I forgot to post this after the trip...
Sunday, 6 Sep 2009, 18:52 local time
I’m on my sixth and final flight of the trip. I’m sitting at an exit row window seat, my father and in the aisle position.
My last post concluded relatively early in the trip. That Wednesday afternoon, a group compiled of my father, his work associates, and I drove from Palma to Soller the largest inland town of Mallorca. The drive in was adventurous, roads to Soller are narrow, and windy, often a car headed in the opposite direction would speed up and either the or us had to back a few hundred meters to a spot where both cars could squeeze by. An hour later, we arrived at the trailhead for the day’s activity, a hike up some mountain. The trail itself is a walking road, compiled of cobblestone, that gains elevation quickly up a peak follows a ridge line and ends at a glacial lake. The nine hour round trip was far too long for our group, we decided to hike for an hour then turn around and hike back. After the first 20 minutes, the hike split into three groups, a fast, medium, and slower group, I was in the fast group as well as one other member, we managed to climb up the peak and make it to the start of the ridgeline. The views were superb but it was really warm making the journey hard work. Once everyone finished the hike, we went to a local pub, had a drink, then drove to the city center, and ate at a restaurant. Returned to the hotel around 00:30, tired and soar.
The next morning, I went back to the beach while my father continued his meetings. Thursday’s afternoon plan was a visit to the Port of Soller via the historical railway. We boarded an old train in Palma that over the course of an hour and through 13 tunnels, brought us to Soller, then we took a small tram down to the port. The port of Soller was another pleasant Mallorcan bay with white sandy beaches, and the turquoise water. We ate at a bay front restaurant where I had my favorite meal. It was a cod compilation with grilled vegetables. The presentation was good, the taste even better. The satisfying meal lasted about 2 hours and really after that, it was time to head back to Palma. That night back in Palma the dinner was at a pasta and pizza place. I had a risotto, again pleasantly surprised at the quality of the cuisine. I should note at this time that dinner in Mallorca takes place about 23:00 or later, perhaps because that is when it cools down but the Spanish simply eat dinner late. Midnight in Mallorca has the same amount of activity and population that Seattle does around 21:00.
Friday brought more fun and a little pain. My dads meetings now having ended, the group decided to take a boat tour. We selected a business that takes us on a large catamaran with a sightseeing deck and duration that lasts 9-16:30. It started in the Palma bay and weaved along the coast. About halfway through the tour, the boat set anchor and we swam about 500 meters off the coast, again the swimming was marvelous. We re-embarked and the boat continued to another bay where we disembarked and toured the small town and beach of the bay. At that beach we decided to again go for a swim, as our distance from the shore became quite great, I felt a bite sensation on my left elbow, I immediately started swimming ashore with my left arm aching, at this point I thought it to be a fish bite. When I walked ashore it was apparent that the bite was a jellyfish sting and it was swelling very much. I found a lifeguard and he cleaned the sting up with ammonia, while the others continued to swim, I was in a little pain and decided to just work on my tan. An hour later, the time came to get back on the boat. After boarding, a seafood feast was served with live entertainment provided. The boat then got back on its way headed back to Palma. All jellyfish stings behind, it was an entertaining boat ride that showed off more of this majestic island. That night we walked from the hotel and toured a Roman castle. The castle, located atop a large hill, offered sweeping views of Palma and historical artifacts on a civilization far ahead of its time. Dinner was a buffet at the hotel upon returning from the castle.
I had done a lot already in Mallorca but there was still much to do come Saturday; my last full day. The group, now only my father, myself, and two others, headed inland from Palma for a Pearl factory. On the way, we encountered a glass museum and active shop; we stopped in and saw a seventh generation family member work molten glass into bowls and animal figures. Back to the pearls, Mallorca is famous for its pearls, but to understand requires some understanding. Essentially, there are three types of Pearls, natural, cultured, and then Mallorcan. The natural are simply pearls from the oyster, cultured are real pearls farmed from oysters, Mallorcan pearls however are small glass balls that are painted wish special fish scale paint to look like a natural pearl. Though they are not real, only an expert can tell the difference. We visited a factory but were unable to see how they are developed because like everything else, it is now made in China. With the pearls a bust, we headed to another beach. This beach was very scenic, located in a protected bay, it offered great swimming and even some cliffs that we jumped off. As the sun got lower in the sky, we headed back to Palma, the final dinner was at a previously suggested restaurant, it turned out to be another really good meal. My father and I shared steak that came out pre sliced and we got to cook on a large ceramic hot plate. The others got a seafood skewer and salad. We arrived at 23:00 for dinner and were the only ones at the restaurant but when we left at 00:30, the place was hopping, again the Spanish like late dinners. Back at the hotel, we packed up and prepared for an early departure.
I awoke at 5:30 this morning, Mallorca time, my father and I arrived at the airport and caught the 7:55 flight from Palma to Madrid. We arrived in Madrid 9:00 Mallorca time and left for KOLD at 11:30. After nine hours on the plane, we got into KOLD around 14:30 local time. Clearing customs and reentering the airport was easy, waiting for the 19:05 flight to Seattle, not as easy. Eventually though, we got on the flight to Seattle and that is where I am now. It is scheduled to land in Seattle at 22:00 local time, my body however still on Mallorca time thinks that it will be 7a.m. So lucky I will have been up for 25 hours to get back home.
The long flights definitely take some calibration and the time zones can be a burden but Mallorca is well worth the flight. It is one of the most beautiful locations I have ever been. Palma welcomes tourists and is generally friendly to get around in, both the European inhabitants and physical lands are gorgeous, and most of all the beaches and swimming in the Mediterranean is spectacular that no place in the world can simulate. I have had a really good summer with a long European tour, camping, and great friends to spend time with. This trip put a large cherry on top making this my best summer ever. It is a lot of fun living like a business executive. I now must return to a life with responsibility and work but am motivated so I can someday have a summer like this one again.
Dream Team
2 hours ago


