Day Twenty-Two (Thursday 16th April) - The Wrong Beach, Unexpected Tales & Mrs Hughes
Okay, so I didn't get to the beach again today! Bummer. It was kind of a miserable day, it rained on and off and every time I thought I'd zip to the beach, the rain came down. Stayed put.
So today's beach photo of the day is of a beach in Mallorca. It's called Cala s'Almonia and it's utterly stunning. But we call it "the wrong beach"! Here's why.
August 2019 - Brett and I are in Mallorca (Balearics) staying with friends Jill and Peter (London) at their lovely second home in Molinar. It's just far enough away from Palma to be authentic local living but close enough that you can walk there along the waterfront - past lots of lovely tapas bars!
Son Sam and girlfriend Anna are travelling about Europe and they come join us. We enjoy five fab days of laughter, food, wine and beautiful scenery.
One day we set out to visit an Instagram-able beach that Sam and Anna's friends had been to and had recommended "go". It did look pretty special. Jill and Peter hadn't been to that part of the island, and so we drive off for a day trip of discovery.
It's perfect weather, it's busy and parking in the vicinity is a bit of a nightmare, but we find a space. There's a sign saying playa (beach in Spanish) with an arrow. We follow the arrow, with hordes of others. Along that road, turn into that lane, down some steps, down more steps. There are a lot of steps. It's hot. We get to the bottom of all those steps and ... there is the sea, but where the hell is the beach!?!?
Although the most stunning piece of nature stretches out in front of us, this is not the recommended beach in the photo. This is not even a beach! The photos Sam and Anna had shown us showcased a perfect horseshoe beach at the base of cliffs, one of those secluded magical places like in the film "The Beach". We are not in that place. This is a lagoon. There is no sand, only rocks. WTF?
Okay, so the water looks pretty inviting - even to me, the non-swimmer. But how the hell do we even get to it? It involves a tricky downhill rock climb from whichever angle you take.
Sam and Anna (they're young and agile) quickly make their way into the inviting water. Brett (he's agile but not young) joins them shortly after. Jill, Peter and I are dubious about the whole thing. Jill and Peter are more agile than me and off they go too. I am alone on the rocks.
Watching all those people in the sparkling turquoise warm Mediterranean waters is just too enticing and, soon enough, much to my own and everyone else's surprise, I'm picking my way down those rocks towards that gorgeous water! It's downright treacherous but I manage it and am soon swimming out into the lagoon towards the others.
Jill cannot believe her eyes when I come breast-stroking towards her with a cheery wave! We've known each other for 40 years and she's probably seen me swim twice! She's in hysterics. Sam and Brett are speechless.
Now, this water in the lagoon is warm as a bath and also incredibly salty - makes you bob about like a cork. It's like the Dead Sea, like Olu Deniz (Turkey). It's brilliant. No swimming is required! Just brilliant bobbity bob bob bob, hang there in the water and float with ease. Perfection.
The place is like a beautiful natural swimming pool, sort of enclosed by rocks and cliffs which people are walking all over and jumping off. It's a water playground like no other.
Our initial disappointment about this not being the beach we set out to find had turned to euphoria and I have to say this was one of the best swims of my recent life! Totally different to a dip in the tropical waters of the Pacific or a dunk in the waves at Omaha. It had gravitas and a surreal quality, and I did not want to get out!
Overall, it's a "beach" for young people - staggering down rocky faces to get to the water is not what older folk seek, there are no flat bits where you can spread a towel to lie down and relax, no cafe on the waterfront serving a cold beer (although a couple of enterprising teenagers were selling cold cans of soft drink).
Having said that, it's a beach like no other I've encountered in my life before. And it wasn't even a beach!
So where exactly was that beach we were supposedly headed for? Well, it was called Calo d'Es Moro and it was very nearby - but in the opposite direction to the arrow that directed the hordes to s'Almonia. The sign here tells the story. Everyone was going in the direction of the arrow and I rather suspect that those who still want to keep Calo d'Es Moro a secret forever added that red Playa arrow to divert people away! People really are sheep!
I did read up more about Calo d'Es Moro later - apparently the descent is difficult and not for the faint-hearted. Takes 15+ minutes if you're fit. And that's just getting down there. Bugger all that, leave it to the youngies! Especially in that heat without a beer in sight!
I was very happy with s'Almonia and the memories of my unexpected swim in that beautiful lagoon at "the wrong beach" in Mallorca will linger with me forever.
MORAL of the story ... more often than not the supposedly "wrong" thing can turn out to be so spot-on right! Always give things a chance.
Brunch: bacon, egg, avocado and tomato English muffins, yum.
Dinner: Michael was going to make chicken pesto pasta. It had been the plan last night until we forgot to get the chicken out of the freezer yesterday. We defrosted the chicken today but it had a bit of freezer burn, looked a little dubious. We weren't convinced so the chicken got ditched and we had leftovers instead! It was plentiful and tasty and only the microwave was required!
