Bones Festes. Bon Nadal. Feliz Navidad. Merry Christmas. Joyeux Noël. God Jul. Fröhliche Weihnachten. Buone Feste Natalizie. Milad Majid. Vrolijk Kerstfeest. Feliz Natal. Nollaig chridheil huibh. Kurisumasu Omedeto. Natale Hilare. Molts d’Anys.

Whatever your language, have a happy holiday. And many thanks for dropping by.

The photo was taken in Santanyí, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: December 24th, 2009. The time was 22:51:31.

Before I came to live in Mallorca, I had never heard the Cant de la Sibil·la. This Gregorian chant combines a liturgical prophecy with lyrics describing the Apocalypse of the final destruction of the world and the Judicii Signum (Last Judgement). La Sibil·la goes back to a mediaeval tradition of the 10th century, or possibly even earlier. One supposes that the chant was originally sung in Greek and later in Latin, Provençal, and now, in Mallorquín. For some reason, the Sybillic chant was forbidden and abandoned after the Council of Trent (between 1545 and 1563). After that, it was only ever performed in Mallorca, Valencia and Sardinia (Italy), for reasons unbeknown to me. Nowadays, it is performed on Christmas Eve at a number of churches in Mallorca, such as tonight.

Even though the chant is supposed to be sung by a woman (Sibyl of Eritrea), the song was originally sung by a boy as for many centuries women were not allowed to sing in church. The song is sung a capella and in a solo voice, sometimes interspersed by organ music (see video below). In 2004, the Cant de la Sibil·la was declared a Bien Inmaterial de Interés Cultural in Mallorca, something like a national treasure.

Tonight, La Sibil·la will be performed by a boy, a girl or a woman in Palma’s La Seu Cathedral (23h00), in the monastery of Lluc (22h00), in Randa, Alcúdia, Algaïda, and in a couple of other places. I will probably make my way to the church of Sant Andreu in Santanyí where the lovely Irina will chant the doomsday prophecy (22h00).

The photo was taken from the Internet. My thanks go to the Blog d’en Potti and the anonymous photographer. The video was also taken from the Internet. Many thanks to YouTube and johncpi.

Moltes gràcies and muchas gracias.

ถ้าคุณจินตนาการอาทิตย์รวมและทรายในเวลากลางวันมีร้านอาหารเจริญรุ่งเรืองในช่วงฤดูร้อนนี้วันหยุดใน Majorca สามารถเหมาะ. วันหยุดราคาถูก Majorca ได้นานรับความนิยมในสหราชอาณาจักรและฉาก clubbing ดีขึ้นเป็นใหญ่ดึงผู้เข้าชมจะเกาะ. เป็นสถานที่สำคัญในวงจร DJ นานาชาติมีหลายด้านดีเจของยุโรปหยุดออกเป็นส่วนหนึ่งของพื้นที่ใน Majorca ที่บางจุดในช่วงฤดูร้อน.

แม้ว่ารีสอร์ทบางที่เกาะ (ส่วนใหญ่ยวด Magaluf) มีความเข้มข้นสูงของสโมสรกว่าคนอื่นคุณควรจะลองไปเที่ยวกลางคืนใน Majorca ทุกท่าน. นี่คือการเลือกบางส่วนที่ใหญ่ที่สุดและคลับที่ดีที่สุดไปขณะที่ในวันหยุดใน Majorca:

BCM, Magaluf

Magaluf เป็นเมืองหลวง clubbing ของ Majorca และ BCM เป็น centrepiece ของพื้นที่ Magaluf ของ. มันเป็นประจำไพร่พลบางส่วนดีเจที่ใหญ่ที่สุดรอบ – ชื่อใหญ่ก่อนที่ปั่นบริการข้อมูลท่องเที่ยวที่นี่รวมถึงการตัดสิน Jules และTim Westwood.

สโมสรมีสามระดับ. ฝูงชนน้อยมักจะถูกดึงดูดไปที่ชั้นบนสุดกับเพลงเต้นรำใหม่ล่าสุดและการแสดงเลเซอร์อันงดงามขณะที่ชั้นกลางดึงดูดเล็กน้อย clubbers. ข้างล่างเป็นคลับ Millennium ซึ่งประจำครอบครัวโฟมเสียชื่อและบุคคลข้าวโพดคั่ว. เข้ามักจะเกี่ยวกับ € 20 แต่รวมถึงเครื่องดื่มฟรีสำหรับส่วนที่เหลือของคืนนี้!

กล้วย, Magaluf

อาจไม่สามารถเป็นใหญ่เป็น BCM แต่กล้วยเป็นสถานที่เพื่อไปหากคุณมีแฟนเพลงบ้าน – คลับนี้เล่นนอกจากบ้านบ้านและบ้าน more. Clubbers ประสบการณ์หลายเรื่องเป็นสโมสรที่ดีที่สุดใน Magaluf กับบรรยากาศอันยิ่งใหญ่และดีเจรอยบนในเดือนฤดูร้อน. สโมสรได้รับรอบกว่า 20 ปีและในช่วงต้น 1,980 ของหลังจากนั้นไม่รู้จัก DJ Sammy ทำลักษณะแรกของเขาในพื้นที่ Majorca ของที่กล้วย.

