La Famara

Well, what are you thinking meanwhile you watch this picture?

or this one….

Do you have “by mistake” a feeling of silence? Or peace.. or… a feeling of eternity maybe? What exactly is this feeling of eternity or timelessness? I don’t get how it’s possible. It’s like I am experiencing eternity, but am I not a temporal creature? Well, eternity is silent, eternity won’t pop up claim to be true, it doesn’t need to. Eternity is space, it is everywhere and makes everything possible. The temporary creature lives in space, and will dissolve(die) into space. Space is eternity, and is synonymous with emptiness, timelessness, limitless, beingness…

The idea was that me, when I saw this place first time I had in my mind the feeling of eternity, of silence… something with no limit, a place in this immense space we are living… Like in the “world number 4″… which contains stones, wind, metals and water. (this is another story I will tell you about another time a very interesting subject for me)

But now let me tell you where is this place. This is “La Famara” beach, in Lanzarote. This is a beach of 4000 m of brown, fine sand situated at the foot of the crags of Famara.(on the northwest coast of the island)… very photographic and breath taking in appearance.

People consider it one of the best beaches in Canary Islands. I understand this… 🙂 I love this place!! Have indeed something magic. Beside the fact that makes you to feel so small.. wow… You have an idea of immensity just watching the mountains around. This beach is backed by dramatic pinkish cliffs. I like this. I love to stay there to watch the waves and to hear the ocean.. Magnificent…

With what seems like an endless beach, steep cliffs rising straight out of the ocean and stunning views out to the Isle of La Graciosa. Famara is more than just a paradise for the surfers who flock here every year. The small fishing village of Caleta de Famara has achieved worldwide reknown as a surfers paradise.(Caleta literally meaning small port) Surfing, windsurfing or kiteboarding – professionals often train here. Book lessons in one of the surf schools in the village. The cliffs are popular with hang-gliders too.

Famara seems to bear the brunt of the tradewinds sweeping in from the Atlantic and the fact that the Risco — cliffs — rise straight up from the depths of the ocean to the highest point on the island mean that it always seems to be damp.There is nothing right on the beach, (thing I like very much(here it is forbidden to build something on the beach, these people really respect this environment!!)  but there are several bars and restaurants in the nearby village of La Caleta de Famara. El Risco serves fantastic fish, rice dishes and Canarian specialties.

The cliffs, stand like sentinels protecting it from the rest of the island… The strong currents mean that it is not advisable to swim in the sea at Famara — most people you find in the water are experienced surfers — these currents also explain the unusual phenomena that the beach is sandy in summer and rocky in the winter.If you go in the late evening , you will be blessed with some fantastic sunsets, as the sun slowly sinks into the Atlantic.

… although it is a mecca for lovers of the extreme sport of kitesurfing… not the best for sunworshippers, the beaches at Famara certainly make for a great walk, it is true to say that the scenery is simply some of the best on the island.

If you really are hooked on soaking up the sun, Famara is probably not the best place to sunbathe for most of the year. However, in mid-summer, when the wind drops and the temperatures rise you might be forgiven for thinking that I’m not quite telling the truth.The relatively quiet beaches and gentle, cooling breeze make this an ideal place to be.To the West of the village, there is a small lagoon with an even smaller beach; which always seems to be free of wind and much more appealing than a crowded swimming pool. The water is so much safer than at the main beach.

Here are no hotels on this part of the coast, the nearest would be the sports resort of La Santa, so your choice of places to stay is limited to the bungalows in the Urbanisation or apartments in La Caleta itself. Some of the bungalows are quite luxurious but it is fair to say that you will generally get a simpler standard of accommodation in Famara, than at other places on the island. If you’re thinking of joining one of the surf, or other sports, schools, they will be able to help you organise a place to stay. It does not have fancy sun-beds or umbrellas. It is a beautiful beach which is unspoiled by shops.

In summary, Famara is definitely not for everyone, but if you would rather invigorate your senses with some fantastic scenery and a chilled out atmosphere. If you have come for the day then don’t go home till you’ve seen the sun go down. I’ve done it and its absolutely wonderful, especially when the sky changes colour through purple, yellow, reds… Getting there: from the LZ-30, the road through the centre of the island, turn off onto either the LZ-401 or the LZ-402, which both lead to Famara. For those who wanna go to surf here are the forecast including consistency and wind distribution.

Truly spectacular views and sea!!

And so, watching these pictures I am wondering again…What am I? Why I feel sometimes so small? Because I am really small.. I am just another creature made by stars like everyone else… The nitrogen in my DNA, the calcium in my teeth, the iron in my blood, the carbon in my apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. “We are made of starstuff.”(as Carl Sagan used to tell)

Copyright Margó Wiessman