A little peace, plenty of sun: Roberto Blanco spends Christmas in Port de Soller

A little peace, plenty of sun: Roberto Blanco spends Christmas in Port de Soller

On a mild winter day in Port de Soller, Roberto Blanco and his wife Luzandra sit relaxed by the water. The surf gently hits the breakwater, seagulls cry, vendors unpack their last fish crates — and a young street musician plays guitar on the promenade. 18 degrees, not exactly tropical but pleasantly warm for late December; just the right weather to recharge.

The two enjoy simple rituals: a coffee in the early afternoon, a walk to the church and then a table at Bar Albatros right by the sea. Sometimes a small bundle of fur becomes the center of attention: Principe Blanco, a one-year-old albino Pekingese with pale blue eyes, who dozes on Luzandra's lap and recently made his owner's slippers disappear — to the amusement of the group. The dog was brought from Cuba to Mallorca as a six-month-old puppy and is now a steady part of the household.

Serra de Tramuntana UNESCO World Heritage site is more than just a backdrop: between orange trees and the steep slopes of the range, they find peace away from big stages. In the port town they have favorite places: the restaurant Lua overlooking the natural harbor, where host Domingo Ramón Navarro greets guests personally and serves black paella and octopus with fried potatoes; the steep alleys up to the former monastery Santa Catalina de Alexandria; the promenade where fans sometimes stop and ask for a photo. Attentive vendors and regulars already know the two.

Luzandra has long been more than a companion: she manages appointments, organizes meetings and keeps the calendar together. They met years earlier through work — back then Luzandra ran a boutique in Hamburg — and the relationship led to marriage in 2013. Since then they share professional and private life, travelling between Mallorca and their second homes at Lake Constance and in Switzerland and maintaining contacts in both countries, echoing the relaxed Advent season described in Christmas under Palm Trees: Germans Enjoy Advent in Mallorca.

Even at 88, Blanco does not appear to have completely left the stage. In recent weeks his new CD titled "Enjoy" was completed and released around the holidays. Additionally, the couple offers personal Christmas messages by video, available via his website — small attentions for fans seeking closeness when personal meetings are not possible. In short: the artist uses the quiet island days to stay creative without overexerting himself.

Anyone who knows the singer knows: style matters to him. On the beach he likes to wear a striking sweater and comfortable moccasins; a watch on his wrist reveals a taste for the finer things. Life has taken him to many places — born in 1937, childhood in cities like Beirut and Madrid, decades in Central Europe — and those experiences show in a composure that helps him avoid stress and stay fit. He says himself that Mallorca's warmth is good for his joints.

The island also benefits practically: celebrity visitors who choose the quieter route bring local revenue — from bars and restaurants to small shops — without the bustle of big events, a contrast to the capital described in Palma in Its Christmas Dress: Lights, Sound and Little Winter Wonders. For Port de Soller, such a stay means a piece of normality and a slight increase in guests in the low season; a terrace fills up, the harbor looks livelier but not overcrowded. A small economic boost, seasoned with a family atmosphere.

Aside from the calm, dates for the coming year are already in the calendar: around ten performances are planned, the first taking place in January in Vienna. Until then there is time for walks through the alleys, conversations with friends from Cuba who also live here, and the small things that are so precious in everyday life — a glass of Spanish wine in the evening, a round with Principe on the lap, and the view of the calm sea.

You can almost see it: an artist who allows himself the sun without writing off the stage. For Majorca these are the pleasant middle tones of a winter — no big headlines, but the familiar picture of a couple finding peace here while continuing to work. There is something comforting about that: Christmas as a little breathing space before the curtain goes up again.