Lanzarote is famed for its wonderful climate. It stays warm all year and there is normally a breeze or wind which keeps it bearable. There is also low humidity so it is comfortable.
We’ve never lived in a hot climate before so I’ve been learning fast and have picked up a few tricks from locals and friends, which have helped us keep our cool.
In the winter months here, it can be quite damp and gets cool at night once the sun has gone down. We were advised to light a candle in the evening as it helps burn off the damp. There is lots of sunshine during the day and it’s best to open your windows and get fresh air in but in the early afternoon, you need to close up and dress in warmer clothes. We find that tiled floors make your feet very cold so we both have slippers which keep us warm. If you’re coming on holiday between November and March, you’ll probably need warm clothes in the evenings but it’s T-shirt and shorts weather during the day.
Just occasionally the temperature rises and we get over 40 degrees but it tends to be short-lived. During really hot weather, it’s worth remembering a few extra points.
Drink lots more than you normally do. Water is fine but most people avoid the tap water here and buy mineral water. In cafes or bars, a mineral water will help your thirst more than anything else. Ask for ‘agua con gas’ for sparkling water which is often served with a slice of lemon. The bottles tend to be larger and can serve 2 drinks. If you order a beer, a wine or a coffee, try ordering water at the same time. You get less dehydrated that way. When it’s hot, you’ll notice you need the loo less often as your body is sweating more.
I make a very refreshing and cheap drink by mixing lemon squash, sparkling water and fresh mint leaves with lots of ice. It keeps in the fridge and the mint taste gets stronger. It’s very refreshing. You can also add gin to it for a Tom Collins-type cocktail.
We put some small bottles of water in the deep freeze. When we go out, they serve as cooling blocks for the freezer bag and are normally ready to drink when you need them. We also leave a freezer bag in the car so we can store frozen shopping in it when we visit the supermarket.
I was worried about keeping the kitchen free from flies, ants and the dreaded cockroaches. You can tell what a problem the cockroaches are here by the size of the aerosol spray used to kill them. They’re the size of fire extinguishers! As it turns out, we haven’t seen that many but they are enormous. Apparently it’s a myth that you shouldn’t stamp on them. It’s said you squash the eggs or end up with them on your shoe but neither of these little stories are true. Just go for your aerosol and make sure you don’t do anything that attracts them by keeping your living area scrupulously clean.
I bought lots of bag clips (IKEA do a good range of sizes). You can use them to seal any bag and keep it safe. I also have a mesh food cover which protects food as it cools before it goes in the fridge. You have to be vigilant about cleaning worktops and floors.
We persuaded Nancy, our fussy cat, that she would have to have dry cat food rather than the pouches she prefers. She doesn’t empty her dish and so biscuits are the only thing you can leave out. Friends who live in southern Spain recommended that we put her food bowl inside another bigger bowl filled with water. This keeps her food fresh and insects, like ants, won’t cross the water moat. It’s a great tip (thanks, Bobby) and works well.
Nancy’s vet says that if you wouldn’t drink from your pet’s water bowl, don’t expect them to. The very spoiled Nancy gets chilled mineral water in her dispenser (available from local pet shops) and it makes sure she has fresh water always available.
Remember when the weather gets very warm, you need to close all the doors, windows and curtains to keep the heat out. In the UK, we open windows and doors as soon as the weather is nice. Here you need to keep the heat out of your living space. Close curtains, windows, blinds and shutters to keep the rooms cool and dark. If you don’t have mosquito nets on your windows, don’t leave them open. We think the plastic bracelets that you can buy here work well to protect against mozzies. They are impregnated with mosquito repellent and come in bright colours so you leave them on and they last about a month.
My top tip for dealing with the inevitable mosquito bite is to use sellotape. As soon as you feel the bite, cover it with a bit of ordinary sellotape. It stops you scratching, you can go out with it on and it’s hardly visible. Leave it on for a day or so and when you remove it, apparently, it takes some of the toxins with it. I found this advice on Google!
Another obvious pointer is that you need to dress for the climate. Loose, comfortable clothes in light colours are best. Linen is the coolest fabric and is available in most shops now and is reasonably priced. Black is the worst colour to wear as it absorbs the heat and makes you sweat. And you always, always need a hat and sun protection. The wind here helps cool your skin but it also makes you think it’s cooler than it is. I think that’s why so many people get sunburn – they don’t realise how hot it is. I prefer sun protection that you apply once a day. It lasts even if you swim in it. Boots’ Soltan Once is my favourite. Add a factor 50 stick for protecting eyes and nose and a good lipsalve and that’s about it. Treat the sun with respect and remember the Australian advice – slip, slap, slop. Slip on a T shirt, slap on a hat and slop on some sun protection lotion.
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