You have to. Just to feel it. And to feel it in the right place. It's not X-rated. It's a tourist-trap thing. Take a camel ride at the Timanfaya National Park. A well-orchestrated, classic tourist attraction. Worth all the tourist-trappings.

Go early. When it first opens around 9 a.m. It's still cool. The light is beautiful on the dunes. And only a couple of tourist buses will be there then. Try to get your ticket to ride on the first camel. Being up front will make you feel a little more like you're the only one. At any rate, it beats the view of the camel ahead of you relieving itself along the way.

The camels are run in caravans, tied closely in lines. Each dromedary (the real name for these one-humpers) holds 2 people. One on either side. In iron seats, like an amusement ride. You're tied-in with well-worn rope. And told to hold on.

If your riding partner weighs much less than you, prepare to be suitably embarrassed when a sack of sand is tied onto his/her side. To even out the load. (We watched the scrawny husband of a very generously sized lady, fitted with 2 sacks of sand before departing!)

A very jerky up-you-go. The camel groans inside his snout mask, worn to keep tourists free from spit. The 20 minute, 10 Euros-for-2 ride is tame. A gentle rocking in the seat. Up the side of a sand dune. A brief stop to look around & to turn around. With time to hand your camera to the affable guide. For a quick snap of you in the "saddle."

No real thrill-ride. But during this tourist experience, take a moment to consider where you are... It's spectacular. All this beautiful nothingness. Seen from a mountain of volcanic sand. And then consider what you're riding...A camel. Just like nomads have done for centuries.

The ride's over. The camels are instructed to sit down, one by one. Another massive jerk in your seat before dismount. A tip to the guide is appreciated, especially if he has taken your photo. More ticket-holding gawkers are at-the-ready. Some asking us things, in languages we didn't understand.

As we left, more buses were pulling up. The temperature & the sun were steadily rising. We wondered how well the poor camels did by late in the day. For that matter how well the guides did in that heat, with all those tourists to please & tired camels to deal with.

In the background on the way to our car, we heard the camels groan. And a silly English girl screaming as her camel "ride" stood up. So touristy. But a memory to savor.