Mallorca... we have entered surrealism - but not as we know it!

It was Jarvis' choice to come here - and only because he saw a picture of some cool caves you could row a boat through... and he talked us into it.  But then, we did let him.

Getting off the plane... we were chuffed to find out rental was a british racing green MINI COUNTRYMAN... and what a cool little tardis it is too! Jarvis was soooooo Happy! (He's a MINI fan!)  Hallelujah for SIXT car rentals (free beachball!) and also for getting tom tom to get us here... (we have nicknamed our tomtom "MUPPET" because he is sometimes... but he has got us where we wanted to go so far.)

Then... we totally lucked out with Hoposa Bahia in Puerto Pollenca!  We have a massive room (probably biggest so far) and it has a fab view of the clear blue sea of the  Mediterranean. And we just have to walk outside and we are on a calm kid-friendly beach.  Jarvis is in heaven!  We have already had to buy beach-towel and blow up lilo! Blimey!
It's just sooo different from all of the places we have been to so far... we are suddenly surrounded by English speaking tourists and a place that caters for it too. But, boy oh boy... its a hoot!  NOT Benidorm and definitely not Ibiza either... but it is certainly very English all of a sudden.

Room with a View.

Lunch at our local when we arrived.

I WANT ONE!

SO...Of all the places I could've ended up for my birthday this year... this place is hilarious - as tomorrow I have planned a day "on the beach".... on a sun-lounger (NOTE: it will be in the shade!) with Cava on tap... AND now just planned, lobster for dinner at one of the top rated fish restaurants which just happens to be downstairs! Anyone who knows me would question my sanity (apart from the lobster and cava bit)...but its true!

Oh Dali - he was not MAD to live here!

A charming little seaport town in the most northeast point of Spain.  Salvador Dali and Gala lived here and we can see why (esp when you visit their house which is out of town slightly).
 Beautiful and relaxing - just what we required.
Arriving here and getting the 'new taxi' in town ...(a golf cart)... to the hotel was thankfully a breeze. After a visit to Muji (the only shop open in Barcelona on a Sunday) we now have 3 suitcases!
Hotel Blaumar has a relaxing pace and have cleverly placed the free wi-fi zone in the poolside bar... oh poor me... sitting here with Sangria in hand, looking out to the city and wondering where we will eat tonight.
The Casa Dali tour was FABULOUSLY FULL OF WEIRD DALI'ISMS a must for a Dali fan.  He was an insanely cool dude!
We found out you can rent the golf carts by the hour... so after the fog cleared today we invested wisely in a 2 hour rental... so much fun. And we got back to Casa Dali gift shop, which we had missed yesterday because of the Bag Drama Pick UP ;-)
Anyways... nuff warbling... here are some picks...

Casa Dali...Super cool... check out the pool!

Back in Cadaques - to town for dinner...

Blankie Bag Balls Up :-(

There has to be one day in a holiday that sends you into a spaz. Nothing like our disaster car crash in Italy, don't worry... But...

The day we arrived in beautiful Cadaques, (home of Salvador Dali) we had ours (hopefully our last) for this holiday.

After getting off the bus here, for some reason we missed our normal 'cowper bag check' and unfortunately this meant that Jarvis' backpack was left on the bus and was heading back to Figueres! Gasp! After a few phone calls and a few knowing looks from our fab hotel helper... We thought it was a goner.  There were tears and cuddles for the rest of the day as Jarvis had now lost his precious blankies and friends and the small trinkets he was collecting in his travels. The worst thing ... Blue was gone. Jarvis had had Blue since he was a baby.

A sleepless night of sobbing was in stall for us. Blimin heck... We felt so terrible. 

In the middle of the night I decided to draw a picture of his very destinctive nz airforce bag and was going to get our hotel to fax it to both bus stations in the morning... I didn't sleep well :-/

The next morning I talked with our hotel staff who tried their best again... Were unable to fax anything thru but they talked with the people at bus station again but said no luck... I almost lost it... We would have an unhappy unsleeping boy for the rest of our trip, omg!! 

Back to the room and I had to break the bad news to Jarvis... Devastated !!!! we said we would have to find a substitute... That was a hard thing to do... He still wanted his Blue!

More tears... And then the phone rang!

The bus driver HAD found it yesterday! (I almost cried!) And would bring it to Cadaques at 3 pm! 

How lucky are we!!!!!! PHEW...

And... After a run across town after our casa dali tour had finished (post still to come)....Luckily it was the right bag! 

A slap up dinner at Can Tito was in order ( it was a cavelike restaurant in the old town - with great food in portions ready to feed cavemen!) . There were squid ink croquettes, I had a humongous steak, Bruce had literally three hake fillets on a plate and Jarvis polished off a plate of garlic baked eggs and frites!!  Once we had completed our three immense courses, of which my dessert rang the church bells! (a divine lemone tart!) the chef came out and let Jarvis feed fresh sardines to a resident seagull outside! Topped off all the drama with a surprisingly brilliant (full tummied) way! Ole!

HAPPY BOY! HOORAY!!!

Alfonso's Doily...

Casa Alfonzo...what a great night!!! Such a full tummy experience - OMG, such fabulous food we couldnt stop ordering - the best black pudding (Catalan Style) we have ever had! Totally melt in your mouth with pinenuts... oh nelly, was soo good.
And the desserts!!!! Orange Tart and this crazy yum vanilla slice (out of this world delicious - which we found out today is called " Santiago Cake? " crusty sugery goodness!)  We also had a platter board with Iberian meats and cheese (this had a 'scorched paper thin slices of tuna' think it was called "mojama"- Ohhh boy. I could go on and on... Taste sensations a round!

Reading the wine list... yup - cool huh

Complimentary dessert shot (they even had
a child's version so Jarvis didnt miss out!

And there's the doily!

Guell was a fine man :-)

Today was our 'Eusebi Guell Appreciation Day'... I had no idea that he was the reason Gaudi had the chance to make his mark on the world. Without Guell's excessive riches, and appreciation for Gaudi's talent ... he probably would have never had the opportunities to show his talent.

So off to his Palau Guell (a new one for me). Very cool audio tour... and especially the fact that they had thought of children and gave Jarvis a special one with a different audio (more suited to children). Jarvis loved having his "walkie talkie". So a 1.5 hour experience was enjoyed by Jarvis, as much as we did! (phew)
It was one of Gaudi's first major commissions. Really great to see and not the excessive crowds that you get at the more well-known casas.



Then and short stop for tapas & Sangria, a siesta, then we were off to Parc Guell for a nicnic.  Bruce loaded us up with goodies from the Supermacardo and with a bottle of cold Cava ... off we went. Woop!

Serrano jamon and crusty bread.

Yep, didnt remember the glasses! Doh! Still tasted good!

Jarvis is getting pretty good at taking photos these days!

Action Shot... happy boy chasing non-existent pigeons?

A refreshing end to the day...

After our nicnic, Jarvis wanted to to go to the Magical (Musical) Fountains at Montjuic... we thought they would probably be naff, but were kinda fun. Lots of people about and we got very wet dancing about as the sprays of water got caught in the wind! Jarvis LOVED it!