The Land of Water and Fire (Part II)

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Lanzarote, Canary Islands (Spain)

I know many people who have heard about Lanzarotes beautiful beaches, but besides crystal clear water and great temperatures (even in December!), there's a lot more to see and experience. It's impossible to summarize the secrets of the island in just one post - so this one is going to be the first of a series called The Land of Water and Fire. 

La Ermita de las Nieves

Lanzarote is quite flat compared to other Canary Islands like Tenerife or La Palma - It's highest mountain is little less than 700m high! This makes it easy to access high points and enjoy the amazing views. Visiting the Ermita de las Nieves is rather a insider tip, so you won't find any tourist masses around. This beautiful little chapel is situated on the top of the mountains Risco de Famara. In case you wonder - Nieve means snow in spanish! 

Formerly, the locals used to walk up the slope to the Ermita, to pray here for rain whenever it was desperately needed. Nowadays, it's still a local tradition to climb up these slopes on the 5th of August, enjoying the spectacular views of Famara.

Las Nieves can be easily reached by car from the LZ10, driving through Los Valles and watching out for the signpost "Las Nieves". 

If you liked this post, you might also like:

- The Land of Water and Fire (Part I)

Stay tuned to know more about the Land of Water and Fire soon!

The Land of Water and Fire (Part I)

Hello! If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Lanzarote, Canary Islands (Spain)

I know many people who have heard about Lanzarotes beautiful beaches, but besides crystal clear water and great temperatures (even in December!), there's a lot more to see and experience. It's impossible to summarize the secrets of the island in just one post - so this one is going to be the first of a series called The Land of Water and Fire. 

Parque Nacional de Timanfaya

Lanzarote is the oldest of the Canary Islands, and was emerged more than 18 million years ago as a result of aggressive volcanic activity. The National Park of Timanfaya emerged when 32 of the island's 100 existing volcanoes erupted simultaneously, between 1730 and 1736, destroying fields and villages and covering 1/4 of the island. 

Today, Timanfaya is probably one of the few National Parks worldwide with not even a blade of grass to be seen - The heat of the ground, the almost inexistent vegetation, the abstract volcanic twists and turns... altogether remind me of something evil. 

At the Islote de Hilario, which is the starting point of a beautiful ride (or walk), the surface reaches up to 120ºC, and only 13 meters deep even 600ºC! Once you pour water into one of the wholes, and wait for 2-3 seconds, the water is thrown into the air with an extremely high speed, creating artificial geysers. 

The National Park can be toured on a bus (or a camel, I think) and can be hiked. You cannot walk freely through the lava field - not that anyone wants to go through that kind of hell anyways, but, with previous appointment and confirmation, there are two guided walking tours you can take - an easy one of 2 hours and a difficult one that takes about 5 hours. The weather prediction showed possible showers, so we decided to go safe by taking the bus tour.   

At the Islote de Hilario (starting and ending point of this tour) you can find the Restaurant "El Diablo" (the devil - which is the symbol that Cesar Manrique, architect, designed for the National Park). The food is quite simple. If anything, I would recommend to try the grilled steaks, which are grilled out on natural warmth coming out of the ground. 

The whole scenery is truly impressive and probably one of my favorites among the seven islands - next time, I'll hike it! 

If you liked this post, you might also like:

- The Land of Water and Fire (Part II)

Stay tuned to know more about the Land of Water and Fire soon!

A Night Wanderer at Gatwick Airport

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Traveling the night before Christmas Eve is chaotic, but I had a plan. But then, does at any time go things as planned? Rarely. This is one of those stories. Let me tell you about the night I spent wandering across Gatwick Airport in London.

21:30pm Initial Flight Departure

It all started in Geneva Airport. You might believe that the evening before Christmas Eve airports will be packed with families going on vacation, students and expats travelling back home or, well, southern people – like me – that haven’t get used to the Swiss winter and want to escape to a warmer spot. At least this is what I had in mind. But I was the only one at the security check (the only one, really!). Suspicious. When arrived at gate B44, I finally realized where everybody was – stranded and waiting for they’re delayed flight (or worse, searching for alternatives for their cancelled flights).

