Page 67 - Demo

November 2025 | Gazette Life | 67On the other side of the road you%u2019ll see the Buganvillas Shopping Centre, now fairly run down and faded, but you may want to take a quick detour behind to see the pretty Parque Sim%u00f3n Bol%u00edvar. This area is full of caf%u00e9s, bars and restaurants, and its proximity to the beach is making it an increasingly popular area for tourists.Carry on along on C/Manolo Millares, passing one of the best chocolate shops on the island on your left, and carry on until you reach the narrow C/Jos%u00e9 Betancort on your right. It%u2019s worth heading down here to check out the exhibitions and the pretty bar at El Almac%u00e9n, the art centre founded by C%u00e9sar Manrique in the 1970s. Leaving El Almac%u00e9n, cross the square on your left, reaching C/Canalejas. This oncebusy street is showing a few signs of recovery, but out of town shopping centres and online shopping has hit Arrecife hard. Shortly you%u2019ll reach a pedestrian square called La Plazuela.Here it%u2019s a good idea to turn left and head up C/Antonio Porlis y Soprano %u2013 long name; short street, with a great little second-hand bookshop called la Madriguera, with a full bookcase of English language titles.At the top of the street admire the statue of Dr Jos%u00e9 Molina Orosa ahead to your right, and it%u2019s worth heading left up C/Fajardo to see the Archeological Museum (sadly closed) and the lovely Farmacia El Capote.Now double back, head past the good Doctor and carry on until you emerge on Calle Real, Arrecife%u2019s main shopping street. Turn right towards the sea and walk down until you reach the Casa Amarilla, an unmistakeable green/yellow tiled exhibition space well worth a visit. Head up one of the roads to either side to reach the Plaza de la Palmas, site of the Saturday morning market, overlooked by the lovely church of San Gin%u00e9s. The works here are scheduled to finish this month. Now go down the street to the left of the church, turning left at the end. Carry on and you%u2019ll reach one of Arrecife%u2019s most beautiful corners, the Callej%u00f3n %u201cEl Agueresio%u201d, a traditional old alley with an impressive Indian fig tree and beautifully kept plants and flowers. From here you emerge onto Arrecife%u2019s most impressive view, the Charco de San Gin%u00e9s. We%u2019d advise heading clockwise, to pass the lovely old cinema theatre and the several excellent restaurants that line the lagoon. Finally, you%u2019ll reach a bridge on your left. To your right is the building where C%u00e9sar Manrique was born, and the Navilan Christmas Fair will take place here in December, but now it%u2019s time to head back along the seafront back to the bus interchange. There%u2019s plenty more to see and enjoy along the way, from the stone walkway leading to the fort of the Castillo de San Gabriel, the old %u201cOnion Pier%u201d behind the UNED building (which was once Lanzarote%u2019s first tourist hotel), the Gran Hotel and the Islote de Fermina just behind it. The statue of Dr Jos%u00e9 Molina Orosa.Pete Clark is Canary Islands Grass, now in his 19th year turning Lanzarote and Fuerteventuragreen; an expert in artificial grass installations and making the joins seamless!Contact Pete on 658 25 87 82 or info@canaryislandsgrass.com'YOU ONLY DO IT ONCE SO DO IT RIGHT'Premium quality grass at affordable prices with a 10 year guaranteeNO AREA TOO BIG, NO AREA TOO SMALL, CANARY ISLANDS GRASS CAN COVER IT ALL!