Mallorca

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Greetings from Mallorca, one of the 4 Baleares Islands and the largest. Where Menorca was a much smaller Island and offered tranquility, Mallorica is huge. The Island has about 1 million inhabitants and the area we are in is Palma with over 375,000 people. Tourism is the main industry here and Mallorca has about 11 million tourists per year. Its very beautiful, busy and bustling, yet very commercial.  Mallorca is known as a vacation spot for the most glamorous jetsetters, and attracts the rich and famous. Well what the heck, we decided to come here anyways. LOL

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The restaurants, bars, nightlife and tapas bars retain a local flavor and are fabulous.  Palma is considered the cultural  capital of the Baleares Islands.

PLAYGROUND OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS

There are a couple important sites here. The Gothic Cathedral, La Seu, is Palma’s undisputed architectural gem. It was begun in 1300 and finished in 1601. (I would have liked to have that contract) In 1909 Guadi modified the cathedral in his unmistakable modernista fashion.

HEADLESS STREET ENTERTAINER
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The second landmark that is important is the Castell De Bellver. The name means lovely view in Catalan. The circular castle on top of the mountain (which means we had to walk up there) offers fabulous views of the bay of Palma. Built in 1300 as a summer residence for royalty, then later as a prison. Prisoners were held here during the War of the Spanish Succession and in the Spanish Civil War. Even as recently as the 1950s, prisoners were incarcerated for their role in the Spanish Civil War, which lasted from 1936 - 1939. Now as a tourist destination, one can enjoy concerts and theatrical performances there as well.

STREET SCENE IN PALMA
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A delightful day trip from Palma led us to Soller. We boarded an antique train for the 28km journey thru the mountains and some beautiful scenery. Upon arrival we visited the town and two museums that were terrific. The Miro Museum and the Picasso Museum. Dozens of Masterpieces tucked away in this remote mountain town! (They would not let me take a sample home) Apparently Miro’s grandfather was from Soller Spain.

After lunch we boarded a tram ride of 30 minutes down the mountain to the picturesque Port of Soller to explore and to board a boat to La Calobra. After about 1 hour by boat we arrived at La Calobra. A beach cut out of the mountain. The path to get to the beach was on stone walkways along the cliffs edges, and then thru tunnels cut thru the limestone of the mountains. It was a very memorable journey and a nice break from the commercial hustle and bustle of Mallorca.  Tomorrow we leave for the island of Ibiza.