about. Majorca. Paguero (Paguera). Hotel Madrigal.
about. Majorca. Paguero (Paguera). Hotel Madrigal.
A short trip Mallorca + Minorca . .
Initially, the sight was taken precisely to the Bolearic Islands. Ibiza, as it was not considered, due to its overly youth-party image. The cost of Minorca caused some bewilderment - it is quite comparable with some Maldivian hotels. Somehow Mallorca was drawn by itself as a starting point. There were some problems with air tickets, hotels, namely with the accommodation of 4 people (2 adults, two children 4 and 7 years old). There were many refusals - it seems like the hotel is available on the tourist index, and with a direct request - a refusal, the hotel is in the foot. They asked for hotels from Alcudia to Port Soller - in a big circle... Several hotels, including Madrigal, agreed, moreover, it is declared as an apparotel, which is a priority for us. Through Google Earth, we looked at the adjacent beaches, walked along the streets from the hotel to the sea, examined the hotel itself, read laconic reviews, both about the hotel and about Paguera, and stopped taking the soul out of tour operators - paid for the package. Flight there by S7 Company (former Siberia) and back by Ural Airlines. At first, this alarmed us a little - we had a bad experience in communicating with peripheral airlines, but neither Aeroflot nor Transaero could be found. However, the flight there went very well and without problems. Back there were some incomprehensibility with a delay in departure, but this is not the fault of the airline, the crew did everything possible to make life easier for passengers. Thanks to them for their kindness.
Room and area.
The Madrigal Hotel is a typical 4-storey city hotel, consisting of two buildings, with an internal, very modest territory, one small pool, a tennis court and mini-golf grounds. Near the pool there is a small stage for various evening events. We lived in an apartment - a two-room suite, in one room a kitchenette, quite suitable for some kind of cooking: an electric stove, a microwave, a refrigerator, a coffee maker, a kettle and a complete set of dishes for 4 people including pots, a frying pan, scoops-shovels. The room has a safe, activated by card after payment at the reception. 7 days - 12 euros. Quite decent and comfortable bathroom. Balcony with table and chairs. There is no dryer. Central air conditioning. The second room is 12 square meters. Two beds, two bedside tables, built-in wardrobe and mirror. To my surprise, there were plenty of outlets. Usually there are problems with this, and I carry a 5-socket extension pilot with me, right there it was possible to do without it. The room is tiny but very comfortable. There were enough wardrobes and bedside tables in each room, so there were no problems with storing things. The suitcases were stuffed into the mezzanine and settled down.
Meals at the hotel - breakfasts are quite monotonous and standard, with slight variations. In general, quite decent. Champagne. Delicious cheese. Fruit. There were fresh buns - death to the figure, it was not possible to break away. Delicious coffee and cocoa.
Dinners - it happened in different ways, sometimes very tasty and unusual dishes for us, and sometimes we had to eat what they give . From delicious - shrimp, mussels and various seafood, lamb, grilled pork bones, duck, lamb, very tasty and unusual fish. Vegetables. Everything is very fresh and, not unimportant, not peppered and salty, there was a separate table with spices. Two types of very tasty soups. Fresh and dried fruits. Ice cream. If you are not on the All Inclusive system and pour yourself drinks, including alcoholic drinks, at dinner, then the waiters will put a bill of 3 euros per person (not counting children) on the table, which, in principle, is quite humane. You can bring a bottle of wine or water with you - no one has ever made any comments to us. Evrik - the other one made the waiters an order of magnitude more friendly and attentive, although even without this there were no complaints against them, everyone was nimble and smiling.
In general, IMHO, the hotel is rather good, high-quality 3, it somehow falls short of 4, by and large, all these stars are very, very conditional, and we have long ceased to bother ourselves with this. Yes, here's another thing: the schedule of the restaurant seemed to us not justifiably not convenient. Breakfasts from 7.45 to 10.00 and dinners from 18.30 to 21.00. Thus, if you leave early, then without breakfast, and if you stay somewhere in the evening, then you will have to have dinner on the side. True, you can say this at the reception, and they will make lunch boxes, where it is called a “picnic”.
