2013 our year of "off season holidays"

[roig cat]

Well, I've got this week off work but unfortunately no one else has so I'm free to do a little posting!

Last year, 2013 we were fortunate enough to have 4 holidays to the region, all out of the main season. I thought I'd share some of our experiences and photos!
I'll start with our 5 night holiday in February 2013. We stayed in a super townhouse in Pollensa called Casa Chacon, booked with Villa Parade. The townhouse had central heating, albeit on a timer, but it did keep us nice and warm. We booked a property with central heating as the previous year, 2012, we had experienced snow, hail and freezing temperatures during the same week; the weather in 2013 was much milder but we didn't have the same blue skies as in 2012, no rain though and we got out and about.

The town was very quiet, we walked the Calvari steps to see our friends, especially Roig!!


P1020023 by Roig the cat, on Flickr

Inspired by Brisbane we walked to the top of the puig behind Alcudia, quite a scramble with no defined path after half way, the views were worth it but it would have been better on a cloudless day. Surprisingly we met quite a few others at the top, I think they cheated and came up from the easier side!


P1010932 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


P1010936 by Roig the cat, on Flickr

We only had four full days but managed a few walks. This next one is the Castell Del Rei.


P1020086 by Roig the cat, on Flickr

This one you may be familiar with, out on the Alcudia peninsular


P1020151 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


We enjoyed some lovely grub, mostly MDD's mid afternoon. This is the view from the Golf club one such afternoon. The golf club can be hit and miss at times, but a good lunch was enjoyed this day.


P1020171 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


Well, that took ages! Ill report from April's holiday tomorrow.

 

[Sparky]

Lovely Roig Cat, thanks for posting and look forward to more .

 

[sws97sdg]

Great post Roig, thanks for sharing, glad someone else loves the cats up there, its always a must visit, especially when the kids were small, they used to spend ages each time making a fuss of them all!

 

[roig cat]

I was going to have a run but just remembered that Dave Cameron and his entourage are in town, so I'll go later and post April's write up now!

In April the sun came out, well it did for our 9 day holiday at the beginning of the month. I believe it rained mid to late April?

We stayed at a Mallorcan Farmhouse property called Villa Melissa. The pool was south facing and warmed up beautifully during our stay. No bikini clad photos here I'm afraid but just look at that pool!


P1020385 by Roig the cat, on Flickr

We spent a lot of time just lazing around the villa, but once again did a bit of walking.

I have a thing about Mallorcan gates. I Could frame this one:


P1020223 by Roig the cat, on Flickr

The next is the view over the bay from the path to fartaritx:


P1020230 by Roig the cat, on Flickr
An April holiday to PP is not complete without a walk over to CSV. Followed by a drink at Bar Mallorca and of course jumping off the rock on the beach, for which you are never too old or too cool.


P1020298 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


And of course, the walk up the puig maria has to be done every holiday, the fit ones got there first!


P1020414 by Roig the cat, on Flickr

The next two are taken on a walk in the mountains around Tossals Verds. We have done this walk in all seasons, the views are amazing and the walk incudes tunnels, torch needed, so good family fun.(the girls would kill me if/when they find out I've posted all these photos.)

 

[roig cat]

Oops, only 6 photos per post!

P1020441 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


P1020443 by Roig the cat, on Flickr

As well as gates, I also love taking taking snaps of olive trees! This one near the Tossals refuge.


P1020451 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


The last two days of our holiday were very quiet. Most had left after the Easter hols, but the girls didn't go back to school until Tuesday so we booked flights for Monday and had two days of glorious weather on a very quiet beach!


P1020493 by Roig the cat, on Flickr

I reaaally want to be there! Coming soon (but not today) October and December!

 

[Belladonna]

Great photos! I know what you mean about the gates. I went through a phase of taking photos of them too and often shouted at hubby to STOP when driving along various roads and tracks. That didn't go down too well!

 

[Bean Counter]

Great posts, Roig Cat. Loved the photos. When is your next week off?

 

[El Gordo]

Fantastic photos Roig, reminded me of some of the walks we have done.

The walk around Tossals Verds looks particularly appealing.

We were out in January this year and had some lovely walks including Sant Marti above Alcudia.

We also went up and can recommend:
Es Fumat and down to Cala Murta on the Formentor peninsular.
Na Blanca from Formentor beach.
Talaia de Alcudia and down to Col Baix (where I got badly bitten by Mossys!! in January!!)

I must learn/remind myself how to post pictures

 

[debz1]

Great posts and pics Roig Cat, and certainly not boring

I have a photo thing about interesting doors

 

[gers1873]

great fotos RC gallus, I'm assuming that's your daughters you're with, the one on the far rite is your absolute double

 

[cumberland8]

Extremely refreshing viewing on this wet windy morning in the UK, Thank You.

 

[animagic21]

Great photos! Will try & do some walks on our next trip in April. I think you visit Campanet to visit the cats there too, such a peaceful, spiritual setting.
Like you, we spent four out of season trips in PP last year, was wonderful.
Have been regretting not repeating this year! Luckily now booked for April & planning for June. Just can't stay away!!

 

[roig cat]

Hi all,

SWS, yes the Calvari cats are famous and very photogenic; especially the white one with no ears!

