MALLORCA!

For the 4th of July holiday, we visited Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands, off the coast of Spain. It is definitely one of our favorite places, warm, beautiful, relaxing, and amazing climbing. We visited the island exactly a year ago as well, and it's just so good we had to return, this time with friends. Les and Michelle flew with us from Leipzig, and Stephen and Kris flew from Frankfurt and met us there.

Our apartment hotel was in the bustling tourist city Cala Millor, on the east part of the island, just north of all the climbing calas (bays). Mostly Germans seem to come to this part of the island, as well as British, which leads to some pretty funny and not so great restaurants littering the city every block, with karaoke every night in bars/game rooms. Our apartment, the Protur Playa Cala Millor was right by the beach, and we had a great balcony view overlooking the Mediterranean. I actually made a mistake and thought I booked the same place as last year, the Protur Atalaya, but this place was better because it was quieter at night.

Each day, we woke up and took everyone to the best deep water soloing beaches. We had perfect sunny hot days each day, making it great/mandatory to swim all the time. Frank and Stephen and Kris climbed the limestone overhanging cliffs each day, dropping into the water when too scared too go higher, or stuck at a crux, while Michelle, Les and I snorkeled and layed out on the beach, people watching. Les brought his underwater camera, allowing for some really cool shots! Stephen had a great eye for seeing octopuses and we got to see 2! As well as starfish, neato fish (even some flounder), urchins, and unfortunately, jellyfish with red scary stripes and tentacles. Our goal each day was to find a herp or amphibian for Les! Somehow, we were on the island for 5 days and did not see a single lizard, and even visited a Natural Park area! I take that back. Frank, while topping out Es Pontas, a crazy rock arch in the sea, saw and heard some lizards. However, none of the rest of us would/could climb the 70 foot arch to see them.

We arrived back on Sunday night at midnight and had to drive home so late! We had to stop several times and jump around to ensure we both could stay awake, arriving home at 3am! Can't believe the trip has come and gone so quickly. Our next big vacation will be when Michelle and Ray Ellington come. Now we just have to decide where to go! Kalmynos, Rodellar, Mallorca again? I will be showing quite a bit by then, only able to top rope :( But oh well, its hard to be too sad when the surroundings are so beautiful, which they will be if we go to any of those places.

View from our balcony in Cala Millor. Not bad.
Blowing up rafts to go exploring in


Beautiful cave at Cala Varques
The girls
S&K
S&F
F


This couple comes down to the beach at Cala Santanyi every day with a wheelbarrow full of fruit and starts yelling: bananas, melon, cocos! Over and over until they are sold out. Pretty funny. We couldn't resist. Frank drinking some coconut milk.
Es Pontas!






Not sure what Mandy is doing here...
Maybe trying to avoid one of these!

Frank sitting on top of Es Pontas

I'm ready to go back already!