Hola, I've just returned from a holiday in Mallorca. We stayed in the beautiful village of Cala Mesquida. when I say village, it is one street, a beautiful Playa, surrounded by sand dunes, pine forests and mountains. Not forgetting the occasional mountain goat straying onto the beach.
On the Tuesday morning, we took a bus ride to the lovely town of Cala Ratjada, with its pine tree promenade, 'Ballant amb les ones' (Dancing with waves) sculptures, trendy bars, coffee shops and fishing port.
In the centro of the town there was a lovely square with a tourist information kiosk.
The kiosk had lots of useful information for visitors and was operated by Cristina and Esther. Both ladies were very helpful and when I told them that I was an amateur photographer doing a project ... "a photo a day project...we are your photo of the day?" asked Esther (Esther is the lady on the right hand side of the frame) . I then explained about the 100 strangers project,
It was at that point that Esther asked me where I came from.
"England" I said (not many English people visit the remote North Eastern tip of Mallorca)
"Yes, England, but where in England?"
"Nottingham"
At that point Esther, smiled even more :)
"I lived in Nottingham, many years ago when I was in my 20's"
Esther, lived in West Bridgford, working as cleaner for her friends business. The apartment she lived in was above a shop owned by the Clough family (as in Brian Clough, the finest football manager England never had). Esther told me she knew Nottingham Forest footballers Teddy Sheringham and Nigel Clough and spoke fondly of her time in Nottingham. She would often walk from West Brigford into the city of Nottingham.
Cristina and Esther are both from Mallorca.
I never expected to meet a Spanish stranger with such a strong connection to Nottingham. Who knows, I may even have walked past Esther on the streets of Nottingham back in 1991/1992. I would certainly have remembered her smile.
While I was talking to Esther Cristina was busy helping another customer at the kiosk, so much of the stranger story is about Esther.
I exchanged email addresses with Esther and shook both ladies hands and thanked them both for being fabulous strangers.
This picture is number 84 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page
https://www.flickr.com/groups/100strangers/
My own strangers can be seen here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/57144254@N08/albums/72157657822400168
@busylady thanks judith, yes a coincidence
@Cherrill we have been to cala mesquida three times now, although this was our first stay in the posh hotel ! You man remember it from my 2012 pictures !!!
@sangwann dione, this counts as one stranger and I will be continuing beyond 100 :)
@happypat I was back at work today !!! lots of great photo opportunities , so my photostream might be a bit "all about Mallorca " for a few days !!!