Friday 19 February 2016

We chose today for our daytrip to La Graciosa, the small sandy island just North of Lanzarote. It literally means "The Gracious One".

There is a song about "Oh island in the sun..." but the theme tune for today could have been: "Oh island in the rain..." The weather was wild: temperatures of 10 degrees Celsius (that is not meant to happen here!!!) and the winds were like big cats, howling and shredding.

We first visited the Mirador created by Manrique, We nearly got blown off the outside terrace but got a very good aerial view of La Graciosa. I know that Manrique's creations were visioned in dialogue with the landscape but today many of them are tourist traps that channel people through a series of pre-designed experiences. I do not like that - though I love his environmental foresight that saved the island from "Maspalomas Sydnrome".

Anyway. We bought tickets. A small ferry arrived. Boarding it took a leap of faith (and two burly men throwing me across a gap of boiling water and another burly man catching me on board". One of them cleared the top deck and half the seats, warning us the waves would wash right over (and through) the boat. OK..... I held on to my plastic seat and we roared right into the washing machine on spin cycle. WOAH!!!!! It is only a 20 minute ride so it could be viewed as a funfair attraction. The rollercoaster ride in Legoland came to mind.... And me holding onto Quinn for dear life trying not to scream.... And Quinn saying: "Keep your eyes closed Mum.... I will tell you when it is OK to look again..." Pulling his coat over my face.... Except I didn't have Quinn this time.... Mmmm!

The island is beautiful. Very sandy. Time passes in a different way there. It is like stepping into a novel and leaving your own life for a while (what a relief, to step out of your own story!!!) This is a place where I could imagine going to write my second book in splendid solitude, starting and ending each day with a walk on the beach...)

We had lunch. We had a very windswept walk. I took photographs (in the rather murky light and rain). Then we took the 4 pm ferry back and had dinner at our "favourite tapas bar" (yes, we now have a favourite hang out in Arrecife and the waitress gives us honey rum on the house!) before falling bed. This was a memorable day!

Imelda Almqvist