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.)
Showing posts with label Café del Món. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Café del Món. Show all posts
Friday, March 28, 2008
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Hot Air For A Cool Breeze
Oh, oh, there’s another threat to the winter bar and restaurant business blowing in the wind or rather hanging in the air above bar and restaurant terraces. Euro MEPs are on the climate change trail, and they have stumbled across the patio heater on their rambles. They are expected to suggest to the European Commission that these space heaters are banned, thus – at a stroke – saving the planet.
Patio heaters are of course absurd. The notion of heating air is ridiculous. But for all that they are a completely nuts concept, they have become almost an essential for Mallorcan hostelries. Even if the terrace is shrouded in attractive plastic sheeting, a space heater, with its elongated, mushroom-topped neck, commands the floor space, pumping out some welcome heat. Inside the bar itself, they are not a bad idea either, as some bars just do not have heating. Like many houses that have freezing interiors in winter despite warmth outside, bars are similarly ill-equipped for the perishing internal conditions until the heat really gets its act together again come April or May. The space heater has been a positive boon in staving off frost-bite or chilblains if one tarries too long in a place of hospitality. As I did yesterday. Except there was no space heater. Several hours I spent and several hot chocolates were consumed, all to little effect in warding off the shivers. To make things just a bit cooler, the door was open much of the time to let the smoke out. Don’t for one moment think that there is a particularly stringent approach to smoking in bars here if they are of a certain size.
The hope is that, even with a command from Brussels, it will be ignored. The environment may suffer from the gases pumped out by space heaters, but my extremities also suffer.
And to revive an old theme of this blog. Here is the first Bar Of The Week for the new year. Space heaters there may not be, but Café del Món is an otherwise fine little bar, and it also happens to be the only one open in Playa de Muro apart from the rather dismal Dallas bar.
Where: C/. Juia, just around the corner from the chemists, Playa de Muro (it used to be Robin Hood).
Patio heaters are of course absurd. The notion of heating air is ridiculous. But for all that they are a completely nuts concept, they have become almost an essential for Mallorcan hostelries. Even if the terrace is shrouded in attractive plastic sheeting, a space heater, with its elongated, mushroom-topped neck, commands the floor space, pumping out some welcome heat. Inside the bar itself, they are not a bad idea either, as some bars just do not have heating. Like many houses that have freezing interiors in winter despite warmth outside, bars are similarly ill-equipped for the perishing internal conditions until the heat really gets its act together again come April or May. The space heater has been a positive boon in staving off frost-bite or chilblains if one tarries too long in a place of hospitality. As I did yesterday. Except there was no space heater. Several hours I spent and several hot chocolates were consumed, all to little effect in warding off the shivers. To make things just a bit cooler, the door was open much of the time to let the smoke out. Don’t for one moment think that there is a particularly stringent approach to smoking in bars here if they are of a certain size.
The hope is that, even with a command from Brussels, it will be ignored. The environment may suffer from the gases pumped out by space heaters, but my extremities also suffer.
And to revive an old theme of this blog. Here is the first Bar Of The Week for the new year. Space heaters there may not be, but Café del Món is an otherwise fine little bar, and it also happens to be the only one open in Playa de Muro apart from the rather dismal Dallas bar.
Where: C/. Juia, just around the corner from the chemists, Playa de Muro (it used to be Robin Hood).
What: Tapas and menu plus breakfasts and pasta specialities. Wi-Fi and sports TV.
When: Every day, normally from around 09:30 unless it was a particularly late night.
Who: Georgi and Martin (that's them above).
Why: Cheery local sort of place but well geared to an international market, and it is a welcome addition to Playa de Muro’s winter all-closed-up scene.
QUIZ
Yesterday – Talking Heads. Today’s title – it comes from an album title song by a very famous band.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
Yesterday – Talking Heads. Today’s title – it comes from an album title song by a very famous band.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
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