Port de Soller, Mallorca, Spain - storms and gardening

The last 2 days have been constant rain and the night in between was wild; gale force winds and downpours. I barely slept and had to go outside a number of times to clear the drain holes on the terrace so it didn't flood and come in the apartment. There were floods all over the island and lots of weekend activities were cancelled, including parades for the start of Easter week.

When I finally bundled up and left the apartment, yesterday afternoon

there was lots of evidence of the stormy weather; turned over pots,

broken awnings,

shredded umbrellas and

that poor boat was on its side again!

I spent my time reading, watching TV, and crafting. Liz, Rachel (an Irish woman who, with her husband, is in the process of moving here) and I went out to lunch, just to get out of the house. Liz and I also made plans regarding her garden and what we could do if her workmen didn't return on Monday. They had said they had to get started on another project but Liz hadn't been sure if they were joking with her or not. Not being fluent can really get in the way of understanding humor. We had talked through what the essentials were for her clients who arrive on Wednesday and had decided that we could do the last bit of tiling under the instruction and supervision of Martin (Liz' boyfriend, who is currently on crutches so can't do it himself)
Anyway, at 8am this morning I heard the workmen's voices, so I wont be learning how to tile.

Liz power washed all the tiles on both sides of the house and the patio. They get mold growing on them in the winter and were filthy from the amount of cement work done in the garden. I tackled this flower bed.

The BBQ is located just below the bed and last year clients set fire to the palm tree and aloe plants growing in it. So I dug up the remaining plant

and moved it to under the lemon tree. I also transplanted some spider plants into the same spot. Liz has tons of spider plants all raining baby spider plants. I also pruned the lemon tree as it was too low over the new stairs up to the patio.

Who knew lemon trees had thorns?

After weeding and digging over the bed, I laid down black plastic and then flagstones.

Then gravel on top, a small stone wall around the lime tree (should be fire proof now)

and more spider plants transplanted and some nasturtiums. I also did some other weeding and trimmed back the ivy that was growing over the wall. It felt great to be gardening. It will be a while before I can do much at home.

Liz is going to put out the cushions and garden decor tomorrow to take photos for her rental websites so I will post pictures of the complete garden tomorrow.

Liz served us a "Full English Breakfast" for lunch. A whole plate of protein; egg, bacon, 2 kinds of sausage and baked beans.

Walking round the bay to go and sketch there was still storm evidence.

The torrente was full

and roaring into the sea.

The beach was covered in debris.

I walked around to the rocks opposite the north lighthouse and sat and sketched it

then just sat for a while, enjoying the sun and the view.

Port de Soller, Mallorca, Spain - walk to Cala Tuent and boat ride back.

Today it is bucketing down rain, cool and very windy (orange alert for wind on accuweather which means 65 to 80 km/hr)

The clouds are so low and thick that I can't even see the lowest hills that are just a couple of blocks away.

However, yesterday was a perfect day for walking. I was at the Tramuntana Tours location on the sea front in Port de Soller by 9:30 and our 2 guides (Jeremy and Vincense) loaded us into 2 vans and

drove us up to the lookout to start our walk.

I did this guided walk last year and the scenery still takes my breathe away. On top of that middle mountain (which has the sea on the other side)

is the next watch tower, north, from the Port de Soller one.

Terraces, olive trees and wild rosemary fill the valley we would walk through for the next 2 hours

stopping periodically for water and to hear about history, geology, flora and fauna.

A mountain spring discovered and harnessed by the Moors

with their distribution system still in use.

We were a group of about a dozen

An American couple, attracted by the cycling, here for their 30th anniversary.

A British couple, now working in Germany who called themselves "economic refugees of the Thatcher era".

5 other Brits, of varying ages, here seeking sun, relaxation and exercise

and the rest were Germans, a couple of whom spoke English and translated for the others.

We stopped at this finca, now hotel, at the bottom of the valley

for a glass of orange juice and a washroom break.

Inside, skulls of the wild goats that are hunted in the mountains.

The finca's tower was for hiding in, pulling up the ladder and waiting for the raiders to leave.

There's the pass we had to walk through next.

I had started out in a t-shirt, down vest and fleece jacket. The fleece came off as soon as we got into the valley with the warmth of the sun, no wind and heat reflecting off the rocks and terraces. Once we started the climb, the vest had to come off too. It was 200 metres up on a zigzag rocky path. I had warned everyone I would be slow and would have to stop periodically to get my heart rate down. I was happy to discover that I am in better shape than last year. I was able to keep up, didn't need to stop much or for long and got to the top feeling I could have done more.

