Day 12- Thursday January 29, 2026 - Palma de Mallorca

By Ellen Outten

Carthusian Monastery Valldemossa

Our day started with breakfast at  7 am and we were in the bus at 8 am with a very quick ride through Palma.  Our first stop was at a high point that overlooks the city.  We were lucky not to have rain although this afternoon it’s supposed to start.  

The high point was at Castell de Bellver..  Just a photo op of the marina as well as the castle and fortress





Grimaldi ferry line heading to Barcelona 

We drove back through town and about a 45 minute drive led us to Valdemossa, a small town.  Its main attraction is the 13th century monastery where the musician Chopin spent the winter1838-1839.  The monastery was originally built as a royal palace; however, in 1399 it was converted into a monastery.

Our drive to Valldemossa:




Olive groves on the way into the mountains 


Entering the grounds of the monastery 



Translation of the sign below as you enter Cell 4


No glass, just twigs in the windows 



We were able to your Cell 4 where Chopin and his girlfriend lived during that winter.  In there was the piano he had shipped from Marseille upon which he wrote several famous works.
Views looking out his “cell” 


The original piano upon which he composed there






We had some free time to wander and shop while we were in town.  





A store selling cork products, Sardinia is famous for this as well


Some pictures on the way back to the ship after our tour











Tomorrow is another sea day as we head through the Straits of Gibraltar and sail to Cadiz Spain on Saturday morning.

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