Denise:

Saturday is market day in Harìa ! In the village centre the streets are very narrow and busy with traffic – an un-nerving driving experience for not just Becky – it was her turn to drive, but also for the front seat passenger – me! We were relieved to find free parking on the outskirts of village.

Rainwater Cistern? near Haria

The market was lively, with a good number and variety of stalls. Our family shares a taste for indulgences that are both practical and beautiful, and so we came away with things we could use here in Lanzarote or use back home, extending the pleasure of our holiday. I bought fennel soap, and Becky bought saffron, red pepper, spicy sauce mix and chilly salt. And for the right here and now we bought a small loaf topped with cheese, local-grown lettuce, tomatoes, radishes and onions. Some of these would be for lunch back at Casa Buenavista.  I’d love to share with you some photos of the market, but I’d feel far too self-conscious to do such a blatantly touristy thing!

We arrived home to find Josefa – our host – changing our towels and emptying the bins. (If you are familiar with how these things are done in rural Spain, you’ll know that certain of the bins do definitely need daily emptying!) Josefa doesn’t speak English at all, so we were rather surprised to learn from conversation that she is 58, locally born and raised, and has two children – both married and now with their own families.  I have to pinch myself and say, I’m more or less her age (okay, slightly more!), and we let self-catering holiday cottages, and we too have conversations with our guests, who don’t always speak our language well.

Isla Gracia, from Mirador del Rio, Lanzarote

Isla Gracia, from Mirador del Rio, Lanzarote

Becky, Cueva de los Verdes, Lanzarote

Isla Gracia, from Mirador del Rio, Lanzarote

At Mirador del Rio, Lanzarote

Becky taking a rest. Mirador del Rio, Lanzarote

Becky catching the waves, La Caleta, Lanzarote

Returning to Casa Buenavista we got hopelessly lost – again! If only the houses were painted in colours other than white and green!  However, I suppose visitors to Uist must have similar experiences, where the countryside is quite bare, and – to the untrained eye, at least – there is little variety in the buildings.

It’s been cloudier and cooler today.  Not too cold, though, even now –  Becky’s gone out running. She’ll come back hungry, so – when I’ve finished this, I’ll make something for us to eat.

¡Buenas Noches!