Winds of change

Once again the winds of change are blowing in my life. Outside the sky is grey and rain is falling intermittently. And within the hour, we are due to depart from Majorka.

This heralds a big change. It means that my tranquil winter is over. Our summer work season will start as we cast the lines off and leave this island behind. In winter we worked normal hours and a relaxed schedule. It was a time to catch up on general maintenance with no guests on board.

Knowing how cooped up we felt last summer I made the most of this time. Weekend’s I went exploring and generally I took the time to attend special events and get off the boat. I have told you of many of the fiestas and fun provided by the island. Even in these last few weeks there where a few, including a sheep and goat festival in my favourite little village of Calvia. Yes, it did actually have sheep and goats, and for good measure a few piglets too! The usual assortment of stalls with food and nick knacks abounded.

A week later I went for a drive in the countryside with a girlfriend. Palma is actually a large European city. So the rolling hills in the rural areas with the quaint little villages make a marked contrast. After escaping the city traffic the winding roads had few cars on them. To our amusement we where held up by traffic of a very different nature. Suddenly ahead of us there where half a dozen horse and buggies. Smilingly they showed us when to pass safely around the tricky curves in the road.

Many cyclists travel along this meandering mountain road too. Since we stopped often to take pictures, two guys became a familiar site, passing us several times. They smiled at the two girls out for a drive and we would wave at one another with a laugh.

Now those quiet weekends is a thing of the past. In English tranquil is a word, but in Spanish it is a way of life. As I have a crazy season ahead of me, I hope to take something of the Spanish culture into my future. When this crazy summer is over, I look forward to slowing down and just enjoying a little tranquility in my life, taking some time to enjoy the here and now, and spending time in creative endeavors.

As I stand on the side deck watching Palma get smaller, my mind is already traveling to that future I am hoping for. I see a warm sandy beach down under, and I am burying my toes in the sand.

But for now, it is time to enjoy the new adventures as they unfold. Turkey here I come!