20,000 hearts broken at the Son Moix on Saturday 1st June

There was still hope but a victory over Espanyol by Celta Vigo broke the last thread for Real Mallorca to survive the descent into Spain’s national football second division. After 16 years in Spain’s Primera Liga playing alongside the great teams of Barcelona and Real Madrid, Real Mallorca, by just one point, finds itself cast down and losing many million of euros of revenue. Television revenue along is slashed by 19 million. This after being in one European final, two Copa del Rey final, (winning in 2003) plus a champions league, UEFA cup participation and four top six finishes in la Liga. Real Mallorca’s boardroom in-fighting did little to assist the club – the contary.
So, Mallorca football needs a fairy Godfather (or Godmother) to finance its battle to return to La Liga. The team’s fans were truly brilliant throughout the season, many travelling to the away matches, but sadly the Mallorcans are not able to equal the enthusiasm or support afforted to their teams as Spanish mainland cities. Anyhow lets hope local supports and ex-pats will renew their season tickets and hold their hand for the journey back to Spain’s Primera Liga. But they will demand for a management change at the top.

Sale of royal yacht should fund new maritime museum in Palma

The debate over what to do with the former luxury yacht of the Spanish king, which he gave up in May continues, with the Balearic government backing a proposal made by the local opposition parties that the yacht be sold and the money raised used to help the needy and socially marginalized in the Balearics. But, a Balearic business group has demanded King Juan Carlos returns the 21 million euro yacht they gave him, following he asked the government to take of his hand as the country weathers a bitting recession. (Each refueling of the yacht costs more than 20,000 euros). The Balearic Tourism and Cultural Foundation sent a letter in late May to the National Heritage Department, which manages state assets used by the royals, to ask that it returns the 41.5 metre yacht named ‘Fortuna’, which, with nearly three million euros of public funds donated by the then Partido Popular-run local government the gave the king in the year 2000. Senior sources in the Balearic nautical industry said they had written to the Foundation suggesting that the money raised from the sale of the former yacht be used to build a maritime museum in Palma. “The museum  has been planned for years and with so many historic Balearic vessels having been restored by the various local authorities over the years and all the old yachts hidden away under Bellver Castle – these vessels need a home where they can be seen and enjoyed by the general public”  the local paper, the ‘Majorca Daily Bulletin’ was told. Most of the classic Majorcan yachts , which have been restored by the Council of Mallorca and others, are now just moored up doing nothing, so why not sell the royal yacht and invest that money into a maritime museum which will generate money and help diversify tourism to Palma and Mallorca.

Castell Son Claret – An experience

Truly and beautiful experience and as a lover of Asian hospitality, F&B, service and design, I could be accused of being critical on occasions of Western hotel standards. However, a recent and most enjoyable experience motivates me to share a delightful afternoon.
Set in 132 hectares of gentle countryside and including surrounding forest and mountains, is the 38 room hotel Castell Son Claret. Formerly a ‘possessio’ or country seat near Es Capdellà, south west of Mallorca. The property was purchased in 2010 by Klaus Micheal Kühne, a Swiss based German billionaire along with a partner he later bought out.
Following extensive remodeling with great sensitivity, local materials and design, including its use of the beautiful Moorish terraces and landscaped gardens, the hotel a gem found on the earth of this island. The experience is complete, tasteful and relaxed architecture brings you to another world and included is it’s magnificent dining. To complete this miracle the owner acquired or persuaded Fernando Pérez-Arellano, a talented Michelin star chef of the Zaranda at the Hilton Hotel, to move his whole operation, including the name, to the Castell Son Claret.
I enjoyed a superb lunch on the delightful Moorish terrace and to know my fresh orange juice and various ingredients came from the property’s own garden and working farm give me a confidence that made it hard to leave.
The hotel, with an impressive panoramic swimming pool, has deluxe rooms. suites and villas with pool.
Castell Son Claret, Es Cadellà, south west Mallorca. Telephone +34 971 138 629
Restaurant reservation : Zaranda 971 138 627 / Olivera 971 138 637

Tigers on the loose in Mallorca

A local Mallorca council is waging war on the tiger mosquitoes which are causing problems across the island. The Marratxi council has launched an awareness and information campaign which not only involves leaflets, which include information about what action to take in the event of being bitten by one, but the preventative  measures such as what to do if the larva is found.
The breeding season begins late May and continues until September and as temperatures begin to rise, this only fuels their breeding.  Tiger mosquitoes can grow up to 10 millimeters and do have a strong string. Their favourite  breeding places are pools of stagnant water during the first two weeks of June and a number of councils will be laying traps as the mosquitoes begin to mate.
Mallorca estate agents or anyone else noticing abandoned swimming pools should report to the local council immediately, because million of mosquitoes can breed in their stagnant water in a week.

Spain has one bar for every 132 inhabitants.

A study has lifted the lid on bar and tapas culture in Spain, revealing that it
remains an important part of daily life despite falling sales.
Spain’s 350,000 bars and restaurants were the focus of a new study by Coca-Cola.
Over 2,000 people participated in the study which looked at the relationship that the
Spanish have with their local bars.

