Priscilla, queen of Fornalutx

HOUSE: CEILING FANS
I check out ceiling fans for the house (since we’re not installing air condition). Need something that can move slowly and silently, for when you sleep. Can’t find anything in Sóller but I’m told to go to a big store by Polígono. More info when I’ve been there.

ISLAND: GOOD HOTEL, BEST BEACH, MADMAN ON STAGE
Take a morning swim in Port Sóller and a half-decent breakfast buffet (€10 with coffee) on Hotel Geranium on the beach. Need to work online for a few hours, so I drive down to Hotel Portixol in Palma and lounge with my computer in their bar. The staff is always great and coffee is good. Since I’m half-way to Es Trenc (still the best beach on Mallorca) there’s no reason not to go. I always choose to park by the western side of the beach (by Ses Covetes) for several reasons: the food shop for water and snacks, the relaxed chiringuito on the beach (less hip and more friendly than Ultimo Paradiso at the eastern end) the shower in the parking lot (they close it when they close the ticket office, but if you give it a good shake you can still get a decent shower). Drive back to Sóller and end up with Alvaro at the last night of the fiesta in Fornalutx. Pa Amb Oli is playing, of course (why do people never get tired of them?) but the big surprise of the evening is a madly dressed 15-man band with two singers and two dancers that keep changing from one hideous outfit to another. The singer is a tall guy with glasses, belly amazingly limp wrists and absolutely no sense of shame. He’s hilarious. I’ll try to find out what they’re called, it’s an experience to see them. We stand with the dueña of Can Gato (Sóller) and laugh till our stomachs hurt.