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Month: September 2009

Spanish IVA (Value Added Tax)

The Spanish Government under José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has announced it will raise IVA taxes (impuestos sobre el valor añadido) by 2 % to 18 % from July 2010. That’s […]

Weather Alert

The annual Gota Fría spell seems to be settling in this year for a real string of heavy storms and torrential weather. Yesterday, the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología raised the […]

The Ajuntament de Alcúdia

In Alcúdia, a rather stunning building houses the Casa Consistorial de Alcúdia (town-hall). This ayuntamiento is said to be one of the most beautiful municipal town-hall buildings in all of […]

Language And Literature

In 1959, during the reign of Francisco Franco and with Spanish culture at a great distance from its European neighbours or its South American cousins, the Spanish author Camilo José […]

The Pueblo Español in Palma

I actually like the Pueblo Español in Palma de Mallorca, I have always liked it. This Spanish Village was the brainchild of Fernando Chueca Goitia, an architect specialising in the […]

The Carob Tree (Ceratonia siliqua)

The Algarrobo tree (Ceratonia siliqua, Carob tree) is very characteristic of the Mediterranean region. The plant provides one of Mallorca’s traditionally most important crops, the algarroba fruit (carob fruit, also […]

The Oratory Of Sant Feliu

One of the nicest places of devotional worship in Palma de Mallorca to my mind is the Oratori de Sant Feliu, not far from the Passeig des Born. The Gothic […]

Dancing With The Giants

The tradition of the Mallorcan giants started in Sóller during the 17th century when handmade gegants were first paraded there during the Corpus Cristi festivities. A short while later, during […]

The Gingerbread House

The Casal de Ca S’Apotecari in Santa Maria del Camí south of the centre of Mallorca is a historic building that apparently is earmarked to house Mallorca’s future Eco-Museum (whatever […]

A Godforsaken Dump

Most people know Mallorca as a holiday destination for tourists. Most expats view Mallorca as their paradise. The Mallorcans themselves see this island as simply the best home possible. Nevertheless, […]

The First Rain Of Autumn

The people in Mallorca are pretty clever. They certainly used to be clever. Mallorcans were particularly clever in matters of survival, like for instance water. Water is essential for washing, […]

Stick Insects (Phasmatodea)

Avid readers of this blog will assume that I am an enthusiast of insects. Well, yes, but no, not really. I just love the beauty of things and as far […]

Back to School

Back to school, and back to normal. In the autumn, Mallorca is at its best. Whether you have been away for holiday or other reasons, or whether you have stayed […]