No shuttle buses, no lines, just walk right off the ship into a pretty little town. La Isla Bonita is bursting with color and this is a nice segue to our return to tropical Florida. However, quite unlike flat Florida, it is mountainous β mile for mile more mountainous than Tibet according to one online source. We take a leisurely stroll down the Avenida Maritime promenade as we parallel the shopping district. A huge whale sculpture leaps out of the sand. Colonial homes overlooking the bay with their famous wooden balconies are decorated with colorful flowers.
Across the street is a winding uphill path that leads to our last elevated views of the Island Princess. This port is known for clothing shopping and DW takes full advantage. After all, we must start packing soon⦠Then I try to set a good example by purchasing a belt, immediately wearing it and throwing away the old one.
My concerns are ignored and I suppose it will all work out somehow! Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain An early morning announcement is made that the ship is cleared by the local authorities and we can disembark. After 15 minutes of waiting, there are only a half dozen people on the bus. We are confused. Usually there is a long line of passengers waiting to get off the ship and get into port. We are used to waiting on lines to get off and to get onto a bus.
Where is everyone?? The bus soon leaves and drops the few of us off at the marina. This is not the city center; that is another 15 minute walk into town. The local tourist information center is closed. We make our way down the main streets and it is pretty deserted.
Now we greet a fully packed bus and approach fellow passengers. We would like to share a taxi to the National Park and it does not take long until we find traveling companions. Although we have not met before we spend a nice few hours together. By now the tourist information center is open β but the representative informs us he will not call for a taxi. We need to walk back into town again to find one. This is quite a contrast from many ports where we are inundated with taxi drivers and tour guides flashing their laminated tour information sheets in our faces.
