TRAVEL Lanzarote

By Gavyn Andrews

Lanzarote Make your stay unique

Spanish Canary Islands

As we move from the darkness of winter into springs brighter and longer days many people are looking to escape the wet and grey sky gloom of the UK and Ireland. And to be honest I don’t Balme you. I personally wish we had much better weather here but hey life goes on and I guess the good thing is that if you want sunshine then for all of us we have to make the effort to travel somewhere a little further south. Northern Ireland is well served during the winter months by tour operators and low cost airlines offering us all the opportunity to book a 2 -4 hour flight down to the warmer climates of the Mediterranean and North Africa.

Ever since the beginning of my travel career back in 1997 as a newbie retail travel agent the Spanish canary islands have always been at the top of customers travel requests. Most LGBTQ+ community members will automatically think of Gran Canaria first due to its reputation as a key European Gay hotspot which holds annual summer and winter Pride events as well as a having dedicated resorts such as Playa del Ingles and Maspalomas for the community to let loose in and feel totally free. ( This isn’t everyones dream holiday when your gay though)

The sister islands of Lanzarote, Tenerife and even Fuerteventura are just a welcoming if less GAY. I want to suggest to you all that Lanzarote could offer you just as good a holiday or even better experience than Gran Canaria. Lanzarote too me is a much prettier island with a really strong mix of affordable self catering apartments to 5 star luxury hotels and private resorts and offers some truly spectacular resorts such as Play Blanca in the south and the lsland’s liveliest resort Puerto Del Carmen not far from the island Arrecife airport.

First impression count and you will instantly notice the landscape with its white sand dunes and the islands mix of white sandy beaches with some black volcanic beaches. Lanzarote offers such a unique landscape that it was declared a UNESCO Biosphere reserve back in 1993.

So why do you come to Lanzarote for a holiday and well the answers are pretty simple it offers amazing all year sunshine with its volcanic , lunar and mars like sands to world class wine and seafood. It is actually the 4th largest of the canary group of islands.

On this island you will find some truly unique landscapes due to the islands volcanic creation and history. This island is Hot and you will notice from the many sand dunes which line the roads as you transfer on your way to the resort not to mention mountains which seem to be covered in plastic (They grow Grapes this way).

Over the years I have been very lucky to stay in many of the different resorts on the island and would highly recommend Puerto del Carmen for those people looking cafes, shops, bars and restaurants on the door step mixed with an abundance of activities and also it has a really lovely beach which offers some spectacular views of the airports holiday flights arriving and departing. I stayed in self catering accommodation in Puerto del Carmen the last time called Oasis Apartments which where typical Spanish style duplex buildings surrounded by a welcoming communal pool. We tended to do the typical supermarket shop for fresh breads, ham, cheese and tomato to make breakfast or lunch and then headed out every evening down to the Carmen beach strip for food and drinks in the resorts bars.

As I mentioned before Lanzarote isn’t that in your face Gay Island so please please don’t book to come here if your a Gran Canaria, Sitges or Benidorm fan because the island only has one yes one Gay bar and its called XXL. I think it is a very welcome addition to the resort and offers the LGBTQ a space to both relax and cruise if that’s your thing. The bar itself is small in stature but does its best to be the face of the community and offer a good night out even on its quieter days. The reviews it has been given shows how happy the community are to have this space and how much effort the owner and the staff put into making the bar a success. My advice would be to make an effort and have a night out here even if yo are not staying in the resort itself it would be well worth it.

If having gay bars isn’t at the top of your list when choosing a holiday then the island offers some stunning alternative resorts with world leading hotel chains. I have stayed in the Playa Blanca resort built around a cove with some truly stunning 5* hotels dotted throughout the destination . One such hotel which I can highly recommend for couples is the H10 Timanfaya Palace which was one of the first luxury hotels in the resort and was first opened back in 1997. This unique property is on the seafront and offers an Arabic style with ultra modern facilities and services. You will be in the heart of the resort with amenities such as Aqualava Waterpark, Quemada beach and Play Bel Janubio all located within 350 meters. Timanfaya is also a national park and has some of the islands most breathtaking scenery which can also often be very dramatic.

The island is very small and during my visits which have been either 1 or 2 weeks in duration I have always hired a car. The prices are very good and the roads are excellent and allow you to experience more of the islands unique characteristics at your own pace.

I have often found the islands to be a little pricer when I visited over the years compared to mainland Spain but if your staying in any of the 4-5* hotels you will most likely be bed and breakfast or half board meaning your food is often already sorted and the spending money will be spent on your own entertainment needs from excursions or nights out.

Due to the islands small size I would say a week is really long enough but 2 weeks can be excellent when comparing prices. Lanzarote is around the 4 hour flight time from Northern Ireland and operators such as Jet2 and TUI offer packages but you can also self package your flights and accommodation needs via low coast airlines from both Belfast and Dublin airports even mixing them to get the best possible prices.

If you do plan to stay for two weeks I think it would be a really good option to book two alternatives resorts to get a better feel for the island maybe mixing some luxury of the large hotels down in Playa Blanca to maybe a smaller hotel in Puerto Del Carmen or even checking self catering options.

