The Spanish Plane Tree (Platanus Hispanica)

The Spanish Plane Tree (Platanus Hispanica) is a popular urban roadside tree in Mallorca, a deciduous tree that grows to a good size and with smooth bark that falls off in yellowish patches. It is extensively cultivated as an ornamental tree, and is a commonly planted tree in Mallorcan pueblos and towns for its leaved roof  giving welcome shade during the hot Summer months. I took the photo for a different reason, though; I was now interested in the small ball-shaped seed fruits.

The Platanus Hispanica is also a very emblematic tree in the island capital, Palma. Very elegant promenades can for instance be found in the Passeig des Born and also, the Rambla dels Ducs de Palma de Mallorca, amongst others, all proudly lined with Spanish Plane Trees.

Over the next two or three weeks, these trees will be pruned back quite severely the way they are every year, to allow new growth to come forward during Springtime.

The photo was taken in Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: February 9th, 2010. The time was 13:17:13.

The Capilla de Santa Ana

It is probably safe to assume that you will have visited the Palau de l’Almudaina in Palma, formerly a Moorish fortified palace dating back to the 10th century and the days of the Omeya Emirate of Córdoba. Sadly, not much remains of the original fortress building, what with several interfering rebuilds, conversions and reforms over the last eight hundred years, including substantial alterations during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Whilst on the palace premises it is worth paying a visit to the splendid little Capilla de Santa Ana, also known as Capilla del Rey, leading off the Patio de Armas, with its famous Léon de l’Almudaina fountain. This attractive chapel dates back to the beginning of the 14th century and is ascribed to Ponç Descoll. The portal of this Gothic chapel is fashioned in marble from the Pyrenees and was built in the Romanesque style typical of Catalunya. The beautiful archivolt is one of the few examples of that period in Mallorca. The palace chapel also conserves some much venerated relics of Santa Praxedis, originating from Rome, located beneath an altarpiece dating back to 1465 which was painted by the Mallorcan artist Rafael Mojer.

There is also the Capilla de la Reina, otherwise known as Capilla de San Jaime, albeit of much lesser splendour. I might reserve that for another blog entry, perhaps some other time. It all depends on how long I can keep going.

The Palau de l’Almudaina is considered part of the Spanish Patrimonio Nacional (National Heritage) and is run under the guardianship of Museos de España. Entry admission is 3.20 €, except on Wednesdays when visits are free for residents of the European Union, subject to documentation. Children under the age of 5 are free; children between 5 and 16 as well as students are admitted for a charge of 2.70 €.

The photos were taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: January 27th, 2010. The time was 13:46:43 and 13:12:07, respectively.

Fira de la Flor de l’Ametler

The very able Mallorcan country folk have created fairs and markets for just about everything Mallorcan one can think of: wine, sobrassada, olive oil, horses, honey, shoes, botifarrons, dogs, mushrooms, matances, partridges, sípias, clay pots, chicken, snails, stone walls, cows, herbs, llampugas, melons, potatoes, pumpkins, red pepper, figs, you name it. You might be forgiven for wondering why there never was a Fira for almonds.

But you would be wrong. There now is a Fira de la Flor de l’Ametler, in Son Servera. The first Mallorcan almond fair was held yesterday in the splendid grounds of an impressive Agroturisme, the Cases de Ca s’Hereu. It is said that approximately 5,000,000 almond trees are now either in full blossom or about to bloom any day soon. It is also said that the almond remains one of the primary agricultural crops on Mallorca together with the olive and the algarroba. Much of the local cuisine takes full advantage of the nut, especially now in springtime, with a range of dishes from almond soup, rabbit, chicken or fish cooked in almonds, to ice cream, cake, gató, tarts, turrón, marzipan, biscuits and almond milk. Sadly, yesterday’s do in Son Servera did not make much of all the culinary treats of this wonderful kernel. One might say that the whole presentation was a bit of a let-down. One might even say that the low-key exhibition was perhaps indicative of the crisis that the Mallorcan almond trade seems to be subjected to right now, with the problems of the almond pest, the low wholesale prices, the generational obstacle of succession and whatever else there might be, all rolled into one big uphill struggle.

I would say that the Mallorcan almond deserves better. Let’s hope for a much improved fira this time next year.

The photo (top) was taken in Son Servera, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: February 7th, 2010. The time was 12:39:28.

The XIX Challenge Ciclista a Mallorca

You may have seen a plentitude of cyclists on Mallorcan country roads over the last few days. There is a reason for that invasion, the XIX Challenge Ciclista a Mallorca. The race starts today with participants from Spain, Argentina, Italy, Portugal, Colombia, France, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Germany, Czech Republic, Estonia, Great Britain, Netherlands, China, the USA, Denmark, Russia, Poland, Luxembourg, plus some other countries. This year, the Challenge takes place over five days in different parts of the island, today with 116 km of urban course along Palma’s seafront and the Avenidas, tomorrow a challenge of 172 km from Cala Millor to Son Servera via Santanyí, on Tuesday a circuit of 157 km from Inca to Can Picafort, Sóller and back to Inca, a race over 143 km on Wednesday starting and finishing in Deià via Binissalem and Alcúdia, and, finally, a course of 158 km on Thursday from Magaluf to Andratx, Banyalbufar, Valdemossa and Calvià to Palmanova. There will be daily winners as well as a combined classification Challenge trophy. Good luck to all and sundry.

