Extra Large Pickle Anyone?

We've noticed that at the end of every supermarket check out, including our own, now much beloved, SPAR up the road ......

..... that they all seems to have a large vat or bucket of rather large pickles .......

...... of which we are very curious.

Darrell says that perhaps when he's all geared up of a night, following a cheeky cava sangria, two or three .......

.... he'll pluck up the courage .......

...... and avail himself of a choice one to nibble upon our return to our hotel .......

....... if only to see how they actually get said pickle out ...... net, fishing rod, spear? And then how they present it to you?  Answers on a postcard please!

Joyous News From The Towers

Although he's been trying to keep it to himself, I know Darrell has been fretting over his beloved amaryllis, Richard who, as we were leaving for foreign climes, was on the very cusp of blooming for a second time, despite Darrell seriously decapitating him a few weeks ago!

But, with a pressing plane to catch, there was nothing Darrell could do, except leave Richard to the tender, loving ministrations of Eric and the ever fragrant one. 

So, you can just imagine the unfettered pride and joy this morning, when Darrell received news and pictures from Eric and Alice, of Richard once more in his prime, standing tall, proud and in fragrante!

I have to say, he (Richard, not Darrell) really is a magnificent beast, even though I am pretty much a stranger to the art of the burgeoning, soilless and waterless plant.

Eric and Alice have done a sterling job in taking caring of Richard, however, with this news, perhaps Darrell can now truly relax and embrace our shared Eviva Espana Experience with all his usual gusto and relish (sweet and spicy please)!

Our First Taste Of Tapas

Last night we got our very first taste of authentic tapas, something we've drooled dreamed about ever since Darrell booked this holiday.

We decided that we really wanted to eat where real life locals eat ........

...... so veered off from the well trodden main strip of restaurants and ventured excitedly up a back passage, let's just say we were not disappointed.

It was hard to choose from the menu, as everything looked and sounded too wonderful for words, but eventually opted for six dishes that arrived, it seemed within seconds! 

The dates wrapped in bacon were our stand out favourite, with Darrell already deciding that, if he practices, will replace our usual pigs in blankets on our festive table next year, so I guess that shows that Mallorca has already stolen a piece of our hearts.

Next best favourite were the patatas bravas, followed by the gypsy chicken, meatballs, croquetas de jamon and finally the crusty bread with pork slices.

It goes without saying that our plates were almost licked clean as we absolutely loved it all, however we did manage to hold ourselves back just a little as we were also desperate for some Spanish pudding ...... to wit churros, with a dollop of ice-cream. 

It was as if we'd died and gone to heaven ...... they were all we hope for and more

..... all washed down with a complimentary shot of pina colada.  We are now very much converts of a tapas type nature ...... and definitely want for find more dates in bacon and churros by the dozen during our stay.  

The restaurant was very traditionally decorated, we were desperate to take more photos for your delectation, but as it was jam packed, we didn't want to cause a kerfuffle and disturb our fellow guests, but trust us, it was rather beautiful and authentic in a shabby type way. 

A Sad Lack Of Beachcombing Opportunity

After a just little beachcombing, it quickly became evident to Darrell that it's going to be slim pickings as to the finding of any exciting "beach treasure" is concerned, in the guise of holey stones and sea glass.

Our beach is very lovely, but with just a few stones etc. that tend to be to the one side and sand that gets "mown" every morning by the council, along the tide line.

He's has found one holey stone of sorts, although none of the holes actually go all the way through plus a holey piece of shell ........

....... and any sea glass is both scarce and not erm ..... fully matured!

It's smooth round the edges, but not as "aged" as other glass he has found in the past.

His favourite piece, so far, is a very small, beautiful, piece of cobalt blue.

However, his biggest success to date, is perhaps, following Nigel's recent interest in such things, is a stone that appears to have the outline of a face (a la Hall of Curious Rocks - Chinsekikan in Japan) .....

 

..... which I have to admit is quite impressive.

I am sure Darrell will continue his little toddles along the beach when he's hot and had enough of his book, but he isn't hopeful of finding much more ...... but if he does, you'll be the first to know!

Our Mollorcan Savoury Snack Of Choice

As you know finding our savoury snack of choice (for la plage), always plays a huge part in any of our exotic holiday experiences and this year, in Mallorca, is no different.

Dans Greece, we always tend to veer towards anything of a tomato type nature, however, they appear to be in short supply in Peguera ........

..... and unfortunately these Lay's tomato with onion .......

....... didn't quite hack it, as generally we prefer our tomato to fly solo.

Then, we thought we'd hit the jackpot with these Cheetos cheese and ketchup sticks, but alas, this time the cheese got in the way! 

