Maritime Pilotage
For five weeks now, Spain has been in the throes of an Estado de Alarma (State of Emergency) and will continue to be so at least until 24h00, January 15th. […]
Mallorca’s Christian Orthodox Churches
Barely two weeks after everybody else observed Christmas (December 25th), Mallorca’s Orthodox Christians actually celebrate their Christmas today, January 7th. Celebrations took place on Christmas Eve, Orthodox style, last night […]
Three Kings’ Helpers
Tomorrow, Spain will celebrate the Fiesta de SS. MM. Los Reyes Magos (Three Kings from the Orient), another public holiday and the last one of this festive season. Reyes (or […]
Gregarious Gulls
My wife commented on yesterday’s blog entry which, in her opinion, was all a bit gloomy. She is probably right; it was all a bit of the glass is half […]
The Conquistador
December 31st is Jaume I’s big day, or so we are told. Mallorca had been governed by Moorish Walís since the year 902. Already in 1205, King Pedro II of […]
The l’Estendard Celebrations
Most everybody is probably way too busy with preparations for a decent New Year Eve’s dinner, or party, or whatever to take notice of a quaint little festivity going on […]
The Miró Foundation in Palma
Twenty-seven years ago, in 1983, I happened to be spending Christmas in Mallorca when I was shocked to read in the local papers that Joan Miró i Ferrà had died […]
Midwinter Sun
Last night was the longest night of this year. Not only was the Moon eclipsed by the shadow of the Earth some 16 hours earlier yesterday, albeit invisibly here in […]
We Requested Excuse The Annoyances.
This Pidgin English/German/French apology of a kind was found on the entrance to the Ferrocarril trains to Sóller station in Palma yesterday. In case you don’t get the message: train […]
Turrón and Polvorones
Turrón, Polvorones, churros, Coques de Nadal, castanyas and hot chocolate are indispensable ingredients of the Christmas period in Spain, and in particular, here in Mallorca. The best of these, as […]
Swedish Santa Lucia Lights
Traditionally, December 13th is considered as being the shortest day with the longest night of the year in Sweden. Why that is I cannot tell you. I suppose it has […]
Betlems in Mallorca
Betlems or Beléns (Nativity scenes) in Mallorca are a wonderful thing. In the past, most Mallorcan families had one in their house; many of them still do. One of the […]
When I’m Sixty-Four
Thirty years ago today, Mark David Chapman put a vicious end to the life of John Winston Lennon (1940-1980). Lennon was murdered in cold blood by Chapman in New York […]
Mallorcan Christmas Fayres
Christmas in Mallorca is different from elsewhere, at least, it used to be. For a start, Christmas in Spain is, or used to be, a religious affair. It was traditionally […]
The Hospital General in Palma
The Hospital General in Palma will be celebrating its 555th anniversary next year. The hospice was founded in 1456, when three older hospitals were merged into one: the Hospital de […]
Sweet November
Even though snow is predicted in Mallorca for Friday at an altitude of 700 m, November can be a lovely month in the Balearic Isles. There have been a number […]
The Mallorca Photo Blog 