The Chinese whispers of Soller
Published in the Majorca Daily bulletin
Tuesday 13th January 2015
Photographs by Rachel Fox
This is the time that the rumour mill of the Soller Valley begins the whispers or in some cases the shouts. The list of hotels and their winter spend has been published and all can see which Hotels are investing most in winter refurbishments and extensions. The new businesses that arrived a couple of months ago in Soller are being analysed to see if they actually came up with what they promised. The one that causes the most chatter is the Chinese Hairdresser which is open seven days a week from early till late. He was even open on Christmas Day just in case anyone had forgotten to get their hair done. I don’t know what his business plan is or how much rent he pays but the work ethic that keeps him open and present is plain for all to see.
The development of the Lluna – our main shopping street in Soller is causing a lot of angst. There are at least eight shop fronts which are being refurbished after their last leaseholders have moved on. The rumours that say that the bakers are going to be relocated to make way for a major new building are gathering momentum. Readers may remember last year when a feasibility study was done by a hotel chain that specialises in City Centre Hotels. This seems to have prepared the way for the serious consideration of making a huge part of the Lluna a 40 room, five star hotel. Published facts on this one are thin on the ground but it is being talked of freely by the shopkeepers and business owners in that street.
Meanwhile down on the Repic Beach the Chinese Restaurant has given up the effort to keep going. This was run for ten years or more by a lady who was always open even when the beach was deserted, at one time it seemed against her religion to put the closed sign on the door. Times change and now this great location is up for grabs and it will be fascinating to see who gets that prestigious spot. A small ‘To Let’ sign with a mobile phone number underneath is all it has taken to create international interest in this. I was even involved in taking a message from a business owner in Argentina about this location. I lead an interesting life here in the Soller Valley !
Soller is one of the places in Majorca that take the fiesta of Sant Antoni very seriously. The schools all have their bonfires and mask making workshops and they put the two together to get some scary dancing round the fire. There are Sant Antoni songs that all the infant and primary children know and this week it all comes to a head. This is barbeque week where so many local sites will set up the communal fire, get a few dancing devils and loud music and declare a party. On Thursday in Soller city centre at 7 pm the bonfire will be lit with the help of the scary drummers of the Esclatabutzes then at 8 pm the dancers and musicians of the Aires Solleric turn up to help frighten the demons away. On Friday and Saturday night there are other locations around Soller that will hold their own Sant Antoni parties and the smell of smoke and barbeques will hang heavy over the Valley. Check out the Events Calendar of www.sollerweb.com for more information on the locations of these great gatherings. Everyone is very welcome.
On Sunday the 18th January at 3 pm a very important event takes place in Soller. The blessing of the animal’s parade starts with the Sant Antoni Abats Day. This is the traditional blessings or the beneides where people gather outside the parish of San Bartholomew as a procession to receive the blessing for their pets from the patron saint. This was a very significant moment in the Soller rural life of the past. The animals were so important to their survival that the blessing was treasured. The priest does his work, sweets are distributed to the gathered children and then it is time for the Soller Horse Races. This is where the finest of the horses of the Hidden Valley are groomed and on display in our City square. They race up streets usually reserved for cars and hit the ribbons above their heads to the sounds of the cheers of the people. The focus of the fiesta is on all the animals that are important to this area from goats to Cart horses and you will see them on this day trotting around in front of the Town Hall.
The old traditions and the new businesses are all called on to co exist in this expanding and thriving place in the heart of the Tramuntana Mountains . It’s events like this that make us so glad we are here now and part of the excitement of the future plans and developments.
