Page 3 - 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
You build a new level of trust within
drops of encouragement as I let
yourself when you travel alone.
them caress my skin, changing the
You have no choice but to set
composition of my thoughts and
aside the anxieties that you have
calming my mind. The welcoming
been convincing yourself for years
streets merged seamlessly with the
are the things that make up who
warmth of the people, softening
you are. You find a new depth to
the unconventional weather that
yourself that you can’t forget.
befalls the sun soaked roads in
winter.
I never thought much about the Christmas was the last thing on
fact that summer holidays had a my mind as I walked through the
“I am in the midst of my true life, I smell, not until I got off the plane streets of Palma, permeated by the
am most deeply myself…At times in Palma, mid-December and it suns heat. This is, until a parade of
I feel as if I am spread out over the smelt of all my summer holidays people dressed as Santa whistled
landscape and inside things, and rolled into one. The hot tarmac and through the streets on motorbikes
am myself living in every tree, the thick, warm air hugged all my cheering and playing music. Later
in the splashing of the waves, in senses. Familiarity in a never before that evening, as I walked towards
the clouds and the animals that breached situation. to taxi rank that would be ready
come and go, in the procession and waiting to whisk me away to
of the seasons.”
the airport, I heard the faint sound
of ‘Despacito’ and sadly, it was that
- Carl Jung
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