39 34N 002 38E STP Marina Palma, Mallorca
Pipedream
Wed 5 Aug 2009 08:26
Lets see since last time we have visited a couple of the islands in the Balearic chain.
Ibiza was the first destination. This is the party central for most of western Europe. Tried to get into the marina there... no space in the inn. A scalper offered us a slip for a mere 450 euros a day. The dollar is at $0.69 per euro right now. We got some diesel and went for one of the many state sponsored moorings along the coast. Great place crowded and noisy this time of year and had to dingy ashore from the mooring ball. (free) The outboard would not start after 5 weeks in the forward lazerette in a dripping salt water bath. Rowed the rubber dingy ashore - these things are hard to row but the rest of the crew were very inspired to get to the nude/topless beach that surrounded us and the three restaurants built on it. These beaches are very much family friendly with little kids all over and none of locals seem to think anything is unsuall and for them there isn't. We took a taxi into the town of Ibiza city for a night of cosmopolitan wow!. Women dressed to the teeth, lots of discos and clubs with 100 euro cover charges, a Roman castle complete with street performers and maybe the best restraint of the trip so far, the Olive. We wanted to make a return trip but so far there has not been enough time.
Formentera. A very laid back island just south of Ibiza. It was discovered by the hippies in the '60's and still has much of the feel. Was able to score another state sponsored mooring ball here and ended up staying for several days. We again rowed to shore, this time with the gas tank to get some fresh gas, hiked about two miles in desert like conditions and ended up hitch hiking. We were picked up by a French couple who took us not only to the gas station but to the super market and the marine store. They visited the boat with their four daughters that evening and brought us fresh pastry for breakfast the next day.
While I was trying to get the outboard going a proper English chap dinged over from the next boat an Oyster 50 and asked if we needed a hand. Terry and I worked on the engine cleaning the carburetor for about three hours. We broke one plastic part and lost a spring I still don't know did what. Extra part installed by Mercury to confuse armatures?? Terry knew a guy ashore who fixed engines so he carried us all in along with our motor. He pulled a few strings and got the guy to rebuild the carburetor that afternoon for 54 euros... the motor runs pretty good but still does not idle quite right. Chris, Mary and I were going ashore (about a three mile ride at end of which you have to go through many anchored small boats) I had throttled down and was having a hard time keeping the motor running when I looked up and was startled by three ladies, topless, in waist deep water in the middle of a bunch of anchored boats. The engine stalled the wind was blowing and I just gave up jumped out and walked the dingy the rest of the way in. We rented some bicycles and peddled to a favorite lunch spot of Terry and his wife, Vickie, about 15 miles away - with the exception of Matt and Chris we were all huffing and puffing pretty hard. We were chased out of our mooring after staying too long you are allowed only two days- weather again.
We are now in Palma, Mallorca (that is pronounced Myorka)- the biggest city in these islands. Very nice place. The King and Queen of Spain are here for summer vacation. Still the only American flag in sight! It is said to be the yachting center of the western Med. Huge harbor with lots of really big sail boats. We actually got a slip in a big work yard. We are the smallest thing in here by maybe 25 feet, but we are in the center of town right by the cathedral. We spent yesterday on the 'grayline' bus tour visited the local castle, etc. and will spend today making some repairs. Went to dinner at a topas place. You get about a mouthful of each thing for around 2.50 euros each, extensive menu - i.e. two chicken wings. Neat idea.. just eat the starters. The other big dish in Spain is plenta. A deep dish pizza pan full of rice and every kind of shell fish you can think of. We went to a local jazz bar last night. Lots of guitars, Santana like and very good and cheap.
Next we will be setting sail for Barcelona. Mary leaves from there to catch her flight back to the states from Madrid on the 14th. That looks like a definite date. Chris will leave from there to start his eurorail trip to the north. Matt, George and myself plan to find a winter home for Pipedream and will be sailing east to maybe eventually Malta. Looks like there are a few islands between here and there to stop at. I would like to be back for Chris's movie premier in early November at the Florida theater and then the holidays. We will likely start phase two of the trip in maybe February to the Adriatic, Greece, and Turkey. We are taking crew applications over the holidays. Any interest?
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