Tag Archive for: Volcano

As I drove down from Famara toward the salt works, I passed mile after mile of small semi-circular windbreaks built from volcanic rock.  The windbreaks surround one side of a dell dug from the pecan. 

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The dells and windbreaks are to protect individual grape vines.

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The uniformed rows stretch from the road in all directions and in most cases continue up the sides of the old sleeping volcanos.

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The grapes produce a selection of wines which in my experience taste ok and do the job at a reasonable price.

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The shapes are interesting to look at and I am told this method is distinct to the islands in this part of the world.

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I can't help reflecting on how long each basin and windbreak must have taken to create initially and then would love to know how many centuries have passed with this method being adopted. 

Answers on a postcard please.

This is the last series of images from my outing to Graciosa.

Essentially the images document my walk along the beach and I hope you like them.  It was interesting how the beaches changed as I wandered along in the sun.

I also collected a really interesting array of shells as I walked.

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On Sunday I went on an outing to Graciosa which is a small island, a couple of km North of Lanzarote.  The ferry trip across the Rio strait was beautiful.  The journey really offers some amazing Geology. 

As the ferry takes you into the narrow water way, you can literally watch as the clouds form over the higher ground in the Northern part of Lanzaroteon top of the dorment volcano's.

Unfortunately on our journey we saw no large marine mammals. 

A friend and his wife had explained that in September a few years ago, the watched as thousands of humpback whales squeezed and swam through the strait.  Normally the whales pass around the little narrow stretch of water, but for whatever reason on this occasion enormous cows and bulls piloted their young, on their journey south.  It must have been incredible.

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We left the Lanzarote harbour of Orzola by ferry to the island, a trip which lasts approx 45 mins.

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This is a photo of the return ticket.

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This cat hulled ferry passed us as we left the harbour.  Most of these boats boast of the glass bottomed feature, but my experience demonstrated how the glass was covered in seaweeds and so visability was rubbish.

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A couple of kids fishing off the rocks on the side of the Rio strait.

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 My first view of Graciosa.

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My first view of the village of Caleta del Sebo, the Capital of Graciosa (Pop. 700).

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The harbour/marina.

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The harbour of Caleta del Sebo has two piers and a small marina in the bay.

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Whilst we were still om the ferry we saw this small (35 foot-ish) customised sailing boat.  It was like a mini galleon.

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The other ferry with a greek-style fishes mouth and eye painted on its hull.

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An old fishing boat.

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Small fishing boat with throw net in the harbour, opimistically named Jesus!

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Four little boats in the harbour.

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An old fisherman undertakes maintenance on his boat wearing a traditional Canarian hat.