Majorca Mallorca

What would Mallorca’s total solar eclipse smell like?
In this episode of the Majorca Mallorca Podcast, Vicki and Oliver meet Trudi Murray, founder of Gaia Natural, to explore the fascinating world of fragrance, memory and Mallorcan creativity.
Gaia Natural creates bespoke amenities and spa products for some of Mallorca’s leading luxury hotels. Each property receives its own exclusive fragrance, inspired by its gardens, architecture, history and guests.
Trudi also welcomes visitors to her beautifully restored windmill in Costitx, where she hosts intimate perfume-making experiences. Guests learn how to build a fragrance one note at a time, using scent to unlock memories and create something entirely personal.
The centrepiece of the conversation is Trudi’s extraordinary limited-edition perfume inspired by Mallorca’s total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026. Named I’m Sorry, Dave, I’m Afraid I Can’t Do That, it draws on lunar dust, Apollo missions, childhood fireworks and what Trudi describes as “burnt fireworks and crushed dreams”.
Only 50 bottles have been created, each presented as an interactive work of art with handmade packaging, Mallorcan ceramics and its own tiny diorama.
It is a conversation about following an idea down a rabbit hole, turning imagination into something tangible and refusing to stop creating.

I'm sorry Dave, I can't do that...Instagram reel.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZ5XdDutDCY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
https://www.instagram.com/perfume.experience.mallorca/
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Is Mallorca really telling tourists to go home?
This week, Vicki and Oliver examine the huge anti-tourism demonstration in Palma, the clashes outside Ses Voltes and the complicated reality behind the headlines. The protest may be described as anti-tourism, but concerns about housing, overcrowding, traffic, natural resources and the island’s tourism-dependent economy make the story far more complex.
They also discuss reports of long EES queues for British passengers arriving at Palma Airport, the proposed European firefighting hub at Son Sant Joan and the devastating wildfire risk facing Spain and the western Mediterranean.
Finally, the episode turns to the rapidly developing humanitarian crisis in Ceuta, where approximately 50,000 people reportedly crossed from Morocco into Spanish territory within 24 hours.
Plus, Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox arrive in Mallorca aboard a superyacht, Cristiano Ronaldo sparks engagement rumours and excitement continues to build ahead of the total solar eclipse.
Listen for honest conversation, local insight and a closer look at the stories affecting Mallorca this week.
00:00 Welcome and Mallorca eclipse update
01:55 Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox in Mallorca
02:30 Superyachts and Sa Foradada
04:20 Cristiano Ronaldo’s Mallorca visit
05:15 Pedro Sánchez and the royal summer in Palma
06:25 Mallorca’s anti-tourism protest
08:00 What happened outside Ses Voltes
10:15 Are tourists still welcome in Mallorca?
11:35 What “tourists go home” really means
13:10 Mallorca’s housing and tourism problem
17:15 EES queues at Palma Airport
21:25 Airport assistance and potential disruption
22:25 Mallorca’s proposed European firefighting hub
23:15 Wildfire risks in Mallorca and Spain
25:45 The developing crisis in Ceuta
35:40 Coming next on the podcast
The Majorca Mallorca Podcast brings you real stories, local voices and insider knowledge from across Mallorca. Hosted by Vicki McLeod and Oliver Neilson, the podcast explores island life, local businesses, inspiring people, events, food, culture and everything you need to know about living in or visiting Mallorca.
Whether you call it Mallorca or Majorca, subscribe for honest conversations, practical advice and a closer look at the people and places that make the island so special.
Visit: https://majorca-mallorca.es
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On Wednesday 12 August 2026, Mallorca will experience one of the most remarkable natural events of our lifetime: a total solar eclipse.
However, seeing it will not be as simple as walking outside and looking up.
The eclipse will reach totality shortly before sunset, when the Sun is extremely low in the west-north-western sky. Across much of Mallorca, the Serra de Tramuntana, local hills, buildings and vegetation could completely block the view.
In this episode, Oliver is joined by Majorca Mallorca group contributor Nick Brown, who has studied the island’s geography, viewing angles and official eclipse planning in impressive detail.
They discuss:
• Why the eclipse will be difficult to see from parts of Mallorca
• Which areas may offer a clearer view
• Why Palma city centre and much of northern Mallorca could be problematic
• The official traffic restrictions affecting the Serra de Tramuntana
• Why driving across the island could be a serious mistake
• The additional risks posed by August heat and forest fires
• What boat owners and charter guests need to consider
• How to check whether the eclipse will be visible from your location
• How to protect your eyes while watching it
The eclipse begins in Palma at approximately 19:38, with the maximum occurring at around 20:32, shortly before sunset. The official advice is to plan early, remain close to your accommodation where possible and avoid unnecessary journeys.
Since recording this conversation, we have checked the official eclipse safety guidance. Do not point a phone camera, photographic camera, binoculars or a telescope directly at the Sun unless the equipment has a suitable professional solar filter. The safest options are certified eclipse glasses used according to their instructions or an indirect projection method.
Please remember that looking directly at the Sun can cause permanent and irreversible damage to your eyesight. Use properly certified eclipse glasses or a safe indirect projection method.
You can also read the detailed blog which is updated with the latest information here https://majorca-mallorca.es/events/mallorca-solar-eclipse-2026-where-to-watch-and-how-to-prepare/

