Very apt. The darn thing was rock hard. And yet, the fellow said he found it super comfortable. Of course he is reed thin , so maybe your friend still had it right.

A colleague of mine referred to saddles like that as ass hatchets. Only comfortable for very light people.

I must be extra-astute, because I didnt have to ask that. I see the roadies in the distance.

Not soon at least, if ever. We’ll have to see, but this year we plan to end Spain at Malaga.

Mallorca wonderfully has several "official" birding places. And the cycling culture, at least March/April is insane! Are you planning to give it another try soon? Ferry to Sete for us was amazingly cheap, at 116 euros.

Hey, this looks great! Even better than when we rode it the other way catching the ferry from Barcelona. It was 5AM when we rode the other direction, freezing cold, and I was desperately sick and thought I had covid.

And we didn’t see any birds.

In dictatorship conditions it can be difficult for people, even Republican members of Congress, to resist. But when even the MAGAs are paying $6000 for their iPhones, they may all take to the streets.

True. Actually most people in European cities do live in apartments. Free standing houses are for the very rich on large estates, modern suburbs at the far edges of the larger cities, and folks in rural areas who live on farmsteads or small villages.

Yes. Mindful of this when I will be in EU for 4 weeks. Fortunately, I will keep my mouth shut when someone asks where I am from. I could say “originally”? And reply with Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, but, then, that is “cheating”, because those are my ancestors. We all come from someplace not everyone likes or agrees with anymore…

Gotta live somewhere! At least it’s not on the sidewalk…

Looks like French honeysuckle

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/475573-Sulla-coronaria/browse_photos

That thought has occurred to us as well. Hopefully there will be recognition that people who travel are less likely to have closed viewpoints and they will be received generously.

It concerns me that the many wonderful Americans that will be cycling in Europe this summer will encounter negative comments when they are just as horrified by the goings on as we are.

We are more than happy to have "helped you out" and will eagerly await the blog detailing your adventures. Mallorca is definitely on our come back here and cycle for more days, or even weeks. Between the beautiful scenery, gorgeous views and beaches, cycling infrastructure and infinite possibilities for glorious routing how could we just come here once.

Oyster loving genes are missing from our family.