MALLORCAh e a d q u a rt e r s

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MaLLOrCaMallorca (Majorca), to many considered the capital of the Balearic Islands (Menorcaand Ibiza), lies in the Mediterranean sea off the south east cost of Mainland spain.

­­­rom­the­onset­of­mass­tourism­in­the­1960's,­­Mallorca­has­without­a­doubt­be-come­one­of­thee­most­popular­destinations­in­Europe.­Its­proximity­to­all­majorcities­in­Europe,­beautiful­weather,­nightlife­and­wide­range­of­attractions­from

the­14th­century­Gothic­cathedral­to­the­excellent­restaurants,­fashion­shops­continues­to­at-tract­tourists­by­the­numbers.­Last­year­the­Son­Sant­Joan­International­Airport­of­Mallorca­re-corded­over­20­Million­visitors­to­the­Island,­second­only­to­Las­Vegas.

To­the­untrained­traveler,­a­visit­to­Mallorca­will­place­you­among­the­crowded­tourists­andbeaches­in­the­capital­Palma.­However­head­north,­approximately­60­km­towards­Mancor­and

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Out Of nOwhereLIke a MIrage On a sunny day

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a­whole­new­world­awaits­you­in­the­town­of­Petra.

This­sleepy­town­of­sand­colored­houses­would­be­completely­off­the­touristmap­if­it­were­not­the­birthplace­of­Mallorca's­most­famous­son,­Fray­JuniperoSerra.­Born­in­1713­he­became­a­priest­in­1730­and­worked­as­a­missionaryin­Mexico­from­1749­to­1763.­At­the­age­of­54­he­was­sent­to­California;­the

missions­he­established­there­grew­into­some­of­America's­largest­cities­in-cluding­San­Diego­and­San­Francisco.

To­this­day­you­can­visit­the­house­where­Serra's­parents­lived,­a­museumdevoted­to­his­life­and­work,­the­font­where­he­was­baptized­and­a­plaque­out-side­the­same­church­describing­him­as­a­“Explorer­Missionary­hero­civilizer.”

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Along­the­street­leading­to­his­birthplace­are­decorations­of­­majolica­tiles­de-picting­him­baptizing­Native­Americans.

The­beautiful­Muro­beach,­the­cleanest­I­have­seen,­is­unparalleled­and­com-pletes­the­scenery­of­tranquility,­contemplation­and­meditation­of­the­town.The­surroundings­remind­you­of­Tuscany­but­with­a­Spanish­flair.

There­is­another­gem­to­Petra­not­many­but­the­chosen­few­have­discovered.Out­of­nowhere,­like­a­mirage­on­a­sunny­day,­from­the­narrow­winding­roadswe­stumbled­upon­the­massive­gates­of­a­very­large­private­resort­“Residen-cia­Real”­(Royal­Residence).­So­seclusive­like­the­Fort­Knox­bullion­depository,security­camera­flashes­greeted­us­as­the­paparazzi­greet­those­walking­thered­carpet­at­the­Oscars.

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We­discovered­from­locals­nearby­that­among­other­activities­it­is­used­alsoas­a­Grand­lodge­for­the­Freemasons­in­Mallorca.

From­the­design­of­“Residencia­Real”,­you­can­tell­ it­was­made­to­exudepower,­wealth­and­total­privacy.Our­curiosity­got­the­better­of­us.­We­searched­for­days,­asking­various­ac-

quaintances­and­making­numerous­phone­calls.­Finally­we­found­a­valuablelead­that­directed­us­to­the­company­Ezra­Group­AG­(www.EzraGroup.de).­After­listening­to­us­talk­about­our­love­of­the­town­Petra­and­the­reasons­forus­wanting­to­explore­the­property,­Mr.­Andrew­Shawn,­Chief­Executive­of-ficer­of­Ezra­Group­/AG,­agreed­to­grant­us­an­hour­access­to­the­resort­threedays­later.

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desIgned tO perfeCtIOnIt Is a wOnder tO BehOLd

What­if­you­slept­and­in­your­sleep­you­dreamt­that­you­went­to­heaven.­And­there­found­andplucked­the­most­strange­and­beautiful­flower.­­And­what­if,­when­you­woke­up­you­still­hadthat­flower­in­your­hand­!­What­if­?

That­was­the­feeling­we­had­going­through­“Residencia­Real”.­Designed­to­perfection,­it­is­awonder­to­behold.­The­landscaping­is­one­to­marvel­about.­With­over­500­Palm­trees­impor-ted­from­the­mainland,­Residencia­Real­is­the­largest­collection­on­any­world­resort.­Flowersand­plants­from­all­parts­of­the­world­greet­you­as­you­wonder­through­the­plethora­of­ame-nities:­Helicopter­landing­pads,­a­man­made­lake,­a­Golf­putting-green,­custom­heated­swim-ming­pools.­Tennis­courts,­basketball­courts,­A­country­club­lounge,­custom­jogging­pathsurrounding­the­whole­resort­etc.

Two­villas­grace­the­property.­Villa­Vista­Tramontana,­with­over­16,000­sq­feet,­16­suits,­itgives­you­a­picturesque­view­of­the­Tramontana­mountains.­­Go­further­north­and­a­secondVilla­"El­Scropion“­wi­­th­over­8,000­sq­feet­and­8­MASTER­GRAND­suites­awaits­you.­Both­vil-las­are­furnished­with­the­most­custom­luxury­furniture­collection­from­nearly­every­cornerof­the­globe.­Marble­walls,­granite­bathrooms,­stones­comparable­in­size­to­those­that­built

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the­Colosseum­in­Rome,­wellness,­Jakuzzi,­fitness,­flat­screens,­conferencerooms,­literally­everything­to­mesmerize­the­mind.­It­is­a­labor­of­love.

The­large­solar­panels,­satellite­dishes,­wireless­communication­and­privatewater­wells­did­not­go­unnoticed.­This­place­is­built­for­self­sufficiency.­We­le-arned­from­the­staff­that­Disney­filmed­the­promotion­of­High­school­Musical

II­in­Europe­at­this­resort.

What­struck­me­most­was­how­attention­had­been­paid­to­every­little­detail.For­example­there­is­jogging­path­that­runs­through­the­whole­resort,­thatwould­give­one­the­feeling­of­running­through­paradise.­As­our­alloted­timewas­almost­over,­I­inquired­how­members­move­around­the­other­cities.­­I

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must­have­caught­him­off­guard,­with­his­mind­occupied­with­the­paper­hewas­reading.­He­answered­nonchalantly.­“Oh,­we­have­a­9­seater­Citation­XLPrivate­Jet­that­belongs­to­the­resort­and­is­on­standby­to­take­our­membersto­any­major­city­in­Europe.”

Feeling­my­way,­I­inquired­what­it­could­cost­corporations­or­private­indivi-

duals­to­rent­the­resort­for­events.­It­was­the­wrong­question­because­it­wokehim­up.­

I­was­informed­that­the­place­was­only­open­to­clients­of­Ezra­Group­/AG.­Itwas­an­exclusive­club­and­only­members­were­informed­about­the­details.­Hethanked­us­for­coming­and­wished­us­a­pleasant­stay­in­Mallorca­

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