Port de Pollença... you only get one chance to make a first impression

Regards,

Parking problems

Dear Editor,
I was very sorry to read that Mr. and Mrs. Titttle have had problems parking in Puerto Andraitx, which rather surprised me since they said that they had been visiting every year since 1964. They were complaining that the only car park was closed on July 1 for resurfacing. Living on the Mola they do actually pass another car park in the Calle Isaac Peral, not far from the Pension Catalina Vera; there is a second one next to the medical centre on the Camp de Mar road; there are several in different bays all round to the Club de Vela. All these are within walking distance of the centre. The one that was closed was the newest carpark to be opened and it was about time that it was tarmacked. I understand that ashphalt has to be applied for the best effect in hot sunny weather, so could not be done in the winter. What a problem for the Tittles, to have to walk a little to get to the centre. If that was their only problem, I am surprised that they were glad to return to England, since Puerto Andratx continues to be one of the most beautiful ports on the island, and with a wide range of restaurants, shops, etc.

Even the Paradors have clay feet!

Dear Sir,
Even the Paradors have clay feet! At the end of May we decided to take advantage of a special offer of 5 nights (-35%) at different Paradors in the Madrid area. It was an enormous success, not least due to the very high standard of the Paradors. After the third night we tripped over the clay feet. We had spent the night at the Parador in Javandilla de la Vera. We packed our bags, left them in a locked room, the bags closed but not locked, went out to buy some postcards, returned to the hotel checked out, took our luggage, locked it in the car boot and left. In the evening we checked into the Hotel at Avila, unlocked the undamaged boot, opened the bags in our room to find a shirt (worn the night before at dinner and therefore not lost before) and a jacket belonging to my wife missing. After a number of phone calls and letters we had the definitive answer. A letter from Head of Marketing, clearly a man with commercial acumen. He states “...pertinent verifications and consultations, legal and otherwise..(were) carried out with our insurance company..we can do no more..” And then the punch line “..the establishment is not responsible for CLOTHING or valuable items that are not kept in the establishment's safe.” We like the Paradors and will probably go again but we will certainly put our clothes in the safe even if changing for dinner becomes a little complicated. We would suggest you advise your readers to do likewise.

Yours faithfully

The Swinging Pendulum

Dear Sir,
Also as long-term visitors to Majorca, our favourite holiday destination, on-and-off since 1959, my wife and I have naturally been aware of the growth of the German investments, both in tourism and residency. We have made many German acquaintences over the years and generally enjoyed their company. As the “worm turns” however, won't it be a tonic when native shopkeepers or hoteliers expect us to be British rather than German - and perhaps greet us with “good morning!” rather than the “guten tag!” to which they have become used? But the charming and even musical “bondia!” (or “buenas tardes/noches!”) is what we really enjoy hearing. Also, inter alia, doesn't the delightful “de nada!” say so much more than either “bitte” or the “no problem” insult we get at home, and they really mean it too! Rather than expect the Mallorquin to try our language anyway, we are still attempting to speak theirs - or at least Spanish. Hoping to return for a third time this year. We just love it - in spite of the continual shooting-in-the-foot! Hasta la proxima vez!

Dogs messing up Portals

Dear Sir,
As a visitor who spends much time in Majorca and gets great pleasure from daily walks on the sea wall around the marina at Puerto Portals, I should like to thank, and congratulate, the local authority on the wonderful job they have done on resurfacing the walk on the wall. However, the enjoyment of all is greatly diminished by the constant dog waste that is left along the wall. It would be a great help if someone who has access to the head of the local authority could arrange for a prominent notice to be put on the entrance to the walk requesting all dog owners to see that all dog waste is immediately cleared by them or thrown on the rocks on either side of the walk. In London I walk daily in beautiful Regents Park where prominent notices inform all dog owners that their failure to avoid this nuisance to the other walkers will result in a fine of £20.00 (30 euros) for each offence.

Tourist Tax

Dear Sir,
Are you sure that the tourist tax is responsible for your decline in tourism? I have just returned from a short visit to Grenoble in France and my hotel bill showed three separate taxes, a Tourist Tax and two separate rates of V.A.T.!! I'd much rather not have paid any of them but if I want to go back I'll pay.

Regards,