After a brief Spanish explanation of the functions of the scooter, we were off into the Mallorcan countryside with the freedom and the full range of motion of a private vehicle.
Throughout most of Europe, travelers can count on the spotless track record of public transportation. Mallorca falls outside of this majority. The bus system only extends from the airport to the outer reaches of the main city of Palma, leaving the bulk of beautiful Mediterranean bays untouched. Palma itself is not anything to see. It’s a very touristy spot with little to offer in terms of unique attractions, save the gargantuan cathedral. Expecting to be able to sufficiently explore this tropical paradise via public transit would be like trying to see the Amazon via metro. To address this conundrum, two of my friends and I rented scooters for the day.
After a brief Spanish explanation of the functions of the scooter, we were off into the Mallorcan countryside with the freedom and the full range of motion of a private vehicle. We could go anywhere and see anything that we desired. Throughout the day we drifted from beach to beach with nothing to do but relax and enjoy the scenery. Our scooter voyage took us off the beaten track, far away from any place accessible via commercial tour bus or mass transit.
Rather than pay exorbitant prices for mediocre tapas under the sun in Palma, we enjoyed a beautiful picnic lunch at a quite beach near Portals Vells. The water, although a bit chilly in the month of March, provided ample refreshment and a view that only instagram could enhance.
This short jaunt over to Mallorca taught me the difference between travel and vacation. For the most part, I was not on vacation in Europe. I didn’t lounge around on beaches or spend senseless money at the hotel spa. I arose each morning with a specific plan in mind of what to see and where to eat. While traveling I had a mission, but after a long time of the “daily grind” of travel a brief Mallorcan vacation is in order.
