Join me on my travels.
First, I packed.
Then I met Mary Kate in Palma for a walk.
And another church. Basilica de Sant Miquel.
And a final dinner in Santa Maria Del Cami!
Signing off until next time – unless something fun happens at the airport. Here’s hoping not!!
We went to the market in Pollença. This is a weekly event that pretty much takes over the town.
Then we went through the Esglèsia de Nostra Senyora dels Àngels (Our Lady of the Angels) which was built by the Knights Templar and has an amazing ceiling and rose window.
There are four churches in the relatively small town. A lot of hills and stairs.
Tomorrow, It’s my last day.
It has been a very fun trip.
So here’s the reason I bring 3 1/2 pounds of ballast in my luggage (in the form of a camera), I like to take photos. And boy does my daughter find great places to take me!
Let’s start with landscapes!
Insects
And birds!
And just so you know I’m not the only one in my family who takes photos, here are some of Mary Kate’s.
We rented bikes and rode up the coast of Alcúdia.
A fun day. In spite of getting lost several times.
Beach time! Luckily the water is getting warmer!
More sightseeing tomorrow!
So I’ve joked that this trip was really just a different time zone, location, and daughter, but really more like staying at home. I’d bike several days a week and spend evenings with a daughter. My normal life.
But now we’re on vacation in Alcudia.
We drove through Sineu.
Then on to Alcudia.
Then dinner and dessert!
Tomorrow, you’ll never guess what we’re doing!
Got one final ride in today. 50 miles and about 2400 feet of climbing. We rode by lots of lovely fields, saw sheep, goats and horses. Serious bicyclists don’t stop to take photos!
Cooler today, and some rain. So high 60s in both temperature and humidity.
And finally, paella!
And dinner
Mary Kate had work, so off I went for another solo ride. Unfortunately, the roads are narrow and there is quite a bit of traffic, so not a lot of stopping for photos.
Then we had a nice dinner and splurged with dessert!
It’s been 150 mile week. I think I’ll skip biking for a couple of days! 😁
We drove to Sóller. There are two ways: through the tunnel – only cars; up the road using switchbacks – bikes allowed. Mary Kate drove up the switchbacks. No way in heck am I riding up and down that on my bike!
I’ll figure out a different ride for tomorrow. 😁
Finally got into the Church of San Bartolome in Sóller. There’s a big festival there for the Saints Day, so the church was decked with flowers. It’s a very pretty church.
Then, had fun wandering through Sóller. With a coffee break of course!
Then we came home through the tunnel. I love my daughter!
Today, my daughter wanted me to join her at the end of her day for her percussion class. She wanted me to take the bus. Funny woman! I have an e-bike, why would I take the bus? So off for a bike ride I went.
First to Bunyola.
The on to Valldemossa
Then on to Esporles, where she works.
And lunch!
It was a fun ride. I just might do it again next week.
Tomorrow, we’re off to hike in Sóller and hopefully see the cathedral which has been closed both times I’ve been there. 🤞🏻
Another beautiful day riding. Slightly colder. A little more climbing, but lovely country. We rode to Randa and Montuiri.
But I’m really excited about tomorrow! Look what came back to Santa Maria del Cami with me!
I’ve been here twice. And both times were driven around quite a but. Today, I got to see things in a bike.
Tomorrow is another ride. 👍🏻
First up was a walk to the market. This is a weekly market. Lots of families and dogs. And everything you might need!
Neighborhood color …
My goal tomorrow…
Then heading towards Orient searching for birds and flowers. A hot and humid walk in the sun.
Today was a much easier day! Got up late, went shopping with my daughter.
Helped with a minor home repair, and survived the curse of this apartment. (No matter how easy the repair task – it was only the aerator on the bathroom faucet – it won’t be easy or straightforward! But we got it fixed.)
Home improvement is definitely more difficult here! It’s not just a language barrier, it’s also a brand barrier!
We ended the day at a favorite restaurant, C’an Cannoli.
Some photos from her Santa Maria del Cami.
And ended the day with a neighborhood show, Espectacle Sa Nit de Sa Bubota.
Lots of families and kids there. I hope they sleep well. I’m sure I will!
Mary Kate called, so here I go! Back to Mallorca again. This time, I’m renting a bike. 😁
A delayed takeoff from SFO due to high wind meant I missed my flight to Palma. Note to self, 1 1/2 layover in Madrid is not enough especially when you’re 30 minutes late arriving. (Passport control and a security checkpoint plus tram rides to different sections take a lot of time.)
