Spotlight on Soller: From summer traffic jams to Winter jazz

This week, as schools have returned and some businesses are in full working mode again, this is a huge problem. If you live in Soller and work in the port, taking 30 to 45 minutes to get home is unheard of. We have stories of visitors leaving early to get to Soller so they can park before having breakfast in the Plaza. The noises this is making on all levels, just can’t fail to be heard.

There is an element of 'deep breath we are just about to settle again' from most of us. We know visitor numbers drop in October and into November. Then, for three months we all live in a completely different world. The train doesn't run for a couple of months and Soller reverts to being local and Mallorcan speaking.

The energy away from the obvious saturation issues are all on winter tourism. No, it's not the 'big yawn' of a subject which always gets churned out at this time of year. I am led to believe it is different in 2023 because of the vibes coming from the airlines. We all know that if people can't get here, without it being very complicated, then our local preparations are futile. The increase in flights from some areas of the UK is interesting as is the buzz from Canada and the USA.

We know we have our lovely Canadian friends who escape to Soller for two months a year to escape the full snow season. This is what we are led to believe is going to be one of the game changers. The USA and Canada are picking up the Mallorca banner and running all over the place with it. Our Soller experience of this, over some years now, is just fabulous. Happy, friendly people living in Soller from February for a few months, connecting with locals and loving all that Mallorca has to offer. Just perfect winter visitors. Bring it on is what I say…

The Palma Jazz Festival programme has come out and this is causing a little excitement amongst some friends in Soller. The idea of going ‘up’ or is it ‘down’ to the city for some winter jazz is a new world for us now, we have got buses which run late.

Before we can get too excited, we must wait for the winter bus schedule to be released. A midnight bus from Palma is our great delight on the summer timetable. We know this was targeted at workers needing to get home from late hospitality shifts. For a few months in the winter this is not so necessary. We are hoping against hope that the Cinderella Bus remains, and we can do the whole trip, courtesy of our wonderful comfortable bus service. I’ve got my eye on the Chicago Mass Choir performance of B.B. King. Great to look forward to that on December 14.

The planes are full this weekend with returning students. Our family has a returning 2nd year student to Loughborough, with a Soller summer full of memories. Buying the warmer clothes for another Midlands winter was interesting, in 90-degree heat. Lots of first years packing up ready for those all-important fresher weeks of fun.

The other departures are from the Mallorca yachtie kids who have been training all summer to be able to crew from Palma to the Caribbean. Great excitement for them as their departure dates get nearer. A little more apprehension from their parents than those on the conventional student route. Then amongst our friends we have those which have gone to fine universities in the USA, from Soller. This is a tricky month for all the families they leave behind. Everyone is very proud and happy for the bright young people, but you just miss them.