An Underground Oasis: Discovering Jameos del Agua in Lanzarote

On July 30, 2013, with my Samsung Galaxy Tablet, I had the pleasure of exploring one of Lanzarote's most extraordinary attractions: Jameos del Agua. This unique site is a brilliant fusion of art, nature, and architecture, born from a collapsed volcanic tube and transformed into a cultural center by the visionary artist and architect, César Manrique.

The journey begins as you descend into the cool, dark embrace of the earth. The air, thick with the scent of salt and rock, leads you into a subterranean world. The most captivating sight is the saltwater lake, a tranquil body of water nestled deep within the cavern. Its waters are home to a rare and fascinating creature: the squat lobster. These tiny, white, and blind crustaceans are an endemic species, found nowhere else on Earth. Peering into the crystal-clear water, you can spot them scuttling along the rocks, a silent community thriving in the perpetual darkness.

Further into the cavern, the space opens up, revealing a breathtaking auditorium carved directly from the volcanic rock. The stage and seating are a testament to Manrique's genius, blending seamlessly with the natural contours of the cave. I can only imagine the incredible acoustics and the magical atmosphere of a concert held in such a unique venue.

Emerging from the depths, you are greeted by an explosion of light and color. The path leads to a sun-drenched pool area, a stark and beautiful contrast to the dark cavern below. The stunningly white pool, surrounded by black volcanic rock and vibrant green palms, is an image of pure, tranquil beauty. It is said that only the King of Spain is allowed to swim in this pool, adding to the mystique of the place.

The gardens surrounding the pool are a lush haven, with native plants thriving in the volcanic soil. As you climb the stairs, you are treated to a view of the pool from above, and the unique architecture continues to impress. The stairs themselves, with their abstract design and a natural light source filtering down from an opening in the cave ceiling, feel like a piece of art in their own right.

Jameos del Agua first opened to the public in 1966, and it truly embodies César Manrique’s philosophy of harmonizing art with nature. By preserving the natural landscape and enhancing it with his creative touch, he created a place that is not just an attraction, but an experience. It's a reminder of the power of art to transform, and the incredible beauty that can arise when we work in harmony with the natural world.

The lobster sign at the entrance.

The swimming pool area, the guide I was with claimed that only the King
of Spain is allowed to swim here.

The stairs up from the saltwater cave to the swimming pool
and bar area.

The auditorium, the guide claimed gives one of the best sounds around.

The saltwater cave that is home to the squat lobster.

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Ermita de Los Delores: Lanzarote's Church of Miracles

 Ermita de Los Delores is an 18th Century church in the village of Mancha Blanca on the Island of Lanzarote. The stunning little church was part of a tour of the island I took and has an interesting story or legend attached to it.

The last great volcanic eruptions to hit Lanzarote had lasted for 6 years when in April 1736, the villages of Mancha Blanca went with a priest carrying the Virgin Nuestra Senora de los Delores to meet the lava flow heading towards the village. When they reached Guigan they prayed and inserted a cross in to the ground, promising to build a church in the honour of the Virgin if she stopped the lava flow towards the village and fertile fields nearby.

The lava flow changed direction away from the villages and over a previous lava field, and the villages soon forgot their promise to build a church. In 1774 the Virgin appeared to a local shepherd girl and told her to remind the villagers they needed to construct the church, the girl was eventually believed and work started taking 10 years to complete the build of the church paid for by inhabitants from all over Lanzarote.

The church was closed in 1850 for restoration, reopening in 1861. It was again in need of restoration by 1988 and on the 18th June all the contents were removed to the Parish of Tinajo, including an image of the virgin. Just a few hours later the dome of the church collapsed.

I took these pictures of the church with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet, they were taken on the 30th July 2013. 

