PP76
Active member
Gina,
Am I right in remembering El Barco as being owned by Christopher in the mid 70's?
PP76
Am I right in remembering El Barco as being owned by Christopher in the mid 70's?
PP76
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gina39uk
New member
That is correct PP76. I purchased El Barco from Christopher (or Tofol as he was known) He was originally in partnership with Martine who later went on to open Neptuno around 1972 and I bought El Barco a couple of years later. Happy Days!
G
gina39uk
New member
Hi Rab
El Barco was on Juan XX111 (bottom end). It is now a perfume shop (I believe). We used to be sandwiched between the butchers shop and Jaime Bauza's Estate Agent. The Interflora Florists, run by an American lady called Diana (sadly no longer with us) was directly across the road, as was Gabriel Colom's butchers shop, then next to that was Supermarket Mir (Fortnum & Masons as we called it).
Did you know PP in those days Rab?
R
Rab
New member
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2008
- Messages
- 172
I didnt Gina. How was business in the 70's? What kind of clientelle did you cater for? Was PP a bustling place back then?
I am genuinely interested. I loved the thread that had the old photos in it.
G
gina39uk
New member
G
gina39uk
New member
In Answer to Rab's question.....
(Quote:-Originally Posted by Rab
I didnt Gina. How was business in the 70's? What kind of clientelle did you cater for? Was PP a bustling place back then?
I am genuinely interested. I loved the thread that had the old photos in it.)
Puerto Pollensa when I arrived in the late 60's was still very much a laid back fishing village. The young girls were not allowed to go out with the boys unless accompanied by a chaperone (usually their mother or aunt). All the widows constantly wore black. The girls used to grow their hair very long and then they would cut it after they were married.
The Guardia Civil were very much a presence everywhere and the youngsters were not allowed to hang around in groups on the street corners for more than a few minutes before they were moved on. But it was a very safe place to live and a wonderful place for a child to grow up. Children in those days stayed as children far longer than they do in the UK. My son had a fabulous childhood in Puerto Pollensa and that unspoilt 'grounding' made him the man he is today. We never used to lock our cars or our house doors. For all the freedom the children had though there was always great respect for their elders.
When I first took over El Barco in the early 70's it wasn't easy. I was the first woman to open a Bar (and a foreigner to boot). The locals were very old fashioned in their beliefs that the womans place was in the home. The local women took a long time to accept me but in the end they did and I still have many, many good friends amongst the Mallorcians now.
The Guardia Civil were constantly in and out checking permissions, making sure we closed on time etc., but gradually that stopped and they became less intrusive and eventually good friends. In 1975 when Franco died things changed dramatically (some of the older Mallorcians still say not always for the best).
Tourism in those days was also very different. Business was very good indeed. The seasons were much longer starting in March through to November and most businesses stayed open all year round. Of course there were far less bars and restaurants in those days also and our clientelle were an equal mix of locals and tourists.
In those days there were far less boats and yachts moored in the harbour and only 2 main jetties. A lot of the boats were looked after by young men/boys whilst the owners were away and they lived on the boats. Many a night during the winter El Barco stayed open all night whilst the boys took it in turns to come for hot food and drinks.
There were far less ex-pats living there than there are now and very few businesses which were run by foreigners.
In fact other than myself there was only The Bull's Head, Chequered Flag(now White Rose), Paul's Bar, The Beehive (for a short time before it closed), The Montelin (Swedish), El Cano (German), C'An Pacienci of course. The Supermarket at Gommar (English) and a Car Hire (English). There was also a Property Management Office in Gommar and Pat Daly's office - he started the 1st cheap flight service from Luton once a week as well as being responsible for building/selling most of the Apts on Gommar. Oh - I almost forgot Dick's Bar which was next door to the Golden Lion and run by quite an elderly couple called Dick & Lil (real characters). The Bar was later bought by Geoff Thomas (who now owns the Codfather)and was called Gatsbys (now owned by a lovely Scottish man called David and his mum & dad who ran it for many years.