Which worked out all good, as we had a family Zoom gathering with Sam in London. They've just had lockdown extended over there for another three weeks. He's just been furloughed at work so won't be working from next week, but he will be paid full salary till end May. Their local "get out and walk" territory is Hampstead Heath. Beautiful. He's happy enough. And sporting a moustache. As is Michael. What's with the moustasches boys? So 70s. Talking of which ...
SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Tales of the Unexpected ...
In Day Nineteen's post I talked about Roald Dahl and how much I love his adult stories, which are generally overlooked in favour of his children's stories.
I've read all his adult tales, and tonight I took some time to watch a few of his stories on YouTube - Tales of the Unexpected.
Dark and twisted ...
There is always a dark undertone and a twist to his stories, children and adult alike. The twist can be subtle or it can be confronting and the adult tales are sophisticated and subtle. There is also a scathing humour that lurks beneath.
I watched several of the tales tonight ... they're only 20 minutes long and I could have stayed up all night watching more. But I wanted to finish my blog! Some of the tales on Tales of the Unexpected are not Dahl's and I watched one of those as well - it was in the same league, menacing and with a twist. But Dahl is in a league of his own.
I've read the tales I watched tonight - but still, the twist takes me by surprise every time. That's the cleverness of Dahl.
Come-Uppance ...
Most of Dahl's stories involve miserable, cruel and/or greedy old men who take pleasure in controlling women. Thing is, these women are mostly savvy, younger and switched-on ... and ultimately subtley get their measure of those old codgers in the end. None of the men see it coming. And neither do the women - until the moment arises when they realise they can deliver a come-uppance that is both shocking and satisfying in the most unlikely of ways.
There's an element of naivety in many of the younger characters. An element of nuttiness in most of the women. And an element of bully in all of the men.
Clever and confronting ...
Reading Dahl's written stories will deliver much more detail than watching the screen versions, but all the same they do justice to the essence of his stories. Delivering delight and suspense, they're very watchable, even if very dated. It's all so 1970s, with stars from back then (Susan George, Elaine Stritch) and there's always an engaging and thought-provoking introduction by Roald Dahl himself. Watch one or two - you'll likely find yourself wanting to watch more. The stories are confronting on many levels.
But reading them is best, without a doubt.
The general theme of Dahl's tales is that women will always have the upper hand over men in the end. I wonder what his fodder was, because all writers get their ideas from an inkling of reality. Nothing is ever written from nothing.
Dahl - genius!
And with that, I'll leave you with this video of the wonderful comedienne Mrs Hughes.
https://www.mrshughes.com/
So today's beach photo of the day is of a beach in Mallorca. It's called Cala s'Almonia and it's utterly stunning. But we call it "the wrong beach"! Here's why.
 |
| Beach photo of the day - Cala s'Almonia, Mallorca, Spain |
August 2019 - Brett and I are in Mallorca (Balearics) staying with friends Jill and Peter (London) at their lovely second home in Molinar. It's just far enough away from Palma to be authentic local living but close enough that you can walk there along the waterfront - past lots of lovely tapas bars!
Son Sam and girlfriend Anna are travelling about Europe and they come join us. We enjoy five fab days of laughter, food, wine and beautiful scenery.
One day we set out to visit an Instagram-able beach that Sam and Anna's friends had been to and had recommended "go". It did look pretty special. Jill and Peter hadn't been to that part of the island, and so we drive off for a day trip of discovery.
It's perfect weather, it's busy and parking in the vicinity is a bit of a nightmare, but we find a space. There's a sign saying playa (beach in Spanish) with an arrow. We follow the arrow, with hordes of others. Along that road, turn into that lane, down some steps, down more steps. There are a lot of steps. It's hot. We get to the bottom of all those steps and ... there is the sea, but where the hell is the beach!?!?
Although the most stunning piece of nature stretches out in front of us, this is not the recommended beach in the photo. This is not even a beach! The photos Sam and Anna had shown us showcased a perfect horseshoe beach at the base of cliffs, one of those secluded magical places like in the film "The Beach". We are not in that place. This is a lagoon. There is no sand, only rocks. WTF?
Okay, so the water looks pretty inviting - even to me, the non-swimmer. But how the hell do we even get to it? It involves a tricky downhill rock climb from whichever angle you take.
 |
| Tricky rock climb down to water! |
Sam and Anna (they're young and agile) quickly make their way into the inviting water. Brett (he's agile but not young) joins them shortly after. Jill, Peter and I are dubious about the whole thing. Jill and Peter are more agile than me and off they go too. I am alone on the rocks.
Watching all those people in the sparkling turquoise warm Mediterranean waters is just too enticing and, soon enough, much to my own and everyone else's surprise, I'm picking my way down those rocks towards that gorgeous water! It's downright treacherous but I manage it and am soon swimming out into the lagoon towards the others.
 |
| Best entry point, still tricky to get there |
Jill cannot believe her eyes when I come breast-stroking towards her with a cheery wave! We've known each other for 40 years and she's probably seen me swim twice! She's in hysterics. Sam and Brett are speechless.