Did not see during the day, because did not stay at the hotel. Poor in the evening. Even the mini-disco was played with such a sour face that the kids went out and occupied themselves. There are many children, including Russians. They weren't bored. Table tennis, a place where you can kick the ball (you can also play tennis there), and mini golf corrected animation flaws.
The path to the beach is 150 meters along a quiet street to Bulevar, and another 100 meters along the pedestrian, coastal zone. The transition is not annoying at all, it’s even good that the hotel is somewhat on the sidelines. By the way, near the hotel, a little further on the same street, there is quite a capacious parking for cars, which is also very convenient. The beach itself, the sand and the sea is in Paguera, we really liked it, it is large enough and accommodates all vacationers without any problems. Entry into the sea is smooth, I would say unnecessarily. 50 meters from the shore, sometimes waist-deep, sometimes knee-deep. Very convenient for children and non-floating citizens. The bay is very picturesque, the surrounding hills are built up with apartments and quite green. The water in the sea is clean, transparent, there are no hints of iridescent films and other oil products. No floating algae. This is Palmyra beach. Nearby, through the pebbles, the beach of de Tora is noticeably smaller in size, but also very pleasant. There are living creatures in the sea, there is something like a coral reef with various fish, hedgehogs, some kind of plants. It's interesting to swim in a mask once. Fish are sometimes found quite a decent size. There are several cafes and bars adjoining the beach, within walking distance are shops with beach utensils and various rattling.
Two sun loungers and an umbrella for the day - 15 euros. Or a couple of rugs on the sand, and, if desired, an umbrella over your head - and that's it. Rugs 2-4 euros, umbrellas from 8 to 12 (*depending on the size). There are also small tents for sale, a very useful thing if you plan to spend the whole day at sea, something about 12-15 euros. The sun seemed not evil to us, the first days completely killed on the beach - and practically did not smear with sun cream, in the evening it pulled the skin a little, the remedy after the sun removed all the unpleasant sensations - none of us burned or peeled off, even our noses slowly turned bronze , and did not resemble a heated cigarette lighter, in the late afternoon. The sand sometimes heated up to an unbearable temperature. Yet, perhaps, we are somewhat less susceptible to the southern sun, for various reasons. German workers did not spare mazukalok and only did what they rubbed and puffed on themselves from different bottles.
Paguera (Paguera)
By the way, Germans are in the majority on Paguera, Spaniards have a lot of rest, and in shops and cafes they speak German rather than English, however, there have never been any problems with explanations. This place is considered quiet and calm, not youthful and not party-going. Dance. there were two floors, and discos and nightclubs are somehow completely out of sight, if they exist at all. There are grocery stores, but they are somewhat overpriced. If you need food, fruit, booze and something like that, then it makes sense to walk along the "boulevard" to the entrance to Poguera (600 meters), there, on the circle, there is a large supermarket (supermercado), where locals and those who live on pasture buy goods bourgeois. The difference in prices is sometimes very noticeable - in the tourist zone a 5-liter bottle of water costs 3-5 euros, and there it starts from 70 cents. Dairy, meat, everything is noticeably cheaper than in the hotel zone. And what kind of seafood are there! Hands themselves reach out to load fresh tiger prawns at 7 euros per kg. and fresh sea bass 4 each. Octopuses, squids, mussels, clams, something completely unknown... one frustration to enter this store. A little before reaching, on the previous circle, there is a large Chinese store, such as a hyper, it sells all that beach and household rubbish, as in the shops near the beach, but at more loyal prices. The distance from Paguera to Palma is 30 kilometers, 20 minutes by car, a taxi knocks 25 euros one way, to the center. However, sitting on the beach is not entirely correct, and in the nearest "renta kaaa" a small car was taken for 10 days. On a circle, with “full insurance”, tou baby check”, “tou drivers”, “no franchises”, “return in hotel” - 330 euros.
Soller-Sa Calobra.
