Mallorca

Day one
In Mallorca, we were greeted by Leo, blue sky and sunshine. It was so wonderful to be driven along so we could look at the view; the beautiful blue sea with yachts majestically bobbing, the beaches surrounded by clay houses of all shapes with their brick tiled roofs. We settled in and were then taken to a local beach for a swim. The girls were quite surprised that topless women were commonplace and they were mortified when I suggested that I would go topless also! The water was cool and perfect after sitting in 29-degree heat. Surprisingly it is not an uncomfortable heat and I thought it would be.

After the swim, we went out on a boat that Leo was taking for a test run which was pretty cool, especially when we could look back at the land with its huge cathedral dominating the skyline. The marina has many huge superyachts owned by famous people and definitely those from a world very different from our own. Still, we managed to pretend that we belonged on this boat. Then off for a drink in a bar like no other. Fabulous location and once again I sampled Sangria, followed by another then a Mojito. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time… when in Spain… this bar was right on the waterfront and you had to either get there by boat or walk along the rocks a little way. A few jet skis and runabouts ferried people from their yachts to the bar. When the heat became too much for us we plopped into the water! We are staying in the hills in a place called Calvia. The evening was spent on the deck gathered around a large table with friends, food and wine. Dinner was served at 11pm I might add! A perfect start to our stay in Mallorca.

Day two

This was to be a shopping day so we headed into Palma to the ‘cool’ shops, having been informed by a Spanish lassie age 13 who speaks very little English. With our very little Spanish, it makes for some entertaining silences and mime sessions. The girls have not managed to overcome their embarrassment at not knowing the language and so will not attempt to communicate. However, I’m right in there making a complete ass of myself but at least we are getting somewhere. The shopping was not very successful on the purchasing front but I loved walking around the streets as I knew I would. I love the windows and the shutters and the flowers and the cobbles and tan walls and very narrow streets where the houses seem to lean into each other. The street performers here are pretty original in their costuming also. We have seen statues, men suspended in the air and the invisible man. I bought shoes! And they are like plastic and an orange/red colour which is hard to imagine I’m sure.  I still haven’t found the perfect pair but I think you’ll still appreciate these Moira.

After lunch we went swimming again; in and out for a few hours before heading home with food for our night's meal which was again a very late affair. Next door a family were celebrating a birthday and it was lovely to get a sneak view into the lives of the locals. There were about thirty people sitting around tables in a courtyard having their meal which of course didn’t begin until after 9pm. They were singing and laughing and it was all very movie picture perfect.

Day three

Today we headed further into the hills to a winery which is only open for two hours. The surrounding area is rocky and fairly dry and barren with shrubs and some houses dotted around. Some houses do not have electricity and so the fires were burning to heat the water. The winery was built into the side of the hill and it was cool in temperature and cave-like. We sat and ate olives, cheese and Palma ham and drinking the local white wine. A tour took us to Port d’Andratx and then on to Santa Ponsa where my uncle was moored. In the evening Leo’s lovely family arrived and we again sat around the table on the deck and enjoyed the food and the company.

Day four

Today Terry, Leo and I headed into Port Portals for a coffee and croissant before heading to the beach for a swim while the kids were still sleeping. Amazing that there were many others on the beach enjoying the morning sun and it was not yet 10am. On the way back to the house we had a quick visit to a local market, made a small purchase plus sampled buffalo and sheep cheese which was delicious. We hired a car today and went to Santa Ponsa again to join Doug and Josie on their yacht. We spent a fabulous day diving off the boat and getting to know each other. Enough said; it was perfect. We finished the day off with an adult meal out, tasting some Mallorcan tapas: garlic prawns, green peppers, mushrooms, chicken liver and vegetables, beer, local red wine and an aniseed/fennel drink. Mmmmmmmm