Majorca 2013 - part eight, Cala Figuera.

PART EIGHT

CALA FIGUERA.

Today was our last day with the car, so we went along the Cap Formentor peninsula. We didn’t go right to the lighthouse, as it was late morning, and we knew the traffic would be heavy, or at least, heavier than we’d like. It was busy enough at our first stop, the viewpoint.

This is looking down to Cala Figuera, we planned to come back here for the most part of the day later.

The view back over the bay, with the always-wonderful backdrop of the Tramuntana mountains. 

We stopped off in the small car park at the viewpoint, called Mirador del Mal Pas, also named Mirador d'es Colomer, because you can see the rock of the same name quite clearly from it.

The Talala d’ Albercutx tower (try saying THAT after a jug of sangria!). This tower is a favourite of ours, and of course, today we HAD to visit it.

But for now, a walk along the length of the viewpoint, with the ‘hordes’.

This place is incredible. A true feat of genius to build it here, and what an attraction for visitors. Perched on the very top of the ridge, it gives commanding views all around and, better still, straight down to the sea, a long way below.

Can’t say I’d be keen on pointing the cement up on that wall!

Looking back to the car park, now filling up with coaches. 

The Cap Formentor road is a bit of a trial in a car, so we were AMAZED that coaches came here, and not just one or two, LOADS of them.

It must be 'fun' in the high season.

Yes, that’s me, taking a photo straight down to the sea.

Colomer rock, which gives its name to this viewpoint. The sea was like a millpond today.

This is the rock our boat went on the inside of on our trip to Cala sa Vicenç.

The end of the viewpoint.

See the big hunk of lovelocks on the rail? 

These are becoming a feature at a lot of beauty spots, much like the rock balancing thing.

Some have started to appear on the bridge in our home town of Bakewell.

You can read about Cap Formentor and environs here; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap_de_Formentor

We thought it was time for some relaxing, so we parked up, and started the descent to Cala Figuera.

It’s quite a steep path, but we feel well worth the effort.

Perfect sky, perfect sea.........PERFECT!

Time to take a look at the fish. 

There were plenty to go at, as usual. My trick of feeding them always resulted in a terrific show.

I wish I had an underwater camera to capture them. I really am not exaggerating when I say there were HUNDREDS. 

I came out, and we lay in the sun reading for a while, and had our picnic.

Then the most bizarre thing happened – a bride and groom arrived in FULL dress, and began posing for a photographer!

She was swishing her veil, he was picking her up, all manner of poses.

It HAD to be a magazine shoot – didn’t it?

Even the picnic clear-up brigade was fascinated!

I asked, and was told it was a traditional Majorcan wedding – this really was a photo shoot just for their album!

It all seemed a lot of trouble to go to for pictures to me, the walk down and back up must have been very hard in those clothes (and shoes).

After a good snorkelling session, we decided to call it a day and trekked back up the hill.

One last look back to our beloved Figuera in the evening sun.

We drove to the tower and walked up to it. I climbed up the rusty metal rungs to get onto the top. (No health and safety here).
This is the view over Formentor bay.

The large and exclusive Formentor hotel is the white building at the far end of the bay.

Colomer rock and the jutting cliffs.

The twisting road up to the tower, and Sue on the rocks below me.

  

Looking down on the viewpoint we were at earlier.

You can see the imposing shadow of the tower on this picture, as the sun begins to set.

Another good sunset followed, then we were treated to a great moonrise.

Here is the whole thing over the umbrellas on the beach at night.

Our second bike ride was planned for tomorrow.

We’d not decided what to do or where to go yet, but that was fodder for discussion over a cocktail tonight.

The weather forecast was great.

Majorca 2013 - part five, Campanet caves.

PART FIVE

CAMPANET CAVES.

Today, we picked up the hire car. It was a real bargain and we had it for three days.

One place we definitely wanted to visit were some of the caves on the island, of which there are many. There are a top five, number one being the caves of Drach. We had originally planned to go there, but after reading trip advisor reports, decided on the ones at Campanet instead, hoping for less people.

We got there fairly early, and made our way to the entrance.

The grounds of the caves are really well tended and rustic. We loved these wooden fences.

Trees grew over the walkway and made for a beautiful avenue.

One of the reasons we chose this set of caves as opposed to the Drach ones was that you are not allowed to take photos at Drach, also several visitors had commented on the; ‘get them in, get their money, get them out’ mentality at Drach. I was looking forward to taking pictures in Campanet, BUT the guide (who was lovely) said the management had now decided on NO photos too.

Well, they're the rules, but as it didn’t say that anywhere, I felt justified in taking some after paying to go in!

These caves reminded me of some we visited in the South of France. VERY impressive from the moment you walk in. As always, there was a great story attached to how they were discovered in the not-too-distant past.

Their claim to fame were the spaghetti (or straw - very thin) stalactites. They have the best examples in EUROPE! Also, they have the longest one at four metres. They said even they couldn’t understand why it wasn’t snapping off under its own weight?

All around the caves, which were done in a very understated and un-commercialised way, were the most impressive displays of nature at work.

It wasn’t just one chamber – the whole thing was just amazing! Left to my own devices, I could have taken HUNDREDS of pictures, and I tried to explain to the guide that THIS was one of the reasons I had come after seeing other peoples pictures, but she just shrugged and said it wasn’t her decision.

But I went on snapping anyway......... (when I dropped to the back of the group).