And almost immediately we drove to Palma, found the Plaza de Españ a, parked the car in the alley and bought tickets at the station for the famous train to the city of Soller. Antique stylized train, wooden, polished wagons with seats. Locomotive "a la retro". Traveling to the mountains is very picturesque, the views and panoramas for a city dweller are not at all familiar, our urban, familiar realities remain, somewhere in another world, some “deja vu” rolls in, you feel like in a different world and era, you don’t leave more than an hour of travel a feeling of something otherworldly, from a past life.
Tickets for adults for 18 euros, for children -12. Residents of Spain are much cheaper. Soller is a very picturesque city that has retained all the originality of the building, and practically escaped the influence of the tourism industry in its appearance. Near the station, we boarded a tram and drove to Port Soller - it’s like that almost everywhere, the port is by the sea, and the city itself is at a considerable distance in the mountains. In times of merciless piracy and robbery from the sea, such a precautionary measure was by no means superfluous. The tram differs from the train, perhaps, only in size, two trailers stylized antique. Travel time is about half an hour, with stops. We arrived at the port of Soller, walked along the embankment, a small bay, very picturesque, almost the entire right side is occupied by the Marina, a place for parking yachts and light ships. The sea did not seem clean to us, in comparison with Paguera, we swam a little, lay under the sun. The unanimous opinion was voiced: “It’s good that we didn’t come here in the first place! ” A little later, our attention was attracted by a boat moored at the nearest pier. Intelligence reported that in 20 minutes the boat sails to Sa Calobra, a famous beach, to which there is a rather dreary road along the top - the journey time is about 40 minutes. We quickly grabbed things, bought tickets - 25 euros per person, round trip (children are free), plunged onto the upper deck of the boat and sailed. The path along the picturesque coast, the rocks corroded by wind and surf, completely unrealistic configuration and texture. The sea is very beautiful shades, calm and clean. The pitching is almost imperceptible. Having sailed from Sa Kalorbru, they immediately settled down in the nearest cafe, the younger generation asked in unison for food - they ate very densely and tasty, we shrimp, children meat, drank various waters and wines - for 4 it turned out 65 euros. Yes, propos, I quote the prices only for those who are interested, who are going to travel, so that they can, somehow, plan the budget - they, of course, can walk a little to the right and left. Having pretty much eaten, we went to the adjacent beach, the path goes along the side of the mountain, partly through a narrow, dark tunnel, the beach is pebbly, very picturesque, and unusual, surrounded by rocks on all sides, entering the water in the narrowest part. We bought a little on this beach and sailed on the boats back to the port of Soller, barely managed to take the last train to Palma on the tram, from there back to the hotel by car. Somehow we made it to dinner. I repeat once again - it's terribly inconvenient that dinners at the hotel until 9 pm. If they were from 19 to 22, it would be much easier for many to live in the world. Etc.
Western Water Park. (The Westarn Water Park)-Magaluf
The next day was spent almost entirely in Water Park, near Magaluf. Entrance tickets: 18 euros for adults and 12 for children. The water park itself is made in Western style. It's called "Western Park", a very good children's area, with climbing frames, slides, fountains, and so on. For a sunbed they will start extorting 3.5 euros separately. If you want to take yourself a personal inflatable pillow, like for rent (you can swim in the river, but why is it not clear yet ). 8 euro single and 10 for two + 2 EUR deposit. Luckily, you can ride the slides at no extra cost. There is a very invigorating kamikaze, almost vertical, about 40 meters. I felt a free fall rushing down from this horror ). A couple of slides nearby are a little lower, but also not for the faint of heart. Tall twisted pipes. Waterfalls. Wave pool. Hill boomerang. In general, you can easily spend the whole day there. The children were very happy.
After that we went to Magaluf, to the beach. Magaluf itself is a large tourist village, focused on the active part of tourists, a lot of entertainment, bars, discos, and other cereal establishments. We did not like the sea and the beach - the sea was not clean, there was garbage, not that critical, but nonetheless. On the beach, cigarette butts, plastic bottles, cups, in general, all the attributes of disgusting. When passing to the beach through the restaurant and shopping streets, a clearly tangible spirit of wine and beer soared in the air, many young people were clearly more cheerful and excessively noisy. We immediately remembered Patong in Phuket. We would not like to come and relax in such a densely populated and noisy place. Having tested Magaluf, we ticked the box for ourselves, and once again we were glad that we had chosen Paguera.
