It feels as if Summer had started. The last few days, we were blessed with temperatures above 25º C. Time for a slowing down, perhaps even a siesta. At least, that’s what this puppy dog must have thought, don’t you think?
The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: April 23rd, 2008. The time was 12:42:21.
The lady in this picture, talking to the press, is the new President of the Consell Insular de Mallorca (Island Council). Her name is Francina Armengol Socías. The lady represents the PSIB-PSOE party in Mallorca; she is a native of Inca, I believe. She took office in July, 2007.
And, no, I am not one of the press pack. I just happened to pass by.
Years ago, I bumped into that other lady who was previously at the helm of the Consell. Then, it was Maria Antònia Munar, and I am glad that she is gone now. She held the post for her UM party for a total of 12 long years. A lot of nepotism was going on then, believe me. Mind you, Señora Munar is now the President of the Parliament of the Balearic Islands.
The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: April 23rd, 2008. The time was 11:10:26.
Rafa Nadal may not be Number One in the Tennis world, but he managed to claim a fourth successive Masters title yesterday, in Monte Carlo, Monaco, the first man to complete the feat in the Open era.
The King of the Claycourt is from Mallorca, needless to say, and not far from where I live. In fact, although it is constantly stated that he lives in Manacor, it would be more precise to say that Porto Cristo is his home. Rumours have it that Rafa has recently bought a country estate dating back to the 16th Century, near Santanyí, Mallorca, but I would be gossiping if I went into more details, here.
The photo was taken in Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: April 27th, 2008. The time was 16:57:33.
Easter in Russia is the major religious celebration of the year. There, Easter is even more important than Christmas. Faithful and atheists, kids and adults, city people and country folk go to church to attend the Easter Mass. Easter in Russia is a lot more than a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Unlike Easter in Spain, or Britain for that matter, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Easter today, April 27th.
There is a sizeable Russian community here in Mallorca, I am told, and supposedly quite a few of our Russian friends in Mallorca will attend church service today at Santa Caterina de Sena, in Carrer Sant Miquel, in Palma de Mallorca, the official Russian Orthodox church in Mallorca.
The photos were taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The dates: April 23rd, 2008, and April 15th, 2008. The time was 15:02:22, and 13:33:41, respectively.
When I first came to live in Mallorca, I was overwhelmed by the sumptuous presentation of fish and seafood in shops and supermarkets. I had found paradise, or so I thought.
Twenty plus years on, the fish display is still glorious in the fish halls of Mercat de l’Olivar or Mercat de Santa Catalina. But it is not a pleasant story any longer, I am afraid. Most fish and seafood on sale in Mallorca is now either imported or originates from fish farms.
A Marine biologist of the Spanish Scientific Research Council (CSIC) made a point recently in saying that the Mediterranean Sea is threatened by overfishing, pollution and overdevelopment.
The scientist warned that in a few years time the Mediterranean Sea will pass from a habitat of species such as tuna and swordfish into a great pool predominantly inhabited by bacteria and jellyfish.
The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: February 12h, 2008. The time was 14:51:57.
When I went to Palma de Mallorca on the occasion of Sant Jordi, the World Book Day, there were two finds that excited me. The first find was a book, published in Catalan, with the title “Els poetes àrabs de les Illes Balears“.
Here is one of the poems, written in Arabic by Idris al-Yamani some 900 years ago and quoted in Catalan. The Balearics, and most of Spain, were under the rule of the Caliphate of Córdoba at that time. The period of al-Andaluz was a prosperous time for Spain.
Un bes que va ser sorprenent,
perquè es va endur la set que jo tenia;
Ella té tal dignitat, que
si la perdés, no viuria;
Vingué a mi de nit quan les tenebres
vestien la pell de la serp;
Com si les estrelles en aparèixer
fossin monedes en una mà tremolosa.
This pleasing book is published bilingual in Arabic and Catalan, by Institut d’Estudis Balearics.
I will post some snippets about the second find of that day, some time soon.
The photos were taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The dates: April 2nd, 2008. The time was 15:02:22, and April 23rd, 2008, at 13:33:41, respectively.
The virgin in question here is Sainte Bernadette, born Maria Bernada Sobirós, from Lourdes, in the Occitanian part of the French Pyrenees, barely 50 km from the Spanish borders. The young Demoiselle is said to have had an apparition of the Virgin Mary in the Grotte de Massabielle, back in 1858, at age 14. She was canonized for her visions in 1934.
