A flying visit!

We walked into our house at 1am Tuesday morning from our holiday in Majorca and less than 6 hours later I was up and on my way to Doncaster Airport to fly to Newquay to see Charlotte, Angus and Nina.

It takes us just 20 minutes to get there now the link road is open, a 50 minute flight and 5 minutes to Charlotte's house - so not a bad journey. The quickest door to door to date is 2 hours 7 minutes done by Becky (she is 5 minutes nearer to Doncaster than we are). There was only about 24 people on our flight and I was able to make sure I was on the right side of the plane to see all our favourite beaches as we flew in - The images below are courtesy of Google

Polzeath, Daymer Bay and the Camel Estuary 

Trevone Bay 

Harlyn Bay

 Mother Ivy's 

Trevose Head - can you see the lighthouse?

Booby's Bay and Constantine Bay's 

Treyarnon Bay

Porthcothan Bay

Mawgan Porth

and inland to Newquay Airport

What an end to the flight! Charlotte and Nina were at the airport waiting for me when I landed and within 15 mins of being picked up I was having breakfast at their house - Brilliant!

With the day being so lovely we packed a picnic and went down to Treyanon for a few hours, feeling the sand between my toes was lovely

The following day was not quite as nice but that didn't stop us getting the ferry over to Rock. With the tide being low it was going from the 'Lower ferry point' which meant we had a walk on the cliff top and down to the cove. In turn that gave us great views over Padstow and Rock.

We walked along the beach to have lunch at the Mariners. I had the most delicious potted crab served with Doombar bread and salad along with a few of Charlotte's chips from her fish finger sandwich. (Nina enjoyed her homemade lunch too!)

The trip across brought back so many memories of times we have gone across on the ferry with Charlotte, Becky and Jonathan at Nina's age and it's so pleasing when things don't change and you see your children and relive their childhood through their own children.

I had to leave the next morning so a 5 minute drive to the airport arriving just 25 minutes before the flight was due to take off and another 50 minutes later myself and just 15 other passengers landed at Doncaster. It couldn't be better for us but I hope the numbers increase as I'm sure Flybe will not continue with the route next year.

5 days of warmth!

The sun being up and David snoring has got me out of bed and downstairs well before 7am giving me chance to write about our short trip to Majorca - only 3 weeks ago but it seems much longer.
Our timings worked very well and as I finished work at 1-30pm on the Wednesday, David collected me and we went straight down to East Midlands for our flight. A few hours later we had landed at Palma, collected our car and were on the road to Puerto Pollensa. Due to our late arrival the key to our apartment had been left at the hotel next door but by 11pm we were in, unpacking and looking forward to a good nights sleep (which we had).
How lovely to wake to blue skies and sun! Once dressed our first job was to go to the local Spar and get some basic provisions - you know the kind of thing - bread, butter, wine, cereal, fruit, wine.

Then back for breakfast on the balcony which overlooked the small pool.

Our apartment was basic but very clean and that's all we needed.

After breakfast we went walked down to the sea (only 5 minutes) to explore and find a coffee.

Our coffee stop was at a place called Cappuccino which had it's own radio station (you should find it here) So not only was the coffee excellent, view gorgeous but the music was good too

We wandered more, going to the marina and admiring the yachts

 and sandcastle sculpture

before going back for lunch and a laze round the pool. Evening soon came and we walked back to the front for a G&T before eating at one of the many restaurants

Friday was a little cloudy and we choose to drive to the very end of the peninsula - Cap Formentor. Not a good idea in retrospect unless you are happy to drive on very narrow roads with extremely steep drops. The first part was fine and we followed many many cyclists up to a viewing point near Formentor

We then went down to the Formentor beach 

being very impressed with the parking arrangements under cover.

 It's after that we made the mistake of driving to the very end. 'Hairy, scary was a good description.

Although the views at the end were good, for us they didn't outway the stress of getting there.

 The goats taking people food was quite amusing to watch - different to seagulls.

We decided to go back to the beach at Formentor to have our picnic and then as it was still dull go back through Puerto Pollensa to Cala de Sant Vicenc. I had been told about this but admit to being rather disappointed. I had expected a pretty but small resort with a few bars/restaurants clustered round the beach side. Instead there were 2 beaches, one being very coarse sand and pebbles, 

the second better sand with a bar but backed with a large car park and buildings which were in need of renovation. 

Maybe the dull day didn't help and the fact that with it being just the beginning of the season the place was still getting going that my impression was clouded.

Saturday was very sunny again and we went in to Pollensa old town - what a lovely place. We walked up on the road to the Calvary - the chapel on the top of the hill. The views were spectacular

I loved the potted flowers which were decorating the cafe there. 

We walked down the 365 steps in to the square

I have to say I was pleased to be walking down them and not up as it looked a long way to the top.

After a wander through the town we found our car and returned back to Puerto Pollensa to collect our swimming things and go down to the beach.

Before we returned to get changed for dinner there was time for a drink

Sunday saw us back in Pollensa for the big Sunday market - we LOVED it! The food stall were to die for

How could you not be inspired to cook with produce like that? 

Then there were the flowers

and the cafe culture

and a walk through the streets back to the car revealed all this

Once back 'home' again we choose to walk along our front but in the opposite direction to what we normally did and discovered a long sandy beach.

Our final night and we had a wander along the front

before choosing to eat right on the very front.

Monday - our final day and a lazy one it was too, coffee at Cappuccino 

 and lunch at the Miramar

 and then an hours drive back to the airport and home. It was a lovely break and Puerto Pollensa the perfect place for us.