On our last day in Spain we woke up a little late and then headed out to explore the island. We first drove to a place on the far east side of the island where there are underground caves. The tours were all sold out, so we bought a ticket for later on in the afternoon and then went to a nearby beach to kill some time before grabbing lunch at Alfonso’s brother-in-law’s restaurant.
After a bite to eat and a walk on the beach we went back and spent an hour wandering around inside the massive caves. There were stalactites and stalagmites everywhere you looked, and many feet beneath us there were clear blue pools of water. It was unlike anything I had ever witnessed! When we got to the center of the cave we were pretty far under the surface, and there was a giant opening and a large river! We took a seat on the bleachers built into the side of the cave and watched as some musical performers played a concert from candle-lit boats traveling down the river. It was hard to believe that we were watching a concert on a river from a cave several feet below the earth’s surface!
After the cave, we drove across the island to the west side to see the city of Palma. We saw an old fort that was used to protect the island starting in approximately the 1300’s. Now, it is used as a museum. However, whenever the King of Spain is visiting his summerhouse on the island, the Spanish army places a guard in the watchtower of the ancient fort to watch over his house. We learned a lot of Mallorcan history at the fort, and then we moved on to another part of the city where we saw a 1,000 year old olive tree, and both the old and new cathedrals for the city of Palma. They were beautiful! Every year for Easter the King of Spain comes to the cathedral in Mallorca for mass.
After the cathedrals, we peeked inside an old fish market. They have turned it into a memorial of sorts, and currently inside is a series of upside down fishing boats on the ground illuminated with dim blue lighting. They play music that sounds like waves crashing inside the building, as a memorial and remembrance of the importance of the fishermen to the city of Palma.
After this, we drove to a nearby suburb of the city and met with one of the future exchange students, Laura, and her family. They were so nice! Laura had baked us a cheesecake, and we sat around her porch for about 2 hours talking about ATAD and her upcoming experience as an exchange student in Rochester. She had lots of good questions to ask, and seemed really excited to meet her host family! Both of the students we met spoke English very well. After our meeting we drove back to Inca, the town where Alfonso and Magda live, to get some sleep.
Julia Marie
The inside of the fort
The tourist beach by Alfonso's brother's restaurant
Me inside the walls of the fort!
The fort
Statues inside the fort
An adorable little boy fishing by the sea!
The center of Palma de Mallorca
The fishing boat museum
Palma de Mallorca
The beach
Palma de Mallorca
Palma de Mallorca
The fort
Palma de Mallorca
Palma de Mallorca
The spiral staircase inside the fort - I chose not to climb!
The fort
The moat
The boat museum
Atop the fort in Palma
Palma de Mallorca
Palma de Mallorca
The center of Palma de Mallorca
The Palma de Mallorca Cathedral
Palma de Mallorca
A typical street in Palma de Mallorca
The beach
