Mallorca

Sep 26th - Oct 5th 2019

Thursday 26th September 2019 

Home to Cardiff

Finished work just before 17.00 and headed home to pick up Nikki.

I finished up a bit of last minute packing and loaded up the car before we had some tea and started the drive down to Cardiff. Quite a straight forward run - traffic not too bad at all.

Got to the Hilton Cardiff at around 21.00 and got checked in. I was going to use the digital key as we already knew our room number but needed to stop at the desk to drop off my car key.

We were in  623 - very uninspiring view of the top deck of a multi-story car park - but if you crane your neck just so you could glimpse a corner of Cardiff City Hall. Watched an episode of Chicago PD and hit the hay at around 22.30.

 

Friday 27th September 2019

Cardiff to Aberdare to Bristol

Woke up at around 05.00. I’d had the air conditioning on in the room so it was absolutely freezing. Stayed put in bed for a while after turning it off. 

We went down for breakfast at 07.30. Decided to eat downstairs as last time the breakfast was excellent. As indeed it was this time too. Did go for a nose of the Exec Lounge after breakfast. It’s on the top floor of the hotel so has great views over Cardiff Castle and up towards the valleys. Maybe next time.

After a short wait in reception the car was brought around just before 09.00. Traffic was quite heavy heading out of Cardiff. We stopped off for a Starbucks at Coryton - luckily we did as the tyre warning light came on in the car. Fixed that at the Sainsbury’s garage opposite the Starbucks and drove up to Mum’s via the Coop for some sandwiches.

Darren popped in for a quick bit on financial stuff and then we had lunch and left for Bristol at around 14.30.

The Sat Nav really doesn’t like us - or Bristol Airport. Last year it took us up a back road which was closed by a fallen tree. This year it did exactly the same - minus the fallen tree.

Got to the Hampton by Hilton at around 16.30 and got checked in. We were in 223 and 224 which weren’t actually next to each other but not a million miles apart. Mum had a rest while me and Nikki watched TV for a bit and dozed. We met up for tea at around 18.30. Hotel is quite full - as I imagine it is every night being an airport hotel. Not a bad Pasta Arabiatta - bit hot for Mum but she managed it. We sat and gossiped until gone 21.00 and then decided to call it a night.

Saturday 28th September 2019

Bristol to Mallorca

Not the best night sleep. I sat in bed for a while but then I woke Nikki up. No decaf coffee in the room so had a grump about that. We met Mum for breakfast at 08.15. Very quiet downstairs. I guess most of the people staying were on the early flights so they were up and at ‘em already.

We checked out at 10.00 after I’d spoken to the car park guy. It’s pretty much next to the hotel so dropping it off was a doddle. We went into the airport and spoke to the Special Assistance people. The woman there helped us with the cases down to the EasyJet check in. Very swift.

Got through security without any issues and decided to set up camp on the first floor in the bar area. Got a booth to ourselves. I nipped down to get a few things from the shops and then we just whiled away the time until our 12.45 flight.

Took Nikki down to the SA desk - they were over subscribed on the wheelchair front for the Mallorca flight so me and Mum made our way to Gate 31. We saw Nikki being loaded onto the plane up a ramp rather than with the usual ambu-lift. We were in 1D, E & F so right at the front. Took off a little late but no problems.

Flight itself went very quickly. I watched a few things on my phone and we had some sandwiches etc which helped pass the time. Before we knew it we were over Mallorca. North approach and then a very long taxi at PMI. Ambu-lift came and sorted us out. Got our bags and went over to the Hertz desk in the garage. Car was right outside so we loaded up and headed off.

We stopped in Sa Pobla at the Eroski for some milk etc and stuff for breakfast tomorrow morning. Getting a bit tired by this point so we were glad to get to the villa. Used What 3 Words which took us right to the front door.

