Spain out of lockdown!

Feeling hot, hot, hot ...🎶......🔥.....Friday saw temperatures of 40 degrees in the Pollensa area and Saturday wasn't much better.  Even the Mallorquins are commenting on the heat!  And of course on Friday we were cleaning some shutters and windows and I don't think we've ever been so wet in our lives - and it wasn't from the water we were doing the washing with 😳 Once home and after lunch I then thought it would be a good idea to do a quick groom of our dogs - and that can't be done in a breeze as the clippings go everywhere so.... well I guess some of us have a flatter learning curve than others...😂  Today was a lot cooler though at about 26/27 degrees and very cloudy which was a welcome relief if I'm honest.  Tomorrow the forecast is for some rain - which is nice......

On Saturday I was more than happy to head for the air conditioned radio studio in Pollensa.  The market had been moved to Saturday from it's usual Sunday slot due to the low level celebrations the town hall had in place to celebrate La Patrona - the re-enactment of the Moors & Christians battle would have been Sunday 2nd.  I expected parking to be a challenge but in fact it wasn't too bad at all, an indication in itself of how much quieter things are here than is normal for this time of year.

On Saturday evening we went out for a meal with friends to Bar Coral.  I had tumbet as a starter and with my main mainly because tumbet is one of my favourite things to eat EVER! If you're unaware of what it is, tumbet is a dish of vegetables gently fried in extra virgin olive oil and then baked together in the oven.  It's quite similar to ratatouille.  Here it generally consists of potato, aubergine, garlic, onion, green pepper, red pepper and courgette with a tomato sauce.  It's sometimes served with a fried egg on the top which adds a whole new dimension to things!  In any event, we had a lovely meal.  On the way home along the sea front it was pretty busy at the Sis Pins as you can see:

And also at Ca'n Pescador:

And there was a good, buzzy vibe in the air.  But yes, if it was a 'normal' year, it would have been jam-packed with people.  Still, we have to be grateful for all the visitors we can get right now.....

Over the last few days the people of Pollensa have been celebrating La Patrona 2020 in a rather different way to normal.  On Sunday it would have been the re-enactment of the battle of the Moors and Christians, which if you've never been to it, is pretty spectacular!  Shall we just say that Health & Safety is not at the forefront of the minds of those (apart from the main 'actors') taking part!!  😂  In any event on Saturday they had the usual chess tournament but not in Club Pollensa due to the coronavirus measures; instead it was held outside in the Joan March gardens:

Wonderful to see that this part of La Patrona at least, could still take place.  The main part, on Sunday 2nd August, with the battle between Joan Mas plus the good citizens of Pollensa (Christians) and Dragut, the pirate leader with the Moors could not, of course, take place.  But from the beginning of the festival on 26th July, they staged images of the enactment from previous years on balconies and buildings on the route normally taken through the town to the main battleground (on the football pitch).  

The photographs have been on sale with the proceeds going to charity which is a lovely and completely brilliant way to commemorate the tradition 👏


Tomorrow the forecast is for some rain - which is nice......

Stay safe and hasta jueves!