Mallorca (part two)

Well, on the second day, we took a bus out to Cote D’or on the east side of the island to visit a natural environment park called Mondrago.

Before we got on the bus at the bus station, I was once again struck by how amazing the coffee is in this place. I sat down at the bar in the bus station and ordered a coffee and croissant and enjoyed it thoroughly. The idea of coffee to go is not what they do here (not even in the bus station). Coffee is to be savoured, and if you want to go get some, it tastes the best if you drink it in the place where you bought it, in the little mug they give you. If you actually find a place that sells coffee to go it will assuredly not taste nearly as good.

Anyway, the bus ride took just about an hour, and we wandered around in the town at first before sitting down for lunch and then renting bikes to ride out to the park. I think riding bikes through the countryside is the best way to see places that are built up at such small scales as this. I mean, it was developed when the usual mode of transportation is walking, or carts, and the experience is entirely missed in fast-moving coach busses.



Despite the poor quality that is the standard rental bike, I enjoyed the 20min ride. This part of the island seemed drier than the lands around Palma, and the roads were narrow with low stone walls along them. It seemed almost quaint because the roads and towns were on such a small scale. Small fields, small towns situated near eachother, small houses, it was beautiful. But it quickly paled when we got to the park… which was GEORGEOUS:

The beach was unbelievably crowded - towel corners almost overlapped – but the waters were truly azul blue. The day was hot and we were sweaty from biking so we jumped in for a quick dip before taking up residence on the beach. We also walked around a bit and took multiple pictures while generally gazing around slack-jawed at the beauty. Natalia and I bought a fresh coconut from people on the beach, and I discovered that fresh coconut is really fantastic!

We stayed there for a number of hours.. watching people and being watched, napping, eating, swimming, laughing etc. On the bike ride back from the park, we meandered back along the coast and saw more of the nearby towns/resort developments. Aside from the numerous Germans around, many British ex-pats were running pubs and other stores (including our bike rental place) in Cote D’or. There was much discussion of the so-called “authentic experience” and whether or not it really existed, and if we have a right to experience it (if we, as tourists, are capable of experiencing it at all)