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60 | Gazette Life | March 2026GAZETTE | LIVINGIt pays to look a little further for genuine Lanzarote souvenirs designed and made by islanders. Visit any souvenir shop in Lanzarote and you%u2019ll find plenty of fridge magnets, keyrings and other souvenirs, all of which claim to be genuine mementos of the island. However, many of these symbols have very little to do with the island. The cacti that are usually shown are the tree-shaped saguaro cacti, which are native to Arizona in the USA. While they can be found in a few places on Lanzarote, the most typical cactus on the island is the prickly pear, or Opuntia, which has flat, spiky lobes instead of branches.The lizard is another emblem of the island, but the bright green ones you often see on souvenirs do not exist here. The Canarian lizard is a beautiful species, often with vivid green spots on its flanks, but it is otherwise a drab brown colour to camouflage it from hawks and other predators. Meanwhile, the Canarian gecko, which strikes those dramatic postures on the souvenirs, is an even drabber mud colour. What about palm trees? The Canarian palm is the native species here on the island and can reach impressive heights of up to 13 metres, but its trunk is generally much thicker and not quite as elegant as other species such as the coconut palm, which are usually portrayed on souvenirs. In the same way. Volcanoes are often shown as erupting and spewing hot lava, when that hasn%u2019t happened on the island for over 200 years. Then there is olivina %u2013 the pale green semiprecious stone that can easily be found glistening on rocks in the island%u2019s volcanic regions. However, the crystals that form on the rocks of Lanzarote are always too small to work with and olivina jewellery is usually imported from countries where the stones are much larger. Keepsakes & mementos%u2022 Electric/Manual blinds%u2022 Roller & Vertical%u2022 Venetian (Wood & Aluminium)%u2022 Roof Sails%u2022 Interior Plantation Wooden Shutters%u2022 Curtain AlterationsTHOUSANDS OF FABRICS/SAMPLES TO CHOOSE FROM.FREE HOME CONSULTATIONContact Richard or Shelley on +34 686 332 015 www.blindslanzarote.es richard@blindslanzarote.esMORE THAN 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE ALL AREAS COVEREDFrom selection - installation. Always professional - we care! Blinds and curtains to suit all budgets!