2004-02 Gran Canaria: Low tide in Maspalomas

Playa Maspalomas, the beach eastward of the faro (lighthouse), has become the kids' favorite spot on the island. Today the weather is absolutely perfect, and after a breakfast with Omi Marga we head south via the bus. Isaac loves paying for the trip with our public travel card. "Dos para el faro", he says, before dipping the card twice.

We've been hoping to visit at low tide, when warm pools of water make playing even more fun. Today our luck peaks, as we arrive just around the low point. The kids can stroll between the shore and the piles of rocks near-by.

Here you can see Isaac at the right side of the panorama. Lila opted to visit the climbing structure; leaving the boys to play in the warm water.

The rocks are uncomfortable for walking upon, but just fine for sitting and posing.

I get to appear with the faro, adding to my collection of photos of myself on this trip. This is fun!

Lila decides that she wants to join the boys in the water. As much as she shied away from the water before she takes to it now. First slowly, with big brother, ...

... and then screaming with pleasure, on her own. At low tide no waves make it past the rocky breaks, so tiny kids can play without any worry of them being bowled over by the usual strong waves.

Rose borrows my sunglasses and wears herself out with running after Lila and posing for me.

Hungry after almost two hours of non-stop running in and out of the water, we dry off and head over to Restaurante Las Escaleritas. Today we sit at the raised bar tables which parallel the promenade.

Our waiter, who pops into our picture, warns that the paella will take a half-hour, which is too long for me to wait with these tired kids, and suggests that I try the pescado angel (fish of the angels). I agree. It turns out it's a pleasant white fish in a mild chili-oil sauce, a beautiful red colored meal (seen at the right).

Taking the photo of our waiter reminds me to have him take a photo of us; our first family photo on this trip. We rarely get together in one picture.

After lunch we head over to the climbing structure, from the top of which Isaac takes an inflatable frog left there by someone. Here's Lila wearing the frog on our way home.

This evening we're bidding bon voyage to Karen, who is returning to Germany tomorrow. We meet at Gisela & Rainer's restaurant, the Deutsche Gasthaus Atlantis.

Isaac has been absolutely fascinated with the goings-on here. By now Lila has followed her brother's lead, and he moves things up a notch by watching how Janine does her job, helping measure and make my caffè con leche, and helping Rainer cook my cordon bleu. He washes his hands with Rainer, tosses the onions into the bratkartoffel, dips the schnitzel into the egg and bread crumbs and then into the pan.

Here's Rainer looking on as Lila explains to me how I have to leave the kitchen because she's got everything under control.

Later, at our table, Lila realizes that the cucumber salad is a bit spicy; peppery, actually. When I offer to have Rainer (and Walter) slice a cucumber for her she says

Lila: I want the spicy. I'll drink water after.

And she did, for two plates of cucumber salad. Nibble, sip, nibble, sip. I'm impressed.

Tomorrow we enjoy crepes in Maspalomas.

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