Santa Ponsa.
One day we went to the beach of Santa Ponsa - we really liked the village itself, the beach, and the sea. Entry into the water is smooth, the sand is fine and clean. Quiet, calm place. Parrots live in the adjacent park, fly in abundance along with pigeons, green, it seemed to me - Korela. Ornithologists assure that there are no green corals. So they are just similar. They react correctly to a loaf of bread, immediately flock from all sides, take apart the pieces and eat from the paw. Very funny and fun to watch them, the children were very happy and they also liked Pons. The shops there are richer and more diverse, and there are noticeably more of them than in Paguera. There are a lot of Russian speakers, apparently the resort is more focused on Russians. Near Ponsa, Palmanova is also a quiet and measured place with a clean beach and a calm bay. It seemed to me more respectable, or something. Less democratic. In any of these places you can safely go with children, or lovers of a quiet - relaxing holiday.
Des Trenc Aquarium.
One day we went to Des Trenc beach, which is considered the best on the island. Quite far from Paguera and others like her. Parking in the shade 6 euros. We relaxed a little - the day turned out to be Sunday. Fortunately, we arrived in the morning, there were free places on the beach, after a while locals, families, with an eye for the whole day, began to actively pull up, with thermoses - refrigerators, tables, sun loungers, food, water and other attributes of Sunday rest. The beach is very large and beautiful, many kilometers on both sides of the village, and it seems that we really didn’t see anything better - there. A nature reserve comes close from the shore, pine trees, very green and the air is just wonderful, we stayed there almost all day and we really liked it. If necessary, there are restaurants and a shop with beach accessories and some kind of food and water. Almost all day long, a jeep with local police cruised along both beaches. In general, it’s worth mentioning separately - there is some unthinkable number of law enforcement officers, and the traffic police are very common, both on the streets, and traffic controllers, for us it was somewhat unusual or something, practically nowhere have we met such a number of police officers of various types and systems . Less than a year ago, we were in the Canary Islands - the same Spain, so there, neither on the road nor in the cities, they NEVER met the police. Theoretically, we were warned that there is a possibility of contact with the traffic police, or in the city they might come up with a question. However, there was nothing of the kind. Here and there they stumbled upon the servants of the law. All so important, hung like a Christmas tree, with various pistols, walkie-talkies and all sorts of other attributes of law enforcement officers. Even women. Once, having got confused and driving along a controversial road, either there was a “brick” or not - they ran straight into a police car, I already started to build phrases and figure out the fine that we ran into, but they looked at us very carefully and did not to brake. But, in principle, I repeat, the number of law enforcement officers per unit area went beyond all the limits we had seen before. Yes, I almost forgot, we have the most ordinary rights, Russian ones, no international ones, the data from them fit into the insurance, no one was embarrassed. They didn’t carry passports with them - they lay in a safe, a photocopy of a passport was enough in “rent kaa”.
On the way from the beach, did we manage to stop by Arenal, or was it Can Pastilla? and visit the Aquarium. The entry prices are the same. This is a complex with aquariums - from a liter with microscopic jellyfish, to 12 meters deep, a huge pool with sharks, tuna, moray eels, huge fish, and what the hell. There are pillows on the floor near large aquariums, you can fall apart and contemplate all this underwater splendor. Very beautiful and educational. There is an open area where there are turtle pools, a kind of living jungle, there are cafes, a playground.
Porto Cristo, Drach Cave, Safari Park, Cala Millor.
