Gas In Palma de Mallorca

I am not quite sure that the yellow pipes in today’s photo are indeed gas pipes, but I have a feeling that they might be. The background to my assumption is that Gas Natural was introduced on the island a few months ago, and in particular in Palma de Mallorca. The gas arrives in Mallorca from Valencia on the mainland, by a pipeline that is laid under the seabed and connects via the neighboring island of Ibiza (see map below).

Gesa-Endesa, our friendly electricity supplier, is the company that manages the distribution of natural gas in Mallorca, in an operation that starts from Sant Joan de Déu (near the airport) and then connects in a first phase through a pipeline to the power plant, Ca’s Tresor. Eventually, the pipeline will be extended to the incineration facility in Son Reus. From there, the natural gas will later be distributed across the island, or so one reads in the local printed media.

Apart from private households, Gesa-Endesa tells us that in the future, busses, taxi cabs and delivery vehicles could be using natural gas, too, as an alternative to petrol or diesel, resulting in a reduction in CO² emissions, in contamination and in noise levels. Already, the Palma bus company, EMT, has taken 12 busses in service operating on natural gas. That’s a good start, one should think, particularly in view of the disappointing results of this week’s Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.

The photo (top) was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: November 4th, 2009. The time was 15:41:57. The map was borrowed fro the Internet, courtesy of energiadiario.com.

Muchas gracias.

Snow For Christmas?

Earlier this week, this Winter’s first snow fell in Mallorca, along with snowy conditions in mainland Spain and freezing temperatures in most of northern Europe. Snow was reported here in the higher areas of the Serra de Tramuntana, above 600 m. Stormy winds caused some havoc there, along with high waves in the coastal areas.

Today, temperatures are expected to drop further in Mallorca and snow is predicted in the Tramuntana mountain range above 300 m. High winds are forecast and the AEMet meteorological office raised its alert to IG1 (Level 1) for today and tomorrow. Excursions to the higher mountain regions are not recommended.

Snow is forecast in Mallorca for Christmas only in the higher peaks of the Tramuntana range. With a bit of luck, there should be some sun elsewhere on the island tomorrow morning, and again on Boxing Day, with temperatures of 19 to 20° C.

The photo was taken from the Internet. My thanks go to diariodemallorca.es and the anonymous photographer.

Muchas gracias.

The Belén Of The Caputxines Nuns

The Monasterio de la Puríssima Concepció is also known as the Convento de las Caputxines, where nuns live in a closed order. But at the occasion of Christmas, the doors are now open to some parts of the convent to show one of Palma’s most outstanding Beléns. The impressive nativity scene is composed of elements dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and was declared a BIC (Bien de Interés Cultural) in 2003. Visiting hours are from 11h00 to 14h00 and from 17h00 to 20h30, from now until January 10th, 2010. I recommend a visit.

I am always amazed how many wonderful beléns there are in Palma and in all of Mallorca; I have told you about some of them in the past. As one would expect, the beléns on display in churches and monasteries are mostly of a strictly religious inclination. Other installations, however, often focus on Mallorcan themes and traditions, such as the rural lifestyle, old trades and crafts, or popular activities. Try the wonderful belén at the Centre Cultural la Misericòrdia, the splendid one at Cort (Palma’s townhall) or the scenic one at the Mercat de Santa Catalina. I understand that one of the largest and most beautiful ones, at the Claustro de Sant Antoniet, in Carrer de Sant Miquel, will not be mounted this year. What a shame.

Outside of Palma, this year’s best beléns are displayed at the parish church in Banyalbufar, the Església de Nostra Senyora de Visitació in Consell, the parish church in Deià, the Església de Sant Marc in Sineu and the Església parroquial in Maria de Salut. The Caixa Rural savings bank has some very nice belén displays at two of their branches, in Pont d’Inca (Marratxí) and Felanitx.

The photo (top) was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: December 15th, 2009. The time was 15:27:05. The photo (bottom) was taken from the Internet. My thanks go to diariodemallorca.es and the photographer, Lorenzo.

Muchas gracias.

Imprisoned In Cabrera

Two hundred years ago in 1808 Spain, with the help of Britain, won a decisive battle within the Peninsular War against Napoleon Bonaparte’s France. After the French army’s defeat at the Battle of Bailén (Baylen), the captured army was first marched to Cadiz, with many harassed and murdered on the way. Some 9 – 10,000 soldiers of Napoleon’s army were eventually moved in 1809 to the island of Cabrera, including some 20 females, whilst others, mainly officers and the higher ranks, were kept in Palma’s Castell de Bellver. Amongst the prisoners, there were also some 1,000 captives of other nationalities, such as German, Polish, Belgian, Italian and Swiss. The internment lasted for five years until finally an armistice agreement was signed between Spain and France after Napoleon had abdicated in 1814. Most prisoners did not survive their ordeal, though, with only the clothes on their backs, no shelter, insufficient fresh water, and no food supply other than the meager rations dropped off intermittently by the Spanish. Some 100 internees managed to escape from the island prison, at most. All but 3,500 prisoners reputedly died of starvation, typhoid and other diseases between 1809 and 1814.

