With ol Chris Columbus about to get his day cancelled after 500 years, I decided to pay respects by embarking on my own exploration to his port country of origin. The mission was to take on Barcelona and Mallorca solo. As a nod to his fleet of three, I departed with that same number of euros in my pocket, proofs of vaccine on my phone, and Spanish words in my vocabulary. You can decide who the real adventurer was….
It was appropriate to take a pic of the last beautiful American soil I saw before heading to another world. Thank you Newark. A memory to hold onto should I have never returned.
Then as you are about to land in Mallorca you get to see this.
Speaking of air travel, Europe has it going on within the continent. Somehow I booked the short flight from Barcelona to Mallorca for $30. Round trip for thirty bucks?? I can’t get an uber for thirty bucks. I was sure there would be a catch. Cargo Plane? WW2 era aircraft? A fifty euro charge for anything other than the clothes on your back? Remarkably no catch. I dunno how they do it but it’s a traveler’s dream. A promising start as I arrive in Mallorca solo.
Mallorca and Barcelona solo
Palma de Mallorca
Cathedral in Palma de Mallorca. Never got tired of seeing this thing. It’s a landmark, not only from an iconic standpoint but also as a point of reference as you navigate around. But….
Narrow corridors. High walls. Spaghetti street pattern. Five-way intersections. Google maps unreliable. And a poor sense of direction for yours truly. The combination = lost all the time. An early setback in my quest to conquer Spain solo.
Indeed I could not find my way back to the hotel to save my life. My part of town was also completely empty of people at night. I’d walk through this maze of streets and see no one. Eerie.
First night I am of course lost trying to get home and I round a corner and low and behold bump into a human. Turns out it was a senora in her evening attire who was apparently returning from her last uhhh appointment. I asked if she knew the whereabouts of my hotel but somewhere in the translation that came out as more of an invitation. Confusion was quickly cleared however and I was pointed in the right direction.
Gracias. Privacy maintained in pic out of respect and to prevent me from being flagged by Interpol.
Barcelona and Mallorca solo
Barcelona and Mallorca solo travel.
I stayed in the Santa Clara, a terrific little boutique hotel near the big cathedral. Beyond that I can’t tell you much about the location other than it’s a tad off center from a lot of the happenings. The walk would be short but it gets a lot longer when you are disoriented. If I stayed there roughly six months, I would probably be able to find it without assistance. On the bright side it’s very quiet and if that’s your thing, I strongly recommend it.
Most hotels in Palma de Mallorca are of the boutique variety so you are out of luck if you want extensive amenities. Call it part of the charm to stay in a small place where the front desk greets you by name coming and going. Then again, I imagine that intimate vibe could be a tad awkward if you are the type to bring back friends you meet on the street. A pro solo travelers tip.
Rooftop view from Santa Clara.
Paella. I love it but I do think our Creole and Cajuns took it up a notch.
Everyone was taking pics of these peppers so I figured I would as well.
In Spain fresh squeezed orange juice was often available at bars. However my attempts to upgrade a simple Screwdriver into an orange crush were a failure due to language barriers. I was met with confused looks and references to a cheap American soda. I see a business opportunity here.
Mallorca vacation
Great rooftop spot at the Hostal Cuba. Put this one on your list and get there before the line forms.
Palma de Mallorca is an entertaining city. I see it as a mini Barcelona. Plenty to offer as far as nightlife, markets and interesting architecture. A fun city to get lost in. I would know.
Mallorca and Barcelona solo traveler.
Palma Nova
After just two days in Palma de Mallorca it was time to head about 20 min south to the beach resort area of Palma Nova.
One of many mojitos. When you have time to kill…
…As your cab pulls in just behind a bus that has offloaded an army of Brits checking into the hotel for holiday. While they politely waited single file for hours, I visited beach bars until the line diminished. Yankee ingenuity.
Btw if you dare attempt the buffet at a hotel with said clientele, be warned. The Redcoats would have beat down the American colonists with ease had they been promised a 2 star buffet upon victory.
I chose the Globales Santa Lucia because it was right on the beach and provided a central spot to walk everywhere from Palma Nova to Magaluf. As for the facility, it was 3 star. Decent. Clean. Nuttin special.
Unfortunately I did have some kind of wristband clash with a staff member. Best I could interpret, I was allowed to eat at the free buffet but not permitted a glass of tap water with it. Huh?
Anyway no loss. I would have opted for better dining options anyway. Several other staff disappointments too. Perhaps I need to work on my British accent.
Solo Barcelona and Mallorca
Plenty of beach bars around Palma Nova. I’m not sure what’s going at this one. I’ve researched these matters and I see no way it would be possible for this establishment’s restroom to accommodate full capacity. I’m just grateful not to have been part of that confirmation.
Maybe this guidance at another nearby bar offers some insight.
My favorite spots around Palma Nova included Barbuda with its excellent service and vibe. I also loved the scene and bar tenders at Si So Beach. Fully confirmed upon receipt of my credit card statement.
Down the way at Magaluf, the night life is supposed to be for the younger crowd and indeed I stumbled into the strip of boom boom clubs. Being the offseason, they were pretty low key, at least for the time of evening I was there. I was happy to wander onto the beach and find Blackbeards, a chill outdoor bar with a guy doing an acoustic set. Daytime the Magaluf oceanfront has lively beach bars and its worth a solid commitment to an afternoon of day drinking.
