[Its too late now to do this properly. Here are some notes before I forget.]
We decide to get up for sunrise. Due to a slight watch error (when I examine it, I find my watch froze a few minutes after I set the alarm last night. Odd. It did this once before. I think its a symptom of the somewhat buggy software - it can also freeze when uploading) we're only just in time - I guessed that 6:45 would do, we actually got up about 6:50, and sunrise was probably about 7:10 ish (I can check: the photo of first light says it was taken at 5:16. And the camera is 1:51:00 behind watch-time. So it was taken at 7:17. Ish). But it was gorgeous and still, no breeze, gentle waves lapping at the shore, just a few other people about. Once the sun was clear of the horizon I went for a swim, just a little way out, float around enjoying it, and M for a run. And then took pix of me as I came back in.The actual sunrise sequence itself was lovely - the horizon was completely clear, so you could see from the very first tip of light, to the sun separating itself from the mirage on.
Breakfast early (notice coffee machine implies that the Spanish root for "wait" is the same as "hope", which surely says something) and off, following our plan, to Cap Formentor, which is the long rocky cape enclosing the Pollenca bay on the north. First stop is the Mirador Colomer (mirador = viewpoint, they helpfully provide these, and amusingly the sign is an old-style bellows camera. I do sometimes wonder if they should also provide a download of photos, so everyone doesn't have to take the same shots).
After that its a pleasant windy thin road through mountains (and a tunnel) and plains/forest, with occasional views to the sea on each side, and some more stops to look out which the children quickly lose patience with, until we reach the lighthouse at the end.
The scenery is great (views back along the cape, down into the blue ripply sea with teensy tinesy boats), but its hot by now - about 11:30. So we get some drinks from the cafe and settle down to hands of cards. Somehow this is far more fun up here with a wonderful view that we spend most of our time ignoring than it would be at home. After a while the sun moves round and we need to move the table into shade, then edge it further, eventually running out of room to retreat. Its more crowded now, so after a last look round we leave. There is a near traffic impasse on way out - the road is narrow, people are parked in it, there are hairpin turns. But a few cars squeak past and we're out. The road would be good to cycle, and some are. There is also a network of walking paths, if you get up early or come at a different time of year.Then, Port de Pollenca. We don't really know where we're going - we just want some beach and a cafe. The side nearest the cape is a thin block of stuff, with parking behind, and then the sea. So we park, go down a little alley, find the sea, and then the hotel Bahia which is as good as a cafe and does us a light lunch and we swim in various combinations, but mostly E. D is quiet and doesn't swim that I recall. We deliberately didn't book a room for Saturday night at the Viva, in case we wanted to move. But we've done nothing about finding another place, and now we're nearly out of time. Inquire at the Bahia re Saturday, but they are full, so decide to ask back at Viva. I've revised my opinion of the place - apart from the noise, and the guests (:-), its fine; and we've learnt how to cope with the noise.
And so, back at 5. Watch the cycling - quite exciting at the end as they "sprint" uphill into Jaca (where we went last year); dinner the buffet. I go for a run along the sea front, having realised that I can. Due to dinner etc I leave it until late, and don't start till 9, when its getting dark, and finish just before 10, when it definitely is. But its lovely, trotting along (I wasn't sprinting) just at or above the wetting-line of the waves. D meanwhile is browsing online, exciting news about his favourite Ace-of-Spades game and a rumour or stronger of buyout by Jagex. Decide that we'll get up to watch the dawn again tomorrow.
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