Sunday 18 December

After a rather disturbed night (we played musical beds…Keith went to sleep with Mikey in the other twin bed who then came to sleep with me) I was up early and having a cup of coffee before the sun came up. Dawn broke cloudy and windy so we resigned ourselves to having a day away from the pool.

After breakfast we strolled into the port and had a look around the shops which mostly sold tat, and some very rude tat as well in a couple of places! As we wandered about the sun broke through and we were treated to some glorious sunshine. We had tentatively talked about going over to Fuerteventura so we went to see how much it would cost to take the car and the four of us over but the ticket offices were closed. It looked to be about 100 euros though, which for a 15 minute journey I thought was pretty steep! 

Playa Blanca harbour

Before heading back to the villa we stopped for a drink and an ice-cream and watched the world wander by. I’m convinced a lot of people come over to the island for the day on the ferries because the resort is much quieter at night!

We popped into the Spar again for lunch stuff and then it was back to the villa and an afternoon of sipping Cava and sunbathing!

With the evening came a chilly wind and a fair amount of cloud. I wanted to head back to the marina and try one of the restaurants there that was advertising a Christmas Day menu so we drove the short distance, found a parking space much closer to the seafront and had a drink at La Petite Marmite where we’d had coffee on market day. The whole marina was practically deserted with just one other couple having a drink in the bar. I have to say it was very chilly sitting outside but we stuck it out for about half an hour before going to the restaurant for an early dinner. On the way we passed several, very cool, chill-out bars, all with white sofas, mood lighting and very smart staff. They were mostly empty, too!

The restaurant we chose was called El Mano and the menu looked very good, with lots to choose from and very elegant surroundings. Although we were technically inside, there was a canopy at the front of the restaurant that could be pulled back to give views over the marina. We chose our meals – tomato soup to start for Mikey, Sophie had croquettes, Keith had an apple, walnut and pear salad while I went for eggs, bacon and potato which was basically a fry up! Our mains were chicken in a white wine sauce, veal cordon bleu, spaghetti and lasagne. The food was very good and we were given lots of warm bread, olives and a tomato salsa before our starters arrived. I enjoyed a glass of a delicious Lanzarote white wine, the Vega de Yuco, the same vineyard as the red I’d had a few days earlier.

Impressed with the food, the impeccable service and the surroundings we asked about the Christmas Day dinner and were given the menu. It wasn’t cheap (but less than the English run restaurant near to our villa which is charging 60 euros per person!) and included Minestrone soup with scallops (11.75e)  a pate with truffle vinaigrette (12.75e) as starters and cod loin, duck and steak as main courses, all at around 22 euros.

After much deliberation (we needed to make sure the children had enough choice to enjoy their meal) we decided to book for 8pm on the 25^th. After paying the bill we left to go back to Playa Blanca where I said I would treat us all to ice-creams for dessert. We managed to park on the main street and on the way to the promenade the children were distracted by a couple of tat shops where Sophie bought Susie a particularly naff starfish magnet as a little joke!

We chose a “Gelateria” along the front, right next to the Volcan de Timanfaya restaurant. “Our” waiter noticed us and kept shouting over to us so after we’d enjoyed some very good ice-cream we went to have a chat with him and told him where we’d been to eat. We also said that we’d booked for Christmas Day as he’d told us that his restaurant was closed until the New Year.

“I was joking!” he said, which perhaps wasn’t the best thing to say as the maître d’ was standing right next to us! We said we much preferred to go to the Volcan de Timanfaya so he promised he’d call the restaurant at the marina and cancel for us the next time we were in.

Keith said I was gullible to believe him but I was genuinely worried that nowhere was going to be open on Christmas Day and that we’d end up having a pizza back at the villa! We’re not sure whether next week is going to be much busier in the resort, but personally I hope not! I’ve grown quite used to the peace and quiet in Playa Blanca!