NOT ALL PARTY PARTY. (Majorca)

Member Name: thingywhatsit

Product:	Majorca
Date:	30/12/05 (765 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Warmth and places to discover.

Disadvantages: Too many pubs and people that discover nothing but pubs.

Many years ago, I used to live on the Island of Mallorca. My base was just outside Palma, and I grew to love the island and the people there very much, with their warm Spanish mentality, and welcoming ways. I found the people of Palma a little different from Spaniards on the mainland, but the roots seem similar and the language although spoken with a different accent, was a breath of fresh air to me.

Let's start in Palma, the closest town to where I lived. The skyline of the old town of Palma is dominated by the outline of the cathedral, a beautiful building. Amidst the excitement generated by a town that is alive with the noise of frantic traffic, there is kind of a lull when you visit the old town. You are drawn to the architecture of the buildings, the diversity of styles. The Almudaina Building faces a park where you can sit and soak in the history and the vibrance all in one go. The towers and balconies take you back to a time that has now disappeared, though a time when architecture was at its best, stone buildings with ramparts that reach up to blue skies.

At the entry of the park is an impressive archway which leads up steps to a fountain and pond which is a little like you would find in England, though the warmth on your face tells you that you are far away. There are statues and sculptures and within a short walk, you have the sea front and cathedral, terraced walks that lead you along the shoreline and the Parc de la Mer (or sea park) which is splendid and houses a huge lake.

What I like about Palma is the surprises that you find just by ambling through the streets and looking at what the city has to offer, taking part in life there just by being there, rather than being an outsider or "tourist".

Much of Mallorca is like this, the undiscovered path is always the best one, rather than the tourist traps. Taking a bus from one end of the island to the other, mingling with the locals, eating in their local bars give you a taste of an ambiance that no other place seems to give you. Their laid back ways are easy to fall into and this little Island off the coast of Spain has a lot more to offer the traveller than beaches, booze and discos.

Visiting La Granja can be an exhilerating experience. I have been there many times, although each time seems to have its own stories. The Granja estate dates back to Roman times and is a living monument of how life was in this part of the world before the word tourist was popular. There is so much to take in about how people lived in those days, and the tools of their everyday lives.

Sa Calobra is well worth a visit, and here the sea lies as a backdrop to beautiful and breathtaking rock formations and sand that is as white as you may see on tropical islands.

I visited Lluc Monastery because I wanted to feel the atmosphere in which the Monks live and work. You can stay near the monastery overnight for as little as £15 and I did because what I was seeking was peace, what I found was just that. 500 metres above sea level, pilgrims come here from all over the world to leave prayers with the dark Madonna, although my prayers were between me and whoever was listening.

In another area of Mallorca called Bunyola, I saw the most amazing sunset that I have ever seen in my life. This is a wooded area for recreation, and you can see for miles and miles over lush green landscape towards the sea.

The choice of trips to Mallorca are vast and on the internet you can easily find flights into Palma and from their make your own reservations, and book into the Tourist Office in Palma to pick up information of buses, transport, and areas that may interest you, so that you can book accommodation in advance and make the most of your holiday. Sticking to package holidays actually puts you at a disadvantage because you are then based in one hotel and tend only to see one part of what is a beautiful Island and which remains undiscovered by the tourist simply because they stay in their hotel and do not look beyond the facade that is put there for the tourist.

For the more adventurous traveller, there is a boat to Palma from Barcelona which was the route I took. I paid cheaply because I chose to have just a reclining seat and found the whole trip comfortable.

Car hire, motor cycle hire and bike hire are also available for the adventurous, although I find by using public transport, you get nearer to the Mallorca that the locals know and love.




Rachel

Summary: A holiday is whatever you make it.