Now, this water in the lagoon is warm as a bath and also incredibly salty - makes you bob about like a cork. It's like the Dead Sea, like Olu Deniz (Turkey). It's brilliant. No swimming is required! Just brilliant bobbity bob bob bob, hang there in the water and float with ease. Perfection.
The place is like a beautiful natural swimming pool, sort of enclosed by rocks and cliffs which people are walking all over and jumping off. It's a water playground like no other.
Our initial disappointment about this not being the beach we set out to find had turned to euphoria and I have to say this was one of the best swims of my recent life! Totally different to a dip in the tropical waters of the Pacific or a dunk in the waves at Omaha. It had gravitas and a surreal quality, and I did not want to get out!
Overall, it's a "beach" for young people - staggering down rocky faces to get to the water is not what older folk seek, there are no flat bits where you can spread a towel to lie down and relax, no cafe on the waterfront serving a cold beer (although a couple of enterprising teenagers were selling cold cans of soft drink).
Having said that, it's a beach like no other I've encountered in my life before. And it wasn't even a beach!
So where exactly was that beach we were supposedly headed for? Well, it was called Calo d'Es Moro and it was very nearby - but in the opposite direction to the arrow that directed the hordes to s'Almonia. The sign here tells the story. Everyone was going in the direction of the arrow and I rather suspect that those who still want to keep Calo d'Es Moro a secret forever added that red Playa arrow to divert people away! People really are sheep!
I did read up more about Calo d'Es Moro later - apparently the descent is difficult and not for the faint-hearted. Takes 15+ minutes if you're fit. And that's just getting down there. Bugger all that, leave it to the youngies! Especially in that heat without a beer in sight!
I was very happy with s'Almonia and the memories of my unexpected swim in that beautiful lagoon at "the wrong beach" in Mallorca will linger with me forever.
MORAL of the story ... more often than not the supposedly "wrong" thing can turn out to be so spot-on right! Always give things a chance.
Brunch: bacon, egg, avocado and tomato English muffins, yum.
Dinner: Michael was going to make chicken pesto pasta. It had been the plan last night until we forgot to get the chicken out of the freezer yesterday. We defrosted the chicken today but it had a bit of freezer burn, looked a little dubious. We weren't convinced so the chicken got ditched and we had leftovers instead! It was plentiful and tasty and only the microwave was required!
Which worked out all good, as we had a family Zoom gathering with Sam in London. They've just had lockdown extended over there for another three weeks. He's just been furloughed at work so won't be working from next week, but he will be paid full salary till end May. Their local "get out and walk" territory is Hampstead Heath. Beautiful. He's happy enough. And sporting a moustache. As is Michael. What's with the moustasches boys? So 70s. Talking of which ...
SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Tales of the Unexpected ...
In Day Nineteen's post I talked about Roald Dahl and how much I love his adult stories, which are generally overlooked in favour of his children's stories.
I've read all his adult tales, and tonight I took some time to watch a few of his stories on YouTube - Tales of the Unexpected.
Dark and twisted ...
There is always a dark undertone and a twist to his stories, children and adult alike. The twist can be subtle or it can be confronting and the adult tales are sophisticated and subtle. There is also a scathing humour that lurks beneath.
I watched several of the tales tonight ... they're only 20 minutes long and I could have stayed up all night watching more. But I wanted to finish my blog! Some of the tales on Tales of the Unexpected are not Dahl's and I watched one of those as well - it was in the same league, menacing and with a twist. But Dahl is in a league of his own.
I've read the tales I watched tonight - but still, the twist takes me by surprise every time. That's the cleverness of Dahl.
Come-Uppance ...
Most of Dahl's stories involve miserable, cruel and/or greedy old men who take pleasure in controlling women. Thing is, these women are mostly savvy, younger and switched-on ... and ultimately subtley get their measure of those old codgers in the end. None of the men see it coming. And neither do the women - until the moment arises when they realise they can deliver a come-uppance that is both shocking and satisfying in the most unlikely of ways.
There's an element of naivety in many of the younger characters. An element of nuttiness in most of the women. And an element of bully in all of the men.
Clever and confronting ...
Reading Dahl's written stories will deliver much more detail than watching the screen versions, but all the same they do justice to the essence of his stories. Delivering delight and suspense, they're very watchable, even if very dated. It's all so 1970s, with stars from back then (Susan George, Elaine Stritch) and there's always an engaging and thought-provoking introduction by Roald Dahl himself. Watch one or two - you'll likely find yourself wanting to watch more. The stories are confronting on many levels.
But reading them is best, without a doubt.
The general theme of Dahl's tales is that women will always have the upper hand over men in the end. I wonder what his fodder was, because all writers get their ideas from an inkling of reality. Nothing is ever written from nothing.
Dahl - genius!
And with that, I'll leave you with this video of the wonderful comedienne Mrs Hughes.
https://www.mrshughes.com/
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