Lyle at Carnival .. Las Palmas, Gran Carnaria - Feb 28, 2009

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I just received this email from Lyle....

Dear John,

I wrote you a fairly long letter yesterday and carelessly lost it by failing to watch the time left on my rented computer. Better luck this time.

I reached Las Palmas, a town on Gran Canaria with little more than fatigue. It is carnival time. It goes on for several weeks. I arrived on the street an hour early to get a sitting place. It was necessary! The parade lasted more than four hours. After four hours of really endless floats, thousands of parade costumes, and more than half the spectators in costume, endless loud bands, the throwing or pouring of candy, wine, hats, confetti, and noise, noise, noise. I really was tired and over-whelmed and struggled for about 30 minutes to return to my hotel only 3 or 4 blocks away. The music and parade continued during my evening meal and stopped only a few minutes before I went to bed. They party here!!!!

The next day after walking on the beach and taking many pictures I decided on a restful half hour on the hotel´s roof top pool. Nice but in my barefoot trip down the marble steps -- no hand rail - I fell down about eight steps. Result... five stitches on my right elbow, a scrape an my lower spine and a few cuts and bruises on my hands. The wonderful hotel desk clerk -- Dara Torres spent the next 2 and a half hours taking me to the doctor for X-rays, shots, and equipment for 7 days of self treatment.

The next day I flew to Lanzarote to a middle class hotel. If you are lucky the desk has an English speaking person. Guess what.. Visa card is not accepted any where I tried to use it. Cash is needed every where.

I took a nine hour bus tour that covered the whole island and it was worthwhile and enjoyable.

One story... You can paint your house any color, but if it is not white your taxes increase the next year by 300%.

I miss Cook county and will probably not travel like this again -- or soon.

Lyle