Mallorca Misadventures
If you’ve lived in Germany for more than five minutes, you’ll quickly learn two things. One, you should never cross the bike lane without looking twice. And two, when holiday season hits, everyone heads to Mallorca. It’s basically Germany’s unofficial 17th state, only with better beaches, sangria by the liter, and a lot more seafood.
So, when our friends invited us to celebrate their birthdays (and Glenn’s) on the island, we happily packed our swimsuits and sunscreen, ready for some sunshine and seaside adventures. What could go wrong? Well. Let me tell you.
A Rocky Start (Literally)
Our vacation kicked off in classic family travel fashion: pure, unfiltered chaos. A mix-up at the rental car counter left me and the boys stranded in a very warm, very echoey parking garage while Glenn went to untangle the paperwork situation. It was during this time that Silas, in true toddler form, managed to take a spill and give himself a forehead bump the size of a small apricot. He was fine, tough as ever, but the dramatic swelling really set the tone for the afternoon.
Once we finally secured a car, we headed off to our hotel, visions of poolside cocktails and sunset swims dancing in our heads. Unfortunately, the universe had other plans. Somewhere between us booking the hotel and boarding our flight, our reservation had been cancelled. And the hotel was now completely sold out.
Plan B (and C and D)
We spent the next couple of hours driving from one fully booked hotel to another. Finally, on the other side of the island, we found a hotel with rooms available. It wasn’t as close to our friends as we’d hoped, but it did have something even better: water slides. Lots of them.
The kids were technically too small for most of the slides, not that they cared in the slightest. Their true love turned out to be a giant inflatable beach ball rising from the center of the pool. They bounced, climbed, slipped, and splashed on it for hours. Honestly, we could’ve stayed there the entire trip and they would’ve called it the best vacation ever. And honestly, we kind of did.
Seafood, Spritzes, and Birthday BBQs
Between marathon pool sessions, we explored local swimming spots with crystal-clear water that looked like it had been Photoshopped. We ate our weight in seafood, took far too many sunset photos, and spent lazy afternoons at our friends’ pool. The kids played, the grownups sipped Aperol spritzes, and the grilled meats flowed.
In the end, it was exactly the kind of holiday we needed. A little chaotic, a little sunburned, and filled with memories we’ll laugh about for years. Another country checked off our European adventure list, and a reminder that sometimes the best stories start with a little disaster.
Now, onto planning the next one.
