We are off to today to a beautiful island, one of the Balearics and hugely popular with tourists. Today we are at Mallorca which I am sure many of you have visited or know friends who have been here on holidays.
This super island has great hot weather, friendly people and space to get away from "the kiss me quick," brigade of some of the more popular tourist resorts. I hope you might enjoy the day and dip in and out as it pleases you; perhaps it will being back memories or even tempt you to go there when all is safe.
We start at a tourist resort but early on to try and avoid the crowds and inevitable queues. We are at the Caves of Drach. My tale from being here was I had lost my glasses and armed only with prescription sunglasses did the whole tour underground seeing very little indeed! Well, I had never been that keen on caves anyway!!
As it is still quite early, perhaps you are tempted by a coffee and a local delicacy - an Ensaimada pastry. These vary enormously but the spiral ones are common and often eaten by locals for a traditional breakfast.
Now we are off to see a pretty mountainside village called Fornalutx which is sun-bathed in its honeyed stone. Again it is much frequented by tourists but the footpaths steep and with its tumbling flowers makes a great spot to stop and soak it up. It is a hiker's, and photographer's, paradise but not for the faint hearted!
Fornalutx is close to Soller where we will travel on the old rickety train/tram to the coast. We will see a bit more of Fornalutx and of Soller. We can enjoy some orange groves, but hold on tight!
Now we can really feel the heat so let us travel again to the Valldemossa, where we can chill and see and hear some Chopin.
Now before we return home we conclude by visiting the monastery at Lluc where you can stay comfortably in a modest room, enjoy the gardens and the swimming pool.
"You have come to Lluc the sacred forest of Prehistory and the first Sanctuary on the island that was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, dating back to the 13th Century.
Here the faithful will rediscovery the distinctive identity of our local Church, whilst non-believers can find the origins of the Mallorcan people, because Lluc is more than a sanctuary, it is a secular national symbol. For visitors from overseas we offer an alternative to the typical days on the beach and nights spent partying. Our accommodation IS an unexpected oasis of tranquillity, of spirituality (the religious celebrations and choir), of artistic heritage (the Museum), of unspoilt countryside (the Tramuntana mountains and the Botanic Garden), and of Mallorcan cuisine (in our restaurants)"
"This is Mallorca's most sacred site - a monastery in a spectacular setting in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains to the north west of Mallorca.
Lluc has been a centre of pilgrimage since the 13th century when an Arab shepherd boy, newly converted to Christianity, discovered a dark wooden statue of the Virgin in a cleft in the rock. The image was placed in the local church but three times it returned miraculously to its cave, whereupon the villagers recognised a message from God and built a shrine to house it.
La Moreneta ('the Little Dark One') is now encrusted with precious stones, and sits in a chapel decorated with the arms of every Mallorcan town. Pilgrims and tourists queue to pay homage."
Hope you have enjoyed our day out this Bank Holiday Monday and maybe tempted you to visit this gorgeous island or to revisit its beautiful and varied sites.