Spain (Mallorca) in soon to change restrictions!

The big news here, as you will have seen all over social media, is that restrictions will start to ease a little on Tuesday (after Balearic Day on Monday).  The 'headline' for most is that bars and restaurants will be able to open their terraces with 50% capacity until 17h00 and quite a few people are looking forward to a menu del dia very soon.  Places planning to open that I have heard about and who have not been doing a takeaway service are Moll de Bellagio, Nostalgia, Ca'n Ferra, Ca Les Monges and Meraki and I'm sure there are others.  But of course there are only so many people here and many cannot currently afford to eat/drink out so we have everything crossed that things work out for everyone 🤞

Today was a lovely one this morning so we headed out on the peninsula near Alcanada Golf.  We walked about 4 km past the golf course and the entrance to Museo Sa Bassa Blanca (sadly closed, but it's a wonderful place to visit) and on along the peninsula until the path narrows and drops down to the Playa del Coll Baix.  The water was a gorgeous turquoise 💙

We went some way down but not all the way as we had to get back for the dogs, but we did visit the beach by boat in August when we swam from the boat to the beach so have seen it from below 😍   The walk is gorgeous, on a good track with vehicle access through lovely woods:

We didn't take the dogs as we knew there are a lot of pine trees and it is the middle of processionary caterpillar season (as mentioned in the blog a couple of weeks ago) and we simply couldn't risk it.  This turned out to be a wise decision as there were plenty of the vile things and we had to be careful to avoid walking on them and getting them on our shoes, possibly transporting the hairs into the car or house afterwards.  They look like this close up:

For those unaware about these horrible creatures, the problem is the hairs on the caterpillars which are highly irritating to the skin and can be deadly to cats and dogs who may ingest or breathe in the hairs.  We are, not unnaturally, completely paranoid about them! 😱  They overwinter in tent-like nests, not unlike white candy floss, high up in pine trees and then when the weather warms up a bit they 'process' nose to tail down the trunk and across the ground to somewhere they can bury themselves and remain until the end of summer when they emerge as a moth to fly up, lay eggs in the trees and start the whole process again 😡   Although we didn't see any really long 'processions' today, this was the longest with Ian's foot in for scale!

On returning to the Port we parked in the marina car park and walking back home past the Bellaverde Restaurant saw the long queue again for the hot meal (as mentioned last week).  People generally seemed in good spirits and the food smelled absolutely delicious!  The staff and volunteers at Bellaverde were dong a sterling job and providing a smiling, happy service.  Bravo to them and everyone involved! 👏👏👏

Elsewhere work on the slipway at the yacht club continues with lots of concrete from queues of cement mixers:

Although the slipway is gradually 'shrinking' from the right of the picture, it does seem to be taking an awful lot of concrete so.....still watching with interest!

An interesting sign appeared about a month or so ago which I previously forgot to mention.  It is on the ground in various locations around the area from the marina roundabout through to Avenue de Paris just after Tolos and looks like this:

I think I saw somewhere that these are not official markings by the council but made by an environmental group but either way, the message is a good one 👍  Other local news includes a grant available for children's school books and materials and a second hand market in the square in the Port to raise money for the family who recently lost their father/husband and all their possessions in a fire and which raised a wonderful 2,100€.  And the Hope Mallorca Association which locally distributes food to 250-300 families every Wednesday morning in Pollensa.  The Association was started by three German residents on the island and 143 volunteers distribute 28 tons of food and basic products per month throughout Mallorca.

Finally, more information about the second phase of the vaccination rollout has been provided:

• 24 Feb - 1 March (therefore nearly finished) - vaccinations for the over 80s, teachers and early years education staff
• From 8 March - security forces eg. police
• No fixed date yet for those remaining in this group which includes those aged 60-79 and those under 60 with underlying health conditions.

Not sure what happens between 1-8 March! 😂  The third vaccination phase has not yet been structured by groups or dates and so we wait....however the government's aim is that  70% of the population will have been vaccinated by June.  I certainly hope so as this is seen by many as necessary for a successful and safe return of tourism to the island.  And so, we shall see.......

