Cala Millor, Mallorca ()
Driving my rental car past the windmills that dot the end of the Palma runway immediately lightened the dark mood I’d felt since moving to Germany. The sunny, arid climate felt more like the Arizona heat we left behind. We had been so excited to move to Germany but going from all-day sun to an exceptionally gloomy winter had taken a toll on my family’s mental health.
We followed the advice often given to newcomers to Germany: we exercised, took vitamin D supplements, upped our iron intake and set up a little grow-light garden for dark mornings. Those things had certainly helped, but nothing can fully mimic a good, old-fashioned sunny day. So, to provide the uplift we all needed, I booked a quick four-day weekend trip to Mallorca.
Mallorca windmill (Kat Nickola)
Heading to the Spanish Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean is one of the easiest, most budget-friendly vacations you can take from Germany. The Balearics are best known for the largest of the islands: Mallorca (mai-or-kuh), my sunny destination from cloud-covered Kaiserslautern.
You can also venture beyond Mallorca to try a different Balearic Island.
The Palma de Mallorca airport is the third busiest airport in Spain, with Europeans flocking there year-round for some fun in the sun and sand. Our direct flight was one of many that come daily from across Germany. After landing, I picked up my cheap rental car and drove out to the east coast tourist town of Cala Millor.
Cala Millor is one of many similar resort towns along the south and eastern coasts of Mallorca. We chose Cala Millor primarily because there was a hotel right on the beach in our price range. Like plenty of other resort towns, it had the restaurants, activities and soft sandy beach that we wanted. Travelling to this part of Mallorca is all about downtime in the sun, so any tourist spot fit the bill for us.
Our first full day was spent on the sandy beach. We lounged and read books while the kids played in the sand. We got a picnic of fruit, local meats, cheeses and breads from the nearby Lidl (a tourist town staple) and snacked by the water all day. In most of the Balearics, the Mediterranean is warm enough by April for swimming. When we went it was still a bit too cold for me, but the kids swam all afternoon.
Mallorca beach in the evening (Kat Nickola)
In the evening, I needed to find some sunscreen and burn cream since we had quickly used our entire stash. So, I walked to the nearest open shop, passing a horseback riding outfit along the way, and a plan was born.
Our second day found us riding horses through the low Mallorcan Pine trees out to the end of the Punte de n’Amer. It is one of the many points of rocky land that jut out into the sea between beach towns. Our horses took us out along the rocky coast and then up the hill to see the local castle.
Riding horses in Mallorca (Kat Nickola)
The coastline of Mallorca was heavily guarded against pirate attacks and Ottoman incursions throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. The Castell de Punta de n’Amer is a singular square structure set high on the land but sunk into a circular moat. We tied up our horses and crossed the moat bridge to explore the one large interior room. A stairway led up to the rooftop lookout where a cannon still protects the two flanking bays.
We spent the rest of our day enjoying the pool and taking a walk along the beachside promenade to find a café and sip some Sangria in the sun. In short, it was exactly what we needed; a reset button before returning home to Germany where we could enjoy the transition from winter into spring.
Castell de Punta de n’Amer (Kat Nickola)
There are plenty of other things you can do on Mallorca, if you prefer more sightseeing and have longer than a weekend. In the capital city of Palma, there are cobblestone streets around the cathedral to explore, world-class luxury shopping along the ‘golden mile’ and fortresses to see. The island also has a few massive, beautiful cave systems with intricate formations. If you love more natural environments, the northern part of the island is ruled by the Tramuntana mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The picturesque, winding MA-10 road is a must-drive route to the most scenic viewpoints, passes and mountain lakes.
