Elvis in Ibiza

Few of you know, and it has been a well-kept secret, but Elvis is alive and living on the island of Ibiza. We were here on the island 3 years ago and lo and behold we saw Elvis and he even sang to the Willow Girl. Well, here we are again on the island of Ibiza and guess who we ran into again? Yeah, you got it---Elvis, still thriving and singing his heart out. In fact, without all of that southern cooking, he has actually lost weight and looks quite good in his tight fitting blue jumpsuit. Here's a current picture of him singing once again to Willow.


We had a spectacular sailing day over from Mallorca to Ibiza, great winds and gentle seas with lots of sunshine. So here we are after a few days in port with Elvis, lazing around the island in beautiful coves luxuriating. Swimming, sunning, stargazing....just keeping it simple.

We explore this concept of "keeping it simple" as we notice and dance with those thoughts or things that intrude. What an exploration it is....

Full Moon in Mallorca Again

The fertile celestial egg is once again traveling the night sky in her perfect cycle, full of light for us to behold. We look and really "see" her magnificent light and then look and really "see" our own magnificent light within. As above, so below.....

It was Full Moon in Capricorn and so it was especially significant to honor the
Capricorn Captain in all of his Fullness !!!

Visions of Palma

Palma, Mallorca has become one of our favorite (if not, "the" favorite) cities in Europe. In fact, we feel that we now know it....it has become ours. So, we wanted to share a few pictures to convey just how special it is, knowing that it is difficult to express the feeling and aliveness of this wonderful city with just pictures.



Lots of Sangria, of course.....

Palma Cathedral from the 1600's....

Goddess in all her power just outside our marina....





Your chariot awaits you....

Street mimes as art.....




Willow playing in the water as usual.......

Festival of San Juan in Palma, Mallorca

Imagine Halloween, the Day of the Dead, 4th of July, a Kiss Rock Concert and thousands of people undulating to primal native drums….. All together and on steroids !!! And trust us when we say that does not even begin to describe the Festival of San Juan here in Palma, Mallorca.

We found ourselves along with thousands of others in the park near the Cathedral listening to Celtic music and participating in what was described to us as a celebration of Summer. As we anticipated observing the show and goings on we got closer to a boat coming to shore with torches of fire. And without warning we were no longer observers but forced participants in a totally surprising and somewhat fearful dance with the devil, the darkness and death. At least a hundred devils with fiery torches jumped out of the boat and began chasing through the crowds. We simply could not escape and had no idea what was going on as fireworks began raining down on our heads and all around us along with the surprise attacks of fire from the devils.

This “fun” lasted for over an hour, and we finally got with the program, altho Willow still used her Captain as a shield and hid behind him from the forging devils and “pouring from heaven fireworks“. They sure know how to party here in Palma and we were glad to be here to experience it.

Check out this You Tube Video of the festival and you might get a little taste of it altho the video and attached photos can’t even begin to describe it. You just had to be there….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20n-L8jDAC4

Sunset Summer Solstice Toast

On this the longest day of the year, we sat on the deck and toasted, honored and appreciated Brother Sun for once again carrying us upon his back all day long.
Ocean breezes, magnificent sunset, great red wine, the Willow and her Captain......
All is perfect !!!!!

Full Moon in Mallorca

We had gentle breezes and smooth seas for a great sailing day over to the island of Mallorca. We anchored in one of our favorite calas (coves) where it was just us and the wild goats playing along the cliffs. The water is exquisite turquoise and the pictures can't even begin to capture the reality of it. Yes, we felt like we were the only ones in all of the universe.....

















We moved on around the coast to the small port town of Soller and enjoyed tapas at our favorite restaurant La Pirata (the Pirate), before traveling down to Cabo Magrats for full moon.

Once again, we had the cala all to ourselves as we lay on the deck of EcstaSea bathing in the fullness of the light of the moon.
The Captain mesmerized by Mother Moon............

All that water, all that light, all that energy......What an experience of ecstasy on EcstaSea!!!!!

We even got to see the lunar eclipse, which was a surprise as we thought it wouldn't be visible in the northern hemisphere. But it was!



And Willow finally got brave and took the first plunge of the season in cold, cold Yemaya!!!


And then it was time to move into the place where we began this adventure on EcstaSea four seasons ago--Palma, Mallorca. We love this town- so full of life and exuberance! The majestic cathedral, palace, walled old city with cobblestone streets. Full of history but with an obvious present day youthful and alive energy that we can relate to. And of course, some of the best food and restaurants in the world which we just had to sample!!!

But as always, after a few days we craved the lazy, slow moving life back at sea anchored out in one of the many calas along the beautiful coast of Mallorca. We sometimes ask ourselves where in all of our travels have we found a place we could possibly settle down in, and we think Mallorca might be the place. But for now we love the variety and constant changeability of our back yard vistas and knowing that we "own" wherever we happen to be.

We find that we are sailing in the "ease band" of life more and more. It has been, and is our aspiration and intention to explore and play in that realm, and we are excited as we feel our progress. It is a state of consciousness, not a state of everything being or needing to be "easy". Our belief is that all things, including our experience of "good or bad, hard or easy" are projections from the realm of the "thinking mind". Can we relax the thinking mind with it's need to control circumstances? Can we remain "easeful" when circumstances are not "easy"? It is all an "inside job" and a state of "being with ease in our mind" as we deal with what is. We CAN remain with an "easeful mind and easeful heart", even when circumstances are difficult. It is a choice and one we choose to make more often. What a wonderful playground!!!!!

We play on and on and on......

We left Alghero with a send-off at the dock of about 6 mariachi singers with instruments singing the “Tequila” song. We realized that they were not really singing for us but for the drunk German neighbor boat, who by the way kept us up every night with their carousing (maybe we are just jealous that they didn’t invite us). Everyone was dancing around and paid them with cans of beer. Really though, it was great fun!!!!



We had a peaceful and gently passage all the way to Spain and the island of Menorca. It’s about 200 nautical miles and took us 26 hours. We wish for each and every soul to experience the timelessness of gliding along under a blanket of stars with nothing but ocean all around you as the sliver of the crescent moon turns golden, dropping peacefully into the ocean.

The “puppies of the ocean”, (dolphins) came to play with us and swim gracefully along our bow just as we entered the waters off of Spain. YEAH!!!!!

It was such an easeful passage, especially after all of our challenges last year in Greece. And yet we still find it interesting how our minds like to mess with us. Shouldn’t there be more of a challenge, if it is really worthy? Is it really as good as we think it is if it is so damn easy? How messed up our old conditioning is and how surprised we are that it still shows up for us, as we really do believe that “Life is supposed to be easeful”. How would our lives change if we didn’t struggle and always try to sail into the wind. Still so much to “let go of” as old habitual patterns of thought that no longer serve us still like to appear.

We enjoyed the port of Mahon for a few nights and met some interesting Aussie sailors who were great fun. In fact, their kangaroo jumped ship and decided to play aboard EcstaSea for a night but alas, we gave her back before we sailed away.

We are anchoring in some of our favorite coves from the time we spent here 3 years ago. The familiarity is comforting and we also look forward to the discovery of new and beautiful spots to drop anchor.

We are off to the island of Mallorca to find a secluded and special cove to experience Full Moon on Wed. June 15th. Enjoy your “fullness of light” wherever you may be……