Playa Blanca (Lanzarote)
Video, music, text and vocals by Harry Winthagen (Netherlands).
Recorded in BM-studio Lanaken (Belgium).
PLAYA BLANCA (LANZAROTE)
Playa, Playa Blanca, you are my paradise,
Playa, Playa Blanca, in the morning sunrise.
Playa, Playa Blanca, you are my nicest dream,
Playa, Playa Blanca, in the Atlantic Ocean stream.
Playa Blanca in the south of Lanzarote is the third largest tourist area on the island. This peaceful and pleasant spot, awarded on various occasions for its beauty, is an ideal place to relax in. It has a wide range of hotels and bungalowparks, surrounded by a flourishing service sector. You can find all kinds of restaurants, shops and bars along the Playa Blanca boardwalk and in the old village. Another interesting area is the recreational new port, Puerto Rubicón, with facilities of high quality. The beaches of Dorada and Flamingo stand out for their white sand and proximity to the main hotels in the area. But without doubt, the beaches of Papagayo, where white sand and crystalline waters wash lap against the rocks, are the most beautiful. From Playa Blanca you can ferry across to the island of Fuerteventura, with the enormous beaches at Corralejo with their white sand dunes and crystalline waters. A few miles from Playa Blanca we find Timanfaya National Park, La Geria, Janubio salt flats, El Golfo, Los Hervideros and the charming village of Yaiza. The most symbolic sights on Lanzarote are, undoubtedly, those created by the dynamic union between lava and sea. This unique lunar landscape, ringed by beautiful beaches, has been featured in several well-known movies because of its unusual visual impact. Many of the island's more interesting places and buildings were created by the painter, sculptor, architect and artist César Manrique. His Foundation is the island's cultural centre par excellence, that has won international recognition. This volcanic lava tube extends to the sea and connects with the Cueva de los Verdes. Timanfaya National Park is of volcanic origin. The most recent volcanic eruptions took place between 1730 and 1736. Among its most well-known volcanoes are La Montaña de Fuego, la Caldera del Corazoncillo and Montaña Rajada. El Golfo is truly one of the rarest examples of hidrovolcanism, volcanic activity that takes place at low altitude. The lake that emerged in the area was given the name Laguna de los Clicos. Mirador del Río is the most important of the many Miradors built by César Manrique. It provides a breathtaking view of the entire Chinijo archipelago, in particular the view of the island of La Graciosa. The old town of Teguise is the historic quarter of the island. It's history dates back to the pre-hispanic period, with the ancient town situated around the present day Villa la Gran Aldea de Acatife, and which was one of the main population centres of the Majos. The Santa Bárbara Castle, now a museum, sits on the Guanapay mountain overlooking Teguise. It was built by Sancho de Herrera in the 16th century as a watchtower for the coastlines on both sides of the island. The Castillo de San José, a fortress built between 1776 and 1779, was commissioned by the king of Spain, Carlos III, and today houses the International Museum of Contemporary Art. The castle is popularly known as La Fortaleza del Hambre. The Peasant's Monument and the Casa Museum were created by César Manrique to immortalize the difficult labour of Lanzarote's rural community. An extraordinary collection of utensils and implements used by the peasants throughout time give the visitor a sense of a great part of the island's history and traditions. El Grifo Wine Museum is housed in ancient bodegas, builded in 1775 on top of the solidified lava issued from the volcanic eruption of that century. El Grifo offers wine tasting courses the year round to enable visitors to fully appreciate the characteristic body, flavour and colour of the local wines.