Well hello, little old but-not-forgotten blog! How are you doing? Last week I spent four days visiting my little sister, Margot, in Mallorca before she began another course for her Master’s program in Education, which offers courses abroad during the summer. With almost an entire office on holiday, it seemed the perfect chance to escape Sweden for a more tropical climate (although I’m laughing as I am typing this, because it is currently a scorching 30°C in Uppsala!).
Little did I know that Mallorca is crawling with other Swedes and other Scandinavians. Seriously, I think I heard more Swedish being spoken than Spanish! But it was still the perfect mini-getaway, complete with lots of trashy novel reading, city exploring, never-ending tapas, daily sangria/cava breaks, sun-drenched beach days, and muchas one-on-one sister catch-up time.
Mallorca is the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands, and a tourist hot spot during the summer months. After epically failing at my last attempt to visit Spain in 2010 (a total and utter fiasco, including the Icelandic volcano eruption, a friend stranded in Switzerland with a burst appendix, and a urinary tract infection on my part), I still had never been to the country and was absolutely DYING to go. After a bit of back and forth with my sister, who is currently living in Beijing, I found some decently priced tickets on a cheap airline and voila! A trip was born*.
*Reason no. 2,536,479 that I love living in Sweden – cheap and easy travel to other countries.
We left from Stockholm on the 4th of July and, despite a few delays, made it to Mallorca safe and sound by nightfall. Having just a few days to rest and explore before Margot’s course began, we spent the entire time sunning, eating, drinking, exploring, and speaking terrible Spanish to anyone who’d listen.
On Saturday, after having our fill of city strolling and beach lazing (including some hilariously bad sun burns. I mean, honestly, WHEN WILL I LEARN??? Sunscreen. ALWAYS sunscreen.) we decided to take the local train to Sóller, a town near the north west coast of Mallorca, known for it’s idyllic views and bustling markets.
If you get a chance to visit Mallorca, I HIGHLY suggest spending a day in Sóller. The itself trip was stunning, with train tracks lined with lush lemon trees, mountains, farms, and little villages, and Sóller was charming and wonderful to explore on foot. It’s quite touristy, but not in a tacky, Disneyland sort of way. Within minutes, you can find yourself strolling along quiet neighbourhoods and alleyways, away from the bustle of the main square.
Finally, on Sunday (my last day) we dragged our tired feet to the jaw-droppingly beautiful beaches in Illetes for a lazy day in the sun, with extra sunscreen this time.
As you can see, it did not disappoint. I left that evening tan, tired, and already planning my next trip.
Mallorca, thank you for a wonderful trip and I can’t wait to come back!
xxLena
Now, I know it is only March but I am very proud to say that I have been sticking to my resolution quite well! The only item of clothing I’ve bought is a winter parka that I found at a second hand shop for 40 dollars, and I really, really needed one (I swear!). But that’s it! And I bought a few items for our new place, but really nothing other than the essentials (which, by the way, was bloody TORTURE. Word to the wise: don’t go to IKEA when trying not to shop for a year).
As with almost everything in my life, this situation is only temporary (we are going to try to eventually buy an apartment in Uppsala), but I can’t tell you how excited I am to spend spring and summer here. Swimming in the lake (or, rather, watching Conrad and Win swim since I am a cold water wimp-extraordinaire), hiking along forest trails, growing herbs and flowers outside my window, grilling with our neighbors, stargazing from our hammock, and so much more.
Of course, most of these fantasies do NOT include the foot and a half of snow that is currently surrounding us…but I can wait. After all, spring is coming!
