Unfortunately the wind was light so we had to be satisfied with anchoring in the cove at Portals Vells, for lunch, sunbaking, swimming and snorkelling. The water was so clear that even though we were anchored in 11 metres we could see many schools of small fish. The snorkelling became even more interesting when I fed the fish white anchovies and they tried to each grab a piece of the delicacy that had been marinating in chardonnay vinegar, garlic and parsley. Obviously the fish have gourmet tastes too.
Reluctantly we headed back to the marina at about 6.30 as we had a dinner reservation. By about 9.45 we were all seated at La Bovida in the old town section of Palma, ordering a jug of sangria and some of the best tapas in town. In addition to scrambled eggs with prawns and garlic, peppers stuffed with minced veal with a tomato sauce, lamb cutlets and ham croquettes we also tried their magnificent potato omelette tonight. It's more like a fritatta, with many layers of finely sliced potatoes and it's served warm. Definitely some more recipes to find. Their gratis shots of lemon sorbet with vodka are an excellent digestif.
As no one should come to Palma without a visit to Abaca Bar we headed there for a nightcap. It's fun to watch the amazement on people's faces as they enter the door in the huge timber gates that would have been the carriage entrance when the building was a 17th C palace. It's hard to believe the huge piles of fresh fruits spilling from urns and large bowls and stacked around one of the statues near the entrance, let alone the masses of fresh flowers and the walls adorned with paintings, mirrors and tapestries. And that's just the ground floor inside area! After the customary exploration of the various rooms and courtyard we found a cosy spot to sit with our super large drinks, listening to the classical music and watching the merriment of other visitors around us. It's a great way to end an evening and is a lasting memory of Palma.
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