Further. One day was allocated for a trip around Porto Cristo. At first, in the morning, we visited the Drach caves. You buy tickets at the box office and wait (I don’t remember the price, it’s also something 15-18 adults and half the price of a child from 5 years old) when they launch another batch of idlers inside. From the entrance to the caves there are picturesque views of the sea, you can take pictures. Everyone enters the Cave in a queue, giving tickets at the entrance. There are several hundred people in the party. Inside, everything sort of dissolves, and there is no hustle, it’s relatively free, the descent down along the prepared track, the pictures around are simply not real, stalactites and stalagmites, whole chandeliers under the ceiling... walls in influxes, bizarre patterns around which the imagination begins to form pictures of the unknown peace. The cave is illuminated and very well ventilated with fresh sea air, it is neither cold nor stuffy there. Very comfortable conditions. The overall scale of the natural underground structure is impressive. Below you can see the whole lake and the end and edge of the cave is not visible. At the end of the route, in the large hall, everyone sits down on the stone steps, the lights go out and the musicians smoothly float on boats playing classical music (Bach? ), the acoustics and the general background of the event are not transmitted. Everyone listens without breathing. Even the children froze and did not move. After that, the tour ends, those who wish can ride on the underground lake in boats. The rest are out. Yes! Photography in the cave is prohibited. Of course, everyone ignores this absurdity and shoots from the heart. Local ministers begin to yell “No photo” and shine flashlights into the lens, especially gifted ones shine in the face, shoveling something in an undertone. In general, you can and should take pictures. At the exit there is a stall where you can buy photos of the cave, and some souvenirs. At the exit from the territory there is a shop with souvenirs and some clothes, in principle, quite interesting.
After the caves, the course was taken to the Safari Park. It's not far from the Caves. In fact - an open-air zoo, where many animals walk as if by themselves. You can drive in your car, you can stay in a small road train with open trailers. Ostriches walk, different types of antelopes, buffaloes, cows, a rhinoceros lives its own life. Pool with hippos. Very well-groomed, beautiful and touching giraffes. But the most interesting did not begin immediately. Stopping to look at the giraffes, they rolled down the windows in the car, and right there a rather small head of an antelope climbed into the car, the horns really didn’t fit, smacking invitingly and moving their lips, obviously begging for something delicious. Having received an apple, she sedately removed her head. And then a flock of monkeys just attacked the car. Feather pieces sat on the side-view mirrors. Someone on the hood. Someone climbed onto the roof. The metal of the roof clearly clicked. Paws reached into the car, as if for alms. The children, and us too, were delighted. Our squeals and laughter did not bother the primates in the least. They ate everything they had. Oranges, apples, bananas, kiwis, even our avocado snack was greeted with approval. All this monkey brethren jumped and galloped around the car, some succeeded others, took away treats from each other, quarreled, looked inside the car, let them shake their paws. The car had arches on top, and it was very convenient for them to ply the wheel around the car. The roof creaked treacherously. Deciding to interrupt this bacchanalia, we slowly drove off, and for some time we were carrying on the roof and on the hood some primates that were carried away by food. Coming to their senses, they deftly, with one swift throw, flew off the car and ran to their own. Everything that was in store for a treat was eaten clean. The general level of mood and positive emotions just rolled over. Then we drove to a place where shows with wild animals are held, there is a playground, snack tables, cafes and toilets. There are several playgrounds with monkeys, some small goats, wild boars, porcupines and some other not particularly outlandish animals. Show with wild animals, this is the performance of a trainer with a Tiger, Lion, Leopard and Panther. The animals looked slaughtered, flattened their ears, and let the trainer do whatever they wanted with them. I remembered a bad anecdote about a circus with flying crocodiles, when a crocodile, flying past a girl sitting in the front row, complains to her “You should know, girl, how are we here...... ” !! ! After the end of the performance, the road goes to the exit. However, remembering that there was still a strategic supply of fruits and rolls in the trunk, we asked to be let in for one more round on the same tickets. The monkeys, seeing our car from afar, rushed towards us from all sides. True, they say that 5 minutes of healthy laughter replaces a glass of sour cream, we fed them all our remaining fruits without the slightest regret. Photos of animals sitting on the hood, on the rear-view mirrors, climbing into the windows with outstretched handles, are very impressive and worth a lot.
