Every year, I look forward to April. With a bit of luck, the weather finally changes for the better, I can at last have my coffee in the sun, trees are beginning to sprout young shoots, any time soon new vintage vino tinto will be launched after having spent 18 months or more of fermenting and maturing, bees are busy pollinating, swifts are circulating the skies of Felanitx in droves, our tortoises have ended their period of hibernation, and Mallorcans are getting ready for the Easter proceedings, before they get busy with preparations for the new temporada (season). And, the Banys Sant Joan de Font Santa will finally open its gates again offering thermal treatments, baths in mineral-rich spring waters, mud wraps, massages and other therapeutic treatments of all sorts and kinds.

It is all there, this April, except for the baths. Believe it or not, the Balneario (Spa) of Sant Joan will not be open for business at all this year. The owners had applied for various permissions and licenses in order to change their business from a seasonal affair of six months to a year-round-activity in order to meet economic necessities and put a halt to losing money but, the political administration did not do their jobs and permisos were not forthcoming in time. So, this year I will not be able to soak in the medicinal mineral waters rich in sodium chloride and high in mineral content, and nor will anyone else. It spoils the fun of April, if you ask me, if not some of the fun of Summer as a whole.

Having let off some steam, I still recommend a visit to the baths or rather, their immediate hinterland. The Estación Termal Sant Joan edges on to the natural area of Es Trenc-Salobrar with its salinas (salt flats) which are always good for a leisurely walk and a bit of bird spotting. Right next to the baths, there is the Oratorio de Son Juan de la Font Santa (photo below) and the Aljub de la Font Santa, whilst bang opposite, there is the Restaurant Molí de Sal with its Chill Out Garden, whatever that may be.

The photo (top) was chosen from my archive. It was taken near Campos, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: July 29th, 2007. The time was 16:11:11. The photo (centre) was borrowed from the Internet, courtesy of balneariofontsanta.com. The photo (bottom) was taken near Campos, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: October 4th, 2010. The time was 13:44:19.

Moltes gràcies.