The sign that will be placed at the beginning of the village
THE OCTOBER PARTY:
FIFTY YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF CHARCO DEL PALO
Opinions were divided about how to commemorate this joyful event. A beer festival was not really what many residents wanted. However, when Charco‘s fiftieth anniversary was, stress opinions changed. Gratitude towards the founders, Gregor Kaiser and Helmut Kurzeja, is of course appropriate. Mayor Alfredo Villalba and members of Haría’s board of directors were also present, as were Jack Beckstein and Antonio Bravo, of the cooperative. A new billboard was made to be placed when arriving in Charco, so that people know what a unique village this is and that they can expect people in the nude in the streets.
Charco del Palo represents better than any other place the spirit of freedom, tolerance and integration that the Europeans have always shown on our island. Although this village is very different from all the others, a festival is quite appropriate, to quote the mayor.
A brass band created the right atmosphere by touring the whole village. Then the festivities began.
La Plazita provided refreshments. They did a good job. There was plenty of food and drinks. As there was only one beer tap, people didn’t get drunk: you had to wait a while before it was your turn.
The performance of the bands was a great success: A Tribute to Queen and later Los Magnéticos. There was also plenty of entertainment for the kids. Many children from neighbouring villages had come to play on the inflatable and other play attributes.
People comment that the word ‘Naturism’ was not mentioned in the press releases. Instead, there was mention of a village of freedom and nature, but later a video was released where things were explained and there was also a report on national TV and Canary TV. Including a comment of what Charco really is:
The oldest naturist village in the world. Let’s keep it that way!
Due to the party and the heat, many people, who probably tasted the atmosphere in Charco for the first time and also took off their clothes, gravitated towards the Monkey Rock that day…
Helmut Kurzeja who, together with Gregor Kaiser, was the founder of Charco del Palo
A little bit of history
In 1969/1970 Gregor Kaiser and Helmut Kurzeja arrived here from Bad Ems in Germany. Gregor and Helmut had a plan to build a naturist village in a beautiful, quiet place by the sea. Gregor was accompanied by his architect and they started making plans.
Helmut and Gregor bought plots of land and started building. This did not happen without struggles with the municipality and landowners. Gregor’s house was built first and the first swimming pool is still located in the Tropical Restaurant.
Helmut built the house and restaurant La Tunera together with his son Karl Heinz.
It was difficult to get water because the water supply car sometimes did not show up. Gregor tried to drill holes to find water, but this did not work.
In the 1990s, when the Obona Complex was built, more and more guests arrived. Among them were Margreta and Wolfgang. They still remember that first time, in 1993 from the airport by taxi, with luggage placed on the roof. From Mala an unpaved road lead to the village through a sandy desert. They thought: ‘Where on earth are we going to end up?’ However, once at the Obona it was a different world with a pool and ocean view. Because there was not a supermarket yet, it was hard to get your victuals. Manolo, a Spaniard delivered food. Hospitality was of paramount importance; people helped each other even though communication was difficult. No one spoke Spanish at the time. The following days they walked to Guatiza, where there was a supermarket. Cesar Manrique had died the year before and because Wolfgang looked like him, people were sometimes shocked: Cesar was still alive? Despite the ‘sand desert’ and other inconveniences, they experienced Charco’s special atmosphere of and since then they have continued to come for over thirty years now, just like many others.
Los Magnéticos
Agenda
*La Plazita is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. On Fridays music and delicious tapas. 3 November: Theo live at 8 pm
*Lili’s Paradise opens at 5 pm. Closed Wednesday and Thursdays
*Tropical Restaurant Thursday evening Theo live 5.30-8.30 pm Reservations *34 685485907 open? : see listing at the restaurant
*Obona restaurant open Mon-Fri from 5 am
*Supermarket open 8.30 – 6.30 pm. Sun to 3 pm.
*Don Quijote every Saturday live music from 8.00 pm*Cantina de Mala – open stage Sunday afternoon 1 pm
Lanzarote, a selection from the many activities
*Dance Festival: October 30 to November 11. Performances in various places in Lanzarote. festivaltraslacion.com
*Festival de Artes Escena: Art, Culture and Tourism 2023-2024 escenalanzarote.com
*La Casa Amarilla (city centre Arrecife) Juan Méndez Oct 14 – Dec 2. Photo exhibition: ‘Walk in the Dark’.
*culturalanzarote.com for the extensive concert program.
*El Aljibe in Haria always has special exhibitions
In the Picture: Lili, the owner of ‘Lili’s Paradise’.
I arrived in Lanzarote in 2008. I had just come from Canada to celebrate my fortieth birthday with a Romanian, childhood friend. I came here to visit my best friend from Germany, Reiner, on January 25, 2008 and stayed here. I had previously worked with Reiner in Germany and now he had a restaurant in Lanzarote and I started working for him. I worked in his restaurant for many years. I had different jobs in the restaurant: waitress, cook, cocktail maker. And then after a while I opened my own business: ‘Lili’s Cocktail Bar, in the basement of the shopping center. I ran this bar for 4 years. I combined this job with my job as a ‘TUI Tour Guide’. My job as a guide consisted of helping people with transfers and complaints, administrative and hospital procedures and everything related to what tourists need. And I also worked overtime at the restaurant. After Reiner retired, I continued to run the restaurant from June 2018. I am very happy with my decision to take over the restaurant. Business is good and I am very grateful to my clientele. We do not have a fixed menu. Every two or three days we change the menu. We always cook using fresh products and cater for the tastes of our customers.
Gambas Ajillo
For me, the Prawns Ajillo at Lili’s are the tastiest all of Lanzarote. They are slightly larger and tastier than you usually get. Highly recommended, Tineke
Walks
A nice walk Famara Beach (approximately 2 hours)
When it is low tide it is possible to walk the entire beach at Famara. There are beautiful views over the ocean and the surrounding hills. Surfers try to stay on their boards or catch a real big wave. Walkers, children playing and to the north beautifully coloured rocks and boulders in and around the water. You can make the walk as long as you want. Beware of the undercurrents when you take a dip. It can be dangerous.
There are also hiking trails along to the top of the Risco de Famara and hallf way on the hill. You can see them from the beache, with various routes. And after that a well earned cool drink on a terrace in Caleta de Famara.
This photo from Lili’s Paradise is also known to everyone