I took the photo of this devotional artefact at the Oratori de Santa Margalida de Crestatx, Sa Pobla, which dates back to the 13th Century. Quite obviously, a devoted Mallorcan worshiper had been visiting the miraculous well in Lourdes in 1938. One has to know that the Catholic faith is the prevalent religion in Spain. Spanish devotees make up quite a sizeable portion of the 5,000,000 pilgrims who visit Lourdes every year, with quite a few of them from Mallorca, it seems.
Sainte Bernadette, priez pour nous.
The photo was taken near Pollença, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: April 19h, 2008. The time was 16:09:29.
Everybody knows the legend of Sant Jordi (St. George) slaying the dragon to rescue the princess.
In Spain, April 23rd (today, the day of patron saint, Sant Jordi) is celebrated as the Day of the Book. The custom originated in Catalunya. Per Sant Jordi, roses i llibres. Tradition has it that one gives a rose as a token of one’s love, plus a book as a token of one’s sophistication, and presents both to a beloved person.
Street parades everywhere with books and flowers make this day a happy day for everyone. In Palma de Mallorca, for instance, book readings and some such activities are planned for Carrer Oms, Rambla Ducs de Palma, Plaça Espanya, Plaça Cort and other places galore. Most bookshops even offer their wares at a special discount rate, too.
Ever since 1995, UNESCO has adopted April 23rd as the World Book and Copyright Day. This date happens to also be the day when supposedly William Shakespeare and also Miguel de Cervantes died, both in the same year (1616).
The photo shows a detail of the baroque façade of the Basilica de Sant Francesc in Palma de Mallorca, depicting Sant Jordi and the dragon.
The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: April 15th, 2008. The time was 12:45:36.
I have a confession to make: I like monasteries. I am not a devout person but I seem to react in a particular way to the spiritual vibrations that most places of worship have, wherever in the world and whatever the confession.
The Santuario de la Mare de Déu de Sant Salvador is going back to 1348; the current buildings date from the 18th Century.
Amongst the many monasteries and convents in Mallorca, this one is particularly dear to me. For a start, the monastery at an altitude of 509 m affords a grand panoramic view over much of the island, once you have reached the top. But getting to the top is also a rewarding challenge, in my mind. The drive up, by car, is quite daring. Many a driver gets all sweaty as a reaction to the many serpentine bends and curves. Not surprisingly, the road up to the monastery converts into a track for car races, once a year, for its challenging characteristics.
Even better, I think, is a ride up on a bicycle. But you have to be fit and healthy, or else, you might need to turn back half way up. Many cyclists rise to the endeavour; you can spot two of them in today’s photograph.
The best option to reach the top, however, is simply to walk up. Again, you would have to be on quite good terms with yourself to take up the gauntlet but, I imagine, you might be ever so proud you made it, once you have successfully reached the summit.
Franciscan monks lived at the monastery until perhaps ten years ago, but not now. All the monasteries and convents in Mallorca suffer from a lack of novices and probationers and thus had to recently agglomerate the now somehow diminished manpower into a small number of monasteries. But a church service is still held every Sunday and at special holidays.
The photo was taken near Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: April 13th, 2008. The time was 14:25:31.
The Tren de Sóller to Palma de Mallorca was built in 1911 and inaugurated in 1912. Sóller was a prospering town then, thriving on a brisk trade in oranges and lemons. Whilst most citrus fruits left for France via boat from Port de Sóller, the affluent citizens of Sóller had to find a more comfortable way to reach Palma to show off their sudden wealth.
The Sóller train has been meandering its 27 km long way through the Tramuntana mountains for nearly 100 years now, past olive groves and orange orchards. Since 1929, the locomotive has been powered by electricity. Today, the journey makes for a joyous trip into the past.
This railway has become a successful tourist attraction. Sóller is certainly worth a visit and the Mallorcan landscape is definitely worth the journey. Parents with young children particularly enjoy the ride in the train’s original wooden carriages. In Sóller there is an onward connection by tram to Port de Sóller.
Annoyingly, fares have more than doubled since the Euro was introduced, but there you are.
The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: April 11th, 2008. The time was 15:06:25.
