Bikes, Beaches, and Goats of Mallorca, Spain

A herd of wild goats ambles up the coast road toward us. We’re taking a break to enjoy the peaceful morning, and the changing colors of the sky and sea. It’s a new road for both of us, along a peninsula near Port Alcudia where we’re staying. But before we see the goats, we pass by the market stalls getting set up in the old town of Alcudia.

Mallorca is famous for its leather goods.

Our route takes us through the town and its suburbs,  past a small marina to a pine-shaded coast road.  The beauty of the morning envelops us.

Morning sea, clouds and sun.

Looking inland toward the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range.

Small island with arch on the right.

We climb up hills and coast down them.

Lisa climbs up the hilly coast road.

Mary in her high visibility helmet.

We glimpse goats along the rocky shore, but can’t get the camera phone out in time, and a dog chases them away.  We keep our eyes pealed for them. While taking a break to enjoy the view, we look for the goats again. And sure enough, they’re coming right at us along the road! How many can you see? Don’t miss the goat going off road.

We know they are Balearean wild goats because of their unique horns.

Video-shy goats avoid us and turn toward the hillside.

Wild goats gnosh on local shrubbery.

The following day, Mary sees more of these goats on her ride to Cap de Formentor.

Rugged mountains mark the beginning of the ride to Cap de Formentor.

View from the Cap de Formentor, looking inland.

On our first day in Mallorca, we pick up our bikes from Thomas at Bicimed.com and head out through rolling farm fields to the small town of Muro.

Lisa’s cyclocomputer speaks German at the start of our ride. “Strecke” means “trip.”

Windmills without and with sails.

Corn, ready for its close-up.

Workers picking onions.

Onions.

We saw beautiful purple artichoke flowers.

Artichoke.

We take a break in the shade of an old building, with shells baked into its walls.

We admire the season’s poppies:

Muro is a hilltop town, but we see the blue line of the Mediterranean across the fields:

Muro prepares for a festival. Maybe it’s Dia de San Joan, like the Mexican Dia de San Juan, or maybe it’s the Festa de San Pere, patron saint of the fishermen.

Tents and streamers fill the streets, one “fun land” tent in front of the cathedral takes cues from Disney:

After our morning bike rides, we head for the beach in Alcudia. We rest in the shade of pine trees. Others rest like Sneetches beneath palapas.

Las Chicas happy to be at the beach!

We eat at our favorite restaurant, Posidonia, overlooking the harbor. The food tastes as good as it looks.

Tempura shrimp and mango salad.

After dinner in the evening, we take our paseo along the beach and watch the changing colors of sky and sea.

We return to Barcelona relaxed and rejuvenated, the island of Mallorca in our hearts.

© 2015 by Lisa Howells and Mary Reynolds. All rights reserved.