22:20pm Actual Flight Departure

Luckily, my flight had only an hour of delay and everything went smoothly – until we landed at Gatwick, London. Earlier that day, I had reserved a room in a Hilton hotel next to Gatwick – it had a special offer, so the double bed room was cheap enough for me to decide on spending the money in a proper bed. Of course, this was too good to be true.

22:55pm Flight Arrival in London Gatwick

When I landed in Terminal North and got my luggage, I went to the Information stand to ask for the directions to get to the Hotel: “You have to take the Shuttle and go to Terminal South, it will take you no more than 15 minutes”. I thought I had read in the internet that the Hotel was near to Terminal North, but anyways – I might had been wrong.

23:55pm Found out that I had booked the wrong Hotel

And I was. I wasn’t wrong about the Terminal – I was wrong about the hotel itself! Basically, I had booked a hotel that was about 16 miles away from Gatwick (why does Gatwick even consider it an Airport Hotel? Taxi fares would have been more than the double of the room itself – does that make any sense?).

Mental Note: Check 5 times before paying in advance for a Hotel, when you’re booking from a non-official site.

00:20am  Are there any alternatives out there?

With less than 6 hours ahead from departure, I wasn’t going to pay 100 pounds on cabs – so I went on to search for alternatives. Obviously, the pretty clean Hilton I was mistakenly sent to was full. I tried out Yotel, which are cabins that you can rent per hour (with a minimum stay of 4 hours) – but it was fully booked as well. There was no other choice left in Terminal South – so I went back to Terminal North, where I found a Sofitel. Although the rooms were prohibitively expensive, they were kind enough to allow me to hang around their Lobby (and even give me a 30 minutes of free WIFI check! Whoa!). Unfortunately, I got kicked out when the bar of the hotel shut down at 1:30am.

01:30am Officially Homeless

I walked back to an area crowded of night wanderers like myself – Most of them had crashed on a few seats, and some of them seemed to be enjoying a peaceful sleep (assumed from the snoring). Myself, I did not have seats to crash on and so decided to give the floor a try. I swear, this wouldn’t have been too bad if I had planned for it – that is, if I had a warm blanket and one of these airplane pillows with me. But instead, I had a huge (and when I say huge, I really mean HUGE) luggage, my laptop and a big empty handbag (you know, for the occasional shopping).

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03:30am Checked In my HUGE luggage

I woke up with the announcement with Easyjet opening its Check-In desk. At least this way I could get rid of the big luggage I had with me – one thing less to worry about. I passed the passport control and security check like a zombie, and crashed on the first 4 seats I found once inside the Gate area.

05:50am I need a coffee

No, it wasn’t time to go to my gate, yet. My flight was only leaving at 07:50am. But, seriously, it was so freaking cold out there that I couldn’t last too long. I did sleep during these 2+ hours, but I continuously dreamt about a big pain in all of my muscles – it felt like I had been sleeping on ice! And every time I woke up, my muscles were contracted. Damn, I really missed a blanket! I sat at the café for almost an hour, heating up with the cup of coffee. Why precisely a coffee? Well, I was also concerned that I would be falling asleep and miss my flight!

07:20am At least I'm in the plane

I got in and fell asleep (me, the one that usually can't sleep on planes). I didn't even notice the giggling girls next to me and didn't realize we had 30 minutes delay until the captain apologized for it on arrival. 

13:30pm I'm in Lanzarote, Canary Islands !

Did you get home for Christmas? 

Have you ever had this kind of complications? Did you ever have to sleep in an airport?

