Archive for December, 2008

Population on Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera

Wednesday, December 31st, 2008

During 2008, the Balearic Islands have one of the highest population increases in Spain, reaching 1,072,844 inhabitants, which has led to an increase of 4.09% compared to last year. This increase is explained by the phenomenon of immigration, and the fact of having a relatively young population.

By islands in Mallorca there are 846,210 people registered, which has led to an increase of 3.92%. The greatest increases are in the Part Forana (the entire island except Palma), with a total population of 449,640 inhabitants, following the saturation of the municipality of Palma, which has 396,570 inhabitants. Palma continues to focus most of the economic activity and services, but may people choose to move to the towns and villages of Mallorca, despite having his job in the city. This phenomenon accentuates the access problems to Palma, where actions are planned to enhance them, not without controversy. Increasingly, the whole island behaves as the metropolitan area of Palma. It highlights the municipality of Escorca, where it has gone form 290 people to 276, despite being one of the largest on Mallorca, and Valldemossa with an increase of just one person. After Palma, the most populous municipalities are Calvià, Manacor and Llucmajor.

Menorca is the island that has had a lower growth, even from 2.44%, with 92,434 people registered, of which 28,904 are registered in Maó, the capital of the island, and 28,696 in Ciutadella de Menorca.

Ibiza has had a growth of 6.25% reaching 124,036 inhabitants, where the increase has been more remarkable is in Santa Eulària des Riu that for the first time has over 30,000 people and Sant Antoni de Portmany up to 21,082 inhabitants. But in absolute terms where the population has grown the most is in Vila (Ibiza city), which has reached nearly 47,000 people registered.

Finally, Formentera is the island with the highest percentage increase of the four islands, an 8.35% up to 9,147 people registered. On this island as in Ibiza, highlights the fact that the proportion of men is significantly higher than that of women, 7.85% in Ibiza and 12,5% in Formentera. Which it is explained by the significant presence of immigrants, from developing countries, mainly male.

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Salsa de Nadal from Ibiza

Monday, December 22nd, 2008

The salsa de Nadal (Christmas sauce) is a traditional dessert from Ibiza, which is prepared these days to be taken during the Christmas period. Can be described as a liquid nougat with creamy texture, which is eaten hot by dipping biscuit. It is often said, that for those who didn’t eat it during their childhood, it is better to try it first and then get to know how has been made, as it is elaborated with a mixture of ingredients somewhat unusual. The main ingredient is almonds, accompanied by honey, sugar, spices like cinnamon, saffron, clove or pepper and stock, which is usually made out of chicken or other meats like pork or mutton. Sometimes, instead of stock is prepared simply with water, giving it a smoother taste.

The Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria in the nineteenth century in his work “Die Balearen” describes a very similar dish to the salsa de Nadal of Ibiza, prepared in some homes of Mallorca during the Christmas period, as an ancient tradition almost lost.

Selecting this link, you get to an article in Catalan with images of the salsa de Nadal.

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The sun shines again over Mallorca

Saturday, December 20th, 2008

After a week with the heaviest rains in the last years on Mallorca, with records of more than 250 litres per square metre in some parts of the Serra de Tramuntana, the sun shines again with temperatures expected to reach 16º C in the four islands with a minimum of around 8º C. Bad weather last week caused numerous incidents such as roads cut by the overflow of streams, falling rocks or snow at certain points in the mountains. Due to the heavy rains some houses in Palma have been evacuated. But the news that has come to the moment these days, has been the collapse of a hotel under construction in Cala Rajada killing four workers, in part due to heavy rains.

At this moment the highest peaks of the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, the Puig Major and Massanella, are covered by snow, offering a lovely picture, which can be seen from many parts of Mallorca. Without doubt, this weekend is a unique opportunity to climb the mountains and enjoy the snow with a sunny weather.

Raconers trekking to the Massanella Peak

Saturday the 20th of Desember in 2008


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Benefit up to a 40% discount at Segles hotel

Thursday, December 18th, 2008

If you are planning your next holidays for 2009 in Mallorca, you can benefit up to a 40% discount at Segles hotel in Campos. Just a 10% low deposit is required to secure your booking, confirming it before the next 31st January. In addition, during the summer high season, you could enjoy 7 nights at Segles hotel for the price of 6, or 14 nights for the price of 11.




This inland hotel is an old Mallorcan stately house converted into a hotel, blending different architectonic stiles, decorated with all kind of antiquities. Creating an atmosphere from another century, combined with modern installations head/air-conditioning, telephone, wireless Internet connection, satellite TV, a covered swimming pool with Jacuzzi, etc… The Segles hotel has a painting and restoring studio, were the guests can take curses. The hotel provides as well a small conference room and a reading room. To enjoy the hotel Segles nice gardens and terraces, becomes an attraction more. Each afternoon guests might taste a typical product from Mallorca island.

Prices and information about the Segles hotel in Campos on Mallorca.

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D’En Parra trail excursion in Formentera

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

The excursion along D’En Parra trail can be done on foot or by a bike. It is an interesting rural road, which runs along one of the areas with the best preserved traditional architecture of Formentera. Between stone walls and typical houses, you will see the famous fig trees fastened by stakes. The trail ends at some cliffs by the sea, from which it is enjoyed a splendid view of La Mola east of the island, and the miles of the sandy Migjorn beach in the south.

