Cala Major: Holiday feeling all year round!

 

Family-oriented Cala Major or Cala Mayor was expressly built as a beach resort with a broad stretch of sand overlooking the Bay of Palma, on the southwest coast. It’s one of the oldest tourist areas in Mallorca and it’s also where the Spanish royal family’s vacation home Marivent Palace (meaning “sea and wind” in Mallorquin) is located.

Cala Major has a mixed international community of permanent residents, including many locals. Here you will find all you need like grocery stores, banks and pharmacies. This area also has a selection of popular restaurants and bars and at a short distance you find the Porto Pi shopping mall. The area is well connected by public transport and everything is open all year round which makes it the perfect place to live. Cala Major has an active beach life thanks to its white sandy beach. The beach has good facilities for families and there is a wide range of fun water sports. In winter time the bay gets big waves therefore making it a popular spot for surfers. Popular San Agustin and the newly renovated Cala Nova harbour is also within walking distance.

These facts, together with the fact that the area is currently undergoing considerable improvements, makes it a good bet as a promising area for property buyers looking for opportunities. This is the ideal place if you want to live close to the beach with easy access to Palma, combining beach life with city breaks, because here you will have a holiday feeling all year round.

 

CLICK HERE FOR OUR LATEST PROPERTIES CLOSE TO CALA MAJOR

 
CALA MAJOR TIPS

Kokomo Surf Café

Kokomo Surf Café is located on Cala Major beach. It has a Californian vibe and is inspired by the 80s song from “the beach boys” which is very notable. It’s a magical place where you can enjoy a sangria or a cocktail, light lunch or a lush dinner under the stars. Kokomo also offers different water sports, and has a team of instructors that can guide and help you to discover paddle surfing, kayaking or surfing.

 

Restaurante la Parada del Mar

La Parada del Mar is a gem! This authentic fish and seafood restaurant offers a variety of fresh daily catches of what the Mediterranean offers. When you enter the restaurant the first thing you find is a fishmonger where you choose what you want to eat and it gets cooked for you on the spot.

 

El Point

This very lovely semi open air cafeteria/bar offers nice drinks and a great atmosphere! Make sure you go there on Fridays when they serve their very famous and popular choripan, an argentine style hotdog made with chorizo🌭

 

The Crow’s Nest – Cala Major

Have a taste of South Africa while enjoying the incredible sea view of Cala Major beach and the turquoise Mediterranean waves. Here you get a homely atmosphere, and a creative menu with South African specialities. Strongly recommend you to make your dinners memorable with the spectacular sunsets and vibey evenings! Try their peri-peri chicken or giant prawns, bobotie, Potjiekos accompanied and South African wine.

 

7 MACHOS

Mexican Tex-mex street food hang-out with a big heart. There’s something for everyone on the menu, including vegetarian, vegan, extra spicy, and gluten-free options. All the food is made fresh daily with local ingredients. Latin rhythm, rich aromas and homemade tequilas, what are you waiting for? ¡Ándale y arriba!

 

Sodapop caffe

This hip place has a nice relaxing atmosphere, maybe thanks to its cool retro look. What better way to combine the Mediterranean breeze then with delicious drinks and a Mediterranean food. In Sodapop you find the Mallorquin specialty Pamboli and their menu is vegetarian friendly, with vegan and gluten free options as well.

 

Nixe Palace Hotel

Eat dinner right by the beach, accompanied by the sound of the sea and weaves. 5-star Nixe Palace Hotel offers the pleasure of fine dining by the sea with its beachfront location, nautical décor and Mediterranean cuisine. Fine signature cuisine with a Majorcan and Mediterranean twist and a touch of sea flavour and aroma. The Popa Sea Club is an exclusive gastronomic space where you can enjoy a gourmet tapas selection, rice dishes and fresh fish and seafood. Unforgettable summer days and nights in a privileged location overlooking Cala Major.

 

Massar Midgley Mahdi

Team Assistant @ Mallorcaresidencia

PALMA BEDS: Transform your bedroom to a true dream and oasis!

Lifestyle MALLORCA opened its doors 7 years ago and from then on, they have furnished many homes on the island. Behind this successful boutique are the owners and co founders’ Katrin Engström and Mimmo Mellone.

