La Catederal - La Palma, Mallorca

I couldn’t believe it took me five years of living in BCN to venture off and explore the island of Mallorca but I suppose what I was subconsciously longing for was the opportunity to see it through a native’s eyes.

We jetted off on Thursday quick 1/2 hour flight to Palma the capital.  <try Vueling.com for cheap flights>  The Palma airport parking lot is a jungle of car rental companies so ask around for the best rate <we got a smart car for 50 € for 30 hours at a great budget company called Record>.

We took off and an hour later slammed into the coast.  The lazy picturesque town of  Port Soller is an hour’s delight.  The little rocky beach littered with sun umbrellas splashing children topless sunbathing beauties.  The centuries old town rolls off into the hills in the distance.  A little antique train passes behind the beach bringing a handful of tourists and families to the beach stop.  A bicycle cop stops to flirt with a young girl sitting on a bench. We’re back in the car bathing suits still dripping wet and off on our winding ascent up and over the Tramontana mountains.

Soon we arrive in  Lloseta a little town, nothing special really, and we check into the  Cas Comte Hotel and Spa <A birthday present from my girlfriend’s coworkers> Highly recommended.  As she has a message the next day I giddily run around the spa the whole place to my self.  Jacuzzi wet steam sauna scolding and  ice cold showers Ibiza style club del mar tunes pumping breathing detoxifying.  After an exotic breakfast buffet we jump in the car head on our way.  Drop the car back in Palma where our pal Jaume is waiting for us and we hit the road again.

Snaking our way through the mountains to the coast we arrived in  Cala Figuera a tiny town nestled on two sides of a small bay leading out the ocean.   We threw our clothes at his place.  A great little house with a big terrace out back over looking the water where we drank beer played guitar and shared laughs many times.

During the days we’d head out in his zodiac  and he’d show us coves caves empty beaches with crystal clear water. venga! drop the anchor and we’d flip off the boat and bask in the clear salty water drunk from the sun rays even hotter and dryer than in BCN.

The nights were a blur of end of the summer festivos in all the small pueblos.  Pomada overflowing <a Mollorcan speciality drink> One carnival nearby was a real celebration.  Thousands of locals from near and far a huge all-night concert carnival rides skill testing games for prizes trampolines cotton candy summer dresses and cheap overflowing booze.

The next night was even better.  10 of Jaume’s closest friends and us piled into cars and went to his grandmother’s pueblo to catch a very special yearly tradition, the running of the horses, or Fest dels Cavalls Ses Salines.  After a gluttonous spread at the famous Mollorcan steak house Asador es Teatre we spilled into the streets where the city trucks in thousands of kilos of sand.  Vendors pedal 2 litre bottles of freezing cold Pomada a 25 piece brass band plays veraciously on their make shift grand stand the crowd parts and the horses come two by two galloping through the streets specially trained and prepared horses stop every few meters raise up on their hind legs let out a cry.  Singing dancing running with the horses drunkenly trying to prop them up on two legs ensues sweating sand flying.

Last day wake up hungover big breakfast at a trendy German cafe  Pablo in Santanyi<Delicious but menu only in Deutsch?!> Hop on one of Jaume’s friend’s 8 meter speed boat do some fishing catch the last swim of the summer snorkle a little at a nearby reef.  The 4 day weekend is starting to wrap up quickly now pack the bags bring the boats in the for the winter close up the house and speed off to the airport so Jaume doesn’t lose his flight.  In the airport we hug our new friends goodbye see you soon see you soon half an hour later and we’re back in bcn wondering if the trip was for real in the taxi on the way home.

We highly recommend Mallorca friendliest people delicious food great  ensaimada pastries and a stunningly beautiful language <Mallorcin is very similar to Catalan but with an infectious Italian sounding accent, sexy>. breathtaking scenery picturesque beaches what more could you want out of a long weekend?