Mallorca

At the beginning of October, I hopped on a plane and headed for one of my favorite places: Spain! This time, solo and headed for the Balearic island of Mallorca! After a quick connection in Madrid, I landed in Palma, picked up my rental Fiat 500 and started my short journey north through Sóller to the village of Fornalutx.

I stopped for some basic groceries not far from the airport. When I parked, I pulled in against a large concrete wall. After returning, I put the groceries in the back hatch, turned the car on and discovered I couldn’t figure out how to put the car in reverse. I tried a few different options but nothing worked. I thought maybe there was something wrong with the car and began to get a little flustered. I took a few deep breaths and slowed down. A quick Google search revealed I simply needed to pull up on the ring at the base of the shifter. This unlocked the reverse gate, I was on my way and I was thankful for the knowledge before I NEEDED to use reverse.

I made it!

I successfully navigated the busy roads of Palma and Sóller, had a blast in the mountains on MA-10 and was challenged by the tiny streets of Fornalutx.

Fornalutx is considered one of the most beautiful villages in all of Spain and I have no opinions to counter that! Secluded in the mountains, it is a great place to slow down and enjoy nature. If you’re looking for good exercise, there are hiking trails all around, connecting to other villages, creating a unique way to explore the area.

While I did leave Fornalutx to explore, walking down into the village from my Airbnb was my favorite. I spent most of my time admiring the olive tree lined roads, the orange trees beginning to fruit. I meandered the cobble stone streets and alleys, taking photos at nearly every intersection. It was a pleasant mix of locals, expats and tourists. I sat in the small square, ate delicious food, enjoyed refreshing drinks and journaled!

Heading back to the Airbnb took a little longer since it was mostly uphill. When I would round the last corner, the best thing of the trip would happen: Alfred the donkey, who belonged to the Airbnb host, would start braying! I’d say hey, give him a pat on the head and we repeated daily. It was comforting to start and end the day with him!

“Do nothing” vacations are my favorite. I’m provided the opportunity to slow down and ground myself in the moments. I love to see different paces and ways of life. The light seems different. The air feels lighter. I’m more aware of the simple things in life. In this case: unfamiliar birds chirping, the sheep rattling their bells as they grazed the stepped hillsides, the sunset, the roosters down in the village echoing up to my Airbnb to wake me in the morning. My mind finds peace in these moments.