Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Spain.
The Balearic Islands have the airports of Palma de Majorca, Ibiza and Mahón, making any journey extremely easy. It is also possible to reach them by ship, since Barcelona is only a night-crossing away aboard the most modern vessels. The journey takes just eight hours. By air the flight from Barcelona, Valencia, and Madrid takes less than an hour, while from París and London it takes under two. It is also possible to take vehicles to the islands aboard ferries specially designed for the purpose. Both air and sea services have extra flights and crossing during the "high season".
If you are visiting the centre of Palma your best bet is to go on foot. You can also hire scooters and bicycles if you prefer. If you decide to drive into the city from another part of the island, leave your car in one of the municiple car parks. You will be offered a bicycle (free of charge) to use to explore the city until you return to pick up your car. There is one railway line in Majorca, departing from Palma which will take the traveller to a number of villages on the island. A special "tourist" train departing from the main station in the Plaza de España will take you on a beautiful journey through the mountain range to the quaint village of Soller. If you prefer, you can hire a car.
The local cooking of the islands is exotic, exquisite and at the same time imaginatively presented. The official Majorcan foodstuff should be a type of red pork pate called sobrasada in Majorcan, sobrasada in Spanish. Highly popular in parts of the mainland too. The red colour comes from hefty amounts of sweet paprika. It is good. There is also an official Majorcan cake, called ensaimada. It contains pumpkin jam and lard (obviously the Majorcans do keep some pigs) and it is delicious. The locals are very proud of their centuries-old olive trees, so while visiting the island it would be worth trying Majorcan extra virgin olive oil, which is otherwise hard to find.
