That Island Pull....

I've been living on this island for just over ten years, it's a magical place... having my son is what really kept me here... It was my first pregnancy ever, at the age of 27...and I'm not the only one who will tell you that this is a really fertile place! I just couldn't imagine going back to live in my native NY when children (and adults) have such a happy free life here!   Besides, the island wanted me to stay...many I know who have *chosen* to live here feel that pull...

Okay... tourism is our leading indusry, and what better way to meet people from all over Europe... but there is something special about the people who stay on the island to live, or maybe I should say who the island decides to keep.

Working in Mallorca as a guide....

Anyway, since my father is Mallorquín, the culture of the largest of the Balearic Islands has always interested me, so, I've become a bit of an amateur buff on the archaeology and history of the place.   It became a hobby of mine when I began working last summer as an "activities organizer" in an aparthotel used exclusively by U.K. & Irish Republic holiday makers.

Caves...

I took people out on a lot of local walks into the mountains, on country roads, through cemetaries, in and out of valleys to beaches, to ruins...the oldest being some man-made caves used as dwellings, silos and tombs (you have to crawl into those with torches!) dated between 3 & 4,000 years ago.   To make their holiday, and my job, more interesting I began studying about the places I took them to see... some are truly fascinating...

Talaiots...

There are  pre-roman structures called "talaióts", on every part of the island. They vary in design and purpose, although their openings generally are Syrius and/or Sun oriented.. Some date back as far as 1,300 b.c. The culture of these people lasted from the end of the Punic wars through the Roman conquering of the Balearic islands in 123 b.c. up to about 500 a.d. when the roman Empire divided into East and West,

Rambling on about ancient worship...

Well before I get too long winded on this subject, which I am apt to do, I'd like to mention that there is definitely evidence of a mother-worship religion, though prehistoric, and that the "talaiotic" culture, though basically warriors, (nude stone slingers and ace ship sinkers...who caused the classical world to give the islands of Mallorca and Menorca the name "Gimnasae" due to their lack of garb), had special structures for their religious ceremonies, which included only initiates. The pre-talaiotic cultures, dating back as far as 6,000 years on some parts of the island worshiped in the open air normally at a high point in the mointains near their village, This also would serve as their ultimate bastion if defence became necessary.



Id' also like to note that the pre-talaiotic cultre was a nomadic one who then settled here (that island pull again) probably Celtic in origin, although some believe that there were Phonecian settlers as well. The Talaiotic people were probably from somewhere between Greece and Rome, noted by their cyclopean constructions, which in themselves have a spiritual force...not only due to their orientation, but to a central pillar, reresenting a tree or the life force coming out of the earth and connecting to the gods...this also has to do with the Magic of Islands.......

Onward to Son Real..... A Talaiotic Necropolis ---->

Onward to Pollentia..... Remains of a Roman City ---->

Blessed Be*

p.s. bruixa is mallorquin for witch... pronounced BROOee-zsha

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