Fig tree fastaned by stakes in Formentera

To get at D’En Parra trail, from Sant Francesc follow the asphalt road toward Barberia cape, once travelled 2.5 kilometres you will arrive at the crossing of the road leading to Cala Saona, at this point to the left you will find signed D’En Parra trail, which you simply have to follow without any difficulty reaching the sea, in about three kilometres and two hundred metres form this point.

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The Platja de Palma reconversion

Monday, December 15th, 2008

The Platja de Palma Reconversion is an ambitious plan, that aims to energize the area with heavy investments, from both public and private sectors. This was one of the pioneers resorts in the development of tourism in Mallorca, which over time is in danger of becoming obsolete, as a victim of a strong urban development with a poor planning. That’s why is so important this reconversion, which aims to become an international reference, led by the Platja de Palma Consortium, a public body composed of various levels of government; national, regional and local ones.

Last June, was presented the master plan from the architecture studio West 8, which won the international competition of ideas, that in the coming years will lead the planned actions to complete this important reconversion. Of which, the following are its main features.

The idea of this master plan, is to redefine the Platja de Palma image, base on values such as the climate of Mallorca, the landscapes of the coast and inland, the ecological posidonia reserve, along with an important tourism infrastructure, fully consolidated within the European market. In public spaces, is intended to highlight the traditional Mediterranean atmosphere, where are combined the tourist with the residential uses of the local population, with performances scheduled in four specific areas:

The first one is the sea front, where it is planned a comprehensive refurbishment, creating a great promenade with a self-image and a large presence of palm trees, working on the night lighting and mobility, choosing ecological transports as the tram and bicycle rentals. The beach is also involved in the master plan, which is intended to be made suitable for the organization of festivals and many other activities.

The marshland area of Ses Fontanelles is another area where pedestrian walks are planned, to get to know and preserve what remains of a major marshland, which at one time occupied a significant part of Palma bay. From here it is planned a connection for pedestrians to Palma airport.

In the quarries in the back side, near the Church of La Porciúncula is planned to develop a residential area, a hotel and healthcare infrastructures, with the intention to attract new emerging tourist markets, as the elderly, healthcare, culture, sports and so on.

Finally, the stream Dels Jueus is a public area that is intended to connect to the beach and build a boulevard next to it, gaining a green space for pedestrians and the city, which would entail a major transformation of the eastern end of Platja de Palma beach.

And within a more generic ambit, is expected to provide more vegetation to the streets, to improve the landscape of the highway to the airport, to regulate the uses in different areas such as the creation of a night district, among many other actions, which have to transform the Platja de Palma in a unique place to enjoy the holidays in the twenty-first century.

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Cold and rainy days in the Balearic Islands

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

The coming days is expected a drop in temperatures in the Balearic Islands, according to the weather forecast a minimum temperature of 1º C is expected in the Monastery of Lluc, in Mallorca, where the maximum is not expected to exceed 6º C. While in Palma temperatures will range between 6º C and 14º C. In Ibiza Island is expected a minimum temperature of 3º C in Sant Joan de Labritja, although the highest temperature on the island could reach 15º C, as well as in the neighbouring Formentera. With respect to Menorca, the weather forecast is similar, with a minimum temperature not expected to fall from 4º C.

The rains during this autumn have been the most abundant in recent years, it has rained almost every day and is expected to continue thus into the next few days. Moreover, in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains has already fallen the first snowfalls of this year in Mallorca. Now the snow level is at 800 metres and in the next few hours could go down to 500. These heavy rains led to the Fonts Ufanes in Campanet (a water source) to flow again, giving us a veritable spectacle of the nature.

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Christmas market in Ibiza

Thursday, December 4th, 2008

Tomorrow begins the traditional Christmas market of Las Dalias, in Sant Carles de Peralta, which has been held for more than 20 years. This market maintains its arty-crafty character, like the one held in the open air on Saturdays in summer. Approximately 50 stalls will offer the spirit of the more alternative Ibiza with clothing, accessories, décor, antiques, exotic articles, crafts and Christmas presents.

Until the 23th of December it will be open in the afternoon until 22 pm, except on Saturday that will be open in the morning from 11 am. From December 27th to the 4th of January, will be re-opened with the same timetable as the Magic Kings market, in a smaller area, always within the covered pavilion next to the restaurant.

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Mayonnaise sauce and Menorca Island

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

The origin of the mayonnaise sauce or mahonnaise is uncertain, one of the most accepted theories is related to the city of Maó (Mahón in Spanish). Where it is believed that the Duke of Richelieu, Louis François Armand du Plessis, took it to the court of Versailles, popularized and spread it throughout Europe.

Even inquiring into the Minorcan origin of the mayonnaise sauce, we found three different versions, always related to the stay of the Duke of Richelieu in Menorca. The most widespread explains that mayonnaise was served, in the banquet to celebrate the French victory over the British to control the Port of Maó, in 1756. It is said, that it was an invention of the French chef in charge of the banquet, or that he had learned it from the local population, as a variant of the alioli.

Attributed to the oral tradition of Menorca, is counted as the Duke of Richellieu was walking through the streets of Maó, considering plans for the battle, without thinking of taking any food. Already too late, pushed by hunger, he entered into an inn to eat. Where there was only one dish of meat, looking ungrateful, it was served with a simple sauce made with egg and olive oil. So much it liked him, that he asked for the recipe to the innkeeper, which when he returned to France unveiled as sauce from Mahón.

The third story talks about a Minorcan lover of the Duke, who made him discover the sauce. Maybe the three stories are true, or perhaps none of them is. In any case, they reflect the idea of how the French during their domination of the Island, got to know the mayonnaise sauce in Menorca, from where it was taken to France.

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