Katrin has been living in Mallorca since 1985. After running a couple of restaurants, she felt a desire to progress in life. She has always had an interest in interior design, hence she decided to open the boutique where she could combine her creativity with what she knows best and has years of experience of service! Katrin realized that there was a need for a furniture store in Santa Catalina where crafts and quality are in focus and so Lifestyle MALLORCA, furniture, art & design was born.

The Covid 19 pandemic had Katrin and Mimmo to rethink and remodel their business and instead of maintaining their two stores, the one by Ramblas closed and PALMA BEDS, moved in next to Lifestyle MALLORCA expanding the boutiques size offering more options to the customers. A good night’s sleep is something we value and put effort into transmitting, explains Mimmo and continues by saying, “Our goal is to always offer great design and quality with the range of beds we have. And there is a bed for each need!”.

 

The Swedish box spring beds are the best you can find on the market” Katrin says. The beds are hand made in Sweden with frames made from Swedish wood which is known for being almost unbreakable. That combined with the Swedish steel that is recognized for its flexibility and the individually packed springs adapt to your body letting you rest like no other kind of bed does. Then add on the mattress with memory foam. Memory foam is soft and resilient and moulds to your body and acts pressure relieving, it’s like if the mattress embraces you.

 

PALMA BEDS is a non-brand store that has many models and fabrics. They have Swedish beds with box springs as well as locally made beds with storage. Headboards in natural fabrics, night stands, mattresses and other interior details that enhance the bedroom and transform it to a true dream so that you wake up rested and can enjoy this gorgeous island!

Katrin and Mimmo draw inspiration from the Mediterranean lifestyle. “A home is a fun and relaxed space and not a museum,” says Katrin Engström. When I asked what sets them aside from other furniture stores, they answered; “Our handmade, customized furniture and outstanding service! Our Swedish box spring beds are always in stock for quick delivery and prices are very competitive.”

 

Katrin and Mimmo includes sustainability in their furniture by working with locally sourced material. “We work with locally produced, recycled and upcycled wood, organic and natural materials that are sustainable,” says Katrin. And according to the couple these are exactly the coming spring and summers trends, bright organic colours! If you are looking for some more easy tips to make design changes in your home this spring, or if it’s time to change or upgrade your old bed, pay them a visit in their very chic boutique in Santa Catalina.

 

Remember that as a client of Mallorcaresidencia you have -15% discount on Swedish beds.

 

Massar Midgley Mahdi

Team Assistant @ Mallorcaresidencia

Betlem: The picturesque peaceful town in the north-east part of Mallorca

Picturesque Betlem lies in one of the quietest and least exploited parts of Mallorca. Travelers who visit Betlem often find its classic charm much appealing. Nature, calm, clear waters; all these elements offer a bliss and a release from the daily stress. Read more in our blog about this charming village. Picturesque Betlem is one of the most peaceful towns in the Balearic Islands. The township lies within the municipality of Artà and is situated on the waterfront, at the eastern end of the bay of Alcudia in the northeast part of the island. Betlem lies in one of the quietest and least exploited parts of Mallorca. Travelers who visit Betlem often find its classic charm much appealing. Nature, calm, clear waters; all these elements offer a blessing and a release from the daily stress.

Since the thirteenth century, the town has been controlled by the Spanish Empire. In the beginning, the town had only a few small buildings but with the changes in time, Spanish came in here and built some outstanding constructions. You can still visit various of these ancient houses that were built during the 13th century in their actual condition. The narrow lanes, the scenic beauty and the beach culture are some of the memorable features of this gorgeous Betlem. There is a pretty marina, a charming sandy beach and a pleasant pedestrian promenade.

From beautiful Betlem one can make lovely excursions, because it borders a naturally protected area and therefore is popular for its extreme natural beauty. The town is positioned at the bottom of the mountains Capo Ferrutx, with views of the whole bay of Alcudia. About 3 km away is also the typical Mallorquin Mediterranean village of Colonia de Sant Pere that offers many restaurants and shops. Arta is only 10 minutes from Betlem and it’s one of the few towns in Mallorca which has preserved its rich rural environment and landscape. Pre Covid 19 one could enjoy a traditional hands & crafts market in this picturesque town, now it’s been on hold but hopefully will return soon. But that doesn’t have to stop you from visiting Betlem today. This charming village has a lot to offer as we have already mentioned but here are more tips of local sights and attractions around Betlem.

