In the Spirit of Summer

April is here, and I am beginning to overlook the daunting hurdle of A Level exams and peer at the distant summer holidays.

My mind wandered back to last summer, when I went to Majorca with a friend I’ve known for fourteen years. They say you are friends for life after seven years, so it looks like we’ll be close in this life and the next!

I love Spain. I’ve soaked up some history and culture in Barcelona, but I also love simply relaxing. I believe that a holiday is designed for unwinding, not rushing around clutching a tourist guide. I rush around too much in my day to day existence; when I holiday I want a change, and a reduced tempo.

The Spanish seawater is dazzling. I couldn’t help but snap away at the waves lapping at the salt-glazed rocks.

I also loved watching the daily lives of the locals. Occasionally I would walk past an open terrace and see a man playing a Spanish guitar; I felt as if I were part of a documentary. Once on a visit down to the seafront by the apartment, we watched a dog playing on the rocks, his owner throwing a ball into the sea. I couldn’t imagine letting my mad puppy leap in the ocean like this one, but everyone is so much more laid-back here.

I would have loved to have captured some of the vibrant fish I saw whilst snorkelling on camera, but I didn’t quite have the right kit for underwater photography! I did glimpse what I thought to be a shag sitting proudly atop the rocks. I decided to give him space and not get too close.

A beautiful sunset was something to look forward to every night. Often we would eat outside in the evening warmth and watch the sun sink under the sea, leaving splashes of red and orange across the sky.