If Only I Hadn’t Missed that One Little Step

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Day 90, Grand World Voyage

Monday, April 3, 2023; Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain.

I won’t bury the lede, to use a journalism phrase. I had a great day here in Lanzarote, until I overlooked a step and took a face-dive onto a terrace of pumice-like rocks. At the time I felt shaken up, but was glad that the worst seemed to be cuts on my face and abrasions on my knees. Thankfully my iPhone survived intact – the body will heal but it wouldn’t, I thought.

Unfortunately, my right knee swelled up over the next couple of hours, and an x-ray in the ship’s medical center showed a fractured patella (knee cap), which also appeared to be dislocated. I got a heavy plaster cast from my upper thigh to my foot (who knew they still use plaster?), a wheelchair and a plan to see an orthopedic specialist the next day in Agadir, Morocco.

I don’t normally skip ahead in time on this blog, but I will now (on April 6) to say that after an MRI in Agadir, the knee isn’t dislocated, and I will continue on the cruise. Great news and the answer to prayers. I’ll provide more details on my injury, treatment and recovery plan in my next blog post.

For now, let’s go back to earlier in the day. I loved this port when I was first here in 2011, and I wanted my sisters to experience the strange volcanic landscape. It’s unlike other volcanic geographies that I have seen. We took off with a private group of nine to start at the Timanfaya National Park.

Like all the Canary Islands, the eastern-most Lanzarote was created by volcanos. But its landscape most recently was formed by continual eruptions from 1730 to 1736. Instead of one explosive mountain, the eruptions pushed through fissures, creating small volcanic cones and oozing lava that spread across much of the island.

We stopped at the only building in the park, where staff amazed us by digging a few inches into volcanic gravel and putting a few pieces into our hands. It was hot enough to send us tossing it from hand to hand. They also demonstrated steam explosions at the surface and the grill over a hot spot where they cook the restaurant’s meats.

Next, we spent 30 minutes or so in the small bus winding our way through the volcanic landscape. Only buses are allowed to take this drive. Near the end we passed the area where tourists can take short camel rides.

Mom and I did that 12 years ago, so thankfully I have checked “ride a camel” off my list.

Mom and I ride the camels in 2011

Islanders have adapted their vineyards for the stark, windy landscape. We stopped to sample some wines and see how they built semi-circular walls of volcanic rock to protect each vine, which grows close to the ground.

Leaving the park, we traversed the island to its original capital, Teguise, where I passed on the tapas lunch to shop across the plaza. I scored with two more dresses and two tops.

The scene of the shopping “score!”

Our last stop was at Jameos del Agua, a series of lava caves that create a grotto. After successfully navigating the stone stairs to a subterranean salt lake and back up, I missed that final, fateful step.

Not one to let my injury slow me down too much, back on board the ship I joined my sisters and friends Jolanda, Ian and Megan, and Tom and Monika for a birthday dinner celebration. My birthday isn’t until tomorrow, but I originally planned to leave early the next morning for a two-night overland tour to Marrakesh (which obviously won’t happen).

From left: Elaine, Tom, Megan, Eloise, Jo (with the swollen lips), Ian, Monika and Jolanda

In 779 days on cruise ships over 30 years (yes, I track them), I had never before been on board for my birthday. So we celebrated over dinner and the traditional (on Holland America) Indonesian birthday song from the crew. Eloise and Elaine planned it all, including hand-painted place cards. Thankfully I wasn’t in much pain and thoroughly enjoyed the evening.