Mallorca Chapter 3

MALLORCA

Chapter 3

On Wednesday 7th, Karen and Bruce arrived to swell our little family to six, which was simply wonderful. However, it caused a slight complication in the transport department as up until then we had been careering around in a lovely little Citroen C3 – definitely NOT a six-seater. So, knowing this problem was ahead of us, we had popped in to the airport depot after visiting the Hypermarket to see what they could suggest. But they could not help us at all. Their biggest vehicle, which could have seated six, was out of commission and nothing else came close. Oh dear! So we came home and started phoning around and found the ideal vehicle at another rental company. So we set up elaborate plans to meet the representative at the airport a little before we were due to meet Karen and Bruce, and after we had handed the smaller car back. It all seemed so simple! The crunch came when we tried to hand the C3 back. They insisted that since we had spoken to them two days previously, their big vehicle had been miraculously replaced and that our payment (for the entire period) would not be refunded if we went to another company. Oh dear again! In the end, the fellow from the opposition was very understanding, realizing that the plans we had made, had been made in good faith and went away again leaving us his card ‘for next time’. So now we have something called a Citroen Jumpy’ which really does seat six but then has a vast loading space as well, so we end up with a vehicle twice as big as we need or want. Today will be the try-out and we intend driving right across the island, about 80 kms, and back, to visit the old town of Alcudia.
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Pieter had told us that we just had to visit this fantastic ‘lamb restaurant’ and had given me rather rough directions ending with…’just ask anyone in the village where the lamb restaurant is and they will show you the way’. Well, it didn’t quite work out like that but the lass in the tourist office thought she knew what we were talking about and sent us off to Restaurant la Victoria. I even scoffed a bit at Pieter and his friends because they all just called the place ‘the lamb restaurant’ as they could never remember the proper name. He also warned us that there were about thirty-two hairpin bends to negotiate, which we thought was wild over-exaggeration as the bends were hardly hairpin and way less than thirty-two. But, as promised, the view from the restaurant was amazing as it looks out over the enormous Bay of Pollenca, dotted with yachts both huge and minute, and whose entrance to the sea is guarded by massive cliffs. I even sent him an SMS complimenting him on his choice of venue. And the round trip of 176 kms was not excessive, even if we had driven the entire length of the island. Later that night while we were sitting relaxing on the patio, again with glass in hand, he called us. “What on earth were you doing in Alcudia?” he asked. When I replied that that was where I had understood we needed to go, he laughed, and through his giggles said,” Was there an ancient village there?” “Yes” I replied. “And a monastry on the top of the hill?” “Yes” There was moments silence, then he said “Well, I suppose there are lots of these places, but the one I wanted you to go to is near Alaro, about half the distance we had gone”. Never mind, we had a wonderful time and we can sill go to Alaro, although perhaps only once we get the small car back, if he is serious about the hairpin bends!

The weather since we have been here has been obscenely hot, often well into the 30’s which is just too hot for me. It is quite humid too, so one goes around in a constant damp layer under one’s clothes! Not very pleasant, although, so far, it has always cooled off quite a bit at night which is a relief. I can’t help feeling that a good, Jo’burg type thunderstorm would ease things quite a bit, but there is simply no sign of anything like that in the offing.

I think I mentioned previously that we have settled into a routine in which we have a main meal in the middle of the day. It suits us, as the evening meal starts being served at about 8 or 8.30, which we feel is a bit late for us. Also we can take advantage of the ‘Menu del dia’ or Menu of the day, which is a set price with quite a few choices. Often only two courses (More than enough!) with wine and water thrown in; bread and olives taken for granted. The only drawback to that is that for me, the wine seems to settle in my knees, which makes the climb back up the stairs to the apartment, a slow drawn-out affair with numerous rests!

Friday 9th.

The idea was to get going relatively early so that Karen and Bruuce could get in some quality beach time, but when we awoke the weather was not very favourable, so we took our time and then went into town to visit travel agents to find out about ferries to Ibiza (K&B) and planes to Barcelona (the rest of us). By the time shops closed for the siesta and we decided it was time for lunch, all signs of cooler weather had departed, so we returned home after a satisfying meal, leaving the two younger members baking on the beach with a promise to fetch them later.