Photo 31-8-2023 super Moon. Photo ‘LA Voz’.
CHARCO NEWSLETTER sept. 2023
CHARCO DAILY LIFE
August was quite a windy month, the island is dry and yet there are still beautiful plants and a lot of fruit o be found. It was quiet in Charco. The local population went out to the mainland and people from mainland Spain came for a holiday and to escape the heat. Now people are flocking back and the village is getting back to its usual routine.
La plazita now has a music evening every Friday night. With delicious tapas or a barbecue. 8.00 pm.
The supermarket is open again in the afternoon till 6.30 pm. Tamsin is the new shop assistant for the afternoon.
ECO BEACH RESORT
As mentioned before, the Romantica has now been refurbished and opened its doors as Eco Beach Resort . It has become a retreat center but families are welcome, too. There are five double rooms, a common kitchen and showers. There is a roof terrace with views over Charco and the ocean.The swimming pool is lined with hammocks. And the owners of La plazita can be invited to cook for you. This modern resort is a welcome addition to Charco.
For more information: Lanzaroteretreats.com
Cesar Manrique
Born in Lanzarote, April 24, 1919 in Tahíche.
Died in Lanzarote, September 25, 1992.
He was a Spanish painter, sculptor, architect and building consultant. His style can be considered non-figurative, in balance with the surrounding nature. Many buildings and projects on Lanzarote such as the Mirador del Río, Jameos del Agua, Jardín de Cactus as well as the El Diablo restaurant in the Timanfaya National Park and the Gran Meliá Salinas hotel in Costa Teguise are among his works. His wind sculptures can be seen in various roundabouts in Lanzarote.
Fundacion Cesar Manrique
Cesar Manrique built a house in the volcanic rock and caves formed by lava flows. El Taro de Tahíche is the original home of Manrique, located between the towns of Teguise and Arrecife. It is now the Fundación César Manrique. In this house, built in and around lava bubbles, he shows how you can turn lava rock formations into an artistic dwelling. Besides his own works of art, there are paitings by various other artists, including Pablo Picasso.
Jameos del Agua
Lava streams created cave systems in the northern part of Lanzarote. These cave systems extend several kilometers inland almost to the coast. Part of the caves has remained almost intact as nature has formed them. The Cueva de los Verdes, together with Jameos del Agua, form two of the main attractions of the island. Jameos del Agua is a natural underground lake. César Manrique added surrounding seating areas, a volcano museum and an open-air man-made lagoon.
Albino lobster
An albino lobster lives in the blue lake. This blind animal does not normally dwell in places so close to the earth’s surface. The normal habitat of these small crustaceans is normally hundreds of meters deeper. Jameos del Agua is one of the few places in the world where you can see the albino lobster in the wild without having to go to great depths. Because of the lobsters, no coins should be thrown into the water to protect the animal. It also ensures that the underground lake retains its natural appearance.
You can eat around the lake. You can have lunch, a snack or drink with your regular entrance ticket. Concerts in this wonderful place are quickly sold out!
Casa de los Volcanes
The Casa de los Volcanes is located on the top floor. Here you will find a permanent exhibition about volcanoes, volcanism, seismic zones worldwide and eruptions on Lanzarote and the other Canary Islands. In all kinds of ways it is made clear what volcanoes are and how a volcanic eruption comes about. It is also made clear to what extent volcanism still poses a threat to Lanzarote and the other islands. This section has recently been renovated and now also houses an exhibition by Cesar Manrique, including videos of his works. Sustainable Tourism in harmony with Nature.
Manrique’s Lanzarote
Manrique has ensured that most buildings on Lanzarote are no higher than four floors high, that they are mainly white and in light in colours, and that the window frames are painted green, blue or brown. Manrique published a book with his own photos about local, historical architecture. There are some hotels that have more floors, such as the Gran Hotel in Arrecife. This building was built when Manrique spent a number of years in America. Puerto del Carmen is home to the seven-storey hotel Hotel Los Fariones and the apartment complex Fariones Playa.
Manrique also made sure that no billboards were placed on the side of the roads and he also introduced a temporary construction freeze. He organized protests against large-scale new constructions for mass tourism on the island in the 1980s.
His motive was his love for the island. Manrique did not want the unique culture and nature to be damaged by mass tourism and has actually managed to prevent this. The people are very grateful to him for this.
Since 1990 Manrique lived in Haría in a valley of the El Risco de Famara mountain range. This house with studio and a large part of the inventory has been open to the public since 2013.
In 1992, Manrique died at the age of 73 in a traffic accident at a crossroads only 50 meters from his original home. Manrique’s grave is located in the cemetery of Haría and is equipped with, among other things, porous lava rock, a cactus and a palm tree, all in his beloved local building style.
The idea that the balance between tourism and respect for nature in Lanzarote is solely due to César Manrique is not entirely correct. Jesús Soto, Maestro Artístico of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, actually introduced this approach..información sorch: Wiki pedía
This is it for this month, hope to see you in Charco soon
Tineke
