#10 Flight home to Montreal...

The return trip was much less convenient than the outbound one.  Back in November, the COVID situation was different, so a ticket with Lufthansa/Air Canada seemed  like the most reliable bet.  My tiny room at the My Cloud transit hotel....

 I ended up doing an overnight layover in Frankfort, Germany – the hotel simplifies things by being inside Terminal Z, within the security zone.  Nice little room, convenient when your check-in luggage stays with the airlines overnight   

You leave the security zone to access the local COVID test center, which is a bit of a walk to the nearby railroad station (connected by indoor hallways all the way).  Canada now accepts the much cheaper antigen tests if taken within 24 hours of arrival. 

Brussels airport

So this morning, I was all set for the 7 am flight, since I was already inside the security zone.  Apparently many others thought so too.  We just did not know that there would  be another security check between the Z and A terminals, with departure being at the A terminal.  

There was a long line up at the security gate, with many people anxious about missing their flights.  After a few minutes of waiting, I decided to go through the domestic security check, using my EU passport (Czech).  Worked like magic, and I was into Terminal A – scan the passport and take a photo, all automated. 

At Brussels, a similar situation, with another security check between the arrival terminal and departure terminal.    The lineups were about the same for both foreign and domestic travel, so no benefits for the EU  passport.

At the Air Canada departure, things were really slow, with people standing in long lineups. Apparently, the delays were due to the COVID check.  This is where I had to present the results of my Antigen test, obtained last evening, along with proof of vaccination (from last June/July with the federal QR code)  the ArriveCAN confirmation, plus my three boarding passes, which was exchanged  for a specially marked AC boarding pass, indicating that all my documentation was good to go. 

 Home, sweet home – had to dig some snow to get to the front door of my house.  Follow us for next winter’s travel….

Photos belong to Jaro Franta

 

 

#9 Sights from the town of Haria/ La Garia...

Eight islands in the Atlantic ocean, the Canary Islands, are the places with the most hours of sunlight in Europe, 3000 per year.

The island of Lanzarote was the first destination in the World to have received the Biosphere Responsible Tourism certificate.  

There are many sporting events held here, like the Ironman triathlon.   Saturday morning crowd....

Close to the entrance of Timanfaya National Park is the Echadero de los Camellos, where you can hop up on a camel, and enjoy a ride around the volcanoes.  

La Garia – uses black volcanic rock for growing vines.  The rock is able to retain the humidity of the night air, because it hardly rains here.  Built-up stone walls  protect the vines from the wind – a sight that is one of a kind in the World.  The wines are internationally renowned. 

Above info was gleaned from the Canary Islands fb pages.

Photos belong to Jaro Franta and Canary Islands.

 

#8 Farmers Market in town of Haria

 

Many visitors today in Haria, lots from out of town. 

Cars occasionally blocking the narrow, one-way streets, looking for parking.  Guess the municipal parking lot was already full. 

The goat was for advertising the sale of goat cheese – seems to be popular locally.

Wikipedia:  Haria is a municipality on the island of Lanzarote.  Surrounded on three sides by the Atlantic ocean, the town of Haria is the seat, and has a population of about 5000.

My Airbnb hosts were there again with their purple mobile Crepes stall, as during the Xmas holidays.  They have been doing it for 34 years; happy to have started the Airbnb business. 

Photos belong to Jaro Franta.

#7 First ride south to Teguise, Mala etc.

Santa Bárbara Castle in the distance, near Teguise town.  Under renovation, it is not open to visits.

Curious place along LZ-404, just west of LZ-1.

Between the towns of Guatiza and Mala is a place called "Jardin de Cactus".  The cactus  is not real, and used to attract tourists. 

 Think of it as the "Big Nickel" or any number of other, similar things in Canada.

 

Wikipedia:  The village of Mala has a population of about 600.  Its economy is based around tourism and agriculture, principally rearing of cochineal beetles in fields of Opuntia cactus. 

 

Photos belong to Jaro Franta.

#6 First ride south to Teguise, Mala etc. (Cont'd)...

 Spot the cyclists heading down towards Haria.

Nearing the summit on LZ-10, with Haria town to the left.

Looking south-east from near the summit of LZ-10.  Probably the capitol, Arrecife, in the distance but turned out to be San Bartolome.    

Wikipedia –Town of San Bartolome (Saint Bartholomew) is situated in the center of the island of Lanzarote.  The town is located northwest of Arrecife, the island’s capitol.   

Wikipedia – Population about 19,000, and the altitude is 240 meters above sea level.   

Photos belong to Jaro Franta.
 

#5 Bike ride North of Haria...

 

North outskirts of Haría.   This statue would be great for a seafood restaurant, but there does not seem to be one.

Town of Máguez, with Vulcano La Corona to the north.

Wikipedia:   Lies  in a valley known as the Valley of 1,000 Palms.    Looking east.....

Dizzying views from the top, about 480 meters above the ocean.

Check the hikers down there.

Photos belong to Jaro Franta.

#4 Hike - Haría/Mirador del Rincón de Haría

The issue today was strong winds -  at the Mirador del Rincón de Haría, it was difficult to hold the camera still for a photo.  Cyclist spotting....

I was glad I brought a hat with a chin strap - pulled it nice and tight.

Looking past Haria to the east coast of Lanzarote.

The wind was not nearly as strong on the LZ-10, at least the short part that I walked, and evidently the cyclists were able to deal with it.

The extremely windy Mirador del Rincón de Haría, with Caleta de Famara in the distance.

Photos belong to Jaro Franta.

#3 Hike - Haría/Mirador del Rincón de Haría (Cont’d)..

My first week here, took about a 7km hike (out/ back in a loop), going west out of town to the coast.

Saw a couple of large groups of hikers (tourists) along the way.

I also saw several cyclists on the LZ-10, some going up to the Mirador de los Helechos, some going down. Seeing them gives me confidence.

One of two dirt roads that lead out of town.  This one happens to start near the Museum, which is very popular with tourists.

Volcan Corona to the north of Haria.

Photos belong to Jaro Franta.

#2 First bike ride on Lanzarote to Mirador del Río

From Haria, 29K loop north.  Approaching Corona volcano from the south-east, along LZ-201.

Passing Corona volcano on the east side, along LZ-201.

Mirador del Río   Wikipedia:  Mirador del Río is a viewpoint on an approximately 475-metre-high (1,560 ft) escarpment called Batería del Río in the north of the Canarian island of Lanzarote.

The scenic, extremely windy, cliff-top road, looking south from Mirador del Río.

View north from Mirador del Río, to La Graciosa island.

Some cyclists starting on the south end of the scenic cliff-top road to Mirador del Río - Good luck.

Photos belong to Jaro Franta.