INTENSE PLEASURE

Summer fiestas are in full swing on Lanzarote now, and I’d urge anyone to get along to these unforgettable events. This month there’s the joyous maritime parade in the harbour of Puerto del Carmen, when fishing boats toot their whistles and set off fireworks; there’ll be lots of activity and big concerts in Arrecife and, my favourite of all, the pilgrimage to the beautiful, lonely church of The Virgen de las Nieves in Teguise, on the clifftop of Famara.

There’s always a great atmosphere at fiestas, with people of all ages gathering to celebrate, food, drink and fun galore, but in high summer I also love to spend time in the resorts, where thousands of holiday makers will be wandering around and enjoying themselves, all determined to squeeze every last drop of enjoyment out of their time on Lanzarote.

This will be the first August for three years when Lanzarote gets back into high gear, a well-oiled machine designed to make tourists happy and send them home sun-kissed and relaxed, with memories that will last a lifetime. Most of those fiestas are also taking place for the first time in ages, adding another reason for celebration.

It’s a spooky sensation to look back at those strange photos from the last two years, when the resorts were virtually empty, shutters were down everywhere and sunbeds were stacked unused. Last year I once walked the whole length of the airport departures zone alone, my footsteps the only sound in a place that is now packed from morning to night.

Those days are now gone, and hopefully for good. If anything, they’ve allowed us to appreciate what we’ve got all the more and not take our good fortune for granted.

So have a great August, lift your glasses, jump into the sea, dance and sing your heart out and enjoy the intense pleasures of high summer on Lanzarote to the maximum.