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Sun, Sand, and Sirocco: A Look Back at a Lanzarote Getaway

Sometimes, a trip's memories are best preserved in photos, a snapshot in time that tells a story. I recently rediscovered a set of pictures from a family holiday to Lanzarote in July-August 2013, taken at the Hotel Club Sirocco in Costa Teguise. Looking back on them after nine years, it's not a review—just a collection of moments from a fantastic stay.

The photos bring back the feeling of that summer: the bright, white-washed buildings contrasting with the deep blue sky, the vibrant swimming pools, and the unique, volcanic gardens. I remember the hotel making a fuss over my daughter's 14th birthday while we were there, a small but kind gesture that made the trip even more special for us.

From the inviting pool area, complete with sun loungers and palm trees, to the spacious restaurant where we enjoyed our meals, the pictures capture the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of the hotel. I'm unsure what the hotel is like today, and I believe it may have since become an adults-only resort. Still, these images from 2013 serve as a reminder of a wonderful family vacation.

These photos are a testament to the timeless nature of happy memories. They sit on my hard drive, waiting to be rediscovered, a little slice of Lanzarote sunshine on a cloudy day.

One of the hotels garden pathways. The black ash providing a base
for the plants that need little water to survive. Lanzarote being just off the
coast of Saharan Africa averages 16 days of rainfall per year.

The restaurant.

Looking over the hotel skywards from
the room balcony.

The swimming pool.

The hotel's poolside bar.

Another of the swimming pool.

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Unleash Your Wild Side at Rancho Texas: More Than Just a Show!

Thinking of an unforgettable day out in Lanzarote? Look no further than Rancho Texas Lanzarote Park! This isn't just your average animal park; it's a vibrant blend of wildlife encounters, thrilling shows, and even a fantastic splash park, all wrapped up in a lively Wild West theme.

For years, Rancho Texas has been captivating visitors with its incredible animal shows, offering both entertainment and educational insights into the animal kingdom. Let's dive into what makes these shows such a highlight:

Dive into the Deep: Dolphin & Sea Lion Shows

Prepare to be mesmerized by the intelligence and agility of the park's marine residents! The Dolphin Show is a true crowd-pleaser, more of an educational presentation where you witness these amazing bottlenose dolphins demonstrate their natural behaviours and learn about their fascinating world. It's a heart warming experience that highlights the bond between trainers and animals.

Equally delightful is the Sea Lion Show, featuring charismatic sea lions like the famous Brutus. These playful performers put on a comical display of flips, dives, and splashes that will have you laughing and cheering. And for those seeking an even closer encounter, interaction experiences with both dolphins and sea lions are available for an additional fee, allowing you to create truly unforgettable memories!

Soaring Spectacles: Birds of Prey & Parrot Shows

Beyond the aquatic stars, Rancho Texas brings the skies to life with its impressive avian displays. The Birds of Prey Show is a breath taking demonstration of power and precision, as magnificent eagles, hawks, vultures, and even condors soar gracefully overhead. You'll witness their incredible flight capabilities and learn about their hunting instincts – it's a truly awe-inspiring spectacle.

And for a dose of wit and wonder, don't miss the Macaws and Cockatoos Show. These intelligent and talkative birds showcase their remarkable problem-solving skills, perform amusing tricks, and even interact with the audience, leaving you amazed by their cleverness and charm. They're definitely not shy when it comes to posing for photos too!

Beyond the Arena: A World of Wildlife

While the shows are undoubtedly a major draw, Rancho Texas is also home to a diverse array of exotic animals from around the globe. Stroll through recreated habitats and encounter white tigers, raccoons, snakes, bison, cougars, deer, armadillos, pot-bellied pigs, and more. The park is committed to conservation and provides well-maintained enclosures, focusing on education to foster a greater appreciation for wildlife.

And if you need to cool off after all the excitement, the park's impressive splash park with its exhilarating water slides and pools offers the perfect respite, making it a complete day out for families and visitors of all ages.

