I will soon write a blog post about our dog, our forever puppy, Stella. The day after we said goodbye to her, in this empty house, still smelling of her and all four of us looking out in the garden to see her laying on a sunny patch on the grass. In that space, we very impulsively agreed that we needed something to look forward to together. Within 30 minutes, we had decided the country, the date, the place, the hotel and bought the plane tickets. Nine days after, we were headed to Mallorca, Cala d’or in October. The family, two adults, two kids, missing their fifth member.
I usually love to cook with local greens but this time I just wanted to relax and have a completely hands-off experience and we ended up booking half-board in a hotel resort close to the Cala gran beach and Esmerelda beach.
The weather in Mallorca in October felt a bit like a mixed bag and ended up being bit of a mixed bag after both us and Storm decided to visit Mallorca in fall. We had thunder three nights, two half days with rain, two days with clear blue skies and one evening when the red alert for heavy rain, floods, and strong storms went off on everyones phone during dinner. But the weather did not stop us from swimming every day, pool or sea, and the temperature was in the pleasant part of the 20s even in overcast weather with the occasional sun burst.
Hate getting crumbs in my coffee, love her enthusiasm for dunking so I wouldn’t argue most days. Little leo girl, spotted too, my custome wedding ring by Alice Kaufmann.
Early flight home, just in time for sunrise.
Rainy day walk.
We stayed at Prinsotel Alba spa in Cala d’or. Due to our very spontaneous trip and around 30 minutes of decision making for the whole trip, we didn’t know exactly what we came too, other than we had half-board, an apartment and it was close to the beach. We’ve also never been on a charter or resort type of place. Hehe. We had a nice time and we learned that we’re not resort people. Hehe. When the aquagym class started blasting from the speakers with music, quite nice music too, but hearing come one let’s go and whooping, yeah but no. I get that people and kids love that. I don’t. I just want peace and quiet to the level a pool with kids and adults can deliver on that.
The staff in the hotel was so committed and hard-working. Even at the very end of the season. The hotel has it’s own manned barista station where guests got their coffee of choice freshly made at breakfast by a mature woman running that espresso machine and coffee line like a cornel at war- that’s a compliment. Such a hefty spirit and I love a woman with big arm movements. She kept calling me Maria, and I accepted.
The kids loved the buffet style breakfast. I mean, if you don’t find anything to suit your morning palett, you’re most likely dead. The plain croissants was surprisingly good, and I, Maria, loved having my second cappuccino with a croissant out in the golden morning sun with a croissant.
The buffet style dinner was a bigger hit for the kids than us. A self-serve ice cream station, you get it. As a pescetarian, that got a bit tired of fried fish, I had occational spagetti with tomato sauce and then had my picks at the salad station. All though I think the breakfast was a better match and deal, it’s really nice to food the kids love so close by reliably served everyday between 6 and 9. And then choose to eat dinner out if and when you want to.
Have you seen Spirited Away and the Deserted Town? Cala d’or reminded me of that. Beautiful but performative places where the food and the reviews do not match one bit. Like the El patio, both chatgpt and google reviews convinced me was a great place for a family of four looking for something taco’ish for lunch. Dude, the fuck. I got served store bought tortillas that was not even heated. Just bought in a grocery store, opened the pack and slapped cold on the plate. What is that. Like what the fuck is that. So that was 100+ euros I could have lit on fire instead to heat my own tortilla haha.
The last swim the night before returning home.
Rain or shine, never not pool ready.
Early morning flight and caught the sunrise on our way to Copenhagen.
Cala d’Or, in so many ways and places, feels performative. I don’t mind most days, and I won’t argue when the pistacchio gelato is pistacchioing like it did on Gelato la Pappa.
Out looking for the overpriced and poorly stocked supermarket because we got 3 x munchies after a rainy day.
These colors and everything, it gets me.
If we go another time to Cala d’or, because there is no doubt that Mallorca is a beautiful island. Isla bonita. Not sure I’m spanglishing or not. But if we return, we’d rent a car, rent a villa with a pool because being just us feels better, and perhaps not a tourist-dense place as Cala d’or. We went to Mallorca off season, in the middle of October. Going there in summer is a big no. Due to being the least heat-resistant creature and what I would imaging being packed.
I did not anticipate Mallorca florals and greenery to be that beautiful. Especially in the sloppy, golden october sun, I looked more up than ahead. Absolutely stunning into the bones.
The sea. Cala gran beach looks like a goddess has grinded up a mountain of emeralds and stirred it into the sea with the ragged rocky landscape in the cala’s surronding Cala d’or and that I’m sure can be found around the whole island. I think any person with a mutually beneficial relationship with beauty and nature would gasp the first time they can spot the Cala down the narrow pathway.
My idea of enjoying the beach does not consists of nearly sitting on the lap of the russian family behind us or having to next-levl tetris yourself and kids from your spot down to the sea and back up again. We swam and then back to the hotel. If that was how crowded the Cala gran was in mid-October on a sunny day, I can’t imagine how mid-july must be. Do people just stand side-ways in rows or what. That’s the only logistical solution I can think of.
We’re probably more picky to density of people and resort-vibes than most. Maybe a bit more introverty.
On our way for the vacation’s final pool swim. In the shade. So cold. Even when denied through stiff jaws and bluish lips. Still so nice
Thought I had to leave half og mye clothes for shells. Only had to leave all my travel soaps and creams and wrestled that carry-on shutttt.
This should be the actual meaning of a thirst trap.
It looks like crushed emeralds strirred in by sirens, doesn’t it. And that contrast when the sun hits the jagged, golden bay is a sight worth the trip.
It’s probably very beautiful here during spring and summer too. But that low, golden, October sun is something else.
Nothing but salt and sand. Except those tiny freaking fish biting your feet. A kind Dutch couple kindly explained to me ‘the don’t have teeth’. Which is nice and all, and I’d prefer them teethless. But still tho, getting snapped and getting so jolted I dunked my four year old twice, is not a beach deal for me.
Post lunch after the lovely meal on Chrimalù. Food, setting, staff, dog. So chill.
Where ever I am, there you are. Not sure who’s following who. Ahaha.
Brought too few pants and sweaters for visiting Mallorca the same week as Storm Adam.
Yes, yes, yes. Chrimalù starters that hit the spot just right.
If you put burratta and pistachio in the same dish, I won’t even have choice when ordering. I love big pasta, so the paccheri was suberb here. Amazing dish, but I think for me, pistachio is for deserts and other sweets or dry in food for salt. They were to sweet for a main dish for me. But all three of these, I love 12/10!
The angle does not show that this poolside Mojito was the size of my head. Also had a two hour nap that day.
View from our apartment. That autumn sun.
4 x chill.
Tones and sun and everything. I probably have more photos of the light and plants than of people.
Just a very cozy photo because we look so much a like but she’s really her father’s daughter.
Yeah. Needs no narrating, no?!
Very cold, very nice.
Poolside food truck with nice fries.
I took this photo to place beside the potted banana palm I have on my window sill here in Denmark for motivational purposes.
