Island in the Sun

Back from Mallorca, Spain!!! What a friggin’ vacation…

Click on the picture or here to go to the flickr photo set.

Big thanks to Mom & Dad, Mr. John Fujii for their help, encouragement, and support to make this happen.

Thanks to Natalia, her family, Miguel, Nata’s Tios, and everyone else that made this such a wonderful experience above and beyond anything we could have anticipated.

Vacation Theme Song: Island in the Sun (weezer)

Ian & K8’s list – Impressions of Mallorca:

People drive like bats out of hell (even the old people), every other aspect of life is in slow motion.
Paint (lines) on the roads are just “guidelines” – mainly for tourists.
The whole difference in personal space always takes getting used to.
I think I might like olives
The most common pretty boy haircut is a styled, over-gelled mohawk, or faux-hawk
English is in. Any clothing with a logo in English is like wearing Diesel or Gucci around here… Sometimes it was unclear if one knew what they were wearing. Like a t-shirt that says “ugly” on it, or big bold “American Eagle” logo… seriously.
Everyone wears thin flip-flops
Vegetarian’s nightmare – lots of yummy pork products, pastes, cured, or a whole leg quarter right on yer plate.
Brands like Reef, Miss Sixty, RipCurl, QuickSilver etc.. are EXPENSIVE… like $90 US beans for a pair of Reef flip flops.
How the hell do you use the bede?
Lemon jelly mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
A can of coke is like $4 US beans
Round-abouts = scary

— Wed – Day 0 —

Arrival in Palma – got situated at the house then headed downtown for some sights.
Saw castle up top overlooking the city.
Went downtown to el centro by the water and walked around. Saw a 400+ year old olive tree, the cathedral.
Had tapas down by the water.
Late night dinner at a sea side restaurant over looking the bay and cathedral.

— Thrus – Day 1 —

Visit “Es Trenc” beach and restaurant with Natalia and Miguel
German naked guy at the beach was nasty character
Lunch at Es Trenc restaurant, had some awesome paella, couldn’t do the gambas though.
Dinner with Natalia and Miguel at restaurant “Tanto Amore” – sweet late night Italian place.

— Fri – Day 2 —

Late start – went to Soller, a pretty little pueblo en las montanas
On the way, drove up over the Sierra Tramuntana (la parte central)
Hit the beach at Porto de Soller
Back in Palma, went to the centro comercial (mall).
Had yummy pasta & sauce at Nata’s that her mom made us

— Sat – Day 3 —

Heading to Colonia to Nata’s parent’s house
On the way (sort of), went to Calobra, a beautiful beach between cliffs in the north/northwest part of the Sierra Tramuntana. Crazy switch backs to get up there… amazing view.
From the beach, on the way to the house, stopped at Pollenca, a little village with cool stairway, 2000+ year old Roman bridge, maze of streets.
Dinner with the whole family at night
Saw a late night festival with dancers dressed up in traditional Mallorquin attire, twirling around, fun music, and the clickers!

— Sun – Day 4 —

Up late from partying the night before. Went to amazing beach , Ca Na Clara, near the house. Rocky, secluded, paradise.
Afternoon lunch with the family
Drove to Cabo de Formentor – amazing view from the top of a rock protrusion jutting out into the sea. Lighthouse…
Natalia and Miguel went out for their last night together. K8 and I made dinner at the house. Family had returned to Palma.

— Mon – Day 5 —

Was cloudy and rainy. Back to Palma for the day to go shopping!
Ian bought tons of shit
Dinner at conveyor belt all you can eat sushi restaurant, sweet!

— Tues – Day 6 —

After breakfast, went to outdoor market in a nearby village
Back to Ca Na Clara, rocky beach paradise
Back to Colonia for a great, quiet, late night dinner of Salad and everything else in the fridge

— Wed – Day 7 —

Went to beach in Porto de Alcudia
Shopped around in Alcudia afterwords
Dinner by the sea in Colonia at another nice Italian restaurant. Gnocchi was fantastic!

— Thurs – Day 8 —