John had a hankering for hiring a scooter to explore more of Mallorca. He was keen to take the old mountain route from Soller towards Palma until persuaded, by Luca at Viento Scooter Hire, to try something more scenic – much to Kim’s relief.
An orange Lambretta took us 36 km out of Soller, along twisting mountain roads, to Lluc, the spiritual heart of Mallorca. Famous for the Santuari de Lluc, a former monastery and pilgrimage site dating back to the 13th century, it had the added allure of both botanical gardens and a cafe.
There was a hiking route, all of 30 minutes, around the back of the Santuari and past sculptures dedicated to the Mysteries of the Rosary and fantastic views across the valley. Legend has it that the site was deemed spiritual when a shepherd found a statue of the Virgin Mary in the field.
Each lunchtime, there is a short recital by the Children’s choir in the chapel. The Choir was formed in the 16th Century and is the oldest surviving Children’s Choir – some of them look remarkably good for their age! The chapel is also home to a black Madonna, who appears behind the altar for the recital and magically disappears behind a screen when the singing ceases.
We stopped for a couple of photo opportunities on the way back down the Tramuntana mountains.
Although the roads have been steep and twisting, they have been quiet, apart from the odd kamikaze sheep. Perfect for two wobbly oldies on a trendy Lambretta.
To recover, we spent a couple of hours by the pool with a quick visit to the Miro exhibition at the station followed by dinner overlooking the main square.
braysabroad 