Jul 10th 2005 - Change Over Day in Palma
Posted at 3:00 PM, Sunday, July 10, 2005
Arrived here yesterday midday after a short sail of 2 hours. Had a great last night at anchor and evening out.
Last night, reading there was an evening caberet at one of the Premier Thomson hotels overlooking the cala, we dressed up in adult cloths and sneaked into the hotel as if we were guests. A quick order of G & T's at one bar and we slipped out onto the terrace to find about 200 people all seated in rows facing a glittering stage.
No one was speaking.
In fact no one was doing anything.
They were all frozen - facing forward.
We could only sit and do the same, or risk the security guards realising we were interlopers.
Glimpsing over at our fellow audience revealed most appeared well over 60.
A few - but only a few - had drinks in front of them. Most of those were tea.
Keeping Stuart quiet is not easy in a normal environment - in this one it was impossible. As words like Saga / greytops / mortuary were shared by him in a Stu version of a whisper but which could be heard a mile away - up stoked the Grease type music - and onto the stage bounded a very poor copy of the Blues Brothers.
It seems this evenings caberet was being put on by the Thomsons Resort staff - and top marks for effort - but professionals they were not.
Even our aged fellow audience were alive enough to realise that.
With a clap rate that rarely exceeded 30 per minute - indeed if after an act they even ever started - the Thomsons team were soon deflated despite trying real hard.
We were beginning to feel a bit sorry for them - I mean - we had not even paid for this 'entertainment'.
So we chose to get louder withour support. The G & T's possibly contributed.
As we whistled, cheered, and used a super high clap rate at the end of each act -we began to sense we were not the norm.
We think we must have been appreciated by the show team - but I am sure they were also questioning who we were when backstage. It did not take long for us to also get frowns from the audience around us, and we realised we were risking the attention of the security guards dotted round the edge of the terrace.
A magic act started - and just kept going wrong. It was then we finally lost it and all got the giggles.
As we were spluttering like idiots we finally decided it would be best all round to get out. It was not as hard to get past the security guards as we first thought. Moira kept one distracted - and we three eased out a fire door and she followed later.
So what's the big question we've answered for everyone?
If anyone asks you where the Butlins acts and audiences all went when they closed down - it has to have been to this Thompsons Premier Hotel in Cala Camp de Mar.
If it was not them - I'm not sure what we experienced - but it was fun.
Closed the night with a cold Martini to-die-for in a classier beach bar 200 metes away.
An experience I don't think we will easily forget.
Set sail for Palma at 0900 yesterday morning. It only took two and a bit hours along the southern coast of Mallorca beating into the F4 easterly breeze, to arrive off Palma Harbour by 1130.
Big bustly harbour with lot's of shipping traffic - some really big power launches / boats - several mega sailing yachts - and cruise liners, freghters, ferries, fishing boats, tugs etc.
There are four main mooring facilities in the Harbour - we chose to try Real Club Nutico de Palma (Royal Yacht Club of Palma) which appeared to be not just closest to the old town town - but also claimed to have on-site washing machines and dryers.
We used the phone on our way to see if we could reserve a berth for a couple of nights - as Stu and Miora depart Sunday evening - and Judith and Pat then arrive.
It seems check out times are 1200 - so no-one could not confirm anthing until after 1215 - so we stooged around gawping at the mega yachts and got allocated a great berth at the club at 1230. Very close to the Capitainere's office with it's showers and laundrette. Pontoon R15 if you ever get a choice of where to park at Club Nautico.
Surpised me with a relatively reasonable cost for such a location and facilities. Again -Eu 85 per night with water and elec inclusive.
Obtained a quote to keep the boat here when we return to the UK later in the summer - about Eu 1,000 per month for our 14 metres.
It's not cheap at that £600 per month, but it's only 10 minutes from the airport and we can get their cheap from Bornemouth - plus they also have excellent maintainance facilities on site.
Had a nice farewell evening tapas with Stu / Moira until the early hours, and got up early today to do the chores. We say farewell at 2000 tomight and expect to welcome Jude and Pat one hour later.
Lots of sheets / towels etc to the laudrette.
Stu recce'd lunch spots and wandered for a paper.
I completed all the boat chores I've delayed so far.
Finally mixed some of the two pot Awelgrip paint to touch up the small scratch gained in Povoa (yes Gerry - it's all now gone OK) and adjusted our bimini settings so we can more easily use it erected when on the wind.
I still need to resolve what's actually happening with the labelled winch / windlass battery bank which does not rate above 11.6 volts despite our charger now being connected overnight and having 2 hours under motor. The local Hanse agent is getting in an electrician as he see's it as a warrantly job. Nice one.
I'm typing this after getting back from a relaxed lunch at a cafe close to the marina - will be a shame to say farewell to the guys who've been such good company so far. Equally will be nice to welcome Jude and Pat later tonight.
Weather is still forecast from the east - so if that stays that way will stop over in Palma tomorrow evening to let our new guests see the sights - and equally allow me to get bsttery sorted - and then we're likely to head back round to the south west side of the island for a few days at some new anchorages. If the wind goes round and comes from the south or west - we'll head north.
Happy Sunday to all.
Cheers
JOHN