2013 our year of "off season holidays"

[Brisbane]

Hi Roig cat - so many familiar views!!

I'm back out in October from Oz for two weeks for a family get-together (so much better than spending a fortnight in Scotland!).

Tempted to take another "career break" and spend 6 months hiking the Canaries...

Steve.

[roig cat]

Hi Steve,

It will be like coming home for you! Do have a great time and remember to post some photos.
The Canaries sounds like a great idea, go for it when you can. Our career break plan is the Camino de Santiago- it will have to wait a few years yet but hope to walk it before my knees give way.

[cumberland8]

Have you guys done the GR20 in Corsica? In my humble opinion it is absolutely spectacular.
Definitely one to do before one snuffs it.

[roig cat]

No, I've never been to Corsica but I'll investigate for the future!

[roig cat]

Final instalment,

Our December holiday was originally booked for the four of us, but at the last minute my husband decided he couldn’t leave his business and my oldest daughter preferred to stay at home with Dad, so just my 13 year old and myself enjoyed a 5 night mini break staying at the Pansa Townhouse booked with Sealand villas!

I was a little apprehensive about going at first but excited also. My husband does all the driving abroad and I was nervous about arriving at 21.30 and having to drive across the island, on the left and in the dark for the first time. I changed the car to a Twingo from a Ford C max. I was surprised how natural it felt to drive when sitting on the left, however, I did forget to apply the hand break on quite a few occasions including overnight, mine at home has an automatic handbreak. Not only was it dark, but we arrived in the middle of a storm, great. However, I got us to Pollensa safely, my daughter trying to appear relaxed but not doing a very good job. We parked by the cloisters and walked up to the townhouse which was only a few doors away from the house we had rented in Feb. The central heating had been left on for us, not on timer this time. Lovely and snuggly. We felt very safe in the house but I didn’t sleep well, the storm was raging a making one hell of a racket down the chimney in the bedroom.

The storm persisted until late the next day. We decided to have a drive down to Festival Park as there wasn’t much else we could do, what a strange atmosphere that place has? We then drove back to the bay and took these photos as we were driving along:


P1040313 by Roig the cat, on Flickr



P1040319 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


It really was like driving on the beach. Thankfully El Casinet was open so we warmed up with a tasty pizza.

That night we ate out at Trencadora (not another pizza), here is a photo taken of the square on the way there:


P1040358 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


The weather forecast the next day was for much nicer weather in the south so we decided to take the train from Sa Pobla to Palma and have a little retail therapy. Palma was very busy, it was the Saturday before Christmas. There was huge ice rink outside the train station and this bouncy castle, one for all you Bob Esponja fans!!



P1040373 by Roig the cat, on Flickr

[roig cat]

Sunday started off cloudy, view from roof terrace:



P1040395 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


But soon brightened up and ended up very warm indeed.



P1040427 by Roig the cat, on Flickr

After visiting the busy market and buying some goodies to take home we climbed the Calvari steps (again): There was a lonely flamenco guitar player at the top. Not many making the walk that morning.:


P1040439 by Roig the cat, on Flickr






This adorned the side of the church in Pollensa square:


P1040443 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


Gluttons for punishment, we walked up the Puig Maria. I’ve never known it so busy, loads of locals walking up there that morning.


P1040457 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


And then a drive out to the Fonts des Ufanes, we were not disappointed, they were flowing well:


P1040477 by Roig the cat, on Flickr

[roig cat]

On our final day, 23/12/13, we went walking up around Lluc/Binfaldo. I chose a walk we had done before in an area I knew well. I still felt a little too vulnerable to attempt a walk on unfamiliar ground with a 13 year old. We did walk 29 from the Charles Davis book but followed the GR21 to Lluc rather than branching back to the main road. We hardly saw anyone, the weather was perfect and I felt very safe. I was almost caught out at Lluc with the new parking arrangements. It cost 6 euros on return to exit the new car park The machine only took coins, I just about scrapped enough together.

This photo looking over Puig Roig and Puig Caragoler:



P1040518 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


This by a small canaleta on coll pelat


P1040528 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


As it was Christmas we had to buy this coke can!





P1040536 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


We flew home on Christmas Eve, thankfully to Bristol, not a flooded Gatwick. We took home a hamper of Mallorcan goodies including cheese and ham from the market, alli oli, ensamada and of course a packet of Bonka coffee.

North Mallorca is an amazing place at all times of year, just don’t go expecting wall to wall sunshine, embrace all weathers and please try a holiday out of season, you’ll love it!

[emmalou]

Really enjoyed your photos roig cat, thanks for sharing

[gers1873]

what a great post and smashin' fotos too RC many thanks for sharing with us all

[gers1873]

Originally Posted by roig cat

And yes Gers, they are my daughters. We are similar in looks but different hair colour! I think we must have a touch of Henry VIII in our DNA!

lol yes I have two beautiful daughters too both of them take their good looks from me though not their mother ha ha fortunately both are neither bald or fat like myself

[El Gordo]

Thanks for the warning about the car park at Lluc. Reminder to keep Euro coins in the car!!

Mind you!! I would walk an extra mile to save paying!!

Great pictures thank you.

[sws97sdg]

Sponge Bob was still there in January, and so was the flamenco player, wasn't he good, could have listened to him for hours!!

[El Gordo]

Originally Posted by sws97sdg

Sponge Bob was still there in January, and so was the flamenco player, wasn't he good, could have listened to him for hours!!

Was the flamenco man from the "Flamenco Bar" just off the square in PP?

[debz1]

Have really enjoyed you blog and wonderful photos Roig cat, and envy you getting away in December. Just one question though.

Who cooked Christmas dinner?!

[sws97sdg]

Originally Posted by El Gordo

Was the flamenco man from the "Flamenco Bar" just off the square in PP?

No, that's closed now anyway! No this was a middle aged gypsy I would say, he was just playing his guitar with his case open on the ground, wish I had got a picture, he was the real deal.