I headed for the Tramuntana mountain range as if I was going to Soller, but turned off at Bunyola. After winding through some very narrow streets of Bunyola, I was on my way to the village of Orient via a road no more than 1 1/2 lanes wide, flanked by almond and olive tree 'farms'.
Anywhere you go in Mallorca, you'll see rock walls (many non-mortared) demarcating property boundaries or used to create flat terraces where almond, olive, orange, and lemon trees can grow. I'm fascinated by them....their beauty, how difficult it must've been to build them (yet alone retrieving the rock from its source!), and how old they might be...yet still standing.
BUNYOLA
Bunyola is the last town you pass before entering the tunnel that cuts through the Tramuntana mountain range on the way to Soller. It has a population of approx 6,700 and sits 800 feet above sea level, about 9 miles from Palma, just as you leave 'the flats' and start to climb the flanks of the surrounding hills. The vintage train to Soller makes a stop here, though you have to walk 8-10 blocks up a fairly steep street to get to the center of town.
Approaching the Tramuntana mountain range.
I was in Bunyola over a year ago and took this snap of these pruned trees lining the main street as you enter town.
Now look at it!
Ok, who dug those holes in the hillside??
Having left Bunyola and enroute to Orient.
My camera added some funky texture to the foliage!
Goat family out playing and eating.
ORIENT
Welcome to Orient....no.....not The Orient...just Orient. This tiny hamlet MAY have 30 structures, including a church, 3 restaurants, a couple of boutique Inns, and approximately 35 full-time residents. It's popular for the many hiking trails that launch nearby.
Just about a mile outside of Orient is this hotel formed from an old Mallorcan homestead.
Along the way to Alaro'.
Look closely and spot all the rock walls that form terraced land.
ALARO'
Bienvenido a Alaro'....yes, the accent is on the O!...elevation about 800ft and population around 5,500. Due to the lack of accomodations in the surrounding area (ie; Orient), Alaro' is mainly used as a base for the outdoorsy type.
Alaro’s most famous tourist attraction is the ruins of its ancient castle, the Castell d’Alaro' which sits more than 2,500 ft on top of a mountain rocky outcrop just outside of town. It was built to ward off invasions from pirates after the 13th century. You can drive part way up, via a pitiful road, then you have to hike the rest.
At the main square is the church, town hall, and cafes with outdoor seating. What can be more Mom and Apple Pie than that?
Instead of continuing out of Alaro' and onto the flats to connect with the town of Inca and the freeway back to Palma, I decided to backtrack the way I came and enjoy the same scenery a second time! All totaled, my day jaunt added another 40 miles to my moto odometer.
Ok...you've read about it, now see the movie!!! If you're unable to fall asleep, this will surely work.
Hmmm...where will I go on my next Mallorca outing??
Stay Tuned!!
Dano
By the way, if you're interested in viewing any of my past entries about travelling around Europe and where I live in Mallorca, simply scroll down past my signature to the end. There, you'll see 'Blog History'. You can click on any Month/Year to see the titles I published at that time. Simply click on the title you're interested in and it will take you to that page.
Love the architecture in Orient! And it looked like you had the roads and communities all to yourself. So few people out and about still.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful scenery there, I will be so excited to see them for myself one day.
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