Mallorca Trip 2
After a few days relaxing in Palma, Mrs G on her mobility scooter and me on a bike, we headed into the old town of Palma to explore the sights and try and find some more baskets like the one she had bought in Soller. After cruising around the shops for a while the battery on the scooter started playing up and we only just managed to get it to the taxi rank and head back to the boat.
The next day Bob, Mo, John, Linda, Joanne and John arrived at Palma airport and went to Timoneer to join Mrs G for a late lunch. We then all went by taxi to check out the sights of old town Palma. This time Mrs G’s scooter behaved. After viewing a couple of Gaudi buildings we then headed through the old narrow streets to the gothic cathredral which was started in 1229. After all this thirsty walking we stopped at Hotel Cort for a glass of local wine and to see the sea urchin lamp which Linda had spotted in a NY publication. We then headed back to Timoneer for the evening.
Friday morning some guests went walking to find a local café before returning for breakfast. We then headed out and anchored off Illetas to stay out of the swell. Some went swimming and John had a go on the SUP and provided the rest with some entertainment as he struggled with the chop in the bay. After lunch we upped anchor and motored around past the huge houses of Andratx, past the impressive coastline north of Dragonera Island to the dock at Soller Port.
After breakfast the guests caught the tram and Mrs G and I went by taxi to Soller town for the Saturday market which is set up in the streets. The ladies had a great time looking at all the crafts and jewelry stands while I introduced the men to what the locals drink, a carajillo con amazonas which is an espresso with sweet Mallorcan rum. They then went on to buy local olives, cheese, sausage and almonds. The market started to get busy as the first train load of tourists arrived from Palma. We then headed back to Timoneer for lunch, after which Phil took the guests for a drive to the pretty mountain villages of Deia and Valldemossa and then to the Lafiore glass factory. In the evening the guests kindly took us all out for a very nice evening at the restaurant Sa Barca.
In the morning we left Soller and headed further along the coast to Sa Calobra where we dropped anchor and all the guests went ashore and walked the path around the coast and through a tunnel to get to the beach. After a swim they returned to Timoneer and then Phil met them ashore with the van and drove them to Cala Tuent for a Sunday lunch at restaurant Es Vergeret where from all accounts they enjoyed very good paella looking down on the bay of Tuent. Timoneer then motored into the bay and anchored below the restaurant adding to the occasion for all the diners above. Once the guests were back onboard we continued North East past the mountains and rounded Cape Formentor anchoring out of the swell off the Formentor Hotel for the night.
Restaurant Es Vergeret at Cala Tuent
Monday the weather was not so nice and we motored across the North of Mallorca and all the way down the East coast and anchored on the South off Colonia St. Jordi by Playa Es Trenc. It was raining so the guests enjoyed a movie.
Phil met the guest ashore Tuesday morning and drove them to Can Feliu vineyard at Porreres where our Timoneer wine was made. They spent the afternoon with Carlos having a lovely meal and tasting wine. On their return to Timoneer some went ashore for a swim.
We thought we had a good spot out of the swell but early morning we started to roll so we headed off and had breakfast underway and dropped anchor in the calm of Palmanova Bay where the guests had a lot more success on the SUP’s. John managed to show them up this time. After lunch we headed back to Palma and tied up to the dock. Then the rain came and put a stop on any plans we had to go ashore.
Thursday morning the rain had cleared so I drove all the guests to Olivar Market where Bob found the seafood hall and did as the locals did and had oysters and cava. Meanwhile the ladies were looking for gifts to take home. There is plenty to look at and experience in this massive market. After an hour there we headed back to the boat to pack the drinks and salads in the van and off we drove to Alaro to Phil and Anne’s “Goat House”. The roads just keep getting narrower and the dry stone walls on either side go for miles. At the bottom of their property some got in to a 4WD to get up the last few hundred meters while the rest of us walked. Phil cooked up his usual superb deboned lamb legs on the BBQ and also fresh sardines, very Mallorcan. He also had a fantastic lamb curry in the poiki pot, letting his African side coming out. After a great afternoon in the countryside overlooking the village of Alaro we wound our way back down the hill and back to Palma. For the guest, sadly, this was time to pack their bags ready for their early departure in the morning. These guests have to be the biggest jigsaw puzzle addicts we have had onboard. They successfully finished 4 and left one half complete.
Alaro Village from the Goat House
A fun week was had by all where hopefully they got a little taste of what draws so many foreigners to Mallorca and why plenty now call it home. At 6:30 Friday morning we arrived at Palma airport in the dark for Mrs G and her guests to start their trip home.
After breakfast we started dismantling the yacht ready for the next round of maintenance in the shipyard. We will be in the shipyard until mid-November then off to the Caribbean.
