Things are definitely getting a lot cooler here now; by 'cooler', all things are relative of course and temperatures here are currently in the early 20 degrees during the day. But this is definitely a lot cooler - not to mention more pleasant - than the hot and sweaty mid to late 30 degrees of the not too distant past. It's when the sun goes down that you realise that autumn really is here though - temperatures in the mid teens is very chilly indeed if you're used to the Spanish climate.
So, given that our perception of what is 'chilly' has now changed.....how have we changed, or should I say adapted, since moving out here?
- Certainly we find food/drink here to be much cheaper - depending on where you choose to go of course - but we can go to a number of places locally and have a really good coffee for 1,50 -1,80€ - try getting one for that price in the UK! And of course alcohol - we can have a large glass of very pleasant wine for as little as 2,20€ if we go during our favourite bar's 'happy hour(s)'. A menu del dia can cost as little as around 10€ for 3 courses with wine and water. So when we have been visiting the UK we find it buttock clenchingly expensive to eat or drink out 😳
- Mosquitoes? Definitely you adapt the longer you live out here and if you do get bitten, it's nothing like it used to be and fades very quickly. Mind you, I speak as one who has never really suffered from mozzie bites given that they far prefer the flavour of Ian. For the first couple of years out here, he really suffered as they just seemed to feast on him. And I would be barely touched. But now, whilst he does still get bitten, his body just doesn't react as it used to and relatively speaking, it's a non-event.
- Damp - you'd think living in the UK that we'd be used to it, but what with centrally-heated, carpeted and insulated houses there you have no idea how real damp feels unless you've lived on an island well known for its humidity in houses made of single-skin blocks and specifically focused on keeping you cool. THEN you know what damp feels like. I was a scout leader for many years in the UK and I can only liken it to the kind of damp you feel during very soggy scout camps when all your clothes feel chilly and slightly wet, as does your sleeping bag which makes settling down for the night somewhat of a trial. Many people we know have electric blankets here, but I use what has always worked for me - a hot water bottle popped into bed well before I get in it.
- Informal dressing - not that we've ever been much for formal dressing so to speak, but living here I hardly ever wear a pair of heels or a 'fancy' dress, maybe New Year's Eve, and that's pretty much it. In addition, I've found that your feet seem to spread with all the wearing of flip flops and sandals and it's a real squeeze to get your foot into a more structured shoe; I know I'm not the only one as I've mentioned it to friends and they seem to have the same issue.
Otherwise, things have remained fairly static out here this past week, with no further closures of note, although Moda Fresca - the women's clothing shop in C/Juan XXIII opposite the tabac - is closing for good and currently has all stock at 10€. I found a few bargains there which I'm delighted with. And one thing I'm determined upon this year is that all gifts that I buy will be from local or small businesses. Etsy.com is a wonderful platform for all sorts of lovely handmade, custom, vintage and unique crafts and gifts by some very creative and talented people so I'm intending to use them for gifts for friends and relatives in the UK. For gifts here I'm sticking to local. Every little helps!
Numbers of cases of coronavirus locally increased by 2 yesterday apparently but there are still very few and long may that continue. Everyone locally continues with the mask wearing absolutely everywhere plus all the other measures such as hand sanitising etc. Every shop has hand sanitiser by the entrance and on the one or two occasions I've just walked in, forgetting to use it, I've been reminded very politely which is as it should be. And last night we were in a large taxi returning home after a night out (about which more in a bit) and were stopped by police at a roundabout who were checking that we all had our masks on (we were and all was well). But Spain has its problems, with certain areas on the mainland showing a steep increase in Covid cases and they are in lockdowns in much the same way as now seems to be the case in the UK. All I can say is that here, on an island and at the other side of it from Palma, we feel very safe (although not complacent) 💕
And so to last night. We went, for the second time, to what is certainly one of the best kept secrets on the island - so shhhhhhhh! - Mare Nostrum restaurant in Sa Pobla. Due to the distance and that we all wanted to have some wine, we booked a multi-person taxi (there were six of us) and on the way there we saw the most spectacular sky and I took this photo through the taxi window which came out better than I imagined it would:
In any event, Mare Nostrum is hard to find in the backstreets of Sa Pobla and looks like an ordinary house on the outside. On the inside however you find this:
The menu is set (6 courses plus a palate cleanser sorbet) and includes cava on arrival plus dessert wine but other drinks are extra. To say that the food, service and ambience is spectacular is to understate it slightly and you cannot walk in off the street (even if you knew it was there), it is by reservation only (and well in advance at that!).
The downside to such a wonderful night out is that we drank rather a lot of the gorgeous Mallorcan wines on the wine list and today are feeling more than a tad fragile 😬 never mind, it was worth it!
The clocks go back in the wee small hours of next Sunday - darker evenings beckon and the end of summertime will officially be ended. It's possible it will be the last time they do it in Spain, but then again they said that last year so.........
Stay safe and hasta el próximo domingo!
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