Rancho Texas Lanzarote Park truly offers a unique and immersive experience, blending the thrill of live animal shows with the joy of close encounters and the fun of a Western-themed water park. It's a place where entertainment meets education, creating lasting memories for everyone who visits.

I filmed this with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet in July 2013.

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The video can also be seen on my YouTube Channel. It remains the copyright of Colin Green. 

A Taste of Lanzarote: Exploring Vinos el Campesino

 Back in 2013, during a wonderful tour of the captivating island of Lanzarote, I had the pleasure of visiting Vinos el Campesino. This trip coincided with the very beginning of my journey into photography as a hobby, and the unique landscape of this vineyard certainly provided ample inspiration.

The first thing that strikes you about the Vinos el Campesino vineyard is its ingenious approach to viticulture. The vines aren't planted in traditional rows; instead, they are grown in shallow pits dug into the volcanic ash that covers the surrounding plains. To protect these precious plants from Lanzarote's constant breeze, each vine is carefully sheltered by a low, horseshoe-shaped stone wall. This creates a fascinating, almost regimented pattern across the landscape, as seen in the image below.

They were taken on Tuesday 30th July 2013 using a Samsung Galaxy Tablet.

The mountain, hill or volcano crater is the Montana Blanca

As you can see the vines are well organised in there horse show shaped
pits, this is to protect from the constant breeze.

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Capturing Lanzarote: A Novice's Cinematic Journey

 In 2013, during a memorable holiday to Lanzarote with my daughter, I embarked on an unexpected venture into filmmaking. While I was just beginning to explore the world of photography, videography was entirely new territory for me. Yet, armed with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet, I was determined to capture more than just still images; I wanted moving memories of our adventures and the breathtaking landscapes we encountered. These short recordings are a testament to that initial, enthusiastic attempt.

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Panoramic Vistas from Peñas del Chache

Our cinematic journey begins high above the island at Peñas del Chache, Lanzarote's highest public viewing point. Though a slightly loftier, militarily restricted area existed nearby, the sweeping panorama from our vantage point – a restaurant car park – was utterly unobstructed. Standing approximately 670 meters above sea level, I filmed the mesmerizing descent to the ocean below. This particular clip was captured during an organized island tour, providing a perfect opportunity to immortalize the island's dramatic topography. Peñas del Chache isn't just a daytime spectacle; it's a magnet for stargazers. With minimal light pollution, the summer nights here reveal a celestial tapestry where the constellations of Sagittarius and Scorpius blaze with particular brilliance.

Underwater Wonders at Aquarium Lanzarote

Our next series of clips transports us to the fascinating depths of Aquarium Lanzarote, conveniently located in Costa Teguise, just a short stroll from our hotel. While not sprawling in size, the aquarium offered a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Beyond housing a diverse array of marine life, it thoughtfully emphasizes species native to the Canary Islands, providing a unique glimpse into the local underwater ecosystems.

Wild Encounters at Rancho Texas Park

The adventure continued at Rancho Texas Park, where my recordings capture some of its animal inhabitants. This popular park offers engaging daytime shows, including captivating displays by sea lions and majestic birds of prey – thankfully, not together!

The Volcanic Heart of Timanfaya

Finally, the concluding clip in this collection takes us to the raw, untamed beauty of Timanfaya National Park, an iconic symbol of Lanzarote's volcanic soul.

There are also some slideshow videos of the island that can be seen on my YouTube channel, just search Lanzarote on my clips.

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Diving Deep into Lanzarote's Aquatic Wonderland: A 2013 Throwback!

 Back in July 2013, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Aquarium Lanzarote, an absolute gem nestled near the center of Costa Teguise on the island's east coast. It's more than just an aquarium; it's an aquatic museum boasting an impressive 33 tanks and over 1 million liters of water!

What makes Aquarium Lanzarote truly special is its focus on the vibrant marine life native to the Canary Islands. As I wandered through the exhibits, I was captivated by a dazzling array of creatures. From the playful antics of clownfish and the intriguing puff of blowfish to the delicate dance of sea urchins, every tank offered a new discovery. Of course, the stars of the show for many are the majestic sharks and graceful turtles, and they certainly didn't disappoint!

