Raina's Blogging again - Navigator, Harmony Anthem

[JamesEM]

Thanks for the great photos.

[Sue's Mom]

Thank you so much for all the hard work. I am so enjoying following.

[cinnamon]

Following along. So pleased you enjoyed my part of the world Raina, we live 5 miles from Windsor Great Park and we disembarked Navigator last Sunday in torrential rain, just before you embarked.

 

 

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[Biker19]

But the internet is working well - even in my rabbit warren room. I got the basic level. $12.99 a day - special on boarding day. I'm watching Netflix on it! Sometimes a big of lag but not often.

 

FYI - that is the regular price for the Surf package, nothing special. Would you happen to have done a speed test for the internet?

[Tall-Cruiser]

AussiVisi2r - This is really a fantastic review with some great photos. Some very beautiful places and makes me also want to visit Marrakesh, Morocco. Thanks for sharing.

[cookiersmom]

Thank you for all the tours and photos! We will be on Navigator later next year and have several of the same ports! Really appreciate this very knowldegable pre-tour!

[ubish00]

Thank you for your review and beautiful pictures. I am enjoying them and so looking forward to following along on your adventures.

[tlatrice]

You are such an inspiration! I'm making note of all these adventures to plan my own travels. I've already gotten my son excited about a trip to Antarctica after he finishes college. Thanks so much for sharing this!

[AussieVisi2r]

Thanks for all the lovely comments. It's so nice to know people are enjoying travelling with me.

I do worry that I am posting too much. Thanks.

 

Raina

[catella02]

Thanks for all the lovely comments. It's so nice to know people are enjoying travelling with me.

I do worry that I am posting too much. Thanks.

 

Raina

 

I do not think you are posting too much. Your writing is so interesting and I look forward each day to see where you have been. The pictures are outstanding!

 

Thanks for taking the time to let us travel with you.

[AussieVisi2r]

Islas Canarias - The Canary Islands. NOT named after the little yellow bird and not pronounced that way. "The name Islas Canarias is likely derived from the Latin name Canariae Insulae, meaning "Islands of the Dogs", a name applied originally only to GranCanaria." Most locals pronounce it Cannery as in a fish cannery.

 

Lanzarote, Canary Island 7th October - I must admit I had done ZERO research into what the Canary Islands would be like. But this is not what I was expecting. The whole chain is volcanic and had, over the millennium developed into amazing beaches and loveliness. But Lanzarote was totally devastated in the 1700 by two massive volcanoes.

The beach area is lovely with yellow sand, fancy holiday units, lovely shopping avenues filled with cafes etc.

 

 

 

 

ALL of the buildings are white - except the few rebels. It is mandated that building must be white. You can paint another colour but must pay a large fine.

 

 

On the water front was an old fort. Pretty. There as a long stone bridge out to it. And I was so excited to walk across a draw bridge. A real draw bridge. How cool.

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Lanzarote, Canary Island - 7th October

I shared a taxi with a couple from the lounge and headed off. 8r Euro for about 3 hours.

We saw the volcano was the main attraction of the island so off we went.

This was not a ‘sweet’ lava flow like what I saw in Hawaii with lovely beds of poured toffee as far as the eye can see.

 

 

 

This must have been the most massive explosion. Giant rocks thrown many many kilometres from the mountain. Most of the centre of the island is under 2.5 metres of ash.

Today, I may as well have been on Mars the landscape was that foreign. I expected Matt Damon to come driving around the corner in his nuclear powered vehicle as in The Martian. (and that would have made me happy).

 

 

 

 

The main area is just the sharpest, most rugged rock you have seen. Piled high. Savage.

It must have been something like the explosion of Yellowstone in the movie 2012.

Once in the Timanfaya National Park, you hop into a bus and do a 40 minute drive around.

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Lanzarote, Canary Island - 7th October

 

The road surface is amazing – best surface I have even been on. Amazing – but wouldn’t like to be on it with some spilt oil. But he road is too steep, twisty and treacherous to let the public drive on it.

