Mallorca

So I'm a year behind on the blog. That's overwhelmingly behind for me, but life has felt like living on the edge of a panic attack much of the last year. So naturally not wanting to slip off that edge a few things have just been left behind. But I really want to maintain this record of our family, a sort of journal for myself, and a travelogue. I am more mindful now than ever at how fleeting family life is, with how busy we are and with how quickly children grow up and leave the nest . . . and also how the unknown can change all of that in a tragic instant.

We spent a lovely week doing a little bit of everything and a lot of nothing in Mallorca for this year's October break, a far cry from last year's autumn break adventure in India. Oh, yeah, India. That trip that still hasn't been blogged about, heck those images still sit in digital decay in their RAW state on my hard drive. I *am* working on it, but it's more like sawing through with a blunt knife than a chainsaw, so one day that will get blogged, too, but I've decided I am better off working backwards from the present at this point, starting with what is most recent and fresh. Mallorca was meant to be our family's week to stock up on a bit of vitamin D for the winter, enjoy time in a beautiful setting together and explore a little as the mood struck. The weather the first half of the week was sunny and warm, and the second half of the week it was cloudy and wet, but we made the best of all the weather and spent more time by the pool at the start of the week and more time exploring to finish the week. Mallorca surprised us all. So much natural beauty, and a lot less tacky tourism than many other similar places we have been in the Med.

Our villa near Pollensa

Dallin getting a bit of driver training (in a rental car!)

Tom our "vacation pet"

These two trained on their own for cross country, running the country roads around the villa.

Pollensa town

My friend Sarah gave us a great list of recommendations for Mallorca, and the drive to this view was one of them.  Such a gorgeous view, reminded us a bit of Cape Town. 

Port de Pollensa

Dinners at the villa were some of our favourite times on this trip, time enjoying simple meals together in a stunning setting.  

Alcudia, such a charming town and the best meal of the trip!

A visit to the mountainous monastery at Lluc

Charming Deia (great recommendation from Lindsey)

Probably my favourite town on the island, Valdemossa 

We made sure to rent a villa with a heated pool, otherwise I'm pretty sure our crew (minus Trevon, of course) would have been too wimpy to jump in.  Thankfully it was just warm enough for all of us to enjoy. 

A favourite memory we take from this trip, an animated nighty game of spoons!

Mallorca is home to some amazing caves, so on our last day we made a visit to the eastern part of the island and visited Cuevas de Arta

We spent our final afternoon in the largest city on Mallorca, Palma