Two thirds of the Spaniards claim to know the name of their waiter in their favourite
bar and some 30 percent say that they trust them enough to give them their home
keys. 84 percent of those surveyed associated bars with fun, enjoyment or happiness,
while 64 percent agree that bars are a good place to “unwind” and meet loved ones.
64 percent see bars as a “symbol” of Spanish culture, citing as an example the world’s
oldest, Madrid’s ‘Botin’ which first opened its doors in 1725.
More than half of Spaniards suveyed said that they regularly visit bars despite the crisis,
with 36 percent visiting “several times a week” and a hardcore 5 percent who go more
than once a day. Among the attractions of the bars, clients listed the quality of food
and drink (22 percent), friendly staff (21 percent) and price (14 percent)
One of the great advantages of having a business in Spain, say the CEO of the leader
Mallorca estate agents First Mallorca, is that you can pop out and have a meeting
over a coffee in a relaxed sunny street environment – or just wind down from stress in
the office.

Beach and Marinas – Blue Flag awards

Spain’s beaches and marinas still continue to have the most Blue Flags of all participating countries and states around the world.  Mallorca has 31 beaches or coves awarded a Blue Flag and 16 of Mallorca’s marinas has been awarded this status this year. The Blue Flag is a certificate by the Foundation for Environment (FEE) that beaches or marinas meets their stringent standards.
From Sant Elm (San Telmo) 6 kms west of Puerto Andratx  to the Playa de Palma, east of Palma, there are 13 beaches with a Blue Flag. So people in the residential and holiday home areas of San Telmo, Puerto de Andratx, Camp de Mar, Sol de Mallorca,
Santa Ponsa, Palmanova, Costa d’en Blanes, Puerto Portals, Bendinat, Palma City  and Son VIda, are well served by these nice close-by beaches. So too is the north of Mallorca, from Formentor and down the north east coast as far as Son Severa. At the far southernmost end of Mallorca Cala Santanyi maintains its Blue Flag.

Source – Mallorca estate agents First Mallorca

Balearic High Court spared King Carlos’s Daughter Cristina “for the time being”

The Balearic High Court yesterday spared King Juan Carlos’s youngest daughter Cristina from being questioned “for the time being” in corruption probe that has plunged the royal family into scandal. The court in Palma de Mallorca said in a written ruling that it suspended the summons for Cristina, age 47, in a graft case against her husband, the Duke of Palma. It said it remained to be decided whether Cristina would be summoned to go before a judge in a separate tax and money-laundering case also linked to her husband. The affair has plunged Spain’s monarchy into a unprecedented crisis which has raised speculation over recent months that King Juan Carlos would abdicate and relax in his property in Mallorca. The initial summons for Cristina was the first time a direct relative of the King has been called to appear in court on suspicion of wrongdoing. The probe is examining whether Cristina’s husband, former Olympic handball player Inaki Urdangarin, and his former business partner Diego Torres, embezzled six million euros in public funds meant for sports events.

Curtain goes up on the Deya Festival on May 9th

Artist from all over the world will be performing in this year’s International Deya Music Festival, which starts on May 9th and extending until September. A total of 18 concerts and 39 artists from Holland, United States, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Francs, Kosovo, Brazil, Japan and Poland, among others, will light the stage alongside some of the best local musicians, including saxophonist Rodrigo Perez Vila or cello player Angel Gercia Jermann. The event organizers said they expect the 35th edition of the festival to be a “firm step towards the confirmation of the event as some of the most solid cultural moves in Mallorca.” Their main priority is to offer something for everyone, local and tourist and despite the serious economic situation we find ourselves in, we have no attention in cutting down on quality, something that has always marked this Deya festival” they added.
Mallorca estate agents First Mallorca, highly recommends this music Festival May which takes place in one of Mallorca‘s most delightful Mallorca villages, Deya, squeezed between towering mountain and the the sea.

Palma boat show – a huge success

Mallorca‘s economy received a massive boost from the 30th Palma Boat Show which attracted 30,000 visits last week. This year’s floating exhibition, which took part in the old quay in front of La Lonja and finished on Sunday 5th May, offered more space and facilities for visitors and the effort seems to have certainly paid off. “The majority of visitors were big fans of boats and showed a genuine interest in doing business in the short and mid term. There were also a lot of tourists coming to the show” said the director of the exhibition Chema Sans. Festival stands registered a high number of sales, not only of nautical equipment but boats as well. Out of the participating companies 85 percent have already confirmed their presence in next year’s Mallorca boat show with 30 percent requesting more space in advance. “The exhibition area was very complete and the nautical saloon and super yacht show worked well. On top of that the business and marketing side was very encouraging” he added.
“The model chosen was ideal. The stands sold and the visitors enjoyed the activities we laid on for them. Tap-mar (the Mallorca cooking exhibition) attracted a lot of guests and the Night of the Sea was entertaining, which meant everyone enjoyed the show” said Chema Sans, who also announced that during next week’s final meeting the team “will analyze the possibility of increasing the future available space”.
Such events as the Palma Boat Show focus stimulate business throughout Mallorca, including quality business to hotels, the retail sector, restaurants and to Mallorca real estate agents, to name a few of the obvious.

Sea life centre to stay open despite losses

Palma de Mallorca – Government officials have decided to keep Cabrera Sea Life centre open after reaching an agreement with Tragsa. the company in charge of the project. The centre, which comprises aquariums with over 4,000 species of sea creatures and interactive screens, which inform visitors about Mallorca flora and fauna, was opened in 2008 by Elena Espinosa, head of the environmental department at the time, but passed over in to the hands of the government the following year which, having recorded heavy annual losses over since, was considering to save around 700,000 euros annually by giving the running of the project back to Tragsa and the Ministry for the Environment.