A Farewell in Sunday Mood: Jürgen Drews Sells House in Santa Ponça

A Farewell in Sunday Mood: Jürgen Drews Sells House in Santa Ponça

Between the smell of fried fish, the distant clink of café cups and the occasional whistle of an old Schlager tune, a chapter is being closed in Santa Ponça. Jürgen Drews and his wife Ramona have decided: the house in southwest Mallorca is up for sale. For the neighbors on the promenade this primarily means one thing — change, quiet and gradual, like the tide that fills the bay in the evenings.

Why is the curtain closing?

No dramatic scenes, no big farewell dance. Ramona recently explained in Munich that the couple now spends more and more time on the mainland and in the mountains. The house is hardly used anymore, and the effort no longer matches the benefit. That is how practical a farewell can sound — like a suitcase you finally clear out after years: memories remain, the piece of furniture must go.

For many Mallorcans the decision feels almost symbolic. Drews, who long helped shape the image of the Ballermann, is gradually withdrawing from the spotlight. The house was more than four walls: a meeting place after concerts, a backdrop in summer spots, a piece of pop culture between sun and pines.

A retreat, not a goodbye

It is important to emphasize: this is not a final goodbye to the island. Drews himself does not rule out occasional appearances, but he is not speaking of a major comeback. Small, selected appearances — for charitable events or special celebrations — are conceivable. At the end of September the two will even return to celebrate their daughter Joelina's 30th birthday with the family. Mallorca will therefore remain in the private album, even if the family house may soon make way for a new everyday life.

What does this mean for Santa Ponça?

At first glance the bay loses a prominent address. At second glance space opens up for something new: young families, couples from other European countries or locals who want to move back into town centers — all could bring new smells, voices and rituals to the neighborhood. The mosaic of the beach promenade is constantly changing: parasols, boat rentals, the evening rustle of the olive trees. A house change is part of that.

And economically it is not uninteresting: sales transactions like this bring movement to the local real estate market and create opportunities for careful modernization, sustainable renovations or long-term rentals — depending on who finally turns the key. For Santa Ponça this could mean calming the rhythm a little or gaining new, permanent residents.

The island remains — with new melodies

Of course, a piece of Ballermann nostalgia goes with it. But Mallorca is less a monument than a living place: markets, schools, bars and neighborhoods reshape the island every day. The bay of Santa Ponça will continue to glitter in the evening sun, the seagulls will not change their repertoire, and somewhere in the background the tinkling memory of a chorus that many used to hum will remain.

Who knows — perhaps a young family will renovate the garden, plant lavender and fruit trees, and Drews' voice will only be heard from an old record player on warm summer evenings. That would not be a loss, but rather a gentle handover: a celebrity house changes hands, Mallorca's everyday life endures and once again shows its ability to weave old and new together.

A piece of pop culture may leave the island, but Santa Ponça stays vibrant — with new stories, new visitors and the familiar sound of the sea.