 

Parc Natural de s’Albufera de Mallorca
This park is one of the most beautiful nature preserves near Betlem, and it is about 30 kilometers away. Visitors can see various birds and enjoy the peaceful environment of this park.

Cuevas de Arta
This is a famous place to visit close to Betlem, it’s about 27 kilometers away. The cave is bigger than one can imagine so if you like geology this place will certainly entertain you.

Restaurante Casablanca Betlem
The Casablanca restaurant is located in Betlem. It has undoubtedly the best terrace in the area with stunning views over the Mediterranean. Enjoy a lunch, dinner and evening under the light of the stars or in the shade of its awnings on hot summer days. The restaurant is located a few meters from the sea, making it an ideal option for families who want to eat after a long day of hiking or spent by the water. Its Mediterranean cuisine offers a wide variety of dishes and wines for all tastes.

Massar Midgley Mahdi

Team Assistant @ Mallorcaresidencia

Best 6 Terrace Furniture Shops in Mallorca

April in Mallorca means that Spring is here, and with it one of the greatest feelings, we can spend more time in our outdoor space. The weather is turning warmer and we are feeling optimistic about the future knowing that summer is on its way. We’re excitingly looking forward to the endless days spent relaxing and enjoying the Mediterranean lifestyle.


We have listed some of the most stylish boutiques on the island that can help you to personalize the design of your outdoor space making it your own special oasis, a space you can enjoy all year round. Get your own little paradise to fit your favorite activities, whether you have a balcony, patio, garden or terrace, you’ll find plenty of style tips and ideas so get inspired here.

 

Balear Deco

Handmade furniture for generations is Balear Decos motto, they are inspired by nature and Ssow living lifestyle. All furniture is handmade in Mallorca and the design and materials are carefully selected and reflect the unique nature of the Balearic Islands. The focal point is natural light, colors and materials from mother nature. Rustic tables, stools, and benches are their thing! Every item at Balear Deco is carefully selected and handpicked with the vision to create sustainable furniture that becomes more beautiful over the years and that can remain in the generation.

 

Lifestyle MALLORCA

Offers a line of different outdoor furniture from top name suppliers, alongside handmade furniture, like benches, dining tables or coffee tables. They also offer custom made daybeds, BBQ-tables, sunbeds and sofas. And there is a range of colors and many different outdoor fabrics to choose from.

 

Living dreams Mallorca

Living dream Mallorca is all about custom made – execution according to your wishes! They produce custom-made dining tables, chairs, benches and lounges, all suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The collection is rounded off with weatherproof garden lamps based on their own designs. The material used is mainly recycled teak or ironwood. So, let yourself be inspired, living is a very important part of today’s lifestyle and also an expression of your individuality. Living dreams aims to support you in implementing your ideas of contemporary living with unique furniture and objects.

 

Knox Design

Justine Knox is the heart and soul of KNOX Design, with more than 30 years in beautiful Mallorca. For many, the Mediterranean island of Mallorca is the ideal location to find their dream home or a second residence. With the stunning environment and the cosmopolitan lifestyle that Mallorca offers, at KNOX they understand why. Is there anything more personal than our own home? Our home is our refuge, the epicentre of our life. Our home is the reflection of our soul. These are the concepts that Knox likes to apply, combine the various moods and adapt them to different lifestyles; they seek to bring wellbeing that goes well beyond mere comfort and beauty.

RIALTO LIVING

Rialto Living occupies the 18th-century Baroque-style ‘palacio’, Can O’Ryan, it was once home of Irish military doctor John O’Ryan. Rialto Living furniture and design is inspired by wealth of design experience, exquisite taste and the unusual. Choose from the carefully selected and sourced design pieces to turn your home’s terraces, patios, or balconies into chic and relaxed outdoor ‘rooms’ with our high-quality garden furniture and stylish accessories. Enjoy the alfresco Mediterranean lifestyle to the max throughout the year.

