We hired a convertable from Reads at Santa Maria to take a drive out to the other side of the island which we rarely go to when we
stay in PP.
After reading a few hints on here for
romantic drives, we decided to drive out to Sant Elm, having never been there before.
Having gone to the effort of getting the convertable, we decided to take the scenic route rather than a direct route.
We set out from Santa Maria - remembering to stop at the railway crossing and look both ways, as the locals do - and continued up towards Bunyola.
Now, ladies, you will no doubt sympathise with me here.
Hubby has been looking at the map and has said he knows exactly where we are going. I ask if he wants me to do any map reading, and he declines my offer. But how am I supposed to know that for his map mind to work I must not talk at all, or comment on the surrounding countryside or expect any reply from him. As I dont know this, and do all the above, it is now MY fault that he has driven past the turn off and we are now lost because I WAS DISTRACTING HIM!!!
So we had ended up actually at Bunyola which was too far. So, taking control of the map, I redirected us to back track and take the turning towards Palmanola.
We could have then gone up for a long drive via Valdemossa, but decided to go through Esporles instead.
We drove through some of the most wonderful countryside I have ever seen on the island. So much contrast.
The roads are winding, but mostly wide enough for two lanes. Steep cliffs on one side, with wonderful outcrops of rocks, and fantastic woodland shading the roads. Being the passenger, I was lucky enough to be able to peer down the other side of the road and see the bright blue sea dotted with the small white sail boats or the water wakes from the few speed boats.
We stopped off at a view point to look at a large area of terracing, I think it was at Galera, before we reached Banyalbafar.
We did have to make sure the car roof was put down and locked before we left it though, and as we only ended up stopping for about 5 mins, it took longer to do that than get out and take photos!
We drove through the pretty village of Estellences and could hear some loud music playing somewhere and could see the coloured streamers across the roads. Turning a corner we came across a school with its playground turned into a foam party for the children! My first ever sighting of a foam party!
With the top down on the car it was great to hear the wind rustling through all the streamers and hear the children enjoying themselves so much - I nearly stopped to join in!
The views continued to impress, even though we could see some little grey clouds high above the hills as we climbed.
We drove into Andratx, then followed the signs through quiet countryside towards Sant Elm.
We had not packed the cars window sun screen and I was a bit concerned that we would be parking in the sun and returning to a very hot tin can! But as we drove into the village, the carpark signs directed us into a huge area absolutely full with tall trees! It looked amazing, but took a lot of skill to work out which trees you could actually drive between and manage to park between too!
3 Euros a day was requeted by the car park attendant, who strangely enough had no change for a 5Euro note! Cheeky eh!?
The beach line and coves reminded me a little of a busy Cala St Vicente, with a wide sandy beach area with straw sun umbrellas on - pretty crowded, but not uncomfortably so.
We climbed the pretty pedestrianised hill which had small resturants one side,giving views over the sparkling bay with the boats moored out in the cove.
I was trying to find the restaurant which had the special gazpacho soup, but as most of them advertised it anyway, Im pretty sure we chose the wrong one as it was lovely, but nothing different.
After lunch we carried on upwards and rounded the top to be able to get a view of Dargonera - the island which is a natural parc reserve. There are a few more resturants up here, and perhaps a little less touristy.
After so much walking, we treated outselves to an ice cream from the specialist icream parlour on the way down and found ourselves a shady bench overlooking a rocky cove and watched the snorkling.
We decided to come home the fast route, by motorway through Palma and gawp at the HUGE
cruise liners that were in, and sigh at the wonderful yachts too.
A lovely days drive, and Im glad we did the scenic route from Santa Maria. If you did it from PP it would probably take a couple of hours but I would definately recommend it. Take a snack in the car though, as you wouldnt really want to stop before you got there unless you had to
Sant Elm
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