An Evening of Art and Culture

 

When we go on our holidays it's all to easy to sit by the swimming pool or on the beach, never really venturing out very much beyond the nearest bar. Now whilst I fully understand that most of the time you want and need a relaxing break and to get a bit of sun, which doesn’t always happen in the UK. But you know many resorts have a huge selection of art galleries and museums to visit. At some parts of the day or on certain days of the week these can be free to visit or have a reduced entry cost.  Even if you had not planned on fitting some Art and Culture into your holiday, if you do make the effort to do this you will be in for a big reward. On Sunday afternoons and evening many of the leading galleries can be free. The most popular ones can have big queues, so see if you can pre-book or arrive early. One of my favourite art galleries also has a great bar with sea-views perfect for relaxing afterwards so you can have the best of both worlds.

If you do a bit of research before you go away, you will be surprised at how much there is to do and there really is something for every taste. One of my favourite events is the Nit de l'Art in Mallorca, hosted every year in the middle of September. This is Mallorca's Mediterranean version of the Nuit Blanche concept, which originated in Paris and many cities worldwide celebrate.

In Palma, for only one night a year, many of the art galleries and museums join together to celebrate the autumn arts and culture season and the inauguration of their exhibitions by transforming the city's historic old town into a treasure trove for art lovers on Saturday night. The event started in a small way in 1997 and has grown and grown ever since. Here's what they say about it;

La Nit de L'Art is a unique event which fuses the characteristic spirit of the traditional Spanish fiestas (where people of all ages get together in public squares and picturesque streets) to celebrate, the eclectic buzz of gallery openings and the excitement of a treasure hunt mapped out within the medieval walls of one of the most beautiful historic enclaves of the Mediterranean. Throughout a single evening, the historic quarter is taken over by the art world, with tens of thousands of visitors spilling out onto the pedestrian streets and alleyways to explore some of the most exciting exhibitions, performances and installations of the year.

If this is of interest to you can download a full programme with maps of all the galleries and museums taking part by clicking the link from the website. All the main museums and galleries take part; Solleric, Baluard, Miro, Misericordia, Sa Nostra and The Caixa forum. These are all open for free as well as performances and exhibitions in public spaces and squares like La Rambla, Plaza del Mercado, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Porta de Santa Catalina. The old town is transformed into an enormous open-air art exhibition. Bright young talents and seasoned professionals from the artistic community take advantage of every corner to show their work to the public. Bars, cafes, studios, rooftops, facades of historic buildings, shop windows and balconies. Many hotels get involved to and its great to have a wander through these too. it’s a wonderful opportunity to see inside buildings that are out of bounds like the City Hall. Some events take part on the same night in other parts of the island like in culture- loving Pollenca, so if you are not in Palma you still may be able to see events on a smaller scale

You can even enjoy a glass or two of Cava as you peruse the art. The event starts from 7:00 pm and the galleries will remain open until midnight. You can pick up a list and map of participating galleries throughout Palma in the tourist information or the galleries themselves. It’s a fun, busy night and very well-attended by the locals and visitors alike. You have to walk a bit, so not wearing heels is a good idea. But it’s a must for art-lovers and if you don’t know much about art it’s a great way to gain insight into the art world. And wonderful for people-watching, as there are some very interesting outfits and sights to see on the night.

Local Cuisine- Majorca

On my journey around Spain in particularly Majorca I got to try much of the local cuisine, now I didn’t love everything I tried, Gazpacho for one, I don’t really get the idea of a cold soup, but I tried some wonderful local dishes that I would highly recommend and will tell you about in more detail. Tapas is a great way of sampling a little of something, a bit like putting a toe in the water.

Spanish (particularly Majorcan) cuisine is strongly influenced by Muslin/Moorish cooking and many of the foods regarded as Spanish were Arabic in origin. Because they missed many of their sweet and spicy flavours from home the Arabs introduced; almonds, apricots, pine nuts, capers, aniseed and cinnamon.  The irrigation systems used by the Arab’s, benefited Majorcan farming greatly meaning that fruits like: apples, pears, cherries, peaches, apricots and pomegranates could then be grown in the climate and soil conditions. It was Spanish seafarers, when travelling the world, who returned with pineapples, grapefruit, lemons and clementine’s. The Roman empire had also brought its influences as well with fig trees, Asian in origin, despite all this there remains a distinct Majorcan cuisine. Food and drink are very much part of the Spanish culture. The ocean surrounding the island brings a bounty of fish and seafood, the Pla, is the rural heartland of the island with fields, almond and carob trees and livestock. The tramuntana with its olive trees and Valley of Gold, with long rows of fragrant orange trees. The vineyards around Binnissalem where you find the oldest wine estates are becoming internationally known.