 

II Jardinetto Palma

José María Janer, passion for beauty led him to devote himself body and soul to one of the loveliest professions, landscape design and floristry. Today he owns one of the most celebrated and exclusive interiors shops. Everything for sale in Il Jardinetto is carefully selected by Janer, who scours the world’s best trade fairs to find pieces to meet his customer’s needs.

 

Massar Midgley Mahdi

Team Assistant @ Mallorcaresidencia

Son Armadams: A Green Oasis in the City

 

Son Armadams is a high end residential area of Palma with a great location between Paseo Maritimo and the Bellver Park. Central Palma can be reached on foot by just a short walk and the popular Palma Tennis is located just between Son Armadams and Santa Catalina. Historically, Son Armadams has been one of the most exclusive areas of Palma and in the past mostly local residents lived here. This can still be seen along the wide streets that are surrounded by high trees and the big houses with large gardens. There are plenty of nice restaurants and bars in the area.  

It is a quiet and safe area that is ideal for families with children as you will find both the Swedish and French school among many others nearby. The Bellver Castle and the large, surrounding park offer walking trails and a lovely green forest.  Now that the nearby area El Terreno is being modernized with EU fundings and also with large local investments from one of the wealthiest families on the island Son Armadams will benefit from it. Son Armadams offers tranquility and a residential feeling with close proximity to Santa Catalina and the city centre.

Mallorcaresidencia offers 2 new exciting building projects in the area. The developers of the first project are from Finland and they believe in the area very much. The project offers high quality and luxury for our clients. This project is close to the Bellver Castle entrance and is a gated community with common pool, gardens and terraced apartments. The second project consists of private houses with garden, pool and large terraces.

More about these exciting projects can be seen in the following links.

MFP113, MFP113A, MFP113B, MFP113C

MFP009A & MFP009B

 

MFP113 – Project of modern apartments with community pool

MFP009A – Design house project

 

Why live in Son Armadams?

From our perspective as real estate agents, Son Armadams is a good area to invest in as the prices are more attractive than in Santa Catalina and the Old Town. A wonderful mix of both Spaniards and mixed nationalities can be found living in the area. Son Armadams is an area that is on the rise and is constantly improving, so an investment will pay off in the long run. Here you live close to both the sea and the large green area of the Bellver Park.

Where to eat?

If you like Japanese food, we recommend Shogun, a traditional Japanese restaurant that serves an excellent lunch.

La Pergola serves good tapas, an affordable lunch and good service.

The Toque restaurant is a perfect choice for a nice dinner or lunch if you are looking for high class food with style. The restaurant “Sabor Criollo” offers reasonably priced Colombian dishes. At the nice cafe “Mosaic Cafe” you will find an oasis where you can enjoy Italian pizza, delicious vegan sandwiches and salads and an excellent coffee. 

What to do?

Auditorium Palma, located on the Paseo Maritimo, offers many interesting concerts, dance performances and theatres. Paseo Maritimo, which goes all the way from Porto Pi to El Arenal, has a fantastic bike and walking path along the sea.

 

Johanna Andersson

Team Assistant @ Mallorcaresidencia

Son Espanyolet: Close to the City, Spanish Charm and Tranquility

 

Son Espanyolet is a sought after area in Palma with low buildings with patios and gardens. Santa Catalina, central Palma and the Paseo Marítimo are just a few minutes’ walk away. It is a quiet area that is also suitable for families as there are several schools nearby. Here you will find Spanish charm, proximity to the city and a wonderful tranquility.


Just outside Son Espanyolet you will find the  wonderful
Palma Sport & Tennis Club which offers tennis courts, gym and spa of the very highest quality. There is also a bistro with a large terrace.  Every year, the Legends Cup tournament is played here with tennis players who are now considered legends.

SON ESPANYOLET HIGHLIGHTS 

MF2236 – Lovely open plan townhouse

MF1904 – Newly built house with pool

In Son Espanyolet we also find  a world-class Swedish-owned music studio, Palma Music Studio. In addition to recording music by artists such as Kim Wilde and many others, they also do online courses in singing and music production, voice recordings and much more.

