I think I have said this a few times in the past, but where did the year disappear to. Things have been very different this last year compared to the two previous years. Mainly it comes down to you. You came back and not just a few but thousands. The figures are even up on 2019 numbers. I have never seen the the village and island so busy.
Good morning from Charco del Palo, its the 1st of December the sun is shining, just the other morning AMET the weather people said that October had been the hottest in Spain and the Islands since records began, the way things are going I imagine November not to be far behind. But then the 19th November comes along and all of a sudden it feels like winter has arrived, extremely high winds and the temperature dropping to 21c. I can hear you saying 21c is like summer here, well the temperatures have been in the 30c for many weeks so a drop like that feels chilly. But talking to people who have just been on holiday have all said it’s been brilliant, everyone is going home with a great tan.
Many thanks for those of you who sent messages of support for Tineke taking over. I have also been surprised that only three people decided not to continue with the newsletter. So unless after again asking if you do not wish to continue please either unsubscribe or contact me and I will do it for you, please let me know if not I shall be passing on the remaining email addresses within the first few days of December.
Village News
The village has been extremely busy, the airport again when I visited a few days ago was also crazy busy, the weather with a few minor hiccups has been behaving itself, so all things in Charco del Palo are going well. All the bars and restaurants are trading well, the supermarket is doing a great job as usual. Just check out times of opening on your arrival for all the above.
Similar can be said for the three bars/restaurants in Mala.
All the bars/restaurants will be doing some sort of special over the Christmas period so check them out as soon as you arrive many places get booked up, this also applies to the New Years evening. Alex at the Cantina has told me that they shall be closed between Christmas and New Year. I have had nothing from any of the other bars or restaurants re opening or closing over the Christmas period, see below about Jardin Tropical.
If your wondering why I have not been updating you about the old Romantica restaurant/Barefoot Retreats it’s because they have been told to stop working on the site by the local council. It will get sorted out but may take even more time.
Well as you can see below, the Jardin Tropical is having a major facelift, looking inside the other day the pool has been completely renovated and it looks fantastic, new signage outside also brightens the place up and to finish it off they now have a new BBQ area and will be doing special days and evenings. It was supposed to have an opening evening last week, but was cancelled at the last minute due to Samira’s daughter being taken poorly. I have just this minute talked to Samira 30th November and her daughter is fine now. So the good news is that from Monday 5th December they will be open Monday/Tuesday 12-5pm for BBQ, Wednesday/Thursday/Sunday 12-5pm normal luch menu, then from 5-9pm BBQ. Depending on the other restaurants in the village she could also be open Monday and Tuesday evening, keep you eyes open for that. If you are here over Christmas and New Year they will also be open 25th December and 1st January menu to be announced. Please note they are closed Fridays/Saturdays.
Long Term Rental
Have you ever thought, I wonder what it’s like to live on the Canary Islands for an extended period? Well I have always stated do not jump in and buy, but rent for a year to see how you like things, it may not be what you were expecting. So with that in mind we are looking for a couple, non smokers, no pets who would like to give it a try and rent our property on a long term basis, if you are interested then please get in touch with us so we can talk about things. We are looking at the beginning of May 2023 as a starting point. I did say we were going to be travelling! wendylanzarote@gmail.com or telephone 0034 711050419
Out & About
I didn’t have enough space last month, but I thought it would be a poignant time to pay tribute to the island of Lanzarote. On the evening 15th October all the high and mighty from Lanzarote gathered at Jameos del Agua to pay tribute to the people of Lanzarote who during the pandemic lockdown continued to work when the rest of us were locked up at home. The medical people immediately come to mind and they did a fabulous job without doubt, and it was heartbreaking when you heard that someone who was working so hard in the medical profession succumbed to the virus. Power, Water, I could go on and on but I like to think of the unsung heroes of that time and in the village we live, the men and women who did not miss a single day picking up the rubbish, our very own supermarket people who went out of their way to get special items that you wanted, nothing was to much trouble. We never had a toilet roll shortage!
But most of all it was the people who made it easier, I can remember standing on my roof and there would be other people in the gardens having a drink and toasting each other. It was the small things that made it seem, not quite so bad. When the time came for getting the vaccination, Lanzarote was an amazing place to be, the people on the island did not think about what may go wrong, they realised that with the vaccine things could get better and very quickly. To date the vaccine take up on the island is in the high 92% mark and even during mid October myself along with thousands of people on the island have had booster jabs.
Well done Lanzarote and my thanks to all the hardworking service people who risked everything for us, we owe you a huge debt.