On the whole the foreign residents living there in those times were quite wealthy and had lots of money to spend. Many famous people used to come to PP and Formentor in those days and we had some wonderful times. Everyone knew everyone, locals and foreigners alike and we all helped each other.
Having spent most of my adult life in PP I can't help but feel saddened by the changes over the years which in a lot of cases have not been for the better.
However, one thing that progress can never change and that is the fantastic views of the Bay of Pollensa and the Tramuntana Mountains and that's what will keep me returning time and time again as long as I am able.
I have so many stories to tell but you'll have to wait until 'the Book' comes out
(Quote:-Originally Posted by Rab
I didnt Gina. How was business in the 70's? What kind of clientelle did you cater for? Was PP a bustling place back then?
I am genuinely interested. I loved the thread that had the old photos in it.)
Puerto Pollensa when I arrived in the late 60's was still very much a laid back fishing village. The young girls were not allowed to go out with the boys unless accompanied by a chaperone (usually their mother or aunt). All the widows constantly wore black. The girls used to grow their hair very long and then they would cut it after they were married.
The Guardia Civil were very much a presence everywhere and the youngsters were not allowed to hang around in groups on the street corners for more than a few minutes before they were moved on. But it was a very safe place to live and a wonderful place for a child to grow up. Children in those days stayed as children far longer than they do in the UK. My son had a fabulous childhood in Puerto Pollensa and that unspoilt 'grounding' made him the man he is today. We never used to lock our cars or our house doors. For all the freedom the children had though there was always great respect for their elders.
When I first took over El Barco in the early 70's it wasn't easy. I was the first woman to open a Bar (and a foreigner to boot). The locals were very old fashioned in their beliefs that the womans place was in the home. The local women took a long time to accept me but in the end they did and I still have many, many good friends amongst the Mallorcians now.
The Guardia Civil were constantly in and out checking permissions, making sure we closed on time etc., but gradually that stopped and they became less intrusive and eventually good friends. In 1975 when Franco died things changed dramatically (some of the older Mallorcians still say not always for the best).
Tourism in those days was also very different. Business was very good indeed. The seasons were much longer starting in March through to November and most businesses stayed open all year round. Of course there were far less bars and restaurants in those days also and our clientelle were an equal mix of locals and tourists.
In those days there were far less boats and yachts moored in the harbour and only 2 main jetties. A lot of the boats were looked after by young men/boys whilst the owners were away and they lived on the boats. Many a night during the winter El Barco stayed open all night whilst the boys took it in turns to come for hot food and drinks.
There were far less ex-pats living there than there are now and very few businesses which were run by foreigners.
In fact other than myself there was only The Bull's Head, Chequered Flag(now White Rose), Paul's Bar, The Beehive (for a short time before it closed), The Montelin (Swedish), El Cano (German), C'An Pacienci of course. The Supermarket at Gommar (English) and a Car Hire (English). There was also a Property Management Office in Gommar and Pat Daly's office - he started the 1st cheap flight service from Luton once a week as well as being responsible for building/selling most of the Apts on Gommar. Oh - I almost forgot Dick's Bar which was next door to the Golden Lion and run by quite an elderly couple called Dick & Lil (real characters). The Bar was later bought by Geoff Thomas (who now owns the Codfather)and was called Gatsbys (now owned by a lovely Scottish man called David and his mum & dad who ran it for many years.
On the whole the foreign residents living there in those times were quite wealthy and had lots of money to spend. Many famous people used to come to PP and Formentor in those days and we had some wonderful times. Everyone knew everyone, locals and foreigners alike and we all helped each other.
Having spent most of my adult life in PP I can't help but feel saddened by the changes over the years which in a lot of cases have not been for the better.
However, one thing that progress can never change and that is the fantastic views of the Bay of Pollensa and the Tramuntana Mountains and that's what will keep me returning time and time again as long as I am able.
I have so many stories to tell but you'll have to wait until 'the Book' comes out
Last edited:
C
cumberland8
Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2009
- Messages
- 633
What an interesting post,Thankyou Gina for that wonderfull insight.
