Page 2 - The Nearest Exit - Palma

PALMA,

MAJORCA

It rained the first day I was in Palma. I
didn’t mind. I felt as though the wind
and the rain were reflecting my inner
strength and determination. I embraced
the little drops of encouragement as
You build a new level of trust within
I let them caress my skin, changing
yourself when you travel alone.
the composition of my thoughts and
You have no choice but to set aside
calming my mind. The welcoming
the anxieties that you have been
streets merged seamlessly with the
convincing yourself for years are the
warmth of the people, softening the
things that make up who you are. You
unconventional weather that befalls
find a new depth to yourself that you
the sun soaked roads in winter.
can’t forget.
“I am in the midst of my true life, I am
I never thought much about the fact Christmas was the last thing on my
most deeply myself…At times I feel as
that summer holidays had a smell, mind as I walked through the streets
if I am spread out over the landscape
not until I got off the plane in Palma, of Palma, permeated by the suns heat.
and inside things, and am myself living
mid-December and it smelt of all my This is, until a parade of people dressed
in every tree, in the splashing of the
summer holidays rolled into one. The as Santa whistled through the streets
waves, in the clouds and the animals
hot tarmac and the thick, warm air on motorbikes cheering and playing
that come and go, in the procession
hugged all my senses. Familiarity in a music. Later that evening, as I walked
of the seasons.”
never before breached situation. towards to taxi rank that would be
ready and waiting to whisk me away
- Carl Jung
to the airport, I heard the faint sound
of ‘Despacito’ and sadly, it was that
which enticed me to check out the
grand performance that was taking
place in the local square. Hundreds of
Santa’s were all dancing in formation
to a variety of smash hit Spanish songs
and it warmed my heart. Standing up
on the wall with the other onlookers
with my slightly boozy smile beaming
almost as bright as the Christmas lights
that adorned the regimented palm
trees, I thought what a great way to
start the holidays.

Words: Katie Lawton
Photographs: Katie Lawton