As you all like a good video, check out the one below, promoting the Canary Islands as a whole particularly for us older people. Some great pictures of Lanzarote and La Graciosa also included.
https://youtu.be/ABnPGTVzNhg
Restaurant Review
Mumbai Masala – Puerto Calero
There are very many Indian Restaurants on Lanzarote, including a number of branches of Mumbai Masala. This one is by far our favourite (although at the time of writing we have not tried their newest place in the Marina Rubicon at Playa Blanca). The classic dishes, Bhuna, Madras, etc. can be made milder or hotter than normal to suit individual taste. Staff are very friendly and tables are both inside the restaurant and outside (with patio heaters available for chilly evenings). Usual beers and a good wine list with plenty of local wines available.
Open daily, Noon to 11/11.30 pm.
Price: ££
Rating (out of 10): 8+
Many thanks to John Miles for all the recent restaurant reviews, plus of course the Mad Hatter, thanks to you both.
New Shopping Center
On the 11th November a new shopping experience opened to the public in Arrecife, personally if I never ever go there I will not worry but when the odd day turns cloudy and you are thinking what shall we do well its new and has all the shops you could ever need in your life, so.
It’s easy to get to, just follow the road to Arrecife, when you travel down through Tahiche just keep going straight on and you will finally come to a roundabout and it is over on the left hand side. Plenty of parking space. I am reliably informed that it’s great and well put together but that I will leave to you intrepid shoppers!
Finally Home
I mentioned in the June newsletter that when we arrived at our favourite naturist site Le Couderc in France, our van just stopped working. Well it arrived home in Charco 4th November, why so long a wait. Can you believe customs in mainland Spain wanting paperwork and all the paperwork was within the van all the time. Eventually it turned up at the port in Arrecife and then customs again want paperwork, luckily we were able to do this ourselves and within a day the van was released and taken to our Opel dealer in Playa Honda. Benjamin, one of the service guys there is brilliant, and after talking to him he assured me it will be done. Two day later it’s fixed and ready to pick up. Why you ask yourself could this not have been fixed in France? Two main dealers looked and to be honest I don’t think they could be bothered. 131 days and it’s back and running perfectly. So whatever you do, do not breakdown in France they are not very good at fixing things.
I was as usual sitting at the Cantina on Sunday the first week of October in fact a few days after I had put the notification about stopping the Newsletter. When someone who was on holiday in the village, came up to me and said that it was sad you were finishing the Newsletter but could quite understand the reasons behind it. We got talking and when she asked me about the last few years she said you should put down your highlight of the last 12 years, and I thought what a great idea.
The thing that did capture many peoples interest was when I decided to serialise the history of Charco del Palo. I had so much feedback regarding the stories. In particular the Shipwreck story. Whenever I walk along the seafront out to the Fishermans huts I always remember the night of the Shipwreck. With help from the Haria library people I was able to piece together more of the story and mainly where the sailors came from. Again it was while contacting a forum on the Peninsular that an amazing thing happened. I received an email asking if I could help with more information, I sent everything I had up to that point and then it went quiet. A few weeks later my telephone went off and the family who I had been in touch with were on the island and would it be possible to meet with them. An hour later they arrived and after introductions I took them to the spot where the shipwreck happened. They had up until that point never had the full information as to what happened to their Uncle and Nephew. They became very emotional and included via a telephone link their Uncle’s sister who was too old to travel. That was quite an afternoon for me and they left knowing the whole story. Both the Uncle and Nephew were never found, it was in fact the Nephew’s first and sadly his only fishing trip.
If anyone would like a copy of the Shipwreck story please click the link below but remember this link will expire in a couple of months.
https://charco-del-palo-news-q…
In the early hours of 3rd November another of the Patera’s arrived carrying 24 people, 17 men, 2 women and 5 children, they came ashore to the right of Padro Bay, having walked down and had a look, the boat is being smashed to pieces on the rocks and its very calm at the moment, what it would be like on a rough night I dread to imagine. All 24 were deemed in perfect health and they were transported to a holding camp. In the last few weeks there has hardly been a day when at least two boats arrive.
Thats All Folks
They say all good things must come to an end and the Newsletter I am afraid comes into that category. I have enjoyed doing it but it’s time to let it go. Wendy and myself have many plans for the future and I am looking forward to some new adventures. But as I told you last month Tineke will be taking over and will be doing things differently. Please give her your support it will be a big learning curve for her. You will still be able to contact her on the old charcodelpalonews@gmail.com address.
Finally I have to say very many thanks to all the people who have over the years helped me, not only with restaurant reviews, articles and photos, but the people who have sent emails commenting on a number of things good, bad or indifferent, without your feedback it would have been so much harder.
Keep safe and well, have a great Christmas wherever you may be and let’s hope for a peaceful and happy New Year 2023. Alan.
Salud.
Charco del Palo News
charcodelpalonews@gmail.com
Charco del Palo, Mala,, Lanzarote 35543
Spain
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