Mallorca, 25-27 July

Saturday 25 th we opted for relaxing down below, after stocking up at the Santa Catalina Market, because we were going to a concert that night. Catalina, our favourite fruit and vegetable supplier, told us her recipe for making Gazpacho soup and to buy all of the ingredients (Roma tomatoes, a white onion, long pale green pepper, cucumber and garlic) to make enough for 8 large servings, cost a grand total of 2.50 euros. We had fun making it together, using our vitamiser, although we did add some stale French bread that had been soaked in water and then squeezed dry, because we read that one original meaning of 'gazpacho' could have been 'soaked bread' and that most traditional recipes included this. Catalina had said she didn't add the bread because it makes you fat (she is as skinny as a rake). We added salt and pepper but didn't have any cumin so we didn't add that, although many recipes also included that spice. We chilled the soup and had some for dinner - it was fabulous. I think a few important reasons were that the tomatoes were full of flavour, we vitamised until the mixture was really smooth, with no 'bits' still floating around, strained it through a fine strainer, and also we used some finely chopped Jamon Serrano (excellent Spanish ham) and white onion as a garnish. (Recipe follows)

The concert on Saturday night was the Baleares Symphony Orchestra playing Mozart Concert per a piano 27.K.595 and Brahms Simfonia 3, Fa Major Op.90 at Castell de Bellver, which was again a magnificent and spell-binding event for us. The guest pianist was Piotr Anderszewski and although we were in raptures with his playing, we didn't realise just how fortunate we were. He is considered one of the finest musicians of today but rarely does concerts. Since the performance we have been googling him and listening to more of his playing on YouTube and are looking forward to buying some CDs. To listen to such beautiful music in that unique setting under the stars, with an excellent symphony orchestra and a great pianist, is one of the highlights of our times in Mallorca, although we do come away from most of those concerts feeling that way.

The late night on Saturday night meant we needed to sleep in yesterday, before going out for another great sail, with about 17 knots of breeze for most of the day. We should have gone out for dinner because a day out on the boat getting all of that exercise in the sun makes us tired, but I cooked 'chicken under a brick' for dinner (recipe follows) with a ratatouille of miniature sized eggplants/tomatoes/onion/garlic plus dessert of some white peaches, strawberries and raspberries with mint ice cream.

Today has been another day at the marina, getting ready for guests this week, catching up on emails and Greg doing the usual jobs that boats invariably provide for you. It's not all fun.