We Fade To Grey

So was that it then? The season. Where did it go?

"The first day of summer. What a difference in terms of evocativeness there is between two adjectives - first and last. The former, the first, is optimism, excitement, the new."

That was back on 1 May. Where did all that optimism go? Was it excitement, or was it trepidation? Was it really new or just the same routine of hope and pray? Whatever it was, it's gone. Ended. Over. That was the season, and not everyone will be mourning its passing, though there will be foreboding as to the winter that starts today.

In keeping with the change of the tourism seasons, I started to feel increasingly cold yesterday. I was sitting on the terrace of the Hotel Uyal in Puerto Pollensa. The wind, though with nothing like the ferocity of the past days, was chilly when it picked up. I was there for some three hours, a long chat, a long chat with two of the movers behind that association I mentioned the other day - Asociación de Britanicos Irlandeses Residentes Empresarios y Trabajadores en las Baleares. Jim and Ray had come up from Santa Ponsa. Jim, who's Scottish, remarked that the bay reminded him of Scotland. A loch perhaps; I don't know, I've never seen one. But the rather misty silverness of the sky mingling with the calm grey sea with the backdrop of the hills to either side, partly shrouded by the intermediacy between black and white of cloud, might well be reminiscent. Maybe that's why so many Scots go to Puerto Pollensa.

Inevitably we got round to talking about the winter. It's probably worse in Santa Ponsa than it is in Alcúdia or Pollensa. Some places had shut back in September. Looking for ways of boosting all tourism, but especially that in winter, is one of the aims of the association. Talk to TUI, talk to Thomas Cook. Maybe. Tour operators are not necessarily known for their altruism. They would need a reason, and that probably has to be given to them via a bottom-up approach as I mentioned previously. Otherwise, the likes of TUI have got the Canaries and Egypt and further afield to fill their winter brochures. Mallorca's slow death in winter is in inverse proportion to the expansion of other destinations over the years. The tour operators follow the sun, just like the tourists do. There is no altruism. Were there to be, then they might stop offering all-inclusives in Alcúdia. But then they'd say they're being sort of altruistic in keeping the customer satisfied. They can't satisfy everyone, only themselves.

But there's sense in trying. Amidst all the moans of winter, who does anything? There will be plenty who feel it - the association - is just a waste of time. Someone's got to give it a go though. I'm not sure how many trust the local tourist authorities to rouse themselves other than to bang on about such things as golf courses when there are plenty of those elsewhere. Golf is follow-me competition. It is hardly a strong selling point.

I say to Jim and Ray that one problem is the very notion of an "association". There is a reason for it being called so, and that's to do with how the Spanish define and name things. Association it is, by association and by incorporation. There are those who would run a mile from anything tagged with the word, like I normally would. Maybe it should have a nickname so no one will notice. Call it "Reggie" or "Ronnie" or something; though maybe not both of them together.

There have to be benefits, I go on. Clear benefits. People want to know what's in it for them. Bar owners and others are not necessarily altruistic when it comes to also paying the rent and the suppliers, nor might they dip into their pockets for a membership fee without knowing that there's a potential return. So there will be a benefit statement, and then some ideas to be pursued via a website as well as a sporting angle - rugby, football, bowls, all on the agenda, and not just as a social thing, but from a tourism perspective. Everything's open to suggestion. And I remember Juan, who's involved with the Alcúdia rugby club, and his notion of rugby tourism. They're playing Menorca today. Maybe I should get along.

The association is potentially a good idea, notwithstanding some also potential drawbacks that have been expressed to me, and which I have outlined above. There is also great scope in terms of its objectives. And maybe there will be some real action. There is a recognition that the whingeing and just talking have to stop. It could be an interesting ride.

Here is a link for information about the association - http://theassociation.club.officelive.com


MEANWHILE ... POLLENSA TOWN HALL
So while the mere mortals are adjusting to the change of the season, the town hall (reported in "The Diario") has been having a meeting and turning down the motion against the pedestrianisation scheme which had been backed by a petition of some one thousand signatures. Mayor Cerdà says that there will be a new plan for "mobility" that will be based on "general consensus", by which one presumes he means widespread consultation. He also defended the pedestrianisation scheme by reference to a report from the local police which concluded that the scheme was "viable". I suppose the question is whether the police have come up with this report since the pedestrianisation trial was implemented or whether it came before. And on another matter - the camino de Ternelles in Pollensa - the mayor has promised that he will sign an order to have it opened to the public ... eventually.


