UTC 1033 

We  have moved to the Puerto Calanova.  May be…half an hour voyage toward Palma.   

That is the port  from where I  was departing to the training sessions and the exam. 

As usual, we are on the anchor, in front of the marina.  

The major advantage of the move — it is a bit closer to Palma… and the transportation is much better — more busses, and they are arriving more often.  

But the major reason — it has been the traditional place of the meetings with the people from our yacht master group… Since there are still a few of us on the island — the tradition is going on!  ;-) 

I made a visit to Soller, and Soller Port, on the North of the island.  No, no, no… not with the boat.  I took the small ‘Vicrorian time’ train, which is crossing the whole Island, from  Palma to the North….  

The first impression  — the infrastructure of the island is much bigger.  Quite a few highways,  which are busy with a traffic.  A few railroads…  The island must be ‘energy hungry’…  But how they are producing the electricity, is not clear.  But they definitely do not have a shortage….   You can see the good electrical grid, covering the island, and crossing the stiff mountains on the Northern part…. 

It seems that there is no shortage for the water either.  But, again, it is not clear how they are getting it.  I have seen a small river… But that most probably not the major source…  The desalination plants should be some where…  But I have not notice one in the Palma port or around… 

The island has a long history, started  about 6000 years ago… The history books  mention two periods of prosperity — one, under Romans ruling, and another one — under Moors, as part of Caliphate of Córdoba. 

The Moors brought to the Island the advanced irrigation system, and established the agricultural farms… one of the foundation for the island economical boom at that time…  

Today, travelling across the island, you can still see the plantation of the olive trees,  growing on the terraces, established by Moors…  Most of the plantations are abandoned… But the trees, and the systems — are still alive and  functioning…  It always amazed me, how the technology of the early middle ventures, managed to leave the legacy which is standing by centuries…. 

In short,  the trip triggered a lot of reading about both the Mallorca history, and the current days.  

And that what I’m doing now,   besides usual tasks of maintenance, and enjoying the weather… which is getting better and better with each day.

Everything is OK on board,  

Talk to you later, 

M.