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By the way, check out My 2011 Goals at The Novelista Barista - I just got published yesterday :)

All I want for Christmas is Cheese

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Borough Market, London

Maybe it's the cold weather, the snow, that makes me want to wrap into a warm blanket and fish pieces of bread out of a fondue. Or maybe the Christmas market that I cross every evening after work, with it's shiny big menus announcing fondue and raclettes for 5 CHF. Perhaps the street market stands, that have such a broad variety that, even if you examine each one carefully, you can be sure that the next week there will be at least one you will have never seen before. For one reason or another, I'm thinking about cheese during an alarmingly high amount of time a day. 

Since we are close to Christmas (and I'm still craving for cheese), I'm sharing 5 Christmas gifts for cheese lovers (yes, I'm crossing my fingers that someone will surprise me with of the below). 

1. Raclette Machine

Having a raclette machine at home is one of my wildest fantasies (geez am I weird). For those of you who don't know the raclette - it's a type of cheese, originally from Switzerland, that is used for melting and is accompanied by small potatoes, pickled onions and gherkins as well as tradition swiss dried meat. 

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2. Mouse Cheese Grater / Serving Bowl

This little mouse grates cheese and stores it inside itself. You can easily detach the mouse from the grater and turn it into a serving bowl. Why having a traditional grater? This one is so cute!

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3. Fondue Set

Fondue is a traditional swiss / french dish of melted cheese that is eaten by dipping long-stemmed forks with bread into the cheese mix. The difference with the raclette (besides from the serving) is that the fondue is made of a specific mix of cheeses (that varies between France and Switzerland) and is usually added some wine and seasoning. It's the ideal apres-ski meal. And I want it, too. 

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4. Natural Slate Cheeseboard

I just love this cheeseboard - Have you noticed the chili shaped handgrips? The board is protected with acrylic resin to reduce chipping and prevent from staining - making it a perfect board to cut and serve the cheese. You can feel at home like at the finest french restaurant - having your own plateau de fromages. 

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5. Set of Cheese Knifes

Anyone spending enough money on buying cheese should have a set of proper cheese knifes. I fell in love with the minimalistic designer set below, which offers one to cut parmesan, general cheese and soft cheese (from left to right).

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Needless to say, all this cheese chit chat has whetted my appetite.

Do you think this cheese obsession has to do with living in Switzerland / France? Or can it hit anyone anywhere? Do you also fantasize of crackers with cheese?

Blog Swap - Keeping it Class-y

Today is Blog Swap Day at 20sb - my first Blog Swap, yay! Meaning my blog swap partner, Cailen, will be over here today and was kind enough to let me guest post on her lovely blog Lifestyle Maven. Cailen is a lifestyle designer with some great advice on healthy living - and also happens to love cocktails and desserts, just like me! 

Getting to the point, today's post is about something that we've been putting off for far too long and will definitely need to catch up on next year. Enjoy!

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Why is it that so often we put off what we enjoy doing most?  On our endless "to do" lists, the things that would be truly pleasurable and certainly increase our happiness keep getting bumped. Well, this year is going to be different (I hope).

I love yoga. And I practice it a few days of the week on my own, but I haven't been to a formal class in months. Classes (when it comes to yoga...and most things...) are great refreshers.  You hone your skills, push your limits and really sink into your "om". A class gets you out of the house and consequently helps to get you out of your head. There are no ringing phones or piles of laundry beckoning you from the next room. Yet, despite how much I love yoga... and how close the nearest studio is (literally it's about a 1/2 mile away), i consistently forget (is that the right word?) to go.

and then there's zumba. I actually haven't ever tried zumba - a fast-paced, latin-inspired group dance - but i'm so intrigued. It looks so fun and challenging (in a good way).  my sister even told me about a class that again is super close to where i live (and relatively inexpensive) and yet, I have not gone. 

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I know my story is not unique. Most people would probably admit that they too don't always make time to do the things they love the most...or to try new things they might fall for.  Why is that?  Maybe it's the money (I know that's sometimes the case for me.). But, i don't really think it's the $10 drop-in fee that's keeping me from taking the occasional class. I think it's something else...guilt maybe?  Or a sense that i should be doing something "productive"...