QUIZ
Yesterday's title - Madonna (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb8akXtOCaI). Today's title - probably the defining new romantics song.

(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)

It Was Just My Imagination

Déjà vu. I told you so. These were just two immediate responses I had yesterday. Remember on 25 September (The Sun Ain't Shining No More) I predicted that there would be stuff coming out about winter tourism and things needing to be done, and that I followed it up on 2 October (Here I Go Again) because someone had emailed wanting to know what sort of "attractions" I had in mind to maybe help out. You might just remember also that in that second piece I finished by mentioning the fact that the editor of "The Bulletin" had once called for a bit of imagination. That was what led to those responses of yesterday. I went back to last year and found the entry for 2 November, not quite to the day but not far off; that was where the thing about some imagination came up.

Déjà vu and I told you so. I don't like to seem boastfully vindicated, but I did tell you so. You see, yesterday there was another editorial, and what did it contain? Not one but two calls for "some imagination". What happens here? Are old editorials dusted down each year and then rejigged a bit? Not that I am saying that there is anything wrong with calling for some imagination, just that it's the same old song with no remedy bar a bit of shopping and golf. There was also something about help from tour operators to get things going in winter. What tour operators? And why would they? Only if it makes good business sense would they, and the airline wing of Thomson has cut right back on its flights, and other airlines are reducing their services, too. This is not only down to economic troubles at present.

Look, I don't want to sound like this is an endless having-a-go, because I do, believe it or not, have a great deal of respect for the paper. But we go here every year, even down to the same use of words. Everyone knows what the problems are. The issue is not the problems; the issue is what, if anything, can be the solutions. Well, to that end, there may be some movement in the form of a new association formed in Calvia but intending to embrace the whole of the Balearics. It was well publicised in "The Bulletin" both yesterday and the day before. It caught my eye, so much so that I wanted to get in touch with the guy. There were no contact details appended to the articles. Failing to get a call back from the paper with some, I looked the gentleman up in the phone book and spoke to him yesterday. Jim Bryceland is his name and the organisation is aimed at not only British and Irish residents but also businesses and workers; it was the business bit that really intrigued me and aspects of what Mr. Bryceland is interested in, which includes winter tourism. The group has a rather unwieldy Spanish name but here goes - Asociación de Britanicos, Irlandeses Residentes, Empresarios y Trabajadores en las Baleares (the Balearic association of British and Irish residents, businesspeople and workers). Don't know what the acronym's likely to be, but I guess it needs one. It was clear that this has nothing to do with an existing group with an acronym - ESRA, the English Speaking Residents Association.

You know, there are probably any number of people knocking around who have bits of imagination. But these bits probably just fall on some deaf ears at a bar, or they are raised and are greeted with a patronising smile that says it can't be done or it's been tried, or any of those excuses that are the killers of creative thought. Perhaps, just perhaps, here is a body that might release and give flight to some imagination. I don't know. I'll have to find out. But it looks as though I might be keeping you posted.


A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A TREE
On the forum for thealcudiaguide.com there was an unusual enquiry the other day. "Rusty" had posted a photo of a tree that grows in the old town and was interested to know what it was called. From my previous entry about plants in the garden, you might have gathered that I'm no expert on either horticulture or indeed arboriculture. Anyway, I went and had a look at the trees - they grow around the new square by Can Ramis, i.e. next to the parking area. I'd thought, mistakenly, that they might be some sort of orange tree. What the hell do I know? Not much. The trees bore no evidence of fruit; orange-tree possibility at a close. So I went along to the tourist office in the town. An explanation, a phone call to a man who does know, and what do you know, the answer. Ficus Nitida. I duly went onto the forum and imparted the good news, which was very gratefully received. Satisfying. And hats off to the charming Cati at the old town tourist office. I can't promise an answer to everything, but for most queries there is a way of getting an answer.

The photo of the tree and the exchange can be found here: http://www.thealcudiaguide.com/forum/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=149


QUIZ
Yesterday's title - Blur (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKCoBt43HWE). Today's title - back for the second time in ten days - brilliant. Bonus question for the tree heading: who was this?

(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)