We use the Pollenca Park Hotel, one of the largest in Puerto Pollenca. It is about a mile from the resort marina soutwest from the town centre and situated just off the beach. The Hobby Club Apartments which ESC use are 30 metres from the beach; all you have to do is cross the road. The apartments are arranged over 3 floors in three separate blocks set around the swimming pool. There is a bar in the complex which is open every evening and some afternoons, especially when a classic race is on. We get to see Paris-Roubaix and some of the Belgian classics every year.

Each apartment has

1. one bedroom with two single beds
2. a sitting area with a couch which can be used as a bed
3. a dining table and chairs
4. a kitchen area, with cooker and fridge
5. balcony where you can sit in the afternoon when the runs are over. These have clothes lines where your kit can be dried in the sun.

If you take the 'single room' option on the booking form you get one of these apartments to yourself, at extra cost.

The Hobby Club

The apartments are 5 minutes walk from the main hotel and ten seconds walk from the beach - just cross the main road and you're there.

After the morning runs members of the ESC can relax around the pool, swim, go to the beach, take lunch in a local cafe, shop, whatever. Some even go out on their bikes again.

At Night

At night the Hobby Club is gently illuminated, providing a quiet setting for an evening's stroll or just sitting outside. The bar is open until late so that one can obtain a nightcap - whether a Spanish brandy or a hot chocolate - before bed.

The Hobby Club - layout

The Hobby Club is in a U-shape around a swimming pool, with the top of the U facing the sea.

The blue dot on the schema shows where the night-time picture was taken, facing over the pool and towards the sea. The red dot shows where the daytime one above was taken, facing away from the sea.

Hotel pool

And the hotel itself has a large pool and seating area which we, as residents, are entitled to use. There are bars, of course, and a large function room used for our last night party.

Beach

The Majorcans do not muck about when it comes to their beach. It's at least 60 metres from the main road to the water, and is maintained stringently to be smooth and sandy for it's full length. The beach was originally constructed from sand dredged from the bay, and it's now jealously protected. It's quiet during the day, of course. The bulldozer comes out in the evening. From the hobby club appartments one can see across the beach and into the bay. You can see wind surfing, motor boats, water skiers, commercial shipping traffic, aircraft, hang gliders, rowers and many sailing craft.