Menta, Alcudia

Menta เป็นสโมสรที่ใหญ่ที่สุดและดีที่สุดใน Alcudia และเป็นวาดขนาดใหญ่สำหรับผู้ที่อยู่ในวันหยุดใน Majorca. การออกแบบเช่นโรมันวัดมันคุณสมบัติเจ็ดบาร์และยังได้เองอากาศมันเปิดสระว่ายน้ำ. ดนตรีมีแนวโน้มที่จะมีส่วนผสมของสเปนและเพลงดิสโก้และจะดึงดูดผสมของท้องถิ่นและนักท่องเที่ยวใน Alcudia. ทหารประจำการมักจะแต่งตัวสำหรับ Menta ดังนั้นคุณควรนำเสื้อผ้ามาร์ทบางหากคุณต้องการให้พอดีกับที่นี่สามารถสถานแพ่งแต่มีมูลค่าจ่ายสำหรับ – Menta เป็นหนึ่งในไฮไลท์ของการเที่ยวกลางคืนใน Majorca.

Tito ของ Palma City

แม้ว่าคนส่วนใหญ่ในวันหยุดราคาถูกใน Majorca จะอยู่ในรีสอร์ทที่ Palma City จะดีคุ้มค่าไปอีกสองสามวันโดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งหากคุณเป็นฉาก clubbing. Palma มีช่วงของสุดยอดสโมสรรอยและ Tito คือหนึ่งในความนิยมมากที่สุด. หลังจากป้อนผ่านทางลิฟต์แก้วจาก Paseo Maritimo คุณจะพบชั้นเอกคลับชีวิตชีวากับหกบาร์แสดงเลเซอร์และบางมุมมองโดดเด่นจากระเบียง chillout ที่ดูผ่าน Palma Bay.

Tito ของถูกรอบสำหรับทศวรรษและในช่วงความมั่งคั่งของระหว่าง 50 และ 60 ของพื้นที่ Marlene Dietrich และเรย์ Charles. ไม่ได้มาคาดหวังว่าเพลงชีวิตแต่ – วันนี้เพลงที่มีส่วนผสมของโรงรถล่าสุดและ R และ B. หากคุณต้องการตัวอย่างร้านอาหารที่ดีที่สุดใน Majorca, Tito คือสโมสรที่จำเป็นเพื่อข้ามปิดรายการ.

เสมือน Illetas

หากคุณต้องการไปสโมสรที่มีบรรยากาศที่ไม่ซ้ำในขณะที่ในวันหยุดใน Majorca แล้วเสมือนเป็นสถานที่สำหรับคุณ. ตั้งอยู่ใน Illetas เพียงนอก Palma เมืองเสมือนเป็นสโมสรในถ้ำมีร้านอาหารบาร์ค็อกเทลและสโมสรที่มีทั้งหมดในบางถ้ำธรรมชาติบน seafront Illetas. เพลงจะผสมเพลงบ้านใหม่ล่าสุดสำหรับชั้นเต้นรำและเลือกผ่อนคลายมากขึ้นเพลงในพื้นที่ chillout เปลญวนเต็ม. จากทุกชมรมใน Majorca เสมือนจริงมีบางอย่างน้อยแตกต่างจากที่เหลือ.

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is now concluded for this year. Tomorrow, the Christian Noche Buena is upon us and the day after, Nadal (Navidad, Christmas). You might want to light a candle, whatever your religious persuasion.

It is a Mallorcan tradition to light a candle in a church at any time of the year, but at this time, around Christmas, more candles are being lit than usual. The Esglèsia de Sant Crist de la Sang where this photo was taken is a particularly popular place to pray, to offer one’s devotion or to beseech the Crist de la Sang’s forgiveness. A candle offering may just do the trick when accompanying such a solemn request.

Candles fabricated out of paraffin wax and made by hand can be bought in a large variety of sizes and shapes in a number of cererías (candle stores) in Palma de Mallorca. There is also a candle-making workshop in the Secar la Real district on the outskirts of Palma, and there is the famous Picornell Cerería in Carrer Call, near Plaça de Santa Eulàlia, where orders for hand-made candles of any size and shape have been placed since 1785, whatever the occasion.

The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: December 15th, 2009. The time was 16:53:19.

Majorca is the largest of Balearic Islands. Its sister islands of Menorca and Ibiza, lies in the Mediterranean Sea off the south east coast of mainland Spain. Flying time from most UK airports is around 2 hours and on arrival local time is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

The twin resorts of Magaluf and Palma Nova are the largest resort developments and are situated on the islands south west coast at the western end of the huge Palma Bay approximately 15km or 10 miles from Palma, and the Son Sant Joan International airport.

