Pics from Christmas in Mallorca

I forgot to buy flour for thickening the gravy.  Murray said gravy wasn't that important.  Don't worry, there is no domestic violence in this story.  So, I took her down to a cafe that was open Christmas morning.  I was hoping the baked some of their own stuff and I could score cincuenta mililitros de harina.  I brought my own ziplock.  Sure enough, they got me my hit, and I walked back with my little baggie of white powder.  The holiday was saved.

I don't know what this is a picture of, but it includes, the ocean, the setting sun and me.  Seems like it should be more moving.

Turkey and potatoes and gravy, Oh my.

The Murmonster is sold on Scandanvian style double dipped candles.

A walk to the ocean on Christmas morning.

Cheers to friends and family for the holiday.

This dog has dread locks.  After a youtube tutorial, the MurMonster now has one and would like a few more.  I don't know if I like where this is going.

More funky street art on the way back from the movies.  The movies were closed Christmas eve, but the 3 gelato shops on the walk back were not.  :)

The beach in December

We had fun storming the castle

Escaping the pit of despair behind me

What I want is pictures where my neck and jaw look like this, but without so much nostril.  Got it?

Live on stage, for a limited engament, the MurMonster.

Yes it was cold.

But I still swam out to the island and back

Murray has fallen in love with this Santa Catalina market two blocks from our apartment.  Why pay less anywhere else?  The ingredients are great though.  Tonight I made pesto with dill and cilantro left over from the cream and cheese risotto I made with sushi rice and lentils last night.  With fresh stuff every day the question becomes "What to buy to use up yesterdays ingredients".   So far I haven't had to throw out anything.  

I get confused

So the other day I left for the gym in the morning and took both sets of keys with me by accident.  So the MurMonster couldn't leave the apartment to get her coffee for an additional hour.  Instead of being piqued, as one might expect, she kind of liked it.  I think it had something to do with a phrase she often uses on me when she makes mistakes "It must be hard being right all the time".  But I am not sure.

Apartment in Palma de Mallorca

This is our place for the month , Carrer Soler, 26, 07013 Palma, Illes Balears Spain. We have one bedroom one bath one kitchen/living/dining room area all in about 250 sq feet.  it is about like our mother in law apartment in our back yard where we lived for 6 months.





Some of our nearby street art.

Vigoleis Thelen wrote the book that the MurMonster and I read about Palma that brought us here.

Pesto by hand

We have an excellent fresh market a couple blocks from our apartment in Palma.  I decided to make pesto without thinking much about the fact we don't have a blender.  I got fresh garlic, basil, baby spinach, walnuts.  The local Mallorcan cheese, salt, pepper, and olive oil were not picked that day, but still...  it was really good.  I started mixing it in a beer stein since we are short on useful kitchen stuff, but had to move to a steel pot when I realized how much pest I was making.  I put just enough oil in to make it stick together and be a sauce rather than a minced powder.  Being so low in oil content, I probably burned as many calories chopping as I consumed eating it.  It was rustic but awesome.

We haven't been out to eat in Mallorca yet.  Our goal was to cook at home, so I have made tomato cheese sauce and pasta with cilantro, brochette, pan fried pork loin fillets, pasta and aurora sauce (tomato-cream), stir fried pork and vegetables.  It is nice having enough time to shop and cook.  But I fear the MurMonster is getting a bit to used to having someone cook all her meals.  She has been good about doing the clean up though.  As you can see the pesto effort left her a special challenge.

No smiling with teeth after 4 pm.  The world is not ready to behold the vicious purple fangs of the MurMonster.

Pics from Mallorca

So'ller Marina

Up the hill at the musuem in So'ller

Stopping along the coast from So'ller to Deia'

This is how you know the MurMonster is happy.

This is how you know the MurMonster needs to find a restroom.

This is how you know the MurMonster needs to find a restroom now!

A skate park next to a 500 year old ruined rock building, awesome.

OK, we are going to get some normal pictures of me, you are not going to make me laugh this time.

Cut that out!

Perhaps I will look more mysterious if I hold my jacket like this?

But if you close you eyes while you are taking a picture you won't know that you got a bad shot.

More Paris Pics

Our Apartment outside the Bonne Nuevelle Metro Station

The MusMonster likes non-violent street protests.  Perhaps some history will happen.

The women's day protests in Spain were more interesting.  We will have to check tripadvisor next time for a review on a street protest before we invest our time.  

What are you planning to do on this ferris wheel?  You know I don't like rides. 

Oh, well why didn't you say so?

The sell champagne at the top of the Eiffel Tower.  it is pricey, but the rain and wind are free of charge. 

Murray in five pixels

"Come closer" I requested.
"I like it when I am far away in pictures" said the MurMonster.
"Why?  So your face is only represented by five pixels?"
"Exactly" She explained.  "Then people will fill in the details with their imagination".
"And if they know you they will just always assume you are smiling" he supposed out loud.
She just smiled.

Oh Hi Jules-

Only Murray goes to Paris, walks into a cafe, and meets someone she worked with seven years ago    -When she isn't bumping into the queen of Denmark.

Fancy meeting you here.

Sacré-Cœur Paris Pics

Oh, sun!  In December even Isaac will admit to enjoying it.

Isaac climbs the dome to give Murray a few minutes to enjoy a glass of wine in peace.

The City from the top of the dome.

I hope this strange dude taking our picture doesn't run off with my iphone.

In this view from our apartment Sacre Coeur is visible at the top of the hill on the left.