Well, no more. This year...2011...will be different. After all, life is happening right now.  this isn't some test run for the real deal later on. So, without getting too mushy or philosophical, I encourage all of you to set aside some time to do something you love (and haven't allowed yourself to enjoy for a while). Touch base with a friend you've been meaning to see, visit that exhibit at the museum before it's gone, or just maybe take a class : )

(A big thank to you Katherina for hosting this post.  xoxo)

Happy Holidays!

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Don't forget to head over to Cailen's blog - Lifestyle Maven - and check out her great posts on food, design and lifestyle!

Friday's Five - #3 Edition

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Life's Great Mysteries, Mr. Shev. I found out about Mr. Shev's Blog on the Expat Bloggers in Switzerland edition of The Connectors at Worldradio.ch a couple of weeks ago. I really enjoy his writing, and Life's Great Mysteries is among the best - it gets you thinking about little mysteries of our day by day life that you might have never thought about before, and this, in an incredible funny way. 

A word about jeans, 30-something Travel. Stephanie is a flashpacker by heart and gives great advice for those who are looking to see something outside of the usual guidebooks. In a word about jeans she justifies the reason to travel with jeans in your backpack (which, hey, I do too!) - you wouldn't be going into a trendy restaurant with zip-off pants, right? There it is - jeans are the solution!

Couchsurfing Changed My Life, Journalist on the Run. If you've read about my thoughts on Budget Traveling, you'll know that I've already been considering this travel option for a while but wasn't very sure about the lack of privacy. But then, this encouraging post from Janet has made me see things in a different way and I've decided to create a profile these holidays as a pre-new year resolution! 

Adapting to the French Diet, Le Fabuleux Destin de Brenna. Why french women don't get fat is one of my life great's mysteries - and I presume I'm not alone in this, given that Mireille Guiliano even writes a book about it. The secret lies on eating with pleasure. Check Brenna's post and you'll find out why!

White Chocolate Saffron Truffles, Chocolate & Tea. Well, since I've been talking about all that chocolate and all those truffles I saw and tasted at the Chocolate Festival in London, I thought that the best choice was to end this Friday's 5 edition with a mouth-watering white chocolate saffron truffle receipt. 

The Sweetest Corner of London

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I know, I've been missing in action the last couple of weeks. I've been having a lot of work, business trips, visits, holidays... and haven't really had a lot of time to write about it!And that's the reason why this post comes, well, a bit delayed. 

Last thursday I was surprised with a improvising business trip to London (those are the kind of surprises I like). I had my tickets to stay over for the weekend anyway - perfect timing, thanks! As usual, the weekend could be summed up in 3 words: partying, walking and eating. Seriously, is this food obsession temporarily? Is it somehow related to age? Will I get over it before I turn into a gigantic walrus?

On planning our Sunday by, initially, checking out where to go ice skating, I stumbled upon London's Chocolate Festival. I must admit that, me (as well as most of my friends) aren't sweeties - Most of us would probably never trade a piece of cheese, ham or a dumpling for chocolate. But then - having the opportunity to explore a whole market of chocolate-related products (only during that precise weekend), who would decline the offer?


My Top 5 Selection

So, after making my way through the crowd to investigate what each of the exhibitors were offering, my 5 favorites (in no particular order) were...

