The Mallorca Squad

[simonpickard]

Not so much budget, more time. We only have a set amount before heading back to that real world where we'll have to go back to work to pay everything off.

Loving the Balearics so far, and hopefully next time we're able do a trip like this we're have a few years to explore the med rather than months.

All the best,
Simon

[Prairie Chicken]

Warm thoughts of Mallorca ... pulpo & gambas.

[weavis]

Originally Posted by simonpickard

Well we could only spend a few nights in Palma but wow, what a city.

Honestly I'm really impressed, loved every moment of it.

Great food, bars, shopping, beaches, friendly people.

Wish I could have stayed longer.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

Simon Im sorry I couldnt make it to Palma. Im in the middle of the Island staying with Spanish friends who are professional Chefs and ended up watching their house and then going to the North to film then doing a cooking demonstration.
Today turned into a food/drink fest up in the Northand I didnt even get to go sailing......

Where go you now? Menorca?

[SaltyMonkey]

P Chicken! You are torturing me with that fooooooD OMG! I had tofu and beans for dinner

[simonpickard]

Yum, that food looks amazing!

One thing I don't understand with Mallorca. The summer mooring buoy system.

I'm always pointed to that balearslifeposidonia website but it only shows a few places.

For example, we wanted to book a buoy for today at Porto Petro. The pilot says to go to the website and book.

You go there and they aren't listed.

Any ideas?

Regards,
Simon

[Prairie Chicken]

Posidonia used to be in Cala Blava, Porto Petro, & Pollensa & yes, you booked on line, or if you went there the guy in the dingy might put you on a buoy if they had openings. Those were the days when they were free. Now they no longer show up on Posidonia's web site so I can only assume they no longer operate those buoys.

We haven't gotten up the East coast for a couple of years. Are the buoys still in Porto Petro? And do they look to be maintained? That's something I'd like to know. If so, I might GUESS they've been abandoned & are no longer maintained by the same people, or perhaps have been taken over by some local group. If not, I'd greatly fear another bottom has been fouled when the mooring field was abandoned but the bottom never cleaned up properly.

This is a real problem in Spain. The government (that would be the taxpayers) pay for & build the infrastructure, then grant the concession to operate it to a private entity (usually a buddy of the official in charge), who rakes in big profits as he hasn't had to invest in the infrastructure. The same is true with Cabrera, which used to be run by the military & was free.

Also, due in large part to the high cost of moorings in the Balearics, local boat owners set their own mooring balls in nice anchorages, then abandon them later, leaving the bottom a scary place for those who wish to anchor. This is one of our biggest concerns now in the Balearics--fouled bottoms. Some areas, such as Es Trench, are easy as you can see the sandy bottom. Others, such as Porto Colom, are scary indeed if you have seen the number of buoys that have been put in over the years, and then the next year you come back & find no buoys but you know (& sometimes find) the weights still on the bottom.

[weavis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJwrTaob9xk

[weavis]

Back from the Big Island* and landed yesterday morning.
Took the Greyhound from Bristol airport to home.
When I got off at the Newport Rail station, the sun came out. I was going to get a taxi to the house but the lure of the Pub across the road was too much.
A pint of Guinness and Large Cod chips and mushy peas.

Reet Gradely.

Oh.. on the coach, it follows the river in Beistol...... Im thinking Id like to do a trip down it to the sea........... will look into it.

*Mallorca not to confuse our American friends and Hawaii.

[Prairie Chicken]

Taste bud shock!

[SaltyMonkey]

Originally Posted by weavis

A pint of Guinness and Large Cod chips and mushy peas.

Is this even possible? Do such things still exist?

[weavis]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

Is this even possible? Do such things still exist?

Oh yes.

[weavis]

So.. I was sat in the corner having lunch in my restaurant..and a choking noise was heard across the other side. I saw 6 or 8 people gather round. A woman had got some food stuck and was unable to breathe.
Her husband was behind her trying to dislodge the piece with alternate pounding on her back and a weird version of the Heimlich..

Lucy came running over to me and said "lady not like her meat", She doesnt speak English and this was her way of telling me there was a problem. I walked over to the table and had to move some spectators out of the way of the scene so I could get close. I pointed to two guys and gestured for them to stand the lady, and then pointed to the guy doing the back banging to stand behind her and clasp his hands around her middle with his thumb of one hand placed inward just above the navel and the other hand holding that hand. I gestured to jerk inwards and upwards.
He did a beautiful move. The obstruction flew in my direction and landed at my feet.

Applause all around. Emergency over. Gave the woman some iced water to drink and back to lunch.

It has long been my policy of not interfering in first Aid efforts if the people doing the job are doing everything that I would do. I believe that we all need to know how and what to do and when to do. Im sure he will never forget this in the future. I later found out there was another two Drs having lunch further down in the back of the restaurant, and they only saw what was happening after the applause..... Spanish are very appreciative.

[Kenomac]

The restaurant is the stage, the customers are the actors and you are the director.

When we dined there... There was no dinner show. Por Que?

[weavis]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

The restaurant is the stage, the customers are the actors and you are the director.

Lol... Lucy kept coming up to me all afternoon patting my arm.. squeezing my cheek and giving me hugs...

when do you fly home Ken? or are you going to do a long stint in the area?

[Kenomac]

E cala il sipario per appause fragoroso! bravo! Viva il direttore!!

In Sardengna per altre due settimane, poi io volo tornare a Whooville per l'inverno.