Sant Joan Festival

August 16, 2013June 23, 2019 GOING NINETY MILES2 Comments

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.

and

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

Save

beach · catalonia · hotels · menorca · paaaarty · spain · travel

Menorca ~ Part UNO

August 6, 2013October 15, 2016 GOING NINETY MILES1 Comment

Hola! How are you today friends? My cousin, Megan and I, went to Menorca last weekend. Where is Menorca you may ask? Well, let’s consider Mallorca the island major and menorca the island minor. It is only a hop skip and a jump away from here. There are two ferries you can catch from Alcudia (in Mallorca) to Ciutadella (in Menorca) – Balearia and Iscomar. Balearia has a faster boat which only takes 1.5 hours between each island and Iscomar boats take about 2.5 hours. Of course the faster boat is a bit more expensive but each way is anywhere between 45 – 80 euros depending on what all you want regarding speed and schedule.

Don’t you just love this little sketch I found? It is adorable! I wish we would have had more time to have seen everything. Menorca is MUCH smaller than Mallorca and I was surprised at how quickly we could get from one end of the island to the other. Let me tell you about the trip.

I decided that we would take our chances with the ferry ticket and we would purchase the round-trip ticket when we arrived in Alcudia on Friday. Why? I don’t know. Stupidity, probably. We arrived about an hour and a half before the Iscomar ferry was scheduled to leave, I asked for round-trip tickets, Friday and return on the Sunday 7:00 p.m. ferry. “Sorry, the 7:00 ferry is booked. We have the Monday ferry available?” Ahhhh, why do I do these things?!? I smiled at my cousin who may or may not have been panicking inside. We both had to work early Monday in Mallorca so that was not an option. “Two one way tickets to Menorca please.” I responded. And we got on the boat!

It was a very nice boat! We sat on the top deck in the sunshine and drank a beer while we cruised to Menorca. We arrived at the Ciutadella port a little after 19.30, jumped in a cab and went to our hotel, the Prinsotel. It was a nice hotel for a great price. The room was clean, a big pool, friendly staff and just a tad bit on the outskirts of Citutadella (about an 8 euro cab fare to the centre). We cleaned up, got ready for dinner, easily booked the 11 pm ferry back with Balearia on Sunday evening and we were off to have some food.

Ciutadella had a really fun and vibrant atmosphere going on. We headed down to the port where there is pretty much fish restaurant after fish restaurant with the same menu, maybe a pizzeria or two thrown into the mix. We choose a fish restaurant (naturally) with tables right at the edge of the port and settled in. It was lovely! There were fish jumping out of the water! Here is a picture from where I was sitting.

Gorgeous, right? After dinner we headed towards the “bar/nightclub” area around the Pla de Sant Joan. We thought JAZZBAH looked the best and it was so fun it was the only one we ventured to that night. There are three levels: the bottom level is the dance floor, the next two levels are more of a chillout area with tables that overlook the other clubs surrounding the area and the port. I ordered a POMADE, which is gin and lemonade but it was more like a lemonade slushy and it was absolutely scrumptious. I had a few more …… PARTEEEE TIME!

The next morning we ventured out of our hotel and grabbed a taxi to AVIS for our car rental. I will try to make a long story short BUT when we arrived and said we had a reservation they asked for our International Driving License. Okay, yes, I read in all the books that you should have one but NEVER in my 7+ years of living in Europe have I ever been asked for one – this is including being pulled over my Spanish Policia plenty of times. I argued and stated what I just told you but they stood their ground. So, last time I reserve a car with Avis in Europe. I had them call us a taxi and funnily enough it was the same taxi guy that dropped us off! He asked, “Que pasa?” and I explained the situation back to him in Spanish. WhoHoo for ME! He took us to Europcar and we had no problem renting a car with them. So off we went.

To a gorgeous beach on the Northern coast – Cala d’Algariens. If you go, don’t park in the first parking area keeping driving down that bumpy dirt road, there is a parking area much closer to the beach. We arrived, walked about 10 minutes until we got to the beach, walked down the wooden steps and crashed. We were tired, possibly a bit hungover (those Pomades!) and it was freaking hot. But check out the view.

