Round The World and other travels
A frequent flyer's collection of trip diaries
This is: Shanghaied in Tuscany!
Coastal drive and back to Blighty!
Before even going into the breakfast room, I took the opportunity to ask about a late checkout. I'd requested one on arrival, but was informed that they were decided on the day. Imagine my delight when I was given a departure time of 6pm! This was excellent news and meant that I could properly enjoy my last full day of the trip. I went in for breakfast with a new-found spring in my step!
I now had no doubts that I would spend the morning going for the drive recommended the previous day. I set out in the direction of Palma, found my way around the ring road easily enough and was soon heading for the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, north of the capital. Although the weather back at Sa Torre had been fine, I noticed that there was a lot of cloud hanging around the mountains. I hoped it wouldn't rain. I made stops in the picturesque villages of Valldemossa and Deià and enjoyed exploring the tiny streets. The coastal road provided a challenging and interesting drive. I made a very quick final stop at Soller before returning to the hotel via the easy tunnel route.
Back at base, my first priority was a delicious al fresco lunch in the courtyard area by the main entrance. I then had the opportunity to have some final relaxation around the hotel, as well as attending to packing. I checked out just minutes before 6pm, then loaded the car and sat and read for a while before departing for the airport, remembering to fill up the car at a petrol station along the way. I spent most of my time at the airport in the lounge that was allocated for BA use.
(Link to flight log in side panel)
My suitcase didn't take too long to show up at Gatwick. It was then a matter of the already-familiar temporary routine of catching the shuttle bus to the South Terminal and checking into the Hilton there for the second time on this trip.