The eastern most Canary Island of Lanzarote is one of Europe´s hottest winter sun destinations. Boasting a whole range of cool attractions that offer visitors to the Island of Fire much more than just the usual water parks and golf courses common to other Spanish sunspots. And with flights to Lanzarote lasting just four hours the island is the closest winter destination to the UK too.
Back in the 1960´s and 70´s an island born artist and architect called Cesar Marnique campaigned for the controlled evolution of tourism on his beloved island. And in order to illuminate an alternative path for development created a unique range of tourist attractions – which have helped to cement Lanzarote´s position as the cool Canary Island today.
During the 1730´s Lanzarote was subjected to the modern worlds longest ever volcanic eruption. Which buried around one quarter of the island beneath a sea of molten lava. A cataclysmic event that caused enormous disruption and spurred the emigration of thousands of Lanzaroteños to Latin America and Cuba.
But today the volcanic region of the island has been declared a National Park and is one of the most popular visitor attractions in all of Spain. Drawing in over 900,000 tourists during 2007 alone.
Cesar Manrique was instrumental in the transformation of this region into Lanzarote´s most popular and best known attraction. Island legend has it that he divined the optimum route for sightseers through the park by walking across the lava fields naked. Whilst also creating the breathtaking Devils Diner restaurant which enjoys panoramic views across the spent cones and peaks and where visitors can enjoy seeing their food cocked by the heat from the volcano below.
Visitors to the Timanfaya National Park are able to witness the eerie lava fields up close and personal on tour buses that wend their way through the Park. And visiting Lanzarote without taking the time to take the tour is akin to traveling to Egypt and ignoring the pyramids.
Elsewhere on the island Manrique teamed up with fellow architect Jesus Soto and continued to fuse art with nature by transforming a collapsed 6km long lava tube into an underground grotto – complete with bars, restaurants and beautifully planted gardens.
The Jameos del Agua is this site is known is also home to a species of blind albino crab, entirely unique to Lanzarote that glow in the water like jewels. The scale of the site here is such that visiting Hollywood legend Rita Heyworth declared the Jameos the 8th wonder of the world.
Looking for a Natural High? The Mirador del Rio at the Northern tip of the island was built by Manrique on the site of a former naval gun battery. Which overlooks the neighbouring island of La Graciosa – reputedly the real life location of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic book, Treasure Island.
Visitors here can enjoy a bird’s eye view across the El Rio strait to La Graciosa whilst also enjoying all of the usual flourishes that have become so closely associated with Manriques work. Located in a former quarry the Cactus Garden celebrates the plant world’s spiniest species – with over 10,000 different types of cacti on display.
The Cactus Garden is located right in the heart of what used to be cactus country on Lanzarote. As this is the spot where local farmers harvested the cochineal beetle that feeds on the tunera cactus. And which they then transformed into a dye stuff that had many uses – such as colouring the red coats of English infantrymen during the 19th century.
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November 25th, 2008
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Teguise |
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Whilst the rest of Europe starts packing away the suntan lotion and beach chairs the Canary Islands are just gearing up for their busiest time of the year. Thanks to the fact that these seven specks of Spain located off the coast of Africa enjoy year round temperatures in excess of 20C – even in the depths of Winter.
Lanzarote is the eastern most Canary Island – and whilst much smaller in size that neighbouring islands such as Tenerife and Gran Canaria is still a big draw for British and Irish tourists. Who are expected to make over one million visits this year – despite the current economic climate and the falling pound.
Whilst many are attracted initially by Lanzarote´s clement year round climate the island also offers holiday makers much more than just sunshine alone. Thanks to a unique volcanic landscape and diverse range of tourist attractions that keeps visitors coming back for more – with around 40% of holidaymakers returning to the island year after year.
Hail Cesar
The evolution of modern tourism on Lanzarote has been largely shaped by the island born artist and architect Cesar Manrique. Who campaigned tirelessly to ensure that his beloved island was not buried beneath a sea of high rise hotels as package tourism started to take off in the early 1970´s.