Had an explore of the villa - it’s very nice. Set back from the road it’s in kind of a T shape. The top of the T is the sitting room, dining room and kitchen while the bedrooms are down the vertical bit of the T. Both our rooms are en suite plus there’s another bathroom as well. Pool area is beautiful with a nice terrace with a pool table. There are also 2 outhouses - one with another kitchen area for a BBQ and the other with the washing machine etc.

Did a quick bit of unpacking and went to Port de Pollenca for our tea. Parking was a bit of a nightmare but we found somewhere on the 3rd row back and walked down to IRU on the front. Very nice waiter looked after us - vegetable soup to start and then we all shared a huge veggie paella. All too stuffed for desert so came back to the villa, watched a bit of news and hit the hay around 22.30.

Sunday 29th September 2019

Mallorca

First full day on the island. Didn’t sleep too well as the bed was quite noisy.

Got up around 06.15 and had a coffee in the kitchen. Mum appeared at about 07.30 and Nikki shortly after. We sat outside and had breakfast on the table on the terrace in the sun. Very nice indeed.

I tried the pool and it didn’t seem too cold so I thought I’d give it a go. It’s one of those things where once you’re in, it’s lovely - but getting in is another story. Stuck with it and eventually got all the way in. Stayed in for about 45 mins. Nikki brought me a coffee and a biscuit. The biscuit came via a long handled BBQ tong which meant I was basically a trained seal in the pool. Sat on the sun-bed for a while until I got dry and then realised I was being nibbled by mosquitos. Bloody things. 

Mum went for a walk mid-afternoon - she was out for about 30 mins in total. We then spent the rest of the day sitting by the pool with me trying to dodge mozzies.

The evening was spent in Port de Pollenca. We took Mum to try some Tapas - not sure she really enjoyed it but she was certainly happy with the setting on the front watching the world go by.

Monday 30th September 2019

Mallorca

Well what a horrendous night’s sleep that was. Up from 02.30 thanks to the mosquito bites. Itching like crazy. Added them up and realised I’d got 24 bites in total!

Decided the best course of action was a long-sleeved shirt and a hat. So after breakfast we headed off to Port d’Alcudia to do some shopping! I remembered a place on the front that sold a bit of everything so we went there. Managed to get a turquoise shirt - or possibly a blouse - with long sleeves and also a hat. Shirt is a bit small but I can wear it with a t-shirt under and it doesn’t look too bad!

We got Mum a paper and then walked along the front to find somewhere to have a coffee. Stopped at one of the first places and sat right next to the beach. Service was a little slow and taciturn but the coffee and the setting was lovely. Lingered there for a while watching the world go by.

After that we went to see Chinese Alan to get an extension lead and a pair of sunnies for Mum. We then did our daily shop in Eroski for lunch etc before coming back to the villa.

The cleaning lady was there so we sat outside while she did her thing and then had a spot of lunch outside on the terrace. After not sleeping very well last night, I decided a nap was in order - but just ended up lying on my bed with the a/c on full blast while Nikki and Mum went for a walk up the drive. Both shattered when they came back.

Around 15.00 I thought we should go up to Cala Sant Vincenc for some afternoon coffee. It’s a beautiful place even if the parking is a little scary down a narrow winding lane. But the blue badge space there is right next to the restaurant which overlooks the little bay. We had coffee and apple cake with ice-cream and whiled away a couple of hours there.

Headed off for tea at 18.30. Down to Port d’Alcudia and one of the places on the front. Very uninspiring meal - we all had pizzas which were far too big and we had to move tables because of a cigar smoker. Did the job though. Went for a wander after dinner and found another place just further up that looked really nice so may try that.

We were back at the villa by 21.30 so watched the news for a bit before hitting the hay.

Tuesday 1st October 2019

Mallorca

Better night’s sleep all round. Woke up a few times to see what time it was and then went straight back to sleep.

Surfaced around 07.30 with Mum appearing shortly afterwards. We had breakfast inside today as it was a little cooler. 

I showered and then got the shopping party together - today just me and Mum. We went the long way around to the Eroski and got all the things we needed including some doughnuts for Nikki. It also included a bottle of freshly squeezed orange juice from a machine they have in the fruit and veg area!

