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Mallorca - Sa Coma - Hotel Orient Beach (Feb 2009)
We booked this vacation on short notice via internet in Jan 2009. Originally we had planned to go to Turkey again. We booked a double room from Feb 6th, 2009 up to Feb 13th, 2009 in hotel 'Orient Beach' located in Sa Coma, quite near to Cala Millor. Hotel Orient Beach is a 4**** star standard with app. 240 well-sized appartements. Sa Coma, one hour by bus from Palma de Mallorca airport, has app. 2300 inhabitants (in winter). A multiple of tourists can be added in summer season.
Mallorca in spring time is wonderful! Almond trees are in bloom from end of january up to mid of march - a flowering ocean amid the island. Besides the main growing areas (with time shifted bloom due to different locations) you will also find various sorts of almonds: mainly sweet almond (white bloom) and the pink-bloomed bitter almond. All of them have different flowering times, thus you will experience an almond bloom lasting many weeks.
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 sweet almond |
bitter almond |
As the water is no warmer than 13° you should not plan a beach holiday in early springtime. Nevertheless we recreated grandiosely: the island presents itself quite varied and offered an entertaining programme for us.
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| Orient Beach hotel |
Hotel Orient Beach – chosen after profound internet research – was to our satisfaction. Food was appropriate to the 4*** stars standard (but no iota above). The appartement was big, clean, and functionally furnished (though not very homey).
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| livingroom with small kitchen | View from the balcony - 5th floor |
On our first day we explored the near environment by feet. We made a walking tour to the peninsula Punta de n’Amer: landscape in its natural state, even under nature protection. A defense tower, the Castell de sa Punta, overtops the whole peninsula. Along the cragged coast and through pine forests we made our way to reach Cala Millor (on the other side of this peninsula). On our way back (an hour later) we took the communication road between Cala Millor and Sa Coma. That saved about an hour and a half.
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On our second day we had a bike trip. We hired the fasted and streamlined bikes we could get hold of. |
| We biked through blooming almond tree forests from Sa Coma southwards and reached the nice little town Portocristo after one hour. A tourist stronghold, nevertheless with a beautiful bay around the harbour. |
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PortocristoTo visit the famous Dragon Caves containing the (reportedly) biggest subterranean sea in the world is a must in Portocristo. A very high entrance fee (currently [2008] Euro 10,50) did not keep us from entering. Despite photography is forbidden (to support sales of high-price brochures) Birgit made some great and secret snap shots:
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| In the afternoon we labored our way to Son Servera. Sa Coma is on sea level, many many 1000 yards below Son Servera - that's what Birgit, world's most famous bike pusher, tried to tell me. The ascent was endless, nearly. Many 1000 burnt calories later we reached Son Servera and were compensated with a historic old town where Birgit met a new friend: the I-R-O-N P-A-T-R-O-N. She loves them tough guys with rough edges as can be seen here or here or here or here or here … |
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In a week you can see little. Or much. As you like. We liked seeing much and rented a streamlined car for 3 days to make each and every corner of the popular island. | |
3 days. Three tours. All together more than 300 miles. The first day trip pointed north / north-east with those destinations:
Route I: Cap de Formentor – Alcúdia – Can Picafort - Cala Ratjada – Canyamel - back to Sa Coma
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| Alcudia |
Cap de Formentor |
harbour of Cala Ratjada |
On our second tour we went west / north-west and first visited Palma, Mallorca's capital where we walked for about 2 hours through the picturesque center.
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| Biggi's beloved snack: Ensaimadas | Klaus' beloved snack: ice cream |
On we went along this route:
Route II: Valdemossa – Port de Sóller – Bunyola – Alaró – Inca – Sineu - Manacor – back to Sa Coma
Our return voyage across the northern route - along the wild romantic coast - was unfortunately closed due to the annual bike race "Mallorca Challenge". We had to find our way back through the island's middle …
Our rental car with the unmistakable license number took us on our third trip roundabout 130 miles east / south-east across this route:
Route III: Cales de Mallorca – Portocolom – Cala D’Or – Cala Mondrago – Cala Figuera – Colònia de Sant Jordi – Salines des Levant – Campos (through the valley of windmills) - return through the island's middle
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| in the salt mines |
in the valley of windmills (Es Pla) |
After one week we returned safely and relaxed back home. Our upshot of this vacation: Mallorca is worth going there at any time of season. It offers various options for different kinds of vacation. Despite of being a tourist stronghold you will always find places with the mallorcan primarily way of living.
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Where is Sa Coma located? |
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