Category Archives: Mallorca 2022

I had a great final day in Palma. I didn’t make it to the beach (too lazy) but I made it to the rooftop pool, I had grilled Dorada at a restaurant on the waterfront, I had a nice coffee, shopped for souvenirs and saw the gay pride parade from the hotel balcony. I can’tContinueContinue reading “Episode 11-Mallorca 2022, Final Blog Post”

In Episode 9, I wrote that the hike from Son Amer to Tossals Verds was “the greatest most challenging most fun day of hiking for me in this life to date” and it was, that is until today’s hike from Tossals Verds to Soller. Although, today turned out to be more of an introduction toContinueContinue reading “Episode 10-Ruta de Pedra en Sec, Day 3”

This was the greatest most challenging most fun day of hiking for me in this life to date. And OMGoodness even in 100 lifetimes I could never have done it by myself. I’m so glad I hired Fernando, he’s been hiking in the Trasmuntanas since he was a little boy. There really aren’t a lotContinueContinue reading “Episode 9-Ruta de Pedra en Sec, Day 2”

Everything is going just fine considering. Fernando is terrific. He showed up this morning with a backpack half the size of mine with everything he needed. I immediately jettisoned half my stuff only to realize after a couple of hours on the trail that I should have left the pants and shirt I’m wearing andContinueContinue reading “Episode 8-Ruta de Pedra en Sec, Day 1”

The retreat has come to an end. Our last class was this morning. Everyone seemed so sad. It was such a wonderful group. Kino and Tim are amazing. Pilar and Jimmy (and Machi) are just the best hosts. And Lindsey is just the most amazing chef, kitchen alchemist and master of cookery. She and herContinueContinue reading “Episode 7-End of the Retreat, Start of the Ascent”

Webster’s primary definition of the gerund “retreating” is an “act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable.” It’s a concept which is anathema to me, foreign to my nature, spirit and principles, which contravenes the whole of my upbringing and education, something which I’ve never consciously done in my life,ContinueContinue reading “Episode 6-Retreating and Escaping”

The retreat is located about 30 minutes outside of Palma near the small town of Porreres. It’s a large self-contained facility with expansive well maintained gardens and it’s own shala. The perimeter has a 6 foot monitored security fence with electronic gates but you’re not locked in here, each person is given their own securityContinueContinue reading “Episode 5-The Beginning of the Retreat”

This morning after a nice breakfast at an outdoor cafe, I set out to explore the former fishing barrio of Santa Catalina which borders Old Town Palma to the west. Today it’s a hip neighborhood of tree lined streets with gaily painted cottages, art nouveau mansions, boutiques, vintage stores, bars and lounges centered around theContinueContinue reading “Episode 4-Santa Catalina”

The villages of Western Mallorca, both mountain and seaside, are storybook each one prettier and more perfect than the others. It was in the winter of 1838, to Valldemossa (Mallorquin meaning “Valley of Beautiful Women”) that best selling novelist Aurore Amantine Dupin Dudevant (George Sand) fled with her lover Polish composer, pianist and political refugeeContinueContinue reading “Episode 3-Western Mallorca”

Palma is a dream, a delight, a delicacy of gastronomic proportions. I love Palma! All has gone pretty much according to plan, I slept 4 hours on an uneventful flight from Newark but had to wait in line at the airport to have my Covid vaccination card manually verified while the Europeans raced through flashingContinueContinue reading “Episode 2-Palma”