On Mallorca

There are a few places that are famous or maybe even infamous as holiday places, where almost everyone in Sweden has been at some time. Mallorca is one of them. The funny thing is that even though I have travelled quite a lot I have never been to any of them. So this visit to Mallorca was something quite new to me. Ok, it was still very far from the standard charter trip that most people go for, as I flew with a regular airline and stayed in a house that my friends had rented, very far from the most hectic beaches. Hence it was very nice.



The House


However the last night we had a hotel in Palma which gave far more of a tourist feeling. We were still not staying in the most exploited parts along the beach but in the city centre, but we went to the beach for a couple of hours. It was nice as it was very sunny and warm, but the beaches were very crowded and not so nice like the ones closer to the house, but still ok.



One of the beaches closer to the house.


However some of my friends came up with the idea to go to where the German colony is gathering in Palma. As I used to live in Germany I was familiar with the place too as you often see broadcasts from there in German TV. Ballerman 6 is it called. The most famous place is obvious the Oberbayern. It is really infamous and we just felt we had to see it, just for a short visit before going to dinner in town.

We did not know exactly where it was but started moving in the direction where it had to be. Getting closer we saw a lot of signs but still could not find it. We where all a bit embarrassed to ask the way there, but in the end we send forward the only German of our group to ask other German looking people, which was easy to find. Then we were informed that it was still a bit early for the Oberbayern, at this time they recommended Bierkönig.

We walked the suggested direction and when we turned around the last corner we were all almost chocked and terrified. Just around the bend from the beach walk there was this street with all bright neon light for different very German institutions and there were hordes of very drunk people already at this time.



I think we all felt a little bit scared and intimidated and almost wanted to turn around. But nevertheless we entered the Bierkönig and ordered beer. We did not say anything about the size of our beers so automatically we got litres! And they came with metre-long straws!?! Amazing!! We laughed quite a lot and felt rather out of place, probably most of all so the only Spanish in our group, and probably the only Spanish guest there at all. After all, the beer was very good and we were laughing a lot. I just don’t understand why hell all the tackiness and the bad music.

"Fighting" the Bulls??

When I arrived at Mallorca some of my friends who were already there had arranged tickets to the Corrida for that evening’s bull fighting. I had never thought I would go to see one as I always have felt it is a cruel and senseless “sport”, but as I now was given the opportunity and also am of the opinion you should try things if you get a chance, to be able to really know what to think of it; I joined. It was some excitement in the air around the arena and there was also some demonstrations outside it. When we walked pas the demonstrators I almost felt guilty and thought that I would have actually held it more likely that I should have been demonstrating outside than go in to watch the fight.

However, we went in and there was a quite exciting atmosphere and the arena was very beautiful and we were all rather excited and almost a bit nervous, at least those of us who had not seen bull fighting before. Then it all started!

I think the first game got us all a bit chocked. Well maybe I can not say that I was really chocked. I mean I grew up on a farm and saw animals being slaughtered already as a small child, so I have seen animals die and have seen lots of blood etc. But then it was always a matter of trying to make it as quick and painless as possible for the animal. It was quite a different thing to watch people trying to extend it and make it into some kind of game and torture of the poor animal and then finally kill it in a very disrespectful way. I found that very hard to digest.

Of course I can not see all the fine details of the moves and gestures the toreador is performing in the arena, but I must anyway say that I can not see that it should be such a manly thing full of bravery. I mean; when the toreador finally gets on his own with the bull, scores of assistants, picadors and banderilleros have already done their best to tire the animal as well as empty it on blood so it is by then almost half-dead.

No I must say this is no “sport” for me. After the first bull, five more met their fate in the ring that night and I must say, in the end it got only boring and tedious. There is no real excitement or surprise in the game as you know the outcome of the game; the bull will die in the end.

I agree with my gay friend who I was sitting next to, the greatest attraction of the evening was watching the toreadors butts in their tight pants…



The toreadors and their cuadrillas enter the stage with a lot of tamtam. But my gay friend said the outfits and the toreador's pink stockings reminded him more of a Gay pride parade.



I cheered for the bull!!



The picador at work. I felt sorry not only for the bull, but also for the horse.



Then finally, when the bull ist almost alredy half dead the toreador is starting his show. Chicken!!



This one he did not manage to kill by the first cut, nor the second...

Well; apart from watching the asses of the toreadors it was quite interesting to learn to waths and learn the circumstances around the game. That the audience waves their white handkerichiefs if they are happy wiht the performance of the toreador and then the mayor gets to decide if he was good enough to get one or maybe even two ears of the bull. Fabulous trophy!!

Back again

So, back in Sweden again after one planned trip to Poland and one very spontaneous trip to Mallorca. I am really glad I went to Mallorca as it was nice to spend some more time with the friends I don’t get to see very often and it was also nice to get some more sun and beach before getting back to work. The weather is really bad in Sweden at the moment; it almost feels like autumn already. This holiday I really tried to be good at relaxing, not keeping my work mobile on or checking my mail. It was really nice to relax totally and not read or listen to any news for some time. But I am glad I picked up a newspaper on the flight back. I would have looked stupid at work yesterday hadn't I known that there was a war going on in Georgia...

I will soon try to post some pictures and give some comments from the trips.

Summer Escape

Just came back from an intensive weekend in Poland. Was invited for a wedding just outside Warsaw. Was really great to see old friends again and the wedding was an excellent party that went on for days. As I had never been to Poland before either it was also nice to at least get a glimpse of Warsaw.

Coming back I got immediately depressed to find Sweden in storm and rain and with a feeling of autumn already, so right away I booked a ticket to Mallorca to meet up with some of the friends from the wedding who have rented a house there. I was invited to join in the first place but was just not ready to make that decision at that time, now however it feels as a great idea. More sun and heat before going back to work on Monday!! :-)