The water was cold! And it gets deep pretty fast. But it was an expansive beach with room for everyone. Come and visit! After a couple of hours chillaxing we figured we should drive to the other end of Menorca and check-in to our hotel, shower up and grab some food. We opted for a quiet night in Mahon from partying it up the night before.

We finally checked into the Catalonia Mirador des Port. I say finally because they are many one way streets and it was difficult for us to find the correct street that would actually take us there! Possibly you could chalk that up to be hungover… Anyways, I was extremely disappointed in the hotel. While the reception woman was very nice and breakfast (for an extra 8 euros each) was fine, the room reeked of cigarette smoke and everything was out-dated. Regardless, we unpacked and walked around the Mahon port area. It was much quieter than Ciutadella. But sweet and tranquilo. We stopped by the restaurant Casanova (Moll de Ponent 15) for a huge personal wood-fired oven pizza. Delicious! Just what I was needing.

We had big plans for the next day – the horse festival in Es Mercadal (my favorite festival so far!), a cool bar on the cliffs of Cala En Porter and a beach on the Southern coast. Check back soon for Menorca Part Dos! Gracias!

Save

fiestas · happy holidays y'all · Mallorca · palma · spain

Happy Balearic Day!

March 1, 2013 GOING NINETY MILES1 Comment

It is Balearic Day, throughout Mallorca!

Here it is an official holiday for Mallorca, Minorca, Ibiza & Formentera. The Day of the Balearic Islands is a public holiday in Mallorca. It is celebrated every year on the 1st of March, in commemoration of the signing of the Statute of Autonomy on 1st March 1983. The festivities are varied and include a variety of traditional markets, childrens activities, and concerts.

catalonia · eat ~ mallorca · food · Mallorca · spain · yum

Please pass the coca.

February 9, 2013November 19, 2016 GOING NINETY MILESLeave a comment

Coca is so muy delicioso!

I bought some at the bakery the other day. Doesn’t it look scrumptious?

This coca to be exact is the coca trempó (also known as coca de trampó). It is a pastry made of pepper, onion and tomato. The coca trempó is popular in Mallorca and the Balearics. And it is my favorite. My friend Pilar, her mother makes this every summer and I pretty much don’t leave the table until it is done. Feeling adventurous? Here is how to make it… in Spanish even. You can do it!

The coca is a pastry typically made and consumed in Catalonia, eastern parts of Aragon, most of Valencia, the Balearic Islands, Andorra and in French Catalonia. The coca is just one way of preparing a dish traditionally made all around the Mediterranean.

There are many diverse cocas, with four main varieties: sweet, savory, closed and open. All of them use dough as the main ingredient, which is then decorated. This dough can be sweet or savory. If it is sweet, eggs and sugar are added, and if it is savory, yeast and salt. As regards the topping or filling, fish and vegetables are usual at the coast whilst inland they prefer fruit, nuts, cheese and meat. Some cocas can be both sweet and savory (typically mixing meat and fruit).

A popular coca is served during is the “Coca de Sant Joan”, a sweet coca with candied fruits and pine nuts, typical of Catalan summer solstice celebration.

But whatever coca you choose to enjoy, the are all DEEELISH. Just look at the variety to choose from.

It’s a hard choice but one you have to make. I know – try one of each!

Buen Provecho!

Save

catalonia · cool photos · eat ~ mallorca · happy holidays y'all · Mallorca · spain

Tinsel = Christmas

December 11, 2012November 19, 2016 GOING NINETY MILES1 Comment

Hey, all you need is a little purple tinsel around your outside restaurant display and we are all in the Christmas mood! And enjoy the paella!

Save

favorite things · friends · go ~ mallorca · Mallorca · spain

All Aboard – Destination Sóller!

March 30, 2012November 19, 2016 GOING NINETY MILESLeave a comment

Typing this post while listening to Madonna’s new album MDNA. L-U-V Madonna!

So that is a bit off track (ha, track – get it? train track!) from what my post is about but just wanted to throw out a “holla” to the material girl. If she visited Mallorca I do believe one of the first things she would do is ride the train from Palma to Sóller. This darling train complete with carriages largely constructed from wood with banquet-style seats, brass fittings and gaslights is a most enjoyable hour-long journey through the mountains. My friend Perla was here visiting and we went two years ago but wanted to go again! So, let’s go!

