Sunshine again

The wind has died down, the sun is shining again and it is nice and warm. We used the nice weather for a round of golf.

Bad Weather

We do get bad weather in Mallorca occasionally, and yesterday and today we experienced a strong southeasterly wind and big waves. Almost a third of the boats in the anchorage, 18 in total, were washed up on the beach and our patio got covered in seagrass and saltwater. Tomorrow the weather is supposed to improve and there will be a bit of cleaning.

Busy days in Pollenca

The patron saint of Pollenca, San Antonio, is celebrated on January 17 each year and the day is a big event in many towns and villages across Mallorca. In Puerto Pollenca this starts the evening before, with huge bonfires lit and public barbecues on many streets for the locals.

Bonfire leftovers a day later

On the day itself, all kinds of animals are blessed in front of the Catholic church and a bare pine tree, made slippery with soap, is climbed by the local youth.

Pine tree to be climbed, but not by me

I missed all the fun as I went for a walk with a German group on Thursday, and lunch afterwards took rather long. Yesterday, I went for a stroll along the beach between Colonia San Pere and Can Picafort, much more quiet and less smoky.

Beach between Colonia San Pere and Can Picafort

The weather this week was sunny and warm, now the forecast is for three days of rain before the nice January weather will hopefully return.

Another sunny day

Sheila is in Germany for a few days, and I have time to pursue my hobbies. When I went to the golf course early this morning, it was one degree Celsius outside and there was frost on the shady parts. This afternoon it warmed up to 16 degrees and I took the paddle board for a spin in our bay.

Golf in the sun

Our guests have left, the sun is shining, and it is about 15 degrees. A perfect day for a game of golf.

Es Camel

Another set of visitors, this time German friends from our time in Heidelberg. Today we went for a hike around Lluc, and stopped for a visit at the rock formation called Es Camel. It looks like a dromedar. Cloud in the morning, sunshine later, and at the restaurant the monastery they gave us a bottle of champagne because we came back again. Nice day with a sunset at Stay.

Back in Mallorca

We spent some nice days in Siegelbach and Kirchheimbolanden with the family over Christmas and are now back in Mallorca. Today we hiked from Soller to Port Soller with some of the Jenkins’s crowd who are staying close to us. Tim, Andrew and Daniel took the bikes to Sa Calobra (and back). I think we had the easy part today!

Merry Christmas, Frohe Weihnachten

Christmas: Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Cor 9:15)
Weihnachten: Gott aber sei Dank für seine unaussprechliche Gabe! (2 Kor 9:15)

We are very grateful for another good year with lots of time spent with family and friends in Canada, the Caribbean and Europe. We wish you all a joyful Christmas and a blessed year 2020.

Wir sind sehr dankbar für ein weiteres gutes Jahr in dem wir viel Zeit mit Freunden und Familie in Kanada, der Karibik und Europa verbringren konnten. Wir wünschen Euch frohe Weihnachten und ein gesegnetes Jahr 2020.

Reinhard & Sheila

Winter day in Mallorca

Sheila went to Germany for a few days and I am enjoying a nice winter day in Mallorca, sunny and 20 degrees Centigrade. I took my kayak around the lighthouse on the point that La Fortaleza is built on, which featured in the BBC series The Nightmanager. Great day!

Weihnachtliches Palma

Wir sind durch die festlich geschmückte Stadt gebummelt und haben uns mit unseren Freunden Siegfried und Maike getroffen um ein Jazz Konzert zu besuchen. Ein schöner Abend, aber es ist etwas später geworden als wir es so gewohnt sind.