I even managed to capture some of the magic on video during my visit, all filmed on my trusty Samsung Galaxy Tablet. You can get a glimpse of my underwater adventure right here (if the videos were provided) or by searching for them on YouTube.

If you're ever in Lanzarote, the Aquarium is definitely worth a visit to immerse yourself in the wonders of the Atlantic!

Uploaded to YouTube on the 4th August 2013, currently seen 379 times. The video features a 3 legged turtle swimming around.

Uploaded to YouTube on 10th August 2013, the video has to date been viewed 2668 times. It features a shark swimming.

The final video uploaded to YouTube in August 2017 and seen 41 times to date shows all the clips put together of the sea life in their tanks.

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Timanfaya: A Volcanic Revelation on Lanzarote

Back in July 2013, I found myself on a trip to Lanzarote, an island I initially had little enthusiasm for. It was my wife and daughter's plan, and honestly, the closer it got, the less I looked forward to it. Well, I'm happy to admit now how wrong I was! Lanzarote turned out to be one of the most enjoyable places I've ever visited, and I genuinely look forward to the day I can go back.

One of the many highlights of that trip was our island tour, which included a visit to Timanfaya National Park. I wasn't sure what to expect. Knowing it was home to an active volcano filled me with a mix of anticipation and a little trepidation. While there wasn't any flowing lava or bubbling pools to see (a slight disappointment, I'll confess!), the trip was still incredibly worthwhile.

We witnessed fascinating demonstrations of just how close the intense heat is to the surface, and we even got a peek inside the El Diablo Restaurant, where food is cooked directly over an open well of volcanic heat – truly a unique dining experience!

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Exploring the Fire Mountains

Timanfaya National Park was established in 1974 and encompasses nearly 20 square miles of southwestern Lanzarote. To protect its unique environment, public access is regulated, with most of the park viewable only via a guided coach trip. There's also an area where visitors can enjoy camel rides and a restaurant for refreshments. In 1993, the park, along with the rest of Lanzarote, was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a testament to its incredible and protected flora and fauna.

A Land Forged by Fire

While the volcano is active, it's considered dormant, with its last eruption occurring in 1824. The most significant volcanic activity to shape the island happened during a six-year period between 1730 and 1736. This intense period created much of the dramatic landscape we see today around the park. Sadly, it also led to the loss of several villages, including Tingfa, Mancha Blanca, and Timanfaya itself. Much of the island's most fertile land was covered in volcanic ash, making it a time of immense hardship for the inhabitants.

Today, this land is of immense interest to scientists. As one of the newest places on Earth, they are keen to study how it develops with minimal human interference.

Feeling the Heat

Though the volcanic activity isn't visible on the surface, it's certainly active just below ground. At a depth of only 13 meters, temperatures can soar to between 100 and 600 degrees Celsius! The park offers a fascinating geyser demonstration to vividly illustrate just how hot it is beneath your feet.

The pictures and video were taken using a Samsung Galaxy Tablet.

The Fire Pit is used as a demonstration to show how hot the temperature is
just underneath the surface of the park.

The parks restaurant can be seen to the left of the crater.

El Diablo, created by Cesar Manrique is the symbol of
Timanfaya National Park.

The restaurant uses geothermal heat channelled through open pits like this
to cook the food served.

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Timanfaya Water Geyser.

In July 2013, I had the extraordinary opportunity to explore the otherworldly landscape of Timanfaya National Park on Lanzarote. This park, a testament to the raw power of volcanic forces, is a place where the earth itself seems to breathe. During my tour, I captured numerous photographs, previously shared, that attempt to convey the stark beauty of this volcanic terrain. However, it was the geyser demonstration near the restaurant area that truly brought the park's geothermal activity to life.