The lighting effects were great too.

This particular rock was known as the Buddha. (but, to me, it looks like a rude finger sign!!).

This one looked like a femur, hanging out of the ceiling.

It’s amazing to think these things have taken close on three MILLION years to form – and here we were, looking at them. The change in rainfall etc, means that a lot of the cave is now dry, but some parts still re-start the process of formation if the rain is particularly heavy, so that means things are still growing, but at a very much reduced rate.

This gallery just took our breath away, even after all the other great things we’d seen this morning.

After what we considered a terrific morning, we re-emerged into the warm daylight. We had a coffee at the little cafe in the grounds and set off towards Lluc (pronounced 'yuk'), admiring the superb scenery along the way.

The twisting mountain roads are a joy to anyone who likes to drive (puts hand up).

The road wound higher and higher until we reached the Col De Sabatia, a great favourite with the cyclist tourists, who seem to LOVE the tortuous climbs on this island.

For some reason, I wasn’t feeling great today. As we sat in the warm sunshine, Sue let me nod off. Whatever it was, it turned out to be only a 24 hour thing, thank goodness.

We decided to call it a day and drove back to the hotel. A relaxing afternoon was called for, so we just spent it on the beach, and even had an early night!

Majorca 2013 - part four - the coastal boat trip & Formentor beach.

PART FOUR.

COASTAL BOAT TRIP

& FORMENTOR BEACH

Here she is – our ‘ride’ for the morning! The glass-bottomed boat that would take us on a trip around the rocky coast to Cala Sa Vicenç.

This was one of our ‘must do’s’, as we’d been thwarted by the weather and lack of numbers last year. Today, it was perfect, BUT as this boat holds 250 people, numbers were critical, as he wouldn’t go out without a minimum number (30, I think). Being the end of their season, this was a big ask.

We had our tickets, but no-one was allowed to board. We stood patiently on the quay, hoping that enough people would turn up.

As the group grew slowly, all of a sudden were were bade to get on board – YES!

The tranquil harbour and perfect sky. We all, the few of that there were, took our seats. The engines throbbed and we pulled slowly out of the mooring.

See here; http://youtu.be/abgZOufdQ8I
(Click 'back' to return to this blog after watching any video links)

At first, it was a slow ride, as the boat is restricted in the harbour.

Looking around at the landscape, we recognised several points, this one being the tower on the top of the ridge to Cap Formentor.

More about that later!

Oooooo! a HUGE, what – hotel.......complex.......What?

The driver of the boat told us it belonged to ONE man. He owned that whole peninsula, and it looked opulent to say the least.!

The gardens were landscaped right down to the sea, and on the far side, he had even ‘quarried’ the rock face to build his own beach.

Money, it seems, is absolutely NO object here.

WHAT recession???

Evidence of just how close we were to not setting off this morning.

Lots and lots of empty seats.

Our driver.

We reached open sea, and swung fast and wide of Formentor beach on the trip out.

The famous lighthouse at Cap Formentor. Last year we had two amazing times here, one evening to watch the sun set, and back the next morning to watch it rise again.

You can see those pictures here; http://www.biggersteps.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/majorca-part-ten-sunrise.html
Again, click 'BACK' to return to this blog.

The harsh volcanic landscape towards Cala Sa Vicenç came into view as we rounded the headland of Cap Formentor.

Some of the strata was almost like an art gallery, with weird shapes and convolutions.

WHAT a view – this boat trip was certainly living up to all our expectations.

One very happy man.

And his very happy lady :-)

This was deliberate by the driver – giving us this far panorama. He would do just the opposite on the way back.

This boat trip cost us 36 Euros each, and we considered it money VERY well spent.

We approached the first of the three bays that make up Cala Sa Vicenç, and the driver moved closer to the cliffs so we could see the ‘perched populous’.

From this angle, you can REALLY see how ‘epic’ these constructions are!

The boat anchored up in about 9 metres of water, and a ladder was lowered into the sea.

Sue was into her costume and over the side as fast as she could. With the water being deep, I expected it to be cold, but she said it was JUST like the beach – really warm.

So – there was only one thing for it (who needs steps)???

This was something I‘d ALWAYS wanted to do – (tick).

SPLASHDOWN!!

“COME ON IN – THE WATER’S LOVELY” 

Is that a mermaid?

In her element – Sue LOVES water, especially the sea.

After about half an hour, we weighed anchor and set off at a REALLY fast pace.

It was exhilarating, and made for great shots of the boats signature on the sea.

You can see a video of the pace here; Click HERE

Now for the coast-hugging trip back, with stops.!!

Cala Figuera - GREAT snorkelling here!

Heading for El Colomer rock - see what happened next, click HERE

That was a TIGHT SQUEEZE!!

Aghast at the views above.

Holes and gaps created during the volcanic creation of the island.

This 'eyehole' looks really strange!

The boat swung into Formentor bay and slowed. A quick about-turn and we docked for 2 1/2 hours.

A good sandy beach here, so reading and lazing about in the warm sun was the order of the day.

 But first - a nice bottle of rose - cheers :-)

Lovely, warm, calm water with lots of fish to see.

After a really good laze about (well, you HAVE to, don't you?), the boat rang the bell to tell us it was time to board again.

Looking out from the glass bottom of the boat.

Passing under the cliff house.

All that - BUT are they HAPPY????

(I suspect they just MIGHT be)