Thursday, 22 November 2012

Majorca - part eleven, Cala Figuera and snorkeling.

CALA FIGUERA 
AND SNORKELING.


After another super breakfast at the Azul hotel, we set off to drive to the car park on the road above Cala Figuera. It was quite large, considering Figuera was the only thing here, but there were very few cars there (only two, to be exact, including ours!). We set off. The walk down to it is a lot steeper and more arduous than the path down to Cala Boquer, but to us, it was worth it.


After about 20 minutes, the cove came into view. We were getting quite excited, as the sea and weather looked PERFECT.

Someone else obviously thought this place was special too, this is one of several boats that visited the cove during the day.

This cormorant sat on a rock, and would feature later on in this post.

The cove had a strange 'ridge' between the stony beach and the sea. There was a step down of about a metre. We intended to see if there were any suitable places to sit etc on those rocks at the far side.

'Suitable' was a bit of an understatement!
Welcome to paradise.

  Perfect light on a perfect view.
What a find this place was.

We sat here originally, but as the sun moved across the sky, we began to get shadow.

Nothing for it but to send Sue to scout out a better place.

Yep, this'll do nicely. You can see that step on the beach from here.
Others were starting to arrive now.

I think Sue is part mermaid, as she loves the sea, well - any water really, and can swim with consummate ease (whereas I thrash about like someone drowning).

As clear as you could ever wish for!
At this point, Sue got excited and called to me that she had seen the Cormorant hunting fish right in front of her.

COME ON THEN - MUST BE MY TURN FOR THE SNORKEL?


Right, DIVE, DIVE, DIVE.........

This water was SUCH a lovely temperature, it was no trouble getting in, and staying in.

We saw at least 15 species of fish, many I'd seen in tropical aquariums. At one point, I was totally surrounded by a swimming mass of fry, thousands of them. It was like being in the centre of one of those huge bait balls (I just didn't want to see a whale coming at me).

All at once, the surface of the sea started 'dancing', accompanied by a sound like fizzing. Everyone there stared at the point the sound was coming from. It was the cormorant and the barracuda hunting the fry, and they (the fry) were leaving the water and jumping to try to evade getting caught. This went on for about ten minutes. If you click on the picture to enlarge, you can see it better.


It had been a long, hot, relaxing day, but the picnic clean-up brigade were here, and we were getting hungry so we got ready to leave and make our way 'uppards' back to the car.

What a truly perfect scene to leave behind.

Some people stayed longer to enjoy the water.

Captured, mid-dive.

Right Sue - get stuck in - we've got to get back for dinner!  




After relaxing for so long, it was a 'grunt' to climb back up the hill. We had yet another great dinner at the hotel, and planned our next car trip. We wanted to see Soller (pronounced Soya), and take the famous tram down to the seafront there. 
In the evening, we did the pine walk again, with all the evening lights and buzz. It's a walk we've come to love, and REALLY settles you down and relaxes you. We went to the square and sat in a bar for a cocktail.



 The owner was a real eccentric. He wore trousers with PEGS round the bottom (???)  When a table came free, he would put this huge sign on it;

He also had a penchant for hanging signs upside down (and the clock), see the 'Guinness' sign behind us?


We met and spoke to a Scottish couple who had been coming to Majorca since 1988, and had so far been FOUR times this year!! They said it's really good out of season, I'm just surprised they hadn't bought a place here.
We walked the short distance back to the hotel. It was another balmy night, so we dawdled as we went. Tomorrow - Soller.







2 comments:

Andre Lay said...

Photo #25, you two sat down for a cocktail: check out the goofy toolbag in the background over Les's right shoulder.

Les, said...

That guy, do you mean Andre?