1. Champagne truffles, by Co Couture. Co Couture uses only French and Italian raw materials and most of its chocolates are dairy and gluten free. Usually the word "free" isn't appealing at all when it comes to chocolate - at least that's what I thought until I saw their collection of champagne, whisky and gold truffles. 
2. Chocolate with lavender, by Bean and Pod. They use all natural ingredients for their incredible flower truffles. Lavender is my favorite flower - could there be a better combination? 
3. Cocoa Oil and Vinegar, by Hotel Chocolat. Hotel Chocolat was the only brand I knew at the exhibition. Besides from offering amazing pralines in all shapes, colors, textures and fillings they have some pretty exotic stuff that is definitely worth trying. I got obsessed with the cocoa and chilli oil and the cocoa vinegar. Did you know they even have cocoa penne?
4. Cookies, by Sobo Chocolate. Forget about Starbucks cookies, there's nothing that can be compared to Sobo's cookies. They even won de Great Taste Awards 2010! Sobo Chocolate started in 2007, when entrepreneurs Helen & James got bored of their 9 to 5 jobs and decided that they wanted to gift the world with chocolate - it could be a movie, right?
5. Rusty Tool Set, by White Fox Chocolaterie. Sorry, I'm cheating with this one. I remember their awesome collection of small chocolates and truffles, but when I visited their webpage and discovered their figurines... I couldn't resist! You've got to check our their shoes (they come in a shoe box!). 

I guess I can say that, when it comes to chocolate - I like it dark and with some exotic taste (yeah, exactly, like champagne or... chili!). 


Which is your chocolate ruin? Any particular type or flavor you can't live without?

How to Board "Just on Time" in London Airports

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I just got back from a great weekend in one of my favorite cities, London. 

When I travel, I like to optimize my time outside the airport and get "just in time"(unless it has some english book shops, in which case, I can get lost in it for the time remaining). Now, this sounds all great and shiny as long as I stick to the hypothetical case in which I control all the interfering factors - but I don't. It doesn't matter how you calculate and predict things will go, it will probably go wrong.

You might notice you've left your passport on the table when you are already on a non-stop train to the Airport or get stuck in a huge unexpected sunday traffic jam - aren't all english people enjoying the countryside or at least chilling in a park on a sunny sunday? You might get caught in a street protest. Or even have a tube breakdown (not that rare, right?). Maybe there's a ground crew strike - and less people are at the passport controls and scanning handbags. Or maybe today you just look like a terrorist - and have a suspicious nationality, and you are caught in millions of questions. I really wonder if anyone traveling in London ever arrives to the airport with some extra time. 

It seems to me, as if compromising to take flight is much more difficult than I thought. There are so many things that can stand between your starting point and the airplane! 

So what can you actually do to reduce the risk of missing your flight?

• Online Check-In. This tool has saved my trip on many occasions. Don't wait until you are at the airport to do the Check-In, you might get caught in serious queues. Instead, print out your Boarding Pass and put it next to your Passport. Some airlines even provide you with a Mobile Boarding Pass! I first used it last night when coming back from London, it works pretty well - as long as you have battery and an internet connection. 
• Plan your Trip to the Airport. Before leaving, don't forget to check for tube works, train schedules,   street congestions or road works. For London, I like to use TFL's Traffic News Interactive Maps, for tubes, buses, trains and roads. And, unless you travel from London City Airport, recheck which is your Terminal of Departure!
• Remember the key objects: passport (+ visa, if needed), boarding pass and/or mobile phone and money. Everything else is can be replaced on your trip. 
• Keep your hand luggage simple. I'm not telling you to travel only with your passport and some extra pounds and Check-In the rest, but it is important to take with you a handbag that allows you to move quick if needed, like the 4-wheel trolleys that can move in any direction. Shoulder strap bags may look nice, but don't try to run for a last minute call with them. 
• What to wear. As much as a girl wants to look good, when you're struggling with time, you should at least leave away necklaces, bracelets and rings. Simplify it all - use leggins (they're more comfortable, anyways), a long shirt, easy-on boots (UGGs are probably among the best choices) and a jacket. The more you wear, the more you have to take off for the security check and the more you are likely to forget if you're on a hurry. Been there, done that. 

Even considering these few speeding up tips, anything else can come in between you and your plane. I guess that's why the general rule talks about being in the airport about 1 hour (and an extra 30min for London) before departure for european flights and 2 hours (+ 30min bonus) in case of an international flight. 

Have you ever caught a flight just in the last minute? What did you do to speed up?