s/v Milly: Friends and Family in Mallorca

We loved Mallorca. Peter and I always wonder where we will settle when time aboard becomes time as land lubbers. Although we love all we see, rarely, I might say never, have we actually agreed that "This is a place we could live." But Mallorca passed the grade - yes, we could live there. Beautiful cruising, sensational topography, amazing and valued recreational infrastructure of established hiking trails and motor vehicle drivers who respect cyclists, lovely mountain villages, easy going lifestyle, and much, much more. BUT the most expensive island in the Med. We do know how to pick them!

Great times with friends and family may have biased our perspective! First, dear friends from Toronto came for a short but very sweet visit. R & R at a secluded anchorage, a tramp around and about Palma and some fine food and cooking were enjoyed. Then Peter's clan did an incredible thing They coordinated themselves to come from Norway, Toronto and Waterloo to visit and meet Milly for the first time. A couple of family members were missing and missed but otherwise, it was fantastic!

And here it is in pictures:

The impetus for our first destination in Mallorca was an attempt to find a protected anchorage to pick up our dear friends. We had made it from Ibiza only the day before their arrival, cutting it close due to every sailor's boss, the wind. The bay within the bay of Bahia de Palma met the bill and the beach was attractive. But the town! Sleazy bars, tattoo parlours, strip joints, this high ropes course among other fair parephenalia and tourists only - not the place to pick up these friends. Luckily, the wind changed during the night making this anchorage not so protected after all. We had to move across the bay and around the point to anchor outside "the most expensive marina in the Med". This was the place to pick up our friends!

No room in the marina for this strange but interesting, James Bondesque motor trimaran. Otherwise our neighbours anchored outside the Puerto Portals were plain old cruisers like us, trying to beat the expense while enjoying the ambiance of a beautiful neighbourhood. More like the Mallorca we had anticipated.

The lovely old city of Palma is dominated by the Cathedral.

The notes rang through the nave, one of the highest Gothic structures in Europe, and it's narrow pillars.

Another serendipitous find - A concert with an enormous choir and full symphony met our ears during our visit to this elegant cathedral. As far as we could understand, the theme of the concert and accompanying slide show was anti violence in politics while outside in the main square of the city was a huge demonstration against the separation of Catalunya.

In the city centre, the demonstration was peaceful and colourful.

Colourful food displays were extra enticing.

As we left Bahia de Palma the cliffs became higher and more dramatic. Crocodiles lurked.

Milly at anchor from the highest point in Puerto de Santa Ponsa.

One of the Isla Dragonera lighthouses. There is one on each end of this rugged, spectacular island and nothing else - just hiking trails. A must for our next visit.

Traditional fishing boats, now doubling as tourist attractions, lined the docks in Puerto de Soller where we stayed for three weeks with a visit from the Ramshaws. In Mallorca the ports were not inhabited but purely working posts. The towns of the same names were nestled out of sight in the hills so that roving pirates looking for a quick treasure or two were not tempted. Soller, the town is a couple of miles inland although the puerto is now a lovely tourist town surrounding a circular protected harbour.

Still very much a fishing port but also a very swish yachting centre and tourist haven. Absolutely beautiful. If it didn't have such a tumultuous winter, we would have been tempted to stay put.

We introduced the family to Milly on a daysail. Eleven of us! So wonderful for Peter and I to share our lifestyle and home.

Not a bad life, eh Em? Come join us anytime!

Cala De La Calobra. A slit in the rocks where the Torrente de Pareis - definitely no torrent - through spectacular cliffs. A must see. There's a loop hike from the highway. Another reason to return.

Another view including Milly.

Bus back to land for those landlubbers in an almost submerged TomTom. Great day!

Refreshment of freshly squeezed orange juice on a hike along the coast to meet the others for lunch seaside.

Such a great time! Companionship couldn't be beat.

Lunch destination from on high.

A day being chauffeured by Tom took us through the mountains to Pollenca, an ancient town of twisting lanes.

The Via Cructis, a long, steep and beautiful lined by boutiques and cypress trees leads to a small chapel at the top and a sensational view.

And another daysail with Liz on the bow.

Peninsula de la Foradada. Tom and I headed to the tippy top while the others enjoyed time on Milly.

This was no easy hike! Very steep climb up cliffs with scant foot and hand holds.

Only a couple of intrepid hikers up on top. We all took photos for each other.

I felt that we could have jumped on top of Milly and although we hooted and hollered the crew did not wave. Too busy partying!

Going up was challenging but going down a whole lot worse. It was a long way down. We had to hug the wall to manage the footholds. Tom went first and then directed his poor mother's feet to the correct spot.