Mallorca

July 25, 2021

The island of Mallorca is so famous [along with naughty little sister, Ibiza] it’s really sort of embarrassing that we had absolutely no idea what to expect from it when we arrived. Friends said it was beautiful. Such was the extent of my education. An old friend of Hector’s was visiting from Stockholm so we invited ourselves over. Quickie swab test and direct flight Malaga to Palma on Vueling [90€ rt each] and we were there in an hour.

The impressive downtown is spread around a large bay filled with yachts so it looks like Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. We checked in at the AC Hotel Ciutat de Palma [125€ per night], very central, and immediately met Hector’s friend Birgitta for pre-cruise cocktails on the pier. Yes you heard me right, she booked a sunset dinner cruise [Oasis Catamarans] for us and her two adorable college-age sons, Christian and Clarence. The Palma Bay is gorgeous, we caught the full moon coming up and the blazing sun going down in the same sky. Because of covid restrictions, no alcohol on this boat [frowny face].

Next day, lunch at the wonderful de tokio a lima restaurant on the trendy Carrer de Sant Feliu [Sautéed scallops 26€], a quick nap at the hotel and then dinner at Birgitta’s new apartment, prepared by son Clarence. Taxied back to the hotel at midnight, the streets were seething with gorgeous young people out partying and having a fabulous time sharing their germs with each other.

On Saturday we drove out to Camp de Mar, a small beach enclave in Andratx, west of Palma, with hotels and big houses overlooking the crystal clear sea. We swam and had lunch at Illeta, fresh seafood on the bay. Back to Palma: hotel/ shower/ air conditioning. Later, dinner with some more fun Swedes at a busy Italian restaurant tucked into the charming Plaza San Francisco, Osteria de Placa Sant Francesc. Mallorca is technically Catalan country so all the place names sound almost but not quite familiar. That day all the covid rules had changed a bit so we could only do 4 to a table outside. Later, a stroll through the old quarter, goodbye to our hosts, taxi back to hotel, so tired I wish I was dead.

Sunday, back to Malaga, there’s no place like home. It was my first time to see a new destination almost exclusively from a taxi, but I can say Mallorca is beautiful, there are great restaurants, and as we always tell ourselves about every new place, it’s just another reason to return.