Witnessing this demonstration was a visceral experience. Park staff poured water into a seemingly innocuous hole in the earth, a conduit leading approximately 13 meters down into the island's fiery depths. Seconds later, the water returned with explosive force, erupting as a powerful geyser of steam and superheated water. This display, while seemingly simple, is a potent reminder of the volcanic heat that simmers just beneath the surface of Lanzarote. It's a direct connection to the volcanic eruptions that dramatically reshaped the island in the 18th century.

The demonstration highlights the residual heat from those historic eruptions, a heat that continues to manifest in remarkable ways. The Islote de Hilario, where this demonstration takes place, is a key location within the park, providing visitors with a safe way to witness these geothermal phenomena. The fact that the restaurant there uses this geothermal heat to cook food adds another layer of intrigue, showing how the islanders have learned to live with, and even utilize, this powerful natural force. I preserved this moment by capturing a video, which I've shared on my YouTube channel, allowing others to experience the dramatic geyser eruption first hand

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The video remains the copyright of Colin Green.

Lanzarote's Spark: Where a Tablet and a View Ignited a Passion

In the summer of 2013, I found myself on the volcanic shores of Lanzarote, a place that, at the time, held little more than the promise of a sunny getaway. Little did I know, this island, sculpted by fire and time, would ignite a passion within me that I never knew existed: photography.

With a few days to spare and a desire to explore beyond the resort, I embarked on a comprehensive island tour. It was a decision that would forever alter my perspective. From the surreal, Martian landscapes of Timanfaya National Park, where the earth still breathes with volcanic heat, to the mesmerizing emerald hues of the Green Lagoon, each stop was a revelation. Jameos del Agua, a subterranean wonderland crafted by César Manrique, offered a glimpse into the harmonious blend of nature and art.

But it was El Mirador de Guinate, perched on the northernmost tip of the island, that truly captivated me. Standing there, overlooking the narrow strait of El Rio, with the serene island of La Graciosa floating in the distance, I felt a profound sense of awe. The landscape was a symphony of blues and browns, a panorama that stretched beyond the horizon.

Nestled within the municipality of Haria, El Mirador de Guinate is more than just a viewpoint. It’s an experience. The surrounding tropical park, a lush oasis against the stark volcanic backdrop, teems with diverse flora and fauna. As I wandered through its winding paths, I encountered vibrant birds, exotic plants, and the tranquil atmosphere that permeated the entire area.

Armed with nothing more than my trusty Samsung Galaxy Tablet, I began to capture these moments. It wasn’t a deliberate act of artistic expression at first; it was simply an attempt to hold onto the beauty I was witnessing. Yet, as I reviewed the images on the tablet’s screen, something shifted within me. I saw the world in a new light, framed and composed, captured in time.

The date was July 30th, 2013. A seemingly ordinary day, but one that marked the beginning of my photographic journey. The simplicity of my tablet, a tool I had previously used for casual browsing and entertainment, became the catalyst for a newfound passion. It was a reminder that inspiration can strike in the most unexpected places and with the most unassuming tools.

Looking back, those images, are more than just snapshots. They are a testament to the transformative power of travel, the unexpected beauty of Lanzarote, and the serendipitous discovery of a creative outlet. They are a reminder that sometimes, all it takes is a stunning view and a simple device to ignite a spark within.

Lanzarote, with its unique landscapes and captivating vistas, offered me more than just a holiday. It offered me a new way of seeing the world, a perspective that continues to shape my creative endeavours to this day. It was a lesson in appreciating the beauty that surrounds us and the potential that lies within the most unexpected moments. And it all started with a tablet and a view from El Mirador de Guinate.

Caleta del Sebo, the largest settlement on La Graciosa with a population
of over 730. The islands only ferry service runs from here connecting
with Orzola, Lanzarote.

The looking down towards the waters edge is approx 500 feet
from where the picture was taken. 

The western tip of La Graciosa.

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