Archive for February, 2009

Guide to Formentera

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

We have improved our guide to the small island of Formentera, which measures just 83 square kilometres and can only be reached by sea. It has managed to preserve its natural environment, which is closely linked to the Mediterranean sea and hence includes a number of exceptionally beautiful white sandy beaches with crystal-clear waters. Almost all these beaches have been preserved in their natural state, ideal for swimming with very gentle slopes. In most of them nudism is practised, although they are not considered naturist beaches, where coexist naked swimmers and others with a swimsuit. In the summer, Formentera attracts thousands of visitors who come here to enjoy its truly unique setting.

Formentera island

Formentera island

Hotels in Formentera
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Offer at the charming Desbrull hotel in Pollensa

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
Desbrull hotel in Pollensa

Desbrull hotel in Pollensa

During next summer season you can enjoy 4 nights at Desbrull hotel paying just 3, or 7 nights for the price of 5.

The Desbrull Hotel perfectly combines the traditional aspect of an old construction, with the most cosmopolitan flavour of its interior design. Situated just in front of the Sant Domingo Monastery, presently home of the Pollença Museum and the local Culture Centre, in the historical town of Pollença.

Prices and guest reviews for the Desbrull hotel in Pollença.

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Half-marathon Pollença

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

Following the success of the two previous years, on April 19th at 10 am will be held the 3rd half-marathon Pollença, organized by the Sports Department of the Pollença Municipality and the Club d’Atletisme de Pollença (Athletics Club Pollença). A half marathon is a foot race of 21,097 metres, which for the organizers of this third edition, is something more than just a sporting event. It is intended to be a way of bringing the sport to the people, and more specifically to the long-distance races, a competition suitable to anyone with the proper training and constancy. It is a good opportunity for the participants and their families, to discover this captivating corner of Mallorca, which is Pollença.

It has been designed a fast circuit without high slopes, while entertaining thanks to the unique landscapes of Pollença. The route begins from the football course, going into the countryside to get trough Port de Pollença, returning to the town trough its old quarter and finally reaching the starting point.

http://www.mitjamaratopollensa.com; in this site you will find all necessary information about the half-marathon Pollença, both to participate in them as to enjoy it as spectators.

Hotels in Pollença
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The works to repair the road from Lluc to Sóller have already begun

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009


The works to repair the road that connects Sóller with Lluc in Mallorca, have already begun. After last 31st of December it was cut, due to a significant sliding of rocks nearby the Binifaldó water source. Currently there are about 12 workers covering the mountainsides with iron meshes. This is a very difficult task, due to the instability and inclination of the ground, forcing operators to work fastened with safety equipment. During the day several security guards prevent people from passing, since the danger of further landslides remains.

From the Consell de Mallorca (Council of Mallorca) it is expected, that in the next few days will begin the withdraw of the large amounts of rocks and earth fallen from the mountain to the road. For now they cannot specify exactly when the traffic will be restored, because so far failed to determine the damage suffered by the pavement.

The other road cut in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains is the one that goes to Cala Tuent, although this one has a precarious and provisional way, allowing to access to the thirty houses of this small village.

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Weather and temperatures in February

Friday, February 13th, 2009

The February in some spots on the Balearic Islands, the temperatures have reached 20ºC/68ºF, but by next weekend are expected maximum values around 10ºC/50ºF and minimums of 3ºC/37.4ºF, due to the arrival of a cold air mass, which could bring the snow level at 600 metres. With a probability of weak rains around 30%. Therefore it is likely that in the coming days, we will sea again this year the highest peaks of the mountains in Mallorca covered by snow. Strong wind squalls are also expected to the north of Mallorca and Minorca, which could reach 80 km/h, and a generalized poor condition of the sea.

Climatological average values for the month of February in Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza between 1971 and 2000:

Mallorca

Menorca

Eivissa

Average temperature ºC/ºF

12,1/53.78

10,8/51.44

12,2/53.96

Maximum temperature ºC/ºF

15,7/60.26

14,2/57.56

16/60.8

Minimum temperatue ºC/ºF

8,5/47.3

7,5/45.5

8,4/47.12

Rainfall (mm)

34

47

33

Relative humidity

71

76

72

Days with rainfalls

5

6

5

Stormy days

1

2

0

Foggy days

1

2

1

Cloudless days

3

2

5

Hours of sunshine

168

153

167

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Bull and donkey stickers in the Balearic Islands

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

To an observer visitor, might call their attention some stickers in the shape of a bull or a donkey, which some drivers engage on the back door of their vehicles. Images with clear political connotations, although it may be strange to foreigners.

