I won’t mention our usual morning routine again, suffice to say during breakfast Tim asked if we’d like another game of mini golf. As we’d enjoyed the red and yellow courses, it seemed silly to end our holiday without having played all three. Agreeing to meet Tim at the mini golf when it opened at 11am, we took the scenic path to the mini golf via the beach and seafront. Despite it being just after 10am, the beach was quite busy, probably because the sun was doing a good job at burning off the morning cloud. As the cloud evaporated, the temperature began to soar. 

The three amigos arrived at the golf at 11:05 am and had time for a quick chat before Tim arrived at 11:15am, excited that the hotel snack bar was already open. Everyone played a good game, but a special mention has to go to Liz for a couple of beautiful holes-in-one. And a winner’s fanfare for Char who not only destroyed several holes with one stroke, but conquered the blue course taking the top spot on the leader board. A fantastic achievement given how dodgy some of her plays had been on the first day. A great effort from everyone in the group made it a close-scoring game. 

Teeing off the first hole

A banana tree beside the eighth hole

Back at the hotel we relaxed in the shade by the pool bar and sipped a cold beverage, waiting for the lunch gong. After lunch, Tim relaxed in his room, maybe a snooze was involved, I guess we’ll never know! The ladies walked into Magaluf and your scribe explored a little more of the local coastline. 

Having walked into Magaluf, the ladies strolled and chatted their way along the beach, enjoying the refreshing water lapping over their feet. That done, and the heat of the afternoon sun on their backs, they felt the magnetic pull of an ice cream parlour. The prospect of a shady seat and the cold sweet treats were quite seductive and they willingly allowed themselves to be drawn towards their destiny. Liz had a scoop of Biscoff and Char had a mango ice cream in a cup. 

Your scribe walked from Palma Nova to Magaluf and then onward to Playa Cala Vinyes, which is a much smaller beach. This seems to be common along this stretch of coastline once you move away from the large tourist areas. From there back up to the main roadway and along to Platja del Rai, which is another small beach on the edge of a pine forest. The water was very shallow but not at all cold, which was very welcome after a long hot walk. 

Playa Cala Vinyes

Liz was waiting for me down at Palma Nova beach, so we could enjoy a last paddle. Since I was still wearing my trunks I waded out a few metres to see how deep the water would be. Once again it wasn’t too deep. But another surprise was lurking in wait for me. (And no, it wasn’t a floater – lol). It was a shoal of fish. I guessed they were approx 20-30cm long and oval with a diameter of 10-20cm. Silvery grey, with some pale but darker grey stripes behind their head on the side of their body, and a black ring just before their tail fins. 

Once I’d captured a few pics of the fish, we walked back up the now familiar hill to the hotel where Tim and Char were sitting in the lounge bar sipping a glass of something cold. Having washed off the sea salt and changed, I joined them in the lounge bar before descending to the restaurant. After we’d eaten we had one drink in the lounge bar and then a coffee in our room.

Good night!