I admit, November on Mallorca has its own charm, but not necessarily in the way the glossy magazines describe it. The golden fall days radiate their gentle warmth, but the locals - yes, I now count myself among them - talk seriously about "winter". It's 15 to 20 degrees, and yet plaids adorn the sofas and smoke rises from many a chimney as if we were on the brink of a Nordic cold front. "We're going into winter," I am told, with a knowing smile that is not without irony.
When the thermometer drops, the coziness begins
The weather in November is, shall we say, refreshing. It cools down a little, the first wafts of mist drift over the olive groves, and when a brief rainfall refreshes the fields, you can almost hear the earth breathe a sigh of relief. Nature welcomes the rain, the Mallorcans welcome the jacket - or at least what passes for a jacket here. The cool evenings offer a special calm, and to be honest, that's exactly what I love about this time of year. The tourists have left, the beaches are empty and the villages awaken to a serenity that can only be found at this time of year.
The winter ritual on the island: a spectacle of coziness
So as we gently glide into the autumnal freshness, we experience the little rituals that make up November. In the houses, old woollen plaids are brought out and thrown over the backrests as if an avalanche is threatening. The smell of the first "bunyols" - deep-fried dough balls that we traditionally eat in honor of the patron saints - wafts up from the kitchens. There is something festive, almost cozy, about the way the island prepares for winter. And to be honest, this Mallorcan way of preparing for winter makes me smile: a whole spectacle that is staged with an almost childlike devotion.
In the fields and gardens: laying the earth to rest
Everything is changing outside too. The olive trees are harvested, the gardens are given one last care before the peace of nature returns. If you take a closer look, you will notice the knowledge that is passed down from generation to generation: People cut, bind and prepare the soil for the coming months. It is the gentle transition that harmonizes the landscape, life and the hearts of the Mallorcans. Everything slows down - the work, the walks, life itself.
November: a gift for those who love Mallorca
And then there are the few visitors who still come - they know what awaits them here. An island that has bathed the full sunlight of the summer months in a soft autumn light. Walks through quiet forests, empty beaches and a serenity that makes November the most beautiful time of the year. The locals nod to me: "Now it's our Mallorca again." And as I sit in the café drinking a hot café cortado, I sense that they are right. Now the island is ours - until spring brings back the first sun-seekers.
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