Barcelona and Mallorca
Barcelona
Hotel view. I stayed at H10 Port Vell. I don’t know what H10 means but Port Vell alludes to the Harborfront. Overall it’s an excellent location with access to all the spots you want to walk to and stumble back from. Great little hotel and staff.
Barcelona gets boat life. This is as large a super yacht as you will find. About a 300 footer.
Barcelona also gets bike life. Sorta. These bikes are everywhere for rent but not for foreign visitors. Now THAT is discrimination.
I’m no art aficionado but I can appreciate the beauty of a cleaned sea bass as much as anyone.
So many bars to explore. Lets get started…
Dr Stravinsky is deemed a top 50 bar in the world. Very unique little place where they make their own spirits and mixers.
Distilling equipment.
Specialty ingredients. No idea what is embalmed in that jar but it adds a fabulous finish to the cocktails.
This solar system grid will allow you to cross reference the alcohol and the sweet or sour combo that’s right for you. Even if you can’t make heads or tails of it, do not order a Screwdriver whatever you do.
Served with odd flora and in a “mug” that looks and feels as if it was crafted by an 8 yr old in pottery class. A sure grip though to protect that very tasty drink.
Spain adventures
Cool little whiskey bar called La Whiskeria with a superb selection and engaging bar tender. I think I promised to send him a bottle of Pappy.
Barcelona and Mallorca trip
I caved and had late night pizza…only to find that it was not sliced. Hmm. Never question why it’s America that became the modern world power.
Our big jar of gas station pickles wins over this atrocity.
So the tropical island of Austria is known for rum? Appropriate that it shares the same name with the cheap 70’s suds.
A table for one por favor for the solo American male diner. Comes complete with a candle and flower. Gracias. Nice atmosphere in that square though.
Spain solo trip
Marketing 101. American tourists appreciate simple signage that leaves no room for interpretation confusion.
I wish certain travel sites would use the same practices.
No words for this.
Barcelona and Mallorca solo trip
La Sagrada Familia is the iconic landmark in Barcelona designed by the famous architect Gaudi. Is it a coincidence that his name is similar to gaudy? I dunno but pretty impressive nonetheless. The presence of cranes hovering over does detract from the impact a bit. And I wonder if Gaudi would have envisioned a McDonalds, 5 Guys, and Ben & Jerrys across the street from this holy place.
All sorts of appetizing street food.
And some not so appetizing.
Everyone said make sure you take in some of the amazing museums in Barcelona. So indeed I made time in my itinerary for one. Check.
Barcelona and Mallorca trip
Bizarre scene here just outside the market. This gentleman was positioned as such on his backpack all day right on the middle of the busy sidewalk. Perhaps he had been to the museum above. Or needs to be featured in it.
Barcelona and Mallorca solo
In the world of beach vendors and hawkers, this business model represents the lowest denominator. These dudes set up little tents and try to get people to pay for the privilege of crawling inside for a spell. I have no idea what is supposed to happen in that tent or who the target market is. (Though I might have been down if I had been successful in my search for one of those special backpacks above).
Not usually a sweets guy but when you’re on vacay sometimes you can’t resist temptation.
Barcelona and Mallorca travel
I am a fan of Spain and would readily return to Barcelona and Mallorca. Much was left to be explored in both places, not to mention the rest of the country. I’m sure Columbus felt the same way and he had a pretty good 500 year run for his accomplishments. Me? I just wanted a table for one and a glass of water with my meal.
Speaking of the solo travel thing, I have mixed emotions. While its always the right move to see the world, I found I didn’t like the company that much. Gotta work on that!
In all seriousness, Spain was a welcoming and safe place for an unaccompanied traveler. I avoided the pick pockets on Las Ramblas Street and navigated strange airports and even stranger covid documentation rules. Ate amazing food and drank enough mojitos to impact the mint leaf supply chain. Overall a success and I encourage a trip to explore Barcelona and Mallorca, whether it’s with your favorite travel companion or solo. Make new friends, especially those who look lost and alone.
Wisdom of the ‘Fool
Travelers Tips for Barcelona and Mallorca:
- Barcelona and Mallorca solo dining can be a challenge, especially at the busy establishments. Seems many don’t want to waste a table for just one. Even a two top table. Don’t take it personally, even when you are standing there like a schmuck being ignored. Try a less crowded place and you will be welcomed
- If you are taking on Barcelona and Mallorca solo, try to make a plan of things to do. When there is no one to brainstorm with, the brainstorm is pretty dry. Keep busy and try to avoid idle wandering.
- Barcelona and Mallorca airports can confusing for first timers. Barcelona’s has a confusing gate situation. Or was it the one in Mallorca. Either way, when you try to find the gate for your flight, it might show all four color codes, meaning its not narrowed down to any of the four wings in the airport. You will be standing there completely perplexed. Compared to the US, they don’t assign the gates until closer to flight time. So sure enough an hour before your flight it shows green/red and then several minutes later that becomes red 10. On the plus side, they have fewer last minute gate changes.
- The maps feature on your phone is great normally but it can be off a tad overseas. Add in a maze of tiny, poorly labeled streets in Mallorca and the dot on the map becomes a rough estimate. And one that bounces around. I understand you can have better luck by using a local sim card. Probably wouldn’t have helped me anyway but might help you.
