We took a short break in Mallorca while Alan made a student visit, and both of us met up with one of Alan's ex-students and her husband.
Image: Palma, Mallorca
This view across the city of Palma, where we stayed, is from Bellver Castle. We stayed at the Hotel Mirador (below) which is on the edge of the bay just to the left of centre - but out of sight here.
Image: Hotel Mirador, Palma
Our room was at the front of the hotel on floor 5. We had a tremendous view (seen through the windows above - lower right) but at the same level to the left was a public terrace from which this was the rather wider panorama to be seen. Below is a 'photo-stitched' composite of four photos - you can make out the joins. Near the middle background is a rather awkward join which splits a big jetty where ferries dock in to two - imagine it's a single, long jetty!
In front is the marina with everything from luxury motor yachts down to sailing dinghies. The working harbour for ferries and freight vessels is slightly further out and across to the right. Way to the left can be seen Palma Cathedral: the fish dock and market, which is quite small, is in the area to the right of the Cathedral. There is also a thriving repair yard near there with ships from three-masted sailing vessels to modern tug boats.
Image: Panorama of Palma Harbour
Below are two photos from the same position on the terrace. The left-hand shot was early (around 8am) the Monday and the other the day before, soon after we arrived and settled in. Same camera - wide angle and telephoto versions.
Image: Palma Cathedral and its setting near the harbour.
Of course we had to visit the Cathedral, having walked from the hotel on the Monday, stopping at a restaurant near the fish market for lunch. It's similar to those in the UK but also different: Roman Catholic, of course, but also with influences from Antoni Gaudi who remodelled much of it. The sweeping wires with discs strung along are his a reminded us of the draped cord designs on which he based much interior work. In the centre picture they only just show, suspended above the high altar.
Image: Palma Cathedral views
We had an evening in a good Mallorcan Restaurant, Can Pedro's in Genova. This is where Alan's ex-student, Ralli, and her husband Oliver, met us for dinner. We last saw them at the Summer Ball in Leeds in 2000.
OK, not the best photos - a bit blurry, but using flash would have produced washed-out pictures at this range.
The restaurant roasts meat over a huge, open indoor barbecue. Rabbit and lamb were our main choices after delicious smal, sweet peppers fried in olive oil, and calamari.
The roving players (mainly round the tables) played guitars, mandolins and tambourine and were very good. It was a very informal place and extremely popular over there - we could see (and hear) why.
Image: At Can Pedro's, Genova, Mallorca
Image: In Palma, Mallorca
Image: In Mallorca
Other pages:
This is the text-only version of this page. Click here to see this page with graphics.
Edit this page |
Manage website
Make Your Own Website: 2-Minute-Website.com