(Quote:-Originally Posted by Rab
I didnt Gina. How was business in the 70's? What kind of clientelle did you cater for? Was PP a bustling place back then?
I am genuinely interested. I loved the thread that had the old photos in it.)
Puerto Pollensa when I arrived in the late 60's was still very much a laid back fishing village. The young girls were not allowed to go out with the boys unless accompanied by a chaperone (usually their mother or aunt). All the widows constantly wore black. The girls used to grow their hair very long and then they would cut it after they were married.
The Guardia Civil were very much a presence everywhere and the youngsters were not allowed to hang around in groups on the street corners for more than a few minutes before they were moved on. But it was a very safe place to live and a wonderful place for a child to grow up. Children in those days stayed as children far longer than they do in the UK. My son had a fabulous childhood in Puerto Pollensa and that unspoilt 'grounding' made him the man he is today. We never used to lock our cars or our house doors. For all the freedom the children had though there was always great respect for their elders.
When I first took over El Barco in the early 70's it wasn't easy. I was the first woman to open a Bar (and a foreigner to boot). The locals were very old fashioned in their beliefs that the womans place was in the home. The local women took a long time to accept me but in the end they did and I still have many, many good friends amongst the Mallorcians now.
The Guardia Civil were constantly in and out checking permissions, making sure we closed on time etc., but gradually that stopped and they became less intrusive and eventually good friends. In 1975 when Franco died things changed dramatically (some of the older Mallorcians still say not always for the best).
Tourism in those days was also very different. Business was very good indeed. The seasons were much longer starting in March through to November and most businesses stayed open all year round. Of course there were far less bars and restaurants in those days also and our clientelle were an equal mix of locals and tourists.
In those days there were far less boats and yachts moored in the harbour and only 2 main jetties. A lot of the boats were looked after by young men/boys whilst the owners were away and they lived on the boats. Many a night during the winter El Barco stayed open all night whilst the boys took it in turns to come for hot food and drinks.
There were far less ex-pats living there than there are now and very few businesses which were run by foreigners.
In fact other than myself there was only The Bull's Head, Chequered Flag(now White Rose), Paul's Bar, The Beehive (for a short time before it closed), The
Montelin (Swedish), El Cano (German), C'An Pacienci of course. The Supermarket at Gommar (English) and a
Car Hire (English). There was also a Property Management Office in Gommar and Pat Daly's office - he started the 1st cheap flight service from Luton once a week as well as being responsible for building/selling most of the Apts on Gommar. Oh - I almost forgot Dick's Bar which was next door to the Golden Lion and run by quite an elderly couple called Dick & Lil (real characters). The Bar was later bought by Geoff Thomas (who now owns the Codfather)and was called Gatsbys (now owned by a lovely Scottish man called David and his mum & dad who ran it for many years.
On the whole the foreign residents living there in those times were quite wealthy and had lots of money to spend. Many famous people used to come to PP and Formentor in those days and we had some wonderful times. Everyone knew everyone, locals and foreigners alike and we all helped each other.
Having spent most of my adult life in PP I can't help but feel saddened by the changes over the years which in a lot of cases have not been for the better.
However, one thing that progress can never change and that is the fantastic views of the Bay of Pollensa and the Tramuntana Mountains and that's what will keep me returning time and time again as long as I am able.
I have so many stories to tell but you'll have to wait until 'the Book' comes out
Bar El Barco
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