Laura-Jane Adventures

Concerts on the beach, dancing until sunrise and an evening in Mallorca’s countryside with Montimare

Written by:

Laura-Jane

Living in Mallorca made me feel like I might be starring in my own spontaneous and love-filled movie.

My Euro girl summer flew by in Mallorca. The island taught me a lot about how to enjoy a slower pace, how to not have everything planned out and to be more accepting of letting life lead me to what is right. It had me saying yes to last-minute plans, dancing until sunrise, and experiencing moments that left me a little speechless (a hard thing to achieve!).

I have a lot of thoughts about my time in Mallorca and feel more confident that it is the place for me after I finish my current contract with TUI. I also feel privileged to say I have had many standout moments over the last 6 months.

A few of those moments have altered my brain chemistry and my perspective…

A woman with short hair, wearing sunglasses and a patterned outfit, smiles joyfully while leaning on a balcony surrounded by a cityscape under a clear blue sky.

An evening with Montimare

One of the experiences I have been lucky to have and to share with a close friend was a distillery tour and dinner with the owners and founders of Montimare. The Montimare Spritz is a drink crafted to showcase Mallorca. They use local lemons, oranges, Mediterranean herbs, almonds, and kina to create an alcoholic aperitif that represents the essence of the island.

My friend Pietro and I, as well as other local and international island residents, got to tour the distillery firsthand and create our own version of Montimare. My version was called ‘Poc a Poc’ and I curated it to represent the slow, appreciative, step-by-step nature of Mallorca.

After our tour, we made our way to Lucinda’s beautiful home and garden. Lucinda is one of the founders of Montimare and she grows the ingredients used in the product. The setting of dinner was breathtaking, and Lucinda’s love for what she does was evidently shown throughout her garden, in the way she answered our questions, and in the food she prepared for us.

A woman in a white top and black skirt and a man in a colourful shirt and striped trousers pose together outdoors, with a table set for a meal in the background, surrounded by greenery and under a clear sky.
A beautifully set outdoor dining table with glasses, plates, and stylish cutlery. Yellow drinks are served in elegant glasses, surrounded by small vases of flowers and glowing candles, with lush greenery in the background.
A plate with a green sauce and cucumber slices topped with cheese, accompanied by a small serving of seasoned vegetables and a bite-sized piece of fried food, with a decorative tablecloth and glasses in the background.
A close-up of a Montimare crafting sheet featuring sections for selecting botanical flavours like rosemary, pine, almond, fennel, thyme, and kina. The sheet includes space for personal notes and a description of a unique creation, alongside a green pen and a drink glass in the background.
A wooden table displaying two bottles of Montimare, one large and one small, alongside a menu, fresh oranges, and a large terracotta pot filled with dried herbs. In the background, a vibrant poster depicting a woman with sunglasses and a relaxed pose adds colour to the scene.
A tabby cat resting on a stone pillar, surrounded by potted plants, with a swimming pool and palm trees in the background under a cloudy sky.

Being able to share the evening with a close friend who is curious about learning new things and appreciative of passionate people made the entire thing even more special. It also didn’t hurt that he is Italian and approved of the Montimare Spritz!

Thank you to the team at Montimare! It was an evening I will cherish, and it allowed me to deepen my appreciation for what the island has to offer.

Dancing with the love of my life

Another thing that has altered my brain chemistry this summer is dancing with one of my best friends, and yes a love of my life – Anouk.

I have been insanely lucky to have been surrounded by a strong group of women since moving to London. They have helped me through some of the hardest challenges I have faced in the last few years. So to have them come and visit me this summer meant the world. Anouk is one of those women, and she has become one of my closest friends. Her advice, aura, and composure continue to amaze and inspire me.

Three women sitting on a couch with a scenic view of the water and hills in the background. They are wearing sunglasses and enjoying drinks.
Three women posing for a selfie on a street at night, one holding a fan and another holding a drink, with parked cars in the background.
Two young women posing together in a room, with one wearing a black off-shoulder top and the other in a pink patterned top. The background features a bed and wooden wardrobe.
A young woman sitting at a table in front of a restaurant called 'Los Rafaeles', with her hands under her chin and smiling. The restaurant is brightly lit and features a modern design.
A wooden table featuring two cocktails: a yellow drink with a dried orange slice and a creamy drink topped with coffee beans, alongside a cocktail menu and a set of decorative chopsticks.
A group of women applying makeup in a stylish bathroom with mirrors and artistic decor, showcasing their reflections.

Dancing with her this summer has been one of my favourite things. In Palma and in Barcelona. We have danced until the sun rose, stumbled along Spanish streets a little tipsy, laughed about men, and, in my humble opinion, were the life and soul of the club.

In these moments, dancing late into the night and early into the morning, I have felt so loved and content. Singing reggaeton and not caring about how we look. It has truly made me realise the joy and healing power of a girls’ night out.

Torrent de Pareis Concert

Every year in Mallorca, there is a free outdoor choral concert. It takes place in Torrent de Pareis nestled in the Tramuntana mountains.

The morning of the concert, I hadn’t planned to go. I had just had three weeks of back-to-back visitors and said goodbye to Pietro. I needed a day to myself – to reset and do some life admin. However, that morning I was woken up by a phone call from a friend, Vincenzo, who lives in Palma. He asked me what I was doing that day and invited me to join him and some other friends to go to Torrent de Pareis for a concert that happens only once a year.

View of a serene bay with moored boats, framed by rocky cliffs and vibrant blue water, seen through a natural archway.
A crowded beach scene with sunbathers on towels, surrounded by rocky cliffs and greenery under a clear blue sky.
People gathered on a rocky shoreline at sunset, enjoying the view and taking photos.
A spread of various dishes on a dining table, featuring a plate of sliced tomatoes drizzled with olive oil, a serving of fried calamari topped with sauce and lemon, and several pieces of bread with toppings. Empty plates and glasses are also visible.

Sometimes you have to spontaneously change your plans. This was one of those occasions. At first I thought, ‘hmm I could really do with a day to get myself organised’, but then Vincenzo said some things that made me reconsider. Was I really going to miss a once-a-year outdoor concert on a beach? No, I was not.

And I was extremely glad that I did not decide, in the end, to have my admin day. The location was breathtakingly beautiful. We swam in the sea, ate snacks on the pebbled beach, and listened intently as the choir sang between the mountains. The perfect acoustics in the perfect setting.

We then headed back to Palma in time to watch the sunset from Deià. Followed by sharing an array of tapas once we arrived back.

I don’t think I could have planned a better day. It was a lesson to myself that sometimes the best plans don’t need to be made months in advance, and that being spontaneous is something to never shy away from.

These three moments only scratch the surface of the memories I made this year in Mallorca. Looking back I am in awe of all that I have achieved and experienced. There were times when I did realise I was still doing too much and maybe I had moved away from the poc a poc ethos I was trying to follow, but I don’t regret packing my schedule full.

My hope for the next couple of months is to instil that slow energy into my life as I transition back to living in London. To let the ways my brain chemistry has been altered flow through my routine in a city that moves at a faster pace than the one I am saying hasta pronto to.

I have so much I want to write and share about my time in Mallorca, and my summer in general. The hope is to put aside the time in the next few weeks to allow myself to properly process my thoughts and feelings, so I can produce something that does justice to all that I experienced.

Until the next time.

Lots of love,

Laura-Jane x

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