On a wall of the Castell de Cabrera one can read an inscription left by French prisoners, Fleury Grapain prisonnier 1809 et 1810 (see photo top).

The Fundación La Caixa in Palma’s Grand Hotel currently offers a small exhibition under the title Olvidados en Cabrera examining the plight of Napoleon’s troops and their wretched conditions. The exhibition continues until January 18th, 2010. Admission is free. A visit is recommended.

If you want to know more about this sad episode, I would recommend a read of Denis Smith’s book, The Prisoners of Cabrera: Napoleon’s forgotten soldiers 1809-1814, published by Four Walls Eight Windows, New York. Denis Smith is a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario (Canada). The author made use of French, British, Spanish and Mallorcan sources for his thorough volume, including archival records. The book was also published in Castellano and Catalan editions, just in case you want to know.

Both photos were borrowed from the Internet. The photo (top) is credited to obrasocial.lacaixa.es, the photo (centre) was taken in Cabrera in May 2009 during a ceremony commemorating the 200th anniversary of the prison camp, and is published courtesy of ambafrance-es.org.

Muchas gracias, and merci beaucoups.

Money, Money, Money, Money

Either the Spanish people are a very funny lot or else, there is a lot of black money around here in Spain. The Banco de España let it be known that the old Peseta banknotes are still valid, almost eight years after the Spanish currency was replaced by the Euro. According to the Spanish National Bank, there are still something like 155,000,000,000 Pesetas (to the value of 932,000,000 €) in banknotes stashed away under Spanish mattresses or wherever, plus a slightly smaller amount in old Peseta coins.

This staggering amount of paper money, but not the coins, can still be exchanged at the rate of 166.368 at any local branch of the Banco de España of which there is one in Palma de Mallorca. I believe that no questions will be asked as long as these Peseta banknotes are not registered, as they would be were they coming from a bank robbery or such like. Every year, Pesetas to the value of 1,000,000 € seem to be cashed in that way, on average.

Some businesses up and down the Spanish mainland have also let it be known that Peseta banknotes are accepted by them as a payment method as long as proper purchases are being made. Blimey. Anything to get the economy going.

Sadly, I don’t have any old Spanish banknotes lying around, so I can not offer you a photo of my own making. Instead, the photo was taken from the Internet, courtesy of CincoDias.com.

Muchas gracias.

A Ginjoler Tree of 200 Years Of Age

The Monestir de la Concepció in Palma de Mallorca can be proud of many things. Sadly, hardly anyone can ever enjoy or appreciate its architecture going back to the 14th century, its prized accessories or its 200 year old Ginjoler tree in the older courtyard, because the monastery is of a closed order and is tancat (closed) to the prying and inquisitive eyes of the outside world. A few weeks ago, I was allowed into the convent as part of a group on the occasion of a concert being presented there during the Setmana de Santa Cecília. I had only ever been inside the monastery’s larger patio once before, and only for less than a minute. Now, the guided tour allowed us to fulfill our curiosity for well over 80 minutes; and what a treat we had. By the way, the ginjoler tree (English: Jujube, Latin: Ziziphus jujuba, Castellano: azufaifo) is the oldest one I have ever seen; it is said to be the oldest one of its kind on the island.

You may well think what’s the point of telling us about a monastery that cannot be visited. Two things: the monastery in question may be open for a visit again next year during the Corpus Cristi patio programme, in June/July, and also, during next year’s Santa Cecília week. Just be alert at the appropriate time. And: the Ajuntament de Palma is currently conducting a guided tour under the heading of Christmas Flavours, allowing us, amongst others, visits to three monasteries in Palma, that normally are also closed, the Monestir de Santa Margalida, the Monestir de les Caputxines and the Monestir de Santa Clara. Tours are held in Castellano, Catalan, English and German, with dates in English coming up this week (December 16th and 18th) as well as next week (December 22nd), and the week after (December 29th). There is a charge of 10 € for a two hour tour, including some sweet titbits. Reservations can be made by telephone under 971.720.720.

The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: November 20th, 2009. The time was 19:34:45.

The Nobel Olive Oil From Mallorca

Aubocassa Oli de Mallorca had the honour of being served at the gala dinner celebrating the Nobel Prize giving ceremony in Stockholm a few days ago. The people of Manacor are very pleased. Because, even though the Aubocassa estate is situated just outside of Felanitx, the finca belongs to the municipality of Manacor. But whatever. The old property claims references dating back to the twelfth century, being described as a former Arab alquería (farmstead).