In Majorca, I was fortunate to be taken for meals in local restaurants and invited into the homes of  local people. The various ingredients were explained to me and the cooking methods.  For many years’ restaurants have catered to the tastes of tourists. I am happy to see that authentic dishes are been introduced once more. I think that for too long many of the local dishes have been seen as peasant food however, these dishes use local and seasonal produce and although at times are simple in technique and appearance are also really delicious. The tastes of tourists are changing and they want to try food which is more genuine. In the cosmopolitan city of Palma, with the mix of old and new, top chefs like Marc Fosh are basing Michelin star cuisine on traditional, classic dishes.

Sitting down together for a meal is something I very much enjoy with my own family, its very much about a chance to catch up and talk about the day as well as eating. A typical home-cooked meal would most likely be a stew or rice dish placed in the centre with a salad, bread and side dishes like fried green peppers. (Padron) Two of my favourites are Sopes Mallorquines and Arroz Brut (dirty rice). Sopes Mallorquines is a slow cooked vegetable stew with Pan Moreno rye bread in the bottom, this has cabbage, peas, onion, leeks, french beans, garlic and sweet paprika, my Majorcan friend tells me that usually you put in whatever you have in your fridge or cupboard. Frito Mallorquin is similar with peppers, onions, artichokes, potatoes, aubergine and lamb or liver. Arroz Brut is like a paella but uses rabbit or chicken liver and is more like a rice soaked in meat stock. Tumbet is like Ratatouille, with potaes, peppers, aubergine, onion and garlic and can be a main meal or tapas.

Pa- Amb- Oli- is bread with tomatoes and olive oil and garlic, it can be eaten for breakfast or as a snack and there are opposing views of how to make it as Catalans and Majorcans differ on their views, however The way I was shown is taking a slice of Pan Moreno rye bread, this can be toasted, rubbing a peeled raw garlic over then the pulp of half a tomato and then drizzling with olive oil. Its almost a performance but just wonderful with a glass of wine.

Sobrasada is a cured pork sausage softer than chorizo so more like a spread. This should be made from the Black pig- Porc Negre. The sausages are seasoned with paprika, salt and pebre vermell. (Ground dried picant Red peppers these give the red colour) There are several sizes; LLonganissa, Cular and the largest are bufetes. Look for Sobrassada de Mallorca de Cerdo Negro as these are still made in the genuine way.

Vegetation and Vegan food are becoming more popular but many of the traditional dishes are based round meat like slow cooked Majorcan lamb, with rosemary, thyme and garlic, sucking pig- Porcella and botifarrons-a  blood sausage quite like black pudding.

A visit to Majorca would not be complete without trying Ensaimada’s which are a flaky pastry using a flour and lard-based dough, siam is lard, this is rolled thinly then coiled into a spiral, visit Forn des Teatre or the Old Town in Palma. In Valldemosa, they have a variation which is Coca de Patatas, which is a sweet potato bun using lard and sugar. I will post recipes at a later time. Both are great with a coffee if you have a sweet tooth like me!

Many foods take me back to Majorca instantly: tomatoes, peppers, figs, oranges, almonds and olives. I have been involved in growing and picking these and the fragrances and colours always make me feel happy and warm on cold, grey winter days in the UK.

I think that the enjoyment of eating with others and preparing simple food with local ingredients and love is at the heart of Majorcan cooking.

Just Where Shall I Go?

Now I had made the decision to go travelling, the next step was to decide where I would go.

Would I go to one country or several; would I stay in Europe or travel further afield in Asia or even venture down under? Would I return to a previous destination? Or go somewhere for the first time?

Decisions, decisions, decisions, my head was spinning with trying to come with an answer.  I spent endless hours on the internet, I think I read every travel guide in my local library; I hung out so much in travel section of Waterstones I am surprised I wasn’t escorted off the premises. Self- help guides always advise to mediate when trying to find an answer; unfortunately my monkey mind never stays still long enough to be able to mediate. (Most likely a sign that I am a perfect candidate for mediation)

However the answer did come to be quite by chance or was it serendipity after all. I was looking on my bookshelf and came across a book on Majorca I had completely forgotten about. This book was full of fabulous images of the countryside, beaches and the city of Palma, what a beautiful place. I had visited the island as a child with my parents in the 1970s when tourism was just beginning to become an important industry to Majorca and this was the first time I had been abroad. This seemed the perfect place to begin my journey; it was not too far from home, I had been to a night class in Spanish ( although my skills were not that good) and having had a miserable, grey summer so far that year the prospect of blue skies and some sunshine was a very nice idea indeed.

So the decision had been made, I didn’t even change my mind for a second that had to be a further sign that this was a good move for me.

So now onto the next step….