Saturday, after I finished my last match in Palm Beach Gardens I got organized (more or less…somehow I ended up with 4 hair brushes…and normally I wear a hat to avoid brushing my hair…).

I had a ride to the West Palm Beach Tri Rail station (thank you Erin Nevin) and took the train to Miami. It was $5 and went directly into the Miami Airport terminal…not bad for a nearly two hour ride.

I checked in, showed my QR code for Spain (easy online form to fill out) and vaccination card and was good to go. I used Clear to clear security (Iberia doesn’t use TSA Pre), then I wandered around the airport for a while and eventually ended up in the American Airlines Flagship lounge, similar to the United Polaris Club. It is in Terminal D though and I had to walk to Terminal E from there and take a train out to the international terminals. Passengers who had connected in Miami were called to show their vaccination cards and QR codes…I was not.

The flight to Madrid was quick on Iberia, and arrived quite early. In Madrid I was asked again about the QR code (though not at passport control) and eventually a sticker was put on my phone, which I had to show several times. My next flight was nearly full and arrived about 15 minutes late, no problem…in Palma I had to show my actual QR code and then was good to go…so make sure you fill out the Spanish health form online!

MAoI rented a car and went to my first stop near Palma, since I thought my match would be in the afternoon. It was out in the countryside with a nice terrace and was very quiet. But then I found out it was at 10:30…am. I had dinner at the hotel, a Mallorcan meal of red peppers and leeks, cod with a sauce, fresh bread, olives and aioli (that was the best part) and plum/apple crumble.

Today I got up early, even though the weather forecast was miserable and it was raining a bit as I left. I waited for dawn which is about 7:45 am here. The drive was a bit over an hour and was very pretty, though the middle of the island, past the town of Petra where I could see the big cathedral, and through old olive orchards and fields, with some hills in the distance.

I arrived in Font de sa Cala around 9:15, found an excellent parking spot right next to the check in desk (the car won’t move again till Wednesday!) and got my room.