Sulayman Ibn Mansur
Let’s take a look at Mallorca’s history: From about 535 AD, Mallorca became part of the Byzantine Empire, although from the years 698 AD to 902 AD the island was […]
A Skeleton in the Closet
Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón Real, famous for having Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet arrested in London some years ago, initiated a process of bringing into the open some dark, shameful secrets in the Spanish […]
The Red Palm Weevil
The Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) is called the Picudo rojo in Castellano. Whatever you call this little beetle, its larvae is a menace, causing harm to a large number […]
Stilts and Other Waders
The black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is a long-legged wader that is commonly found in Mallorca. This Cigüeñuela Común is at home for instance in the salt marshes of Es Trenc, or in the wetlands […]
Palma: What’s in a Name?
Palma de Mallorca, the island capital, has undergone another name change. Over the years, Palma was called either Palmaria by the Romans, Medina Mayurqa by the ruling Moors, or Ciutat […]
Weather Report
Mallorca suffered a bit of a turmoil weather-wise over the last ten days. October 29th brought gale force winds and torrential rain to the Palma, Calvià and Andratx areas with the loss […]
Bunyols and Buñuelos
During the Tots Sants celebrations, Mallorcans celebrate the festivities with plenty of sweet pastries. Bunyols or Buñuelos are particularly popular at this time of year. Bunyols are fritters commonly made […]
Todos Los Santos
Spain celebrates All Saints’ Day today, or Todos los Santos, or Tots Sants (November 1st). On this day families honour their deceased relatives and friends. Graves and tombs are cleaned […]
The Spanish Health Service
I do not claim to know much about the Spanish health service. I do have some varied experience with the health facilities, though, here in the Balearic islands, and my […]
Smuggling and Contraband
The people of Mallorca foster a long tradition of smuggling and similar activities of concealment. For one, the island has a strategically important position not too far from the Strait […]
Xeremias and Xeremiers
Traditional Mallorcan music is unthinkable without the Xeremia (a bagpipe). Go to any village festa and you will hear them, together with small drums, flutes and tambours. The Mallorcan bagpipe is most likely […]
Wind and Weather
Those of us who are into boats and sailing will know about the importance of the winds and will know their Tramuntana (N), Mestral (NW), Ponent and Xaloc (SW). These are the […]
The Oratory de la Consolació
Santanyí in the south east of the island is a very particular Mallorcan pueblo, famous for artists like Cittadini, Sapere or Irueste, writers such as Blai Bonet, musicians like María […]
Merienda
Merienda is the name of a midmorning snack in Spain. Builders take a second breakfast, as do office people, factory girls, even pre-school children have a midmorning merienda break. ¡Bon […]
The Ariany Fountain of Good Water
The village of Ariany is proud of its Pou Bo, a fountain attributed to Islamic times. The Moors were particularly gifted about water conservation and irrigation, and some of their […]
A Tibetan Sand Mandala in The Making
An exhibition of Tibetan art from a Belgian collection, including some beautiful Thangka paintings, can be seen in Palma de Mallorca (Fundació Caixa), from now until February 8th, 2009. But […]
The Mallorca Photo Blog 