It was an interesting holiday...the first time I have been back to Mallorca since I was 8 years old!
Didn't like it much all those years ago and had a very negative opinion ever since. The SO managed to convince me there was more than meets the eye as she had worked in tourism there for a couple of years.
Have to admit to being pleasantly surprised. Its a lovely place as long as you steer clear of the Club 18-30 style resorts such as Arenal or Magalluf. Its geared for tourism as they pretty much invented the package deal holiday which means things are well signposted and there is plenty of choice. Food and drink is excellent as long as you seek out the traditional local places otherwise its burgers and chips or bratwurst und beer!
The north of the island is mountainous and rugged and superb motorcycle territory. Busa, you would be in heaven! The road down to Sa Calobra is like something from the intro to the Italian Job and I could hear Matt Monro singing 'On Days Like These' in my ear as I negotiated all the twists and turns. The rest of the island is a flat rural plain but the small villages are delightful as the tourists don't go there. Palma is cosmopolitan and historically interesting with lots of cultural activities.
I will have to go back out of season as all the locals tell me its even better once the screaming hordes of great unwashed go home. One downside is the route to get there. I went via Cairo and Barcelona and this is a 16 hour schlep but the most cost effective route. Another downside was getting severe food poisoning 2 days from the end of the holiday and having to make the return trip feeling like death.
Knight
