This morning we have been able to read on the Diario de Mallorca, how the British tour operator Airtours, from the Thomas Cook group, in the Costa del Sol promotes trips to Gibraltar, with a poster headed by a picture of Formentor taken from the Mirador des Colomer. It’s unbelievable, that there no one realized the mistake, because at least those responsible for carrying out the trips, we have to think they know the image of the  Gibraltar Rock . Perhaps looking for the right approach, the cliffs of Formentor look like the  Gibraltar Rock. In any case, it appears that the winner of this comparison would be Formentor.

It was a Mallorcan, accommodated in a hotel on the Costa del Sol, who realized the confusion, who outraged made it public. Such confusion is not the first time that happens, last year in a Tourist Board publication from the Junta de Andalucía, La Seu, La Almudaina and the Parc De La Mar appeared under the title “Guadalquivir, the great inland route”. Apparently, the landscapes of Mallorca can be easily confused with those of Andalusia. To corroborate this idea, now we just need someone promoting Mallorca with images of landscapes from Andalusia.

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.

On 31 December, as a result of heavy rains, there was a significant rocks sliding at the kilometre 29 of the M-10, which crosses the Serra de Tramuntana mountains from Pollença to Andratx. If you start from Lluc to Sóller, at some 100 metres before reaching the turn-off that leads to Sa Calobra, there are 90 metres of road buried by the rocks that have fallen. So, now you can only access Sa Calobra and Cala Tuent from Sóller. The tasks of rebuilding the road are expected to be long and complicated, because not only the rocks have to be removed, but also the road banks have to be ensured to prevent further landslides, in this and other points of the road. Those works will have to be done by a firm from outside Mallorca. From the Consell de Mallorca, is not expected to be reopened to traffic up to 4 or 5 months. This will mean major difficulties for the inhabitants of the mountains. In addition to obstruct the visit, to the thousands of tourists who daily pass through this road.

Also due to the rains of that day, although it doesn’t appear to be the only cause, part of the medieval walls of Alcúdia fell at thursday night. It is a stretch of three metres in length, attached to one of the towers of the wall in Can Ramis square.