In Son Espanyolet we find many restaurants and cafes. At the nice Casatitacafe you can buy a home made lunch menu for a reasonable price.

Hong Thai offers authentic Thai food for take away. Lowther Craft Beer is a local brewery where you can find both their own beer but also offers beer from all over the world.

Los3chamacos serves Mexican food and drinks and is well worth a visit.

Bar Top offers tapas, beer, llonguets and rock´n roll. A perfect mix!

The private hospital Clinica Juaneda is located in Son Espanyolet and is the first choice for many, both Spanish and international patients. They also offer interpreters for patients who do not speak Spanish.

SON ESPANYOLET HIGHLIGHTS

MFP034A – Newly built townhouse with private terrace and pool

MFP060 – Luxury townhouse with pool

 

Johanna Andersson

Team Assistant @ Mallorcaresidencia

The Sweet History of Semla

For us Swedes, the tradition of semla is something like the light in the dark after a long winter. Sure, it’s still winter but one knows we’re heading for brighter times. Semlan is a pastry that almost all Swedes have a relationship with and 44 million semla are eaten every year.

The semla is a bun with a small lid made of wheat flour, milk, butter, sugar, yeast and cardamom. The bun or semla is then filled with almond paste on the cut surface of the base and a ring of whipped cream around the almond mass, the lid is put on and the bun is powdered with icing sugar. 

The custom of eating semla dates back to the time when Sweden was a Catholic country and when people fasted before Easter. Before the fasting started, during the 40 days of Lent people celebrated, ate and drank in preparation for the fast. Fat Tuesday is the last day before Lent and falls this year on the 16th of February. During the fast, one would avoid eating meat (carne hence carnival) or revel in other ways so therefore Fat Tuesday was the day of celebration, party and exactly what the day suggests getting fat. In other parts of the world, carnival is celebrated during this time while we Swedes enjoy this delicious pastry.

This celebration of Fat Tuesday is still going on in large parts of the world as Mardi Gras in New Orleans / USA, in Rio de Janeiro the famous carnival is celebrated, as well as in Germany and also here in Mallorca.

If you now feel like trying our version of a carnival the semla, we are happy to tell you that they are available to be purchased here in Mallorca at the Swedish bakery Fika Farina in central Palma. If you are near Santa Catalina, you will find them at the small nice bakery Pan Comido and at the Swedish bakery Palma Bread as well. 

If you want to buy other Swedish products here on the island, Swedish Shop Palma has a large selection of products. In Santa Catalina you will find Swedish goodies at Swedish Stuff. llletas also has the Excellent Swedish Supplies store.

 

Massar Midgley Mahdi, Team Assistant @ Mallorcaresidencia

San Agustin: A sought after area close by the sea

 

 

San Agustín, just outside Palma in the southwest of the Bay of Palma, is a nice little neighborhood located near the coast and several nice beaches. Here you will find a wonderful mix of locals and expats. It is a great place to live all year round as you will find everything you could need nearby: restaurants, cafes, grocery stores and pharmacies.

Within walking distance is the newly renovated Cala Nova harbor. Close to the harbour there are two small sandy beaches and also rocks for those who don’t like sand. The popular beach of Cala Major is also within walking distance.

 

CLICK HERE FOR OUR LATEST PROPERTIES IN SAN AGUSTIN

 

SAN AGUSTIN TIPS

Elefante

Café Elefante opposite Cala Nova serves organic and locally grown food with an absolutely fantastic presentation. They serve a healthy and delicious brunch, juices, smoothies and speciality coffee from Mistral among many other things.

Bon Thai

Bon Thai serves authentic Thai food at a good price. The friendly staff makes your visit a great experience.

Cibus

At Cibus you can enjoy authentic Italian pizzas made in a stone oven and they also have home delivery.

Restaurang Bruno 

Restaurant Bruno is located in the newly renovated port of Calanova. Here you can enjoy food of excellent quality directly from the market. They have an affordable lunch menu and on the menu you will also find classic Spanish dishes as well as modern ones.

Forn de San Agustín

This family-owned bakery makes fantastic ensaimadas with figs, apple pies and pastries.

