Customs & Traditions
The sundial in the photo (above) adorns the Esglèsia de Sant Agustí in Felanitx. The sundial is not the oldest to be found in the town of Felanitx, but it […]
Customs & Traditions
Even though albanicos (folding fans) are not a Spanish invention, here in Europe, the Spanish folding albanico is probably the best known and most widely used of fans. Fans were […]
Customs & Traditions
Music plays a vital part in Spanish life. The temperament of Flamenco, the passion of Duende being played on the acoustic guitar, the Celtic music of Galicia with its bagpipe, […]
Customs & Traditions
Mallorca has long been a popular place to celebrate despedidas de soltero (stag nights or hen nights). The island is now also increasingly becoming a choice place for wedding ceremonies. […]
Beaches
People are different. Cultures are distinct. Customs vary from place to place and differing habits develop. Take a Sunday afternoon at the beach, for example, in Mallorca in August. You’ll […]
Daily Life
Water is important. You may not think about the importance of having water available until you run out of it. In the old days, houses in Mallorca were not connected […]
Animals
Looking at this picture, one can make two, or possibly even three, observations. First, there is plenty of evidence that a fair amount of ecologic welfare is still in place, […]
Automobiles
I received my renewed Permiso de Conducción (driving license) in the mail yesterday. About ten years ago, I had handed in my fold-out British driving license to exchange it for […]
Architecture
Llucmajor (Lluchmayor) has changed quite a bit over the last few years. First of all, when the motorway out of Palma in the direction of Santanyí was extended, the ciutat […]
Architecture
People who are wheelchair-bound and persons with physical disabilities do not generally encounter Mallorca as a very disability-friendly environment. Although a legal obligation exists in Spain regulating wheelchair access into […]
Books & Authors
I love books. And bookshops never cease to captivate me. When I first came to live in Mallorca, I soon discovered a librería specializing in poetry. It was, and still […]
Daily Life
Inefficiency and waste seem to sometimes be the credo of politicians in Mallorca. Add to that a fair amount of irresponsible accounting and a kick-back here and there and presto, […]
Customs & Traditions
Early July is the period when the leaves are harvested of the only native palm tree in Mallorca, the Palmito (Chamaerops humilis), also known as Garballó. The palm leaves are […]
Daily Life
I must apologize for giving you two fruit blog entries in the short span of only two days, but there you go. One of the problems with agriculture in Mallorca […]
Daily Life
The Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is an exceptional fruit. The Spanish call it Sandía, whereas our Mallorcan friends call this melon a Síndria, Xíndria or simply, Meló d’aigua. At this time […]
Beaches
May I suggest, what with the current heatwave, that you consider some proper sun protection. Living here on the island, I am constantly amazed as to how ignorant and blasé […]