Apologies for those that frequent many forums, I've posted this on Canary Nightlife as well.....

A quick word about the merits of the internet, I'll try and put it into a few posts, so it doesn't bore people too much !
It's very often that the internet is portrayed for all the wrong reasons, but on a recent trip to lanzarote I found the value of using it and visiting the various chat forums.
I met some of the nicest people whilst over there, having chatted to them on line and struck up a rapport, I was determined to put some "faces to names" and say hello whilst on my visit over the last 7 days....

We flew out on thursday with the longest check in I have ever had, around 90 minutes, Where the check in staff we literally just sat at their desks doing nothing ( I reckon now they might have been waiting for a go/no go command, this left us only a few minutes to get on the plane having picked up a newspaper/some water etc. (I should have guessed then something was afoot !)
Flight went off on time and on arrival in PDC no people waiting for cabs so it was no time at all before we'd had a drink in the travellers rest and were enjoying our customary first meal in Pinnochio's just as good as ever.
We won a bottle of bubbly in the Owl and Pussycat's quiz then I took our group (6, me the mrs, my folks and her folks) to Jaspars to see the rat pack tribute, it was good and there was plenty of songs to sing along to. I'd called in to say hello to Sue but it was here night off......A few drinks later and as the rest of our party headed for a chinese, (The great Wall, excellent value 3 course meal) I took my dad to Spenders to say hello to Geordie John, !...His night off too ! DOH !, Met Biffa and said hello, had a couple of beers and headed of to have last pint at Ricks Bar before bed

TBC.....

Friday night came on thanks to the many excellent reviews I had read, I'd prebooked a table at Emma's Cantina with the Owner Mike.
During a walk to the Old Town ion the day, i'd dropped by in order to find out where it was. Emma was there and I introduced myself, she was very welcoming and gave me a great feel about the place.
When we all arrived later that evening, Mike gave us a really, really warm welcome and that set the tone for the evening, the drinks flowed, the food was delicious, in fact the best we had all week and a fantastic night was had by all, I would give the food/service/hospitality 12 out of 10.....

Sat was football day and I called to say hello to Geordie John, A really nice fella and spenders certainly is a great place for the game, (actually sat next to Cymmon all the game and didn't realise it was him until John introduced us at the end of the match)...

Sun, and 3 of us took beach walk to Matagorda, Fantastic if you can stand the heat, i'd say it's about a 7 mile round trip... anyway I've read a lot of great stuff on G&T's on line so decided that we'd stop there for a spot of lunch... that's when George, another genuinely nice fella dropped the bombshell..no not that Happy Hour was finished but that that XL had gone tits up....I couldn't believe it, I've used them many many times before and they had always been fantastic..Panic set in from that point and after thanking Trish for a great meal (again all the meals were great)we headed back to the apartment to try and find out anything we could and break the news to the others...

tbc......

hurry up danny i love reading these type of threads,well done glad you enjoyed it.

love meatxx

Hi meat,
Why dont you do one of these threads when your there in Jan 09, you could allways start it when you get back from Steve's and Alana bar La Esquina

On Tuesday, I called in to see Sue with my other half, nothing was too much trouble for her, even though she was rushed off her feet.
Her friend looked on-line for any flight details whilst Sue, scoured magazines for contact numbers and also rang the airport.
Again all the Atol website had for Arrecife was a list showing XLA flight numbers cancelled, no sign of our KM6407V (I don't think i'll forget that number in a hurry) air malta flight in the list at all so we really were in limbo....
Thanks again Sue for all your running around..

Wed was our last day and again called in to see Sue, really to say thanks for all the help and advice, first thing she did was buy me a cold one and wouldn't even let me get her one back !! (..I'll call in again Sue)....Regrettably we didn't get to try the food in the Jaspars but the menu and meals that other people had looked fantastic. It's definitely on our to do list next time we are over !
Spent an hour or so there, We then had a brainwave of logging onto Manchester Airports Website and checking for our flight...(It was showing as not only being on, but also arriving on time).... then headed over to Spenders on the way back to the apartment to say thanks to Natalie and John..again thanks so much for your help.....Spenders is a really nice friendly bar with a big warm welcome and I'd recommend anyone to drop in for a couple of cold ones anytime of the day or night..

Thurs and having arrived at the airport at 9am, the flight showed on time, 11.25am, as we were checked in, it went to delayed !!!! finally took off for Arrecife at 11.40pm !!! and by the time we got home after baggage etc it was 5.15, (nearky a 21hr journey home) I then came to work at 7am and did 4 hours before having to call it a day at 11am and go to bed !!

All in all, we had a fantastic holiday again in Lanza, discovered 5 new places which will in future visits become "Must visits" (all being well)

A big, big thank you for everyone's advice on this forum, Just goes to show even though I have a good knowledge of PDC, I never would have found these new places and met new friends, if it wasn't for the forums..

Danny