INTENSE PLEASURE

One of the joys of flying to Lanzarote is that final two-hour stretch when all you can see from the window of the plane is sea, sky and maybe a few clouds. It can feel like a bit of a haul, but there’s no doubt you’re going somewhere far away, a place where the sun never stops shining.

And then it appears, a strange, beautiful little island, knobbly with volcanoes, surrounded by surf and beaches. It passes swiftly beneath the wings before that final swing round and you’re zooming low over the water towards the shore.

That first blast of warm Canarian air as you leave the plane is always memorable, but last month I flew back from Greece and realised it can also be a relief from the intense, stifling heat other parts of Europe experience. Heat that saps your energy and makes you itchy and irritable, that just makes you want to hide away in shady room with a fan.

We rarely get that kind of heat here. It’s never humid and sweaty, there’s usually a breeze and even when it gets really hot, you’re never far from a beach, a pool or a lagoon to cool off in. There’s always sweet relief – a shady corner an ice cold drink, a moment of pure relaxation.

But August on Lanzarote is also all about activitythere are hundreds of things to do and see, the resorts will be buzzing and the joyful sound of traditional fiestas will never be too far away. It’s an intense month of undiluted pleasure – enjoy!

Enjoy the magazine!

NEWS