November 9 – North Lanzarote Tour

We were back out for another 8:50am pick-up for a tour of northern Lanzarote.  This time the pick‑up period lasted only an hour and a half, fifteen minutes less than yesterday.  Once they finished shuffling us around we were off again.

The first stop was at a large sculpture monument called The Peasant Monument.  It is a work of César Manrique, a prominent 20^th century Canarian artist and architect. The monument is supposed to be of a peasant and his donkey.

The complex sat on a hill with views…

a spiral entrance into the lower section of the restaurant,

and tidy gardens.  The gardens in the Canaries tend to be rather sparsely planted with black volcanic sand around everything.

There was also a small craft museum.

From there we went to see a home, LagOmar, built into the side of a mountain in what had been a quarry.  The original design of the building was also conceived by Cesar Manrique.
  

There was a “lake” with fountains very near the entrance to the complex.

The living areas were high up in the home.

And there was a regular swimming pool tucked down among the buildings and the rocks. 

The complex had lush tropical gardens.  A real treat to visit.

Besides being rather enchanting the home is mainly known for having been owned by actor Omar Sharif.  As it turns out, he only owned it a day.  He was challenged to a game of bridge and, as he was a world class bridge player, he accepted the challenge.  He didn’t know that his opponent was the European Bridge Champion (I don't believe he did not know).  So he lost the home. 

**********************************************************************
More LagOmar Photos
**********************************************************************

The next stop was the former home of Cesar Manrique that is now the headquarters of the Cesar Manrique Foundation.  The home was built into the middle of a lava flow.

The upper level was converted to a museum and contains art pieces by Picasso, Miro, Manrique and others.  

The lower level (basement) consisted of living rooms built in  large volcanic bubbles.  The rooms were very organic and very modern at the same time with sofas built around the perimeter of the bubbles.  Then rooms included a fountain room, the white room,

the red room,

the yellow room,

a large open room with a pool and barbecue area,

and the black bubble.

The courtyard outside had another pool and gardens and a huge mural constructed by Manrique of volcanic stones and tiles. 

*************************************************************
More Cesar Manrique Foundation Photos 
*************************************************************

While driving through the countryside we saw our first castle on a hill.  It is St. Barbara’s Castle and was built in the 16^th century as a watchtower.

And of course there were more stone walls.

We stopped at an outlook on the cliffs high over the ocean.  Views were great.

There was a nearby military communications complex...

and a small church there but it wasn’t open and we didn’t catch the name.

Coming down from this high viewpoint we had great views of some of the valleys in this part of the island.

Then it was on to an Aloe Vera farm.  Aloe vera grows well in the Canaries.  We had a demonstration on how the harvest the inner portion that is issued for various topical treatments.  It looks (and feels) really slimy.

Then of course they took us to the shop and gave us a sales pitch on all of their various products and their uses.

Back the road our last stop was the Jameos del Agua.  This is a lava cave that is used as an art culture and tourism center.  It was also created by Manrique (he had his hands in a lot of things).  There is a pool in the center of it which allows for some very interesting and beautiful photos. 

However, it’s most important function is as the home of some very small white, blind squat lobsters.  These are endemic to this pool only. 

Our drive back to the hotel wasn’t quite as long.  Shortly after heading back the put some of us in a van and we were one of the first people let off.  Yeah!!.

For dinner we walked across the street to a small Italian restaurant.  While waiting for dinner a couple of gentlemen started setting up their equipment on the plaza by the restaurant.  We ended up with a concert by the two guitarists/singers.  It was a very enjoyable way to end the day.