I spent 40 minutes flipping between jaw hanging open in amazement to some of the most amazing stuff i have seen – to flashes of horror to what it must have been like in those 4 years where this beast kept spewing its evilness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Lanzarote, Canary Island - 7th October

 

 

 

The caldera / crater has to be among the most perfect there is.

 

 

 

The road.

 

 

Not a bad view from a visitor Centre car park.

 

 

The whole place was absolutely amazing.

Edited October 9, 2016 by AussieVisi2r

[cinnamon]

Just for your interest Raina, the yellow sand on the beach is imported from the Sahara.

 

 

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[AussieVisi2r]

Lanzarote, Canary Island - 7th October

 

Back at the visitors centre, more amazing things.

A natural BBQ – a hole in the rocks.

 

 

An indoor cooker - where they have build a wall around a vent and cook the meals over it.

 

 

 

Amazing. The guide handed me a handful of small pebbles. I dropped them like a hot potato – was not expecting them to be that hot!

 

They had put pipes down, and would prime the geyser by putting some water in. Then whooooosh, with a ground rumble and up it spouted.

 

 

And another part where they push some hay into a hole and it bursts into flames with in about 3 seconds.

 

 

And these guys. They must be the new thing for people who like to hire scooters. Only one person and no luggage.

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Just for your interest Raina, the yellow sand on the beach is imported from the Sahara.

 

 

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Thanks so much for that. I asked and was told it was natural. Well I guess it is natural. Just not natural to the area. :)

Did you know Hawaii buys sand from Queensland.

 

Raina

[AussieVisi2r]

Lanzarote, Canary Island - 7th October

Further away from the mountains the land has been tamed a bit. The rocks thrown there are much smaller – basketballs to wheelbarrows and have been put to use. Everything is build with them. Houses, walls. roads etc.

The wine industry is interesting.

The island has an extremely savage climate. Hot. Rain maybe four times and year and huge winds.

The old volcanic soils incredibly rich….but is buried below 2 1/2 metres of ash. And don’t forget the wind.

So how do you grow grapes??? You make a horseshoe wall of rocks. Then you dig down 2 1/2 metres to the rich soil and plant one vine. Any rain will be trapped and directed down to the plant, the plant is protected form the wind and has a huge layer of mulch aka ash on top. Farmer then tends the ash pile and hops for rain.

 

 

 

There is no irrigation as the local drink bottled water all year. And desalination for other personal uses. Many of the young plants have a dripped bottle of a five litre water bottle.

Amazing. And the wine was nice. White only – which I think is as it should be.

 

 

 

 

 

Fantastic day. SO good.

 

Edited October 9, 2016 by AussieVisi2r

[jonj]

Enjoying your review. If you are keeping this information, I would love to see photos of the menus and compasses when you return.

[goodml]

What a an amazing itinerary and spectacular review. I started reading as I am sailing on Navigator in December (and would love to hear more of your thoughts on the ship) but I'm really enjoying following along on your journey. :). I also had no idea Canary was pronounced as 'cannery' so thank you!

Edited October 9, 2016 by goodml

[Bailey & Sophie]

Lanzarote, Canary Island - 7th October

So how do you grow grapes??? Farmer then tends the ash pile and hops for rain.

 

I know you meant HOPES, but when I read this I really giggled out loud. Your writing inspires mental images, and I really "saw" the farmer doing a rain dance!!

 

Your pictures are fabulous, and I love your reviews. You are not writing too much!!

[BlueHerons]

This is truly amazing.

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to take us all on your journey.

 

I now have the 'Cannary' Islands on my bucket list. Stunning.

[jlf1]

Fantastic review. Your pictures are spectacular.

 

Those of Southampton, Isle of Wight, Portugal and Morocco are such a wonderful reminder of some of my past trips.

 

BUT, my pictures pale in comparison to yours.

 

Judy

[Mnamom1105]

hubby and I will be on harmony's TA!

[Thrilled2012]

Thank you for this informative and very interesting blog! Now, I need to go to Isle of Wight and Canary Islands. Looking forward to following along.