And with that, our tomato snack base came to an abrupt end, but undeterred, Darrell spotted a snack that looked very much like Crunchy Cheetos, our very most US snack of choice, something we have craved since Las Vegas and New York, but are not available in their true version in the UK because, we think, of all the colourings/flavourings ....... so, we tried these unusually named Tronkless, which were cheesy (if not tomatoey), but if we're honest, not quite cheesy enough!

And then ....... we finally hit the jackpot, it might have been something about the lurid colour, but oh my goodness Risketos (one of the most consumed snacks in Spain) really hit the spot, the nearest to a proper Cheeto we'll probably ever get ....... with just the perfect amount of cheese flavour, crunch and texture!

So, now each evening, whilst on our evenings promenade we make sure we pick up a pack for the beach the following day from our Mallorcan supermarket of choice, to wit, SPAR 

What are we like if not creatures of habit  ........

...... and yes, we will be taking an ample supply back home with us in our suitcase as Eric and the ever fragrant Alice just have to try them too! Happy crunchy snack days!

We're Going 7 days A Week .......

Woo hoo hoo, it's been a long, long while, but thanks to some very diligent work behind stage, we're happy to announce that until the New Year at least (and hopefully beyond), "Its A Monkeys Life"  will be posting a full 7 days a week!!! 

A New Beach Experience ........

After some pre-holiday research, Darrell discovered that the sunbeds at our resort are run and managed by the local council and as such were a tad on the expensive side, at around 19 euros for two beds, a sunshade and (new to us) a safe, where usually we'd pay around 12 euros per day dans Greece.  

However, Darrell, bless him, found us an alternative, to wit a beach hire shop, where two loungers, a parasol (that we could situate anywhere on the beach we wanted), plus a sand anchor, would only cost us 39 euros for the week.

Well, it seemed a no brainer (in theory), leaving us a few more euros for an extra, cheeky, sangria or two.  

How simple could it be? 

It would be a new type of holiday experience, so off we trotted (before it got too hot), to collect everything .......  

It was all very new and a bit of a novelty and perhaps in our holiday excitement we hadn't really thought through all the logistics .......

 ...... as in getting everything, as well as our bags, up to our fifth floor room etc. in the heat, at the end of the day, then doing it all in reverse in the morning. 

But we were in buoyant mood, no one was going to rain on our parade (or parasol) ........ what could possibly go wrong?  

Our First Spanish Breakfast Experience ......

When we excitedly checked to our hotel, we were furnished with wristbands that allow us free access to a full and varied breakfast buffet each morning, such a mahooooosive treat, as we generally self cater such things when in foreign climes.

We would have liked to have taken a few more pictures, as the choice proffered was beyond our wildest, Spanish expectations, especially in the early morning pastries and baked goods department ........

 ...... however, in a busy atmosphere, surrounded by people in holiday mode, carrying heavily laden plates, glasses and cups, a swift Darrell type risk assessment told us to be careful.

Let's just say, it's going to take true dedication and fortitude for us to try absolutely everything on offer, though perhaps made a little easier as Darrell surreptitiously intends to make up a few rolls and avail our lunch bag of a few extra dainties to eat on the beach for elevenses!

We are really, really, really hoping there will be churros served one morning, as they are our number one "want to try", on this, our first ever Eviva Espana experience! 

Anyways, we chose to eat al fresco, watched on by cute, hungry sparrows and vultures seagulls  ........ 

..... with Darrell already worrying that all his efforts to facilitate the easy easing into  his beloved budgie smugglers might go a little awry by the end of the holiday!  What is he like? 

Our Mallorcan Home From Home

Last night, with our late, night time arrival, it was hard to take everything in .....

......  but in the full heat of a glorious, new Mallorcan morning .....

...... we can truly embrace our "new home" for the next little while .......

..... and I think we're so excited ........ we just cant hide it!

It's absolutely brilliant!

We've got a balcony, with full view of one of the swimming pools........

..... and Darrell is already fascinated by the early morning towel manoeuvres, with loungers "bags-ied" by at least seven o'clock, which, to be honest, we've never really understood. Why stay around a pool all day, when you can have a real life, actual beach, with sand and sea, just a few yards away, but each to his own I suppose.

If Eric was with us, no doubt he'd have already come up with some sort of zip line confection to get him into the pool to beat the lot of them, without any hinderance from stairs or lifts, bless him.

Darrell did request a sea view and we've got one of sorts .........

.... if you look beyond the trees at the top end of the pool ........

....... but we'll be sitting with the best view in front of us, on the beach, every day and when we do sit on the balcony, it'll most likely be dark anyway .......

........ so we're really quite happy with our Balearic lot, thank you very much, happy, happy, eviva Espana days me thinks!