Zhero Beach Club

The nearby Zhero Beach Club in Cala Major has a great atmosphere and offers an upscale restaurant with stunning sea views. There is a nice pool area with sunbeds and with direct access to the sea.

El Nido

El Nido serves a gourmet fusion of Asian and Mediterranean dishes. Their specialty is food from the Philippines and is well worth a visit.

Los Iannini 

At the family business Los Iannini you will find genuine Italian ice cream. The Iannini family have been producing ice cream for 40 years and started in Italy. There are 3 different Los Ianninis in the San Agustin and Cala Major area so don’t miss out!

 

 

Johanna Andersson

Team Assistant @ Mallorcaresidencia

Mallorcaresidencia Celebrates its 15th Anniversary

 

 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you, our client. Whether you’re a new client of Mallorcaresidencia or whether you have purchased or sold with us a long time ago, we owe everything to you for choosing us as your agent.

We started out as a small one-person business in 2005 with only a handful of clients and now we have become the leading Scandinavian real estate agency in Mallorca. Today, Mallorcaresidencia has a team of 12 hardworking professionals that administrate a database of over 30.000 clients and over 800 properties.

During these years, our company has adapted and grown by virtue of the feedback received from our clients. We know that at the end of the day people do business with people and that is why having the best team is also a key to success. Thanks to my partner Ahmet, we have been very successful in the sale of projects and new developments.  Now our agency has exclusivity and early access to many newly built projects. In addition, these 15 years of experience have given our sales agents Charlotte, Josephine, Magnus, Jan and Patrik the opportunity to work with all sorts of properties and clients. Our photographer Ana, our IT expert Sedat and our team assistants Massar and Johanna have made sure that our website and marketing is professional and effective and keeps up with the pace.

 

Over the last 15 years, we have acquired the experience and in-depth know-how to ensure that our clients receive the most adequate service when buying or selling. Thank you to all of our customers and partners who continue to believe in our services and people, and who have helped us endure and thrive throughout the years. We enjoy the people we work for and we love what we do!

 

Vivian Grunblatt, Founder & partner

Christmas traditions of the Mallorcaresidencia team

 

The sales agents at Mallorcaresidencia share their Christmas traditions. Some celebrate a Swedish Christmas in Mallorca, others celebrate in a traditional Christmas in Sweden and some of them mix the best with the best from both the Spanish and Swedish traditions. One thing is for sure, our sales agents love Christmas!

 

Josephine Cederqvist

Josephine, who has been part of the team since the summer of 2016, loves Christmas. In fact, it is her favourite holiday, her birthday is just around Christmas as well. She grew up with six siblings and has four children herself, therefore family and Christmas are very important for her, being together is the highest priority. Her celebration is usually traditional and is like taken from a classic Christmas movie. The holidays is celebrated in the countryside in Sweden and the whole family participates in the Christmas service in the church.

She will not go to Sweden this year, therefore Christmas 2020 will feel a little sad and heavy as it won’t be a celebration together with the Swedish family, parents, all siblings and nieces and nephews. But Josephine will do her utmost to create the Christmas spirit when she celebrates her first Christmas in Mallorca in the house outside Deia. A real Christmas tree is a must with real candles. Hyacinths are another must, lots of hyacinths everywhere so that the house is filled with the scent of Christmas and mulled wine of course and the typical Swedish Christmas star in the windows of course. Being with the family, time for togetherness and gratitude is what Christmas is all about! “To sum up Christmas in one word, it’s community. To be with the children and have children around me” Josephine concludes.

 

Jan Hedengård

Jan is one of our most experienced brokers and has belonged to the Mallorcaresidencia family since January 2013. He is born in Malmö, Sweden but left in 1987, and has lived in Germany, Italy and Turkey, and came to Mallorca in 1999. All these experiences and countries have coloured of on his Christmas traditions and celebrations. As a child, he spent his Christmases with his family, with his uncle, aunt, cousins, either at home or at a ski resort.

For the past 15 years, he has mostly celebrated in Sweden with his son, partner and immediate family. Because of Covid-19, the family will stay in Palma and probably “just” be the three of them, “we will of course try to meet some friends (preferably outdoors), do various sports activities and enjoy the outdoors.” says Jan. There is nothing materialistic that Jan couldn’t be without at Christmas when the most important thing for him, the very essence and meaning of Christmas is to be with his loved ones.

