Animals

Blessing of the Animals

Mallorca’s annual Sant Antoni celebrations include a ritual called Beneïdes (blessing of the animals). The origins of this tradition are probably pagan when in the countryside one suffered the weather and the […]

Animals

The Massive Downpour of 1989

In early September 1989, twenty-three years ago last week, the South-East of the island was surprised by a ferocious Gota Fría, bringing torrential rain and utter devastation with it. Entire […]

Animals

The Slow Decline and Fall of Bullfighting in Mallorca

There was a bullfight event in Palma’s Coliseo Balear the other […]

Animals

Langostas and Bogavantes

I like lobsters. They are somewhat dinosaurian in appearance, don’t you think? It pleases me every time I see them on offer in Palma’s Mercat de l’Olivar, for instance. But […]

Animals

Swan Lake

Not many things are prettier than the grace of a swan. On the lake of the Palacio Real de la Almudaina in Palma we have a brace of white swans – […]

Animals

A Private Seawater Lobster Tank

Something like eighteen years ago, a friend of mine showed me a private property in Portocolom which was for sale. The house was amazing. It looked a bit like the […]

Animals

The Son Menut Stud Farm

A long time ago, in mainland Spain, the Carthusian monks were famous for their role in breeding the Pura Raza Española or Andalusian horse. Toni Barceló from Son Menut near […]

Animals

El Portitxol

El Portitxol is the name of what used to be a fishing harbour just outside of the island capital. El Portitxol forms part of El Molinar which is now a […]

Animals

This Little Piggy Went to the Market

The eleven little piglets in my photo were fifteen days old or thereabouts when I took the photo a few weeks ago. All male piggies will be taken to the […]

Animals

The Hostatgeria del Castell d’Alaró

The Puig d’Alaró makes for an exciting outing for a number of reasons. You could hike up the northern ascent from Orient which will take you just under two hours […]

Animals

An Invasion of Snails

You may not be much into snails as a gastronomic treat or even as a pet but, this being a blog about Mallorca and its traditions and customs, snails it […]

Animals

Dead Dolphins

First the good news. There is a surprising prevalence of dolphins in the waters surrounding the Balearic Isles. Species found around Mallorca include the Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis), Risso’s Dolphin […]

Animals

Sant Marc and the Fate of Snails

I have a few admissions to make, this Day of Sant Marc (Mark the Evangelist). For some reason, this is the day when tradition in Mallorca calls for the celebration of […]

Animals

A Fish Called Lisa

Lisa or Llissa is a fish which traditionally used to be eaten in Mallorca during Lent, or so I am told. The fish may be better known to you by […]

Animals

The Picudo Rojo Weevil Disaster

Over the last ten years Mallorca’s palm trees have been suffering from an invasion of the Picudo Rojo, a weevil or snout beetle known by its Latin name as Rhynchophorus […]

Animals

Dances With Bears

Els Óssos i en Joanet de l’Onso is the name of a group of six infant dancers plus an adult leader who are part of a newly formed folkloric act […]

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