I loved the paper ticket. I still have mine! We caught the 1:30 train, which gave us enough time to wander around Sóller a bit and then catch the last train back to Palma at 6:15. Don’t forget that you have to come back! Well, I guess you don’t necessarily have to come back. There are many lovely hotels to stay at for the night.

The 27 kilometre length of track (one of the narrowest in the world at 914 millimetres) opened in 1912, connecting the capital with Sóller and cutting journey times down from a day to just an hour and a quarter, thus allowing the citrus growers of Sóller to get to the Palma markets and back in a day.

Little has changed since then: the tiny station (at Placa Espanya) is reached through a wrought-iron gate bearing the words “Ferrocarril de Sóller”. The first part of the journey is a bit slow, as the track runs along through Palma but within fifteen minutes you start to reach the outskirts of the capital and into open countryside, with the peaks of the Tramuntana as a spectacular backdrop.

As you approach the first stop at Bunyola, olive fields give way to pine forests.

Beyond the village the train enters the first of twelve tunnels, which become progressively longer, until it breaks through the mountains and emerges on the west side of the island. The views here are superb as the train winds over bridges and across dry torrents, high above a valley rutted with terraces and dotted with disused farmhouses. In the distance you can spot Sóller and the villages of Biniaraix and Fornalutx.

As you slowly make your way into Sóller the orange and lemon trees are close enough to stick your arm out and grab one. From the station in Sóller you can wander down into the town square, there are many shops, cafés and a beautiful church to see. Or you can jump on the tram that takes you to the sea at Port de Sóller.

Somewhere I thought I read it was a twenty minute walk to the port. I was wrong! Don’t do it. Just jump on the tram. Sadly, we didn’t do the tram because we ran out of time but next time I am definitely taking the tram to the port! So we wandered around Sóller; we grabbed a bit of lunch, a beer here and there and took in the sights. Fantastic!

Save

eat ~ mallorca · food · Mallorca · palma · spain · yum

Eat ~ Mallorca ~ FIBONACCI

March 22, 2012November 19, 2016 GOING NINETY MILES2 Comments

Fibonacci, the place for pan y café (bread and coffee), but so much more.

I finally checked out this café (and this time I mean café, not coffee). It was all I had been expecting! Well, minus the fact that I was craving the roast beef sandwich I read about. (They were out of the beef à la roasted) So I ordered a tuna fish sandwich and a café (this time coffee – so confusing!) con leche. You got to choose your choice of bread which was a tough decision, they all looked so yummy.

I wish I would have saved room for dessert. The carrot cake was so tempting, so was the chocolate cake, ohhh don’t forget about the cheesecake and what about the apple pie!? Gosh oh golly, I gotta go back. Next time I might try a scone with a macchiato. Or a chicken salad with mozzarella and mango. And don’t forget to grab a fresh loaf of bread to take home with you. Or their selections of olive oil, vinegar, wine, pesto, more more more para llevar (for takeaway).

I went to the Fibonacci in the Portixol area. But they have two other locations around Palma.

Fibonacci! I will return! Please oh PLEASE have some roast beef left for me! Fibonacci, more than bread and coffee.

Save

cool photos · favorite things · happy happy joy joy · hi there · she's crafty · spain

TWO HUNDRED YO!

January 30, 2012October 24, 2016 GOING NINETY MILESLeave a comment

Welcome to my TWO HUNDREDTH POST! Amazing, truly amazing. There have been times when I thought about quitting, but I’m still here. I’M STILL HERE! I know I am not a daily blogger, not even usually a weekly blogger but I try to send something out in cyberspace a few times a month. And I would like to say a big THANK YEEEEWWW (with my Okie accent) to all my friends, family and you random stop-byers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for checking in from time to time. I really ‘preciate all of you.

While I have only been blogging for almost THREE (!) years, I have been in Europe/Mallorca for much longer. And when I stop to think about it – Felix and I are going to celebrate TEN years together – I am sometimes in shock at how fast the time flies. So many things have happened to me since meeting Felix, moving to Germany and then Mallorca. I have somewhat conquered German, still trying to conquer Spanish. And I am really hoping to do some amazing things this year. So watch out world!

I decided to post a few (or more than a few) of my favorite pics from these past years. Enjoy!