The weather in Majorca and the Balearics experience a Mediterranean climate which means good high humidity combined with not too extremely high summer temperatures, mild and sometimes wet autumns and pleasant cool winters with temperatures rarely drifting below zero. The year round average temperatures for Majorca and the Balearics is 21 degrees centigrade on the coast. Sunshine days per year are good, working out to about 300. With its Mediterranean climate experiences cold and wet weather from October to February a beach holiday in Majorca in October is not a good idea, although its perfectly for walking and cycling inland.

Magaluf is Majorcas answer to Ibizas San Antonio. Now the islands number one resort for young people. Its been a popular resort for over 40 years, so they know how to cater for all tourists.

It has a great beach, one of the best on the island, complete with all the usual watersports. This resort offers something for everyone, whatever the age.

Solitude can still be found at Cabo de Cala Figuera, with its quiet beaches and great views, youll forget you are in a popular tourist resort.

Despite efforts to improve its reputation over the last few years it remains a place thats all about having a good time, and not much else.

The Aqua Park on the outskirts of Magaluf is OK, but Western Water Park is much better with its West theme. It has Jacuzzis and great waterslides.

Marine land aquarium near Portals Nous has performing dolphins and seals.

Take a glass bottom catamaran around the coastline of Majorca. There are some great coves only accessible by boat.

Take the short walk to Palma Nova and you will find a 54 whole crazy golf course. On the outskirts of Magaluf there is a real golf club where you can hire clubs, trolleys, buggies and balls. Perfect for the peolpe who miss their hobby while on holiday.

The resort of Puerto Andratx is part of the municipal district of Andratx, which covers an area of some 82km in the extreme south west corner of Majorca. Geographically the area is approximately 32km west of the capital Palma and encompasses the towns of Saracen, Sant Elm and the resort of Camp de Mar.

Puerto Andratx has so far remained almost completely undiscovered by many of the major tour operators and as far as we are aware doesnt as yet feature as a recognised destination in any of their summer or winter sun brochures. As a result most visitors here will be independent travellers who either own holiday homes in the area, or prefer to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements to the resort.

Andratx is still a very desirable place to live, and many of the impressive villas in and around the resort are either Spanish or German owned holiday homes.

If you are very lucky, you may even catch sight of either Claudia Schiffer, Tom Cruise or Michael Schumacher who all own property in the area. Andratx is certainly no stranger to the rich and famous. Over the years the town has also had a reputation for attracting celebrities.

The latest census carried out on Majorca shows that that district of Andratx has a resident population of around 8,000 people, however, statistics from the Govern de les Illes Baleares Conselleria de Turisme also shows that during the summer months this figure can increase to around 24,000 illustrating the importance of the area to the islands tourist industry.

Many years ago now Puerto Andratx was the site of a small traditional Majorcan fishing harbour and it is around here where most of the tourist development has taken place over the last few years. However, despite the recent residential development of the rugged headlands that are a feature of the coastline in the south west of Majorca, Puerto Andratx has still somehow managed to retain an authentic Majorcan feel.

On the negative side, something this resort does really lack is a beach, although if you are prepared to travel out of the town, you will find an excellent beach 3 miles down the coast at the nearby resort of Camp de Mar.

For most visitors to Puerto Andratx the lack of a beach isnt really a great problem, as instead they prefer to use the resort as a convenient base from which to explore some of the more remote areas of the west coast of the island and beyond.

The task of shopping for Christmas presents can be quite a burden at times. Somehow, one does not want to be part of the rat race of a fiercely competitive struggle any longer that ultimately one can not win. Giving used to be such joy, a long time ago when a present was a token of one’s love and dedication, then, before Christmas became all commercial.

Perhaps we all should go back to a more meaningful way of giving if only that was possible. The act of giving in its pure form, without stress and sans competitiveness. Perhaps we should think of giving blood.

The Fundació Banc de Sang i Teixits de les Illes Balears is a quango type collaboration between the Govern de les Illes Balears and the Cruz Roja Española (Red Cross). In the days leading up to Christmas, blood donors can practice the art of giving in its purest, least selfish way right in the centre of Palma de Mallorca. Today and tomorrow, a bus is parked in Porta Pintada, between Plaça Espanya and Carrer Oms daily from 10h00 to 14h00 and 16h30 to 20h30, waiting for benefactors. Give it a thought.

Happy Christmas.

The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: December 21st, 2009. The time was 11:37:19.

Son Llàtzer is a general hospital located in Son Ferriol, on the outskirts of Palma de Mallorca. A newly built facility, it was opened in December 2001 and is integrated into IB Salut, the Balearic healthcare net. The public hospital has beds for just under 500 patients which are looked after by more than 1,200 employees including 200 physicians and specialists, covering for a population of approximately 250,000 people. Palma is also home to Son Dureta, the Hospital General de Mallorca and Sant Joan de Déu, as well as a number of private hospitals. Sadly, Euroclinic Son Verí was closed a few years ago.

