We had more visitors due to arrive, and with our outboard engine still not working, we decided to search the chandleries in Palma for an alternative. We were looking for an ePropulsion eLite electric outboard motor as a standby until we are able to get Ed fixed. A chandlery next to the port in Palma de Mallorca showed on line that it had one in stock.
The eLite is compact and ultra-light, weighing less than 7 kg, making it easy to handle and convenient to stow away when not needed. With 500 watts of power, it is ideal for short distances where there is no strong tide or current.
Palma de Mallorca, usually just called Palma, is the capital of Mallorca and the largest city in the Balearic Islands. It has a mixture of historic buildings, narrow old streets, beaches, restaurants and a number of large marinas. Palma has been inhabited for more than 2,000 years. The Romans established the city of Palma in 123 BC, and it subsequently came under Byzantine and Islamic rule before being conquered by James I of Aragon in 1229.
We took the bus to the port and, feeling hopeful, visited the chandlery. After checking their system, they confirmed that they did indeed have one in stock. Unfortunately, this appeared to be a computer error and once again we left empty handed.
Feeling a little downhearted, we continued along the waterfront to another large chandlery, although by now, we weren’t holding out much hope. On the way, we passed several historic windmills perched above the waterfront. The mills were built on the natural slope overlooking the sea, making excellent use of the prevailing winds. Historical records show that mills were in use as early as 1406 using the strong coastal winds to turn grain into flour.
On arrival at the chandlery, as expected, we were told that they didn’t have one in stock either. However, there was a glimmer of hope, they could order one for us, and it would arrive the following week. Success at last! We finally had a solution, and after all the searching, we felt that we deserved to celebrate.
Just across the road was the historic Bastion of Sant Pere, part of Palma’s old Renaissance defensive walls. Today, the bastion houses a contemporary art museum.
By the time we got there, it was too late to visit the museum, but at the top there was a lovely, shady cafe in a courtyard overlooking the Bay of Palma and the cathedral. We sat beneath the trees, surrounded by several pieces of art on display, enjoying some much needed refreshments.
Next, we walked towards the cathedral through the old city, where a maze of narrow streets led us past attractive courtyards, old churches and grand townhouses.
Eventually, we reached the area in front of La Seu Cathedral and the serene salt water lake known as Parc de la Mar. The lake was created in the 1970s to reflect the sea that had previously reached right up to the city walls, before the waterfront was pushed back to make way for the motorway.
La Seu, Palma’s spectacular Gothic cathedral, towers majestically over the waterfront. It was built on the site of a former Moorish mosque following James I’s conquest of Mallorca in 1229. The enormous sandstone building is a Gothic masterpiece, with a central nave reaching 44 metres high, making it one of the tallest Gothic structures in Europe. Its enormous rose window, known as the ‘Gothic Eye’, is nearly 14 metres across and contains more than 1,200 pieces of coloured glass.
The Royal Palace of La Almudaina, stands beside the Cathedral, it is a blend of Mallorca’s Islamic and Christian history. Originally built on the site of a Muslim fortress, the present palace was rebuilt between 1305 and 1314 by James II of Mallorca and became the royal residence of the medieval kings. Today, the palace remains an official royal residence when the Spanish King and Queen visit Mallorca.
On our way back down, we passed a building housing an unusual art display between its many internal columns, adding another unexpected discovery to our afternoon exploring Palma.
Eventually, we returned to Ziggy, happy that we would be coming back to Palma in a few days to collect our new engine. But before then, we had to get the boat ready for our family, who were due to arrive the following day.
2 replies on “Palma de Mallorca”
The search goes on for the outboard – proving rarer than the Golden Fleece and the Ark of the Covenant combined.
Perhaps Paul qualifies for extra rum rations as all that rowing must be very tiring?
As always a wonderful blog with great pictures, the cathedral is quite something – have you had time to wander through the Mercat de Santa Catalina, well worth a visit if only to see the selection of fish and spices?
We haven’t visited the market yet this time but have been on a previous trip, it is certainly spectacular with colourful displays and plenty of local delicacies.