Palma to Soller
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Having had a wonderful time in Palma and with plans to winter over here next year, being such a vibrant place 12 months of the year, we are now on the move again.
Cadiz was finally back in the water with one coat of paint short, called short changed again, and new feathering prop in wrong rotation, a new experience with the throttle but this is Spain.
We lifted the boat again a few days later in an electrical storm and a lighting bolt put a current through to the prop electrocuting the Spaniard fixing his mistake. Luckily we had all the electronics switched off as we do when any electrical storm goes through.
Had a very nice evening with Peter and Emma Tabone, visiting their very interesting old town apartment on the top floor overlooking the lit up historic Cathedral. Peter (Gooch) certainly hasn’t lost his eye for a good investment.
Thanks to Peter for sharing all his knowledge of the Med for our future travels.
An old school friend of Ian’s from Christchurch Liz Gendall and husband Heinz arrived to spend a few days with us. Heinz a keen pilot and any chance to fly somewhere flew down from France joining us at Puerto Cala Nova a small marina set up by the yachting federation for youth development and Olympic training ( a site to be envied by all Australians). Interested to see two Sydney 40’s on the hard.
Julian Lennon (John Lennon’s son) has a restaurant bar called Red Bar in Puerto Portals Nous and we all decide to check it out as it has an Aussie chef trained by Neil Perry.
The highlight to the evening was to be Pavlova but turns out to be a meringue with a dob of cream but we did get to see Julian and the fantastic decor.
Day and night spent in beautiful bay of Cala Portals still inside the big bay of Palma. How wonderful to have such bays in reach of Palma for day trips. Heinz who has had the opportunity to fly everywhere in Europe with his plane has never been to Mallorca because he thought it was a concrete jungle. He was blown away by its beauty and non built up areas and will certainly be back.
Back at Club Nautico we catch up with Anna and Murray Thomas with his brother Ian and wife Maree. For Anna’s birthday, it’s champagne at Abaco at midnight in the old town. The only way to describe this place is to say its Moorish style, high arched ceilings, unbelievable arrangements of huge fresh flowers, fruit and vegetables and prices to go with it.
After too much champagne its time to move and with Liz and Heinz we sail out taking the exposed north west coast as the weather is settled and can only be attempted in such conditions.
With a following breeze the new snuffer on the spinnaker was given its first run and as Ian did not disappear up the mast it was deemed to be a success. I must say it is an excellent investment and will make life very easy and will now get more use. We still don’t see other yachts with spinnakers up.
We sail into Puerto Andraitx and now know why Christopher Skase lived here and why all the journalists liked this assignment. This small fishing harbour lined with beautiful traditional homes set in pine trees and rolling hills where everyone gets a sea view is a must to see. It’s nice to be anchoring again away from expensive and busy marinas but still in the shelter of a harbour.
Liz and Heinz fly home and Anna and Murray join us for the day trip up coast to Puerto de Soller a 25 mile sail through the Dragonera Passage and see some of the most beautiful water to date on our trip. The scenery is spectacular with high cliffs deep right to the edge with us only metres from shore.
The pine trees on the high mountains behind finish off the scene. Stopping to swim at Peninsula de la Foradada it is like being in an
aquarium and also visited the bay of Cala Deya rated the 7th most beautiful place on the island and where Michael Douglas has a house.
We anchor for the night in Puerto de Soller the only shelter on the north west coast where Anna and Murray are staying in an apartment with a fantastic view over the harbour. In typical Anna fashion we celebrate her 50th for the 8th time for breakfast on their balcony overlooking Spanish terracotta roofs, olive groves and of course Cadiz in the harbour below all surrounded by mountains.
It’s now time to test our two new fold up bikes and ride 4 ks inland to the old town of Soller. I wasn’t sure about getting on a bike again but after a wobble or two managing to avoid the old tram that runs from the port to the old town. Soller is a wonderful contrast to Palma with the island being able to appeal to all tastes.
We leave tomorrow for the top of Mallorca to get ready for the crossing to Menorca a distance of 30 miles.