When we opened the shutters this morning, the sun was shining out of a clear blue sky. We have been so lucky with the weather! I dread to think what it would have been like if it had rained every day. I think we'd be back at home now!
This morning, we were looking forward to visiting the market in Pollensa and having a coffee in the square. In the past, the market stalls have stretched right up to the Calvari Steps, but when we turned the corner to go down into the town we couldn't see any stalls at all. Was it still on in the winter, we wondered?
Of course, it was, but on a slightly smaller scale! The cafés at the bottom of the steps were greeting tourists and locals alike and as we walked towards the square it became busier. Turning the corner by the church into the main square, we could see a few stalls next to the cafés, which were very busy indeed! Tables were at a premium and we felt lucky when we managed to grab one at U Placa. There was a lovely atmosphere as people sat basking in the beautiful sunlight, drinking coffee and ordering breakfasts.
We ordered coffees and a hot chocolate, and two pains au chocolat and a croissant for breakfast. Service was hectic and the poor waiters rushed hither and thither with loaded trays. We were surprised at how busy it was, and wondered why some places were firmly closed up? Admittedly, it wasn't as busy as it can be at the height of summer, but there were lots of people visiting and both locals and tourists were circling the tables ready to grab one as soon as it was vacated.
My first coffee disappeared in a trice, so I ordered another - it was delicious and strong. I miss my coffee machine!
We enjoyed our light breakfast and it was lovely to sit and relax and do lots of people-watching! When we finished, we strolled around the stalls, with Sophie on the lookout for jewellery. I spotted a stall selling lavender products and bought a candle and a soap from the friendly stallholder, who hailed from West London, and not Kent as I thought! He'd been in Mallorca for fourteen years... he was living the dream!
There were lots of stalls selling fresh flowers and we saw local people carrying huge bunches. We left Keith sitting in the sun and visited a shop called Hygge which sold jewellery, scarves, perfume and accessories. I treated myself to a new perfume, made in Soller, where we're going tomorrow. It smelt beautifully fresh and clean. Poor Sophie had a full-blown cold and couldn't smell anything, but she did buy a pair of gorgeous earrings.
As we wandered slowly further into the town we came across the fruit and vegetable stalls, people selling clothes and most of the shops open for business. Sophie bought a pair of new sunglasses, so overall we did very well! We want to get Keith a pair of new slippers and we keep going into the shoe shops and trying to find the perfect pair for him!
We paid a visit to the pharmacy to buy more paracetamol for Keith as he still has a toothache. We normally make one visit to a chemist every holiday, but we've had to go three times on this break! He will be contacting his dentist when we get home and I'm going to have to register with one as well!
Stay for lunch.
The car park was full of cars with people waiting for a space so we made a hasty exit and drove to Puerto Pollensa. I headed towards Alcudia and we approached the town on the coast road. The weather was stunning, with the mountains sharply outlined against the azure blue of the sky.
We managed to find a space near the marina and strolled towards the front for a drink before lunch at Bucca.
Again, the cafés and restaurants that were open were busy, with tables at a premium. We managed to get one at Bucca under the awning but we still had a great view. Keith and I had a small beer each and Sophie had an Aperol Spritz. We sat and chatted about our upcoming holidays and said how much we were looking forward to driving to Spain in June. Apart from my and Sophie's break in Vienna in March, this will be the last time we fly anywhere. With the car, we have so much freedom and can decide to leave early or even go elsewhere if we wish.
Our lunch booking at Stay restaurant was for 2pm and it was only a short walk away. We hadn't eaten here for years (I think the last time was in 2007) but it's a popular restaurant and I had forgotten how large it is. I remember, on a previous occasion, likening it to a works canteen, and this opinion hadn't changed! It was very busy with tables inside and around the outside of the building close to the water's edge. There were lots of smart staff in attendance and the service was impeccable.
We ordered Padron peppers and prawns in tempura batter to share as starters, followed by lamb for Keith, cod for Sophie and chicken in a Teriyaki sauce with rice for me. We were given bread rolls, melba toasts and a freebie amuse bouche of what we think was Gazpacho soup, topped with whipped sour cream served in shot glasses.
The starters were delicious - the prawns moist and succulent and the Padron peppers hot and salty. I was looking forward to my main course but it disappointed. The hit of flavour from the Teriyaki sauce was missing and it seemed to be watered down somewhat. The chicken was coated in a thin batter but it wasn't crispy. Sophie enjoyed her cod, but Keith said his lamb didn't have any flavour, either! Are we all suffering from a lack of taste and smell?
Sophie and I had room for puds. I chose creme brulée while Sophie opted for her favourite, tiramisu. We were offered complimentary liqueurs and chose Limoncello. Because we didn't have a bottle of wine, and Keith and I just stuck to a small beer each with Sophie having a couple of glasses of vino blanco, the bill was a shade under 150 euros.
Sophie and I wanted to walk along a pier which jutted out into the sea, so I gave Keith the car keys and we set off. Virtually every table was taken as we rounded the corner of the building; it's such a popular restaurant!
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| Looking back at the restaurant |
The sea looked beautifully clear and we saw several large fish and a couple of pinky-coloured jellyfish. It didn't look too deep, either, but I wouldn't have wanted to fall in! We wandered about for a while, admiring the views and then walked back to join Keith at the car, taking in views of the marina on the way.
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| Restaurant La Llonja |
From Puerto Pollensa, we drove to Cala San Vicente again, a place I can never get enough of! The drive from the main road to the town is beautiful and reminds me of the Lake District. Today, the sea was a lot calmer and there were a few people on the beach, including some men with small boats. We sat for a while and soaked up the sun, watching the comings and goings of visitors.
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| A much calmer sea! |
As the sun set over the mountains, we made our way back to Pollensa. The car park had emptied out and we parked easily before walking back to the house.
As I'd only had a couple of small beers during the day, I decided to try some of my whiskies throughout the evening:
December 18th: Old Pulteney 15-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky at 46% The first taste was fiery and bitter. The whisky softened with water and made me think of dried fruits and honey. I couldn't share with Sophie as she had lost her sense of taste and smell. 3/5
December 19th: Royal Lochnagar 12-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky at 40% Peaty and antiseptic. Softened with water and I detected smoke. 3/5
December 20th: Glen Grant 18-year-old Rare Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky at 43% Cherries and vanilla, Bakewell tart, sweet and honey. 4/5
December 21st: Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky at 40%. Peaty, almonds and smoke. 4/5
We had a relaxed evening, keeping warm in the living room and either reading or watching Spanish football!
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