Always The Sun

Another day, another report. This one says that over 70% of holidaymakers coming to Spain prefer a beach and sun holiday to other forms of holiday. I'm not sure if this is a statement of the bleeding obvious or if it is surprising; one might have expected the number to be higher. There again, one judges these things on the Mallorca experience, and were the same study to be performed here, one suspects that this 70%+ would indeed be quite a bit higher. No, make that, one would know that it would be quite a bit higher.

The difference lies in what the mainland has to offer. While the report points to the fact that "cultural" tourism is doing well, one would - again - be surprised if it were not. Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Granada, just a few places that have much to offer in a cultural way. One supposes that the Mallorcan tourism worthies look longingly at the mainland cultural tourist masses and think ... wouldn't mind a bit of that. But one just keeps coming back to the relative lack of a strong cultural heritage that would create a meaningful volume of alternative tourism, alternative that is to the beach and sun, which is the Mallorcan image.


To different matters, well one in particular. I have mentioned here, once or twice, Café del Món in Playa de Muro, which previously was Robin Hood. Georgi, who runs it, is basically knackered, so he's got it up for traspaso. If I knew anything about bars, I reckon I'd snap his hands off. But I don't, and if you remember me suggesting that bars, rather than showing old episodes of "Fools and Horses", should put on "The League Of Gentlemen", does rather speak volumes for my lack of knowledge. However, at a traspaso of 15,000 and an annual rent of 13,000, I reckon this is as close as anyone will get to a bargain (unless I'm completely misunderstanding him, and I do have a bit of a problem with the Argentinian accent). Seating, all told, for about 45, near to hotels, good winter trade. Not bad. Even without the winter business, this sounds ok. So if anyone fancies it, mail me.


QUIZ
Yesterday - Everything But The Girl. Today's title - song by punkish group who weren't punks.

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

There’s A Killer On The Road

Anyone looking to buy a bar? We’ve got one. Well, not we, but Les at The Canny Lad who has put the bar up for sale. Reason? Vamps, the other bar, has been a success and they want to devote their time to that. Fair enough. Anyway, the details are available on the www.thealcudiaguide.com site, go to Businesses For Sale.



ROAD DEATHS
It doesn’t get any better. It gets worse. Despite the tougher regime with points on licences etc, the number of deaths on the Balearic roads refuses to go down. The first half of August saw a rise from 108 to 126. I don’t know the reasons for all these deaths, but I reckon a conclusion can be drawn. Anyone used to the roads here will know. Recklessness and speed. At the same time as there has been some congratulation as to the number of infractions that have led to licence points, there is something clearly wrong. And I’ve said it before. Grabbing drivers for not wearing seat-belts and so on, standing around at roundabouts, this is all well and good, but it does not address the real problem. Trafico cannot be everywhere, but surely their time is better spent being out on the roads. That way, maybe, just maybe, they might make more of an impression.


NUDISM
My beach is Playa de Muro, the bit between Alcúdia Pins and the five stars. It is never that busy, but it is a regular family beach. I’ve seen it on rare occasions before, and there it was again today - bloke, kit-off. Now personally I couldn’t give a damn; indeed kit-off is more comfortable than kit-on. But I’m not so sure that tackle-out is necessarily appropriate on your everyday family beaches. Not that anyone seemed that bothered. Maybe this is because most holidaymakers here are German. It’s just that the chap was so obviously out of place. Takes some guts I reckon.

I’m really not sure what the deal is with beach nudity. I was under the impression that it was ok anywhere, but the tourist offices in Puerto Alcúdia and Playa de Muro were both aghast when I suggested this. So, I don’t know. There are beaches here well-known for naturism, but otherwise ... .


QUIZ
Yesterday - U2. And Anne Marie quite correctly got it. Today’s title. It is a line from a very famous song. And it is ... ?

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