July in Mallorca. Hot, exceedingly so. The islanders take comfort in those deeply entrancing Mediterranean waters daily and the beaches are littered in song with every European dialect. The trip started out in Palma, the capitol rich with it’s thick stone walls textured like aged stucco, buzzing restaurants, well styled citizens. My partner and I ( ex now ) headed to Majorca for a Rama Kundalini event which was lovely to enjoy together. After staying in what seemed like a hostel without any ac, we bailed after the first night and then, with comforts established, the trip began.
We stayed in Old Town, Santa Catalina District of Palma. Hotel Summum was splendid and on par in every way. This beautiful boutique hotel was located on a quiet street across from an old monastery, fit with 5 star everything and the perfect icebox room for the 100+ weather. Our room had a giant bathtub that sadly we did not get to enjoy as we were soaking in the turquoise waters of the coast each day. I’d highly recommend this hotel to anyone desiring pristine accommodations with the ease of an in house restaurant and perfect breakfast every morning. I could have sipped those cappuccino’s all day. If I lived closer than a two airplane trek away from Mallorca, I’d spend some quiet time at Hotel Summum a few times a year to just enjoy the design and revamp of the boutique. The space itself used to be a 15th century estate and they showcase the renovation process by video in the elevator, it made the trip that much most interesting! There’s a quaint pool atop the hotel too to retreat too for quiet time with a book before heading out for the warm evenings. It felt incredible to walk everywhere once again, breathe in the city’s scent and spy all of the stimulating architecture around. What I found most mesmerizing about Palma are the walls that surround the magnificent homes. Everything is hidden in the city so it feels like a treasure when you are able to get a sense of the refined, privacy of homes there. If you happen to look down an alley at the right moment or peer past an open thick dark wood door, one could peer into the central patio and begin to dream up rest of the high ceiling homes look like. IT was so refreshing again to aimlessly wander down city streets, let alone old streets with a historical 16th century wash to them. Two of the restaurants are below that I distinctly recall dining at and will pop by the next time I’m in town.
La Vermuteria: Classic Majorcan tapas. It feels like a little deli in here with quick service.
Sadrassana. This fabulous restaurant is joined to an art gallery which made it even better. One of my favorite date spots I will be back to dine at.
We ventured out for perhaps my favorite excursion, the trip to the Caves of Drach. I’ve been fascinated with caves since I can recall, the dim and mysterious underworld with all of it’s trickled down water transforming itself into phenomenal structures. We hung out at the back of a 200+ line just so I could walk as slow as possible and appreciate everything this hidden world had to offer. Thankfully, most people didn’t seem as intrigued as I was so I had lots of space to breathe, photograph as much as I could and enjoy the stillness before the tour guide poked me in the back to keep walking. Inspiration ran rampant and I contemplated proposing a second visit to the caves the following day. Gladly, we didn’t as the weather kept picking up and all we both wanted to do was run for the beach and tear our clothes off while making a splash.
After staying in the city and tiring of the traffic circles that start to mimic the repetition of the movie Groundhog’s Day, we departed for Port Du Soller. My traveling partner and I were both elated to hit the open air and expansiveness of the country. The country in its quaint perfection was full of rose toned homes and hillsides overflowing olive trees. The palette of the landscape will be moving my next spring collection for certain. We spent a warm day in Valledemossa acquiring a large bevy of charcuterie, grass fed burrata, coconut waters, dates and other items from an artisanal grocery in town. She had tons of herbs drying out the window, bags of almonds, exquisitely colored olives and other fare fit for a day’s road trip. One thing I will comment on about the food on the island is the tending to local cheeses, goat and sheep specifically, and the local butcher meats. I gorged myself on sausages all around the island with meat in one hand, a chocolate bar in the other. When traveling, I aspire to taste not only the local cuisine but to find the ranchers and farmers tending to heirloom varieties and non-gmo meats. Mallorca seemed to be winning with it’s offerings. I didn’t imbibe too much during the trip but I caught some Mallorcan whites here and there to accompany olives and fish at dinner.
Luke and I hit were focused to hit a spectacular beach on the North Western shore so we sped up the winding Sa Calobra road towards sunset, also as an attempt to find the beach a bit bare. The long road was one of my favorite pieces to the trip as it enabled us to feel the island and all of it’s alternating landscapes. Many of the rocks looked like Rock Biters ( Never ending story reference ) to me. As for the beach, it wasn’t as desolate as I had hoped but nonetheless, breath-taking and the water, well, floating in that water will be a memory I will aim to hold on to till I’m 90. Catching the sunset with Catamarans and sailboats, playing in the water with a lover and watching the sun set into the far off horizon made the arduous drive worth it.
Dining in Port Du Soller proved to be a bit challenging, even with the Spanish’s late dining habits. As for the beaches, well, some of my favorites shall remain a secret. That’s part of the fun in researching and getting lost. Luke and I happened across a lonesome beach just before sunset one day where we snapped some images and I, had to snap some nudes. The current at this particular spot was rough and I tend to get quite nervous in rougher waters so I waded. There are many a popular spots on Mallorca so one only needs to follow the tourist trails to them or grab the hand of someone they love in the off season and venture out.
Overall, I’d say the next time I return, I will be renting a house somewhere in the country and will disappear for a few weeks to work on a project. The textures, the tones, the earthiness of this bohemian spot is right in alignment with my vacation style but next time, I’ll make sure to avoid visiting when the bulk of tourists are there. Large crowds and too much heat make for one cranky gal here.
Mallorca is romantic and a destination for lovers, a visual feast for artists and an inspiring landscape to just let go and be in. xo