The hospital in Son Ferriol is considered to be one of the most modern hospitals in Spain in terms of technology. It was created with a highly advanced technological platform and with an idea of using new technologies to the benefit of patients and professionals. All data and images (digital radiology, endoscopic images, digital ECGs) are stored in a unique electronic patient record (EPR), and all professionals and patients are involved in the computerised system.

Of course, there is a new hospital being built right now in Palma to replace the ageing Son Dureta, called Son Espases, amidst a barrage of controversy. Construction of this hospital with more than 1,000 beds will be finished in late 2010, all going well, meaning that the new General Hospital may be opened in 2011. Son Llàtzer may then be pushed into second place with regard to modern technology; who knows?

The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: October 27th, 2009. The time was 15:28:33.

I am not quite sure that the yellow pipes in today’s photo are indeed gas pipes, but I have a feeling that they might be. The background to my assumption is that Gas Natural was introduced on the island a few months ago, and in particular in Palma de Mallorca. The gas arrives in Mallorca from Valencia on the mainland, by a pipeline that is laid under the seabed and connects via the neighboring island of Ibiza (see map below).

Gesa-Endesa, our friendly electricity supplier, is the company that manages the distribution of natural gas in Mallorca, in an operation that starts from Sant Joan de Déu (near the airport) and then connects in a first phase through a pipeline to the power plant, Ca’s Tresor. Eventually, the pipeline will be extended to the incineration facility in Son Reus. From there, the natural gas will later be distributed across the island, or so one reads in the local printed media.

Apart from private households, Gesa-Endesa tells us that in the future, busses, taxi cabs and delivery vehicles could be using natural gas, too, as an alternative to petrol or diesel, resulting in a reduction in CO² emissions, in contamination and in noise levels. Already, the Palma bus company, EMT, has taken 12 busses in service operating on natural gas. That’s a good start, one should think, particularly in view of the disappointing results of this week’s Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.

The photo (top) was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: November 4th, 2009. The time was 15:41:57. The map was borrowed fro the Internet, courtesy of energiadiario.com.

Muchas gracias.

Earlier this week, this Winter’s first snow fell in Mallorca, along with snowy conditions in mainland Spain and freezing temperatures in most of northern Europe. Snow was reported here in the higher areas of the Serra de Tramuntana, above 600 m. Stormy winds caused some havoc there, along with high waves in the coastal areas.

Today, temperatures are expected to drop further in Mallorca and snow is predicted in the Tramuntana mountain range above 300 m. High winds are forecast and the AEMet meteorological office raised its alert to IG1 (Level 1) for today and tomorrow. Excursions to the higher mountain regions are not recommended.

Snow is forecast in Mallorca for Christmas only in the higher peaks of the Tramuntana range. With a bit of luck, there should be some sun elsewhere on the island tomorrow morning, and again on Boxing Day, with temperatures of 19 to 20° C.

The photo was taken from the Internet. My thanks go to diariodemallorca.es and the anonymous photographer.

Muchas gracias.

The Monasterio de la Puríssima Concepció is also known as the Convento de las Caputxines, where nuns live in a closed order. But at the occasion of Christmas, the doors are now open to some parts of the convent to show one of Palma’s most outstanding Beléns. The impressive nativity scene is composed of elements dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and was declared a BIC (Bien de Interés Cultural) in 2003. Visiting hours are from 11h00 to 14h00 and from 17h00 to 20h30, from now until January 10th, 2010. I recommend a visit.

I am always amazed how many wonderful beléns there are in Palma and in all of Mallorca; I have told you about some of them in the past. As one would expect, the beléns on display in churches and monasteries are mostly of a strictly religious inclination. Other installations, however, often focus on Mallorcan themes and traditions, such as the rural lifestyle, old trades and crafts, or popular activities. Try the wonderful belén at the Centre Cultural la Misericòrdia, the splendid one at Cort (Palma’s townhall) or the scenic one at the Mercat de Santa Catalina. I understand that one of the largest and most beautiful ones, at the Claustro de Sant Antoniet, in Carrer de Sant Miquel, will not be mounted this year. What a shame.

Outside of Palma, this year’s best beléns are displayed at the parish church in Banyalbufar, the Església de Nostra Senyora de Visitació in Consell, the parish church in Deià, the Església de Sant Marc in Sineu and the Església parroquial in Maria de Salut. The Caixa Rural savings bank has some very nice belén displays at two of their branches, in Pont d’Inca (Marratxí) and Felanitx.

The photo (top) was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: December 15th, 2009. The time was 15:27:05. The photo (bottom) was taken from the Internet. My thanks go to diariodemallorca.es and the photographer, Lorenzo.

Muchas gracias.