The photo (top) was taken near Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: February 6th, 2010. The time was 12:34:26. The photo (bottom) was taken from the Internet, courtesy of vueltamallorca.com.

Muchas gracias.

The Tramuntana Lighthouse

On my last trip to the island of Sa Dragonera I went to one of the lighthouses, the Far de Tramuntana. After setting over from Sant Elm by boat, the hike from Cala Lladó to the Cap de Tramuntana took about 40 minutes, each way. There are two more lighthouses on the island, the Far Vell (now abandoned) on top of the Na Pòpia mountain at a height of some 350 metres, and the Far de Lebeig, where I have not yet been.

I went back to Sant Elm yesterday for another walk on Sa Dragonera island, but it was not to be. The Crucero Margarita’s daily boat service does not start operating until February 7th, when there will be crossings every 60 minutes from 10h15 onwards, Mondays to Saturdays. The last outward crossing is at 14h45. Until March 31st, there will be no Sunday crossings. A new Summer timetable will come into effect from July 1st. Silly me, for not checking. To spare you the disappointment, here are the telephone numbers in case you want to confirm the times before you set off: 639.617.545 and 696.423.933. The fare is 10 € both ways for adults; children under the age of 8 sail free of charge.

The photo (top) was taken in Sant Elm, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: February 5th, 2010. The time was 13:21:48. The photo (bottom) was taken from a postcard. Muchas gracias.

The Dancing Light

Twice a year, an awe-inspiring spectacle can be seen in Palma’s Cathedral when the reflection of the sunlight performs a Dancing Light on the walls of La Seu. The dates are November 11th and February 2nd, every year, without fail. Well, I went to Palma the other day. And, even though I already told you about this last November, I feel compelled to tell you again. It just is the most extraordinary exhibition one can imagine. I do not know of any other place in Mallorca or elsewhere, spiritual or not, where such a beautiful natural illumination can be seen, all courtesy of the sun and the great mathematicians of the 14th century. Luckily, the sun was not obscured that day by clouds or otherwise.

Brilliant, and very moving. Try and see the Dancing Lights, later in the year. Or, if you can make it to Palma in the next few days, the show should still be on, albeit with not quite the same astronomical precision.

The photos were taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: February 2nd, 2010. The time was 08:53:22 and 09:10:23, respectively.

Blood For The World

You probably think I must be a strange guy when I tell you that I paid a visit to the new mezquida (mosque) in Felanitx, a week or two ago. Let me just say that I am curious and inquisitive, perhaps even nosy. At the mosque, I was surprised to see how austere the place was, almost ascetic. I have been to many mosques all over the world and many of those were simply beautifully decorated, some even lavishly so, full of the ornamental richness of the Arab world, including beautiful woven carpets and precious chandeliers. None of that in Felanitx, whatever the reason might be for such restraint.

Anyway, I was also surprised to see a note stuck at the door with an appeal to donate blood, edited bilingually in Arabic and Castilian (see photo below). Well, last Saturday a blood donor bus rolled up in Felanitx, and a relatively large crowd of Moroccans gathered to help save lives (see photo above). I was astonished because it is assumed here on the island that our friends from North Africa do not much mingle with or integrate into daily life in Mallorca. Who knows what changed their minds? Or is it perhaps that Arabs donate blood for a circumstance when a fellow Muslim brother (or sister as the case may be) would be in need of some transfusions? Just for the record, I did not see any females, Arab or otherwise, donate any blood that Saturday evening in Felanitx.

The photos were taken in Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The dates: January 30th, 2010, when the time was 19:08:52, and January 16th, 2010, respectively, when the time was 12:26:54.

Viva España

The large monument in Palma’s Plaça de Sa Feixina has been controversial for some time (see my blog entry dated January 25th, 2008). The huge column is a kind of cenotaph dedicated to the heroic mariners of the Crucero Baleares that was sunk in 1938 causing the death of 788 navy personnel, all part of the Spanish Guerra Civil and the Franco years. There were 435 survivors.

The monument is full of Franco insignia and nationalist jargon, including the victorious exclamation Viva España.

A few days ago the Palma city council took the decision not to pull the monument down as would have been possible and perhaps feasible according to the 2007 Ley de la Memoria Histórica. Instead, Aina Calvo and her consellers decided to remove all signs and inscriptions from the monument and in particular the enormous Falangist coat of arms. New dedications are to replace the old commemorations, paying tribute to all victims of all wars and, in particular, to all victims of the Spanish Civil War.

