of the most visited in Spain. The island's population of about 152,000 people host over 2 million tourists each year.

Our drive took us to Timanfaya National Park with our first stop being the observation area. It is a beautifully designed building with panoramic views of the landscape and an interpretation area set up to demonstrate, through the senses of touch, smell, sound and sight, the 'fire' of Fire Island.

First we were handed some stones to hold. It was a cool day and the warm stones, just dug from a pit in the ground felt good on our hands.

Next we were taken to a pit dug several metres down. Combustible material was put in and we could see it start to smoulder and then burst into flame. That addressed sight and smell.

The next demonstration was to hear the sound as water was poured into deep bored holes and when it hit the heat of the mountain it returned to the surface as a geyser.

Finally, we were taken a very deep pit with a grill over top. We could feel the high, high, heat coming from it and see where they grill the food for the restaurant.

After a walk around to admire the views, we headed out on the carefully laid out drive around the volcanos and lava field. The road was narrow, the sides steep and the bus wide so the guide told those who were afraid to do what the driver does and close our eyes!

Later, at one particularly dramatic spot she told us to look out the left side of the bus, but not all at once in case we tip over!

After those dramatic scenes, we were taken on our dromedary tour, to enjoy the views from baskets on the sides of a dromedary. These were used for gathering crops in the old days and then later to carry tourists through the National Park. Now that one day tour is an hour long tour on a bus, but there is a 20 minutes ride for those who want to experience it.

We had a blast. All the laughing and teasing back and can forth between the passengers was the proof that we were all have an experience that brings out child-like joy. Our handler was generous with the time and took each of our cameras at the top in order to snap a shot of us. We ended up buying the official portrait as well.

Our camel was Manuel and he was constantly nudging the lady ahead of us. Manuella was behind us and she would nuzzle Ken from time to time.

The next stop was a winery and souvenir shop. I ended up buying another ring from a crystal formed from the heat of the volcano. Plus a decoration for the Christmas tree to remember the Canaries (a lizard.)

From there we drove back to the city and had our lunch before heading back into the port town Arrecife on the shuttle bus. Because it was Sunday, nothing was open but we had a good 45 minute brisk walk around before heading back to the ship.

Dinner that night was a surprise invitation to join Colin the cruise director and it was a fun dinner with another couple from Ottawa who we had been hoping to get to know and a single woman we do know from the previous segment. The entertainment was an Irish flautist who was very good.

But it was late to bed and another tour in the morning so I've been slow to get this written.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Back to Africa!

The Road to Morocco! (But we didn't see Dorothy Lamore)

We crossed back to the continent overnight and docked in Agadir this morning.

Our tour left early once more but we are getting better at getting up and out by 8:30 in the morning. I pack the day pack the night before and have a check list that I use before leaving the cabin. Today I forgot to bring a muffin from breakfast for my snack but it turned out all right – we didn't get stuck in traffic and delayed hours like we were in Manilla last year.

Agadir was destroyed in an earthquake and has been rebuilt as a relatively modern city. The 13th anniversary of the quake was just last week. But that's just because the quake happened on Feb. 29th, 1960!

Half the inhabitants of the original city were killed and the site remains undeveloped and serves as their burial ground. The Kasbah (fortress) that was overlooking the city was also destroyed, with just some walls remaining today. That is where our tour began so we could get a view of the new city.

From there we drove to the next city to a souk (market) there. The Agadir market is closed on Mondays so we were treated to a more local market selling food and household goods. It was all very interesting but I was particularly taken with how beautifully the food was displayed.

This market had none of the desperate feel of the market in Gambia and had a wider variety of goods than the one in the Cape Verdes.

Our guide, Nadil, was wonderful and he told us about anything and everything we might find interesting. He is quite proud of his country and how the focus of the previous king was to feed the people and to do so he built dams so that agriculture would flourish. Today, it is the number one economic activity and the people don't go hungry. He credits that for keeping uprisings like the Arab Spring away from Morocco.

Certainly, he said that if someone comes to ask for money for food, they would be told to go to work. If they ask for food to eat, they are happy to share and will happily provide bread and other food. Nadil demonstrated that to us when Ken asked how to go about buying a loaf of bread at the market. It would cost only 13 cents but the market is not set up for tourists with dollars so he went back with us and bought us a loaf which we enjoyed and shared with the others on the bus.

After an enjoyable stroll around the market, we drove to a cultural centre and watched a Moroccan Cultural show that featured music, dance, acrobats, snake charmers, horses, camels and a belly dancer.

We still had some time so our Nadil took us to a place that make Argan oil products. This is the most famous product of the area (aside from sardines) and they demonstrated a large number of products mixed with this magic oil that can be used for eating or, if slightly less processed, used in face creams and oil for making hair manageable. I was tempted but passed up the opportunity to buy there.

At the next stop we could bargain and I had fun with that. It really helped that the guide was telling us to come because he had received a call from the ship – that rushed exit had me paying $15 for a $25 blouse when my last rejected offer to the seller was $17! Ken grabbed a Christmas ornament as we rushed out of the place with my purchase already in hand – he had a 5 Euro note in his hand and scored a $15 item with that (thus we ended up paying $22 for items originally priced at $40, 55% of the asking price.)