Two hundred years ago in 1808 Spain, with the help of Britain, won a decisive battle within the Peninsular War against Napoleon Bonaparte’s France. After the French army’s defeat at the Battle of Bailén (Baylen), the captured army was first marched to Cadiz, with many harassed and murdered on the way. Some 9 – 10,000 soldiers of Napoleon’s army were eventually moved in 1809 to the island of Cabrera, including some 20 females, whilst others, mainly officers and the higher ranks, were kept in Palma’s Castell de Bellver. Amongst the prisoners, there were also some 1,000 captives of other nationalities, such as German, Polish, Belgian, Italian and Swiss. The internment lasted for five years until finally an armistice agreement was signed between Spain and France after Napoleon had abdicated in 1814. Most prisoners did not survive their ordeal, though, with only the clothes on their backs, no shelter, insufficient fresh water, and no food supply other than the meager rations dropped off intermittently by the Spanish. Some 100 internees managed to escape from the island prison, at most. All but 3,500 prisoners reputedly died of starvation, typhoid and other diseases between 1809 and 1814.

On a wall of the Castell de Cabrera one can read an inscription left by French prisoners, Fleury Grapain prisonnier 1809 et 1810 (see photo top).

The Fundación La Caixa in Palma’s Grand Hotel currently offers a small exhibition under the title Olvidados en Cabrera examining the plight of Napoleon’s troops and their wretched conditions. The exhibition continues until January 18th, 2010. Admission is free. A visit is recommended.

If you want to know more about this sad episode, I would recommend a read of Denis Smith’s book, The Prisoners of Cabrera: Napoleon’s forgotten soldiers 1809-1814, published by Four Walls Eight Windows, New York. Denis Smith is a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario (Canada). The author made use of French, British, Spanish and Mallorcan sources for his thorough volume, including archival records. The book was also published in Castellano and Catalan editions, just in case you want to know.

Both photos were borrowed from the Internet. The photo (top) is credited to obrasocial.lacaixa.es, the photo (centre) was taken in Cabrera in May 2009 during a ceremony commemorating the 200th anniversary of the prison camp, and is published courtesy of ambafrance-es.org.

Muchas gracias, and merci beaucoups.

Either the Spanish people are a very funny lot or else, there is a lot of black money around here in Spain. The Banco de España let it be known that the old Peseta banknotes are still valid, almost eight years after the Spanish currency was replaced by the Euro. According to the Spanish National Bank, there are still something like 155,000,000,000 Pesetas (to the value of 932,000,000 €) in banknotes stashed away under Spanish mattresses or wherever, plus a slightly smaller amount in old Peseta coins.

This staggering amount of paper money, but not the coins, can still be exchanged at the rate of 166.368 at any local branch of the Banco de España of which there is one in Palma de Mallorca. I believe that no questions will be asked as long as these Peseta banknotes are not registered, as they would be were they coming from a bank robbery or such like. Every year, Pesetas to the value of 1,000,000 € seem to be cashed in that way, on average.

Some businesses up and down the Spanish mainland have also let it be known that Peseta banknotes are accepted by them as a payment method as long as proper purchases are being made. Blimey. Anything to get the economy going.

Sadly, I don’t have any old Spanish banknotes lying around, so I can not offer you a photo of my own making. Instead, the photo was taken from the Internet, courtesy of CincoDias.com.

Muchas gracias.

The Monestir de la Concepció in Palma de Mallorca can be proud of many things. Sadly, hardly anyone can ever enjoy or appreciate its architecture going back to the 14th century, its prized accessories or its 200 year old Ginjoler tree in the older courtyard, because the monastery is of a closed order and is tancat (closed) to the prying and inquisitive eyes of the outside world. A few weeks ago, I was allowed into the convent as part of a group on the occasion of a concert being presented there during the Setmana de Santa Cecília. I had only ever been inside the monastery’s larger patio once before, and only for less than a minute. Now, the guided tour allowed us to fulfill our curiosity for well over 80 minutes; and what a treat we had. By the way, the ginjoler tree (English: Jujube, Latin: Ziziphus jujuba, Castellano: azufaifo) is the oldest one I have ever seen; it is said to be the oldest one of its kind on the island.

You may well think what’s the point of telling us about a monastery that cannot be visited. Two things: the monastery in question may be open for a visit again next year during the Corpus Cristi patio programme, in June/July, and also, during next year’s Santa Cecília week. Just be alert at the appropriate time. And: the Ajuntament de Palma is currently conducting a guided tour under the heading of Christmas Flavours, allowing us, amongst others, visits to three monasteries in Palma, that normally are also closed, the Monestir de Santa Margalida, the Monestir de les Caputxines and the Monestir de Santa Clara. Tours are held in Castellano, Catalan, English and German, with dates in English coming up this week (December 16th and 18th) as well as next week (December 22nd), and the week after (December 29th). There is a charge of 10 € for a two hour tour, including some sweet titbits. Reservations can be made by telephone under 971.720.720.

