What to See and Visit for the Best Experience
When you wonder off to the world at the young age, many things tend to happen. A working and practical experience at Majorca gave me a whole new look upon life on islands and a new perspective of living abroad. The Baleares islands offer many charms and when you think of Ibiza you would think of fun and sun. But Mallorca is a lot more than just that.
You have to see and feel the whole island to get the right picture about the life in the summer months. During the summer the people are alive, tourism is in full swing with night parties, festivals and everyday markets bursting with life and beaches with activities day and night (bonfires and night beach parties…) Most discos are at Palma, other – less touristy – towns might have them, but they are not open all the time. Porto Cristo on the eastern side of the island has a Friday and Saturday bar street with many smaller discos where there are usually animations involving fire. Most of these places have free entrance, but those that do charge have prices €5 and above. Also the prices for drinks – let’s say a rum’n’coke – got from €5 up. Parties or night markets are very popular and are a real treat with many concerts and a colourful bazaar until the late night hours. This is what takes place the whole year around in various towns, for that’s how they celebrate their existence.
In a way, half the island is sold to the foreigners (residential areas), with many Germans and Austrians living and working here – or just enjoying the summer on the island. That’s why German is widely spoken in addition to Spanish, but don’t be surprised if you hear a strange romanic language – the native language of the islanders: Malorkeeze. It’s a strange mixture of Spanish and French, so to say. In more touristy parts of the island you’ll also meet many Dutch and English, but also the number of Russian guests is increasing.
There are many opportunities for various trips (organised or not) around the island. Since the bus connections around the island are not very good, it’s better to rent a car (it’s possible to rent it for €42 a day – a smaller car). There’s also a good rail connection, but due to the terrain, you cannot reach every part of the island with it. The Island capital Palma is a city, where there are most such events and also the main centre for shopping and historical sightseeing. O see the island mountain you should head for Valldemosso, and Puig Major (the highest peak of the island), Soller (ride around the town with a tram or by train to Palma),… They say the most beautiful beach lays on the eastern part of the island: Picafort – Alcudia – Pollenca, where you should also see the Cap de Formentor peak and climb the tower (make a which) and see the beautiful coast. In Ses Salines you can see the see how they produce sea salt, you should also see the Majorica pearls (a company since 1890) in Manacorju and the leather factory in Inca. The island also offers many undiscovered treasures, from smaller markets – for there’s a market in a different town on a different day – where you can find goods from all over the world: from clothes to gourmet food. The speciality of the island is Pa amb oli, which is baked bread spread with fresh tomatoes, with added olive oil and salt. They also add various cheeses and their typical ham - Jamon Serrano. The typical sweet is the Ensaimada, which is a specially filled dough with various creams: chocolate, caramel… A typical appetizer is a baked bread (you know it’s the tastiest on the islands), olives and/or OLI (a type of mayonnaise). In a bar you’ll get a small smack while ordering a beer, it’ll be a tapa, which is always a bit different (either meaty or vegetarian).
So dear travellers – enjoy the trip and have a nice exploration!
Katja Golubič
