Es Pontas

Sunday was hot on the East coast.  It dawned cloudy and cool here in Deya, but as I drove east, the skies cleared, and it was bluebird when we got to the water in Santanyi.  Before climbing, we found a café that was quite German. We filled up on our normal lunchtime indulgences (bocadillos etc.), and then headed to the cala (cove).  This was our first time climbing over the water.

Probably the most famous DWS route in the world, Es Pontas, ascends the underside of a dramatic arch.  This arch is a short swim from the rocky shoreline, but the water is decently cold at this time of year (think Maine in early July).  We were all psyched to finally swim though, even if we were a little reluctant to get in more than knee deep.  I finally took the plunge, emerging short of breath but ecstatic.  It’s the temperature that is cold but feels perfectly amazing at the same time.  Dan and Reilly soon follow, and we all climb onto the ledge at the base of the left pillar of the arch.  It’s a big platform, about four feet over the sea, and there’s plenty of room for us three to recline and warm up.  The water is clear and blue.  We put on our rock shoes (which I brought out to the ledge in a drybag) and try our luck scrambling around the base.  It’s pretty steep and sharp, and I’m not much for jumping from height (even though I spoke earlier of my great desire to DWS).  I hop onto a small ledge about fifteen feet high, and after some hesitation, jump off.  Not very high, I know.  Oh well.  

I get used to the water and swim for a while; going between the two legs of the arch while Dan and Reilly stay warm in the sun.  Dan eventually jumps back in and finds a way to scramble all the way to the top of the arch, which is about 60 or 70 above the water.  The formation is huge, so it’s very safe to stand on top, but I was still a littler unnerved when I followed him up to his perch.  Reilly chose to swim back to shore and take some video of us scrambling about, so maybe someday that will surface.  For now, here’s a picture that Dan took from the little overlook.  Picture us standing on the very top.  We would look sort of small.

As the day got cooler, we opted to move back to shore and get some tapas (of course).  Near the café we look for some boulders along the coast.  We find them, but the routes look hard, and we’re tired and damp and the sun was setting.  Finally, we set out for the long drive back to Deya.  In town, there’s a bonfire roaring in the parking lot near our villa.  It’s a town festival, celebrating some sort of patron saint (no locals could seem to agree what saint).  It was maybe, possibly, the most fun party I’ve ever attended.  But more on that tomorrow.  

Sorry for the slowness in blogging, the wifi has been pretty unreliable…Now I'm off to yet another town wide party with a bonfire and an immense jug of wine.