The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: November 20th, 2009. The time was 19:34:45.

Aubocassa Oli de Mallorca had the honour of being served at the gala dinner celebrating the Nobel Prize giving ceremony in Stockholm a few days ago. The people of Manacor are very pleased. Because, even though the Aubocassa estate is situated just outside of Felanitx, the finca belongs to the municipality of Manacor. But whatever. The old property claims references dating back to the twelfth century, being described as a former Arab alquería (farmstead).

Aubocassa Oli is a Mallorcan Aceite de Oliva Virgen Extra of quite some distinction, and now with a noble Nobel recognition to boot.

The finca of Aubocassa in the eastern part of Mallorca, near where I live, did not have a history of growing olive trees, as far as I can make out. I do remember, though, that the property was sold some fifteen years ago, give or take. We all noticed that within a short time span, young olive trees of the arbequina type were planted there by the hundreds and thousands. In fact, it is said that about 8,000 of them were planted. Aubocassa’s owner, Agustín Santolaya, was just recently named Tafoner Major 2009 of Mallorca. It looks like this year is his year.

Just to be on the fair side: over the last ten years or so, there has been something of a renaissance of quality olive oils in Mallorca. It is really quite remarkable. When Aubocassa first came out, Mallorcan olive oils were few and far between. Now, however, we are spoilt for choice of Mallorcan virgin olive oil from Manacor, Sóller and Caimari, to name but a few. The Mallorcan Consell Regulador now applies a strict quality control and labels a number of olive oils with a denominació d’origen certification.

The photo (top) was taken near Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: December 13th, 2009. The time was 11:10:41. The photo (bottom) was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: September 21st, 2007. The time was 17:41:26.

Today, December 13th, the pueblo of Sineu has the distinction of presenting the last fira of the calendar year in Mallorca, the Fira de Sant Tomàs i Mostra de Ses Matances. From 09h00 until 16h00, there will be the recreation of an old Mallorcan possessió at the time of the annual matanzas, a display of matanzas tools and techniques as well as a competition of porcs grassos. Plus there will be matanzas products for sale.

Mallorcaquality recorded some of last year’s events at the Fira de Sant Tomàs in Sineu:

The photo (top) was taken in Caimari, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: November 22nd, 2009. The time was 12:05:08. The video was borrowed from the Internet, thanks to YouTube and MallorcaQuality.

Thank you, and muchas gracias.

Bats do not seem to have a large following. The poor little creatures are indeed on the retreat everywhere in the modern world and are now slowly becoming an endangered species. In environmental terms it must be stressed though, that bats are an important contributor to a balanced ecosystem. Amongst many other useful functions, they are one of the only mammal pollinators in the world.

I like the little buggers, as you might have suspected. I had three personal run-ins with the little creatures over my years in Mallorca, and I remember the encounters fondly, even though I got bitten once by one of the dear sods. Luckily, nothing bad came out of that close encounter. I think I went for a tetanus injection, just to be on the safe side.

In many countries, bats have little practical or effective preservation. In the UK and much of Europe, bats enjoy considerable protection, though. In the US and Canada, conservation is not nearly as effective. In Spain, bats are protected to some extent as far as I know.

Some good news relating to bats in Mallorca was found in the local media here, a few days ago. A group of biologists has discovered a new species of bats on the island. The Chiroptera in question is a female brown bat (Myotis emarginatus), also known as Geoffroy’s Bat, so far in the Baleares only discovered in Menorca. With this latest discovery, there are now 18 known bat species in existence here in Mallorca, and a total of even 19, in the Balearic Isles. In the whole world, more than 1,000 bat species are known, apparently.

The fact that so many different bats live here in Mallorca is a proof, perhaps, that the island is still relatively safe and sound in environmental terms. Let’s just hope that this status will last for a while longer. If you should see some bats coming out at night in your finca, count yourself lucky. Please do not call the authorities and do not fetch the aerosol can with the pesticide.

The photo (top) was taken from the Internet, courtesy of Murcielagosbaleares.blogspot.com. The image (bottom) was borrowed from Wikipedia.org. Muchas gracias and many thanks.

There are two emblematic bars in Palma that have served as meeting points for rendezvous, for a quick coffee or a bocadillo, for job interviews, for some flirting, for a game of billiard, or simply for a quick browse in the newspapers: the Bar Bosch, opposite C & A’s, and the Bar Cristal in Plaça d’Espanya (see photo). I’m sure you’ve been to both of them at one time or other. There used to be a third famous and historic bar, the Bar Triquet (see my post), but that bar closed down a few years ago; the premises now hold a fashion shop.

I’m showing you the Bar Cristal building today, because its architecture really stands out. This property was designed in 1913 by none other than Gaspar Bennàzar and was built on a spot where only a few years earlier the massive Palma city walls had been demolished. In 1947, an additional floor was added to the original building. Gaspar Bennàzar was also the architect of the Bar Triquet building, in 1909. Of these two buildings, the Bar Triquet building is probably the more attractive one. Both of these buildings have recently undergone some extensive restoration work, and very successfully so.

