Oliver Neilson talks to Shirley Roberts of Sollerweb about life in Sóller, changing seasons, local fiestas, tourism, traffic, housing, restaurants and the communities that keep the valley alive.
Here is a link to the agenda for the firo on SollerWeb, and make sure you visit back, she writes about life in the valley every day. https://l1nq.com/sr9k8q0
...and if you can't get a wristband for access to the plaza for the final moors and Christians battle, you should be able to watch it on IB3, the Balearics TV channel, here is there YouTube account. https://www.youtube.com/IB3
In this episode, Oliver Neilson is joined by Shirley Roberts, the writer behind Sollerweb and a long-standing voice of the Sóller Valley.
The conversation begins with the change of season in Mallorca, from winter calm to the early signs of summer, and the welcome news that rainfall has helped ease water concerns for the months ahead. Shirley and Oliver discuss why Sóller becomes so busy early in the year, especially with day trippers arriving by train, tram, bus and hire car.
They also look at the practical realities of life in a popular destination: traffic through the tunnel, parking changes, residents’ zones, the role of the Consell, increased bus services and why visitors are best advised to leave the car behind where possible.
The conversation moves through Deià, cycling season, Mallorca 312, the pressures on housing, the realities behind second homes and empty properties, and the often misunderstood relationship between tourism, employment and local life.
A major part of the episode is dedicated to the Firó de Sóller, one of Mallorca’s most dramatic and emotional traditional fiestas. Shirley explains the story of the Moors and Christians, the beach battles, the final battle in the square, the role of the Valentes Dones and the newer children’s Firó, which she describes as unmissable.
Finally, Shirley shares her thoughts on the changing restaurant scene in Sóller and Port de Sóller, from local food and traditional dishes to late lunches, private chefs, takeaways and the island-wide shift in how people are eating out.
Suggested chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:20 Shirley Roberts returns to the podcast
01:00 Water, rain and the start of the season
02:00 Shirley’s work with the Majorca Daily Bulletin
03:00 Sóller, Port de Sóller, Fornalutx, Biniaraix and Deià
04:00 English-speaking communities and the Anglican Church in Palma
05:30 Winter in Mallorca and the George Sand myth
06:40 Why Sóller is such a popular day trip
08:30 Traffic, the tunnel and the main road into Sóller
10:30 Parking changes, green lines and blue lines
13:00 Port de Sóller improvements and pedestrianisation
15:00 Mallorca 312 and cycling season
18:30 Deià, buses, taxis and getting around
21:30 Second-hand markets and the reality of local incomes
23:00 Housing, second homes and empty properties
28:30 La Huerta, family homes and local life
30:30 The Firó de Sóller explained
33:30 The children’s Firó
35:30 Smoke, gunpowder, pirates and tradition
37:30 Summer changes in Sóller
39:30 Restaurants, late lunches and private chefs
43:30 Local Mallorcan food and where to eat
46:30 Shirley’s restaurant recommendations
49:00 Where to find Sollerweb
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