Calviá to the Castell

The weekend pace is set by Jemima, and on Saturday she was still pretty tired. So we had a slow morning in the flat, then wandered down to the marina with her scooter for lunch. The sun was back; so we got a table outside Cappuccino, the café with the prime-est spot in the marina. It was coat-less weather, absolutely glorious. Jemima and Kevin amused each other by making up stories based on the cocktail menu, which was entertaining.

After lunch, and some more scooting, we had another rest in the flat (Jemima really didn't want to do much); then went on a little drive to Calviá, the old capital of the region, and where, apparently, there was a good public indoor pool. We found the pool, but not much else - we'd arrived during siesta time, and Calviá was most definitely closed. But its surroundings were beautiful - the Mallorcan countryside is so lovely, it might make an even better view than the sea. 

We'd lured Jemima to Calviá with the promise of an ice cream; but with nothing open, we returned to the marina, and Flanigans. Chocolate ice cream for Jemima; and, tempted by the hanging jamón, I ordered a plateful for me. It was the good stuff - ambrosial. So good, we shared another plateful (a treat - one plate of jamón works out the same price as two of Chameli's menú del dia). In fact, Jemima said it was as good as the ice cream - her highest praise. Then, back home for an early night.

By Sunday morning, Jemima was a bit more energetic.  We played some games (thank goodness for Orchard Toys mini games); did her homework and some phonics; and then went out into the sunshine.

Our destination: the circular 14th Century Castell de Bellver, built to house the Kings of Mallorca. The occasion: as part of the Sant Sebastia celebrations, the mounted police were putting on a display. So we found the castle (up a big hill); then walked a long way back down with lots of Spanish families through the shady wooded countryside to the mounted police HQ. 

The horses were huge, glossy, and frothing at the mouth (literally chomping at the bit). They did some beautiful dressage-style moves to music varying from Spanish-sounding classics, to rock: prancing, knees high; or moving sideways diagonally, crossing their legs elegantly. Jemima was getting hungry and grumpy, so we left after an amazing group display by four horses (Jemima said she liked the blanco horses best, so some Spanish seems to be sinking in). Then after a re-fuelling pit stop at the café back up the hill, we ventured into the castle.

We all loved it - me for the history; Jemima for the hidey-holes (her current favourite game is having her photo taken in small spaces); and Kevin for the views, which were magnificent, all across Palma and miles out into the Bay, dotted with hundreds of tiny white sailing boats ("Bellver" means "good view" in Castilian). We could practically see our flat. Then after a wonderful wander, it was back home for a late lunch.

Chameli's was sadly at capacity, so we reverted to Moo Moo's which advertises a Sunday lunch. We sat out the front in the sun eating roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, slightly disbelieving about dining traditional English al fresco in mid-January. 

And then it was home for another little rest, and the all-important (if slightly bathetic) de-lousing (for me and Jemima). It was a lovely castle outing - as long as we strike the right balance of not further exhausting an already tired Jemima, we can have a lot of fun exploring kid-friendly Mallorca with her on the weekends. Something to look forward to. And so on to another week - they are flying by!

Cappuccino

Calviá

Enjoying the jamón

At the mounted police display - the caballo blanco

The Castell

Looking east over Palma and the marina

Looking west towards Portals Nous

Pottering in Palma

After such a busy week, a quiet weekend was in order. Jemima and I made pancakes according to our Saturday morning tradition, then I went back to bed for the day (I'm sleeping badly because of the coughing - yes, still ill). Kevin and Jemima had a lovely time scooting around Portals, including a beach visit, then exploring around the Parc de la Mer underneath Palma Cathedral (including a much-enjoyed lunch in McDonalds...). Reunited, we had a group rest, then went for our first family Mallorcan dinner out: to Moo Moo's, the local steak restaurant (Jemima thought the name was hilarious...). Very good food; very jolly company; and such a joy to be able to walk there and back in five minutes.

Sunday started slowly: Jemima and I played games and did her weekly homework (four words to spell: box, log, cup and cat, nothing too strenuous...). Then she and Kevin took me to Palma to show me what they'd found yesterday. It was another beautiful day, just right for wandering. We shared a waffle sitting on the steps with the Cathedral towering above; then set off down the main shopping streets, Jemima doing a very good job of avoiding pedestrians on her scooter. Only about a third of the shops were open, and they tended to be the international chains - Sunday still means something different here. A coffee stop; a scoot back to the car; then lunch and a quiet afternoon of activities and drawing in the flat before dinner (more tapas experiments: it turns out I didn't do so well with my meat cut translation as our beef skewers were a bit chewy...); and then an early night. I can't believe how much time has flown already - let's see what adventures week two brings.