Porto Petro, Cala des Mort
Porto Petro is a small harbour attractively edged by curvy, green pines and gnarled rocks. We found a great anchorage in a small finger bay adjacent to the main harbour. Here Anders had many a happy hour adjusting lines to moor us stern to so we could reach the shore without the dingy. However, the nearby rock turned out to be a popular diving platform for the local teenagers, so we decided it was a more comfortable option to anchor a little distance from the shore.
It was a true Spanish seaside village, without the tourist paraphernalia. As Ant and Su had recommended we ate at Caracola Restaurant one evening and we struggled to make our way home after a two course dinner, which turned up in very generous proportions, together with a litre of local wine!
We stayed in this harbour for two further nights, but unfortunately the heavy swell meant that we were rolling about in our berth and it was out with the sea sickness wristband again!
To avoid the turbulence in the harbour we took a morning visit to Santanyi an old Spanish inland town about 10 miles from the harbour. Plenty of original buildings and relaxed Spanish atmosphere especially when it came to the bus home!
To ensure a good night's sleep we motored for about an hour in 25 knots to Porto Colom. This is a spacious harbour with plenty of shelter in all winds. We ended up staying here for two nights. Anders changed the engine oil and did some maintenance jobs and I tried in vain to get our Alpha network up and running. In the afternoon black clouds appeared and the rain began to sheet down in true Spanish thunderstorm style.
We seem to be adopting a very laissez faire attitude this holiday since we have no particular target to meet. We sail when the weather is good and sight see or do boat maintenance when the wind is poor.
Consequently we are dawdling along this coastline, making the best of the wind when it comes. We are now in Porto Cristo and for the first time this holiday we have taken a town mooring at 35E including electricity and water. The reason is once more to solve a problem. Our foresail is in a crumpled heap on deck after the roller furling jammed! Miracle man Anders hopes he has solved the problem.
We visited Las Cuevas del Drach – amazing caves apparently used 3,000 years ago. As well as the breathtaking drama of the stalactites, a multitude of long needles that drop from the ceiling , there is a massive subterranean lake on which at the end of the tour a small orchestra on a boat trimmed with tiny lights emerges from the deep darkness playing Alborada (Dawn Song) by Caballero. Just magical!
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