In the meantime, stay safe and hasta el próximo domingo!

Spain (Mallorca) in continued restrictions!

And so another week goes by.  There is a glimmer of hope that after 2 March, cafe and restaurant terraces may be allowed to re-open but nothing has been confirmed as of yet and all sorts of rumours are flying around about the details.  I've seen lots of speculation on Facebook and elsewhere but the fact remains that we have no confirmation of this (plenty of hope but no confirmation!) and will have to wait until nearer the time.  If nothing else, this past year I've learned that patience is a virtue 😎

In local news, Covid numbers continue to decrease in the Pollensa municipality overall but we must continue to be vigilant or we'll not get those above mentioned terraces open any time soon!  As the numbers of cases drop in other parts of Spain, some regions have relaxed restrictions already and others are considering doing so, so let's see.  The national government have announced their vaccination plan and defined new priority groups including, interestingly, teaching staff and police officers which is a different approach to the UK.  Mass vaccination in the Balearics is scheduled to start in mid-March - assuming they've received sufficient doses - with the aim of 70% of the islands' populations to have been vaccinated by June.  Large venues as vaccination centres have been identified and so......we wait.  Digging deep for those reserves of patience! 😂

Today the Port saw the first social dining room open at the Bellaverde restaurant (Bellavista Hostal) with a meal being distributed to needy people in the Port.  This is in conjunction with NGO Pollenca Cares who are financing the ingredients for 200 people each Sunday.  People who wish to receive a meal have to register for this at the Social Services Department who provide them with a ticket.  People receive a stew, bread and a piece of fruit and to see the queue for this as we took the dogs for their toilet walk was sad and sobering but also good to know that people were receiving a welcome hot meal.  Pollensa Council Social Services are currently supporting more than 350 families and the number is increasing, so as summer approaches it is believed that the number of people needing this initiative will increase and the goal is to be able to respond and provide as many meals as they possibly can 💕 👏👏👏  For pictures of this great initiative go to Restaurant Bellaverde  

Further local news includes the very welcome news that the recent protests against the proposed removal of all children's play areas and other recreational facilities on the beaches in the Port seems to have had a real effect on the coastal authorities who have now reconsidered their previous decision.  Definitely the battle has been won 💪 but whether the war has, remains to be seen.

The weather has steadily been improving here and it's beginning to feel a bit springlike.  Today was scheduled to be 23 degrees but was a bit more like 18, certainly here in the north of the island.  Feeling active we drove to Pollensa and then walked up the Puig de Maria.  We knew that the cloud/haze meant we wouldn't get any great views across to the Port but it was still lovely and we just love the view down on Pollensa:

Quite a few locals had beaten us to it and were already enjoying their picnics in the designated picnic area of the Refugi.  We went into the chapel for a reflective few minutes and then enjoyed a takeaway coffee from the little cafe.  There's a small rocky path from the picnic area - if you know where to find it - that winds further out on the Puig and around the side just below the refugi with the best views of Pollensa (as seen above) and a path on which we've never seen anyone else so ssshhh!  

We sat on a large rock and enjoyed the flask of tea we'd brought with us and then made our way down (this path meets up with the main path).  The route was busier on our return with people making their way up for a picnic lunch I guess.  It was interesting how many children, some quite young, were making their way up - it's quite a climb so fair play to them!  

Work at the RCNPP (yacht club) continues and the final two replaced pontoons are now more or less finished.  During the week we watched work on the old slipway at the end of the walkway out from the yacht club house and just the other side of the boat lift.  This photos shows the placement of the concrete blocks:

A day or so later they seemed to be filling it in with concrete which appeared to be being piped from a queue of concrete mixers seemingly into the boxed in pool of water; we're not sure what the end result will be but are watching with interest!  In case you're wondering, the sailing school has relocated to the building between the boat fuel station and La Cantina in what was a laundrette for boat owners, and the school boats are now in the area just before La Cantina and using a floating slipway.

So....hopefully this time next week we'll have some news on whether some restrictions will be eased here....let's keep everything crossed 🤞🤞🤞🤞

In the meantime, stay safe and hasta el próximo domingo!