After visiting the park, we headed to the Cala Milor beach in order to swim and relax a little... from rest ). We did not like the beach and the sea, a lot of algae, there were areas of the sea where there were relatively few algae, you could swim and fool around in the water without any additional sensations. There were sections of the beach, just littered with algae. The beach there is sandy, but large boulders often come across in the water. They did not interfere with us, but with excitement you can hit hard. But be that as it may, we spent a couple of hours there and got a portion of the sun, sea and novelty.
Palma de Mallorca.
Palm. Deliberately did not endure the feeling of the city at the beginning of the presentation. All the same, we went first of all beyond the sea-sun. Another thing is that we consider it an unaffordable luxury to spend precious time and all other resources only on the beach, the sun and the sea-oceans. It is for this reason that we rarely go to the same place twice, no matter how good it is there. So.
We were in Pamma de Mallorca several times, we came there both by taxi and by our (that is, rented) car. The first thing that is impossible not to visit, and which is the hallmark of Palma - the Cathedral - it is difficult to imagine a more pompous and large-scale structure, it simply overwhelms with its grandeur and monumentality, it is very beautiful and spectacular. You can go inside, go around the interior space, visit something like a museum, but really - it must be seen and felt, it is not transferable!
The cathedral is the historical center of Palma, it was built for several centuries, with all its appearance it was supposed to demonstrate the power and inviolability of Spain. Near the Palace - the current residence on the island of the Spanish Monarchs, you can also get there by buying tickets and going through the inspection procedure. Inside, the old decoration is preserved, on the walls there are tapestries of inconceivable sizes, the age of some inspires respect. Antique styled furniture. In general, a medieval castle, as it is. The entire central part of Palma can be walked around and not in a hurry, analogies to the architecture and views of the capital of Greek Kerkyra surfaced in my memory, somewhere Croatian Split was remembered - both of them remained in my memory forever and insistently beckons to visit again. On the one hand, there is a typical Mediterranean ancient city, and on the other hand, there is an understanding that there is no other such city in the world ).
We also traveled around the central part on a fiacre (they ask for 30 euros per person, we bargained for 40 for all), the driver showed us historical buildings and commented on the trip, in specific English, trying, however, so that we would understand. We visited the Arab baths, built long before the Spanish era. Everywhere there are a lot of souvenir shops and shops selling something interesting. There are antique shops.
We came for the sake of acquaintance and walked through the shopping center, a 5-storey building, on each floor of which clothes, shoes and almost everything you need are sold. However, if you set yourself the goal of shopping, then it requires a separate day - your eyes just run up, all things are branded, and prices cannot be compared in Moscow. So, for example, summer boots that cost 6.000 rubles in our Henderson were bought there for 35 euros. Children's clothing is just a feast for the eyes, the choice is the richest. Branded jeans, Wrangler, Lee - 40-50 euros. Well, in general, we are not shopping freaks, at least not with children. In general, the city leaves an extremely positive impression, and is deservedly considered the pearl of the Mediterranean. It is worth going to Mallorca just for the sake of the capital - Palma!!!
Separately visited the fortress of Belver. We managed to go straight to the fortress itself. Fairly, however, we traveled around the city, the streets are narrow, there are no landmarks, according to the law of meanness, when signs are needed, they end. However, somehow they spotted a turn to the Tower, and they noticed clearly not a regular bus that darted into this street. We hurried to the same place and did not make a mistake. From the top you have an unforgettable view of Palma. The entrance fee to the fortress is about the same as everywhere else. You can climb the fortress walls - the photos are wonderful, inside there is a kind of museum of various ancient household items of that era. This place is also a must visit!
We also went to the Playa de Muro beach with a stop on the way to the bird sanctuary - this is a large wetland, with paths for walking. The territory really abounds with a great variety of representatives of the bird world, I would say marsh birds. Unprecedented waterfowl, like ducks of all stripes and sizes. Something sings and whistles from all sides, quacks and croaks. You can drive by car directly to the entrance to the territory, and then on foot.
