Mirador del Rio

Friday
Another full day of sightseeing today, in the northern part of the island, beginning with Jameos del Agua, another one of Cesar Manrique's creations around part of a volcanic lava tube, formed with the eruption of the Volcan de la Corona. The entire tube is about 6 km in length, with another one kilometer or so under the sea, and is one of the longest such lava tubes in the world, but only two sections of it are open to the public. The word Jameos refers to sections where the roof has collapsed, leaving an opening in the ground. There are three such openings at Jameos del Agua which Manrique developed in differing ways. In a tunnel-like section, there is an underground lake, whose clear waters provide habitat for a tiny white albino crab, very rare and unique to Lanzarote. The complex also includes a 550 seat underground auditorium where concerts are regularly held, and which is famed for its excellent acoustics. Our next stop was Cuevas De Los Verdes, which is the second part of the lava tube, this one in its natural state, except for the addition of lighting. The original inhabitants of the island would take shelter in these caves to protect themselves from pirates that once tormented the island. Then it was on to the subject of my blip, the Mirador del Rio, one of the most representative of Manrique's creations, located high up on the Risco de Famara, at a height of 474 meters, from which you get an amazing view over the archipelago Chinijo and the Famara cliff. The archipelago comprises Isla Graciosa, and beyond Montana Clara and Roque del Oeste. The narrow strip of sea which separates Isla Graciosa from Lanzarote is called "El Rio", the river, giving the viewpoint it's name. The building itself has the peculiarity that it is barely visible from the outside thanks to an ingenious camouflage, hiding its structure under a heavy stone skin that blends in with the environment. Inside there are is a spacious and beautiful room housing a cafe, with large picture windows, where we enjoyed some lunch, enjoying the extraordinary panoramic views. From there we continued to Orzola, the northernmost settlement in Lanzarote, a peaceful fishing settlement, from which you can take a boat across to Isla Graciosa, when conditions are right. However, judging from the sea outside the harbor, I don't think they would have been running today. Finally, we rounded up the day at Playa de Famara, a long beach extending along the foot of the rugged cliffs of Risco de Famara, watching the wind surfers and kite surfers.