The Annual Summer Solstice Picnic
Sunday 21st June
The Classic Car Club Mallorca's Annual Summer Solstice Picnic once again proved to be one of the most enjoyable and relaxed events on the club calendar. Held in the beautiful grounds of the Santuari de Cura in Randa, the evening combined wonderful company, spectacular scenery and a welcome excuse to enjoy our cars without the need to spend hours behind the wheel in the midsummer heat.
The weather could best be described as typically Mallorcan for late June – very hot throughout the day, but thankfully a pleasant breeze had developed by early evening which made the temperature far more comfortable. This year's theme was a Midsummer's Eve White Party, encouraging everyone to dress in white and bring along a picnic to enjoy while watching the sun set over the island.
By 7pm, the first cars were beginning to arrive, with the sun still sitting high in the sky and casting a golden glow across the monastery grounds. In total, 25 cars and 35 members and guests attended, creating a wonderful display of classic machinery parked against the dramatic backdrop of central Mallorca.
What quickly became apparent was that many members had been very creative with their picnics. Far from a few sandwiches and a folding chair, some truly lavish spreads began to appear! Tables were decorated with linen tablecloths, candelabras, beautiful crockery and elegant cake stands. Delicate canapés, carefully prepared salads and baskets overflowing with homemade sourdough bread seemed to emerge from picnic hampers. It was clear that a considerable amount of effort had gone into both the food and presentation, adding enormously to the atmosphere of the evening.
As the sun slowly began its descent, members wandered between the cars and picnic areas, catching up with old friends and admiring the impressive variety of vehicles on display. Events such as this are always a reminder that whilst the cars bring us together, it is the friendships and shared enjoyment that keep the club thriving.
The highlight of the evening came shortly after 9.30pm when the sunset began in earnest. Perched high above the island, Santuari de Cura offers one of Mallorca's finest viewpoints and on this occasion it certainly did not disappoint. The sky gradually transformed through shades of gold, orange and pink before fading into the soft blue of a warm summer night. It was one of those moments that encouraged everyone to put down their glasses, stop chatting for a minute and simply enjoy the view.
With so many impressive picnic displays on show, judging the competition for the best picnic was no easy task. After much deliberation, the honours were shared between Ludwig and Marion Berger, and Bertram and Andrea Mandel. Both couples had clearly gone the extra mile with their presentation and were rewarded with a bottle of cava each for their efforts.
As darkness finally settled over the mountain and the last picnic baskets were packed away, members gradually made their way home after another thoroughly enjoyable club event. A huge thank you goes to everyone who attended and embraced the theme so enthusiastically. The combination of beautiful surroundings, wonderful food, good company and a memorable sunset made this year's Summer Solstice Picnic one to remember!