Mallorca, Spain - taxi tour (part 2)

From the Lluc Monastery we continued along the mountain range that runs along the north west coast of the island.

I had listed the Fermentor Lighthouse as one of the things that we would like to see but Pierre knew there was more than just the lighthouse and pulled over into a parking area saying that there was a nice view here. We walked to the end (top of this picture)

to look up at one of the many watch towers scattered along the coast. They were placed so lookouts could signal warnings when invaders were seen and due to its location this island was frequently invaded.

Looking south(ish)

north(ish)

and back, the way we had come, to the bay of Pollenca.

They weren't kidding, the lookout was at the top of steep cliffs.

More twisty, turny driving (SO glad I wasn't doing it! I had read about this road and decided, last year, that however much I wanted to to go, I wasn't doing it) and we saw the lighthouse. Buses are actually not permitted on the last 10km or so.

This goat was begging in the parking lot and ate a banana peel offered by a cyclist. No need for garbage cans here.

We walked around, taking pictures and used the facilities (there is a restaurant up there)

The lighthouse was started in 1857. It was very difficult to build and get materials to, so special dispensation was given  by the Bishop of Mallorca to allow work to continue on Sundays, as long as the workman heard mass at a makeshift altar first. (trivia you get from reading information boards)

Picture in the restaurant. The goats are obviously a fixture.

You can hike out to the lighthouse. We saw a lot of this zigzag, rubble strewn pathway as we drove out.

Eve and Nicky like this one best (photo by Nicola)

I hate having my picture taken and if I have to choose, prefer the one of us being a bit silly. (photo by Nicola)

There was a herd of goats around the car park.

The little kid was hopping around too fast so I had to settle for pictures of this billy.

I love the furriness, colouring and curved horns.

We were getting quite hungry as it was about 2pm and we were all a little concerned as Pierre scrolled through the contacts on his phone while driving. Luckily he had blue tooth when he called a friend to ask for the name of a good restaurant in Pollenca.

It turned out to be the same restaurant that Eve and I had eaten in last year, in the harbour. We had a lovely leisurely meal and then set off for Alcudia.

Pierre again phoned a friend to find the location of the Roman ruins in Alcudia but when we got there they were closed. We were able to peer over the fence at them but not go in.

While Nicola, Dave and I walked around, Eve and Pierre both took an after dinner nap in the car.

The bull ring was just outside the walls of the town

but we decided that it didn't look like much and we didn't want to pay to go in.

We walked on the top of part of the walls looking down on the moat on one side

and the houses and narrow streets on the other.

Back to the car and both were refreshed from their power naps. Pierre had called the caves on the other side of the island and found that they would be closed by the time we could get to them. We decided just to head home. Pierre asked if we would like to go to a winery, "Yes". Then we had some fun driving down different roads, and inquiring of the locals, as he tried to find a particular winery whose wine he liked.

He was very relieved when he found it, worried that we would think he was losing his mind.

We tasted a couple of reds and a couple of whites

and bought a bottle of red and one of white.

When we got home Pierre gifted us with 2 more bottles. No shortage of wine in this house!

After harvest, sheep are grazed in the vineyards to keep down the grass and provide fertilizer.

We were home by about 6:30. Tired but having had a lovely day. The weather, although pretty cool, especially at the lookout spots, had given us both sun and cloud but no rain. The next days all had rain in the forecast.