Majorca
Fines, financing and bad management: the week in Majorca
The tourism ministry was relishing the opportunity to add significantly to government coffers through revenue from fines, the Canaries joined forces with the Balearics to pressurise Madrid into giving them better deals, unemployment was up and Palma town hall admitted it had a problem with its management.
Majorca
What's on in Majorca: 28 November-4 December
Montuiri's partridge fair this weekend with its odd partridge decoy contest. The circus comes to town with the Circo Alegria starting its season in Palma on Friday and there being circus acts to accompany the switching-on of the Christmas lights on Friday. Lluc's Christmas fair is this weekend. Santa Ponsa's Christmas market starts on Monday. And there is a jazz season - Alternatilla - which features concerts across the island and some important names in contemporary jazz.
Majorca
All year, Christmas lights and Ava Gardner: the week in Majorca
Next year's season is due to be even longer. We reported on a hotel that has been staying open all year since the early '70s. Palma's politics were keeping the Christmas lights off. There were awards and there was a story about Ava Gardner.
Majorca
Jobs, rentals and death: the week in Majorca
The great tourism debate focused on employment, plans were afoot for rentals' websites to charge the tourist tax, promotion of golf seemed halfhearted, and another woman lost her life at the hands of her partner.
Majorca
What's on in Majorca: 21-27 November
The mushroom season in Majorca is the excuse for Mancor de la Vall's Fira de l'Esclatasang, which starts on Friday with a non-fungal demons' fire-run. "Nouveau" in a Majorcan style is recognised in the wine town of Santa Maria. Rice is the theme of Sa Pobla's autumn fair, and the 26th Es Refugi Christmas charity market is at Palma's La Misericordia from Thursday.
Majorca
Winter tourism, holiday rentals and snow: the week in Majorca
Winter tourism in the Balearics was being promoted in London, where there was talk but limited sign of holiday rentals. And winter arrived in a Majorca autumn: the first snow fell.
Majorca
What's on in Majorca: 14-20 November
The fair of fairs, the most important of Majorca's fairs - Inca's Dijous Bo - is this Thursday. Much of it gets started on the Wednesday (Dimecres Bo), when there will be some late-night partying in local bars as well. Other fairs are in Llubi (devoted to honey) and in Caimari, Selva, where they say the olive oil is the best you can get; hence, it's the olives fair. Musically, a blast from 30 years ago as Queen Forever relives the Wembley concert of 1986 at Palma's auditorium this Friday.
Majorca
What's on in Majorca: 7-13 November
Two big autumn fairs in the north of the island this coming weekend. Muro has its pumpkin fair and the highly anticipated pumpkin competition and Pollensa has its artisan fair, which is bigger still this year. There is also the autumn fair in Es Capdellà, Calvia. In Inca on Saturday there is a Night of Fire, with four demons gangs plus batucada drummers. One of the greats of flamenco singing, José Mercé, is at Palma Auditorium on Saturday.
Majorca
People pressure, promotion and Pollensa ice-cream: the week in Majorca
The budget for tourism promotion was reduced, the level of human pressure was revealed, hotels were in congratulatory mood and an ice-cream kiosk closed.
Politics
Balearic PSOE deputies defy party line as Rajoy becomes prime minister
The final vote was 170 yes - made up of the PP, Ciudadanos and Ana Oramas of the Coalicion Canaria - with 111 no and 68 abstentions.
Majorca
Time, tourist tax and holiday prices: the week in Majorca
The Balearics didn't want to turn the clocks back, there were different estimates of tourist losses because of the tourist tax, the price of holidays was increasing, and there was good news about unemployment, though it was questionable how good that news really was.
Majorca
What's on in Majorca: 31 October-6 November
The third of Inca's fairs takes place this weekend. Art in the streets as well as an art market which combines design and craft. Also gastronomy and a good deal of music and dance. Marratxi's autumn fair is on Sunday, and Puigpunyent has a craft beer show on the same day. At Palma Arena there is the annual weddings fair, Nupcial, from Friday to Sunday. The Evolution! Mallorca International Film Festival starts on Thursday. And it's Bonfire Night on Saturday.
Majorca
What's in Majorca: 24-30 October
Inca's second fair this coming weekend, Porreres has its fair with a focus on local produce, Port Adriano has another street food festival, and in Paguera there's a weekend of artisan craft. In Can Picafort, demons will be on the prowl on Friday night as part of the Saladina Art Fest.It has been confirmed that the Oktoberfest in Palma can continue; the health and safety issues have been resolved. This Thursday, there will be a special artist appearing, and the event will now continue until 31 October, when there will be a Halloween special.
Majorca
Corruption, attempted murder and holiday prices: the week in Majorca
Corruption allegations were firmly back on the agenda and Palma town hall was at the centre of them. A celebrated lawyer was pressing a charge of attempted murder. Hoteliers were saying no to UK tour operator requests for prices to come down.
Majorca
What's on in Majorca: 17-23 October
A big week for fairs. The first of the four Inca fairs is this weekend. As usual it has an enormous array of different elements - ecology/sustainability; a wine night; gastronomy; music and more. Elsewhere, there are fairs in Campos, Consell (demons on Saturday night), Felanitx and Santanyi. On a musical note, the Balearic Symphony Orchestra starts its new season on Thursday. Palma's Oktoberfest begins, also on Thursday, and Tapalma 2016 gets under way on Wednesday.
Majorca
People, planes and poverty: the week in Majorca
Significant population growth - resident and tourist - was being forecast. The "saturation" arguments were now including seaplanes. It was time for winter tourism talk. And the poor were very much still with us.
Majorca
Appalling and all-including: the week in Majorca
Police had to deal with the grim and the nasty but provided a hero. There was rain and there was the tourism minister talking all-inclusives, holiday rentals and tourist tax.
Majorca
What's on in Majorca: 10-16 October
Fairs in Algaida and Llucmajor this weekend. In the case of Llucmajor on Sunday it is the fourth and final fair (notwithstanding the mini-fair on Monday next week). The Llucmajor Show is also on; it starts on Friday. Algaida's fair is on Saturday: artisan and "alternative" products plus more. The last days of Santa Ponsa's Oktoberfest: it finishes on Wednesday. On Sunday, a day of music and attractions at Puerto Alcudia's Hidropark. The headlining act is Love of Lesbian, one of Spain's leading indie-rock bands.
Majorca
What's on in Majorca: 3-9 October
The Legends Cup ATP Champions Tour event is at Palma Sport & Tennis Club for four days from Thursday. Llucmajor has its next fair on Sunday. There is a good deal of gastronomy knocking around, such as Cala Ratjada's fresh fish weekend that starts on Friday and Puerto Soller's fishy fair on Saturday.
Majorca
Tourist tax, rentals, ice-cream, prostitutes: the week in Majorca
The hoteliers federation's challenge to the tourist tax was accepted, Airbnb was in the firing-line, police were being dismissed, the ice-cream saga of Pollensa continued and Calvia was no longer taking prostitutes to court.
- Katy Perry under investigation for Balearic video
- “Someone in power needs to make it clear to the UK and Germany that Mallorca wants tourists”
- New setback for Britons flying to Spain
- Famous Balearics town votes against banning tourists
- New setback for Britons travelling to Mallorca from Sunday, September 1