some travel, some fun, all me
Happy Summer Solstice, y’all! The longest day of the year. Enjoy with a walk in the sunshine (or even the rain is nice too), a fresh glass of sun tea and pick a flower for a tiny vase.
I’m becoming a bit more spiritual and witchy (in the good Glinda kind of way) as I get older. So enjoy these ideas to celebrate Litha. Where’s that gold candle of mine?
Man, has it been hot here and the forecast says even hotter this weekend. I need a refreshing drink to cool me off!
My newest favorite summer drink is watermelon lemonade. If you love watermelon and you love lemonade then this siree is the drink for you! And it’s pretty easy to make. Plus if you want to make it more “adult” just add a little vodka for you to chill with by the pool.
Ingredients:
1/4 to 1/2 cup simple syrup 1 lemon
3 cups water 1 watermelon (seedless)
First, cut up the watermelon (I like the seedless ones or with very small seeds like this one) and blend the watermelon pieces until smooth.
Next, strain through a sieve into the pitcher or container. This is very important! If you don’t do this your drink will turn into a big pulpy disaster. And nobody likes big pulpy disasters.
Then add the simple syrup. I like to make my own simple syrup, it’s simple! 🙂 Hence, the name. Just add equal parts sugar and water in a pot, heat on medium until the liquid is clear and the sugar has dissolved and let cool. I like to make a jar of it to use in my whiskey sours and other drinks. Keep it in the refrigerator!
So, add the simple syrup (I use 1/4 cup but if you want things a little sweeter than use 1/2 cup), 3 cups of cold water and fresh lemon juice to the watermelon puree. Give it a good stir and you’re done. Serve over ice and with a slice of watermelon. Enjoy! And seriously try it with a splash of vodka. You deserve it.
Happy Summer Solstice! No more classes, no more worries (ha), just me with my toes in the sand and the sun on my face. Enjoy the summer peeps!
Happy New Year from Mallorca!!
365 new days, 365 new chances. Make each day count. xo
D O U B L E R A I N B O W@sa rapita beach, mallorca ||
Just another day at the office …… @ La Playa Sa Rapita.
It’s that time of year again! Sant Joan festival in Spain. Many different versions around Spain – tonight in my sleepy Mallorcan town we will be heading to the beach for some BBQ, lighting LOTS of candles around us and possibly dip our toes in the ocean. This is all to celebrate the summer solstice.
BUT the best one to experience is in Menorca. The Sant Joan festival in Ciutadella. Which is CRAZY! Looks super cool but I would rather have the tamer version of it. And it allowed me to come into full contact with the horses! Something I doubt would be possible for me at the Sant Joan festival.
Check out these pics from the Sant Joan festival in Ciutadella. Insane in the membrane.
and this …..
Wowzers. That is A LOT of people. But that is the Sant Joan fiesta. Es normal.
The smaller festival that I attended the other year in Menorca was in Es Mercadal and called Sant Marti. The horse is the common hero of all the local saint’s day festivals celebrated in all the Menorcan villages during the summer and clearly shows how authentic the island customs are. The drivers and horsemen, dressed up in the outfit called “de just” (of the just man) in a combination of black and white and they ride Menorcan-race stallions in a long procession or parade (qualcada) which goes through all the main streets and squares of the town.
During the two days of the holiday, strict protocol is observed, mixing religious acts which are closely observed, with moments of collective fun especially during the “jaleos” which take place in the main square and where the horses, horsemen and public take part to an equal extent in the show.
And this Jaleo is what we went to on Sunday morning at 11 am in the Plaça Constitució. It was, in a word, fantastic. First, the riders rode in a procession through the street showing off themselves and their gorgeous horses. And then the fun begins! They ride into the public circle in twos while the spectators (me!) try to touch the horse while it rears up. This went on for about an hour. I am allergic to horses. Seriously, all I have to do is look at a horse and I start to get welts on my face and arms. But after 15 minutes I was ready to get into the game. Screw allergies! It was so much fun.
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If you get a chance to go to the Sant Marti or the Sant Joan festival I highly recommend it. And make sure you wear clothes that can get dirt, sand, horse slobber and more on it. NO HIGH HEELS! No. Muy ridiculo – and don’t think I didn’t see it.
Happy Summer Solstice! xo
Eva loves to roll around in the fallen leaves. Meow is fall! ENJOY!!!
GOING NINETY MILES 