Palma Nova and Palma de Mallorca, Spain

As we were planning our trip to Italy, he mentioned that he would like to go to Spain for our next big vacation. When he was in the Navy, he had spent time there and always wanted to go back. Considering the cost of airline tickets, I suggested we incorporate it into this trip and spend the last week there. After all, three weeks away makes for an amazing trip.

After landing in Palma, de Mallorca, we picked up our rental vehicle to make the short trip to Palma Nova. We took some time to settle in and relax before heading out for dinner. We took a short walk to check out the area and find somewhere to eat. We were fortunate that there was an Indian restaurant close by and the food was delicious. An enjoyable meal, listening to the sound of many languages blending together, and taking in the reality that we were on an island in Spain.

With only two nights in Palma Nova, we decided the next day to drive around the island and take in the beauty of the landscape. We headed to Soller which is unique compared to towns on the rest of the island due to its geographical isolation, being surrounded by the Serra de Tramuntana mountains. It has become a popular tourist destination, which became apparent when we arrived. We drove around the town two or three times and never were able to find a place to park, so unfortunately, we headed out to take in other sights on our way back.

After our return, we checked out some of the shops on the main street which was only a five-minute walk from our Airbnb. There were the usual souvenirs, but also some amazing items made by local artisans. After perusing for a while, we walked over to the beach and took in the beautiful and tranquil scenery of the Mediterranean Sea. Of course, we had to dip our toes into the Mediterranean since we had already had them in the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas. Our day ended with a casual meal at a restaurant that looked out over the sea. Life is good.

The next day we were flying to Sevelle to continue our tour of Spain. Since our flight was late afternoon, we stopped to see the medieval fortress Castell de Bellver which sits 112 meters above sea level. It is the only existing circular castle in Spain, one that watches over the city of Palma de Mallorca and the Mediterranean Sea. The views from outside the castle were breathtaking, and the castle was very well preserved.

To end this leg of our journey, after sitting in the Palma airport for several hours, our flight was delayed. Our 9:30 arrival in Seville turned into an 11 p.m. arrival. After a long time on the phone with the car rental company, they assured us someone would be waiting for us. We picked up the car and then spent too much time finding the hotel (GPS is only so good). Finally, we checked in at midnight and fell into bed. We only had one night before heading to the Rock of Gibraltar and El Puerto de Santa Maria.