The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: November 4th, 2009. The time was 16:21:50.

The Porta de la Gabella near Plaça Reina has recently undergone a bit of a face-lift. The newly restored archway is also known as the Porta de l’Almudí in reference to its Arab origins. The name comes from the Arab word al-mudí, a measurement for grain and salt. Another name for the passage way is Arc de la Gabella de la Sal, because a tax was levied in the building next door to the arch, the Gabella de la Sal, on any transaction of salt. In medieval times, salt was an essential commodity because it was one of the few known ways of conserving food. The Gabella de la Sal building is today known as the Antic Quarter d’Intendència (Quartermasters headquarter). It is occupied by the Spanish Fuerzas Armadas (Armed Forces) and hence, is off-limits to us mere mortals.

The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: November 24th, 2009. The time was 15:10:43.

British disability swimmers won nine medals at the International Paralympic Commission World Short Course Championships in Rio de Janeiro last weekend.

Liz Johnson, who also won gold in Beijing in 2008, set a new world record in the women’s 100m breaststroke to take home another gold medal.

Special Olympics

As seen by the coverage of this feat, the Paralympics, for people who are physically disabled, tend to steal the limelight in disability sport because of their association with the Olympics.

The equivalent for people with intellectual disabilities is the Special Olympics and Cardiff has been right at the very heart of the competition since it first came to the UK.

In 1959, the late Joyce Robinson (below) founded the Cardiff Chameleons, the country’s first swimming club for intellectually disabled persons.

(Source: www.cardiffchameleons.co.uk)

The Chameleons went on to become the first group in Great Britain to register with the Special Olympics in 1979 and has been involved in the games ever since.

The slideshow above shows pictures of Team Wales at the 2001 Special Olympics held in Cardiff and the 2005 Special Olympics held in Glasgow.

 (Source: www.cardiffchameleons.co.uk)

Cardiff Chameleons

A fitting way to celebrate the club’s 50th year therefore was to attend the 2009 Special Olympics in Leicester. The club was enormously successful and took home around 100 medals

But this wasn’t a one-off for the team as Chameleons’ swimming coach Pam Bailey explains: “We go to quite a few competitions all year round, and this year we also went to the Special Olympics European Swimming in Majorca.”

At that competition, the swimmers won nine Gold medals, five Silver medals and four Bronze medals.

Despite this however, the club does not cater solely for swimmers wanting to take part in competition, they also teach new members to swim and the focus is very much on ensuring that the members enjoy themselves.

Another of the swimming coaches, Robin O’Donovan, said: “I’m here for them to enjoy themselves. If I say: ‘Have you enjoyed yourself?’ and they say ‘Yeah!’ Great! That’s what I like.”

Community Aid

The club used to have its own pool at Ely Hospital, but sadly this facility closed in 1996.

The club was only able to keep going because the club’s members had negotiated the free use of other swimming pools before the closure.

As Pam Bailey says: “We wouldn’t be able to run the club if it wasn’t for that.”

Gymnastics, Athletics and Cycling

Due to the club’s massive success in swimming, they decided to expand into different activities such as gymnastics, athletics and cycling.

As some of the swimmers and athletes started to get older, they began looking for a sport that required less physical exertion and so the Cardiff Chameleons Bowls Club was born.

Elaine Daw, the Chameleons’ Secretary said: “Our founder member, Mrs. Joyce Robinson, felt it was a good opportunity for our members to try another sport.”

The club meets every Friday at the Cardiff Bowling Club at the Welsh Institute of Sport and regularly enters competitions.

Notably, the team travelled with the swimmers to the 2009 Special Olympics and were as successful as their water-borne counterparts.

Their mixed doubles teams took Gold with Ceri-Anne Davies and Angus Pirrie, and Silver with Louise Daw and Alan Beech.

The Chameleons celebrate their success at the Leicester Special Olympics

From Left to Right: Angus Pirrie, Ann-Marie Coles, Ceri-Anne Davies, Janet Broomfield, Louise Daw and Alan Beech

Disability Sport Wales

All the sports run by the Chameleons are brought under the umbrella of Disability Sport Wales.

Joanna Coates-McGrath (left), Cardiff’s regional development officer, said of the organisation:

“It’s basically increasing participation opportunities for disabled people. All ages, all abilities, all sports, [just creating] more opportunities out there for them to take part in whatever environment that might be.”

Part of that involves setting up new clubs for which there is often a demand. However, which clubs are ratified depends very much on the virtues of each proposal as Joanna Coates-McGrath explains:

The organisation does have a performance strand, but all of the teams facilitated by Disability Sport Wales cater for both competitively-minded people and for those who are there to make friends.

The Future

Many of the people closely connected with the club have gone on to coach the side. For example, Pam Bailey’s brother was one of the first Chameleons, and Robin O’Donovan’s son was also a member.

