Published in the Majorca Daily Bulletin Tuesday 19th May 2015
Photographs by Rachel Fox
The North West of Majorca is the place that we call home. Soller, nestled into the golden bowl of the Soller Valley is surrounded on three sides by the Tramuntana mountain range and its fourth side looks out to sea. The whole area is stunningly beautiful and new visitors pinch themselves at the sights they see here. How can it get better than this must be the question you ask? Well I can tell you that there are some evenings when it does get better than that and it’s all to do with our location. The North West is considered the sunset capital of the Island and a whole industry has risen up to capitalise on the gift that nature has given to this area.
The sunset venues include the Chirangueta of Na Foradada on the Son Marroig estate between Valldemossa and Deia which plays chill out music and serves cocktails as the sun goes down each evening. That begins a whole series of restaurants and bars that look out over the sea all the way from Valldemossa to the Port of Soller . They all have the view that makes you gasp at the sheer beauty as the sun fizzes into the sea and dusk begins. The same beauty is enjoyed by the yachts and boats offering Sunset Cruises from the Port of Soller . They glide gently out to sea and with a glass of cava in hand the music of the pods of dolphins mingles with the odd stray guitar being played in a quiet corner. The Sunset Cruise experience is magical and is often used as a backdrop for romantic moments and proposals. As the sun goes down a trail of sunset cruisers head back to shore to one of the watersedge restaurants that the Port of Soller is famous for. This area is very grateful to have the ‘best sunsets on the Island’ tag – just one more outstanding claim to fame for the Soller Valley
. Meetings are the flavour of the week as the local council starts on its electioneering bandwagon. Some issues had to be resolved before the final shift into political lobbying. The exciting news from the Soller Tunnel is that they are going to introduce ‘free moments’. This applies when the Coll Mountain which is the alternative, free route into Soller is closed due to landslides or weather conditions. The much awaited announcement said that the Soller tunnel will be free on the days the mountain road is impassable. This was welcome news but, as you can imagine, it didn’t go far enough. The lobbyists here will not rest until the Tunnel is free to all to use and the days of paying 5.50€ every time you go through are over.
A full council meeting took place to open the envelopes for the tendering process to run the beach concessions. This has become a political hot potato as there are still no sun beds and umbrellas on the beach for our visitors. Anyway, rules are rules so we are told and the bidding to be successful in this ‘beach war’ is fierce. Sollerics and ‘out of towners’ are head to head. This issue is probably more important than politics here for some of us. A meeting after the Firo brought to the end the possibility of strike action on the Soller train and tram. The discussions about this have been occupying the unions and management team for some months. I am glad to report that agreement has been reached and there is no longer any threat of strikes. The trains and trams continue to roll in with many old and new friends aboard looking for their Soller Valley moment. Sometimes that comes with a sunset and a cocktail and for many others it is the first moment that they realise that this is the place they want to live. So many of our new residents had their Soller epiphany on board the Soller train or tram and knew that their future was here.
Meanwhile down at the Port of Soller they are preparing for the three day and night fiesta in June that celebrates St Peter. The children are to have their ‘Frozen’ moments with the visitors from the film and Frozen fancy dress. I’m a good grandmother – I know all the words – particularly of ‘Let it go’ (I wish someone would…). The other big feature of this fiesta is the noise level – the music is loud and long and lasts most of the nights. St Peter obviously loves a bit of rock n roll and likes to share it with all. If you are up for a party this is the place to be on the weekend of the 25th to 28th June 2015. Sunsets, fiestas, tunnels, politics and meetings have kept us busy in Soller this week. Do come and see us soon – you are very welcome…