Work had already started yesterday with scaffolding being erected. The local association Memoria de Mallorca has lodged its protest against the decision to keep the monument and announced it no longer wanted to be a member of the Comisión de Toponimia del Ayuntamiento de Palma.

The dispute is not over yet.

The photo (top) was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: February 2nd, 2010. The time was 11:41:59. The photo (bottom) was taken from the Internet. My thanks go to eBay.es and the book’s publishers, Editorial Naval.

Muchas gracias.

The Hunt Is Over

Last Sunday was the last day of the 2009-10 hunting season in Mallorca for caza menor (small animals such as rabbits, hares, pheasants, partridges, wild pigeons, thrushes and such like). No more hunting for tordos, tudons, conejos, faisáns or liebres until next Autumn. Perdizes are still allowed in some parts of the island, but only until February 14th. The Sociedad de Cazadores in Pollença celebrated the end of the season last Saturday with a festive cena, with 190 hunters attending. The Conselleria de Medio Ambient, Ordenació del Territori i Litoral is responsible for setting the dates for the hunting season every year, and for issuing hunting licenses. Apparently, some 25,000 licencias de caza are applied for and granted every year in Mallorca.

Different rules and times apply for the season for caza major (larger animals such as wild goats, boars, etc.). Please contact the friendly people from Servei de Caça in Inca, Manacor, Felanitx or Palma, if you are into hunting the bigger ones.

The photo (top) was taken near Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: November 6th, 2009. The time was 13:12:50. The photo (bottom) was borrowed from an exhibition at Palma’s Centre de Cultura SA NOSTRA under the title Paisatge, Ciutat i Vida Quoditiana. The photograph was taken by Jaume Escalas Real, ca. 1930. The exhibition is still open until February 13th. A visit is recommended. Admission is free.

Earthquakes In Mallorca

Mallorca has a bit of a history of seismic tremors, believe it or not. Last Saturday, for example, a minor earthquake with a magnitude of 3.2 on the Richter scale and with a depth of 60 km struck the Illes Balears. Some 200 alarmed residents made frantic phone calls to the emergency telephone lines, especially from Palma, Calvià, Llucmajor, Marratxí, Montuïri, Esporles and Campos. The quake’s epicentre was situated in the Badia de Palma, off the coast of Calvià. The good news is that no casualties or damage were reported. Emergency services warned that aftershocks could follow, although earthquakes in Spain tend not to be all that severe.

It was not always that way, I am afraid. Since the year 1650, more than 55 seismic tremors were registered in the Archipiélago Balear, and some of them more intense than last Saturday’s.

Palma suffered a relatively strong earthquake in 1660. There was a rather damaging earthquake in Mallorca in 1851, when large parts of Palma’s Cathedral came tumbling down, causing also some damage in Marratxí, Campos and Santanyí. In 1763, the parish church in Santa Maria del Camí caved in after a hefty eruption. In 1827, the church of Sineu was damaged by an earthquake. The strongest earthquake in Mallorca during the last 100 years occurred in 1919 and was felt in the Pla de Mallorca and in particular, in Montuïri. Recently, Campos suffered another bad shake, in 1995. A few years ago, in 2003, a far away earthquake in Algeria with a magnitude of 7 sent repercussive vibrations to Mallorca: I remember feeling them in Felanitx, not knowing at the time what they were. Some local people came running out of their buildings in Felanitx, quite worried. That quake had died down to a magnitude of 4 when it reverberated in Mallorca, but still. A minor tremor was felt in Marratxí in 2007.

But do not worry. The thing about earthquakes in Mallorca is that the African and Eurasian continental plates push against each other ever so slowly and gently, at a speed of about 6 mm per year. Most commonly, that clash manifests itself in the Pyrenees, themselves forged, folded and formed by the ancient clash of the two plates; and in the south-west of the Iberian peninsula, which lies closest to the fault line. Spain is in no way as active as Southern Italy, Greece, Turkey or North Africa, where the full weight of Africa is in the process of shearing under Eurasia. I got that information from the digital.csic.es website, in case you wanted to inquire further.

Since 2004, six municipalities in Mallorca were instructed by the Govern Balear to draw up an Earthquake Emergency Plan, in particular pertaining to the construction of buildings. The towns are Palma, Marratxí, Santa Maria del Camí, Esporles, Bunyola and Valldemossa. I assume that the respective ajuntaments have complied with that request, but if you live in one of those places you might want to find out more about it yourself.

Spain’s Instituto Geográfico Nacional has an interesting website too. The image (below) was borrowed from it, showing in excess of 50 tremors during the last 10 days in Spain, the Iberian peninsula and in North Africa, with an intensity above 1.5 on the Richter scale. The last one recorded occurred near Caravaca, not far from Murcia, last night at 21h20, with an intensity of 1.7.

The photo (top) was borrowed from the Internet. Thanks are due to flickr and Scrawb. The image (bottom) was also borrowed from the Internet. Thanks are due to the Instituto Geográfico Nacional.

Muchas gracias.