Phew… And that's not all. Such reviews, in the format of a short story, are written, to be honest, more for themselves. And without any conventions, and expectations of something, they are laid out in the public domain in an impersonal form, solely wanting to help those who, like us, are looking for the most detailed information. From experience we know how not easy it is to find unbiased and detailed reviews and draw from them useful nuances in life. In addition, as the years pass, many details are erased from memory and impressions fade, you can always re-read it right there - how was it? And again - how I went ). I am very sorry that I did not immediately begin to write down, in hot pursuit, my feelings, much has been lost, I'm afraid, irretrievably. Come on, this is a lyrical digression, before the new part - a visit to the neighboring island of Menorca!
We were going to visit Menorca from the very arrival. However, it was not easy to break away from Mallorca. Finally, having spent the evening on the Internet, they read and saved a pretty good review on the tablet. There were attempts to book something for a day - others on Minorca itself, but we could not do this via the Internet, and we did not dare to travel with two young children without a guaranteed base. In light of this, it was decided to book a hotel in Alcudia, at 8 in the morning the ferry leaves for Minorca, we spend the day there, at 19.30 the ferry goes back, we spend the night at the hotel and after that we spend the day in the north of the island, this is almost diametrically opposite to where we lived. However, a place to stay for the night was found only in Caen Picfort, a few kilometers from Alcudia. We decided that for a rabid dog 7 miles is not a hook, and sent a payment from the card for a room for 4 people, without breakfast - 70 euros. The next morning, we jumped up at 5 in the morning, dragged the sleeping children into the car, and drove through the darkness towards Palma, and there - to distant Alcudia ). So, now a few separately about the roads on the island - they are just wonderful! On the highway, the limit is 120, junctions and branches are thought out, the signs are easy to read, it is easy and comfortable to drive. What, however, cannot be said about parking lots - there are a lot of paid ones, especially in Palma, there are markings right on the roadway implying a payment receipt from the parking meter, indicating the time, under the glass of the car, if it is not there - get a penalty receipt for 60 euros under the glass! Arriving in any village, you have to turn around in search of a place where to stick a typewriter, sometimes the place was quite far from the destination. Another absurdity we noticed. There is a bypass road around Palma so as not to enter the city if you are in transit, not to waste time and not to collect traffic lights. However, there are no clear signs to it, you need to leave the highway, go to the understudy, and then you can get from it by some incomprehensible candebober to the bypass, from where all directions of the island from Palmanova to Cape Formentor are accessible. We only once, somehow managed to get to the bypass, without fully understanding exactly how. All the rest, numerous times, admired Palma from the car window. I made an unambiguous conclusion for myself, by the way, not for the first time - you need to buy a local SIM card with an Internet tariff, and, accordingly, use navigation using Yandex or Google maps, the maps are more than detailed, then you can avoid many, many incomprehensibility and loss of time.
So. Further. We arrived at the port of Alcudia. There are two ticket offices - one sells a ticket for the Bolearia ferries, the other for the Iscomar ferries. With a scientific poke we poked ourselves into the box office of Iskomar and bought tickets there and back. 60 euros per adult, 25 per child and 150 per car. I think so. I do not remember exactly. The total amount was some kind of curve - 301 euros with change. Mom and children went to load on the ferry along a separate corridor - a passage, and I went into the hold in a typewriter. In the morning there were not many cars and people at all.
The ferry itself is quite comfortable, inside there is everything for a normal pastime, but it is not as big as the one on which we sailed between the Canary Islands. On board, I read the port of registry - Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and my heart immediately warmed up , as if I had met a friend. (for some reason, Admiral Nelson, who lost his arm during the siege of Santa Cruz, came to mind). They sailed on schedule. And here is the first nuance, for some reason we missed it! Travel time to Ciutadella is 2.5 hours. Where did I get that swimming hour? I was just sure of it. From Palma, yes, you are tormented by sailing, but from Alcudia it is very close. Why, in fact, they rushed not the light of day to the first ferry. It turned out a fig. Filling the mountain with coffee, and eating it with baguettes with ham, they brought cartoons to the children and resigned themselves to reality. Why don't you jump overboard and swim back? I went up to the open deck to take pictures to my heart's content. Be that as it may, the earth appeared on the horizon. Menorca. Slowly moored in the bay, the sea is calm, people are not visible at all, unloaded from the ferry, and drove off - the first destination is the nearest beach.
