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From the window of the plane we can see them by the dozen. We have no doubt
about where we are. They welcome us, as we cross Es Pla, the flat central plain. They are by our sides at touchdown. But will we always be greeted by the
Windmills of Mallorca? |
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The “Hanging Gardens of Banyalbufar” have long since attracted visitors to this picturesque municipality situated in the Southwest of the Tramuntana Mountain range ... |
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They are a reflection in miniature of a life gone by; inviting us to a land that only our imaginations could create. Once cherished by a little boy or girl, now by a grown up, ... |
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More often than not, the best restaurants tend to be those a little off that beaten tourist trail. Hidden in a backstreet, without a particularly glamorous exterior, one could almost think that the locals wanted to keep these unpretentious eateries to themselves – and who can blame them. |
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Whether it be Folk on a balmy evening at a quaint village square, Classical in a fully fledged concert hall complete with air-conditioning, or Rock at Palmas Bullring, the range of live music on offer in Mallorca during the summer months is certainly spectacular in terms of its diversity and location. |
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It was a week to remember for 30 staff members of First Mallorca who travelled to Thailand to celebrate the New Year, a complimentary holiday offered by the company ... |
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Several hundred guests attended the First Mallorca Autumn/Winter brochure launch and the official opening of a new First Mallorca venture “ApartmentBörse”, in Puerto Andratx on the 28th of September ... |
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The residents of Fornalutx, argue that their village is the prettiest in Mallorca. Situated deep in the heart of the Tramuntana, its winding streets and narrow stoned steps display a delightful array of colourful flowers and greenery. |
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At the tender age of four, knowing the difference between red and white is something we all learn at school. When speaking of the fermented kind, ... |
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When talking of what best to accompany a morning coffee, nothing surpasses the ensaïmada. This traditional spiral shaped breakfast pastry ... |
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Glass making, an insight into Mallorca’s hottest industry
 If someone asks you about Mallorca’s hotspots and a fabulous beach springs to mind, your favourite glitzy bar or even a picturesque bay, you have probably never been to the workplace of Joaquin Martinez. He has spent the past 36 years of his life in one of the hottest spots on the island. He is a master glassmaker and one of Mallorca’s finest.
In temperatures of around 45ºC and above, Joaquin and his co-workers at the glass factory “Menestralia” in Campanet, have proudly followed the time old tradition of glass production since 1950. Funnily enough, glassmaking was here long before the arrival of tourism; in fact records show its presence in Mallorca some 2000 years ago.
 Such a world away from modern day factories, it is definitely worth paying these true artisans a visit. Not only can you purchase unique hand crafted glassware, you can see their talents first hand. Adjacent to the sales area, visitors watch from a viewing area in fascination, as Joaquin and his co-workers pull dripping molten glass from the furnace and cleverly shape it into a myriad of products, from vases to lamps to fabulous ornate goblets, all in a rainbow of colours.
Joaquin stoops to pick up a metal rod and twists it into the furnace. He turns around brandishing a fiery blob as hot and bright as the sun. As he blows down into the tube, the shape starts to expand like a balloon, taking form and becoming almost translucent. Quickly turning it around again and  again, it changes form once more before he dips it into a vat of water, steam hissing. “We have to shape the glass very quickly as it cools so fast. We then have to cool it in different ovens very slowly over a couple of days so that it will not break. I love this trade because it is always changing. We are always creating different things”.
Matias Gaona has only been there for a few weeks. “I wanted to learn a real trade that was different and interesting. Luckily we recycle all of our glass so I can afford to make a few mistakes whilst learning!”
Mallorcan craft traditions such as glassmaking are still surviving well in Mallorca. Menestralia take special orders from individuals and companies alike and also hand paint plates and lamps in their art room.
You should visit what is literally the hottest spot in Mallorca from January to December! Why not take home a small souvenir made especially for you as you watch; a small swan perhaps, which will be cooled for you as you browse in their fully air-conditioned shop!
See www.menestralia.com or visit them at the Campanet exit on the Palma-Alcúdia Motorway
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