For as long as I can remember, I have dreamed of riding the train from Palma de Majorca to Soller. The century old wooden trains have long held an allure for me, the lifelong trainspotter, ambling gently along the tracks, over bridges, through numerous tunnels, climbing huge gradients, the driver’s horn in continuous use. Today saw the dream come true.
First, we rode the ancient tram from Port de Soller, our location for the week, to Soller where the train leaves for Palma. No one is in a hurry, least of all us, as the little wooden tram rattles uphill, crossing roads, passing through small villages and winding its way through the narrow streets, almost touching the bars and restaurants of Soller. And there she was. Our “rattler” to Palma. With the windows wide open, the train gathered what speed it could over the clackety-clack of the tracks. The views change by the minute. One moment you are in Soller, the next you are high in the hills looking down on it, before you disappear into yet another dark and sometimes long tunnel, which were built as long ago as 1913.
It was everything I dreamed it would be and more. There are numerous passing places for trains passing in the other direction and at least once we passed one, full of waving adults and children. Before long, we were riding along the middle of the road of Palma before arriving at the gorgeous little terminus.
A year or so ago, Michael Portillo rode both lines in his Great Railway Journeys programme on the BBC and he sold it to me in a heartbeat. This truly is a great railway line and one less item to cross off my bucket list.
There are many more to tick off because time is not infinite and going back to the same place over and over again, reliving the same old experiences, living off the same memories, will never do for me anymore. Thanks to my partner, for it is she, who convinced me to dare to to try something and somewhere different. This is my first visit to Majorca, quite possibly my last, for there is so much more of the world to see.
The railway here is one of the wonders not just of Majorca but of the world. Don’t let it pass you by. I found a piece of heaven right here. You should, too.
