The other side of Palma de Mallorca

Last Saturday (January 8th, 2012) Marques and I decided that we will go around the main city of Mallorca for the after Christmas sales and for fun. Apparently there were a lot to see and a lot to enjoy. We caught the train and started our little journey outside of Inca. It was 9 o'clock in the morning when we left. The city was still sleeping as we arrived there, but it started to be busy around 10:30am. Everybody started to show up and here we were still window shopping. We had a lot of fun and we did enjoy many things such as visiting Porto Pi, a shopping center that I wanted to visit since our arrival in Mallorca...

I was in charge of looking for breakfast... Empanada..

Going to ask if the cafe was selling nice and warmth empanadas... 

Sephora in Palma

Porto Pi center

Marques at the entrance of the shopping center

True to the French supermarket Carrefour!!

Porto Pi game room

American country restaurant

American menu

Porto Pi street

8:20am= our balcony in Inca...

Today, I had to wake up early to make breakfast for the sister missionaries as one of them had completed her mission. Hermana Ruz is indeed returning to her hometown in Valencia... I had prepared some crepes and was just waiting for them to come by. Meanwhile, I took a picture of the sunrise from our apartment. It is nothing great like the one I would get from my home island, but for me it still remains a symbol of life....

Making of the crepes...

Crepes mixture...

All done...

Frying the crepes...

Ice cream, crepe with chocolate spread and banana cake with whip-cream topping

Happy New Year!

Celebrating new year far away from family and the islands way was a new experience for us. Nevertheless, it did not stop us from reflecting upon the year 2011 and welcoming with opened arms this exciting new year of 2012. We had an enjoyable Spanish tradition for new years. We were able to watch the countdown clock and eat grapes with all the people of Inca (in Spain). Yes, grapes... 

Eating grapes at the countdown is a Spanish tradition 

as apparently Spain produces better wine than the rest of the world...

I also made a chocolate cake with coconut topping as our first 2012 dessert...

This is a picture of all "Turron" sweet sold during Christmas

Chocolate cake with Turron ice cream
(the Turron is a chocolate/ milk Spanish sweet
usually eaten during Christmas)

One slice? only?

  2011 has been a year full of choices and adventures and we are ready for more!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!!!!

There are 12 grapes in one bag.

The crowd getting ready to count and eat grapes.

Boxing Day in Inca, Mallorca

Boxing day was spent with the members (especially the youths) playing basketball. It was a very enjoyable morning with the missionary sisters and other elders from other areas of the islands. The activity was supposed to start at 10:30am, but it all began at 11:30am. I woke up early that morning to make some chocolate and jam "crepes" for refreshments. Even though I did not want to play, I had fun taking pictures of anything I could find interesting around. The activity was held at a really nice park in Inca. It was my first time there, so everything was basically new for me! 

Yummy "Pomme cannelle moelleux" with whipped cream.

I made this "apple/nuts/cinnamon cake" and took it
to the activity 

 I was amazed when I saw these on our way to the park...

In this cold season, the roses were beautiful treasures to me...

 Marques and his bright orange jacket, getting ready to have some fun!

The only snowman in Inca!

Horses as pets... The horse riders were having a hard time controlling their horse away from the rubbish bin.

See Santa? He is climbing the balcony to reach the roof!

People started to put those "Santa puppet" on their balcony
right in the beginning of December.

This beautiful white cat was walking in the street until one of
the youth grabbed it.

 I thought that this couple looked cute! They are statues put in one of the gardens. I thought that they were a great symbol of everlasting love...

Around 2pm, we had lunch with Juan Benasec's family. He is a good friend of ours and he is the one who takes Marques to practice. We had a nice "paella" lunch. It is made with rice, seafood and any kind of meat you want to put in. It was delicious and filling!

Paella before the rice is added.

Marques and the Chef of the day.

Adding the rice with the Paella.

Rice being cooked.

Marques ready to eat!

Paella all ready for our stomach!

Using newspapers to keep the heat...

Juan and his baby grand nephew Alejandro.

Enjoying...

With Juan's family.

Don't you think he could be ours? :)