Weather gods at play in Pollença
The weather gods could not make up their minds today: which colours to streak the blue; how deep the daubs of white and grey. How often should the veering wind rearrange the elements? How many silver linings, or how darkly ominous the bubbling-up of cumulonimbus? Would today be a warm recollection of summer or a chill reminder it’s coming on winter? October is all over the place.
In the lower reaches of the Serra de Tramuntana that run northeast to southwest along northern parts of Mallorca, largest of the Balearic Islands, there’s little point listening to forecasts. Free yourself from assumptions about the time of year or what people have told you. The mountains have their own agenda for influencing the work of the gods. So, if you don’t like getting wet, always carry a light waterproof in your bag; if you don’t like sudden temperature changes, layer-dress. And by the way, there are no rules about mosquitos: if you’re their type, they’ll likely find you whatever the weather. Even the locals here say 2022 is a very bad year.
After too many years away, I’m back in Mallorca for three glorious weeks, in the hill town of Pollença, as opposed to its much busier and touristy port, seven kilometres down the road on the coast. It may be hard to believe, but I don’t mind about the weather: it is October, after all. The first two or three days were clear-blue and warm. Then it clouded over and cooled, but with late afternoon sunbursts; but now it’s wonderfully and consistently warm – 27 degrees these past three or four days, which is a bit over-the-top hot for the time of year. And it’s humid.
There is huge photographic potential here and around – tiled roofs, church towers, back streets, market stalls, rocky mountain peaks and lush green following rain. I’ve probably taken the same photos as I took years ago of subjects that change little and are every bit as lovely as they were then.
Still the best coffee…
Roman bridge over el torrente
Temperature inversion fog before sun-up
Sunday market