Official Balearic Government eclipse information
https://eclipsisegur.caib.es
Horizonte Eclipse 2026 visibility tool
https://www.horitzo2026.com
Spanish National Geographic Institute eclipse information
https://eclipses.ign.es
IGN eclipse viewing and eye-safety guidance
https://eclipses.ign.es/como-observar-eclipses.html
..and here is how to make an eclipse viewer from a Pringles tube, it works best with sour cream and onion.
https://youtube.com/shorts/5DBjU573gm4?si=beQxwE9JAOZJoviC
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Where should you eat in Mallorca when you want something better than the familiar tourist favourites?
Food journalist Mia Naprta joins Vicki McLeod and Oliver Neilson to share some of her latest discoveries, from excellent-value menús del día and properly prepared Valencian-style paella to brunch, Japanese pancakes and an extraordinary three-and-a-half-hour Michelin-starred tasting experience.
The conversation takes us from Palmanova to Selva and Palma’s old town, revealing why some of Mallorca’s most interesting restaurants are found beyond the island’s usual expat dining circuit.
Mia also explains what it is really like to review restaurants and bars for a living, including the unexpected confession that she is not particularly keen on alcohol, despite being paid to write about it.
Listen for plenty of recommendations, strong opinions and a lively debate about whether paella is a Spanish masterpiece or simply a glorified risotto.

Mia Naprta is a food journalist who writes in English for the Mallorca Bulletin. Her work takes her into restaurants, hotels and bars across the island, searching for interesting new openings, excellent-value menús del día and dining experiences worth recommending.
Show notes
In this episode:
Mia explains what a gastrojournalist actually does
The joys of discovering an excellent menú del día
Why affordable lunches can reveal more about Mallorca than expensive tourist restaurants
Exploring places outside Palma and the familiar expat areas
Beach dining in Palmanova
What makes an authentic Valencian-style paella
The case against paella, including Oliver’s “glorified risotto” verdict
Brunch culture and Japanese pancakes
Eating at Selvaj in Selva
Special-occasion dining at Zaranda in Palma
The theatre and attention to detail behind a Michelin-starred tasting menu
What it is like to spend three and a half hours over dinner
Why Mia drinks for work, despite not being a great fan of alcohol

Restaurants and places mentioned
Casa Chiringo, Palmanova
A relaxed beachside restaurant recommended for paella. Mia explains that the team learned from Valencian chefs and prepares its paella in the Valencian tradition.
The paellas discussed were priced at approximately €22 to €26, depending on the variety. Mia tried a mixed-style paella containing chicken, seafood and green beans.
Selvaj, Selva
One of the episode’s examples of the interesting restaurants that can be discovered by travelling beyond Palma and the island’s better-known international dining areas.
Zaranda, Palma
The Michelin-starred restaurant led by chef Fernando Pérez Arellano, located within the Es Princep hotel in Palma.
Mia describes an intricate, theatrical tasting experience lasting around three and a half hours, with show cooking, highly detailed presentation and a concept influenced by leather and the history of the building.

Vicki and Ollie discuss the Omega Loop heatwave gripping Spain and Europe, their neighbour's house catching fire from a short-circuiting electrical cable, the total solar eclipse coming to Mallorca on August 12 (where to watch, traffic chaos, boat safety, and why not to trust ChatGPT for viewing locations), fire safety warnings, Port Andratx fiestas including the boat procession of the Virgin Mary, Mallorca's fiesta culture, viral bars in Deya, a listener question about honeymoon spots (recommending Fornalutx and the Soller Valley), and a reminder for visitors to slow down.
Key takeaways
The August 12 eclipse requires a clear west-facing sea view, meaning only the Tramuntana coast, parts of Calvia (El Toro/Malgrat), and the south-east coast from Arenal to Campos will work. More info to come in a forthcoming episode with Nick Brown.
Roads will be closed or gridlocked; boat charters are selling at extreme premiums and many lack after-dark licences.
Mallorca is in maximum forest fire alert: no barbecues, no glass, no smoking in natural areas.
Port Andratx fiestas (Demonis, Nit de Cavalls, and the Virgin Mary boat procession) are a highlight of mid-July and showcase authentic Mallorcan culture tourists rarely see.
Deya is booming on social media (Barraco Bar, Nama restaurant, Korean tourist wave) but remains logistically tricky to access, especially at night.

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