The Mirador del Río is a viewpoint situated on an approximately 475 metre high escarpment called Batería del Río in the very north of the Canarian Island of Lanzarote. Tourists are coached in large numbers from the big resorts to stand on the viewpoint that overlooks the straits between the islands of Lanzarote and Isle Gracosia. Entry is about 5 euros each.
If these tourists just looked to the right a bit, they would see a locked gate and a few no entry signs, behind which are old gun placements. Enter here, and without the exorbitant rip-off entry fee, you get the same view and experience.
Being tight-fisted and always looking to save a Euro or two, I took the later option.
HISTORY
Spanish armed forces set up gun placements at the end of the 19th century at a strategic site overlooking El Rio, the straits separating Lanzarote and Isle Gracosia. Spain had just gone to war with the USA over control of Cuba. In the end the Spanish-American War of 1898 only had 2 theatres of conflict - the Caribbean and the Pacific and so these gun placements were never used. The war was a decisive victory for USA and resulted in Spain ceding control of Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines to the USA.
In 1973, local artist Cesar Manrique (1919-1992) but a lookout next to the gun placements. It is this that the tourists visit in large numbers - paying very much for very little.
THE EXPLORE
The entrance to the Mirador del Rio. Pay the entry fee, enter the door and climb a few steps you reach the viewpoint on top of a 475m escapement.
But look to the right and there's a locked gate and a no entry sign. This looks much cheaper me thinks
We reach the first entry point
It is obvious that this was once sealed with breeze blocks
Leads to a corridor with 2 adjacent rooms
Nothing remains in those rooms
And turn another corner
And another corner
We exit onto a gun placement
Mwhahahaha (evil laugh by the way) these dumb tourists paid good money and I didn't
Further along is a pill-box
With it's own entrance
Steps lead down (again over remains of breeze blocks)
To a small room
And then up some steps to the lookout room
And we see across the straits of El Rio to the Island of Gracosia
Thanks for reading. If you think the the photos are a bit off then please understand that the luggage allowance on a Ryanair flight only allows for a bankcard and a toothbrush and nothing else- never alone a tripod or a SLR camera.
If these tourists just looked to the right a bit, they would see a locked gate and a few no entry signs, behind which are old gun placements. Enter here, and without the exorbitant rip-off entry fee, you get the same view and experience.
Being tight-fisted and always looking to save a Euro or two, I took the later option.
HISTORY
Spanish armed forces set up gun placements at the end of the 19th century at a strategic site overlooking El Rio, the straits separating Lanzarote and Isle Gracosia. Spain had just gone to war with the USA over control of Cuba. In the end the Spanish-American War of 1898 only had 2 theatres of conflict - the Caribbean and the Pacific and so these gun placements were never used. The war was a decisive victory for USA and resulted in Spain ceding control of Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines to the USA.
In 1973, local artist Cesar Manrique (1919-1992) but a lookout next to the gun placements. It is this that the tourists visit in large numbers - paying very much for very little.
THE EXPLORE
The entrance to the Mirador del Rio. Pay the entry fee, enter the door and climb a few steps you reach the viewpoint on top of a 475m escapement.
But look to the right and there's a locked gate and a no entry sign. This looks much cheaper me thinks
We reach the first entry point
It is obvious that this was once sealed with breeze blocks
Leads to a corridor with 2 adjacent rooms
Nothing remains in those rooms
And turn another corner
And another corner
We exit onto a gun placement
Mwhahahaha (evil laugh by the way) these dumb tourists paid good money and I didn't
Further along is a pill-box
With it's own entrance
Steps lead down (again over remains of breeze blocks)
To a small room
And then up some steps to the lookout room
And we see across the straits of El Rio to the Island of Gracosia
Thanks for reading. If you think the the photos are a bit off then please understand that the luggage allowance on a Ryanair flight only allows for a bankcard and a toothbrush and nothing else- never alone a tripod or a SLR camera.