El Gordo, I haven't done the exact walks you mention but I have done similar walks, nos, 39 and 44 in Charles Davis' walk Mallorca book. We tend to do the more challenging walks when we are on our own, which isn't very often. The girls enjoy walking once they get going, but we always have to go through the ritual of "not another walk". A packet of Ahoy choc chip cookies in the rucksack usually helps.

And yes Gers, they are my daughters. We are similar in looks but different hair colour! I think we must have a touch of Henry VIII in our DNA!

 

[roig cat]

As promised the third holiday. This time late October and the first two days of November to coincide with half term. We couldn't have hoped for better weather, 5 out of the 7 days were beach/pool weather and the other two perfect for walking, yehh. I remember quite a few of us from the forum were out that week.

This time we stayed in "Vintage Travel" property called Marina de na Jero. A traditional style Mallorcan villa with fantastic views over to the Puig Maria. We had our own almond tree full of ripe tasty almonds, broom also supplied for harvesting!


P1040103 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


We were joined in the evenings by "Pawline", so named because she ate everything with her paw, just like Arthur! She even swatted a Praying Mantis which landed on the wall and then ate it!


P1040124 by Roig the cat, on Flickr

The weather was so nice, we ate outside morning and evening, amazing.

Half way through the week we rented bikes for a day and cycled to Campanet. The day started off dry, if cloudy and grey, but on the way back we had a head wind and then an almighty storm broke out. Note to self, check the forcast in more detail!


P1040192 by Roig the cat, on Flickr



The only proper walk we did was the Cami vell de Lluc. We have done this walk before and therefore I didn't take many photos. It's surprising how little places there are to have a picnic on this walk, you would think there would be loads but where you get hungry is when you are walking down a steep incline in a shady (damp) wood. In the end we choose this rock!


P1040219 by Roig the cat, on Flickr

 

[roig cat]

cont...

The Lluc walk is easy but long. We rewarded ourselves with a fantastic meal at Spira, in the old town. As I am well and truly "out" now, here is another one of us! Please say hi if you see us in July.


P1040232 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


As per previous posts, I always go home with clean clothes! Oh but to have this view whilst hanging out washing at home, having said that I haven't been able to hang any out for months!


P1040234 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


This one of Alcudia beach on the 31/10/13, we went for a walk but should have taken our beach gear.



P1040241 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


Last but not least CSV on 1/11/13 from the Siller pass. Not a cloud in the sky.


P1040265 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


December tomorrow! RC

 

[Brisbane]

Hi Roig cat - so many familiar views!!

I'm back out in October from Oz for two weeks for a family get-together (so much better than spending a fortnight in Scotland!).

Tempted to take another "career break" and spend 6 months hiking the Canaries...

Steve.

 

[roig cat]

Hi Steve,

It will be like coming home for you! Do have a great time and remember to post some photos.
The Canaries sounds like a great idea, go for it when you can. Our career break plan is the Camino de Santiago- it will have to wait a few years yet but hope to walk it before my knees give way.

 

[cumberland8]

Have you guys done the GR20 in Corsica? In my humble opinion it is absolutely spectacular.
Definitely one to do before one snuffs it.

 

[roig cat]

No, I've never been to Corsica but I'll investigate for the future!

 

[roig cat]

Final instalment,

Our December holiday was originally booked for the four of us, but at the last minute my husband decided he couldn’t leave his business and my oldest daughter preferred to stay at home with Dad, so just my 13 year old and myself enjoyed a 5 night mini break staying at the Pansa Townhouse booked with Sealand villas!

I was a little apprehensive about going at first but excited also. My husband does all the driving abroad and I was nervous about arriving at 21.30 and having to drive across the island, on the left and in the dark for the first time. I changed the car to a Twingo from a Ford C max. I was surprised how natural it felt to drive when sitting on the left, however, I did forget to apply the hand break on quite a few occasions including overnight, mine at home has an automatic handbreak. Not only was it dark, but we arrived in the middle of a storm, great. However, I got us to Pollensa safely, my daughter trying to appear relaxed but not doing a very good job. We parked by the cloisters and walked up to the townhouse which was only a few doors away from the house we had rented in Feb. The central heating had been left on for us, not on timer this time. Lovely and snuggly. We felt very safe in the house but I didn’t sleep well, the storm was raging a making one hell of a racket down the chimney in the bedroom.

The storm persisted until late the next day. We decided to have a drive down to Festival Park as there wasn’t much else we could do, what a strange atmosphere that place has? We then drove back to the bay and took these photos as we were driving along:


P1040313 by Roig the cat, on Flickr



P1040319 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


It really was like driving on the beach. Thankfully El Casinet was open so we warmed up with a tasty pizza.

That night we ate out at Trencadora (not another pizza), here is a photo taken of the square on the way there:


P1040358 by Roig the cat, on Flickr


The weather forecast the next day was for much nicer weather in the south so we decided to take the train from Sa Pobla to Palma and have a little retail therapy. Palma was very busy, it was the Saturday before Christmas. There was huge ice rink outside the train station and this bouncy castle, one for all you Bob Esponja fans!!



P1040373 by Roig the cat, on Flickr