Palma de Mallorca

Tuesday 27th November

Because it was a port day, I was awake by 8.30 and got up shortly afterwards. Unfortunately I was 10 minutes too late for breakfast in the restaurant and had to visit the Lido again.

From my window I could see Palma ... sunny Mallorca where so many Brits come for holidays ... island of the Winter sun. It was raining!

The ship provided a shuttle bus to the old area close to the Cathedral.



The Cathedral had been on my list of places to visit so it seemed a good place to start. I think I walked three sides of a square, in the rain, before finding the entrance.

In some cities the hawkers display handbags. On a day like this they sell umbrellas. They chose a good location – the steps leading to the Cathedral.

One of my interests in this Cathedral was that Gaudi had worked on the restoration. I had hoped to see some of his work. Unfortunately there was scaffolding up and I could not get into the nave, though I could see the lovely open space that was a result of him moving the choir.

I was impressed, and left thinking, by this more modernistic chapel, the work of a painter whose name I could not catch while eavesdropping on a guided group.

I wandered the narrow alleys of Mallorca. The rain and miserable weather made me want to return to the ship, but I continued in hopes of finding an internet cafe (which I finally did), and so I saw many picturesque alleys. Imagine living somewhere like this, just five minutes from the main shopping centre. Imagine what it must look like with the sun beating down – or better yet, the gentle warmth of the Autumn or Winter sun.

On my way home I found a rather decorated building, now partly converted to office space. I wasn’t sure that the decoration would completely inspire me to visit this dentist!

The shuttle bus took me back to the ship in time for a late lunch of fruit, ready for afternoon tea later.

The night was semi-formal, so I was back in black trousers and white silk jacket ready for dinner, sitting between Trevor and Malcolm. The night before, in our midnight conversation, Chris had startled Trevor with thoughts of a new career. (He started with an electronics degree, went into animation and is currently an anaesthetist.) Overnight he had begun to think seriously. We may have a dress designer on our hands. His uncles have contacts in the fabric and distribution sectors and Trevor has the talent and interest. We spent dinner trying to think of a name for his business and deciding which of us would head up which office. Do I want Paris, London or Milan? What fun. We have joked about meeting up in Milan in a few months to explore all the fashion shops.

The show that night was amazing – a comedy juggler. Then it was back to the ballroom to dance and chat the night away. The music ended at 12.15 but we stayed chatting with another woman from the ship until 1.00.