Upon entering the barrio of Santa Catalina, one cannot help but notice a beautiful building in the style of Modernismo, the erstwhile Hostal Cuba. The building was constructed as a private residence in 1904 for a Palma-born gentleman who had just returned from a few years in the Caribbean. After the Spanish Guerra Civil, the property changed hands and was converted into a hostal. The downstairs bar was soon popular for its Café Cortado and the gusanos (worms) which the local fishermen could purchase here every morning as bait for their fishing expeditions. Sadly, the bar and the hostal accommodation closed some six or eight years ago, and Santa Catalina lost one of its historic landmark establishments.

Luckily for us, the property was sold four years ago to a local Mallorcan businessman and slowly but lovingly refurbished. The Bar Cuba Colonial re-opened a few months ago on the ground-floor and offers excellent coffee and snacks but, alas, bait for fish is no longer on offer. A chill-out lounge is said to be opening in the basement any time soon, whereas hotel accommodation on the top floors will not be ready until the Spring of 2011.

The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: September 24th, 2010. The time was 17:28:34.