A Lizard In My Luggage: Mayfair To Mallorca In One Easy Move (Mallorca

by Anna Nicholas

Anna had never liked the idea of Mallorca, thinking it was for the disco and beerswilling fraternity. That was until her sister hired an au pair from a rural part of the island who said it was the most beautiful place on earth. On a visit, Anna impulsively decided to buy a ruined farmhouse. Despite her fear of flying, she kept a foot in both camps and commuted to Central London to manage her PR company. But she found herself drawn away from the bustle, stress, and the superficial media world towards the tranquil life. She soon realized that her new existence was more enriching and fulfilling. She was learning to live life for its moments rather than race through it in the fast lane. A Lizard in My Luggage explores Mallorca's fiestas and traditions, as well as the ups and downs of living in a rural retreat. It is about learning to appreciate the simple things and take risks in pursuit of real happiness. Most importantly, it shows that life can be lived between two places.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Spain, British Literature

320 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

About the author

Anna is a bit of a wild Celt being of Irish, Scottish and Welsh extraction.

During her childhood, she spent many unconventional yet magical school holidays travelling around Eastern Europe and some off the map destinations in a battered old car and on a shoe string with her older sister, Cecilia, and her inspiring teacher mother and aunts Minny and Della. It is these experiences that have led to her life long love of travel and adventure.

After leaving school, Anna studied English Literature and Classics at Leeds University before joining the national charity, Help the Aged, as a graduate trainee. Promoted to senior press officer, she organised many fundraising and gala events involving high profile celebrities and the late Princess Diana, who at that time was the charity’s patron.

Moving to the Guinness Book of World Records she became International PR spokesman and invigilator, working closely with both the late Norris McWhirter, CBE, and TV presenter Roy Castle and travelled the world judging extraordinary records.

Those she most enjoyed adjudicating included the world’s longest conga line with singer Gloria Estefan in Miami; the tallest tower of bread in Indonesia; the festival of record breaking in Korea; the longest train journey which culminated in Hong Kong, and driving around Finland in the world’s longest limo.

After several years of unadulterated fun and madness at Guinness, Anna became marketing director and then a board director for a luxury bathrooms and aromatics company in Mayfair. Some years later she established her own PR and marketing consultancy with international clients in luxury travel, retail, hotels and spas.

After an impromptu meeting with renowned British explorer, Colonel John Blashford-Snell, CBE, Anna accompanied him on an expedition to Nepal, and for 10 years served as a trustee and director of his charity, The Scientific Exploration Society (SES).

She is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and continues – time permitting – to participate in tough scientific expeditions to remote corners of the globe. The most bizarre of these, the subject of BBC2 TV documentary, A Grand Adventure, was when she and the colonel led an expedition to the remote Wai Wai community in Guyana in order to bring them a grand piano for their mud hut church.

She is a keen runner, having completed ten full marathons and 20 half marathons on behalf of her favourite causes. Her most recent international marathon was running in a South African reserve alongside the Big Five beasts. Anna has been a freelance journalist for many years, having written features for the Financial Times, Independent, Sunday Telegraph, Evening Standard, Daily Mail, Daily Express, UltraTravel USA and Tatler among others, as well as several in-flight magazines.

She is the Mallorca destination expert for Telegraph UK and writes for local island newspaper, Majorca Daily Bulletin. Anna lives in Mallorca with her husband, Alan. She has presented her books at the Times Oxford Literary Festival and been guest speaker at numerous events. Her new title, Fallen Butterfly, was published 15, December 2022.

Reviews

[Gok · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. About a PR consultant working and living in London and decides to move with her family to the sunny and quiet island of Mallorca.

Interesting to hear about an adventure adapting to a different mentality away from the hustle and fast life of a big city, and live in a rural place surrounded by mountains. Sounds lovely.

Eventually you will have to decide on which one to pick. The book ends on a crossroads junction, so maybe I will have to find out what happens if there is a second book.

[Palmi Lindjärv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect to read next to the pool on Mallorca trip. Easy reading and you'll get a better visualisation if you've seen Mallorca yourself.

[Kerli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ega palju eesti keelde tõlgitud raamatuid just valikus ei ole, mis tutvustaks Mallorca saare elu ja olu. "Minu sarja" raamatutest isegi pole keegi raamatut välja andnud sellest kõige suurimast Baleaari saarest.
Ja see konkreetne eksemplar ka ju avaldatud päris ammu (2009) aga ma arvan et selle ajaga see maaelu seal ning põlise mallorcalase olemus pole vast suurersti muutunud. Lugesin ise ka raamatut ainult selleks, et täiendada oma teadmisi saarest, enne sinna reisile minekut. Mulle meeldib teha eeltööd kohtadest kuhu plaan reisule minna. Paraku saab enamasti raamatuid lugedes palju suurema reisielamuse ja kohal käimine vaid kinnitab loetut. Raamatus oli vist kõige suurem rõhk sealsetel toredatel kohalikel inimestel, kes tegid oma olemusega mind küll väga kadedaks. Ega eestlanegi oma naabreid linnas ei tea ja maal on maja teisest majast võimalikult kaugel- seal aga elatakse naabritega nii ühte kui võimalik nagu üks suur pere. Naljakaid seikasid olid raamatus nii mõnigi ja elule Mallorcal oli paralleelseks vastandiks pandud aeg-ajalt autori tööreisid Londonisse, kus oli Mallorcale vastukaaluks täiesti teine keskkond- pidev glanz ja melu, rikaste ja õnnetute inimeste igapäevaprobleemid. See tõi automaatselt välja elu lihtususe saarel kui on täidetud vaid mõned kohutsulikud rikkused- päike, sõbrad ja oma finca (talu) maalapiga.
Raamatul on olemas järg, mille kavatsen ka kindlasti läbi lugeda.

[Tonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

On my way to visit Spain I saw this book and one of it's sequels in the bookshelf in the airport. I have begun reading books about places I go as I head there, attempting to delve more deeply into the culture that surrounds me. Nicholas writes with simplicity and hilarity and she guides the reader through her move from high-powered, London, PR Boss role to laid back Mallorcan-influenced, British, cat loving, Expat with her husband and child. She selects mini-stories that demonstrate the highs and lows of moving to a new culture wrapped up in two new languages. These mini-stories combine to create chapters and a book that I wanted to continue reading all day, but I had my own sight seeing to do. I managed to finish this book on a neighboring island, Ibiza, with a greater understanding of what matters in life. A great read and a fun look at the bravery of Expats who actually try to blend into a new culture, rather than transplanting their own.

[Helen Tate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this very much, my only real criticism being that time goes forward and you're not always sure if it's the same day or even the same week. But very difficult to put down, so a few late nights.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ended up liking the story more than I thought I would, although Nicholas seemed almost self-congratulatory about fitting in with the locals so well.

[Sue Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

an excellent read with laugh out loud moments. you were there with her on a plane, in her office and their home in Spain. very well written.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty much drivel.