What are the worst things about todays PP in your opinion?
What are the worst things about todays PP in your opinion?
Belladonna
New member
A brilliant "tease" Gina! If not a book, then at least a pamphlet please!!
Sparky
Administrator
I have been fortunate enough to have heard some of Gina's great tales over a glass or two of vino .
.
G
gina39uk
New member
OOH! cumberland8 that's not an easy one to answer. As with all progressions some things change for the better, some for the worse. I think the thing that makes me the saddest is to see what was once a thriving, upmarket resort experiencing such bad times ecconomically.
I know this is happening all over the world but can't help feeling that if there had been more control on the number of licenses issued for new businesses and buildings the Port would not be in the situation it is in today.
There are too many businesses of the same type fighting for (unfortunately) less numbers of visitors to use their services so inevitably and sadly we are going to see yet again many bars and restaurants closing their doors at the end of the month. I fear that only the very well established ones will survive, mainly the ones who own their properties and don't have to pay the extremely high rents (which don't ever seem to come down!).
Having said all that I would (and do) still encourage anyone who has never been to Puerto Pollensa before to make that trip asap. It is still arguably the nicest place on Mallorca both for holidays or permanent living and I am sure will continue to be so. I for one will continue to visit my '2nd home' for as long as I have breathe in me!
Sparky - line up those vinos - I'll be back sooner than you think!
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Gommar Goffer
Well-known member
Gina - my father bought our apartment in Gommar from Pat Daly (actually he went bust, I seem to remember, and his partner - a dutchman named Yapp Van Beek took over the developement)
I was wondering if you can remember the name of the gentleman who had the White Rose (then the Chequered Flag - he was a big motor racing fan and had loads of memorabilia in the bar) before Geoff Thomas - was he another Geoff?
I was wondering if you can remember the name of the gentleman who had the White Rose (then the Chequered Flag - he was a big motor racing fan and had loads of memorabilia in the bar) before Geoff Thomas - was he another Geoff?
G
gina39uk
New member
Hi Gommar Goffer - You are correct about Pat Daly & Yap though Pat always recovered from his problems and went on to do many good things. Sadly neither he nor Yap are no longer with us.
The name of the owner of the Flag in those days was Geoff Basden. I believe he and his family moved to Ibiza but I have no recent news of them.
Gommar Goffer
Well-known member
Thanks Gina - always nice to fill in the gaps.
P
purpleboots
New member
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2008
- Messages
- 111
Thank you Gina a very interesting post, loved reading about how life used to be in Puerto Pollensa, more please
B
Brooksy
Member
Thanks Gina, wish I could have persuaded my late husband to go to PP in the seventies, but he wouldn't go. I would have loved to have seen PP when it was still a fishing village. When we did go to PP in 1985 he wished he hadn't been so stubborn, we had a great holiday in Malta, but once we dicovered PP he wouldn't go anywhere else.
Bernadette
Bernadette
G
gina39uk
New member
I'm sure you would have loved it Bernadette - I know we had the best years but that's not to say that it's still not good - just different. At least you got your husband to PP eventually. Just spare a thought for those poor souls who haven't yet had that pleasure
Gommar Goffer
Well-known member
Gina - what was the name of the very elegant elderly English lady who had a poodle and used to walk along the pinewalk and drink at the Coach House whose husband was the harbour master? She passed away a few years back.
G
gina39uk
New member
Oh Gommar Goffer - now you've really got my 'little grey cells' working overtime! The harbour master connection floors me for the moment though there is something lingering right at the back of my memory. It will no doubt surface when I least expect it. Would you perhaps be referring to Yvonne Mc***** or Dolores who were very elegant ladies of 'a certain age' and both had poodles and both used the Coach House on a regular basis? Or perhaps my great old friend Gee C***** who didn't have a poodle but DID have a chiwawa and was very elegant indeed. Sadly she died a few years ago and was well into her 90's.
If I remember anything else I will let you know. My son may be able to help with this one.
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