Iberia was great and booked me on the next flight.
So, I got on the plane, we taxied out, started the run up to takeoff, and the pilot stopped the plane due to a bird getting caught in the engine. We got escorted back to the terminal by emergency vehicles.
And I thought this was going to be a quiet vacation.
Still in the Madrid airport. But we have a different plane, they’re moving the luggage. 🤷🏼♀️ And Mary Kate is well aware of everything. I’m sure I’ll get to her place.
Soon.
Maybe …
Wondering how big a bird got caught. I heard someone say, “no body”.
For those who worry, I am tired, ready to be with Mary Kate, but okay. Thanks to my trainer, Sean, I can haul all my carryons, up stairs, down ramps, and get them into the overhead bins. No problem!
For the next week or so, I’ll be reviewing and processing the photos.
I find waves fascinating. We were at a location where we could photograph them from the side, and catch the curl. Here are some of my favorites. Since it was right around sunset, the reflection of the colors from the nearby hill made some amazing colors in the water.
My flight for Sunday on Alaska Airlines got canceled. Thank you Boeing. Mary Kate found me a flight home today to SFO, so I will be home tomorrow. But since I don’t fly out until 4, I had some time to play with.
I got to go snorkeling!
The iPhone does well taking underwater photos, but the case I have for it doesn’t work well. Luckily, it got stuck on video and I pulled these photos from that.
Guess I need a new way to take photos underwater before I come back.
Sunrise at the Waipi’o Valley Lookout
A turtle at Anaeho’omalu beach and Paulo beach
Playing with waves at Honaunau-Kealakekua, Koloa at sunset. We weren’t the only ones!
We started out looking for the beach at Laupahoehoe, but were blocked by fire ant spraying. Of course, the sun rises whether or not you get to the beach in time. So after consulting with another guide. Our guide took us we to Onomea Bay.
In between, I took a walk at the nearby park and found … birds!
The off to Rainbow falls for sunset.
The big question, how many photos does a photographer take of the falls? You really, don’t want to know or look at all the photos!
A bigger question is do you like the water photographed so it is stopped or smooth?
Photos from the phone
Lots of photos.
A few from the iPhone.
Lots of time driving from one side of the island to another. With, of course, photo stops.
This trip is mostly about landscape photography. Nature photography is fast. See the bird. Take photo of the bird. Landscape photography is slower. See the pretty overlook. Figure out how to compose the best picture.
For sunset, we played with the shutter speed. If you slow down shutter speed, you blur the water. Not sure what I think about these. As usual, there were definitely more to choose from.
Tomorrow we’re shooting a waterfall. Then Volcanoes National Park. Unfortunately, the volcano isn’t erupting. Maybe it will start by morning!
So I’m on a photo tour. The difference between this type of trip and the one I just took with my daughters – I’ve taken over 700 photos in one day instead of 700 photos over 2 weeks. Plus I have two camera bodies, three lenses inside a pack that weighs about 18 pounds, plus a tripod. Still, this is my idea of fun!
So here we go …
Hoping for turtles on a beach tomorrow morning.
We managed to find a flock of Flamingos in S’Albufera Nature Reserve near Alcúdia. I had been there when I went to Mallorca in 2022, but it wasn’t the right season for the flamingos.
We are all home now. Over our jet lag and missing our time in Spain. It was a wonderful trip.
Hope you all enjoyed the photos. See you again soon!
We took a walk through Palma …
So what do we do when we travel? We go to aquariums, and Palma has a fun one.
We took a ride on the glass bottom boat to look at the sharks!
And then the walk thru Palma and the Cathedral with beautiful stained glass.
Beautiful country today.
Drove to Sóller and walked around the town and botanical garden at the Museu Balear de Ciències Naturals.
Then on to Valldemossa.
Coming into the last few days. My exercise app is truly impressed with the amount of walking I’ve done. (It sent me a note.) I’m simply tired.
Mary Kate and I enjoyed the Caves so much last time I was here that we wanted to take Holly there this time. Unlike the Alhambra where we all froze, the caves were nice and warm!
At Porto Christo
Went to search for another flock of flamingos. Google maps sent us driving.
