Nestled in the son vida hills of Palma de Mallorca, is a 13th-century castle-turned-luxury-hotel that overlooks the bay and the city center of Palma about 14 km away. The property is bordered by golf courses on 2 sides.  We spent 5 nights here in our complimentary upgraded room with a stunning balcony view where Kingsley and I would have enjoy our morning tea in the glorious island sunshine.


Another highlight of the hotel for me was the food.  They were very kind to cater to our gluten free restrictions and even made us cheeseburgers with a gluten free bun which Kingsley stated was his favorite meal of the trip!

A MAJOR highlight of the trip for me was a two hour trail ride that I convinced Kingsley to go on with me through Hipica Formentor. They also offer two and four day trail rides through the mountains of Mallorca but somehow I am not sure Kingsley is cut out for a multi-day riding event.

During our horse riding adventure, I promise you, I have never laughed so much in my life. Kingsley, as an absolute beginner was placed on an big gentle giant of a horse who quickly figured out that Kingsley hadn't a clue so took full advantage of the situation doing as he pleased hanging back and then cheerfully trotting to catch up with my horse all the while Kingsley was bouncing around hanging on for dear life. It was priceless, just priceless. At one point I was laughing so hard I thought I might actually fall off my own horse! 

Formentor – especially the ‘Cap de Formentor’ in peninsula’s Eastern end – is postcard perfect. Starting with 13.5km of winding roads that defy all safety and logic, the peninsula’s several lookout points and the lighthouse are beautiful and quiet spots to stop and reflect on the beauty all around.

Our first day in Mallorca was spent driving along the West Coast of the island which many have said is the most beautiful part of the island and I have to whole-heartedly agree.

We began the drive from Palma heading west on C-719, our first stops were Camp de Mar and Port D/ Andratx, two beautiful spots with sandy coves. Here summer vacationers mingle with fishermen in this natural port, which is set against a backdrop of pines. Port D'Andtax was once a haven for smugglers.

Leaving the port, we continued northeast along C-719 to reach the town of Andratx, 5km (3 miles) away. Because of frequent raids by Turkish pirates, this town moved inland. Located 31km (19 miles) west of Palma, Andratx is one of the loveliest towns on the island, surrounded by fortifications and a Gothic parish church.

After leaving Andratx, we took the C-710 N, a tiny winding road that runs parallel to the island's jagged northwestern coast. This road was for us the highlight of the trip; most of the road is perched along the cliff edge and shaded by pine trees. We stopped at the Mirador Ricardo Roca for some lemon sorbet and the panoramic view of a series of coves. These coves can be reached only from the sea.

We then continued to Estallenchs, a town of steep slopes surrounded by pine groves, olive and almond trees, and fruit orchards. Valldemossa, was the next major town and is where the composer Frédéric Chopin and the French writer George Sand spent their now-famous winters.

Beyond Valldemossa, the road ran along cliffs some 395m (1,300 ft.) high until they reach San Marroig, the former residence of Archduke Lluis Salvador, which is actually within the town limits of Deià. He erected a small neoclassical temple on a slope overlooking the sea to give visitors a panoramic vista.

We decided to stop and have lunch once we reached Deià. This was the home for many years of the English writer Robert Graves. Many other foreign painters, writers, and musicians have found inspiration in Deià, which is a virtual Garden of Eden.

Before vacationing in Barcelona I’d never heard of Gaudi, a Catalan architect considered a master of Modernism. If you’d asked me what Gaudi meant to me, I would have said it meant “excessively showy” (as in “gaudy”, which ironically is not related to Gaudi since the use of the term, “gaudy” dates back to the 1500s.)
It has been called "A great petrified wave". This building was commisiioned by Pere Mila and his wife to be used as apartments and a family home. This was built when Gaudi was 54 at the height of his career and was declared a UNESCO Heritage site in 1984.

What makes Casa Mila a genuine architectural masterpiece is the fact that there are no load bearing walls; the building, including the façade, is supported by a structure of columns and curved iron beams surrounding an open courtyard from the lobby to the attic.

Almost everyone I know who has been to Barcelona has raved about the La Sagrada Familia and after going there myself, I can fully understand why.  I am typically a tepid enthusiast of history and architecture but this building captivated both Kingsley and I.  I especially recommend getting the audio guide as you go through the church.

Some interesting facts that I learned:

The foundation stone for the cathedral known as La Sagrada Família ("The Holy Family") was laid in 1882. A year after the project started, the original architect resigned because of disagreements with the cathedral's developers, and the commission was given to the renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, who abandoned the original neo-Gothic design envisioned for the building and set out to create a more monumental and unique work, packed with symbolism, detail and extraordinary artisanal craft.

Gaudí worked on the building until his death in 1926, devoting almost all of his time to the project in the last years of his life.  After Gaudí's death, work proceeded under the management of his close associate, Domènec Sugrañes, and would pass through the hands of others who knew the master.





Current estimates suggest that construction will not be complete for another 15 years. Gaudí himself seemed unconcerned about the amount of time it would take to finish his masterpiece. "The master of this work," he once famously said, "Is in no great hurry."


In my opinion, the interior of the church is actually even more beautiful than the exterior.  The windows are a focal point of the construction, with some stretching more than two stories high. They are designed to draw the eye upwards and inspire meditation on the divine.  The roof is held up by a forest of extraordinary angled pillars. As the pillars soar towards the ceiling, they sprout a web of supporting branches, creating the effect of a beautiful forest canopy which was exactly how Gaudi intended it to look.