More about Mallorca!

October 21, 2010
On Tuesday I wrote...I’m sitting at the Alicante aeropuerto waiting to see what gate where I’ll be boarding for Palma, Mallorca. I’m staying at Couch Surfer Ann Calverley’s home in Palma for three nights. She’s a 50-something Brit who came here six years ago to live. I’ve rented a car, so I’ll be driving around this island which is not too large, but travel books say the driving is narrow and twisty, so it may be like Sardinia! The mountains reach 5000+ feet.
Yesterday after I posted the blog update, I went into the Nativity Museum across the street from the hotel. (I gave the wrong website; it is www.lesmonges.es.) Well, I have to admit that I went in because it was there and free. Really, how different can a Nativity scene be? VERY! It turns out…there were about three rooms filled with display cases of all different scenes. (Some were not actually Nativity scenes , but still interesting, like the man butchering a pig! There was a Jewish Nativity scene. It was really terrific. Karen told me later, as she had gone in also that there was one done by Lladro.
There was a concathedral (the cathedral and the bishop share the same space), which I visited on my way to meet Karen at 7 at the Alicante Real Casino. We had seen a sign the day before about a free concert that night at 7:30; the man at the casino told us we should be there at 7, so we knew it was a popular event. We thought based on what this small notice said that this would be someone singing arias-no clue as to who was singing or exactly what they would be singing. It was WONDERFUL! It turned out to be a ten person chorus accompanied by two violins. We STILL don’t know exactly what they sang, as there were no programs, but we were delighted we had gone. The room was very ornate and added to the group’s period costumes.
And so about 5 on the 19th, I arrived at Ann’s, my couch surfing friend in Palma, Mallorca. I had rented a Hertz car. Anika (German woman) “checked me out”, called me Lady! (As in, "Lady, do you know how to get out of here?") She interrogated me about insurance in a most Germanesque way! I was momentarily concerned by this, even though my credit card would cover it….I was not a block from Ann’s place, and William hit me! He, of course, said, “De nada!” There was a small scratch, so I got his name and phone number(?). SWELL! Ann is great fun, and we chatted for a bit before going to a local restaurant for an Italian dinner.
Yesterday we drove into the mountains for some exploring.
We had a delicious lunch of tapas and cake in Galilea, before we headed back. I couldn’t WAIT to take the car back. It is lovely country, not unlike Sardinia. I dropped the car off with no problems. WHEW! Then we took the bus back to Ann’s. Last night we had a steak dinner at Luis’ right in her neighbor…delicious! On the way back, some of Ann’s friends were at the English pub we walked by, so we stopped for a drink and a visit. GREAT fun!
Today we went into Palma for Ann’s tour! She took me all over the city, and it also was GREAT fun. I especially wanted to see the Cathedral, as Gaudi-whose work intrigued in Barcelona-had helped redo the interior in 1904-1914. His work is whimsical and fun! Tonight about 7 we walked up to the charity shop where Ann works. They raise money to help underprivileged kids. Every Thursday they have a meeting, which is really a wine and snacks from 5-?.They are all British; some have been here for 30 years, some for much less. Shelly, who has been here for 30 years and was seriously “in her cups”, attacked me because Americans are not supporting Obama. And, she is also a real estate expert, so know that we had no conversation. Her house has been on the market for 4-5 years! HAHAHA
Tomorrow we will take the "hop on, hop off" bus to see the rest of the city. My flight back to Alicante is tomorrow about 10, and then Saturday PM, I fly to Venice for the last leg of my trip!