Lanzarote is a very well known spot for athletes to come and train due to the climate and its differing landscapes. You will often see many cyclists and runners some of which will be training for global athletics events like Olympics and triathlons. If your simply looking for a destination also that offers sports holidays the island offers Club La Santa which runs over 500 sports from cycling to Gymnastics all within a fantastic complex .

A holiday means different things to different people and I think its always important that you really think about what you want from a holiday ie do you want to simply chill and enjoy the sun or are you looking to explore the destination and try something different. Lanzarote offers a traveler so much choice that it really is a destination with multiple choices.

Its your money , its your life and I would say do what makes you happy because I am sure you deserve a holiday like no other and to make the best new friendships you can. A holiday is often an escape for people from the daily reality of life but maybe just maybe your next holiday could become your daily reality and no longer be a dream.

Keep travelling any which way you can because life is for living.

Enjoy.

Word By Gavyn Andrews

CASTING COUCH - THE SPIN OFF ERA! Martin Kearney

This following article will go over some of our readers heads it is a passion project perhaps I have too much time on my hands this one is for fans of Greys Anatomy.

In an era where TV shows come and go faster than you can say “McDreamy,” Grey’s Anatomy has defied the odds, not just surviving but thriving for over two decades. That’s right, folks, 20 years of surgeries, love triangles, and enough emotional turmoil to keep your therapist on speed dial. It’s been renewed for its 21st season, proving that this show has more lives than a cat in a lead role.

Keeping the show fresher than a newly minted intern, Grey’s Anatomy continues to introduce a carousel of new characters while giving our beloved veterans storylines that glue us to our screens. Its recipe for success has even spawned two spin-offs: the swanky “Private Practice,” which introduced us to Derek Shepherd’s wonderfully complicated sister Amelia, and the fiery “Station 19.” Although I only tuned into “Station 19” for the crossover episodes that is until Carina DeLuca sister of the late Andrew Deluca was made a regular, I’m not quite ready to bid adieu. And don’t get me started on missing “Private Practice” – I lie awake at night losing sleep manifesting my ideas for further spinoff shows into existence.

This series would be a family drama and explore the estranged and dysfunctional relationship between the shepherd sisters and their husbands and young adult children.

Without further ado, let’s take a whimsical wander into my fantasy spin-off ideas – a gift to fellow Grey’s Anatomy aficionados.

Show 1: The Shepherds

Amelia is offered a Job in NYC that she can’t refuse this ignites her relationship with her sisters and mother. Link Not being able to be away from Scout also joins her along with his new Wife Jo and her daughter Luna. Link and Jo would recur in this Series but would be regulars in my second idea but more on that later.

Charlotte from Private Practice also would turn up with her children grieving the loss of her husband cooper. Cast would include Caterina Scorsone, Scream Queen Neve Campbell, KaDee Strickland, Embeth Davidz, Amy Acker, Cagney and Lacy legend Tyne Daly, throw in some hunky middle-aged actors for their husbands for example Demian Bichir, Matthew St Patrick, Adam Rodriguez along with some fresh new talent or alumni from The CW shows for their young adult/ teen/pre-teen children.

This show would cross over heavily with my second idea.

Show 2: Complications

Taken from the original name that GA was originally called.

Complications would be another Medical Drama following the staff at St Patricks Medical Centre in NYC.

Familiar faces are at every corner of this hospital including Chief Callie Torrez her wife Arizona Robins along with highly respected Dr Nicole Herman. Stephanie Edwards is now an attending in neurology. After Moving with his new wife Jo so as a family they could be closer to Scout and co parent with Amelia Shephard (recurring) Link finds himself back in the hospital he done his intern year in. Jo Wilson also starts training as Fetal surgeon in the same hospital and a position the head of Gynob welcomes Dr Carina Deluca who moved from Seattle with her wife (Maya/ Recurring role on both series) and son to start a new life.

Some story lines would include. jo and links new marriage, catching up with Callie and Arizona, Callie having a coming out as non-binary story line.

Romance for Stephanie and Burn victims being represented.

Maya has a brain tumour one of the reasons they moved to NYC and why Carina took the new post. Her story would cross over heavily with The Shepherds. Amelia and Stephanie once again teaming up to take on an even bigger tumour that Nicole Herman had.

Catherine would also show up from time to time as she is trying to purchase the new hospital and it makes her but heads with a competitor. Another massive name in the medical industry and that character will be played by Madeline Stowe

Penny, Brody and Leah would also recur.

Cast would include.

Camila Ludington, Sara Ramirez, Jessica Capshaw, Chris Carmack, Jerrika Hinton, Stefania Spampinto with movie star Gena Davis and Madeline Stowe. Special Guest Star Danielle Savre/Debbie Allen. Recurring: Tessera Ferrer, Samantha Sloan, Vivian Nixon (fun trivia Vivian Nixon who plays Brody is the real-life daughter of Debbie Allen).

For those scratching their heads, wondering if they’ve stumbled into an alternate TV universe – fear not. You can catch up on all the drama, heartbreak, and miraculous surgeries across the Grey’s Anatomy universe on Disney+. To fellow dreamers and Shonda Rhimes devotees: let’s start a campaign. Who knows? Our collective fan energy might just reach the execs at ABC Studios.