Tioram 4 - Palma Nova, Mallorca 16th-17th September 39:31.17N 002:32.49E

Palma Nova, Mallorca 16th-17th September 39:31.17N 002:32.49E

Tioram 4

Tina & Tony

Sun 19 Sep 2010 17:00

On the morning of the 16th Sept, Tony, Ian and I woke up anchored in Palma Nova Bay. We took the dinghy a short ride to the shore to explore the town.

I was particularly looking forward to seeing the area. My first holiday abroad was in Palma Nova, 39 years ago, I was nine years old and I loved it. Mom and Dad, my sister and myself spent time experiencing a new culture for the first time--- language, food, houses, lifestyle and of course the beach and crystal clear water. I can remember nearly drowning my sister,Gillian, trying to climb on her shoulders in deep water having seen, 'something dark underneath us'---- no doubt the dreaded weed that we attempted to anchor Tioram into 39 years later---- how could you plan that life ?

I loved the 'difference'. The taste of different food, the sights, sounds and scents of Palma Nova village with a handful of hotels, the hills covered in pine forest and a brief visit to Magaluf beach to play in front of perhaps the 2 or 3 hotels there.

To this day any scent of strong pine in warm breeze or smell of strong cigar smoke from a cafe or scent of leather (which came from the Mallorcan leather handbag shops)--- reminds me of my first trip abroad. It seems that my thirst for travel and the 'different' started in 1971.

The 80's and 90's saw the boom of the tourist market in Palma Nova and as most people know Magaluf grew into a large resort loosing its Spanish village status and was consumed by the tour operator hotel package market.

I never wanted to go back and to find the area ruined. So 39 years later I tentatively stepped ashore in Palma Nova to explore.

Yes the English bars and restaurants are there, without a hint of 'Spanish' on the menu and yes there are many more hotels. It is essentially 'Little Britain'. However the atmosphere in September is very nice. The seafront, although more developed only extends a short distance back from the beach. Some high rise but not the 'Benidorm' I expected.

The paseo/seafront is clean, tidy and nicely designed, lots of tourist shops, but again pleasantly set out.

The once empty beach is now lined with thatched umbrellas and loungers--- although in Sept, mainly empty. The water is surprisingly still clear--- and nine years old girls still run in and out of the sea.

The beach which backed onto rough land and pine trees ( like a Greek island today), now backs on to the Paseo.

The scent of leather now gone--- no Mallorcan handbag shops in sight, the strong smell of cigars from the Senor's in the little Spanish corner cafes now gone, but the overwhelming scent of pine in warm breeze still there as thankfully the development must have been stopped at some point in the 39 years.

Ian enjoyed exploring, whilst Tony and I found the hotel I had stayed in on that first holiday. Somehow instinct took me to it--- the same exterior--- but a very different interior. The plush sofa and lounges gone but now the whole ground floor opened up into a trendy minimalist interior.

We continued to walk around the town, seeing old landmarks and a few remaining 1960's and 70's hotels which I had seen in the past.

I have to say that I really enjoyed our visit. I'm glad I didn't return in the 80's or 90's. Now the town seems to have reclaimed itself, although very changed and no longer a village but a resort, it seems to have shaken off the 18-30 image. Perhaps July / August would be different but in Sept it is nice.

Tony and I met up with Ian who had also really enjoyed the beach, seafront and shops. We scrambled back into the dinghy, rescuing Ian from another early swim between the dinghy and the dock and giggled our way back to the boat.

As we motored across the bay the flat calm water revealed the heavy weed on the seabed, I looked back at the beach, some familiar landmarks, the hotel , enjoyed the scent of the pine warm from the hillside and marvelled that a nine year old girl could never have imagined the sight of her boat, Tioram anchored in the bay, 39 years later having sailed 13,000 miles...............................

The next day we set sail for Palma de Mallorca to explore the capital and to visit the Cathedral--- to see a beautiful rose stained glass window, a little girl once saw and an older 'girl' remembers........................

Love to all

Tina, Tony and Ian x x

Photos of Palma Nova..........