 

Patrik Flyving

During his 16 years in Mallorca, Patrik has spent a maximum of 2 Christmases in Sweden. During Christmas he is mostly in Madrid as his partner is from there. Christmas spent with a large Spanish family can be upwards of 20 people. Patrik integrates his background and gives a Swedish touch to the celebration, by bringing Swedish products such as herring, crispbread and cooks them traditional dishes such as Christmas ham and “making your own Swedish meatballs, that’s a must” he says! All this is served during dinner on the 24th and again for lunch on the 25th. In a Spanish celebration, lunch turns into dinner, “you do nothing but eat”, says Patrik, “but I cannot do that, that’s when I usually take my 2-hour long walk”, he explains.

This year, the family will try to go to Madrid but everything is uncurtain and it all depends on whether the situation allows it and what the restrictions will be. If it is Madrid, it will unfortunately not be with the big family but only with those closest to them. For Patrik, Christmas is about the family, “the difficult thing now is that I have my family in Sweden and the other family is here and I cannot be with both at the same time” Patrik concludes.

 

Charlotte Magnusson

Veteran Charlotte has worked at Mallorca resedencia for almost 10 years. She moved to Mallorca 16 years ago, today she have Mallorquin partner from Soller and together they have two small children. Like Josephine, Charlotte loves Christmas “the best thing about Christmas is to experience its magic through the eyes of my children,” she says. The family tradition is to alternate the celebration one year in Sweden and one year in Mallorca. When they are in Sweden, they celebrate a typical traditional Christmas on December 24th, with a Swedish Christmas smorgasbord, TV programs and Santa Claus. This year, it is Sweden’s turn again if all goes well.

A typical Mallorcan Christmas lasts for 3 days from the 24th to the 26th and Los Reyes as well of course! The large Mallorcan family of almost 30 family members gathers around the highlight, which is the dining table. As Patrik said, you start with dinner on the 24th and eat, laugh and socialize throughout the holiday. “Being with the family, regardless of Swedish or Mallorcan, is the most important thing for me.” She says and adds “one must not forget that Christmas is for the children, it is their holiday”.

 

Magnus Nystedt

For Magnus, the new Christmas tradition has become to stay and celebrate in Mallorca. This year will be no exception and the family will continue with their new Mallorcan Christmas tradition. Magnus’ family celebrates December 24th. The day starts with rice porridge for breakfast followed by the family’s Christmas must, a newborn tradition that has been implemented for the past seven years! Magnus, who is born in Finland and is a Swede-Finlandi, has created his own fusion of the ancient Finnish sauna bath that has been merged with one thing that Mallorca is best known for, the turquoise water. The typically traditional Finnish Christmas sauna has been replaced by a Christmas bath in the Mediterranean. The family packs a picnic of Christmas goodies such as mulled wine and gingerbread and goes to (Cala Comtesa), Illetas for a swim. “Last year it was 15/16 degrees in the water, refreshing,” says Magnus. This tradition has generated several participations for each year; “We are more and more friends who meet up there. And it will be extra wonderful this year as pretty much everyone will be far from home, many of us will not go home and will not have the family over Christmas” adds Magnus.

In addition, it is a good spot and over an activity you meet your friends, you are outdoors in the fresh air and you can keep your distance from each other. After the bath, there is a late Christmas lunch where Swedish and Finnish traditional Christmas dishes are mixed with Spanish delicacies. When I ask Magnus what the must have on the Christmas table, what absolutely cant be missed, he quickly answers “carrot & turnip box it is a classic Finnish dish that is mandatory on the Christmas table. Otherwise, the Finnish Christmas table is very similar to the Swedish one. And of course my own home cooked pickled salmon.” Christmas gift distribution and Facetime talks to the family at home in Finland, followed by an evening of cosiness. The Christmas weekend continues in what Magnus thinks is most important to be with the family, the food to be free and just be and to grill in the sun of course!

 

Massar Midgley Mahdi, Team Assistant @ Mallorcaresidencia