Calle Lanzarote

Archive for 2007

Flying with Iberia

Tuesday, November 13th, 2007

I first flew to Lanzarote with Iberia six years ago – returning this year I found out that the level of service had gone downhill.

It’s worth remembering what has happened in those six years – airport security has been stepped up considerably. It is no longer possible to take liquids onto planes (with few exceptions).

Firstly, it was almost impossible to find out when we had to check-in by. The airport, online travel agent and the Iberia website all gave different answers, so we got there as early as possible, only to find that the check-in desk hadn’t opened yet. The “check-in by” time from the airport seemed to be the time that the desk actually opened!

Then there were conflicting details about hand luggage – Frankfurt airport allows 8kg, Iberia stated 10kg. As if this wasn’t enough, returning through Arrecife the signs at the gate showed a maximum of 6kg.

Changing planes in Madrid (T4/T4S) was also a long process, which involved not only a long walk but also a ride on an underground monorail. Admittedly, nothing to do with Iberia itself, but it all added to the experience.

At the gate in Madrid, the time on the gate did no match the departure time on the board. Someone asked the employee sitting at the gate desk if the flight to Frankfurt (this was on the return journey) went from this gate and was told “no”. Actually, in the end, it did!

But my real gripe has to be the on-board service. Firstly, the crew from Frankfurt to Madrid spoke almost no German and only a smattering of English. This may not affect me so much, but it did affect those passengers who spoke no Spanish. Even the safety announcement in German was from a tape that did not entirely match up with the information being given on the PA in Spanish.

But worse – there is no longer a meal or drinks on board! Six years ago, drinks were included in the price of the flight and there was even a snack on the way to Madrid and a warm meal on the way to Arrecife.

This time you had to buy any drinks (remember, you can’t take your own on board!) at 2,50EUR for a can of soft drink (per person). The only food was a selection of baguettes and rolls at horrendous prices (6-8EUR!)

In future, I think I’ll pay more attention when booking flights as to what is in included, or at the very last have a packed lunch ready. How times have changed…



When translations go wrong: a helping of lamb?

Sunday, November 11th, 2007

Of all the translations that I have seen on Lanzarote that have gone wrong, this one has to be the worst. I think the original says “a typical dish from southern India with a helping of lamb in onion and black pepper sauce”.

What it actually says, in German, is not really translatable back into English, but it comes out something like this: “a typical plate from the southern bit of the Indian (person) with assistance from the lamb in a sauce from onions and black pepper”.

This looks like a typical computer translation – word for word ignoring the context of the text. So why do restaurants get away with this so much on Lanzarote? Do the tourist not care as long as it’s comprehensible? Do the restaurants not want to spend money on proper translations? If you have any ideas on this subject, please leave a comment!



Lani’s Indian Tandoori, Puerto del Carmen

Friday, November 9th, 2007

Lani’s is a chain of restaurants on Lanzarote. Each restaurant has a culinary theme on which the menu is based.

If you follow the Avenida de la Playas long enough, you eventually come to Lani’s Indian Tandoori, serving a variety of Indian dishes, but also a selection of standard cuisine for people prefer something else. This can be useful if you are in a group and not everyone is into Indian food – other Indian restaurants tend only to have Indian dishes and are therefore not so suitable.

Although the food is good, I find this restaurant a bit pricey – starting from the bread rolls and butter, and continuing with the size of the portions and the fact that for most things you have to pay extra for rice. So to make it worthwhile, you really do want to have good Indian food in a restaurant that is not doing exclusively that.

Unfortunately, the German translation of the menu takes some deciphering as it is often a literal translation from English, leaving the German tourist completely baffled as to what is on offer.

For visitors to the old town of Puerto del Carmen it is also a long way to walk (about 45 minutes, if you don’t stop to look at the souvenir shops on the way!).

To reserve a table, call 928 841 051.



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