Thursday, 22 June, 2017:
After two days spent broiling on the beach at Palma Nova, we decided to give our sun baked skin a rest today and become tourists again.
We hopped on board the 104 bus for the drive up the coast to Mallorca's main city, Palma de Mallorca.
Palma de Mallorca is also the capital of the Balearic Islands.
First though, a little bit about the island of Mallorca where we are staying.
The Flag of Mallorca
Mallorca is the largest of the islands that make up the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands that are a part of Spain.
Map of Spain with the Balearic
Islands off the east coast
The city of Palma de Mallorca is located about 275 kilometers/170 miles due east of the Spanish mainland city of Valencia.
The Balearic Islands are made up of the islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. Mallorca is the largest of these islands.
The Balearic Islands have a total population of about 870,000 souls with Palma de Mallorca being its largest city with approximately 405,000 inhabitants.
We boarded the 104 bus for the drive up the coast to Palma de Mallorca to see the city's top tourist attraction, a massive Cathedral designed in part by modern master Antoni Gaudi who carried out renovations to the Cathedral from 1904 to 1914.
Our first sighting of
La Catedral de Santa María
de Palma de Malorca
Gothic in style with flying buttresses of course.
We started a long trek up the hill to find the Cathedral's entrance. We did see many interesting things along the way.
Ode to Male Rhythmic Gymnastics
Serene pond
Disturbing statue
Peaceful garden fountain
Laurie was in the frame
Glass Blowers
Finally, the front of the Cathedral
This is the world's largest
Gothic rose window
Gaudi LOVES to use natural
light reflected through stain glass
in his churches to get . . .
. . . this effect
Laurie likes it
This is a similar photo to one of Laurie that I took at Gaudi's masterpiece, Barcelona's Basilica de la Sagrada Familia a couple of years ago.
The rose window illuminates
the Cathedral in wondrous ways
Including UW Purple and Gold
A tomb as you approach
the Main Altar
The Main Altar
A Gaudi baldachin hanging over the altar with a crucified Christ is also very similar to the one in La Sagrada Familia.
The side altars were magnificent
They are an assault on the senses after visiting many austere Church of Sweden churches.
The BVM and . . .
. . . her angels
Colorful Painting
All the Saints
Just another side altar
Golden
Mallorca artist Miguel Barceló's
Capella del Santíssim i Sant Pere
Capella del Santíssim i Sant Pere
It is a dreamscape representing the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes done in 15 tons of ceramics.
Fish on the left
More fish on the right
The loaves of bread are found along the base of the chapel.
A Cathedral has to have an
ornate organ
ornate organ
Not sure the function but
I liked the gold look
I liked the gold look
On to the Cathedral's museum . . .
Nice reliquary
St. Sebastian still standing
with lots of arrows still
in him
with lots of arrows still
in him
And more to come by the looks of it.
All in all, it was quite a good Cathedral visit. We were glad we did it.
Next up in Palma de Mallorca . . .
A visit to the ancient
Arabian Baths
But first, a few more random sights
Exterior of the Cathedral
A main form of public transportation
in Palma de Mallorca
I LOVE Spanish electrical wiring!
Just before we reached the
Arabian Baths, we found this
enchanting street musician
He is playing an instrument invented in 2000 by Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärerin in Switzerland. Known as the Handpan today, the inventors originally labeled it the Hang Drum.
I first heard this instrument on the streets of London back in 2008 and was captivated by it instantly.
Delightful Handpan music
You will need Google Chrome
or the liketo play this video
We bought his CD.
We finally made it
These Arabian Baths are . . .
. . . OLD!
They date from the 10th-century.
After a soak in the baths, you
needed a garden in order to . . .
. . . properly meditate
A Pearl Store
Financial ruin was on the horizon.
More on this at dinner tonight.
She like pearls, I like fossils
We both like food
A bocadito made of jamón iberico
and a glass of sangria hit the spot
The Cathedral in sunlight
Palma de Mallorca is an
island of laws
Great old fortress wall
Windmills are big in Mallorca
We had walked a bit in the hot
Mediterranean sun, we needed
an adult beverage
A Spanish Cruzcampo beer
worked for us
I make it a rule to not eat at American food spots like McDonalds, KFC, Starbucks, etc. while in Europe.
I prefer to try the local cuisine and support the little guys.
The Hard Rock Cafe chain is my exception because, A. I love their t-shirts and B. I don't think I've ever eaten in one in the states.
One of Palma de Mallorca's
pleasant, shaded side streets
Straight from La Habana, Cuba
We're the right age but we
did not enter
One final view of the Cathedral
Back in Palma Nova in time for
another good dining experience
Laurie showing off her
new pearl at dinner
She had the fish, I opted for the chicken.
We continue to wonder what
goes on nightly on that yacht
anchored just off of our beach
Another GREAT day in the Balearic Islands!
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