We arrived in Mallorca and all collapsed into different areas of Mary Kate’s apartment. Sightseeing is exhausting!
I did bring another camera for better bird photos, but I forgot the dongle for transferring photos from the card to my iPad. Photos will follow when I get home.
Definitely more enjoyable from a photography standpoint. Lots of walking. Cold but clear and sunny. Beautiful place with amazing Islamic architecture.
We saw the Cathedral and the Tombs of Isabel and Ferdinand of Spain. (Think Columbus.) No photos in the Tombs unfortunately. I always find Cathedrals confusing. So many riches. Such large buildings.
And then up the hill to the tower Church of Saint Nicolas for sunset.
We took the train from Sevilla to Granada. Our room here is a bit different. No reception desk, instead we had to use codes to get in. Then we had to get our luggage up the stairs to the 2nd floor. But the room is huge with a kitchen, dining area and two separate sleeping areas. The location is great! The shower is tiny, but we’ll make do.
There were clouds today. They make the lighting less harsh – fewer shadows. And the sky was beautiful.
We went into the cathedral and up the bell tower – the Giralda. Since this was originally the minaret for the mosque, there is a ramp instead of stairs. We got there early enough to walk pretty quickly most of the way. Then the line got slower. Well worth the amazing views!
Tomorrow, we take the train to Granada.
The lights here are amazing. Much different from Willow Glen. Here they’re pu up by the town. Really beautiful. Lots of people come out and walk the streets at night, some of which are closed to traffic all the time. The bars are busy. People are laughing and talking. An amazing atmosphere.
On the downside, the air quality is awful. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire sends up a lot of smoke. You can see it in the photos.
The Barber of Sevilla was fun. Set in the 70s, complete with a VW Van!
Arrived yesterday. It’s definitely colder here.
Saw the Royal Alcazar today.
Tonight, the Opera! What do you see in Sevilla? Rossini’s The Barber of Sevilla, of course.
Christmas feels different when traveling.
Parc Güell was amazing. We were greeted by Monk Parrots from Argentina. Then on to Gaudí’s masterpieces. The Parc Güell was planned to a developed community with homes. Now it’s a lovely park.
Then we took the metro to the Sagrada Familia and Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau for a light show.
Merry Christmas to all!
Around the Gothic Quarter and the Cathedral.
Barcelona has an aquarium, so, of course, we went!
The end of our day…
Barcelona is known for its Christmas markets. They’re in every area. Last night, we were by the port Vell in Barceloneta.
And for those of you who know me, I always forget to take photos of my food.
We arrived last night.
We went to La Sagrada Familia this morning. Lots of photos!
More adventures in store after our siestas.
It’s been Mary Kate’s hope that we would come and spend Christmas with her in Spain. So, today, it starts. Holly and I are off to meet Mary Kate in Barcelona!
We arrived early to make sure we’d get to our flight on time.
Land iguanas, giant tortoises, a Galapagos Flycatcher, and a hermit crab. Holly was in reptile heaven.
Kayaking, snorkling and a panga ride. – No rest on this trip!
We got to take a Panga Ride searching for wildlife by the mangroves. Get out the bug spray!!
We did a dry landing through the mangrove trees at Punta Espinoza.
The snorkeling off the zodiac. I was trying out a iphone underwater case. Not sure …
Afternoon activities: Rabida Island, wet landing, hike and snorkeling from the beach. Then Kayaking!
The trip we chose was very strenuous. With at least one walk, snorkel or kayak trip in the morning and another in the afternoon. (Also, no internet, so I couldn’t do the blog posts daily.)
Every time we left the ship, we loaded the zodiacs to go to a beach – rocky or sandy, or a section of the ocean. We had wet landings – hop off the boat into the surf; dry landings – climb out of the boat onto lava rocks; snorkeling – drop off the side into the ocean; or climb into the kayak from the zodiac.
Keep in mind that many of us had camera gear plus whatever else we wanted to carry for the hike. Luckily, I have a water bag to protect the camera and my iPhone. Plus, I managed to stay dry, when appropriate, and only wet below the mid thigh on wet landings.
Mosquera Island
Enjoyed a local market.
Then we went to Old Town and Museo Casa del Alabado.
On to a fabulous lunch with a surprise ice cream dessert.
Then the botanical gardens. It’s surprising how many plants also grow in San Jose. But not the ones pictured.
A fun day! Tomorrow, the Galapagos!
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