After the Roman period in Mallorca (123 B. C. until approx. 430 A. C.) the Vandals came (425 until 534). The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe that entered the late Roman Empire during the 5th century, coming to the Iberian Peninsula in 409. Under king Genseric, the Vandals settled in North Africa in 429 and by 439 established a kingdom which included the Roman Africa province, plus the islands of Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics. Not much else is known, apparently, about their dominion in Mallorca and a reign lasting the better part of 100 years; no architectural relics were found.

Present day vandals roam the streets of this island, setting fire to rubbish containers, cars, kiosks and the occasional beach bar. Often they are kids involved in a dare-you ritual of initiation, or youngsters under the influence of drugs, alcohol or high levels of testosterone, or simply, an angry neighbour on a payback mission.

Some parts of Mallorca sometimes feel a bit like Echo Park. Apart from that and the high unemployment rate in Mallorca, life here is still pretty much idyllic.

The photo was taken in El Molinar, Palma, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: January 28th, 2012. The time was 14:35:45.