The bull was born in 1956, in conjunction with Manolo Prieto, as a commercial icon for the Veterano brandy of Osborne, a company from Puerto de Santa Maria, producing spirits since 1772. In addition to being used on the labels of the brandy, on the Spanish roads appeared black hoardings with the silhouette of a bull known as Toro de Osborne. Over time, this image has exceeded the scope of advertising, becoming a source of inspiration for artists such as Dalí or Almodovar. To the point, that with the danger of disappearing because of the rules governing advertising on the roads, the hoardings were declared part of the cultural and artistic heritage of Spain, in recognition of exceeding its initial advertising sense. All in all, made this bull a symbol of Spain, or rather a way of understanding the Spanish ration, somewhat folkloric.

The first Catalan donkey was designed by Eloi Alegre, commissioned by the Associació per al Foment de la Raça Asinina Catalana (Association for the Promotion of the Catalan Asinina Race), with the intention of promoting this donkey breed, native from Catalonia. This was the silhouette of a donkey. With which Jaume Sala and Àlex Ferreiro in 2004 decided to make stickers, that since then thousands of drivers have stuck on the back of their vehicles, as opposed to the Osborne’s bull and the idea of Spain which represents. Thus becoming a symbol for the Catalan nationalism claims. With the success of the Catalan donkey, came the lawsuits by copyright, between the initial designer and the stickers promoters, who modified the  original donkey design by removing the testicles and a small fringe.

On Mallorca, as a Catalan culture land, we find not only the stickers with the donkey or the bull, but lately has come about the silhouette of a demon, as a new symbol of our popular culture.

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The demons, devils and beasts of fire demonstrate

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

Next Saturday, the Federació de Dimonis, Diables i Bèsties de foc de les Illes Balears (Federation of Demons, Devils and Beasts of fire in the Balearic Islands), has called a demonstration in Palma. This association is not a satanic sect or anything similar, if not an organization that brings together the long list of groups of demons on Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. The devil is part of many popular festivals on the Balearic Islands, representing evil defeated by good, personified in some saint. These characters are much more than a representation of evil, they are the playful aspect of the party to whom is almost everything allowed, thus they become the real main characters of the festival.

Dances and performances of devils, are a tradition deeply rooted in the Catalan-speaking lands, as elsewhere in the Mediterranean. Is believed to have their origin in plays of the Middle Ages. In summer there are many villages on Mallorca, which during their festival organize a correfocs (literally translated would be fires run) plenty of fireworks. This is where the controversy has arisen, which has lead to the organization of this demonstration, since the Directive 2007/23 EC of the European Parlament, has extremely limited the use of pyrotechnics in public, endangering the celebration of the traditional correfocs.

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Where have gone the Mobylettes of Mallorca?

Wednesday, February 4th, 2009

The Mobylette has been an icon of rural Mallorca, which over time we have stopped to hear its loud clang, across the paths and secondary roads on the island. Gradually, we stopped to see those men and women of a certain age, on this kind of reinforced bike with a little and distinctive 49 cc engine. It was used to go from the village to the little farm, with a basked hanging and a box at the rear loaded with the earth fruits or some tools. Going back further in time, in addition to what we have explained, we would see a man and a woman riding on the same Mobylette. A practice removed by traffic regulations, or for mercy of their little engines. Later came those older men and woman with a helmet, which they wouldn’t take off, even when got down the Mobylette. Until in 2003, the European environmental laws prevented the production of its small engine, because it was too polluting. Who would have imaged, that this successful French invention of 1949, after been manufactured more than 30 million units, would end like that, banned, unsuited to the new times.

Behind this bucolic image was hiding a much harder social reality, illiteracy. People who until a few years ago have been riding a Mobykette, often was because they couldn’t even read, which precluded them from driving a car. Because one of the many advantages of the Mobylette, was that to ride it just was required to be older than 14 years old. Today, illiteracy among older people in Mallorca, is almost anecdotal and if anyone can’t pass the driving test, no longer rides a Mobylette but a micro-car.

The answer to the title question, might be to Tunisia or Morocco, where environmental regulations are less severe and still being manufactured. So, if you want to see a brand new Mobylette, you already know were to go.

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