A nice house in Palma

Palma is the largest city on Mallorca, one of the Balearic Islands which are part of Spain. A few days ago I ascended the wide stairs from the Royal garden and turned a corner. Suddenly I stood in front of La Seu, the imposing cathedral of Palma. Then I heard a sullen voice from an American tourist nearby, “that’s a nice house”. And just like that, the magic was gone.

“A nice house”.

Anyhow, I entered the “nice house” through the old doorway. The morning sun beamed through the large 14th century rose window, one of the world’s largest Gothic church windows, and covered the tall stone pillars in a beautiful rainbow light. The baldachin above the altar was created by Antoni Gaudí in 1912.

Soon after we entered, a Catholic mass commenced and the giant hall was filled with song and organ music. It is said that Mallorca’s great artist Joan Miro used to come here every day and listen to the organ music as inspiration.

Then I heard the American tourist again, “This is like five thousand years old or whatever”.