Last weekend was all about live music and rain. This weekend is all about extreme heat, live music and weddings. The common factor is ‘live music’ which is popping up everywhere. The horseshoe bay has live music at either end of its half circle. Agapanto on one side and Succulenta on the other, with many venues in-between. I have read those giving tourist advice who say, there is little live music in Soller – do not believe them – that is simply not true.
The Soller Football pitch is the news this week as it is being resurfaced. The placement of the new artificial turf is being carried out to coincide with the end of the football season. Hopefully all will be completed in time for the pre-season of the 2023-2024 academic year. The replacement turf has a cost of 360,000 euros and is financed with the municipal surplus of the year 2021.
We have learnt this week that the Ferrocarril has new trams on order. They are no longer being used in other parts of Spain and will arrive here for their makeover. The workmanship in the tram shed in Soller is exquisite, the new Trams will soon be converted Soller style.
The Day Centre conversion of an old slaughterhouse building has reached the planning stage. This location has been controversial but now appears to be going ahead. With vast amounts of money being set aside for a magnificent conversion. This is a much-needed facility and hopefully there will be no delays once the build gets going.
These last three news items are all costly and being funded from different purses in the Soller world. The message it sends in 2023 is that the Soller Valley has surplus cash to spend and is doing just that. There are those whose projects come from separate funding sources who are not doing so well. The Education sector in Soller remains very disappointed by the lack of money for their works.
June is a great month for innovative occasions such as the night Race through the Soller Rail Tunnels. The Tren de Soller track will once again become the scene of a new edition of the ‘Camí de Ferro’ race on Saturday, June 24. Three races in one starting 8 pm in the three usual formats. On the one hand, a race of 27km between Palma and Soller, and one of 13 between Bunyola and Soller station. In addition, a hiking march on the 13km stretch between Bunyola and Soller. The competitive races will start at 8pm, while the walk will start at 8.15 pm, 650 people all wearing miners’ lights on their heads will have a great experience. Meanwhile the party atmosphere back in Soller will welcome them home.
Soller divides up between how many people stay in hotels and how many in Villas and Airbnb almost equally. The development of the villa and apartment life this year has been very marked. Many of them have now started using caterers for their accommodation rather than go to restaurants. This trend was already anticipated last year as a number of fine dining take aways opened to look after local and holiday requirements. The word on the street here at present is that some restaurants are feeling the pinch and not as busy as they expected to be. Meanwhile the local caterers are working extra hard and employing more staff.
The chatter about this is mixed as to whether this is a money saver or not. It may be after a busy day relaxing, it’s just easy to have someone come and cook dinner and clear up. No parking issues, no worries about drinking and driving and the evening is just more relaxed. The lovely restaurant experience will still be used but maybe not quite as often as the past.
Change is all around us and the winners in business are those who can anticipate and embrace change. Will we see more catering or will restaurants up their game and make themselves unmissable. We wait and see…