Spain (Mallorca) in continued restrictions!

💘 Happy Valentine's Day 💘 to everyone!  It's not just a day for romantic love but a good extra opportunity to tell all those we love that we really appreciate them, or to appreciate and love ourself.  In some countries it is a day to appreciate friends and not 'significant others'  and after the last year or so we definitely need more love in the world!

Some big news this week is that on Friday tourism establishments - not just hotels but also bars, restaurants, travel agents etc) - displayed SOS Turismo banners on their buildings and on social media in a peaceful protest to remind the national and Balearic governments that these business need tourism in order to survive 2021.  SOS Turismo is described as a non-political platform and no street demonstrations appear to be planned.

As you can see, lots of establishments in the Port have joined the initiative.

It's important to make the point that the industry has been so badly affected and needs help, but equally it's difficult to know quite what the solution is.  Money is of course important, but tourism is dependent at the moment on regulations of other countries to allow their citizens to travel.  But it's important that the national and local governments fully appreciate how important tourism is to the economy.  Time will tell the impact of this initiative I guess.  

Restrictions here have been extended until 2 March, clearly intended to cover any temptation to celebrate Balearic Day on 1 March.  However we are all hopeful that thereafter terraces at least may be able to open and if so, we are definitely intending to treat ourselves to a menu del dia!  As of tomorrow, certain restrictions have been eased a little including gyms and larger shops (but not shopping centres) which will now be able to re-open.  This is good news and an indication that things are looking cautiously optimistic.  Certainly the numbers of Covid are decreasing and as of Friday locally we have had no cases in the last 8 days which is wonderful! 👍

Closer to home, yesterday and to great rejoicing throughout the land 🥳 😂 I finished my very first 1,500 piece puzzle and here it is in all its glory just....well, just because:

I did quite a few in last years big lockdown but none bigger than 1,000 pieces and I wondered if I'd bitten off more than I could chew with this one but it was FAB!  I seem to have turned into a jigsaw nerd 😂 mind you, not for me photos of cottages or harbours........  

More active pursuits have included on-line gym classes and some lovely walks with the dogs although we have to be careful of the dreaded processionary caterpillars, vile furry creatures 😡 whose hairs are very unpleasant for human skin but lethal for pets.  They grow in white nests not unlike candy floss in untreated pine trees and then 'process' nose to tail down the tree and across the ground to somewhere where they can dig in underground and later emerge as a moth which lay eggs in trees.....to start the whole process al over again.  To say we are paranoid is to very slightly understate it!  In the last few days the local council has been shooting (only in Spain!) the nests out of trees 😳 - treating the trees in the first place would be better as surely prevention is better than cure?  In any event, we haven't ever seen huge numbers here (although just one is enough!) but did once along the coast in Cala Ratjada.  It was like a horror show, something out of Dr Who, with long lines as much as 15 ft + long of the things all over the road 😱 and we had the dogs with us.....I was hysterical.  Luckily we have two Lhasa Apsos of around 9-10 kg each, quite what we'd have done with a couple of Great Danes I'm none too sure!!

So....a quiet but positive week all in all.  And in what looks like a very cold spell indeed if you're in the UK, I'll just leave you with this 😍 here and waiting for you in the fullness of time......

Stay safe and hasta el próximo domingo!

Spain (Mallorca) in increased restrictions!

Hola!  Current restrictions here remain in place, to be reviewed again next weekend.  Numbers of Covid cases continue to go down in the Pollensa municipality and in Mallorca in general which is great news, but whether they will want to relax any restrictions remains to be seen; currently there is a shortage of vaccinations in Spain so they may play it safe......we will see....🤔

A very current issue in the Port is the refusal by the coastal authority to renew the council's licence to have children's play areas, wooden decking for wheelchair access, toilet facilities or the family picnic area and dog beach out Llenaire way.  Apparently the council applies each year as a matter of course but this year....  Unsurprisingly this has enraged local parents who today held a protest rally - every family in their car with banners etc and plenty of horn hooting.  The guardia and policia were aware and directed traffic, headed the convoy etc.  The stream of hooting cars went noisily past our home and just went on....and on.....and on..... goodness knows how many there were!  None of my photos were as good as this one from friend Kristine who has given permission for me to reproduce it here:

One car had a wheelchair on the roof as well as a banner making a very important point that the licence refusal will prevent any wheelchair users from accessing the sea with any degree of ease.  I should emphasise that the council want to keep the facilities, it's the coastal authority that doesn't.  A number of people have made the point that the beach here is manmade so there is no logical environmental reason for the refusal and certainly the parents and other protesters were keen to make their displeasure very clear indeed!  I really hope they are successful 👏

We've had a mixed bag of weather this week ranging from blue skies and warm sunshine with temperatures just into the 20s to cold and VERY foggy for a couple of days.  I took this photo from our roof terrace where we can normally see across to Bonaire 😳:

As well as fog we've had quite a bit of wind and those who know the Port well will know that it can be extremely windy here.  In fact the wind left some of those attractive external black electrical cables doing a sort of freestyle drape in the road just down from the Hostal Bellaverde 😳:

The wind also started to blow some of the facade off the building above the tabac in C/Juan XXIII which would have been more than unfortunate if you were hit by the flying debris but luckily the police taped it off in time.  The builders came out pretty quickly to redo the facade to the joy of the elderly lady living in the first floor apartment who lost no time in coming out onto her balcony to have a good old natter to those nice young builders 😉 

In non-weather related local news, the Ubeda family who lost a husband/father and everything they owned in the recent apartment fire have been supported by the local Catholic church who have donated all this weekend's collections in Pollensa and the Port to the family, and there has been lots of community support with a gofund.me page set up for them too at: 

https://gofund.me/2c18bb60

In other local news Celler La Parra re-opened on Friday for takeaway food which is a welcome addition to the local takeaway options.  We have tried a number of places for takeaway coffee and although we love it at the cafe at Eroski, currently our favourite takeaway coffee taste wise has been provided by La Vall.  The only downside is that there are no obvious places nearby such as a wall, to sit on so the kerb at the bus station has had to do!

Has anyone been watching The Mallorca Files?!  It really is completely terrible in terms of plot line and acting but my goodness isn't it fun to look out for the locations?! 🥳  The other day a chase started here in the Port, continued in Pollensa and then culminated in the Port again - that was quite some chase! 😂

This week also saw a little triumph at the PAC (health centre).  The receptionists there are not exactly renown for their customer service skills and smiling, helpful demeanour (is there a special training school for doctors' receptionists, it does seem to be an internationally unfortunate common trait?).  Our Spanish health cards needing renewing as they lapsed at the end of December.  I had tried to renew them in early December when I was attending for my flu jab but......computer (or to be more exact, the receptionist) say no......come back in February/March.  I pointed out that our cards would have expired by then but..... computer still say no.  You have to know when you're flogging a dead horse and so I smiled in the face of adversity (not that anyone saw due to the mask, but hey..!) and left.  Receptionists 1 - Sarah 0. This week, I was feeling particularly upbeat and time for Round 2 beckoned.  Back I went, clutching the same folder of paperwork including our last school reports, a detailed analysis of our two little dogs' favourite toys and an old library card.  I jest, but you probably know what Spanish bureaucracy is like.  In any event, both receptionists were there but with perfect timing the - shall we say more challenging - of the two went off for her merienda (morning snack) and I waited patiently whilst the remaining one completely ignored me  - I think it was some sort of test to see if I snapped but I channelled my inner Zen.  My big moment came and I schmoozed, well more of a grovel actually, in Spanish to the remaining one who must have already partaken of her merienda because she not only renewed our cards but did so whilst juggling an increasingly long and impatient queue outside (someone tried to queue jump and all Spanish hell broke loose) and multiple phone calls; I was pretty impressed if I'm honest.  Anyhow, Receptionists 1 - Sarah 1 and our health cards are good for another four years 👌

Stay safe and hasta el próximo domingo!