Around this time of year, just before Easter or just after, one can see a large number of auto-transport trucks making their way from the Port of Palma to the outlying pueblos, as far as Pollença in the North, Cala d’Or in the East and Port de Andratx in the West. The new fleets of rent-a-cars have arrived and need to be taken to their respective rental outlets.

There are five or six major car rental firms in Mallorca, plus a good two dozen minor ones. One of the larger firms, though, had to declare a Concurso Voluntario (voluntary bankruptcy) earlier this year. It is said that two years ago there were up to 50,000 rental vehicles on offer in Mallorca, but last year, that number took a steep decline. La crisis, what else. As a consequence, car rental prices shot up last year and caused anger, consternation and some outrage. This year, with the season just starting, everybody is guessing as to where it all will go. I, for one, think it may go well. Car registrations in the Balearics were up during the months of February and March, or so one hears, by a massive 65 %. I should think that car rental firms have taken on bigger fleets this year, or else such an increase in numbers would not be plausible. Perhaps we will see the end of La crisis this year, at least in tourism and car rentals. Let’s hope for the best.

The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: March 31st, 2010. The time was 15:31:56.