Easter is six weeks away. April Fools Day conveniently coincides with the Thursday of "Semana Santa", a day (Holy Thursday) celebrated in Mallorca and typified by the Last Supper ritual in Pollensa. The summer season officially starts on 1 May. This year it looks as though it will be a month earlier - on 1 April. Or so reckons the head of the hoteliers' federation. All hotels in Mallorca will be open on 1 April. Sounds like an April Fool, or sounds as though some hotels will be fools. Antoni Horrach, the federation's chief, admits that there is "not too much to report" in terms of reservations for Easter and that bookings from the mainland are very low. So why open all the hotels? It would be hugely surprising were they to all open. Bookings may pick up, but it would be optimistic to suggest that these might translate into high levels of business. And then there is the hiatus that follows Easter. It sounds sensible in theory to open up at the start of April, but the practice is rather different. There is also the issue as to staff contracts. April to end October is seven months, not the six that is commonly gone by, the six that comprise "summer". Where hotels may be open early, don't expect full staffing levels.
This burst of early-season expectation was carried in yesterday's "Bulletin" which also reported on a decline in tobacco sales because of reduced numbers of tourists - a fall of some 17% in coastal areas in Spain during 2009.
Not having seen the paper on Saturday, I was unaware that there was a piece regarding an online facility now being operated by the foreigners' registration office in Palma. I have Ben to thank for sending me the article which, as is the case with "The Bulletin", appeared on its website a day after publication. It was sent together with a question. Did I know the address of the website referred to? Not as such. Unhelpfully, the address was not with the article. Anyway, when one is able to find it, this should be an enormous help. Not before time, public service for foreign residents has finally deigned to introduce a system that should mean avoiding the tortuous wait at the office to process residency applications or renewals. Or at least I think that's what the online system intends to offer. If I knew where to look, I could confirm this to be the case or not.
QUIZ
Today - "Open Up"; Brit girl band, think days of the week, well one of them.
Any comments to andrew@thealcudiaguide.com please.
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