Piers and I must be the only two people in the world who go on holidays without a clue as to our itinerary.

We do have a sketchy idea:

1. Palma – 3 days
2. Drive to another part of Mallorca – 3 days
3. Join his family at holiday villa – 7 days
4. Drive to yet another area – 2 days

The thing is, we’re leaving for our second leg tomorrow and we still don’t know where we’re going. We have no hotel bookings. Ditto our final two days.

 

The marina opposite our hotel.

 

Also, we spent two days in Palma roaming aimlessly without any plans what to see, where to go, what to eat. We must have walked 10 km yesterday.

Well, there was my unexpected bikini incident which gave us something to do the first day — search for a replacement bikini — so that was possibly fortunate.

I think it’s in our genes. We love travelling but neither of us could be bothered to do the research.

 

Palma de Mallorca Cathedral, famous giant Gothic cathedral

 

I take back what I said about it being fortunate that I forgot to bring my bikinis. It took us about three hours before we found one. That’s because all the boutiques and shops are now selling autumn fashion.

We finally found a lingerie and swimsuit shop and I got my bikini but I don’t really like it. I got it because I was dying for a swim. The summer weather here is as hot as Singapore on her hottest day, which is already bad enough, but if you’ve been walking nonstop for three hours, you really want a swim.

Never mind the last time you actually dipped in the pool was 11 years ago.

I’m not joking. I have not been in sea waters or a swimming pool for 11 years because of my aversion to sun and swimsuits. I’m working on dropping that aversion; life is short; although it might become shorter if you get skin cancer.

I also need a bikini so I can wear my new beach clothes — those that look indecent if you wear them on their own but cease to be if you have a bikini underneath.

 

 

 

Here’s a photo of me in my bikini. Sorry, that’s all I can do. I don’t want to be doing a bikini photoshoot with people at the pool possibly watching!

Besides, I really don’t like this bikini.

 

 

Okay, enough about bikinis.

Here are some photos of our hotel, the Melia Palas Atenea. It’s beside a marina rather than a beach, but it’s near the Palma town centre, so that was kind of the point.

 

 

 

 

It’s a pretty nice hotel, I think four-star, good service and surrounded by cafes and restaurants. There’s a seriously long street between the marina and hotel and that’s just all restaurants, cafes and bars, with a few gift shops and a mini mart.

And there’s free wifi at some of the cafes, so you don’t have to pay the crazy hotel wifi charges.

It’s a bit of a walk to the town centre, maybe 20 minutes, but exercise is always good. (Sunblock is also a great idea.)

I wore a maxi dress on our first full day here. I thought it would be cool enough. I underestimated the weather and overestimated the coolness of my dress. I think shorts and singlets would be the best things to wear if you’re going to be walking around sightseeing the whole day.

 

 

 

 

Okay, then. Just a few more photos then I’m going to have to call it a day. I’m not sure where we’re going to go after this. Maybe to the pool again.

 

At a square around the town centre. Tourists and shoppers watching a street performance.

 

The performance. I had to stop and watch because the music was really good. I bought their CD for 10€.

 

Lots of horse “taxi” touts. Kinda like trishaws in Singapore, except without the techno lights and music.

 

View from the Palma de Mallorca Cathedral.

 

No idea what this is. Didn’t see any signs explaining it.

 

Okay, that’s all for today. I’ll do food another day. My first impression, though, is that the Spanish must really, I mean REALLY, love their salt and sugar. But I need to do more field research before I can safely report my findings.

Will be back when I can find free wifi again!