Aubocassa Oli is a Mallorcan Aceite de Oliva Virgen Extra of quite some distinction, and now with a noble Nobel recognition to boot.

The finca of Aubocassa in the eastern part of Mallorca, near where I live, did not have a history of growing olive trees, as far as I can make out. I do remember, though, that the property was sold some fifteen years ago, give or take. We all noticed that within a short time span, young olive trees of the arbequina type were planted there by the hundreds and thousands. In fact, it is said that about 8,000 of them were planted. Aubocassa’s owner, Agustín Santolaya, was just recently named Tafoner Major 2009 of Mallorca. It looks like this year is his year.

Just to be on the fair side: over the last ten years or so, there has been something of a renaissance of quality olive oils in Mallorca. It is really quite remarkable. When Aubocassa first came out, Mallorcan olive oils were few and far between. Now, however, we are spoilt for choice of Mallorcan virgin olive oil from Manacor, Sóller and Caimari, to name but a few. The Mallorcan Consell Regulador now applies a strict quality control and labels a number of olive oils with a denominació d’origen certification.

The photo (top) was taken near Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: December 13th, 2009. The time was 11:10:41. The photo (bottom) was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: September 21st, 2007. The time was 17:41:26.

The Mostra de Ses Matances

Today, December 13th, the pueblo of Sineu has the distinction of presenting the last fira of the calendar year in Mallorca, the Fira de Sant Tomàs i Mostra de Ses Matances. From 09h00 until 16h00, there will be the recreation of an old Mallorcan possessió at the time of the annual matanzas, a display of matanzas tools and techniques as well as a competition of porcs grassos. Plus there will be matanzas products for sale.

Mallorcaquality recorded some of last year’s events at the Fira de Sant Tomàs in Sineu:

The photo (top) was taken in Caimari, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: November 22nd, 2009. The time was 12:05:08. The video was borrowed from the Internet, thanks to YouTube and MallorcaQuality.

Thank you, and muchas gracias.

Coming Out At Night

Bats do not seem to have a large following. The poor little creatures are indeed on the retreat everywhere in the modern world and are now slowly becoming an endangered species. In environmental terms it must be stressed though, that bats are an important contributor to a balanced ecosystem. Amongst many other useful functions, they are one of the only mammal pollinators in the world.

I like the little buggers, as you might have suspected. I had three personal run-ins with the little creatures over my years in Mallorca, and I remember the encounters fondly, even though I got bitten once by one of the dear sods. Luckily, nothing bad came out of that close encounter. I think I went for a tetanus injection, just to be on the safe side.

In many countries, bats have little practical or effective preservation. In the UK and much of Europe, bats enjoy considerable protection, though. In the US and Canada, conservation is not nearly as effective. In Spain, bats are protected to some extent as far as I know.

Some good news relating to bats in Mallorca was found in the local media here, a few days ago. A group of biologists has discovered a new species of bats on the island. The Chiroptera in question is a female brown bat (Myotis emarginatus), also known as Geoffroy’s Bat, so far in the Baleares only discovered in Menorca. With this latest discovery, there are now 18 known bat species in existence here in Mallorca, and a total of even 19, in the Balearic Isles. In the whole world, more than 1,000 bat species are known, apparently.

The fact that so many different bats live here in Mallorca is a proof, perhaps, that the island is still relatively safe and sound in environmental terms. Let’s just hope that this status will last for a while longer. If you should see some bats coming out at night in your finca, count yourself lucky. Please do not call the authorities and do not fetch the aerosol can with the pesticide.

The photo (top) was taken from the Internet, courtesy of Murcielagosbaleares.blogspot.com. The image (bottom) was borrowed from Wikipedia.org. Muchas gracias and many thanks.

The Bar Cristal Building

There are two emblematic bars in Palma that have served as meeting points for rendezvous, for a quick coffee or a bocadillo, for job interviews, for some flirting, for a game of billiard, or simply for a quick browse in the newspapers: the Bar Bosch, opposite C & A’s, and the Bar Cristal in Plaça d’Espanya (see photo). I’m sure you’ve been to both of them at one time or other. There used to be a third famous and historic bar, the Bar Triquet (see my post), but that bar closed down a few years ago; the premises now hold a fashion shop.

I’m showing you the Bar Cristal building today, because its architecture really stands out. This property was designed in 1913 by none other than Gaspar Bennàzar and was built on a spot where only a few years earlier the massive Palma city walls had been demolished. In 1947, an additional floor was added to the original building. Gaspar Bennàzar was also the architect of the Bar Triquet building, in 1909. Of these two buildings, the Bar Triquet building is probably the more attractive one. Both of these buildings have recently undergone some extensive restoration work, and very successfully so.

The photo was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: November 4th, 2009. The time was 16:21:50.