Jul
1
2009
Majorca’s Jaume Ferrer and the Riu de Or
Author: SamFor enthusiastic travelers on the hunt for the perfect 5-star hotel, Majorca has so much to offer. One of the most splendid places on the planet, Majorca boasts fantastic beaches and an island culture in a very sophisticated European setting. It’s the best of many possible worlds, and there’s good reason it’s been a major tourist destination for more than a century. Doctors used to regularly prescribe trips to Majorca for their wealthier clientele, because of its enviable climate and excellent atmosphere for recovering from all manner of ailments. Extremely kind doctors today recommend it to their patients, and the smart ones listen. The hotels are a reflection of the place, with a staff that’s well trained in the fine arts of hospitality. There is a sumptuous combination of old world charm and generosity with the amenities of contemporary technological life.
Though it’s possible to be well-connected here, there’s a greater pull to disappear into the gorgeous Spanish landscape and rejuvenate the body and spirit. The ocean is always calling, and the nightlife is out of this world. There is a long tradition of being haunted by the possibilities the ocean holds, and not just in terms of lovely relaxation on its beaches. A number of world travelers hail from Majorca, and many have made navigation history. A Jaume Ferrer set out from his native Majorca looking for the River of Gold on the coast of West Africa, and was never heard from again.
It’s difficult to find out much more about this sailor, other than he was terribly terribly lost by the end of his short life. His voyage ended in 1346, near Cape Juby, and there is a famous statue of him in Palma de Majorca. But it would seem that more is known about the statue than the actual figure of Jaume Ferrer. He was part of a long list of sailors in Medieval times who set out at the initiation of what would become the colonization period, and there were many who would not make it to their destination in the years that followed. Perhaps historians in subsequent years will help piece together the details of these early voyages searching for gold at any cost.