After the shopping I took Mum back up to Pollenca to see the villa we’d stayed in last time we were here. Nice to see it without all the flooding we had last October!

Came back to the villa and sat outside in the sun with juice and doughnuts. Despite it feeling a little cooler earlier, it was now hot as hell so everyone was after some shade. Me and Nikki went in the pool and did some lengths to cool off a bit. Then sat on the sunbeds until lunch!

Lunch was taken on the couches watching a bit of TV and then we stayed by the pool into the afternoon. Mum went for a walk but came back exhausted by the heat.

In the evening we went to a new place in the square in Port de Pollenca called Osteria 15. Very nice meal in a great setting.

And so to bed.

Wednesday 2nd October 2019

Mallorca

Weather not as good today - cloudy with some rain around.

We sat by the pool in the morning cloud-bathing but were driven in at 11.30 when the heavens opened.

After lunch we went down to the front at Port de Pollenca and braved the showers to sit in a restaurant called Tolos. We all had coffee and cake. By the time we’d finished the clouds had parted and it became a beautiful afternoon.

In the evening we went for an old favourite - Il Giardino in Pollenca. We were there just before they opened at 19.00 so had a wander around the square. Lots of kids playing and just a lovely atmosphere.

Meal at Il Giardino was first class - not as expensive as I remember either.

Thursday 3rd October 2019

Mallorca

Weather was a bit better so we were back by the pool. Thoroughly enjoyable day.

We had lunch at the villa and then after a few more hours by the pool we headed up to Cala San Vincenc for a coffee. Wind had really picked up so the sea was very choppy.

For tea we decided to go back to where we started the week - at Restaurant IRU in Port de Pollenca.

And home tomorrow.

Friday 4th October 2019

Mallorca to Aberdare

We were all up by around 07.00 ready for transfer day. Had breakfast and caught up with some news before making a start on the packing. We needed to be out of the villa by 10.00, but by 09.15 we were ready to go. So we went. Stopped off at the bins by the garden centre to drop off our last few bits of rubbish and headed down to Palma.

Really nice drive - roads were very quiet so we got there in plenty of time. Found a petrol station nearby to avoid airport prices in filling up the hire car.

Dropped Mum and Nikki off at arrivals and then drove around to the garage to drop off the hire car. When we got to the EasyJet desk the check-in agent said we were too early as the Bristol flight hasn’t opened! I argued for a bit but then gave up and went for coffee nearby. After about 10 mins the check in agent came over and they were now open so we checked in and went through security.

We were departing from the A Terminal so we headed down to Gate 23 where the Exec Lounge is situated. Not a bad lounge at all. Quite a few nibbles and drinks along with a decent selection of hot food. Stayed there for just under 2 hours - Nikki did a Tesco shop to come on Saturday!

We were going from gate 14 at 14.00 so we went up there just before 13.00. After about 10 mins they started boarding but there was NO sign of our assistance guy. Practically the whole plane had boarded before he showed up. We were in row 2 so not too far to go. Flight went very quickly - plane was a bit old and staff were taciturn - but 2 episodes of EastEnders and some chocolate fingers helped.

At Bristol the Ambu-Lift guys were there and we got off before all the other passengers had finished. Passport and baggage was a doddle - we got a luggage cart, called the car guy and walked out to the meeting spot.

We decided to ignore the Sat Nav and follow the signs back to the M5. All went well until we got over the Severn Bridge. Just before Newport we suddenly ground to a halt.

After about an hour we’d crept forward to the turn off just before the tunnels and realised the whole M4 was closed going west. We ended up going up the valley and around the houses before eventually coming out in Abercynon. Stopped at the Co-op to get some bread and milk for Mum and dropped her off before we drove back as far as Swindon and decided to stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton there. Good decision. Both whacked out in bed by 23.00

So that’s the 2019 Mallorca holiday all done - roll on 2020