Where in the World: Bellver Castle

Where in the World Wednesday:
Bellver Castle,
Palma de Mallorca

Today’s musings are about Jimi Hendrix, Spanish Castle Magic, and how a day trip to a round castle in Palma daydreamed its way into my Where in the World Collection as the Bellver Necklace.

The inspiration for today’s necklace is from Bellver Castle, a 700-year old and uniquely round Spanish castle that was built in 1300 in the city of Palma de Mallorca. Palma is one of many very beautiful Mediterranean places, high temperatures, high tourism, and equally high castles.

Being the first European castle that I have ever seen, Bellver is definitely one that will always be considered romantic. It’s completely round, and at first sight of it, all I could do was imagine what I kind of jewelry I would have been wearing if I were Bellver's princess (Unbeknownst to me at that moment, the castle was last used as a prison). But hey, when you're traveling on a student's diet and budget – nuttin’ wrong with spicing it all up with dash of girlish imagination.

When I first arrived at the castle, I was younger and (dare I say it) a little rebellious. So, I couldn’t help but to be a bit of a smartie-pants and sing myself a little Hendrix as we approached the castle:

“Hang on my darling

Hang on if you wanna go

Here its a really groovy place
Its uh, just a little bit of uh, said uh,
Spanish castle magic.”

Although Hendrix was actually referring to The Spanish Castle Club in the State of Washington, I wasn’t. I was in Mallorca, FINALLY standing at the foot of a Spanish Castle, and determined to sing about it for as long as off-key vocal stylings would be tolerated! So, while my travel companions were not as amused by my Spanish-princess-role-playing, they were somewhat gracious when they joined me in singing:

“The clouds are really low

And they overflow with cotton candy

And battle grounds red and brown

But its all in your mind
Dont think your time on bad things
Just float your little mind around

Look out !

Ow !”

Anyway, now many years and miles away from Palma, I was thinking back to the day my friends I first sang a little Spanish Castle Magic. Next thing you know, I beaded up this romantic, princess necklace. It features white glass pearls, peach-colored glass, copper-colored brass, bright yellow Czech seed beads, and a perfectly round and aged-looking flowered pendant.

“With just a little bit of Spanish Castle Magic

Just a little bit of daydream here and there.”

And so we have it, the BELLVER Necklace.