It was Son Xoriguer (like so in Russian). The very same ride around Minorca seemed to us much simpler, (although much easier) there are very few cars, there are no exit options at all. People drive sluggishly and calmly at 70-80 km per hour. You start to overtake - they look with bewilderment; Like, where are you in a hurry? Further, there are very few gas stations on the island, you need to go there with a full tank of gasoline. The place itself, it seemed to us excessively calm, there were no people at all, cars - count all the free parking lots on the fingers, drove right close to the beach, and dragged all their numerous belongings onto it. The beach is very picturesque, the sea is calm, the people on the beach are mostly Germans, there are different sorts of Slovaks, well, Spanish speakers. The general atmosphere is much calmer. Everything is miniature, scaled down. In general, we really liked the beach, the children played enough, we swam, there were some small caves and gouges in the shore, very picturesque and unusual. It is difficult to convey the general situation - it is different than in Mallorca.
Further. We drove further along the island, and stopped at a place - Cala Galdana. A fairly developed village, with good infrastructure, shops, shops, restaurants, a very, very picturesque beach, clear water and some kind of peace and tranquility hanging in the air. Lying on the sand, he instantly disconnected from everything around him, and was cheered up only by a cheerful kick in the stomach from his daughter. Stop wallowing, let's go mad in the sea. The raid on local shops was very productive - T-shirts, clothes, shoes, souvenirs, much better and more beautiful than anything that we managed to catch in Mallorca. It’s better not to look at prices - well, don’t save money, you’re going to a piece of land lost by God and people. In general, the purchases made in this place, we were very pleased. Time is merciless, it does not delve into any subtleties, I had to pack up and go on. The pace of movement around the island is extremely unhurried, there are two traffic lanes, there and back, it’s not very successful to keep the usual 120-130 km per hour, the speed has to be kept at 70-80 km per hour. As much as we could, we drove around the island, looked out of the car, drove into settlements, didn’t get to the capital, Mahon, and decided in unison that there was nothing to do there. We arrived at Ciutadella - unloaded in the center and went for a walk around the town.
Ciutadella is a small and very picturesque, patriarchal town, we tried to drive around it by car - it was not easy. The organization of traffic for those who know the subtleties, the movement along the streets is mostly one-way, it is necessary to keep landmarks and the main direction, and in general only the center is worthy of attention. Ancient buildings, the Cathedral, a park with a playground. Yes! We tried to eat in Ciutadella during the day, or rather around 6 pm. It turned out not to be easy. We found a couple of cafes acting as restaurants, the kitchens were closed, only drinks and sandwiches, what the bartender does on his own. Hope for Paella and some local delights dissolved like sugar in water. I had to go to Burger King with the whole camp and, for insane money, gorge myself on sandwiches, potatoes, some salads. The portions are very large, the sandwiches are huge, but then the feeling in the stomach was about the same as after our McDonald's - the most disgusting. God forbid. Anyway, they ate, the children played on the playground and went to load on the ferry to Alcudia. Arrived with stock. But in vain. It was quite possible to walk in the city for another hour or two. It is not clear, however, what to do there. The ferry arrived late, loaded also very slowly. There were many more people and cars to Mallorca than in the morning. However, there were no problems with accommodation. Sailed back into the storm. Not a small ferry tossed down like a rollercoaster. None of us suffers from seasickness, but somehow this continuous rocking was oppressive. Some of the passengers were visibly hurt.
In Alcudia, we went to look for "our" Can Picafor and booked apartments in order to spend the night. Given all the delays, the time was around midnight. Nothing worked anywhere. Moreover, there was no hotel with that name in Can Picafort. In one of the working bars, we asked the bartender to help us, and only by email did he figure out what it was and where. Explained how to go. Somehow found. They woke up the administrator on duty, pushed him to