A Balearic Break

May has in recent years seen us take our main non-Tywyn holiday and after the weeks of kitchen re-fit chaos we were more than ready for the break. After my choice of the Isle of Man last year, my wife wanted somewhere warmer this year and suggested Mallorca. Having never visited Spain or the Balearic Isles before this seemed like a good suggestion and there was the promise of a ride on the train to Soller to seal the deal. 

A villa near Porta Pollença in the north east of the island was booked and after a week with a pair of grandparents to help give us a break from parental duties at times, we have come home fully refreshed. I’m not a great hot weather person, but the afternoon breeze (caused by the differential effects of the heat of the sun on the land and the sea) combined with mostly blue skies and sunshine proved ideal. I enjoyed seeing the contrast of the Balearic landscape to our own, it was the end of the citrus fruit season so seeing the oranges and lemons ripening on the trees provided a splash of colour in the landscape. 

Then there was the food, I could happily live off a Mediterranean diet and Pollença market day resulted in displays of fruit and vegetables we could only dream of getting at home. 

My nose is adept at sniffing out fine baked goods. The Mallorcan speciality the Ensaimada is well worth searching out and the ones we found didn’t disappoint. 

One final piece of Mallorcan culture for this entry, should you ever find yourself in Pollença’s Placa Major and dismiss the Church as being rather plain looking, go inside, because you will be amazed by the interior. It’s stunning. 

That’s enough rambling on for now, shall save my experience of the Soller railways for a second post.