h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hullo Lanzababy!

Because you mentioned Lanzarote the other day, I just thought about Cesar Manrique, (with accent on the first e, but I can't find accents on my keyboard, sorry Cesar).

So I thought I'd wake you up early on Saturday morning, , to ask you if you've ever been to the gallery of the Manrique Foundation, which I believe is in Arrecife?

We stayed a couple of times in Corralejo, on Fuerteventura, and one time we sailed over to Playa Blanca, Lanzarote, on a ferry called the Bouganville. We just stayed for the day, came back on the evening ferry, but we loved Playa Blanca.

I became very interested in Manrique and his influence on the architecture of the island, how the traditional style is maintained, whilst adapting to tourism. Like, low rise hotels only.

I wonder if all the architecture is still low rise, or did some high rise hotels sneak in?

OK, end of very intelligent Saturday morning message.

cc

heya! how nice of you to drop in.

And yes, and yes and yes! Manrique is the Saint of Lanzarote - he is incredibly loved and his death is still mourned. He managed to persuade the powers that be that Lanzarote should not be allowed to turn into yet another Costa style holiday destination - so high rise hotels are not allowed.

He made so many recommendations, even down to things like not allowing bill boards and it being compulsory to only paint the exterior of your house white, with blue or green woodwork - so the character of the island has been preserved to a great extent.

If you ever have a chance to visit - let me know! I'll be pleased to show you more of his work.

Hullo Lanzababy! Great to hear from you, and to receive information about Manrique,and his influence on the architecture of the island! Thanks so much!

I knew there was a reason why I was fascinated by him, and his influence, what an amazing person. I've just been checking his sculptures on Google images. Check those sculptures! Oh wait, you don't have to, they are part of your home landscape. heheh.

His work reminds me of my other hero, the artist Joan Miro. I wonder if that's a fair comparison?

It must have been a terrible day for the island when he was killed, in a crash I think? And yet his spirit lives on through his work.

I'd love to see more of his work, in the magnificent Canarian context, with the black lava rocks and the Canarian light. Ah maybe one day! I dream I dream.



Cafe con leche condensada! Ah, memories of Los Cristianos, Tenerife. We used to go there a lot in the 80s. Los Cristianos is a lovely town, still with a Spanish soul I think.

cc

I believe that Manrique was friends with Miró, from what I've read about his life. I do know that there is a painting by Miró in the Fundacion Art Gallery - along with other works by Picasso and other contempories from the time. These are from Manrique's private collection and the display changes from time to time.

Just at the moment the Fundación César Manrique is supporting the movement against oil prospecting off the coast line here. More of which will be in my journal at some point.

If you ever do happen to visit, then the places I'd like to show you would be Jameos del Agua and Mirador del Rio. Jameos del Agua is my most favourite place on the planet. The phrase 'genius loci' which means 'spirit of the place' is perfectly exemplified in the way that Manrique has taken a natural wonder and embellished it and created a space that feels both awesome and protective. I just love visiting it!

Morning Lanzababy! That's really interesting that Manrique perhaps knew Miro. This topic is getting more and more fascinating! There's a Miro work in the gallery??? (faints).

Things to do or at least dream about(before I move from being quite ancient to being incredibly ancient ). Visit Lanzarote.

That's really interesting about the Fundacion supporting the movement against the oil prospecting off the coast. So they continue to be very serious about conservationist issues then, and obviously have massive respect on the island. I had no idea that oil prospecting was going on. I'll keep an eye on your journal, to learn more about it.

Holy wonders! I've just been checking online about Jameos del Agua. It looks incredible!!! So the word jameo means a volcanic cave, with a collapsed roof? into which have been designed pools, and gardens, and ... and ... (faints again). Can you swim in some of the pools?

I can see why this is your favourite place on Earth, or even in the entire universe. Genius loci indeed. Spirit of the place. Thank you Manrique, and thanks to you also Lanzababy for telling me about it.

A wondrous gift it is, I think, to have a favourite place on earth!




Now I'm going to check up on Mirador del Rio.

Spirit of the place.

Spirit of place. I've been obsessed with the phrase 'spirit of place' for many years. I think I first came across it in ... in ... would it have been in a travel book by D H lawrence called Sea and Sardinia?

Don't I rabbit on, eh? I'm going to shut up now.

Thanks Lanzababy for telling me all these inspiring things! Glad I asked you about Manrique now!