We got back to the ship on time (I have no idea who thought we were late and rushed us from the shop) and I had lunch on the pool deck during the sail away.

We've been on the go for a while so I decided to nap in the afternoon but an announcement from the captain changed that. He came on the in-cabin speaker to let us know that there was a problem with the engines and they were being shut down to be worked upon. It also meant the stabilizers would have to be drawn in.

I got out of bed and looked out and it looked dead calm. Even so, when the stabilizers were brought in (we can hear that clearly since our room in over top of them) the ship was rocking enough to cause the hangers to make noise in the closet. About a half hour later the first engine was restarted and we headed on slowly. The second was started about 15 minutes later. We may be late into Casablanca as a result but not a lot. The weather isn't co-operating and we have a headwind making it a bit rough (not bad enough for sea-bands but every once in a while, the room darkens when the spray from a wave goes by our window – remember our deck is barely is just a storey and a bit above the water level.)

Last night it was rough enough to wake Ken – he was rolled out from under the covers. I slept through it all. I'm finding I'm handling the seas much better this time than ever before. I've only had about 2 ginger tablets and worn my sea-bands for only a few days, not constantly as I did on our first Atlantic cruise. I'm going to end up tossing a lot of Gravol pills when they expire since I haven't had to take one since leaving Cape Town. I had brought enough for one for each day and I'm sure they'll expire before I get a chance to use them unless I do something like the Drake Passage next year. Actually, come to think of it, the next cruise I have in mind includes the Tasman Sea which can also be very rough.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

There, I'm caught up with my writing. Still behind on devotions, though.

We had dinner in the cabin so I could spend the time writing. There was nothing that super appealed on the menu in the main dining room. I had a burger and onions rings, a poor choice since it is a bit rough now.

I'm off to bed and hopefully to get some healing sleep. I was late to trivia tonight because I over-napped.

[Sadie]

Hello dear ladies,

Kathryn, I so glad you post about your trip, it's like you take us with you in a suitcase.

Sunny here, I almost hate mentioning our wonderful weather with so many places having bad storms.

The guys are working on another project here, putting in shelves in our living room. We have two rooms side by side that are used for living room and office. Last week they moved things around to reverse them.
Gives me a little different view.

I worked hard this morning battling Monday house. The washer is still running. Took a little time this afternoon to visit my colorist, while I read a Danielle Steele book and while I soaked my feet in a home spa foot massager. I am the Queen of multi-tasking! I think I like the color, it is a bit lighter than normal, looks closer to what my natural color was, and I don't feel that Just got my hair colored feeling with it.

I finished reading "The Litigators" by John Grisham. I have it on my Iphone. I seem to be buying more E-books lately instead of hard covers. Not that I buy that many books. Dmom left me so many books to read and I am slowly making my way through them. But if a favorite author comes out with a new one I get it for the Iphone.

Waving to all!

Enjoy your evening!

[Kally]

Well, the nap won!

I've been catching up with Kathryn's travels. Very interesting.

[Elizabeth]

I am about to shut down and leave payroll. I need to feed myself (cereal tonight) and I want to do some clean up in the sewing room. I may also declutter my portable sewing bag. I have two projects in it right now and should only have one! If I get ambitious, I may do some more de-sealing of the bathtub. I need to do something other than moping. I am trying to set up a sleepover for DD10, but have only managed to leave a message with the other mother.

[cats]

Good Afternoon been mostly lurking, and keeping up with you all.
To those who are not happy with their price of gas you all have it good. Try gas in Calif. in my area its anywhere from $4.25 to $4.30 a gal depending on which gas station you go to. Ugh they need to stop.

slowly getting some things done but not a whole lot.

hugs and prayers for all that need them

[Nancy]

Frustrating day here ~ h. spent the day trying do an on line job app. this afternoon only to call and figure out why it would not go through; they had filled the jobs and did not take 'em down off the net. Ack! Dil is going to come by to help h. with a resume' but it's sort of a lost cause b/c the positions are filled. ~sigh~ trying not to be discouraged here the challenge of the moment.

I have the last load of clothes in the dryer now. Dinner is done. Basement is vacuumed I finished that puppet I was working on. Sinks are clean. Got a compliment on my hair on Fri. made my day!

It was very windy in gusts so I did not get outside to get anything done except my walk I walk on one street that has pretty good wind break.

[Harriet]

Hi, cats! Nice to "see" you!

Sadie, good job on both color and LR redo.

I've exercised and gotten the evening dailies squared away. A second load of laundry so dd13 can wear the top she simply MUST wear tomorrow.

We had a nice supper of reasonably priced wild-caught salmon, which gives me hope that might become a regular on our menu.

[sherinjoy]

Hi Cats - good to see my California friend posting. I was thinking the same thing about gas prices being posted in the village - California is much higher than the rest of the U.S. I saw $4.45 a gallon today when I was out driving. I paid $4.30 last week. It's been over $4 for weeks. Yikes is all I can say!

Dropped off my third and final set of taxes at the CPA today. The end of my personal tax season is in sight - I missed my goal of Feb. 29 by a few days, but that's okay. Still earlier than last year, which was the end of March. Very happy to move on to other physical projects around here - my brain is tired from all that number crunching. I salute Twins for her amazing work every year!

Off to the evening dailies - good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!