The next hour and a half was walking high up along the coast. The worst part of these walks is that you constantly have to look down due to the loose stones and rough path. You can only look at the view when you stop.

The vest went back on as there was now a sea breeze.

When I did this last year there were just a couple of other walkers on the route. This year we were passed by 2 or 3 large groups and when they stopped, we would pass them. Hop scotching along the path where it was so narrow one group had to step aside to let the other pass.

We finished our walk at a restaurant overlooking the beach. Last year I went straight down but this year I sat and had a glass of wine, on the restaurant terrace, with the group.

Looking down at Cala Tuent from the restaurant terrace

and up at the next watchtower north.

A couple of us went down to eat the sandwiches we had bought with us, on the beach

and had to rush to finish up when we saw the boat coming in.

Looking back at Cala Tuent with the snow on Piuq Major.

There weren't any white caps but there was about a 3 foot swell

I was fine with it but some in our group

were glad they didn't have to go any further.

6 of us ended up at Fet a Soller for a glass of wine (or gelato) and conversation swirled around walks (in England and here), politics (in England, Germany and the U.S) and what everyone would be doing the next day (with the abysmal weather forecast).
The walk had been 12 km long. We left Port de Soller at 9:30 and were back by 4:30.

I arrived home to a completed patio and the news that the builders would not be returning (they had to move on to the next project) So Liz and I discussed which of the remaining bits and pieces we could complete before her renters arrive on Wednesday.

Port de Soller, Mallorca, Spain - Fornalutz with a camera. Lentil Stew

The workmen arrive every weekday morning at 8am. The garage door being raised used to be my alarm clock but now they are working in the garden and I have found that the the cement mixer creates white noise and I can sleep through it.

Gabrielle stomping on the forms on the wet cement.

I walked down to the sea front and as predicted

they were cleaning up the beach debris.

I popped in to Tramuntana Tours and booked in with tomorrows walk to Cala Tuent. I was told that we might not be able to get the boat back, might have to have a van fetch us, as there are currently 4 metre waves.

I watched the boat head out today. Didn't look very comfortable. It wouldn't surprise me if it turned around and came back..

 tI didn't see because the tram came and I rode into Soller.

Snow again on the mountain above Fornalutz

but sun down in the Soller valley. In the sun, out of the wind it felt warm and I took my jacket off. In the shade or when the wind hit, I put it back on again. One of those days - on, off, on, off.

This orchard is carpeted in thistles

and this is what happens when you add sheep into the equation. They are eating machines, even thistles!

Typical donkey behaviour, head over the fence.

Not typical donkey colouring though.

 I walked up past the spot where I dropped my camera last time and got a good grip on the strap every time I took the new one out of my pocket.

In spite of the cold, the fig trees are starting to leaf out.

I had so wanted to take pictures of this little chapel and graveyard, surrounded by the mountains, last time!

Fornalutz is in a lovely position, at the head of the Soller valley, with the mountain right above.

Narrow streets,

a pretty square,

well kept houses,

and the sound of the torrente rushing again after the rains.

I followed signs to this spring

but it had been modernized - electric pumps and pvc piping.

I have been told that traditionally a bull is run through the town and then slaughtered for all in the village to eat.

The old watchtower is now part of the town hall.

The church sits above the square

A pretty lampshade.

Back down the path and I had a cuddle with the same friendly cat that I stroked last time. Up on my knee, purring, loving having behind her ear scratched.

When I moved her off my knee she was already looking up the path for the next people to stroke her.

Got home and they had finished the second section of the patio

and one of the steps.

Just one more section of patio, 3 more steps, gravel on the pathways, tile and plumb the outdoor shower, paint the new walls of the future summer house, plaster the area that will hold the frig. Inside the range hood needs to be attached and wired in and the fan in the bathroom. Liz has people renting it on March 28 so we are in count down. The garage plastering and plumbing in the second washing machine may not be done before then.

Here's the recipe for the Lentil Stew that Fiona made during niece week:
2 tsp olive oil
1 cp chopped onion
2 cps chopped zucchini
2 cloves chopped garlic
1 cup chopped seeded tomato
2 tbsp curry powder
2 tbsp ketchup
2 cps vegetable stock
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 cps cooked lentils
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
natural yogurt and coriander for garnish

Saute onion, add zucchini and garlic and cook for 3 min. Add tomato, curry powder and ketchup and cook 1 min more. Mix stock and flour in a bowl then add to the pan with the salt and lentils. Cook another 3 min. Remove pan from heat and stir in lime juice.
Divide between 4 bowls and garnish with spoon of yogurt and sprinkle of coriander.