Thanks to Manrique the island’s three main tourist resorts are well contained, advertising hoardings are outlawed and all buildings must be no taller than a Canarian palm tree.
As an alterative to the water parks and golf courses springing up elsewhere in Spain Manrique also developed the islands unique range of tourist attractions. By fusing his artistic imagination with Lanzarote´s volcanic landscapes to create sites such as the Jameos del Agua, a collapsed volcanic tunnel transformed into a lush underground grotto. And his own home and studio – built into five volcanic bubbles and by some distance still the most unusual and impressive property in Lanzarote.
Natural Wonders
Manrique was fortunate to have Lanzarote´s stunning landscape as a backdrop for his work. The island was subjected to prolonged eruptions during the 18th and 19th centuries which covered around one third of the island in lava.
At the time this decimated the most fertile land on the island and created enormous economic hardship. Forcing many islanders to flee. Today however the epicentre of these eruptions is Lanzarote´smost popular tourist attraction. As the Timanafaya Volcano Park attracts close to one million visitors a year. Drawn to the eerie lava scape which is often likened to the surface of the moon.
Beautiful Beaches
The Canary Islands are often associated with black sand beaches. But on Lanzarote the vast majority of the islands playas are comprised of golden grains. And amongst the 90 plus beaches on offer are some of the most beautiful in Europe, such as the coves of Papagayo in the South and the breathtaking horseshoe shaped bay at Famara on the North West coast.
Luxury Accommodation
Lanzarote offers visitors a wealth of top quality holiday accommodation. The island´s hotels account for around one third of the official capacity of 65,000 tourist beds. So many visitors to opt to stay in apartments or holiday villas in Lanzarote. The best of these can be found in the southern most resort of Playa Blanca – which was developed with luxury villas at the core of the accommodation blueprint.
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October 22nd, 2008
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Most of the London private vacation home rentals come in the form of apartments, flats, condos, cottages, and duplex units. The majority of these accommodations will sleep between two and ten people, and come with completely functional kitchens to help save travelers a bit on their food budget if they enjoy cooking some meals at home.
By renting a London private vacation home rental for a day, week, or month, vacationing families or friends have the option of all staying together in a 2, 3, 4, or more bedroom furnished home. This often results in great savings over the cost of individual rooms from a motel. As an example, some 2 and 3 bedroom apartments can be had for fewer than 1,000 US dollars per week.
Sometimes, travelers coming into England from outside of the country are a bit nervous about trying a London vacation rentals unit instead of a motel which is quite understandable. However, a full house beats a tiny motel room for space, conveniences, and friendly atmosphere every time – especially when the roomier home-away-from-home often sports the cheaper price-tag.
Many of the London private vacation home rentals understand the hesitation of foreign travelers to consider the rental of a house instead of a motel room for a night or two; traveling customs of the past have always dictated that travelers stay in a motel when away from home. But, private vacation rentals are quite the trend this century. They equal the best value for accommodations that the travel budget can get all over the world.
Before making motel reservations for the next vacation trip to London, go online to a vacation planning service that offers an advertisement space to London private vacation home rentals owners.
The ads on these boards come complete with all pricing information, and multiple pictures of the dwelling to window-shop over. Contact information and payment options are listed for viewers to consider; PayPal is listed as a payment option on many of the London private vacation home rentals offerings.
Since these are London private vacation home rentals, many offer off-street parking that goes with the unit being rented. Off-street parking is a luxury in London that travelers with rental cars should strongly consider. London is like many other historic large cities where buildings were erected long before thoughts of where to park cars were being considered. The best parking spots in London belong to private property owners.
While England is seeped in history, the insides of these London private vacation rentals will normally offer modern internet hookups, more than one television, telephones with some usage included in the rates, and other conveniences that many travelers can not live without today.
Wise vacation shoppers should consider checking on these wonderful London private vacation home rentals before booking with the motels. The private rentals provide space, cooking options, and a safe place to park the rental car – plus luxury, all rolled up into one very affordable package.
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October 9th, 2008
Posted by
Catherine |
Europe |
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