Now, one of the swimmers is hoping to pass on his experience to the next generation. David Parsons, who went to his first swimming club aged just seven and has competed in numerous competitions, would like to be a full-time coach.

David Parsons: Pictured at the Special Olympics in Glasgow (2005)

(Source: www.cardiffchameleons.co.uk)

He says: “What I like most is seeing people coming on. I like to see them get to the same level as me. I want to be a full time coach by the time I’m 30.”

With young members coming through and taking over the responsibility for the club, the Chameleons should have no trouble surviving for another 50 years.

For more information about times, venues and other sports, visit: http://www.cardiffchameleons.co.uk/Resources.html or http://www.disabilitysportwales.org/

Son Mesquida is a small hamlet near Felanitx. For the last nine years, this pueblo has been organising annual sheepdog trials. A championship was held yesterday with the participation of shepherds and their dogs from Manacor, Pollença, Selva and Felanitx, as well as from Catalunya and the País Basc.

It was greatly entertaining to watch the proceedings. The participating sheep were traditional Ovelles Mallorquines, whereas the dogs were varied in their pedigrees, sizes, shapes and levels of obedience. The overall winner was Hilari Novillo, the guest from Catalunya, with his dog, Caliu (see photo). Hilari was declared campió dels campions. Miquel Adrover from Felanitx and his dog, Susto, came second, whilst Guillem Lliteres from Manacor, with his dog, Eixut, came third. The young man from the land of the Basques came fifth.

After the competition, paella marinera was served for all and sundry. ¡Bon profit!

The photo was taken near Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: December 8th, 2009. The time was 13:05:54.

Over the last few weeks, you may have seen large flocks of small birds in the Mallorcan skies. The birds are starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), and there seem to be millions around at the moment, apparently more so than in previous years. During Autumn and Winter, these seasonal visitors to our shores offer an impressive sight when just before sunset they form large flock formations. Their flights seem erratic and unpredictable, yet appear to be orchestrated when ascending or descending or, quite abruptly, changing direction.

In Palma de Mallorca, the birds are now considered a pest and a bit of a health hazard. Experts say that starlings and other aves can be carriers of potentially pathogenic microorganisms that cause salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis, and pneumonia ornithosis. The birds can also carry ticks, bedbugs, lice and fleas, or so it is claimed. The Palma City Council organises an annual campaign aiming to control and displace the invasive birds, using alarm sounds and birds of prey as a deterrent.

The photo was chosen from my archive. It was taken near Alcúdia, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: November 4th, 2007. The time was 18:23:53.

On December 6th, 1978, Spain went to the polls to vote in a referendum to decide about the Spanish Constitution. 88 % of votes were in favour at the time. In June 1977, the first free elections since 1936 had been celebrated in Spain. The Spanish Constitution has been reformed once to extend to citizens of the European Union the right to active and passive suffrage (both, voting rights and eligibility as candidates) in municipal elections. The government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (PSOE) has announced its intention to undertake a major reform of the constitution during its tenure. Not everyone in Spain is agreeing as to how to undertake such a needed reform.

As fate would have it, Jordi Solé Tura, one of the seven fathers of the Spanish Constitution died earlier last week aged 79.

December 6th is a national holiday in Spain, as is December 8th (Día de la Inmaculada Concepción de María). Fittingly, Spain celebrates what is known as a puente and makes for a four-day weekend. Next year will be even better, as December 6th, 2010, will fall on a Monday. Most shops will be closed today – and tomorrow – because of the puente, at least here in Mallorca.

The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: November 30th, 2009. The time was 17:50:23.

Around 1255, Ramon Llull tutored the young prince Jaume II de Aragon and later served him as his seneschal (major-domo). After the prince became King of Mallorca in 1276, Llull proposed to him the setting up of a missionary school at Miramar, dedicated to the teaching of Arabic and other oriental languages, for the purpose of converting the local Moors to Christianity. Llull spent three years in Miramar, where he taught 12 friars and wrote some of his major books. Some people consider Miramar as something like Mallorca’s first university. 200 years later, Mallorca’s first printing press was set up there, and Mallorca’s first printed books were published at Miramar in 1457.

The Monestir de Miramar is situated halfway between Valldemossa and Deià. The Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria bought this historic property in 1872 after falling in love with the scenery of Mallorca’s Northwest. According to the Arxiduc, “no other place on earth deserves with more reason the name of Miramar” (translated from ‘Die Balearen‘).

Today, Miramar is open to the public as a museum dedicated to both, Ramon Llull and the Austrian Archduke. Some Gothic cloister arches which are said to originate from the Convent de Santa Margalida in Palma de Mallorca (see photo) can be admired there. Miramar is open Tuesday to Sunday (10h00-17h00); entry admission is 3 €.

The photo was chosen from my archive. It was taken near Valldemossa, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: March 16th, 2008. The time was 14:43:01.