I visited Lanzarote for the very first time on my very first cruise in December 2010.

I took a comprehensive tour of the island organized by the Independence of the Seas.The island was a great disappointment to me.A blot on the horizon,nothing of interest,no history,no culture,no impressive buildings.At the entrance to the centre of Arricefe, the capital,there was a white small square low building, peeling paint on all four scruffy walls.Today,over 7 years later,the white square building is still standing just as scruffy,the peeling paint on all four walls.Everywhere you look the buildings are shabby,plain and awful.I have been to Lanzarote several times since.Not out of choice.The island is on the itinerary of every ship of every cruise to the Canaries.I have no doubt billions of EU money is poured here as is to the whole of Spain,the cruise ships bring in revenue of some magnitude. And Arricefe cannot afford a tin of paint. Every time I come I walk to the marina,pop inside a shop or two and return to the ship. I know I will be cruising to the Canaries again, I know Lanzarote will be on the itinerary. I have decided that the next time I come I will venture outside Arrecife again, maybe things have changed for the better. Well, Mr Cameron, the ex British Prime Minister had spent a holiday on the island with his family twice.Maybe I am missing something.